Eleventeen Apparel

My Crazy Life!

2012-02-16T22:14:00.000-05:00

I realize I haven't written a blog post in a while. Life has been super busy these last few weeks and it doesn't look like it will be slowing down anytime soon!

After a year on the market, we have finally sold our house. My husband and I purchased this house as a starter home nine years ago. We were without children then, and after having two children and watching them grow from babies into little girls, the walls started to close in on us and we were needing more space. Of course, one room has been solely dedicated to my sewing area too!

We found our dream home about 35 minutes away from our current home. We will close on that house the second week of April. Needless to say, things will be quite crazy until then!

I have put my Etsy account on hold and will not be updating my "tip of the week" section of eleventeenapparel.com until after the move. Any orders placed between now and March 30th may have up to a 3-week turnaround time. Any custom orders or items needed for a specific date will have to be approved via e-mail or phone to ensure that I will have the needed time to complete the order and get it shipped in a timely manner.

At the moment I am working on finishing up an order of dance costumes, which should be completed by March 1st. After that I will be making three wedding handbags and a garter which I would like to have completed by the first of April.

It will be a stressful and busy couple of months, but in the end it will be worth it! I will have a larger sewing room with plenty of wall space and a giant closet. It also has hardwood flooring which will be so much easier to clean than the high pile carpet that is in my current sewing room!

I may or may not have the opportunity to post many updates between now and the move, but I do invite you to check out and "like" my facebook page for Eleventeen Apparel where I will be giving daily updates on projects, posting pictures, and progress on our move.

Blog Feature

2012-01-16T11:08:00.000-05:00

What a nice surprise! This morning I checked my e-mail to find that my work has been featured in this blog. This is my pinstripe pencil skirt. Wear it to work or to drinks with friends. The back vent has been lined with red satin which gives this skirt a little pep from the back! Pair it with one of my rhinestone convertible tops and you have an outfit that can go from day to night with two snaps. ;-)

http://pearlessense.blogspot.com/2012/01/back-to-work-with-business-suit.html

New Sites for 2012

2012-01-11T12:49:00.000-05:00

Looking to expand my work, I plan on trying out some new sites this year. Pinterest is starting to grow and develop into a wonderful little community of people sharing their favorites...places, hobbies, inspiration, and other "things". I started poking around a little bit on there and thought I'd sign up for an account. I think it would be a fantastic place to post pictures of designers that inspire me, clothing that I'd love to make, and places I would like to visit sometime. I haven't pinned anything on my boards yet, but look for me!

Another site I'm going to try this year is Model Mayhem. I originally thought that this was a community strictly for models and photographers. WRONG! They also accept clothing designers, make-up/hair stylists, and other individuals looking to break into the industry. I'm so excited to become part of this network and see what type of connections I can make.

Along with these new sites, you can still find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Etsy!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T11:16:00.000-05:00

Seems like it has been FOREVER since I've updated over here! Now that the holidays are behind us, I am able to get back on track to bring you the latest news and events happening with Eleventeen Apparel.

This week I have started working on dance costumes for Stage Presence for Dancers. I had the privilege of working for Miss Heather last year and am thrilled that she asked me to work with her again for her spring 2012 production! The theme for this year is Asian inspired. Her Pointe class will be wearing pink satin kimonos edged in black. These are a one-piece design with an attached wide black belt. The picture below shows the stage that I am at currently.

Also in the works, is an avant-garde style of evening gown. I have been itching to do something a little "out there" just for the fun of it. My father-in-law, at Chris Bolduc Photography, has been shooting fashion models lately. I would love for him to do a shoot with a really outlandish piece. He is an excellent photographer and I know we could come up with some really cool photos! I'll keep you posted on that in the coming months. So far it is a shell of a strapless dress...eggplant in color.

Lastly, I'd like to let everyone know that I still have a few openings for January/February sewing classes. Course descriptions can be found at eleventeenapparel.com. New for this year, (and not yet listed on the website), is a basic serging course. This class is open to anyone who can sew with a conventional machine and would like to learn the basics of serging. If you would like a description of this course before I get it posted online, please contact me at angela@eleventeenapparel.com. Space is limited, so if you are interested in taking a class in January or February please contact me as soon as possible for availability!

Basketball???

2011-11-23T13:57:00.000-05:00

Have a basketball fan in your family? We are big Celtics fans here! Things aren't looking good for basketball this season, but that doesn't mean you can't continue to support your team! I made this outfit for the little boy of a couple of friends of mine. He just turned 1 and needs some Celtics gear! Had to go with #34 (his middle name is Pierce). Add a sweatband, and he'll be ready to watch the game with his daddy and mumma!

Weekly Sewing Tips!

2011-11-14T19:55:00.000-05:00

Have you stopped by http://www.eleventeenapparel.com/ lately? I have added a new feature to the page...Weekly Sewing Tips. My tips will vary from basic to advanced. Tips will be searchable by month, so if you will be able to catch up on any you may have missed. Come on over and check it out! You never know what you might learn!

This week's tip: What to do with diaper pins.

Last week's tip: How to choose the correct sewing needle.

Halloween!

2011-10-24T15:14:00.000-04:00

Costume time!! With a week left until Halloween I'm assuming that most people have purchased or made their Halloween costumes. I felt a little awkward this year...I purchased my own childrens' costumes! Unfortunately for them, I had costume orders coming in. By the time they had finally made decisions on what they wanted to be, I didn't have time in my schedule to make their outfits! Oh, the SHAME!! To be a mother that has a business dedicated to designing and constructing clothing, and could not cut out enough time to make costumes for her own kids!!

In the end, it boiled down to promises. I wasn't going to make a promise I couldn't keep...to them OR to myself. I also wasn't going to stress myself out staying up until 2 am the night before Halloween trying to get them finished.

Thankfully, they were both able to find costumes that they liked. (and they were 50% off, so I didn't feel like a real jerk spending a whopping amount of money on a cheaply made costume that will get one wear).

Next year, we'll decide on costumes in August!

What Not to Wear in Rome

2011-10-11T20:49:00.000-04:00

So, I have posted about fashion in Europe as seen through my eyes when my husband and I travelled to Italy and Spain a few weeks ago. If you are headed in that direction anytime soon, let me give you my top 5 do's and don'ts in order to stay fashionable and not scream, "I'm a tourist!"

DON'T
1) Flip-flops. It's a no-no. I'm pretty sure all Europeans are against this rubber footwear that we Americans all embrace.

2) Guys, you gotta pull those pants up! I counted ZERO men with their undies hanging out. That is right guys, NONE! It's not cool over here, and it's less cool over there. Pull them up!

3) Ditch the sweatsuit. No one is wearing a Juicy Couture velour sweatsuit over there, so don't pack yours. In fact, I dare say I did not see even one local wearing a sweatshirt at all. Pull a nice outfit together and you'll blend in with the natives.

4) Fanny packs. Really?!?! No explaination needed here.

5) Basic. Take your basics up a notch. Don't put on jeans and a solid tee and call it "good enough", because it isn't good enough!

DO
1) Sandals! It doesn't matter if they are Roman or not, but bring the sandals. Flats, heels, thong, strappy, lace-up, you name it, it was there...except the flip-flop. (see don't number 1). Europeans love their footwear even more than we do. Bring it and wear it!

2) Skinny jeans. They are everywhere. Yes, we wear them here in the States, but over there you did not see a guy who wore baggy, bootcut, or straight leg jeans. Any man or woman wearing jeans was wearing a great fitting skinny jean. (My husband was totally freaked out by this, as he is a boot-cut kind of guy).

3) Scarves. Whether with a dress or a t-shirt, I would say that the scarf is second only to the sandal when it comes to Italian fashion. These are available in a multitude of colors, patterns, fabrics, lengths, widths...anything you can imagine. Wear one!

4) Accessorize your outfit! The basic jeans and t-shirt that was listed at number 5 on the don't list...take it up a notch. Add a great pair of sandals, a scarf, big earrings, and even a cute lightweight cardigan and you'll look fabulous!

