Thursday, September 12, 2019

Montréal Frocktails 2019

#MontrealFrocktails2019

Réservez la date! Samedi 16 novebre 2019 - 19h

Un super événement rassemblera une centaine d'amateur.e.s de couture à Montréal cet automne, soit Montréal Frocktails - où l'on se rassemble en habit fait main et cocktail à la main!

Nous offrons une boissons gratuite, quelques bouchées et, plus important, une occasion unique pour célébrer avec des gens passionnés de couture!! Il y aura de nombreux prix de présence et chaque participant repartira avec un sac de cadeaux liés à la couture ; nous avons déjà annoncé quelque commanditaires qui offrent des patrons et des cours de couture en ligne gratuitement!

Nous annoncerons la salle et le Sponsor platine pour Frocktails Montréal très très bientôt !! C'est si difficile de garder ces secrets!! Suivez-nous pour tout savoir dès que c'est officiel!


Ticket : Facebook Event


Save the date! Saturday, November 16th 2019 - 7pm

A super event will gather a hundred of sewing enthusiasts under the same roof for Montréal Frocktails - where we mingle in our handmade frocks, one cocktail in hand!

The party provide a free drink for everyone, a few bites and, more importantly, a unique party with people that love sewing! There will be several raffle prizes and each participant will leave with a sewing goody bag ; we already announced some sponsors that will give patterns and free online classes!

Major sponsor and venue announcements will come shortly for the Montreal Frocktails!! It is so exciting but so hard to keep secrets until all is signed!!! Follow us to learn the latest news while still hot!


Merci!

les organisatrices :

Saturday, March 16, 2019

En mai : Mugler et la virée des ateliers!

Musée des beaux arts de Montréal (source)



Thierry Mugler - Visite guidée en mai

Si vous aimeriez faire une visite guidée de l'exposition Thierry Mugler en mai 2019, cliquez ici pour voter pour vos dimanches libres... Notez que le dimanche 5 mai, il serait possible de combiner musée le matin et la virée des ateliers en après-midi!



Thierry Mugler - Guided Tour in May

If you would like a guided tour of the Thierry Mugler exhibit in May 2019, click here to vote for your available Sundays... Note that on Sunday May 5th, we could go to the museum in tehmorning and visit the Open House of numerous artisans ateliers in the afternoon!





Monday, December 31, 2018

2019 Mtl Sewing Bloggers Meetup!


Saturday January 5th @ 11h30 St-Hubert & 16h Birra Bar

For our fabric store outing this Saturday, I suggest we meet at 11:30 at the cafe, Chez l’Editeur, which is right on Saint-Hubert at the heart of the fabric district. Here is the address: 7240 rue Saint-Hubert. I’d be happy to have a coffee before checking out the shops in order to give some time for those arriving.


Some have shown interest in drinks at the end of the day, so for those who are up for it after fabric shopping or who would simply like to join in at the end of the day, I suggest we head back to Birra Bar, 7129 Saint Laurent, at 4pm. Looking forward to seeing you all!


Samedi le 5 janvier @ 11h30 St-Hubert & 16h Birra Bar


Pour notre meet-up ce samedi 5 janvier, je propose qu’on se donne rendez-vous au café Chez l’Editeur, 7240 rue Saint-Hubert, à 11h30. On pourrait prendre un café afin de donner assez de temps aux gens pour arriver. Ensuite on commence à faire les magasins !

Après avoir magasinier ou pour celles et ceux qui se rejoindraient à nous à la fin de la journée, je propose qu’on retourne au Birra Bar, 7129 Saint Laurent, à 16h. Hâte de vous voir !

Monday, October 1, 2018

Ateliers Artisans - Crafty Workshops

ma mère et moi pratiquant les coups de pinceaux d'un trait avec Éliane Berdat, Illustratrice

J'ai adoré mon atelier d'introduction à la peinture aquarelle organisé par CreaCo au Lofts Créatif sur St-Laurent. Éliane était très généreuse de ses conseils et elle nous a laissé expérimenter avec plusieurs aquarelle, encre d'aquarelle, produits masquant, crayon feutre micron et papiers de diverses gammes et qualité. Sans prétention, seulement pour le plaisir d'expérimenter les couleurs sans le stress de la performance - très zen comme atelier! Un beau 3h en bonne compagnie avec thé, café et viennoiseries fournies. Merci beaucoup!

