It has been quiet in the sewing room

In the past several days, the machines haven't been touched much (please don't faint, ok?). =) I guess I've been busy either helping out here at home, teaching violin, tatting, and other small things that have employed my time

I was inspired by Anna's blog though of her step-by-step directions on how to make pillow cases. (...I confess that I have been lazy these days and have only sewn when I have a pattern/guidelines to go by instead of being brave enough to draft my own.) But do take a look at these vintage-inspired pillow cases ... you just might get in the mood to pull out your fabric scraps to make some!

However in other news, I took the plunge and edited all the prices on our website for the going-out-of-business sale, and the prices will continue to be reduced until we sell everything.

The winners are...

I have decided that I wanted to give away my copy as well (it's so good, I'd wish for every single woman to have a copy!) and so I drew two names this time:

Congrats to Ana Marie Ort and Jodi Griner!!

Weekend giveaway - CD

From Crystal's website:
“I believe that God has something so much greater for Christian young women today than following the careerism, consumerism, humanism, and feminism that the world wants to offer you.”

In this session, originally given at the Ultimate Homeschool Expo, Crystal Paine, a homeschool graduate who is now happily married and mother of two, shares from her heart and personal experience three keys to living a vibrant, meaningful life while unmarried. Packed with practical ideas and Biblical encouragement. 70 minutes. Includes an audience question and answer segment at the end.

I was so excited to listen to this CD, and I definately consider it to be one of my favorite speaking audio's. It is literally brimming full of encouragement for single young women who wondering "what am I going to do next?" or just wondering what to do while waiting for Prince Charming, and I am thrilled that I have an extra copy to giveaway! As like last time...

To enter: Please e-mail us your name and mailing address and you'll be automatically added into the drawing. One name per household.
To be entered in twice: Mention this giveaway on your blog/LiveJournal/xanga, then e-mail us with a link to your blog, and you will be added twice!
To find out who won: Make sure you are in by Monday at 12:00pm MST and we'll anounce the winner sometime shortly after we do a random drawing!

We will be done in August...

With our domain name expiring soon, much thought and prayer has been put into our little sewing enterprize that we've had for 7 years now, we have decided to "wrap it up" indefinately. (As they say, number 7 is the number of completion)

Through the month of August, we will put all of our things (apparel and items from the resource shop) up for sale until we can get rid of everything.

Just thought I'd give a little heads up...

REVISED - Fabric for Sale: Cottons

Green floral - 5 yds - $10

Blue plaid (prewashed) - 2-1/2 yds - $5

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Note:

Shipping on all of these will be a flate rate price of $8.95 for Priority Mail.

Items were measured approximately, and many of them have scraps to go along that would work perfect for the little things in sewing, such as back ties, bodice facings, cuffs for sleeves, pockets, etc.

Sold as "one piece" and not by yards.

E-mail us if you are interested.
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REVISED - Fabric for Sale: Tropical Breeze and Flannel's

Purple floral. Tropical Breeze - 9-1/2 yds - $27

Purple roses on green. Tropical Breeze - 10 yds - $30

Cream and burgundy floral flannel - SOLD

White flannel w/ blue flowers - SOLD

================================

Note:

Shipping on all of these will be a flate rate price of $8.95 for Priority Mail.

Items were measured approximately, and many of them have scraps to go along that would work perfect for the little things in sewing, such as back ties, bodice facings, cuffs for sleeves, pockets, etc.

Sold as "one piece" and not by yards.

E-mail us if you are interested.

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Fabric Stash

I loved this post on one of my favorite blogs to visit. At Anna's blog, you can read how to care for your fabric stash and have fun!


I had much fun re-arranging the stashes that were piling up on my table, taking pictures of them (the one above is just one of the piles) and I also sorted some of our fabric that we used to make custom-made apparel for our website. I've decided to go ahead and sell them, and so these will be listed shortly here on the blog.

