New Product Bulletin: Wonder Clips from Clover Notions for sewing and quilting

New Product Bulletin:  Wonder Clips

           

These little clips are going to change your sewing experience. The more you use them the more places you will find to use them instead of a pin.

The genius of the Wonder Clip design is the flat bottom to make machine sewing flow smoothly. The heavy duty hinge holds even the thickest binding/quilt while stitching by hand or on the machine and the 1/2″, 3/16″, 1/4″ and 3/8th ” marks on the flat side (clear) of the clip allows you to accurately clip and mark where you will sew.

The BEST is that the Wonder Clips replace pins … no more blood drops on your quilts, no more bent pins, no more poked fingers …just a “painless” binding experience.  For those of us that love to do English paper piecing, these little clips will be a life saver. Often times when tacking the first couple of corners of the paper piece/fabric the paper template will slip and, if you’re not careful, when finishing there won’t be enough fabric to correctly finish. Just place a clip on the fabric/paper template and NO MORE SHIFTING!  Wonder Clips are available on a card with 10 clips, or in a box of 50." 7-26-2011:  The card of 50 is on backorder, so if you order it  plan to wait.  :)  

SAVE 20% for a limited time.  Click HERE to order Today!  

BIRTHED: Creative Sweatshirt Jackets...Londa's Way Book TWO

Creative Sweatshirt Jackets - Book 2

WOW! I feel as if I've given birth to 9 more 'children'! Adding to the 5 jackets in my first book, find

• Complete TALKING™ directions for every Basic Direction task and EVERY jacket
• BOTH of my Fitting Techniques included
• NEW embellishment 'wrapping' edges techniques perfected!
• COLOR photography throughout the book!
  
• LOTS of additional photos at the associated online website (as given INSIDE the book)
  

I squeezed this task into my very active creative and traveling schedule late last year and the first months of this year, working VERY diligently to 'give birth' to this new product. It seemed a logical step as the stock of my first book was about depleted.

To purchase the book AND one each of the VERY IMPORTANT Stay Tapes that you NEED in order to create jackets that look like mine (regularly $7.50 each - and NOT available in chain styores!), go here: http://www.londas-sewing.com/Creative-Sweatshirt-JacketsLondas-Way-Book-2-PLUS-1-each-Fusible-Stay-Tape-p25157.html

Many thanks to the confident customers and students who pre-ordered this book at both the Puyallup Creative Sewing Stitchery Expo in early March and the Lakeland, FL Original Sewing & Quilting Expo mid March. Your copies are mailing first class USPS Mail today and tomorrow (April 4 & 5).

Once again, I couldn't have accomplished this without the able and creative assistance of my wonderfully talented and artistic son, Jeff. As you listen to the audio and see all the photos, it is HIS skills that make this possible! Way to go, Jeff! Dear Husband Charley encourages me along the way - and diligently stuffs the envelope of patterns into the back of each book, and manages all the BOXES!

Also thanks to Shelley at my friendly local printer, Upclose Printing here in Champaign, IL. She hung with me through countless revisions and corrections!

Down to the 'order fulfillment center'.... ala the basement.... I go!


SAVE Since you read about it on my BLOG -
click HERE for the Book ONLY and save!
click HERE for the Book and 2 Fusible Stay Tape  Deal.   
   

Londa's Video Demo of Flower Frill Template from Clover

Having fun with these new Flower Frill Templates from Clover - watch me make one...

New Year's Eve Dress

OK - I get to sew a regular pattern again! Yea - I think?! My hubby and I do ballroom dancing (NOT DWTS type - but social) at a neighborhood dance hall and NYE is always fun and dress up. What fun!

I found this luscious embossed velvet/lycra knit while in Atlanta at the American Sewing Guild Conference back in August.

The embossing is in rows - and I made necessary decisions this afternoon - and even got to crawl around on the floor to cut it out!