La compagnie CreaCo permet de trouver sous un même toit des ateliers à réaliser en personne dans plusieurs villes de la province du Québec. Ils offrent des ateliers avec des artisans de métier pour tout les goûts : dessin, peinture, macramé, pâtisserie, ateliers de robotiques pour enfants, poterie, joaillerie, etc. Ils commencent à offrir des ateliers en couture aussi... Je les ai croisé au Marché Etsy ce weekend - des filles allumées et très inspirantes! Et mon petit doigt me dit que ce n'est que le début! Bravo!

PS : J'ai payé nos ateliers pour ma mère, ma soeur et moi-même avec mon propre argent de poche, comme une grande! Je ne suis pas affiliée à ces compagnies, mais je les trouve géniales!

---
CreaCo offert crafty workshop everywhere in the province of Quebec - look them up! :D

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Balanciaga @ Musée McCord until Oct. 14 2018


I had the pleasure to visit the Balenciaga exhibit with fellow seamstresses at the beginning of the summer ; it was so much fun! You still have until October 14th to go... Another group of seamstress are also going on September 19th - you could join them!

J'ai adoré visité l'exposition avec des copines couturières! La visite guidée est super! Vous avez encore jsuqu'au 14 octobre pour aller voir les créations de Balenciaga... Il y a même un autre groupe de couturières qui y vont le 19 septembre - vous y allez?


Balenciaga au Musée McCord


Thierry Mugler @ Musée des beaux arts - mars 2019


Mark your calendar, a special fashion exhibit will be presented in March 2019:
Garder la date, une exposition de mode spéciale arrivera en ville en mars 2019 : 

Thierry Mugler au Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Montreal Sewing Directory - Finally Updated!


Hello, a quick note to let you know that I updated my Montreal Sewing Directory on Craftsy!

I am proud to say 618 person downloaded the guide since 2015 and it is still a FREE resource! If you see any mistakes, closed stores or you would like to share a new fabrics stores, let me know in the comment section! I plan on making an update shortly again when I will publish a French version of the guide.

Note that Fripe Fabrique is now permanently closed and Suzy Spandex has moved on Louvain street (still in the chabanel area).

But there is several new fabrics stores, sewing schools and a new social sewing space: Atelier Fiber Arts, in Verdun! :D

Thanks!

---
Bonjour, J'ai fait la mise à jour de mon guide des magasins de tissus, écoles de couture et autres lieus ou activités reliées à la couture. Bientôt, une version en Français!

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Gertie's Sundress and Bolero

B6453 Dress + B6354 Bolero : Muslin in ugly sheets!


I am 5'3" and was 40-33-40 and about 165 lbs when I made this dress in July 2017. Here are my muslin pictures (sorry for the ugly old sheet used) in case you are a similar size and were wondering where to start...

I made B6453 in size 14 bodice with a FBA and a skirt size 18 at waist and graded to 14-16 at hips. My FBA was also uncentered so the princess seams would fall at my apex : I added more to the front side princess seams (3/4 in) than to the center panel princess seams (1/2 in) and I shorten the skirt by 6 in at the shortening line and tapered the skirt by slashing and siding by about 3 in below the hips line.

I also made the B6354 Bolero by Gertie, but didn't made an FBA ; next time I will... I made my final dress in a tropical cotton sateen but I do not have good picture of myself in it yet... 

My 40th Luau Birthday Party!

Sunday, December 31, 2017

2017 - Year in review


I love to reflect on the past year with Gillian's Top 5 series, but I took some liberty and made a unique big (and late) post about 2017.

Sewn Projects:
  • Gertie sundress and bolero: for my 40th birthday!
  • I made my first bra with Abracadabra (Monserratt Lopez) at the Common Thread.
  • Started a pair of sandals at the Common Thread.
  • I sewn a dress for my niece with a full circle skirt!
  • Resized a dancing costume for my daughter's best friend
  • Sewn a Barbie ensemble as per my daughter's design...
  • Made 2 bat wings sleeves dresses for my daughter : Black "Mavis" the vampire from Hotel Transylvania for her Halloween costume and a crushed velvet purple one she asked for... I hope she will want to sew one for herself since the design is simple! 
  • Sewn ribbons to mitts, embroidered names on clothes and tackled a never ending list of mending projects!

