Lateeda*kids

The Biggest Loser Pizza

2012-01-12T09:07:00.016-06:00

It's a family thing, we all love watching the show The Biggest Loser. It is far from what I would've guessed to be the show my kids look forward to watching with me but I have to admit it, I love it! I love that this show tees up these conversations on the importance of having a balanced lifestyle combining exercise and healthy eating. These folks who have gone on this show have decided to be real about their situation and let us watch as they aim to create a new life for themselves. It is so incredibly inspiring to watch and I'm guaranteed to cry each week as I see these folks bravely press forward!

A friend of mine sent me this funny cartoon this morning. It's something that totally made me laugh but also was a real eye opener regarding the change in how kids are growing up these days.

I know it's my job to keep this in mind and not let my kids fall into the trap of a sedentary lifestyle coupled with freezer food filled with all the stuff that's horrible for us. I'm guilty of this. We are an active family but I knew I needed to raise the bar with things we were eating. Dad travels each week for work and well, that's when I like to take a little vacation from making full dinners for the family. I'm working on changing this :) It's no excuse not to offer them something healthy.

Earlier this week we all watched this weeks installment of the show and watched the nutritionist walk them through the grocery store and she pulled out the frozen pizzas and had a short rant on them. I wanted to duck as all my kids looked at me and said, "Mommy we should stop buying those" She offered a simple idea and we decided to try them last night.

We had all the ingredients on hand so the kids and I made Biggest Loser Pizzas. Talk about easy, like no time at all and they loved them. Of course the nutritionist suggested topping them with various veggies. I figured we'd start with basic cheese pizzas and not push my luck. For our first time trying them, I want them to eat them not stare at them like I've tortured them with veggies. My youngest tends to stare at a plate with tears welling up if too many veggies lay in front of him. We had enough other good stuff so kept it simple.

We were working with what we had on hand. Whole grain tortillas and these are the larger burrito size. Some shredded part skim mozzarella cheese and then some marinara sauce. I had a partial jar still in my fridge but next time I shop, I may start paying closer attention to the sodium and sugar content in the various brands. We've always used this but we are certainly willing to check out other brands if they still taste great.

My little helpers wanted to make their own dinners. Score!! I haven't found my love for cooking yet so I like helpers and like even more they're starting to take an interest in eating healthy. Here it is, ready to go in the oven.

And voila! The tortilla wasn't super crisp through the center like you might find with a pizza but my kids absolutely loved them. I bet if I made these on a pizza pan the tortilla might crisp up a bit more but I had these on my Southern Living baking sheet. We ate these with a mixed bowl of fresh fruit and I'm feeling good knowing this was miles better than pulling that boxed pizza out of the freezer.

How Pinteresting!

2012-01-11T14:31:00.019-06:00

Just like most of the world, I'm hooked on Pinterest and today I'm participating with a link up blog party. I really don't know how this happened, my new addiction :) I convince myself it will help me become better at all there is to know by the endless amount of info I can dig up! There is not enough time in 2 lifetimes to complete all the DIY projects, travel to all these beautiful destinations, make all of these recipes, decorate a home paying every attention detail down to the aesthetics in your laundry room, throw all these parties and of course, own and wear all these fabulous outfits people put together. A girl can dream right? Vision boards are inspiration and I for one, enjoy having a reference point to go back to when I do find a stretch of time to do something!

Well it's Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday so we decided to play. Here are some of my faves. I thought today I'd look at my crafts board since that was my initial interest that pulled me into the world of Pinterest. What is it you ask? Well if you need a definition, here ya go.

So here's a few that are on the top of my list to do.

How practical and easy is THIS? Perfect for sleepover, buh bye gross sandwich baggy.

Okay, now bring those sandwich baggies back, THIS is a cute and easy little project!

How adorable are THESE bookmarks! I'm definitely making these, gotta get the pics done so they are vertical with that funny capture of their personalities!

And of course I love THIS project.

The complete tutorial is found here on my blog and we have made countless flowers for hair. They make a wonderful way to finish wrapping a gift by including something so functional and pretty!

What are your favorite pins for the week?

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T11:21:00.011-06:00

I hope everyone had a joyous close to 2011 and is excited for the New Year and all those new plans and adventures for 2012. This is one of my favorite images to start a new year. Wash away the old and look at the beautiful new year ahead!

I've gotten so many emails from friends that someone in their house got a new sewing machine for Christmas. I love hearing that, love knowing that the sewing craft is coming back full steam. I've been asked so many questions on what is a great starter machine, what all do you need to get started, will I hold a small class, how do you thread this darn machine and wind that bobbin (that is always a personal fave) where can a person take classes etc! Honestly, once you figure out how to thread your machine you have conquered the part that holds so many people back. Well, I found this post on Make it Love it that really sums things up. This is an excellent site to dig around in. When you want to get started, just jump in. Don't read so much you feel bound inside a box on how to do things. Read and learn enough to get going and then experiment.

There are so many projects you can do by just learning a basic straight stitch. Really, you can go on for days making different things. Just like she says in her blog post, just keep pressing forward, don't worry about a line that's not perfectly straight or some bunched up bobbin thread, it really just comes with time and a bit of practice. No one else sees that, they are truly excited for what you are making, not caught up in the inspection of how perfect it is!

Once you get past practicing some different stitches, try tackling a small project. My pillowcase tutorial would be an excellent place to start, or you might want to try the camera strap cover tutorial. Both of these are fairly quick projects and I've found those are the best to start out with. There is something that is really satisfying about seeing your finished project the same day. It'll keep you motivated to keep going and to try new things. I love hearing about the different projects people are working on and if I can help, please shoot me a note. My ebook patterns are great for the beginner. Most of these are using techniques that even a beginner sewer can tackle.
Sew.......welcome to 2012 and stay tuned for alot more things from us and tutorials on the blog. As always, we love when you share our Etsy site and blog with others. Have something you'd love to see a tutorial on? Please drop me a line and happy crafting!

Fabric Flower Tutorial - Repurposing a Knit Dress

2011-12-23T23:40:00.045-06:00

It's the holidays... YAY!!! Time to celebrate! Well, I thought I'd get in one small craft project done before we start the new year. I was looking for some cute headbands a few days ago that my girls could wear to church services and kept finding pricetags like $25 for the ones that I liked. Wha???? I need 2 of them and don't want to spend $50 so I passed thinking I can make my own. This is similar to THIS project I had done earlier in the year but with some variations. There are so many ways to make flowers!

**Supplies**
Knit fabric - use new knit fabric or find something that's stained or just heading to Goodwill that you can repurpose
**you can certainly use a woven cotton for this project as well**
disappearing ink pen or something you can use to trace onto your fabric
Felt
Hot Glue or Fabric glue
Headband or clip

I started by finding some things that are in my donate pile. Surely everyone has this pile of stuff that is heading out the door! I've come to look at this pile in a whole new light. I had 2 knit dresses that well...I was just tired of, they weren't getting worn anymore so they were heading to Goodwill. It was time for them to go until it dawned on me that they are made of some great knit I could repurpose into something else. One was black so that was perfect for what I wanted to make. The great thing about using knit fabric is that it doesn't fray like a woven cotton and I love a project where the edges look pretty right out of the gate!
***For best results, use some knit that has some umpf to it. Many tees are very thin intended for layering so my suggestion is to use a knit that isn't paper thin so you don't end up with this flat and no life to it flower:-)***

I started by drawing a template onto cardstock. The beauty of this project is nothing is hingeing on exactness! I cut out a circle about 3 1/4" and then I just sketched 5 fat petals and cut the circle into a flower. Mine isn't perfect but it was spaced out well enough for me. I went ahead and traced and scanned mine if it just makes things easier for you! I put 2 sizes on here but modify as you need. The smaller one is the size I made shown in these photos. You can download it HERE.

Now take your template, trace (this is a PAIN on black since it makes my trace lines hard to see but any other color should be simple) I used a disappearing ink pen, traced and cut out. I stacked my fabric and did 3 at a time. You will need 9 cutouts in total. Don't worry if they aren't all exactly the same. Just get the general shape cut and trim off any areas around the curves that might look more angular.

Now cut out a circular 3 inch felt piece and this will be the backing of our flower.

Take one of your knit cutouts and we are going to start making the petals. Start by folding them in half and then in half again. I like to dab a bit of glue at the bottom so it wants to stay together and then I glue it onto the felt placing the point in the center.

Here are my 4 petals shown glued down for the first layer.

Next you'll do another layer doing the same exact thing except this time you will pivot the petals 45 degrees so that you are covering up any gaps that you can see down into the first layer. By doing this you get more dimension as well as cover up the felt backing entirely.

Next you'll add your rosebud center. Take the last piece and instead of doing it like the others, fold it in half and then just roll it up into a rosebud. Add a dab of glue so that it stays put. Now trim off the end so that it has a base instead of a point. Put a good sized bit of glue into the centerr of your flower and push the rosebud straight down into place and let that all set.

Once that has dried, add a dab of glue to all of the petals from that 2nd layer towards the center where the rosebud is and pull them up gluing them to the rosebud. Your flower needs some fullness and dimension so this is just giving those petals a lift so they don't lay flat. Here is your finished flower! Turn your flower over and trim the felt on the bottom making a smaller circle so that you can't see it when worn,

I added mine to a stretchy headband but you could also do a clip or even a pin if you wanted to accent a piece of clothing, purse etc. Hot glue the headband down onto your felt and then another piece of felt on top of the headband. These flowers would even look cute on military hat. Just get your hot glue gun and add it on.

And here you go...my happy recipient wearing her headband!

Camera Strap Tutorial

2011-12-18T22:46:00.023-06:00

I'm on my 2nd SLR camera and figured it was finally time to make myself a cute strap! I've seen so many tutorials pinned to Pinterest which is my new favorite site so I finally decided it was time to make one. Click on any photo to enlarge.

I checked out a handful of tutorials and finally settled on following this one from Priddy Creations. Seemed straightforward enough, let's roll!

First start by choosing the fabric you'd like for your strap. One will be the one you see, the other is the interior so don't spend too much time trying to choose that print. In fact, just go ahead and buy some plain printed broadcloth and save a little money. I did adjust the fabric cuts just a tad. I actually have 2 SLR cameras, both are Canon's and the straps are 23 inches long(just the neck strap portion) by 1 5/8" wide. Measure your strap first to get a sense of how long and how wide you need it to be and adjust accordingly. I have a few changes I made along the way from the original tutorial I found as I just prefer a snug fit.
* Materials, 2 pieces of fabric (print and plain) fusible fleece, thread, sewing machine, scissors and of course your iron!
* Cut your printed and plain pieces 5 1/4" wide by 23" long
* Cut your fusible fleece 4 1/4" wide by 21" long

With right sides facing each other, stitch together down the 2 long sides using a 1/4" seam allowance. Then center the fusible fleece onto the solid side of the fabric and follow the instructions to adhere.

Now turn your piece inside out so you can see your print.

Push the seams all the way out and press. Next, fold the ends with the raw edges in about 1/2" on each side, press with your iron and stitch those 2 shorts ends down.

Now fold the piece in half lengthwise and press. If you aren't adding any trim, stitch this long side down and you are done! If you are interested in jazzing it up some more by adding some trim, read on.

At this point you can do a few things. If you have tags you use, stitch it to one end.

If adding a trim you can do this now. Stitch this right on and fold the ends under so the ends are hidden in the interior. I've shown a shabby floral trim here in the photo. I would probably hot glue this on or secure with a fabric glue instead of stitching over the flowers. If you were going to glue the trim on you will first finish off the strap.
It is folded in half and you will stitch down that long side locking your stitches at each end. After that is done you could cut the rose trim to the length you need and add them now.

I chose to leave my strap as is with just the print showing. Ta-da! Isn't she pretty? I'm ready to take some photos!

Family Game Night with Minute to Win It

2011-12-15T14:25:00.025-06:00

Are you all looking forward to the holidays as much as we are in our house? I just love having these breaks with no real schedule, getting to sleep in and fill in the day just as we like. Like many moms, I love the idea of getting some wonderful family time and with a bit of planning I know we can have some fun, and not spend a fortune.

I started thinking of what my kids love and this year they seem to love the Game Show Minute to Win it! I have put together our own Minute to Win It game kit for us to use over the holidays. I think this would be a fun present and an exceptional time if you are having relatives visit and need some ideas to fill your time together. Best of all, it's all contained in it's own bucket for easy storage!

I started out by collecting all the items that I wanted for my games and found everything I needed at Walmart. I have 15 games in all. Here are my supplies. The only thing not shown is a timer if you wanted to grab one (we use the iPhone stopwatch) and then you'll need a cookie or Nilla Wafer. Since that can go bad, I figure we'll just grab it when we play.

