BILLIE JEAN PRESALE TOMORROW

  

Quick reminder lovely followers......

Tomorrow is May 1st - y' know what that means - the Billie Jean pattern will be available for purchase at the  rad pre-sale price! Paper pattern $14.50 & PDF pattern $10.50. Yay!





Get in line, cause i  am opening up shops at 9.00am tomorrow!

You can pick up the pattern on the WEBSITE  or ETSY  or CRAFTSY.

Pre-sale runs from May 1st - May 15th - so lots of time to grab a copy.

Also i do and will be shipping internationally - so no one misses out!

It would also be awesome and i would forever be grateful if you can get the Billie Jean sewing pattern out into the community - i want to see the world taken over by gorgeous ladies in Billie Jeans!


Abby
xx
 

And the winners are......!

 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter the Billie Jean pattern giveaway and all your lovely kind words and support! You gals are ace!

So  lets announce the 2 winners of a copy of the Billie Jean sewing pattern:
 

And the winners are.....

 

 

Janaya McKeon18 April 2013 2:52 am

What a wonderful giveaway! I am definitely Billie Jean Bombshell, although I do adore a great crenoline. I cannot wait to make both versions of this lovely dress! Congrats on a beautiful first pattern <3

 

Kristin19 April 2013 12:22 am

What a fantastic pattern! I've always considered myself the demure girl next door and so I tend to gravitate toward fuller skirts but recently I've been feeling more bombshell-y. I just bought a form fitting dress and I'm a bit nervous to see how it will turn out! And yes, I'm so sad about google reader. Following with feedly now!

These lovely winners were randomly selected using random.org.

 

Congratulations Janaya and Kristin!

 

Email me your details at: abbyhorskins@gmail.com.

Also remember to pencil in your diary, May 1st for the Billie Jean pattern pre-sale - that this WEDNESDAY!

 

I'M SO EXCITED!

Abby

xx

Billie Jean sewing pattern PRESALE LAUNCH MAY 1st 2013

Finally the date is set  to launch the Billie Jean sewing pattern for pre-sale!

I'm so excited and you should be too, go on and grab your diaries and pencil in May 1st  for the Billie Jean pattern pre- sale launch.


The reason for a pre-sale, i hear you ask?!
Not only to be able to offer a great deal on a new indie pattern for you gals,  but to also offset the actual printing costs of the paper pattern.... i mean whoa the printing costs are extreme, there has been talk of selling organs on the black market, but in saying this paper patterns will be worth it!

So for the pre- sale i am hoping, crossing my fingers and toes that i can reach my  goal of  200 patterns being sold.This amount would offset all the printing costs of Billie Jean  and also will go towards my next pattern design and releasing it to you fine folk.
 I am asking for your help, not only because i totally 100 % believe in the pattern  and it is my passion and i am really proud of it, but also because it is just little ole me, trying my hardest and using every spare cent i have and have found squished in the couch to start Bluegingerdoll and release this awesome pattern.

I really have put a lot, i mean a LOT of time and effort into Billie Jean, so you can and  will enjoy sewing the pattern AND the best part of all you  will have a dress in your wardrobe that is flattering, a classic design and that will cater for both your  bombshell and sweet girl next door personalities - I will admit i currently have 5 Billie Jeans in my wardrobe, with more being dreamed about...


So here the are the important pre- sale details:

Pre-sale dates:

The pre - sale will run from May 1st 2013 through the 15th of May 2013.
The shipping date to you wonderful folks, will be  mid June ( if all runs smoothly)  for the paper patterns, sorry i cant get around this one, but it will be worth the wait!
PDF lovers you get yours ASAP!

How much will the pattern be during the pre -sale?

The Billie Jean paper pattern will be $14.50 during the pre -sale and the PDF will be $10.50.

Where can  you pick up a copy of the Billie Jean sewing pattern?

You can pick up the Billie Jean pattern on the shiny and new WEBSITE or in my  ETSY shop. Both will  have the Paper & PDF copies of the patterns.
But if you are more of a CRAFTSY inclined person, the PDF copy of available on there as well :)

What will i get with  my pattern?

Both paper and PDF patterns  include easy and clear instructions with lots of diagrams to help you sew Billie Jean without any trouble, i worked extremely hard on these, because i know what its like to be completely and utterly baffled when reading instructions, and putting a dampener on the whole sewing experience - but  in saying this, i do recommend the pattern for intermediate sewists.
The knowledge that the pattern has been tried and tested by some really awesome pattern testers, and ME!
I have tested this pattern thoroughly, worn it doing everyday  activities,out on the town, to work - all over!
I promise i have made sure  you will be very  comfortable and glamorous at the same time- and i guarantee its soooo comfortable - you will get a lot of wear out of these 2 dresses ( such a mum thing to say ...)  and possibly a few wolf whistles as well!
What else will you get? A warm fuzzy feeling that you are supporting an indie pattern designer! Yay!


