Another RAVE - Designer Renee Parrill

So (no pun intended) the post below this is regarding a little snag that I encountered (possible user error, but read on) with the pattern directions while working on the Gorgeous purse, which also happens to be the cover picture for Pretty Little Patchwork. (See Below Post). The pattern is written by Renee Parrill who, as it turns out has written several patterns which initially got me intrigued with sewing to begin with. Thx Renee!!!

Here is a picture of the strips I am planning on using, please feel free to let me know if I should rearrange the current layout, color wise, or otherwise.

Well, it's been awhile since this first all began, but I've been a tad busy lately, and today is catch-up. So, if you read my previous rave you're familiar with this story, if not, please read the post below. I opened my e-mail one morning, and was utterly flabbergasted to find an e-mail from Renee herself offering to assist me in any way she can, and she also included some step-by-steep photo's she took while making up the purse. I'm so excited to begin doing it, I can't wait. I'm so impressed with the response that I got, I am thrilled to shout praises for Renee from the rooftops. Offering advice to someone that you don't know, not even from through a friend, but a publisher, that's impressive. I have to say that I have not encountered the same thoughtfulness and outright kindness with any of my knitting patterns, let alone having two people respond with kindness and caring.

Once again, MY HATS OFF TO YOU RENEE!!!!!!

Pretty Little Patchwork - RAVE

When I first decided to pick up sewing, it was due to an article in Sew Simple Magazine on how to make your own "cafe" curtains (originally the idea to me was hideous), but I was having severe trouble finding JUST the right curtains for "MY" room (craft/guest). Actually, the first thought of sewing was another magazine which was a special edition, Quick Stuff to Sew. Te cover was a grabber, the cutest purses, and after seeing all my knitting friends making gorgeous sewn items, such as bags, Kimberly . I grabbed it up and never looked back.

The very weekend after I bought the magazine, there was a sale a a fabric warehouse near me which I went to, by myself, and was so overwhelmed as I had no idea what type of fabric I was looking for. The only fabric I had ever purchased were Fat Quarters from Purl Soho, and mostly Amy Butler, as I love her stuff.

From this minor beginning I went into buying a new sewing machine, my mom's machine was missing discs which my sister had lost and never told her, besides the machine is as old as me, literally. I then headed off to the bookstore to find books on sewing, and came across some really nice teach yourself manuals, if you have the attention span, I don't. I also found the book Pretty Little Patchwork which had some very cute, and seemingly very simple patterns. at this point you should reread the sentence about attention span. I did however read these patterns very thoroughly, as I have learned from knitting that doing that is a MUST.

I also just want to mention again that this specific post is about the book/publisher Lark Publishing, My next post is another in depth Rave. I had a problem with one of the patterns, and asked several, very experienced sewers, what was I doing wrong, was I somehow reading it wrong, but none of them could figure it out either. I went home after an evening at Stitch-n-Bitch at stix-n-stitches, and did a search for errata that might be related. I found one, but not on this specific pattern. I was up in arms, and was planning on raising all hell (sorry Remi) with the publisher, unfortunately when I finally reached the person at Lark that handles these issues my attitude switched from annoyance to pure pleasure. I reached someone named Kathleen, who couldn't have been more understanding, gratious, and was sincerely concearned. She is what Customer Service/help is supposed to be, and it's becoming harder and harder to find this. She took all my information, and promised that she would follow up with the editor, and the designer as well (see next post).

Kathleen didn't just pass the buck, she passed my info along, and also sent me a follow-up e-mail to make sure that everything was OK, and that if I had any other questions/issues, to contact her. Kathleen deserves the credit of an employee who goes above and beyond, and I am going to send her the link to my blog so that it can be passed along to her boss, so that they know how WONDERFUL she truly is.

THANK YOU KATHLEEN!!!

Also, please note that the book is wonderful, and the patterns are just fabulous, and are perfect for beginners and experienced alike.

My First Post

This is my first post for my new blog which happens to be about a new (re-learning) craft: sewing. My mother taught me when I was about 5 years old so that I could make clothes for my dolls; she also taught me then how to knit and crochet; I did them all for quite some time as a child. I picked knitting back up about 3 years ago when I had some free time on my hands, and have been doing it (ever so slowly as I do), since then. I have a blog (which I have not updated in quite a while, on knitting forgetfulstitcher9.blogspot.com AKA A Day in My Knitting Life.

I have already gotten myself into the thick of things as I tend to do (I now have a new "Stash" of fabric), as I have so many projects that I want to do, but now I have to be able to put it all together.