new designs

I have been making a lot of peasant tops for myself and shop, and I was ready to expand. I have been making things from some basic patterns, but I am now altering them more to my style. For example, I have a cute ruffled top, which I lengthened, narrowed, and added a belt to give it more shape. What do you think? I think that the pictures do not do it justice, but there is only so much you can do with a 4 year old taking pictures in the hopes of earning a pixie stick for her labor.

 I also have a sleeveless pattern that I am experimenting with, and having a lot of fun. I have a great retro  pattern  that looks like a lot of fun. It has got  some great reviews from pattern review. com. The only thing that has happened with that pattern presently is it has all been printed taped together and cut. I wanted to start it Sunday night, but got intimidated by the amazing 6 yards of fabric it requires. That is a lot of fabric to cut up, and lay out. For reference, the dress above was made with two yards.

On the Etsy shop, in the last week I had someone buy an item, but the payment did not show up, so I had to cancel it, I also am in talks with someone to make another mushroom fall dress, I have been messing around with my titles and things on Etsy to hopefully get picked up more on google searches. I have had my shop open for almost a month, so I have a lot more to learn, and I am looking forward to it!

Logo's and Poppys

So, I finally have my logo, and it is beautiful and exactly what I wanted. They also designed a business card as well, and did a great job. I am excited to be able to order them soon!

As for Poppy's, apparently I love them, and I didn't even know. It all started when a dear friend told me she like the background of this blog. She thought they were pretty poppy's. I saw a pattern when I was searching over 100's of swatches of fabric, and was drawn over and over again to Micheal Millers "poppy Collection". I could not get those pretty fabrics out of my head, so I went ahead and ordered them. One night I was sitting on my bed, looking at the pretty blue and white picture behind my sewing machine, and realized that too was a poppy. I then noticed they were all over my comforter, on my pillows in the living room, on several pieces of clothing I own, and even on my kitchen towels. Being so drawn to poppy's, I looked up their meaning in the language of flowers and here is what I found.

My room is where I found my white poppy's

Poppy (white) - Consolation; sleep

                  





My kitchen and living room are where I found my red poppy's
Poppy (red) -Pleasure; consolation

 When I plan my bedroom I want rest to be the central theme, so I can see why I was drawn to white poppy's. As for the red, it is also the general living and entertaining area. I want all of our guests to have a pleasurable time, and for my family to enjoy themselves as well in our home, so that makes sense also.

So, if you come to my home, be prepared to be overwhelmed by poppy flowers. Other than that I have no reasonable conclusion as why I went into all of this.

Happy Tuesday!

new things, and frustration

As anyone who has ever sewn knows, it is so messy. Your room can be completely spotless and organized and then you whip out some thread, fabric and a machine, and it looks like a cotton tornado passed through in a matter of 10 minutes (or maybe it's just me). So in order to make my husband happy, and my home orderly, I organized all of my sewing things. Patterns, in their place, a wall of scissors, a swatch book of fabrics (in progress) Everything was looking awesome, organized and super clean, but then...I lost my inspiration. I seem to work better in a mess of fabrics. I need the artistic freedom of a mess to relax, and let creativity soar. I guess it is part of the process. At least now when I am done sewing everything has a place.

As a result of this organized wasteland, I had a hard time making things for the store, hence the frustration in the title. The frustration eventually ended and I was able to make some things (I think some extra rest helped too) So, I have had my store open 2 weeks and have already have two very happy customers, and sold three things...amazing

Today I listed 4 new things that I really like, 2 paper doll dresses, a tunic and wallet. I plan on making some forget me knot dresses this week, knee bloomers, and nightgowns(not sure I am going to sell any, just make some for my pretty girls). Also on the menu the blessed responsibility rearing 4 precious souls, and having a lot of fun with my husband!

Happy Sunday!

A mother's influence

A Mother's influence...

I took a peice of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
it moved and yielded to my will.
I came again when days were passed;
The bit of clay was hard at last,
The form I gave it still it bore,
But I could change that form no more!

I touched a peice of living clay
And touched it gently day by day,
And molded it with my power and art
A young childs soft and yielding heart.
I came again when years were gone;
it was a man I looked upon;
That early impress still he wore,
And I could change that form no more.

Anon

it's the little things...

that can make an emerging seamstress so happy. I got these little things yesterday

A wrist pin cushion





And thread snippers ( I even bought the best quality pair)







There is something very relaxing and soothing about snipping all of those little loose ends off. Almost like a cleansing from imperfections.

Happy Wednesday!

it's ironic

I am passionate about both motherhood and sewing. I think I found my niche. The funny thing is that this is exactly the opposite of how I envisioned my life. For those of you that o not know, I was raised from the age of 11 on by my father, a single dad. I, as you can imagine, did not witness firsthand homemaking or mothering skills. During the time that my father was raising me, I had little if any contact from my own mother. Our relationship is healing and growing as an adult, but as a young woman, I was hurting. I was always searching for a mother, always. I think this lack of mothering impacted me greatly as a mother now. When my first daughter was born, my heart was heavy with the burden of being everything that I always longed for. My focus changed, as usually happens when people start having children. I sought out everything I could find on being the mother I was meant to be, passionately. I received a lot of mothering and council for my mother in law Becky, who I still get council from to this day. I purposed never to take my children for granted. Through my mothering them, I have received a lot of comfort. I feel like I am able to somehow make-up for all of my hurt and longing as a child.

In high school, I had big dreams to be famous, not really sure what for, famous for being famous I guess. I went into college with the mindset of becoming an anchor woman on CNN, or Fox news. I was going to be a cooperate woman. After a couple of semester in college I could not shake the the urge to switch to education. I fought it but finally surrendered to that calling. I finished up my degree in education, and still had big plans. I was looking into getting my masters, to move up the ladder. I was not just going to be a teacher, but a principal or superintendent. Well, then I had my first baby a little after I graduated. Like many moms, I did not want to leave her, and my husband was in total agreement. Since I surrendered to the idea of full time motherhood, I decided why not have another, and another and another. We now have four, and I can't say that it is easy, but I guess I did not expect it to be. I can say that I am passionate about motherhood, and I am willing to be everything that I am called to be for them.

So, to me it is very ironic, that a motherless young lady full of selfish ambition, is now happy and content to stay at home, and be a homemaker. With my own lack of direction in the art of homemaking I have been free to develop things and do things my own way. This sometimes works, and sometimes not...but life is learn as you go right?

Honesty in children, and peanut butter

I was reading some writings of Susana Wesley, and I learned a lot about effective mothering. You know Susana Wesley, mother of Methodism, mother to John and Charles Wesley, and several more blessed children. She home schooled her children in the early 1700's. Her method on teaching honesty and training little one's to tell the truth I have applied to my own family with much success. I tell my children if they tell me the truth they will not get in trouble, but if they lie to me they will get in trouble for said offense, and get in trouble for lying.
They always choose to tell the truth because the result is always pleasant.

On a lighter note yesterday we were watching Paula Dean cooking, and got inspired to grill up some peanut butter sandwiches of our own. Her method called for banana's, but we did not have any so we skipped that ingredient (we also skipped dipping them in sugar after were done) In a bowl mix peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon. Spread the mixture on the two slices of bread, buttered for a grill in'. Put them on the skillet, and then watch the yummy goodness come together. Does it look like a success?