So it would be awesome if you can show your support for the pattern, and Bluegingerdoll... It would mean the world to me! Please  spread the word through whatever means you have - blogger, facebook, twitter just  whatever works for you, just please help me share my passion and get this gorgeous dress out there to the sewing community!

So pencil in May 1st - this WEDNESDAY for the pre- sale launch of Billie Jean!

Keep an eye out for the announcement of the giveaway winners tomorrow on the blog as well.


Abby

x

Last chance to enter: Billie Jean pattern giveaway!

Just a quick reminder that you have until tomorrow to enter the Billie Jean Pattern giveaway

cause it ending tomorrow 27th April 2013 folks!
 

The winners will be announced on the 29th April 2013!

 

Its easy peasy to enter as well just  check out the details below:
 

 

 

 

I am very excited to finally share with you the Billie Jean sewing pattern envelope design!

I cant express how awesome it is to share this with you peeps! It has been a long road, this all started WAY before i announced any news of patterns on the blog.. so to see it all starting to come together and finally get the ideas out of my head and created into a real life product is really exciting but also really surreal at the same time. I think its real pretty and i am really proud of how it turned out!

Billie Jean is sized 4 - 18 and all on the one pattern page . The back envelope cover also has both metric and imperial measurements provided, and finished garment measurements!

So to celebrate the unveiling of the Billie Jean pattern envelope and to show my thanks for all your kind words and support, I want to give you the opportunity to win a copy of the Billie Jean sewing pattern!!!!!

Thats right its giveaway time!

Two lucky sewing enthusiasts will have the chance to each win one of 2 copies of the brand spanking new Billie Jean sewing pattern!!!!!

 

 

 














 

 

 

 How to Win:
 

There are 2 steps to follow for your chance to win:

 

All you have to do is comment on this post, answering both the steps below:

 

Step 1

Tell me which Billie Jean Version personality you are:

Version 1 Pin up bombshell

or

Version 2 Sweet girl next door

And briefly why!

 

Step 2

Follow the Bluegingerdoll blog on:

Bloglovin

Or

Feedly

Or

Email

 

Or just where ever you want too, cause did you know that Google Friend connect has been given the boot?! Yup... not good for keeping up to date and following your fav blogs. I have already shifted across to Bloglovin and Feedly, so just do a quick search for Bluegingerdoll to find me!

If you are already following along on either one of these 3 or elsewhere you are still very welcome to enter as well!

 

Entries are open to everyone from anywhere in the world.

The giveaway will close on the 27th April 2013 and the winners will be randomly selected and announced on the blog 29th April 2013

 

Please note winners will receive patterns after presale / release and when patterns are printed and ready to be shipped, hopefully mid - late June 2013.

 

Don't forget to comment on this post, answering both steps to enter!

 

Abby

x

BILLIE JEAN - PAPER & PDF PATTERNS

As I get closer to releasing the Billie Jean pattern  for real!   I thought i would let you know i am taking care of all of you sewists out there and  that Billie Jean will be available in PAPER  patterns and PDF download, YAY!

This is really exciting because from the start i decided with Bluegingerdoll that i would  release all my patterns in both  paper and PDF download and to make this actually happen is a relief.

 

There are pros and cons with paper and PDF pattern , and I know this is totally a  personal preference thing  and definitely revs up some hot debates across the online sewing community.

I personally only have one bone to pick with PDF patterns, and that is that  i have to add seam and hem allowances onto the pattern - doing this almost certainly cancels out the instantaneous satisfaction of buying the PDF, so that being said the Billie Jean PDF version will come with seam and hem allowance all included for y'all,  none of this adding it yourself business crap - i want you to enjoy sewing the Billie Jean pattern the whole way through!

  

I'm not one to back away from a little bit of a debate, so lets open the flood gates on this one!

 

What do you prefer?

Paper or PDF patterns? 

 

 

 

 For me if i had to pick a fav out the 2 patterns options i would pick the paper pattern. I  compare  it to buying vinyl records over Cd's -  vinyl all the way, although i do tend to keep the plastic on them and not even play  them, but that's beside the point. There is something about having that artwork for my own, OK i m getting sentimental here!

 

 

 

 I mean nothing beats having the actual pretty pattern in your hand , the anticipation you get whilst  waiting for it to arrive in the post, daydreaming about that perfect fabric you have stashed away, thinking  about where you going to wear it and how awesome you gonna look in it!

Come on, we all do it :)

 But the main reason why i love paper patterns, being an  independent pattern designer and now seeing patterns from this viewpoint, i understand the time, effort, blood sweat and tears  and maybe a few tantrums  that goes into each and every detail of designing and creating a pattern design.

