May 5, 2013 | 
Author 
Yay! I’ve opened my little Etsy Shop guys, I had butterflies in my tummy when I pressed the ‘Open Shop’ button how exciting hey? I’ve still got a lot to do, they now have an About Me page which I’m looking forward to working on and there’s so much to learn over there. I’ve just made a Facebook Page which I will use more than my personal page so if you like ‘Like’ to keep up to date and see what comes off my machine each week.
My labels arrived last week, little woven beauties they are. I love the simplicity of white on black and a great legible font. I’ll leave it up to the clothes to tell the colourful side of the story.
So this week I spent a large amount of my time writing and photographing stuff along with making a new bomber jacket and satin& lace pantaloons. I love this bomber a lot more than last weeks, probably because she’s lined in a light grey cotton and I used black ribbing for the neck and waist bands. Ah the little things the little pockets are great too. The jacket goes with anything including satin and lace pantaloons. The bomber will fit a range of sizes it’s so roomy in there. Gotta love that!!
So my plan guys is to not turn into a sweatshop, sewing skirts and bombers and knickers and the like I have too many ideas for that to happen, I can only imagine getting frustrated and caught up in a big rut doing the same thing over and over and this place would suffer greatly so for me to stay happy creating each week I’m offering up what I’ve sewn plus one in your size (providing I have enough fabric) and that is it. One-off unique garments one in my size (because I have to model it) and one in your size. Once I’ve sewn my weekly Blog/Etsy make I’ll spend my other time sewing and stocking my little shop with a mix of bits and pieces. This way I stay happy sewing and designing and you and just one other lucky person get to wear something totally unique. I’m going to see how that works.
Also off my machine this week for your viewing or perhaps buying pleasure are these gorgeous satin and lace pantaloons, they’ll fit a range of sizes. And I only had enough fabric and vintage lace for one pair so, this means only YOU will be wearing them. Complete with drawstring waist and side pockets. They have that great drop-crotch look, it all depends on how you want to wear them. Pyjamas! with a tee or camisole? There are NEVER any rules 
In other news I’ve been mentioned in this fab article- Echoes of Africa written by the gorgeous Cristina Morales of Indra Ethnik. Thank you for the mention sweetie.
So that’s it from me this week. ‘Like’ the hell outta my Facebook page apparently it helps 
Thank you for your lovely and supportive comments on my new venture guys I really appreciate it. The sewing community is really freaking awesome. Much love and respect xx
How was your week? Mine was very productive, I’ve been putting some items together for my Etsy shop which I’m hoping to open next week, I’m just waiting on my little labels to arrive and hell no it’s NOT called Kazzthespazz, yikes! If you follow me on instagram you may be aware that I’m a bit of a Grace Jones fan and one of my favourite songs is Warm Leatherette (check the rolling bass line) which was originally done by The Normal but I love Graces version- I’m imagining anyone who buys and wears my clothes would look killer strutting down the street to/in Warm Leatherette. Immediately you think leather right? I know! maybe I will sew some leather pieces who know’s! but for now it’s just a name- beats *insert Yogi Bear accent* Kazzthespazz way to go picking a blog name without much thought, not anticipating this blog to be anything more than a place for friends and family to visit. Ah well, lesson learned. Anyways… this range of outfits I’ve titled Be Bold Baby. Of course you don’t have to wear them like I have, it’s up to you how you want to wear them, I’m certainly no dictator I’m just here to entertain you and show you what’s come off my machine every week. Do you like this African Wax Print suit above? it reminds me of Miu Miu Fall 2012 . The jacket is fully lined and a little big on me but I’m sure this will fit a one fierce lucky customer with great taste.
We’re looking at the skirt here. Don’t you just love this print? I love it, it’s so bold and the length? I know a lot of ladies don’t like to show their knees so maybe this is for you? It has a centre back zip and buttons up at the waist band finished with a tie at the front. Full skirt with tons of sass, who doesn’t love a little sass?
Now here’s a skirt for those ladies who like their knees or, what about tights? you can always wear tights right? A fun full skirt ready to mix and match with whatever you choose. You’ve just got to work it. Be Bold Baby!
I love this, I’ve made a mini bomber jacket, It’s so hard to see the details though, I’ll have to photograph them for the shop. It has pockets at the front and a mandarin collar, with an elastic waistline and cuffs. It’s not lined but I may offer that as an option. This would look great with a pair of jeans baseball boots and cap don’t you think? Casual and effortless. Whatever takes your fancy, imagine shopping for fruit and veg in this get up? Of course you can.
I made these straight-cut pants too but they don’t fit with this post I tried teaming them up with the lined jacket and it just looked meh! You’ll know how to wear them.
I like making pants, I like making skirts I. like. making. and working with colour makes it even more exciting.
Look at all that c o l o u r, my little studio is bursting with it, I might make some more bomber jackets this week, I just need to style them better and take more detailed photos.
