Butterick, McCall's and Vogue Pattern Sale through Wednesday and Michaels Coupons

I stumbled on this sale when looking for details on a specific pattern. It started on Sunday the 21st and ends Wednesday the 24th. Many patterns are $2.99 each, excluding the out-of-print patterns. Here is the link.

Vogue Patterns are on sale for $3.99 each during the same days. Here is the link. Even the Vintage Vogue patterns are on sale.

And yes, McCall's is offering the same sale with patterns for $2.99 each. Start here.

I've included photos of one of the patterns I am buying - Vintage Vogue 1136 circa 1945. I wasn't impressed with the renderings of the pattern on the envelope but, when I saw the photos, I changed my mind. I love the way the jacket falls and the details on the back of the dress.

Also, this week, through August 21st, you can print a coupon for 40% Off one regular price item and a coupon for 50% Off one regular price baking item.

Happy sewing!

Time for a Little Crafting - A Beaded Bun Cover

I finally took a bit of time to work on my beading and made this little bun cover. My hair is long but pretty thin, so this covers a bun the size about 1/2 of a tennis ball.

I'm also working on the design for a larger cover to fit buns made of longer and thicker hair.

If you're interested in the pattern, please go here.

Happy Crafting!

Those Lovely Edwardian Blouses - In Praise of Mary Brooks Picken and the Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences

As a vintage sewing enthusiasts, I am sure I am not alone in being somewhat intimidated by patterns and sewing techniques of the past. Those wonderful vintage patterns of the early 20th century often assume a knowledge I do not possess.

Enter the wonderful Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences and the brilliant Mary Brooks Pickens, whose instructional booklets are a real find. If you have any other them in your sewing collection, you know what a treasure they are. As they are designed for young women learning the art of sewing, they an excellent tool for the 21st century seamstress and seamster.

I have been lucky enough to find a few of these books at thrift stores and one very lucky eBay auction win. One for my favorites is: Tailored and Lingerie Blouses - Part 2 (I hope to find Part 1 one day). Published in 1921, the designs are from Edwardian Era and include blouses that could have been worn in the 1900's or 1910s. I hope you enjoy these images from the book.

I have started photographing and scanning my copies and I am offering .pdf copies on eBay. If you are interested in the content of these books, rather than in collecting the originals, I hope you will take a look at those I have on offer here. This is a slow process but I hope to get all of them finished and available by the end of summer.

Can't you just imagine wearing one of these beautiful blouses to a garden party or dinner party?

Happy Sewing!

Making Time for Life and Beading ... Christmas is Coming

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. Life has been a bit chaotic and fitting in everything I should be doing has left little time for everything I want to be doing. But, I think that is a challenge for most of us.

Though I haven't had a lot of time for sewing or crafting, I finally took some time to make a few ornaments - beaded ornament covers if you want to be precise - and to create patterns for them. I find beading and sewing very calming, even when it is challenging. I sometimes forget that. I am determined to fit more time for it into even my most hectic weeks.

Here are some of the ornaments I've made in the last few weeks. In looking at them together I realize my color combinations aren't classically "Christmasy" but I still think they'll look nice on the tree.

If you are interested in the patterns for these ornaments and others I've made in the past, click here.

What are you working on for the Holidays? Do you have any tips for fitting more sewing and crafting into my hectic schedule? I welcome your suggestions.

Happy Crafting!

Simplicity Sewing Patterns - 40% Off Sale

I just found on another sewing blog a notice of a 40% off sale on Simplicity Patterns - thank you, Diary of a Sewing Fanatic. The sale is only until Friday, May 28th and doesn't include It's Sew Easy and New Look.

The promo code is: BLOGPS40. Enter it when you check out.

You can use this link to Simplicity or just go to the site yourself to shop.

Happy shopping and sewing.