From start to finish, so much hard work goes into them to ensure the sewing experience is seamless,  you get to create a perfect garment at the end of it and that a  rad pattern is released into the sewing community. I now truly appreciate all the work that has gone into  that  paper pattern when it arrives in my letterbox. 

Also  being able to keep the actual pattern, kind of like a keepsake for years to come,  and the thought of the patterns becoming vintage patterns one day, and being found hopefully by some  sewing enthusiasts in the future is fun to think about :)

 

 But then again  if i really love a pattern design and cant sleep, eat or stop dreaming about, then i will get in whatever format it is available in.... i just have to have it! Oh and i am also slightly impatient so the instantaneous nature of a PDF pattern satisfies my impatient side. To  be honest, i  really don't mind sticking together the PDF print at home pattern, takes me back to my kindergarten days and is somewhat relaxing.

 

 OK so i guess I'm a fan of both paper and PDF, but fear not if you are a lover or hater of either one of them, doesn't matter with Billie Jean - I got you covered ;)

  

Oh and remember if you haven't already entered the BILLIE JEAN PATTERN GIVEAWAY, it ends on the 27th of April - that's the end of this week folks - so get on it and enter!

Oh and its gonna be the pretty paper version for y'all.... Hopefully you will take some satisfaction from receiving the paper pattern that has a whole Lotta pride attached to it :)

FYI - Mid June it will  be shipped  out to the winners.

 

 And please share the Bluegingerdoll love around to the rest of the sewing community, i would totally appreciate it :)

 

Keep your eyes peeled over the next couple of days for the official  release date of Billie Jean, Yay!

 

Abby

x

 

 

 



BILLIE JEAN envelope unveiling and GIVEAWAY!

 

 

 

 

 

I am very excited to finally share with you the Billie Jean sewing pattern envelope design!

 I cant express how awesome it is to share this with you peeps! It has been a long road, this all started WAY before i announced any news of patterns on the blog.. so to see it all starting to come together and finally get the ideas out of my head and created into a real life product is really exciting but also really surreal at the same time. I think its real  pretty and i am really proud of how it turned out!

 

 Billie Jean is sized 4 - 18 and all on the one pattern page . The back envelope cover also has both metric and imperial measurements provided, and finished garment measurements! 

 

So to celebrate the unveiling of the  Billie Jean pattern envelope and to show my thanks for all your kind words and support,  I want to give you the opportunity to win a copy of the Billie Jean sewing pattern!!!!!

Thats right its giveaway time!

Two  lucky sewing enthusiasts  will  have the chance to each win one of  2  copies of the brand spanking new  Billie Jean sewing pattern!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 How to Win:

 

 There are 2 steps to follow for your chance to win:

 

All you have to do is comment on this post, answering both the steps below:

 

Step 1

 

Tell me which Billie Jean Version personality you are:

 

Version 1 Pin up bombshell

 

or

 

 Version 2 Sweet girl next door

 

And briefly why!

 

 

Step 2

 

 

Follow the Bluegingerdoll blog on:  

 

Bloglovin

 

 Or

 

Feedly

 

Or

 

Email

 

Or just where ever you want too, cause did you know that Google Friend connect has been given the boot?! Yup... not good for keeping up to date and following your fav blogs. I have already shifted across to Bloglovinand Feedly, so just do a quick search for Bluegingerdoll to find me!

 

  If you are already following along  on either one of  these 3 or elsewhere you  are still  very welcome to enter as well!

 

 Entries are open to everyone from anywhere in the world.

The giveaway will close on the  27th April 2013 and the winners will be randomly selected and announced on the blog  29th April 2013

  

Please note winners will receive patterns  after presale / release and when patterns are printed and ready to be shipped, hopefully mid - late June 2013.

 

 Don't forget to comment on this post, answering both steps to enter!

 

 

Abby

x

 

 

Bloglovin and claiming it...

 

 

 

Ok so i have ignored doing this for a while now, but  apparently Bloglovin wants and needs me to do this...

 

Sooooo..

I am claiming my blog!
( Whatever exactly that means)

 

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4009617/?claim=7exrfne4w83">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

 

 If you are a Bloglovin user, you can find Bluegingerdoll here!

Get on it, Blogloving is heaps easy to use and personally i prefer it visually, and if you are tech savvy grab the iphone app as well.

 

OK  i am done!

 

Hope you having an awesome week!

 

Abby

x



Confession!

Quick post to say  hello to all the new followers! And a giant thank you for all the kind words and support from you gals for the Billie Jean pattern, it warms my heart and is very much appreciated :)

 

Also a confession  that i may have been  overly ambitious with being able to do everything i want to do the past few weeks ! There just isn't enough time at the moment to partake in the Julia Bobbin Mad Men challenge, what with being on the very edge of releasing my very first sewing pattern to also committing myself to making a friends wedding dress in the shortest possibly time frame ever in the whole wide world... as well being being smack bang in the middle of the rat race from 9-5...

