We wanted to share with you a guest post we recently did for Craft Test Dummies, a wonderful resource of craft product reviews hosted by a super crafty, creative cousin of mine, Jenny Rohrs.  Check out her site for unbiased information about the newest craft gizmos and products and use our curated list of online fabric resources to find the perfect fabric for your next Clever Charlotte pattern!

A very belated Happy New Year!

Has it really been a whole month since our last “real” post? For that, I dearly apologize.  

Since our last post, our house was ravaged by the flu. This was the face of it on Christmas–poor Miss N, trying so hard to enjoy the holiday to the fullest, but her body just wasn’t able to match her spirit.

While I am happy to report that the kids have been back to normal for some time now, my own recovery was slower.

Since our last post, we had snowfall in the double digits followed more recently by unprecedented warm weather. One week ago we had highs in the teens and then on Saturday, it was 64 degrees.   The temps are taking a dive again as I type, but I am grateful for the respite from the cold, however brief. It was that final push that I needed to feel OK and functioning again.

With renewed health, I have been having lots of fun with my new camera lens, can you tell?

Since our last post, I have made about a gazillion trips to the Post Office–thank you dear readers for that!  We’re glad that so many of you have been taking advantage of our New Year’s sale (PS There’s still a week left!).

Since our last post, there has been only minimal sewing/crafting by me. I got the knitting itch last month and quickly made up this infinity scarf for a sister in law–but that’s been it on the creative front.

But the boys have been busy–Pinewood Derby is just around the corner. 

Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree around here, I can assure you.

Oh, and for “The Ugly,” I present Exhibit A.  This piece may look like a presser foot, but I can assure you it is not. In fact, it used to be part of the inner workings of my sewing machine, near the bobbin casing.  It was sheared off last night in a fit and a start… I am fearing the worst.  Cross your fingers that the repair guy can work some magic here.

What have you been doing since our last post?  I hope you have been pursuing many successful projects. With more time and energy now, I am anxious to start making the rounds of blogland to see what you have all been up to!

Happy Sewing!

~Erin

We are pleased to introduce a new Clever Charlotte blog series that will begin within the 4 corners of your computer screen next week!  The inspiration for this special project was our Peridot Blouse, which features our version of a detachable Peter Pan collar.

When designing this piece, we were overflowing with creative and unique ideas to embellish the collar.  It seemed like a fun (and quick!) challenge to see what we could come up with.  Even more exciting, we wanted  to see what others could come up with, so we invited a few people to play along.  We are truly excited to be able to showcase the talents of these lovely fellow bloggers who were eager to join in on the fun: 

An from Straight Grain 

Caila from Caila Made 

Jessica from Running With Scissors 

Laura from Charm Stitch 

Nicole from 5 and Counting

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So be sure to stop by these next two weeks to see all the fun!

Happy Sewing!

~ Carla & Erin

Halloween is nearly upon us and I realized today that my girls’ only options for gathering loot were either an Easter basket or plastic grocery bag.  During nap time today I created a preferable alternative.

The girls plan to be matching fairy princesses.  (ugh.)  Of course their costumes are pink and purple so I naturally gravitated to some scraps of our mauve sateen and cotton plaid to make the totes.  The tote is a basic rectangle modified by sewing perpendicular to the side seams, thus closing the corners off.

My original thought was to sew some small seed beads on the totes in some sort of fairy fashion but decided that wasn’t realistic with my time constraint.  After rifling through my bead drawer (yes, I have a bead drawer) I found these toggle beads… perfect for creating butterflies.

Turning to my ribbon drawer (next to my bead drawer) I found some suitable ribbon to make the wings.

I highly recommend using sheer ribbon with a thin wire on the edges.  Two of the three ribbons I chose did not have this feature which made it difficult to thread the loop back through the holes, so I simply snipped the wings.  Also, grosgrain turned out to be a bit thick for the toggle bead holes but I persevered due to my lack of any other color-coordinating ribbon.

Snipped wings on the left, looped on the right.

Here is the completed tote, holding over 2 pounds of candy.  Do you think that is sufficient?

Happy Sewing!
~Carla

Dear local readers/friends of Clever Charlotte–

Just a quick note to let you know that we will be down at our friend Nan’s shop, Murray Hill Bolt & Spool, this Saturday from Noon -4pm for Little Italy’s Fall ArtWalk. We’ll have samples on display from the new line and we’ll be sewing some of the new looks down there on Nan’s fabulous Bernina machines.

In related news, Nan is moving this week up the stairs of the Old Schoolhouse to a bigger space and we could not be more excited for her!   If you don’t make it down there this weekend, we hope you’ll stop in soon to see all her new fabrics and trims and get inspired to start a fall project of your own.

We hope you stop in to say hi!

Happy sewing!

~Erin & Carla

The Olivine Dress Kits have been posted in the shop for those of you planning ahead for the holidays or needing a special birthday girl dress.

The kit is available in two sizes (2T-4T and 5-8) and currently features the fabrics in our cover look: a wonderful, eggplanty dupioni silk and the lovely Liberty of London Tana Lawn print, Becci. Here’s a better shot of that Liberty fabric, which has a great mix of red, fuchsia, and blue and adds such a nice contrast to the purple.

Look for additional Olivine kit options from us soon featuring more colors of silks and Liberty fabrics!

On a related note, I am working on the Olivine Dress tutorial I mentioned a few weeks ago. It will highlight some of the trickier parts of the construction. Look for that to begin this week!

Happy Sewing!

Erin