Shame on you FabricMartFabrics

Updated: Well, my fabric did arrive, and it is very nice. More update on that later ... with pictures!

So in February, I finally had my sewing budget not used and decided to join Julie's Picks swatch club from FabricMartFabrics. At the time (up until yesterday in fact, more later), it stated "12 monthly" swatch packets would be sent to me for the $50 fee. I joined, and received February's mailer (I joined in the first half of February). Since January fabrics were still listed on the site, I expected to receive January's mailer as well. Finally, it irritated me enough that I emailed yesterday to inquire of the site. I got a terse reply via email today, no apology for misleading, nothing - swatches for January would not be sent to me as apparently they only make enough based on "fall membership campaign" if the email is to believed. They did change their site yesterday.

So, while I did enjoy the February mailer very much, I have to say my Fabric Mart experience so far has left a decidedly distasteful impression on me, and my fabric hasn't even arrived yet ... let's hope the fabric is nice because customer service seems to leave something to be desired. The price doesn't change but what you get does go down every single month into the year. The swatches are nice though I have to admit, so the jury is out whether I will ever try this again with them next year. Perhaps it was a simple mistake, not thought through on their wording. I hope so.

Here is what it stated when I purchased, notice specifically the term "12 monthly mailers" ... which is only true if you join in January or earlier.

Benefits of a subscription to Julie’s Picks

• Approximately 30 fabric samples sent to your door monthly
• See and feel fabrics before buying
• Exclusive discounts on fabrics, notions and more! (changes monthly)
• Fashion drawings and pattern ideas to help you decide how to use each fabric
• $25.00 coupon to use towards any website or Julie’s Picks order

2011 Julie’s Picks annual subscription fee is $50.00. (12 monthly mailers)

Subscription includes a $25.00 coupon for any website or Julie’s Picks order. (Coupon will be sent with your mailer)

Summer swingy sundress

IMG_3115 a photo by WeeBeaks on Flickr.

I've been sewing, just not posting. I'm probably not going to go back and blog about what I have been sewing honestly, so I'll just carry on I guess. Or maybe I'll go back and pick out some favorite projects to blog. I can't decide. One thing is for sure though - I'm a terrible blogger in terms of consistency.

Today's sewing fit tidily into the kids' quiet time. I saw an infant sundress on YouCanMakeThis that I just loved, but it was for little tiny girls (babies). I wanted something similar for my 3yo, but with a closed back as the original I loved had an open back with bloomers. She is kind of growing out of that per se. I was going to start modifying a standard A-line when my eye fell on a vintage pattern from my MIL. It was a size 2, so I had to modify a bit for a size 3, but not bad at all. And best of all, it has pockets even! She loves pockets, and it would not have occurred to me honestly to add the pockets. So we are happy, and this was sooo easy - got to love a project that fits into an hour and a half or so start to finish.

It's Ladybug Girl!

Hilda top with Farbenmix leggings
Originally uploaded by WeeBeaks

Ladybug Girl is one of Lily's favorite book characters right now. I made her this outfit that she calls her Ladybug Girl outfit. The top is the Hilda top from Ottobre 6/07 #27, and the leggings are from the Farbenmix book Sewing Clothes Kids Love: Sewing Patterns and Instructions for Boys' and Girls' Outfits

She likes to wear her new outfit with the fairy wings from last year's Halloween costume for the full effect.

Lily Pumpkin

IMG_2651
Originally uploaded by WeeBeaks

Nearly forgot to show a picture of our little pumpkin in her costume for Halloween. She chose to be a pumpkin. The pattern was super duper simple, and she loved it.

LONG time no sew

IMG_2475
Originally uploaded by WeeBeaks

I'm finally sewing again. Yeah! Here is Lily with a new pair of pants from Ottobre 1/06, the ruffle pant capris. They have them in a knit, but I used a stretch woven with no problems at all. These are a very, very generous cut. It is hard to see the details on black, but they are a basic elastic waist with one wide ruffle at the bottom. Her t-shirt is from 4/04 and is the girl t-shirt. I finished the neck and sleeves with picot edge elastic.

Eden Grace at 2 days old

Eden Grace at 2 days old
Originally uploaded by WeeBeaks

Introducing my reason for being behind on blogging lately. :)

Our fourth child was born nearly two weeks ago. Hopefully she will be modeling some newly sewn creations soon on the blog. LOL

Burda 7-2010 hat

IMG_0446
Originally uploaded by WeeBeaks

I'm waaayyy behind on blogging, but I have been sewing a little. Here is one thing made recently. I made the kids sunhat from the 7/2010 issue of Burda magazine. I found that it ran small, and fit my 2-year-old DD perfectly with no adjustments needed. That happened to work out perfectly since she is the one needing a hat, but from the photos and other garments' size ranges in the magazine, I would have expected it to fit more my older kids (it would have been too small). In any case, I added a chin strap. I also changed the construction so that all seams would be hidden, by leaving a hole in the lining pieces, completing that seam by hand at the end ala the last Ottobre hat I made. I think that makes for a nicer finish than having the brim attachment seam covered by ribbon and such. I hope to get at least one more of these hats finished soon as she needs a couple more.