5) Try something new. Don't be afraid to get that big floppy hat you see at one of the many markets. Try on a few pair of sunglasses. Purchase that red coat you've been eyeing.

Fashion speaks many languages. While visiting another country try the food, indulge in the cultural experiences, learn their fashion language!

Fashion From Europe

2011-09-29T08:18:00.000-04:00

My husband and I returned from our fabulous vacation on Saturday. We had such a wonderful time! Rome brought us back thousands of years. What an amazing experience to be standing in the Roman forum where so many had stood before us. The history was overwhelming, and the architecture much larger than pictures and video could show.

Fashion in Rome a lot of times brought me back to the 1990s. Lots of leggings in not just solid colors, but in prints. As for jeans, they were all super skinny jeans. I never once saw a pair of boot cut, straight cut, or flared jeans on a local. That goes for men and women...all skinny jeans. Many of the women rolled the bottoms of their jeans up. (I think we used to call that "French-rolling" back in my Jr. high days). Plenty of young women/men were seen wearing high top sneakers...something that Americans haven't embraced in quite a while. Men weren't afraid of color over there; I saw many men in brightly colored shorts.

Everyone was completely coordinated head to toe, whether dressed casually or headed to work. Scarfs in silks and cottons were seen everywhere and on everyone. Some of these had lacy trim on the edges, while others simply sported a rolled edge hem.

Jewelry was kept pretty minimal. Large earrings were commonplace. No one seemed to overdo it with jewelry. Everything was very tasteful and beautiful!

When in Rome, wear the Roman sandal! You'd be hard pressed to find a pair of rubber thong flip flops on any of the locals. Shoes and sandals always went perfectly with the outfit. Tons and tons of Roman sandals from casual looking, to ones with extreme heels. (which is another story...how to walk in heels in Rome with all of their cobblestone streets!)

So, my prediction is to be on the lookout for printed leggings and high tops to be making a comeback in the States soon. We are so far behind when it comes to fashion. What Europe wears now, we will be wearing next season or possibly even next year.

Flower Girl Dresses

2011-09-03T08:55:00.000-04:00

Here's a look at one of the flower girl dresses I made for my sister's upcoming wedding. There are three flower girls. All of their dresses are identical. These are very simple, cute dresses that can be worn for many occasions. After the wedding, I plan on making some different belts and adding some pearl bead accents to the bodices so my girls can wear them at Easter! (Provided they don't grown too much!)

The wedding is September 10, I will have some professional photos after that date. For now, here is what I took from my studio.

Remember This

2011-08-25T15:21:00.000-04:00

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure!

-Read this today and thought I would share. How true it is. We get so wrapped up in fear sometimes that we put a damper on our own success. We are our own worst enemy. Be productive, creative, and go out and get what you want!!

Wedding Season

2011-08-21T09:57:00.000-04:00

Last year at this time I was busy creating a strapless, pick-up style wedding gown in black, along with two red bridesmaid gowns. They looked beautiful together!

This year, my sister is getting married and I am taking on the flower girl dresses. Yes, I said dress-es. She has three flower girls...my two daughters and her step-daughter to be. I am going with a simple style for these dresses. They will be sleeveless bodices with below the knee, gathered, skirts. The skirts have a layer of netting between the outer and the lining to create princess-like fullness. The girls are so excited about the full skirts! Each dress will be done in cream colored satin with a sage colored chiffon belt which will be tied in the back. The belts are adored with sparkle and rhinestones. I am at the end stages of the first dress. I will be hemming it today and finishing up the belt. I will have my oldest daughter put it on and do some modelling for me once it is completed!

Along with the flower girl dresses, I made my sister's veil. It was done with yards of very soft tulle that was all hand gathered. Monofilament was used to attach tiny silver beads and pearls all the way around the edges. This will look beautiful when the light hits it!

After the wedding, I will be taking a vacation for a week with my husband. We are going to Italy! Upon return I will be starting a spring/summer collection (inspired by Italy of course!). I also want to take on some crazy projects to really give myself a challenge and bring out the creative side!

Back To School New Mechandise

2011-08-16T14:32:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe it is that time of year again! Where did the summer go? We are a homeschool family. My girls actually started school yesterday. I like to start early so that we aren't going to school until the end of June. We tend to work through February and April vacation too. It works out pretty well right now! My girls are young...I'm sure that will change as they get older!

For those of you in "school shopping" mode, I will be adding some new items to the shop soon. You are the first to know, and if you contact me via e-mail, you will be able to purchase these items before they are listed on the website!

Leggings
Leggings will be available in basic black, winter white, and subtle cream. Choose from ankle length or mid-calf length. Everyone should own a few pair of these! Great under tunics, dresses, or tees! Serged seams for durability. Elastic waist for a fantastic fit. Sizes XS through XL. Priced at $25 you can't go wrong! To order before they hit the shop, e-mail angela@eleventeenapparel.com . Please specify color, size, and length when ordering.

On The Runway

2011-08-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

I had a fabulous time at Runway Grand in Ellsworth last week. This was their first annual runway show. The runway looked great and I look forward to participating again next year! Here are some shots from the show. 'Like' Faces of Maine on Facebook to see more pictures!

Lasha wearing a convertible cowl and pinstriped pencil skirt.

Candyce wearing the red/black brocade evening gown

Lasha wearing a belted crepe slide dress.

I am wearing a two-tone cowl dress.

My table at the trunk show

The Dresses Were Hung on the Clothes Rack with Care

2011-07-28T09:17:00.000-04:00

The countdown begins! Seven days left until my first show. The August issue of Maine magazine is out and I have had the chance to take a peek at who I'll be showing my clothes along side of. I've never been part of a show before...I'm looking forward to showing my clothing in front of live people as opposed to strictly online!

As far as the production aspect is concerned, I am pretty much finished making everything that is coming with me next week. I have two convertible cowls left to finish and a sheer needs to be made to go with the brocade dress. Other than that I have a sampling of everything on my line sheet as well as a few random pieces that are one-of-a-kind.

Forms, tables, and paperwork! I have spent the last two mornings putting together my line sheet, style # sheet, order form, and sizing chart. Everything looks professional and I feel good about what I have on there. Let's hope something comes out of all that extra work!

I will be finishing some final details over the next week. I need to have my tickets and contest box ready for the brocade gown drawing. (Don't forget to buy your ticket to win that dress!) I also need to find a pair of shoes for cocktail hour.

All in all I am feeling confident in what I have made for the runway and what I will be showing at the trunk show.

It's not too late to buy your tickets! $25 at http://www.grandonline.org/.

See you there!

Fashion Show Preview

2011-07-25T19:30:00.000-04:00

Just in case you haven't found me on Facebook, (the pictures are posted there), here is a sneak peek of what I will be showing at Runway Grand. Need to know the details on the show and how to get tickets? You can check out the E-blast posted in my previous blog post, or pick up the August issue of Maine magazine to see their four page spread highlighting the 16 participating designers!

Eblast

2011-07-22T13:02:00.000-04:00

Convertible Cowl

2011-07-22T08:09:00.000-04:00

Here's a sneak peek of the new convertible cowl I will be showing at Runway Grand and then adding to my shop. This top is made of lightweight crepe that will be available in a variety of colors. Wear it to work, to dinner, out with the girls, or for a hot date. Looking for a little extra bling? Simply attach the rhinestone shoulder bands and you are good to go! I will be offering additional bands in the near future that can be purchased separately to add color, shine, and style to your cowl!

Maine Team Interview

2011-07-12T09:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday! Etsy MaineTeam has posted an interview with me on their blog this morning. Check out Meet your neighbor-eleventeen-apparel to get the scoop on my business as well as additional Maine shops featuring handmade products. This is a great place to get shopping ideas from local artisans, so get over there and support handmade in Maine!

I have been busy here in the sewing room up to my elbows in "fashion show" work. The event is coming up quickly; have you purchased your tickets yet? Click on Runway Grand for ticket information. The show is Thursday, August 4th, in Ellsworth, Maine. There will be a cocktail hour from 5-6pm, the runway show at 6, and trunk show across the street at The Grind starting at 7pm.

