Jenna Lou Loves You

Finally HERE - Mabel Messenger PDF Sewing Pattern by Jenna Lou Designs

You know how sometimes you start a project.... but then you get distracted and the longer it is since you've last worked on it the harder it is to pick it up again?? Well that's what happened to the Mabel Messenger. I started the pattern for her months ago, but got busy getting ready for summer shows and before I knew it I had completely moved on.

Well I'm happy to say that last week I got the bug to finish it. And I cannot believe how easy it was. All the hard work was already done months ago. Research, writing, photography, pattern drawing... all done. The only thing left was for me to finish putting it all together in a pretty little package.

So now Mabel Messenger has been added to the collection of patterns available in my shop. If you've been waiting for ever for this one: my apologies.... but I promise the wait was worth it!

Flickr Group

ok.. I sorta lied. One last post about the patterns. I started a flickr group so you can share your photos of complete projects! I SO look forward to seeing all the GBF Wallets and Fionas!!

You can see a rotation of the current photos over there to your left in my sidebar. ENJOY!!

Thank You

Whoa. I've hardly even noticed that a whole week has passed by since my last post! Sorry for that unannounced break... I guess things just got REALLY crazy with the pattern release. I had about 500 emails to answer each day and I was really just over all exhausted from weeks of working on the pattern. So the weekend was purely mine. We took it easy. We ate out. We went to a movie. We snoozed (well I did) and yesterday the power was out from 2:30pm until sometime in the night when I was already sleeping. It was nice to sit around wit candles everywhere. No urges to check email, to answer questions. We simply relaxed. It was quite nice.

I have to say THANKS to each and every person who ordered a pattern or has one way or another shown their support for me!! It was an amazing week and I can't believe how many patterns were sold. You guys are great!! I got the patterns from the printer a little early, so on Friday I addressed 100... 200... 3....well, lets just say A LOT of patterns and got them in the mail so they should be arriving anytime for many of you.

I think this will be my last pattern post for a while... sorry if it seems like that all I talk about anymore. I have so many other cool projects to share. I've been knitting, and baking, bread making and I have plans for a summer wardrobe, it should all be loads of fun so stay tuned for that goodness.

xo,
Jennalou

It's DONE!

Yippy... it's done! The Girl's Best Friend Wallet Pattern is now available in the shop. And because you all have been SO good about patiently waiting for it, I'm offering a special PRESALE for one week only. All Girl's Best Friend patterns purchased during the presale will be shipping on 3-5-08. You can view more pictures of the pattern in the shop or on flickr.

It was such a pleasure to work with Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom for the cover wallet. Isn't it yummy and just screams spring... which seems far off in this winter cold, but has been on my mind all week. I have a few plans for some of the other prints too ( I ordered them all hehe) maybe some bags for the shop... and of course a few wallets I'm sure too.

Thanks to everyone for your support during my writing of this pattern. Each and every comment, email, phone call, and hug made this possible. I'd like to give a special shout out to my testers Rachel, Sarah, Barb, Donna, Lynn, and Kate... These ladies are incredible sewers who I've learned a lot from and hope to continue to learn from. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Hope you each had a lovely weekend!
xoxo,
Jennalou

Pods Sling

I was hoping to have the Girl's Best Friend patterns ready to go by now, but I'm having a little trouble securing the fabric I wanted for the cover shot. I'm going to see what I can do, but hopefully I'll have things ready to go by next week. Let's cross our fingers that a lovely package arrives any day now. I'm planning a little surprise for the release so check back in for that.

To calm my anxious pattern writing, editing, sewing, photographing nerves, I gave myself a little sewing "ME" time. I've been carrying around my Eliza Jane bag for months now, and although she's in great shape... I was in the mood for something new. So I made this lovely. I'm not sure what to call her yet... for now it's my Pods Sling.

For a first draft it turned out pretty good. I'm really liking the adjustable strap so I can wear it as a shoulder bag or around my body as a sling. I think if I did this again I would swap out the zipper for a magnetic snap. Inside I experimented with some different pockets. One side has a zippered pocket and the other a cell phone and pen pocket. More pictures can be found here.

I really like the shape and am thinking about using it for some spring totes. It's always so fun to just play around in my sewing room to see what I can come up with, but the downside is I tend to throw things everywhere and make a huge mess. It's part of my creative process... but now I must go clean and get back to the daily sewing routine.

xo,
Jennalou

Getting There

It's getting there!! And I couldn't be more thrilled. Draft is done. Testers are testing. And I'm aiming for a launch date of end of February.

Happy Monday everyone!! Tonight is yoga class for me :D
xo,
Jennalou