Happy 60th, Marimekko!

Marimekko, my favourite Finnish textile design company, turns 60 this year!

To celebrate, they've organised a fun little competition for their fans. Why Not Together encourages fans to send in photos of things that they've made with Marimekko fabric, or even just an idea.

I could have easily submitted an image of an older Marimekko piece that I've made (they are sooo many) but I wanted it to be special so I made a new one from scratch. With the Lumimarja print.

#142 of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels - A Stack of Dusky Bronze Plums. Happy Birthday, Marimekko!

*A big "Thank You" to Phoebe for sending me the competition link!

Christmas Group Show At Gaffa

"Open Season" by Rudy Ardianto

THE GAFFA XMAS SHOW 2010

An exhibition in celebration of all the artists and friends who have been in, and come along to our recent programs.

This is a significant end of year show for us, having moved to our new home in February, and we’d like to celebrate with all of you, who have made this year so enjoyable.

Hung in the traditional salon style, the focus is on showcasing the diverse plethora of work that Gaffa features and supports.


The piece of Empress Dowager's New Jewels that I'm showing along with the 300-odd works by other makers/artists/designers are for sale. And can be taken home immediately. Just in case you're still out looking for Christmas gifts. Show closes on Thursday 23 December.

Gaffa
281 Clarence Street (behind the Queen Victoria Building)
Sydney
Phone: (02) 9283 4273
Website: gaffa.com.au
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 10am - 6pm / Saturday: 11am - 5pm / Sunday+Holidays: Closed

This Saturday: A Girly Tea Party

And you are all invited!

To mark the end of the first cycle of designers at their pop-up shop at Gaffa, the lovely Finders Keepers girls will be hosting a little afternoon tea party on Saturday.

This weekend will be your last chance to shop this first round of makers/designers and I can't think of a better way to do it!

Shopping + sweets treats + meeting and hanging out with other girls who love pretty things = a fantastic day-out!

We hope to see you there! (I'll be bringing some of my handmade chocolate truffles.)

Finders Keepers' Afternoon Tea Party
Saturday 23 October 2010
From 2pm to 4pm
Gaffa Gallery
281 Clarence Street
Sydney
Ph: (02) 9283 4273

A Sneaky Peek...

The first piece of the new embroidered range that I've been working on.

I guess you can call it free-form embroidery. No pre-planned designs like this or this. I just go!

Kind of like the doodles and scribbles I made on my notepad when I was bored in school. Except now, the needle is my pen and the thread my ink.

More technicoloured loopy-ness coming up. Watch this space...

The Empress Dowager's New Jewels Are Back At Gaffa

Image from the Finders Keepers blog

The last time was at the Precious Materials show in April.

This time around, it's with the lovely Finders Keepers girls! They have taken over the Arcade Project at Gaffa, from now until December.

Most of you living in Australia would already be familiar with the Finders Keepers' large-scale art and design markets. Their Arcade Project is a cosier version in a retail-space setting, like a pop-up shop, if you like. Smaller but still jam-packed with a great selection of unique handmade goods that you've come to expect from one of their events.

And I'm really happy that The Empress Dowager's New Jewels get to play with them!

We were all in at Gaffa setting up yesterday and boy, there were already quite a few things by the other makers (you can view the list of participants here) that I've put on my wishlist!

You have a whole month to shop this first cycle of makers/designers before we "pop-down" to make way for the next batch. Hope to see you there!

Finders Keepers' Arcade Project at Gaffa
Gaffa Gallery
281 Clarence Street
Sydney
Ph: (02) 9283 4273
From Wednesday 22 September to Tuesday 26 October
Opening Hours: Monday - Friday: 10 - 6pm, Saturday: 11 - 5pm, Sunday + Holidays: Closed

For Sale: Prize Ribbon - Blue Quartz

#141. Another Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbon in blue.

I decided to keep #140 for myself...tee hee hee...so I thought I should replace it with another blue piece.

Cut from the same piece of handprinted Kirsten Doran fabric as #136.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ AU$40.00 (for currency converter, click here) - if you think it's too expensive, please read this

To purchase:
~ Please email me at likklegirl@gmail.com

Prize Ribbon - Aquamarine

#140. The last piece of The Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons. For now.

It's my personal favourite out of the nine I've made - there's just something so fresh and soothing about the combination of baby blue and loads of white.

"Gems" cut from these two pieces of 100% cotton Marimekko fabric.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ Not for sale. I've decided to keep it. Tee hee hee.

Prize Ribbon - Golden Sapphire (Sold)

#139. The eighth piece from The Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons.

I was so eager to cut into this sunshiney-yellow fabric that I forgot to get a picture of it before. Haha!

Here's one of its sister in orange - the same leafy Marimekko design in yellow was used here.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ SOLD! ~

For Sale: Prize Ribbon - Patchy Green Zircon

#138. Another Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbon for you!

Made from the same pieces of Marimekko textiles as #133.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ AU$40.00 (for currency converter, click here) - if you think it's too expensive, please read this

To purchase:
~ Please email me at likklegirl@gmail.com

Prize Ribbon - Red Jade

#137. The sixth of The Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons.

Made from another cute (bunnies!) piece of handprinted fabric by Australian designer Kirsten Doran.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ No longer available ~

For Sale: Prize Ribbon - Dark Jade

#136. The fifth of The Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons.

Finally, I get to use the some of the handprinted fabric I bought from the lovely Kristen Doran at last December's Finders Keepers.

I've only used the dark green half on this piece. Look out for a blue Prize Ribbon made from the other half!

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ AU$40.00 (for currency converter, click here) - if you think it's too expensive, please read this

To purchase:
~ Please email me at likklegirl@gmail.com

For Sale: Prize Ribbon - Mandarin Garnet

#135. Another one of The Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons.

