Upcoming June Class at the Arts Station

Sewing Clothing For Babies & Toddlers 

Date: June 5th, 2011
Time: 12 to 4pm
Where: The Arts Station Studio (upstairs)
Cost: $60 Supplies included

The Details: A class for people with basic skills of sewing. Level of difficulty is Easy so this class is appropriate for those just starting out sewing and want to learn how to make adjustable clothing for babies and toddlers. Choose from a little dress that converts to a skirt as the child grows or a pair of pants that are reversible and have an adjustable waist.

I have a variety of fabrics to choose from. Visit www.ourilanquinn.etsy.com to view selection. Email or call Athena Knibbs at ourilan@gmail.com or 250 423-7214 for more information.

Register at The Arts Station (601 1st Avenue). Contact Courtney Baker at 250-423-4842 or at assistant@theartsstation.com to register. 

Addendum for Make a Shoulder Bag Workshop.

For those of you who have signed up for the shoulder bag workshop, and for those yet to sign up...I have added an option for including fabric in the cost of the class. If participants would like, they have the option of paying $60.00 and this would include ALL fabric and  notions. I am sorry this may seem a bit disorganized but I had the posters already made and circulated before I opened an online shop for fabric at ETSY (see righthand side of blog or click here. As I don't have a huge stock, I am able to bring all selections with me, so just pick what you like when you get to class!


Date: May 29th, 2011
Times: 12 to 4pm
Where: The Arts Station Studio (upstairs)
Cost: $40 (supplies not included) $60 Supplies included
Instructor: Athena Knibbs
The Details:  Option 1: an easy beginner bag designed by Amy Butler (top) or Option 2: An advanced beginner bag (bottom) designed by Anna Graham of www.noodle-head.com

Must bring working sewing machine. Writer will provide Opt. 1 pattern, Opt.2 pattern is available for download at: www.noodle-head.com. Pick up material list for tote at the Arts Station or email ourilan@gmail.com. For those paying $40 for the workshop, writer will provide interfacing and snaps so participants will only have to purchase outer fabric, lining and optional zippers.

Register at The Arts Station (601 1^st Avenue). For more information contact Courtney Baker at 250-423-4842 or at assistant@theartsstation.com.

Tea for Two.

, a photo by Our Ilan & Quinn on Flickr.

Ilan thought it was pretty fun to pretend to have tea with me while we read books. We sang the alphabet...oh, let's see...about 20 times. I will cherish these moments. Now every time I look at this mug rug I will think of tea time with Ilan. I had fun making this one. I love mugrugs and have tried a few with some success. I am not so good at binding. I have a hard enough time getting the mitered corners when binding a quilt, much less a really, really small one. It is a challenge for me, for sure. So when I saw hotpads from Natural Patchwork that had raw edge binding, I was all over that!

Instagram is sooo much fun!

, a photo by Our Ilan & Quinn on Flickr.

First off. Instagram rocks! It is a iphone app that adds cool filters and borders to your pics taken with the iphone. I had seen it used at http://neveinspired.tumblr.com/ (a great blog and store, by the way. Very, very cool custom clothing and screenprinted tees for kids). Anyways, here is my first blog post with Instagram. Unfortunately, pics cannot be directly sent to blogger so I had to send the picture to Flickr first.

So enough about Instagram. The bag is a pattern from Noodlehead and this was my first go. I wanted to be sure I knew what I was doing, as I am using the pattern for a bag making class. It was incredibly easy to put together. The only thing I did different was I made my strap 44 inches instead of 26. I wanted, or need to be able to wear the bag across my shoulder. This way I have my hands free for busy little ones. Overall, I am very happy with the pattern. The fabric is wild, from Jay McCarrol's newest collection, Habitat. I have all three fabrics in my Etsy shop and I thought I better make something to showcase the playfulness of this line.

New! Our Ilan & Quinn Fabric

Well this post deserves to be a long post...but it will be a short one. Simple, short and sweet. I am selling fabric on ETSY! I am "knackered" (as my aussie friend, AP so awesomely says) from listing for what seemed like hours on end. I didn't think it would take sooo long!  You will find the link to the right....yes...go ahead and click! I am obviously starting small with a smattering of fabrics from Freespirit, the sister website of Westminister Fibers. I received my first shipment 2 days ago and will be expecting some more in a couple of weeks. Now begins the journey into the wonderful, sometimes confusing world of ETSY. K, this post is getting kinda longish...for me anyways. I always mean to pour more heart and soul in to blogging....but I tire out. Two kids under 3 make for a busy mama. I digress. Where was I? Ahh...ETSY. Now begins the journey of checking my account religiously, getting orders ready and bike rides to the post office. Life is pretty great here in Fernie by the way. Spring has sprung, bikes are out. We have been getting around town with the kids in tow, Ilan yelling "mummy bike faster!". It is too funny. Quinn's helmet is always covering his little eyes and all you see is cheeks. Here I go, off topic again. As much as I love this crazy new adventure we are on, I am more grateful for the support and love from my husband and boys. Thank you.

Upcoming bag class at the Art Station- May 29th, 2011

I am teaching a sewing class on making a shoulder bag as part of the The Arts Station Workshop Series. I was originally going to stick with everyone making the same bag but after feedback from a beginner's sewing session (4 classes) I taught back in March, I decided that having options for people is best. I haven't tried Noodle-Head's 241 Tote pattern as of yet but I love the look. Soon I will get busy and give it a go so I have a sample for the class. Yeah! new bag for me!

Date: May 29th, 2011
Times: 12 to 4pm
Where: The Arts Station Studio (upstairs)
Cost: $40

The Details: Option 1: an easy beginner bag designed by Amy Butler (on left) or Option 2: An advanced beginner bag (on right) designed by Anna Graham of www.noodle-head.com

Must bring working sewing machine. Writer will provide Opt. 1 pattern, Opt.2 pattern is available for download at: http://www.noodlehead.com/p/patterns.html. Pick up material list for tote at the Arts Station or email ourilan@gmail.com. Writer will provide interfacing and snaps so participants will only have to purchase outer fabric, lining and optional zippers.

Register at The Arts Station (601 1st Avenue). For more information contact Courtney Baker at 250-423-4842 or at assistant@theartsstation.com.

The crunch has begun....

Well spring has sprung in Fernie and now it is time to get started on sewing for the Canada Day Market. This will be my third Mountain Market kick off and I am excited because I am trying something new. I would love to tell you what...but I will wait until I can show you. Soon....


So here is a bit of a preview of a skirt I tried out today. It is sized for 2 T but I feel like the waist may be a bit big. The whole skirt is made with one large rectangle with a middle seam up the back.  The main body is a cotton linen blend and the bottom is made of 10 5X5 squares from a Moda charm pack. the band was then doubled over to make a "hemless" bottom. I was pleased with how it hangs. When my 2 year old ( or " two half" as Ilan would say) wakes up from his nap I will try it on for size.  He will be mortified at 16 when the word gets out that I used him as my model. I will reassure him there are only 2 pictures floating around. My next task is to try out a boys' pants pattern I put together. As I type, I think I really should aim for shorts. I think they may make a better market item is sunny July. I am hoping to be a bit more organized with what I make in terms of sticking to one item and reproducing all that I need until I have enough...Usually after 2 or 3 items of the same style I move on out of boredom. Then it is a huge mish mash. Here's hoping.