I strongly considered what pattern to use. Gee - it is sure nice to be able to cruise the patterns availalable from my ez chair online! I had purchased a Burda pattern, but then saw it made up and photo'd online, and decided the twisty thing on the bodice was too bulky - and out of this napped fabric, it would be VERY much too bulky.

This pattern presented some challenging decisions as well.

1. It has nap - so which way to cut it??? Even though I knew it would look 'richer' with nap running up (as I run hand down my skirt - it would be rough - I really liked the softer red color of cutting it with nap running down.

2. At first I thought I would do the center view - C - where the skirt is fuller - becuse the other skirts are cut on the bias - but I ultimately decided to actually use the somewhat slimmer skirt and yes - to cut it on the bias! The fabric being a knit - it is very heavy - and i was just afraid that much skirt would be really TOO much trying to dance. Holding it up - I think it will look just fine - and even though the embossings are in 'rows' - I think I will be the only one who would ever notice this.

3. The midriff shirring - was also is designed to be cut on the bias - and I understand that - but I have had experience with that concept on other gowns - and it never seems to work right - I always have to pull it much tighter to get it to look right - and with this being a knit - I just didn't think it would work. So - I decided to cut it so that the least amount of stretch - lengthwise grain - would be going around. This area is exeuted on a base of lining. So - that is what I decided - will continue to post as I stitch and fit and you'll find out how it all goes.

Typical - I lost one pattern piece - and DH found it in the garbage with other tissue scraps.

AND - I was thinking so hard about getting the skirt out of the fabric - matching, etc., that I realized AFTER I cut it that I cut the FRONT piece 4 times - instead of 2 and the BACK 2 times. However, comparing the front and back pieces, I found VERY little difference, so I think I'll be OK actually.

I do have enough fabric left over to recut the back skirt if need be - but I'm excited that I have enough left to make either a neat jacket, or a great top - so I'm hoping that the skirt will work out.

Sewing it should be fun....stay tuned! OH - and that Roll the Gold Titanium Rotary cutting blade once again worked like a charm to cut what I could that lay on my 4s x 80 cutting mat on the floor. For the rest of it - I was testing my new KAI Modified Serrated blad scissors - 5220~ WOW~ !!!!! Watch too for more info on that new product!

Next Progress Installment...

Well - right off the bat, as I lined the bodice, it was obvious AGAIN how lousy directions are - even Vogue! Unless you would trim the armhole seam allowance VERY close - it would not, could not turn nicely without CLIPPING into the seam allowance at the curve - several times!!! The reason is that this edge - the cut edge, as it is inside out - is the INSIDE of a circle - smaller than what it will become when it turns right side out - that same edge will become the OUTSIDE of a circle - larger, and the only way it can do that - to make that edge larger, is to clip it so that it can spread - to get larger.

By the way - this bodice was well designed - cut on the bias, so that the angled front edge is on the straight grain. When cutting the lining, I utilized the non-stretchable SELVAGE for that edge - thus stabilizing it very well.

I really like this bodice - and the back strap that loops through the neck back facing that attaches to the front bodice straps. I may well use it on a sundress next summer. I think it is really pretty flattering - and could certainly be cut higher at the center front so as not to show cleavage.

ANYWAY...typical, the method of joining the narrow front bodice straps to the neck facing in the back is BAD - and, as I see it - darned near impossible. However, I see it done this way over and over and over.

I recommend NOT stitching the edges of the Front straps all the way to the top ends, but rather to STOP the stitching at both sides of the Front straps at least 2" away from the top small end. Do the same for the ends of the back facing - stop 2" away from the ends.

Doing it this way allows you to easily stitch the 2 'outside' surfaces (in this case, the back neck piece to the front strap extension). After doing that, you should trim down this seam allowance, and then either press it open, or towards one way or the other - grading it first to 'graduate the bulk' and THEN turn under the seam edges of the ends of the Lining, and then slip slipstitch the lining ends together, and also slipstitch along the remaining unstitched edges along both sides.

This worked really well for me, and I pressed the graded seam towards the bodice because there is a tuck there anyway releasing fullness.

