Plans, Shmans.

Last week, we knew what this newsletter was going to be about.

Pearl was all set to make Vogue 1347 — the winner of our Facebook page poll — out of two lovely colors of silk organza from the estate collection in our Etsy store, and share with you the process of turning a pattern intended for ordinary fabrics into a runway-ready, silk organza extravaganza.

Then something else happened. Something wonderful.

Remember this photo of Lee's SUV, filled from top to bottom with that estate purchase of beautiful Korean silks?

Well, here's a NEW photo from Pearl, showing her Crown Victoria sedan jammed completely full of vintage patterns from an estate sale right here in Fort Worth.

As soon as Pearl saw the boxes of vintage patterns scattered around the front lawn — with Issey Miyake Vogues and other classics front and center in the first box — she made an offer on the entire collection. And then somehow, she got them all in her car.

That was no easy feat. By a rough estimate, this collection — which sprawls across 39 boxes, bins and bags — contains more than 2,700 patterns.

That's TWENTY SEVEN HUNDRED patterns.

As soon as Pearl got them home, she started to flip through the bins, boxes and bags and quickly realized that those Miyakes were no isolated wonders.

This is an extraordinary collection.

The original owner was clearly a stylish lady with phenomenal taste. Her lucky kids and grandkids must have been the snazziest little fashionistas the 80s and 90s in particular had ever seen. Just pulling randomly from the boxes, one finds Vogue Designer Originals and amazing Vogue Individualist patterns, as well as Butterick and Simplicity patterns, Burda patterns still in their neat sleeves and a near-complete collection of those ahead-of-their-time McCall's NYNY patterns.

This woman had a great eye for both ageless classics and iconic silhouettes. We are honored to take over stewardship of her remarkable collection. I mean, my goodness — just look at this gorgeous Lagerfeld from 1995. It has SILK ORGANZA sleeves!

Of course, we will also be thrilled to SHARE these patterns with our friends on Etsy.

Pearl now has way more patterns than even the most research-crazy pattern designer could ever use. So in the weeks to come, as we catalog and curate this collection, we will be setting up a sister Etsy shop to our Lee & Pearl Etsy store, where we will offer select jewels from this collection — and from Pearl's existing collection of almost 2,000 patterns — for sale.

Oh, wait — we almost forgot. There's FABRIC in the collection, too!

The estate sale where we purchased these patterns was advertised as a FABRIC SALE. In the listing, the patterns were barely mentioned at all.

It was hard to imagine that 39 boxes of patterns could be an afterthought — until Pearl looked inside the house and found it filled with teetering stacks, tables, boxes and shelves full of every variety of amazing fabric.

So Pearl drove home, unloaded the car and drove right back to fill it up again with linens, rayons, luxurious wools, retro bark cloth and enough vintage double knits to recreate that final, glam 70s season of Mad Men...

And of course, Pearl bought stacks and stacks of beautiful cotton calicos, too — both modern and vintage. We recognized the vintage calicos, because our mom had some of the same prints!

Can you believe that we found over two yards of this to-die-for vintage Disney print? It's on a beautiful, soft cotton lawn — and it's in perfect condition!

While we sort and catalog the patterns, we'll be sorting and cataloging the fabrics as well, and figuring out the best way — or ways — to share them with all our friends.

So please stay tuned...!

A quick reminder — our VIBRANT ORANGE silk organza is still ON SALE at the crazy low price of $6/yard. But that sale is ending soon!

VIBRANT ORANGE is the perfect color for Halloween crafts, decorations or costumes.

It's also a trendy fashion color this season — and $6 per yard is less than JoAnn charges for ordinary polyester organza. In fact, it's less than JoAnn charges for ordinary polyester organza when it's ON SALE, so don't miss out!

CLICK HERE to go directly to our ROYAL JEWELS by-the-yard collection to stock up on $6/yard VIBRANT ORANGE 100% silk organza — before the sale ends on November 1, 2019.

And CLICK HERE to go to the Fabric & Trim Kit Section of our Etsy store to see ALL our 100% Silk Organza by-the-yard listings and kits.

Speaking of Halloween — if you're still looking for costume ideas for your dolls, please revisit our big FOUR-PART HALLOWEEN NEWSLETTER in the Lee & Pearl Newsletter Archive.

This was one of our most jam-packed newsletters ever. It led off with links to our YouTube video tutorials for perfect doll-scale fun-size candy bars and poly-clay candy corn.

Then the newsletter continued with details and pattern tips on lots of costumes, including our Dread Pirate Roberts doll cosplay, made using Pattern #3052: Pirates, Patriots and Princes 18th Century Men's Basics for 18" Dolls — the perfect pattern for both fictional and historical pirates!

CLICK HERE to revisit our 4-part Halloween Party Newsletter, with craft and cosplay tutorials and costume ideas for dolls!

Next, check out our Mad Scientist Lab Extravaganza, which featured American Girl®, A Girl for All Time® and Wellie Wisher® dolls all dressed in lab coats made using our Pattern 1025: She Blinded Me with Science Unisex Lab Coat and Safety Goggles for for 18 Inch, 16 Inch and 14 1/2 Inch Dolls.

This newsletter also includes details on the lab furniture and props that we used, some of which we found and some of which we made.

CLICK HERE to revisit our Mad Scientist Laboratory Newsletter, with prop, costume and lighting tips and craft tutorials!

Want pattern announcements, tutorials and behind-the-scenes news from Lee & Pearl delivered directly to your inbox — along with our exclusive FREE pattern for subscribers? Click below to join our mailing list!

CLICK HERE to sign up for the Lee & Pearl mailing list!

See you next time!