The Linen Project

As you may have seen, one of the more recent additions to our fabrics have been a couple of lovely Sienna Linens, which we have available in Shell or Husk. To celebrate these lovely natural fibres, we thought it would be fun to give our customers a 'winter warmer' challenge to engage your creativity and inspire you!

So we've come up with The Linen Project! We have made up packs of linen and scrap fabrics (available to purchase here) and we're challenging you to create something Zakka themed using the linen pack and any other fabrics from your stash which you may also wish to incorporate.

'Zakka' is originally a Japanese term used to describe a fashion and design phenomenon that has makers and crafters all over the world creating items that help improve our homes and lifestyles. It has been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". For example, the skill of transforming something we use everyday - like a pot holder or apron - into something which also has an aesthetic appeal and improves the appearance of our home or our enjoyment of a certain task.

To help inspire you and give you some examples of 'Zakka', we have created a board on Pinterest, which can be found here.

If you would like to take part in the challenge, you can purchase a linen pack on our website (please note, for all internet orders, a linen pack will be chosen for you at random). You can make absolutely anything you like, as long as it is in the style of 'Zakka'! Then post a photo of your creation on Facebook or email us at info@themakecafe.co.nz. 

Entries will be taken up until 31st August and we will announce the winner on 2nd September, who will receive this lovely selection of goodies, including the much sought after Zakka Style book!

                           Good luck everyone! :)

Three Things... Laminated Cotton

Here at the Make Cafe, we have noticed that there are certain fabrics to which people are drawn, but we continually hear the same question:

"That's GORGEOUS... but what would you do with it???"

To help you find some inspiration, we thought we'd do a regular post called "Three Things..." 

Three ideas for how to use a specific fabric types or fabric line. 

This week, we have a three ideas for what to do with laminated cotton. 

Laminated cotton is quilting weight fabric which has been thinly coated on the printed side with a thin layer of laminate. This makes it water resistant. It is a really versatile fabrics, suitable for all sorts of things.

How about a cute Rain Coat? Follow the link to a great tutorial for a little girls rain coat.



Photo credit: Jessica @ Sew Me Crazy



If you are not into clothes making, and your bathroom needs a face-lift, how about making a new Shower curtain?



Photo Credit: Char of Crap I've Made



And finally, how about a laminated cotton messenger bag? This bag comes complete with lots of handy pockets so that your valuables don't all get lost at the bottom of your bag.



Photo credit to: Cheryl @ Sew Can Do



If there is a specific fabric that you want to know more about, just let us know and we'll see if we can find some inspiration for you.

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Fun in sun - Magic Salt Painting

If you are looking for one last quick holiday craft, then this is great fun and you are likely to have all you need in your cupboard 

Magic Salt Painting

What you need:

Salt

Glue

Paintbrushes (I happened to have 2 droppers) 

Cardboard 

Food colouring mixed with water

A Tray or baking sheet to work on

1.Get the kids to go wild with PVA glue onto their cardboard

2. Generously sprinkle salt on top and tip off excess onto their tray

3. Drop bits of food colouring onto the salt trails and watch as magic unfolds and the colour runs along the trail ! 

4. Leave to dry in the sunshine 

Workshops in August

Here they are - the eagerly anticipated schedule of workshops for August!

We have had SUCH a busy month here at The Make Cafe. Our children's workshops were a blast - for teachers and pupils alike! And we've been working like busy little bees behind the scenes to come up with new classes to add to our usual repertoire!

Seen a class you'd like to attend but can't make the date? We can put a private class on for you, providing you have a group of four or more people and the appropriate tutor is available on the date you specify. Just drop us a line to info@themakecafe.co.nz.

If you would like more information about any of the following classes or want to book a place, please follow the links provided to our website. Or you can give us a call in store on 03 348 6187.

Bezel Necklace and Earrings        Monday 5th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm           $45             (FULL)

Make your own necklace and pair of earrings whilst learning the techniques behind making resin jewellery. A very addictive hobby!

Learn to Sew                                 Tuesday 6th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                             $40

In this complete beginner's workshop, you will get plenty of one-to-one tuition to help you learn how to use a sewing machine to make a basic cushion cover. Maximum of four students.

Cookie Decorating                          Wednesday 7th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                                 $50

During this two hour workshop, you will be shown how to decorate six tea party themed cookies using rolled, flooded and piped icing techniques. A perfect homemade addition to a tea party with friends!

Beginner's Crochet - Flowers                     Sunday 11th August, 2.00 – 4.00pm                          $45

A perfect class for those who've always wanted to give crochet a try. In this 1.5 hour class you will learn the basic crochet stiches needed to make flowers and leave with a pattern for several different petal variations.

Cake Pops                                       Monday 12th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                                $50

Learn how to master the art of making these much sought after culinary treats and wow all your friends and family at your next morning tea!

