I've never met anything I couldn't sew. Sewing makes me happy. I specialize in heirloom-quality garments and modern but timeless design. I love the challenge of creating garments specific to your needs, whether a tutu for a sensitive little ballerina, an extra tough pair of pants that is soft on the inside for that rough and tumble kid, your every day favorite clothes, or an elaborate formal gown. When it comes to sewing, I make things happen!
Read more...
Nita was the winner of the Collage Giveaway.
I wish I could give you all a layer cake of Collage from Carrie Bloomston but alas, Windham only authorized one per social media freak-out (blog tour) stop.
I hope you’ll contact your local quilt shops and ask them to order Collage from their Windham Representatives. I already asked mine to carry it. (Yes, I have to buy it, like everyone else. ) I always support my small business owner friends.
Please email me, Nita, with your address.
{ 1 comment }
You know that special spark you feel when you meet a kindred spirit? There’s electricity when such souls connect. At Quilt Market in Kansas City last Spring, those synchronicity sparks were flying around Carrie Bloomston’s SUCH Designs display. I loved all Carrie’s work, especially her finger puppet sets and her Mandala Yoga Mat (Good Karma Quilt). I loved that she used fabrics from the gorgeous Marcia Derse lines, which not enough people know about, in my opinion.
Kansas City 2012 was my accidental Anti-Marketing Conference Trip. I went to simply enjoy the Quilt Market Atmosphere and see my little Goodship Dresses on display. I forgot my business cards at home. Rae and I met loads of people, reconnected with old friends, and had a blast. Naturally, I was surprised and delighted (blown away, really) when I received an email from Carrie that she was designing her OWN LINE for Windham Fabrics and wanted me to make her a dress to wear from her own fabric. COLLAGE is fascinating, unique and so, so fun.
The result of back and forth emails about styles, inspirations, and ideas led to Carrie’s Rock and Roll Princess Dress:
A knee-length strapless dress, with boning, a side zipper, and shirring in back, the dress features Carrie’s beautiful Bird Dot fabric in Ivory and some sweet pink cotton trim. In fact, when Carrie wore it to Anthropologie to style the outfit for her photo shoot, the sales people thought the dress came from their store. I guess that means we hit the Anthro-vibe nail on the head?
I loved working with this fabric. It washes into a soft and gorgeous feel, and presses nicely. Quilting cotton is notoriously crisp and wrinkly, but I’m telling you, if you pull it out of the dryer right away, you can wear it without bothering to iron.
She designed her fabric with such love and care; I was compelled to give her garment the same love in the details:
Carrie is a force for good in the universe. I cried when I read the mail she sent the designers revealing that she had truly achieved her mission to enable the inner artist:
“My whole life I have been the artist–even my brand is about enabling the inner-artist for others. But, this is different. In designing fabric, I have become…the PAINT.”
Dear Carrie, you truly have become a medium through which garment and accessory and textile goods designers can express ourselves!
I loved the entire line, so I requested some fabrics to use in my menswear for the latest Kentucky Derby Fashion Party (last weekend here in Northville). Janna was kind enough to rush over some unedited photos of the darling Michael Pack in his Bauhaus Red dress shirt:
I bound the unlined Jacket seams with bias strips of the same print:
I love designing menswear with unexpected details. This outfit was a huge hit at the event. That little peek of collar in the stunning red really pulls a fashion punch in an otherwise traditional outfit:
I loved the selvedges so much that I used them as interior design details:
And I couldn’t resist playing with some of the not-quite-solids in the collection. I used the Charcoal for the inside cuffs, sleeve plackets, and the inside yoke of the shirt:
So, you see, quilting cotton CAN be used in garment sewing; and is practical, comfortable, and surprising.
If you’ve been following along with the Collage series, you know there’s a special opportunity for you to get your hands on some of Carrie’s fabric. Windham is offering a Layer Cake to a lucky winner from each stop on the blog tour.
