Free Patterns

There are always people looking for free patterns whether for the holidays or everyday sewing. There are a couple of blogs devoted to free patterns but not always is there a chance to get a free E-book to save and use. That is until now. Brother, those wonderful people who make great embroidery machines, has put together an E-book of holiday gifts. The pictures are great and the instructions easy to follow.

 

Click here to download the e-book.

I’m going to try the buckwheat pillow with some thrift shop rescued felt.

Have fun. Ho, Ho, Ho,

A Flock of Owls

For some reason, I am in the midst of a flock of owls. True, they are cute, but I never thought of myself as an owl fan. For some reason seem to attract them, though. I list them in my shop

 

 

draw them,

and make treasuries about them.

Owl Be Home for Christmas Five sales since posting on Saturday. Not bad for 3 days.

Delores the disco owl. What a hoot! Oops, sorry.

Well, maybe I am a fan after all.

12.4.10 Movies, TV, and Sewing Patterns

Movies and TV have always been involved with fashion. Women copied their favorite star's hairdos (Veronica Lake), pants (Katherine Hepburn), and dress (Audrey Hepburn). There was even a pattern company called the Hollywood pattern company that used pictures of Hollywood stars on their pattern envelopes. Other pattern companies, such as Simplicity, McCall's, and Butterick, had illustrations that looked like the stars to sell the patterns or had designers that would design similar clothing. Here's a few: Butterick Pattern 6988 from the 50's has the image of a young woman who just happens to look like a young Ava Gardner. Ava Gardner was very popular at the time, and very beautiful. Another Butterick pattern has the illustration of a cute, perky lass reminiscent of Mary Tyler Moore. One of the most popular movies in the 70's was a film by Woodie Allen called Annie Hall. Annie was played by Diane Keaton. The film was so popular that everyone wanted to look and dress like her (at least it seemed that way). Here is a pattern from that time with the Annie Hall look by Rena Rowan of Jones New York. Butterick 6325 There's many more, much more than I can post in one blog. Know of some? Got one? What's your favorite?

12.3.10 Brrr, Baby, It's Cold Outside! Pattern Listings in Artfire & GoofingOff

Hunting for cool vintage isn't easy, sometimes it is downright hard. There is the stores, the yard sales, picking through mountains of stuff, and hopefully finding something that is just truly aged, not made to look old. When that is done the real work begins, researching the find, learning the history. All this before listing anything for sale. Still, I love the job. It's a learning experience and it is work. Today the hardest part is getting out of the house. OK, how far south do you have to go to get warm? I'm sure you folks in NY or Minnesota are laughing at me but 20 degrees is cold no matter where you are! It's not 20 degrees outside anymore, it's 30degrees, still cold to me. It is hard to walk out of a 68 degree house and venture out. Still harder to think that there are sellers out there willing to venture into the cold for me, too. With that in mind I got to work inside and started listing patterns to my Artfire and Etsy shops. Most of the patterns are vintage, some newer, some warm weather outfits (can you say VACATION?). Here are a few: New Look 6634 in the Etsy shop. Great look from the 80's in sizes 6-16 all in one envelope. Uncut & complete. Simplicity 7175 in sizes 16-18, bust 38-40 from 1975 with raglan sleeves and upright collar. Used but complete. Simplicity 7322. A vintage 70's look for the little ones in sizes 1 or 2 (I got both!). Patterns are complete but used. Comes with a turtle applique, too! How cute is that? Well, gotta get going. There is a yard sale calling my name, even if it is shivering while calling me. Happy sewing!

Barbie Dolls

Barbie's been around a long time and still looks great. She's still as popular as ever being discovered by new fans everyday. Lucky for them I found this fantastic sewing pattern for Barbie doll furniture and and evening dress. The pattern is uncut, complete, with original factory folds. Simplicity 8158 Just gotta love that gal! Still looking good after all these years!!