***Click on any photo to enlarge***

5 gallon paint bucket
At least 21 solo cups (one needs to be a different color)
Pack of Pencils (for this game you could substitute with quarters)
Balloons
Skewers
Penne Pasta
Deck of Cards
6 dice
Jumbo Craft Sticks
String
At least 6 nails
We grabbed stickers as well just to decorate the bucket

I love things to be self contained. Nothing makes me nuttier than pieces and parts all over my house. Head to your paint section at Walmart and find the 5 gallon paint buckets. They had some that said Walmart on the side (nope, not what I wanted) but then I wandered down the aisles and found some plain colored ones. JACKPOT! I found green, blue and white. I grabbed some plain green and blue buckets and lids (my store only had white lids but that was fine with me)

My friend Cathy is an amazing graphics artist and created this sticker to put on the outside of the bucket. We also grabbed some stickers that people use for garage sales that were blank and my kids just lined the top with alternating colors. They loved how colorful and fun their game was becoming. You can download the Family Game Night sticker here. I printed mine out on shipping labels where there are 2 to a sheet. You can always print on regular paper and just tape it on.

Then we just started bagging up the games into ziplock baggies and filled the bucket.

We decided on 15 games that have been tested by all my kids so a range of ages can participate. Sorry for the crummy photo, it's from my old iPhone but one of our favorites is the noodling around game. We like to do 2 family members at a time, creates some fun competition!

I created a template with the game names and descriptions and printed it out on white cardstock. You can download this template here. These can help you get started but you can create loads of fun by making up ones of your own or searching online for more games. We tried to choose games that a range of ages would be able to do. I also love laminating things :-) I laminated this sheet so that grubby hands don't ruin it over time.

Now put your lid on and your Game Night Kit is complete and ready for use or to give as a gift. Have fun and enjoying spending some time together!

Make your own Kids Fort Kit

2011-10-24T12:23:00.023-05:00

Trying to find a gift for all kids and a wide range of ages? Well, I kinda think this one is pretty cool! What child doesn't like to imagine big and build forts! This idea came about as we are heading to a birthday party for 3 special foster kids. What sort of gift would be fun for all 3 and not be a zillion parts. All of a sudden I went back to my own childhood and thought about how much fun it was to build forts. So there it begins, the start of a fort building kit! Click on any photos if you wish to see them larger.

I started by gathering some supplies. I've got some flat sheets (different colored ones of course, whatever will suit your gift recipients. Walmart has them in all colors of the rainbow) tiny clamps that I found at Home Depot for just 39 cents a pop, suction cups, rope/cording and then a drawstring bag to put it all in. I made my bag but use what you like! If you have a pillowcase on hand or can grab one at the store, those are perfect too and I'll show you how to add the drawstring casing. Read on for some other ideas of things to throw in.

Here is a closeup of my tiny little clamps and my suction cups.

I made my own case out of fabric I had on hand but this would be super easy if you just bought a premade one. If you want to make one, you can always follow my tutorial I've done on pillowcases. I found some grosgrain ribbon that I had on hand and just stitched it on about 5 inches from the top. Instead of stitching it closed at the seam, fold the ribbon under on each side where it meets up. Stitch it down and you will have a vertical opening.

Now take a safety pin and pin it to the cording and feed it through the casing. Cut it to whatever desired length you like so you can cinch and tie it shut.

Fill it with all your goodies, tie shut and your present is now wrapped! Would love to hear other ideas of fun things to add to this bag of family fun.

Something that would raise the fun level if you want to keep filling the bag would be some kid walkie talkies. Your little adventure guides can communicate as the fort is coming together.

And finally, just for fun, I added an extra item. I picked up a bag of dum dums to enjoy once the fort is built and added that in there. Hey, all kids like a little candy right?

Instead of a card, I made a gift tag to attach to the cording with instructions on what this was :) Please ignore my typo, just noticed that but you get the general idea.

Of course I love ALL crafty stuff so I happen to own a laminating machine so I decided to laminate my card stock card.

Voila, you are done and I hope your little fort builders have a blast and that you get a chance to join them in their fun and make some memories! We are now off to our party with our homemade gift!

Fabric Flower Tutorial

2011-10-13T15:02:00.019-05:00

Well, I thought my girls had left the stage of hair bows, but all of a sudden they are all into hair accessories again! Sometimes bows, sometimes headbands that they accessorize with do dads and sometimes clips...like the one I'm about to show you how we made. These are fun and a GREAT way to use up scrap material laying around...and I always have a LOT! If you have knit material, I've done another tutorial HERE for you to check out.

First you'll just need to gather your supplies. Whatever fabric you'd like to use, a piece of felt, your hot glue gun and glue, some scissors and anything that you'd want to use as a template for a circle. You can make your own or just grab anything you might find in your house that you can trace around. A cup, small bowl...you get the idea! For my project, my circles were 2 1/2" and 3" in diameter. Feel free to adjust the size of your circles however you like to get smaller or bigger flowers.

First start by tracing then cutting out all of your circles. I have cut out 8 of each size. To make this process go faster, I folded my fabric in half and then in half again cutting out 4 circles at a time. Next cut out your felt in the shape of a circle, I'd do one the same size as your largest circle.

Take each circle, fold it in half and then in half again.

Your hot glue gun should be heated up. You will glue this in place at the tip. I use a straight pin for this step so that I can get the glue inside the tip of that petal that I'm making and pinch it together and squeeze off any excess glue. Be careful not to burn yourself! Repeat this for all your flowers.

Here is a pic of all my petals.

Now take your scissors and snip a few lines down each petal as I've shown in this pic. This will give your flower a more full and fringed look. Repeat this for all of your petals.

Now we are going to put them onto the felt which will be our backing. I'd lay them out first to get a sense of how they are going to fit. Then move them, put a glob of hot glue in the center and lay them all down tips to the center, petals facing out. Your first layer are your larger petals. If you want to take your time, you can put a dab of hot glue on the back of each petal and take your time laying them down. This is a good idea the first few times as you most likely will start rearranging them spacing them out differently as you go. After making a few, you'll get the hang of it.

Repeat this same process with the next layer of petals. For this layer, I think I ended up using only 7 petals but just place them first so you can get them how you like, and then glue them on.

I always enjoy finding something fun to put in the center. Do you have some fun buttons, rhinestones, something special from Grandma's old jewelry box? Hot glue it to the center.

These are fantastic for both kids and adults. You can add them to hats, purses, tee's, headbands, clips and more. Instead of putting a bow on a gift, maybe add one of these fun flowers instead. Have fun!

Working on a new free tutorial ... a French Country Table Runner

2011-09-28T16:26:00.004-05:00

I've officially been struck with the " I love all things that look French Country" bug! I keep looking around my house, seeing the remains of my red Tuscan phase and trying to swap things out without breaking the bank!

I picked up some fabrics and wanted to make a table runner for my kitchen table and change up the look by changing the colors. I've got lots of pics I took all along the way. If you want to make a new table runner, whether it's for a new look or for the upcoming holidays, stay tuned, I'll be posting pics with the follow along instructions!

Reclaimed Wood Window Frame Tutorial

2011-08-14T14:07:00.018-05:00

I finished my window frame project! This was so much fun to do! My family has a place out at the lake and well, we desperately need to have some artwork on the walls. I thought this would be a great project to try to fill our walls with a bit of color.

To get started, of course I had to find my window frame. I bought this for $20 at an antique store, all the glass was intact so I was thrilled. I've found many frames from houses that have been torn down but so many of them have at least one windowpane smashed out. Getting started all I got in addition to my frame was my paint color, some sanding paper, an image that I wanted to use, brushes, painters tape and then some wax to seal the paint.

I got started by cleaning the glass and the frame of any dirt and debris. Trust me, these reclaimed pieces are ALWAYS dirty so get it nice and clean. Sand down any of the rough edges. I didn't do too much of this, just cleaned it up here and there but the rough look was what I liked so I didn't need to be sanded to perfection.
**be careful, if you have a REALLY old frame, it might have lead based paint so take appropriate caution if sanding**

I just did a single light coat of paint to the backside first. You're not going to see this but since you can see a tad bit when hung, I figure I should have the same color on both sides. Then I let it dry for a few hours.

Then I flipped mine over to the front side and sanded just a little bit more hitting some spots I missed the first time and then wiped it all off so it was clean of any dust from sanding.

I put painters tape all through the glass panels and then painted all of the frame my color of choice, apple red! The lakehouse needs a big pop of color so decided to go bold! I let it dry for several hours and then sanded the edges a bit so it looked a little roughed up. After it was dry, I did add a layer of wax over the top just to seal and protect.

Once I was done with that I scanned my image that I wanted to use which was a vintage postcard I found. I loved the image, it sort of said "lake" to me and something I could see hanging on the wall. I scanned it and then had my friend who is an ace at Illustrator size the image to what would fit my frame and then divide the image into 6 equal sections and print.

My openings are larger than what I can print on my ink jet printer (bummer) but thankfully my good friend Cathy has one of those big ole printers that she uses for her work and helped me with getting these printed so I didn't have to schlep to Office Max.

I started by just laying them out on top of the glass just to see if I liked how it looked. Whoops, if you are paying attention, I have the 2 top corners in the wrong spot! I had originally started with another image but the way the 6 squares cut the image up, it didn't look right, this one worked for me. I was super happy!

Happy with the look, I inserted them into their permanent spot on the backside of my frame and here it is. I haven't added my hanging hardware yet but that will come just as soon as I can get to Home Depot.

I think it's going to look just lovely at the lake!! This was so much fun for me to do, so inexpensive and my hubby is happy that the old frame sitting in our garage for months has finally moved off my ever growing project list! Do you have an old photograph you might want to do this to? I can see all kinds of personalized pieces of art.

Custom Pillowcase Tutorial - perfect project for Camp

2011-07-26T14:34:00.027-05:00

I can hardly believe the time is almost here. Both of my girls are heading off to sleepaway camp with a handful of their friends and the excitement level is HIGH in our house! I feel like I'm sending them off to college at the rate I've been spending for camp stuff whether it was the cool trunk we bought that's now been fully decorated, all their toiletries, gear they need and of course the care packages I'm making. They are over the days of me making them custom clothing (I guess I had to let them grow up eventually) but now we look for other ways we can make something personal to take along.

For camp we are making custom pillowcases and I've had fun watching them make a mess back in my office digging through the bins of fabric. I hope when they lay their heads down at the end of a fun day, they'll remember Mom and Dad at home! This is such an EASY project that if you can get your machine powered on and threaded, just follow along and you can easily make your own. Click on any pictures to make them bigger if you need to zoom in for detail.

Here's your supplies you need. Your 2 fabrics and thread and you are ready!

I lay mine out on my quilters mat and cut with my rotary cutter. Cut 25 1/2" and then turn and cut 20" across. Cut your trim piece at 9 1/2" and then turn and again, cut this the same length as your main piece, 20" across. Remember, both are on the fold when cutting!

Fold your piece now with the right sides facing each other, you will be sewing down 2 sides of your piece. One long side and one short side. The short side that was left open should measure about 19 3/4 inches across if you kept to your 1/4" seam allowance. This should fit the average size pillow but if you think you have a very full and fluffy pillow, cut your piece wider. Pin your seams if it helps you. I stitch using about 1/4" seam allowance. (this should be the distance from your needle to the edge of your presser foot, I like this as a seam allowance as I have a constant guide) After I've stitched, I serge the 2 edges I've just sewn. Most people don't have sergers, no worries just leave the raw edge alone or you can zig zag over your raw edges to finish them.
*note, if your fabric has a direction to it, make sure to leave the side open that is the bottom of your print. For example, on my fabric, I have birds so I wanted their heads to face towards the stitched shut side of my case and the bottoms of their body facing the open side of the pillowcase. Check your print before you stitch your short side to ensure you did the right one.

Next take your trim piece and fold it in half (wrong sides together) the long way and press a seam in it. Then open it up and turn it joining the 2 short sides, right sides together and stitch that short side shut.

You will sew the short side seams together, Stitch line should be same width as your big piece shown in pic above. Next you will refold it along that seam you just pressed down in the prior step so that you are looking at the right sides of the fabric on both sides. I will usually press it again here and put the seam to one side. This helps me to not mess up having the seam off to one side so I remember to match them up when joining to the large part of the case. Press it here and it helps!

Take the trim piece and nest it inside the main part of the pillowcase and pin together matching up the raw edges of your main piece and trim piece. Begin with matching up the 2 side seams from main print and trim print and go from there pinning the other side next and then the other midpoints. After you are pinned, stitch all the way around these 2 pieces using a 1/4" seam allowance. Remember, you are still looking at the wrong side of the fabric. After I've stitched around, serge if you have a serger.

You can technically be done at this point but I like mine to look very finished. Follow on if you are type A like me! Take that interior seam and press it up towards the inside of the pillowcase.

Now take the case to your machine and add a top stitch to the case. It finishes off the piece as you stitch up that interior seam and helps the case to keep it's shape there.

There you go, all done! We are making them for friends who are also going and having so much fun seeing their print selections! For time sake, we are being more simple in our cases but these could be so fun to add ruffles to, applique their names to the trim and more! Keep it plain on one side, you need at least one comfortable side free of add ons to sleep on!

Here's a few more, these girls love peace signs!

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2011-06-28T19:24:00.004-05:00

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Cowgirl LOVE Giveway...

