February Featured Sponsor: Urban Cut

Today, I'm really pleased to have a little chat with Stefanie, owner of German-based pattern shop, Urban Cut, and my newest sponsor.

✄ Please tell us more about yourself (where you're from, hobbies, if you like to sew, etc.)

Hi! I'm Stefanie and I live near the wonderful city of Munich. In 2009 I started to sew and have never stopped ever since. Two years later I started a blog, where I still share my sewing projects.

At the beginning I sewed a lot of breadbaskets and bags. Nowadays I mainly sew my own clothing.

Source

✄ What made you decide to open Urban Cut?

Last spring, I hosted a sew along together with Alex from Mama Macht Sachen. I wanted to sew the the Robson Coat from Sewaholic and ordered the pattern in Canada. Unfortunately, the pattern got lost on the way to Germany.
I searched for online shops in Germany to get the pattern in time for the sew along, but I didn't find one. So I decided to change this and to do it myself :-) 

✄ What's the sewing world like in Germany?

There's a great sewing community in Germany, represented by fantastic blogs of wonderful seamstresses. We have a lot of great sewing events, for example the "Me Made Mittwoch" just to mention one - the self made wednesday, where we present our self-made outfits, worn in our everyday life. That's a great source of inspiration and my to-sew list gets longer every week.

✄ How did you select the products for your shop?
I would be lying if I said that my personal taste doesn't have an impact on which products I choose ;-)
I try to have patterns for all levels of sewing experience so that you can find patterns for beginners up to advanced seamstresses. My personal goal is to find new patterns to expand my offer continuously.

✄ What do you see in the future of Urban Cut?
I hope I still discover new designers and can provide wonderful patterns to my customers.
At the moment most of my customers live in Germany, but there is a growing number of orders from different european countries. I'm very happy that my offer appeals to seamstresses and I hope to keep gaining popularity all over Europe.


Thank you, Stefanie!
If, like me, you live in Europe, you might not like to buy patterns from across the Ocean because of shipping costs and time; I usually purchase from the UK, but Germany is closer to me and shipping costs are usually cheaper, so new shops like Urban Cut are a win-win for me!

For those of you who want to do the same, here's a discount code kindly provided by Stefanie:

Enjoy!

Interview : République Du Chiffon

Maybe you've come across her beautiful blog, maybe you've seen some of her patterns made up by the lovely Julie of Jolies Bobines or maybe you've seen her adorable book featured on Tilly and the Buttons. If you did, I know you want to know more about République du Chiffon and who's behind this beautiful French brand.
I know I did, so I had a little chat with Géraldine, the creator, and this was the result. If you prefer to read the interview in its original French form, you can find it here.
Enjoy!

✄ First of all, can you tell us something about yourself? How long have you been sewing?
My name is Géraldine, I’m 35 years old and I live and work in Lille, in Northern France. My hobbies are reading (I love science fiction and Jane Austin, I know they have nothing in common ;) ), the cinema, which is where I often get inspired, I cook and I obviously love to sew.
I started sewing after my daughter Violette was born, and it soon became my passion. I had the opportunity to enter a school for design / patternmaking where I got my degree.

The Margot blouse pattern

✄ How did you start République du Chiffon?
I started République du Chiffon in 2010, it was a fashion and sewing blog. After my degree, I wanted to make a shift towards design and patterns for home sewing, trying to create trendy styles addressed to modern seamstresses. Since the offer is still quite poor in France, I hope there is a place for me.

The Penelope dress pattern

✄ Can you tell us more about your book ("Un été couture", Tutti Frutti ed.) and your latest pattern releases?
What I try to do with my patterns, both in my book or in the downloadable patterns, it’s to offer modern styles and to make sewing democratic, making “difficult” things approachable by anyone. My hope is that the clothes made by seamstresses at home are as trendy and of good quality as what current designer offer today.

The Gérard coat pattern

✄ What are your main sources of inspiration? Your favorite designers or style icons?
I find my inspiration everywhere, in the street, in magazines, movies, illustrators, etc. I’m a big fan of street style fashion (Yvan Rodic, Sartorialist etc.) and I spend a lot of time reading fashion blogs (Le Blog de Betty, Punky B, Le blog de Pauline and many many more). As far as “style icons” are concerned, I don’t really have any, I’ve never been a big fan. I prefer anonymous people who have style, but if I have to mention one, at the moment it would definitely be Alexa Chung or Kate Bosworth

The Viviane dress and blouse pattern
All images in this post from here

✄ Where do you see your company in the future?

My wish is to make of République du Chiffon a real brand of modern patterns. It’s just the beginning of the process. I decided to leave my job to devote myself completely to the brand, so, starting next year and if everything goes well, there will be a collection of printed patterns (10 styles every season) and I’ll keep offering more downloadable patterns to very small prices so that everybody can sew République du Chiffon. I hope you’ll like it.



Thank you, Géraldine! I wish you all the best!