I then worked VERY hard and got the midriff all shirred beautifully. Cutting it on the straight grain - going around the waist worked well to make it NOT stretch. HOWEVER, I'm long-waisted, and had adjusted the midriff pieces adding 1.5" before cutting. THAT plus some extra 'flesh' that has crept on made for a 'creative challenge' as when I tried it on - I lacked about 4+ inches as the bottom most edge of the midriff edges meeting!

Oh well...that much bulk going horizontally around my midriff wasn't that flattering anyway - even if it did fit. Sew... onto some 'design adjustments'.....

It was clear that all I had to do was hike up the top of the skirt edge, making the midriff area 3" deep instead of like 12" deep - and I liked the look of it. That also made it fit around very nicely. I also played and decided that some vertical seaming or stitching through the expanse of the front shirring would be nice - dividing that midriff area in the front into 3 sections. I did that by hand-basting through the depth of the midriff to then pull it up and then machine stitched through the outer velour and base lining. Here's what it looks like now...

And the back - the invisible zipper took some work, but finally got it in nicely. It is an orangey red that doesn't match at all - so I'm going to the drug store with a sample in hand to match some nail polish to paint the zipper pull tab.

A hook and thread eye at the very top holds it together nicely, It is amazing to me how very far from the zip that the hook needs to be stitched. I find to do the thread 'eye' first works best. Then you 'hook' the hook part in and pull it over so that the edges come together as you desire in order to determine exactly where to stitch on that hook. AND - you MUST stitch a few times entirely through to the outer side so that the hook doesn't pull on the lining edge inside only.

Speaking of that lining edge inside - see on the picture to the right that I decided to 'engineer' a rectangle of lining, edges folded in - along the zipper edge on the inside of the upper bodice at the back. I think this worked out better because the lining of the upper bodice really couldn't finish off the zipper here, as the directions had you basting the lower edges together first - before stitching the shirred midriff section to it.

You can also see in this photo that the inside of the midriff section has not been completed. I feel that the horizontal seam allowances need to be hand catch-stitched to the midriff base layer to hold them in place first. THEN the midriff lining can be hand-stitched into place. I'm actually inspired to say NO to all holiday cookies and to really hit my 'Abdoer' exercise machine even more, so I'm gonna leave this open for now and hope to have to take it in at the side seams. THEN I'll finish it off inside.

also had seriously thought about adding godets in the skirt seams anyway, so I went ahead and did that - un-stitching each seam for the lower 20" or so and adding godets I drafted. The center of each 'cone' shape is the length needed - on straight grain - like the radius of a circle, and the bottom then is the outer edge of a circle. I decided that I wanted the bottom edge of the godet - that circumference edge - to meausure 20". That was easy to draft - then added seam allowances, and stitched into each of the seams - center front, back, and each side seam. Doing this added a nice 4 times 20 = 80" to the 'dancin' hem!

AND - you may not believe this, but since this is a knit, and knits don't ravel, I've decided the 'in' and EZ and smart thing to do is to leave the hem as a cut edge! I'll make you a bet that not a single person will come up to me NYE to tell me I forgot to 'hem' my dress!

So - done I think, until a day or so before - when I do final fitting of the midriff and finish off the inside with the midriff lining.

ONLY decision left is to decide on jewelry. I have nice rhinestone earrings an necklace...or gold an ruby-type stones.

Talking Pattern™ url corrections

EEEKS - while I and my publisher/printer try VERY hard to check every dot and tittle in my publications, it appears that a few have snuck by us.... so if you purchased either of these two patterns, please read below and make the corrections that will be obvious to you when you look at the url that gets you to the 'Talking' portion which is printed INSIDE the booklet you purchased!

• Chosen - use a small c in the url - not a capital c. Also - the last url mistakenly has tm after the 'c' word - eliminate the tm. My printer is graciously reprinting to correct this.
  
• Genesis Too - in the url, simply insert a period, a dot in the url before the 'com'. I tried to manually correct most of these - but obviously missed some. This pattern has sold so furiously, that I have a new big bunch that is all correct now.

while I try my very hardest...I'm humbled and comforted to know and believe that ...
only God does things perfectly!

