Mirroring Suzy Bee Sews - Life So Strange It Should Be Fiction

... to any Aussie bloggers who are in need up topping up their pattern stash! As if I have to shout-out twice!  Good old Spotlight are starting ( another ) sale tomorrow, and look at what they are doing to their McCall's patterns ... And with the extra 10% they so kindly give us, that takes each pattern down to just a measly $1.80!!! So I am afraid that at that price, I will be out of my classroom door faster than my class tomorrow afternoon, racing even the quickest of the kids to the carpark, and then heading straight to Spotlight to see if anything is left of McCall's.  If any of the following manage to still be there, in my size, then I think a pre-Christmas treat might be in order ... So, are there any other crazy pattern grabbing bloggers Down Under heading to this sale tomorrow? And if so, what patterns are tempting you as we head into summer ...

Last night was my son's Valedictory! The night was just beautiful, with the storms of the past evenings holding off for both the service, and the celebrations afterwards. ~ One happy family ~ Valedictory began for the 2013 Graduating Seniors in the School Chapel, on the school grounds, with the service led by Senior Chaplain Fr Bryan Gadd ... ~ Valedictory Service in Canon Jones Memorial Chapel ~ The 2013 Graduands  then proceeded to their Valedictory Ceremony, at which the Headmaster presented each Year 12 student with a Graduation Gift and Certificate ...  ~ Jason being presented by the Headmaster ~ And then the Reception commenced ... ~ the Boys after their final War Cry ~ Some proud family shots ... ~ One proud Mum (in her new dress!!!) ~ ~ With one proud big sister (in her new dress!!!) ~ ~ And one proud Dad ~ Now, because this is a sewing blog, I feel I really must focus in on the dresses. First off, my Butterick 5917 finally seeing the light of day after being completed a

Note:  Blogger ate the originally published version of this post--changes were not made to the original text with any malicious intention! The New York Times has done a couple of interesting articles recently on the return of some textile and garment manufacturing to the States. First, they wrote about textile manufacturing , which is returning to US shores where the need for nimble responses to demand is a bonus.  The bad news is that the process has become much more automated in the past, and creates many fewer jobs than the textile mills did when they closed down and manufacturing moved overseas.  However, to my mind, a few good jobs is better than no good jobs.  And the reduced labor costs helps in the competitive pricing area so it's a bit of a catch-22. Then there was an article on the search for skilled sewing labor to keep up with demand for US-made products.  When the jobs went overseas all the skills and knowledge evaporated.  The few people still around who worked in in

I made a start on my Christmas sewing this week - namely these great little earbud pouches. I followed the tutorial here and used a lot of scrap material up! I should mention they aren't just for earbud headphones, my daughter uses one in her schoolbag to hold panadol and lipbalms, plus they can be used to hold anything like Nintendo DS games or guitar picks. Ninja's and Gnomes Cat's in converse   Lots of chevrons Hedgehogs and Dots Great for a stocking stuffer and as little gifts for friends!

... don't chase me in this bright floral dress! Butterick 5917 is finished! And do you know it really didn't take me that long at all. This was just the perfect pattern to sew ~ who would have thought a dress could be this easy ...  The main feature of this dress is the gorgeous ruffle hugging the chest and neck areas ... It is double folded, and just ever so easy to gather and insert! And in between is a little modesty panel ~ but I am seeing great ideas to use a lace insert here for a night-time  feature. I played around with this little piece of fabric till I was happy with where it fell on my chest ~ too high and it made me look old, too low and everything under was on display! The ruffle goes around the neck, and joins in with the invisible centre back zipper ... I, naturally, needed a new pair of fresh white shoes to wear, and a new bag ~ but I think the bag is a little big for me ... will just have to keep shopping ...  That is my November dress in the Make a Garment A