The collection is just now hitting the road with the Windham reps and it will ship to stores July 1st. So Carrie needs your help. Please forward these posts to your favorite online and brick & mortar retailers. Let them know about the line and tell them to order it for their store!
{ 85 comments }
No, I don’t watch the horse races – and Mint Juleps make me woozy – but I love a Kentucky Derby Style Event. Last year I had so much fun making garments and working with Rachelle and Janna and all the lovely models, that I jumped at the chance to do it again! If you know me then you also know that I am not one to shrink from a challenge. So, this year, I’ll be making menswear. Last year I also had a bit of menswear sneak its way into the photoshoot by David Mello. Underneath the Jacket from Banana Republic and the tie from Gabriella Gonzales, you can see the dress shirt by me:
The color story for last year will be repeated. Red, Neutral, and Black seem to be Rachelle’s favorite colors and I am so happy to oblige her! Last year I made a tan soy and bamboo knit maxi dress for Joan with a vertical Black Stripe:
A red crossweave cotton one-shouldered sundress for Sophie and a Tan Wrap Dress with black Piping for Marlene:
Perhaps my favorite outfit of last year’s collection was the one I made for Janna. It was a Black knit petaled ”Lucky Skirt” and draped black tank tunic: (The steel blue and backless dresses by Sarah Jane)
This year’s event promises to be even more fun. Will you save the date and meet me in Northville?
{ 0 comments }
February 2nd, Janna and I held a fantastic opening event at LilacPOP Studio in Ferndale. It was so much fun and, despite the blizzard conditions, despite a giant Blues Festival being held locally that took up all the convenient parking, despite a million other events being held that very same day, we had a huge turnout. We were interviewed and photographed. The local paper even wrote about us the following week (which was very exciting)!
We have a couple classes coming up this month. You can sign up over on our Studio Website. Janna took some lovely photos wearing the infinity sweater from the workshop I’ll be leading next Monday. There are 3 spots left as of this posting, so if you’re local, and you want to learn to sew with knit fabrics, this is a good starting point!
Next up, on February 22nd, Annie will be teaching a Crafty U Winter Session. More details and registration information can be found on her site.
And the following Monday, February 25th, I’ll be teaching a Pencil Skirt class. I have worn this skirt 4 times since I made it – I feel so beautiful in it, and I know anyone who makes one will feel the same. I even feel glamorous wearing a tee shirt and cardigan with it. I’ll have to break out the Mad Men shoes for that class. I’m pretty sure this will be my wardrobe staple until it’s summer dress time. As soon as I get the photos back, I’ll share them with you.
Next month, we have a Friday Night SEWcial planned – more details in the works, but I’ll let you know as soon as we have it written in ink on our calendars.
{ 2 comments }
Over the past eight weeks a lot of behind the scenes work has taken place to bring you this amazing bundle of ePatterns from several of the top pattern designers and bloggers in the sewing and blogging world. The result is a bundle of 18 PDF sewing patterns that you don’t want to miss.
For one week only, ten pattern designers have come together to bring you 18 of their best PDF patterns, valued together at over $139.00, for the incredible price of $24.95! That’s over 80% off of the combined retail value! Plus you can enter to win a dream of a giveaway valued at (…) from some really great shops!
For less than $25.00 you will have a library of resources that you can use over and over again. The designers that have joined this sale are experts in their craft. They have been sewing for a very long time and are well known in blogland and elsewhere. Each designer has contributed one or two of their favorite patterns to create a bundle that is sure to please! Whether you are sewing for your own family or making gifts for others, these are patterns that you will love to use.
If you’ve never sewn with a PDF pattern before, let me tell you how great it is! After downloading your pattern instructions and your pattern, you will print out the pattern itself, creating pattern tiles, if you will. Simply tape the tiles together to create the full pattern! At that point you can cut out the size that you need and pin the paper pattern directly to your fabric or you can trace the pattern size that you need onto sewing paper or tissue paper and cut it out, saving the paper pattern for later when you need to sew another size. Paper patterns are so convenient because you can print them out as many times as you need!
