Lines from Londa

8-6-2009

My LOVE AFFAIR WITH FABRICS began long ago, reaching a new height during my college Textiles course.  THAT was one college class that I couldn't wait to get to and hated to leave. Even though an entire Christmas vacation was spent going to every fabric store I could find hunting samples of all the different fibers, constructions and finishes for my Textile File assignment, I loved every minute of it.  Next, came selling fabrics by sample from traveling sets for Leiter's Designer Fabrics and House of Laird in the 70's and 80's - an experience that definitely fed my rapidly increasing addiction to fabric!  My ultimate 'fix' came with the opening of my own fabric shop in 1990.  Just selecting fabric to offer to my customers was a delight...especially going off twice a year to fabric shows. 

Sew....you can understand how my pulse raced when my booth got planted across from Fine European Fabrics at the American Sewing Guild Conference!   

    First - I just let myself peek in the side of the booth and let my hand brush over some of the bolts as I passed...

    Then - One thing led to another and before you know it, I had dropped a cool hundred $ on fabrics selected for trim on some new sweatshirt jackets. 

     By the final day of the show - I suppose my tongue was hanging out as I repeatedly paid visits across the aisle - just to 'feel' more fabrics - and most fabrics that illicited an "oooooo" from my lips turned out to be Bamboo.  I'm not sure how it happened, but when I let it slip that I offered fabric on my website, but had let it dwindle for lack of a good source for really nice fabrics...it became apparent he also was an active fabric wholesaler to shops, small designers and businesses like mine.  

The Bamboo Factor was especially intriguing to me.  I did some quick research one night in the motel on Bamboo as a textile.  THAT convinced me to take the leap for sure!  Click HERE to read for yourself all the wonderful advantages of Bamboo as a textile - by itself, AND blended with other fibers.   And, YES, my wash-testing of some pieces proved to me that Bamboo, Bamboo & Silk, etc. IS perfectly washable.      

     While I see the entire experience as a 'pre-destined encounter', I gotta tell ya that my hubby kept rolling his eyes.......!!!!!  Let's just say that adding the bolts I selected to our load of inventory in the back of our van helped things pack more tightly for the long trip home from NM to IL!  Help me prove to my hubby/business manager Charley that my gut was 'right on'...that you're gonna LOVE this collection of fabric.   As my Fabric Man says - I selected for you the "Cream of the Crop - XXXXtra fine fabrics" - and definitely not "Meat and Potatoes"!  On each fabric - for a closer look, a lager photo - be SURE to click on the Zoom link beneath the thumbnail photo!

    

I've spent the last 4 days carefully measuring, inspecting, scanning and uploading extra complete descriptions of these gems.  I even carefully considered each fabric, and what patterns I offer that would be perfect for each.  Whether you need a pattern or not, I feel that this marrying of patterns and fabric will be helpful to you.  The silhouettes offered in The Sewing Workshop line seemed especially appropriate.  Therefore, I focused on them and have constructed a wonderful $-saving offer for you.

SWATCH SETS ARE AVAILABLE - since these fine Italian fabrics must be seen and felt to be truly appreciated, and I realize they are an investment, as I measured, I took off a bit of fabric for the purpose of swatching.  I have 23 sets of all but 1 of these fabrics available for $5 (First Class shipping included).    Click here to order.  There are extra swatches of some of the pieces, so if you want up to 4 swatches, just email me which ones (give me the NAME of the fabric) and I'll rush them out to your First Class.

HERE'S THE $-SAVING OFFER

THROUGH Aug 31, 2009 - 30% off* a Sewing Workshop Pattern for every fabric line from the Fine Italian Fabric Collection  on your order that equals $35 of more. Â Â Here's how it will work:

• Place your order for a fabric from the Fine Italian Fabric Collection.  If the total for that line on your order is at least $35 and
• you ALSO ORDER  any Sewing Workshop Pattern

I will see your order, and promptly email you with a COUPON CODE good for 30% off the pattern (patterns are $22.95 so 30% = $6.89 that will be valid for 1 year.)   Use this coupon for whatever you wish - whenever you wish within the next 12 months.  It is like $ in your 'savings account' here at my webstore.  

YES - this offer applies for every line item of fabric from the Fine Italian Fabric Collection you purchase for at least $35

AND - I'll even throw in one of those 'video only' content Ultimate Version 2 Creative Sweatshirt Jacket DVD's (valued at $10) FREE with your order!

In fact, save on shipping!  Turn around and place an order as soon as you receive your coupon code to redeem your savings.  Send me a quick email to alert me and then I'll combine your orders - sending along a rebate check for the excess shipping.  Ideas:  save BIG - use your savings to purchase items already on every day discount like 

• Schmetz Needles - 20-25% off every day
• Stabilizers from OESD and Sulky - 15% off every day

 More How-To Sewing Videos in my section on YouTube. 

• Use that Narrow Hem Foot hiding in your sewing machine accessories for quick and EZ shirt hems on these lovely Italian shirtings! Watch it HERE.
  
• Watch HERE for the way I hand hem invisibly.
• Sending a child off to college, or trying to help out your new Bride (as I am)? This video on how I Sew on Buttons will come in handy. Watch it yourself - you might learn a different way. 
  
• For my 'sidewalk and street' analogy to teach the Slipstitch developed when I taught my Sewing Camps - click HERE.
• And you probably know how to Whip Stitch, but you might want to see it as well... HERE

I've posted on my BLOG about my note sheets from all the snoop shopping inspiration I got while on 'vacation'.  My design tank is overflowing so much that I've been designing and stitching in my sleep.  When THAT happens - it's time to hit the Studio.  My new pattern CHOSEN is first to complete - and my plans are for it to be a 'Talking Pattern'.  Stay Tuned to find out what in the heck that will be.  Meanwhile, log into my BLOG frequently over the next weeks to follow the design process.  Remember, I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT when you Comment at my Blog! 

Have some fun sewing yourself!

Creatively,
 

P.S.  I'm also doing some re-vamp work on my FACEBOOK page - assuming I can figure that all out - creating both a personal page, AND one for my website.  Watch for select photos of the gown from my daughters' wedding.  Details will be at my BLOG about my FACEBOOK page for the website.