Holiday Cheer

It has been a wonderful year and an even better Christmas holiday. It was amazing spending the day with my family and seeing my eight year old son as he opened up his presents. Each look on his face was more precious than the other as his face lit-up with excitement and laughter. This was the first Christmas for my eight-month-old son, and it was so much fun to watch him rip through the gift-wrapping, and perhaps still uncertain about what all the activities was about. The smell of the fresh spruce tree still fills the air and I have had my fill of holiday goodies.

I look forward to the year ahead and I'm bursting with excitement over all the things that are lined-up. Verona Collections and Crafted Spaces are taking on new projects and growing in so many ways.

I hope that you also had a great Christmas with your friends and family and that you will continue to enjoy the holiday spirit into the New Year. Many best wishes to you and thanks for joining me this year on Verona Collections blog.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2011!

Tie Dye Knit Cord Scarf

This pass weekend I spent the time at two community craft shows. As usual getting ready for a show is full of lots of last minute details that you told yourself you had covered with the last show you did.

Even though these were smaller shows than the ones we usually do, they still require the usual attention. Set-up for one of the shows was scheduled for the previous evening, my husband and I arrived only to find that it was closed. We would find out the following morning that we were at the wrong location. The obvious lesson here is to always double check the information. It can save you a lot of stress.

Driving down the very foggy country road early the next morning, I was excited to see what the response was going to be to our new products. With all said, I had lots of fun, met lots of new people and had an opportunity to introduce our NEW scarves and other designs.

Tie Dye Knit Cord Scarves and Wrap

The response was amazing and I look forward to further developing this product. It is available in a range of colours, with the top three being; olive green, purple and turquoise. They measure 13 1/2" x 58" round, and are made from a light weight jersey knit.

Let us know what you think.

Choosing Your Sewing Machine

I am often asked; how do you select a sewing machine? So here are some thoughts on the topic.

I purchased my first sewing machine about eighteen years ago and I still use it today. My basic Singer machine was a Costco purchase for less than two hundred dollars, courtesy of my mother after I told her I wanted to develop my sewing skills and start my own business.

Since then, I have purchased several sewing machines and sergers for my business. I have found myself investing primarily in a selection of Singer and Janome machines. I also have a Brother sewing machine and a Kenmore serger. This pass year I purchased my first embroidery machine a Janome Memory Craft 350E. I have been very happy with the machines I've gotten over the years, and hope that I can help you with your selection.

Sewing machines can be found from under a hundred dollars to over ten thousand dollars. Identifying what type of projects you will like to produce is a great place to start. When it comes to different textiles and weight of materials, all sewing machines are not created equally. I also suggest that you consider taking a sewing class and gain the confidence you need to work independently on projects. This will also guarantee that you will use your machine.

If you are a beginner looking to develop your garment construction or home furnishing skills, you will work primarily with light to medium weight fabrics. A basic dressmaker machine with a selection of basic stitches would properly do the trick. A machine with a built-in button hole feature and some basic decorative embroidery stitches may also be an asset and will support more advance projects.

Doing your research is key in finding the right machine. Visit several dealers and prepare a list of questions you may have about machine features, maintenance and servicing. It is most important that you are comfortable with your sewing machine, so if possible try it out in the store to get a feel for the machine.

Singer 20U73 Professional Industrial Sewing Machine

If you are looking to invest in an industrial sewing machine. The Singer industrial sewing machine featured above is one of the machines that are used in my studio. This series has been in production for well over 20 years. It can be used to sew a wide range of materials including light weight leather. With 2500 straight stitch per minute, this machine is a staple in the studio.

Kenmore Serger and Singer Sewing Machine shown above

As you develop your sewing skills and you start sewing more projects, you may want to consider purchasing a serger or overlocking machine. The serger or overlocking machine is great for seams and adding a finishing touch to your projects. This machine is especially helpful for finishing sheer light weight fabrics, such as chiffon. At Verona Collections we have a Janome and Kenmore four thread serger and have been very happy with their performance.

Sources for sewing machines:

Baby Lockwww.babylock.com

Bernina
www.berninausa.com
Brother
www.brother.com
Elna
www.elnausa.com

Husqvarna Vikingwww.husqvarnaviking.com
Janome
www.janome.com
Juki

www.juki.co.jp

Kenmore
www.kenmore.com

Pfaff
www.pfaff.com

Singer
www.singerco.com

I also hope that once you have gotten your machine, you might find the following demonstration helpful.

Please share your thoughts. Your suggestions are also welcomed.

