Spring...?

I do believe that Spring has arrived here in Indiana. I know many of you in the Midwest and Northeast are still buried in snow (my condolences) but we are finally, finally starting to see some sunshine here, and thank goodness. I'm hopeful that after one (or two?) last frosts we will eventually get to start planting our garden!

But fortunately, even in the recent dreary weather, I have been lucky enough to sew with some gorgeous, colorful fabrics that went a long way in brightening my days.

I made these elephants with Maude Asbury's cute circus-y Bailey line, and matching felt bunting

And a couple of matryoshka dolls with Anna Griffin's Mirabelle prints. I just love how they look once I've finished their sweet smiling faces and before they've been stuffed

Here they are on my favorite shelf (I would love to show you an update on my sewing room but it is absolutely stuffed to the gills with felt, and I am back to rearranging everything again, see: The Story of My Life)

And speaking of Spring, all of these cuties will be on display at Market next month, so a big hug and thanks to Blend and Anna Griffin for sending all these great fabrics for me to play with!

What are you looking forward to when the weather gets warmer? Me? I can't wait to start planting vegetables and to be able to open up the house for some fresh air and spring cleaning.

Happy Stitching!

Chinoiserie

I wanted to let you know about a new collaboration I have with the lovely folks at Anna Griffin!

My pear and apple pincushion patterns are bundled with some gorgeous prints from Anna's Chinoiserie fabric line, available as a kit through HSN. In the kit everything you need to make 4 pincushions (including full color instructions, fabric, fusible web, embroidery floss, felt, and stuffing), and you can use the patterns afterward to make more pears and apples with your own fabric scraps! HSN only ships within the US, but you can also find Chinoiserie at your favorite online (and hopefully local) fabric shops.

Special thanks to Anna and Tracey and everyone else involved in this project, and I hope that at least a few of my readers will be able to take advantage of this great deal!

Happy Stitching,

Spring Cleaning

Popping in after a crazy Spring Break (not crazy in the traditional sense of beaches, parties, and fun, but having spent a week mostly indoors with 30 degree weather, one boy with cabin fever, and the other with an actual cold) to share a few Spring Cleaning goodies with you. 

 

I've listed several felt scrap packs in my shop--most for just $5.00 plus shipping--carefully curated for maximum softie-making. You can find all the bundles here. There is a limited supply of scrap packs, so grab them now while you can!  I'll be adding some fabric bundles in the next few days as well, keep an eye out!

Happy Stitching,

petite pachyderm

I've received a lot of questions lately about whether it is possible to reduce my elephant sewing pattern in size. A clever stitcher had posted a photo of a mini elephant on my Facebook page some time ago, which, of course now I cannot find (if that was you, please let me know so I can link to you!). Then more recently, Connie, from the lovely Modern Textiles, let me know that printing the pattern at 75% worked perfectly. So I just had to try it out for myself.

I set my photocopier to print the pattern pieces at 75%, and while sewing, I used a seam allowance of just under 1/4". The result is this adorable elephant, measuring about 6" tall. I also made the tail a little longer, so it would be easier to tie the knot. I've been asked if it is possible to set Adobe Reader to print smaller, and to my knowledge it is not, sorry!

 
If anyone has tried reducing any of my other patterns, I'd love to hear your results! Pocket sized bunnies or owls, anyone?

Happy Stitching!

Mod for Matryoshka

Are you "mad" for matryoshka dolls? Well now you can be "mod" for matryoshka with my latest sewing pattern! These cute and modern gals are just the thing to brighten up your day, perched on a bookshelf, holding your straight pins, or as a friendly doorstop.

This sewing pattern is perfect for beginners: there are photos for each step and lots of tips for sewing and stuffing. The pattern includes 3 sizes, small: 5-3/4”H, medium: 7-1/4”H, and large: 8”H. 

As always, if you ever have questions while stitching, please send them my way, and you are always invited to share your Retro Mama project photos at my Facebook page and flickr group. I can't wait to see your new matrioshkas, babushkas, and Russian dolls! 

Happy Stitching,

winsome winners

Thanks to all who entered the pattern giveaway! Three entries have been randomly selected by random.org:

And the winners are...

Congratulations! I will contact the winners shortly!

shop update and giveaway reminder

Three new colors are available in the shop: Cheesecake (a lovely pale creamy yellow), Honey (a gorgeous light blonde), and vanilla (a smooth off white).  Enjoy!

