Chchch changes!

Sew Pretty has been running for almost 9 months now and I just ♥♥♥ all of it! I ♥ the fabric (obviously) I ♥  helping & finding out more about you! All my amazing customers! I ♥ the new skills I am learning through business - accounting for me can now be referred to as the "A" word especially if it is mentioned in the same sentence as fabric! 

So it is with great excitement that I am announcing our move to metric and many more exciting things! The move over to metric will take place slowly, as our new stock comes in it will be available in meters instead of yards so you will receive an extra 4cm of delicious fabric per fat quarter! ......but more on this later. 

Our website is under going changes too, we are working hard  (even until 1am in the morning!) to make it look prettier & a better shopping experience for you. So please understand if things don't look 100% all the time, but be assured that this is just a face-lift change and your shopping experience should not be interrupted in any way!

So looking forward, I just have to share with you some of the new Michael Miller prints that we cannot wait to get into stock! 

If you are like me with boys you are always on the lookout for something different and ultra funky for boys! So when I saw just exactly what Kathy & Michael were showing off at the quilt show, there was a huge "squeel". 

Have a look at their blog to see some awesome videos of the show, it really makes me want to be a part of all that fun! There are also some awesome free tutorials on there esp this one (and one for kids) for bean bags:

So watch this space! There are a lot more exciting things to come! 

Sewing for Girls

I woke up this morning to find Jennifer Paganelli's new book "Girls World"  on my kitchen counter. Massive "Squeel" and all thoughts of packing kindy lunches forgotten!

This came with perfect timing as I was up sewing a little girls dress until 1am last night determined to get the idea of a reversible pinafore dress working! (more to come on this later!)

Why do I love sewing books? Well this book cost me $26 from The Book Depository  It comes with 21 patterns inside. That is just $1.23 per pattern. Why would I want to spend $18 on one pattern if I can get a whole book of them?


I am not totally against individual patterns, but if you are new to sewing you will find plenty of inspiration in books like these without risking buying 1 pattern and it not quite working out how you had planned.

This book looks great, I cannot wait to get started! (Even though I have 2 boys! My friends with girls will benefit!) The projects inside include:

4 Dress patterns
2 Aprons
1 Skirt
Headbands, Bags, Quilt, Memory Board, Barrette, Pillows and much more!

The book depository has 25% off this book at the moment, and it has free worldwide delivery. If you don't have a paypal or visa card, just send me an email and I can order one for you.

We are moving house tomorrow, I am SEW excited to be getting my very own Sew Pretty study/room. I see wall to ceiling shelves coming in! So if I am a bit slow on replying to your messages please bear with me until we are settled in!

Oh and do please keep sending pictures in of what you have been working on! It makes my day!

Happy Sewing

To market, to market, to market we go

Seen that so many of my lovely customers are market sellers, I could not resist sharing this pretty little apron tutorial which you can make in a dash and ensure you are the envy of all the other stall holders this weekend!

All you need for this is 1 fat quarter (46cm x 56cm) of SewPretty fabric and 1 co-ordinating fat quarter.

1.Line up and trim your FQ's so that they fit neatly on top of each other, then cut off a 2 inch strip from the longest side. (These are going to be used for your straps)

2.To make the straps simply fold each strip in half and sew (as close as to the edge as dareable) then turn inside out.

Now I have struggled many a time to pull through straps like this, and I kept thinking there must be a better way to get this right! I even saw that you can purchase a special tool to help you do this, but I have found a cheaper way with a safety pin. (You may have known this already and failed to pass this great trick on, tut tut)

Simply insert the safety pin on one side making sure you only go through 1 layer of your tube. Then turn the safety pin in on itself and help the tube along by folding in the raw edges to start the process off. then simply keep pushing the safety pin through whilst pulling the fabric down. 1 minute as opposed to 1 hour!

3. Iron your straps flat and insert them between your 2 FQ's (which need to be right sides together) measuring about an inch from the top. Secure them with pins.

