say Hello to our NEW website!!

We are SO excited to announce to you the launch of our brand new website!!! We are just thrilled with it, and hope you are too. Now, let’s gush over for just a bit….

~The site is there exclusively to showcase our patterns! So there’s lots of pictures and info all about them. Of course, if you don’t see an answer to your questions, just shoot us an email.

~Easy to navigate!

~Mobile friendly!

~Free shipping on orders of $50 or more!

~We are also now offering Pattern Collections! This option allows you to purchase multiple patterns together at a discounted price.

~An updated About Us page allows you to learn a little more about each of us. Simply click on individual names and read about each of our specialties and personal pursuits (more going on there that we hope to share soon!). You can contact us individually or read about some of the things we love, which includes everything from country music to Mexican food to cold sheets.

~We will still continue to have our Etsy shop, and don’t forget to keep an eye on it. If we have any fabric bundles, boutique clothing, or specialty things for sale, you’ll find them there.

~And, don’t forget you can connect with us via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’!

Enough from us… go check it out!!

xoxo~

Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah

Quick Column Quilts Blog Tour!!

We are so delighted to be a part of the Quick Column Quilts blog tour!! The ever wonderful, lovely, and talented Nancy Zieman is celebrating the upcoming release of her newest book, Quick Column Quilts.

The book features patterns for 13 different quilts, all done 'column' style. Which makes it soooo much easier to put together! This book is perfect for those that haven't quilted before, but are ready to give it a whirl, or for the seasoned quilter that wants a fun, fast project.

We chose to make the "Carefree Column Quilt" out of Pam Kitty Picnic fabrics. Except for the sashing, binding, and backing the rest of the quilt is made with fat quarters. Always a plus, right? The quilt came together in one day with no problem. The quilt patterns are for many different size quilts (the Carefree quilt is lap size). We are thinking these would make darling baby blankets…

One of the things we loved about the book is the diagrams. Call us goofy, but diagrams really can help a body out. The ones in Nancy's book are spot on, making it a cinch to lay out!

You all want a copy, right? The good news is that Nancy is having some fabulous giveaways coinciding with the blog tour, so run on over, check out the prizes, and sign up!!! (Psst… and you can pre-order her book here.)

Be sure to check out all the other quilts on the blog tour….

Date Link

09/04/14 Nancy Zieman

09/05/14 Quilt Taffy and Simple Simon & Co.

09/06/14 Diary of a Quilter and Stitchin Jenny

09/07/14 A Woman a Day

09/08/14 Jina Barney Designz, Lilac Lane Patterns, and Totally Stitchin’

09/09/14 Esch House Quilts and The Cottage Mama

09/10/14 Designs in Machine Embroidery and Pat Sloan

09/12/14 Happy Valley Primitives, Doohikey Designs, and Quilt in a Day

09/13/14 Quilt Dad and Just Arting Around

09/14/14 Lazy Girl Designs and Marie-Madeline Studio

09/15/14 Always Expect Moore and Polka Dot Chair

09/16/14 Amy Lou Who Sews and Riley Blake Designs

09/17/14 Indygo Junction and Amy’s Creative Side

– See more at: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/blog-tour/quick-column-quilts-book-and-blog-tour/#sthash.usA9EAWY.dpuf

09/04/14 Nancy Zieman

09/05/14 Quilt Taffy and Simple Simon & Co.

09/06/14 Diary of a Quilter and Stitchin Jenny

09/07/14 A Woman a Day

09/08/14 Jina Barney Designz, Lilac Lane Patterns, and Totally Stitchin’

09/09/14 Esch House Quilts and The Cottage Mama

09/10/14 Designs in Machine Embroidery and Pat Sloan

09/12/14 Happy Valley Primitives, Doohikey Designs, and Quilt in a Day

09/13/14 Quilt Dad and Just Arting Around

09/14/14 Lazy Girl Designs and Marie-Madeline Studio

09/15/14 Always Expect Moore and Polka Dot Chair

09/16/14 Amy Lou Who Sews and Riley Blake Designs

09/17/14 Indygo Junction and Amy’s Creative Side

– See more at: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/blog-tour/quick-column-quilts-book-and-blog-tour/#sthash.usA9EAWY.dpuf

09/04/14 Nancy Zieman

09/05/14 Quilt Taffy and Simple Simon & Co.

