Saturday 31 August 2013

MAE PATTERN GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCED!!!






























Thank you to all the awesome people who entered the Mae sewing pattern giveaway. I had such fun reading through all the lovely comments you left about the Mae pattern, it gave me warm fuzzy feelings.

OK lets get down to the reason we are all truly here....The winner of the MAE sewing pattern was selected by random.  I drew the winner the old fashioned way folks, by assigning a number to each person who left a comment and then i had my boyfriend pull  the super lucky duck winner out of a hat! A very cool hat mind you. It was super exciting,  took me back to being a kid trying to win a random thing at school, which would most probably end up getting lost within a day... Anyhoo back to business.


Without further ado I am very excited to announce the winner of the Mae sewing pattern is the lovely..


Abbey from the blog SewCharleston



Woohoo! Congratulations Abbey!

* Please note this is purely a coincidence this name came out of the hat.. it is a cool name though... just sayin.

Thank you to everyone that took the time to enter, and leave such lovely comments you guys rock! 

Keep your eye on the blog in the coming days, i have an even more super exciting announcement to make!!

Have a happy weekend peeps!

Abby
xxxx







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Wednesday 28 August 2013

Gingham & Mae...
























The sun is starting to shine on a regular basis here in Melbourne, birds are starting to sing and the smell of spring is in the air.. its the best time ever, in my opinion. So i thought it appropriate to start sewing up a few new spring things for my wardrobe. To say i am over winter just doesn't convey how bitterly i hate winter, especially a Melbourne winter, just gross. Now because i am biased towards my sewing patterns i chose to sew up another MAE blouse, which i also perfect for the coming spring.Whilst sewing this one up i realized a few things...

Did you know the Mae sewing pattern is versatile as well as lots of other cool things? Yep... it is and i  thought i would point these out,  especially  in terms of its  versatility, the  flattering fit, sewing it up, seasons and some places to wear it.

Awesome point 1: Functionality.
 I adore clothes that can be worn from day to night, from the office to a Friday night drink (or 10) maybe I'm a bit of scab or lazy... Dunno but i love the fact that Mae can be dressed up or down EASILY. Tucked in or out... it just rolls with it and looks great while doing it.

The  MAE blouse is also  perfect for a jeans wearing kinda a day, this is the main reason this  Mae blouse was sewn up for, purely just  for those days. I wanted to make a more casual version that i could just throw on  with jeans and my fav converse.The blouse also just does it thing, by effortlessly adding some glamour and femininity to your casual outfit, think of it as schamncy version of a jeans and tee day.
 I wore this MAE all Saturday while out and about, running errands, grab a  few compliments along the  way in the supermarket isle, lounged on the couch for a bit, normal weekend stuff and it passed the test, while being comfy.

As well being well suited to wearing in the day, the MAE blouse can also be easily taken into the night. I recommend tucking it into a cute pencil skirt, slipping on those pumps, bit of red lippy and your right to go. Mae is also heaps suitable in an office environment, i wear my Mae blouses to work all the time. I love the fact its different from the day to day corporate drone wear..also see list one above...












Awesome point 2: Flattering fit & design
There is a  slight  little peplum  that shows when you wear your MAE blouse UN- tucked. Now, i have got  some booty and hips and the Mae blouse's feminine fit is very flattering for these parts.The waist darts are the key point here, designed purely to accentuate the small of the waist, defining it and creating the  slight peplum effect that  i mentioned before, which gently  sweeps over your hips, to give  a gorgeous hourglass figure. I do try and design my patterns to flatter all figures, so if you got curves don't think twice sew up the Mae blouse or even the Billie Jean dress, lets all feel beautiful no matter our size, cause really who gives a shit, we are all awesome! Oh and you can sew, so you can just change it to fit you...;)
And don't  think the party is just in the front of the MAE blouse with the scalloped neckline, the button down back is just as lovely. Either way when you wear the MAE blouse your covered both sides with loveliness.

Awesome point 3: Fabric
For my third MAE blouse i went with some light blue gingham, which i had stashed away especially for a MAE. I'm also a bit of a gingham fabric nut, i am drawn to it when i walk into a fabric store...What are you drawn too in a fabric store? Come on, there is always one particular fabric fetish we all have, spill...
 It does suit  a pretty large variety of fabric, just watch the scalloped neckline it does need support, so don't go too flimsy. It is also the best pattern to attack your fabric stash with,the pattern pieces are relatively small and easily get rid of those random stash piece, go on and check your stash pile... ill wait.



