My model quit :P

Well...she is protesting anyway. I don't know why, but she now hates it when I take her outside for pictures. Tried to pose her on a chair, gave her a lemon to distract her, and yet, she kept trying to grab me. Cried pretty much the whole time. So I brought the operation indoors. She did okay for that, but the lighting wasn't great and my camera isn't either, so not exactly thrilled. Anyway, I got some usable photos but I'm not sure how much longer this can last because I am going to need her for more photos in the future! Oh well.

So I am going to gradually add some simple, fun skirts in my shop. The first is the deer skirt! I also did some pink ruffle capris for Ally with a lace hem; she modeled them, but since I made them in the next size up, they are full length pants in the picture and not capris. Also, if you are reading this, I would love more comments and followers for my blog. It's beginning to look a little sad to see 0 comments on each post! I really do need to start doing some tutorials, too! Maybe I'll do one for the twirly skirts :)

The top/dress

Things have been slow in the shop lately...only one sale so far this week, but hoping for more! I really want that 50th sale by the end of the week! I also have a goal of 3-4 sales per week, which has been happening up until now. Hopefully things will pick up soon! In the meantime, still orders to catch up on and I finished the Gracie pattern tiered top/dress. I don't know why it's called a top, since it is the same length as the tiered dress. It makes a really cute long top or short dress, though. As far as the actual tiered dress goes (the one with the rounded collar) I plan to make that one with longer tiers from now on because I do thing it's a bit on the short side. Anyway, this dress turned out adorable, and I did a rolled hem, yay! I tried it on Ally but it's a 12-18 months and her shoulders are so narrow and it looked way too big. I'll try it again in a couple months, and make adjustments if needed. I'm keeping this one for her, but it's also available in the shop for custom order.
There's a pair of pink ruffled capris with a lacy hem as well, but I haven't taken pics of them yet! I'm thinking this might be Ally's Easter outfit, unless my mom buys something for her, which she probably will :) Today I am taking the kids to Joann's and Target. Adam is working in Tucson and I can't do another day at home. This week I don't have much going on, and I don't like it...too many long days! Adam has installs every day, which is great, but it gets kinda lonely, even with 2 munchkins. Hope the kids do ok during errands- I always end up going to both places at the same time, since they seem to be located near each other, no matter which part of the valley I am in. Odin keeps getting out of bed early, ugh! But at least he takes a nice long nap...

Giveaway!!!

Aubut Life blog is hosting a giveaway for my shop! The winner receives a $15 gift card to my shop...here is the link: http://aubutfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/joyful-vision.html. Go there for instructions on how to enter!

Almost to 50...

One more sale until 50 in my shop! I am going to give a fun free gift to the 50th customer, wonder who it will be? In between working on orders, I am also creating dresses and outfits for Ally for spring and summer. I want to make sure I get these done since it seems I have been so busy lately! The top/dress (not sure what to call it, as it looks like a dress to me but it's supposed to be a top) that I am working on now is from Sandi Henderson's Gracie pattern and is in Nicey Jane fabrics. I love how it's turning out, and it will also have matching ruffle capris. I will show pictures as soon as it's done.
Sorry there's no pictures in this post- I need to do a better job of taking them! I guess I've been lazy...Also, potty training is not really happening. I still take Odin on the potty, but he won't go, so not sure what to do about that! And I am done giving Ally baby food...from now on she gets tabel food, yay!

Ally's weird teeth

Yeah, so my daughter took her sweet time getting teeth. And now that she has some, they're a little weird. I'll explain. Her first two teeth were her bottom two middle, which is fine. Then she got one random tooth on the top on the side, and then another one next to it. It's not normal, I say! I took a picture to show you. Also she is waving all the time these days, and she doesn't stop until someone waves back. It is soo cute and I need to take a picture of that, too! I added some new minky pants to the shop, so I'll show off a pair of those as well.

Only 2 more sales to get me to 50! I am pretty sure, or at least hopeful, I can do that by the end of the month. I feel like doing something special for #50, or a giveaway, or something to that effect, but I've been so busy lately! I had a fight with the serger today. I was trying to do a rolled hem, and finally got the thing threaded right, but then one thread kept breaking, so had to rethread that and lower the tension, and yeah I got it, but I definitely need more practice. I will be showing you the results of my efforts (in Nicey Jane fabrics!) quite soon. I started working on a skirt tutorial, then forgot to take pictures, so it will have to wait until I make another skirt! I plan to make Ally a couple spring skirts soon, so it'll happen. In fact, i bought some cute Japanese Paris themed fabric the other day and can't wait to turn it into either a shirred top or a skirt. That project will be just for her, not for the shop, especially since Japanese fabric is expensive (probly cuz it's imported). My mom is making my soon-t0-be niece a quilt featuring some Japanese fabric as well, and I'm sure it will be amazing! Speaking of which, Dana is due in about 2 weeks and I can't wait! Too bad I have no idea when we will see said niece...Anyway, that's all for now.

