Me, myself & Peggy...

I thought it about time to take some photos of one of the many Peggy skirts i made for myself. This polka dot Peggy was actually one of the very first samples of the Peggy skirt View A with the button tabs that i made it up to test the actual design of the skirt to see  whether i liked it, if it would work, is it comfortable and most importantly does it look good on the old bod! 

The last two patterns, Billie Jean and Mae i modeled the patterns myself which was a lot of fun and definitely an experience in getting over being really self conscious in front of the camera.. Ok i'm still kinda awkward and uncomfortable, but i'm working on it and no doubt i will do some modelling again for future patterns. But for the Peggy skirt i was so grateful when my gorgeous friend Michelle kindly accepted my invitation to model the Peggy skirt for me and freshen shit up a bit, it occurred to me you may possibly be sick of seeing my face! And what a fine job she did, she's one good looking chick, yeah? 

I'm really enjoy the  little kick i still get when i am wearing one of my pattern designs out and about... I really  don't think this is will ever get old, this pattern designing gig, i love it and  i think i may have just found my passion :) But in saying this i also  think it is  important to show the patterns i design actually on me, the designer. As i said i am very, very  proud of each design and i want to show them off to you and their versatility in fabric or wear etc, i also want you to see there is nothing hidden in the pattern designs and lastly and most probably the main point is  i want to show you how they look on a average gal, like me. 

Because sometimes there is an illusion created, i think, with fashion design especially be it a  pattern design or clothing that it can  sometimes  lack any kind of  authenticity or realness  and basically looks downright  fake  when shown on a professional model, who would look amazing in a hessian bag amirite? And yeah the photos look amazing in the end  and totally should be in a magazine but what about the real world? What would it look like on a girl that isn't a size 0? Or has more junk in their trunk? Big boobs? Has some tum tum area? Or is the total opposite of these things? You get my point. I don't want to do this with Bluegingerdoll, not from the very beginning, EVER . I wanted  to to show  some kind of realness  and authenticity with my pattern designs and it is as real as its going to get when on me, because i am that girl i just described above with the  junk in the trunk, tum tum area the whole list.  So here i am, in all my realness and  not a professional model ( obviously and  neither is Michelle) just a  girl who is just proud of her pattern designs and wants to show them off and is just trying to have a go at something she loves doing while keeping shit real, rant over, now  enjoy:

Oh yeah i finally got new hair... only took me a million years.. I'm one of those people that inst really a fan of going to the hairdressers for some reason i akin  it to the the dislike of dentists some folks have.

 With my samples i tend to  choose pretty standard fabrics and as cheap as possible. Doing this means  i can still  re work ( pull apart and use the fabric for something else)  if i have too or still wear it as a 'wearable muslin' that will slide into my wardrobe rotation, that's if i decide that its a shit design idea and its not going to work. The many samples i make for each pattern design tend to get A LOT of changes made to them so obviously no point using that rare vintage fabric that i have as well. Hence the choice of this discounted polka dot cotton fabric that i have like a millions yards of laying around, but totally still looks cute though and is very versatile in my wardrobe. 

In case you haven't noticed the Peggy skirt has way cool pockets... See I'm being helpful and pointing them out :)

This particular Peggy skirt i made a tad shorter, so it would sit just above the knee and its still totally cute. The original Peggy skirt version shows it sitting below the knee which  is still very much a flattering length, but just to show you short or longer the Peggy skirt will still look super cute!

****Don't forget to enter the competition to win yourself a copy of the Peggy skirt, check it out here, ends this Friday.***

Abby
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New Billie Jean Envelope packaging & some bargains....

***Thank you all 3 x copies of the Billie Jean pattern in the old packaging have now been sold!***

So i have finally had time to update the Billie Jean envelope packaging so it matches the Peggy and Mae pattern packaging designs. So why am i telling you this? I know its not the most exciting post, but just bear with me while i self indulge a little cause I'm mighty proud of this packaging that i have created, I MEAN I LOVE IT! The whole gang looks COOL now! And i just wanted to share you with the new happenings around the Bluegingerdoll head quarters.

When i first released the Billie Jean pattern i wasnt too keen on the envelope design that eventually came back from the printer, i wasnt feeling it. After months of designing and trying to create pattern packaging that i felt really reflected Bluegingerdoll and would also compliment the patterns i was designing, i eventually came up with these envelopes and this design. I finally felt this new pattern packaging  exactly reflected what Bluegingerdoll was about, cute,pretty and a little bit vintage inspired but still very functional, just like the pattern designs.

The new and improved Bluegingerdoll gang!