2011-03-18T09:57:00.022-05:00

So excited to be a part of this one! Yep, it's a HUGE giveaway so you want to keep reading! Several months back, the amazing gals from Oh Fiddlesticks sent me an email telling me about their upcoming photo shoot they had planned with Laura from Laura Winslow Photography. Melissa and Jen create these super fun compound word tees and one of my faves is the COW + GIRL tee. That one was in the lineup for the photo shoot and they asked me if I might be able to create something that coordinates to their tee. Well, it took me less than a minute to think about and jump on board. One of my favorite things to do is to collaborate with others on a project, one that includes the hair, the clothing, jewelry, accessories and all items that might tie into a party theme! Kim from The TomKat Studio worked with Laura on the styling of the shoot and what an amazing set of pics! They created the Glam Camping shoot. How fun seeing all these pieces come to life through their eyes along with these adorable kiddos! Who wouldn't want to have a cowgirl party? Well, we have teamed together along with some other talented vendors to give it ALL away. If cowgirl is what you like, make sure to enter to win a fabulous giveaway that includes it all and then some!

Just to wet your appetite, here are a few. Of course the Oh Fiddlesticks ladies. The La*tee*da*kids cowgirl print skirt that I created for the shoot. Hair accessories from Georgie Blue, Anna and Blue Paperie, Finley and Oliver, Anders Ruff Custom Designs, something for Mom from Modern Vintage Boutique! and even a gift Certificate from Hill Country Charm. There is so much more. For the complete list of all 24 vendors, check out the Oh Fiddlesticks blog for ALL of the scoop on prizes and the details to enter. Good luck!

Tiered Pillowcase Style Dresses...our newest love!

2011-03-06T20:44:00.007-06:00

Yep, this is my new fave, a little twist on the tried and true pillowcase dress. I tend to suffer from a bit of A.D.D!! I'm sure some of you are with me on this one yes? So much going on in any given day that your mind races around from thought to thought and often times in circles. When I'm in my design space, it can feel like that as well. There are literally not enough hours in the day to work with all the lovely fabrics and trims out there that I come across. It doesn't stop me from bringing them home and convincing myself I'll find time to work it all in but I like to give it the good ole college try! My brain will jump all over the place thinking of all these projects while promising to slow down and focus! In this design, I try to work several prints in at once by doing this in tiers and I love the finished item with it's assymetrical tie. This pattern is already available for purchase in my Etsy store but for those of you who don't sew, the dresses are going to be made available for purchase as well. I've had so much fun with this new styling I've laid out all sorts of fabric combos that are sure to wake up your senses. The dress couldn't be more versatile if you needed to layer something underneath or throw a cardigan over it if part of the day is chilly. I sure can see some fun designs come football season and the various holidays!!

Time for Vacation....take some Beaches 'n Cream!

2011-02-04T08:26:00.020-06:00

What are my favorite family photos? Hands down, the ones we've done over the years on our trips to the beach. I love going back and recalling our vacations to the ocean. They are always memories of relaxation, none of the typical life distractions, just quality family time, our sunkissed tans, the blonde streaks my kids get in their hair and I also appreciate the fact that my husband looks at my kids and announces on picture day, "No complaining guys, this is the one time of year Mom makes us get up really early to get these pictures and it's very important to her. Everyone smile pretty and it won't take long :-) " Okay, I digress, here's a non-staged photo from a few years back. I love it! One of my all time faves, watching my girls follow their Dad being careful only to walk in his footsteps on the beach. Seems so symbolic of a girls love for their Daddy! Wherever you lead us, I'm following in your footsteps. The entire morning is always a special one for me.

Well, fastforward years later, I haven't gotten tired of our trips and certainly not tired of getting our photos. When I create new pieces, I usually aim for tons of pattern and lots of color splashes. With the "Beaches 'n Cream" collection, I went in a different direction staying true to my love of white tonals for the beach and a few hints of pattern. You'll find something for everyone here in this mix and match collection. If she loves to twirl we've got the twirl skirt and double ruffle tank. If you want something angelic, simple and innocent, a ruffle trimmed pillowcase dress and finally I added a coordinating knot top with ruffle trimmed white flare capris. Aaaahh, Mother Nature, please bring the warm temperatures back and let's head to the beach! Let them play, let them be kids.......and finally, capture their sweet innocence with some beautiful photos while you are at it!

HUGE thank you to Michelle Nicoloff for getting some amazing photos of these 2 girls playing in my La*tee*da pieces. If you live in the Orange County area, take a looksie at her work....beautiful and amazing talent!

Pieces will be listed this weekend in my Etsy store. If you have a Spring Break trip coming up and you are heading to the beach, contact me and we'll see about getting some rush orders out. Click on any photo to see them enlarged.

Another birthday rolls by!

2011-01-23T06:40:00.007-06:00

They seem to be coming at me faster and faster.....my birthday that is! I just celebrated yet another one and got some of the most lovely things. My kids kept asking me, "Mommy what do you want for your birthday?" HHHmmmm, I thought about it and just gave them that frustrating answer of, "Just surprise me! I'll love whatever you get for me." They know I love gifts from the heart, something homemade, and boy did they melt me on the insides. I received some handmade earrings from my oldest, a book made by my budding author/illustrator and then this beautiful creation from my son. So here she sits by my machine! I just love all their ideas and surely felt the love. Yep, my kids know how to make the tears well up in my eyes. It was a great day feeling blessed and loved!

It's a brand new year!

2011-01-05T07:18:00.003-06:00

I say it all too often these days......I must be getting old, repeating myself all the time! Where does the time go? I feel like 2010 zipped by in a blur but I am REALLY looking forward to 2011! I love starting a new year. I love getting reorganized in my house, my brain, my design space......I guess just life in general! We've hauled all that stuff to the curb or to Goodwill we no longer need and are looking forward to the months warming up little by little. I tend to naturally love the Spring/Summer fabrics so these are seasons I love to create for. I adore gorgeous shabby florals in all kinds of colors and finding fun ways to bring them together. I've started the new year by releasing a new piece to the Elizabeth collection. I've mixed a fresh version of shabby florals, damask prints and dots. Turn this skirt any direction you like as there is no real front or back! Pair it with our daisy floral tank or a ruffle tank. Find this in my Etsy store now.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-21T19:56:00.001-06:00

Wishing you a blessed holiday season!! Enjoy the time with family and friends!

Embellish an Apron Tutorial

2010-11-27T09:36:00.012-06:00

Either aprons are making a comeback or I'm just starting to notice them for some reason. When I'm out shopping, it seems I see the most amazing aprons being made with lots of ruffles, fabrics being combined in interesting ways and a variety of embellishments. Recently I was in Anthropologie and really got inspired by all the lovelies I saw. Heck, it might entice this non-cooker to do some cooking! It was just prior to Thanksgiving and I decided that our hostess with the mostest (aka Mom) needed a little gift as a thank you for continually opening up her home and hosting all the kids and grandkids. If you are heading to someone's home this holiday season, this would be a super easy and fun project to take on. I did this with my kids!

1. First we found an already assembled apron from Hobby Lobby. We loved the Zebra print
2. Next we had to decide how we were going to embellish it. Since I was doing this with my kids, we figured we'd just keep it fairly simple. We went over to the trim section and grabbed some hot pink ruffle trim.
3. All we did was put our machine on straight stitch and added it along the top. (hard huh?)
4. Then I wanted to add a fabric rosette and some bling. These roses are so fun to make. Grab your glue gun and go to it! I wanted to use all the colors so I combined a black and white print along with the berry colored fabric and then added a big rhinestone to the center. I just pinned this on since presumably this will need to be washed! Don't want to make your own fabric rose embellishment? Just grab a pre-made one and hot glue a bit of bling to the center. You can find these at Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Michael's etc.
5. Not quite done because I wanted a little more color. One of my girls said, let's add an L. Laverne and Shirley popped into my head with that big cursive L. A regular print L just wasn't going to have enough ummpff so cursive it was. Laverne, we are bringing your big cursive L back! We created our template, added that L and that's it, we were done!

Pretty cute cook huh?

Hope your Thanksgiving was a blessed one and don't forget to kiss the cook!

Handmade Coaster Tutorial - Fun one with the kids!!

2010-11-01T09:36:00.025-05:00

I'm getting a headstart this year on doing some gifts! I shouldn't post to the blog, going to be a bit of a spoiler for some of you in my life, but oh well, here goes! We did these yesterday and I really loved how they turned out so wanted to share how to create these coasters. If you are on a budget this year this is a great thing to try! Better yet, if you like making something where your kids can lend a hand as well, this is the perfect project.

***click on any photo to see them enlarged***

Here's what you'll need

* a set of 4" tiles - I grabbed a pack of the tumbled tiles from Home Depot - I prefer the look of the tumbled ones
* Staz on Ink Pad - whatever colors you like
* Rubber Stamps
* Clear Satin enamel spray to seal (not shown in this pic, you'll see what can I used later in this tutorial)
* Felt or cork stick on surface guards (i used 3/8") (photo'd and shown later in this tutorial)

First start by just wiping the tiles clean with a damp cloth so they are ready for you to put your design on. I experimented with what I wanted to put on my tiles on a piece of paper. For this particular set, I have a friend who is a HUGE New Orleans Saints fan, hmmm, these might be perfect in her house! There are so many fun rubber stamps out there for you to be creative with. For my set I chose a swirly pattern for a background and then overlayed it with my fleur de lis stamp. You could choose a smaller print and just do a repeated stamp across the tile. Place the stamp randomly where sometimes only half of it is seen along the sides or corners, it looks pretty! Another idea might be to put some words or an initial in the center and then stamp the 4 corners with something giving it a border. Just use your imagination and experiment on a piece of paper before the tile so you can see what direction you want to go. If you were more ambitious, you could also get stencils for a pretty pattern and just use a block rubber stamp to fill in the design with the ink.

My son is 5 (there he is pictured above in action) and he helped me with these so even the young ones can get in on the fun of being creative!

Using the Staz On Ink, apply whatever design you like to your tile. Be sure to press firmly with your stamp and then let dry.

Once your design is dry we need to spray a sealant on the tile. We don't want your ink to bleed so it needs a sealant. Use what brand you like, I've used a can of the Valspar clear satin spray that you can pick up at Home Depot or Walmart. Find a piece of cardboard or better yet a box and spray a coat onto the tile. Do this outside in a ventilated area. A box is best if your day is a little breezy. Now let this coat dry.

Now that they are dry, stick on your cork or felt guards to the bottom so they won't scratch the surface that they sit on.

That's it, you are done! Put them out on your side tables to use or stack them and tie up with a pretty piece of ribbon for a gift. Hope you had fun flexing those creative muscles!

Headband Tutorial

2010-10-25T22:10:00.023-05:00

I love making things for my girls to wear in their hair and this quick project is so fun and easy that I wanted to share with my own added notes on how to assemble. Try these with your kids too. This is the perfect little project where you can share in the fun and be done in 15 minutes. We've done our school colors here and have plans for some Christmas ones as well. What a great way to use up your scraps. Here's what you'll need

***click on any photo to see them enlarged***

*6 strips of fabric about 18-20" long by 1/2" wide, 3 for each band and you can mix up the colors how you like
*I rip mine along the grain to give it the shabby edges, this is just my preference* you can also just pull along the sides to fray the edges or just cut and leave them how they are
*Your sewing machine
*6 inch piece of elastic - I use 3/8" width

1. Cut your 6 pieces of fabric in whatever prints you plan to use

2. Layer them on top of each other and stitch together

3. You can place your pieces under anything heavy to hold in place or tape it down to your surface. I choose to put my needle in the "needle down" position to hold in place and turn the strips towards me to start braiding.

4. Braid the entire length. Try to keep the print side up when braiding so that you see the colors you want shown, not the reverse side of your print. You might want to play with it for a bit so you can see if you like a tighter or looser braid.

5. Stitch your ends together then repeat with the other strips of fabric. Trim off the excess fabric from each end.

6. I turned my 2 braided pieces at a slight angle to each other then straight stitched each side together.

7. Now stitch your elastic to each end of your headband that's forming. My measurements fit my daughters head (she has a big head :-), just cut your elastic longer or shorter as needed. Because these are braids, there is a bit of give through the braid. If you really like a neat finish, you can take some bias tape and wrap it around the exposed edges on either end covering the elastic and the end of the braid and stitch that down. It won't be seen but wanted to add that note if you like things nice and neat.

8. Voila, you are ready to wear it! Try these using ribbon or even bias tape for a faster project!

Holiday Collection 2010 is here

2010-10-20T20:02:00.004-05:00

Whether you like reds and creams, maybe throw in some black or mix it up by adding a bit of non-traditional espresso brown, we have a fun range of new holiday pieces available on Etsy now. The Holiday Collection 2010 pieces are shipping fast so if you have a family photo date that you are trying to find clothing for, just shoot me a note and I'll see if we can meet that date. We've got something for everyone! Do you have a little guy you are trying to figure out how to coordinate with the girls? We can make him a custom tie in any of our fabric prints.

Christmas coming soon....hopefully :)

2010-10-03T09:46:00.002-05:00

Blog has been slow...just not finding the time to write lengthy entries but my blog is the best place to find links to all the places you'll find me and my favorite creative people. Check them all out ------> Their links are all over on my side bar. In the meantime, please join Facebook and you'll be sure and get all kinds of up to date info.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL??