4.Stitch all the way around your 2 FQ's leaving a small opening to turn it through.

5.Turn right way out and iron, then stitch along the edges once again to close the opening.

6.Now just fold the bottom piece up over the top to create your little pockets, decide on what size pockets you would like depending on your craft and place pins to mark out the lines (I like to keep a small pocket on the side for pens, one for business cards, one for a few coins, and one for a few sweet treats!)

7. Sew your lines reinforcing at the joins, trim off all excess thread and tie 2 knots in the ends of the straps.

And that is it! All done! A little bit of fabulous style to your market in minutes! Other ideas to try are making a tool belt for your little man, a serving/laundry apron for yourself, a gardeners tool apron. The list can just continue! I would love to see what you create with this idea so just send any pictures to info@sewpretty.co.nz

This weekend, Sew Pretty will be at the Little River Pumpkin Festival! See you there!

Bellyful Raffle - Little Old Nags

The hobby horses from Little Old Nags just capture that part of you that remembers being a child, the pretend play and the absolute joy of being a kid. They are so eye catching it makes you want to get one even if you don't have children! Sarah has kindly donated your choice of hobby horse for our Bellyful raffle! Lets go behind the stables.... 


Q: Tell us all about you, where you are based and your favourite things:
A: I'm Sarah, busy stay at home Mama to two sensationally gorgeous little rugrats (almost 3yo and 8mo) who fill my day with more beautiful things than I could ever have dreamed of and dedicated wifey to the amazing Mark. I am also an Occupational Therapist, from a pre-parenthood lifetime. I'm a part-time artist, a part-time crafty nut, and a country hearted girl. 

Q: How did Little Old Nags get started then?
A:Little Old Nags beginning was simple but pretty accidental and just 6 months ago. My 2 year old was riding around the house on a stick pretending to be a cowboy. I thought heck why not get out the sewing machine and make him an old fashioned hobby horse. A few friends commented, so I made some more. My husband told me to advertise them to see what would happen.... 60 orders in 6 weeks later and an unintentional business was born :). It has been a fantastic ride so far. I love that such love and joy is still out there for a fabulous traditional toy.

Q: The best part about what you do?
A: I love that I am able to channel my uncontrollable urge to 'make stuff', in a small way bring enjoyment to a child's life, and best of all - stay a SAHM

Q:Tell us your experiences at being a mum
A:It's indescribable. I often find it impossible to find words to explain the joy, the pain, the memories, the challenges, the laughter, the tears, but most overwhelming - the love. My children have enriched and completed me. For as long as I can remember all I ever wanted to be was a Mama. My children are two very different souls who bring very different things to our family and adore each other already. I worry about being able to give them both everything they need to grow but most of all I try to remember to relax and enjoy each day, not to sweat the small stuff, and to make traditions and memories.

Q: And lastly your ultimate superpower?
A: Oooooo that's a hard one. Maybe to make time stand still once in a while. Just to take a deep breath and inhale in all the little things that in our busy lives too often pass us by.

Bellyful Raffle - Ginger Pye

Today we talk to the two masterminds behind Ginger Pye Reusable Sandwich Wraps 

Q: Tell us all about you, where you are based & your favourite things!

A:  We are big sister Nicola Pye (creative genius/slave labour/photographer) and little sister Julia Hollis-Pye (the entire marketing, administration and accounts departments as well as our webmaster).  We grew up in Adelaide and Auckland (mostly), and now live in lovely Dunedin.  Nicola has two big kids (8 and 13) and Julia has two little kids (1 and 4), and we started Ginger Pye because being stay-at-home-mums meant we weren't quite busy enough (just joking!!).  We've set ourselves the tiny goal of wrapping the entire world in Ginger Pye reusable sandwich wraps - still have a little way to go though :-)  Favourite things probably involve anything lazy - sleeping, watching good movies, coffee or a glass of wine with friends...

     

Q: How did Ginger Pye come about?

