Sewalong – Little Lizard King- Day 3

Hello,

It is Day 3 of the Little Lizard King Sewalong Hope everyone is excited to be back and finish the Bodice. So grab your beverage and snack of choice and here we go…

Finish joining the main bodice fabric and liner:

13)Grab your Main fabric and Lining and place them on top of each other (Right Sides Together), Pin well and sew around neckline and BOTH arm holes with 1/2″ SA. **Do not Pin and Sew the back bodice .

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14)Trim down excess fabric- I like to use Pinking Shears

 

Back Bodice:

15) You will need 1/8″ elastic cut into a 3″ piece. A little trick is tie the elastic in a knot at the end to help hold it in place (Thanks Amy)

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16) Decide what side you want the elastic and Place the Elastic 1″ from the top of the back edge. Pin and close the bodice and sew down both sides.

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17) Flip that baby out, Iron well and enjoy the view!!!!!

Sash:

18) Grab your 2 sash pieces and fold in half right sides together and Iron. Cut a diagonal line off one end of each sash piece. Sew along long edge with 1/2″ SA and trim excess fabric.

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19) Turn right side out and top stitch (great time for edger foot)

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20)Open your bodice like this:

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21)Take both sash pieces and match raw edges with raw edges of front bodice side seams and sew

***You need to make sure your sash is at least 1/2″ from the bottom edge. Otherwise it will get stuck in the skirt when you try to attach it. Silly me I did not and got to the end and had to pick out my serged thread and Cinch (ruffle) up the sash. I would blame it on the wine but I was not drinking any!! To double check measure 1/2″ from the bottom edge and end your sash there. (Don’t let the serged edges confuse you, that part will come later)

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Bodice:

22) Now we need to attach the front bodice and back bodice at the side seams. Flip open the layers like this:

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23) Now match Right Sides together along side seams. You will match main fabric with main fabric and lining with lining.  It will look like this:

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24) Pin and Sew with 1/2″ SA

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25) Iron Seams open or trim down bulk. The seam is enclosed so there is no need to serge plus that can add bulk

26) Top stitch- neckline, armhole and down the back seams (another great time for the edging foot)

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27)Serge (or zig zag stitch if you do not have a serger) the bottom raw edge

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All right ladies you are DONE with the top (we will put a button on at the end)!!!! Wow!! Looks great, right ??!!

See you Tomorrow for Day 4!!! Eek we are getting so close . We will work on the skirt next.

-Alexis

Sewalong – Little Lizard King- Day 2

Welcome back for Day 2 of the Little Lizard King Sewalong – Peggy Sue Dress/Tunic

Plan for Day 2: Cutting and Starting your Bodice

*So if you are ready with your Beverage and snack of choice, lets get STARTED!!!

Cutting:

Grab your pattern and cut that baby out!:  Front Bodice (liner and main), Back bodice (2 main and 2 liner), bib, ruffle for the bib, sash and rectangles for skirt (don’t cut them into circles yet-that is left for day 4)

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Bodice:

1) Grab your center sash piece and fold the top over 1/4″

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2)Place Wrong side of Sash on top of Right side of Front Bodice- Top Stitch

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My Favorite Foot to use is the #10 edging foot. I have a Berninia Sewing machine (Love it!) So if you don’t have one go check out if your machine has a similar foot. I don’t know how I sew without it!

Bib:

3)Grab your Ruffle piece take it to the Ironing Board fold in half lengthwise and iron it.

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4) Ruffling the Ruffle Piece:

There are several ways you can ruffle: Ruffle Foot, 2 rows of basting stitch, Serger or Zig Zag/thread method. I have used every method and for me personally I like the ruffle foot.  For small areas of ruffling I like to use the basting stitch method. I will me using my ruffle foot on this Sewalong. You can adjust the depth of the ruffle and how many ruffles on your fabric piece. You could do a test piece but I don’t typically do that.  I usually just cut the piece longer then asked to assure I have enough fabric.