My new friend..

I have a new friend for my sewing machine. A serger! I am feeling so blessed and excited right now that someone from church (minister's wife) was generous enough to give me hers. I have been testing it out today, ruining some things with it (oh well!) and I think it's going to be a wonderful addition to my shop. Almost everyone who sews children's clothes has a serger, and I just have not beeing keeping up with the times. So I am thanking God for this blessing. Now I just need to figure out how to do the rolled hem.

Also, I am anticipating a few things here. One is that I have 5 sales left to go until I hit sale 50. So I might do a giveaway of my own here when I do! Two is that I am going to make my own PDF tutorial for the shop. It's funny, I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I made up my own design for the ruffled apron skirt, and so I want to make a tutorial for sale for those who would rather make their own skirt! It'll be available in sizes baby through girls 8, and it'll be easy cuz it's all rectangles, so no pattern pieces to deal with (that's why it's gonna be a tutorial, not a pattern!).

I realize I am terrible at blogging about my kids and taking photos of them. So sorry! I will dig something up now...

Odin was "helping" me sew. Don't worry, I was very careful when he did this. You can also see some fabric in the corner (Heather Bailey Pop Garden) that I am using for an adorable baby outfit for my cousin.

Another giveaway

The blog, aubut life, has the best giveaways! So here is another one...from the shop SewCute Creations. They are giving away 1 custom t-shirt to one reader. You can find the details here: http://aubutfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/sew-cute-creations-giveaway.html. Personally, I really want one for Ally's first birthday! A cute cupcake would be fun :) I have admired appliqued shirts like these for awhile. Have fun looking!

Lots of tutorials

So, since I don't know when I will start doing some tutorials for you all...here is a list of some of my favorites. And yes, I have used things from some of these tutorials for my shop, but most of it has been stuff just for fun. I want to say thank you to all the wonderful bloggers out there who took their time putting these together- Made by Rae being one of my favorite blogs out there for sewing ideas and just to admire her creations. :) So here ya go:
Tiered skirt tutorial- I have a modified version in my shop:http://www.kukyideas.com/journal/2006/07/tiered-skirt-tutorial.html
A ruffled skirt I made for my not-yet-born niece(and have no pictures of): http://grandrevivaldesign.typepad.com/photos/ruffled_skirts_tutorial/index.html
This plus some You Tube videos helped me figure out the pillowcase dress, which I also modified for my shop: http://www.jenleheny.com/pillowcase-dress-instructions
An adorable dress I want to make: http://everythingyourmamamade.com/2008/05/16/adorable-3-in-1-t-shirt-dress-tunic-top-skirt/
A purse I made for myself from Made by Rae: http://madebyrae.blogspot.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern.html
Itty Bitty baby dress (love it!) also from Made by Rae: http://madebyrae.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-itty-bitty-baby-dress-pattern.html
Fun, simple apron (I have made two of these, and plan to make the aprons from my Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner next): http://jonag.typepad.com/stop_staring_and_start_se/2008/12/your-christmas-gift-from-mean-apron-in-an-hour.html
Have been wanting to make these, but will probably do some other baby shoes first: http://stardustshoes.blogspot.com/2006/10/cloth-shoe-pattern.html

So that's it for now, enjoy and let me know if you make any of these!

Hairbow giveaway!

I am not hosting this giveaway, but another blog is...Aubut Life. Here is the link to the giveaway: http://aubutfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/pinkadoo-bowtique-giveaway-25-gc.html. It's a giveaway from Pinkadoo Bowtique. She sells beautiful hairbows, hairbow holders (which I really need, lol), bracelets for little girls, and more! I am definitely entering. Also, look soon for a review and giveaway from the same blog for one of my products!

Making Children's Clothes...

...by Emma Hardy. That's the name of the book I bought. I can't wait to try it out- I love everything in it! The only thing I don't like is that most patterns start at age 2, and I am wanting to make a baby gift for my cousin from one of them. I think I will modify the smocked dress pattern for her.

And yes, I know I would soon do a tutorial of some sort. I will, I promise! I will have to make another pair of boys' pants so I can show you, or maybe it'll be a tutorial of something else completely. I don't know! I really enjoy modifying other patterns or tutorials to make my own creation, but I have not yet succeeded in coming up with something completely from scratch. Pants really are easy, though, so that's probably what I'll show you!