Awesome point 4: Seasons = Whatever.
Mae is perfect all year round, no season is going to stop this little blouse, wear it in the warmer weather or throw on your cutest cardigan when it starts to cool down. I find  you can layer a over the blouse and still keep the lovely scalloped neckline in view. I'll be wearing it through the upcoming spring and summer here in Oz.Peeps on the other side of the world, tell the approaching  Fall and winter to eat it **** and just wear it...



































Awesome point 5: Beginner sewing level & Speed = Happiness.
This  pattern is also winner for a beginner sewer. You can brush up on your old sewing techniques as well as pick up a few more.With the button down back, tackling the scalloped neckline( see the tutorial here to make life easier) and i think also it would be great  practise with testing the fit, fixing fitting issues, creating the muslin if your so inclined, but the figure hugging fit is essential, so i do recommend making a muslin.
There is nothing worse as well when sewing up a pattern and it takes FOREVER, especially when you first start out sewing, you can loose your momentum faster than a ferret down a hole. So guess what, it is also a quick blouse to sew up, including cutting, fitting, and sewing i think you could get this done in a day and a half, for the more efficient in a day.. easy. Some vintage glam in a day... triple awesome points.



















































Just to spruce things up a bit for this version of the MAE blouse i added some cute matching buttons.I have a fun little tutorial coming up so you can do this as well for your MAE blouse. It is an easy way to  schmancy it up a bit and make it more of your own. Why not go a bit crazy and create and sew on some contrasting buttons.. Living on the edge...























So all round this pattern is a good egg.

Hope this post inspires those cogs to kick over in the ole sewing part of the brain when it comes to the Mae sewing pattern, its a beauty.

Oh and how convenient is this? You have until this Friday to enter the giveaway to win yourself a copy of the MAE sewing pattern! Real easy to enter just comment on the blog here, and leave your email address and your in the running. Entries close Friday and winner announced Saturday.

Things also may start to get a little bit quiet  in the coming days and weeks, as i am starting to get into the thick of things with the next sewing pattern release, Yep the third pattern for Bluegingerdoll will be released mid-late September. Ill give you a hint, its worn on your bottom half and its oh so  pretty...Ponder that one :)

Abby
xxx
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Monday 26 August 2013

MAE SEWING PATTERN GIVEAWAY...


























It's giveaway time folks, I have a copy of the MAE blouse sewing pattern to give away to one lucky duck!

 Its my way of saying thanks for all the support and lovely words from all you wonderful peeps out there ;)

To enter all you need to do is:

1. Comment on this post and leave an email address.

Entries close Friday 30th August,so make sure you enter before then.

The winner will be picked at random, only one entry per person.

The giveaway will drawn on Saturday 31st August.

Good luck!

Abby
xxxx



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Tuesday 20 August 2013

Vintage bed sheets..



A few months ago i got gifted some pretty cool sewing stuff from a family member. In the pile of goodness there were 2 vintage bed sheets, I'm guessing from the print from the 60's, any way they were in good nick apart a couple of small areas that had some sort of paint substance on them, but other than they were going to be sewn into something perfect, i just didn't know what yet. They are a lovely soft cotton, y'know when your sheets get nice and soft after awhile, that's what they had become, mind you they weren't worn through or anything, still enough life left in them but SUPER SOFT! And from the looks of things they were some high quality bed sheets, so win!

After a few good washes they were good to go....They did smell slightly musty and i mean they are bed sheets and i am  little bit of a germaphobe.. so the few good washes did good to appease my phobia and made them smell pretty ;)

Coolest print bed sheet print EVER!


















Both of the sheets looked to be single bed sheets  i wanted to sew a dress out of them,  so i had to find a dress design that fit into the fabric length. I wanted something simple as well  because the print on the fabric is quite bold and i wanted it to be the feature, not too much busy-ness!



Lovely brown and green sheets



In the goodies pile, i got tins and tins of lots of random cool stuff, vintage buttons, belt buckles, pins... I'm telling ya this was a serious seamstresses whole lifetime collection. I wont show you the lot, just the bestest bits cause there is heaps!








Love this tin, has held the 2 best things in the world - Lollies & sewing notions!




















Back to the vintage bed sheets, after having the sheets draped on my dress model for a number weeks, trying to decide what would be the perfect dress design to sew up, and procrastinating about actually starting to sew with the sheets, because  i knew that once i cut into the sheets then that was it! This fabric was a goner, so i didn't want to f*** it up  and sew something that i would never wear, EVER again, y'know those projects where it is well intended all the way till its all finished and then you wonder why the hell you even bothered to continue to finish sewing it! Then the penny drops that you have ruined the perfect fabric you have EVER seen, sad face.
So what does a girl do with that drama hanging over her head? I continued to procrastinate a little more.. till the day i  decided on a simple shift dress would be perfect and comfy to boot!

