Simple Apron

This Christmas season I've made some bib style aprons from Lotta's book (which would also make a great gift for the sewer on your list!). They are reversible and have a nice modern cut to them. There's something about the neckline that I really like. And I just have to say that that fabric above is my all time favourite. It has the most beautiful flower shapes and the colours are unbelievable. It's Anna Maria Horner's design and if you haven't seen her fabric, needlework, blog, etc. you really should hop over there to be amazed and inspired! I'm getting a slow start to my Christmas making and am trying not to think of the to do list or I'll start to hyperventilate. I'm just trying to "do" the work and worry about the calendar later, like the night before the Lingonberry! November 25th I will be joining some talented arts and crafts folks at the Chocolate Claim for my first Lingonberry craft fair. Please come by and get first picks of aprons, bags, belts and new clutches! Previews coming soon I hope - GULP!

Quilty Pants go Brick and Mortar!

Quilty Pants 2012, a set on Flickr.

The lovely and talented owner of Angellina's Toy and Children's Boutique in downtown Whitehorse asked if I would consider selling Quilty Pants from her shop. Ms. B does such a lovely job of sourcing her products and styling her shop that it was hard to say no to be included with such a fine selection of children's and baby's things. This marks my first foray into the world of wholesale pricing and making and there was a bit of a learning curve, but a happy one. While cranking out 30 pairs (60 legs, oh wait, they're also flannel lined, make that 120 legs!!) seemed a bit off putting, and I really wondered if it would spell the end of my love for these little pants, they are just too cute, soft, warm and durable for me to quit just yet! I've been making these pants for at least 6 years, I think, and they are one of my first made-and-designed-by-me items of which I'm pretty proud. The feedback from Moms over the years has been so important too - one Mom said her little guy won't wear anything but his overalls and quilty pants! I've made 3 sizes for Angellina's, 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months and 18 to 24 months. I have made them in sizes 2, 3 and 4 in the past but I've decided this year that folks can special order those sizes if they would like them. Angellina's is expanding their locally made products and there are some really sweet handmade hats, play masks and baby accessories down there right now - stop by and take a look!

Sunki Tunic Dress

Finally managed to try this fun pattern by Figgy's Patterns. It's nice to be able to search flickr for patterns to see what fabrics people use and for inspiration. I really like the pockets - hidden at the bottom of the light purple. This pattern lends itself well to the colour blocking craze that's out there lately. This two-tone purple is in cotton broadcloth. My next one I'd like to do in something heavier, maybe a twill, corduroy or velveteen? We'll see!

First Time Ever - Market Bags at the Chocolate Claim!

You may have heard the news, Good Karma Eco Shop has closed it's doors (to be able to spend more QT with their lovely daughter). You can still get in touch with them on facebook and their website and at the Thursday Fireweed Community Market til September. Meanwhile, I've put my Market Bags and Flat Totes in at the Chocolate Claim and they're going fast! I just have a little shelf there so I haven't tried bags before.They do require some fancy folding to fit so hopefully everyone will be kind and keep it neat while browsing! Hint hint!

More Market Elephants

I had a request for a Market Elephant, I made 2 so B would have a choice of colours. He ended up taking both! I was a bit surprised and sad as I was really looking forward to hanging out with one of them for a while... they turned out so cute and Spring-like! They are now off to entertain 2 new babies, in 2 different towns, each baby named Ella! How perfect. So I will survive and I wish them well in their new situations, I'm sure they will do well!

2 New A-line Skirts, made to order.

A very patient friend put in an order for 3 A-line skirts for work. She picked the fabric and I made them up. Unfortunately the Christmas Craft Rush interfered and the skirts were delayed terribly. I'm hoping (!) to turn over a new leaf and try to do orders right away instead of allowing them to get derailed by other projects. Wish me luck! The first one I did manage to get out to J before Christmas, a stunning teal corduroy, thin wale, by Robert Kaufman I think, with a bit of stretch. Lovely for a skirt and so vibrant. These 2 are a quilting cotton, Modern Martini by Amy Butler and Rashida Coleman-Hale's linen/cotton blend of a lovely graphic pattern called I Heart Wavy Lines. All terrific picks for the versatile a-line. If you are wondering whether I take orders I do but for now it's A-line skirts only and we're off on holiday soon so I can take orders but they can't be filled until the end of March/early April. I'm really not that reliable ;o)

43 Pairs and Counting!

Click on the photo to see the rest of this year's Quilty Pants on Flickr. Frantically getting ready for tomorrow's swap and must go for a run - bye!

Matchy-Matchy

Another a-line skirt! These are a very quick skirt to make and a nice staple to the wardrobe. 2 twirly girl skirts accompanied mama's a-line and all 3 girls were very excited to dress matchy-matchy! I've recently made some twirly girls with a corduroy top layer, cotton under-layer that look like so much fun to wear - while being a bit warmer too! Twirly Girl skirts will be available this Saturday at the KidzSwap Meet. Stay tuned for photos!

