Princess Designs

Weekend Sale

2010-03-26T15:42:00.001-07:00

Friday and Saturday only (3/26 & 3/27), take an additional 10%* off of our entire stock of:

Piques
Cotton Prints
Corduroy
This is a total of 50% off of retail prices! **

Receive 10 skeins of DMC floss free when you purchase 5 smocking plates. (Please enter color number into customer comments box during checkout. Add a couple extra colors in the event that your first choices are out of stock.)

Remnants and Grab Bags

Check out our *REMNANTS* and *GRAB BAGS* pages. As we come to the end of bolts or stock, I will post them to these pages. *REMNANTS* and *GRAB BAGS* are also an extra 10% off, totaling 50% off of retail prices.*

Thank You

Thank you for the kind messages and phone calls that I have received in the past couple of weeks. Your words have been a great encouragement to me in this time of transition.

* Our already 20% off of retail prices + 20% off GOB Sale + 10% off weekend sale = 50% off of retail prices.
**Cart will not reflect discount. I will calculate your discount when I process your order.

“The End”

2010-03-14T14:07:00.001-07:00

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the close of Princess Designs. I thought our loyal customers would like to know what has been going on behind the scenes. We became the new owners of PD during the summer of ‘08. Two months later, we were unexpectedly thrust into homeschooling our youngest son. I kept up with learning how to run a business and how to be a teacher until this past fall when we had to begin homeschooling all three of our children. Since the beginning of this year (2010), I have had to face the fact that I am not Superwoman. As much as I love PD, I am not doing it (or you) justice and I am also doing my children a disservice by not giving their education my full attention. I send out a great, big, heartfelt THANK YOU to all my wonderful customers. There were days that I didn’t think I would get through when one of you would call or email me and turn my day around. You are a special group of ladies and I cherish your friendship.

The following SALE will be in effect from now until we close:

All products remaining on the website are 20% off. With our already 20% off of retail prices, this is a total of 40% off!
I will only ship orders on Mondays.
The cart will not reflect the discounted totals. Order totals will be updated as we process them. You can view your updated total on the Order Tracking page.
Discounts only apply to in-stock items.
If you need to contact me, please email me through the Contact Us page or through pdinc at princessdesigns dot com . The PD Phone will no longer be in service.
We are only accepting credit card payments. Checks will no longer be accepted.
No refunds or returns will be accepted.

If you are interested in purchasing Princess Designs’ inventory (whole or part), please contact us through the Contact Us page for special pricing and more information.

Thanks and Year End Inventory Sale

2009-12-29T12:40:00.001-08:00

We would like to thank all of our customers for helping make 2009 a great year. We appreciate your patience while we learned to juggle Princess Designs with the new frontier of homeschooling our three children. It has been an educational transition (no pun intended). We hope to make 2010 our best year ever!

Year End Inventory Reduction Sale*

20% Off
Pique Prints
Cotton Prints
Lawn Prints
Twill Prints
Knit Prints

15% Off
Heirloom Fabrics Including:
Bearissima, Giger, Nelona, Pima, and Satin Batiste
Pima Broadcloth
Dimity
Lawn Solids
Organdy
Jacquard Pique
Sea Island Broadcloth
Sheen Sateen
Silky Cotton
Swiss
Silk
Swiss Voile

10% Off
Books and Magazines
Patterns
Smocking Plates
Lace

A free skein of DMC floss will be included for every yard of fabric that you purchase during this sale. Simply enter the color number(s) that you would like in the customer comment box on the order page and we will include it in your package. This offer excludes, Blanc, B5200, and Black (310). Any out of stock colors will be replaced with a color of our choice.

*Shopping cart will not reflect discounts. Order totals will be adjusted as each order is processed. You can view your discounted total through the Order Tracking link.
Sale ends Friday, January 1, 2010 at midnight.

