Author: goodbyevalentino

18 Mar Birdie and Me

Greetings from the desert! A beautiful baby and gorgeous warm weather greeted us upon our arrival to Scottsdale. Can life get better than this? I've been asked countless times if I plan to sew for Birdie (now 6 months). The answer is YES, but I have decided not to smock again. It's been a long time since I've attempted to sew baby clothes, and while times have changed, baby patterns have not! After a 25 year break, I was led back to The Children's Corner patterns and discovered many of the cute patterns I sewed for Katie and Mimi are now online waiting to be...

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10 Mar The French Jacket Experience (guest post) Julie Starr

My friend and co-author, Julie Starr dedicates each January (+) to sewing a couture garment. She's hooked on French Jackets and generously shares her experience below. Enjoy :) The allure of the classic French jacket - its mystique has captivated for years. Long before rediscovering garment sewing several years ago I admired this garment for its timeless elegance on the outside, never understanding that the magic on the inside is the real story. Quilting lofty boucle to silk lining with rows of stitches that are all but invisible from the outside produces a sumptuous quality double layer that hugs the body...

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05 Mar 3 Dresses 3 Fits 3 Looks

Maybe you go through color phases like I do.  I don't know where they come. Two years ago I was all about orange but lately I've been partial to blue and green. Recently, the delightful fabric designer Jennifer Paganelli sent Julie and me selections from her Hotel Frederiksted collection. We each made a tunic for one of our book signings at Quiltcon in Savannah last week.  The fabrics are quilting cotton which isn't always recognized as garment friendly, but one can have fun with the great prints found in quilting cotton, and create cute casual garments! Here's mine. I decided to make a...

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20 Feb Mood Fabrics Giveaway Winner

Happy Monday, especially to Jean Humphries, winner of the Mood Fabrics giveaway :) Jean, please confirm your email with me no later than Wednesday, February 22 or a new winner will be selected. Congratulations! Many thanks to all who participated in the giveaway and again to whomever voted in the African Print Challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your thoughtful and very kind comments and will be responding  now that the giveaway is completed. My next post will feature a beautiful make by my friend and co-author, Julie Starr ( not a tunic!) Best wishes to all for a lovely week....

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17 Feb Mood Fabrics Giveaway!

Goodness ~ I won the Mood Fabrics African Print Facebook Challenge. Many thanks to all who voted in the contest, not just for me, but for any of the seven MSN bloggers. I'm truly flattered to have won amid such talent. For winning, I received two $50.00 Mood Fabrics gift certificates. Mood automatically loaded one to my account but the second one is for you! To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment below. The winner will be announced Monday, February 20th. ________________________________ If you plan to visit Quilt Con in Savannah, please stop by one of our Tunic Bible book signings and say hello!...

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14 Feb Floral Explosion and Giveaway Winner

Happy Valentine's Day, Dear Readers! My hometown of Spartanburg, SC has gone all out putting hearts on the lampposts and red dye in the fountain :) I finished my new shirt just in time for the big day. This lightweight cotton from Five Eighth Seams caught my eye with its floral explosion, and I was smitten after seeing the Monet quote printed along the selvage. ;) As I've mentioned before, I thought button down shirts were not for me until I returned to sewing and became dedicated to fitting myself. Now I love them. I cannot think of a single place where I can buy a...

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11 Feb A Contest and A Giveaway!

Actually the header should read a contest and two giveaways! Last month several of the Mood Sewing Network members sewed projects from African Waxed Cotton. The store liked the results so much it decided to host a Facebook Contest. The winner receives two $50.00 gift certificates. One to keep and one to share with YOU! Click HERE to vote for your favorite! The contest runs through February 15th, and obviously, I hope I receive the certificate to share with you ;) ______________________________________ In the meantime Beth Byrge, from 110 Creations and author of A Sewist's Notebook has written a new book entitled A Sewist's Swatchbook designed to help...

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06 Feb Style Arc Head to Toe!

This week of sewing has been all play and no work ;) I simply love sewing with no agenda, deadlines, hardcore plans, and all of the other issues that can pile on the pressure. I have been beyond eager to sew a cold-shoulder top. I see them everywhere, and after one attempt and mediocre result last spring I'm at it again. Fortunately, the pattern companies now offer many more selections, and I had a better vision. For this top I selected the Style Arc Cold Shoulder Knit Top. I have no affiliation with Style Arc Patterns, but now that I can buy them with...

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