Here’s the lining of the jacket which went down without a hitch, let’s hope that happens every time I have to make one.
It’s starting to get cold here in Melbourne and all I’ve been thinking about is piling on the plaid, layer upon layer can’t get enough of the stuff. I managed to sort my wardrobe packing away the summer stuff and pulling the winter stuff to the front. I just need some thick wooly jumpers. I wish I had the patience to knit. Maybe I’ll buy a couple of thrifties and cut and paste them with my sewing machine. Yeah that’s what I’ll do, I’ll make a unique one-of-a-kind wooly number.
Anyway I need to fold the mountain of washing in my bedroom it’s hit the roof-blah! that’s how exciting it is around here today. I should start on my mums bra though, poor mum she’s been waiting and waiting, I’ll start today I promise.
Happy Sewing.
What a great week I’ve managed to have, some really great news popped into my inbox early Monday morning which set the pace for a creative week to follow. You may remember me telling you about my blog being nominated for Voices 2013? Well, I’m a lucky finalist within the category of Creative & Home, how exciting hey?! there are 25 other crafty blogs within this category, and boy are they good. I’m over the moon I am, ecstatic! You can read about the prizes involved here and view the top 100 finalists here, congratulations to all those fancy blogs who made it through. I’ve been reading new blogs all week, exciting stuff indeed.
This week I’ve been busy sewing knickers, lots of knickers. I’ve made a couple of really cool skirts for my little Etsy shop too but havent managed to photograph them due to a flat camera battery. I’ll pop them on the blog next week. Thank you to my lovely readers for their encouraging comments and support last week, Very, very much appreciated.
I spent half a day washing fabrics to minimise shrinkage and got to putting a fancy range of knickers together, I have these gorgeous cotton voiles which I cut on the bias for stretch and added contrasting bows, they have a straight stitch along each edge to stop them from fraying out of hand, all have a soft jersey insert for the crotch. So far, I’ve made them in different sizes ranging from a Aus 6 through to 16. I think these top three voile pairs would be perfect to slip into after you’ve had a swim, underneath a brightly printed silky kaftan. Can you see that too?
Cotton bias-cut voile knickers with gingham frayed bows finished off with a teeny tiny vintage button.
I love this cut, a water-colour printed voile front panel and soft jersey for the booty and crotch, finished with a velvet bow and cute button. They’re really comfy, this cut would look great as swimmers too, I’ll have to draft up a look for the top half, something that can suit most sizes. I’d love to make matching bra’s I think sizing could become a big issue though with fitting etc a bra that can cover small sizes that doesn’t have support could possibly work but a fitted underwire bra? even I couldn’t trust buying a bra online labeled in my size to actually fit me perfectly and because of the nature of the garment you’d have to say no returns in your shop policy wouldn’t you?.
and here’s another dilemma for me, see those knickers above they don’t look half as fancy laying there all limp and lifeless as they do on and there is no way on earth that I could model underwear, no way! so: 1. I’ll need to write a very lively and detailed description photographing them in a fancy setting or send some of these fancies off to a model in exchange for photos.
Lots of things to consider when selling, it’s obviously harder sewing for others than it is for yourself. I have done it many times before, some questions I need to ask myself, do I sew custom-made or ready-to-wear? I guess this will depend on how sales go. Sewing custom-made would probably result in better sales but with added headachy bits. Sticking to a size chart sounds more appealing to me as a maker. I guess a couple of minor tweaks can be implemented under the title of Custom-Made. A couple of years ago I had a customer who had very large boobs with a Barbie doll waistline along with an ample sized booty. When I sewed the dress up to her measurements it looked so wrong. I received positive feedback but it was frustrating waiting for the result, all. that .work. and what if it didn’t fit!! who? with those measurements was ever going to buy it?
Anyway, these are the kind of things that have been keeping me awake at night. I’ll be in bed reading my book and the ‘What if’s’ pop up in between each paragraph, I can’t concentrate on the damn book- frustrating. So, in conclusion the best thing to do is to just put it out there and see how it all goes which I’m going to do anyway. Etsy is never-ending, getting noticed will be a job in itself. I’ve been watching a lot of Etsy’s Handmade Portrait Series on Vimeo. So inspiring. Xenobia Bailey!! she’s totally amazeballs, and I’ve always loved Yokoo and her aesthetic, when she talks about subworlds! I can totally relate. As for keeping focused and making sure fear and self-doubt dont rear its ugly head- Australian singer Clare Bowditch has put together Big Hearted Business which I discovered through Pip’s blog Meetmeatmikes. Clare has a fantastic series of talks by other creatives who work in the creative field which I’ve found really inspirational. The Inspiration Bombs are fantastic. Here is week 1 and week 2 if you’re interested. I like hearing other creatives inspiring and encouraging stories for those reasons alone. Anyways, I have loads of sewing to get done. I’ve decided to give the Colette Laurel competition a miss, I’ve just got too much going on… See you next week.
Happy Sewing.