Christmas Cheer

2009-12-10T14:48:00.001-08:00

One of my all time favorite patterns is Children’s Corner Lucy. Lucy is quick to sew and can be embellished in limitless ways. Think of Lucy as a blank canvas. I have created Lucy with pieced fabrics for a patchwork effect, used an overlay on the bodice area, machine embroidered, added a smocked insert and various other treatments.

Left to right: Children’s Corner Lucy, Children’s Corner Lucy, Bonnie Blue Lydia

These jumpers were made with Limelight Corduroy and Red Gingham. They were embellished with Christmas ornament designs from Embroidery Library and Red Gingham Covered Buttons.

Kits are available here: Christmas Cheer!

Summer Vacation

2009-08-28T05:38:00.001-07:00

We would like to thank you for being patient with us as we closed the store last week. My family took a vacation to the Smoky Mountains and had a wonderful time.

We saw deer,

barns painted with quilt squares,

a rushing creek,

a church built in 1805,

and a bear on our front deck!

We had a week filled with food, family, and unforgettable memories.

And just so you know, Aaron and I behaved perfectly on vacation…..

I’m Really Excited!

2009-07-14T09:27:00.001-07:00

We have just gotten in another shipment of Bonnie Blue Designs’ Iva Leigh and Bailey. Both of these sweet little patterns have been huge sellers since their debut. Both of these patterns would be so cute in a plaid with white collars for the first day of school.

We have also finally received Sew Cute Couture by Gail Doane and published by Country Bumpkin. What a beautiful book! There are 10 precious outfits/patterns including bishop dresses, square yoke dresses with a shaped yoke, wrap skirt, matching purses, and jackets, jackets, jackets! There is a complete construction section, a section devoted to how-to for smocking and embroidery stitches, and a detailed measurement chart. Pattern sizes range from 6 months to 12 years. This is a must have book for your collection!

Maja’s Heirlooms, Trisha, is also new to the shop. The blouse can be pleated or gathered and the skirt is actually a skort!

and the winner is……

2009-06-27T07:44:00.001-07:00

We had a lot of fun this week with our Anniversary Treasure Hunt. We will be sending a little something to all who participated. Thanks everyone for playing!

The Treasure Basket includes:

2 yds. Swiss Satin Batiste, white
Stitch n Ditch Heirloom Stabilizer
5 skeins floche
Oliver + S Pattern
Ewe Baby Wool Pincushion

And the winner is……….

DONNA KAZIA

Congratulations Donna!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

2009-06-22T12:55:00.001-07:00

This week, we celebrate our first anniversary of ownership of Princess Designs. We are kicking off the week with a TREASURE HUNT. Search our website to find this treasure chest in three different places:

Simply email the links of the categories to us and you will be entered in a drawing to win an Anniversary Treasure Basket. Basket includes:

Ewe Baby Wool Pincushion

Stitch & Ditch Heirloom Stabilizer

Oliver & S Birthday Party Dress (size of your choice)

5 skeins Floche

2 yds. White Satin Batiste

Entries must be submitted by Friday June 26, 2009, 11:59pm. Drawing will be held on Saturday June 27, 2009. Good Luck!

Just in:

2009-06-19T16:19:00.001-07:00

A fabric shipment has arrived today and all new fabrics are on the website. These fabrics include:

Imperial Broadcloth-60”

White

Rice

V-Blue

Nelona Swiss Batiste

White

Up next: buttons, whipstitch piping, lace.

March Challenge of the Month

2009-03-15T12:22:00.001-07:00

Since being introduced to SAGA’s Wee Care program, service work to preemies, I have become attached, and you could even say burdened, for such an awesome ministry. Wee Care is designed to offer beautiful, tiny clothing for babies who die at birth or shortly after. You can read more about Wee Care on SAGA’s website, here. SAGA offers free downloads for smocked preemie bishops and smocking plate.

I make preemie outfits with much love and prayer. Prayer for the babies to make it and prayer for the parents that they will be brought through such a trying time.

