new skirts for fall..

New skirts for Fall...

Amy Butler Love shirred waist skirt

shown with my yellow belt

the shirred waist up close...this skirt is comfortable

bird skirt with brown ruffle

with my top pulled out

shown with a cardigan



again with the shirred waist.. You can find these and more things in my shop here
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweethomeboutique

Some more exciting things this week is that I found out that we are expecting baby number 5!!
Business has been going well, it is steady and growing. I might have the opportunity to sell wholesale overseas soon, so I am also excited about that!!

Organizaton Station...the Situation...


Here is the Situation...sewing rooms are hopelessly messy....It is possible to get everything looking perfect, but the minute you get to work there are strings, fabric scraps, patterns, and pins everywhere..Well, this is not a good thing when you are trying to keep everything in your shop going smoothly 

 So last night while  all of the little ones were sleeping I did my organize mass chaos method I wrote about here...
http://sweethome-rachel.blogspot.com/2010/09/organizing-mass-chaos-and-more.html

this basically consisted of me throwing everything into a big pile, and then separating it...

big pile of patterns, that are now organized and labeled

where organized and labeled patterns go, from the left, girls, boy, and women

the thread was already organized, but I gathered up all of the random spools, and took them to their spot

labels on the drawers

alright, this might seem messy, but it really is organized (and yes, my sewing room is orange, it is the right of every sewing room to contain an odd color wall.

fabrics, I went through each one, and cut off scraps, and placed like pieces together. (It still needs to be fine tuned)
 My green dress form is where I pin all of the clothing that is in progress, and behind that the scissor wall and dry erase board... The dry erase board is where I write all of my orders down, as well as days I plan for them to go out.  As they are complete and go out, I erase them off...The erasing it off part feels GREAT!

fall fashion and other such things...

This week has been busy and successful. We had family in town so we were showing them some southern hospitality....

cuties getting ready for an awesome  canoe ride through the swamp.

This has also been a very good week for Sweet Home Boutique. My poppy dress was featured in a blog in the Netherlands, and I made this little number

oh, my goodness this dress is comfortable. I have had several customers request pockets, so I decided to list a denim dress with pockets to end all pockets.


I listed this green  little number as well



This tunic has it all...It can be worn with or without the belt, pretty ruffles, flutter sleeves, and super yummy pockets...I wore this downtown the day that I made it, and it was a big hit. I have some Amy Butler fabric coming in that I plan to make another in.



 You can find these styles and more in my shop here
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweethomeboutique?ref=pr_shop_more

I also am really excited to have to make some new things for fall. Maybe it is because it has been over 100 degrees here lately, or maybe because the fall has so many lovely style options... I love plaids, and have some new Madras fabric that I plan to make some lovely skirts with ruffles with. I also love corduroy, so be on the lookout for some new items made with that as well. I consider my style "school teacherish", so this is another reason that I am excited to list some things in the season of  "back to school"

She opens her arms to the poor, she extends her hands to the needy

Proverbs 20 states that a Godly woman opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

Of course there is always the practical need to give to charities, and and to church programs, but I think this goes further than that.

I think we need to look deeper into the people that are around us, and see their needs with God's eyes. Poor does not always mean without money, it could also be someone without family or friends.

Needy people are all around us, a need to feel accepted faults and all. A need to be loved, even if they are quite unlovable. A need to be resepected and appreciated.

I feel like a proverbs 31 woman not only sees to it that those around her are fed and clothed, but also respected, honored, and appreciated...

On the note of my clothing store-Sweet Home Boutique-I have listed several new things including a little red riding hood dress with a little pointy hood. This morning I listed this top made using Joel Dewberry fabric. This top is now available in my Etsy shop!

I hope you have a blessed Wednesday!!

cinch belts and ideas...

I have completed and listed 2 cinch belts recently

I am really liking these, and will also list one in navy blue with a ruffle soon.

I am also getting excited for the fall wardrobe coming up. One thing I have in mind to create is a little red riding hood dress (for little girls) with a pointy hood. Another thing I will start working on is lightweight coats to wear when the nights get cool in the fall. Hopefully they will be a success, and I can offer them for sale in my shop!!

What types of clothing do you like to wear in the fall?

old photo, new photo...

We made better photos of my clothing today. I am working on photos for my etsy shop-Sweet Home Boutique-most of my pictures either my daughters took (3 and 4 at the time), or  I took them myself....Since my husband is now home on shore duty he is my new photographer. He use to not be into it, but now that he sees that I actually make money, he is a lot more willing to take pictures.

This picture was snapped right after construction. Andrew took it, but I had to get him to take it before he went to work. There are many flaws with this picture. Notice he BIG string hanging from the bottom, and the door and door stopper in the background.

This is the picture we re-did today. Fence in the background like most of my pictures. I have also made a bit more effort with my hair than the original (a little bit). Despite the bad picture of the original I sold 2 of these so far. It has also something like 38 hearts,and been in at least 2 treasuries. I am hoping the improved pictures draw more attention to the beautiful dress, and less to "that string" and the door.

not a totally bad picture of the dress, but the quality of the photo is what is flawed (and the distracting background). I took this one myself on the deck



this is the new picture taken today. The colors are a lot better, and the quality of the photo itself is great. Unfortunately the belt should have been ironed before this dress was photographed, but still an improvement from the original.

 So, what do you think? Do you think the new photos are much better, or do you think they still need a lot more work?

Sewing for the King...

As I was sitting at my machine last night feeling for not having for not having the same amount of sales as last week I began to pray. I realized in the zeal of building my business again I have not stopped to listen to Him..

                                        "Be still, and KNOW that I Am God'   (Psalm 46:10)

He spoke to me in that still small voice and told me to be patient. He impressed upon me that I am sewing for Him. He slowed down my business a to show me that each garment is made for His purpose, and that I am to construct each piece as is I were making a robe for the King.
Thank you God for God for always being so loving and patient with me in my walk with you.