 

So my apologies i am  backing out - well i haven't even started yet! -  of the Mad Men challenge for this year, next year i hope i have my s**t sorted enough that i will be able to participate!

 

On a happier note Billie Jean is edging closer each day to being  released for real peoples!

 

Cause i can here are some more photos :)

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Hump day

 

Abby

x

Give the man a shirt..

I had promised for a while that I would share the sewing love and make my man something, he really wanted a shirt made. It has been hanging up half finished for the last couple of weeks..due to the Billie Jean pattern circus,but i managed to finish  it this weekend for him.

I didn't use a commercial pattern. i  decided  to take the opportunity to test  my drafting skills as well, see if I could draft for someone else, so i drafted it from scratch.
 I was being ambitious but I was determined to push myself to a new limit. And it worked! thank f**k, but  truly it wasn't as hard as i thought it would be drafting the pattern, only a couple of changes to the initial pattern with the fit  - but i am glad that part was over, trying to find time while  the footy was on to test the fit on him, was a pain in the butt!

Brett chose a soft flannel fabric which was really easy to work  with and already has that nice fav piece of clothing feel to it..The Bernina made the bestest button holes  EVER!

 Sleeve roll test

 Hmmm..putting fav slippers and jeans forward!

Apparently this is a natural pose

Hahahahahaha - I wasn't too fazed with matching up all checks on the fabric, i just kind of went with the flow and it turned out pretty good. It also has a yoke on the back, totally forgot to take a photo!

 I did have to consult a few sewing books throughout the sewing process, seeing as i didn't have any instructions to go by, but i now have a set of scribbled instructions to the shirt that only i can understand, but probably wont be able tomorrow....

Special Winnie cuddles, still such a baby dog

Watching and waiting for the storm to roll in...10 secs later torrential rain

Overall Brett was really happy with shirt, the next shirt order request rolled in  about 5 mins into putting on the shirt, so ill be adding that to the project list!

I thought i would throw in a photo of my baby as well - he had a busy Sunday.

Remember to sign up to the Bluegingerdoll Bulletin if you would like to hear  all about pattern release news with the pattern release and other cool  stuff!

Hope your weekend was awesome!

Abby
x

Introducing Billie Jean .....

Today is the day........

I  cant wait any longer.....

I have  to tell you about  the very first Bluegingerdoll  sewing pattern:

 

Billie Jean


Billie Jean is a beautiful 1950s vintage inspired dress, with a touch of old Hollywood glamour. Featuring a fitted princess seam bodice, designed to enhance the waist, and an alluring and flattering neckline design.

She is a multisize pattern, and features 2 gorgeous skirt variations of the dress - so you get to keep your  sweet, sexy and fun, practical parts of your brain happy!

So here they are....


Version 1 is a fully lined figure hugging wiggle dress, flattering all the right curves.

 

 

 

 

 

 Version 2 is a fun full gathered skirt, with a lined bodice and practical in seam pockets.

Both close with a lapped zipper at center back.

 

 

The bodice and neckline design are absolutely stunning and extremely flattering for all body types, and the princess seams  enhances your waist line. Overall the dress accentuates your good bits and is made to hide your bad bits!

I  have also  worked hard to  create easy to follow instructions for both versions with clear & concise images, so you wont be able to go wrong with putting this beauty together. I am quite proud of them and hope that they make your Billie Jean sewing experience fun & easy!

 

 

 Billie Jean  is also REALLY comfortable to wear on an everyday basis, i made sure of this and  have worn a Billie Jean to work, weekend activity's, grocery shopping - a whole of bunch stuff!

I am hoping she becomes your ' go to ' dress on a regular basis.....Oh and she is made for day or night, cause she suits a big variety of fabrics! Yay!

 

I am even more excited for the plans i have following the release of the pattern ... we are talking sewalongs, tutorials, decorative ideas and of course some comps thrown in! 

 

 

 

 

I am planning  to have  Billie Jean  ready and up  for presale by the end of April,  for you to purchase and have in your hot little hands!
But at the moment i am just ironing out the last  few bugs that have unexpectedly infiltrated the process....For example we encountered one of these bugs with the  photo shoot scheduled  on Easter Monday.... the sun decided to be a no show and the day looked bleak and dreary - was not going to work at all!  So we  headed home to do some studio shots, i think the photos turned out fine!   I am hoping to get a  few more shots of  sample dresses  in the next couple of weeks to show you, as well the envelope design... all the good stuff!

If you like sign up  for the newsletter, Bluegingerdoll Bulletin.  for news  on the upcoming Billie Jean presale, future pattern releases -  which is hot on Billie Jeans heels! and all the bits and bobs that may pop up.

So there we go - Bluegingerdoll's first sewing pattern - Billie jean... Hope you like?!



Have a great weekend!

Abby
x