Also, my best-selling wool blend felt colors are now available by the yard!

 

And lastly, don't forget to enter the giveaway for the chance to win my brand new Matryoshka sewing pattern!  The winner will be announced Tuesday (Jan. 29).

Happy stitching!

winsome goodies

First, I want to thank you for the lovely response to my sewing table (I'm so glad I'm not the only "giant" out there!) and matryoshka dolls. My new table is working out great, and is currently com-plete-ly covered with the remnants of pattern drafting and sample stitching (i.e. the state I prefer it to be!).

Which brings me to "win some" portion of this post. In just a few days, my matryoshka pattern will be available for purchase (yay!). So, in celebration of my 14th PDF sewing pattern release, I will be giving away 3 copies of my Mod for Matryoshka sewing pattern!

All you need to do is leave a comment below (1 per person, please!) letting me know your favorite pattern from my shop, OR what pattern you would like me to tackle next! Three lucky winners will be announced on Tuesday (Jan. 29), and will receive the pattern before it is available in my shop (Wednesday). Please make sure that your name links to an e-mail address or leave it in the comments so I can contact you if you win.

UPDATE: This post is closed to entries, I will announce the winners later in the day!  Thank you to everyone who entered!

Good luck, and Happy Stitching!

Hans and Greta....by you!

Popping by (in between cutting stacks and stacks of felt) to share some Hans and Greta photos that you, my lovely customers, have posted or sent to me.  I am constantly awed by your creativity and inventiveness, and I am so grateful to be part of the dolls that are being made for your own little ones and for your business endeavors!  Thank you so much for choosing my patterns for your sewing projects; please keep sharing your project photos!

These sweet Greta dolls by Laura are each sporting an adorable appliqued apron. They look like the best of friends, don’t they?

This cute mismatched (mismatched being the best kind of matched) Hans was made by Kim, who happens to have a sweet party supply shop. Those little denim shorts slay me, and the stripey socks + yellow sneakers combination = fab.

 

This amazing collection of Greta dolls is by Lamb and Wolfie, and I think they have all been sold, but perhaps you could ask her pretty please to make one for you? I adore all the hair styles and accessories!  How cute is Greta with pink hair??

Could this Harry Potter trio by Kelsie BE any cuter--I want to give Harry, Hermione, and Ron some chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!  Check out the real buckles and laces on the shoes, and those sweaters are amazing!

These colorful Hans and Greta dolls by Kara are so groovy!  The simplified design makes them appropriate for your very littlest ones, and I really dig the wild hair colors!

Thanks again to those of you who shared your photos with me.  I do believe that bunny season is coming up--I would love to see your Easter eggs, and your Betsy and Basil bunnies!

Happy Stitching,

resolution: sewing room

As the new year rolled in, I was inspired to take charge of my sewing room. I have been multi-tasking my resolutions to get more fit and organized by rearranging my room as well as adding some new furniture to make life a bit easier.

First order of business? A new cutting table.

It's about time. Sometimes I get the impression that the entire population of folks on the internet is around 5 feet tall and I am some kind of aberrant giant at 5' 9-1/2". Anyway. I was breaking my back cutting fabric and felt on my old table (which had formally been our dining table, until it was scratched in one of our moves), which is nearly 7" shorter than the new one.

I haven't cut anything on it yet but I can already tell the height will make a world of difference. (P.S. Those sadly empty shelves will be brimming with felt by early next week!)

Please pardon the grainy camera phone photos, perhaps my regular camera was misplaced in the excitement of furniture moving?

I noticed this when I flipped over the old table after it was disassembled. Apparently we move around a lot (she says, tongue in cheek)? The first time we relocated with a moving company I was religious about taking off all the moving stickers, but apparently I gave up soon thereafter.

Next order of business? A new shelf, which I adore. Camera: found!

Mmm. Colors.

This shelf is so cleverly designed and so gorgeous that I pretty much want to buy all my furniture now from Land Of Nod. I am sure to spend hours playing with it, there are just too many possibilities. I feel like a little girl rearranging her dollhouse; in fact the arrangement is already different from the photo. Yes, the migrating dolls on the lower part shelf are a pattern in progress, I plan to have that available for you soon(ish)!

I will show you more of my room as other bits fall into place. Anyone else have sewing room resolutions this year?

Happy Stitching!