Halloween - Why not make it a BLESSING?

 

 

Ahh!  The time of year so many little children look forward to!  Candy.  Dressing up!  What's not to love? Well, for many Christians, there is a lot not to love.  This, however, is NOT a blog post about that.   What I would like to do, instead, is offer you something.  Something FREE.  Whether you participate in the holiday itself or you don't, most of you will have people knocking on your door on October 31st.  Depending on your personal preferences and convictions, you will either hand out candy, turn your light off and ignore them, or plan to be somewhere else. 
This year, my son Josiah and I set to creating a Halloween tract and we are offering it to you as a free download.  You can give candy and give them something far more valuable and lasting, too.  The GOOD NEWS of eternal life.  I know there is no shortage of tracts for Halloween, and each writer brings his or her own personal character to the presentation.  We hope that you will like ours, and more importantly, if you don't have a tract to hand out, we hope that you will use ours.  At this time of year when so much focus is on death, our hope is that you can use this opportunity, when dozens of people will literally come to you, to share the good news of LIFE. We also hope that you will include your name and contact information on the back before handing them out.  Be a blessing! 

If you prefer to have a printed copy of this booklet, please contact me at ajboberg@yahoo.com.  We ask for a donation of $2 per copy to cover the printing and mailing costs.

Download our free PDF version here  and BE A BLESSING!

Bias Binding Tutorial

Now and then I find a great use for my fabric scraps. And by that I mean not very often. Usually it's a time consuming something-or-other that doesn't really benefit me much.  This is different --it passes my test for purposeful use of scraps!  Here's part 1:

I have fits with commercial bias tape, for various reasons. It's expensive. It may not always match exactly, or come in the width I want. I may want a different fabric than plain cotton, to give a garment a fancier look (how about silk?), and these specialty tapes aren't readily available.  I thought making my own bias tape was never really my cup of tea. I detest cutting long strips of fabric from a pattern piece, especially on the bias. That's why I was so thrilled when I discovered this technique. With a little math and geometry, you can EASILY make about 3 yards of bias tape, with any fabric of your choosing, from a 10 X 10 square of fabric. YES, 10 X 10. That's smaller than some of us even bother to keep. I've posted this video to make it all really easy to follow. Here I demonstrate how to make 1" tape (1/4" wide when double folded). You can use the same technique to cut wider tape, and use a larger square.

Here's part 2:

 

Now wasn't that easy?!

The Men's Vest

What goes into a fine men's vest from Amy's Top Stitching Co.? I created this article to explain the process, quality, and workmanship that goes into our custom men's vests. 

The apparel business is competitive and sometimes complicated.  American designers are competing with cheap foreign labor and coping with escalating costs.  Finding true customer oriented designs and high quality workmanship at a respectable price can be challenging.  This has always been our mission at Amy's Top Stitching, and we are shameless perfectionists about it. 

The Patterns

Our vest patterns are custom drafted individually for each customer.  Each customer provides his measurements, and a pattern is drafted up and his own file is created.  Our patterns adhere to strict classic menswear standards.  Our welts are exactly 1" high and set at a 78 degree angle.  Front break points, and angles and waistline contours are hand drafted and carefully checked and measured.  Front darts are contoured and placed based on customer dimensions, with the welt pocket carefully centered over it, at the perfect distance from the hem to accommodate the pocket depth.  Standard ease allowances are used, to be adjusted later according to customer preference at the fitting.  Finally, patterns are checked against standard measurement charts and proofed. 

The Fitting

After the first draft of the pattern is complete, a muslin model (or toile) is created and sent to the customer for fitting.  A perfect fit is achieved by using digital photos and the customer's own advice about the fit. Much time is spent evaluating the photos, and modifying the pattern. We consider this a very important step, and we do this even for children's vests.