09/06/14 Diary of a Quilter and Stitchin Jenny

09/07/14 A Woman a Day

09/08/14 Jina Barney Designz, Lilac Lane Patterns, and Totally Stitchin’

09/09/14 Esch House Quilts and The Cottage Mama

09/10/14 Designs in Machine Embroidery and Pat Sloan

09/12/14 Happy Valley Primitives, Doohikey Designs, and Quilt in a Day

09/13/14 Quilt Dad and Just Arting Around

09/14/14 Lazy Girl Designs and Marie-Madeline Studio

09/15/14 Always Expect Moore and Polka Dot Chair

09/16/14 Amy Lou Who Sews and Riley Blake Designs

09/17/14 Indygo Junction and Amy’s Creative Side

– See more at: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/blog-tour/quick-column-quilts-book-and-blog-tour/#sthash.usA9EAWY.dpuf

09/04/14 Nancy Zieman

09/05/14 Quilt Taffy and Simple Simon & Co.

09/06/14 Diary of a Quilter and Stitchin Jenny

09/07/14 A Woman a Day and Craizee Corner

09/08/14 Jina Barney Designz, Lilac Lane Patterns, and Totally Stitchin’

09/09/14 Esch House Quilts and The Cottage Mama

09/10/14 Designs in Machine Embroidery and Pat Sloan

09/12/14 Happy Valley Primitives, Doohikey Designs, and Quilt in a Day

09/13/14 Quilt Dad and Just Arting Around

09/14/14 Lazy Girl Designs and Marie-Madeline Studio

09/15/14 Always Expect Moore and Polka Dot Chair

09/16/14 Amy Lou Who Sews and Riley Blake Designs

09/17/14 Indygo Junction and Amy’s Creative Side

xoxo!

Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, & Abiah

Labor Day Weekend Pattern Sale!

Hi all!

This weekend only (August 29th through September 1st) you will find all marie-madeline studio sewing patterns 25% off!

Happy shopping!!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend~

xox KAAAA

PS Abigail is hosting a grand giveaway on her blog right now!! Go sign up for an opportunity to win a copy of her Modern Prairie Sewing + a handmade item!! xo

Modern Prairie Sewing Blog Hop!!

WOOHOO!!! Hooray for Abi's blog hop! Abi was SO sweet to ask me to do a project for her blog hop…especially since I'm not the world's greatest seamstress. Shame on me, I know. Of course, I can sew, but all of my sisters are a whole lot better at it than me. Anyway, this is seriously THE GREATEST book (and I'm not biased!!!). Abi did an amazing job, and every project is so beautiful. Another reason I adore this book is the photography…I was so blessed to get to be behind the scenes, and watch an amazing photographer work. YOU REALLY NEED YOUR OWN COPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For my project, I decided to do the It's A Cinch Belt. I used an Anna Maria Drawing Room Home Dec for the main belt, and Amy Butler Hapi in cotton for the contrasting side and ties. It was SO easy, and I had it whipped up in no time flat. All of the instructions are very clear, and with illustrations if you're a visual kind of girl (like me). I am so happy with the way it turned out, and even more thrilled that Abi was so tickled!

Oh, and don't forget that Abi is giving away two copies of her book along with two made projects from the book. Go check her blog for the giveaways going on August 29th through 31st!!!

Now, check out all these awesome seamstresses blogs, and see the cute things they made from the book!!

Jenny Fish!August 20th

Pam Kitty Morning! August 21st

Jona G! August 22nd

Melissa P! August 23rd

SewCaroline! August 25th

Melissa S! August 26th

April Rhodes! August 27th

Abiah! August 28th

xoxo, Abiah

Modern Prairie Sewing now available!!

It's true, it's finally here!!! Abigail's book, Modern Prairie Sewing, is now available for purchase! Here are some places where you can get your book fix….

Amazon (By the way, Abi has three 5-star reviews on Amazon! She about died.)

Barnes & Noble

C & T Publishing

And, if you'd like to carry Abi's book in your shop check out your wholesalers (this is the only one we know of so far that is carrying it, but be sure to ask!)….

Checker Distributors

Of course, if you are a NOOK fan, you can get it that way too!

We are so proud of our girl! She really has done a fantastic job on this beauty. (And we definitely aren't saying this because we got to land on the cover.)

Enjoy your day!

xox

more charlotta cuteness!

We are definitely crazy about this pattern. All we want to do is make little girl jammies!! Eleanor had lots of fun with these photos. After all, it isn't every day you get encouraged to jump around on the bed! (Although that would be very nice…)

We're also very excited that this will be the first time we've actually had our new patterns shipping in time for Quilt Market!!!

Now the only problem is that we're wishing charlotta came in our size.

We would curl up with a good book too, if it weren't for the 2000 patterns waiting to be stuffed and all the things to be sewn for Quilt Market. Want to come over and help? We will share our M&Ms.

