Jan
21
A Great Example of Customer Service
Filed Under coat, customer service, sewing | 5 Comments
A little while ago I posted about the coat I am making- Burda 7878, and my discovery that half of the instructions were missing. I also wrote a letter to the customer service department of Burda.
Dear Burda
I recently purchased Burda 7878 which is a lined coat pattern. After cutting out the pattern and starting to sew it, I discovered that the instruction sheets are missing. That is - page one is there, page two is there, then there is another copy of page two. There are no instructions past #12 ( sleeves). There are no instructions for the lining or for view C which is the short jacket. While I am an experienced enough sewist to cope without instructions, I would still like to have them.
I contacted the store where I purchased the pattern, and they substituted new instructions for me. I took them without checking- they are the same!
Would it be possible to obtain the rest of the instructions?
Regards
Connie Bontje
Here is the reply that I recieved this morning
Hello dear Connie,here your Instructions please.Best regards
Irina
And of course - the complete instructions were attached.
Thank You Burda!
Jan
16
Overdosing on Project Catwalk
Filed Under Lauren, Project Catwalk, wrap dress | 3 Comments
It was a glorious sewing day today! I was expecting Daughter #2’s boyfriends parents to come for a visit- but noone showed. Or if they did, I was in too much of a zone to notice them!
I found Project Catwalk on Youtube. I embarked on a marathon viewing/sewing session and got so much done! I really, really hated Project Catwalk though! In general the designers were, um um not good at all! I am watching to the bitter end though!
I finally finished the rejected New Years dress. I will wear it to my parents 50th Wedding anniversary party this week instead. No pics on me - you will have to settle for my dressform supermodel.
I also started on Laurens new coat. I am making it in a grey tweed wool that I got from Metro Textile in NYC. I am using Burda 7878. 
It is constructing itself very well andvery quickly, although it looks a titch BORING to me. Lauren requested a double breasted coat and this one, while it has cute lines, does not really avail itself to much in the way of embellishment.
Lauren darling if you read this- what do you think of something like this to pretty it up?
Some sort of deconstructed look involving black wool, net or chiffon and beads? I was also thinking of handstitch outlining some of the seams in black.
Let me know!
Oh yes - I just finished watching the runway episode of Season 2 of Catwalk. They have vindicated themselves - Wayne’s runway was “brilliant”!
Jan
16
‘Cause it is me to a tee!
I have a lot of interests outside of sewing. I ski, I cycle and I play golf. All of those I do regularly. Other activities such as curling, hiking, and cross country skiing, I do occassionally.
Let’s take last month for instance. We were invited to a fundraising curling bonspeil. So do I read up on curling, the correct stretches, the techniques etc..?
NOPE
I research what one wears while curling and proceed to make an outfit!
How about cycling? I try to do 15K 3 times a week during “Ontario Cycle Wimp Season” That would be May to October for us cold wimps.
I have 6 cycling patterns, including shorts, shirts, jackets, and panniers, but have yet to design the “perfect outfit”. Hence I cycle in 10 year old Dragon Boat racing shorts and an old tee.
Golf - same story - Lots of ideas - just no just the right attire. Have you ever PURCHASED golf wear? You can spend an entire salary on a skirt! I am crazy not to develop a golf line of women’s wear considering I am part owner of a course for goodness sakes!
Skiing- I am a Ski Patrol (hoping by the way to Patrol at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver)
What do I wear under my jacket and pants? The rattiest old fleece in all of Thorndale! Either that or handme downs from the girls and their racing/instructing wardrobe.
Okay I admit that I did make a great pair of ski pants and gloves, but even THEY need replacing after 8 years of hard wear.
So tell me - does THIS cartoon describe YOU to a tee?
Jan
16
I get asked this question often. Either that question or “how long have you been sewing” are questions people ask when they notice something I am wearing.
So to answer those-
Yes I sewed a lot when the girls were little. I came across this photo yesterday for example.
My mother and father in law were celebrating an anniversary and the entire family was getting together for family photos. (Mike has 3 sisters who live locally and 2 brothers and their families who live in Alberta)
So, very pregnant with baby number 5, and with the assistance of Mike’s sister, I seem to recall, I decided to make new outfits for them all. Baby Lauren was only a few weeks old in this photo, Erica 6, Micaela 5, Kate almost 4(it was close to her birthday), and Leah was 2 1/2. Yes I was nuts. I was also only 29!
I made dresses or outfits for them every Easter and Christmas. Here is a “what were you thinking?!” Christmas photo. 
They remember me saying ” don’t look at me, look at the doorway”! I loved that overalls that little Lauren was wearing. I used pink flannel for the lining and contrast and it was really cute as well as warm.
And the beauties now! 
We used this shot for Mike’s advertising campaign when he was running for council, with the caption “We’re not on the fence, we’re voting BONTJE” He won, but I am hoping for his platform, not for the good looks that run in the family!
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