Dressing femininely

I came across a blog this evening and read this wonderful entry on dressing femininely and wanted to share it:

http://www.laura.bitter-gamer.com/quietude/2007/07/reasons-for-feminine-dress.html

1914 Afternoon Dress

My heirloom dress from Sense & Sensibility patterns is finally finished! Well, all except for the silk sash that I need to make to complete it. (Should I do yellow or purple?) =) The front bodice is hanging from the weight of the skirt and built-in-petticoat, but in real life, the front sort of "poufs" out.
The sleeves have embroidery and lace inserted in between the fabric:

The back has the lace, and it buttons in the back:

And the skirt has 6 rows of pintucks:

We believe in modesty, but...

...I hate to confess that poor Arabella has been unclothed for several days now! I normally have things for her to wear, but never had anything after the giveway, and selling a Regency dress on ebay last week.

The project I'm working on however is a 1914 Afternoon Dress that is loaded with hand embroidery, lace insertions, and pintucks. It is made out of a semi-sheer white-on-white checked cotton, with a cotton sheer mist batiste for the bodice and skirt linings. I'm excited to be working on a new pattern and here is a a snapshot of what is coming:


...::::...

Oh, I also thought I should mention that my friend LeAnne, from the Tapestries blog (I highly recommend the magazine they publish!), set up a feed for our sewing blog, so if you have a Live Journal, you can read our blog on your friends page! Click here to add us.

It is now 12:02pm ::drumroll:: and the winner is...

... Heather Anderson! Congratulations! =)

We had a total of 31 entries and considering that this isn't a "well-known" blog out in the blogosphere, I was excited to see that many people enter. =) And thanks to those who also linked to our blog from your own.

Lord willing, we hope to have more giveaway's in the future, so this wasn't our first and last. =)

Apron Giveaway!

Instead of selling this apron, I decided to have "an apron giveaway"! The inspiration comes from my friend Crystal who recently had a giveaway on her blog. Details's are below:
A lovely 1930-1940's era apron made in a cheery purple cotton that is dotted with orange and reddish colored flowers. The apron in entirely bound with a corresponding bias and features apricot colored buttons on the side pockets. A ladies size small to medium.

To enter: Please e-mail us your name and mailing address and you'll be automatically added into the drawing. One name per household.

To be entered in twice: Mention this giveaway on your blog/LiveJournal/xanga, then e-mail us with a link to your blog, and you will be added twice!

To find out who won: Make sure you are in by Friday at 12:00pm MST and we'll anounce the winner of the apron sometime shortly after we do a random drawing!

A bitter-sweet accomplishment

For a long time, I have admired a blouse seen worn by a friend's friend of mine, and I finally but reluctantly took apart a blouse she gave to me, to make a pattern off of. The results were very pleasing, except...
it turned out to be a size eight! I had forgotten to add room to make it a size 12 so I am having to sell this, as I don't know how long it will take me to get back to a size 8. =P Oh well, maybe someone else will enjoy it!

The machines are buzzing

Today I have locked myself in the sewing room to tackle my growing mountain of fabrics. I say growing because one can hardly contain herself when JoAnn's has such great deals right now and I'm seeing some tropical breeze fabric that I really like over at Works of the Heart and Gehman's Country Fabrics. =)

So what have I been sewing? Take a look:

I finished up this girls dress that was made out of a purple calico tropical breeze, which is now up for sale. This pattern was one that my youngest sister Molly wore often for many years. It's hard to believe that she is no long a little girl, but is becoming a young woman who will be 13 this October!

The item that I started afterwards was a 1930 to 1940-ish apron. I had some extra matieral after I made one up for Leah (my sister who is 18) and after loving the way it turned out, I'm making another one to sell. The only difference between the two is that I'm adding some large apricot colored buttons to the pockets for a little extra "touch."

Making aprons is so much fun for me (as making nightgowns is Erin's, my older sister who will be 25 this fall, favorite) and I am inclined to believe that one can never have to many aprons! Does anyone agree with me? =) I'd love to hear about them and what your favorite patterns are!

Do all good things come to an end...?

After pulling in this afternoon from a family trip out west, I downloaded pictures (I want to say I took around 1,000), and checked my e-mail, I saw that I received an e-mail from where we purchased our domain site, and our site expires in 90 days.

For the last six months, we've contemplated shutting our business down. I have had visions of it branching into a ministry of some kind, but maybe they are just dreams.

Do I here any thoughts or ideas?