Pieces I will be showing:
* Red crepe cowl neck with gray/black pinstripe pencil skirt which features a red lined back vent.
* Red & black brocade evening gown with pick-up detail.
* Green satin slide dress (at the cocktail party)
* Green/white slide dress with exposed front zipper (cocktail party)
* White slide dress (cocktail party)

I will also have a piece in the lobby preview, which looks like it may be a floor-length eggplant colored formal gown.

This is shaping up to be a great evening!

Brocade Evening Gown

2011-06-27T01:27:00.000-04:00

Here's a sneak peek of my red & black brocade evening gown that will be seen at Runway Grand in August. This is a fully lined, floor-length, satin gown with a brocade front panel. Back zipper closure features covered buttons on the flap. The dress is currently in progress! I have not yet decided if this dress will have cascading pick-ups. I will play around with it a bit and see how it looks.

*****Win This Dress*****

Yes, you read that correctly! Purchase a $5 ticket August 1st-August 4th, 2011, for a chance to win this very dress! Tickets will be available at http://www.eleventeenapparel.etsy.com/ or you can purchase one at Runway Grand on August 4th. Winner will be drawn at 9pm on August 4th, 2011.

(You do not need to be present at the show to win. Dress will be shipped free of charge to the winner. Alterations are not included in this offer, but are available at my normal rate)

*More pictures to come when the gown is complete*

Website Changes

2011-06-15T08:37:00.000-04:00

Those of you who have been to eleventeenapparel.com lately have surely noticed some big changes going on over there. Actually, right about now it is more of a big MESS!! I am in the process of changing quite a bit on the site. Up until now, customers have been able to order items directly from the website. Unfortunately, I have had a difficult time keeping up with the site and making sure it correctly reflects my inventory. I have made the decision to direct all purchases to Etsy or by contacting me directly through e-mail or by phone.

That being said, eleventeenapparel.com isn't going anywhere! Over the next few weeks I will be changing the background and making the site strictly informational. Feel free to browse the gallery, check out upcoming events, sign up for private sewing classes, or read my 'Tip of the Week'. You will also have the option to place special orders or get an update on the status of your current purchase!

I am very excited about the new website and hope that you will find it informative and interesting! The site is currently under construction, but I will leave it up and running for you to watch the changes as they happen. My goal is to have the site completed shortly after July 4th!

http://www.eleventeenapparel.com/
http://www.eleventeenapparel.etsy.com/

Inspiration

2011-06-07T09:46:00.000-04:00

I am a huge fan of Herve Leger. I made a replica dress a few years ago for a client of mine in Chicago. She loved it, and I loved it so much I made a second one! I love the bandage style dresses that he has designed. The dress below is the inspiration for my latest dress design. This dress is a solid color, while mine will be a solid dress with an overlay in a complementing color. My pieces are cut out and I am ready to put this together! I'm hoping to have some pics by the end of the week. Keep checking back!

Get 20% off!

2011-05-31T22:09:00.000-04:00

Do you have pants or shorts in your closet that aren't being worn because they are too long?? Get 20% off your total by having 3 or more pair of pants/shorts hemmed in one order! (dress pants excluded from this offer).

No coupon needed!

Prom #2

2011-05-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos of the second prom dress. This one was also done in silky satin. It is a blue/black floral print, halter style, floor-length gown. This dress features rhinestone detailing in the front underneath the bust as well as rhinestone straps across the back. If I had make this dress again, I would opt for boning in the back for stability which would keep the sides of the low-back nice and straight and aid in the security of the rhinestone straps. Even so, this was a very beautiful dress on a very beautiful girl!

One down, one to go!

2011-05-17T13:29:00.000-04:00

I love prom time! I love seeing the girls all excited about having hair and makeup done, and of course the beautiful gowns! The guys, of course are a different story...all uncomfortable-looking in their suits, and nervous about being stabbed by their date with the boutonniere. Hahahaha! Still, prom is a great time of year. I am lucky to have been asked to make a few gowns this year. The girls were wonderful to work with and the dresses came out beautiful! (Of course, the girls made them look even better!)

Here is a look at a dress I designed and created for the May 14th prom. This dress has a black spandex top with a floral satin piece starting at mid-bust and extending into a semi-fitted skirt. The skirt has a asymmetrical hem, shorter in the front, slightly longer in the back. This dress has a very low cut back with black spandex straps criss-crossing in the center and fastened with silver/rhinestone clasps. It looks gorgeous on her! I would wear this dress in a heartbeat!

Stage Presence for Dancers 2011

2011-05-10T13:29:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos of the actual recital. The choreography was amazing! I am so happy to have been a part of this recital. I had never really thought much about going the route of costuming before, but this experience has definately opened my eyes to a whole new world! enjoy the photos, I need to get to work!

Skirt Photos

2011-05-05T20:57:00.000-04:00

I've been without a computer for over a week now due to my harddrive crashing. I am finally up and running again! Here are some photos of the skirts I made for the Stage Presence for Dancers recital. These pictures were taken by Chris Bolduc Photography. I will have some recital pictures up soon. There were 38 skirts in a variety of colors, which looked beautiful on stage!

It's Prom Season!

2011-04-14T20:00:00.000-04:00

May is right around the corner. For many high school girls, this is the time to look for a prom dress. Something that no one else with have. Something that fits like a glove. Something that is affordable, yet stylish.

From what I have seen so far this year, rhinestones are very "in". Crazy loud prints are also hot this season. I have seen a lot of beautiful dresses over the past few months, and feel very blessed to have been asked to create some dresses for this special occasion!

I am currently working on two prom dresses. This is a photo of a dress that I am going to recreate. The top will be made in the same black stretch satin as shown in the picture. The bottom will be made from a beautiful floral print on a black background. The back will be criss-crossed and held together with rhinestone clasps. I will try my best to post photos during the making of this garment!

Money Saver

2011-04-02T13:19:00.000-04:00

With a new baby, how many boxes of wipes do you go through in a month?? Maybe it is time to think about changing over to flannel wipes. These are gentle on baby's skin, eco-friendly, and pocketbook friendly! I just made this set of 12 wipes for a good friend of mine. They are double thickness to stand up to large messes! Edges are serged for durability. Easy to care for, just throw them in the washer/drier!

All purchases of wipes will come with a free recipe for wipes solution!!

100% cotton flannel. (Can be made in any color/print you want!)

12 wipes for $15
http://www.eleventeenapparel.etsy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/eleventeenapparel

Little Girls

2011-04-01T14:15:00.000-04:00

I had a bit of time to sew for my own girls last week and came up with this little dress. Very simple, but my 6-year-old absolutely loves it! I made this from some ballerina printed fabric, and made the ruffle with some eyelet fabric. So quick and easy! I don't make a lot of little girls' clothing except for my own girls, but I will make this dress style available for a limited time through Facebook only starting next week. This dress can be purchased in the color/pattern of your choice (in cotton) and will be custom made from sizes 3-6. I am able to make this in a more formal fabric for an additional charge depending on the cost of desired fabrics.

**Better photos coming**

Available through Facebook starting April 4th!!
Price: $35

Special Orders

2011-03-25T22:13:00.000-04:00

Put your special orders in now for Prom 2011!

Do you want a 100% chance that no one else will be wearing YOUR dress? Want to stand out from the crowd and have a gown that fits you like a glove? Have a design in mind that you can't find in stores? Send me your ideas and I will make you the perfect dress with the perfect fit! Choose your fabric, your colors, even the embelishments. Contact me today to get started on making the gown of your dreams!

http://www.eleventeenapparel.com/
http://www.eleventeenapparel.etsy.com/

New Pricing

2011-03-22T09:51:00.001-04:00

Just a quick note to say that starting on April 1, 2011, hemming will prices will increase to $10 a pair for jeans and khakis. I prefer not to take suit pants or pants with a cuff. Dresses and skirts will be priced according to how many layers there are. Please contact me for an estimate.

The focus of my business is creating garments that fit, not altering garments that don't!