YEAH - Creative Jacket Journey has arrived!

http://www.londas-sewing.com/Creative-Jacket-Journey-DVD-CAT-p25333.html
Yea! The 'labor' is over and 'she' is here! All 1020 copies of her! Many already shipped out to all who were kind enough to pre-order.
I'm tickled to death and so appreciative of everyone's confidence AND especially my friend Gloria's help with the DVD as a wonderfully creative and inquisitive 'student' and my son Jeff's awesome technical editing!
Anxious to hear reviews................

Sine you found this DVD on my BLOG - SAVE$ when you purchase - click on link below:
http://www.londas-sewing.com/Creative-Jacket-Journey-DVD-CAT-p25333.html

Pattern Publication Process... Proceeding

Finally - have the cover for the new, revised Refined Too™ pattern! Hard at work today on all the images for the albums that go with it. Durn it if they hadn't all but disappeared in my Picasa Albums I thought I had all DONE! Do you notice- my body is in the jackets - that took a 3 hour session at the photographer's last week. Of course, I think I look heavy - even my son commented as such. But it was easier than pinning, stuffing, etc. the arms on a mannequin. Let me know if you like this change!

Pretty much, this pattern thing is like birthing a baby - but more about that in my Video E-mail I want to get to today!

ON target with this one now - need about 2 more proofs of the contents with my printer then they can go to press.

Talented webmaster son has to do his magic on the Talking Oral directions....

Sew.... hopefully by the middle of next week for the 'Birthday'!

NEW Refined Jacket #3

This 'Tailored Collar Jacket" will replace the Denim Dash Jacket in my new REFINED™ Talking Pattern™. As I complete the written and verbal directions for this jacket - hopefully this morning - I near the end of this LONG process. It's taken longer than I had planned or hoped - but will be worth the wait.
I hope you like it as much as I do! Combines an oriental print, a dark little print cotton, red raw silk, and grey silk dupioni.

Save 4 since you found this product on my BLOG:  Click on link below to order:
Pattern-Design-Booklet-by-LondaCAT--http://www.londas-sewing.com/Refined-Too--A-Creative-Sweatshirt-Jacket-Talking-Pattern-Design-Booklet-by-LondaCAT--p25334.html

Creative Jacket Journey DVD - the Jackets

The newest DVD - Creative Jacket Journey is almost here! Gloria and I had a blast designing, fitting, constructing and embellishing these two jackets...

The blue jacket - Gloria named 'Triumph' because she 'triumphed' over her fear of cutting into
the sweatshirt and her fabric...

Created from my Genesis Too™ Talking Pattern™...it features a cardigan standing neckline created partly from the lower ribbing of the sweatshirt. Two batiks, two shades of silk dupioni and a cream yarn to couch supplied the 'Resources'.









The aqua jacket - which I named 'Harmony' because I learned alot about harmonious color value in jackets... is from my Worthy™ Talking Pattern™.
A scrap of brown wool gab, a lovely oriental print rayon, silk dupioni, a silk tweed, and silk ribbon plus black couching yarn provided my 'resources'.

Pre-Order this TWO disc DVD now - by clicking on its name: Creative Jacket Journey.

Newest Refined Jacket

As I improve my Refined™ pattern. making it a Talking Pattern™, this is the new Mandarin Collar Jacket - like the Moss jacket in the original pattern. 91 photos are included to show the design, constuction, and embellishment of this jacket. I went for a
'clean' look this time - no bias, shaggy edges. I VERY carefully used the accent blue silk dupioni and yarn. I like it - photos all done, and in order - now time to write and 'speak' the directions...but that will have to be after the ASG Conference in Atlanta that I leave for on Tuesday.

Refined Talking Pattern™ delayed...

