Billie Jean Show & Tell.....

Billie Jean by Heather

Lately i have been stumbling across more and more Billie Jean's out in the blogoshere, with  more popping up all over the place everyday...It is so much fun for me to see everyone individual  take on the pattern, and transforming the pattern to a whole other level with ideas that havent even occurred to me!  I'm just a little bit proud of you gals.... Clever bunch

So with out further ado, here is another stunning Billie Jean i spotted out in the wild!

Check out Heather from her blog: handmadebyheather , and her version of Billie Jean!
I cant help myself... i am green with envy...

She has done such a lovely job with dress 2 of the Billie Jean pattern, i absolutely love the green polka dot fabric she has chosen and definitely think Billie Jean not only loves Hawaiian print fabric, but polka dots as well!




Green with envy

I love that Heather chose to make dress 2 of the Billie Jean pattern, but changed  the full gathered skirt to a 4 panel  gored skirt, showing the versatility of the pattern and it looks gorgeous! The gored skirt sits so lovely and still has enough twirling factor.

Heather also made some adjustments to the neckline for more of a 'hiding of the  bra straps' wearing  Billie Jean, which still totally doesn't deter at all from the flattering neckline design and is easy to do. I have a tutorial/advice coming up for the neckline design, so stay tuned.

She also installed an invisible zipper instead of a lapped zipper, as per the pattern instructions. Tutorial coming up on this as well.



Billie Jean with invisible zipper



Head on over to Heathers blog, and have a squizz at all of the other amazing things she has made.... Oh and she is hilarious as well so you'll be in for a bit of a giggle!


Also if you are after a bit more of an in depth review of the Billie Jean  pattern, check out Heather's review/take on Pattern Review , where she gets into the nitty gritty of the pattern. ( FYI this review is no way paid etc by me -  its a totally freewill review! )




Have you made a Billie Jean? Wanna show it off? Join the Bluegingerdoll Flickr group and share it! Or if you have some sewing  tips and tricks, or  just wanna have a good ole yarn about anything sewing related, then join up!


Abby
x

Billie Jean printing .....

Well folks, it is an exciting time at the moment..... The Billie Jean sewing pattern has officially been sent off to the printers this week!!! Yay!!  Soooo this means that  it looks like the pattern will be sent out to all your folks sooner than expected, and sooner  then the mid June time frame  i previously estimated, but i will still be crossing my  fingers that  it all goes smoothly!

I am waayyy excited, it has been a long time coming and it is such a great feeling and relief to see the pattern finally going to print. And again a  massive thank you to all of you who showed support for the Billie Jean pattern during the pre sale, i appreciate it so much and you have helped a whole lot in getting Billie Jean off the ground. I am loving seeing Billie Jean's popping up all over the place, you gals are a talented bunch!

Once the pattern is printed and on its way in the post, is there anyone who would be interested in participating in a Billie Jean sewalong series? Both dresses or one in particular?


Oh and here a teeny tiny sneak peek of the next upcoming  Bluegingerdoll pattern design, soon to be released for pre sale!!!!

 

 

Abby

x

 

Winter coat inspiration

Pretty tree out the front of our house

It is Autumn in Melbourne at the moment, the light is beautiful, the leaves are changing and it feels so cosy and a certain kind reflective mood has set up camp in my mind... but it is also FREEZING!

So i have been thinking that i need a new winter coat, nice and cosy, and totally glamourous!

Whilst i have been extremely busy with getting  Billie Jean finalised and ready for print, and i have  just finished making  a friends amazing wedding dress ( photos to come!!!! ), I have been amusing myself in random spare moments with gathering inspiration for my new winter coat.... I will most probably be  drafting my own pattern ,that way i  can piece together ideas that i like. I wont be  buying a commercial pattern, as i am yet to find THE perfect pattern! I am more inspired by the 40s and 50s style coats and their fit. Even  back then,  coats were  made to flatter the female figure not cover us up, like  most of the modern designs do.... like a sack o' taters...

So here are some really amazing vintage style coats that have my brain ticking over with excitement and ideas, enjoy!


The  fit of this coat at the waist, and the way it accentuates the hips...  amazing!


                               ETSY



Love this cropped jacket, it would look great with both dress versions of Billie Jean.

                       ETSY


Ok not so fitted, but this is simple and  amazing because its reversible! This suits me totally, i am always spilling stuff down my front with this coat  i could just flip it and go.....



                  ETSY


Love this length and style, casual yet classy


                                ETSY


This is amazing, that side pocket feature is stunning, yet practical!


