If anyone out there is feeling inclined to add to their fabric stash, I’m giving away 2 1/2 yards of my fabric over at the Amoretti blog! (Come on – you know you want to sew something . . . . )

I’m just throwing this out there . . . but here is a fun, cheap, easy, and generally awesome little boy gift. Since it’s a download, you can print out as many as you want, as many times as you want. Stick some in your son’s stocking, tie some on top of the new book for your nephew, give a set to the little boy you babysit . . . you get the idea. All you have to do is download, print on sticker paper like this, slice them apart, and you’re done. Easy peasy! Here’s all the info right here. (Pairs well with The Dragon’s Tooth which I’m sure you’re getting for lots of people on your list, right?!)

On the other hand, I’m pretty much ready to pop the champagne . . . because after a long and ridiculous saga, all my garment patterns are written, illustrated, printed, assembled, and shipped! (Thank you to all you lovely pre-order people for your patience! If you didn’t receive your patterns today they should be there in the next day or two.) So at least one item on my to-do list has been officially checked off. It also makes me realize that I don’t think I ever showed you the video that we took to Market in May. (Or did I? It’s all a blur . . . )

Anyway, there you go. And while I’m at it, why not give you a whole slug and a half of pictures? Also, did I mention that for the next week you can get FREE SHIPPING on your entire order?!?!

This is the Duchess Skirt pattern. It takes 3 1/3 yards of fabric, and it was just featured in the latest issue of American Quilt Retailer. So that’s fun. The pattern covers women’s sizes 4-14.

And then there’s the Party Frock. I like this one. (It also got featured in American Quilt Retailer!) This one requires between 2 and 3 yards, depending on the size you’re making. The pattern includes girls’ sizes 4-14. Did you catch that? Girls size 14. That’s a hard size to find things for.

Note: The button and rick-rack are just a fun variation I added to this version . . . that part isn’t included in the pattern.

Then there’s the Teatime Frock. I like this one because it has a comfy elastic waist, but it doesn’t look like it because of that button sash. It also goes from sizes 4-14, and requires 1 2/3 – 2 1/3 yards depending on the size, as well as 1/2 yard of contrast.

And now I will stop posting pictures because I have to go pick up my kids from school and mop my floors. And grocery shop. And read read large chunks of the Iliad and Beowulf for class tomorrow. And muster all my dirty laundry into one spot. And think of something to make for dinner. Not in that order though.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the free shipping . . . it’s on your entire order, not just the patterns. And for every order, I’ll also throw in a free download card for Michalangela’s version of England Swings.

I’m offering a pattern and fabric giveaway over at the Fortnightly Purse – so pop on over there to enter! I’ll be doing more giveaways over the next week, so remember to check back in. Coupon codes are being scattered recklessly about as well . . . you can get 20% off the patterns with the code debut party. So cruise on over there and get your pre-order in!

First things first – my fabric collection will be going to the International Quilt Market in Salt Lake City in May! Not only that, I will also be going to Salt Lake City in May, so if you’re a resident of Salt Lake City who is also an attendee of fabric trade shows . . . a description that no doubt fits hundreds and hundreds of you . . . you should swing on by and say howdy.

Also debuting at market will be my line of sewing patterns . . . always assuming that I get my act together and finish them. What this means though, is that the Amoretti website will shortly be selling not just clothes, but fabric and patterns as well. Following closely from there . . . this turn of events meant that the website needed to be re-structured. And while I was at it we needed to get a lot of behind-the-scenes stupidness updated and fixed and streamlined. Given that websites are not my spiritual gift, this has taken way longer than it had any right to. But we’re close now . . . and the website will be switching over somewhere in the next couple weeks. That’s not all that exciting for anyone else, but it’s pretty awesomely good news for me and my ridiculously complicated inventory tracking.

However – this brings me to the next bit of relevant news. Once the website switches over, I’m afraid that the prices are going to go up a bit. Not hideously, but a bit. I know, I know . . . I hate it when people do that. And I really, really wish I didn’t have to. But just between you and me, these items are radically underpriced. I know that might seem shocking if you’re comparing them to the prices at Wal Mart. But then again, looking at the situation squarely and analyzing the thing from every angle, it turns out that I’m not Wal Mart. I’m not having millions of these produced for 10 cents a piece in China. Everything is made in the USA, and in drastically smaller quantities. And of course, if you take a speedy glance at boutique prices for little girl’s dresses,  you’ll discover that mine are about a third of the price. The long and the short of it is that I’m selling these dresses and things to customers at slightly below the wholesale price – because I really didn’t want them to be too expensive. I would feel like a super cheeseball if I was charging prices that I would never pay myself – so I sell them cheap! On the other hand, I really need to charge slightly more than I’m doing at the moment because I’m quite literally giving this stuff away.  Boil it all down and the long and the short of it is that after the website switches over you’ll be purchasing them for 60% off the retail price rather than 70% off.

I’m sure you can see where this is going. This is me urging you to hurry up and order your Easter dresses before the price goes up. And . . . to add to the incentive – you can use the coupon code femina to get an additional 20% off. This little heads-up is exclusively for you lovely femina readers . . . the rest of the world is just going to have to suck it up when they find that the prices have gone up a smidge – but I wanted you all to have a shot at it before it happened.

HOWEVER . . . before you go racing off to place your orders, I need to apprise you of certain details. We are all the way sold out of several items, but this state of affairs isn’t indicated on the current site. (Yet another reason that we needed another site.) So before you order, let me give you a few things to bear in mind. I’m including the list of items that are currently sold out – but on a number of other things we have extremely low stock, so even if the item you want is not on this list – you still might get an email from me after your order saying that I’m dreadfully sorry but could you possibly go with another size or color?

Sold Out:

Skirties: XS, S, M (I know, I know, I know – it’s embarrassing because I’ve been out of these for way too long. Hopefully I’ll pull myself together shortly and these will be back in stock.)

Gypsy Queen Skirt, Blue Stripe: 8, 12

Gypsy Queen Skirt, Raspberry Red: 12

Dutch Beauty Skirt, Ruby Scroll: 12

Bluebird Tee: S

Apple Blossom Tee: S

Last note: The Union Jack Handbag Kit would make a lovely addition to an Easter basket . . . . I’m just sayin’. And if you grab one now, you can get it for 20% off.

There. I’m done now. Now you can go get some shopping done.