Quilt Show! Book Signing! Princesses! Cookies!

The Spring Quilt Show is this weekend in Pittsburgh, which means I should really be packing right now. Since this year its within driving distance Denyse and I are making a road trip out of it, which means I should also be making cookies right now. 

While this show is to the trade only and closed to the general public, I expect that I will see lots and lots of you there. I hope that if you do come, you will stop by and say hello and introduce yourselves at one of the following events:

Weekend Sewing / Book Signing at Kokka / Seven Islands Booth

This weekend marks the official North American launch of Far Far Away, my fabric line for Seven Islands and Kokka of Japan, which has already hit stores. Kokka will be hosting two book signings for me and Weekend Sewing in their booth, one on Friday and another on Saturday. Check back here later for details or come by the booth. 

Best Friends Forever: Oliver + S and Far Far Away

As many of you have discovered (thanks so much for all the kind emails!), Far Far Away is a perfect weight for making dresses, blouses and skirts for little girls. Our friends over at Oliver + S could not agree more, so we decided to throw a little party in their booth to celebrate the perfect combination of this marvelous double gauze and those princess-worthy Oliver + S patterns. BYOT (Bring Your Own Tiara). Details here.

Weekend Sewing Workshop at Denyse Schmidt's Studio in Bridgeport: Still 2 Spots Left!

Photo by John Gruen

There are two spots left in my April 18 Workshop hosted by Denyse Schmidt in her gorgeous studio in Bridgeport, Connecticutt. If you have been looking for en excuse to come to the NYC area for a few days, this is your moment to seize! Bridgeport is an easy train ride from Grand Central Station in NYC, and NYC is just lovely this time of year, not to mention full of screaming deals for the out-of-towner. 

Our workshop is designed to build garment sewing skills. I am planning a few very (dare I say) enlightening demos about dressmaking and design, draping and pattern adjustments. If we don't get too distracted by Denyses beautiful studio and delicious cookies, participants will go home with lots of new skills and tricks and the confidence to take our sewing and personal clothing design to the next level.

Click here for more info and to sign up!

Me, Marimekko, A Little Dress, and a Party!

summer blouse from Weekend Sewing, as a sleeveless shiftBook Party At Honfleur Home / Marimekko In Silver Spring 

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday for our little party at Marimekko, it was such fun! Thanks especially to Marni at Honfleur Home in Silver Spring, Maryland for hosting and especially for putting out Oreos, which I love but never ever allow myself to have on hand. 

And just because I know that many of you out there are thinking: "I love those big bright finnish prints too, but where, oh where, would I use them?" I am posting this little sleeveless shift dress, which I think is perfect for the nice, heavy cottons that Marimekko prints on. I highly recommend one of their big bold repeats for this dress, with the design running right down the front, center stage. Throw in an everything tote and some great sandals, and you are set.

Do you recognize the pattern? Its the Summer Blouse from Weekend Sewing! Leave the sleeves off, of course, and finish the armholes with a simple facing. Using your hip measurement as your guide extend the pattern so that it hits a few inches above your knee. Everything else is the same! 

The three Marimekko prints posted below are my favorite picks for this dress, but there are so many options that I recommend heading over there yourself and having a look. 

You can find Marimekko stores in a few major cities around the country, or order them online through Honfluer Home and ReprodepotFabrics. And, because they have been around since the late 50's, you can always find amazing vintage Marimekko fabrics and goods on ebay.

I am also posting a picture of me wearing one of m favorite dresses, another little shift from the Marimekko collection for H&M that appeared last spring. Thats me and Ms. Denyse at my book launch party. I am wearing extremely tall shoes and yes, my hair is ridiculous. 

Also below, a version I made for the launch of Mendocino last spring. Instead of using a print with a big central repeat, use a contrasting design and applique it into the placket. Such endless possibilities, right?  Keep in mind that the prints below are shown in full repeated width! These designs are 60 inches wide!

 OK, no laughing at the crazy party hair!

me and denyse at the Weekend Sewing book launch party

And here is the dress I made for the launch of Mendocino, with applique on the placket. Again, this is just the Summer Blouse, but longer with no sleeves!

Weekend Sewing Workshops

Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross (STC Craft/Melanie Fallick Books, 2009, photo by John Gruen)

Weekend Sewing is a book about integrating sewing into your life and your home with style, and its also about sewing clothing for yourself and your family. Making a dress for the first time is a big step for a new sewer. If you are itching to make yourself lots of great dresses, but would love a bit of encouragement and guidance, then sign up for my Weekend Sewing Workshop, one day only at the gorgeous studio of my dear friend (and celebrity assistant / cookie baker) Denyse Schmidt. Bring your copy of Weekend Sewing or pick up one in class!  April 18, class size limited. Download Information Sheet here. Sign up here.

Blueberry Hill Inn, Goshen Vermont

Also in the works: Blueberry Hill Inn in Goshen Vermont was the site of both much of the Weekend Sewing photography and my wedding, so naturally its a place close to my heart. I am working on organizing a weekend at BBH this summer for WS readers who would like to join me for some serious social sewing, amazing gourmet eating, a side trip to the nearby Shelburne Museum, and an afternoon hike to a secret mountaintop lake... dates are still being finalized, but shoot me an email at heathertross@gmail.com if you would like me to update you as things are confirmed.