Sew Liberated LOVE!

Sew Liberated at Fall Quilt Market 2012

Meeting Meg McElwee is like experiencing sunshine, fresh air, kindness and uninhibited bursts of laughter all mixed up in a lovely little 5ft 3" package of a person. She's cheery and generous and ready to go to dinner in the blink of an eye ;) We had the honor of eating with her, Kim and Rae at one of our favorite Houston eats. We talked about patterns and design, children and farm animals. And laughed. It was lovely.  They were both so personable, warm and encouraging!

Growing up Sew Liberated has been my staple / go-to book for sewing knits and other children's items. From it I've made several items for both my girls that I will save forever in their special little memory boxes. However now that I have met the author it's seems all the more special. She's truly inspired me along my both my sewing and mothering journey.

Meg's patterns are modern and hip with a homespun flair. I can not wait to sew and wear her new shirt dress (seen above). It was gorgeous in this blue speckled Nani Iro.. but then she wore it in Heather Ross's Snow White in the woods print.. charming. I can see all types of print possibilities for this one.

Funny thing, while editing photos from market last night I took a break to check in on Meg's blog, started reading.. while slowly scrolling and then... "hey!" there we all were! :)
Kim, Meg's awesome right hand lady had snapped our photo for Meg and than took this one for me:

Sew Awesome.

Look for more of Meg's Sew Liberated pattern's in the shoppe. We currently stock both her books and many patterns and will be carrying her new patterns as soon as they're released, early next year. Also, her new patterns will offer free video tutorials to follow along with from start to finish. Making it even easier for a beginner to jump right in and sew garments.... cuz' there's really no better feeling than wearing a beautiful dress you made yourself! Right? Right!

Thanks Meg and Kim for making it happen!! 

Sorry I caught Kim at a more serious moment, just beyond her and out of the frame, Anita was saying something about not having any more of a certain fabric we all loved :(   Please come anyways Kim! We love seeing you!! :)

Sewing with Oilcloth: Meet the Author

Meet & Greet with Author Kelly McCants

This Thursday, Sept 15, 5-7PM

While in town for Columbus' annual Country Living Fair, author Kelly McCants has set aside some time to visit with us at the shoppe. She'll be bringing samples from her beautiful new book, Sewing with Oilcloth, as well as sharing projects, tips and tricks on working with oilcloth, laminates and chalk cloth! In the meantime take a look at this super cute video she made introducing her book and stop by Kelly's blog, ModernJune to learn a little more about her.

***PLUS: We will be GIVING AWAY some very sweet oilcloth bundles in her honor!***

What are you working on?

This little dolly is for Aelyn, the shoppe baby, who's really not such a baby any more. She is even helped sew the arms last night, well set on my lap while I sewed them that is :)

We are making a Princess and Prince. Using the Wee Wonderfuls Kit, Chloe and Louise pattern for her Princess and Eddie from the Wee Wonderfuls book, for her Prince.

Tell us what's on your sewing table...

Home Again, Home Again

Back from Market, I'm still a bit tired, yet far more inspired! Tortured by all the wonderful things I saw and want to sew.
To add to the great torture, I came home to my sewing space (our unfinished second floor) entirely dissembled, in boxes, stacked and scattered between the dinning room, living room and basement. I had at least received cellphone pics of these goings on from my husband, to warn me of what I was coming home to.

 

Being that we've planned to do this major renovation for years, I am very excited! But man, I really wanna sew right now!!! Luckily I brought back some very fun hand sewing books and projects. We've also already received a book that includes lots of great hand sewing fun, Scandinavian Stitches.

 Also in the hand work realm, we finally met and ordered from the brilliant creator of Penguin & Fish, Alyssa. She designs the cutest embroidery patterns. We will be receiving some precious animal embroidery patterns from her in the near future, including that great hedgehog hanging on the wall (blown up to 400%).

I just can't wait until all the goodies arrive!

Nor can I wait for my sewing room to be reassembled so I can sew the great stuff that is already here! Holidays are just around the corner and my list is pretty long! EEkkk!

I'll share more from Market with you soon, 

April

The BOOK!!! [An Even Better Reason to Blog]

I have been meaning to blog for several days weeks now. I have been thinking of blogging, dreaming about blogging and day dreaming about blogging about the reasons why I have not been blogging.

But today our dear Terry delivered it!

And suddenly I felt that there'd never been a better reason to blog.

Wee Wonderfuls (The BOOK!!!)

Hillary Lang, the creative mastermind of Wee Wonderfuls, the blog, shop and patterns, has now given us the ultimate softie book! 

It's pages are filled with gorgeous, fun doll and soft toy projects with a heavy vintage, danish modern flavor. Her love for old dolls and vintage Fisher Price toys certainly inspires her designs, while they each have a look that is uniquely her own. Her handsewn touches add that special lived with, long loved quality that an old doll holds. 