I'll be back soon with my version of one of her patterns! Are you curious yet? :)

Forse vi siete imbattute nel suo bellissimo blog, o magari avete visto le sue creazioni realizzate da Julie di Jolies Bobines, o magari ancora avete visto il suo libro in un post di Tilly and the Buttons. Se è così, sicuramente anche voi vorrete sapere qualcosa in più su République du Chiffon e su chi c’è dietro a questo adorabile marchio francese.

Io ero curiosissima, perciò ho fatto una chiacchierata con Géraldine, la creatrice del marchio, e questo è il risultato. Per chi preferisse leggere l’intervista nella versione originale (in francese), la può trovare qui.

Buona lettura!

✄ Innanzitutto, ci puoi dire qualcosa su di te? Da quanto tempo cuci?

Mi chiamo Géraldine, ho 35 anni e vivo e lavoro a Lille, nella Francia del Nord. I miei hobby sono la lettura (mi piacciono la fantascienza e Jane Austin, so che non hanno nulla in comune ;) ), il cinema, dal quale spesso traggo ispirazione, mi piace cucinare e ovviamente amo il cucito.

Ho cominciato a cucire dopo la nascita di mia figlia Violette ed è presto diventata la mia passione. Ho avuto l’opportunità di entrare in una scuola per stilisti/modellisti e mi sono diplomata.

Modello blusa Margot

✄ Come hai cominciato République du Chiffon?

Ho cominciato République du Chiffon nel 2010, era un blog di moda e cucito. Dopo il mio diploma, volevo spostare il blog nella direzione del design e modellismo per il cucito a casa, cercando di creare modelli alla moda, per sarte moderne. Poiché l’offerta è ancora scarsa in Francia, spero di trovare un mio spazio.

Modello vestito Penelope

✄ Ci puoi dire qualcosa in più sul tuo libro (“Un Eté Couture” edito da Tutti Frutti) e sui tuoi cartamodelli scaricabili?

Quello che cerco di fare con i miei modelli, sia nel libro che per quelli da scaricare, è di offrire stili moderni che rendano il cucito democratico, rendendo le cose “difficili” abbordabili per tutte. La mia speranza è che i modelli creati a casa siano tanto trendy e di qualità quanto quelli offerti al giorno d’oggi dai designer.

Modello cappotto Gérard

✄ Quali sono le tue fonti d’ispirazione? Hai dei designer preferiti o delle icone di stile?

L’ispirazione la trovo dappertutto, per strada, nei giornali, nei film, da illustratori, ecc. Sono una grande fan dello streetstyle  (Yvan Rodic, Sartorialist ecc.) e passo molto tempo a leggere blog di moda (Le Blog de Betty, Punky B, Le blog de Pauline e tanti tanti altri). Per quanto riguarda le “icone di stile”, non ne ho di vere e proprie, non sono mai stata una grande fan. Preferisco anonimi che hanno stile, ma se devo fare un nome, al momento sarebbe decisamente Alexa Chung o Kate Bosworth.

Modello Viviane - vestito e blusa
Tutte le immagini di questo post prese da qui

✄ Cosa vedi nel futuro del tuo marchio?

Vorrei far diventare RDC una vera marca di cartamodelli. Ho deciso di lasciare il mio lavoro e dedicarmi completamente al marchio, perciò, a cominciare dall’anno prossimo e se tutto va bene, ci sarà una collezione di cartamodelli cartacei (10 per ogni stagione) e continuerò ad offrire modelli scaricabili a prezzi contenuti in modo che tutti possano cucire République du Chiffon. Spero vi piacerà.



Grazie, Géraldine, ti auguro tutto il meglio!

Io tornerò presto con la mia versione di uno dei suoi modelli… Siete curiosi?

Interview: Heather of Closet Case Files

Before I leave you to this little tête-à-tête, I just wanted to thank you all SO MUCH for all of your kind comments on my Bombshell Swimsuit post and for all the links to European shops you are sharing. You guys are the best, as usual.

I also wanted to spend a word to defend my boyfriend, as I realize I made it sound worse than it actually went. I pushed him to give me a honest opinion on a full-figure swimsuit picture and he basically told me it wasn't my best look. That's it. Not the best thing to hear from your sweet half, but he wasn't mean to me at all. Still, it was heart warming to see how defensive you were of me :D

Now, read on if you want to more a bit more about Heather and her amazing new pattern.

For those who are not familiar with your blog, Closet Case Files, can you tell us something about yourself? How long have you been sewing?

In my real life, I am a commercial interior designer working for a small firm (right now I am re-developing the design concept for a Canadian coffee chain). I’ve been in Montreal for 10 years, and am so blessed and thrilled to be living in this free-spirited, laissez faire, creative community.