OK, thanks for letting me be a little bit self indulgent there! As they out with the old and in with the new, this is the real reason for this blog post. I currently  have 3 copies of the Billie Jean sewing pattern in the old packaging that needs to go! All the information is EXACTLY THE SAME on both the pattern sheet and the instructions its just the envelope design that's different.  Sooo i'm popping these 3 x Billie Jean   pattern copies up on the website today at a discounted price. Its first in best dressed folks, if you want a copy,  then i suggest you be quick.  I  do  want them gone  as soon as possible and onto their new sewing homes!

 So if you have been eye balling  the Billie Jean pattern and don't mind about the envelope packaging  then this is your chance to pick it up at a bargain price!!! :)

So what do you think of the new Billie Jean envelope design?

Abby
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A Sew Classic Billie Jean....

 

  





















 It's such a fabulous feeling to see my patterns seeing them popping all the place and being sewn up by some really, really  talented seamstress!  I love each and everyone of your  individual take on each pattern, the new ways you gals wear and style them, the different fabric choices.. I get such a kick out of  its AWESOME! Its such  inspiration to me to keep on doing what I'm doing...So i was excited to see this Billie Jean wiggle dress pop on the blogosphere  recently, i just had to share it with you.. cause I'm good like that ;)

Kristin from Sew Classic chose the Billie Jean wiggle dress as her  entry into the copy cat challenge over on the I Heart fabric blog, in which she was replicating the Marnie dress from the show 'The Hour'.

From the look of Kristin's  photos i think she did a damn fine job of copying the dress. Kristin's fabric is cotton, can you believe it?! It looks like lace.. Nope COTTON! 
Kristin also took advantage of raising the neckline of the Billie Jean from this tutorial i previously did on how to do this.

So cast your eyes over all the photos and get ready to be inspired by  a most fabulous Billie Jean wiggle dress!

Kristin's Billie Jean is definitely a wiggle dress in all its glory! Check out all the pics and find out more details on Kristin's blog  as well as  read about the alterations she made to the dress.

So have you sewn up a Billie Jean wiggle dress? Why not share it?! Feel free to upload them to the Flickr Group whenever you please.

Abby
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Billie Jean & a Sew Along.....

Ok lovely readers i have had an update with the printing and postage date  for the Billie Jean paper pattern......Today! it is on its way to me today!  This has obviously gone over my initial estimate of you gals  receiving it mid -june, so i do apologize immensely for that, it was one of those shitty circumstances that was  out of  everyone's control.

But fear no more!  Once the pattern arrives from the  printers, which should be next week.... i will be posting out your Billie Jeans ASAP!  I am going to  drop everything,  loosen my tie, order Chinese takeaway, drink copious amounts of coffee, pull an all nighter, so i can get them to you ASAP!

 So what does that mean for all you patient, awesome peeps, now? I  can finally set the date for the  Billie Jean sew along! I am planning for the Sew along to start on  Monday July 8th. This gives everyone enough time to receive the pattern, and decide on which Billie Jean dress you will make (or both) and pick out the perfect fabric. 
From the the start of the sew along, on the 8th of July i will posting almost daily until the end.  This means you  have 2 whole weeks to take your time and sew up your own gorgeous Billie Jean dress.  I will be covering both of the Billie Jean dress versions in the sew along as well! 
So if you are  up for it, you could probably make both of the dresses in this time frame. It is going to be a  jammed packed sew along!

Also what is great about the sew along is that the tutorials will be  forever  on the blog, so if you cant join in on  this sew along , you are most welcome to refer back to the blog whenever you like and make a Billie Jean whenever you like!

 For the PDF pattern purchasers, don't fret if you have already sewn up Billie Jean, because  I will be providing a lot more detailed instructions than what I included in the pattern instructions. So if this is the case for you, feel free to sew up another Billie Jean, or even get some new design inspiration and create a whole new Billie Jean or  simply just follow along and get inspired and support others while they sew. I am confident that  you will pick up at least one or two new sewing tricks that you may find useful.

So grab you calendars, iphones, pen and paper, whatever you can find and mark down the start date for the Billie Jean sew along -  July the 8th !!!!

I cant wait to begin, it is going to be an awesome sewing adventure and i am bursting at the seams with all these tutorials and design ideas to share with  you all! 

In the next week or so  i will post up a rough schedule of the sew along and what to expect during the 2 weeks.

I have also created a Flickr group for the Billie Jean sew along, which i am hoping will be a  place where you can ask any questions you have, support each other during the sew along, post photos of your progress, share sewing tips and tricks and also  at the end of the sew along  show off your newly finished Billie Jean  in the big end of sew along finale  round up! But more info on that later...

So head on over and sign up, and also check out all of the already finished Billie Jean's for some inspiration as well.

Also you are most welcome to  add the following sew along  badge ( on the right ) to your blog sidebar if you are taking part in the Billie Jean sew along:

Have a great weekend!

Abby
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Its a wrap!