That being said, anything that I create for you will have free alterations until desired fit is achieved!

The Final Countdown

2011-03-08T09:59:00.000-05:00

The goal is 38 skirts finished by March 26, which is picture day for the studio. As of this morning I have 8 left to make! I am hoping to finish two skirts today and one tomorrow for Wednesday night's drop off. That will leave 5 skirts for next week. I was hoping to have the full order complete for tomorrow, but my girls and I were all sick last week so sewing wasn't at the top of my list last week. I am still a week ahead of picture day though, so I am pretty excited about that!

After the final shipment the girls will let me know if any alterations are to be made and I will get those done before the recital at the end of April. I am looking forward to seeing everything come together!

Baby items

2011-03-02T12:51:00.000-05:00

My life long friend, Kiley, has finally ventured into the world of self-employment! She is a crafter whose concentration is on baby items. She makes bedding sets, stuffed toys, and more. She currently has a blog at http://www.anabellesattic.blogspot.com/. I am not sure if she plans on opening an Etsy shop soon, but I will keep you updated on that if she does. Stop by her blog and welcome her to the handmade community!

More Snack Bags

2011-02-28T13:46:00.000-05:00

The ballet snack bags were just listed on Etsy along with these cool silverware print bags. Snack bags are 6"x6" (standard plastic baggie size). They are lined with rip-stop nylon to prevent any moisture from penetrating the outside cotton fabric.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69052091/silverware-snack-bags-set-of-3

Tiny Dancer

2011-02-27T18:09:00.000-05:00

I use handmade snack bags on a daily basis. My little one brings them to preschool filled with bite-sized goodies. The velcro strip is easy for little hands to open and close. These bags are lined with rip-stop nylon. They are so easy to clean, simply shake out any remaining crumbs then toss in the washer and drier.

My oldest daughter takes ballet and tap once a week. Some of the moms of the other dancers noticed the snack bag that my youngest had in tow almost most every class. I made some special ballet print snack bags and started selling them to the moms. If you have a tiny dancer in your life you may be interested in a set of 3. This is a pink background with pink and purple ballet slippers printed on it. There is also a little sparkle to the fabric, which any little girl will love!

These will be listed on Etsy this week...keep an eye out as I have limited fabric left!

Random Business Stuff

2011-02-23T19:09:00.000-05:00

I keep telling myself (and my husband) that this is the year. MY year. The year when things will finally come together for me. The year when I will stop treating Eleventeen Apparel like a 'side buisness' and start going at it as my primary business. I've had this business for a few years and have more or less proceeded to fly by the seat of my pants on a lot of things. Yes, I have a registered business name, collect required taxes, and file all pertinent forms, but I do believe I have been missing a lot of important things too.

The biggest part of my biz that I am missing is an actual business plan. I realize that working from my home I do not need as extensive a plan as say, someone who has a retail shop downtown, but I do need some sort of plan outlining what my target market is, who my competitors are, what my goals are, and how I am going to reach said goals. I have already started a rough draft which will be completed by the end of next week. I am looking forward to getting this finished and having a document that basically says I took some time to think about my business and where it is headed. I think I will take myself more seriously once I have this!

The second thing I am missing and want to concentrate on in the coming months is, honestly, opening my mouth. I tend to rely soley on word of mouth (other peoples' mouths!) to spread the news of my business. I need to take control of my own sucess is this aspect. If I don't tell anyone that I am here, if I don't tell them what I do, then how can I expect my business to grow? This year I have plans for local advertising and potential placement in some local apparel stores. It is scary to put myself out there, but it needs to be done! That being said, don't stop telling your friends about me! Word of mouth has helped me to make it this far, and business will continue to increase with your help!

The last thing I need to do this year is really get a handle on my inventory. How much fabric do I have here in my studio? What types of fabric? How many yards of each? I need to take some time and make a spreadsheet listing all of these things. Life will be a lot easier once that task is complete!

Well, it is 7:00 now. The kids are in bed and it is time for me to get to work doing what I love! The skirts are coming along very well. I am excited to see all of the girls wearing them when they have their dance photos done. I will have one to post once they come in! Yay!

Halfway There!

2011-02-19T18:40:00.000-05:00

I just finished skirt #20 this afternoon. I am now over the halfway point with the skirts. Only 18 to go! Hoping I can zip through 10 more by March 2nd's dance class. Right now I am on point to have them all completed on March 9th. That is two weeks earlier than originally thought!

Other things in the works are:
*More snack bags. I have been asked about these a lot and unfortunately have not put any new ones up on Etsy. I have a basket of them sitting on my cutting table that I just haven't photographed yet.

*Semi-formal dresses. I was in the Portland Mall last weekend and saw the most beautiful dress. I just HAVE to make my version of it! Excited to get started on this idea and possibly try to get it into a local clothing shop here in town. (I've scoped out a couple, but haven't asked if they would carry a local designer yet). We'll see where that goes.

*I am booking appointments for graduation dresses now through May 1st. Please contact me if you are interested!

Comments Welcome!

2011-02-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this is what I have decided on for a new look for my blog. Click on the comments link below and let me know what you think of the facelift! It still needs a couple of tweaks, but I'm fairly happy with how it looks right now! I manage all of my websites/social networking by myself, so sometimes it takes a while for me to figure things out. May need an assistant in the future to take care of eleventeenapparel.com. I don't update as often as I should over there! Anyway, tell me what you think of the blog!

Working on a New Look

2011-02-17T21:51:00.000-05:00

Please excuse the mismatched banner & template! I am working on giving this blog a new look. Still deciding on the final components. Hope to have a clean looking blog in a few days. Keep checking back for updates!

Name That Tune

2011-02-17T13:05:00.000-05:00

I enjoy many types of music. I used to work at a music store...my associates and I were a motley bunch. We were like pieces of a puzzle, each one of us contributing a uniqueness that, when put together, made something you couldn't stop staring at. We had varying musical tastes, (as well as expression of fashion and body art), and through the privilege of "in-store play" were able to expose one another to our favorite musical talents. Even though I didn't love every band or song that was played, it was great to experience music that I may have heard otherwise. Not to mention I ended up with some fantastic friends that I wouldn't trade for the world!

Fastforward five years later. I no longer work in the music store, but music is still a part of my everyday life. I love listening to music when I am sewing. I have a radio in my sewing room with a stack of cds next to it. Yes, I said cd player...no IPod for met yet! Currently I have been listening to the new Train album. I have loved Train for many years...long before "Soul Sister". Think back to 1998's "Meet Virginia". Yeah, I've liked them that long.

Follow me on Twitter to see what is currently in my cd player on any given day. The variety will probably shock you. (My favorites are Van Halen, Incubus, and Dave Matthews Band).

Eleventeen Apparel on Twitter!

Update

2011-02-06T20:01:00.000-05:00

The past two weeks have been filled with sewing. I am in the groove now and have been able to cut back my assembly time a bit! Currently I have 9 costumes completed and am on track to have 12 finished for Wednesday night's dance class. I am looking forward to being able to sit in on their class and get a sneak peek at their routine! Thank you Heather for the VIP treatment!

*****New News*****

Now through May 1st I will be taking orders for graduation dresses. Please contact me for an appointment to take measurements and discuss styles/fabrics/colors. I am able to make a replica of something you have seen in a magazine or design something completely new.

Costumes

2011-01-24T21:21:00.000-05:00

Well, the tulle is finally all cut! I have a few rolls of fabric left to cut, but am taking a break for a few days to work on the sewing aspect of things. Tonight I started putting together a fuchsia skirt with a coral tulle underskirt and a raisin colored bustle. Here are a few pictures of the process. Tomorrow I will attach the waistband, Velcro, and finish the edges.

Costumes Day 12

2011-01-21T11:03:00.000-05:00

Cutting, cutting, and more cutting! To break it down, these costumes are made from 160 yards of tulle, 80 yards of charmeuse satin, 50 yards of grosgrain ribbon, 40 yards of Velcro, and countless spools of thread! This translates to 114 panels of satin (3 per skirt) and 228 panels of tulle (6 per skirt), which equals more than 40 hours of cutting time! Thankfully, I am now in the home stretch of cutting. Now the fun begins...the assembly process!