The Production

Only the highest quality materials are used in our vests.  We select our vendors and products carefully and inspect every piece, every button.  Fabrics are preshrunk to make them needle ready.  Only high quality tailor grade interfacing is used.  We put as much attention into the inner workings of a garment that are never seen, as we do in the outer parts.  Seams are carefully graded and pinked when necessary.  Each piece is measured and re-measured.  A typical men's vest will have several checkpoints of in-process inspection by a certified QA inspector.  These checkpoints include: marking of the welts after darts are placed, inspection of pockets when complete, marking/placing of buttonholes, and final inspection. The time involved in hand cutting each piece and inspection along the way really shows in the final product.  We use front facings, neck facings and interior pocket facings to add extra polish and class to our vests.  Hand worked detail is also a hallmark of our product.  We find the polished look of undetectable hand stitching much preferable to the top stitched detail of most other vests.  It takes time and patience, but the finished product is well worth it.

Customer First!

We want our customers to know how special they are to us. Our vests have size and care labels, FTC compliant labels, and brand labels.   We package our vests for shipping as carefully as we make them.  They arrive clean and ready to wear, in a garment box lined with tissue paper and inspection signatures.  We remember you, no matter how many customers we have helped.  We always try to send a follow up email to find out how you like your garment. Everything we produce is 100% satisfaction guaranteed.  We're looking for lifetime customers not just "sales." What's more, if you choose to order another vest, using the custom pattern we created just for you, you will receive a $20 discount off the current price.  Our goal is to put custom fit clothing within your reach.

Thanks for your interest in our brand!  Coming soon, our menswear will have a new name: AC Ashworth & Company.  Expect great things!  Same people, same quality, new name!

  

Home Economy? Really?

Clearly, the definition of home economy has changed. Some of us learned to sew in the 7th grade, and that was part of a "Home Ec" class. Sewing is now considered by many to be an expensive hobby. Sure, you can save money by making some things, but not necessarily clothing. When did clothing get so cheap, and fabric so expensive? The vision of the dutiful wife and mother, skilled at the sewing machine, clothing her family for pennies, has faded. Furthermore, as a clothing designer/retailer myself, I see that the money it takes to create a finely tailored garment with quality materials far exceeds the cost of a similar mass produced item for sale at discount retail outlets. And we aren't even considering the labor time! So, how does one convince a person (or herself) that a handmade item is worth the cost and effort?

Proverbs 31 refers to the virtuous woman who "procures a supply of wool and flax" and "works with willing hands"(v.13) "puts her hand to the staff with the flax; her fingers hold the spinning rod" (v.19) and "has no fear for her household; since all of them are doubly clothed. She makes her own quilts..."(v.21,22) "She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchants with sashes." (v.24) How shall we reconcile to modern times this oft quoted scripture, which depicts a respected mother and wife who provides for her own household, the needs of the poor, and also conducts a successful business from home using her own hands to create clothing and quilts?

Scripture is timeless, and unchangeable. God wasn't caught off guard when the economy tanked and the hobby quilters hijacked the fabric industry, driving the prices up, and enticing stores to abandon the aisles of bolts for little piles of fabric squares at inflated prices.

I can still remember when $3 a yard was a lot to pay for fabric, and that wasn't long ago. Now I squeal with glee when I see a tag with that price - until I see how cheap, thin, and off grain it is. Then I usually turn on my heel in disgust....And where is the real linen? Real, 100% wool? And flax....wait....what is flax?

It will take a lot of creativity in these modern times to follow the footsteps of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs; but the scripture is not outdated or irrelevant. Good quality fabric may come from overseas, or take some time and creativity to track down. It may be difficult to find a good price. It will require a skillful eye and a sharp mind to make a profit and a good product. When doing the right thing is difficult or seems futile, that isn't your cue to quit. It's a sign that you need to get smarter. Idle hands (the ones that expect success to be easy and obvious) are the ones that fail.

Sometimes it's important to remember that all is not lost. Overseas factories don't have to overtake the USA in manufacturing, and it isn't time to give up and roll over. They can mass produce what takes me an hour to make. So? Is it quality? NO. Those of us who have seen clothing last for generations know quality. I have a dress hanging in my closet that my grandmother wore in the 1950's. I have worn it, too, and so will my daughter. It doesn't have a "Made in China" tag on it either. Time for handcrafters to stand up for what they do. We don't have to die. We don't have to settle for clothing that falls apart after a few months.

Personally, I'm not listening to the naysayers. I also think arguing with God is pointless.

