How cold is it?

So how cold is it? Too cold!

Canadians love to talk about the weather and this week we've had lots about which to talk. As I lay in bed very early this morning the house creaked and groaned with the cold. I as so glad I didn't have to down stairs to a cold family room to stoke a fire or outside to fetch firewood! We are so lucky to have central heating in our homes today and at times like this even more thankful for those things we take for granted. My friend in England has been enduring extremely wet weather and flooding. In Australia my friend's daughter has been living with extremely high temperatures. We seem to be living in a time of extremes so enjoy what comforts you have and be thankful.

Last summer I made smocked dresses for a couple of little girls who were in a wedding party. I wrote about gathering the layers of silk to get the full skirts attached to the bodices.

Here you see the two little girls in their dresses and considering we only had one preliminary fitting of the pattern pieces they fit reasonably well. 

The adult attendants wore short dresses of the same fabric as the girls' sashes. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful wedding.





So now that we are in a new year and over the holidays and colds that are part of the season, I hope to write more regularly.



Of significant news this month is the closing of the company Grace L. Knott Smocking Supplies Ltd. George Webb, the grandson of Grace Knott, has decided to retire. The company has been in business since the early 1930's when Grace came to Canada as a war bride. Her daughter-in-law took over the reins of the business when Grace retired. Doris never took credit for the many innovations she put in place and she grew the business to become the booming mail order business that many of you think of when you hear the company name. When Doris, who is now 96, retired her son George took over and has spent many years at the helm. He now wishes to retire and we wish him well.


"Amberlane and Amberpetites"   is not closing. We have been a separate company all along with my patterns being distributed through GLK over the years. I intend to carry on and add more patterns and other designers to my offerings on the web site.

This all takes time and is a part of the reason I’ve been away from this blog recently.

Please come back for more news and articles about sewing, patternmaking and smocking as I work my way through the challenges of new patterns.


So till next time, keep stitching…