Sewcial Activities:
  • Museum "Expo 67" with about 20 Spoolettes + apéro at Brutopia
  • Atelier Fiber Art on Wellington to sew legging with Spoolettes, organised by Terri
  • Sew bra at class with Monserratt Lopez, at the Commun Thread
  • Sew leather at the Commun Thread: I started sandals, Vicki & her son made bags.
  • Musée de la mode avec Julie Peloquin, exposition "Fréquence Bleue" + apéro sur place
  • I tried to visit a local exhibit with Monserratt Lopez, but I screwed up and the library was closed! We had a bite in a local cafe instead...
Personal Highlights:

  • I travel much : Querretaro Mexico, PEI Canada, Skiing in Tremblant, Ontario cabin with friends during March Break, NYC, Vermont and Lake George camping with friends and we played tourist in Montreal for our wedding anniversary!
  • I took time each month to do something fun but felt quite overwhelmed when I started working full time in May 2017, moreover when my daughter was diagnose with dyslexia and dysorthographia.
  • I finish a Spartan race with a group of friends : "Straight Off the Couch!". It took us forever, helping each others at the obstacles but we made it : Arooo!
  • I turned 40 years old!



Reflexions:
  • I am very lucky, lots of vacation time, more money now that I work full time, even thought working weeks are absolutely frantic. I did a lot of fun activities last year. We are healthy. My family is close by. 
  • I feel like I have a hard time to find balance between work, personal and family life. I still feel even more guilty to work full time with kids needs now. I feel I am getting old, feel like time is passing too fast, kids need me now but I am not there to be free later (working for retirement)...
  • ME TIME : I need to work out, swim, run and ski... I need to do more of what I love : reading, sewing, travelling, painting/art, playing with my kids! Stop procrastinating in front of computer, fake relaxing browsing facebook ; DO INSTEAD!! 
  • COUPLE TIME : be with my husband, go out more, ask the babysitter next door...
  • KIDS TIME : play more, be there not just for chores/homework/boring parents stuff... I am the default parent and feel I am not fun anymore..
  • Challenge to help my daughter learn to Read/Write... Not sure yet how to approach this without her having too much homework and starting hating school...
  • Challenge to help my son be more happy when there is constraints, external demands at school and home, be better at delayed gratification without throwing a fit everytime someone ask him to interrupt his play time...
  • HOUSE : Need to redo RDC bathroom and decide if we do the garage or not (vs travel and save for retirement with the money)

Goal for sewing 2018 :
  • black bra *
  • sew panties *
  • new wallet and/or purse *
  • warm slippers/sock in B&W herringbone wool and polar fleece*
  • mitts and hat in B&W herringbone wool and polar fleece
  • use my raspberry bamboo knit : top with shawl back cowl
  • use my tropical rayon challis : B6453 sundress
  • finish leather sandals
  • something blush pink (top or dress?)
* needed.





Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Atelier Fiber Arts de Verdun

Atelier Fiber Arts - 3993 Rue Wellington à Verdun


Ce samedi 4 novembre 2017, les Spoolettes de Montréal iront coudre un legging en bonne compagnie à l'Atelier Fibre Arts de Verdun (page facebook) près du métro De L'Église.

Ce nouvel atelier de Montréal offrent des cours de coutures pour débutants à avancées (même un avec ma copine Monserratt pour coudre un soutien-gorge!), un service de réparation de machine à coudre et une panoplie de machine à coudre, surjeteuse et même une machine à long bras pour les courte-pointes. Un groupe de courte pointe, The Montreal Modern Quilt Guild, s'y rencontre parfois et ils partagent leur locaux avec Craft de Ville qui y vendent des tissus (quilting cotton) et patrons.

J'ai bien hâte d'aller découvrir l'endroit...

Merci à Terri d'organiser cette journée :D