Layer, Quilt and Bind                            Tuesday 13th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                          $45

Learn how to master the basics of layering fabric, quilting and binding and make a lovely pot warmer to pretty up your kitchen!

Bezel Necklace and Earrings                    Wednesday 14th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                     $45

Make your own necklace and pair of earrings whilst learning the techniques behind making resin jewellery. A very addictive hobby!

Learn to Knit                                 Thursday 15th August, 6.00 – 9.00pm                                $45

Learn the basics of knitting and make yourself a beautiful pair of fingerless mittens to keep your hands cosy through the colder months!

Sock Knitting                               Sunday 18th August, 1.00 – 5.00pm                                         $45

Learn the art of knitting in the round and make yourself a pair of socks to keep your tootsies warm this winter! Warning: once you've made one pair, everyone will want some!

Make a lampshade!                       Monday 19th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                $60           (FULL)

Learn how to make your own lampshade completely from scratch! All materials provided – choose from our range of 250 quilting weight cottons; we have something to suit any interior!

Cupcake Decorating        Wednesday 21st August, 7.30 – 9.30pm      $50         (1 space remaining!)

Learn to master the basics of cupcake decorating and make four scrumptious looking (and tasting!) culinary delights!

Make a Flex Frame Purse                      Friday 23rd August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                                  $45

In this advanced beginners sewing class, you will learn how to work with flex frames to create either a useful little coin purse or a glasses case to protect your specs!

Crochet An Infinity Scarf                            Sunday 25th August, 1.00 – 3.30pm                      $45

Learn to master the basic crochet stitches and make a gorgeous infinity scarf to wear all winter long!

Make a lampshade!                                 Monday 26th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                           $60

Learn how to make your own lampshade completely from scratch! All materials provided – choose from our range of 250 quilting weight cottons; we have something to suit any interior!

Sew a Butterfly Quilt Block                            Tuesday 27th August, 7.30 – 9.30pm                      $40

Learn to foundation paper piece. This is technique by which fabric is sewn to paper to make a quilt block.

Make a Keepsake Book                         Wednesday 28th August, 6.30 – 8.30pm                      $45

Learn how to make a book to keep all your treasured birthday, Christmas and anniversary cards safe and lovingly displayed. A perfect present for a friend or family member!

Fabric Decoupaged Furniture                     Saturday 31st August, 9am – 5pm                             $75

In this full day's workshop, you will learn how to apply layers of fabric, glue and sealant to a piece of your own furniture. A perfect craft for fabric addicts who don't sew!

Introducing....Sewaholic Patterns!

We were very excited this week to receive a special parcel arriving all the way from Vancouver, Canada! If any of you have ever seen any of the Sewaholic pattern range, you will understand the excited anticipation we've been experiencing.

Tasia started Sewaholic two years ago to design for 'the modern seamstress' and provide sewing patterns that are wardrobe essentials for the pear-shaped woman - smaller bust and waist, larger hips.

With trouser and shorts designed for bigger hips and fuller thighs, classic trench coats to flatter any figure and a blouse which can be sewn in a number of stylish ways, Sewaholic patterns have something for every fashion-conscious sewer. Even the paper sleeves of the pattern itself are pretty and elegant!

Probably the best known Sewaholic pattern is the Cambie Dress. It was a bit of an internet sensation when first released, popping up everywhere we looked on blogs, Pinterest and Flickr. There are so many lovely Cambies out there and they all look very distinctive: some made with feminine florals and others opting for a bold look with Alexander Henry-esque retro cowgirls and Mexican skulls.

Back in December, Holly made a Cambie to wear on Christmas Day for a family gathering in Melbourne. This is what she came up with:

Holly made version A, featuring an A-line skirt, sweetheart neckline and slashed pockets. Version B features a full gathered skirt for that more 1950's look.

We have five patterns in stock at the moment and can order any others from the Sewaholic range upon request. And just in time for some spring-time dressmaking!

The Hottie Project - It's getting hot in here

The Hottie Project got the whole cafe hot & steamy on Thursday night! We had to cool everyone down with the fan they were working like a sweat shop in there! But the results were awesome and it was great to see young and old working together to make sure lots of Christchurch children will be warm and snuggly this winter.

The project is part of a bigger one by Big Little, who provided not only the inspiration but the pattern too and Juliet from Tartankiwi pulled it all together for us while Holly from Bamboo Bear set up the room so everyone was ready to get creative! 

Some of the ladies who came to help have only just learnt how to sew recently in our Learn to Sew workshops, and it was great to see them embrace their new skills with help from the more experienced! 

Miriam always seems to capture the heart of a community project with her creativity. 

Making those sewing machines work!! Heads down and no giggling ladies!! 

