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Wanna hear a cool story?

Well a couple of months ago I was at home alone (that hardly ever happens) and feeling pretty lonely so I turned to my favorite podcast, Craftsanity. To be specific this podcast with Jennifer Paganelli. Well.... as I listened to her tale of starting her own home-based business from scratch I looked at her beautiful fabrics online, browsed around her blog, and literally fell asleep thinking of how awesome it would be to get her fabrics and my patterns together. When I woke the next morning I grabbed my iPhone by the bed to see if there were any pressing emails (I never do this), sitting right there in my inbox was an email from Jona saying that Jennifer Paganelli wanted MY Miss Madeline dress for market!
So...Yah. I fall asleep thinking about this and literally as soon as my eyes are open it has actually happened! Jeniffer picked MY pattern! Can you believe that? So a week or so later this beautiful fabric arrives for me to sew with and this past week I made the dress. I am seriously IN LOVE with these fabrics! The colors are so beautiful and vibrant, and the designs have that vintage feel to them, perfect.
Is that a cool story or what? Turns out Jeniffer is just the nicest most down-to-earth gal you could ever meet. Who knew!? Market is just over a week away! How did that happen? This week I have made six dresses to send with my distributor, including this one, so get ready for a big sewing post! Hopefully the weather will cooperate tomorrow morning so that I can take pictures of the other dresses before they head off to market. I'm a little late this year but thankfully it's all done now so that I can de-stress a little.
I better go now. It's 3 am, I have sewn 5 dresses today (I just finished up), been to church, and I have been awake for almost 24 hours. I hope I can sleep tonight. This insomnia mess is for the birds!
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Comments

Dawn said…
Oh Sam, the dress is just adorable. I'm so glad that you were able to get your sewing done for market. I just think that is so neat that our designs will be side by side at market this year. Gosh, I wish I could go. You'll have to take lots of pictures and send them to me. Now go get some sleep!!!
May 7, 2009 at 4:29 AM
Jennifer Paganelli said…
I am putting you on my blogroll dear lady...You have made my day!!!
May 7, 2009 at 5:11 AM
calicodaisy said…
Congratulations! If one persists long enough, dreams really do come true -- even if they change and develop a bit over time!
May 7, 2009 at 5:31 AM
Anonymous said…
That is just a wonderful turn of events, and I'm sure one of many more like it to come :-)
May 7, 2009 at 6:18 AM
Beach Mama said…
Beautiful dress! Beautiful fabrics! After a few weeks of drooling over e-patterns and fabric, I set out to our local (one and only) fabric store. I was much disappointed that all of those delicious fabrics I had been ogling on the web didn't exist in our store. I love this dress!
May 7, 2009 at 6:27 AM
Very Verdant said…
Love the dress and fabrics. So excited for you!
May 7, 2009 at 7:00 AM
Quebedeaux said…
How awesome is that!!! The fabrics are beautiful
May 7, 2009 at 7:06 AM
Anonymous said…
How exciting! She is a sweetie! She commented on my blog the other day. Silly, I know, but I felt special to have a real live designer comment on my little blog. :)
May 7, 2009 at 7:24 AM
lissilulu said…
how exciting! Congratulations on all of your dedication in pattern making and I pray your dresses are the bell of the ball at market.
Lori
May 7, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Anonymous said…
That is beautiful! And you're right, its a great story!
May 7, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Meghan said…
Oh, that dress is so pretty! And congrats! So nice to see you back.
May 7, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Trying Traditional said…
Oh so pretty. I can't wait to get a bit of the fabric, it is so feminine and vintage!
May 7, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Trying Traditional said…
Arg, I hit comment before saying congrats on having your pattern choosen. It is an honor and feels so good when someone recognizes your talents. Not to mention being able to play with the great fabric.
May 7, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Goosegirl said…
Samantha, the dress is beautiful! I can't wait to see the others! I am soooooo happy for you!

Thank you again for the HUGE encouragement you were to me. You have no idea, or maybe you do, how much you blessed me. Thank you!
May 7, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Heather said…
Sam! I love, love the dress!! I so hate it that I can't sew, I feel out of place on here, lol. You are extremly talented! You have also inspired me, I bought a brand new highchair at a yard sale, but the padding for the seat is not so cute (and you know we have to be cute);-), but I let my daughter pick out material and I am going to attempt to either teach myself to sew, or give to my mom to do. but either way, it is going to be too cute, then get the name embroidered on it! I thought of your daughter's cast when I came up with it.
May 7, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Samantha Caffee said…
*************************************
Heather,

You gotta just try it! You can't learn by just wishing you could! Dive in! That's what I did! Just think, 100 years ago every 8 year old girl could sew a pillow, every woman could sew a basic dress! That just proves that anyone who tries can do it. If you hit a road block just ask someone, google it, or watch a you tube video on it, there is plenty of help to be had out there.

I need your email address.

xoxo,
Samantha

***********************************
May 7, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Heather said…
Thank you, I am going to a sewing shop when I get off work for some help. My email address is heatherpacker@hotmail.com. I haven't forgotten about our favorite Easter dress pic. I did not make it home, but I will and when I do, I am going to get that pic and send it to you.
May 7, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Bari said…
O my goodness I love this dress! You are a amazing woman God truly has blessed you!
May 7, 2009 at 2:23 PM
~cjoy said…
That is so cool!
And this dress in that fabric is amazing. You are so inspiring! One of these days I hope to make one of the beautiful patterns you come up with.
May 7, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Jona Giammalva said…
Oh it turned out so beautiful!!! I knew it would!! How fun (I'm glad I could be part of your dress story)!
May 8, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Sofia *RosiesTreasures* said…
Samantha I just got a chance to see all the dresses for market. They are lovely! I just love getting to see your creations.
May 11, 2009 at 3:21 PM
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