                                         ETSY

Another beautiful design, so the full skirt of the coat is so flattering, and the cinched  waist.


                                     ETSY


1940's coat, the even longer length is flattering, the back skirt of the coat sits perfectly, and again so figure hugging and flattering.

                                      ETSY

Dont blast me or hate me,  but i would love to have a fur coat, love the colour of this one.

                                   ETSY



Look at this floor length housecoat... i would feel so glamorous in this vacuming and washing the dishes!

                             ETSY



Look at this amazing herringbone coat with chevron stripe, i need some of this fabric...


                                   ETSY


This is only what i have found on ETSY, i am not even going to go into  what i have pinned on  PINTEREST ..... I am definately heading down the road of a fitted waist and full skirted coat.

All this inspiration is heaps exciting, but with more pattern designs currently in production, and a million other ideas floating around in my head,  i may just  be heading down to the shops and buying a new winter coat straight off the rack....Maybe a  next winter project??!!!

Have you ever made  a coat for yourself?  What sewing ideas have you long been planning?

 

 

The Sew Knit Create Shop: Interview with Abby Horskins the woman behind Blue...

Have a peek at an interview i did with the lovely Nicole from Sewknitcreate, and who will also be stocking the Billie Jean sewing pattern in her shop, as well as future Bluegingerdoll patterns!

Enjoy!

The Sew Knit Create Shop: Interview with Abby Horskins the woman behind Blue...: I am pleased to announce The Sew Knit Create shop will be stocking the first sewing pattern, The Billie Jean dress from a new pattern compan...

Its a wrap!

Thanks to all who showed their support during the Billie Jean sewing pattern pre sale, the proceeds will be going towards getting the Billie Jean pattern to print, so THANK YOU!!!!!

Seeing as it is a wrap for the pre sale and in case you missed them, i thought i would  share with you a Billie Jean dress sample round up,  check em out:

Billie Jean in red




Billie Jean in black

Billie Jean in Green

 

Billie Jean & Horses










Billie Jean in Vegas

Billie Jean & Polka dots



Which one is you favourite?  I cant pick, i love em all!


FYI, the Billie Jean pattern is now back to the RRP, but you can still show your support!

Abby
x

Billie Jean in Green

Heading towards the end of the pre sale, which has been extended until the 19th May, here is my final Billie Jean dress sample to share with you. Excuse the photos this time around, Melbourne freezing, dark and  and cold at the moment, and i am  getting home in the dark, so  my only option is for photos to be taken  inside. Oh and i ain't heading outside in this weather with this dress on! 

 

I may possibly be addicted to this type of Hawaiian fabric, especially when making a Billie Jean, i tells ya, dress 1 of the Billie jean pattern, loves it!

The Billie Jean pattern calls for Dress 1 the wiggle dress to be fully lined, and Dress the full gathered skirt to have only the bodice lined. I have lined all of my Billie Jean's, and it did occur to me i haven't shown any inside shots of the Billie Jean dresses, so here are a couple:

I lined this Green Billie Jean with a soft white cotton, for the comfort factor, but obviously you can line the Billie Jean dresses in whatever you chose, but i do  recommend sticking to lightweight fabrics. 

Nice hand stitching  with the lining at the zipper, if i do say so myself!

So there you have it folks, the final of my Billie Jean dress samples, buuuutttt its not the end, the more the make the pattern the more ideas i have for it  - so stay tuned!

 Also if you haven't heard the Billie Jean sewing pattern pre sale has been extended until the 19th May this Sunday, so grab a copy before it goes back to the RRP.


Or if you consider yourself bit of gambler and want  to see if you can win one of two copies of the pattern up for grabs, check out the Billie Jean pattern giveaway over on Paunnet's blog:

paunnet.blogspot.com.au/


Giveaway ends on the 19th of May!

So tell me which is your favorite Billie Jean?

 Have a great weekend.

Abby

x

Billie Jean & Polkadots

Have you seen the absolutely gorgeous polkadot version of Billie Jean by the lovely Jen, from jenniferlaurenvintage ????

 I fell absolutely in love with i saw Jen's finished Billie Jean. The vintage style of the dress, is a match made in heaven with polkadot fabric, the girl's got style!
 I kindly asked Jen, if she would be interested in being a pattern tester for the Billie Jean, when the pattern was still very much in its infancy  and thankfully she said yes!



 Read about how she made Billie Jean her own, with some simple modifications to the pattern.  I was truly excited to see her finished Billie Jean, and i love the shorter skirt length for more of a modern look.