Closet Case Files started 2 years ago when I made the decision to stop buying new clothes. I’ve always been totally obsessed with fashion and as result had a wee bit of a shopping addiction (read: major credit card debt); I made a resolution to only thrift or learn to make any new clothing. I quickly discovered the sewing blog community and was utterly blown away by what everyone was up to. My blog quickly shifted from a fashion/”outfit of the day” type of thing to become entirely sewing focused; it became a way for me to monitor and share my progress as I learned to sew.

I made my first dress around this time 2 years ago and with the exception of a few items here or there, have pretty much stopped buying clothes at all. I don’t even thrift much anymore unless I’m looking for vintage fabric, patterns or things to refashion. I’m incredibly lucky that I get to be creative from 9-5, but I can’t believe how incredibly validating, life-affirming, and confidence boosting learning to sew has been! I have a tendency to be hyperbolic, but I think learning to sew was the best thing I’ve ever done.

The Bombshell Swimsuit pattern came from a bathing suit you made for yourself. How did you begin sewing swimwear for yourself in the first place?

I’ve always had a thing for vintage 50’s swimsuits. I have a drawer full that look great on but are a nightmare wet because they’re made of stretch cotton or weird vintage knits. Then, I fell in love with these Norma Kamali swimsuits I saw on the cover of a Vanity Fair magazine (featuring the Desperate Housewives of all people). This was before I learned to sew, and I had a seamstress make me a replica a few years ago. When it started to really fall apart, last summer I decided to figure out how to recreate the style.

Studying the numerous swimsuits I had and a number of vintage patterns, I drafted a suit that fulfilled what I was looking for: a modest but flattering silhouette, ruched sides, and a ruched, low cut seat that completely encased the bum (anyone who has followed my blog for a while knows how much I LOATHE what happens to full-bootyed ladies when you wear a high cut suit. Quad cheek horror).

It was a pretty ambitious project for someone with relatively little sewing experience, but I was helped tremendously by Dixie DIY who was hosting a swimsuit sewalong at the time (She is my swimwear Yoda). Following her advice, I made a maillot and a high waist bikini last summer. The reaction from readers surprised me – women REALLY wanted the pattern. I realized there was a huge demand for this kind of modest, sexy, vintage suit so I taught myself how to grade patterns this spring in order to release it in time for beach season.

Heather's original swimsuit

Who do you recommend the Bombshell Swimsuit pattern to?

I think this is a universally flattering swimsuit. I’ve seen it on every shape of body, and everyone looks so good wearing the Bombshell my heart swells about 4 sizes when I think of it. Personally, I’m fighting the tyranny of the bikini. I have nothing but love for those of us who can pull one off, but I suspect the majority of us just feel exposed and uncomfortable in the damn things. I released this swimsuit for every woman who dreads swimsuit shopping, who avoids situations where they need to wear one, and who is filled with self-doubt and self-loathing on the beach, when they should be frolicking in the sunshine like summer nymphs. Life is too short to hate your body. It’s the only one we’ve got – why not wear something that makes you feel beautiful?

How was the process of developing a pattern for the first time?

Can I swear on your blog? Imagine all of the swear words in all of the languages and then scream them into a megaphone. It was… intense. Because I had to move this winter, I got a late start and only gave myself 8 weeks to get it ready. Since I work full-time, I basically dedicated every spare moment to tweaking the pattern, learning to grade, slaving over instructions. Thankfully, I have a technical background in design, so it wasn’t THAT much of a stretch to apply those skills to pattern making. Illustrator was a godsend once I figured out how to use it.

What really made the whole process so much easier and valuable was the input I got from my pattern testers. I sent a beta version to a number of ladies, women whose style I admired and who I would fly great distances to hang out with. Their insight, input, encouragement and love really pushed me to finish it and get it out there. I say it all the time, but our community is so f*cking amazing it blows my mind on a daily basis. The women (and Peter) I have had the great pleasure to meet and interact with honestly confirms my faith in the inherent goodness, creativity and potential of humans. You guys are the best.

Heather's inspiration

Do you plan to release other patterns?

This is a toughy. I honestly started this whole process with zero intentions to release another pattern. I really just wanted to get the Bombshell out there because there was a serious hole in the pattern market and women were clamoring for it. However, I learned so much, and got such overwhelmingly positive feedback, that I may release another. If so, it would probably be another swimsuit. I think there are so many gifted indie pattern designers doing regular apparel that it might be nice to stay in a little beach niche. But we’ll see. Anything is possible. Especially now that I’ve mastered Illustrator.

And while I cross my fingers for Heather to release a retro bikini pattern, guess what? She is giving away one copy of the Bombshell Swimsuit pattern to one of my readers.

In order to win, you just need to leave a comment below

Please leave an email address so I can get in touch with you (you need to write it in the comment, because I cannot access the address you leave in the Disqus form).

The winner will be selected randomly.

Good luck!

Interview: Bluegingerdoll Vintage Inspired Patterns

Today I'm happy to have Abby of Bluegingerdoll as a guest, she's a new indie pattern designer who specializes in vintage inspired creations. You know you want to know more about her!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? When did you start sewing?

