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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Halloween

It is hard to even think of dressing in costumes when it is still 104 degrees here every day, but the time is approaching.  Here is the Halloween tutu that went in the shop today.  This is an 18 month one…anyone know a little girl that needs this?  (The tutus can be made any size though, of course.)

boo outfit

Jaime

Friday, August 21, 2009

Tutus

I made my first tutu this week and pretty much loved it!  Fluffy girly-ness is definitely one of my specialties so they are coming to the shop.  This one is going to be worn by a 6 month old for pictures.  It looks so little and fluffy!!  I can’t wait to see her in it.  tutuThe first one I hope to put in the shop is a Halloween one with a matching onesie.  I can just picture a little girl in it with orange and black striped tights.  CUTE!! So, if you have a request of colors, just let me know. 

BTW, I was more than a little excited to hear that the nap mat cover fit the nap mat perfectly.  Whew! So glad that little Jax has a cozy spot to nap now. :-)

Happy Weekend,

Jaime

Monday, August 17, 2009

Oops section & Something New

So I make mistakes quite often when I am creating.  Shocking, I know.  I have decided to open an “oops” section of the store.  These items are items I would still put my own kids in, but just may not be exactly as I was hoping.  I will offer a discount on them and I hope we will all benefit.  I will live and learn, and your kids will get inexpensive handmade, cute things to wear!  Here are a couple of items heading that way when I get some uninterrupted computer time (which will be who-knows-when because my husband has something after work tonight-and it has already been a long day):002I love this one…the colors, the fabric, but there is a tiny gap between the two pieces of tie.  I don’t really know what happened except I was working on it late at night.

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This one has some wonky stitches. I know some people like that, but it wasn’t what was in my mind so it is an oops. Still a very cute, play outfit.

And on to my NEW experience.  I made a nap mat cover.  A friend from college asked if I had ever done one and I said, “No, but I probably could.”  So with lots of correspondence she picked this darling Michael Miller camo print and the project began.  The most difficult thing was she lives in a different state and I was going off of measurements of the mat she already had.  It was like honors geometry class all over again. I got it in the mail this morning, and my fingers are crossed it will fit.  I am so nervous.

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I do love the appliquéd pillow.  Do you think I should add those to my shop? 

Jaime

 

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

My History with Sewing: the Early Years

My Mom is a wonderful seamstress!  When I was a little girl she made my sister and I matching clothes.  Here we are with her (isn’t she beautiful?) in our matching Strawberry Shortcake dresses.  Don’t you love the paneling too?famthen08

She also made me and my cabbage patch doll matching dresses.  Oh, and my Barbie doll clothes—even a wedding dress that is still in my possession. 

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This is where my love for sewing began.  I loved watching her work and I was always so proud of the things she made (except for a dress in college that she remembers me not wanting to wear, even though I don’t remember it well.)  The summer before 5th grade she decided to sign me up for a sewing class.  I must have asked her a lot to teach me and she was worried she wouldn’t have the patience to teach me.  She is a bit of a perfectionist and would have probably just done it for me.  Well, I learned a lot that summer.  Our project was an outfit.  I wish I had a picture of that.  I picked out some Americana type fabric perhaps with fourth of July in mind???  They were elastic- waist shorts, but with a collared, button up top.  That teacher was ambitious!  I continued to do some sewing in high school.  My Mom really taught me by example and she is still teaching me and helping me with sewing.  I am very blessed!

If you have sewn long then you know the fabric now is way more beautiful then back then, but the savings of store bought vs.homemade then was great.  Times have changed when it comes to cost.  Back then you sewed by rules and patterns.  Now it is more of an art form, and I am so thankful.  I feel much more confident that way.  And the internet is amazing!!  The tutorials out there are out of this world and really there isn’t much need to every buy a pattern again. 

I am writing this because several people have asked if I had any helpful suggestions about beginning to sew.  There are great affordable machines out there. I sew on an inexpensive Singer.  Next, I would say to take a beginner class to learn some basic skills.  I know our local school district offers a continuing ed. sewing class.  Once you get the basics, you can just begin creating away.  I hope this helps anyone who is on the fence.  Just jump in, I don’t think you will regret it.

:-) Jaime

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Watermelon, Sherbet, a Gerber Daisy…

So lately I have been loving the combo of pink and green.  It reminds me of all these things and just the fun times of summer.  I made my first serged project this weekend:

pink/green ruffle tank & skirt 1

(The colors turned out a little vibrant here).  It is a size 3T and, it is already in the shop.  But I was having such fun with the ruffles using my serger that I made a little something for me too. {wink}

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Do you Mommy’s every feel like you are wearing t-shirts constantly?  I found this tank in the Target “$1” bin for $2.50 and knew I could embellish it to give myself at least a spruced up T-shirt/tank.  And as of today it is still stain-free, but I know that won’t last long! Ha.

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♥,

Jaime

Thursday, August 6, 2009

A New Brother!

No, my parents don’t have some sort of sordid past…It is what I got in the mail yesterday!

It is a Brother serger, and I am so excited! When Briggs was sick this past weekend I had a lot of time to surf the web and read all sorts of reviews. I wasn’t even thinking of buying a serger anytime soon, but it was so affordable and great reviews were all I saw so I talked it over with Ben and he got online and bought it for me. He knows I have a major issue spending money on something that I don’t really need so he helped me out and just did it. Otherwise he knew it would be on my brain for weeks. So far I did spend about an hour this morning trying to thread the lower looper, but I think I finally got it and now just have some minor tweaking with the tension. Other than that, it has been easy to use. And BTW, I ordered it from a major retailer that “rolls back” prices and shipping was only $.97 and I got it in 3 days! I was impressed-I had never ordered online from them before. Anyway, from now on, my seams will be finished. Hooray!

Jaime

Monday, August 3, 2009

I won, I won!

I never win anything on blogs, but I keep entering and it finally paid off.  It is a biggie to!  I get this small pink and black trunk from Rusty Pickle. 

I won it on U Create.  It is the coolest site.  I am amazed that Kari can find so many neat things to post all the time.  Thanks, Kari…I am so excited!

Jaime

 

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Another Auction to Check Out

http://tomkatstudio.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-auction-to-benefit-kate-mcrae-amy.html

Click on the link to see another darling auction for sweet little Kate and her family. This cute bib and burpie match the dress I auctioned off...HOW COOL!! If you are in need of a baby gift, this is a great cause.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

"Layla" bag

So here is the creation I was talking about. I hope it isn't bad to love what I made, but I really was pleased with how it came out, and you know I am a bag lover if you know me at all. Here is how it all began:
A friend has asked about bags and I did not feel quite confident enough yet to tackle that project...for one thing I know they take a little bit of fabric and I couldn't bear to think of ruining beautiful fabric. One day I will try it, I promise. But I asked her if she would consider having me embellish a pre-made one. She is the best because she agreed and told me I could do what I wanted with it. So, the creating began and this is how it ended.

A ruffled side

Her baby's name on the other

It was kind of difficult sewing on thick canvas. I broke a needle once and I really wasn't sure how it would come out, but there was a great sense of satisfaction when I completed it because I loved it! Sara said she did too, so it was SUCCESS!

THANK YOU

Erica is the highest bidder! Thank you so much for your generosity. I hope the McRaes will be very blessed by all the funds sent their way, and I pray that you will also be blessed for your kindness, Erica. I will send you an email today!!!

Happy Weekend everyone. I have a cute creation to share, but I have a 2 year old sicky this morning. :-(