who also happens to be an accountant (no surprise!).  Therefore....he doesn't understand that creative women like, no NEED ... CHOICES!  Hence, I over-stocked a tad (well, perhaps a bit MORE than a tad!) to offer lots of CHOICES for the Spring Show circuit - which is pretty much over for me now. 
Sew.......... he has strongly urged me to MOVE EM' OUT!  Sew....as I have Spring Cleaned my stock, YOU can save BIG BUCKS for your creative endeavors...

          In Stock Sweatshirts - all 119 of them are up HERE, ready for the pickin' at just $24.95 each!  That is even lower than my SHOW SPECIAL of 2 sweatshirts for $55!  Current colors, sizes, and stock is GREAT - so SHOP NOW!    Also, with the rise in fuel prices, the shipping expense for me to get in just a few sweatshirts on special order has gone through the roof - so I've had to add the following policy for regular sweatshirt orders that I have also posted on my website in that department.   This makes the IN STOCK department that much MORE valuable.   

STOCK of sweatshirt constantly changes.  In order to keep my prices lower than the regular $32.95 I must restrict my orders to -1-2 times per month for each company due to excessive shipping expense - thanks to rising fuel prices.  That means that there are times you may have to wait up to 3-4  weeks to receive your ordered sweatshirt even though I have bins full of sweatshirts here in my 'studio'. This is especially true for 3XL.  There are times even that your order must be specially dyed as it is out of stock at my supplier.   I will let you know if your order is delayed.   Good things are worth waiting for.........

              Sweatshirt Jacket KITS! With purchase of a sweatshirt, you can also request that I search my current stock for a coordinating KIT.  Generally, KITS are only available at the shows, since they are all 1-of-1-kind, but I'm fairly well stocked.  AND... I will welcome excuses to 'play' with them - a welcome diversion from the MYSTERY PROJECT I have to work on like crazy - which has me at the computer non-stop these days.  Ughhh!!!  SEW... with purchase of a sweatshirt, just put in the Comments Section of your order form that you would like to receive PHOTOS of KITS sent to you via email, and I'll happily do that.  HOWEVER, I can NOT take time to measure pieces, etc.  The kit is the kit is the kit - and you will be able to see what you would be getting.  Prices vary anywhere from $19 to $69... which, of course I will identify for you with the photos I email to you.  We will also have to communicate over the phone for me to get payment information for any kit that you might select...

Have you read my BLOG lately?  I actually sewed up a DRESS last week - in a quick 2.5 hours no less!  I couldn't help myself - I HAD to take photos of every step as I worked - I'm just so used to that process with my jacket patterns.  So - the process is all waiting for you at my BLOG on a great, simple dress pattern Vogue 1250.  AND, within it is a LINK to my Picasa Web Album where you can see even MORE photos of the process - with quite a bit of caption verbage posted with each photo that will show as you hover over each picture. 

The biggest change construction-wise that I made was a definite improvement!  I replaced a silly back facing piece with my CLEAR ELASTIC NECK FINISH technique.  This technique along with lots more for Knit Neckline and Hem Techniques making use of Clear Elastic, and the Fusible Stay Tapes and Twin Stretch Needles is all one of MANY FREE TECHNIQUES for you at my FREE INFO tab here at the website.  I go to lots of effort on a continual basis to add to this body of FREE information - so please, make use of it -  and let others know about it! .....             

                      

Photo  1 - Stretching Clear Elastic ever so slightly as ZZ it onto wrong side of neckline. 

Photo 2 - Twin Needle Stitching with STRETCH Twin Needle from right side - presser foot edge against the folded neckline edge. Of course, use your Cover Hem capability if you have it on your serger or cover hem machine.   I included lots of info on Twin Needle Stitching in my NEW Book 2 on Creative Sweatshirt Jackets. 

Photo 3 - CAREFULLY trimming with Applique duck bill scissors - LOVE those scissors!  TREAT yourself to a pair HERE. 

Photo 4 - WALA - Beautiful , stretchy, simple, non-bulky knit neckline!

