Shelly Figueroa of Figgy's: Designer Interview

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“heaven.”

What is your greatest fear?
“losing my children”

What is your favorite color?
“orange. not to wear but to look at”

What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
“self talk”

What trait do you most deplore in others?
“judgement ”

What is your greatest extravagance?
“shoes, but wish it could be traveling :)"


My favorite photo of myself: It is not a great photo of myself but it represents me at a very happy time. Laughing is my most favorite thing to do.

What is your favorite journey?
“Italy 1993”

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
“beauty"

On what occasion do you lie?
“when my husband accuses me of eating the last cookie”

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
“pore size”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“No Way!, totally, trim your threads”

What is your greatest regret?
“not finishing college ”

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“my family as a whole”

What talent would you most like to have?
“ukelele "

What is your current state of mind?
“overwhelmed”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“a fast metabolism would be awesome”

My most favorite thing I've ever made comes in 2:

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
“myself, if it means I get to spend another lifetime with my husband and sons, if I can't have the whole package then I choose nothing”

Where would you like to live?
“exactly where I am but with a vacation home someplace warm to escape to during February”

What is your favorite occupation?
“Fabric Buyer ”

What is the quality you most like in a man?
“The ability to just let it go”

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
“Heart”

What do you most value in your friends?
“Laughter”

Who are your favorite artists?
“Franco & Julian”

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
“Harry Hole"

Who are your heroes in real life?
“My parents"

What are your favorite motto?
"Learn from yesterday; live for today; hope for tomorrow."

How would you like to die?
"In my Sleep"

During each Parcel sale we ask the designers to answer the Proust Questionnaire for us and to share some images of their favorite things. You can read past interviews Right Here.

Looking for the Parcel #5 Inspiration? Head on over Right Here.
Still haven't purchased Parcel #5? You can Get It Here until Friday, October 3rd.

Mel Henry of Filles a Maman: Designer Interview

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“Seeing my daughters growing and have a great life..”

What is your greatest fear?
“Losing my family.”

What is your favorite color?
“White ”


My favorite photo of myself.

What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
“I would like to live the moment.”

What trait do you most deplore in others?
“Laziness”

What is your greatest extravagance?
“My last visit to the photo shop. $$$. I was unemployed at this time. "

What is your favorite journey?
“The one I am living right now.”

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
“Obedience"

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
“I don't like to talk about it. I'll change the question. What I like the most are my legs :)”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Awesome! Perfect! I am sincere when I am using them...I just have a serious lack of vocabulary".

What is your greatest regret?
“To not starting this journey earlier.”

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“My man and my daughters”

What talent would you most like to have?
“I would like to be perfectly bilingual...I have so much thing to say, but often I am stopped because it doesn't turn like I would."

My favorite thing I made myself.

What is your current state of mind?
“Sponge.”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“I don't like to talk about this, I rather say that I have wonderful legs.”

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
“A bird.”

Where would you like to live?
“I like my town. But, if I had the choice, I would like to be somewhere with a shorter winter, In Quebec, we have snow for about 5 months. That's too much.”

What is your favorite occupation?
“I like my new job. I work in research and development for a food company. I never thought I could be paid for experimenting in the kitchen :)”

What is the quality you most like in a man?
“My man loves me, that is the most important.”

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
“Being unhibited”

What do you most value in your friends?
“Loyalty. Being there in the good and the bad moments.”



Who are your favorite artists?
“Milky chance”

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
“I don't have one"

Who are your heroes in real life?
“My parents."

How would you like to die?
"Quick."

During each Parcel sale we ask the designers to answer the Proust Questionnaire for us and to share some images of their favorite things. You can read past interviews Right Here.

Looking for the Parcel #5 Inspiration? Head on over Right Here.
Still haven't purchased Parcel #5? You can Get It Here until Friday, October 3rd.

Get Inspired! The Parcel #5 Tour

Need a little help getting started with the patterns in Parcel #5? No worries. Follow along on the Parcel #5 Inspiration Tour. Or, super easy, you can follow us on Instagram or Pinterest. We share each of these bloggers posts and ideas as they're scheduled and save them so you can browse them at your leisure.