Click here to buy the bundle!
Now let me tell you a little bit about the giveaway! The Sew Fab Giveaway is amazing! One lucky winner will win a bunch of amazing prizes from Craftsy, Fat Quarter Shop, fabricworm, Jennifer’s Jewels Custom Labels on Etsy, Green Bee Patterns, author Deborah Moebes, Mee a Bee, Gussy Sews, I’m Feeling Crafty, and Ball and Chain on Etsy. See the end of the post for giveaway details. This giveaway is not to be missed!
18 well-loved ePatterns from 10 well-known designers are instantly accessible to you by PDF download upon purchase of the Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle. Here are the patterns that you will receive (click on each title to see more details):
The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle is only available for one week and will never be available again! You can purchase the bundle from February 4th at 8 a.m. EST through February 11th at 8 a.m. EST and there will be no late sales offered. Due to the nature of the sale there will be no refunds offered.
You are not going to believe the prizes included in this giveaway! Can’t buy the bundle? It’s okay… purchase is not required to enter. Take a look at what you have the chance to win:
A free online class from Craftsy.com
The latest release, Stitch Savvy, by Deborah Moebes
Sterling Silver Sewing Machine necklace from Ball and Chain on Etsy
$50 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop
Fabulous Wristlet from Gussy Sews (not necessarily the one pictured)
$50 Gift Certificate to fabricworm
The Scoop Tote Pattern from Green Bee Patterns
60 Custom Tags from Jennifer’s Jewels
Red Riding Hood Little Girl’s Satchel from Mee a Bee.
Handmade Sewing Machine Cover from I’m Feeling Crafty.
A Sewing Themed Box of Goodies from Pick Your Plum
YES, ONE WINNER WILL WIN ALL OF THOSE GOODIES!!!
There are lots of chances to win and no purchase required to enter the giveaway. Just use the Rafflecopter widget and enter to win this amazing prize package that will inspire you in your sewing as well as keep you stocked with fabric for many projects to come!
{ 0 comments }
Janna of LilacPop and I are hosting a make-and-take event and open house to welcome you to our new studio! If you click on that link, it will take you to the Facebook event page.
Come over to the studio at 9mile and Woodward in the gorgeous Ferndale Center Building from 2pm-8pm on Saturday to visit, sign up for classes, or make and take a Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetheart (or yourself).
You can personalize a handkerchief or a pair of boxer shorts however you’d like. I have the supplies ready for you – just bring your ideas and I’ll show you how to make them happen.
Of course, Janna will also have a couple projects available. You can make a necklace made from machine parts or a custom-stamped bracelet (suitable for men or women):
In addition to Janna’s daily workspace, the studio is also set up for Sewing classes. I can’t tell you how excited I am to teach in such an inspired and intimate space. We can accommodate up to 8 students, and I’m happy to announce that I’ll also be teaching children’s sewing lessons and private lessons. Check back or stop on by the open house for more information on all of that stitchy goodness.
I can’t wait to share the space with you!
Let me know via email or in the comments if you have any special requests for classes. I can make anything, and so can you!
{ 2 comments }
Now that my finger is completely healed, I am thrilled to be back at school with the kids. In fact, we added the 3-year old preschoolers to my class load. Their beautiful faces, their excitement, and especially their comments add to the many reasons Thursdays are my favorite.
Winter has reared his bitter windy head. Since I was a young child, I have always imagined winter as in Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant. The book I have is from 1978 and the illustrations (by Michael Foreman and Friere Wright) are so beautiful and SO wintery – I’ve never imagined Winter in any other way:
…and with the yard in it’s current state, it feels like Winter is here to stay:
When Peter went for his nightly walk, I asked him to gather pinecones for the kids at school. I brought bird seed, Shortening, Peanut butter and some gold string to hang the little offerings in the kids’ yards at home.