Danielle Carr - Teddy's Tiny Tutus

Danielle is an accomplished artist who makes and sells cute tutus and accessories as well as valuable tutorials, one of which I own. You can find her shop at http://www.gogirlusa.etsy.com

Here is the tutorial I bought - on painting dolls:

Featured Artist - Kim of Umea, Sweden

Kim of Etsy shop ThreeEggs has a wide assortment of handmade children's mobiles and banners, as well as select vintage items. This is one fascinating shop. Take a look!
She shares these fun facts about herself:

01. I am left handed
02. My favourite colour is red, for passion
03. I like to wonder into the forest. Nature is my inspiration
04. I like everything aligned and hate bad typography
05. My favourite flowers are peonies
06. My favourite word is ‘Vintage’
07. I have climbed the Himalayas in Nepal
08. I wish I was taller
09. I enjoy biking, walking and yoga
10. I like to live in a little red house some day
11. I miss home, Melbourne

You can find Kim in the following networks:
www.facebook.com/3eggs000
www.threeggs.blogspot.com
www.pinterest.com/threeggs

Here's a real beauty from her shop!


http://www.etsy.com/listing/74637279/forest-friends-mobile-custom-made-order

Featured Artist - Shawna Jones

Today's featured artist is a seamstress, Shawna Jones, from Denton, Maryland and owner of "My Faire Seamstress" on Etsy. Her shop features high quality historical costumes with a Renaissance flair. Her work is immaculate and no detail is overlooked. She is a 27 year old wife and mother. She creates top quality, handmade historical apparel for children. Here is our interview:

A: What led you to open shop on Etsy?

SJ:Being involved in the Renaissance Festival in Maryland every year, after I had my daughter in '09, I noticed there wasn't a strong market for infant and toddler medieval clothing. I couldn't find anything for her that didn't look cheap or made out of polyester in the Halloween section one month out of the year. I have always been into designing and sewing clothing, curtains for my house, gifts for other people, etc. So I designed a dress to fit my daughter her first year at the Renaissance Festival when she was 1. She walked around the Festival for 7 hours with me and had more pictures taken of her in those 7 hours than I did in the 7 years I had been attending in costume. So many people asked me where I bought her outfit that I was seriously regretting not carrying my business cards along with me. It was at the end of the day that I decided to open a costume shop on Etsy to give customers quality clothing that looks rich, historically accurate, and not made out of polyester :)

A: How did you settle on your niche of historic period clothing?

SJ: I have always loved the theater and dressing up as a child. Period movies are timeless and never seem to go out of style. Whether its Anne of Avonlea or Pirates of the Caribbean, the costumes always take people to another time and place. If I could choose an era to live, it would probably be the 1500s; the Tudor era. I am in love with the music, the art and the clothing. I spent a few years making fully boned corsets and large ball gowns before I began making children's clothing. It was only a matter of time after I had my daughter.


A: What are some of the sources of your inspiration?

SJ: Going to the Renaissance Festival is one of the biggest sources of inspiration I glean from. Many people make their own costumes at the Faire and everyone has different ideas of what works for them. I mentally jot down styles or colors I fall in love with and then put them on paper later on (my sketch pad doesn't really go with the gown, ya know). I like to add my own flair to styles I see; make it my own. For everyday brainstorming, I never leave home without my sketch pad. Its always in my purse ready to catch an idea that flits across my eyes.


A: What are the challenges and rewards of having your own business?

SJ: A challenge is trying to meet deadlines with a 20 month old daughter. I do the majority of my sewing with her on my lap. She pushes the automatic needle threader and the thread cutter button when I ask. She is such a blessing to me that its not so much a challenge! Needless to say, I get an equal amount of my sewing done between her naptime and her awake time. The biggest reward I ever got was from an Etsy buyer who sent me an Appreciation Photo of her small, smiling son wearing one of my 4 piece Doublet costumes to the Renaissance Festival. He was having the time of his life being dressed up! The smile says it all. I can't get it out of my mind The happiness of my little customers is why I do what I do.

Visit Shawna's Shop at http://www.myfaireseamstress.etsy.com