First Monday, January 2013, a New Direction and a Great Giveaway!!!

If you have read this blog for any time, you will know that I have used the first Monday of each month to catch up my mending. Now, as exciting as that can be I would like to expand on the theme. As well, you might remember that I am inspired and entertained by the great book Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman.
In modern form it reminds me of some of the vintage sewing books I have collected over the years. It is a chronicle of the sewing life of Mary Brooks Picken.

For inspiration the words...."So lets make a new start, filled with joy and anticipation of the year ahead, Determined to face those stepping stones and stumbling blocks that come our way, and try to do our best."   I love it.
 
For January, the commentary includes the wonderful feeling of crawling into a well made and cozy bed.   I am sure we all agree with that. How does that translate to me, today? Well, one of my favorite ways to dress up my beds are with embellished pillow cases, "pillow-slips" according to my Grandmother. A purchased pillow slip can be embellished with hand or machine embroidery. The basic case can be made quickly and easily with any sewing machine or serger. Multiple u-tube video's about how to make a pillow case are available here. video's

source

from my Vintage Collection

I made this one from a scrap of eyelet fabric left over from another project.

purchased pillow case, testing machine embroidery

same

same

Just for St. Patrick's Day

the close-up

One of my fabrics for pillowslips is batiste. I use Imperial Batiste. There are several on-line sites that sell batiste if it is not available in your area. Another source is Martha Pullen's Heirloom Batiste, perfect for this purpose.  I also use this for sleepwear. Available in white and many pastel colors it has a dreamy hand and is like laying your little head on silk to dream the night away. Much like Swiss Nelona, but less pricey.


Now for the best part of this post. Because I am so enamoured of this book, as you know, I wanted to continue the series through out the year. Every chapter in the book remains relevant today. I have obtained permission from the author and her representative, Cheryl Pinkman (we Cheryl's need to stick together!) to use the book as the primary reference for this series and she is offering a special of a Vintage Notions Giveaway and 20% off for my readers! How great is that? Use the code RF411 at checkout. 

The giveaway will run the entire month of January, closing at midnight EST on the 31st. Please leave a comment on this post or any of the subsequent Mondays where the book is featured during the month of January or email me directly at kczkws4@aol.com.

Here is the link to the Vintage Workshop site where the book is available as well as many other interesting projects, art and clipart. 

Book Available for purchase here at Indygo Junction.
 
Amy Barickman's blog here

*no compensation received or implied from Martha Pullen Company
*Imperial Batiste available online and from G-Street Fabrics  here no compensation received or implied