2010-08-01T20:49:00.031-05:00

Boy do I love it when I hear those familiar sounds on TV indicating that it's football season and I especially love COLLEGE football. This year I thought it'd be fun to try something with a twist blending Fall design with some collegiate tie ins. Kids are huge fans too, so why not grab something fun for them to wear! Here are a couple pieces for the Longhorn or the Aggie fan. I never thought I'd take time out of my day creating something for our friends over at Texas A&M but I checked my ego at the door and I have to say, this was a super fun shoot with the girls. To see all the photos is to know how many 100's of longhorns and/or gig 'em thumbs were thrown by both throughout these pictures. If you're not an Aggie fan, I even think that piece would coordinate perfect for you Oklahoma Sooners, the Alabama Crimson Tide and many other schools. This was loads of fun, who knows, maybe some more color themes will pop up for schools! The pieces will be added shortly to my Etsy store and can easily be worn throughout the Fall season whether you want pictures in the Autumn leaves or photos at Thanksgiving. We may have paired them with college tees in these pics but you can match them however you fancy. The colors truly represent the season right in front of us. Full album of pictures are being added today with the rest of the photos on Facebook.

The skirt with a dark cranberry center does have a coordinating knot dress that goes with it if you have sisters to match. Thank you to Kristen from Kristen Duke Photography for taking some gorgeous shots for me. I've had this lucky opportunity to continue to meet amazingly talented folks here in the Austin area. Love your work Kristin! Check out her daughter, isn't she precious?

I've been neglectful of the blog!

2010-07-08T08:29:00.002-05:00

but I promise I'll be back :-) Just seem to have moved over to Facebook and have been using that tool more and more these days! When my kids are back in school and time allows it, I'll hop back over here on a more regular basis. Fall collections are in the works, lots of stuff will be coming along and I'm sure I'll have plenty to write. In the meantime, I'm slowly sharing some sneak peeks of some Fall pieces I'll be releasing late July. Full photo reveals to come soon :)

Auctions for Susana

2010-05-20T10:59:00.009-05:00

Another online fundraiser to help a little girl who's fighting the good fight each and every day. All across the country, I know people are praying her name. Susana is a precious 4-year-old girl who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma on April 21, 2010, which is an aggressive cancer that has already spread to her bones, liver, chest and spine. Many people in the indie design community have all donated to help this family as they charge forward through this. I've started following her families journies, their entries on Susana and their missionary efforts. I'm humbled and inspired by these amazing and faithful people. You can find a list of items being donated here and they will go live tonight on ebay for 10 days. I've donated my Summer Bloom knot dress shown in todays blog entry. When the links are all active, I'll link them on facebook :-)

It's Good to Give

2010-05-11T23:21:00.011-05:00

My Mom and Dad taught us that from a young age, it's good to give! From as early as I can remember, they got us those little envelopes from the church and made us kids give a portion of our allowance to the poor each week at church. Oh it was agonizing as a kid to turn over what little we had to people we didn't even know. Fast forward 40 years later, I'm grateful those lessons were taught to me. I received an email from Heather from Fabulous Fun Finds who I became acquainted with a while back when she and I did a review and giveaway for my store. The unimaginable has happened to her sisters family, they lost their sweet baby Hailey to SIDS.

When I read the story, like any mother, the tears appeared instantly. My thoughts went to my own children, how precious the time with them is. Heather asked if I'd be willing to donate an item to the Hailey Angel Project and of course my response was yes. The readers voted and selected what out of my store we are putting in the auction and we are auctioning off the Bella Skirt/Sash and Rhinestone slide.
These 3 pieces have a retail value of $48. It might be nearing 100 degrees in your part of the country but it's a super cute skirt that my own daughter has been known to wear year round opting for a tank in the Summer. The Bella Collection was my best selling collection last Fall.

I'm happy to be apart of this auction as her sister and her husband start this new journey rebuilding her life alongside her husband and raising money for unexpected bills, SIDS research and other families who grieve from the loss of a child. Heather has built quite a fanbase because she has great taste and able to find those neat pieces out on the internet. So many of her past vendors have also stepped up to help her with this fundraiser. Lots of items to suit anyones tastes so take a looksie and know that you are helping out someone truly in need. Blessings :-)

Proud to be an American!

2010-04-15T21:11:00.021-05:00

Yep, just like the title reads, I am so proud to be an American! Unless it's football season and the Longhorns are in it to win it, these are colors we'd choose to wear year round and without a doubt come on full tilt this time of year. It's the season of parades and picnics, swimming and watermelon seed spitting contests and of course celebrating the independence of this wonderful country and the freedoms that we have. I'm a child to the military (nope not a military brat, I don't like that phrase, why the word brat someone tell me?) We moved a lot growing up and I know first hand the sacrifices our military men and women as well as their families make for us. I tip my hat to those folks that have the courage to enlist and protect our freedoms. It's a household deal, I know that! I'm grateful for the spouses who stoically keep the family trekking along. Even in lifes best case scenario, we know that just ain't easy!

This set is available for purchase in my Etsy store but I am kicking things off by giving the complete set away for free. (photo'd with a pettiskirt underneath to show fullness, sorry that's not included) Do you know a little girl that would be perfect for this? Send her my way and share the love! It's easy, all you need to do is become a fan of La*tee*da*kids on Facebook and leave a comment under this post on the facebook page. If you don't have Facebook, do you Twitter? Twitter this post for a chance. If you don't have either of these, then simply leave a comment here on the blog in the comments section. I will randomly pick a winner in a week from the random # generator. Sizes offered will be 2-8. This giveaway is available to US residents only and of course any military personnel with an APO address.

Huge thank you to Holly and Peyton for photos.

Want to Pay it Forward? Read on about Beyond the Lights

2010-04-03T11:36:00.029-05:00

On Friday May 14, 2010, Brad Leland and Kyle Chandler, stars from the television series Friday Night Lights, will be hosting the Third Annual Beyond The Lights Golf Classic being held at Wolfdancer Golf Club at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa . Team Steiner (yep, that's us) shown in the photo has stepped up to volunteer for the weekend. Proceeds from this tournament go to benefit two charities, Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation and the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis.

I am super excited to be a part of this local event being put on right here in Austin, TX. It's the annual Beyond The Lights Celebrity Golf Classic. My husband is going to be golfing (didn't take too much twisting of his arm since he eats, sleeps and breathes the sport :) and I will be donating a gift certificate for my store to be part of the silent auction the night of the big party. I've seen a list of some of the items to be donated, looks like it's going to be a FUN night with all kinds of items to bid on both in a silent and live auction format with the proceeds going to charity. If you are a local business or organization and are interested in sponsoring a hole, donating a gift certificate or an item? It's not too late! If you want to sign up to golf, they have some spots open. Along with the popular Friday Nights Lights guys, they have verbal commitments from both Tony Romo and Roy Williams to come out and swing their clubs and Mack Brown to attend the pairings party.

The success of the tournament relies on the generosity of community leaders, businesses and caring individuals. Without the assistance of Gridiron Heroes and the Buoniconti Fund, many of those paralyzed would have little hope. Do you Twitter or have a Facebook business page? Please share the information so we can make this years tournament a huge success!

For additional information, please feel free to visit the website, you can email me at lateedakids@gmail.com or call 512-266-0643 and find out how you can help. Let's Pay it Forward and have some fun while we're at it! If you've never been to the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, this would be a great time to check it out. They will have plenty to do for the entire family. Bring them all!

I love organization...especially when it's cute!

2010-03-25T14:21:00.009-05:00

First off, I should start by saying someone ought to begin by monitoring my trips to Target! Wow, I can't seem to get out of that store without dropping a lot of $$. Today's trip was actually for a bottle of Motrin for one of my sick ones home with me today. I should know, a trip into Target is never just for the single item I walked in for :-) Spring is definitely in the air as I was admiring all the fun things they are lining the shelves with. I love all the bright colors that remind you that poolside parties are just around the corner. I saw these fun utensil caddies in all different colors. I grabbed my favorite color red already knowing exactly what mine was going to be used for. My sewing room can be quite a disaster zone at times. I've got things stored all over the place and have collected quite the number of tools(yes, we females have tools) attachments, fabric pens, rulers and more. I thought this would be the perfect way to store them. I loved that it had some height to it so my scissors didn't go toppling over and the individual compartments made space for lots of things. I grabbed one of my stickers designed and made by my good friend Cathy and added it to the front to personalize it. So, if you are in the same mood to Spring Clean and brighten things up in your own design center, these silverware caddies are great. Now my girls want one for their room for all their art gear.

Photo Shoot with Vodka...

2010-03-19T21:04:00.014-05:00

I guess that title might need a little explaining! I am fresh off of a wonderful Spring Break vacation and ready to get back to things. I've had this one piece done forever and have never gotten around to getting it photographed. Since we're still off from school, I grabbed my kids and announce we needed to grab a few pics. Their reward? I'll let them download a few more games on my iPhone. It seems that little device holds a lot of power in the house these days and minimizes their complaints when promised a few more 99 cent apps. I've found a little spot that has the color siding that I absolutely love. It happens to be a drive thru liquor store. Well, one can't be picky with locations :-) It happens to be the color I love. I park, ask the guy if we can do some photos and he tells us an unenthusiastic "sure." While we're doing our pics, what looks like a wolf walks our way. He's no doubt the guard dog and definitely a scary looking fellow. One husky blue eye, one hazel colored eye. My daughter is tensing up and I yell to the attendant is the dog friendly and what is his name hoping he'll call him away. He grumbles that his name is "VODKA" Well how appropriate! He watched over us the rest of our stay. He may have looked like a wolf, turns out he's sweet as sugar. We got our photos with my favorite red background and made a new friend in Vodka the dog. You can find these double ruffle capris on Etsy now.

Brand new eBook...Ruffle Pants

2010-03-01T08:01:00.008-06:00

Big ruffle capri pants were some of my favorite things to put on my girls when they were little. Easy to move around and play in, perfect for them to get up and down all on their own. We all know the importance of wearing something that has your little one saying "I do myself!" Whether she's getting dressed, heading to playgroup or potty training, these capris are the perfect choice. I've written an eBook that is a step by step tutorial on how to make them complete with lots of color photographs. You can find this currently in my Etsy Store. The basic tutorial is for single ruffle capris but I have also included some additional notes on how to make double ruffles. Double ruffles are fun to make when you want to add just a bit more color, another layer or play up the colors of a holiday like Christmas, July 4th and more. The options are endless for what you can make for you little one.

I've confirmed it....40's are fabulous!!

2010-01-28T15:06:00.011-06:00

Wow, what a busy start to 2010 it's been and so far all indicators point to a really great year! Last weekend I celebrated a milestone, I joined the 40 year old club. Boy, that snuck up fast!! My dear hubby started planning a surprise party months ago with the help of my sister and a few sly friends of mine. We enjoyed a super night of music, food, drinks and a whole lot of dancing! Several days later, I think my legs might finally feel normal again. Here's me and the man behind the scenes who supports the constant chaos in our house. The late nights, the bolts of fabric all over the place, bins stored here and there full of blank t-shirts, the last minute requests to watch one of the kids while I run out for a photo shoot that needed to get done yesterday. Sometimes it's not pretty and I can feel the age of my brain with a ton of pots on the burner but I love what I do and better yet, love who's by my side. I feel blessed to have this guy who is my biggest supporter out there!

Spring Collections are here

2010-01-05T14:23:00.011-06:00

We've hit our record lows here in Texas but I've got my sights set on things that say Spring and warmer temps! One of my favorite guys (the UPS man) finally delivered a whole bunch of my favorite new fabrics and I am all set. The EVA Collection has been listed and I was so thrilled to see the new pieces come to life as we worked with a few new models in the area to get the photos done with Scott. This little girl is the sweetest, the kind you just want to take a bite out of! I have more plans for this fabric so there will be more pieces coming.

I have had an inquiry about substituting the pony print on the skirt or dress from this collection for something else. I welcome emails like this and happy to offer ideas. I have many prints and colors on hand if you'd like to keep the romantic feel but not finish it off with the pony print. Simply send me a note directly or through my STORE and that's how we start. It's the fun of custom clothing!

You say it's your Birthday!

2009-12-27T15:42:00.007-06:00

You're gonna have a good time! Hopefully you followed along and inserted some melodic notes of your own there! Who doesn't love a birthday! I've had something on my brain to make for quite a while and it took my friend's daughter turning 4 for me to finally sit down and do it. I love the finished creation and wish I still had a little girl in the house that I could put this on. For now, I had a ball seeing her little cutie running around wearing it on her special day. Just pick the number or candles you'd like, decide if you want capris or full length jeans and I'll do the rest!

This is a brand new set just listed on Etsy. Tee and jeans are sold seperately. If you prefer a different color combination, I am happy to customize it in a color palette of your choice.

Happy Holidays and here's to 2010!!!

2009-12-19T12:04:00.008-06:00

It's that time of year again! Wow, the days, weeks and months just continue to race by and I can't believe another year has passed. It's been a year full of lessons and abundant blessings! I am so grateful to all of the folks I continue to meet and who's children I have the pleasure of creating for! Thank you for the continued support and allowing me to do what I love to do.

Graphic design is not my forte. I take stabs at it but so far I remain at the beginner level! I'd love to learn more but for now, I find those folks that know what they're doing. I did a lot of searching on Etsy and Ebay and came across Jennifer's Store. I love finding and supporting the independent designer and she is so super nice! Such a wide variety to choose from and when it was all said and done, we came up with a new design based on the layout, colors and the # of photos that I wanted to use. I give her a BIG thumbs up, 5 stars :-) If you've got invitations for a party you need done, announcements you want designed, go ahead and check her out. She's fast, she's reasonable and just a super gal! I love my card this year so thank you Jennifer. I wanted to post to my blog for all the wonderful friends and customers to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season.

p.s. I'm already laying out some new designs for Spring 2010. Can't wait to share!