Summer Contest - WINNER!

We are HAPPY to announce that the WINNER of our Summer Contest is Lizz de Savoye, of Toronto. Congratulations Lizz!

Lizz shared with us her personal style on Facebook:

"I wear a look that suites my fashionista personality. Clean lines, classic cuts that flatter, a bit bawdy and a bit humorous. My look tells you that I never, ever apologize for being the strong, beautiful, radiant woman my Mother raised me to be....and that when push comes to shove, I have sharper elbows. :]"

Thanks to all those who supported and participated in our contest. Visit us again for upcoming events.

Book Review: Creating Fashion Accessories

I started sewing for my dolls when I was about six year old. Creating outfits from articles of clothing that I had outgrown. At age eleven I started machine sewing. The first project I machine sewed was a pillow case, which I further hand embroidered with a yellow floral pattern. Ever since then, my love for sewing and creating has grown into a passion.

Over the years I have developed an extensive sewing, craft, and decorating library. Each year I continue to add new books and other resources to my library, and I have found these resources very inspirational and full of sewing and creative design techniques.

I have had a copy of "Creating Fashion Accessories" for many years. I used it extensively when I first learnt how to sew fashion accessories, and I often suggest it to new students. I particularly recommend it to younger sewing students, because it has fun projects that are simple and easy to create.

It is a simple book to follow, with great picture illustrations and step-by-step instructions. You are guided through the steps of how to add a zipper, draft a basic hat pattern, sew a drawstring purse and much more.

I have seen copies of this book at many different shops, but for those who enjoy shopping online you can try Amazon or Chapters-Indigo for a copy.

Creating Fashion Accessories by Singer Sewing Company (ISBN 086573285X)

Summer Contest

Our Summer Contest is finally here. For those of you who have been visiting our website during the summer and wondering when the contest will start . . . here it is. We love having contests and we hope that you will have lots of fun with this contest.

Join Verona Collections blog or friend us on Facebook, then share with us Your Personal Style for a chance to WIN this beautiful pair of pink jade, Austrian crystal and sterling silver earrings, along with 15% off your next Verona Collections purchase.

1) Join our blog or friend us on Facebook

2) Click "comment" under this blog post or under our Facebook wall post and

describe to us Your Personal Style

3) The winner will be announced on Verona Collections website, on this blog, Facebook and on Crafted Spaces.

* Contest ends September 18th, 2010. International contestants are welcome!

Creative Venture

I am so happy to introduce a new creative venture"Crafted Spaces." This new venture is an amazing new adventure as I explore other aspects of the design and craft world. There is a new blog and a soon to be released Youtube Channel, which features; craft projects, decorating ideas, business tips, visits to craft events, unique places and creative people.

I look forward to seeing where this new project goes and how it develops. If you will like to find out more or will like to join me along this new journey, I invite you to join "Crafted Spaces" at crafted-spaces.blogspot.com or join the Facebook page.

Fashion Trend #1

Verona Collections' classic baby pink, silk satin drawstring purse is a perfect compliment to this vintage inspired outfit. The ivory slouch hat by Hipknitzed is great as a year round accessory and the feathery lace skirt from Forever21 is sweet yet sexy. The versatile blouse featured here was an amazing find at Winners. This outfit has been finished off with a mother-of-pearl bracelet and a simple pearl earring.

Tell us what you think about this look!

Beautiful Day

Today was a truly beautiful day. The sky was clear, a nice cool breeze came off Lake Simcoe and the sun was warm against my skin. It was a day deserving of sitting back and taking a moment to take in the fresh air and beauty that surrounds my home and studio in Shanty Bay, Ontario.

One of my favourite milk vase with pink roses and one of my favourite magazines.

The roses are so beautiful and they smell amazing.

Though beautiful, I decided not to end my day sitting on the deck outside my bedroom. Instead my husband and I decided to take our little ones for a walk along the trail. It was an afternoon well spent. Tomorrow I'll catch up on work . . .

Summer Shopping!!!

We have been planning Verona Collections' Summer Fashion Week for the past few months and I'm truly excited about this unique showcase. Clients can choose from our new collection of handbags, jewellery and accessories or create their own unique designs. We are having a "Trunk Show," a creative "Open House," " Sewing Workshops" and the highlight of the week is our "Summer Shopping" night. We are also proud to introduce our new collection of eco friendly accessories and our vibrant collection of tie dye slips and camisoles created from reclaimed vintage pieces.