Here is a look at my rolling rack as of last night. I now have pieces on 32 out of 38 hangers. I will be filling the remaining 6 hangers today! Hoping to have the first batch of finished skirts in Heather's hands by the first week in February. I'm looking forward to seeing their routine with the costumes!

Are you a dancer in this number? Would you like to know your skirt color? "Like" my Facebook page and post your inquiry to my wall. I will gladly let you know what colors you will be wearing!

Stay tuned for more updates and pictures on the costumes!

Costumes day 6

2011-01-15T20:56:00.000-05:00

I have been working on the dance costumes for 6 days now. I have cut 36 yards of satin and 40 yards of tulle so far! In order to make one skirt it takes 3 panels of satin and 6 panels of tulle (this makes 2 layers for the underskirt). Each skirt will have a front apron, back bustle, or back double bustle.

Right now I have 26 hangers with at least one piece on them. (This makes me feel accomplished!)

No skirt has been totally assembled yet, but I will be working on that tomorrow. I'm not exactly sure how the front apron is going to look on these since my sample had the back bustle. I will be putting together a skirt with a front apron tomorrow to see how it will look.

Here is a look at my rolling rack as of last night. Keep checking back for updates on how this project is coming along!

Lia Sophia Jewelry!

2011-01-13T21:58:00.000-05:00

Time to buy some jewelry to go with that new clothing purchase! I am hosting a Lia Sophia catalog show now through January 25th. Order from the comfort of your home! There is a great promotion going right now...buy 1 piece at regular price and get your next 2 pieces at 50% off! Your most expensive items would be 50% off! Browse the catalog and order right online. Put my name, Angela Bolduc, into the hostess search box. Party closes on Jan. 25th so order soon!

http://www.liasophia.us/sites/tiffanyidano/catalog-intro

New Year, New Projects!

2011-01-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

Happy 2011 everyone! I hope that you all had the best of holidays. I know that our family had a wonderful holiday season. We are looking forward to what the new year has in store for us.

At the end of last month I had been hinting around to a new project that was in the works. I did not want to divulge too much information in the case that the project fell through. Well, I am excited to reveal that I will be making 38 costumes for Stage Presence for Dancers opening number! My daughter, Brianna, dances there and I was asked by Heather, the owner/instructor, if I would be interested in making some costumes for her high school girls. Of course I jumped at the opportunity!

I just received my first shipment of fabric on Monday and have started the process of cutting the pieces for satin skirts with a double layer of tulle to go under them. Each skirt will have either a back bustle, a double back bustle, or a front apron. Every skirt will have a unique color combination. No two are alike! This is an original design that is going to look fabulous!

I am looking forward to posting pictures of the process. The girls will be having professional pictures taken at the end of March. I am aiming to have the majority (if not all) of the costumes completed by then. Keep checking back for updates on how assembly is going and I will try to have some pictures for you!

CraftCult Widget

2010-12-21T20:35:00.000-05:00

Just trying out the new widget from CraftCult. You can choose an Etsy treasury that you have made or one that you have been featured in and post it directly to your blog. How cool is that?! In the past I've tried to take a "snapshot" of the treasury screen, but it never seems to work out for me. Thanks go out to CraftCult for making life a little easier!

The treasury below features members of the Etsy MaineTeam. My black dress is located on the right!

Christmas Countdown

2010-12-20T21:35:00.000-05:00

December 20th. Where did the month go? I could've sworn we just finished our Thanksgiving turkey the other day. I feel like I haven't accomplished everything I wanted to do before Christmas, but then again, do I ever? I run around in circles trying to make sure everything is done and that I have covered all the bases of decorating, baking, gifts, cards, and cleaning (for any guests who may pop in). I promised myself that I would make my best attempt this year to cut out some of the things that cause me to stress out. I told my husband I was cutting back on the baking this year, but then I went and bought all of the ingredients "just in case" I changed my mind. In the end, I did all of the baking I hadn't planned on doing. I finished all of my shopping and wrapping ahead of schedule this year too. Weird. The only thing I ommitted this year was mailing out Christmas cards. I love Christmas cards, but just wasn't going to have the added stress of getting photo cards printed, going through my address book, standing in line for overpriced stamps, and making sure they were mailed on time. So, it's E-cards or no cards for everyone on my list this year!

My "still-to-do" list isn't very long, so I suppose I should feel good about it. I have jumpers to make for each of my girls. I have the fabric, notions, and pattern, I just haven't had the time to get in there and do it. Tomorrow is the last day I'm even going to think about having them finished in time for Christmas. I can't stress over it. They'll get to wear them at some point...maybe I'll make them a size larger and put them away for next year!

The last of my baking will be done on Christmas Eve. I usually make cinnamon rolls by making the dough in my bread machine. Last year my machine broke on Christmas Eve. I ended up making the dough by hand, and though it took a good part of the day, they were the best cinnamon rolls I've ever made. No need for a machine this year; I'll be making them from scratch again!

Hoping the last 5 days of your holiday preparations are enjoyable!
~Angela~

More From the Etsy MaineTeam

2010-12-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are a few other wonderful crafters from the Etsy MaineTeam!

Hope Cooley from Little Moose Diapers has a fantastic assortment of cloth diapers and diapering supplies. Children with sensitive skin will surely benefit from wearing these soft diapers! They are eco-friendly and wallet friendly as well! As someone who has made cloth diapers in the past, I can say that it is no easy task. Props to you Hope for coming up with a great line of products and making it look easy! Check out Little Moose Diapers at http://www.littlemoosediapers.etsy.com/ and http://www.littlemoosediapers.com/.

Pat from Patania had a space across from me at the Etsy craft fair last weekend. She specializes in handmade toys and totes. At the fair she had a wide variety of felted hedgehogs which attracted a lot of attention! These little guys (or girls) seemed to have individual personalities. Young and old would stop by her table to feel how soft they were, ask questions about them, and watch her demo on how she makes them. They were so cute and cuddly! If you are looking for an original gift idea, this is a great one! Check out her hedgehogs and other handmade goods at http://www.patania.etsy.com/

Etsy Was Here

2010-12-06T20:27:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you all know that the first Etsy MaineTeam craft fair was held on Saturday. I think it was a great success and am looking forward to the next one! With over 34 crafters this fair had something for everyone. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with many of the crafters there and really get to know the person behind the craft. Here is a picture of my space at the fair.

The fair was organized by Nancy Desrosiers who designs handcrafted jewelry. Her business is called All Strung Out and can be found on Etsy. She has some very beautiful pieces! If you are looking for some great jewelry for a loved one this Christmas be sure to check out her Etsy shop!

I had the pleasure of having a table across from Norma Lee Gunn of Spruce Cottage Knits. She makes adorable hats, socks, and booties for infants through adults. Her felted mittens and booties are so soft and crafted with such care.

There were so many talented people there, I am unable to list them all in one blog post, but over the next few weeks I will be featuring some others that I had the chance to meet with.

Etsy MaineTeam Craft Fair

2010-12-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to come check out the Etsy MaineTeam Craft Fair tomorrow! It is being held at John Martin's Manor on College Ave. in Waterville from 9-4. Over 30 crafters will be showing their wares! Feel good about getting all of your Christmas shopping done in one place while supporting local artists!

*Jewelry          *Books         *Scarves
*Baby items     *Folk art       *Soaps
*Clothing         *Sculptures    *Lotions
*Bags              *Paintings       *Cosmetics
*Fiber arts       *Pottery         *Toys

AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS!!

Eleventeen Apparel will be there with a rack of sample items that can be purchased immediately or ordered in custom measurements/fabrics. I will also have snack bags in various colors/patterns.