OK - I can't resist. In transforming the Refined™ pattern into the Talking Pattern™ version - I created a NEW jacket from the V-neckline version (Fuchsia Fun) yesterday. Since I ALSO have collections of wonderful fabrics pulled together for the remaining 2 jackets in this pattern, I have decided to make those as well. Therefore - the availability date for this pattern re-make has been delayed to late August - early September.

THEN - what I 'refine' and add in the creation of these jackets will become wonderful ADDITIONS to the current pattern as it gets redone to the Talking Pattern™ format.

AND - if you've already purchased Refined™ in its present state, you WILL HAVE ACCESS to the Talking Pattern Version AND the additional photo galleries with abbreviated directions for all 3 of the new jackets!

This is pretty brain-twisting for me, but Mom taught me..."If you're going to do it, do it right and better", and my Dad taught me..."Always give your customers MORE than they expect...never less!"

All goes along with my motto of the Golden Rule as Jesus taught Treat others as you'd want to be treated (or better!) than yourself.

Off to work.

Here's the latest jacket:

New pattern: Genesis Too™ now available...

Alas - home from CO working vacation, and shipping my newest pattern, Genesis Too™.
The pattern pieces (Front, Back, Sleeve) arrived from McCall's 1 hour - yes, 1 HOUR before we left on vacation on July 1. I was able to stuff and get shipped all the pre-orders from customers and shops who had ordered this pattern at the Spring Quilt Market - as I had envelopes pre-addressed, thinking my Dear Son would get the fun of doing this...alas, I was able.

Genesis Too™ was top seller for me at the Rocky Mountain Sew Expo in Denver. Next Thurs. and Fri., I will be using it at a workshop for the DeKalb Quilt Guild. I'm SEW excited! This was a real labor of lover, and it turned out SO good - if I might brag.... If you want a beginner project - THIS is IT! PLUS, the entire Section II is like my 'Frumpy to Wow' and 'Embellishment' classes added as the frosting on the cake! Of course, this is a Talking Pattern™ - meaning I've taken a photo of EVERY step of the process, the recorded my personal tutorial for each and every photo. All that and more is posted on the dedicated webpage for this pattern - which, of course, you only get with purchase of the pattern. Still work best by reading and seeing? Well - it's all printed for you as well - now with the most vital photos printed in the pattern booklet.

Sew...for yourself, for your sewing group, guild, or shop - I recommend this pattern, Genesis Too™ !!! ANY questions - just holler - I'm home and working hard on transforming another favorite pattern, Refined™ into talking format!

Bury me with this Gold Titanium Rotary Blade

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!
I cut out 3 garments (class reunion coming up next weekend!) last night and this morning - and this Titanium 'Roll the Gold' 45mm Rotary Blade is STILL cutting fabric - even knit with Lycra in it - like it was butter! I've already cut quite a few fabrics for my Creative Sweatshirt Jacket Kits with it - and I was expecting it to start leaving 'hinges' if you know what I mean... when I cut these garments out, but it was GREAT!
Treat yourself, Ladies! This blade is AWESOME, SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

Save $ on this item since you found it - and my site - through my Blog!

Spring Quilt Market Review

OK - back and recovered for a few days now from Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis.....and caught up on business here at home - and I guess 'recuperated'!

Quilt Market is held 2 times a year: once in the spring and it travels around the country - and then the other time in late October in Houston, right before the infamous Quilt Festival. Market is where shop owners, designers, distributors, etc. go to actually place orders for their shops and businesses from .... people like myself: pattern designers (of which there are UNTOLD numbers!), fabric manufacturers (the REAL draw!), trim people...about everything and anything you can imagine might be sold in a fabric/quilt shop. It is where shop owners go to 'find something new', find out what is 'hot', etc.

A booth selling SuperMan fabric even brought in a bonafide Phone Booth! Amazing...
To put it simply - I was honored to be a part of this event. It is certainly a testament to HARD WORK - takes most of us a full day to cart in and set up a booth - and untold hours of preparation besides. It is really good old USA Capitalism - meaning WORKING FOR a LIVING at its best. imho.....


