My Mom and Canada Day — by Susan on the Soapbox

My sister has always been better with words than me. (I’m better with a needle and thread!)

I am sharing her post here and taking a couple of weeks off social media to spend with my family.

I’ve always had a tough time remembering my mom’s birthday. Mom was born a couple of days after Canada Day and I was usually off in La La Land celebrating the end of school, moving, or doing lord knows what before I remembered that her birthday was just around the corner. All that changed this […]

Continued on My Mom and Canada Day — Susan on the Soapbox

#MMMay18 … and a bit of tidying up! …

Hello All! 👋😁 I’m back! I had a lovely week off work during which I got a lot of “work” done!

I signed up for #MMMay18 this year and now that it is pretty much over I thought I’d give you my version. The last time I signed up for #MMMay15, I took frantic photos every day of my me-made garments. This #MMMay18, I decided to not take photos every day, but to learn what I had in my closet and what I should make. Are my sewing plans on track?

I did #MMMay15 around the same time I started my RTW fast. For three years I have only purchased things that I can’t sew – like footwear, undergarments, socks, knitted things …

When I analyzed my wardrobe this #MMMay18 I found at least 60 me-made items. You’ve seen them all here before. You don’t have to see them all again!

Instead, I wanted to analyze what’s needed … I took everything me-made out of my closet and tossed it on the bed. (The cats loved it! 🐈🐈) Continue reading →

Just want to say Thank you! …

to all the DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER CHALLENGERS, SPONSORS and those in the AUDIENCE!

To our CHALLENGERS, some of whom might be here for the first time and some of whom have been here before, I’d like to say thank you for participating and sharing your Designer me-made Copies! I hope you have enjoyed it as much as me!

To our generous PRIZE SPONSORS! I’d like to give you honourable mention and a proper introduction …

Itch to Stitch has generously donated ONE pattern of the winner’s choice from the Itch to Stitch Shop here. Kennis Wong says her “designs are really my personal style. They are modern and elegant. Perhaps they are not always simple to sew (because I love details!), but they always have high-quality finishes. Of course I want them to fit well; that’s why most of my designs have many sizes and different cup options.”

Joannas Art and Cards is generously donating a box set of 10 Art Cards (with envelopes) measuring 5 x 7 inches. Take a peek at Joanna’s Etsy shop here or her Instagram account @jvandervlugt_illustrations. Joanna has sold her art and cards around the world from Germany, to North Hollywood, California, to Francisco Beltrao, Brazil. Joanna enjoys illustrating vehicles with a preference for European sportscars, but she loves illustrating motorcycles, especially Café Racers. She has had the pleasure of illustrating a professional motorcycle rider from the Brazilian Ruma Na Stradaracing team, as well as the 8th-place finisher in the 2017 BMW GS Challenge, this illustration is a featured card in the set.

Sense & Sensibility Patterns has kindly donated ONE ePattern to the winner. Their website is here. Jennie says “Many customers had asked me to sell copies of the patterns I created to make their outfits. At first I wasn’t sure about drafting patterns for a wide range of standard sizes, but I finally took the plunge in 1998, publishing my “Regency Gown Pattern”. The immediate success of that pattern convinced me that there was a market for wearable, historical patterns that evoke the grace and charm of times past, and that’s when Sense & Sensibility Patterns was born.”

Vintage Pattern Lending Library has generously donated THREE $25 Gift Certificates. Here’s their Etsy Shop. Deirdre says “Since 1998, The Vintage Pattern Lending Library has been home to a continuously expanding collection of over 10,000 historic sewing and needlework patterns, rare publications, and other fashion related materials dated from the 1840s through the 1950s. The archives contain materials from countries around the world. Our mission is to return as many of these items as possible into public access, so that anyone with a love for historic fashion can experience them as close to the originals as is possible.”

Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Patterns has donated ONE PDF pattern. Their website is here. Betsy says SBCC Patterns “gives me an outlet for my own personal expression and OCD of making things. I am fit obsessed and have a general preoccupation with perfectionism. I get a genuine thrill out of grading patterns and studying sizes for practical application.”

Paprika Patterns has donated ONE pattern of the winner’s choice, take a browse through at their website here. Lisa and Stef want us to know that “Our patterns are designed with a busy woman in mind. She doesn’t want to feel restricted by what she’s wearing, she needs to be able to move around. Whether she is meeting with friends in the city or feeding the chickens in the backyard, she wants comfort and style. Her clothes are her way to express her individuality.”

Named Patterns has donated ONE PDF pattern to the winner. Have a browse through their shop for all your options here! From the website: “Named garments are a combination of Scandinavian clean-lined simplicity and interesting details. The aim of the collections is to bring a new perspective to making one’s own clothes and to support ethical and ecological consuming in contrast to a clothing industry focused on fast fashion. Self-made clothing also allows for freedom of choice; by choosing one’s colors and materials and by changing garment details, the customer can be part of the design process. If dressing is a way to express oneself then self-made clothes are self-expression at its best.”

Last of all, we have Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!! (and you know me!)

Good luck to all the Designin’ December 2017 Challengers. You can cast your vote for the 22 blogger entries (so far) on my next post. Then I will repost on my Instagram all of the 35 Instagram entries (so far) and you can vote with your “likes” there. Voting will be open for one week only.