I'm Abby and I live in Melbourne, Australia with my boyfriend and our 2 crazy dogs, Kenobi and Winnie. I have a love of all things vintage, especially the 40's and 50's. I also have a horse and love to go riding (when I can!), love cooking up a storm, crime shows, summertime and potato chips!

I was taught sewing in high school briefly, to be honest I really didn’t take to it at first, I actually hated going to sewing class, the teacher was a total bore, but fast forward a few years in my 20’s and I become really inspired about the thought of creating my own clothes and sewing them, and actually having the wardrobe I have always wanted. I quickly became obsessed and haven't stopped since.

How did you start Bluegingerdoll Patterns? What pushed you to begin making sewing patterns?

I started drafting sewing patterns, for a few reasons, one being the commercial patterns that are available, aren’t really inspiring and the designs not really my style at all, and let’s not talk about the random and constant fitting issues with the patterns. Original vintage patterns were what I usual sewed with, but were becoming increasingly expensive and hard to find anything in my size. So I guess the drafting come from necessity, and it felt like a natural creative step from sewing as well. I also had all these design ideas but no way of creating them unless I drafted the actual pattern myself. So I started to teach myself to draft patterns, first starting with modifying vintage patterns then onto the drafting patterns from scratch. I found that I totally loved it and I really wanted to hone my skills with this craft, so I decided to learn from the pros and studied a Diploma of fashion design and technology.

I have also always wanted to own and run a small business as well, and become my own boss and realising I had a passion for sewing and pattern making, I decided it was high time to start making that dream a reality. I could totally see myself being extremely happy and content doing this day in, day out. And I decided my designs were worth sharing with the world, and so Bluegingerdoll was born.

Tell us more about your first pattern, the Billie Jean dress.

Billie Jean is a beautiful 1950s vintage inspired dress.  It features a fitted princess seam bodice, which is designed to enhance the waist, and an alluring and flattering neckline design. It is a versatile and easily adaptable dress that is wearable in all seasons, day or night, and suits a variety of different fabrics. Perfect for experimentation and for you to add your own individual touch.  There are 2 dress styles to choose from, in the pattern:

Dress 1 - A fully lined figure hugging wiggle dress, flattering all the right curves.

Dress 2- A fun full gathered skirt, with lined bodice and practical in seam pockets.  

Both close with lapped zipper at centre back.  I have created instructions for that are easy and clear to follow with loads of diagrams, which will ensure the sewing of Billie Jean is straight forward.  Billie Jean is also available in paper or PDF patterns.

Where do you see your pattern company in the future?

Billie Jean is the very first pattern release for Bluegingerdoll, and the huge amount of positive support I have received through Facebook, Twitter and the blog, has validated it for me, that I am on the right track and maybe a little bit closer to my dream of being able to making the pattern business a full –time gig. In the meantime though, the next pattern design is in the process and is hot on the heels of Billie Jean for release, and the plan is for a few more designs to be released later on during the year.

Thank you, Abby!

To celebrate the launch of her first pattern, Abby was also kind enough to offer 2 copies of the Billie Jean dress pattern to my readers. The winners will choose if they prefer the pdf or printed version.
Because the pre-sale of this pattern ends soon (on the 19th), this will be a very very short giveaway, so whoever doesn't win can still take advantage of this offer.

In order to win, leave a comment below before Friday, May 17th at 11:00pm GMT.

Please leave an email address so I can get in touch with you (you need to write it in the comment, because I cannot access the address you leave in the Disqus form).

For en extra chance to win, like Bluegingerdoll on Facebook and leave a separate comment.

Good luck, everyone!
Giveaway closed, winner announced here.

Deer and Doe 2013 Spring Summer Pattern Collection

The new collection of patterns from Deer and Doe was launched yesterday and it was definitely worth the wait. Eléonore, the mind behind the brand, was kind enough to be my guest to present the new patterns and to share a few words with us on the creative process of her second collection. Enjoy!

This new collection was very interesting to work on, because my creative process was very different from the last time. 

When I created the five first patterns, Deer and Doe was like a blank canvas on which I was free to draw exactly the collection I dreamed of. To achieve the second collection, I had more constraints: I needed to be consistent in the style, but original in the designs and the techniques used (because nobody wants to feel like he owns 4 identical patterns with just small style differences, even if the style is great!). Add to this a limited amount of time due to the everyday tasks of a business… I really worked on a different level this time!

But even if it was a little bit scary at first, I finally found that these constraints were helping me to produce better, more interesting patterns! I settled on a skirt, a blouse and a dress, and worked around the idea of easy-to-wear and fast-to-sew patterns for instant summer gratification! I added some interest to each of the patterns with cute features or interesting construction, and in the end Chardon, Réglisse and Datura were born!

Chardon is a skirt specifically aimed at beginners: it's a very versatile pattern that grows with your skills! You can start with a very simple version of the skirt, and then add details like the back ribbon, the belt loops, learn how to sew an invisible zipper… the possibilities are countless!