Twas quite an experience! I was there 'peddling' my own line of Talking Patterns™ (which received rave reviews by the way!), book and DVD. My new Genesis Too™ pattern was extremely well received due to having made the samples in current quilt fabrics, and having a Teacher's Outline available to help utilize it in classes and workshops. My friend/helper Von went with me and had a VERY good time shopping! Though you're not supposed to 'sell product', but only take orders - HMMMMM - quite a different story. I sure took product so they could take home - saving us both shipping expense! Many others did the same thing - and if minimums weren't met, were happy to sell at retail. Let's just say Von has plenty of 'work' cut out for her! :) She was great at 'sniffing' things out for me though! I'm VERY excited about what I found to offer MY customers at Londa's Creative Threads website and expos around the country. My head is SPINNING with new ideas, interpretations of my jackets on which to use all these great ideas and products!


Some things to share. First - I just must state that the effort that vendors go to in order to make spectacular booths AMAZED US! The first photo above is of a chest covered with a wire GATE, covered with glass! Just too cool an idea for a coffee table, or any kind of table. Under the glass - see the memorabilia? Then - on the legs that supported the gate - were big old bed springs - or what looked like that. TOO CUTE~!!
Am always after new ideas for decorating - even display in my booth, so in the 2nd photo the arrangement of bars held by fabric caught my eye. Sending to all of you - and Dear Daughter-Mother of my #1 perfect Grandson - for an idea of displaying his artwork. If you look hard under the purse at the pattern, you can see that it is anchored by a push pin from the back of this huge painted bar - like a huge popsicle stick.

The 3rd photo was just a very nice room setting all created with quilt fabric. The chest really caught my eye especially - the fabric glued to the drawer covers.

Look carefully around the top of the 4th photo (sorry - don't know how to get photos by verbage ) to see the penants made of the quilt fabric. How fun is that?!? And a 2nd grader on up could help make those for their room! What a fun summer project...

Below - is the RUSH of Sample Spree held the first night. My conclusion: not a one of these eager buyers has ANY fabric! Yea - right!!!!! The fabric manufacturers give spectacular buys on fabric at this crazy night. And these ladies PAY $10 to get in! We decided that basically, the customers want ALOT but for a steal of a price. Was an experience to behold - crazy ladies (mostly) shopping!

















This is Art Felt. The most amazing
new thing' - at least to me - that we found.
It's not needle felting.
It's not wet felting.
It's not fulling.
It's Artfelt®.

My starting order is on its way - and I can't wait to get my hands on this. I envision it in the collar on one of my Creative Sweatshirt Jackets! Like especially Esther from my book, Creative Sweatshirt Jackets...Londa's Way, which everyone thinks is felted fabric anyway. The 'secret' is the paper - which is of potato starch. During the process, it gives you something to 'felt to'. Then- after agitation (which they say is all that is needed - wetness plus agitation - the drier), you pour boiling water over it to dissolve it. It's kinda like the Solvy Scarf idea - you stitch the ribbons to water-soluble Solvy Stabilizer, then wash it all and the Solvy disappears...well - this is the same! More once it comes in and I get to PLAY! Ohhhhh - and the roving colors, mixes - absolutely breath-taking! Gives me goose bumps remembering.....!!!!! Can't wait - can't wait - can't wait!

I was tickled to death to see amazing, luscious FABRIC as selected by Linda Lee from the Sewing Workshop available at my main supplier! So - OF COURSE I have some ordered - be on the watch for it to arrive soon.

Trims Trims and more TRIMS. I was on the lookout for a good, narrow black - and I found that, plus GOLD, plus great yarns, decorative threads. In my mind - all for my Creative Sweatshirt Jackets - but just fun to offer on my site and in my booth at expos for your creating pleasure. Can't wait - can't wait!

Did see the Roll the Gold 45 mm Rotary Blade there too...then, when I got home, it finally arrived in stock. This blade is Titanium nitride coated steel...which WILL last longer than your everyday rotary blade! Installed mine on my favorite Dritz (pressure activated) and Clover Rotary Cutters last night. I have a few garments to whip up in the next few weeks - so they'll get a workout. Two blades for $11.95 - not too bad - if they last longer - which I'm pretty sure they are destined to do!

