Customer Creation to Help a Friend

This customer made these outfits for a friend who's house was demolished in a tornado last week. Fortunately they were in the cellar and unharmed. Her friend wanted camo outfits for her husband's Army basic graduation.

J, is a very busy miltary wife also but made the time to bless her friend with these.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the recent tornados and flooding.

Favorite Christmas Gifts

We didn't spend alot on Christmas gifts this year but did have a few presents to give out. One present that my daughter and her friend gave to all of us was a card telling us that a donation was made in our names for clean water to those who don't have that luxury. Here is the website. I thought it was a great idea for a gift and love that they have the servant spirit.

Another favorite gift was a note saying that we would have a girl's day out with lunch and a pedicure on December 28th. My two daughters, two nieces and a friend went to a sushi restaurant for lunch. It was raining and cool so we decided to postpone the pedicures to a warmer day. They know how much I enjoy spending time with them so and knew that spending time with them would be more special than a purchased gift.

After lunch, I took my oldest daughter shopping for her birthday, which is December 26th. She turned 30 this year. Wow. I have a 30 year old daughter!!!

Pillow Pals - New Pattern Now Available

Pillow Pals is now available in my Etsy Shop.

Pillow Pals are easy to make, fun and functional epattern. Make it a family project and have the children help pick out the fabric and help with the stuffing. They are great for nap time, sleepovers and road trips and well as a great gift idea. The pattern includes instructions for both a small and large style with different face designs for boy and girl versions.
Here are my tester pictures and her comments about the pattern.

"This is so cute and I want to make some for the kids b/c I think the small size will be perfect for car trips! They are always falling asleep with their heads all katty-wampus (is that a Lancaster county dutch term? LOL) and I think this will be much more fun than using blankets or coats!
The pattern was easy to follow, as usual and the pictures were great!"

I loved the picture in the bushes so much I retook my cover pictures and included one with the greenery.

Thanks Leigh Ann for testing and sending these great photos.

Pillow Pal with New Cover Style

These are two of the larger style Pillow Pals and a peek at the new style pattern cover I am working on. I hoping to have it out for testing this weekend. I want to have it available soon enough so that customers can have it to make Christmas gifts.

I liked the cohesive look of Sew Sensible's new pattern covers and decided to "borrow" the idea to create one for my patterns. Here is what I came up with. Let me know what you think.

Sunny Wrap Dress - Tigers

Here is my latest project made from the Sunny Wrap Dress Pattern. This one was made non reversible with the tiger print by Fabric Finders and lined with a purple and white check also by Fabric Finders. This one was made as a gift for a little LSU Tiger Fan.

I covered a large button for the back closure placing one of the tigers in the center.

Latest Sewing Project

Here is my latest sewing project. It's a gift for a long time friend who is having her first granddaughter in September. The original pattern included a collar but I chose to leave it off. I liked the look without the collar and I find sometimes collars can get in the way on an infant.

This is the pattern I used. It also includes a bubble version for boys and girls in 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.

Everything I've sewn lately has been for my epatterns so this was a nice break from that process. I really enjoy the fast and simple sewing projects for instant gratification but sometimes I like sewing something more involved.

I seem to have pleats in my head lately with the Emily Pattern (see Etsy and YCMT) and this smocked one. I have some other ideas for epatterns which include pleats that I am considering working on next. When I design epatterns, I am usually inspired by something I see then I have to have a picture of it in my head before beginning. Once I have a visual idea of what I want it to look like, I try testing it with some fabric. Sometimes it looks like I pictured it and sometimes it doesn't. It's great when it works. Then I can move on to drawing and writing the instructions. If it doesn't, then it's back to the drawing board. The entire process is enjoyable for me and so very satisfying when the finished product is complete, especially seeing what customers make.

Baby Girl Gift

This is one of the items I made to prepare for several girls that will be born this summer. I decided not to make a newborn size because this is the first born for all of them. I thought that because they know that the babies are girls, they will probably get lots of smaller sizes and well as purchasing some themselves. This one is a Size L which translates to about a 12 - 18 months. I used a pattern I had with a few changes on the back closure and added the sash. The fabric is a high quality cotton blend that washes and wears very well. The top bodice is lined and I used a french seam on the sides to make it have a more finished look.