It's PARTY season....and Roses & Rhubarbs can help

2009-12-08T09:54:00.021-06:00

Who doesn't love a fabulous party! Better yet, who doesn't love throwing the fabulous party for their friends where they circle back and talk about it, thank you for a wonderful time and tell you how on earth did you come up with all of those amazing ideas! Some folks just have that natural gift, they know the details that make a party special. It doesn't seem to matter if they're throwing a party for the pint-sized crowd or the adults, it's always done with every detail being thought through. There are lots of publications devoted to helping you plan something. You can gather all kinds of Martha Stewart Living magazines, the Family Fun magazines or you can take a new approach and save a bunch of time. Contact my friends Casey and Tonya from Roses and Rhubarbs for a simple consultation. They can help you throw a fabulous party that will cover all the details. No need to stress about invitations, food, party favors, themes or even what to wear. Casey and Tonya just really have a knack. They've thought through so many themes, have likely thrown the parties themselves and can help you have one too.

Roses and Rhubarbs is an affordable event planning business highlighting internet products to develop the perfect party. They offer private consultations and products are available on Etsy. Etsy is one of my favorite sites to shop so naturally I LOVE these girls! I really believe there are some mad skills out there on the planet. We don't get to see many of them because they just don't get a chance to land on shelves in stores across America. Well thank goodness for ETSY! Now folks like myself can do what they love to do and share with others within this unique marketplace!

The Roses & Rhubarbs website features an individual party theme each week - focusing each day on different elements of a party, such as invitations, decorations, outfit ideas, favors and more. Need some help with a party in your future or want to plan something that isn't the same ole same ole? Just check 'em out. They are the nicest gals and they will have you on your way to removing the stress and to planning an amazing party!

They currently have 15% off private party consultations and dolls in stock. You can also find Roses & Rhubards on Facebook if you want to add them to your newsfeed to stay up to date.

Inspired by the Pioneer Woman

2009-12-03T15:50:00.015-06:00

I like to think to myself she might dress her girls in these out there on the ranch!!! Yep, some new designs and a little sneak peek! If you've never heard of the Pioneer Woman you really ought to take some time to check her out. I turn to her for those sure fire recipes that always tempt the taste buds. Her site has turned into one of those all purpose ones I love to visit! Always chock full of great info that really peaks my interest. Cooking, photography, family and life! Okay, so I digress.... moving on to my point! She is married to a guy she refers to as Marlboro Man and they have a handful of kiddos. I love hearing about their life on the frontier and "life on the ranch" has been on my mind. I love all things southern and the cowprint "Olivia" Dress has been my top selling piece that I redesign each season. I know, I know, most people are knee deep in holiday shopping and mayhem with little thought for new clothing but I've jumped ahead a little and am sharing a sneak peek of the new pieces. I can definitely see these on the ranch with Marlboro Man and the Pioneer woman herself! Layer them with tee's, add a denim jacket, find some fun brown cowgirl boots and you are ready! As the weather warms up, these fabrics are soft and femine in colors that can easily transition into the warm months as well.

I hope to share some fun modeled photos soon. In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying this holiday season with your loved ones!

The LOVED Wrap

2009-11-15T19:21:00.009-06:00

This wrap is beyond special to me. I tend to be one of those wordy folks who can go on forever. Verbal explosion if you will!!! Ask my husband, my kids, sister, family members, any of my friends...... I'm a chatter! As I start to write this post I just keep going back and hitting the delete key, the words aren't coming. To the ones who inspired this, thank you for the shining examples you are. Zachary, I'll never forget you. I collaborated with my good friend Cathy from Cathy B Design. Cathy is talented beyond words. The kind who listens, holds eye contact and then just interprets your words into art. I can't thank her enough for sharing her gift.

Whatever your reasons may be, these would be a wonderful gift. Maybe someone is going through a tough time in their life, maybe you just want to reach across the miles that separate you from a loved one with a sentimental gift or just a kind token for one of your girlfriends. Throwing a little love someone's way is sure to add a smile to their day. This wrap is so incredibly soft done in a creamy white pima cotton. They fold up to almost nothing so can easily fit inside a small purse and perfect to have on hand when you need something light to take the chill off. Wear it out, everyday or over your workout clothes after you've had a good sweat. A nice versatile item sure to make someone feel special.

Special thank you to Cathy for helping to create the graphic, Lisa George for taking photos for this project, Brandi for her gorgeous smile and of course Michelle for getting us clearance to come into the Lake Austin Spa.

I'm still here!

2009-10-16T13:55:00.003-05:00

Boy have I been ignoring the ole blog! Every time I think I'm getting caught up with things.......whammo!!! Something just slows me down, makes me pause and take a breath. The holidays are creeping up....wait a second, I feel like they are racing towards me. Every store I walk in, it reminds Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye! I need just a tad more time. I just wanted to pop in real quick and write a few words. Like any Mom on the planet, I've got a ton on my plate and had to take a short hiatus and take a few weeks for the family. I'm still working on some fun things and will be back at it soon. We just wrapped up one of my daughter's birthday parties. I always have a good time figuring out what we're going to put in their goody bags. Well, we made all the girls headbands. We had to say our goodbyes to the hairbow stage many years ago. The headband was their next hair accessory so now we're creating our own They're reversible as well. Look for these soon. I know lots of moms love matching accessories to the pieces that they buy to tie the outfits together. These add some balance to a skirt that might be paired with a white top and you want a splash of the main fabric print in their hair. You'll see these very soon!

Fall is on it's way

2009-09-14T20:56:00.005-05:00

I'm sure most people across the country have a good ole time making fun of us Texans. BBBbbbrrr, it's dropping into the 70's in the evening and the daytime highs are in the low 90's. It's officially time to break out the jeans! Yep, that's what Fall feels like for us. I'm sure the leaves on the trees in many parts of the country are starting to turn those beautiful shades of red and orange before they fall. This season inspired this next wave of clothing. These are all pieces that make me think of pictures in the Fall leaves, visits to the pumpkin patch and Thanksgiving. I've mixed up a lot of bold jewel toned florals in a variety of color palettes to suit your little ones style or just the colors she wears best. If you have sisters, many of these pieces can mix and match. You can find these in my Etsy store right now. The Harvest Flowers dress has straps done in the zebra print so if you have a little one that loves easy pull on pants, grab her the zebra ruffles, add a brown tee and you've got sisters who coordinate. Have a tomboy in the house that prefers no muss no fuss and Mom wants something more girly? Get her these! These denim ruffles add pizzazz to any tee and match to the EURO Harvest Bloom dress that is topped in the same denim.

On another note, go check out Heather's blog. I'm doing a giveaway for anything in my store but you have to go over to her site to enter. Good luck!

This gave me a chuckle!!

2009-08-31T08:01:00.006-05:00

Thank you so much to Cara out there on the internet who sent me this kind note via Etsy. Not sure where my brain was this day but it sure did make me laugh at myself not thinking this one through.

" I wanted to tell you that a Peace sign has the center line that goes all the way down to the bottom...The way you have it now is the Mercedes car symbol..."

Okay so I'm annoyed at myself that I have to do a re-do of my tee and more importantly, grab my often non-compliant kiddo for some new photos but such is life right? roll with the punches as I hadn't intended on selling the "Benz loving girls applique tees" I didn't love the photos anyway. We were in front of this super reflective background but it was the spot of bribery for my kiddos so it was where we had ended up and I know now, it won't be a spot we use again for pics. Not the end of the world, it's a simple re-do and it'll be back with some new and improved photos of the "REAL" Peace Out set. On that note, peace out, have a wonderful week!

A Limited Edition

2009-08-18T21:55:00.005-05:00

I've been digging through my fabrics for the upcoming Fall season and went back to an old favorite and redid it this year in a twirl skirt. This fabric has long since been retired and you can't find it anywhere, so if you like it, grab it HERE as I can only make so many. If your daughter has one of those BIG personalities, these skirts are a perfect mate. Lots of fun to wear, sure to make her twirl and certain to make people look!

Sometimes it feels good to get the Boot!

2009-08-10T13:34:00.006-05:00

Wow, I never thought those words would leave my mouth! In this case, it's the Golden Boot for winning Critics Choice, Best Childrens Designer. Austin Fashion Week has been over for a few weeks now but we went on a little family vacation so I had to wait to get my Golden Boot. It finally arrived today and I'm searching for a spot for it in my office. I'll consider it my little inspiration piece to stare at as I figure out where I'm going with things. Wish I had a pair, I'd kick up my heels and wear them around town!! Gold is back in style right?

PRESCHOOL and KINDERGARTEN ROCK!!!

2009-07-27T11:54:00.007-05:00

Really, do you need more words than that :-) Get your little ones geared up with a fun shirt to start off the school year, get them excited and look cute to boot! New design from LTDK hot off the presses! Whether your little one is starting Preschool or Kindergarten, the day is no doubtedly a special and exciting one for all. Done in primary colors with a slightly grunged effect to the graphic I added to the guitar center, this t-shirt is certain to get lots of smiles and comments along the way for your star pupil! Find them in my Etsy store now! You choose short or long sleeves since you might be sweating like us folks here in the South or already feeling the onset of Fall in the Northeast.

Austin Fashion Week comes to a close!

2009-07-21T21:22:00.009-05:00

I have so much to share from the week and several fun photos I'll post throughout the week. I had a fantastic time working with Jennifer from Izzy & Ash. Her store is full of amazing clothing for kids and I know I'll be looking forward to seeing her Fall stuff slowly start to roll in. Go check her out! My girls already twisted my arm, we came home with these and they think they are way cool. I don't disagree, just think they needed to make a tee in my size! My girls have no memories of the Rolling Stones but I had to smile when they pulled them off the rack begging to bring them home. They know me well, they were on sale and I have a hard time turning a deal down!

We had such a fun time with the Fashion Show and all the girls were fantastic. Scott was on hand from Scott Stater Photography to do his magic. I'm posting my favorite photo of the night. We'll have a cool slideshow of the event to share soon. Here's Bella modeling the Fall '09 Olivia Cowgirl skirt. This was her first time and this pint sized girl is just stoic. You can click on the photo to enlarge. I'd say her daddy had better be ready since we all know they grow up so fast. This girl is a knockout!

The front door of Izzy & Ash

2009-07-15T10:24:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to take a photo!

Austin Fashion Week is almost here

2009-07-10T14:46:00.010-05:00

Come and join us for a children's fashion show of the latest styles at Izzy & Ash in Westlake. 3663 Bee Caves Rd behind Breed and Co. This event will be held on Thursday, July 16th from 5-8pm. Come on over and see some of the latest designs. There will be refreshments, music and several giveaways!

If you haven't had a chance yet to vote for an independent designer, my link is

http://www.fashionweekaustin.com/designers/la-tee-da-kids/

The Elizabeth Collection......a little Shabby a little Chic

2009-07-05T18:40:00.002-05:00

Just when I think I'm done with Summer customs, I do just a few more! I've had so many fabrics come in over the months that I just don't have the means to create something with all of them so I did something a little different. I'm no quilter but this might be the closest I come to it. This was inspired by my dear friend's daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth is this little ray of sunshine and all kinds of personality in her tiny little body. She has boundless energy, she is all colors of the rainbow and a giggle that is contagious. You can't take just one word to describe her personality. This little toe-headed toddler needs many! When I told her mom I was making something new that was inspired by Elizabeth, she laughed and said, "Well, if it's plain you've pegged her wrong" Nope, nothing plain about Elizabeth and it's available to purchase on Etsy right now. The tank and coordinating skirt are available for purchase seperately and is available in Spring or Summer colorway.

Happy Summer!

Fall 'O9......The Olivia Collection Remake

2009-06-29T21:31:00.010-05:00

One of my personal favorites last Spring/Summer was the Olivia dress. It was inspired by my friend's daughter who is all things sweet, girly and tough all wrapped up in one little body. Upon arriving in Texas, she immediately got her cowgirl boots. The dress was a popular one for me and a great reflection of my world. It showcases my Texas roots with the southern touch in the cowhide print so plan to see many renditions of this re-done as the seasons change and the years come and go. Here's a look at the new Olivia collection for Fall '09. These new designs will be hitting my Etsy store soon in July. This time, the dress has a mate. If you have girls you love to coordinate or you just have a little lady who loves wearing skirts, this time you've got another choice. I love the photo we captured here. I had the pleasure of working with Michelle of Michelle Nicoloff photography. She lent her talent and did these amazing photos for me. Thank you Michelle and we wish you well on your journey back west to California!!

A peek at Fall........the Bella Collection

2009-06-26T14:46:00.005-05:00

It might be 110 with the heat index here in Texas but my brave little soldiers went out there and took photos for me like pros. Here's one of my favorite shots of the girls wearing pieces from the soon to be listed Bella line. I've long since been a fan of Jennifer Paganelli from Sis Boom. She always comes out with the most gorgeous and feminine fabrics. I loved this black patterned fabic with the ice blue background and knew it'd be a part of my Fall line. This will be part of my lineup for the Austin Fashion Week that will be coming up in 3 weeks here in the Capital of Texas! Stay tuned, I'll be posting more sneak peeks!