A: Nicola had made a few sandwich wraps for her family and friends who seemed to really like them, but not being particularly business inclined, she didn't take it further.  Julia was a bit more foresightful and saw that there was a definite market out there for sandwich wraps, so took our first order from her daughter's kindy, and we went from there...

Q: Your favourite parts about what you do?

A:Our favourite parts are probably getting great feedback from happy customers, and buying stacks of beautiful new fabrics.  We also love the freedom to set our own hours, and work around our home lives, with no bosses except for our bossy selves!

Q: Your experiences as a mum?

A:Working from home is great as a mum, as it means that you can fit things in around your children's needs.  Nicola is home educating her kids, and Julia has a baby that just doesn't like to sleep, so we squeeze things in as we can - it's busy, but somehow it all works!

Q: If you had one superpower what would it be and why?

A: How about being able to exist without sleep - it would be fantastic to have an extra few hours in the day sometimes, without wasting it on sleep :-)

Bellyful Raffle - Country Cousins

Sometimes you just know quality when you see, feel & touch a handmade item!

Country Cousins have kindly donated a set of these pot holders made from the beautiful Anthology fabric for our Bellyful raffle.

When I opened up the envelope with these inside my friend gasped and said wow those match your kitchen perfectly and they are so lovely! I wish they could stay in there!

So lets find out a little more about the lady who's standards are so high and products such quality!



Q: Tell us all about you, where you are based and your favourite things!
A: I am a very proud Nana of four wonderful grandchildren (oh and I am proud of their parents as well).  I live on a lifestyle block at Katikati in the Bay of Plenty with my husband, a dog and some sheep.  Until recently I was a legal executive in a local law office, but have taken time out to "play" and be creative, which is my passion.

Q: How did Country Cousins come about?
A: I have sewn all my life, and I come from a family of creative people, my 94 year old grandmother still does a little sewing and does wonderful crochet.  I have four generations of my family involved in my business, from my grandmother making crocheted jug covers, to my mum and daughter who specialise in creating different products that we sell.  

My business began a few years ago when I owned a fabric shop and I would make children's clothes as samples for the shop in the wonderful fabrics. Mothers who couldn't sew would buy the samples and order more, so Country Cousins was born. I would also make small gifts from the remnants of fabric left over from a bolt.  I have also made dance costumes and uniforms for many different dance schools over the past fifteen or so years, which is really beautiful

Q: What is the best part about what you do:

A: I love the whole process of my business, from designing, buying and playing with fabrics and colours, the actual sewing and then the wonderful satisfaction of selling or giving the finished product to to the lucky recipient. I love markets because you get to meet the person who is buying your treasures.

Q: Your experiences as a mum & grandmother!

A: My experience as a mum is a little different from most of you as my four children are all grown up now, and I have my grandies.  My advice to you all is to treasure all those moments because time goes so quickly and before you know it your children are all grown up.  But then being a grandmother is the most special time in my life, I think when you are a parent there are so many expectations on you, but grandchildren give soooo much pleasure.

Q: And lastly if you had one superpower what would it be and why?

A: If I had one superpower it would be to make sure that every child in the world had enough food to eat, had every educational opportunity available, but most of all parents who love them and not mistreat them at all times.

Thanks Carol! And thank you for everyone who has purchased a Bellyful raffle ticket! I cannot wait to do the draw on Thursday! 

If you have not purchased your ticket, you have until Wednesday midnight.

Ticket Sales

Quick & simple FQ project

Do you have loads of FQ's lying around and you are just eager to create something special with them?

Well here it is, this took me (novice sewer) just a couple of hours this afternoon to make, and I would guess less than an hour to make a 2nd one.

I used the gorgeous Amy Butler Love fabric bundle and I still have enough to make 1 more plus a bit extra. So even if you only have 1 FQ you will be able to make this.

The best part is the pattern is free!

http://wolfandwillow.typepad.com/files/open-sesame-doorstop-pattern.pdf