Bear in Mind

An electronic newsletter from Bear Threads Ltd. Volume 7 – Issue 1 January 2015

From The Editor – We are excited about our new monthly column on doll dressing. It is a popular hobby today, especially for those

who miss sewing for their babies and toddlers. It is another Alas another year is fading into the history books, and we great way to use small bits of fabric and lace, and a will soon have new challenges and adventures as we fabulous way to create imaginary adventures of your own. embark on 2015. Bear Threads was busy throughout the Of course a big plus is no dirty or torn clothing, wiggling holidays, and all indications point to a great winter and fittings, or fussy selections. To make this monthly feature Easter season. If I gave titles to our Bear in Mind issues, I more interesting for you, our readers, we are introducing would call this one ‘Let it Snow’, because it is full of ideas our friends Annabelle and Ping. Ping is from Singapore, for small projects that are perfect for a snowed in vacation! and will be staying with Annabelle, who lives in We have baby pillows, quilts and doll dressing…all small Connecticut, for a year. We hope you enjoy their hand projects perfect for a chair pulled up to the fireplace – adventures as much as we have enjoyed creating their as well as a New Years Snow Ball!!!!! stories. Perhaps you might start a doll club in your store

with monthly themes and storytelling for young girls and their moms to make doll clothing.

Before reading further, make sure Sunday January 11th is

on your calendar. This is the day of our semi-annual

Creative Sewing Market in Birmingham, Al. Note: IT IS

A 1 DAY ONLY MARKET so plan to arrive early with

shopping list in hand. We missed you all in September so

this will be an especially big show with lots of new items

to show you. And of course I will have lots of unique and

vintage goodies.

th Happy New Year to one and all, and enjoy another packed Easter is April 5 this year, so you have plenty of time to issue of Bear in Mind, with lots of sewing ideas for the sew, sew, and sew in the snow! Just plan your projects cold winter months. ahead of the weatherman’s evening announcement. As shop owners, several classes are surely already on your Happy Stitching, calendars, and as students you have time for learning a new technique, practicing and then turning your new skills into a wonderful spring frock for yourself or a loved one. All of Sheila the ideas in this issue are not only perfect for using small bits of lace and fabric; they are perfect for learning new techniques.

Decorative Home Heirlooms

From so many of you, I hear that you really miss heirloom sewing, but your children or grandchildren are past the age of smocked dresses or fancy collars. For others, you would like to learn the techniques of heirloom sewing but would wish for a project other than children’s clothing. We are here to rescue all of you who wish for another avenue to take, so that you may continue to enjoy the love of fine fabrics and laces. This month I hope to give you the incentive to be creative in your love of sewing, and use many of those leftover scraps at the same time.

Baby Pillows are a quick, small project – well, depending on how elaborate you wish it to be! – and are a fabulous use for small pieces of lace and fabric. You can keep a few on hand for gifts just waiting for a colored ribbon or a monogram.

We all know that baby pillows are not really for the baby’s head. Babies and small children do not start to use a pillow until at least 2 years or older, or when you notice that they actually start looking for something to put under their head. But absolutely nothing is sweeter to give as a gift – or receive – than a small pillow adorned with lace, a monogram or other themed decoration. And they The photos show some of my favorites. (Note: last a lifetime finding a spot on a guestroom bed Others were featured in the Nov. /Dec 2014 issue for all to reminisce of that time of the little ones’ of Bear in Mind, in the article ‘Heirlooms in a birth. Personally I am a big decorative ‘pillow Snap’) Even if you do not anticipate a baby for person’ and my guest room beds are stacked from your family or friends, remember they make a headboard half way to foot with pillows in great decorative addition to Aunt Jane’s bed! descending sizes…right down to baby pillows. Some of the cases I have made and others I have found in vintage linen shops. All are special in some way. I could not resist the opportunity with this article to share this precious crib ensemble. This particular crib was, for many years, used as a magazine rack. A new locking bar was made to ‘lock’ it into a shorter version which made it a perfect reading material depository! It was always my wish to have the crib dressed in all of it’s’ glory…and I finally found the perfect person to help transform it into this fairytale work. The mattress foundation is Swiss Floral damask and is ruched around the boxed edging. It is tufted with 2 hole flat buttons attached with miniature blue Another wonderful Heirloom sewing project is and white check ribbon. The side rails are covered the heirloom quilt. This can be a themed quilt (by with Dotted Swiss and trimmed with a vintage color or design), or one that joins small squares blue and white lace. Finishing the ensemble is a made of various scraps of lace and fabric. Making pillow that has a 3.5” Swiss edging ruffled in small squares to be joined is a wonderful way to circles. The only one to have slept in it was my introduce you to new techniques and stitches. dear 20yr old Kitty who was, amazingly, never put Don’t panic with the thought of making a quilt for off by the rocking! a king sized bed! Baby quilts or ‘lap’ quilts can be 36”-50” square, taking much less time. And they don’t have to always be quilted. The top and lining (and interlining, if you choose) can be joined by buttons sewn through all layers, or ribbon bows tacked through all layers. Use your imagination to come up with your own methodology. Small squares of different designs or materials are a great way, not only to use small bits of this and that, but they make a great car project while you are waiting on the kids at school events. So I encourage you to gather those bags of lace and trim pieces, as well as all of your scraps of fabric and plan a fireside project for this winter.