They're giving away a design rising star award as well, so if you feel inclined, click HERE and vote :-)

Happy Birthday to my little guy!

2009-06-24T22:15:00.005-05:00

Had to take some time out to celebrate with the family for my youngest one's birthday today. Not long ago he was just telling me, "Mommy, I'm never gonna get 4" I was secretly praying, he'd stay 3 forever! Well, it finally got here. He woke me up bright and early and just had a happy day with his family. Schedules have been a bit off so we're waiting til July to do an official celebration but that's the beauty of this age, he was truly happy in the moment. What a great day!

Late Summer Arrival.....Butterfly Garden

2009-06-15T17:37:00.008-05:00

I've had this fabric forever and just finally got around to cutting into it and think this would be a lovely addition to the Summer wardrobe. I love halters, love seeing their sweet little shoulders and backs. I just sent this one over to Etsy today. Thank you Hannah for obliging and taking a few photos for me. Such a sweet face! I was so glad when you flew into town you happened to have packed some pink Butterfly embellished crocs. I guess this photo was meant to be :-)

Brand new Strength set on Etsy

2009-05-26T08:01:00.005-05:00

I had so much fun making this set and doing something a bit different adding a screen printed tee to go with this full twirly skirt. As the mother of young girls, I hope that I do a great job teaching them strength in their younger years before I send them out into this big crazy world. Strength of the mind, body and soul! This seemed like the appropriate compliment to these fun karate girls on this fabric. You can find this on Etsy now. Tank is a soft pink color and the skirt has lots of bright jewel tones to the fabric. Just click on the picture if you'd like to see it enlarged.

Getting closer to ready!!!

2009-05-19T13:05:00.011-05:00

Hard to believe as the temps are getting in the 90's that one could possibly be thinking about Fall/Winter but that's how it works in the clothing world. As I get closer to the date that photos are due for Austin Fashion Week, I thought I'd just throw out a quick peek at some pieces that I hope to be able to share photos of very soon! As timelines were shrunk, I wasn't sure we'd get to this point but I think we'll pull it off. It's taken a village and I am so fortunate to have a village full of wonderful folks that helped me along the way. Thank you to all the wonderful people who have helped me to pull this off!

:-)

Austin Fashion Week

2009-05-12T14:48:00.007-05:00

Yep, I've entered as an Independent Designer! 10 designs need to be submitted and then go to the jury through their selection process. Time to hunker down, work on some new creations to submit, say some prayers and cross my fingers! Exciting and nervewracking all at the same time :-)

Jenean Morrison sneak peeks Picnic Parade from Free Spirit

2009-05-02T10:50:00.005-05:00

A few months back, I had the pleasure of crossing paths on this great information highway with Jenean Morrison. She is one of Free Spirit's ever so talented fabric designers and is about ready to launch her 2nd line of fabric, Picnic Parade. I was asked to make some sample pieces for her to take to quilt market that is coming up in PA where she'll be decorating her booth with all kinds of fun things made by various people with her new bright and vibrant line of fabrics. The fabric is coming out soon, here's just a few sneak peeks and she'll unveil the rest on her own blog and at quilt market! Best of luck Jenean, you've been very inspiring to work with and wishing much success for your fabrics!

April Showers....that's what we've got in Texas

2009-04-27T12:09:00.005-05:00

We try our best to work around Mother Nature and squeaked out a small parcel of time where it wasn't raining although the winds have been relentless here. The show must go on though right? Thank goodness for resilient little girls who don't seem to be too bothered by it. They must subscribe to the tenant in life that you get what you get and you don't throw a fit :-) We got some pics and added just a few more Summer pieces to my etsy store this morning. Lots of fun color to give them a little pep in their step.

Come soon....some Summer Pieces

2009-04-22T14:30:00.007-05:00

Putting the finishing touches on a few Summer pieces that with any luck I'll have some photos of real soon! These pieces are all about fresh Spring & Summer colors. I have a dress coming as well as a coordinating tank so hopefully a little something for everyone!

Sneak Peek....Miso Strong

2009-04-17T12:55:00.004-05:00

Just love these little karate girls! If there is one thing I'm a fan of, it's a little girl power. Could this print be more awesome! I made a little halter out of it, here's a little sneak of it and hope to get some photos soon. TGIF!

And the winner is....

2009-04-16T09:26:00.006-05:00

Betsy Martinez said...
What about Miso Pretty? or Miso Beautiful? Miso Playful?
You could do a lot of things with the word miso. Contact me, we'll get your shipping info and get all kinds of fun stuff from Carolina Pad on it's way to you. I love that they're launching an Asian themed line too. So anxious to see it.

The voting was from a very small group but it was unanimous! I love the simple play on words. More than anything, it is so much fun to see the creative brains out there and some of your mad skills. I was literally hitting a brick wall and Betsy's suggestion felt completely right! I love simple twists on words and I think we might use all of her suggestions with Miso being the common theme and using the add on word that seems to fit best. Thank you for the wonderful ideas and I'm sending this little dress to my Etsy store today.

A little naming help in exchange for some goodies!

2009-04-13T18:55:00.014-05:00

Well, I was able to track down the always adorable Mimi and take a few pictures today but I need a little help! I am having a fantastic time working with an entirely new set of prints, all with an Asian influence. I tend to gravitate towards shabby florals with too much predictability these days so I'm pushing outside my normal zone. I've got more I hope to piece together and I'm stuck naming the collection. Do they really need a name? Nope, but it's fun! I'm aiming for 3-4 pieces all with a different look and the various Asian style prints being the common theme. Well, I've got this awesome stash of stuff from Carolina Pad (see earlier post) that someone is going to win for free. I thought maybe I could make my question be, "What in the world should I name this Asian group of pieces?" I know it might help to see the rest of the pieces but I'm just not that far along yet, they still remain as uncut yardage just waiting to be used :) So I'll just do what I tell my toddler "use my words" The to be seen pieces will include blacks and pinks, fans and adorable little girls. Is that enough to go on? If throwing in a name for a collection has you stumped like me, then maybe you can leave a comment on what cultures and/or trends are catching your attention these days. Just click on the comments section below this entry, leave one and we'll pick a winner! Join my mailing list and check back to the blog to see if you are the lucky winner.

Thinking about a giveaway...

2009-04-07T09:42:00.014-05:00

We've been quiet here on the Western front. Have had so many things going on with life, with kids, with activities and such that we just had to put a lot of things on hold including my Etsy store which I hope to open back up soon! Ever felt like someone turned on a firehose full blast and then was told to take a drink??? okay, so no one asked me that but we all know that sensation of getting knocked over with a zillion things to do.

Lots of great stuff though and I'll get back to blogging about fun new pieces soon. (after all, that's my real purpose for being here on the net and hopefully one of the big reasons you show up to read!) For now, I just wanted to post a little teaser about a giveaway I'll be doing soon. I have this amazing friend April. She's all kinds of bubbly and made up of inspiring pieces of AWESOME inside of one body. She works for this great company, Carolina Pad. They're even so hip they have their own Facebook page! She sent me a big box of all this fab stuff and we're giving some away to a lucky person. These are absolute must have's for me. The covers of their stuff always spark and awaken the creative side in me. Beware only if you suffer from fun color and pattern sensory overload :) kidding, we're women, we love stuff like this right???? In the day and age of computers, I STILL can't get enough paper products. love 'em. They're packed with punch! I love bright colors, dots, stripes, damask patterns and all that they have. Anyhoo, that's it for now but I'll post more soon!

Daddy and the Girls

2009-03-30T12:23:00.006-05:00

This weekend was the annual Daddy/Daughter dance so I couldn't resist showing the family! The girls had so much fun, even kept their dresses secret from Daddy until they walked down that night. It was absolutely priceless to see them drive away for their special night. Tyler kept asking me why Moms and brothers weren't invited and really wasn't satisfied with my response that it was only for girl scouts and their fathers. One day he'll get it! For now, he gets to stay home with me, fold towels & mountains of laundry, play monopoly and read books. Stellar evening for all right!

Soire'e Bouquet Twirly Skirts....just in time for Summer!

2009-03-22T15:30:00.006-05:00

Both of my girls have very strong preferences towards color. I do my best when I carve out time to make things for them to create pieces that reflect their own personal tastes. Over Spring Break, we head out to visit Grandma & Grandpa at the lake for some lazy time in the sun and I actually packed my sewing machine and some fabric! Some people like to bring a book when they get a little break, I bring a sewing machine :) I had been wanting to do something coordinated for my girls and gave them the chance to pick their own color palette. I'll be offering just a few of these in my Etsy shop soon. I love how they turned out, very bright, Summery and girly. You can find them in my store now.

East meets West....a little Asian American Fusion

2009-03-16T11:03:00.006-05:00

I sound like a new show on the Food Network don't I? Well, it really is just implying the love of Asian culture that I'm feeling right now. I love their bold use of color and I'm working on creating some pieces that take on a whole new feeling with a whole lot of personality and color! I've just finished my first piece and with any luck, will get some photos soon. I have been having a lovely time diving into some new fabrics that all start with an Asian flare. Keep watching and I'll be posting more soon! a photo of this one just doesn't do it justice as the main skirt really feels like it needs to be on a canvas, showcased as a piece of art. I consider it a walking piece of art, perfect for a little girl :-) Heading to Etsy soon!

Went to Disney!!

2009-03-11T07:21:00.005-05:00

Well, I didn't go to Disney but these 2 little ones did! Molly and Maddie, you are just too cute for words. Their mom requested these matching outfits and then she had some outside help put the monogrammed names over the initials that I had appliqued on. Very cool, love what you did! I'm sure your trip to the magical Kingdom was fantastic. As always, click on any photo if you'd like to enlarge.

Customer cutie....Birthday Girl Grace

2009-03-09T14:52:00.007-05:00

Thank you so much for sharing your photos. I love seeing your little ones on their birthdays, trips to Disney, special photos that they've had done, or just a fun family day where you happened to have a camera in hand! It's a wonderful feeling to see the photos and all the places you all have traveled with your kiddos wearing some of the clothing I've made. Thank you for allowing LTDK to come along and thank you for taking the time to share your photos! Here's some new ones I received. Grace just turned 2 on Valentines Day. Isn't she ADORABLE all the way down to her little braids? I can tell from the photo's, she's stolen her daddy's heart. Grace's mom decided to tweak a Valentine's set I'd done and do it in this fabric combo, I love how it turned out and seeing it on her little one makes it all that much cuter. You know I love those apple red converse shoes. You are never too young to sport a pair of those. Happy Birthday Grace!

And the winner is....

2009-03-08T15:09:00.003-05:00

The random # generator picked #49 this morning when I plugged in the # range. Congrats to the lucky winner........

April Whitlock said...
Brown is my black (for both me and my girls). I love it paired with purple or pink or light blue!!

March 3, 2009 6:30 PM

You can contact Amy at hillcountryjohnson@yahoo.com and you guys can arrange for your free item. If you haven't peeked through her album of ideas, take a look. If you have an idea of your own, she loves those too. Enjoy, this is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry to wear!

Doing a GIVEAWAY

2009-03-02T14:26:00.009-06:00

We all love giveaways right? I have a wonderful and talented friend Amy of Hill Country Charm who makes these amazing hand stamped sterling creations. I think I wear mine almost every day and even my girls have their own with their own names. What mother, grandmother or even child wouldn't love these? Well, we're giving one away to one lucky person and you get to pick what you'd like! Take a peek at Amy's album and you'll see all kinds of ideas. My favorite is the mother's circle in her new fun lowercase font! All you need to do is to make sure you are a current member of the la*tee*da*kids mailing list. If you haven't joined, you can find it on the right hand sidebar of this page. Make sure you confirm your subscription by clicking the link that Bravenet will mail to you otherwise you are not confirmed. THEN, scroll down a tad more below this post, find the comment hot link and just leave a comment in the comments section of the blog based on the question below and we'll randomly select a winner. Good luck!

So the comment I'd love to hear is this! What color combos are you loving right now for girls? Whether it's 2 or 3 or just a rainbow of colors? pink and brown? blue and brown? pink and turquoise? what is it? I'd love to know what's getting your attention.

M2M GAP Mediterranean "Years Gone By" Ruffle Capris

2009-02-23T21:32:00.011-06:00

I just loved the green the Gap used in their Mediterranean line and think these two look smashing together. Adding a cute kid is certainly like the icing on a cake! Spent a little more time with Scott the other day grabbing a few more photos of new pieces. To some folks they see a fence in need of a new paint job, he drives by and sees a great backdrop of color. love these! Grabbed the little lovely one here and she did her typical magic. I think I read a description of this fabric stirring up memories of the days when folks had all their clothes pinned to a clothesline. It definitely makes me think of the "Years Gone By" I'll be adding them to my Etsy store soon. Here's one of my favorite ones. These don't show the pants the best, you'll have to go find them in my store to see a broad range of her shots but I just love her face in this particular one so wanted to share. Thank you Nancy for borrowing her to me!

Customer Photos make my day!

