Sunday, November 29, 2009

Tis the season to be busy, fa la la la la la la la la


Lots of projects going on, aprons galore, shirts, pajamas, outfits, and lots of gifties for my kiddos and hubby. I am starting to feel burn out though. I love the sewing, but sometimes its so hard when the dogs and kids and hubby need me.  I need to be locked in a sound proof room with my sewing machine;-)  I have come up with a few new patterns that I need to get put together and on the market as well, including an apron, potholder with finger protectors, unpaper towel holder and basket.  Someday.  I have so many many ideas going through my head its impossible to stay focused most of the time.  But I have to remind myself one thing at a time.  I also need to get back to my classes.  I have had a lot of fun playing around with the adobe illustrator cs4 though.  Make pattern making much easier as well.  I have sold a few mixer patterns finally which is good.  I am thinking about repricing again though.  Seems like I get a good price and next thing you know I am the most expensive again, go figure.  I look at my tons of shelves of fabric and have visions of sugar plum dancing in my head, lol.  Lot of projects not enough time. Of course we are also reaching the point of holiday parties....these things are time consuming then there are also the gifts...which I end up making 99% of the time... add that to my list would ya?  Plan ahead? Funny!  Ok so everyone hang with me for the next couple month as things are liable to get crazy.  Adding a pic of a tree skirt I finished up. Very pretty green and gold!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Stocking Stuffers On Sale Nov 15-21st

With the etsy sewing mamas stocking stuffer event going on, I am offering key fobs on sale for $4.  Normally $6, they make perfect stocking stuffers or gifts for teachers, friends and family!  I combine shipping costs so stock up and save.  More will be added throughout the event and custom orders are available but only in stock fobs are on sale. 


Make sure to check out all the etsy sewing mamas stocking stuffers by going to www.etsy.com and entering sewingmamas team in the search box!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Win an Apron From Goosegirl for her 100th post giveaway

In honor of her 100th blog post, Sivje is having a giveaway for the Yaya's Apron. This is a beautiful apron design. Please check it out!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Etsy Sewing Mamas

I have been working hard to get our Etsy Sewing Mamas group up and running for some more advertisement. I got us all set up with a facebook fan page and a twitter account. To find us on etsy, just go to www.etsy.com and search for sewingmamas team.
Facebook search pages for Etsy Sewing Mamas and Twitter. This is going to help us get word out about all the lovely items we have available for the holidays!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Fitted Tablecloth Pattern/Tutorial PDF included

I designed this tablecloth pattern up during the sewing mamas stash game. It is really easy and fun to make. Enjoy! I'll put up some pics of my most recent one soon.
Please feel free to share the link to the pattern but please do not sell or distribute the pattern.

Here is the link for the tutorial.  It will take you to google documents where the PDF file is located.  https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2kowdB5dVHkNDFmMDc1NTItYTM2ZS00Y2JlLWI4MGYtMjU4MWZkYzJmMzU5/edit?usp=sharing


Saturday, October 17, 2009

Some great new boys patterns and giveaway!

Just thought I would share this awesome new boys pattern source. They are the Hot Scott Patterns by Lucy of the Drizzled Apple. It is wonderful as a mama of boys to see some more patterns out there to chose from. There are tons of girls patterns so the boys tend to get left out in the mama made items. Please visit her blog and enter to win some patterns in the give away.

UPDATE:I won this give away. I am very excited to get the patterns, thanks so much Lucy of the Drizzled Apple.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Survived my first sewing mamas stash game.

Well the fall stash game and my first with the sewing mamas went well. At least for my first time.I was able to sew 49 yards of fabric and earn 500 points.Quite an accomplishment if I do say so myself. The slideshow cuts some of the pics off a bit but its the best way to view them all without scrolling through a million pics.I am proud of myself for sticking to it.I didn't purchase any fabric during the main stash game, earned enough bonus points to get an extra bonus week and cleared out some fabric.I will be glad to move onto something else, like finishing my graphic design course, ughh.I will be glad to know the information but there is just a lot and a lot of computer work.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Please vote on my dress in the contest!

I entered my first sewing contest with a beautiful poppy scarf dress.  I would love to be able to win the Bernina sewing machine but I need your vote to do it. I now love shirring, I can't believe I have never tried it before, its so easy!  I was so thrilled to enter the contest but as soon as I hit submit, I had this panic of what am i doing, I am not a good enough designer.   What if people laugh at me.  After some reassurance from some good friends I am feeling good about things.  Even if I don't win I took the risk and entered the contest. Oh and not to mention this is the 2nd dress I made for the contest, the other one, well lets just say I cried over it and not tears of joy.  I also want to comment on this fabric, it has been in my stash for quite some time, I got it of ebay forever ago and just couldn't bear to sew it, its my favorite, lol.   I am really glad I used it though and plan on wearing the dress as soon as I have an opportunity.  It will work great with a little shrug or jacket during the colder months.  I love love love the collar design and will be using it on more items.


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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

My First Pattern is Officially For Sale

I am so excited.  It is finally done and listed on Etsy.  It has been a crazy roller coaster getting it all finished up to my liking but I think its a pretty darn great pattern.  Not that I am biased or anything. I have been insanely busy with the Stash Game on Sewing Mamas, I should really post some of those pics but I am a bit tired tonight.  Please spread the word about this pattern.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Tester 3 results for the mixer pattern are in, yay!