March’s Challenge of the Month will be dedicated to:

Petite Heirlooms

For each item that you submit to our contest and donate to a local hospital/charity for preemies, you will be entered in a drawing to win a Preemie Package. This package will include:

Baby Daygowns Book IV, by Ginger Snaps

Bunny’s Knit Nightie, by Children’s Corner

5/8 yd. each Pink, Blue, White, Maise Pima Batiste

5/8 yd. Pink Sea Island Pointelle Knit

Simply email pictures of your finished preemie items to us including the number of items, your name and address. Drawing will be held on April 14.

Other Charity Service Programs:

Touching Little Lives

Care Wear

Newborns in Need

Threads of Love

Here are some links to free patterns to get you started:

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mcshelpsite/sewingstuff/freepatterns.html/#charity

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/preemies.html

http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/sewing.html

http://www.carewear.org/index.cfm?pid=patterns/sew/_sewing_patterns.cfm

http://www.newbornsinneed.org/html/sewing_patterns.html

http://www.threadsoflove.org/default.asp?id=3

Cactus Cablers’ offer free downloads of their newsletters, many including preemie patterns and smocking plates.

http://www.cactuscablers.org/E-Newsletter/E-Newsletter.html

CC Hillary

2009-02-18T05:41:00.001-08:00

This* is a Children’s Corner Hillary that I whipped up to send to a women’s ministry group that will be going to an African orphanage for Easter. Hillary is a quick and easy sew that produces a cool, twirly sundress (and what little girl DOESN’T like the twirl factor?). The fabric is a Fabric Finder’s print and the piping is V-Blue**.

Hillary features pleats at center front and gathers to the armholes. I used the scallop angel sleeve pattern featured in Creative Needle May/June 2004 issue.

I chose to do back ties instead of a button. The pattern includes instructions for back ties and button views.

*Sorry for the terrible pictures. This fabric is really hard to photograph. Swatches are available upon request.

**Piping is not up on the website yet but is in stock. Add color and yardage needed to the customer comment box on checkout.

Heirloom Sewing on a Budget – Part Two

2009-02-10T17:06:00.001-08:00

Below are two photos of the 4 dresses that I made for my four nieces one year. I used most of my economy ideas in making them! They are all four made with Imperial batiste.

The lavender dress has a row of simple machine stitching down a strip of fabric. Simple lace beading is less costly than lace. The peach dress has tucks along the fancy band and pintucks and tucks on the bodice. The ruffles weren't very full.

The Neptune dress used a simple lace design to embellish the bodice with beading and ribbon around the waist and the fancy band. The blue dress had two-piece sleeves, slit down the middle from shoulder seam, to add interest. The lace edging at the bottom of the fancy band is attached flat to save on lace.

Cathy

Guest Blogger: Cathy – Heirloom Sewing on a Budget

2009-02-04T07:25:00.001-08:00

With the economy the way it is, I thought I'd share some of my ideas for heirloom sewing on a budget.

1. Shop the sales. Why state the obvious? Because sometimes we forget to do that!

2. The same goes for using your stash!

3. Use wider width fabrics when available. For slimmer dresses, 58-60" is sometimes plenty of fabric width for the skirt, meaning you only need to purchase one skirt length. Most of our fabric needs are for the skirt sections. With a wider fabric, you don't even have to make side seams! Just put one seam (the selvages together) in the center back. This means your sleeves may have to be sewn-in "in the round," but that doesn't bother me a bit. 45" is even wide enough for a tiny baby dress! Another way that the wider fabrics can save money is by reducing the total length of fabric you need to buy: if you need 2 skirt sections, each one about 35" wide, then from a 60" wide fabric, you would have a 23-25" width of fabric that is the length of the 2 skirt sections in which to cut your bodice and sleeve pieces, with some left over!

4. Lace beading usually costs a lot less than lace insertions, so if you mix some beadings in with your insertions on fancy bands and yoke treatments, you can save on the lace purchase. Satin ribbon is quite reasonably priced and really makes an outfit shine!