Oh! And for the month of October, we're giving everyone a 15% discount off their entire order from marie-madeline studio! Just pop the code FALL15 in at checkout.

xoxo.

introducing charlotta!!!

We are super happy to introduce to you charlotta — our new sewing pattern for girls. A pajama pattern for all seasons! So many of you have requested jammies in the past, and they're finally here. We absoutely LOVE this pattern! There are lots of options, so it will keep you sewing spring through winter.

Make a nightie, top and shorts, or top and pants. Two sleeve styles included! As usual, this pattern includes sizes 2/3 – 14/16, all in one envelope. (Full size pattern pieces too, of course. All printed in the USA on a nice heavy white paper!)

Shirring along the sleeve edges and leg holes sets these jammies apart as something extra special. And they're quick to sew up, too! (Not only that, they're crazy comfy. All of our little testers gave rave reviews!) We even like to style them as day clothes — the charlotta shorts look adorable underneath an angelica swing top. The pants will make warm layers underneath little torrance dresses later this fall!

So… what do you think?! The charlotta jammie set sewing pattern is now available on the website!

xoxo, us

P.S. More photos soon!

Introducing… the angelica jumper & swing top!

Hello, angelica!

We are so excited to share our new girls sewing pattern with you!!! Meet angelica, a sweet and twirly jumper with neck ties and a big back bow.

View A is a jumper with a 6-gored skirt, complete with apron (a favorite with little girls, so we're told!) and a fun fabric flower corsage. This style is very boutique-y, but it sews up super fast! The elastic casing along the back of the bodice gives a neat fit.

And angelica view B is an uber-twirly 12-gored swing top that goes perfectly with leggings or tessa bloomers! (It's also a great companion to our next up and coming pattern… full reveal soon!)

This is one of our favorites! Eleanor gave the swing top two thumbs up.

Could she be any cuter?!

So here's the full scoop on angelica…

Sizes 2/3 – 14/16, all in one envelope and printed on sturdy paper right here in the USA.
Full-size pattern pieces and fully illustrated instructions.
Jumper (A) finishes a couple inches below the knee; swing top (B) finishes mid-thigh.
Back elastic casing.
Instructions for flower corsage included.
Available for pre-order now and shipping within the next two weeks!

We're really excited about this little jumper. It's so versatile! In the summertime it makes a great sundress, but layers nicely over a t-shirt or peasant top. And angelica is lots of fun to sew!

What do you think?!

xoxo

angelica jumper — Circa by Jennifer Paganelli

angelica swing top — Sweet Things by Lakehouse Dry Goods

Buttoned Up.

We all love sewing (surprise), and sewing for little girls is extra fun! Thankfully, we're blessed to have some lovely little girls in our lives. They also happen to be cousins, and their mommies also like to dress them alike. So, we like to sew for them.

And, cooler weather is coming (saaaaddd), so the girls could use something a bit more fallish. Enter a long sleeve amelia dress + an ana claire jumper + Sweet Things fabric. We are always so impressed with Lakehouse's black prints… they are amazingly saturated, and wash & wear so well too.

And, don't forget happy buttons! We recently had the pleasure of learning about Fastenation Studio. Hannah's just as cute and sweet as her buttons. We sent her a swatch of the outfit fabrics, and Hannah custom made the buttons to match! Don't they look perfect?? All of Hannah's buttons are handmade with high quality polymer clay and double glazed. They are amazing.

Some of our favorite buttons in Hannah's shop are the bunnies, baseballs, red, white & blue, and sew swirly. The buttons came so quickly too!

Hannah also makes these darling hair bow clips! We just pinned them onto the front of the girls jumpers for now. We can't wait to see them in their little wispy hair!

Kristie (Mom) really gets the credit for making these darling jumpers. She loves to bless other people's lives, and sewing for little girls is her favorite thing to do. We think it must be the 20+ years experience. We can't wait to give the girls their outfits (hopefully this weekend)!

xox Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah

Red, White, & Blue

It's kind of an iconic color combination, you know? In spite of the fact that while we were growing up it was our mom's go-to for any color scheme, we still love it. (And wear it faithfully every Independence Day, of course.) When the color basics patriotic piece came in from Riley Blake several weeks ago, we couldn't resist the urge to mix them with an older Flower Sugar piece in order to make this sweet francie dress for Eleanor!

We're also loving the Prepsters collection from Michael Miller! And if you just can't go with the red, white, and blue… there is a green, white, and blue colorway, too.