Disney World

2010-11-24T19:55:00.000-05:00

My husband and I took our girls to Disney World at the beginning of November. What a great time we had! My father-in-law and his fiancee were able to come along with us, which made the trip even better. It was nice to have two extra sets of hands to help with the girls, take pictures, and just enjoy the trip with us! We purchased the park hopper pass and saw all four Disney Parks in the five days we were on vacation. We enjoyed a character breakfast at Animal Kingdom one morning, saw the Electric Parade at Magic Kingdom one night, and attended Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on our last night in Orlando.

Our daughter Brianna (5) had the time of her life. She took in every bit of everything she saw. It was all so magical for her! To see her eyes light up with each corner we turned was priceless. We took her to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique where they made her up like a princess. She was chosen to sit in the special window seat where everyone walking by could see her transformation as they did her hair, nails, and makeup. It was worth every penny and she will have many fabulous memories of our trip!

Our daughter Audrey (3) will tell you that she had the best time ever, but we didn't see it there! haha! Her personality is so different from Brianna's. She is a natural grumpy pants, and she lived that to a tee in Disney World! She seemed to dislike everything about Disney. She didn't want to go on the rides, see the characters, watch the parade or fireworks, or even eat dinner. We had to force her to go on rides, (which she absolutely LOVED once we were on them). We also had to drag her to the parade (which again, she LOVED once it started). She had a great time with the characters when she was meeting them. She is just a tough child and her answer to every question was a big fat "NO". She pretty much lived off trailmix and fries all week. In hindsight, we would've waited another year to bring her!

Here are a few pictures of our trip. We plan on going back in 4 or 5 years when Audrey will be old enough to enjoy it and remember it!

Evening Treasury

2010-11-05T10:01:00.001-04:00

I want to thank Lana Stepul for including my two-tone top in her latest treasury! This was a treasury created around items that are caramel colored. What great picks. I'm thrilled to be included in this collection.

This is the top featured in the following treasury. Hair and makeup by Lasha Keller of Solstice Salon in Winslow, ME. Photo by Chris Bolduc Photography.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cd2e79233bd6d917370220e/craving-caramel

Here are a few of my favorites by Lana Stepul, creator of the above treasury.

Labels

2010-11-03T22:17:00.000-04:00

Last week I was ready to order some new sew-in labels, but the crafter I have purchased them from in the past no longer makes them. I did some searching on Etsy and found a company in Paris that makes printed satin sew-in labels. Hobbytime makes beautiful labels! I love them and will be purchasing all of my labels from them from now on.

Hobbytime prints care labels, size labels, and business logo sew-in tags. Check them out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/hobbytime?ga_search_query=hobbytime&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

Etsy MaineTeam Craft Fair

2010-10-31T15:31:00.000-04:00

Come support local artists at the Etsy MaineTeam craft fair! This year, the craft fair is being held at the former John Martin's Manor in Waterville. Over 30 crafters will be attending. With so many vendors and types of items to choose from, you should be able to find gifts for everyone on your list!

I will be showing some new items along with my best-selling pieces. I will also be taking special orders and appointments for fittings. Stop over for a day of shopping and fun!

Wedding pictures

2010-10-17T20:25:00.000-04:00

Last weekend my friends Sarah and Brian were married. I met Brian back in 2003. We worked together at Bull Moose Music. Over the three years I worked there, we became great friends. Through him I became great friends with his now-wife, Sarah. I was so honored that Sarah asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding and even asked me to make her wedding dress and bridal party dresses. I had never really made formalwear before, but I wanted to take on the challenge and make something special for Sarah's big day.

Here are some pictures of the wedding!

Princess Treasury

2010-10-13T10:05:00.000-04:00

Woke up this morning to find I am featured in a new treasury called "Princess for a Night". Thanks to Jim from Kubera Cove for including my dress! This treasury has many beautiful dresses in it. Check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cb5406d05d28eef3eca3a1f/princess-for-a-night#4cb5b5edd3c86d91a822a5ee

The wedding was perfect on Sunday. I was so happy to be a part of Sarah and Brian's special day! More photos to come this week.

October Wedding

2010-09-28T21:16:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally have some pictures to post of the finished bridesmaid dress. Michelle came for a final fitting today. The dress fits perfectly, so she was able to bring it home. This evening I worked on my own dress which I'm hoping will be complete by Sunday. There isn't much left to do, I just don't have a whole lot of free time this week to do it! Ahhh! That's how it goes though, I'm a busy lady and I like it that way!

Anyway, here are some pictures of the completed dress. This is a strapless red satin gown with princess seams. It is fully lined in China silk. There is a zipper at the back with hook & eye closure at the top. I made a 2" wide black satin belt which complements the bride's dress.

Fall Cardigans

2010-09-12T09:31:00.001-04:00

I just found out this morning that I had been featured in an Etsy treasury on Sept. 1st. The treasury featured fall cardigans. I will actually be making more of this style of cardigan in three new colors for the fall season. I'm hoping to get some pictures of the new fabric swatches up this week. Pre-order in your size/color! Here is the link to the treasury. Thank you for including me ecoecono!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c7dd434a5948eef6038c429/autumn-wear-cardigans-shrugs-shawls-etc?index=0

Now Available!

2010-09-07T10:10:00.000-04:00

Is there a wedding or some other formal occasion in your future? The dress below is now available for special order on Etsy. Choose from a white or black satin dress. An extra long 2" wide satin belt will be included for you free of charge! Belt colors are white, black, or red satin. The choice is yours, mix or match! To see the details of this dress go to http://www.eleventeenapparel.etsy.com/.

Please allow 8-10 weeks for dress to be completed as it is made in your specific measurements!
The perfect dress with the perfect fit!

Pictures

2010-08-23T07:36:00.000-04:00

Here are some professional pictures of Sarah in her dress. It was hard to pick just three! The photo shoot went very well. I am extremely happy with the way the photos came out.

The Finished Wedding Dress

2010-08-16T12:35:00.000-04:00

It is finished! From mock-up to complete gown, this project has been a wonderful learning experience for me. Thank you to God for giving me a creative mind and able hands. He has been with me every step of the way. Thank you to Sarah who had faith in me even though I had never really made a formal gown before. What a rewarding experience, to make a wedding gown for a very good friend of mine!

I look forward to the next few months as I put together the dresses for the bridesmaids. I will have some step-by-step photos posted of those as I go through the process of making the dresses.

Formal photos done by Chris Bolduc Photography will be taken in the near future. For now I have posted some pictures of the bride in her finished gown with a red veil. (I have yet to make her red satin belt to accompany the dress). Enjoy!

If you are interested in ordering formalwear from Eleventeen Apparel please contact me at http://www.eleventeenapparel.com/.

~Angela~

Pictures!

2010-08-03T14:03:00.000-04:00

Sarah sent me over some pictures of her last fitting. The dress fits like a glove! I am now in the home stretch. The past few days I have been working on covering buttons (29 to be exact), that will be sewn to the zipper flap. After these are all in place the dress will be pinned up and hemmed. I am looking forward to seeing the finished dress on her.

UPS just delivered my bridesmaid fabric today! I will be starting on those at the end of next week. Sarah's belt/sash will also be made of the same red fabric. The wedding party will be very well coordinated!

Here are a few pictures of Sarah in her dress. (These were taken before I put the lining in). Hopefully the next pictures I post will be of the finished wedding gown!

Fitting

2010-07-20T08:30:00.000-04:00

Sarah came over for a fitting on Saturday. The dress looks great on her and only needs a tiny bit taken in. In order to do this I will need to remove some of the boning, take it in, and replace the boning. I will be doing the same to the lining. This is a busy week for me with work and swimming lessons for the girls, but I am hoping I can get all adjustments made by Friday when she will return to try the dress on and get things finalized for her bridesmaid dress order! So glad that things are going smoothly with the dress. I'm looking forward to finishing it and seeing the final product on her! My father-in-law, Chris, will be taking photos of Sarah once the dress is finished. I plan to use these for my portfolio as well as make them available to Sarah's family for purchase.

To see my father-in-law's work check out http://www.chrisbolducphotography.com/.
Prints can be ordered directly from his site.

Accomplished!