5. Swiss insertions bordered by entredeux are often overlooked. Initially they seam pricey ($5-8) per yard, but with entredeux running nearly $3/yd. now, enough entredeux to go around two sides of lace insertion would cost nearly $6/yd. At this point, the embroidered section between the entredeux is nearly free! This product also makes wonderful waistbands on dresses, sleeve cuffs and adds dimension and detail to a yoke or fancy band. I've even used it in the side seam to expand the width of the dress! If a pattern calls for a smocked garment's skirt to hang from lace and entredeux, I would prefer to use the swiss insertion as it is much stronger and better able to support the weight of the skirt. Swiss beading is a wee bit less than insertion and can be used in the same places and techniques.

6. Using edging lace or swiss embroidered edgings at the hemline of a dress can save money because the shirt section will be shorter than if you use a fabric hem. Judicious placement of fabric within a fancy band can give you a place in which to add more laces and other design features to lengthen a dress that still fits the child around the bodice.

7. Vary the widths and patterns on your laces. Two wider laces separated by a narrow lace is really pretty! Choose lace patterns that initially cost less per yard because once the dress is finished, it will look great! The lace pattern itself seems to matter less than the fact that the dress has been embellished with lace.

8. Tucks. Any kind of tuck can fancy up a skirt. Yes, you need more fabric, but in the long run fabric costs less than lace! On the first french dress I made for my DD, I placed 3 half-inch tucks just above the fancy band. My DD was always very slim and grew up and never out, so to extend the life of the dress, I removed the stitching from those tucks the 2nd year, and used my pintuck foot to place 3 groups of 3 pintucks using the fold and stitching lines from the original half-inch tucks. This not only concealed the folds in the fabric, but it allowed me to stitch really straight since I had a mark to follow across the whole width of fabric!

9. Puffing can be made from scraps of fabric, and it looks really good when placed in a dress! It is one thing that looks fancier than it really is! Puffing, pintucks and pin-stitching are all things that don't cost a lot, do use up some time, but look very effective in the finished project.

10. For smocked print dresses, you can mix and match fabrics, prints and solids. By using contrasting hem bands, cuffs and collars, you can use up smaller bits and pieces in your stash than if trying to make a whole outfit out of one fabric. Contrasting hems are another great way to add length to a dress when it gets shorter. Line your bodice with another coordinating fabric to save on the feature fabric.

11. Piping. Another thing that takes very little fabric. Make your own! You can cut your own bias strips from scraps. For any straight edges (yokes, hems and cuffs) that need piping, you can even cut it straight on the cross-grain. Use piping liberally for great effects without upping the budget. Gingham and stripes make wonderful bias pipings! Contrasting pipings in seam allowances can really brighten up a dress or boy's outfit. Even if you don't like yellow (which I didn't), it is the one color that make almost any project "pop" when used in small amounts for contrast.

Cathy

Sunday Brunch

2009-02-03T07:24:00.001-08:00

Oliver + S is a fairly new pattern company that have some amazing patterns. The styles are fresh yet vintage. The patterns are rated for difficulty on the back so you can choose your sewing level.

The instructions and illustrations are very detailed and easy to understand. I found Sunday Brunch to be a breeze from start to finish.

I finished this set in about 4 hours. The jacket is Featherwale Corduroy in Tahiti. It looks red but is actually a really HOT pink. The skirt is a cotton dot.

1st entry-January COTM

2009-02-02T15:36:00.001-08:00

My first completed UFO this year is an LSU bishop. This is a 3 month bishop smocked using three different plates. The top row is from The Pep Rally. The center scallop is from Candle Glow. The tiger is Tiny Tigers by Fancy Stitches.

I used Fabric Finders’ Pima Cotton 60 “ Gingham in Grape. This fabric pleats wonderfully. It is a good choice for picture smocking as the pleats are crisp and plump.

I am adding this first entry of the January Challenge of the Month to the Princess Designs Flickr Gallery. The January COTM deadline is February 15. The prize drawing will be held February 16.

