Alto - The Future of Sewing Machines?

For as long as I can remember as a child, we had a vintage Singer sewing machine stand sitting in the hallway at home. The machine had been replaced by a marble top but the cast iron base with it's treadle and wheel were a constant source of amusment for my childhood self (and the occasional snagged finger - ow!)


The first time I laid eyes on the fabled Singer machine that belonged to said treadle was when a mum from school unveiled her prized - and in working order - 1938 Singer machine during rehearsals of "Fiddler on the Roof". In my excitment I proceeded to stab the needle clean through my index finger.

Singer's 160th Anniversary Machine

In the 80-odd years since the hey dey of the gorgeous-yet-functional Singer machine, domestic sewing machines have not been the pack leaders in form and design. With the exception perhaps of the fancy unfolding Elna LOTUS or Singer's 160th Anniversary Edition machine, there have been few truly beautiful and functional sewing machines since.

Elna LOTUS - a design classic.

So when a machine comes along that defies convention of both form and function, we definitely sit up and pay attention!
Introducing "Alto".

British designer Sarah Dickins has come up with an absolutely stunning concept machine that not only changes the way we look at sewing machines - but also the way that we use them!

The Alto eliminates a foot pedal by using a pressure sensor built into the base of the machine. It also allows for a change in speed just by moving the fabric! The simplified threading process and large base area also allow for super-easy sewing.

Alto has been submitted as an entrant for the James Dyson Design Award as a machine to service the "make do and mend" trend of simple home sewing.

Leather casing! Oh my!

 We think it's pretty darn sexy. Check out more pics on the James Dyson site.

Could you see this adorning your sewing table? I sure could (if I had a sewing table, that is...)

DIY Wedding - Alex & Nika

We love a wedding here at W&W and are very proud to announce that our very own Elle tied the knot this weekend - photos still to come! Very special congratulations to her and hubby.

While we keep that one under wraps, Dora came across a beautiful wedding post over on the Etsy blog last weekend! Even better - it features some Spotty Product!

Cute bridesmaid fabrics made from Create Blenders!

Alex and Nika were married in Rockingham, WA, on a tight budget and even tighter schedule - we know all about those here in the buying office.They rustled up a fabulous affair calling on friends and family to sew, bake, decorate and celebrate with them.

No-sew bunting - use mini pegs to hold up your fave fabrics

We're totally taken with the total DIY feel across the entire event - even "make your own" pizzas for dinner! Awesome!

Local wild flowers keep the tables grounded and earthy

Check out the rest of their gorgeous photos over at the Etsy weddings blog.

Love the layers of rugs! So cosy!

Have you got some fabulous DIY wedding ideas? We'd love to hear all about them!

Little Artists

I think the best thing about Halloween - besides an excuse to get dressed up and PARTY ON A BOAT - is seeing the amazingly cute mini-monsters that your neighbour's kids turn into.
I googled "Best Kid's Halloween Costumes" and decided to not post any of them here - they were equal parts creepy and awesome and I could have hotlinked all of them. So google for yourself and prepare your "awwwwww" face. (Maybe also your "eeew" and "not suitable for children" faces too).

By far the best I've discovered in the lead up to Halloween this year - and maybe ever - is these amazing "Little Artist" costume tutorials over at Oh Happy Day!

 

THESE ARE THE BEST THINGS EVER TO EVER LAND IN MY INBOX EVER. Seriously. Head over to Oh Happy Day to find out how you too can kidnap your godchild and turn them into a brooding artist. 

Oh Happy Day also has a whole host of awesome costume ideas in their "Handmade Halloween" section - be sure to check them out.

We're off to see the Wizard...

My boyfriend baulked at me when I told him I've never seen the original 1939 version of "The Wizard of Oz". To be frank, I'm terrified of flying monkeys and the very notion of a pair of sparkly shoes transporting me to a far away place just gives me flashbacks to bad drag shows at the Greyhound (back when it was still a tacky rock joint).

I did however see "Wicked", but that's another story. Literally.

