I just got back from a lovely trip to the Pacific NorthWest full of fabric, old and new friends, playing with kids, and swimming with a giant pretzel. What’s not to love?!
First up, to Seattle where I was staying with my old friend Laura and her family. It was B’s 7th birthday (SEVEN?! I remember when you were born, missy!) so of course I whipped up a little dress for the birthday girl. As a devoted Oliver+S fan, I decided to try the Roller Skate dress, and as always, it’s a winner. I was originally intending not to line it but it turns out you pretty much have to in order to do the notched collar and the elastic casing.
B liked it, though not as much as she liked her new Kindle! That girl is addicted.
As soon as I decided to go to Seattle I realised that I needed to meet up with some sewing ladies too, so I dragged Laura over to a fun meet-up at the newly located DryGoodsDesign in Pioneer Square. It was awesome to meet up with G again, and also to meet fellow CSC editor Michelle, Amy, Mela and Niema for the first time.
The new DryGoodsDesign is a gorgeous light filled space and looks like the perfect place to take classes in Seattle.
And despite my attempts not to succumb to whimsy… I did! 4 yards of the navy watermelon cotton are mine and will make a magnificent shirtdress.
After a few days I headed down to Portland with Laura, and we stayed at this adorable tinyhouse (official name!) just off the trendy Mississippi ave.
I got the chance to experience the many delights of Portland including…
– floating on a lake on a giant pretzel..
– going to Mill End…
– nearly buying Pop Tart fabric…
– and fishies…
– finding the rare Alyson Clair species on the prowl for anything old ladies would wear..
– hanging out at the beautiful Modern Domestic…
where I scored this BEAUTY
– and spotting Alyson just subtly noticing that perhaps, just maybe, her book is on sale…
One big highlight was getting the chance to meet Sarai and Colette Patterns! Their studio, as you can imagine, was all sorts of gorgeous, and Sarai and I chatted until after dark about many things, and kicked off a super secret project 😀
And last but by no means least, I got to hang with the one and only Lauren Dahl! Â I am proud to have been there when she had her first post-baby mojito, and to take a few sewing blog snaps afterwards, Crafty Foxes stylee.
Phew! I’m exhausted just thinking about it all. But lots of fun and I will no doubt be back soon. Do you ever have sewing-themed vacations, or am I just super weird? (or both?).
Wow, that looks like a truly excellent trip! Can’t wait to hear about this top secret project with Colette!!
Out in the autumn I think 😉
I follow your wonderful blog and have been wondering where you’ve been. Seattle! Where I live. Glad to know you enjoyed the PNW and all its sewing goodness.
Thanks Janet! Seattle is lovely, you’re lucky to be able to live there, though the heat this summer does seem to have been rather intense!
So much sewing stuff to do in the pnw with so many awesome folks!
Yes! And so fun to meet Michelle! Now I just need to meet T and Sophie-Lee in person and I’ll have achieved CSC bingo 😀
Yarg, so jealous! You basically did my dream west coast sewing buds trip… hopefully in the next year I’ll be driving up the coast and meeting exactly the same people, hahaha. Hope you had fun! ANd i want to know more about this secret project 😉
It was amazeballs 😀
Aw yay, really glad you had such a good time in the PNW! I live in Portland myself–where did you go for that floating pretzel?? I want to do tubing but most people seem to just have their own stuff and know where to go, but I want to just show up somewhere that I can rent stuff from someone and have them tell me what to do…
Glad you had fun! I live just a few minutes away from DryGoods! Looks like a fun trip!
I have started hunting out sewing shops when I go away, does that count at all? Going to the Isle of Skye this summer, will keep an eye out for something suitable for a waistcoat for hubby.
Looks like you had fun! I must’ve been channeling you for my most recent fabric buy: giant vegetable rayon challis. It was on crazy sale and I’m going to make the best Clarissa Explains It All dress from it, I’ll wear it with combat boots and chunky socks.
What a fun trip!!! Super jealous!
Jenny! It’s like you could read my mind! I moved from the east coast out to Seattle maybe three weeks ago and my sewing machine JUST showed up. And I was wondering how I’d survive out here without my usual trips to NYC for fabric (and food)… You’re a savior 🙂
But seriously, do spill about the new project :O
Girl I would have bought that pop tart fabric SO FAST!
Such a fabulous looking trip, and that Aqua stripe fabric is just gorgeous!