Please note as the #designindecember hashtag is full of lovely photos and ideas, past and present, it might not be clear who is in the running, so I will repost on my own Instagram, tagging the Challenger. Please also note I will be setting my Instagram account to private so only my Instagram followers can vote. (Unfortunately, I have had to screen a few unwanted followers lately.)

Happy Sewing and Happy New Year!

SaveSave

Designin’ December Challenger #20

I suppose everyone is waiting for fireworks, like me, or watching them or going home after watching them, depending on time zones, so I will be brief. I have less than 3 hours to midnight here.

We have another Designin’ December Challenger on the blogs and a new one to me:

Creations by Paula on her blog here and also on Instagram @creationsbypaulamu. Take a look at her Designer Original and her Designer me-made Copy.

Also on Instagram, we have THREE more Instagram entries!!!

@theladydeejay

@thimble.pleasures

@velvetribbon_sew

Get the whole story on their Instagrams, and on the #DESIGNINDECEMBER hashtag too!

Have you got a favourite designer? A favourite designer garment that you would LOVE to own but would never buy? Find your Designer Original photo and your pattern, and make your Designer me-made Copy!

WHAT IS THE DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER CHALLENGE?

We have all seen something we LOVE either in the stores, online or on the runways, but don’t actually want to buy for some reason. So I propose that we sew that garment that we see/want. Now if you are lucky and you already have an exact pattern, either an indie pattern, your own self-drafted, or a “Big 4” pattern, that you can use – then go for it! Are you a fan of Vintage or Historic fashion, or Re-fashioning, you can do that too! Whatever works for you. Show us your Designer Original photo and how you put together your Designer me-made COPY.

“Why buy when you can make it yourself – better and for less money?”

HOW TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PRIZES?

Follow my blog either by WordPress, Bloglovin, email, etc. and leave a comment that you wish to join DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER. I will share all entries on my blog in December, for community voting in January, linking back to you.
On your blog post a photo of your Designer Original and your Designer me-made COPY, mentioning DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER with a link back to here, so other’s can join.
AND/OR on your Instagram post a photo of your Designer Original and your Designer me-made COPY, tagging it #DESIGNINDECEMBER and follow @nicedressthanksimadeit.

REMEMBER we especially want to see your DESIGNER ORIGINAL and YOUR DESIGNER me-made COPY! Only entries shared on blogs AND/OR Instagram will be entered. One entry, with as many pieces as you like, per sewist. Only one prize per sewist/winner.

The sewing and posting deadline is December 31, 2017 and winners will be voted on and announced the beginning of January 2018 (dates to come yet). Winners will be chosen by community vote. Voters should select the entry that best expresses the spirit of DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER!

5 FABULOUS (randomly selected) prizes for Instagram winners who follow @nicedressthanksimadeit tagging #DESIGNINDECEMBER and 5 FABULOUS (randomly selected) prizes for blog winners who follow “Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!” and mention DESIGNIN’ DECEMBER on their own blogs.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Itch to Stitch has generously donated ONE pattern of the winner’s choice from the Itch to Stitch Shop here.

Joannas Art and Cards is generously donating a box set of 10 Art Cards (with envelopes) measuring 5 x 7 inches. (Joanna apologizes – there was a mis-count and the box holds 10, not 12 Cards as previously stated.) Take a peek at Joanna’s Etsy shop here.

Sense & Sensibility Patterns has kindly donated ONE ePattern to the winner. Their website is here.

Vintage Pattern Lending Library has generously donated THREE $25 Gift Certificates. Here’s their Etsy Shop.

Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Patterns has donated ONE PDF pattern. Their website is here.

Paprika Patterns has donated ONE pattern of the winner’s choice, take a browse through at their website here.

Named Patterns has donated ONE PDF pattern to the winner. Have a browse through their shop for all your options here!

And me, Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!! I will be donating a “Mystery Grab Bag” sewing related, of course!

Happy Sewing!

SaveSave

Designin’ December Challengers #15, #16 AND #17!

We are breaking previous records here and I’m keeping busy checking out everyone’s Designer Originals and Designer me-made Copies. I have finished my own Designer me-made Copy too, just in time! It just needs some pressing and photos. Hopefully the RAIN will stop tomorrow or it will be me, my Designer me-made Copy and my umbrella!!

Tonight we have three bloggers:

Steely Seamstress. Her Designer Original comes from Issey Miyake …

Sewanneuk with her Designer Original (made for her lovely daughter) from Markus Lupfer …

and Paisley Pirouette with her Designer Original from Lanvin’s Resort Collection 2018 …

Next up … their Designer me-made Copies!

Continue reading →

Designin’ December Challenger #14

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. I’m back with Designin’ December Challenger #14 – Kloonpatrone with her Designer Original, from The Teresa Martins Collection …

Would you like to see her Designer me-made Copy?

Continue reading →

Designin’ December Challengers #12 and #13 on the blog …

and we can’t stop there … we all know 13 is an unlucky number!

Today we have Fadanista and Vintage Sewing Machines.

Fadanista with her Designer Original, a vintage Dior …

and Vintage Sewing Machines with her Alice in Wonderland inspiration …

and how did they perform?

Continue reading →

Designin’ December Challengers #10 & #11

Next up on the blogs is Elle Gee Makes and Valentine & Stitch!

Elle Gee Makes took her inspiration from this Philip Lim bomber jacket (when I saw this I was wondering if she was going to treat us to a pair of leather shorts too!):