My nephew's quilty pants - how cute?!

My sister in law has been an avid supporter and purchaser of my quilty pants and it was with great guilt that I FINALLY managed to give her lovely son a pair - he was almost one for goodness sakes! He really should have had a pair for everyday of the week starting at 6 months! But, now he is wearing them with great style, which I think he gets from both his mom and dad! My excuse for being late was that I wanted to make them with that super cute mini zoo fabric, even though I could have given a pair out of my supply, I really wanted to make a pair just for him - to match his zoo room! Thanks for the photo N - she is also a talented photographer!

A Castle Peeps Dress for River

This is my staple dress and has been since university - I'm trying to remember the first one I made and I think the recipient must be 16 years old by now! It's a burda pattern #XXXX. This castle version was for my very awesome niece with a great monster roar! Her dad is big in to knights and castles, and so is she! And monsters, and rocket ships, and robots and...

Square Neck Summer Dress - Happy Homemade Vol 2

Another lovely pattern and so quick and easy. The button loops at the back made for an easy closure - no button holes required.

Backpack

I've been eyeing this pattern for a year or more and when do I decide to finally get the pattern and make it? The night before Day 2 of Summer Camp of course! It is a terrific little pattern from Made by Rae (another terrific blog for sewing for kids, and moms too!). Easy to follow and the result is a very professional looking, sturdy little back pack for your little guy or gal. It's called a toddler backpack but is easy to size up, which I did for a 5 year old. The instructions even provide tips on how to do this (which I should have read to save me adding an extra inch that I ended up chopping off...). I added 2 inches in length and a name tag sewn on the back panel. There are no pockets on the exterior which I might add on the next one. I thought a side bottle pocket too with an elastic gathered top might be nice. I cut and sewed this up in one evening. I think Rae is a science teacher, you can tell by how methodical and well written the pattern is! I really loved making this up! And Finn seems to like it too!

Simplicity 3835 - awesome top!

Many of my favourite blog-sewers have recommended this top and now I know why. It's very fast and fits really nicely and it also comes in tunic and dress lengths. I can't wait to make another one in dress length next. I've had the pattern since last fall but was finally motivated by this one to get going and give it a try - I was also, most likely looking for a diversion from the other things on my sewing list - like a grad dress, curtains, quilty pants and a pair of room shoes for a friend... guess I better go and get those done!

Twirly Girl Skirt with Olivia!

Here is a fun skirt for a birthday girl today! Luckily her birthday landed on Kids Clothes Week Challenge!! Another thing that landed around here was a snow blizzard this morning! Not many of us are impressed - probably just the 5 and under crowd think it's neat. Luckily it has melted and turned to rain which is greatly needed - haven't had any rain yet this spring!

Kids Clothes Week Challenge - Dad's made-by-me sweater gone wrong...

I like to think that every knitter worth his/her salt has one of these, misshapen sweaters in their repetoire. I knit this for my husband a while ago and it took forever and it was too big and we tried to shrink it but it seemed to be short in the back and long in the front and it never seemed to look right. So, I decided to chop it into a sweater for our five year old. I didn't think I could actually cut into it - pretty scary and it was so much work to knit, I think it was 2 years in the making! But, better to use it than to throw it away! Now it looks great as a tunic sweater. I kept the neck line which, might have been a mistake as it is a bit of a big boat collar now. I'm also thinking it would make a great sweater dress for my niece after Finn is finished with it! I have so much overdue sewing on my plate this week, I sure hope I find the time to sew for KCWC!

7 Pairs of Room Shoes

These little room shoes or house shoes are based on a Japanese pattern and tradition. For indoor wear, they are really fun and kind of like dress-up shoes for around the house! Finishing them all almost lead me to cancel the Trunk Show but I made it, they're done and ready to go! And I probably won't be making them again...!

Can you tell what these are?

Another big batch of somethings for the Trunk Show - stylish Bike Cuffs, for saving your stylish flare jeans while riding around town! Fastened with velcro they've been working great for me for the past year. Come get them on Sunday at the Chocolate Claim - 10am til 4pm!

Polka Dots

This is a new Ticker Tape quilt for this weekend's Kidz Swapmeet at Whitehorse Elementary School! All polka dots. Intended for a child's room, but this one could go just about anywhere!

Hope for Japan Fundraiser at Yukon College.

Hello we are back. This was a last minute idea but I sometimes buy lovely cottons and linen fabric and pattern books from Japan (here and here and here if you would like to help them out) and managed to make a few items with these fabrics for the Hope for Japan fundraiser at Yukon College Friday April 8th. 2 lovely belts, two Zippy coin purses and one Flat Tote will be available for you to bid on if you attend the silent auction. I don't have to say what a good cause this is do I?

How cute is my nephew in his sling Auntie made??