marie-madeline studio

the countdown!

Well, it's almost time!  Lord willing in less than a week we'll be heading off to Kansas City for our first-ever Quilt Market as vendors!  Paps and Nanny are due in within the next few days.  Everything that needs to be sewn is sewn --- including some more than once because they just 'weren't working' with everything else.  The beginning of next week should be pretty full with setting up a trial booth in the yard (or somewhere!).  We are sooo excited, and very grateful for the opportunity!

The picture above is a close-up of one of applique tees that's waiting patiently to brighten up our booth.  It's the cupcake applique that's included in our kitty mae skirts pattern.  Instead of doing a cute stitch on the sewing machine we decided on a hand-done blanket stitch, like the one we showed on our flower tee tutorial.  And we added a bit of yellow lace and three french knots on the icing for good measure.

Talk more later!!! xox

Oh, happy skirt!

Personally, we were tempted to title this post "Our Mommy is insanely cute", but we opted for more of a descriptive term about that fabulous skirt she's sporting.

If we had to choose simple words to describe what Mom likes to wear best it would be happy colors.  Oh, yes.  And she just likes what she likes, regardless if anyone else is wearing it (we love that about her).  We have already previously mentioned that Mom wore a red and white checked skirt to her high school graduation.  See what we mean?  Happy and unique.

Mom's first idea for this skirt came to life after seeing jeans done up in a similar patchy way.  (There are instructions in the ePattern about making skirts too.)  When Nan came down last fall they put together a darling patchy denim skirt out of reds and navys, that is just perfect for fall.  Well, of course, spring and summer call for something more bright and fun.  And, who's fabric can be described like that better than our friend Jennifer Paganelli's?

It goes without saying that we can't just follow the directions to the letter.  Oh no.  So, Mom and Nan added specialty "cut out" pieces, and a gorgeous swath of vintage lace from Mom's fabulous stash.  It was originally a table runner, so Nan meticulously cut around and about to make it that neat shape.  Our those two great or what??

Happy and bright.  Yep.  That's our Mom!!

xoxxx

hat check.

My pillbox hat.  As I mentioned earlier, yes, I did make it.  It was a lot of fun to put together, and not too complicated or time consuming.  Some of you asked for recommendations on making your own.  Sadly, I didn't take any during-the-process-pictures, so you all will just have to be satisfied with some very rough and sketchy ideas!

When I hatched the idea of making my own hat, I fumbled around on what style.  However, since I'm no milliner, a simple style was very crucial.  When Paps and Nanny were down here visiting, I got this sudden urge to make my hat.  I must have been thinking of Jackie O or something... the pillbox style was calling my name.  So, with lots of help from Nanny, and (naturally) some input from Mom, Apphia, Abigail, and Abiah I started cutting, stitching, hand sewing, & glueing.

I chose an Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush velveteen from my stash for the main part of the hat, and a coordinating quilting cotton for lining.  I love both little & big prints alike, but I just liked the idea of this larger scale piece, with the main design purposely centered on the crown.  Also, I thought it seemed nice that I could possibly mix and match it with even more of my outfits!

I measured roughly around my head, making sure not to measure too far down, as I wanted my pillbox to stay propped more up on my head.  I took some heavy duty craft interfacing and cut a piece the measurement of my head.  I also messed around a little with it, sticking it on my head, and testing how tall I wanted my hat to be.  I whipped the craft interfacing ends together, so I ended up with a circle -- the "sides" of the hat.  I made the crown out of the same craft interfacing, and whipped it to the circular band.  Now I had the bare bones of my hat.  I took a strip of cotton batting and glued it to the sides of the hat, as I wanted a little poof.  I did the same with the crown --- In fact, I did that three times, graduating the sizes a little bit (from smaller to larger), so I'd get the desired look.

After that I cut my piece of velveteen into a circle, and did a long machine stitch around the edge.  Wrapping it neatly around the hat, I pulled up the gathering stitches (with a little help!), pinned them in place, and stitched around it by hand.  This is one of those extra things I'm so glad I did.  I love the result of the slight gathers around my pillbox!  To make the lining I simply cut a little-bit-bigger-circle and band, then pressed the raw edges in.  I chose to just glue the lining in, and I'm quite happy with that.  Though, technically I could have used a little more glue.  But, since it's inside the hat I'm not losing any sleep over it!