You don't need to have seen the film or mermorised it backwards (Unlike our office resident historian Jane Austen) to recognise the iconic dress worn by Judy Garland's Dorothy in the film. All blue and white gingham and puffy sleeve, it's easily one of the best-known costumes in modern film history.
Thanks to Julien's Auctions in Beverley Hills, it could be yours - for a small US$500,000. That's right, the very same dress worn by Garland in the film is up for sale! Garland's costume is one of several identical outfits made for the movie, but the only one to have been seen on film and the only complete version to have survived intact.

Creepy Wax figure wearing the orignal dress.

For those of you who don't have a spare half mil to splash out on a dress that quite possibly smells like mothballs, you've just enough time before Halloween to crank one of these out for yourself!

Simplicity Pattern 4136 (size 6-22), 4139 (sizes 3-8) & 4024 (sizes 1/2-4) have you covered!

Simplicity 4139

Grab some great gingham in store (we've got HEAPS!) and get stitching! This is the perfect frock to last from Halloween party season right through into breezy summer days.

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What are you stitching up for Halloween? We'd love to see! Why not visit us on Facebook?

Junglesaurus

I really like dinosaurs.

I mean REALLY REALLY like dinosaurs.

I like dinosaurs so much that I cried when it was established that the Brontosaurus and Apatosaurus were different names the same dinosaur. In my eyes, that was one less dinosaur to love.

While devestated as a child that I could never actually saddle up and ride on a tricerotops, I consoled myself with countless viewings of the 90's cult classic film "We're Back". John Goodman voicing a T-rex? I was in heaven.

 

Fast forward past Jurassic Park, the Magic Schoolbus and Steven Spielberg's ill-fated "Terra Nova" (Dean Geyer? Really?), and daily viewings of Dinosaur Comic and finally I've come full circle, the Jurassic age is here, and we present to you...

Junglesaurus

 

We're seriously SO excited about this range, it's super cute and so fun and bright!

 

The last print is my particular favourite - as I'm terrible at spelling, this handy print does it all for you - and even tells you what the dino names mean!

Stuck for a project idea? Try this super cool plush dino tutorial over at Little Black Teapot. Seriously cute, who wouldn't want one of these toys?

Junglesaurus Quilting Fabric, 112cm, 100% Cotton. $16.99m (60x112cm panel $12.99ea)

In stores now!

Friday Sewing Tips

The weather is starting to look a little gloomy over the office here - I feel like I preface so many friday posts with this, but it's typical Melbourne!
For those of you who've been good enough to dedicate some time to sewing today, we've found some fabulous tips over at one of our favourite blogs, Coletterie.

Seamstress' at work in a Melbourne Garment Factory, c1950

The girls have collated a great list of tips lifted from some professional seamstresses - that is, those who work on industrial machines for a living. While the closest I've ever got to an industrial machine is our trusty vintage singer here in the office (it's only for looks, I swear), I'm sure there are some awesome ideas you can adopt for your own sewing room.

If you're not fortunate (?) enough to own one of these babies...

We're all about keeping up the good habits here at W&W, so why not head over to Coletterie and start up a list for yourself?

Click here for the full story.


Have a great weekend!

Not a patch on it!

It's no secret that I'm no sewer, I've said it many times before.

It's also little surprise that I am prone to over-reaction.

Put those two seemingly disparate statements together and we have the moment when I witnessed a barrage of Quilting Genius and quite literally fell off my chair.

Come now, I hear you cry, what on earth are you doing on the floor? Surely you are stretching the point a bit? And how are you typing this post from down there?

The aforementioned Quilting Genius, you see, came in the form of Spotlight's Tri-National, Second Annual, Very Exciting Quilting Expo this weekend.

The event was held in all Spotlight stores and gave some of our avid quilting customers (and patchwork newbies) a chance to show off some of their skills and share some advice, tips and tricks with others.

The highlight (and impetus of me kissing the floor somewhat unceremoniously) of the Expo was our "Show Us Your Best Work" competition, in which YOU were invited to bring in a quilt or patchwork project and win yourself a fantastic ELNA sewing machine (bazinga!).

The swanky ELNA Elina 21. You know you want it.

 
The quality of the entries was absolutley astounding. I'm not sure how else to describe them, so I created an album on our facebook page. Leave us a comment and tell us which is your favourite?

 Here's mine... shh. I'm not supposed to play favourites.

 Did you enter in Quilt Expo? Send us your photos!