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5) Take your ruffled fabric and place on top of the right side of bib matching raw edges. Pin in place and sew using 1/2″ Seam Allowance (SA).

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Option: Ric Rack material

6)Flip ruffle out and iron

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Bodice:

7) Next let take the bib and center it directly on top of the front bodice, Wrong side of Bib to Right side of bodice

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8)Pin and Top stitch the bib to the bodice (great time to use your edging foot)

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9) take a minute, grab your drink or cupcake and look at your beautiful top coming together. 🙂 🙂 🙂

**Options: This would be the time you can add embroidery, buttons, trim, etc to the front. Just don’t forget the 1/2″ SA at the neckline (mine does NOT show that- shame on me!)

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Ok, moving on… Put the wine down Ladies!

10) Grab the front bodice and both back bodice pieces. With right sides together match the shoulder at sew using 1/2″ SA.

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11) Repeat with Front and Back lining

12)Iron the seams open

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That is it for Day 2! Please Share and use #PSSAL

-Alexis

SewaLong -Little Liz King- Day 1

Hello,

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I am Alexis of My Sweet Sunshine and I am very excited to host the February Sewalong  for Little Lizard King. For this Sewalong we will be sewing The Peggy Sue Dress. I am also excited to be sewing using RJR Fabrics’ Solids in My Valentine and Pink Sapphire. Aren’t those perfect fabric for my Valentines themed dress! Thank you RJR Fabrics for sending me some of your gorgeous fabric. And guess what ladies… they are giving away the same fabric I am using in the Sewalong to one lucky lady!!! How exciting!

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If you have not grabbed your Peggy Sue Dress Pattern you can grab it HERE also make sure you sign up for LLK Cafe Facebook page for a GREAT discount!

Here is the plan for Day 1:

1) First and Most, it’s important for everyday of our Sewalong to grab your favorite beverage and snack (today mine is a cupcake and tea).

2) Sign up on LLK Facebook Group to ask questions, share pictures and grab that discount code

3) Buy The Peggy Sue Pattern

4) Choose your fabric- You can pick a Valentines theme like me for anything else that inspires you

5) Find the right size by using the size chart in the pattern

6) Print and Cut your paper pattern

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Tomorrow we will Cut our fabric. Try and Play with your fabric you don’t have to be matchy matchy unless you want to be 🙂 . Think outside the box and you may surprise yourself. Please share your fabric of choice on LLK Cafe’s Facebook page or ask questions if you need help.

See you all Tomorrow for Day 2 for cutting and sewing

Here is a run down of the Sewalong:

Day 1- Buy Pattern, Pick Fabric and Cut Paper Pattern

Day 2 Cutting and Starting your Bodice

Day 3 Finish the Bodice

Day 4 Skirt

Day 5 Attach Skirt to Bodice- Finish

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-Alexis

Meet Lillian by MHC

Hello,

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Meet Lillian , the newest pattern by Mouse House Creations. I know, I know we have been waiting for this pattern for years  months weeks now (just kidding) but It is finally here!!! Yes, TODAY you can purchase it through the UpCraft Club until 2/6/15.  Also at a discounted rate of $7 (until February 2nd 2015 11:59pm EST) wahoo!!!! After that it will be $9

Here is a quick run down of the pattern because I am sure you just want to jump over to UpCraft Club and buy it already….

*Best for Intermediate to Advanced Seamstress

*Pleated front with tie back- Don’t be afraid of the pleats. MHC walks you through all steps and the pattern includes pleat guides.

*Large size range 3mnth-12yr

*Size Chart

*Finished Measurement Chart

*Dress or Top

*Long Sleeve or Short Sleeve with and without elastic hem

*Can be done lined or unlined

*Grab your pattern HERE

Here is my Lillian:

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Fabric: Cotton and Steel

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Tie Back

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Precision is key to make beautiful pleats

Thank you Moue House Creations for have me part of your Testing Team!!!

Another BEAUTIFUL pattern!

-Alexis/My Sweet Sunshine

Violette Field Threads- Annabelle

Hello and Welcome to My Sweet Sunshine Blog!