Fusible STAY Tapes are SO important, wonderful, handy.....every sewer should have them!  So - as an extra special - get one of EACH:  Straight and Knit/Stretch and save $3 (gee - that's equal to a gallon of gas!)  BOTH tapes for just $11 instead of $15  Offer expires April 26 - that gives you through the Monday after Easter Sunday.  

Creative Sewing Get-Away Weekend...May 12-15  will be here before I know it.   I only have FOUR beds left for this great event when you can do ANY type of creative sewing your little heart desires!  Many plan to do one of my Creative Sweatshirt Jackets, but you can do whatever you like as you sew all hours of the day night, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 1 at this glorious Retreat Center in Danville, IL.  Danville is about 1+ hours straight to the west of Indianapolis,  close to the Illinois/Indiana border.  I will be presenting my collection of programming on Thursday afternoon and evening - then we start to SEW!  I've planned 'breakout Sessions' that you can join in on - or NOT - depending on your wishes where I will be sharing my own favorite sewing techniques.  

Speaking of Spring Cleaning....  I couldn't believe it when my Vogue Pattern Order came!  In my excitement, I'd obviously ordered duplicates of these patterns, so find them in my CLEARANCE department, or at the following links...I'll let myself make a penny on each one - selling each for just $5!

Vogue 1182 - Size 8 thru 14   Kay Unger classic dress

Vogue 1104 - Size 6-12   Anna Sui cute flippy flounce-trimmed short dress

Vogue 1158  Size 6-12   Tracy Reese cute little sun dress

EYE CANDY is less caloric than EASTER CANDY!!!  Take a moment to treat yourself to this wonderful WEARABLE Art Site...shared with me by a customer .....http://public.craftcouncil.org/2011/41/8    ALWAYS send me great sites - I LOVE it!  Thanks, Linda for sharing...

Speaking of CANDY - I've decided to put dimes in the Easter Eggs instead of candy for dear Grandson.  Instead - for dessert, I plan to make this yummy, decadent concoction...torn out of one of the magazines on the airplane...

PB&J Brownies

Lay 2 sheet Phyllo dough (thawed) on work surface and brush with melted butter.  Top with another sheet of pjyllo dough.  Brush with butter, then cut into four 8 x 8' squares.  Place one brownie on each square. 

Top each brownie with 1 T. of peanut butter and 1 T. of jam.  Then sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Cinch dough around brownies and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. 

Bake at 425 degrees F for 5 minutes until dough starts to brown. 

How could one go wrong with THAT???!!!    

Words of Wisdom...  I pray that this Easter season will have special significance for you.  My dear Mom is 87 and slipping away from us daily with Alzheimer's.  I suppose that is why I'm so engrossed in Randy Alcorn's book, HEAVEN.  I can't recommend it highly enough!  It is not an 'easy' read, but it certainly is inspiring and revealing of the true meaning of Heaven, and the life that those who claim Jesus as their savior will enjoy there.  I was particularly struck by his thoughts regarding what it will mean to see God.  The way he puts it is that when we give gifts to our children, we hope they enjoy them.  "Likewise, God has given to each of us gifts of talents, and He WANTS us to enjoy them - ie:  sewing, creativity for me.  Though preoccupation with a God-given gift can turn into idolatry, enjoying that same gift with a grateful heart can draw us closer to God."  He has provided everything for our enjoyment, and we shouldn't feel guilty for enjoying it.  And more... "Every day we should see God in his creation:  in the food we eat, the air we breathe, the friendships we enjoy, and the pleasures of family, work, and hobbies."  Sew... as we take pleasure in our hobbies, this is the same as taking pleasure IN God.  "It is not a substitution FOR God, nor is it a distraction From him."   Randy Alcorn talks a lot about what Heaven will be like, what we will do there - and I think I just might have been right all these years when I figure I'll have a sewing machine in Heaven! 

At any rate - that's something for you to ponder in  your own quiet time, and as you stitch - and, as I suspect many of you are doing - gardening these days! 

I leave you with the message of Easter that I created as a church banners years ago... 

    

Easter Greetings,

Londa