Thanks to all who showed their support during the Billie Jean sewing pattern pre sale, the proceeds will be going towards getting the Billie Jean pattern to print, so THANK YOU!!!!!

Seeing as it is a wrap for the pre sale and in case you missed them, i thought i would  share with you a Billie Jean dress sample round up,  check em out:

Billie Jean in red




Billie Jean in black

Billie Jean in Green

 

Billie Jean & Horses










Billie Jean in Vegas

Billie Jean & Polka dots



Which one is you favourite?  I cant pick, i love em all!


FYI, the Billie Jean pattern is now back to the RRP, but you can still show your support!

Abby
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Sneak Peek!

I just thought i would share with you what has been happening at the Bluegingerdoll headquarters of late...... 

 Although it has been a little bit quiet  with news of the release of the pattern, here on the blog ... i have been feverishly working away on it.... I am currently in the midst of preparing for a photo shoot this coming Monday for the pattern  look book   and  have been busy, maybe slightly frantic...   sewing  the final pattern samples, organizing the styling.. oh and trying to figure when it will be somewhat of a sunny day!

 

But  i  am really excited about the upcoming  shoot, the location is stunning  and  just finally getting closer to the release of the pattern design, because you gals  are going to love it!!!!

  

But till then folks,  here are is a little sneak peek of  what i have been working on:

 

So stay tuned for the end result of the photo shoot  and news of the release of the Bluegingerdoll pattern ! 

Yay!

Happy sewing!

x

Bluegingerdoll Pattern Testers Wanted!

This week is getting even more exciting, because......I am  on the hunt for some pattern testers!

 

 I’d love a bit of extra help to make sure all the sizes of this first design get tested, so please put your  hand up if your an awesome gal who would love to lend a hand! 

 

This sounds like you and you have your hand raised, then keep on reading for a basic rundown of how it will work:

  

You will receive a  full copy of the pattern,  along with the instructions  in their basic form ( not pretty yet), as well as a questionnaire to fill out to give me some feedback on the pattern. You need to be able to work under a tight deadline (a 2 week turnaround), and preferably be at an  intermediate sewing level, but the instructions are clear enough for an advanced beginner, so if you think you can handle it, put your hand up as well!

 

 Get in contact by leaving  a comment below or send me an email-  abbyhorskins@gmail.com

 

Once the pattern is released for real, you will receive a copy of the  final pretty pattern version with all the trimmings, as well the opportunity to share your creation on the blog!

 

If i get alot of you awesome gals putting your hands up, than i need.. don't fret i will  keep your email on file to contact on the next design.

 
 

 Abby

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Bluegingerdoll Vintage Inspired Sewing Patterns

 

Yep you read it right, introducing:

 

 

Bluegingerdoll

Vintage Inspired Sewing Patterns

 

 

This is a very exciting announcement for me to make to you all!

 

I have been keeping quiet for such a long time.. but now the time has come .. YAY!

 

Bluegingerdoll vintage inspired sewing patterns will be officially open for business in the next couple of months, with the first pattern up for sale!

 

They are beautiful, vintage glamour designs inspired by the 40s and 50s with a little bit of a modern touch. They  are flattering for every shape and size and are comfortable and practical to boot!

 

They are and will be  designs for you to make again and again and then let your imagination go wild and create your own gorgeous versions.They will become staples in your wardrobe, and always the dress to grab for any occasion.They are made for pin up's, rockabilly chicks, the everyday gal , and  anyone  who wants and loves  that vintage glamour!

 

I have been working frantically for the last 6 months getting this business up and running, designing, testing, sampling, organising all the much needed but boring business side of things and maybe throw in a bit of daydreaming and panicking moments as well, then me wondering if i am really am going insane! Oh and working a full time day job... And trying still trying to sew and make things for the shop ...its been a bit icky at times :) 

 

Ahh but it has all been worth it and is so very exciting for me. Starting my own sewing pattern  business has been a dream of mine for a long time, i have  just procrastinated, put it into the too hard basket - but as i am coming up to the big 30 next year, my    priorities have and are still shifting as to what is important to me.  Creating this sewing pattern  business allows me to have the opportunity to be   doing something i love and isn't it   just plain awesome!

It is also a great feeling to push slightly against the grain and make your own little wayward path in this world.

 

 I also wanted to share the patterns that i have created for myself  with everyone, as they are  just to gorgeous not to share with the world... if i do say so myself!

 

So I hope you can  join me  on this  ride, and show some support for a little Aussie gal!

 

Keep your eye on the blog, Facebook (hopefully the website soon  as well ),  over  next couple of months for news on Bluegingerdoll sewing patterns,  the first sewing pattern release updates, behind the scene sneak peeks, and just some plain old insane fun!

 

 

 

 Abby

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