January Challenge of the Month

2009-01-19T06:38:00.001-08:00

Taking stock of life seems to be the requirement at the dawning of each new year. Taking stock of my sewing “life” is always high on my priority list. I pulled out some of my UFO’s and gave a lot of thought as to why I have so many. It is hard to admit that my biggest reasons for having so many UFO’s is perfectionism and fear. I get stuck on a project and instead of working through the problem, I just put it away. Out of sight, out of mind. Here are a few of my UFO’s:

Perfectionism and fear are taking up a lot of space in my sewing room! I have organized the projects into three categories: projects that I don’t love anymore (I look at some of them and wonder, “What was I thinking?!”), kits that need to be finished, and projects that need a solution. I do not think that I will never have another UFO as long as I live but, I do think that I can overcome the perfectionism and fear that hampers my creativity.

So why do you have UFO’s? We all have a reason.

January’s theme is: Conquering the UFO!

Email photos of your finished UFO’s to me. You can enter the COTM as many times as you like.

2009 Challenge of the Month

2009-01-16T16:07:00.000-08:00

The Guidelines:
This year we will post a theme each month that will be the Challenge of the Month. I will post the theme by the 15th of each month and you will have until the 15th of the following month to submit photos of your finished projects. Email your photos to me and I will post them to the monthly gallery. A random winner will be chosen after the deadline each month. Feel free to snag our button for your blog and email your link to us. We will keep a running list of participating blogs.

Coming Soon.....

2009-01-06T04:22:00.000-08:00

We are re-stocking our favorite spring colors of Imperial fabrics and expect an order from Spechler-Vogel any day now. It will include:

Imperial Batiste
White
Lavender
Neptune
Pink Blush
Rice
Sky Blue
Pink
Moonbeam
Ballet Pink
Glacier Blue

Imperial Broadcloth
Flax
Lavender
Ballet Pink
Royal Blue
Pink Blush

Handmade Christmas

2008-12-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before, Abby received the American Girl of the Year, Mia, for her birthday. She had a Christmas list a mile long and 99% of it was things for Mia. Aaron and I decided that he would make Mia a bed and I would make a quilt and mattress.
Yes, that is red velvet on the headboard!

A friend of the family researched antique beds and replicated his findings.

I absolutely LOVE the fleur de lis cutouts. This bed is pure Louisiana History!

I used a variation of the basic pinwheel pattern for the quilt. The pattern that I used had the pinwheels but a secondary pattern of diamonds emerged after joining the blocks. You can find it here along with tons of other free quilt block patterns. Some of the fabrics were from my stash and some of them were from the shop. Abby loved it! Now I have to make a matching quilt for her bed........

Snow in South Louisiana?!

2008-12-12T04:51:00.000-08:00

My little sister called at 4:45 am yesterday morning to wake me up and see that it was snowing. It never snows in south Louisiana!! I rushed to wake the kids up. They couldn't believe it! We played in the snow (in the dark) for a bit but had to go in because we are not equipped for snow! (mittens, boots, etc.).

It snowed for about 3 hours and we ended up with 5 inches on the ground!

Sadly it started raining and the temp rose so most of it melted by sundown. I am so happy my children experienced snow. Nate kept saying, "It's a miracle, Moma. A Christmas miracle!"

Creamy Pecan Pralines

2008-12-09T15:17:00.000-08:00

My mother-in-law taught me how to make her popular Creamy Pecan Pralines a couple years ago (i feel OFFICIALLY part of the family now lol). I will tell you like she told me......CPP is about technique not recipe. I will do my best to explain:Add to a pan:
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 stick butter (not margarine)
2 cups sugar
2 Tblsp Karo light syrup

Stir and bring to a rolling boil. Cook at this rate for 30-40 minutes, stirring constantly. It should begin to look like this:Now here is where the technique comes in......