2010-07-15T14:29:00.000-04:00

Well, I managed to get a pair of shorts made for each of my daughters also finished up the lining for Sarah's dress. I'm feeling pretty accomplished right now. I have yet to make it to the snack bags, but my husband plays soccer on Thursday nights, so I should have some free time tonight to work on those.

Sarah's next dress fitting is on Saturday afternoon. After the fitting I will be able to attach the lining to the dress and will be entering the homestretch! YAY! I'm thrilled to be getting this dress made so far in advance. (the wedding is in early October). We'll still have time for an additional fitting closer to the wedding date in case the dress needs any further adjustments.

Next Monday I will be placing an order for fabric for the two bridesmaids dresses. This will be a fairly simple design, strapless with princess seams, ankle length. The dresses will be done in red satin with black accents. Provided the fabric takes no longer than three weeks to arrive, I will have approximately two months to complete the dresses. I'm very excited to be working on additional pieces for this wedding!

Check back soon for pictures of the wedding dress as I attach the lining and start pinning up the gathers. Maybe I'll even sneak one in there of Sarah's fitting...as long as her fiancee agrees not to peek! ;-)

When it's Hazy I'm Lazy

2010-07-10T09:37:00.000-04:00

The past week in Maine has been quite uncomfortable. Hazy, hot, humid...hell-ish. My girls and I spent much of the week just trying to find ways to cool off. The house has been buzzing with air conditioners and fans. We've been out in the sprinkler, on the slip-n-slide, to Range Pond, and Long Pond. Needless to say, I hadn't even stepped into the sewing room until last evening. The humidity is finally starting to wane, so hopefully my motivation will bounce back!

Projects for the weekend:
-Finish the lining for Sarah's wedding dress. (I've been saying this all week).
-Start cutting out pieces for my fall cardigans.
-Make some snack bags from a bunch of scrap fabric I've been saving.

Let's see what I actually manage to accomplish!

New pictures

2010-06-28T20:19:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are some additional photos of Sarah's dress. These were taken after the zipper and boning were complete. This week I will be piecing together the lining. She will be in for another fitting before I attach the lining to the dress.

New pictures of the wedding gown

2010-06-25T20:47:00.000-04:00

I don't have much to write at the moment because I've been working hard on this wedding gown, but here are some new pictures. These are of the front of the dress before the boning was put in. I took these a few days ago. I should actually take some more tonight as the front/back pieces are sewn together now and the boning is in. I'm so happy with the way it came out! (it was the first time I've ever boned a dress...hahaha...how could I NOT make a crude remark here?!) Anyway, here are some pictures. I will post the new pictures over the weekend.

Father's Day

2010-06-09T15:45:00.000-04:00

Father's Day is just a few short weeks away. One of the most common Father's Day gifts is a tie. Instead of rummaging through the racks of ties at your local clothing store, why not MAKE Dad a tie that he will surely love. Choosing the fabric and taking the time to construct a tie for Dad will mean much more to him than just choosing one from a store. Here are a few great links on how to make a tie. Dad will be truly impressed!

http://www.purlbee.com/fathers-day-ties/

http://wkdesigner.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/father-son-ties/

Picture from Purlbee.com

Here Comes the Bride

2010-05-22T14:49:00.002-04:00

Last week I was asked by my Uncle's fiancee' to make her wedding dress. She knows exactly what she wants for a dress and sent me some great pictures to look over. The dress is going to have two pieces; a long satin body-skimming dress with a long chiffon overlay that meets in the center with a rhinestone covered oval. This is a beautiful design and I am excited to be able to recreate this for her!

Since they live out of state and she won't be able to have many fittings, I am opting to go with a princess seam dress which will eliminate the bust darts and make fitting a one-step process. I think the chiffon overlay is just gorgeous. The way it criss-crosses under the bust and comes together with the rhinestone oval is very flattering. I am currently up in the air about which way I am going to go on the center detail. I may do the criss cross or I may go the route of the twisted tees and twist the center area and put the oval over it. I haven't decided yet. I'll play around with both ideas in muslin to see which looks the best.

Here are some photos that she sent me. This is a great dress and I am honored to be able to recreate this for their big day!

(I don't know why the pictures are so small...when I adjust them they are blurry)

Mockup fitting

2010-05-17T12:48:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend I had my first fitting with Sarah. The dress fit very well with only a few alterations to be made in the bust area. Sarah, her mother, and grandmother all loved the dress on her. She still needs to purchase her petticoat to fill out the skirt.

I will be shopping for my fabrics and notions this week. If I am able to get my bridal fabrics locally then I can get started on the dress this weekend! The color of the finished dress will be a bit untraditional. Instead of white, the dress will be black and will have a wide red satin sash that ties in the front. It will look stunning! Bridesmaid and maid of honor will be wearing red with black accents.

Here is a picture of Sarah in her wedding dress mockup. (Ignore my workspace please!) :-)

Dress update

2010-05-10T09:17:00.000-04:00

I had some time on my hands Saturday night enabling me to finish the wedding dress mock up. I'm so glad I decided to do a test run before diving right into such an important dress. I now have full confidence in the ability the Lord has given me to create a beautiful wedding gown for my friend Sarah. I'm so excited for her to try it on this week!

The pictures below show the dress without the petticoat underneath. I'm hoping that she will bring her petticoat with her to try it on. This will make the skirt really full and gorgeous!

More Wedding Dress Pictures

2010-05-04T13:07:00.000-04:00

Here are some more pictures of the muslin wedding dress I have been working on. Tonight I plan on getting the lining finished. Lining isn't something I would normally do on a mockup, but in this case I want to make my muslin as close to the weight of the finished product as possible.

Mock up

2010-04-30T12:29:00.000-04:00

As you may know I have been working on a mock up wedding dress for a friend of mine. This dress had a lot of pieces to cut, but I have FINALLY started on the construction process. Normally when doing a mock up I wouldn't bother to line it, but in this case I want to get a feel of the weight of the dress as well as how it will fall when I tack the skirt for that cascading drape effect. I haven't really done any formal wear before, so this is an exciting new process for me. Because I have never made a formal gown, I opted to go with a commercial pattern instead of trying to draft my own completely from scratch. I have altered the commercial pattern in various ways so that I may, at some point, draft out my created design from the commercial pattern. (It's a Frankenpattern type thing!)

Here are some early pictures of the muslin pieces pinned to my dress form.

April Vacation!

2010-04-20T13:19:00.000-04:00

I sat down last night to update some of my online things and realized it has been a LONG time since I've updated my blog! A lot has happened in the past three weeks. I was part of a Ladies Night expo at Winslow Elementary School, I started a mock-up wedding gown for my friend Sarah, and I have been filling special orders! It certainly has been busy here! Hopefully this will be my "back on track" post. My goal is to post at least once a week letting you know about current projects I am working on, upcoming events, sales, and even some things going on in my personal life.

Ladies night was held at Winslow Elementary on April 10th. It was the first show of any kind I had participated in. I haven't felt comfortable doing a traditional "craft fair" because, well, to be honest, since I don't use a glue gun, I don't make jewelry, and I don't cut animal shapes out of wood I've never really felt that a craft fair was the right fit for what I do. Anyway, I decided to try this particular expo because it was going to feature businesses that were geared towards women. They were advertising businesses like Pampered Chef and Creative Memories, so I knew it wasn't going to be a regular craft show. It turned out to be a good experience for me. I made a lot of contacts, had a few sales, and was invited to come back next year. I am glad I finally stepped out of my comfort zone of online sales and word-of-mouth local sales, and tried something different. I will definately be keeping an eye out for more opportunities like this one.

Ahhh, the wedding dress. Sarah was here a few weeks ago so I could take her measurements. Since then I have cut all of my pattern pieces and started laying them out on muslin. I want to do a mock-up just to make sure the fit is right before using bridal fabric. This is the style of dress that she has requested. I think it is beautiful and I am excited to finish the mock-up to see how it looks on her! The wedding is in October, so I have plenty of time to make and alter a mock-up before sewing the finished dress.

