My baby is one!

I am finally back from "vacation." My family was here for two weeks and then I spent another week getting things back to normal. I've been really busy lately and am happy to have a normal routine again. Ally turned one on April 5. So crazy to think she is already a year old, and it went even faster than Odin's first year! I love one year old, though, and she is as sweet as ever. So far she has taken 3 steps at a time, but she is going slow at this walking thing :) Odin was 13 months when he walked so I think she will be around the same...she seems to be progressing at the same rate. Oh and we are trying potty training, for real this time. Not really working. I think he might not be ready yet. And it's hard when most days we are out of the house for at least part of the day! I am trying to do underwear at home though.

As far as the shop...getting that back up and running too. Have had a few sales since I reopened, and am getting some new items photographed in the next week or so. So definitely check back soon! Sorry this post isn't more interesting...enjoy the pictures though!

Top Things I Made of 2009

Odin's Colored Pencil Roll

Apron skirt!

Ally's Christmas Dress

Pillowcase dress matching my cousin's baby

First dress I ever made- I've come a long way!

So I know it's already February, but I thought I'd look back at the things I made in 2009 and post the top favorites. Today is a weird day. Saturday, but Adam's working today. I need to go to Hobby Lobby sometime after he gets home. Kids are playing outside and I'm still in pajamas. Oh well! Oh, and I finished Ally's Paris top and will post about it soon, but she hasn't worn it yet (well, just to try it on) so I haven't taken pics. I tried to make it in 12-18 months, but she is bigger than I thought and it's more of a 6-12 month but it's stretchy and can be worn for awhile, and I made it nice and long as well. It is really, really cute!

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.

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!

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...

Peasant dress!

Yes, I know I am supposed to be writing about and putting up more pictures from Christmas, but right now I want to show you the new dress I just finished. This is a peasant dress, made from fabric I bought in Maui, and I really love how it turned out. However, I fought with my sewing machine for awhile until I could get it to shir correctly. Has anyone out there shirred before? I tried it first with my mother-in-law's machine, and it did not work. I worked at it for a long time before giving up and using my own method of sewing with the elastic and then pulling it so the fabric would gather. Same results but took a lot longer than shirring. With my new machine, I discovered that it can shir! However, the thread kept breaking and getting stuck every 2 seconds and I was getting very frustrated. Finally, I took a break. When I came back to my machine, I adjusted the tension again, and it went smoothly. So a lot of work went into this dress, but it was worth it. I at least know that next time it shouldn't take nearly as long.

Anyway, so here is the dress. I have it in my shop has a 2T ready to ship, but I can definitely make it in any size...I just don't have enough of the same fabric for anything bigger than 12-18 months, and can't find the exact fabric online. Oh, well!

I'm back!

And although it's not the New Year yet, I am ready to begin my new line of spring clothing. For Christmas, my mom got me some new patterns and fabric...and I am very excited to do something new! I also plan to add more knot dresses, since those are my favorite :). For now, I will show you a series of Christmas pictures from the last week or so...starting with our own Christmas, which we did before we left. The kids didn't get much, but it was fun to see their excitement! Over the next week, I'll show you the rest, including our trip. Thanks for looking! In the meantime, I'll be sewing every day...

A new skirt :)

I made another apron skirt. I love these skirts, and I especially LOVE this fabric! It is by Patty Young. I made these for two special little girls, and I can't wait for them to get them! I also listed them in the shop, and have sold two already. Things have been busy, which is great, but a part of me keeps getting discouraged and thinking the sales will stop. I hope not- I hope things keep going steadily as they have been, as we can really use the extra income!

I have also enjoyed purchasing some gifts on etsy. So excited about these! A certain ebay commercial says "No one wants handmade for the holidays." I find that rude, insulting...and not true! I love handmade things (like last year's "bacon bowl" from my brother Andre) and I think the people I made or bought them for will love them, too.

Christmas dress

I made a Christmas dress for Ally, which is also in the shop. It turned out exactly as I envisioned and I got to use some cute Michael Miller Christmas fabric. I also made my first dress sale on etsy, so that was exciting! Another new item is the peasant top, which is also available as a dress. I am wanting to keep everything for Ally, but I need to make some sales, too!

Dresses for sale...

Well, I decided to do it. A lot of people have asked if I sell the clothes I make...at first I was just doing it for fun, but I enjoy it so much I thought I would try to sell some. "Try" being the operative word here. Sometimes I feel I am taking too much on- MOPS, playgroup, writing, my cards, and now sewing. Not to mention raising two kids, being a wife, spending time with God...you get the picture. So is it too much? Not sure. In fact, I might eventually stop doing the cards (except for friends and family who ask) and just focus on other things. To be honest, designing cards is not going well. I suppose I could put more effort into advertising- but who has time for that? This clothing venture might turn out the same way, and I'm ok with that. If God puts the breaks on it, I'll continue sewing just for fun. And all those clothes in my shop? Stuff for Ally and gifts for friends :). I'll stick to my writing though...that is something I feel I really SHOULD be doing, and maybe the other stuff is just for me. As far as playgroup and MOPS, those are important for my sanity and for my kids to make some friends until they begin school. They always have their cousins, of course, but it's good to make other friends too.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my honesty. This is where I am right now. Life is good, and I have learned recently that I don't need to do everything- not supposed to! I should be focusing on whatever God wants me to do. Now, here are some pics of clothes I am planning to sell- the skirt is a personal favorite and will probably remain in Ally's closet :D.