We made the little flowers on Ellie's dress using this old faithful tutorial. This is view A of the francie dress, but without sleeves.

Right now we're busy packing up for an upcoming vacation, but we'll try to pop in again before too long! Keep an eye on us via Instagram… xoxo

Sew Summer Dresses.

I don't know about all of you, but there's something about summer that spells dresses to me. All year 'round I love a good dress, but warm weather seems to make me want one extra bad. So this spring/summer I've been working at "collecting" some great cool summer dresses. Here's a round-up of some of our favorite dress patterns this year….

1. Vintage Vogue Gathered Bodice Dress. I recently made this one out of polka dot knit. I love it! Because I'm a bit zipper-shy and was using knit I just skipped the side zipper completely… and it worked! I'm waiting for some navy/white star knit fabric to arrive in the mail so I can make another one for Independence Day (can't wait to see how it turns out!).

2. Retro Butterick Side Swoosh Dress. I'm sewing this one up right now in a stretcy bright yellow denim. Apphia has already made hers up in a nice aqua suiting fabric. The 'swooshy' side makes it a bit more dressy, so it would be perfect to wear to worship or a wedding. I'm hoping the denim fabric I'm using will casualize it a bit, but either way it's too cute to pass up. (Oh, and it reminds Apphia and I of a dress worn in Monkey Business… darling!)

3. Socialite Dress. I made this one last year and it's so fun. It has pockets too and can easily can be lengthened. I've also seen a lady add some little sleeves to it…. too cute.

4. Knit Wrap Dress. Apphia just made this one in a watercolor floral knit, and it's darling! She plans to wear a little camisole with it. Too, too adorable.

5. Retro Butterick Wrap Dress. Great dress! If you'll remember, we've used this pattern before — right here. I also used it for the bodice of my ever-favorite Gina dress. I'm thinking of making another Gina dress actually. In my humble opinion, it's practically the ultimate go-to summer dress.

6. Amelia Dress. This is such a cute little thing! Abigail made one in bright turquoise and pink floral cotton, and it was darling. I hope to make one sometime…. it's on the to-sew list….

7. Jiffy 1960s Shift Dress. Confession: I've never made this one, and none of the other girls have either. But, it's on my favorite-cutest-thing-ever-love-it-must-have-my-own-copy pattern list. Get a load of that darling collar one, or the bow front one! Eep!

8. Evening Empire Dress. I made this one a few years ago and it remains something I love. I have a feeling that it will always be something that I love, and appreciate the fact that I spent all that time piecing the fun zigzag skirt. I think it would be very cute in just one voile print too in the mid-calf length version!

Does anyone have a favorite dress pattern that I missed (I know there is)? Please do tell!

xoxo Achaia

PS. Abiah and I also have this neat-o Navajo-style knit fabric that's waiting to be made into some casual dresses. If they work out like we hope they will we'll have to share them! xx

Introducing… the darison tiered skirts pattern!

hello, darison!

We are SO over-the-top excited to show you our new pattern!!! The darison tiered skirts pattern is at the printer now and should be shipping out in the next two weeks. But as usual, we will be offering a pre-order option (and we'll give you free shipping on the pattern when it gets here!).

Here is our sweet little friend Darison modeling view B of the darison skirt (named in her honor, of course!). The third tier of this view was made using patched pieces of fabric from Jennifer Paganelli's Happy Land collection!

And here is our Eleanor modeling view A of the new pattern! Special thanks to our dear friends, the Pearlstein family, for these lovely photos!

View A is knee length, with two tiers and a baby ruffle accent. It's perfect for everyday — just add some leggings for a fun play skirt!

(Could she be any cuter?!)

We love how the darison skirts pair so perfectly with the amelia peasant top.

Here is view C — the maxi length version! This skirt packs a LOT of twirl power.

Darison (love her to pieces) couldn't decide which view was her favorite. And we thought that was a really good thing!

Okay! So here are all the darison details…

-shipping mid-June, but available for pre-order now

-girls' sizes 2/3 – 14/16, all in one envelope

-printed in the USA on sturdy paper for easy tracing (printed on one side only)

-fully illustrated instructions (this skirt is easy-peasy)

-view A is knee length, with two tiers and baby ruffle accent

-view B is mid-calf length, with a funky patched tier and short ruffle

-view C is maxi length with four long tiers

-elastic waist

We hope you love this skirt as much as we do!!!

xox, the Long ladies

Eleanor's skirt and top – Old New 30s collection from Lecien

Darison's maxi skirt – Pam Kitty Love from Lakehouse; applique template from kitty mae M079