All about Blueberry Hill....

I signed up to go to the Heather Ross sewing weekend at Blueberry Hill Inn way back in January. I made a deal with Skywalker that I would cut back on my Starbuck's habit in order to save the coin to go on the trip, which was actually very effective. I do realize that it is a little crazy to go across country to sew for the weekend, and tried to explain myself as best I could when I got lots of dumbfounded questions about my trip.


Anyway when I first signed up I really didn't know what to expect and was kind of just excited to meet Heather. As the weekend got closer I started planning projects and then we also found out that Liesl Gibson was coming, and I was pregnant, so it was a perfect opportunity to retry making clothes. However I was a little anxious too, I mean it's Heather and Liesl and they are famous (well in the sewing world). As the weekend got closer I was a little bit regretting what I had gotten myself into, it has been a little bit of a hard pregnancy and I just didn't know how smart it was for me (physically or emotionally) to spend the weekend away from home. But I was all paid up and my flight was purchased, so what choice did I have. Plus my friend Leslie was going too, and I didn't want to bail on her.

Both women were completely inspiring and helped new sewers complete projects and pushed veteran sewers into working on items out of their comfort zone. They were able to help people who didn't come with concrete ideas of what they wanted to accomplish create beautiful things. Throughout the weekend they checked in with all sewers to make sure progress was being made on the projects and that everyone was getting the help they needed, even if it wasn't asked for.

All my anxiousness was for nothing, because I really had the best time. Heather and Liesl are so extraordinarily friendly, welcoming, and helpful that I really couldn't help but be happy the whole time. I was worried about my energy level and being able to sew all day, but I happily made it until past midnight sewing away on both nights we were there. We got to sew in this really cool barn where all the cross country skies and snowshoes were kept, which made me want to come back in the winter.

Although there were minutes of frustration had by all, Heather and Liesl quickly came to the rescue when there were groans of frustration. All the women who attended were also extremely helpful and generous and happily shared supplies with those who needed a little extra fabric, a pretty button, some ribbon, or whatever else was needed.

To top it all off in addition to all the sewing that was done, we were also able to hang out and eat cheese and chocolate (and wine for some), go swimming in a beautiful lake, tap naps in the teepee that Heather set out in the field behind the barn, and pick blueberries from the Inn's blueberry bushes.


In short, Heather and Liesl are AMAZING. The weekend was one of the best weekends of my life and I think some long-distance friendships were forged amongst the sewing weekend attendees. Even the clothes we made became friends with each other.

What I made with Heather and Liesl

I just had what is probably one of the best weekends of my life. I got to sew in Vermont for 3ish days with Heather Ross and Liesl Gibson of Oliver & S. Because I have soooo much to say about this wonderful weekend, I figured two posts were necessary, one about what I made, and one all about the weekend itself.

I went into the weekend with three goals. Goal 1) To learn how to read a clothes pattern. Goal 2) To learn how to use said pattern to complete an outfit for the upcoming baby. Goal 3) To re-learn how to put in zippers, so that I can make copious amounts of zippered pouches. Everyone needs a zippered pouch right.

As you can see by the photos below, all three goals were accomplished! I figured a picture of me with the dress I made but I do hate how I look, thus it's place of honor at the bottom of the post. The dress made from this pattern is so freaking cute it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. The bloomers were super easy, and numerous pairs of those might be made, including some possible additions of ruffles. I already have the fabric picked out for dress number 2 from this pattern and hope to get through it this weekend, so I can keep some of the skills I learned. The zippered pouches need some finessing, but I got the technique down and Heather and I reverse engineered this zippered pouch I loved so I might try to re-do that without rushing.

The weekend I have been waiting for...

This weekend by friend Leslie and I will be traveling to Vermont to go to this. Needless to say I am so flippin excited, we planned this back in Jan (or maybe Feb) and it has seemed like such a long time coming. I don't know for sure how much sewing we will complete with all the other fun stuff that's planned, but I plan to enjoy the time either way. The funny thing about Vermont is that I have only ever been one other time, and that was for a craft sleep away summer camp when I was 13, so after this weekend Vermont will be a state where I can only go for craft related reasons (j/k).

In addition to Heather Ross, Liesl Gibson from Oliver & S, will be there, so I hope to get her expert guidance on making this pattern.

Back next week with an update of the trip and hopefully at least one finished product.

Mother's Day

Yes Mother's Day is in May, I know this, however presents for my mother in law got delayed this year, partially because of exhaustion and partially because I didn't see her for a few months, and I wanted to give them to her in person. I came up with this idea and bought all the materials back in Jan, with the intention of getting them completed on time. Intention counts for something right? Anyway when we planned a few weeks back to visit her last weekend I knew I had to get them done in time to give them to her in person, which I just barely made it by.

I originally had plans to make all the pieces more patchoworkey or possibly log-cabinish, but I realized simple was better for her, so I just highlighted one piece of Denyse Schmidt with each napkin/placemat combination and then also made them reversible. I think my mom was a little jealous when I showed her, I am sure she may get some for her birthday or Christmas or some other occasion. I forget what Kona was used for the white and the blue, I do know the white was not snow, but something a little more beige. I wish Kona Cottons had selvedges with labels so I could remember what I was using, since I don't have one of those fancy color cards.

Pillow Talk Swap

I have had these pictures for a few weeks, but like I said in my last post, I have been soooo low energy lately that blogging was even too much. Anyway below is my pillow from the Pillowtalk 3 Swap, made for Sparklygreenknickers, if you click on her name you can see the photo she took of my pillow, which was much nicer then the rush job I did with no insert on my desk chair at work. I know it is simpler than a lot of Pillowtalk pillows, but I really wanted highlight the hummingbird fabric, which I think I did well.

Below is the photo of the pillow I received on my couch. It is a lovely Dresden with my favorite modern meadow fabric and was made for me by allz i'm sewing is ..., as you can see my picture doesn't do it justice at all (guess I have to work on that). I am having major trouble with the viewfinder on my new camera, so I can't preview the pic until I see it on my computer, guess I should get Skywalker to fix that. Anyway you can see a better photo of my lovely pillow here. Sometimes when I watch TV on the couch I cuddle with it, because I love it so! In my pillow package I also got a lovely surprise of a really fun pin cushion, which I know want to make more of, you can see it here. It already lives on my sewing table all full of pin holes. I don't know whether or I like the pillow or pin cushion more...