Réglisse is a very interesting pattern for intermediate seamstresses, because it introduces a technique very few patterns use: a bias-cut bodice.
While it's quite simple to construct, the bias cut totally changes how the fabric is hanging, and creates a very flattering effect! It's also a way to have a lot of fun with stripes or plaids!

Datura is definitely the most eye-catching design in this collection. While looking quite simple, this blouse will be really fun to sew for more experienced seamstresses!
The construction ensures a perfect finish, and a lot of interesting details like cut-outs, home-made bias tape, a lined yoke… and a very flattering result even for the bustier of us :)

As always, they were thoroughly tested before the launch to insure maximum wearability and comfort. Some of the patterns changed a LOT during this phase but it was very important for me to set the bar higher than the last time :) . I hope I succeeded!

I organize my patterns by collections because I love to create an harmony and to work with the seasons, but every Deer and Doe pattern is created to work well with the other garments: you can for example pair the Chardon skirt with an Airelle blouse, and how chic would the Datura blouse be styled with skinny jeans and a Pavot jacket for spring?

Thank you so much Eléonore!
But it doesn't end here! To celebrate the launch of the new collection, Eléonore is offering a Réglisse pattern to one of you!
In order to win the pattern, you just need to leave a comment! Please leave an email address for me to get in touch.

For extra entries, you can:
✄ Tweet about the giveaway (+1)
✄ Follow Deer and Doe on Twitter(+1)
✄ Like Paunnet blog on Facebook (+1)
✄ Like Deer and Doe on Facebook (+1)

For each additional entry, please leave an extra comment below.

You have until 11:00am GMT of April 3rd to enter. Good luck!

Giveaway closed, winner announced here.

Interview: By Hand London

These stylish girls and their beautiful patterns definitely don't need an introduction. They've been the talk of the blogosphere from months, so I'm sure you've already heard about By Hand London patterns. But if you want to know a bit more about the company from one of its creators, here's a few words from Elisalex. 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? When did you start sewing?

Charlotte and I were actually at school together! We went down pretty different routes however after we left - I trained as a shoemaker and set up my own sustainable-high end shoe label, Nina Dolcetti, while Charlotte studied Classics and ended up working in marketing roles at various London startups. Sewing for me has been a long love affair; even as a child I had an insatiable need to make stuff! I messed about with my Mum's sewing machine a lot as a teenager, but it wasn't until I studied shoemaking though, that I realised my love of craftsmanship and decided to start really honing my skills. Charlotte was always a thrifting and customising expert and has had the sewing bug for the last couple of years, simply out of a desire to have more control over her style and is fast becoming a very skilled seamstress!

How did you start By Hand London? What pushed you to begin making sewing patterns?

By Hand London all began about a year and a half ago when Charlotte randomly got in touch to ask my opinion on a hare-brained scheme she had been cooking up. At the time I had just decided to pack in the whole shoes thing and had been mulling over some new ideas of my own. We met up and talked over a coffee (or three!) and realised pretty quickly that we wanted to join forces - what followed was months of late night skype-scheming, plans for world domination, and three ideas and two business plans later, By Hand London sewing patterns were born. It was then that we met Victoria - recent fashion graduate and London girl - in a stroke of internet matchmaking perfection, having advertised for an extra pair of hands getting things started. And then we got to set about creating our patterns! It's not been easy, that's for sure! It already feels like we've had some great successes as well as some seriously hairy moments. But we are so very proud of what we have created, and are so excited for everything yet to come.

What are your main sources of inspiration? Your favorite designers or style icons?

We find that our inspiration comes from so many different avenues, and especially since the three of us have our own very unique styles! We look to sewing blogs as well as fashion blogs, vintage fashion as much as contemporary, and of course, our friends and girls we see around London town. It's because of this diversity of style and influence that we decided to personify each of our patterns, basing them on a real girl we know and who's style we admire.

What has been your biggest challenge with By Hand London?

There's not really been one distinct thing; I think when you're starting out on a new venture the main challenge is finding your rhythm as a business - setting yourself achievable goals and deadlines, each finding and settling into our individual roles within By Hand, and also being supportive of each other and understanding each other's external commitments i.e. part-time jobs and kids!

Where do you see your pattern company in the future?

At this point while it's all so fresh and new we feel like we're bursting at the seams (ahaha!) with ideas and plans for the future and we definitely want to expand the By Hand brand beyond sewing patterns. Before we take over the world, however, we want to really get to grips with what's going on right now, continue to better ourselves and our products and really get to know who our customer is. But ultimately, sure - world domination! Mwahahahaaaa!

Thanks Elisalex! Very inspiring, right?

And guess what? The girls have very generously sent me one Elisalex dress pattern and one Charlotte skirt pattern to give away to my readers!

In order to win, just leave a comment below telling me which pattern you'd like the most and your email address, so I contact you.
The giveaway ends on March 6th, 11:00pm GMT.
Good luck!