One of the 3 year olds, Chase, was so thrilled with the birdfeeder project he told me, “The Birds will be so Happy, Miss Karen!” These children are so sweet. I feel tears welling up in my eyes every single time I go to school at the sheer beauty of these kids.
Naturally, things got a little messy once we made it up to fourth grade. The older kids seemed to really crave a sensory experience, so we had peanut butter past our wrists and bird seed everywhere. They promised to clean up, and they were having so much fun that I didn’t have the heart to stop it! (I mean, really, how many kids have the opportunity to play with these materials at home? My kids aren’t allowed to do that inside!) They cleaned up beautifully, and the projects turned out well.
I pre-cut the gold string to about 30”, then wrapped it in between the tightly-spaced top of the pinecones.
We spread softened vegetable shortening onto the pinecones in between the open spaces with plastic spoons (or fingers) and then pressed them into bowls of birdseed and sunflower seeds.
I offered the older kids the opportunity to decorate the strings. Ella (1st grade) chose to write the birds a love note: [Dear Birs, im sure your going tolove this food iLove you Love Ella]
We hung it in the tree where the birds congregate:
{ 0 comments }
For one week only, ten pattern designers will be joining together to combine 18 of their best PDF sewing patterns (valued together at over $139.00) and selling them to you for the incredible price of $24.95! That’s over 80% off of the combined retail value!
That wasn’t a typo! For less than $25.00 you will have the chance to purchase a library of resources to get you started on several great projects that you can sew over and over again. The designers that are joining this sale are experts at their craft. They have been sewing for a very long time and are well known in blog land as well as in children’s and women’s sewing pattern design circles. Each designer has contributed one or two of their favorite sewing patterns to create a bundle that is sure to please! Whether you are sewing for your own family or making gifts for others, these are patterns that you will love to use.
Figgy’s Patterns, Go To Patterns, peek-a-boo pattern shop, Seamingly Smitten, One Girl Circus, Sew Much Ado, luvinthemommyhood, Gingercake, Sew Fearless, Me Sew Crazy… this is the lineup! But you have to wait until Monday to find out exactly which sewing patterns are included in the pattern bundle. I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed!
We are offering an affiliate program for this amazing sale too! If you think your blog readers, Facebook friends, or Twitter pals would be interested in buying this bundle of sewing patterns, why not sign up as an affiliate? As a Sew Fab Sale affiliate you can sell the pattern bundle on your blog and earn 40% of all of your sales! Contact Jenny at thesoutherninstitute @ gmail.com for details.
Oh! And there will be a giveaway! The Sew Fab Giveaway is amazing! One lucky winner will win a bunch of amazing prizes from some of your favorite companies and online shops! I can’t wait to reveal the giveaway package next week!
The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle is only available from 8 am EST February 4th through 8 am EST February 11th. Due to the nature of the sale there will be no late sales or refunds.
{ 0 comments }
This summer, while I was away in Grand Haven with my mom and my kids, I was doing a bit of writing and a lot of thinking about what is important to me. I am involved in a truly remarkable course, with some wonderful classmates, lead by the incomparable Sarah J Bray. (It’s called Tour de Bliss, and if you don’t see a lot here on my blog, it’s because I’m actually working instead of just writing about working, thanks to Sarah.)
Sarah asked a question in an audio note to the effect of: what was something that inspired delight? I don’t remember the exact comment, but I remember my reaction…She made a remark about how we don’t just look at our hands and delight in having hands every day… when I realized that I do! I am delighted and appreciative of my hands every single day. I love that I can make anything I invent in my head. I am truly delighted in the dexterity and skill I have in my hands (especially compared to the rest of my clumsy, slightly awkward self.) I Make Beautiful Things using these hands of mine. Child-sized hands they may be, but they are strong.