Genesis Too™ Talking Pattern™ off to the printer!

http://www.londas-sewing.com/Genesis-Too--printed-format-CAT-p25335.html
Yea - I'm only an hour or so away from sending off Genesis Too™ to the printer and my techy son for their part of the 'labor of love' of creating a new pattern! The only real job I have left - other than proofing (no small job!), is to trace off the nested size pattern pieces for Front, Back, and Sleeve...and THAT will have to wait til I return from the Spring Quilt Market and some family moving work.
At any rate - it is due to be available June 15 - and I've put it up at my site for pre-orders at this time. Please understand, if you order, you DO pay for it NOW, but you'll have to wait until it is ready before I can ship it - obviously!
From the pattern back: Seeing the sweatshirt as 'fabric and matching ribbing' fast forwards you through fitting issues, and moves the sleeve seam to the natural shoulder location. An extensive Embellishment library full of techniques, photos, AND Design Principles will help give you options, AND filter your decisions. This style is developed for the beginner level - though all sewers will enjoy the creative process. It is PERFECT for classes and workshop experiences!

Save $3 on this pattern since you read about it on my blog...Click on the link below.
http://www.londas-sewing.com/Genesis-Too--printed-format-CAT-p25335.html

Genesis Too ™ New Pattern Mess

Well - I'm at it again.... Ideas come either in the shower or in the car with a grat assistant - and this time it was with Gloria driving back from Detroit...the idea to do a version of my Transformed Pattern - featuring the cardigan neckline and sleeves set up to regular placement at shoulder.

So - that's what I'm up to. See my office, my work room (ala basement), and the Kitchen counter where I've labored over grading and refining the pattern itself. Yes - this one will have Front, Back, and Sleeves included. PLUS, directions for 2 jackets - both brand new, and an Embellishment Library to boot!

Thus - combined with elderly parent issues, why you're not hearing from me via newsletters lately.




BUT! Great news - the new sweatshirts from USA Comfort Color are dribbling in and they are GREAT!!!!


Sew....do I work in a creative mess, or what???!?????????????

LIVING pattern booklet at the printer

Yeah..... before I left for the Atlanta show - I met my goal of creating and writing the directions AND doing the 'TALKING' recording portion of my newest pattern, LIVING.
See the 3rd jacket here at the left - this one I've called
Journey'. it features a large bias scarf type 'collar' and I created some really distinctive seaming down the sleeve to conquer a 'bump' I've been seeing at the top of the sleeve seam when I do my 'Quick and EZ' underarm fitting alteration.

The pink jacket I entitled 'Endurance' to pay honor to all women battling breast cancer and heart disease. Say - about that, I really had my curiosity peaked today while reading while Glenda drove, on my KINDLE book a book by Suzanne Somers - called Ageless: The naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones. If you're a woman - you need to read this book - or even if you're concerned about living the life God has given you to its very fullest for the years He gives you here on this earth - I think you should read it. I can tell ya, I'm gonna get on the phone when i get home to find a Doctor who believes in BioIdentical Hormones. Though I feel I'm very healthy - at coming up on 58, I've seen a mother with breast cancer and now Alzheimers, and have been through infertility, endometriosis, and an unnecessary hysterectomy in my lifetime. SURE glad I refused to be 'cleaned out' by that Dr. and was left with one ovary that served me well - VERY well it seems. I've refused any synthetic hormone replacment therapy - and I'm very, very glad i did when i read this book, but these bioidentical hormones - that's another story. They are from nature, thereby not patentable - hence pharmeceutical companies are not interested - because no $$ in it. No surprise, eh? My main concern these days is avoiding cancer, strong bones, staying active, and improving my SLEEP!
Anyway - I highly recommend this book, and will be devouring the MEN part of it next.

