FYI: Merry Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas, Friends! I hope you've all been enjoying some time making memories with friends and family. The best part about this holiday for me is gathering. We have spent a lot of time with family making the dishes we've enjoyed for years, eating meals together, singing, playing games--and a first for our girls this year, skiing! 

I was happy I managed to squeeze in some traditional cookie baking so we've had plates of them sitting around to nibble on. I also managed to sew some handmade gifts, which I'll share in a bit. Didn't manage to finish new Christmas dresses so I think they'll be New Year's dresses. (Thankfully they aren't red and green.) But the compromises were worth it for more time with people (a lesson I keep trying to learn when facing a long list of tasks for people!).

We mailed out a Christmas card again this year (one of my favorite traditions)--this time of my own design. You may recognize what the girls are wearing: a combination of Easter dresses and the pom-pom trimmed Bateau Neck Dress. 

It's a good time of year to reflect on our many gifts. The people who enrich our lives and the blessings we've received and the faith that sustains us. I'm thankful too for the opportunity to make things and share them with you.

Best wishes this holiday season for the things you are celebrating, and happy new year!

Sewing: Winnie Shrug in Shearling

I'm busy busy getting ready and enjoying time with family this Christmas season. But I wanted to pop in and say hello.

We've had snow upon snow, which is welcome this time of year. Makes me want to stay home and turn up the carols. Hopefully I won't have to venture out again after one last quick(?) trip tomorrow morning. Then I can stay home with the girls, hopefully bake another batch of cookies, and finish the projects I'm sewing this year.

My list of presents to make is a bit ambitious given the timeframe but I'm doing my best. Which for me this year also means choosing the more important things, such as time with family and friends. I had to shelve the Christmas dresses (drat! scrapped them altogether last year...) until immediately following Christmas. It will be OK. They'll work in January. But I did finish this little shrug for Audrey. She was so excited about it because it's cozy! It's a Winnie Shrug--a pattern I've got in the works (Update: now available here!) based on the original boiled wool version I sewed for Tess during Katy's Once Upon a Thread a couple years ago. I also made one for Scarlett a few weeks ago during the Winter Wonderland tour. Hopefully this will be one of the things I finish up at the start of the New Year. Can't believe it's almost here! We'll see what gets done...

Best wishes to you in your hustle and bustle for the holidays.

Giveaway: Charley Harper Bateau Neck Dress Kit

I worked with Birch Fabrics to produce a hotpad tutorial with their Elk Grove decor line earlier this year and at the time I spied a preview of their Charley Harper fabrics. I was smitten! Couldn't wait to get my hands on them--especially the knits because I was all about knits for a couple months there! I love Charley Harper's bird and bug drawings with their color fields and modern lines. What a great thing to apply them to fabrics. So I was thrilled with Birch Fabrics asked me to sew a sample for Quilt Market with a Charley Harper knit.

I picked my Bateau Neck Dress--the elastic waist variation with the traditional three-quarter length sleeves and Charley Harper "Twigs" in tomato. I had been wanting to make this dress in a Fall/Winter version. I think it's cute with boots and a faux fur vest. Looks a bit like Christmas. (Wish I could take credit for that vest but it was a purchase last year.)

While I didn't get to go to Quilt Market it was fun to think of this little number hanging there. And even more fun? I'm teaming with Birch Fabrics to giveaway a kit so one of you can make your own Charley Harper Bateau Neck Dress! 

Just enter below between now and December 23 and after the holidays one of you will receive:

• 2 yards of Charley Harper Knit Fabric (enough to make this dress with a bit to spare!)
• The Bateau Neck Top sewing pattern
• The Bateau Neck Dress sewing pattern extension

Multiple entries are accepted. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sewing: Prairie Rose Pattern Testing

I was so lucky to have a great group of testers help me finish up my Prairie Rose Set pattern. No matter how carefully I proof my own work it is impossible to catch everything so thank goodness for other eyes.  It's also such great validation to see how other sewers create with one of my patterns. I'm excited to show you what they came up with, starting with Mary Jo from All This for Them (above) who sewed the blouse and pants. The blouse fabric is a vintage sheet--so perfect! Below is Carolina from Dotted Whale who made the dress in this beautiful voile--she calls the dress "Laura Ingalls." 

Leah sewed a blouse and skirt (and she made coordinating pants too) in beautiful prairie-inspired colors.

Carolyn from Moose Mouse Creations added mini pom-pom trim to her blouse and pants! So adorable!

You'll have to click through to see the rest!

Etsy Shop Promo: 20% Off

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I am grateful to you for stopping by here occasionally, leaving me a comment, and especially for sharing things you've made based on an idea you saw here.  It's such a thrill to think you would like to sew, knit or crochet something after one of my designs! If you are in the mood to get a new pattern or perhaps some party printables I wanted to share the discount code active in my Etsy shops right now.

This code is good for 20% all your purchases through Wednesday, December 4 at:

Wee Muses Etsy Shop (for Wee Muses sewing patterns)

Aesthetic Nest Etsy Shop (for sewing, knitting, and crochet patterns as well as party printables)

Good luck getting back into the groove this week!