Check it out Jen' blog, jenniferlaurenvintage and totally be inspired  all over again with her sewing skills and finished projects, she is so amazingly talented.

Remember the pre sale for Billie Jean has been extended until the 19th May!

Grab a copy here WEBSITE or ETSY or CRAFTSY  .

Abby
x
 

An Interview, giveaway, and extension....

I am so excited, my very first interview for Bluegingerdoll!!!!

Here is a little sneak peek:

Interview: Bluegingerdoll Vintage Inspired Patterns

Today I'm happy to have Abby of Bluegingerdoll as a guest, she's a new indie pattern designer who specializes in vintage inspired creations. You know you want to know more about her!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? When did you start sewing?

I'm Abby and I live in Melbourne, Australia with my boyfriend and our 2 crazy dogs, Kenobi and Winnie. I have a love of all things vintage, especially the 40's and 50's. I also have a horse and love to go riding (when I can!), love cooking up a storm, crime shows, summertime and potato chips!

I was taught sewing in high school briefly, to be honest I really didn’t take to it at first, I actually hated going to sewing class, the teacher was a total bore, but fast forward a few years in my 20’s and I become really inspired about the thought of creating my own clothes and sewing them, and actually having the wardrobe I have always wanted. I quickly became obsessed and haven't stopped since.

 

Check out the  interview in all its glory, about Bluegingerdoll and the Billie Jean sewing pattern with the lovely Anna over on her blog, paunnet. Annnddddddd.....to coincide with the interview and  me rambling on about myself  and to celebrate the  release of the Billie Jean pattern, wait for it.....  another cool pattern giveaway!!!! I am just a tad  excited at the moment :)

Head on over to the Anna' blog paunnet for all the details on how to enter! Get going!!!!! Two patterns up for grabs. Also be inspired by  all of Anna's beautiful creations, she is one talented gal.

And another newsflash!

The  Billie Jean pattern  pre sale will also  be extended until the 19th May,  that's this Sunday folks! A  little while longer for you to take advantage of grabbing a copy of the pattern at more wallet friendly prices! Yay for everyone!

A friendly reminder you grab the pattern either PDF or Pattern versions of the pattern on the WEBSITE or  ETSY or CRAFTSY .


I have one more Billie Jean dress sample to show you real soon as well!

Good luck with the giveaway!

Abby
x







 

Billie Jean in Vegas...

 

 

 

I am so thrilled to share this with you! Billie Jean went to Vegas, baby!

 Never would i have thought for a second that there would be a Billie Jean dress all the way over in the US, let only Vegas, i totally squealed with delight, when Meg sent through her photos. I

 have to admit though, Billie Jean was totally destined for Vegas!

 

I kindly asked if Meg she would  be happy to try out the pattern for me, and i knew she would come through with the goods... i bugged her the whole way through, i was sooo excited to see her final dress! And i couldn't wait to  see Billie Jean on someone else, especially someone as gorgeous as Meg, she totally rocks it!

 

 

 

 She chose a fabulous shiny shantung and a striking striped cotton for the lining.

 

                         The  contrasting fabric looks amazing.

 

    Meg's circle skirt version

   

I love the fact that Meg ran with the idea that the sewing pattern is completely versatile and is easily adaptable for it to be modified and  experimented with. Modifying dress 2 of the sewing pattern, Meg changed up the skirt from the gathered skirt to a extremely flattering circle skirt, which gives the dress a totally new look. Enough though the dress is vintage inspired, Meg's version shows just how great it can look, with more of a modern twist, with a shorter hem length.

 

 

                  Billie Jean Dress 2 with full gathered skirt

 

 

Check out all the details of  Meg's fabulous version of the Billie Jean  dress 2 and all the fabulous things she has made over on her blog: megmadethis.

 

 

So if you have made a Billie Jean, i want to see it, i have set up a page on the blog for you showcase your Billie Jean - its so exciting and i cant wait  to see every one's take on the pattern, and the ideas that are in the making... 

 

 

The Billie Jean sewing pattern is currently available and up for pre sale, at fabulous pre sale prices, you can pick up the pattern on the WEBSITE, ETSY or CRAFTSY.

           Billie Jean - Dress 1 Wiggle dress, Dress 2, Gathered skirt

 

The paper pattern will be available from printers and ready to ship mid June - but there may be a possibility that will earlier, cross my fingers! The PDF pattern you can download ASAP and have a Billie Jean sewing pattern on your project list tomorrow!

