Weekly Newsletter - May 5, 2008
Good morning to everyone. I hope this finds you well and enjoying spring weather. Here in Nova Scotia, we have been so house bound by winter, that any milder temperatures bring people out in shorts - I think we are desperate for vitamin D. Everywhere I see people raking yards, and getting ready to put in plants as soon as the danger of frost is past. Some of us, myself included, are being daring and putting them in now as I just can't wait any longer. Pots of pansies, begonias, nasturtiums are dotting our deck, I can't wait for the return of lots of flowers.
SWAP WINNERS
The votes are in and counted and the winners are:
Laura from Bucharest - first place
Shannon from Ontario - second place
Maria from Ottawa - third place
Johanna from Sweden - fourth place
Heather from New Zealand - fifth place
Congratulations to those five ladies for making such wonderful garments that we have all enjoyed and appreciated. The variety in style is wonderful and it reflects the fairness of the voting; the winners came from all over the world and each shows their own distinctive style in their SWAPs.
Prizes are: $500 gift certificate to Laura
$250 gift certificate to Shannon
$100 gift certificate to Maria
$50 gift certificate each to Johanna and Heather
Well done ladies, congratulations once again.
Here is the link for SWAP
WEEKLY SPECIAL
This week, I have a worsted wool on sale for 40% off.
Click here for wool on sale
TWO DAY FABRIC SALE
On May 29 and 30, I will be having a fabric sale at the Future Inn in Halifax. My friend Chowping will be joining me in this. Together we will be bringing our fabrics to the hotel so that you can come in person and shop. There will be many items on sale that day, and you can see everything that is on the site in person.
The hours of the sale are Thursday, May 29 from 1 pm to 8 pm, and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. There is plenty of free parking and the restaurant at the hotel is a nice one, so why not make an outing of it with some friends? come shop for fabric and then enjoy lunch, while you share the goodies that you bought.
NEW FABRICS
Supplex is a nylon fabric developed by Dupont. It looks and feels like cotton, and is ideal for aerobic wear, running, and dancewear. Combined with lycra, it is comfortable, quick drying, colour fast, and resistant to pilling. Quick dry means that you can exercise in it and not get chilled when you cool down, as happens with cotton fabrics. I have this in four colours in a bottom weight knit that is ideal for running tights, jogging pants, yoga pants, and pullovers or zipped up hoodies. A customer informed me that this retails for $25/metre at another supplier, so this is a fantastic buy at $10/metre. I have it in white, bright pink, chocolate brown, and olive. This is a one-time buy, so don't delay if you like to make your own exercise wear.
Also in stock this week is a colourful linen - colours is returning (thank goodness) to the fashion scene and this one is a true majenta shade. It would look stunning worn with white separates. Also in stock is a 100% wool tweed in a soft salmon pink. This is a medium weight and could be sewn into a Chanel style jacket or interface and line it and sew up a coat. The time is always right to stash for next season's sewing.
Click here for new fabrics
MY SEWING WEEK
I am making good progress on my skirt and jacket to wear to the wedding next Saturday. The skirt only needs buttons to be sewn on; I replaced the waist technique that is in the pattern with a regular waistband with a button closing. I prefer the more structured waistband to the tie that is used in the Travel Skirt pattern. The jacket just needs to be hemmed and final topstitching to be done, then the buttonholes and buttons. It really does go so much faster when you sew a pattern the second time, without the worry of fitting. You can just sew, what a delight. I will try to post a picture during the week.
That's it for this week. See you next week and happy sewing, Julie
CUTTING POLICY
Regular priced fabrics are cut in 1/2 metre increments; therefore, please round up your order to the nearest 1/2 metre. For example, if you require 2.3 metres, please order 2.5 metres. This is to cut down on the wastage that occurs with multiple small cuts in a bolt.
SWATCH SERVICE
If there is a fabric or fabrics that you would like swatched, please email me and I will gladly send you swatches. (limit 5 swatches per request) At this point, I am suspending the swatch service; I will continue to swatch to those who have subscribed, but am no longer taking any new subscriptions. Swatching is expensive and very time-consuming and it doesn't seem to increase sales, as it used to do. Many people are now comfortable ordering from online swatches.
TO ORDER
Please email me or phone to place an order or to request swatches. Once I have your credit card on file, you can simply email any orders. But call first with your credit card number, this is the most secure way to transmit that information.