As mentioned in a previous post, the grey jacket - previously known as the 'SWIRL' jacket has become the 'Peace' Jacket for this new pattern. Again, my tithe from this pattern, along with your contributions, will dig a well to give an African village clean water. Read more about it at that post below.

Save $3 since you found this pattern on my Blog. 
Click on the link below...
http://www.londas-sewing.com/Living--a-Creative-Sweatshirt-Jacket-Talking-Pattern-Ddesign-Booklet-by-Londa--CAT-p25336.html

Observations On the Road

On the road now since Feb. 2 - been to Denver where I was treated to being hosted by and helped by Jo Ann - a wonderful customer from my old retail storefront days who is now located in Fort Collins.
The Rusty Barn Sewing Expo in Denver at the Merchandise Mart was my first real 'educated' effort at flying to a show and having a booth/teaching, etc. Worked quite well - and I'm so humbled by the generous reaction to my Creative Sweatshirt Jackets .
As gals asked "WHAT is a 'Talking Pattern' and I explained it as (I could say this in my sleep...!) "As I design and stitch a jacket, I take a photo of every step of the process. THEN, I actually record a verbal tutorial to go with each step. That then - the photo of each step, and my 'telling you what to do (or not do!)' for each step of the jacket creation is what you have access to online at the dedicated special website for each 'Talking Pattern" as it is given to you in the pattern booklet when you purchase it from me." It was so much fun to see a big GRIN come across their face - and they say, "Well, I guess I COULD do it then..."!!!

Common sentiment was 'please return in July' - so I just need to orchestrate fitting this into my schedule - and hopefully along with a Colorado Vacation for my hubby and I for second week in July, 2010.
Thanks to all of you in Denver area for your warm reception!

I'm now on my way to do a 3 day presentation and workshops for the Corpus Christi, TX ASG guild...that will be a ball!

Along the way...travel observations:
1. I need a travel scale to know when my bags are at that 50 lb. limit!
2. I need to buy some back-up locks for my suitcases, as the airports love to just cut them off!
3. The BEST place to get your shoes looking like NEW is at an airport by those shoe shine manifico guys!
4. Whoever has the solutuion to sleeping well in strange beds and motels - PLEASE let me know! i just pray I sleep more than I think I do~!
5. I was the lone "COLTS" fan on the airplane as it landed at Houston right before the Super Bowl. Here I sit - chatting with a stranger - now a friend as the Super Bowl begins.
6. Colorado has a secret! 360 days of sunshine a year - more than Miami or San Diego! MUCH more temperate here than I ever imagined in February.

TALKING Pattern Demo

I've been HARD at work - along with my super smart professional webmaster son updating and adding to the value of some of my most popular patterns by adding my verbal tutorials AND editing the printed pattern to include more photos.

So far: CHOSEN & TRANSFORMED are ready and available.

Coming within 10 days: WORTHY, CELEBRATION and my book: CREATIVE SWEATSHIRT JACKETS...LONDA'S WAY.



AND - even if you've already purchased any of the above, YES - you will have access to the 'Talking Version', though your printed booklet won't correspond completely - it will still be useable.



Below is an example from the Convertible Collar version of CHOSEN.

SitUpon Cushion is AMAZING!

OK - I fell BOOM on the ice a week ago Sunday and my tail bone is STILL sore! Doesn't matter if I'm doing website work or sewing, I'm SITTING!

Had just added these SitUpon Cushions to my website - so Iordered one - and WOW! PLUS I think my 'buns' will firm up as well! It's kinda like sitting on the inside of CROC shoes - and balancing on one of those big Balance Balls for exercise (I deflated mine!).

It looks like what you see above - and yes, it's purple.
Side benefit: my cats do NOT like to sit on it - so now there's no cat fur on my seat either...YEA!

SAVE$$ on this item since you found it on my Blog:
Click on the link below...
http://www.londas-sewing.com/Living--a-Creative-Sweatshirt-Jacket-Talking-Pattern-Ddesign-Booklet-by-Londa--CAT-p25336.html