Viola!  My first millinery experience.  I loved it, and hope to continue to venture out more in the future.  I have this idea swirling in my head for another hat.  It's a bit over-the-top maybe, but it's sooo cute!! We'll see...

Hope this was helpful to any of you aspiring hat makers!  By the way, if you give it a try I'd would LOVE to see the finished product!

xxx Achaia

PS  By the way... Nanny informed me I really needed a hat pin, so I found mine via Etsy.  They have a gazillion to choose from!

Starry Skies

Take a gander at my new shirt!  Here's a bullet-point overview of how I did it---

::I cut out the 60ish stars myself, using the star tracings in this book (it's such a cute book, and we're big Cath Kidston fans over here!) and appliqued them on to one of my very favorite white tees. 

::I love combining fabric collections, so that's what I did for this project.  I began with the basic color-scheme I was going for, and started stacking up fabrics until it worked.  You'll see pieces from Loulouthi, Good Folks, and a tad bit of Annie's Farm Stand thrown in. 

::I used some silvery-grey thread from our ample supply to do a running stitch around all of the stars.

::There you have it! 

It was actually quite a bit of fun to make, and even more fun to wear.  We took these pictures at a cute wooden fence beside Stogey's Coney Island in Joplin after we'd finished stuffing ourselves.  

Happy Friday to all of you!  xxx Achaia 

gathering Summer skirt - tutorial!

It's really rather simple. I found this pillowcase at a flea market, and loved it. But, due to the overwhelming amount of pillowcases already piled high on my closet shelf (ahem), I decided to do something different with it -- and came up with this!! And I love it. I absolutely LOVE it!!!! Now. I can sew like mad and make up lots of different things, but telling someone how to do, is like talking Greek. (And I only talk Greek as far as my sisters names!)

The Gathering Summer Skirt tutorial:

-1 pillowcase

-fabric (I needed about 30")

-3/8" wide elastic (minus one inch the measurement of your waist)

First things first, cut about 1/2" off the sides and top of your pillowcase. Like this:

Now you'll have two pillowcase pieces.

Cut 2 strips of fabric 9 1/2" wide x the length of your pillowcase + one inch (for hemming purposes!).

INSERT: I put the front and back of the pillowcase pieces up to me, and measured the extra amount of fabric I'd need. I decided on 9 1/2" for shrinkage purposes. Hold your pillowcase pieces up to you and decide on what added amount would be best for you! Don't forget to add about 2-2 1/2" for shrinkage, seam allowance, etc.

Hem the bottoms of your two 9 1/2" panels up 1". (Measure up 1", then fold the raw edges in to meet the crease. Sew along the opened edge.)

Right sides together, sew your panels to your pillowcase sides. Sew the other side of your pillowcase to the right sides of your fabric panels. Press all four seams open!

Cut four 2" strips the length of your original [before you hemmed them] panels. Press the raw edges in and hem the bottoms of the strips.

Place your strips, raw edges down, on the seam lines on the outside of your skirt, matching hem lines. Repeat with the three remaining 2" strips and the three remaining seam lines.

Sew along both sides of your strip. But DO NOT sew the ends closed!

Now! Cut eight strips of fabric (the same length as your original panels!) 1 1/2" wide. Turn the end in a small amount (about 1/4") and fold the raw edges in toward the center.

Turn the raw edges in again to make a fold. Sew along the bottom edge and opened side.

Starting at the top and using a bodkin, pull two ties through your casing. Repeat this step with your remaining six ties and the last three casings.

Pin and sew your ties down at the top at a 1/4". Simple as pie.

Pull your ties through and scrunch along the way! Do a loose knot with your ties. (Or do a cute bow, if you don't mind your skirt a little shorter.)

At the top of your skirt, fold down the fabric 1". Fold the raw edges in and down to meet the crease. Sew at the very edge of the opened edge, leaving a small opening for your elastic to run through.

*TIP*  for a simple way of bringing your elastic through the casing of your skirt, use a safety pin.

Run the 3/8 elastic through the casing of your skirt. Sew the elastic together at the ends; careful not to twist the elastic in the casing. Pull your elastic into your skirt and sew your small opening closed.

