My Weekly Post

Yes, when I first started this blog I was updating it every day. Then I think I apologized once for missing 2 days or something, LOL! Now, I'm lucky if I can get in here once a week. Dang! Who knew that 2 kids, 1 husband, school, work, home, cooking, cleaning, driving, sewing & reading email could be so time-consuming?!?

Well, in the midst of all the craziness this past week, I managed to create a little masterpiece. hee hee. No, I don't refer to all my sets in that manner but this one, for some reason, seems a bit special to me. Maybe it's because when I laid eyes on this vintage European fabric, I just didn't know how I could cut into it... (even though I had already cut some small squares out of it to make this last year). Or maybe it's because the fabric itself seemed to have a history, or a presence, of it's own. It came to me as part of my MIL's vintage fabric stash that I inherited after she passed. I'm thinking it was a tablecloth at one point because it was hemmed on all sides and was the right size for a large table.

But regardless, after hours of deliberation, I finally cut into it and this is the end result:



Yes, I know it's just a tease. The auction will be up on Thursday, 09/13, (which also happens to be Jon's birthday) around noon, as part of LimeVine's new "Sumptuous" launch. I will post a link here when it's up.

I also wanted to share a very special resell I spotted today. A sweet customer of mine is reselling my "Firefly" costume from last year. Check out the auction because the costume has some very unique features, sich as light-up wings and silk flower garlands. It is full of sparkle and ready to ship to your 2-year-old. Some little toddler princess is gonna be the talk of the town in this super cute costume this year. :)



Click HERE for the Firefly auction. :)

I'll try to get in here more often than this, but I can't promise anything. Life just gets so hectic sometimes and I barely have time to breathe. I'll try to dig up some funny pictures and maybe I'll do my very first "Wordless Wednesday" tomorrow. :)

Hansel & Gretel

One of my launch groups, Elite European Designers, is having a themed launch this week titled "Bavarian Fairytale". I teamed up with my friend Kristen of gocksfrocks, to bring you our own interpretation of the Grimms Brothers' fairy tale, Hansel & Gretel.

I made this cute peasant style dress using materials completely out of my vintage stash. This gorgeous floral calico is over 30 years old and God knows how old the crochet trim is. But as I held them in my hand they called out to me, we belong together! So they were joined in Holy Matrimony, right here in my sewing studio (can you tell it's near midnight and I'm beginning to babble incoherently?) Anyway, Sydney must have thought the dress was incredibly comfy because she wouldn't take it off and even took her afternoon nap in it! :) So, needless to say, I am keeping this one for her and will remake it for the lucky winner of this auction.

I sent a few vintage cotton fat quarters to my friend Kristen, who in turn created the most breathtaking appliquéd apron I have ever seen! She has depicted the forest in which the two children were lost and even added the cute birdie who innocently ate all the breadcrumbs rendering Hansel & Gretel unable to find their way back home. Brilliant! The bird has gorgeous hand embroidery, the trees have spiral stitching for added depth and the breadcrumbs are glass beads that have been hand applied for a 3-D effect! What a perfect finishing touch!

You can view this auction here. And to view all of the Bavarian Fairytale listings, click here.


Also, for this launch, I have listed a five-piece set that is fit for a princess! I was feeling brave and listed it at 99 cents with no reserve. And as if that wasn't crazy enough, I also decided at the last minute to include all of the jewels and extras that appear in the auction pictures! WHOA! This is a great deal... and let me say that the jewels alone are worth way more than the current bid! LOL! But I guess it was a gamble I took... live & learn, right?

You can view the Princess auction here.

But, is it supposed to be that tiny?

Those were the first words out of Jon's mouth after I showed him my newest creation. Not, "That's nice, hunny" or "Wow, you really worked hard on that one!" He was in total disbelief at how a piece of clothing could be so... tiny. It was the bodice to a new dress for the Fresh Cut Launch on eBay. He actually thought it was the finished piece! LOL! I was just so excited that the elements had come together so nicely. I spent all morning preparing this tiny piece of eyelet trim from my vintage stash. I tea-stained it to match the background tones on the fabric, but it had to be just right so I kept pulling it out and checking the color until it was done. I couldn't believe what a perfect match it was! Then I found these buttons... and ohmygosh the whole thing just meshed together so perfectly! The buttons are from my stash as well and they are like large translucent beads with a gorgeous tangerine tone... they catch the light and bring out the sweet citrus tones in the fabric oh so nicely. Oh, and remember my post last week about the double needle breaking and all the whining I did? Yep, it was during the construction of this tiny bodice that it happened... on one of the denim straps. So needless to say, when it was completed, I was so happy and relieved that I just had to show it off.

So after I laughed and said... "no, silly, it's just the bodice!", he looked even more puzzled and replied, "what's a bodice?" LOL!

Afterwards I played around with a few design ideas. Should I make this into a little swing top with a pair of capris? Or into a cute little summer dress? Oh, the possibilities are endless with such a cute (and tiny) little bodice. Then it all just clicked. I was holding a few pieces of Fresh Cut in my hand and trying to come up with an interesting patchwork design and out of the corner of my eye I spotted this ivory swiss dot (which I admit, has been part of my repertoire quite often lately, but I just love it!) and my design was born!


You can find the auction for this dress here.

The Fresh Cut launch started today on eBay. I rushed around a bit because for some retarded reason I thought it was tomorrow. Don't ask! But it is finally listed. I planned to offered it as an OOAK in size 2T/3T (Sydney's size) but once I saw it on her and she modeled it so beautifully, I decided that I just couldn't part with it. So, it is now a custom auction... in sizes 2T to 6X. I also was feeling a bit adventurous so I started the auction at 99 cents with a fairly low reserve. And if you are a member of my mailing list you get FREE shipping in addition to a low price, so it doesn't get much better than that.

I normally don't do much shopping on eBay. I am mostly a seller, not a buyer. But as I was browsing through the listings for this launch, I was just drooling. The custom boutique designers really outdid themselves for this launch! (well, some more than others, LOL!) And it's probably because Heather Bailey herself is a guest and is rumored to be making/listing something for this launch as well. So, I just had to bid. I am currently bidding on 2 sets. OUCH! I'll probably spend more than what I end up making on this, but oh well.

Check out the cool launch banner... LOVE IT!

A Peek Inside...

...my sewing studio! I've been asked before to share pictures, but it was always too messy to show... hee hee! So I took a couple of hours this weekend and cleaned it up for you guys (ain't I nice?).

What's that funky pattern covering up the window, you ask? Well, I was getting a ton of glare from the sun peeking in and I just couldn't get anything done, so in order to block out all light I took a large piece of cardboard, cut it to size and covered it with this funky vintage fabric from the 70's. Yes, I am in a dark dungeon now, but at least it's a pretty, colorful, psychedelic dungeon! ;)

And just so the fabric wouldn't get lonely, I paired it up with a lava lamp. The problem is... the only two outlets under my desk are taken up by my sewing machine & serger. Guess I gotta go invest in an extension cord.

Here's a fun game for ya: how many things can you spot from the store IKEA? Yes, I'm a big fan of affordable minimalist furniture! OK, I'll help ya out: the table and chair are from there, as well as these (they're spice jars but don't they look better as button jars?):
Oh, and this too:
Of course, no sewing room is complete without "the stash":


And the fruits of my labor:


Well, that's the end of the tour! Hope you enjoyed it! Come back anytime.