We still have a stack of cut out hotties that can be sewn up, if you fancy popping into the cafe during the week to help sew these up, just ask at the counter and we will set you up with a machine & coffee to keep you going :)

Thank you to everyone who came along to make this happen!

Children's Workshops

Have you been looking for activities to keep the wee ones occupied during the school holidays this month? We have come up with another series of short craft sessions for children, to help encourage them to engage with others, use their imaginations and - above all - be creative!

All materials will be provided for each of the classes. We require a parent or guardian to remain on site for the duration of the workshop. You are welcome to enjoy a drink in our Cafe or you can sit with your child during the class if you feel they may need some extra help.

Here's what we have lined up!

Learn to cross stitch:               6-9 year olds                 Monday 15^th, 10.30- 11.30am                  $12

During this hour session, the children will learn how to follow a simple cross-stitch pattern to create a stitched picture. They can choose from a range of different animal patterns to stitch away at!

Make a Jelly fish:                   5–7 year olds                Tuesday 16^th,  10.30 – 11.30am              $12

A perfect craft for the younger age range! The children will paint foam balls, which will be transformed into the jelly fish's head using a funny pair of googly eyes! We will then make the tentacles using colourful pipe cleaners. Once complete, the jelly fish can be hung from a string to make a fun hanging decoration!

Tin Bird Making:                     10–14 year olds             Wednesday 17^th, 10.30-12.00pm             $15

Using a bird template, we will trace the design using a drawing pin onto a piece of tin. This is then cut out and coloured in and can be hung to make a pretty attractive mobile.

Window decorations:             8-10 year olds                      Thursday 18^th, 10.30 – 11.30am              $12

These beautifully translucent hanging hearts are made with just baking paper and crayon shavings. We will sandwich the two components together, melt with an iron and then use different templates to cut out various different shapes.

Plain Bag Customising:           10-14 year olds            Friday 19^th, 10.30 – 12.00pm                  $15  

With just fabric, bonda web, an iron and a few stitches, we will transform a plain tote bag into a colourful creation in a few easy steps! This class will allow the kids to use their creativity and imagination to create an accessory to suit their individual style!

Decorate a Treasure Chest or Jewellery Box:         4-7 year olds     Tuesday 23^rd,  10.30-11.30       $15

The children will be able to choose either a 'treasure chest' or jewellery box and decorate with fabrics and papers to make a very unique creation!

Paper bird cages:                     7-9 year olds                 Wednesday 24^th, 10.30-12.00pm             $15

The children will make a pretty bird cage using printed paper strips and then colour in a bird template, decorating with feathers and glitter.

Cupcake Decorating:              12- 14 year olds            Wednesday 24^th, 2.30 – 3.30pm              $15

Our resident baker for the Cafe will be showing the kids how to decorate cupcakes to take home and munch on! They'll look very pretty....while they last!

Learn to Sew:                           6-9 year olds                 Thursday 25^th, 10.30-11.30am                 $12   

Learn to sew using foam shapes! We will teach the kids to use a plastic needle and cotton thread and follow a pattern of holes in different foam shapes to make a stitched picture, which can then be further decorated with coloured pens.

Cupcake Decorating:                6- 9 year olds                Thursday 25^th, 2.30 – 3.30pm                  $15

Our resident baker for the Cafe will be showing the kids how to decorate cupcakes to take home and munch on! They'll look very pretty....while they last! This session will be more basic culinary craft for the younger children.

Fabric Printing:                         9 - 14 year olds              Friday 26th, 10.30 - 12.00pm                 $15

During the class, we will hand print a piece of fabric each using handmade stamps, paint and fabric markers. The kids can let their imaginations run wild! The fabric could then be made into a bag or stretched on a canvas to display after the class.

You can book into any of our workshops on the website or call into store to sign up!

The Hottie Project

Have you heard about the Hottie Project? 

Many people from around the country and even around the world have joined together to make winter a little cosier and warmer for a bunch of lovely children by creating a BIG stack of lovely warm hottie covers to keep Christchurch children cosy this winter.

Here are The Make Cafe we are passionate about  helping the community and we couldn't miss the opportunity to get behind this great cause. 

On the evening of Thursday the 18th July 7pm onwards we are going to have a Hottie Making Session at The Make Cafe.

We will provide the raw materials, but we need you to bring your imagination, enthusiasm and skills. Whether you cut the fabric; sew or decorate the covers with embroidery or appliqué, we need your help!

If you can bring a hottie to go in the cover or a donation towards the cost of a hottie, that would be great but its not essential.

We hope you'll join us for a fun evening supporting a great cause!

If you do have a complete Hottie Project, The Make Cafe is now an official drop off point too! So please bring them in! The Hotties are being distributed by Kidscan throughout Christchurch