Parcel #5 Inspiration Tour Schedule:

Friday, September 19 Pienkel || Cookin' and Craftin'

Saturday, September 20 Sew Busy Lizzy || The Life Of A Compulsive Crafter

Sunday, September 21 Keep Calm and Carrion || Felt With Love Designs

Monday, September 22 Radiant Home Studio || Sewing Sober

Tuesday, September 23 Sew Fishsticks || La Pantigana || Amanda Rose

Wednesday,September 24 Shawnta Sews || Sprouting JubeJube || Knot Sew Normal

Thursday, September 25 Make It Perfect || Mimi's Mom || Climbing the Willow

Friday, September 26 Needle and Ted || Our Family Four

Saturday, September 27 Froo & Boo

Sunday, September 28 Stitches by Laura || Vicky Myers creations

Monday, September 29 Cookin' and Craftin' || The Crazy Tailor

Tuesday, September 30 mama says sew || FABulous Home Sewn || The Inspired Wren

Wednesday, October 1 lady and the gents || That's-Sew-Kari || Sewing Sober

Thursday,October 2 Gracious Threads || Blogs Like A Mother || SewsNBows

Friday, October 3 sew chibi || Lulu & Celeste || Made by Sara

Pattern Parcel #5: Pre-School to Pre-Teen Girls!

Our little girls. Our daughters. Our nieces. Our granddaughters. For most of us, they are the very reason we started sewing. They melt our hearts and make us tear our hair out all in the same five minutes. Girls. (shrugs) We're magical creatures.

Today we're launching a special Pattern Parcel collection for our girls. The indie patterns in their Parcel were chosen for their versatility. They're modern styles that transcend time. They're Audrey. They're Marilyn. They're Hillary. This Parcel completely covers the size range from 4 years up to a 12 tween. Most of the patterns span even further, as small as newborn and 3 months, up to a 14, 16, 18 girl's tween sizing. We also chose these patterns because they were all styles we'd be proud to have our girls wear. But they're also still styles our girls want to wear. And I'm sure you all know what a fine line that is to walk.

We sew for our girls because we want them to have quality garments made with fine materials. Because store bought clothing for women these days is overpriced and poorly made. It's trash waiting to fall apart and accumulate in our landfills. Not only that, but let's be honest, today's store bought clothes are often styles that rush our little girls into an over sexualized womanhood or cram commercial garbage down their throats.

Let's make our girls clothes that are comfortable. That allow them to be the people they want to be and allow them the movement they need for all their activities. These patterns let our girls climb trees and build forts or get lost in books. They let our girls run and play. They can be athletes, artists, engineers and scientists. And even princesses. ;) Let's make our girls a wardrobe worth wearing.

Introducing, Pattern Parcel #5: Pre-School to Pre-Teen.


Parcel #5 includes:
Lily Knit Blazer by Peek-a-Boo Patterns
Everyday Yoga Pant for Girls by Greenstyle
Asymmetrical Drape Top by EYMM
Playhouse Dress by Fishstick Designs
Mimi Dress and Shirt by Filles a Maman

BONUS PATTERN: Sunki Dress by Figgy’s


Choose your own price to support these independent digital pattern designers and to help us in our work with the charity DonorsChoose.org. Together, we've raised over $11,000 this year for classrooms in need. Thank you!

Shauna Wightman of Shwin Designs: Designer Interview

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“Family”

What is your favorite color?
“Blue”


My favorite photo of myself:

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“My Family”

What talent would you most like to have?
“Artist"

Where would you like to live?
“West coast”

My most treasured possessions:

Who are your favorite artists?
“Picasso”

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
“Batman"

Who are your heroes in real life?
“My Dad"

Looking for the Parcel #4 Inspiration? Head on over Right Here.
Still haven't purchased Parcel #4? Today is the LAST DAY! You can Get It Here until September 5th.

Elisa Clark of Charming Doodle: Designer Interview

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
“Everyone dislikes something about their appearance. While expecting our first baby, my husband and I used to laugh about what our baby would look like if he got every one of our characteristics that we dislike most. LOL Sadly, most of my kids got my super rosy cheeks...one of my least favorite features on myself.”


My favorite photo of myself: I don't really have one favorite photo of myself but I have attached one of me with my youngest baby the week he was born. There's nothing like holding a newborn!

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Ha! Since I've become a parent I definitely the word I find myself overusing most is 'no.'”

What is your greatest regret?
“It may not be my 'greatest' regret...but I certainly regret not learning to sew when my kids (especially my girls) were babies. Just think of all the adorable things I could have made!”


My favorite thing I made myself: This is a picture of the first dress I made. It was for my youngest daughter's second birthday. My mom helped me since I didn't have a clue how to use a pattern or even thread the machine and I sewed the entire thing on my grandma's antique Singer.

What talent would you most like to have?
“I wish I had a great talent for remembering names and details. I can remember faces but often the name of someone I have met escapes me and I'd love to be better at that."