I made a new dress and double ruffled pants...both Sandi Henderson's patterns and in the shop. I love how they turned out! I am going to make a couple pairs of capris for the spring for Ally as well as another Gracie pattern dress (different from the one I already made), but with my Nicey Jane fabrics.

Right now, Odin and Ally are playing in Odin's room with the play kitchen. I keep hearing squeals and general sounds of fun...I just love how well they get along. They are like best friends, always wanting to be together. Odin loves to kiss and hug her, and call her "cute" and "beautiful". Of course, he is sweet like that. The other day he said, "You beautiful, Mommy. You a girl." I love that kid! And Ally has been sleeping A LOT lately, which is nice...she is always so happy when she wakes up. Well, today I plan to work on a few orders and work out...I hope the kids take a long nap!

Damask Pants

I just wanted to show off a new pair of ruffled pants with a beautiful Michael Miller damask print. A customer wanted black and white damask, and they turned out beautifully. They are also the first pair done with my new pattern, and I love how they look! And yeah, I have been making a lot of pants lately, but don't worry, I should be listing a new dress tomorrow (as long as I get the pictures taken!).

Went to Hobby Lobby today with my sister-in-law. I love that store, and bought way more than the 1 yard of pink fabric I went in for. Something I am really excited about is a book with sewing patterns/tutorials for kids' clothes. It is very modern, the clothes are adorable, and I love it! My cousing just had a baby girl, and I think I will be sewing a dress, pants, and booties for her. I'll let you know the name of the book when my brain is working properly.

boy oh boy...

Nicey Jane fabrics

Boy pants!

I made some boy pants :) And put them in the shop! So boys can have cute clothes too. I also plan to put up a tutorial on how to make them soon. They are just basic, boys' lounge pants. Pretty soon, you will see pants with pockets on them...and ties, too. :D

I am so excited about the new fabric line from Heather Bailey...Nicey Jane. Odd name, in my opinion, but I looove the fabric. I just got some in the mail, and have good plans for it. Unlike most people, I can't wait to cut into new fabric. My goal is to have an end-product that I love, so I don't like to let fabric sit for awhile, uncut. Right now I am working on another knot dress, with Sandi Henderson fabrics. I think my 3 favorite fabric designers are Heather Bailey, Sandi Henderson, and Patty Young. They have the best selection, brightest colors, etc. There are many more that I love as well, but I won't bore you with that!

Gracie dress!

I am very excited about how my Gracie dress turned out. My mom got me the Gracie pattern by Sandi Henderson for Christmas. Once again, her pattern was easy to follow, and the dress turned out just like the picture! (With different fabrics, of course). I love this style of dress, which would be great for an older girl who can twirl around in it. Allison can't twirl yet, obviously :) I made this one in size 12-18 months, and I was pleased to see it fits Ally loosely. The length is good though, since she is tall. It would be more fitted on a child in the 12-18 month range, but the skirt is still very full! I was having issues with the yoke, when I read this tutorial...http://littlegirlpearl.blogspot.com/2009/04/sandi-hendersons-gracie-different-way.html. I hate bias tape, so it was nice to have another option. Thanks Little Girl Pearl!

Also, I am ending the 2 for $20 special, but you can always get $2 off pants if you buy them with a skirt, dress, or top!

Oh and one more thing...what does everyone think of me adding little boy pants? I found a cute pattern with pockets on the sides for up to 24 months. I would LOVE to have a baby boy to make these for, hehe (just not right now, unless it's someone else's). I wonder if anyone is interested in me adding them to the shop...

Happy New Year!

Welcome, 2010! Unlike the countless on facebook who seem to think 2009 was just awful, we had a great year. Yeah, financially we aren't exactly doing well, but other than that...we are SO blessed. So I want to take the time to thank God for those many blessings. My children- I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this year! (My dream come true). My husband, who is always wonderful, my sweet little boy who is growing waaaay too fast and is just as cute as ever. Our healthy, church, friends and family, salvation, and people to lean on when we need it. And the fact that my clothing business is off to a good start. Speaking of which, this week alone I have sold several pairs of ruffled pants, in all kinds of patterns and sizes. Craziness. People love their ruffled pants- and let me tell you, I am loving them too. In fact, I broke down and bought Sandi Henderson's ruffled pants pattern, which means I will be adding capris, double ruffled, and triple ruffled pants to my shop. And tomorrow...I will add my newest dress from the Gracie pattern, and blog about it. So stay tuned! And enjoy the final installment of Christmas pictures!