 My last pattern tester finished he cover up today, and did a fabulous job might I add.  I had one more tester but she is pregnant with twins and not up to the task I don't think.  So I will be making some minor revisions and putting it on the market. I have been insanely busy, with sick kids and the stash game on sewing mamas.  I have also started a dressmaking and design course and a graphic design course. The dressmaking is awesome and the graphic design is hard.  I am glad I decided to take them though, its good for me.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Busy sewing day.


I have had quite a busy day. First off was to finish the self drafted undies I have been working on and I think they turned out great. Then I decided to make a ring sling for my sister, and just got the rings in the mail today. I ended up finding some pink fabric in my stash and used a purple thread. Its so pretty. Anyhow I hope she likes it. I have been trying to get my scraps sorted and finally got that done. Getting rid of any that really were useless, lol. I tend to hoard everything. I have a few more projects that need done, a diaper for a friend, a purse for another friend. Then maybe it will be back to some more sewing for me. I found a great tutorial on a zipper fly today and am hoping to give a pair of shorts a try for me using it. But my time is short. I will be starting a dressmaking and graphic design course so it could get interesting around here. I wish things would pick up and I would actually sell some things. Its kind of depressing lately, but that what most wahm's are dealing with as well. I was very disappointed that the cpsia has decided on no component testing, although fabric is exempt, pretty much everything you would use with it is not. How we are expected to afford to test the finished product is beyond me. Not that I am against protecting the children, its just that we are totally screwing small/micro business's by not have an organized plan for the cpsia. When everything passed it was aimed at big companies and keeping them in check they kinda forgot about everyone else. But HELLO it does affect us. I have some great designs running through my head for children's items, but there is no way I could stay afloat right now and afford testing. I guess patterns may be in higher demand for parents to make their own custom items for their children, or we'll just give the chinese more business. They can afford the testing, they'll just quit paying there child laborers. Ok stepping off the soap box now.......

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Tester # 2 scores a home run, yay!


My second pattern tester finished her pattern. She did a wonderful job on the pattern and has a beautiful fabric choice. I am so relieved to see that people can follow my pattern and make beautiful things from it. Yay! I am so happy, anyhow here is a pic, and thanks mama for being a tester!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Penpals





Well the kids have kinda slacked this summer with writing to their pen pals. I recently made some appliqued shirts for the kids when they suggested their penpals might like one as well. Great idea. So they helped picked the fabric scraps for the applique's and I sewed them up. Max's turned out fab but the back of Ina's didn't go so well. I am not one to give up so I made some modifications and it turned out ok.The pics of course show the shirt different colors it is the pink like the close up of the back applique. Of course I don't think I am ever 100% happy with anything I make, lol. But I think the kids will like the shirts well enough.

Mama Skirt

I got some new Ottobre patterns in the mail before our vacation last weekend and I couldn't wait to try some out. I have used the childrens Otto before but not the womens. For those who are wondering what in the world I am talking about you can check out the site here. I am always so hesitant with patterns for myself because nine times out of ten it doesn't fit after its all done, despite measurements. I did the flared skirt from the 02/07 magazine and it actually turned out pretty good. I just used cheap fabric and didn't line it because I wanted to see what it was like before going to all that work. Amazingly enough it was actually a bit big, but with a minor adjustment it should be great. Yay! Now I just need to find some fabric from my stash that I want to use. Its not a great pic because it is a bit big and I was using the self timer, ughh.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

One Mei Tai Coming Right Up

I finished this Mei Tai for my friend Jenn. I am very very happy with how it turned out even despite the photos displaying the colors differently. It
is definitely the best one I have made. Next will be onto some sewing for myself I think.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Sale Prices on Etsy

I lowered the prices on most of my Etsy items. I would like to get some things sold so I can add some more different items. I hate having to lower my prices but its not doing any good to keep things stored here if nobody is buying. It is really not a great time to be a small business owner, especially with the recent changes in regulations for selling items. Anyhow I am hoping for some more business and hopefully things will get better with time.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

First Test Results Are In


My first tester finished the cover and sent me some awesome suggestions. The good news is that there were not any major problems just some super suggestions. Whew, I was so worried that I didn't make it easy enough to understand. 3 more testers have not finished yet so there is still the possibility that somebody thinks I am a nut and should not be writing patterns. Yes I know that I should have more confidence in myself, but I am such a perfectionist it makes it hard. I am also posting a picture of the finished cover, the tester did a super job with fabric choices! Well its off to the sewing room with coffee in hand this morning.

Friday, August 7, 2009

A Pattern Adventure


Yesterday I finally completed my first pattern. I have worked hard all week to make my pleated mixer cover pattern just perfect. Changing my mind many times on ways to make the pattern easier. Finding programs that did what I needed and were free were quite a challenge though. I tried many unsuccessfully. I am very excited with how it turned out! I sent the pattern to 4 super nice mamas that are testing the pattern for me before I officially put it on the market. I have moments of panic where I feel that maybe it has been a waste of time and that nobody will want this pattern, but I have to remind myself that only time will tell. I have lots of other projects I need to get busy on, undies and a mei tai, but I am already looking forward to designing my next pattern. I found that power point was the way to go for designing the pattern. It has simple enough cad features pared with creation of photos and text that worked great. Then I used pdfill to convert the powerpoint presentation to PDF form and merge pages. You can download the tools for free and it worked great. Eventually I would love to have the program garment designer to do some fun clothing editing. For now I am just anxious to see how the pattern adventure plays out, or maybe pays out:)