Patterns

One of my goals for 2011 is to create some of my own patterns to use for products in my shop. I started working on my first 2 patterns and want to share my first test run. They are both for knits.....one for a dress/top and the other for some ruffle pants.

I got started playing around with knits/minky when friend showed me a picture of an outfit she and her daughter really liked. The outfit was not available in the size she needed for her daughter. I created this outfit from a photo and used no patterns. My friend and her daughter loved the outfit!! Here is the outfit for my friend's daughter....

Here is the first run of the patterns I'm working on....

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2011!! I can't believe we are starting a new year. Last year was a good year, but hoping for a better year this year. I had a wonderful Christmas with my family. After staying up until 2:30 a.m. Christmas Eve we had a wonderful Christmas morning with the kids. My in-laws came in Christmas afternoon and stayed until Monday. Then Wednesday we headed to my parents' house and spent 3 days with them, my younger brother and my older brother, niece and nephew. I always cherish the time we get to spend with all the family. I feel blessed to have wonderful family that we get to spend time with on a regular basis. I do wish everybody was closer and we got to see them more often, but I know we see them much more often then many other families. My kids love spending time with their grandparents, uncles and cousins!! We are always sad when we have to part ways!! :(

I was quite spoiled this year. I received some wonderful gifts. Some of my favorite gifts are a Mini Compaq, Nook, Keurig, Rowenta Pressure Iron & Steamer, OttLite for my sewing room and Little Girls, big style. I have several books I received for my birthday from my in-laws, along with the book I just mentioned I plan to put to good use over the next few months!! I have been collecting blue/white porceline for years. I don't add much to it any more because I don't have the room, but my husband surprised me this year with some new plates for the empty plate display in our dining room. I LOVE the plates (thanks for giving hubby the idea Mom!!)!! They are in the display, but still need the tags removed.

I have lots of goals I plan to work towards. I refuse to call them resolutions because when I do I never follow through because I loose interest or get too busy with life. I hope to work on each of my goals and may some progress this year. The first of my goals is organization!! A friend of mine told me about flylady.net. I hope flylady will help me achieve my goal of organization. My Mom and I talked about following flylady together....hoping to keep us both accountable!! One of my first task to help with this goal is to find a dresser/cabinet to put in the garage entry way to hold all the kids art supplies. I need a something about 33" wide by 18" deep. Please let me know if you have any ideas....I'm not having much luck!! A couple other goals are to get to bed earlier (by midnight) on a regular basis so I can get up 30 minutes before the rest of the family and get a workout in each morning. With both the kids in school this year I cherish my morning time while my daughter is at preschool 3 days a week. I usually spend this time sewing (orders usually) or running errands. Morning is my favorite time to work out, but I need to do it when it isn't cutting into my kid free time. One more goal I'm willing to share at this time (I'll share several others at a later time) is getting the family back to church Sunday mornings. We made it to church a couple times in December and hope to continue making it to church 3 out of 4 Sundays a month. We have always had a hard time making it to church because we like to sleep in and catch up on our sleep on the weekends. I figure if I can regularly get 7 hours of sleep a night I shouldn't need to catch up. I feel it is important not only for the kids, but for us spiritually to go to church on a regular basis.

Tomorrow we will probably be sleeping in since we just got back in town tonight, but Monday will hopefully be the start of a new routine!! Wish me luck!!

Happy New Year to you all!!

Finally starting on Christmas presents....

Last night I got started on family Christmas presents. I'm way behind this year and have a ton to do over the next 6 days!! Got my husband's grandmother's blanket done last night and it went in the mail this morning. This morning I started cutting out pants for the kids. So far I have 5 pairs of pants cut out (for the girls) and about to start cutting out the boys (5 more pair). Then I will begin sewing. I plan to embroider shirts to go with several pairs, so I've got my work cut out for me.

I'm participating in a gift exchange through one of my groups and haven't even started or figured out what I'm making for the person I'm responsible for. The package was suppose to go in the mail by the 10th, so as you can see I'm way behind!! Thanks to 2 nasty colds and the flu!!

I have a bunch of other presents to make too, cookies to bake and decorating to finish! I'm hoping to get a bunch done this weekend!! Back to work for me!!

Beautiful Dreamer and other projects

Here are a few projects I've been working on lately. I have a craft show this weekend, so there are a lot more!!

Just finished testing this nightgown for Ellie Inspired. Beautiful Dreamer will be available for sale very soon.

Pattern I tested for Katie Cupcake. Urban Girl Skirt for little girls. It was cold outside, so my daughter wasn't very cooperative!!

Pattern I tested for Katie Cupcake. Urban Girl Skirt.

Sample for my Craft Show this weekend.

Miss Madeline

Yule Tree fabric by Michael Miller

Another sample for my craft show. Also, a late birthday present for my daughters little friend. I liked it so much I decided it need to be displayed at my show.

Frame from Planet Applique

This was from October, but I never showed the finished dress for my friend's daughter. LOVE how it turned out!!

Pattern Testing

I have the wonderful job of testing patterns for a few pattern designers. Most recently I got the opportunity to test a couple different patterns for Ellie Inspired.

This little dress is actually from a pattern for slips, Nanny Etticoat, but I decided it would be cute as a dress for the fall for my daughter. Now I just need to find a pink cardigan for her to wear over it on cool days!! Nanny Etticoat should be available in the pattern shop at Ellie Inspired very soon.

Lil' Bluebird is such a cute pattern. It includes capri pants and a top with two different sleeve options. It is now available for sale in the pattern shop at Ellie Inspired.