It really could be my favorite book, however Aelyn's already claimed it for her own. "Make it for me. Please? Please? Please?    Please!?!?"...Aelyn says this in just that way, as to imitate little Tiana wishing on a star, for those of you who've seen Princess and the Frog.

It's her third birthday next Wednesday so this treasure couldn't have come at a better or more tantalizing time. Of corse I want to make every other project! And there are several that she's requested already, but she shows an extra special interest in the Mermaid doll, so we'll start with her. 

I also hope to make a tutu and a Little Red Ridding Hood Cape as well as some simple supper hero capes for her and her 3 little guests. Luckily her party isn't until the following Sunday so that buys me a little more time. Still, I better get started. 

Wishing you all a Happy Weekend!

- April

P.S. She wore it!!! On her own free will too :)

Made Monday

Perfect baby booties by Kunkle Baby, made in supper soft japanese double gauze using a pattern from "Handmade Beginnings." 

Made Monday

Owl embroidered baby slippers by Janelle Meadows. Pattern from the book Zakka Sewing.

Subject: sewing tips

The following is as received via email from our dear friend Mary Dugan.


Hi Anita and April!
My niece sent this timely and helpful article....tips for sewing that we should always remember!  Ha!  Especially looking good before you begin sewing - I guess that means my coffee stained robe is out!
Enjoy!

Mary 

Now I'm not sure about you, but I always have my powder and lipstick on while sewing (alone, in my attic). Hahaa... 

Absolutely hilarious!

I truely laughed out loud.

Thanks Mary :)

Party Preparations and New Goodies too!

Hello shoppe blog sewer friends,
It has been nearly a month since my last post. I haven't meant to be neglectful, I've just been busy busy busy. Between trying to help out around the shoppe while simultaneously chasing baby, sewing feverishly through nap time, enjoying time outdoors, and trying not to be too neglectful of my housework and sweet husband, the blog just slipped onto the back burner for a bit.
But now I'm here, excitedly typing, because there are such wonderful things to announce.

First PARTY time is less than four days away!
Our Birthday Celebration is this Saturday, March 14th, from 11-5! Stop in to put your name in the jar for our "every half hour" prize drawing. Your name will stay in the jar all day so you don't have to be present to win! The prizes are awesome and I must say I'm almost jealous because being the daughter of the shoppe owner renders me disqualified to win (but don't worry about me, I get my perks too:} ).

Second, yesterday we received a wonderful shipment of NEW goods.

Two beautiful New books, hot off the press...
Heather Ross' new book "Weekend Sewing". Gorgeous, fresh and inspirational with stunning photography. This book is filled with great projects including many lovely dresses! and comes with patterns!

Sewing Green by Betz White is all about inspiring us to reduce our waste and reuse what we have. Amazingly creative, with diverse projects, her book includes templets and patterns. This lady breathes new life into ideas that have been around for decades. She shares ways to save money while not sacrificing a bit of style.

Several fun New Japanese treasures. Fabric from Kokka as well as some beautifully made Japanese trims...

This kitty print has the sweetest salvage edge I've ever seen!

Japanese trims are in limited quantities so get them while they're here:)








and New Oliver&S patterns...

adorable spring looks for both boys and girls, more designs not pictured.

Also, we have some new Alexander Henry fabrics recently , a couple lovely new patterns for little girl attire by an awesome indie designer called Sugar City and tons of fun new shoppe samples as well as gift ideas for all ages.
So come party with us, bring your friends and your little ones, it's gonna be fun fun fun and the weather should be nice too... We can't wait to see all of you!
Until next time-
April.

Tokyo Mishap turns Reversible Gift Tote

Well as for the adorable combo I shared with you yesterday... I set out to make the "Tokyo Tie Bag" feature in S.E.W - Sew Everything Workshop, by Diana Rupp (great book!). My mother is teaching this bag in her class "Sew What?" (for young sewers, teens - twenty-ish) and I am to be her assistant. This Saturday, Oct. 25th will mark the debut of this class, and I wanted to have my own bag stitched together in advance...I planned to alter mine slightly, to be reversible. The original pattern teaches a French seam for the bottom of the bag and although it has a nice clean look from the inside, when turned out it's not quite right.
So my reversible method worked out great but while focusing on this quality I accidentally stitched my bottom seams in the wrong direction, ending with the ties directly in front and seams on either side. The result, while not what I was going for, is very sweet. I think it would make a great reversible gift tote for that extra special touch.

The bonus is that it went together super quick. I think I'll attempt it again tonight only with the seams in front as Diana intended.

Oh also... while I'm here I must share the newest arrival.
Delivered just today - Michael Miller Organics. Absolutely luscious! The feel of these new fabrics is indescribably soft. I just love the sweet neutrals of the Gingham and large Herringbone Check. We had to hold ourselves back from unrolling the whole bolt of fleece and wrapping ourselves in it. That would have been fun... :)
Till next time,
April