Making Christmas Memories....Twas the Night Before Christmas....

I'm bad...so bad. I haven't written much in a long time. I've been so busy....Yeah, I know, poor excuse. Well, here goes...Twas the night before Christmas...well really, a couple of nights before Christmas, not a creature was stirring, except me at my sewing machine. What to make that I can do in a hurry, look good (not me, the thing I'll be making), and can fit in an envelope with 2 day shipping? Oh, and for 2 little girls.....I could buy something but honestly, my grandkids are blessed...everyone of them. Loving parents and grandparents who buy them things they need AND things they want so I make things for them. This time I had a time crunch, 1 day, to make it and get it out so I went to my stash and found enough fabric to make pillowcases.
I used this tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYWCma9wgM from the Missouri Star Quilt Company

Here's an example of the pillowcase on their site.
Here's the fabric I used:

Cute, huh? I love the colors, bright and cheerful. Adorable owls, cupcakes and beach balls. Fun!
I'd show you a picture of the pillowcases but I sent them out. I've got a schedule to meet!
Not Neiman Marcus stuff but not too shabby and made with love.

Well, have a wonderful holiday. Enjoy and don't forget to make memories. After the batteries are dead, the dolls busted, and the pieces are missing to all the stuff you get, it's the memories you'll have left. Make good ones.

Buying Made in America

Maybe the title should be "Trying to Find Made in America." I saw the news shows about buying Made in America and how important it is to do so. I saw the list of companies who are located here in the States, but let me tell ya, finding the items at my local Walmart is like finding hen's teeth (I've raised chickens…no teeth). For all the advertising Wally did about more American made items you'd think there was enough to buy some….hmmm. A few months ago I decided I wasn't buying anything not made here and had to surrender when I couldn't find USA made underwear. It was close to tragic.
After hearing my husband complain that our dishes were ugly I decided to shop for dishes. I had to give it to him, the dishes were ugly….rust stains that no amount of scrubbing would cure…just made them uglier…so I drove my happy a** to Walmart and started looking. Lots of cute dishes but most made in China. BHG…made in China. Pfaltzgraff….made in China. Ugh!!! Finally, I found made in America….Corelle by Corning, the folks who made Pyrex, proudly made in the USA. A pretty swirled red and gray pattern on white and I was good to go. More expensive than the others but…..I guess it's a matter of putting my money where my big mouth is.
Anyway, my dishes are no longer ugly but the story doesn't end there. I stopped in the fabric section and was looking at some military theme fabric….like Air Force, Marines, Army….nice fabric but guess what….Made in China!! I felt like I was slapped in the face. There was Made in USA military fabric about a year ago. All gone forever? Who would think this would be so difficult? Definitely not me. A woman could go naked looking for Made in America……

Keep the Party Going!!

Yeah, let's keep the party going! Well, OK, not really a drink-alot-dance-on-the-table kind of party but a "I need a good costume to sew for this year's party and the pattern's are on sale at GoofingOff" kind of party. The sale is so good I decided to keep it going until October 30th. There's still lots of great patterns available with something for everyone, even the dog….could be for the cat, too, with a little bit of alterations. I'm not sure if I could talk Mr.Ted into wearing a costume, though…the poodle posse is easy but Ted is another matter. Oh, well….back to the sale…all costume sewing patterns are 30% off…no coupon code to remember because the savings are already to grab up.
Oh…and don't forget, buy 3 or more patterns and they ship for free (US only, please).

Post by Eileen Patterson…forever GoofingOff.

Vintage Fashion Designer Norma Tullo

During one of my thrift shop stops I found this adorable dress pattern, Butterick 4207. The dress was designed by "Young Designer, Australia, Norma Tullo. It was just enough to spark my interest. I had to learn a bit more. 

 Norma Tullo, known as Australia's Original First Lady of Fashion, (1933-1982) was a major fashion designer from Melboune, Australia. She began her fashion career in 1956. Although some of her dresses are in lace or other fabrics, it seems her fabric of choice was wool.  Her designs In 1965, Australian  Women's Weekly reported that the Butterick Company signed Norma Tullo, along with Mary Quant, Jean Muir, and Gerald McCann, for their January catalogue.

Butterick 4207 Size 12, Bust 32 $8.50 

This pattern is one of the ones designed by Ms. Tullo for that January catalogue. It is undated.

Post by Eileen Patterson…forever GoofingOff.


http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/46237771?searchTerm=norma%20tullo&searchLimits=
http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Norma_Tullo

Classic Look for Fall

While listing patterns for my Etsy shop I found this Very Easy Vogue 7210 from 1979. The look is perfect for fall, timeless, classic. It has a retro look that can easily be made into a now look. The pattern includes instructions and pieces for the jacket and belt, skirt, and pants.
The jacket is loose fitting and unlined, perfect to wear over sweaters and long sleeve blouses. It is front wrapped (no buttonholes!!), hip length (hide the butt, another !!), with shawl collar and patch pockets.
The skirt is a straight,  front wrapped skirt that is gathered at front and back to a buttoned waistband.
The pants are slim, straight-legged, and cuffed, with a mock fly front zipper closing.
Simple, timeless separates to build a wardrobe….and still look good.

Keep those seams straight!

post by Eileen Patterson…who is forever GoofingOff!