Creating Couture Embellishment Giveaway for All Readers!

13 Mar Creating Couture Embellishment Giveaway for All Readers!

While the last four weeks have been quite exciting and enjoyable, I’ve had little time to sew, or even blog.

I’ve just returned from Nashville where I presented a talk+trunkshow, and a Tunic Bible workshop to the lovely ladies of the ASG Nashville Chapter, combined with a two-day visit and training session at the Pfaff Headquarters. The workshop was held in a Nashville Police Precinct and I couldn’t resist having my photo made with a policeman who likes to sew!

Prior to Nashville I had the pleasure of taping three episodes for the PBS sewing show, It’s Sew Easy in Cleveland which I mentioned in an earlier post.  Below I’m enjoying the ‘flawless look’ of high-definition studio makeup with Angela Wolf.

Traveling is finished for a while, and I really look forward to sewing all of the new fabric I’ve acquired with all of the new knowledge swimming around in my head 🤗

I’m lumping the past four weeks into a single post because one of the greatest benefits of traveling is the pleasure of meeting people I would otherwise never know.

It was a thrill to see a Tunic Bible Tunic front and center on a dress form at The Children’s Corner store in Nashville. The owners with whom I am pictured said the book has been very popular at the store as it bridges the gap for young  mothers sewing for their children to sew something for themselves. Julie and I never considered this aspect, but it’s very true and we hope The Tunic Bible will serve as a segue into adult garment sewing for sewists from all genres. I never knew the extent of The Children’s Corner’s wonderful fabric offering until I visited the shop.Below are several photos of tunic making in action. One student used a tutorial from the current issue of Threads Magazine and cleverly adapted a placket and vent opening to the front bodice.

People’s creativity never ceases to amaze me! How lovely is this lavender linen tunic?

The ruffle neck and wide-split placket with angled collar continue to dominate the workshops, but would you believe that ALL of the plackets were used in this class?

Great combo of ribbons in the photo below!

Now……………..

While I was in Cleveland I met Ellen Miller. I recognized her name from Goodbye Valentino comments, but I did not know she had recently written one of the best sewing books I have ever seen in my life!

Creating Couture Embellishments is a must have for any garment sewist or sewer.

Released in August 2017, the book is a 5- year labor of love by Ellen W. Miller, a former professor at the Boston Fashion Institute. One day I expect it to be one of the great fundamental sewing books worldwide.

The Table of Contents is treated as a visual index for the 180+ embellishments in the book.

The 400-page book is comprehensive to say the least offering step-by-step guides for pleating, quilting, tucking, ruffling, shirring, and smocking, as well as the fabrication and application of feathers, beading, embroidery, flowers, decorative ribbons and bows, bias bindings and piping, fringe, braids, and passementerie.

Ellen unlocks the secret of creating Dior roses, Chinese knots, bias band applications etc…. virtually all of the embellishments that bring sophistication to a garment.

Ellen’s publisher, Laurence King Publishing is giving away a copy of this fabulous book to one lucky winner. All readers of Goodbye Valentino are eligible for the giveaway. To enter simply leave a comment by Thursday, March 15. The winner will be announced on Friday, March 16.

I bought my copy immediately upon meeting Ellen. Needless to say, everyone in the studio was awed by Ellen’s work!
Lynn Browne (Coats & Clark) Joanne Banko (Let’s Go Sew) Ellen Miller (creatingembellishment.com) me, Cheryl Sleboda (muppin.com) Michelle Paganini (Paganoonoo).

Good luck, Readers! This prize is a true gem, and many thanks to Ellen and her publisher for arranging the giveaway!

Until soon.😉