2009-02-21T22:15:00.005-06:00

Check out these 2 beauties! Yep, some la*tee*da*kids apron skirts made it to Egypt in front of a pyramid and even with a Sphynx. Okay, so the cutest part of the picture might be that lil belly you just want to reach through your screen to grab, I totally agree. They are both so stinkin' cute and it made my day to see this. Gotta love those rainboots too!!! Hhhmmm, what do you think she is thinking??? I'd just love to know. Something about that stance with that head tilt, something good is going through her toddler brain, don't ya think? Oh how I hope to put some more stamps on my passport and get out to see more of the world. For now, stuff like this is pretty cool from folks who live around the globe. Thanks for sharing Jan, your babies are beautiful!!! Photo day tomorrow, can't wait to share a few more things!

Sneak Peek of some new ruffles "Years Gone By"

2009-02-18T18:55:00.008-06:00

I know I've said it a few times, but I'll say it just one more, I love this Darla line of fabric from Tanya Whelan. I also loved the Mediterranean line when it came out from the Gap. Gap's color scheme was a bold combination of navy, white and green. I thought it'd be fun to pull out the kelly green swing top they remade this year, and create some la*tee*da*kids custom, old fashioned floral ruffles to pair with the top. This print just reminds me of the years gone by so that's what they'll be called. Just add a cute kid and I think it's a winning combination! We're trying to get some photos and will be adding them to my Etsy store soon. Keep checking back to my blog, I've got a giveaway I'm planning for mailing list subscribers. stay tuned!

Back home, now back to reality!

2009-02-14T23:44:00.003-06:00

Hubby and I had a nice little getaway to Mexico where the sun always seems to shine and the water is crystal blue. We're both refreshed and getting back into gear this week. I dove straight into what any Mom would start with, the mountain of laundry that I had waiting here from the kids and then the stuff I brought home. Man, 5 people sure can generate some dirty clothes! I may never get to leave my laundry room this week! Now onto fun stuff. My machines were both at the mechanic getting their annual tune-up. They think I'm so disciplined since I bring them in yearly at the same time just like I'm told. Truth be known, we go out of town same time every year so it's the one time I feel like I can be without them and they deserve a little R&R too right! The sewing machines are home, I'm home, lots of new orders came in and I'm ready to get cracking. Thank you to those that share your photos, it sure does make my day to get those in my inbox. I can't wait to make some new things for some new moms that have found me along the way who have chosen to dress their girls in a few of my pieces. I'm getting back to it this week so hopefully will have things heading out on their way soon! I've also got my eye on some new fabric prints, ooohhh are they pretty! Sure do want some time to play around with that stuff too!

A fun little video courtesy of Scott!

2009-02-02T10:14:00.016-06:00

How much fun is this? My creative juices are certainly fed when someone combines their talent with my own craft. This sort of feels like a mini commercial for La*tee*da*kids. Scott made this short video for me and I just love it. YOU HAVE TO CLICK on the picture shown below of Olivia looking cute in her cowgirl boots and the Olivia dress and you'll be directed to the short music video. The music is the perfect compliment as well. Check it out, what do you think? New designs coming soon!

Tanya Whelan is all kinds of awesome

2009-01-28T07:11:00.015-06:00

The average person might respond, "and who exactly is that?" Well, in my world, she happens to be the brains behind the fabric designs that are always amongst my faves when choosing! I submitted some of my designs using her latest collection and she's got them up on her blog right now, check 'em out HERE. It was a great feeling to see the girls and my designs on her page. I truly love what I do, now just crossing my fingers the CPSIA doesn't mess it all up. If you haven't heard of the new legislation. I won't bore you with details. You can click and read if ya like and even go one step further and complain to your congressman like I and millions of others have!

I am just focusing on today for now. It's all that's within my control and accepting orders as they come in. I did a different version for a customer the other day in Tanya's fabric. I adore how it came out, take a peek HERE. This little girl who will get this set turns 2 on Valentine's Day. Her mom and Dad decided on a set I've made but we did it in blue. I can't wait to see her wearing it! I love when you send me your ideas and we get to collaborate on an outfit. It makes it that much more fun! If you'd like to join my mailing list, you can find it in the right hand column of my blog. Join today and I will maintain contact with my list members moving forward. Bravenet will send you a confirmation email to ensure you haven't been randomly added to the list. You MUST click this or you have not joined. Don't see it? check your spam folder, it's probably there. I've even got a little incentive, a GIVEAWAY! My dear friend Amy of Hill Country Charm on Etsy makes these gorgeous necklaces. The kind that are special and always have people stop and ask you about it. Yep, we're gonna give one away so sign up :) I've got more giveaways planned down the road as well so stay tuned!

It really does take a village

2009-01-26T06:44:00.020-06:00

and with tremendous support from my family and friends, 2009 is off to a fantastic start. I have to say a big thank you to all those around who have let me borrow their little girls. They are a super fun crowd to work with whose energy I'm envious of! I've got lots of new things being sent to my Etsy store and staying busy busy busy. Good busy though, like adrenaline, heart pumping busy! I love when you all share photographs of your little ones. Keep 'em coming, they make my day! It's amazing to see your portraits, your vacations or just plain ole candids wearing something I've made. I had a super experience a few weeks ago working with Scott from Scott Stater Photography Scott is a photographer here in Austin in the same Steiner Ranch area that we live in. Check him out. He tackled taking photos of a few pieces from my Spring line with the pint sized crowd. Their collective ages were under 21 so you can imagine the fun herding this crew. They were all phenomenal and all tolerated the high winds we were given that day. These little beauties have to try hard to take a bad photo and even then, I don't think you could find one! The pictures you see here are from my Spring MACY collection of mix and match pieces.

The #1 question I get from people is "How does your sizing run?" To answer that, that's the best part of custom clothing. For example, if you purchase something and let me know that your daughter is a 5 in length but teeny tiny through her waist, we can make something the length of a 5 but size it slimmer through the waist. If you have a child who has shorty pie legs and you know where you prefer their capris to hit, we can always modify the lengths to your preferences! My pieces generally come as one size fits most but we can tweak things here and there for you! Click on any photo to enlarge. I have them come and go from my Etsy store. As items get purchased, I will attempt to add them back when time permits. This might be my favorite line of fabrics I've ever used. It has such a feminine feel with floral prints that remind me of the days gone by, a simpler world, and a place I'd like to be :)

What a wonderful day

2009-01-22T19:19:00.007-06:00

How on earth do these photos relate? They could be the start of a story board for my day. Yesterday was a day where I didn't complete a single task. Just spent the entire day enjoying all the folks I have the pleasure of interacting with on a near day to day basis! I had a birthday and started the last year of my 30's. oh boy⁄!! It was certainly a day to remember. I started the day connecting up with my coffee Moms. To my surprise, they got crafty on me and greeted me with t-shirts that read Debbie Rocks and a big ole birthday cake. Now tell me that doesn't feel awesome! Stayed for some cake, coffee, chatter and even Happy Birthday in Spanish by little Trey. priceless! Scooted out later that same day to meet my neighbors for lunch. The schemed a covert operation and got in touch with some other friends and we had a great group for lunch. Mother nature was on our side and we had 80 degrees in January. It called for Mexican food and Mojitos at noon coupled with more girl chatter and that ain't too shabby either! My spouse is out of town for work so I figure the fun is gonna end there, and that's fair enough, it's been an awesome day. My kids come home and my girls had both made me cards and my younger daughter had her whole class sign it. Very special! I have the pleasure of reading with them each week, have slowly gotten to know them. They are all just adorable. They ended dinner by scooting me out of the kitchen and told me to wait as they wanted to make me dessert. They piled in the ice cream, the chocolate syrup along with a skinny cow! Almost seems like ordering the diet coke with your Big Mac and fries! They sang Happy Birthday as well and it was just the perfect ending to the day. You just can't beat having great girlfriends and kids! The bonus part is the hubby was out of town so he gets to celebrate it with me all over again this weekend. No cooking for this gal :)

There's more than one way to skin a cat!

2009-01-19T22:10:00.005-06:00

...but I'm not really talking about cats. I'm talking about the sewing world! There are often several ways to construct the same garment and we all have our preferences. I'm trying to put my own thoughts on paper. I've been asked several times by folks, "Hey, I'd love to learn to sew" Problem is, you buy those patterns that say, It's SEW Easy, you get home, but you still feel a bit dumbfounded after unfolding all of those pages and scanning through the instructions. Well, I've decided I'd take a stab at adding author to my name! I'm laughing just typing that as I'm the most grammatically incorrect writer there is so just take with a grain of salt that author is a generous term! I've started writing an electronic book with easy to follow instructions along with lots of color photographs embedded into the book that will hopefully jumpstart any newbie into their first project. I took the step by step pictures close to a year ago, started writing this and have vowed that when 2009 started, I'd actually complete this item on my to do list. I'm finishing up the final touches on a 3 tiered skirt e-book. These are so versatile in the possibilities and they are fun to wear. What little girl doesn't love to twirl when she's got something fun like that on.

They've overtaken my Mac

2009-01-11T12:09:00.006-06:00

my kids that is!!! I never realized how much I get on and off the computer all day until I'm moving my kids out of the way all the time asking to have my spot back. Their latest obsession?????? Photo Booth on the Mac and I must admit, it cracks me up. It's like having your own fun house right here under your own roof. I'm amazed how long my kiddos will sit in front of this screen making funny faces and snapping pics of themselves with the built-in camera. My favorite kind of entertainment for them? the free kind.........so have at it kiddos! It entertains me too and who can't use a good laugh :) Hope it made you laugh. I did a few of myself while messing around with it alongside them, you will not see me posting those!

Life can be "Shabby-licious"

2009-01-08T09:56:00.010-06:00

I'm allowed to make up words right???? Shabby-licious it is! I instantly fell in love with this fabric when I saw the collection debut. I love the romantic and old fashioned feel but with a child-like light mood to it. Little girls don't have to wear drab and serious looking clothing but things that are fresh and reflect their spunk!! Little 4 yr old Brookelyn certainly has spunk and I got in an extra workout chasing her around and snapping some photos. Oh to be 4 again with endless energy and without a care in the world! The pants are also available in the same print but with a sky blue background which we also photo'd on my daughter. We know that one size doesn't suit all so wanted to offer another color option. Click on any photos to enlarge them and get a better view. More photos shown with the actual listing. I've got a few new listings up on ebay and will be plugging away with more between my ebay store and etsy as the weeks and months progress.

Hey you over there in that dress, we coordinate!!

2009-01-03T15:44:00.016-06:00

I've been playing around this season with some coordinated pieces for sisters that are at ages where they don't like to match entirely. Taking that thought just a step further, many of the styles just don't always translate well for the older ones. I've finally accepted this and have said my goodbyes to those super fun days of dressing my girls as they continue to age on me and flex their fashion independence. They do love twirly skirts and so do I! These never seem to go out of fashion for us and this one coordinates to the Olivia knot dress that I'll be adding to my etsy store soon! I'm so excited for the Spring season and hope everyone else is equally ready for some "funshine" and all the clothing that goes along with it. I have plenty of new goodies! We are having some wonderful weather lately and hit 78 today so grabbed the camera and took a few photos of new pieces. Happy New Year to everyone!

Valentine's Day......it's coming up!

2009-01-01T13:29:00.004-06:00

Well, my design group is already thinking about Valentine's Day so look for some new things to be launched pretty soon. I really hope we'll get some decent weather soon and be able to snap some real photo's. Here's a little glimpse of what I'll be listing. Very girly, some shabby florals with some hearts thrown in!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-26T10:36:00.003-06:00

From our family to yours. Hope this holiday season is good to you and you are surrounded with the people you love! Looking forward to more blogging in the new year and of course a little more sewing!

Fun with Photos

2008-12-20T13:09:00.007-06:00

There really are some of the coolest sites out there on the internet. I was having a lot of fun today at THIS site. I remember seeing this site on Matilda Jane's blog a while back and I bookmarked it after playing around on it. Am I easily amused? Maybe, but give it a whirl, show your kids and kill some time over the holidays with this activity. It's fun! In this particular instance, it's fun for me to dream right? Dream that one day, a clothing design of my own would be on lifesize billboards in a store window. For now, I find enjoyment just thinking about the dream!

A sneak peak at the Audrey Dress

2008-12-19T12:50:00.008-06:00

Well, I know most people are in that anxious mode as we get closer and closer to Christmas. I'm trying to split my time between the holiday chaos, the family.......... hey wait, I've already mentioned them, they're the chaos part!!!......and then some quality time with my sewing machine and all the lovely new fabrics I've gotten in. I am excited to have a few new girls who are going to model some pieces for me and this new sneak peek of a Spring Dress is the "Audrey" To keep these pieces seperate in my mind, they're all getting a name, their models name! Very original I know but it's fun. This one is delicate and girly and would be perfect for Easter, a tea party or for those folks who live in Texas, the customary pictures done in the bluebonnets. Can't wait to see what this looks like on as I love how it turned out and am planning a sister coordinate for it. As my girls have gotten older, they love skirts so we're going to mix it up a tad.

After these pieces, up next we'll have Brookelyn!

We need help!

2008-12-16T19:06:00.003-06:00

As of February 10, 2009 ABC (fill in the blanks with all the other small business names) Clothing Co. and thousands of others in the children's industry will be deeply affected financially and or will be out of business.

