Saturday 10 March 2012

ESL returns!

It had been almost 3 months since our last meeting and we were long overdue for another ESL event. But without our founding member there were some doubts as to whether or not we would be able to continue.

Thankfully, Chris has graciously handed over the reigns of the London operations of ESL, and will hopefully be starting a Sydney based branch very soon.

The group based projects that we have been taking on recently have been enjoyed by all, and it's great when everyone finishes the afternoon with a finish product to take away.

This time... brooches!

Armed with all of the necessary materials (including some glue that didn't actually have any adhesive properties) we eagerly started work on making as many brooches in an afternoon as possible!

It was really interesting to see how, with the same materials in front of us all, everyone came up with brooches that looked completely different

What was most impressive however, was Eddie's insistence that she could complete her chosen project in a single afternoon - despite 4 people suggesting that she was perhaps being a little over-ambitious. Everyone has thrilled to be proven wrong - and to see her amazing dahlia flower completed.

All of the photos are below, and at the bottom of the post is a link to the tutorial for the dahlia flower brooch.

Eddie's Dahlia brooch in the making

Eddie's brooch, starting to take shape

Katy's finished brooch

Dale's brooch #1

Dale's brooch #2

Jod's brooch #1

Jod's brooch #2


Nec's brooch #1

Nec's brooch #2

Eddie's beautiful finished dahlia
You can make your own version of Eddie's dahlia flower brooch...check out the tutorial here!

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Jingle Bells!

The girls managed to squeeze a festive Eat, Sew, Laugh date into their diaries in the silly season.  And in keeping with said silly season, Christmas stockings were the order of the day.  The girls came armed with creativity, craftiness and as always, a healthy appetite!

Leah hosted and catered and with the task ahead of us we needed plenty of sustenance!

The annual Christmas Hampers were also delivered and Jod & Nec excelled themselves this year.  I cannot do justice to their gift but it is well documented here!

Eventually, after glasses were filled and burgeoning plates carefully positioned, the sewing began.  Firstly we had to choose our material: there were stars, candy canes, Santa's and snowflakes; in red, silver and green.  Then an overwhelming selection of  beads, sequins and ribbons.  And finally it all had to be cobbled together! Poor Jod was bugged all day long with "what's next Jod?", "what do I do here Jod?", "where does this go Jod?" ... ahh the burden of the gifted.


And after another mammoth session, we walked out with our completed stockings, as modelled by a very cute Max Johnston, full bellies and notions about what 2012 Eat, Sew, Laugh would bring!