I used the below McCalls pattern, which  i had in my stash. I know how easy would it be to draft up.. but i just couldn't be arsed! I wanted a new dress ASAP!! I had procrastinated ENOUGH ;)
I picked it up on Etsy awhile ago, not sure of which shop now.
The pattern is  simple A-line sleeveless shift dress design, easiest most comfy dress to sew.


I went View C


Soz for the creases, i wore it to work
and had been sitting on my butt all day



I picked the brown sheet to sew into a shift dress, i just cant bring myself to use the green one yet.. its my fav!

The neckline and armhole are just simply faced, lapped zipper at the back - Easy peasy! And  I loved the loose fitting of the dress design, comfort factor 1 billion plus! Also hides post giant bowl of pasta belly, another win!







































I have already worn this dress heaps  its just so versatile,  the perfect dress to layer with tights and cute cardigan, which is what i have been doing considering its still winter in ole' Melbourne town and its totally freezing,  but i cant wait to get this dress out in the warmer months, this cotton is  just  so light  weight and comfy, i think it will be nice and cool on those summer days.





Photo bomb!












































I recommend everyone sew up a shift dress, they are the most versatile dresses EVER! And so easy to sew up, perfect for a beginner ;)



The  simple design  of the dress allows the fabric print too shine!



























I think i possibly stood in dog s*** here




Yep i stood in dog s***










































































Now i just have to find THE perfect project for the green sheets...I'm thinking another shift dress!
I'm glad i gave these sheets a new lease of life, but i still cant help but think how cool they would be to have to use them as  actual bed sheets.. Groovy! ;)

What about you, have you ever up-cycled  any vintage bed sheets?


Abby
x

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Wednesday 14 August 2013

A Mae by Meg...




Introducing another gorgeous Mae blouse, sewn up by the awesome Meg.

Meg is another one of my lovely pattern testers, she just recently tested the Billie Jean sewing pattern, see it here in all its glory in Las Vegas!! Yeah baby!  Yet again she has come through with the goods and dazzled me again with here sewing talents. She has created a beautiful casual version of the Mae blouse, which goes perfectly with jeans!

I might just  let the photos do the talking, enjoy!








I love the contrasting fabric for the facings, looks adorable.


The stitching detail on the front, is such a great idea i might just nick it for my next Mae blouse!




Check out Meg's blog and read about her take on the Mae blouse and all the other sewing goodies on her blog, she is one super talented sewing gal!



Also on a side note in relation to the Billie Jean finale, it seems only a couple ended up uploading photos of their finished Billie Jean dresses over the weekend, so i have a bit of a sad face about that.... i was so looking forward to seeing a whole bunch of peeps in new fancy Billie Jean dresses! So in saying this i don't really have enough for a blog post to share with you, so if you still want to have a peek, check out the Flickr groupOh well, not to worry though, because  those of you who did upload your Billie Jean photos  and blew my mind with such gorgeous dresses, and  there is  a little something special  on its way to you in the post.. a little hint, it will go brilliantly  with your new Billie Jean dresses!!!

Hopefully on the next sew-along we can get more on board and participating, cause it is heaps of fun and i really enjoy doing them, and of course  show some more photos! At least i hope that some of you out there in the great yonder have found some new helpful sewing tips and inspiration from the sew-along ;) Feel free to still upload your photos to the Flickr group if you'd like.

Abby
x
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Tuesday 13 August 2013

Mae instruction sheet updates...

















It has come to my attention that there are a couple of minor spelling mistakes on both of  the Mae instruction sheets. This only applies to the sewing patterns orders that have been placed between the release date of the Mae pattern and yesterday ( Monday 12/8).

I do apologize for this from the bottom of my heart, i was confident i had proofed these instructions thoroughly, as well as by a few very trusted hawk eyes, but unfortunately they were missed in the Mae production and release haze...

Please note these updated changes DO NOT make any difference to the actual instructions of  sewing up the Mae blouse, they are only minor spelling mistakes.

You can  download the updated instruction sheets here.
You can also find the link on the Website .

*If you have placed an order for the Mae sewing pattern since yesterday ..... then this doesn't apply to your order, the changes have already been made to the instruction sheets and your ordered Mae sewing pattern will be all updated without the errors.

I take pride in Bluegingerdoll and i am trying my very best to ensure you receive the best possible quality all the time  when you order a pattern, so again  i apologize immensely  for any inconvenience this may have caused you, and i  wish you a very happy Mae sewing experience!!