 

Remember the pre sale ends on the 15th of May - that's next week! Then prices will revert back to RRP, So grab the pattern while its cheap! The pre sale is also helping out with the printing costs of the pattern.

 

I will also be organising a Billie Jean sew along for all the neat sewing techniques the pattern has, so stay tuned for that!

 

Abby

x

Billie Jean in red

Another dress sample post... i know, i know.. you may possibly be over it, BUT i had to share this Billie Jean dress sample that i made. Its the  the Dress 1 version of the sewing pattern: the wiggle dress. This was one of the first Billie Jean dress samples i made to test the actual design,wearability, comfort etc etc  and to be honest this is the dress that made me fall in love with the design and decide to release and share  the Billie Jean sewing pattern!

 I just love it !

 

 

 

 This  absolutely gorgeous cotton Hawaiian print, thwhen i saw it i  totally couldn't resist buying up big. I also made a few others bits and pieces with the fabric, but  i held onto the majority of it, knowing it needed just the right dress/project before i would use it . That perfect project was,  Dress 1 of the Billie Jean sewing pattern, a wiggle dress. It  seemed absolutely perfect for this fabric, totally a marriage made in heaven! This is the kind of fabric that  i envisaged  Billie Jean sewing pattern, been made up  in... ALL  THE TIME!

 

 

 Both dress versions of the pattern would suit bright and bold fabrics, but the wiggle dress especially loves them. They really show off the form fitting  dress design, and really accentuate the neckline design of the dress.

 

                   Winnie wanted to say hello!

 

I would highly recommend if you looking for a va va voom kinda of dress for your wardrobe, grab the Billie Jean sewing pattern, pick Dress 1, the wiggle dress,  go shopping for some fab bold, colourful statement type  fabric and get sewing! I guarantee you will turn heads if you do and have a gorgeous dress that will have you channelling a sexy 50's bombshell attitude!

I plan on doing a blog post on fabric choices for both Billie Jean's and what suits best, so stay tuned.

FYI: Billie Jean sewing pattern is still currently up for pre sale over on the WEBSITE , ETSY or CRAFTSY - Pre sale ends on the 15th of May, so take advantage of the great pre sale prices.

 Hope you like this Billie Jean version! More to come :)

Abby
x

 



Billie Jean & Horses

OK, this is a slight diversion away from the Billie Jean dress sample posts i have planned, but it is still in the same context, and i had to share these cool photos.

So i did finally get around to getting some more photos of Billie Jean, i waited and waited for a good day on the weekend, and for the sun to shine, but the last few weeks, and especially the weekend i needed to do the photos, Melbourne had the coldest, bleakest weekends ever!

But i decided to forge ahead, head out to the location and just try to get some kind, any kind of ok photos of Billie Jean that i could.. and it was freezing!

We headed out to a property just out of Melbourne, where my horse, Digger lives. It a sprawling, massive Arabian horse stud that has been around for yonks and has the most beautiful, established  huge gum trees all over the property. I am originally a country bumpkin, hailing from Traralgon, a country town about 2 hours from Melbourne. Heading up to Melbourne when i was 18. It was  the usual 18 year old  exploration/ break away/ small town suffocation... but  i couldnt leave my horse behind, he has been in the family since he was 6 months old and is now in his late 20's... so he came with me ! He is originally from this horse stud, so technically he was coming home.

So in blabbing on about all of  this,  horsey photos have been added, but unfornately on this day, my baby was a total snob - but we made other friends.

So without further ado, check out the pretty photos:

A curious friend. 

 All wet from the sporatic down pours

My Baby boy from afar - really not interested to come and say hello, despite offerings of carrots and apples.

Hanging by a gum tree

Doesnt everyone stand in the middle of a grass patch?

Another horsey photo

Check the tree - it was massive! Oh and this Billie Jean version has the BEST in seam pockets!

This the look of this storm rolling in, we headed home.

I am sure you are aware of the current Billie Jean sewing pattern pre -sale, BUT a friendly reminder never hurt!  So if you havent already picked up a copy of the Billie Jean sewing pattern, its currently up for pre - sale, at an awesome prices:

Paper copy $14.50

PDF $10.50

This is a total bargain for a sewing pattern that has basically 2 dress patterns on the one, you cant get better than that!!!!

You can grab it on the WEBSITE, ETSY OR CRAFTSY.

Pre-sale only until the 15th May, then the prices will revert to retail.

And keep your eyes peeled for some really awesome cool stuff that happening soon around these parts!

Have a great weekend dolls!

Abby

x