Sew Delightful added traditional quilt making and long arm quilting services, it was easy to see that an “heirloom quilt” using Encourages Heirloom Quilting the same fabrics, laces and techniques would fill the void. Based on that knowledge, the class was planned and Sew Delightful will soon begin its fifteenth year of offered and was a great hit. This was a perfect answer and supplying sewing enthusiasts a perfect place to fulfill their opened up endless possibilities for the ladies. Some used sewing dreams. The shop opened with three employees, scraps of the fabrics they had originally used to make 1000 square feet including classroom space, and only a daygowns, Easter dresses and other special occasions limited number of bolts of fabrics and sewing accessories. outfits for their children and grandchildren. They also used It was an immediate success which was attributed to the leftover pieces of lace from those same outfits. Some just fact that only the finest heirloom fabrics and laces were purchased the required amount of Swiss fabrics and laces carried and the knowledge of the small staff was to construct theirs. All turned out beautiful. The idea of overwhelming. The first classes were smocking and this quilt is now encouraged; when new sewers begin their beginning heirloom sewing by machine. Both classes filled journey, extra fabric and lace is suggested with the and additional sessions were immediately scheduled. With thought of making this quilt in the future. excellent teachers, only the best fabrics and laces added together with Husqvarna Viking sewing machines; a successful shop was born and quickly grew to be the largest sewing center in West Alabama.

Along with heirloom and smocking, Sew Delightful offers machine embroidery, long arm quilting and tons of classes. Classes include everything from beginner’s classes in basic sewing, heirloom sewing, quilt making, home dec and craft-type projects. Only the best fabrics and notions are offered. As an authorized Husqvarna Viking dealer and The shop now has 13 employees, over 3,000 square feet of service center, a number of classes specific to the retail space, plus additional classroom area, and a huge machines are also offered. At least 3 major inventory of the finest heirloom fabrics and laces in teaching/learning events are offered each year and are addition to over 1,000 bolts of 100% cotton fabrics used taught by national teachers from all across the United for quilts and clothing. All success is due to the willingness States. Monthly quilt clubs, embroidery clubs, software of the staff to listen to the customers and offer only the clubs and machine training are part of the educational very best and most requested supplies and classes. In the benefits Sew Delightful offers. beginning, the shop was strictly heirloom with a small amount of novelty fabrics for children’s clothing and Please stop by Sew Delightful located at 1875 McFarland smocking supplies. As the shop grew and the customer Blvd, Suite 200, Tuscaloosa, AL or visit them online at base expanded, it became obvious that as the children www.sewdelightful.net where you can sign up to receive grew and no longer wanted to wear heirloom garments, their weekly special and newsletter. Also, like them on something was needed to fulfill the desires of the ladies Facebook. and their love of all things heirloom. Since the shop had

as how they were to be sold. An actual example Doll Dressing of a doll made in the 1500’s was found in 1966 An Historical Perspective in a Rhenish castle. (This is the area of

southwestern Germany that borders Rhineland, Contrary to what you might have thought, dolls Saarland and France’s Alsace region.) The nine were not created for the purpose of inch doll was described as carved of limewood entertaining little girls with tea parties and and embellished with paint. The doll was birthday celebrations. Historians have traced attired in a linen dress with gold embroidery, dolls back to religious rites of primitive and a net cap. Other dolls discovered during societies. They speculate that as beliefs faded, this time were shown to be clothed in costumes so did their interest in the dolls and so they of the period, by comparison to the paintings of were handed down to children as toys. In the same time. ancient Greek literature, girls made elaborate clothing for their dolls and offered these to the Fashion dolls became popular around the nymphs or to Artemis at the time of their 1300’s. Even court records note such gifts of engagement. The earliest examples of fashion dolls sent by the French queen to the European dolls date from the fourteenth queen of England in 1321. Another notation century in Nuremberg, Germany. They were was when Isabeau of Bavaria, Queen of France, modeled after children, monks and women sent dolls to England to show the newest dressed in the fashion of the time. Listings of French fashions in 1391. doll maker names in the city records of

Nuremberg were dated as early as the fifteenth century. Guilds were established at this time which regulated the types of dolls made as well