A month or so ago, I was given an industrial sewing machine by some friends of mine. Coincidentally, another dear friend rented a studio in Ferndale (one of my favorite towns!) and said I could keep this new-to-me machine there. I will also be teaching classes at this studio in Ferndale starting in the new year, so I am grateful to have an on-site machine.
All of this was falling into place in the last couple of weeks. I felt charmed. My sweet Peter cleaned the machine table and motor which had been sitting in a shop, dusty and greasy for years, and helped me move it to Ferndale. On Tuesday of last week I went to set up my new machine. I lifted the sewing head back so I could begin threading the bobbin when it fell closed onto my hand. This resulted in my having amputated the top of my middle finger on my dominant hand.
Janna arrived just in time to ride in the ambulance with me, and called J to come meet us there. After a harrowing 7 hours in a local emergency room and multiple phone calls in search of a reputable hand surgeon I was released home. The doctors couldn’t reattach the piece I broke from my finger, even though the paramedics rescued it from the oil pan of the sewing machine. J took me over to the studio to pick up my car keys, where we found that the building super had already cleaned up the blood from the room and my machine. I am so grateful to have friends, loved ones, and strangers alike, all looking out for me.
I couldn’t sleep the first couple nights after the accident. Every time I closed my eyes, I pictured the moment I pulled my hand away from the table in horror. Day or night, the gruesome images reappeared, every single time I closed my eyes.
By Thursday I had had enough. I decided I wasn’t willing to let fear control any part of me, even subconsciously, and went to face my demon. I drove over to the studio and sat in front of the machine. I talked to it. I told it we had to be friends and that it needed to know that I am the boss of it, not the other way around.
I expected Janna later in the afternoon, so I put together a table while I waited for her. When she arrived I asked her to help steady the machine open so I could finish threading it – right where I left off 2 days earlier. We closed it together, gently, and I sewed some test scraps to test it out.
I went back today and sewed some more. I will not let this or anything keep me from a life of hand-making. I simply refuse. I discovered that I am not afraid – of anything.
{ 17 comments }
Amy and Ethan are at it again – and this time they took their show on the road. This weekend they will be at DIYpsi. It promises to be a great weekend, if my kid can get better to do all the fun mommy-kid stuff I want to do with her! I hope you’ll make your way to Ypsilanti to join us to make a Tomten in time for Winter Solstice.
He’s an eerie shadow, haunting the tombs. And a lovable gnome, watching the children. He’s a helpful farmer, caring for animals. And a surly brawler, fighting for porridge. Meet the Tomten: a visitor from a solstice that was too wild to be remembered, and too joyful to be forgotten. Tomten figurines, with their tall hats and long beards, are familiar figures in Scandinavian homes this time of year. And from noon to 3:00 on Saturday, December 8, Small Craft will help you make a Tomten of your own.
Like the Tomten, Small Craft are visitors from a more wild and joyful era. And like the Tomten, they’re a strange little bundle of contradictions. They’re a friendly family, sharing homemade cookies. And an angry mob, battling corporate culture. They’re an indie business, selling crafty products. And they’re anti-business, shunning mass production.
Small Craft has a monthly residency at the Trumbullplex, a legendary theater and housing collective in Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood. But they’re on tour all winter, bringing creative skillshares to some of Southeast Michigan’s most beloved venues. The tour starts with a visit to DIYpsi, and a Tomten-themed social crafting experience.
So gather round their table, with friends old and new. Remember the simple pleasures of huddling for warmth, and making by hand. Craft a strange figurine from a scrap of felt. And if your eyes are wild and your spirit joyful, you may even catch a glimpse of the real, live Tomten.
{ 0 comments }
<div align="center"><a href="http://onegirlcircus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ogc-button-125x125.jpg" title="One Girl Circus by Karen LePage" target="_blank"><img src="http://onegirlcircus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ogc-button-125x125.jpg" alt="One Girl Circus by Karen LePage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