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Annabelle Maxi Dress by Violette Field Threads  is on the Blog today!! Can’t wait to show you what I did with Annabelle. This dress pattern and 10 other patterns are being offered through the BundleUp Sale. If you don’t know what BundleUp is well, you’re missing out on a great deal. Bundle Up is an opportunity to purchase several new patterns at a discounted rate. The more you buy the more you save. To receive the best pricing you need to purchase at least 6 patterns and the more you buy after that the price drops even further.  Whats not to love, right?? Be sure to read all the way to the end to hear details on how you can win a COVERSTITCH and many more prizes!!

I made two dress. One per the instruction and then a shorter version with a single chevron row. When I first printed the pattern and started cutting I asked myself, “Am I making a Quilt or a Dress”?? Well, It’s a Quilt Dress! 🙂

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Quick Run Down:
*Size 2T-10
*Size chart- Sizing is comparable to Ready to Wear Sizes
*Elastic Back
*Sweet Heart Neckline
*Maxi Dress
*Cap Sleeve

As soon as I saw the pattern I knew what fabric I wanted to use- Wild and Free by Maurren Cracknell and Art Gallery Fabrics. I love the Bohemian style of the print and the soft touch and flow of Art Gallery fabric. Long maxi dress played off the bohemian design of the Wild and Free Collection.

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Here are some pointers to make this dress a quick sew:
*Non Direction prints
*Reading directions first will make the construction of the panels flow faster
*Precious sewing- 1/2″
*Pinning
***Laying out your pieces on the floor to see how it is all going together- This helped me a lot!

 

IMG_0532 Floral Halo by Little Sparrow Bow on Etsy-Thank you!!

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Shorten Modified Version:

A fabric store , Needle in a Fabric Stash, recently opened in my hometown and on my first trip I saw this gorgeous fabric by Michael Miller, Emma’s Garden by Patty Sloniger. So when I decided I wanted to modify the dress I ran back to the shop and picked up a few yards. This fabric screams Spring, right??

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 Mini Tutorial for the shorten version of the Annabelle will be on Pattern Revolution !!

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Fabric-

Shoulder Straps: Cotton and Steel XOXO

Top and Skirt: Emma’s Garden By Michael Miller Fabrics

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I am so in love with this photo location. Found it completely by luck as my daughter had her soccer Tournament at this park. 🙂

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Check out the BundleUp HERE and grab the Annabelle Dress by VFT!

Thank you Violette Field Threads and Pattern Revolution for allowing me to sew up the Annabelle Dress

Ok, Ladies sign up HERE for Amazing Giveaway!!! Just look at all the great stuff you could win!

sewing+bee

-Alexis/ My Sweet Sunshine

Outtake:

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Happy New Years!

Just a quick Hello to wish everyone a Happy New Years.

2014 was such an exciting year for me and I look forward to even more exciting adventures in 2015.

Many Blessings to Every One of You in 2015!

For New Years we traveled 3 hr to Big Bear and spent family time with my wonderful parents. Here are some pictures of the fun we had in the snow…

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Pattern Revolution -Party Time

Hello Beautiful,

Head over to Pattern Revolution today to see Day 2 of Celebrating Christmas! If you have not decided what to have your kids wear to all the Christmas and New Years Parties this season then jump over HERE for some ideas …

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XOXO,

Alexis/My Sweet Sunshine

Few of My Favorite Things Holiday Blog Tour and Giveaway

Hello Beautiful,

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First off I want to thank Amy for allowing me to represent Brownie-Goose in the Few of My Favorite Things Holiday Blog Tour.  Brownie-Goose along with 6 other Pattern designers have teamed up to Share a few favorite patterns along with Giveaways and some discounts.

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So I want to start this off with a little story… Something that will make you laugh, I hope!

