Thursday, April 15, 2010

My creative space.

In my creative space this week, as with most other weeks too, I am dreaming up uses for my fabric scraps.

I have such gorgeous scraps. The bigger offcuts get popped into a big filing cabinet drawer and then some of the tiny bits get taken to the child care centre and the rest get thrown in the bin.

I hate throwing the pretty scraps out and I am constantly thinking of uses for them so they don't have to go into the big bin and then to the tip.

Now that I've worked out a smock/dress type pattern that I'm happy with, I thought they could be used like blank canvases and I could sew some of these scraps onto them. Applique sort of thing.

Contrasting patterned cord for the back, some vintage sheeting for the sleeves, some crocheted ric rac and a big button.

With some jeans, boots and a cardi, I think this will be her winter uniform this year.


I hope you are having a creative Thursday today.
Check out what everyone else is up to at Kirsty's.

81 comments:

  1. I love that Kate, clever lady!
    The tree is perfect.

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  2. LOVE the dresses - you really have an eye for making cool clothes for your girls!

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  3. Goodness. Your clothes are just lovely! That little tree is so cute! Excellent idea for scraps.

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  4. i love what you have done with your fabric scraps and i love the pinafore. your little girl looks absolutely gorgeous all rugged up. (it is already that cold there?)
    l
    x

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  5. Once again I am so jealous of your girl’s wardrobe. I’d love one of those! The tree is spectacular, what a great use of scraps.

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  6. STUNNING!! I really love these little tunics, so much and well this one with the tree just takes the cake. xo

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  7. You are surely getting the knack for sewing kids clothes, I love the outfit. Super creative and ADORABLE!!!!!

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  8. Very cute - nice use for scraps - not scrappy at all!

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  9. I love that tree, what a great idea for scraps. I never throw mine out either. I've just been making hexagons out of them.

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  10. Ooh so wonderful Kate! I think that is my favourite one to date. I love the scrappy fabric tree on the darker fabric and how cute does she look with her purple hat and cardi (the knitter spotting in me!).

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  11. Gorgeous tree!
    And I love the dress over the jeans!

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  12. That's the dress I need for my little girl!! I love it so much. You are such a clever lady. Love the tree as well, I've always loved trees appliqued on cushions and stuff. What a super look she has for winter. Is is really cold enough for a hat as well?!! I always thought Aussie was hotter than us.

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  13. Love, love, love that top! It looks great over jeans like that. And the tree design is fantastic.

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  14. Kate I ADORE that tunic and appliqué design! Great work!

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  15. Love that 'fabric scarps' tree! So lovely!

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  16. Oh Kate that tree is DIVINE! What a great sense of style you both have x

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  17. Oh my god the cuteness is killing me!!! I have used that corduroy with the hearts for a toy- i loved it. Great dress Kate!

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  18. Totally gorgeous dress! I wish I had a girl! Love the tree design and a great use of your scraps.

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  19. I have a BIG problem. I now have three children with attitude and opinion. Gone are the days of sewing (for me) for them. Will have to use your blog - a lot. "Look girls - look how fab Pepper’s leafy dress is..."

    (if anyone gives us another hand-me-down princess dress-up, I shall, frankly, puke).

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  20. Fabulous Kate!! Love love love it! I'm sure I say that to you every week teehee!
    Bring some scraps to Sew It and I'll show you how to paper piece! A little hexagon or star on clothes or pillows are too cute I think! And great way to show off your fave scraps xox

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  21. Just lovely! What a perfect showcase for your scraps...

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  22. Just beautiful. I wish my girls were small enough for this little number.

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  23. I love the tunic it's gorgeous and the tree looks fabulous!

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  24. She looks adorable in her so sweet little uniform Kate! Lovely.

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  25. wow! absolutely divine! Fantastic use of scraps :)

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  26. oh i agree Kate..i can't bear to throw out any fabric scraps, if they're too small to use you can use them as stuffing..perfect!
    i love your creative appliques..GORGEOUS!!

    btw i've just finished my pincushion if you want to take a peek :)

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  27. I love the dress, but I love the photo of your model outsid eth bottleshop even more! Fabulous! She looks so chic!

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  28. Kate, I love this little tree so much, it reminds me of something but I'm not sure what. What a great use of scraps! Hope you're having a happy day honey xo

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  29. I LOVE IT!!!! That tree looks BRILLIANT!!!

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  30. Love that tree- so vibrant and full of life! xo m.

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  31. she is too cute! i love the red trimming and the tree. beautiful little outfit :)

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  32. How gorgeous! I thought my little girl had enough clothes, but now I've seen what you've done I want to sew her tunics too!

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  33. That is beautiful, and how clever and resourceful too. I think my sons might just be needing some litte trees on thier t shirts too! Inspiring stuff!

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  34. Not only a great use of scraps but love the way the colours come together in {that familiar-looking?} tree. Love seeing all this great fashion you are making for your girls.