Made from this happy 100% cotton Marimekko fabric.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ AU$40.00 (for currency converter, click here) - if you think it's too expensive, please read this

To purchase:
~ Please email me at likklegirl@gmail.com

For Sale: Prize Ribbon - Silver

#134. The third in The Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons range.

Made from the same piece of Marimekko fabric as this necklace. Shiny silver print on a heavyweight cotton sateen.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ AU$40.00 (for currency converter, click here) - if you think it's too expensive, please read this

To purchase:
~ Please email me at likklegirl@gmail.com

For Sale: Prize Ribbon - Green Zircon

#133. The second brooch by The Empress Dowager's New Jewels!

Remember, they are all one-offs. Once one is gone, it's gone!

Made from these 100% cotton Marimekko textiles.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ AU$40.00 (for currency converter, click here) - if you think it's too expensive, please read this

To purchase:
~ Please email me at likklegirl@gmail.com

For Sale: Prize Ribbon - Graduated Aquamarine

#132. The first of The Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons!

Made from these pretty Marimekko textiles.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off -> no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The largest "gem" measures 7cm in diameter and the smaller one is 3cm.
~ Height (from top of large "gem" to pointy end of "tail"): 9.5cm
~ Nickel brooch pin and blanket-stitched felt reinforcement on back (see here)

Price:
~ AU$40.00 (for currency converter, click here) - if you think it's too expensive, please read this

To purchase:
~ Please email me at likklegirl@gmail.com.

The Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons

Over the last year, I've been asked by quite a few people on various occasions to add some brooches to The Empress Dowager's New Jewels' range but I've been hesitant because:

1. If they are to be part of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels, they have to be made from the same fabric "gems" that I use to make the necklaces. It's a rule that I've set for myself right from the beginning.

The "gems" are like my LEGO bricks - only pieces "built" using them are allowed to be included here. For example: sticking a few "gems" on a shirt to make an "embellished shirt" is not what we are about. The whole shirt has be made by joining "gems" together before it can be considered a piece of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels. Not unlike this.

2. I try not to make New Jewels that are similar to what's already available on the market - rosette/prize ribbon-type of brooches. Many of which are mass-produced and badly handmade out of cheap material. Sold at low low prices that I cannot possibly compete with seeing how I love using quality material and hand-stitching all my pieces.

However, after much thought (and due to "popular demand"...haha!), I have decided to add a few Empress Dowager's Prize Ribbons to the range and see how they do.

I've tried many ways to make them different from those that already exist but to show the "gems" off in their best light, no matter what size or configuration, I ultimately have to use the ruched side which makes the brooch look like...a rosette/prize ribbon!

So I'm hoping that my use of choice fabric from my beloved collection of Marimekko textiles and some by local designers will differentiate my brooches from the rest of the pack.

Also, like all Empress Dowager's New Jewels, these Prize Ribbons are 100% hand-stitched, with a lot of love, from start to finish.

And they are all one-offs, of course!

They might cost more than these but I truly hope that you will be able to see why.

Zoe's Milky Way

#131. The Empress Dowager's New Jewels' first repurposing commission! Woo!

In the very first post that I wrote on this blog, when I started making the New Jewels, I said, "If you'd like a commissioned piece made out of, say, a special piece of vintage fabric, or an old dress that holds fond memories but which you can't fit into anymore, I'd be happy to convert them into "jewellery" that you can wear." The very same idea as melting down old heirloom gold to create a new piece of jewellery.

A year-and-a-half later, someone finally took me up on my offer! Thank you, Zoe! For coming to play!

Zoe was recently given some of her grandmother's vintage handmade aprons and wondered if I could convert one of them into a necklace for her because as much as she loves the apron, she knows that she's not going to get much wear out of it.

Of course! I've been waiting for such an opportunity for so long!


I've made necklaces out of "found" fabric before - old cushion covers found in op shops, a pillowcase from a pal and remnants kindly donated by another - and had never hesitated cutting into them. It was different with this apron. Knowing the backstory of the apron and looking at the fine work that Zoe's grandma had done on it, it was hard taking it apart.

But I had to.

And here's the "conversion". All 190cm of it! From sparse "scribbles" at one end to denser ones at the other.

I was so happy to find that we had sufficient fabric for a complete length of Milky Way! The introduction of "foreign" material, if we didn't have enough from the apron, was discussed. Glad that we didn't have to put that plan into effect because I kind of like that the "conversion" has remained "pure".

Mustard was one of the colours we talked about (Zoe is "really into mustard at the moment"), if we had to use additional material. We didn't but we liked how good it looks with black so we incorporated it into the piece via the joining stitches.

I hope I've done the apron justice and that Zoe will have loads of fun wearing her Milky Way!

It's been so much fun for me so I really hope that I'll be getting more repurposing projects soon!

Go on! Go look into your closet! For something that can be given a new lease of life.

A Milky Way Of Granite And Moon Rocks

#130. A commissioned piece. For the super-lovely Gena, the maker of Jelly's Edible Wearables and the organiser of A Little Bazaar.

She placed her order at the market two Saturdays ago and I finally completed it today. Woo! Yay!!!!

She loved #104, the Milky Way that I was wearing that day and asked if I could make something similar for her. Of course I could!

So here it is. Using the same sweatshirt grey and a neon green tulle overlay instead of the original neon pink one.

Gena and I can be the Neon Twins. Haha!

I bought the neon green tulle the same time as I bought the pink one (ages ago!) and have been waiting for the right moment to use it.

And for the right person to wear it! Well, Gena is the one! (She looks like a young Sarah Jessica Parker. And wears her clothes as well as Carrie Bradshaw.)

I sure hope she'll have loads of fun with her Milky Way!