Reusing a 1980′s loud silk shirt

I had such fun this morning when I went to the closet and saw this colourful eighties silk blouse. First I wondered if anyone actually wore this in the 1980′s and mused that I probably had something similar.

First thing I needed to do was remove some stitching that kept the front seams together so i could get into it. I opened the top couple of buttons, put it on backwards, put the collar across my chest, took a sleeve in each hand and tied them into a look halter. Next I grabbed a pink leather belt, black pearls for accessories, a simple silk dress underneath and I felt like a million dollars. I hope the images convey this.

How do you wear your shirts? apart from the obvious.

I’m working out how to get photos from iPhone to attach, I’ll also post photos to face book while I work it out.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=611263958#!/album.php?aid=165275&id=611263958

What we know- survey results

Thanks to everyone who responded to the request to complete the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Snw950BBlGbc5GZYU1ldAg_3d_3d.

We found a few interesting things:

How did you find project remake-

• 40% found us by getting an email
• 20% via the blog
• 40% word of mouth

Where do you buy your clothes?

• 50% from charity stores
• 50% retail shops

When shopping what do you look for?

• 75% great design
• 25% trendy colour

WE also know people are willing to pay about $20 to come to the two hour remake workshops and they are happy to travel about 10 kms to attend.

thanks again for everyone who responded, we’re collecting primary research to inform our marketing plan. Do you know of any secondary research of people doing remake workshop in Australia or overseas?

Do you know of anyone doing remake projects and products? We’ve found a few who sell things on the internet and people like junky styling who have been doing this for at least ten years. We’d love to hear from you.

change venue 30 November remake workshop

Venue change for tonights remake workshop- Meet you at the Conservation Council demountable building in Childers St carpark opposite Allsop St see you at 7pm. We’ll be back at Havelock House next week.

Product development workshop

Wow, it was fantastic to be able to sit down and play for a few hours. We found some waste materials and set about creating patterns, cutting and sewing to create prototypes.

Getting together as a team was really important. We’ve been doing a lot of other things in our lives so it was a good opportunity to have a coffee and a chat and have some fun with what is possible.

Michelle has some great simple ideas that we can quickly turn into gifts and products from used textiles. Other products need some more research as we source waste streams and identify stakeholders and what their needs are. We’re into reuse and remake so this means we need to work out any benefits to clients and make new products competitive in the current market.

Looking for a Canberra person who sews

We’re searching for an experienced person who knows how to use a sewing machine,  do you know anyone?

A sewer is needed by project remake to make bags. You must be competent in operating a sewing machine. No experience is needed because you will be trained. Send the following website  to family and friends we want someone in Canberra. Can you help?

http://canberra.gumtree.com.au/c-Jobs-part-time-evening-weekend-sewer-W0QQAdIdZ169471458

Help us with a survey to make better remake workshops

We’d like your help. We’ve done a few months of workshops and we’ve done desk top research so now we need primary research to help us make better workshops and for us to understand what people want from a remake workshop.

A survey will only take a few minutes and will be invaluable to the remake team. Click on the link and tell us what you think.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Snw950BBlGbc5GZYU1ldAg_3d_3d

we appreciate your time and value your input

Project remake documentary available- share the story

The project remake story has been documented by Tam Shanley as part of her studies at Australian National University.

We’d like to acknowledge the great support from a number of people with writing, donations and helping us document what we’ve been doing over the last few months.

Tam is one of those, she has produced a 7 minute doco on the gals, check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mrp17ekxLg.

Any suggestions on what else needs to be included in the next one? Or how else we get the message out.

The project remake team in training

I wanted to say thanks to the Australia Business Arts Foundation (ABAF) for the great training and support they offer.

The project remake team spent a few hours with Mel and Bea getting the practical tips on finding our  target audience. As we’re discovering this is really important for any business or enterprise and without this knowledge  we are groping in the dark. Getting this focus enables  clarity and the potential for success.

The workshop was packed with information and artists and was a great networking opportunity. ABAF provides great support and understanding of the artists market.  Fantastic!

The project remake team attended the ABAF workshop entitled  Reaching your Target Audience  in Canberra on Tuesday 17 November at the Belconnen Arts Centre.

Find out more about ABAF at http://www.abaf.org.au/index.php?sectionID=1352&pageID=3166#reachingyourTargetAudience.

Discover the venue and what is on at the Belconnen Arts Centre at http://www.belconnenartscentre.com.au/.

First product created!

Paula and Michelle made the first project remake necklaces, really simple and 100% reused from the neckline ribbing from a t-shirt and used jeans cut up and screen printed with the words project remake, very very cool. I wore mine to bed last night and I’m still wearing it now.

t shirt neckline ribbing, reused denim screen printed

Project remake labels are available to buy at the workshops, small are $10 each and larger ones are $20 each.

project remake necklace

megalo – project remake screen printing

project remake necklace worn as wrist band

revealing the image onto the screen

Peter and Michelle deciding on final placement