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  35. Perfect winter wear. I always love your trees.

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  36. It's just gorgeous! Will you be selling the pattern for the tunic?

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  37. She must be the best dressed child in Daylesford. Surely? Do you do them in big sizes? Like my size? I'd love it.

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  38. Lovely applique kate!!
    Your little one is looking cute in the new smock! Especially with the beanie as well!!^^

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  39. Love love love it! What a fabulous piece of artistry! Very inspiring :) K

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  40. It is so very cute. Love the idea of thinking of it as a blank canvas.

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  41. That is so adorable, I really love it! Cosy, cute & practical, the perfect winter smock..

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  42. Very cute! I wish I had girls to make pretty things like that for. But I have boys that I get to make boy things for. hahah. Thank you for stopping by my blog today.

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  43. Your little girl looks so cute in that dress. What a super clever lady you are, the applique beautiful.xo

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  44. Was she there for the Breakfast or the Beer? He he he
    Love the use of scraps. No such thing as scraps in our world is there?
    Abs x

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  45. Just brilliant! That tree is gorgeous. She looks so lovely yet comfy too :)

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  46. i am in love! does it come in a big size? like, a size 12 ladies??? i would like to do something like this onto a cushion, but have not yet attempted as it seems quite challenging and fiddly.. you've made it look fantastic though :)

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  47. It never ceases to amaze me the talent you have for sewing. I just love that dress. Looks so practical, creative and comfy. Some of the mums and I from my daughters school are going to get together and sew up a storm of pinafores and pants. Thought I'd borrow the pattern you left in your last post for the comfiest looking school pants ever!

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  48. Love those dresses and you girl looks adorable in them.What a great way to use up scraps.

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  49. That wee dress is so beautiful, love the whole outfit.

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  50. Adorable smock dress and what anadorable little girl !

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  51. Love dresses and pants TOGETHER ....such a great look and so comfy! The hat is lovely too :-)

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  52. Love it! The perfect winter uniform.

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  53. Love Love LOVE it! Can I have one in big mum/girl size please ?

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  54. Your trees are so beautiful.
    I like the use of different fabrics in front and back. You always have so many sweet little details that I love.
    Cecilie

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  55. such a cutie and love that tree! : )

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  56. Brilliant idea for scraps!!! I love your dresses I wish I could make it as well =)

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  57. I adore that beautiful applique. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous!!!

    I follow a fairly similar system to yourself when it comes to fabric scraps. Thank goodness for kindergartens I say!!!

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  58. just so so gorgeous!
    Love it and yay for using up scraps, very clever. :)

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  59. I wish there were more words to describe, cute, gorgeous, adorable, maybe cugorable? They are cugorable! I particularly like the pic of the in front of the bottle shop!:) xxNick

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  60. so much inspiration, so little time............once again am loving your creations!

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  61. Very sweet Kate - the colours look so lovely against the navy.

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  62. the frock, the tre, the photos, the pigtails-it's all so gorgeous. love it. and i can't bear to put the tiniest scrap in the bin

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  63. Oh my gosh this dress is the best! Those leaves, so tactile, the colours, magical. LOVE!
    Wendy xx

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  64. Love the little appliqued tree !!
    There used to be a children's song about a coat and when it got worn out hey turned the good parts that were left of the fabric and sewed it into a vest. And when that got worn, they turned it into a hat. And when that wore out they turned the last bit of good fabric into a button... (I may have left out some parts) But anyway, it is the perfect "reduce, reuse and recycle" song, and that is what I thought of when you talked about hating to throw any scraps away.

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  65. i'm loving applique at the moment and that is so sweet.

    My Creative Place

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  66. That kicks arse over any Pumpkin Patch design any day... Plus I totally love cord!! Excellent use of scraps!! Thumbs up from me!! hehe

    xo Steph

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  67. Love what you have done with your scraps. Pays to keep things doesn't it!

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  68. Kate, Thank you for stopping by and leaving the kind words :: You do wonderful things with your sweet little bits and I will be back to see what you are up to next.

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  69. GORGEOUS!!!
    Kate that is fantastic, love it!!
    your girls must be the best dressed girls in daylesford.

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  70. I love this dress - the applique is wonderful! I might have to borrow and have a go on one of my daughter's outfits. Very clever, you're an inspiration!

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  71. I too... do not like throwing little scraps but what you have done is really great!Love the tree!

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  72. Oh, my goodness. That is soooo nice. Thank you for the lovely comment on my little dress btw. Yours is really lovely. I like the different fabric on the reverse, what a great idea. Do you mind if I steal it?? :))

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  73. Great tree Kate, I like it even more than last weeks dresses :).

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  74. Just been reading *all* your blog - backwards - 5 days and here I am today. I compost my cotton fabric scraps - enviroment win/win.

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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