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!

Happy Canada Day

georgianna craft at the Market!

Taa Daa! This was so fun. The weather couldn't have been better, I had great neighbours (DH of Lareware!), lots of love from the community and lots of orders for skirts! I couldn't be more pleased. I'm also pretty excited about my change tent in the back right corner. It was made from retired bedspreads from the Ontario School for the Deaf (the label reads OSD GIRLS, currently known as Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf). Big thank you to my Aunt Susie, a long time employee, who saved these lovely woven spreads with pine trees. They make a great change tent - it was actually nice and warm in there when the weather cooled off! My neighbour DH and I used it to change into jeans when it cooled off! It will also make a fun play tent in our back yard when hung from the clothes line. Click on the photo to take yourself to a few more photos on my flickr site.

Skirts and Shifts for the Fireweed Community Market

Skirts and Shifts for the Fireweed Community Market, a set on Flickr.

Here is a sneak peak of skirts for the market today. Shifts won't be ready 'til next Thursday!

I'm partial to green skirts lately.

I have made and sold 23 skirts this spring! Thank you lovely ladies of Whitehorse! These skirts are also going to be taking up residence and/or traveling this summer to such exotic locales as Montreal, Paris, Nanaimo BC, Vancouver (this green one) and more (I'm sure!). If you are in Whitehorse this Thursday and the next, you will have a chance to see, try on and purchase or put in an order for your own georgianna a-line skirt. I will have a market stall at the Fireweed Community Market, shipyards park, from 3pm til 8pm, June 28th and July 5th only! After all, a gal can't sew all summer - there's holidaying to be done too! Come by and say hello, and wear your skirt if you already have one - I will be!

A Nani Iro dress from that 70's Pattern

Not the greatest photo, but it was the January light that I blame it on! I forgot to post this dress. The fabric is a cotton double gauze which is really soft and the dress turned out really nicely. It's the same pattern as this one without the belt detail and suits me well I think!

Lotta Jansdottir fabric in a simple shift dress = LOVE!

I've recently subscribed to a British craft magazine called Mollie Makes. Issue 13 featured an article on designer Lotta Jansdottir. I bought her Simple Sewing book a long time ago and really like her style. I was inspired by the Mollie Makes article and by one of the dresses Lotta is wearing in the photos AND by the yellow and taupe/grey fabric to make myself a shift dress. I used my book Built by Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide to Making a Girl's Best Frock (finally!) to draft a pattern. The vertical lines of the print are terrific and I really like mustard yellow lately - especially with grey. When I modeled it for F he said "looks like the fifties" and he's right, it has a great retro feel. The sleeveless style reminds me of my Grandma MacStephen, and a 1970's photo I have of her in a yellow polyester pant suit (will try to scan and post this soon...). I'm really pleased with the sleeveless shift, and really not pleased with the weather forecast of FLURRIES for tonight. Wondering if and when I will get a chance to wear my new dress. Oh, and it took me 2.5 hours total, from drafting the pattern on tissue, cutting and sewing up! All in all a success story on the making front!

Trunk Show 2012

Trunk Show 2012, a set on Flickr.

Thanks so much for stopping by the Spring Trunk Show last Sunday. We had a great day, despite the wind and cloud outside. I had a great time selling skirts to the women of Whitehorse! I learned a thing or two about skirt wearing in our town. Most shoppers were buying skirts to wear when they travel to Vancouver, Montreal and even Paris! Funny how we don't think to wear skirts around here - probably due to the cool temperatures we've been enduring this Spring. I just hope they send me a photo of a georgianna skirt a Paris! Ooh La La!