To the far off colonies in America, Parisian dolls were sent to illustrate the current Parisian fashions and to serve as the dressmaker’s model as well. Following is an interesting ad Doll Trivia

found in the New England Weekly Journal of dolls were invented by Ruth Handler July 2, 1733: (co-founder of ), whose own daughter was Barbara. The Barbie doll was introduced “At Mrs. Hannah Teatt’s, dressmaker at the top at the American Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959. The full name of the first doll of Summer Street, Boston, is to be seen a was Barbie Millicent Roberts, from Willows, mannequin, in the latest fashion, with articles of Wisconsin. Barbie’s job was that of teenage dress, night dresses, and everything fashion model. Barbie was once the most appertaining to women’s attire. It has been popular doll sold but sales have declined sharply for the past several years. brought from London by Captain White. Ladies who choose to see it may come or send for it. It introduced its line of 18” dolls is always ready to serve you. If you come, it will in 1986. Through an array of premium-quality cost you two shillings, but if you send for it, books, dolls, clothes, toys, and accessories, American Girl has earned the loyalty of seven shillings.” millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators. So, truly, dolls had become great ambassadors and popular tools for 18th century dress Madame Alexander is a brand of American collectible dolls introduced in 1923. Madame designers. They were literally sent all over the Alexander was also the business name of world as mannequins displaying current Beatrice Alexander (1895-1990), who was fashions of the times. Today we can still see born Bertha Alexander, later changed her name to Beatrice, married Philip Behrman and then many beautifully dressed dolls from France. started her doll business. She was an American This is one (only one!) explanation of why the entrepreneur who created the first "collectible" popular method of Fine Handsewing today is dolls based on a licensed character – Scarlett called French Handsewing. O'Hara from the book and movie Gone with the Wind. She was also one of the early

creators of mass-produced dolls in honor of We hope you enjoy our series on Doll Dressing living people, with dolls of the famous Dionne and the adventures of Ping and Annabelle. quintuplets in 1936 and a set of 36 Queen Elizabeth II dolls to commemorate the 1953

coronation celebrations in Britain.

Meet Annabelle and Ping

As They Ring in the New Year Arriving at the Ball they were immediately greeted Annabelle and Ping met last summer at a conference with a chorus of oohhhs and aahhhs. Both girls were held in Washington, D.C. for gifted young teens. The lovely and attracting the attention of everyone. focus of the conference was global peace. They were Annabelle was resplendent in a lovely Blue Swiss part of a small study group and had become best Wool Challis dress with ruffle sleeves and peplum. It friends by the end of the conference. was so feminine in its simplicity. She made her entrance in a matching coat and bonnet with fur trim. Upon returning home they began to plot how they Ping’s long dark hair was accentuated by her regal would see one another again. It was agreed that since White Swiss Wool Challis beaded dress. Everyone Ping wanted to return to the United States, coming as wanted to know who their couturier was. Annabelle’s an exchange student would be the answer. Ping will coat and bonnet pattern is Lezette Thomason’s be staying with Annabelle for a year, and is excited to Maggie. Both dresses are adaptations using Wendy learn not only about American customs and American Schoen’s Mirella for the bodice with original skirts, holidays, but also events unique to America such as sleeves and beading. Derby Day, Super Bowl, and the New York Easter Parade.

It was a busy Holiday season for both girls, most especially Ping, saying good-bye to friends and preparing to begin a brave new adventure. Annabelle was excited to introduce Ping to all her friends at the New Year’s Snow Ball, an event not to be missed in her hometown in Connecticut. It was a grand affair with all the girls having planned for months what they would wear.

These very fine Swiss fabrics are perfect for young girls as they are 55% polyester and 45% Swiss wool. The polyester allows for hand washing and much less scratching on young skin!

Ping arrived exhausted from the long flight from Singapore and after the evening’s festivities was ready for a long New Years Day sleep in. Annabelle had anticipated this, and decided her welcome gift would be a luxurious pajama set with matching robe. She chose Swiss Pique with a tiny navy dot and matching Swiss flannel robe. The tiny vintage red floral motifs completed the red/white and blue ‘welcome to America’ theme. The pajama pattern is from American Girl “Molly’s Pretty Clothes”. The robe is from an out-of-print Vogue Pattern (#676).

NOTE: I would like to thank Lori Popelka and Tami Litton who are the real couturiers. They will be orchestrating the wardrobe for Annabelle and Ping for the next year. Hugs to both for a great beginning.

Sewing for Dolls – Tip #1

Use Organdy as a lining for a doll

dress bodice. Lining is better than

facings for small scale sewing. The Organdy will help the bodice hold its

s hape and will make the bodice fit

better on your doll.

"Bear in Mind" articles are available on our website. Encourage your customers to check out our website for information and inspiration.

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