Gone To Earth

Busy...

It's pretty manic around here... I'm trying to get photographs of the fabrics set against a ruler to give an idea of scale.

It's one of those jobs that you almost wish you'd never started but will be nice when it's done

...and..

If the sun comes out ....I'll have to stop.... but I suspect this is going to take some time...

I'd like to think it's worth it. Up until now I've tended to use the manufacturers photographs on the website. I mean they're bound to get it right aren't they? Sometimes though they don't seem to give enough details. Sometimes you notice that in reality the the most muted greens look almost fluroescent in the photo. It also seems important to know that a fabric has a directional print, or that if you buy a fat quarter the half you get might be almost 'solid' colour and it would be best to half a half metre to benefit from all of the design. I try in the descriptions to point these occasional things out but a picture says it so much better don't you think?

I'm in need of a little encouragement here..... perhaps another cup of tea might help. :) I wonder if there are any biscuits left.... (wanders off.... )

Favorite things....

Note how I've skillfully avoided a 'Sound of Music link..... it was very tempting....

I've been having a bit of an expansion in the patterns department and just look at what's arrived.

Gorgeous, wonderful and desirable patterns from 'Favorite Things'. Favorite Things are a Canadian Mother and daughter-in-law design team, Leslie and Kimberley Gladman. Maybe if you've never made clothes before ... these are a reason to start.

These are just a few of them...

There's also an equivalent style for the young ladies...

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There's the simply styled Prairie Dress;

... and a few jacket designs too. Lovely for the spring perhaps .... when we finally get rid of the snow.

The adult clothes are in Canadian sizes 4 to 22 (you can see what this equates to on UK sizes if you visit the shop) and the children clothes are from Toddler (age 1 to 4) and from age 5 upwards. Again there is a chart to show the sizes on the shop.

...I love the way the fabrics are used in the examples on the pattern covers and I love the simple, almost timeless but very flattering styles .... very pretty. I hope you like them too.

The Flickr group - Bags

There have been oddles of beautiful pictures added to the Flickr group.... really, absolutely oddles. So, I thought that I'd show you some of the the wonderful bags that have been added and follow this later by a 'Flickr post' devoted to the clothes that you have been skillfully designing and sewing. Amazingly, it doesn't end there because you've also been adding buttons (yummy buttons!), accessories of all kinds, plus some truly inspired and inspirational 'craftiness' that really deserves a post of its own.

So, sit back and enjoy.... there are going to be lots of pretty pictures to feast your eyes upon.

This pretty little bag has been designed and made by NotJustHandbags I love the colours together and the 'boxy' shape.

Everyone needs a tote bag, don't they? And this is a very pretty one ... and not just because I like the zingy fresh colours of the Heather Bailey fabric.

.... this has been designed and very skillfullly made (look at that pattern placement on the fabric) by Angharad.

Next we have a duo of pretty Keiko bags;

These were made by CraftMatters The second bag is a scaled up version of the first one, pretty aren't they? Love the fabric placement on the button!

I spy a little Anna Maria Horner fabric in this Amy Butler Weekender bag. Looks brilliant doesn't it?

Skillfully made by Mellimoocow

SewChristine has been making Wristlet bags with some lovely embrodiered fabric ... And last but not least there is this bag in Eiffel Tower fabric....

.... made by Seapaper

Thank you for all your lovely contributions... please keep adding them. Get your sewing fingers twitching don't they?

Thinking out loud!

Oh! Good grief..... things have been crazily busy around here these last couple of weeks.... there are so many new fabric lines coming out and some of them are to die for I'm really drooling looking forward to receiving them!

I've spent a great deal of time looking through thousands, hundreds lots of fabric swatches which was difficult, involved too many decisions fun.

There are new 'products' coming out - Design rolls they're called. I'm never going to remember that..... they're just 'Jelly rolls' aren't they? I know that's a Moda trade name but somehow I know I'm going to struggle with remembering .... 'Design rolls'. Better think of a way of storing them.... I wonder how big they are ? But for now I have to be patient and wait.... and wait ...

O.K so what have we got on the waiting list ..... there are fabrics from Tanya Whelan's Dolce fabric range. Currently, just the one....

I can't think how to describe this.... delicate, French calm Perhaps what I'm thinking is that it has a quiet, sophistication to it.... very modern, but 'classy'.

There will be fabrics from Denyse Schmidt's Hope valley... the colours are so her....love the small patterns... be perfect for quits....

There's also fabrics from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane.... it also comes in 'Jelly roll' Design roll form....

There seems to be some uncertainty about Anna Maria's Little Folks whether Rowan is just stocking the voilles and the flannels or whether at some point they might have the quilting cottons too... fingers crossed for the quilt weight cottons.... I wonder if stamping my feet might help?

Of course ... I'm skirting the issue of 'Love' Amy Butler's new fabric collection.... it's beautiful.... (I wish she hadn't called it that - whatever kinds of Spam is my blog going to attract now? ) The colours and patterns are just amazing... a mix of intense blues and magentas and the softest of greens .... I could wax lyrical but I won't just now!

The launch dates I had in my head for all this loveliness was the beginning of February.... all exicited I was as the DHL man arrived outside .... carried an enormous box uphill to the door.... the anticipation was incredible.

It wasn't.... what I thought it was... so I can only show you this.... one lonely but lovely polka dot style print.

I love Amy's video of a photo shoot on her website..... go there at your peril.... the fabrics .... oooooo! the colour and the pattern all interacting.... Note: Do not show to daughter or risk being locked into your sewing room to make one of those swirly, twirly skirts.... I jest.... but I do believe she'd do it.

Speak soon!