And your skirt is done!!!!

The End.

so..... What do you think??

LOVE!!

the Merry-Christmas skirt. {tutorial}

 
 
We dreamed up this fun Christmas-inspired emerson skirt while browsing the special occasion fabrics in our local JoAnn's.  There's something about those floaty, sheer fabrics that demands attention!  At this time of year, anyway.  (But this same technique would work remarkably well next spring, using lace instead.  Can't you imagine this skirt being part of a great flower-girl ensemble, too?)  We can also see adding a velvet ribbon bow or silk flower along the yoke/skirt seam line.  We chose purple as our punchy color, instead of red... because we love purple, and it seemed like a fun thing to do!  And the sequins-y cardigan?  Target.  (Where we also found matching purple tights, with just enough sparkle.)

what you'll need...

- emerson skirts pattern (we're showing the gathered version here)

- materials listed on back of pattern (basically fabric, thread, and elastic)

- "special occasion" sheer fabric for overlay (slightly less than yardage amount for skirt - be sure to check the washing instructions)

1. Choose your fabrics.  We chose this simple black and white paisley piece for our skirt, along with a slightly gray sheer fabric with black velvet dots.  There's just enough contrast between the two pieces to keep things interesting, but not enough to scream "look at me!"  Cut out your emerson skirt according to directions given in the pattern. 

2. Cut two more skirt pieces out of the overlay fabric, but shorten the length by 2".

  
3. Complete the yoke as instructed in the emerson skirts pattern (steps 1 & 2).  Stitch the side seams of your skirt and hem it, also according to the emerson instructions for the gathered skirt (steps 3 & 8).  (We'll run our gathering stitch later.)

4. Prepare overlay.  Start off by sewing the side seams in a French seam... with wrong sides together, stitch side seams at 1/4".  Trim off close to stitching.  Turn skirt outside-in (right sides together) and stitch sides seams again at 1/4".  This will neatly enclose your raw edges and keep them from unravelling.

  
  
5.Hem overlay with a teensy-tiny hem.  Start by carefully pressing your hem under 5/8".  Stitch right along the crease.  Trim off raw edge close to stitching.  Now, turn the raw edge under again, stitching it down as you go.  (This is much easier than it sounds!)

  
  
6. Pin the upper raw edge of your overlay (wrong side of overlay over right side of skirt) to the upper raw edge of your skirt.  Run a large zigzag stitch along edge of skirt directly over a piece of cotton crochet thread, leaving tails at both ends.  Be careful not to catch the crochet thread.  Now, gathering the skirt + overlay as one by pulling the ends of your thread gently, follow step 5 of the emerson instructions and attach your skirt to the yoke.  Press seam towards yoke.

  
  

And, looky here!  This skirt has lots of twirling power.

 

Have fun, and stay warm~

lots of love~

xxx, the Long ladies

Ps. Do you think this would work for grown-ups, too?  Because we were just thinking...

put a flower on your tee! {a tutorial}

 
We've been wanting to share this tutorial with all of you ever since Elizabeth Scott's gorgeous Red Rose Farm fabrics made their way into our studio.  Have fun!

Step 1::  Choose your fabrics and tee.  (We would suggest using scraps of fabric for your flower petals.)  Fuse lightweight interfacing onto the wrong side of your scraps.

 
Step 2::  Draw a petal shape onto a piece of thin cardboard and cut it out carefully.  Using a soft pencil, trace around your template onto the interfaced side of your petal fabric.  You may have as many petals as you like!  (We made a very simple 7-petal version.)  Cut out your petals.

 
Step 3::  Arrange the petals on the front of your tee.  Pin in place.

  
Step 4::  Using coordinating embroidery floss, an embroidery needle, and a blanket stitch - stitch around each petal.  (Enlarge the pictures to see the stitching method!)

  
  
 
Step 5::  Make a yo-yo for your flower center.  Start by cutting out a circle using another coordinating fabric.  (Use the mouth of a large glass or a small bowl to trace out your circle.)  Turn the raw edge of your circle under about 1/4".  Using a long running stitch, stitch along the crease.  Pull stitches up tightly and knot off.  Stitch your yo-yo to the center of your flower.

  
  
Now, pop on a pretty button for your flower center, and make a matching skirt!

  
Voila!