When I was deciding on what fabric to chose for the blog tour, Amy shared with me her next pattern, Lennon, which is a vintage styled dress or Top. At first I was at a loss as to what fabric to choose.  I looked on Etsy and several of my favorite fabric shops but nothing was just right. One morning I was searching thru my fabric closet for another project when I found this large Red and White Gingham fabric my Mother had passed down to me. Perfect, I don’t have to buy anything and it is vintage! I could not be more happy, or SO I thought! Well, about a week ago I was walking through Walmart to grab a zipper to finish up my Lennon. I had both kids with me which means constant trips to the bathroom. I had to walk down the fabric aisle to get to the restroom and THERE IT WAS! The SAME Red Gingham FABRIC! It suddenly all came back.  It didn’t come from my mom, I had purchased this fabric 5 yrs ago (is that still count as vintage? just kidding) for my daughter’s birthday party. WORST memory ever! My immediate thought was, I can’t tell these ladies that I use Walmart fabric , I will never work again in this town. Should I take it to my grave or should I tell?  Well… Hi. My name is Alexis and I used Walmart Fabric. There I said it! Please don’t stop talking to me :0  . Ok, Ok, it is all said and done and now we can move on…

Since the Fabric is thin I backed it with Heavier Solid white fabric by RJR Fabrics. I serged the Red Gingham and White Solid together before I stitched it up!

The Lennon Pattern is a dress or a top. The dress features a zipper closure- don’t freak out by the zipper, Amy does an amazing job teaching you how to install an invisible zipper. The Top features a button closure. You can make the Lennon in several different substrates like wovens or knit. Per the directions Pleats hold better with heavier weight fabric.

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The Best Part is that Amy is Hosting a Cyber Monday Sale. Everything in the shop is 30% off-No code needed!!! Don’t Walk, Run to Brownie-Goose to snag your Lennon Pattern and every pattern your BG heart wants!!

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I LOVE the Vintage style and those PLEATS!

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OK! Here is the Really BEST part…

You can also sign up for a chance to WIN the Lennon Pattern by Brownie-Goose

CLICK:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

You don’t want to miss out of all the Giveaways and Discounts
Follow along with us all week (I will update each day with a link- so follow my blog to stay updated)

Alexis Wright/ Brownie-Goose
Jessica Stewart/Izzy and Ivy –  http://snickerdoodlestew.com/girls-in-white-dresses/
Elizabeth Daugherty Whitehurst/LilyGiggle: http://lilygiggle.com/favorite-things-holiday-blog-tour/
Kara Orr/Jocole: http://jocole.blogspot.com/2014/12/merry-and-bright.html
Tameka Murrell/Ellie Inspired: http://www.ellieinspired.com/blog/2014/12/05/a-few-of-my-favorite-things/
Sarah Hancock Unthank/Greenstyle
Raedene Samuel Averitt/Little Lizard King: http://littlelizardking.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-few-of-our-favorite-things-blog-tour.html

Out takes…

Someone was begging to be in the pictures 😉

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Madeit Holiday Blog Tour-Florence

 

 

Hello Beautiful,

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Thank you Needle and Ted and Madeit Patterns for asking me to participate in their Florence Holiday Blog Tour. I have to admit I was not as familiar with all of  Madeit’s patterns other then their boys button down top pattern, The Weller. So before I agreed I had to checkout their website where I was blown away with all of her available patterns. We were asked to center our outfits around The Florence Blouse so with that I also choose The Bjork Skirt .

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When I was deciding what to do with The Florence Top and Bjork Skirt I wanted to push myself and use fabric I don’t typically use. My daughter has a current obsession with overalls lately so I knew I would be keeping the suspenders from the Bjork Pattern . I also wanted to make an outfit that would be trendy, unique and a little grown up for a now 10 yr old (ugh, stop growing already!)

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I made a size 8 in both the skirt and top and it fit perfect! The sizing chart was spot on and easy to follow, so I just chose my size and ran with it from there.  Both pattern instructions were easy to follow with great written and visual instructions.

