Hello all, Mary Ellen here.

Are you a fan of Amy Butler fabrics and patterns? I just received notification that her free pattern for her latest fabric line is now posted at her website. Here’s the link: click here. I also received notification not long ago that her latest clothing pattern: a pieced duster, is now available. She looks great in it, and I love the concept but I’m afraid I may be past the age cut off for her style. Although I am thinking about how it would look in a collection of somewhat “quieter” fabrics–batiks maybe. See what you think of her style. It would be great for you younger women out there. Looks like it would be very comfortable and could definitely take a pair of jeans up a few notches. Click here.

As I worked through my e-mails today, I noticed that a theme was in the making: vintage clothing techniques. How is it that several unrelated blogs all posted about clothing today? Anyway… I used to do a lot of smocking. Not the type where embroidery stitches were laid over tightly gathered bands, but the type where a grid was laid out and stitching pulled together points on the grid to make interesting patterns. I think this type is sometimes called Canadian smocking (as opposed to European smocking). In the sixties it was fashionable to make pillow coverings and other home decor items using this technique. Here’s a tutorial that came in today’s mail for this “old” technique. Click here. Does anyone besides me remember that style?

Getting back to work on seminar items, TTFN!