New In Blog Store

Rainbows End Has added a new In blog Store for the direct purchase of Rainbows End Exclusive Textiles
For a Limited time all purchases will be Shipping Free!
More fabrics are being added over the next couple of days and there will be an instant download option for very inexpensive pdf patterns and tutorials also exclusive hand dyed and printed bias bindings and a variety of hand dyed buttons. All designed for you to make those special projects!!!
Rainbows End Textiles are printed on Quality  homespun 100% cotton Each piece is treated as a work of art in its own right, no two pieces are ever the same and each one is printed with exclusive motifs drawn and designed by myself.
Rainbows End textiles are created with the discerning quilter and home sewer in mind. These fabrics are divine for that special new project.
Rainbows End has no problem with its textiles being used in small art based commercial ventures or wahm's using them in craft markets Please do not claim the artwork as your own is all I ask

Click on the link on the page menu on the right hand side of this post or go here!

Up-Cycling Old Jeans

Crafty Mama's had an upcycling jeans challenge The use an old pair of jeans to make something new. Well being the B.T.S. time of the year again I decided in my wisdom (not) to make a pencil case. Well I quickly found out that jeans are put together TOUGH!!! So I back pedalled and decided to use as many of the existing features of the jeans as possible. I still had some tough unpicking to do but not as much! I used existing back and front pockets and the waistband and tabs.  I used some rainbows End Print as the lining and the contrast panels , I inserted a zip and added a magnetic catch as using the waistband made the top opening really deep. Making sure I got all the fabric around the zip, both in the lining and the outer cover was a challenge. I ended up hand stitching it on, then machine top sewed for strength. Molly wanted to take it to TAFE to show her friends so she could take orders for me. That met with a resounding NO! I don't want to make anymore. So I guess its mine.

New Tute Non Slip Non Crappy Mousemat!

Well Its been awhile since I have added anything to my blog. Not that I have been slack in doing stuff its just that I have been slack in blogging about it!
I have been sewing stuff up for artists markets and the artist co-op and having been teaching myself to make patterns in illustrator! Well I started off with Autocad under the instruction of my very I.T. competent son, however I found it painful to use but I used that small amount of knowledge of using cad drawing to teach myself to use Illustrator. I found it fun and even mathematically challenged me! can use it!
I have drawn up a pattern for my frilled tote bag it and a tute will be available for sale for a small price (hey a girl has to make a living) very soon In the meantime I have a couple of freebees to give away;
The first is a simple mousepad I know anyone can draw a square but if your lazy and math challenged like me you prefer a pattern! Plus it makes it easier to make multiples identically. I have done a pattern and tute for a pencil and crayon roll they will be posted very shortly as well There are a lot of tutes availble for these and I made my first one following this lovely ladies tute I made more than one so having to measure up all the time was a pain so I made the pattern!
Anyway back to the mousepad the instructions and download are available from the link on the right hand side
and be on the lookout for new patterns soon

Happy sewing Julie

A Good Day in the Studio

I have an arts council stall this weekend and have been asked also to put some of my work in a local artists co-operative. So I have been busy in my newly rearranged studio whipping up some fabrics At first it was not going so well I found some of my older screens and block prints while I was rearranging the stdio space and wanted to use them with my sun-printing. In the past these images were used in conjunction with different dye backgrounds and some were from past bodies of work of varied themes. I guess the differences threw me for a little while and I seemed to be making some awful image and colour choices. However after a coffee the creative instinct kicked in and I fixed things!!! These are the results and i am very happy with them I loved using the block prints again after so long I think I will have to cut some more and after stepping over my chooks all morning to print I decided I needed to draw them and put them on a screen or block to play with

Buttons Buttons Buttons!!!

Remember those disperse (polysol) dyed buttons? Well here is a little project I just whipped up with a headband I made and some of those buttons!

Cute Hey?
 Go to my tute page to see how to dye them I found the tute for the flowers in a magazine Its just a matter of using a really good glue, Craft or hot glue gun Glue them to a felt backing and hand stitch with clear thread for extra strength. If you accidently glue over the holes it does not take too much pressure to get the needle through Be sure to leave the flower undisturbed for 24 hours to let the glue harden completely

Congo Store Grand Re-Opening

Brand New Fabrics restocked in the newly reopened Congo cart store The Gypsy Caravan! Go and check for those beautifully handcrafted fabric to make your individual unique gifts for Christmas There are also some special handmade items as well All unique and reasonably priced Check it out today and while you are there browse through the lovely handcrafted jewelry availiable in Beaute Beads store

When White Just Wont Do

To see how to dye plastic habby fitting to these intense colours visit my Dye Tutorials page