Interview: Eliza M's Vintage Sewing

You know I'm a sucker for indie pattern designers, so when I found out about this beautiful new line of vintage inspired patterns via Jane, I had to know more!

Here's a little more about Eliza and her patterns.

- Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? When did you start sewing?

I have three children ranging in ages from 17 to 4 years, two boys and a little girl.

I started sewing fairly recently, abut two years ago as I was fed up with mass produced clothes and dresses that didn't fit me.

- How did you start Eliza M's Vintage Style Sewing? How did you choose the name?

I did start with genuine vintage patterns, but as a beginner found them too difficult to make. I found a pattern cutter to make vintage style patterns that were easy for me to make and from there on I was hooked. I thought there must be other women who would benefit from using the patterns I had created for my own personal use, and Eliza M Vintage Sewing was born.

- Do you have formal training (art, design, sewing, etc.)?

I have a degree in Education, I worked in schools for quite a few years and still have a passion for life long learning, but previous to taking my degree as a mature student I was a Field Sales rep for many years. 

I am completely self taught, I believe that a little time and effort go a long way, I am though addicted to learning new things and being creative, I love to sing, paint (badly) and dance, I believe a creative life is absolutely essential for confidence and well being.

- What are your main sources of inspiration? Your favorite designers or style icons?

My main sources of inspiration come from old movies, particularly from the forties and fifties. I love the timeless style of Greta Garbo, Grace Kelly and so many more of those old movie style icons.

Dita von  Teese is also a form of fashion inspiration, the next collection of patterns will include more 'bombshell' styles. I have concentrated mainly on the practical for the first collection, but I think a little self indulgence doens't go amiss once in a while!

- Why did you decide to stay away from multi-sized patterns?

Original vintage patterns were always single sized and I wanted to be as authentic as possible, however we will hopefully be launching sizes 10-16 as multisized patterns in the New Year.

16 plus sizes will remain single sized.

- Do you still sew for yourself?

Yes, I still sew for myself. I made the majority of the samples used for the photographs and I continue to sew around three dresses a week, often more for private clients from my patterns and samples for the new children's range due out in Spring. I love to sew so much I could never stop now.

Elisa was also generous enough to offer my readers a combo of one of her patterns + a packet of Eliza M Liberty fabric covered buttons.

In order to win, go browse her site and just leave a comment below telling me which combo you'd choose in case you won.

The giveaway closes on January 17th, 11:00am GMT.

(And if you haven't already, there's still time to enter my birthday giveaway!)

Interview: Deer & Doe sewing patterns

I'm so very happy to have Eléonore on my blog today, with her spanking new sewing pattern line, Deer and Doe. I'm a huge supporter of this lovely French girl who I had the pleasure to know a little better thanks to her brilliant new project. I hope you'll enjoy a peek in her world!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? When did you start sewing?
My name is Eléonore, and I'm a 25 years old girl living in Paris with my boyfriend and my lazy cat. Beside sewing, I love drawing, photography,  and sciences :) .
I started sewing when I was studying computers engineering in Toulouse seven years ago, and it grew from a hobby to a passion! I graduated in computer sciences, and for the next 4 years, I worked as a web developer, growing my sewing skills on the side and creating a French sewing community.
And now I've taken the big leap to become a full-time pattern designer!


How did you start Deer&Doe? How did you choose the name?

My work as a web developer was taking me more and more time and energy, and I was slowly giving up on all the things I love (sewing, managing my community, developing my creativity). I wasn't really happy, and one day I woke up and decided I couldn't be like this anymore!

I've always wanted to start my own creative business, and I saw a real need for modern, fitted and easy-to-sew patterns among French seamstresses (the independent sewing patterns industry is not as developed here in France as it is in the US). It was really scary because it was a total career change and I knew it would be a LOT of work, but with the support of my family and the encouragements of my friends I took the plunge !

I knew from the start I wanted to convey a relaxed, stylish but nature-conscious vibe. I have a special thing for forest, and being in the woods gives me such peace and serenity, so I chose a symbol linked to fashion and to nature : the deer and the doe (and the duality of the name flatters my inner Gemini ^^).

Do you have formal training (art, design, sewing, etc.)?

I have a master degree in computers engineering, so I was destined to a very different career ^^. When I first started to think about creating my own patterns, I talked about it with a designer friend, who taught me pattern making was in fact geometry.  I realized it wasn't very different from the problems I used to solve in school, so I bought and borrowed a lot of books about pattern making and nerded my way into pattern design ! I love to learn new things, and I'm constantly looking for new techniques to master :)

I've also been doing design and illustration during my spare time, and it helped me a lot to master the softwares needed for pattern drawing and grading.

What are your main sources of inspiration? Your favorite designers or style icons?

At first, I tried very hard to find specific sources of inspiration (style icons, actresses, making moodboards with pieces of fabric and fashion sketches), but I found that "doing it by the rules" was not working for me.

