My Posies Monday

I don't know about you, but I can only stitch (any needlework or knitting) for so long and then I need a break.  So I will have a couple of projects going-right now I'm smocking the little top I've shown you, knitting a red baby sweater and just finishing a top for one of my posies.  Because I have several things going I don't know if I can fill a blog space with just sewing for my etsy shop.  Since I still sew for my girls (not always clothes),  I thought it would be a nice feature to share some of the projects I'm working on for them, so Mondays will be My Posies Mondays.

This first project is a cute summer top that can be worn with jeans.  I used quilters fabric that we found at our local JoAnn's.

So here are my supplies.  I'm making view A-the black and white top.

Overall the top was easy to make...I put it together in an afternoon.  The only alterations I made was to the bottom band and the tie- both of which I shortened.

End result...

~Nikki

Making progress

Been a busy week but I'm making good progress on my smocking project.
So far I've finished the back stabilizing stitches and have gotten the geometric design on the top two rows.

I've also found some great fabric for the capri pants.



It has a flower feel and I think I'm going to see if I can incorporate a bird in the smocking.

~Nikki

New Projects

So we added a couple of new items to the shop...



Both are made from Moda fabrics so the thread count is higher and the garment feels nice against the skin.  Nothing worse than being hot and wearing something that makes you itch ;0) 

I am drawn to brighter colors ...I usually walk the fabric rows and wait for something to reach out and grab me. And I liked my girls to be girly, so many of the patterns I choose would be classified as such.

I've also started a smocking project. I was working on a picture smocking panel awhile ago, but I was rusty and put it aside.  I thought I'd start with a geometric design.  I chose a sundress styled top.  It will have 3 rows of smocking, an open, gathered space followed by 6 rows of smocking.  The smocking will be a simple design and I can add bullion roses and flowers to it...maybe even a silk ribbon bee.  I'm almost done with the stabilizing stitches and should start the design today.  To complete the outfit I'm planning on adding floral capri pants with a ruffled hem.

 Both my girls wore this dress.  This was my first picture smocking project.

Lots of hand-me-downs.  Both girls wore this also.  The dress was for Christmas and the smocking is on velour.

Here is a question...Do you like patriotic clothes for summer holidays?  I was thinking of adding an A-line jumper and or a sundress made in a  red, white and blue color combination to the shop.

Please let me know what you think

~Nikki

Hello...

Thomas Edison said that he had not failed but found numerous ways not to do something. I love that thought, because you never truly fail until you give up. So in an effort to learn and improve I decided to put a bit more effort into my etsy shop and see what happens. One suggestion was to blog about what your shop sells.
I have always enjoyed sewing, especially children’s clothing. First you don’t have to worry about darts, hips and bust size. The most you do is lengthen or shorten. Many of todays patterns allow for alot of creativity. You can combine fabrics, make rick-rack flowers or smock and embroider. Maybe even combine a couple patterns, add trim or an extra ruffle.
I have many outfits I would enjoy making and one way to feed my habit is to sell what I make. I hope that you’ll enjoy following along and adding your input when I can’t seem to make up my mind or maybe even suggest a pattern that you’ve been wanting to see made.