Monday, August 20, 2007

Vintage Re-mix

I love vintage textiles. There is something special about them. I especially like vintage pillowcases. There are many vintage pillowcases that have been hand embroidered with such attention to detail that no machine could ever reproduce.

I'm lucky enough to live in the south where there seems to be an abundance of vintage pillowcases. I've seen them everywhere from flea markets, yard sales, antique shops, and second hand shops. Some are embellished with simple embroidery, others with crochet trims, and some are just spectacular and blow your mind away!

I found a pair of matching pillowcases at a local antique shop and I turned one of them into this beautiful peasant top for a little girl. The embroidery is done by a machine but it was in such wonderful condition that I couldn't resist them.

Here's some tips for buying vintage pillowcases:
- Check for yellowing. Sometimes you can only see these spots in natural light.
- Check for tiny holes
- Check for stains
- Flip the pillowcase inside out and check to see if the embroidery floss is still in good condition.
- Check for fraying threads especially along fold lines.

Have fun browsing and enjoy the art of days gone by.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Reversible Pinafores

We've added some reversible pinafores to our shop. We only list a handful (2-5) of each design so if you see one you like snatch it up before someone else does! Here is our latest one, perfect for those memorable pictures to the pumpkin patch! The two pictures are of the same dress. You get 2 looks in one. Visit www.petitdebutant.com to see more pictures of the dress.

Here are some helpful tips to get some great shots at the pumpkin patch:
Take lots of pictures!
Take close-ups as well as distance shots.
Some of the best shots are when the kids aren't even looking at the camera.
Try: holding pumpkins, sitting on bales of hay, surrounding your kids with pumpkins, sitting on the giant pumpkin (if your kids are small enough!)

Most importantly have fun!

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Etsy Tools

website that gives you lots of useful information as a seller on Do you have an ETSY shop? Ever wonder when the best time to list is? I just found the coolest ETSY. Etsy tools is an unnofficial website that has of useful real time charts. So visit etsyTools to learn more!

Monday, August 6, 2007

Presser Foot Organizer

About 1 week ago I moved my 2 children into the same bedroom. That left me with an empty room to finally have my own space for sewing. Right now my sewing room is a mess as I try to reorganize everything and get new furniture in there.

Not knowing exactly where to start my mission, I started in my presser foot box. It was just one of those small Rubbermaid type of bins with a lid, about the size of a small box. It starts out with just presser feet in the container but by the end of the month I've got pins, scissors, thread and what not in the box. Plus I always spend 5 minutes searching for the right foot. I had seen a "sewing supply bag" on the Sears website for $30, but I have never actually seen it in the store and looks rather bulky to me. I really like the way the pockets are clear. That's about the only thing I like, so I decided to make my own.

Here are general instructions for making your own presser foot/accessory organizer. Enjoy!


You will need fabric and some vinyl. I used one of those bags you get when you purchase a comforter. for fabric I used some upholstery fabric I had lying around.





Step 1: Lay out all of your presser feet/accessories you want to put in the organizer. Group them by size.

Step 2: Decide how big you want your organizer to be mine measures 7"x30" (add seam allowances.) Hem all edges of your organizer (I used my rolled hem foot)


Step 3: Cut out pieces of the vinyl larger than the size you need, you can always trim it later. Starting at the bottom (with your largest pieces) sew the plastic on. Then sew channels to form more pockets. Pin the plastic often and sew slowly to avoid puckers.

Start sewing at A (back-stitch) go to B, then, C, then D (back-stitch.) Then sew from 1 to 2 and back-stitch at both (Repeat this if you want more channels)


Step 4: Sew the rest of your rows. Make sure you fill the previous row with your presser feet before you determine where to place the next row. This way you can tell how far away to stitch your next row with out having puckers.

Finish it off anyway you want! You can add grommets to the top so you can hang it on your wall, add a magnetic clasp so it stays shut (this is what I plan to do) or tie it with a ribbon. This conveniently fold to about 5"x7" Mine is about 2" thick.



Tuck this baby in with your sewing bag and you're ready for your next class!

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Twinkle Toes Baby Booties™

We've launched our new line of reversible baby booties! These super cute reversible baby booties feature stylish 100% cotton fabrics, thick soles, enclosed seams, and an elastic heel so shoes stay on.

Twinkle Toes Baby Booties™ are easy care. Just toss them in the washing machine with the rest of your laundry. The fabrics are pre-washed so they won't shrink!

They are available in the following sizes:
S (3m) - 4"
M (6m) - 4.5"
L (12m) - 5"


**These shoes are not meant for outdoor use.

We'll be adding more styles in the upcoming weeks. So be sure to visit www.petitdebutant.com to see all the new styles.

Friday, August 3, 2007

New Logo!!

I have been working long and hard to create the logo for Petit Debutant(click the image to see it full size.) It took several weeks to tweak it and get it just right. The great thing about it is that I can change the colors around with the seasons or when I get bored with thte color scheme. Feel free to let me know what you think!