So now I just have a huge Pinterest board named "Style" where I pin everything I like (fashion shows, ready-to-wear, fashion bloggers outfits, pictures of friends, old magazines). Basically, I try as much as possible to draw garments I want to wear (and would wear everyday), and not to be too influenced by what I think other people want.

Where do you see your pattern company in the future?

I've just opened my shop (and have received so much support already through the blog, Facebook and Twitter! Thank you!), but my dream is to be able to make a living selling my patterns! (and -let's dream- be able to hire an assistant and create employment in my community!)

For the moment, the patterns are in French only, but I plan to translate them to English as soon as possible! And I'm already working on a spring/summer collection :)

Do you still sew for yourself?

I don't exaggerate when I say that starting a pattern company means sewing A LOT (and sadly not for you!). I've managed to sew some garments for myself during the summer, but being made from my patterns they couldn't be shown before september... how frustrating! But I plan to sew a lot of variations for me in the next months, and also  to continue discovering other independent pattern designers! (I love the special care all indie designers put in their products).

*****

Thanks, Eléonore!
I don't know about you, but I've been in love with these designs ever since I saw them a month ago (I was lucky enough to have a little preview), so I snatched them all as soon as they were available.
If you don't speak French, you should know that the instructions of these patterns are heavily illustrated, so it shouldn't  be too big of a problem if you have some sewing experience. They will be translated into English eventually, but you'll need to wait a little longer because Eléonore is still working on it.

Finally, Eléonore has a present for you: a giveaway!
If you want to win a Deer and Doe pattern, just comment below telling me which design is your favorite (you can take a better look at them here). Mine is definitely the Bleuet dress, the perfect shirt dress with adorable details that I've been wanting for ages!
The giveaway closes Wednesday, September 26 at 12 pm GMT, the winner will be selected at random.  Please remember to leave your email address.

Good luck!

Interview: Charlie's Aunt

Hello, there! I have a new guest today, the extremely talented Emma from Charlie's Aunt. I fell in love with her bag designs and she was kind enough to share a few words about her and her work with us.
I'll see you back at the end of the week with my first Me Made May recap! :)

Introduce yourself: tell us something about where you live, your origins, hobbies, etc.
I live in Suffolk, a rural county in East Anglia, England. I was brought up here but later moved to Australia, where I lived for about nine years. I have dual British and Australian citizenship and would describe myself as vintage British with Aussie attitude. I love the British countryside, tea and scones, and quilted jackets, but I adore the openness and humour of the Australian people.
My hobbies include running four times a week, and making jewellery (although not at the same time!). I also play the oboe and piano.

High Tea Clutch

How did you start your shop, Charlie's Aunt? How did you choose the name?

I am a journalist by trade and I work for a regional daily newspaper (The East Anglian Daily Times) by day. I dreamt up the idea for Charlie’s Aunt while I was living in Australia. It all began after I wrote my first book, "Making Vintage Bags", which contained my own retro-inspired patterns for 20 handbags. The book has since gone on to sell more than 50,000 copies and is one of the publisher’s bestselling titles.
Because it was clear from the reaction to the book that people quite liked my handbag designs, I decided there would be a market for patterns. I have always been fascinated by sewing patterns – the diagrams, words and templates – and the way flat pieces of fabric can be turned into a fully functional three-dimensional or wearable item. After many years of making/selling clothing and accessories and tinkering with different ideas, I think I have finally found my calling. I started the business on money I earned from the day job.
The business is called Charlie’s Aunt because I have a nephew called Charlie. We lost Charlie’s mum, my sister Sarah, to breast cancer in 2002 when Charlie was just six years old. He is a big part of my life and very important to me. Sarah used to model my designs – she was beautiful on the inside and out – so it seemed fitting to name my business after her offspring. I have not been fortunate enough to have any children of my own, so being Charlie’s Aunt is the next best thing.

Anglia Bag

Do you have formal training (art, design, sewing, etc.)?

I have formal training as a journalist, adult education teacher and musician but no art or design qualifications. It all comes from my head and heart. My father was academic but also extremely creative. His mother used to make clothing for all eight of her offspring during WWII without using a pattern. I guess pattern design and sewing is in my blood. I have Ann Ladbury’s "Guide to Simple Pattern Cutting" to thank for my early technical know-how. 

What are your main sources of inspiration? What are your favourite materials to use?
My inspiration comes from vintage clothing catalogues such as Sears, old sewing patterns, and traditional British fabrics. The woollens and tweeds that I favour for my bags are not to everyone’s liking but to me, they are an integral part of the design. Most pattern designers sample in patchwork or quilting fabrics, where I favour the more rustic wool plaids, tweeds, corduroy, moleskin and linen cloths. As I said, although some might find these a little dull, I am totally in love with tweed and at least it makes my patterns stand out in the crowd.

Casablanca Clutch Bag

Do you have any advice for who sells or wants to sell online?
Selling online has been largely successful for me. I have an essentially “niche” product and the internet enables me to reach customers all over the world, which is absolutely necessary when selling such a niche brand. 