Remember the outcry last holiday season over lead in imported toys? In order to combat such safety issues, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has passed legislation called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The law sets stringent guidelines for children’s products containing lead and phthalates (a chemical used in some vinyl products).

It is supposed to go into effect February 10th, 2009, and after that date any product intended for children ages 12 and under must meet these guidelines, and have a certificate of compliance from a CPSC-accredited laboratory. This includes not just toys, but clothing, jewelry, blankets, sheets, books, bibs, strollers, carriers, and anything else that a child under 12 might come in contact with. Sounds great, right?

In theory, maybe. But in actuality the law is so far reaching that it may succeed in turning the economy upside down. For starters, the CPSIA requires end unit testing on every product intended for use by children under 12. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to do this testing, regardless of how small the business. That means that manufacturers (like myself ) will have to pay to get every different product they offer tested. These tests have to be done at a CSPC accredited lab, and cost tens of thousands of dollars. For example if you offer 3 different types of dresses. Each dress contains 2 different fabrics, as well as buttons, and thread, so that's potentially $600 to test one dress. But if you have 3 or more styles, that's $1800. And when you get a new bolt of fabric, you need to start all over again.

At present, there are no exemptions for small businesses and "micro" manufacturers and most handcraft artisans. There is no exception for quantities made, where the garments/products are made or anything else. Nor is there an exception for unadorned fabric components, unfinished wood components, materials which, by their nature, are free of lead and phthalates.

Also, the Act takes a "guilty until proven innocent" approach, which would treat a handmade, unfinished wooden toy that doesn't meet the certification deadline of 2/10/09 as a "banned hazardous substance" which would be illegal to distribute in this country. Each infraction carries a $100,000 felony charge. This legislation is also retroactive for any pre-existing inventory as of February 10th, 2009. This means that everything on the shelves in those big (or small) stores will also be "banned, hazardous substances" - contraband.

Larger corporations that can afford testing will incur thousands, maybe millions of dollars in fees, and this expense will be handed down to the consumer, probably making the prices for children's products go through the roof.

This also means that after that date, even selling your kids old things on eBay or Craigslist will be illegal. Charities will not be able to accept donations without a certificate of compliance either. February 10, 2009 is being dubbed “National Bankruptcy Day” by many people in the apparel and toy industry. If this legislation is not amended, it will affect everyone from port workers to parents looking for legal products. Billions of dollars worth of children's products will have to be destroyed because they can’t be legally sold, and this will cause major environmental problems.

While we all for higher safety standards and keeping our kids safe, this law is so overreaching as to put thousands on manufacturers of children's products out of business -hurting our economy and causing even more loan defaults. Though this legislation was well-intentioned, it cannot be allowed to stand as is.

Please help us defend the American dream and our entrepreneurial spirit! This law affects every stay at home mom trying to help put food on the table and every grandmother knitting blankets for the local craft fair. It makes the thousands of us who have found a niche in the burgeoning children's market have to make a tough decision - continue to produce items illegally and possible incur a $100,000 fine, pay the enormous fees and raise costs of goods sold, or close up shop!

Please help us!Contact your Congressperson using this link: http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476

It only takes 30 seconds!If you have an extra minute send a hard copy of the letter as well!To sign the online petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

Read more about it here: http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

Plenty of Dots

2008-12-13T09:38:00.009-06:00

I started on a new piece and when I look at it in it's entirety, I think of my friend's daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth has a personality that is all her own. She's full of spunk, endless energy and is always on the move. What better style to dress her in than an easy to move around in peasant style top. I see her eating ice cream for breakfast on many Mondays. Is this her mom's choice? Heaven's no, but we start each week by meeting for a cup of coffee and breakfast tacos at our local coffee shop, Cups & Cones along with some beginning of the week chitter chatter. It's the begging and pleading that any mom of a 3 year old is all too familiar with that gets her her cup of ice cream! When I think of my favorite ice cream as a kid, it was always the bubble gum flavor. I'd get a cup and put them all in there eagerly counting my final tally of gumballs. For some reason, when I saw this fabric, it took me back to my bubble gum ice cream days as a kid. These days, I'm not ordering a whole lot of gumball ice cream, but I do enjoy sitting back and watching Elizabeth.

I'm really excited for the holidays but I'm equally excited to get some photos in my new Spring pieces. If we get some cooperative and unseasonally warm weather, I'll post soon.

A glimpse of a new Apron

2008-12-10T08:25:00.002-06:00

I just finished one of the new apron skirts I'll be listing come the new year. This one might be the boldest combination of color but also one of my favorites I've made. I wanted to clarify from a few questions that I've received that YES, this is a skirt, not an apron. I guess some of you have been wondering if aprons are making a comeback in the kid world and wondering why the heck I make so many of them. Well, to shed light on the topic, it's really just what this style of skirt is called. Layering is a big trend these days in clothing and this is just another spot to add a layer in the form of an apron on the skirt. Gives us a chance to introduce some more color and add some depth to the piece. It really made me smile to think a few folks thought that one of my specialties was kitchen wear. Very soon, we'll get some modeled photos of the full piece to share.

First Spring sneak

2008-12-09T11:06:00.004-06:00

I've got a friend who just moved here who's daughter just brightens my day when I see her. You know the kind, the child that skips instead of walking and they're just a little ray of sunshine. She's a delicate, feminine little girl who loves her cowgirl boots. I always get a kick out of seeing her with her boots on. My first dress for the new year that I'll list was an inspiration from her. The girly girl meets the cowgirl of the South. Here's just a teaser pic of "The Olivia" dress named just for her. The instructions are easy, just add boots and a cute kid! When she models it for me, we'll give you the full snapshot! Lots more on the horizon and more reveals as the days cruise on. I know everyone is shopping for X-mas but just throwing out a few pics of things to come once the holidays come to a close and the new year begins.

Fun new project!

2008-12-04T14:32:00.014-06:00

When it comes to fabric selection for new clothing pieces, I'm always drawn to the floral patterns and welcome the colors associated with Spring. I really enjoy when I start seeing all the new prints that are debuting. Decisions, decisions as there are so many fantastic ones to choose from and I've got them trickling in from all over the place. I'm fairly certain I'm on a first name basis with my UPS man at this point as he brings me these fun packages. Like many moms across the globe, I'm drowning in a to do list now that the holidays are in full swing, but every now and then, I just need to stop, to breathe and feed that creative side of me. Why am I rambling????

Well..... I recently crossed paths and had a conversation with an amazing photographer, Scott, from appropriately named, Scott Stater Photography here in the Austin area. Here are a few adorable girls he's photo'd and his site is filled with portfolios of his work. I'm thrilled that he and I are going to carve out a little bit of time and work on a small project together. I'm going to try and sew in fast forward mode and complete some new Spring designs (great time of year to try and do this for this mom of 3!) He's going to photograph them for me and see how we might be able to help each other out. I'm excited to see what photographs he'll capture. Take a peek at his site, he's got mad skills behind the lens so this should be fun!

A new spot on Facebook

2008-11-29T11:00:00.003-06:00

I think I finally found the correct spot on Facebook for my business to be listed! Facebook doesn't make it easy to navigate around for the average user trying to create business page. With any luck, this is the correct place and hopefully I filled out the applications correctly to have the blog feed directly there. To go directly to the page, click the photo below. If you are a member on facebook, you can click "become a fan" and you'll be all set. Thank you so much to those who have clicked, others have found me as a result and it's pretty exciting.

I've got new fabrics coming in and hoping to piece together new ideas in the coming weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

2008-11-26T19:02:00.001-06:00

We are so blessed that we now live in Texas where it's possible to celebrate Thanksgiving with both sides of our family all at one time. Tomorrow, all of the hungry mouths will be coming to our house to give thanks. We are thrilled we can open up our home, have all of our family here with us, and I'm knee deep in preparation for tomorrow. I'm no floral designer but I wanted to try my hand at a centerpiece for the dining room. I played around with this for a while, shifting things around til I found something I was happy with and Voila! The table is set, we've pulled out the china and are looking forward to filling our bellies! I wish everyone a Wonderful Thanksgiving this year.

I can't believe I'm starting to pull these out

2008-11-23T14:28:00.002-06:00

Yep, I've started putting away my Fall/Winter fabrics and replacing those fabric bins with the ones that hold the bright and fresh colored fabric for Spring. I'm not really ready for it but we're heading into the cold weather and sewing is a great activity to do during those indoor days. My 2 best assistants are home from school so why not tap into their brains and see what combinations catch their eye. Here's just a quick glimpse of what my all-purpose sewing room even looks like. Isn't the creative process grand? I have no real method to my madness except dumping it all out, seeing what I still have that I've forgotten about and trying to pull some ideas together with the new fabrics I've got coming in. Anyone feel like playing U Design it? Peek through my photo which is just a small display of possible fabrics! Matt thought he'd join me in my room and try to put together an apron skirt for me and quickly learned that it's not as easy as it looks. If you go the matchy route, it follows a pretty simple formula, if you decide to take the "pair random fabric collections and patterns together" it's not as random as you might think but very thought out. He rearranged things and piled different patterns on top of each other in a variety of ways and I still don't know if he settled on what will go where. We'll debut his first piece soon :) I think that's the start of it in the lower right corner of this photo.

Getting reacquainted with a favorite pastime craft!!!

2008-11-19T11:06:00.002-06:00

A friend of mine is wonderfully inventive at keeping her kids entertained by scouring the Family Fun magazine and the local stores for activities that register high on the fun factor scale. She tasked all of the girls in our troop to make swaps for our recent camping trip and we did SHRINKY DINKS! Oh did this take me back to being a kid and the magic of this activity hasn't lessened. My kids had so much fun and T had equal amounts of fun at the tender age of the 3 as the girls did. We are often in Hobby Lobby so bought a package of the Shrinky Dink paper and went to town. I honestly didn't know this stuff still existed! We cut a variety of shapes out, decorated them with phrases and pictures and the real fun is had watching them while in the oven shrink, curl up at the edges, then flatten back out to their final size and shape. I forgot how much fun this was and after a few more ideas thrown at us by our troop leader Mrs J, we're going to make some charms for necklaces, ornaments for the tree and whatever else they dream up. So if you find yourself heading into the holidays wondering what list of activities to do with the kids while they're home from school, we can offer unanimous feedback from our house. Shrinkydinks are BIG fun! Biggest hurdle is fighting for a good spot at the oven window. Get a pack of paper and then some fine tip sharpies and you're on your way. If you want to make ornaments, make sure to get a hole punch and punch a hole in them before you shrink them so that little wire will have a spot to be fed through.

A camping we will go...

2008-11-11T10:35:00.000-06:00

or I suppose it should say we went! I've been out of pocket since I went with my oldest daughters girl scout troop camping. It was a nice change of pace even though I freely admit, I enjoy bathtubs, my Sealy mattress along with central air and heat. As far as camping is concerned, this is my dream, log cabins not tents!!! They were great accomodations with lots of memories and fun had by everyone. We're all home, back to the daily routine of life and I'm really thinking about the holidays now. I'm taking just a quick short break from "sewing for hire" so that my kids might have a few things themselves. They often wonder why the kids of a mom who sews don't have of the clothes she makes! That's a hard one to argue so we're going to get some things done for them this next week or so.

A new Holiday twirl

2008-11-04T22:28:00.000-06:00

Added something on ebay tonight in some more traditional Christmas colors. You can find the listing HERE. Fun, Festive and lots of twirl!

Oldie but Goodie one last time

2008-11-02T20:29:00.000-06:00

added on Etsy. Cheeky Santa is back one more time. He is just adorable! I know I'm biased, sort of like a mom about her own kids :) You know you want it for your trip to Santa! My brain is shifting to some new fabrics this week since this week is a bit more normal paced so hopefully I'll be able to post some new sneak peeks. Looking forward to the monotony of routine. I'm like a toddler, I crave a bit of routine paired with a little one on one time with my Bernina machine.

The Design Group I belong to is giving away a Petti!

2008-10-30T14:32:00.002-05:00

I'm a member of a sewing design group, The Girlfriends Manor, and we're giving one of these away!
If you've never had one, they are ridiculously fun for photo shoots! We had them last year for our X-mas photos and just loved them. If you've ever wanted to take some photos you'll cherish for a lifetime that have a special punch of fun, these are perfect to wear. I've seen so many gorgeous photos of girls on the beach in the white ones, the red ones during the holidays or at Valentines or just any fun occasion! You can check out some of the professional photos at Oopsy Daisy's site. All you need to do is go to The Girlfriends Manor Blog to leave a comment and you also need to be an active subscriber to the mailing list! Once that's done, you're entered to win, good luck!

Happiness from Hong Kong

2008-10-28T21:01:00.003-05:00

My post office is a long enough trek to get that it's annoying to have to make a special trip. Apparently I had something that needed a signature on it and since I wasn't home the first time they attempted to deliver, they sent it back to the Post Office who was ready to send it back to my friends in Hong Kong. Yep, I took the plunge, I got labels!! I feel a little more official. I know, small thrills in life but that was about it for tonight. Pretty soon my customs will be going out tagged and labeled. These aren't your grandmothers homemade clothes :)

Okay, so I couldn't wait, pulled out some of the samples that we keep in our own closets and added the first label.