The week of events will be held from June 21 to 27, at The Gladstone Hotel, Studio #202, 1214 Queen Street West, Toronto. Our "Summer Shopping" will be on Friday, June 25th from 4 - 11 p.m. The evening will also feature the designs of other designers such as Maudlin & Joy and Hipknitized. This celebration of fashion has been sponsored by: GSM Beats Inc. and Cottle's Professional Consulting. Please email me at info@veronacollections.com to register for one of the workshops or for more details.

Summer Fashion Week!

I am excited about our upcoming "Summer Fashion Week." We have put together a great line-up of events for the week of June 21st to the 27th. The week is sure to be the start of a great annual summer event for Verona Collections, featuring our collection of designs and creative workshops.

The event will also feature the work of other local Toronto designers and the sounds of GSM Beats Inc. I will like to extend a special thanks to GSM Beats Inc. and Cottle's Professional Consulting for assisting in this event and being our official sponsors. Stay posted for images and a review of the week. Wish me luck!

Handbag Sewing Workshop!

Learn the basics of sewing your own handbag, in a fun and relaxed environment. This creative workshop provides an opportunity for one-on-one instructions to those who will like to explore their creativity.

This one day class runs on June 27th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is part of Verona Collections' "Summer Fashion Week" in Toronto from June 21st to 27th, 2010. This creative sewing workshop is designed to teach the basics of how to design, draft and sew an original handbag. To register, please send an email to info@veronacollections.com or call us at 647-878-4988 or 705-722-8132. Space is available on a first come first serve basis. Sewing machines are available. No Experience needed.

Recent Events

The month of May was very busy for Verona Collections. We had a great Mother's Day Handbag Party on the 8th. and on the 14th to the 16th we were proud to launch our new collection of tie dyed vintage slips at The Clothing Show - The Better Living Centre, Toronto.

I will like to extend a special thanks to those who braved the downpour of rain on the 8th to join us at the handbag party. I hope for better weather next year, and that more of you will be able to join in the fun. The chocolate cake at 7 West Cafe was amazing!

At The Clothing Show, the feedback was amazing and we had the pleasure of meeting some really nice people. We were happy to be part of the Eco section of the show, where the highlight of our collection was our gorgeous tie dyed vintage slips. This collection of sexy slips and camisoles are versatile and can be worn in combination with other items or on their own. They are available in a range of vibrant colours; including, olive green, purple, brown and yellow, just to name a few.

At the show we also introduced our line of new eco friendly felt flower pins and ponytail holders, made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. These beautiful accessories adds a burst of colour to any outfit. It is my hope to continue the development of this eco friendly collection and to introduce additional pieces to our ladies fashion collection. I look forward to participating again in The Clothing Show this September.

< < Handmade Felt Flower Pin & Ponytail Holder made from 100% recycled plastic bottles (eco-fi felt)!

Mother's Day Handbag Party!

Join us at our annual Mother's Day Handbag Party! Create a one-of-a-kind handbag as a special Mother's Day gift or treat yourself to a beautiful spring bag. This fun afternoon promises to be a unique shopping experience. You can select from a great selection of designs and fabric. You can also provide your own material (contact us for more details).
Date: Saturday, May 8th, 2010Time: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.Location: 7 West Cafe (7 Charles Street West, Toronto)
Ticket: $15.00 (Advance Purchase Only!)
Includes a fun afternoon and treats . . .

Please R.S.V.P by May 5th via email at info@veronacollections.com
For more information please call 705-722-8132 or 647-878-4988

*** You have a chance to WIN 15% off your purchase, plus lots more ***

Fashion Trends

Great Fashion Link!
Check out this great link to some hot must-have fashions for Spring /Summer 2010. Spring/Summer Fashion Trends!

Our Beginner Sewing Classes!

The first of our 2010 "Beginner Sewing Classes" have been going really well. We are going into our third week and I'm really enjoying working with the students. They are catching on very quickly.

It has been very exciting looking at them develop their skills. I can remember when I first learnt to machine sew, I was eleven and my first project was a pillow case. I was proud of my project and I look forward to seeing how my students' projects evolve.

Welcome!

Welcome and thank you for visiting my new blog! I am new to blogging and I hope to make this a fun experience, and a great space to share my latest creations and inspirations. I will provide a glimpse into what happens behind the scenes at Verona Collections.

This blog will also provide updated information on upcoming events and will have an ongoing post of fun sewing and craft projects that you can try. You can also learn more about Verona Collections by visiting our website for by joining us on Facebook. I welcome all comments and suggestions.