Happy Easter Everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! We have gone a whole week without rain and the temps are getting warmer. – it looks like spring is finally on its way. I am leaving this week to go to Houston, where I will be teaching for the Midnight Oil Smockers. I used to live in Houston many years ago, and I am always amazed at how much things have changed and grown. When I lived there in the early 80’s, they had just had a massive building spree. There were so many new empty apartments, that if you referred someone and they signed a lease, you got either a color tv, a waterbed (woo hoo!) or a free month’s rent. I lived there 6 months before I was transferred to a Texas Instruments location north of Dallas, and I think I only paid rent for 2 of the months. Crazy!
Things have been very crazy here this spring. When we were in NYC in January, I found some wonderful fabrics that were being discontinued and I will be posting them in early May. They all arrived and are sitting in my living room, waiting until I have time to get them ready to go. There is 100% cotton pique’ in vibrant colors, a few pastel prints and some other odds and ends. I will be sending out a listing here first. If there is any of the fabric left, then it will go on my website.
I also just got in several more bolts of the fabric that I used for the dress that is in the current Classic Sewing Magazine.
I have to say that this is one of my favorite prints. It is so bright and sunny, I just think happy spring thoughts when I see it. You can order it here, if you want to add it to your stash, or better yet, sew it up! I have had several pictures already of finished dresses, just in time for Easter! The Raspberry gingham and the coton a broder set is on the same page.
I will be teaching a virtual class for SAGA, starting at the end of April called Button Bits. It is a smocked Basic Yoke Dress that has tiny button interspersed in the smocking and also added as design details in the bodice, cuff, and sash. I will be going over the smocking stitches and then we will be constructing the dress. I will show you all of my tips for making the perfect smocked dress!
3 Lessons, plus a Pre-class meeting to talk about pleating. I have had several emails, and YES, I will be recording each session. When I teach a virtual class, I create a private facebook group and post the recorded lessons in the group. I leave the group active for a month or so after the last lesson, so you have time to rewatch or catch up if you have to miss a class. The Pre-class meeting is Sunday, April 30 and then the Lessons are on Sundays from 1-4pm Eastern time on May 7, May 21, and June 4. They are 2 weeks apart so you have plenty of time to stitch and no conflict with Memorial Day weekend.
The sample is a medium blue with pink thread and buttons. There are 2 additional colorways available: turquoise with yellow thread and buttons, and Hot Pink with green thread and buttons. A little something for everyone, and perfect if you are sewing for more than 1!
You can find more information here, and you sign up through the SAGA website – www.smocking.org . Just log in to your Member Area and the sign up link is on your Members page. If you have any questions, just send me an email. It may take me a couple of days to get back to you while I am traveling!
Hope you are stitching something fun!
Happy Stitching,
Vaune