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How I modified The Florence:

1. I made it short sleeve since most of our California Christmases are 80 degrees. I used a 1.5″ bias facing made with the same velvet I used on the shirt. I used a 1/4″ seam allowance and folded the facing in and top stitched.

2. I lengthened the collar for a total of 44″ (the width of the velvet I purchased)

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TOP – I love the velvet in my dreams but sewing it was a different story. It took some patience since it slippery. Don’t forget the pins!!

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BOTTOM – The Quilted Faux Leather was so easy to sew.  I used a Leather Needle and a longer stitch length. There are other tricks like tape under your foot to help it glide easier.

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Not only is this a fun Blog Tour to show off the amazing Florence Pattern but it is also a Competition! What!?? That’s right you heard me, a competition and YOU can join in too!!!  You could win a free pattern by joining in the fun! If you would like to jump in: 1st buy the pattern with the 20% off discount , 2nd sew it up with a Christmas theme and then post a picture to Madeit Facebook Page by end of January 2015.   You can also vote for your favorite Blogger’s Twist on the Florence Top HERE

Now until November 23rd you can get 20% off  The Florence Pattern and every pattern in the Madeit Shop. Code: Tour20

Click on the Link below for the code for 20% off !!

20 percent off

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Faux Leather : Joann’s

Red Velvet: Joann’s

Suspender Clips: I Love Big Buttons on Etsy

Thank you again for letting me join in on the fun Blog Tour !!!

Alexis/ My Sweet Sunshine

 

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This is what really happens when you take pictures of kids…

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Off to Quilt Market-Wild and Free

Hello Beautiful!!

Well, I won’t be at Quilt Market but my clothes will be!!

Let me tell you a little story…

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my car waiting for my daughter to get out of school and while playing on my phone my Instagram popped up stating that Maureen Cracknell had started following me. I thought WOW that is exciting! But I just figured she was going through her followers and following them back, how NICE. I even took a picture and showed it to a few fellow seamstress (I totally understand if you can laugh at me now) . Well About 15 min later my Instagram popped up again stating that I had a message from Maureen. I clicked to read it and was only able to read the first sentence before I lost my breath and went into complete shock. By now my daughter was  getting into the car and was instantly concerned because her Mother just kept saying, “OMG , OMG, OMG!” I put the phone down and managed to focus long enough to get us safely home (3 min away).  As soon as the car was in park, my phone was back on.  I finished reading her message asking if I could make some clothes for her booth at Quilt Market. It took me about 30min to come down from Cloud 9 and reply back to her (she probably thought I was just too busy to reply right away, ha).  Of course I said YES!!  Thank you Maureen for making my YEAR!!! Also thank you for being SO sweet and down to earth!

I also told her that I LOVED her new collection and had already preordered her Limited Edition fabric collection from Art Gallery named- Wild and Free . Don’t you just love that name! Makes you want to run free in a field with clothes made with her beautiful fabric 🙂

Her fabric will consist of Woven, Knits and Voile Fabric and will be available for purchase in November. I had the pleasure of using her Knit Fabric: Sun Tracks and Woven Path. I also used Art Gallery Solids in Honey and Cherry (or you can use London Red)

Before I show off what I made- if you have not check out or follow Maureen’s Blog ,Maureen Cracknell Handmade, you are missing out of one of the BEST blog!!!

 

#1…

IMG_1570For my first dress I used LilyGiggle Zinnia Dress- It is one of my favorite patterns!

I chose Woven Path Knit , Cherry and Honey fabric

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# 2…

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My Second Dress is CKC Cora Dress

I chose- Woven Path and Sun Tracks , both in knit

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# 3…

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My last outfit is Voile Blouse by Cali Fay and Leggings by Violette Field Threads

I chose Art Gallery Pure Elements Honey and Knit in Sun Tracks fabric

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I wish I could pack myself up with my clothes and meet Maureen at Quilt Market, but I’m very proud to be part of her booth. 🙂

Check out my friends Blog, Snickerdoodle Stew , for more pictures of Clothing made with Wild and Free Fabric.

Thank you Maureen and Art Gallery!!!