At about 30-35 minutes, I drop a small bit of the mixture into a bit of cold water. Pour the water off and if it makes a ball, you're ready to add the pecans. If it still runny, let it cook a few minutes more and try the water test again. Usually around 38-40 minutes I am ready to add my pecans. At this point you need about 6 inches of cold water in the sink. Add 2 heaping cups of whole pecans and stir gently. Try not to break the pecans up because it just makes prettier pralines when the pecans are whole (and that is MIL speaking again, not me).

Sit your pan in the sink of cool water and begin to stir gently. Scrape the sides and bottom making sure that the candy covers the pecans. As it cools, it will stick to the pecans and get thick.
When it is almost too thick to stir, start spooning out the pralines onto wax paper. The candy should NOT run off of the pecans when you spoon it out. I use 2 spoons. One to scoop and one to scrape. (please ignore the winter medical supply)

The first pralines will be smooth and shiny. The last few will start to be rough and .....well..... not shiny. This is natural as it cools more toward the end and as I tell my kids sometimes, "just because!!". Let the pralines set until cooled and then feast! I have never had pralines like this in my life. If the timing is right on each step, the sugar will be smooth and creamy (hence the name). Every praline that I had ever eaten before these were more grainy. This recipe should yield 12-14 pralines depending on how big you scoop them out. Let me know how yours come out!

Christmas Ideas

2008-12-04T13:32:00.001-08:00

If you need a last minute idea for a quick Christmas outfit, here are a couple:

My First Christmas

Old Fashioned Baby's Sweet & Simple Daygown pattern is a perfect pattern for a winter daygown. You can make a snuggly, Christmas daygown with Swiss Flannel and embroider a simple design with Floche. For this design, I chose modern Christmas shades of red and green instead of traditional shades. Sweet & Simple Daygown includes a long sleeve and embroidery designs. DMC Floche colors shown are 899pink and 955green. We are offering this discounted kit for a limited time:

Kit includes:
OFB Sweet & Simple Daygowns
1 yd. White Swiss Flannel
2 skeins Floche
5 MOP Buttons

Cost with pattern: $33.85
Cost without pattern: $25.20

Welcome Santa!

Toddler Smocked Apron is one of my all time favorite patterns. TSA is a classic, versatile pattern. It is sweet with little bloomers or long pantaloons peeking out. This is a quickie since it can only accommodate one smocked figure. Santa would be really cute peeking from beneath the collar or the Christmas tree with all of its gaily wrapped gifts. This discounted kit is available for a limited time:

Kit includes:
Collar's Etc. Toddler Smocked Apron
1 2/3 yd. Jockey Green Broadcloth, 45 inch
Mr. and Mrs. S. Clause by Lou Anne Lamar
3 skeins DMC - 321, blanc, 699
1/2 yd. off white ribbon
1/2 yd. red ribbon

Cost with pattern: $19.15

Cost without pattern:$9.55

Kits are available until December 10 and are listed under Kits and New Items.

December is my favorite month of the year. Celebrating Christ for a month is one of the best experiences I can give my children. Aaron has never wanted to hang lights outside but the children and I persisted until he gave in :). We also decorated our Christmas tree and are now working on Christmas presents. I try to give as many handmade presents as humanly possible. Of course, I over plan since I think I am SUPERMOM lol. Abby received an American Girl for her birthday in October so she is crocheting Mia an afghan for Christmas. She also wants to sew for Mia so we have started our sewing lessons. I will start making Creamy Pecan Pralines this weekend. CPP is my MIL's recipe and a cajun favorite around here. I give lots of them for Christmas and start making them early as they keep forever in a sealed container. Since my customers are such wonderful people, I will share the family recipe next week. What are your Christmas traditions?

Princess Designer: Suzy Peterson of Little Memories

2008-11-26T02:48:00.001-08:00

When I learned to smock, it was with a Little Memories picture smocking plate. In retrospect, it was a bit ambitious for a smocking newbie lol. I am pleased to present our December Designer of the month: Suzy Peterson of Little Memories.
Crystal: Hi Suzy! Your smocking plates are absolute perfection. How long have you been smocking and what was the first thing you ever smocked?