However, on the downside, I would have to say that you have to constantly keep reminding people your shop is there, either through blogging, social networking or endless self-promotion! That side of it I find quite challenging, but if you have a good product and heaps of enthusiasm for it, you can’t go far wrong.

One piece of advice is to make sure you charge accurate postage fees in your listings because you can easily get a shock when you arrive at the post office with a parcel. I posted some fabric to the US once and it cost $40 to post! I had only charged the customer $10 … and he didn’t even bother to say thanks when it arrived! Not good for business.

Interview: Katie Jean Design

Want to know a bit more of a wonderful clothing designer? Today my guest is Katie Walker, who will tell us something about her line, Katie Jean Design. Enjoy!

  

Introduce yourself: tell us something about where you live, your origins, hobbies, etc.
I live in Phoenix with my husband Jonce and my two boys, Cade who is 5 and Clive who is 3. We have two dogs, four chickens and a fish, so we keep pretty busy, even when we have nothing on the calendar! I love playing with my kids and working out with my friends at the park.

How did you start your shop, ktjean ?
I actually started off making kids clothing with my neighbor Monique. Then we both slowly moved into adult pieces and we both have our own lines now (she owns Ouma Clothing)!

I started with wedding dresses on accident! I received a box of vintage stuff from my great aunt that included a couple slips, tablecloths and lace curtains. I cut them all up and created a slipdress with the layered skirt. That was in early 2008 and I posted it in my tiny Etsy shop using photos I took myself and a girl bought it to wear as her wedding dress. Now it is a big item in my shop!

Do you have formal training (art, design, sewing, etc.)?
I don't have any formal training. My mom can make anything with a sewing machine within a few hours. She taught me to sew, but I never imagined it would become a career for me. A lot of things I am learning as I go. I share a lot of business strategies and ideas with Monique and she helps me when I am not sure how to handle certain situations.

What are your main sources of inspiration? Your favorite designers or style icons?
So much of my inspiration is from history; I love collecting things that are awesomely vintage, imagining where they have been. I have also slowly acquired vintage patterns from the 1960s and they have been key inspirations for my new designs. I aim for simple silhouettes and details that highlight the ’60s influence in my new pieces.
I don't have any specific favorite designers, but I absolutely love Bill Cunningham, the fashion photographer for the New York Times. He has such a great story and sees fashion as it really is on the street.

What are your favorite materials to use?
I love recycling slips and vintage fabrics. It makes the dress or piece mean that much more. It adds history and depth to the piece

Do you still sew for yourself?
I rarely have time to make anything for myself. And when I do have time, I don't want to be sewing.
I do enjoy sewing for others though. I always see things at stores and think, "I could totally make that," but then I just buy it instead. ;)

Do you have any advice for who sells or wants to sell online?
Having good pictures that capture the essence of your item is vital and VERY important. If the pictures of your items are not well let or detailed or good enough quality, potential customers are less likely to look at them. Also good communication is what keeps up your good reputation and clients. Those two things are probably some of the most important things to remember while becoming an online seller or shop owner.

Interview: Cuore

Long time, no interviews! After a long period of loneliness, my latest guest is Mika, with her beautiful animal accessories she sells in her Etsy shop. If you're a dog lover like me, you'll die for them.

Enjoy her interview, it's really inspiring.

Introduce yourself: tell us something about where you live, your origins, hobbies, etc.

Hi everyone! My name is Mika, and I live in Southern California. I'm 1.5 generation Japanese American, and I am obsessed with movies, milk tea, and dogs. I function well in cold weather, and feel very happy when I'm shopping at Target. There's something about Target that always makes my heart smile.

How did you start your shop, Cuore? How did you choose its name?

My shop name, "Cuore", means heart in Italian. I lost my amazing Dad to cancer about 7 years ago, and before he passed away, the nurse said he had a strong heart. I'd like to think he'd be proud of me right now.
I started Cuore after working in the corporate design world for 7 years. I really wanted to put my skillZ to use for my own business, and decided to take the plunge. I started really small, and didn't really have a huge plan or anything; I just kind of craft what I like.

Do you have formal training (art, design, sewing, etc.)?

I attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and have a degree in Fashion Design, and worked at Paul Frank Industries for 7 years as the womens accessories designer. I met and worked with really amazing and talented people, and learned SO much about the accessories world.

What are your main sources of inspiration?

My inspiration comes from my Japanese culture, dogs and animals, humor, and color/fabrics. My friends inspire me too.

What are your favorite materials to use?

My favorite materials are felt (easy to applique and there are countless colors), and duck canvas!

Do you have any advice for who sells or wants to sell online?

I think designers should really shape their tastes/ideas before opening a shop online. Figure out what items you're really good at making, and think about your style and what your "direction" is. Who is your target customer, and what does he/she like? Also, be patient - sometimes it takes years to figure out what you're really good at.