new stuff in the store!

I am slowing getting back into the sewing swing of things.   I have re-opened my Etsy store, Delphinium Designs, with a few items.  Just a smidge of things I can do.  I hope to sew more in coming weeks and get even more items up.  For now, because of the herniated disc in my neck, I am going slow.  But, my neck is MUCH better, which is great.  You have no idea how great!!!

Well, anyway, back to sewing easter dresses and then I get to make a few of these lovelies for customers.  I love this fabric sooo much!  Dena Designs Monaco blue peacocks. I am fairly sure I bought the last ten yards of it last year.  And the sash print is also from Monaco.  I have this peacock fabric in blue, also, and my friend at Treasure Bay Fabrics just added it to her store in pink! I am going to have to buy some, when I plan out what to do with it.  It is softer and thicker than standard quilting wovens.  Just lovely!

Gonna toot my own horn

I am going to toot my own horn here for a minute.  I love this dress! I have had the Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow fabric for over a year.  Bought it from Treasure Bay Fabrics in the hopes of making a dress for my oldest daughter.  But she scoffed at it.  (how dare she?!?!) I found the Benartex Habitat fabric at a local quilt shop.  Then, I got the Tula Pink Prince Charming, also in the green and blue.  Finally, I discovered Timeless Treasures Portabello line and ordered some of that.  Pretty soon, the navy and green section of my fabric stash was looking a bit full!  And I found a small piece of Amy Butler fabric I didn't remember I had.  Love it when that happens.

So, what's a girl to do?  I made a peasant dress for my youngest! She is always willing.  Love her for that!  (love oldest, too, but wish she would still wear dresses)

Anyway, I fiddled around with these for a while until I came up with this combo.  Then, I had a mild panic attack because I realized I needed ribbon down the front!  Luckily, Les Bon Ribbon on Etsy came to the rescue!  Isn't the ribbon trim down the front more lovely than any ribbon imaginable? I mean, come on!  That is one amazing ribbon!

So, I ended up making two of these.  I was not sure which size would fit my four year old since, in my opinion, Portabellopixie Claire pattern runs a tad large.  The size four ended up fitting her great, a tad roomy but that is ok. So, the size 2 is now up for sale in my store, Delphinium Designs, on Etsy.

I have to say that I am in love with this dress.  The colors are just beautiful.  I almost wish I could quilt because I would love to have a bedroom quilt in these fabrics!   This dress is made from two patterns.  The top is Portabellopixie Claire peasant, with added tuxedo ruffle and sash.  The skirt and ruffle come from Romeo and Mae's Lucia dress pattern.  Both of these are among my favorite patterns for little girls.

Here are pictures!

Rufflemania (Amy Karol made me do it)

Today, I was reading Amy Karol's book, Bend the rules of sewing, and decided to take a chance and try something new with ruffles.   Why not?  What was holding me back?  I had an idea and why not try it out?  Amy made me realize that it couldn't hurt to give it a try and it might actually turn out ok.  What is sewing for, after all, other than expressing creativity!  What you see here is the result.

The back story:

Last month, I entered a contest with my favorite online fabric store, Treasure Bay, and one a fabulous selection of Anna Maria Horner fat quarters.  I won seven fat quarters from her Innocent Crush (woven) collection.  When it arrived, my three year old got first pic and chose the blue fabrics as her favorites. I immediately thought of this boring Hanna Anderson Picture of a Great Tee she loves to wear.  We have so many of them that I knew it would be ok to turn it into a dress.

Before:

 

The process:

I started out by cutting the fat quarters into four inch by 21 inch lengths.  After washing, 21 inches is how wide they each were.  I made one tier of three, one tier of four, and one tier of five choices.  I ruffled and serged all that into a skirt, just as you normally would to make a twirly skirt.  

Before I attached it, I had some leftover fabric I wanted to use to decorate the top.  This morning, I spent the better part of several hours looking at ruffle tutorial online, read Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing book, took the dog for a walk, and developed the courage to try something new with this top.  I made it all up.  Forgive me if it looks terrible or makes no sense, but I am going to blame it all on Amy.  It is her fault I took a chance and tried something new and different.  I used all my creative powers because, in the end, that is what sewing should be about.  Amy is right. :)

I make some wee strips of fabric, seams inside, and then put them in the machine to hand ruffle.  I wanted them to lay flat on the shirt so I fed a fold into the sewing machine ever inch or so, like so:

I did not use any pins because I couldn't figure out how to do that!  I just winged it.  Or wung it.  Whatever......

Halfway thru, I realized I had made a heart-shaped oval.  I was ok with that.

I made more ruffles and kept going.  I ended up making a wee booboo up at the shoulder but nicely covered it with some ruffle so you can't tell. Neener neener.

I like the way it looks.  It is not perfect but I don't care.  If I wanted perfect, I'd be in trouble.  Who makes anything perfect anymore?!?!

Next, I attached the skirt and finished it with a rolled edge, now that I have mastered that stitch on my serger, and Voila!

A fresh from the bathtub fashion show.  The best part is that it is a super twirly dress!

So, now, go try something new!  Be daring!  Read an Amy Karol book!  Have fun! Isn't that what life is all about?

XO

Kathy

Custom-made clothing!

The new phrase for sewing your own clothing is custom-made! Sounds so much nicer to say your kids have custom-made clothing than saying you made it yourself. Today, I bought some fabric from the wonderful Etsy store, Treasure Bay Fabrics. She has a beautiful collection of fabrics and ribbons inspired by the children's clothier, Matilda Jane. Look what I bought to make some Matilda Jane-inspired dresses for my girls.

Here is collection one:

And some ribbon trim:

And here is collection two:

And some ribbon trim:

I am not sure exactly what I am going to make but I have some great ideas. I am looking at either making another dress like the pink floral twirl dress I finished last week, but with patchworked tiers so there is more color. Or an Ottobre pillowcase-style dress with a ribbon at neckline. Either way, I am very inspired buy these fabrics.