Suzy: I started smocking when my daughter was 2-she is now 26 or in other words, a very long time!!! My very first project was a basic yoke dress using the Molly Jane Taylor plate that had ballet bears (can't recall the design name though.......). Most start smocking geometric designs but, I learned how to smock by stacking cables!

Crystal: What prompted you to start designing smocking plates?

Suzy: As I told you, I started picture smocking for my daughter (Jessica) from the beginning and once Jessica was 3, our ritual was to go to the local fabric store to let her pick out the plate that she wanted for a particular outfit. The only problem was that there weren't designs published that she wanted. So I started drawing out what she wanted and through trial and error figured out how to translate those drawings into cable stitches. People would ask me where they could get the designs and eventually had my first group of designs printed in 1987.

Crystal: Children are the first step down this slippery slope! What inspires you to design?

Suzy: I'm not really sure what inspires me..............Sometimes a thought, sometimes I will see something that unlocks an idea, and sometimes I the title of a design will come and the design follows after. There is no method for this. Having done this for so long, you realize that the creative "button" isn't always there to push, so when it is "engaged" I do as much as possible. Stresses in life are the biggest enemy of "creativity" and you have to use it when it is there and be patient when it isn't because it will always return at some point!

Crystal: You plate titles are so witty. Overall, I can tell that a lot of thought and love goes into these plates, not just the designs. The smocking on your plates is perfect. Do you have any tips for perfecting our picture smocking?

Suzy: The consistency of the tension in each cable stitch is crucial. I make little adjustments in almost stitch to keep the embroidery thread straight as it wraps around the pleats. I also make sure that whatever project I am working on, that I have a wide enough pleated piece so that the pleats never have to be stretched apart. The pleats should always rest against the next. This keeps the embroidery thread from having from having to travel across extra distance for neat cable stitches. Thank heavens for 50-60" wide cotton fabrics! I typically use a wider fabric on anything bigger than a size 2. You don't have to use all of the pleats in a wider insert but it is there if you need it!

Crystal: Is there any particular fabric that you favor for inserts?

Suzy: I use 54" Spechler-Vogel Broadcloth mostly. I absolutely love to smock on Cashmere Flannel. The pleats are a little fatter but it is luscious! I do smock some on Kona Cotton, it has a lot of body.

Crystal: Cashmere Flannel is yummy! What is your favorite smocking plate that you have ever designed?

Suzy: Kelsey's Collar - it was named after my scottie that passed away about 4 years ago.

Crystal: What other hobbies do you enjoy?

Suzy: I love doing home dec sewing. If it sits still long enough, I will slipcover it! Also, I am slowly developing a love for gardening. Both of my parents had a green thumb and I never understood why they spent so much time in the dirt. My mom could plant a stick and it would bloom a flower!!! I have lost them both in the last year and a half. I received 2 rose bushes after my dad passed away and in preparing the bed to plant them, I listened to the birds and watched squirrels carry on intense conversations and I suddenly realized that gardening is more than just making plants grow. It is connecting with nature and I realized it was my dad helping me to appreciate all that I have taken for granted. I am waiting for a course in language to come to our local college- specifically "squirrel" so I can be more involved in the topics of the day!

Crystal: I’m so sorry for your losses. What a special ‘inheritance’ to receive from your parents. I have a brown thumb. If it grows, I can kill it! Is there anything you would like to add, or anything else you would like our customers to know?

Suzy: Not really, except that it is my customers that give me the desire to keep designing. Without them, there would be no reason for me to do it- year after year.

Thank you Suzy for your time. We loved getting to know the "brains" behind Little Memories!

Welcome, Princesses!

2008-11-17T17:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Princess Designs! We have been working furiously to get our new castle ready for our wonderful customers. Princess Designs has been to the 'Royal Salon' and gotten a face lift and a new hairdo. We have so many new and exciting things to share with you. We will shortly debut designer interviews, product demos, and free projects.

Make yourselves at home, ladies, and we will make you feel like a Princess!