XOXO, the Long ladies

pillowcase fun!

Hello again. Here's the little tutorial for your own patched pillowcase! It's very simple...

First thing... cut a piece of fabric 31 inches long. (Of course your fabric is the standard 45 inches wide.)

 

Now. Open your piece of fabric up all the way. And don't forget your scraps! (Rather large pieces, we might add!)

 
We used a Yo-yo template to make our circles. If a strip happens to catch your fancy, use it!

 
With your main piece of fabric fully opened, start by laying out different sized circles and strips in a manner that's pleasing to you.

 
Using a zig-zag stitch, stitch along the sides of your circles, strips or squares.

 
Now that you've sewn all your lovelies down, stand back and admire your work!

 
Fold it in half, right sides together, once more. Stitch down one short side and the only long side.

 
Clip corners. Then do a small hem.

 
Turn right side out. YOUR PILLOWCASE IS DONE!!

 
We'll try to be back soon. If you like this little tutorial, perhaps you'd like this one as well! Has Spring been keeping you all busy? It has us!

Love, the Long ladies 

sometimes... I'm inspired

Spring is really inspiring to me! (Me, being Abigail.) First. It inspires me to make a rain hat to match my rain coat. I love it! Besides.... who can go on a walk when it's raining outside without a rain hat too? (Thanks to Nan for sending me a hat pattern I could play with!)

Then my aunt (who happens to have very cute toenails... remember?) inspired me by sending us a clipping from a magazine... Of course, it doesn't look quite like it looked in the magazine clipping. But that's part of the fun of it! (And it definately causes beautiful sleep!) So I made this:

It's very easy... would anyone like some instructions?

Bags. I'm bag crazy, (like all my other sisters! Thanks Mommy!) So I came up with this... perfect tag-along, I thought! I named it Jenny, after two very special ladies.

I'd better go now! Tell me this: what does Spring inspire you to do?

xx, Abs
 
  

the tutorial: decorate your board!

 Hi all!  Here we are again for the fun tutorial we were telling y'all about.  We've been covering our bulletin boards for a few years now.  We think this makes a regular-old-board great enough to put in bedrooms too!  We decided to punch up our sewing bulletin boards when we were moving the studio, so we did almost all of these at about midnight (remember, Nanny?).  Oh, the fun!

So, now it's your turn to cover a plain bulletin board and make it pop!  Enjoy!  xo~the Long ladies

The Bulletin Board-Covering Tutorial

1. Get a desired piece of fabric that's 3" or 4" larger than your board.  Now cut a piece of batting slightly smaller than your piece of fabric.

3. Layer board, fabric, and batting together as follows: fabric right side down-batting-board cork side down.

4. Wrap one end of fabric + batting over end of board and at an angle push a straight pin in it. (It's very important to push the pins in at an angle to prevent the pins from sticking in to the right side!)  Stretch fabric on opposite side and repeat same procedure.  Make sure you keep the fabric nice and taut!

5. "Pleat" corner up, making a clean, smooth corner and stick straight pins in.  Repeat with the other corner on the same side and continue "pleating" until you've done all four corners.

6. Pulling tightly, finish sides same as ends (see step 4).  Remember to push the straight pins in at an angle!  You can also use scissors or another firm instrument to help push pins in-- that's what we do!

Turn over and admire!  If you want, feel free to leave it plain (even though it's not really plain), or continue with the next steps to add ric rac or ribbons to make "triangles" to slip pictures, etc. in!

7. Measure the short edge of your board and mark that length on the long edge.  Using these measurements, it will be easy for you to decide how far apart you want your ric rac (or ribbon).

8. Put the ric rac-- leaving excess so you can pull it onto the back and put a straight pin in-- at an angle from one short corner edge, to the place that you've marked in step 7.  Pull tightly and push a straight pin in the back.  Do the same from the opposite edge.   

9. Continue, using the same method as step 8, across your board, making little "squares".  Make sure to measure to allow the ric rac to be spaced evenly.

10. Stick little decorative head pins (we found our's at JoAnn's) on the "crossed" ric rac marks.  Or you can also hot glue buttons on it.  

All done!  Now, comes another fun part--- stick a bunch of lovely things in your revamped bulletin board!

Here's some more of our bulletin board adventures!