Abby
x
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Monday 12 August 2013

Sewing with scallops - A tutorial....





Do you like scallops? I do, the food and sewing  kind ... But today's post is solely focused on the sewing kind, in particular the scalloped neckline on the MAE pattern, and how to create it perfectly!

Its pretty simple to master the perfect scalloped neckline on your MAE blouse if you just follow some really, really simple steps! I am going to show my way of working with a scalloped neckline and how i achieve a clean, professional finish.

So here we go:

Once you have stitched on your neckline facing to the Mae blouse, press this seam line to strengthen it.

Next up,  it is very important to clip the curves of a neckline, especially the scalloped neckline on  the MAE blouse. This allows the curves of the neckline and scallops flexibility and movement as well as the affecting the final look of the  scallops when turned right side out. Clipping the curves allows each curve to lay flat and create a smooth finish on the neckline.
 As well clipping the curves of the scallops,  it is also important to notch out the small amount of  fabric that is  in the pivot  point of each scallop curve, this again allows more flexibility for the scallop curves, when turned to the right side of the blouse.




The next  important step to achieving praise worthy scallops on your MAE blouse, is to make friends with your trusty iron, because this is the point that will create your perfect scallops.
 
This step is required to be completed on both right and wrong sides of the blouse. So before you turn your neckline facing to the inside of the blouse, grab your iron and using only the tip of the iron, gently  iron into each curve of each scallop on the neckline. Be careful not to distort the seam line or shape of each scallop as you go.Once your done press open the seam allowances.


Now turn the neckline facings to the inside of the blouse and repeat the same process with each scallop curve. You may have to roll the seam line a little bit with your fingers,when the neckline facing gets turned to the right side of the blouse,this just help the seam line into the right place. 


Again, using only the tip of the iron, gently  iron into each curve of each scallop on the neckline. Again be careful not to distort the seam line or shape of each scallop as you go.































Once your done, i recommend a final press of the  the entire neckline on the right side of the blouse, then you are  ready to take your lovely new MAE out on the town!

And possibly treat yourself to the food kind of scallops...If you are so inclined.






































Easy peasy.... right? You bet! The scallops on the MAE blouse were designed to be big enough that they are quite easy to work with and not finicky at all.

So don't be stranger to scallops of the sewing kind, they are easier to handle then you think!

Enjoy!

Abby
x
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Sunday 11 August 2013

A lovely Mae...

Mae8

Introducing the MAE blouse by Jen.

 Jen's sewing projects and photos are a constant  inspiration to me, this chick is amazing! Jen has tested the Billie Jean sewing pattern for me before and she did such an awesome job on it, so  i asked her to test my new Bluegingerdoll sewing pattern the MAE blouse , knowing that she would create something fabulous and it is just divine!


I am  going to just let the photos do the talking!

Mae11







Mae1






How amazing are these pants!!! They are the most flattering, gorgeous pants  i have ever seen... check out her post about them, here.

Mae4





Mae9





Mae7



Head on over to Jen's blog and say Hi and have a read about her take on the MAE sewing pattern, and her other fabulous sewing projects, i promise..you will be inspired!

Today is also the last day of the MAE sewing pattern sale 10 % off till tomorrow!
Just use the coupon code LOVELYMAE2013.
Free worldwide shipping is also available!!!!
You can grab your copy on the WEBSITE or in the ETSY SHOP.

Thank you to all of you who have already shown your support and purchased the MAE blouse sewing pattern, sending you big giant hugs and lots of appreciation! ;)

Have a fabulous weekend!


Abby
x


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Friday 9 August 2013

Billie Jean sew-along finale...
































Some beautiful finished  Billie Jean dresses have been popping up on the  Flickr group and they are looking lovely ladies, i must say! But i have had a few peeps contact me that they are still finishing their dress, computer crashes etc

Soooo to give everyone a chance to strut their stuff, I am going to  extend the finale until Monday, that gives you the weekend to finish your Billie Jean dresses & take pretty photos and get them uploaded!

While we wait though, head on over to the Flickr group  and have a squizz, as well as check out this  absolutely stunning Billie Jean wiggle dress, made by Heather .. can someone say ..Bombshell?!

This Billie Jean is so,so beautiful on Heather! F***ing Amazing!


Heather added the cutest little sleeves ever!

































This fabric is divine!































Its Friday afternoon here in Melbourne and I am feeling very generous, possibly delirious from a busy week, but the weekend is nearly here... soooo lets get excited because the MAE sewing pattern sale 10% discount + Free worldwide shipping  has been extended over the weekend!

Go grab ya self a copy!

Have great weekend folks!

Abby
x


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