My most treasured possessions: I try not to hold onto 'things' too tightly. If I had to choose a most treasured possession right now it would be my house. It's nothing fancy but my husband and I have redone every single inch of the house. I design it. He builds it. We love it. This picture is a peek at the outside of the house still in progress but sums up the changes we've made to the whole thing.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
“In my man specifically...I like tons of his qualities but really love the fact that he's self sufficient. Before we met he already lived on his own, had a house, cooked well, was great at doing laundry and all the house stuff. It's a hugely great quality!!”

Looking for the Parcel #4 Inspiration? Head on over Right Here.
Still haven't purchased Parcel #4? You can Get It Here until September 5th.

Abby Smith of Sew Much Ado: Designer Interview

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“A healthy and happy family - and a clean house!”

What is your favorite color?
“Aqua and pink!”

What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
“I'm horrible at making decisions. Or am I? ;) Really though, I am.”

What trait do you most deplore in others?
“Rudeness - it's just as easy to be nice as it is to be rude :).”


My favorite photo of myself:

What is your greatest extravagance?
“I love eating out, or perhaps I love having a break from dishes."

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I'm A Canadian transplant in the US, so my friends here would probably say I say "eh" a lot!"

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“My husband, two sons, and two daughters.”

What talent would you most like to have?
“I would love to have a beautiful singing voice."


My favorite thing I've made: Oh my goodness, this is a hard one. I think everything I make is a favorite in a different way. But one of my favorites that I've made very recently is a neon orange knit peplum dress for Lola. It's kind of like the mullet of little girl dresses - half party and half business (and I have a pattern coming soon for it!)

What is your current state of mind?
“I try to take things one day at a time and remember how blessed I am!”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“I would be able to multitask! Seriously, I have a one track mind and it drives me nuts!”

Where would you like to live?
“Somewhere warm and sunny all the time!”

What is your favorite occupation?
“Sewing pattern designer! I'm so lucky to be able to do something that I love.”

What is the quality you most like in a man?
“Humility - it was one of the things that made me fall in love with my husband!”

What do you most value in your friends?
“I love when friends just "get you", and so much is understood without being said.”

My most treasured possessions: My family

Who are your favorite artists?
“John Mayer, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson”

Who are your heroes in real life?
“I have many strong women to look up to, especially my mom and my sisters."

What are your favorite motto?
"A ship at harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are for."

Looking for the Parcel #4 Inspiration? Head on over Right Here.
Still haven't purchased Parcel #4? You can Get It Here until September 5th.

Betz White: Designer Interview

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“relaxing at the lake with my family”

What is your favorite color?
“green”

What is your favorite journey?
“heading home”

Betz White, designer of the Jet Pack Bag from Parcel #4

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“um, like, y'know"

What is your greatest regret?
“not wearing enough sunscreen”

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“my kids”

What talent would you most like to have?
“to sing well!"


My favorite photo of myself: Guitar recital dress my mom made me in 1974.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“my location”

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
“a dolphin”

Where would you like to live?
“Wisconsin or New Hampshire”

My most treasured place.

What is your favorite occupation?
“designer”

What is the quality you most like in a man?
“good sense of humor”

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
“good sense of humor”

What do you most value in your friends?
“authenticity”


Betz's new book! Coming out October 3rd! (click to order)

Looking for the Parcel #4 Inspiration? Head on over Right Here.
Still haven't purchased Parcel #4? You can Get It Here until September 5th.

Melissa Mora of Blank Slate Patterns

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“A beach in Hawaii with my family”

What is your favorite color?
“I like them all”

What trait do you most deplore in others?
“dishonesty”

What is your greatest extravagance?
“Travel"

What is your favorite journey?
“Any one in a good book”

What is your greatest regret?
“Not enjoying high school in the thick of it - I wish I had realized most of it wasn't such a big deal ”


Melissa Mora of Blank Slate Patterns. Designer of the Zippy Jacket from Parcel #4.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
“My husband”

What talent would you most like to have?
“I would love to be able to play an instrument well. "

What is your current state of mind?
“SI would love to be able to play an instrument well. ”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“I'm pretty happy with myself the way I am”

Where would you like to live?
“Hawaii”

What is your favorite occupation?
“Teaching”

What is the quality you most like in a man?
“Sense of humor”

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
“Honesty”

What do you most value in your friends?
“Humor, honesty, loyalty”

Who are your favorite artists?
“Shakespeare, Chagall and Kahlo, hands down”

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
“Currently? Veronica Mars"

Who are your heroes in real life?
“My mom and dad"

What are your favorite motto?
"Though she be but little, she is fierce"

Looking for the Parcel #4 Inspiration? Head on over Right Here.
Still haven't purchased Parcel #4? You can Get It Here until September 5th.