Pricing your work

2010-03-29T21:44:00.002-04:00

Is it really that much????

How to justify the pricing of your handmade items

People that do not regularly purchase handmade items don't stop to think about the cost of materials, time planning, drafting, cutting, piecing together, and finishing a garment. We handmade artisans take pride in our work and want to create the best possible product. Quality, not quantity, is our goal.

Yes, a department store might sell a similar piece for 50% less money, but do you know where that item came from? Do you have a personal relationship with the person who made your clothing? Does it fit perfectly to the shape of your body? When you take it home and wash it are the seams going to unravel? These are all questions that one should ask before attempting to compare a department store item to a handcrafted item.

When I started Eleventeen Apparel I did it with the goal of creating limited edition and one-of-a-kind pieces in not just S, M, L sizes, but in YOUR size. Custom clothing meant for your bust, hip, waist size. Have one arm a bit larger than the other? I can make a custom top for you. Had a mastectomy and need a smaller bust area on a garmet? I can create a flattering style for you. Having a hard time finding a casual tee for a longer torso? That can also be custom made. All custom orders are done with an open line of communication between the client and myself. Additional sizing adjustments can be made after the client tries on the finished garment.

My husband is always questioning why I don't "set higher goals". He'll ask why I get upset when he suggests I go the route of mass production. He doesn't understand that what I want to do is make clothes that fit individuals...not just the cookie cutter S, M, L sizes, but REAL sizes. Here I am 1-1/2 years into my business and it is growing. People are excited that I can make a custom garment for them in THEIR size and I am excited to be able to help them.

So, before having a meltdown when looking at prices of handmade items whether it be clothing, jewelry, quilts, or other items, please take a moment to stop and think about the steps taken to make that item.

Need help pricing your handmade items? Check out these links.

http://artsandcrafts.about.com/od/marketingandadvertising/a/valueversusprice.htm
http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/tags/art-of-pricing/
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/the-ins-and-outs-of-consignment-812/
http://www.ohboydenterprises.com/HowToPriceHandmadeGoods.html

Shrug Top

2010-03-26T20:57:00.000-04:00

When asked to make a piece similar to something seen in a magazine or on the runway, I welcome the challenge. I think it is fun to study a garment, how it is made, and draft a pattern to recreate the article myself. Take this top from the Speigel catalog. It is called the Mock Shrug Tee. Made of a cotton/jersey fabric, this top is constructed like a t-shirt with an attached shrug. How fun! Add a skinny belt and slacks for work, or wear with jeans for a night out with the girls. Here is the Speigel top and my recreation.

Bringing it Back!

2010-03-18T12:27:00.000-04:00

Here in Maine we just experienced Daylight Savings Time. (For those of you who don't live in a state that has this, it is when we turn our clocks ahead an hour making the daylight last longer). As we turned those clocks ahead last weekend, I spent some time turning mine back...all the way back to the 80s.

Inspired by the 80s batwing style tops, I made this one shoulder poly-blend top. The fabric is light and stretchy allowing for lots of movement. Fit is very loose. This is currently available in red, but I will be offering more colors in the coming weeks.

Dig out those crimpers girls!

Spring Cleaning

2010-03-10T09:45:00.005-05:00

Spring cleaning shouldn't exclude your closet. It's time to give your closet a makeover this season! Give away anything that you haven't worn in over a year. Add to that anything that no longer fits. (You can't hang onto those jeans that are 2 sizes too small forever!) There are many good charities that will take those clothes that have been just sitting in your closet, and give them or sell them at a reduced price to people who would greatly appreciate them.

Next, let's tackle the shoes. Most women have a TON of shoes! If you don't wear them, give them away! They aren't doing any good sitting in your closet collecting dust.

Look at the space you've made! Take an inventory of your current wardrobe. What are you missing? Do you have the staple pieces that all women should have? Read the articles below from Marie Claire magazine. These are interviews done with Tim Gunn who outlines the building blocks of fashion and answers some style questions.

http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/trends/articles/tim-gunn-fashion-building-blocks
http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/trends/articles/tim-gunn-style-answers

So, what is your closet missing? A fabulous pair of black dress pants? A great fitting jacket? To get a custom fit garment that is made for your body to your personal measurements I suggest checking out Etsy.com. There are many wonderful fashion designers/seamstresses that could fill that hole in your closet with clothing custom made for you.

Below are some links to designers who take custom orders. Shop handmade and get a custom fit!

http://www.eleventeenapparel.etsy.com/
http://www.reddoll.etsy.com/
http://www.vennicaprice.etsy.com/
http://www.moderneradesign.etsy.com/

Modern Era Design Red Doll

Venni Caprice Eleventeen Apparel

Scrappy-Ts

2010-03-08T13:55:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I started going through my fabric stash making up color block tees with scrap pieces of jersey fabric that I had stashed away. Each one unique, you'll never "run into yourself". Currently I have only one of these listed in my Etsy shop. The other two are set to hit Etsy sometime this week. Shirts are $35 each. If you want to reserve one of these shirts for yourself before it enters the shop AND receive free shipping, leave a comment below with your e-mail address, shirt choice, and hem choice (raw edge or serged/topstitched).

Sizing:
Tangerine/sage XS
Purple/black S
Tangerine/gray/sage S

These stretchy tees feature 3/4 length sleeves, large neck openings (for one shoulder or traditional fit), contoured waist/hip area, and serged seams. All hems edges are left raw, but can be serged and topstitched upon request.

Cleaning House

2010-03-04T19:26:00.000-05:00

If any of you sew like I do, you have bits of thread all over the carpet, pieces of scrap fabric stuffed into every corner, and projects strewn all over the cutting table to the point where you can no longer use it. I took the entire morning to thoroughly "spring clean" my sewing room. I threw out a huge back of scrap fabric that was really unusable (but I held onto it thinking I'd eventually find a use for it!). I reorganized my storage and cleaned off my table. I also took the final step to make it a completely "kid-free" space. No more toys piling up against one wall. My girls now have ample storage space in the living room for all of their favorite toys. AAHHHHH! I feel like I can breathe again and not have an anxiety attack when I step foot in that room.

I wish had had some "before" pictures, but you would've had nightmares after looking at them! Here are a few shots of my space. I feel so motivated to get in there and tackle some half-finished projects now!

Think Spring??? Let's Go Right to Summer

2010-02-28T14:50:00.000-05:00

What a winter this has been for the East coast! Record amounts of snow in the mid-Atlantic, while up here in central Maine we haven't had a snow storm since New Year's Day. Since then we've had plenty of rain and warm temps to melt all of the existing snow giving way to an early and messy mud season.

I'm looking forward to spring...although I have a feeling we're not out of the woods yet. I'm sure March will have some tricks up it's sleeve. We'll more than likely have a whopper of a snow storm to hit us in the coming month.

So, let's skip talking about spring altogether. Let's jump right into summer. Beaches, clear skies, hot sun...nothing is better than summer! Get a head start on your summer wardrobe with a beachy sarong, the perfect bathing suit coverup!

For the sarong below I chose a red/orange cotton batik with a floral print. A batik is a type of dyeing technique. The colors are very saturated.

The top is designed to tie in the front or use a special clip to keep it in place. This top has a slight cap sleeve. All seams are serged and hems are finished with a rolled edge.

A sarong skirt is traditionally a large rectangle of fabric that can be twisted, tied, and folded in a variety of ways to acheive different looks. This skirt is made of the same material as the top. All seams are serged and all hems are finished with a rolled edge.

This particular sarong was a custom order. I do plan on making more and adding them to the shop in the coming months! Until then, you can place your custom order at http://www.eleventeenapparel.etsy.com/

Emerging Artist!

2010-02-23T21:20:00.006-05:00

Looking for signs of spring? Take a look at the artwork of klbaileyArt on Etsy! Kirsten is an artist from Australia who enjoys working in watercolour and acrylics. She creates pieces to hang on your wall as well as wearable art. Most of her work is inspired by the seasons.

This is one of my favorite pieces by klbaileyArt. I love the vibrant colors and how each tree is made up of tiny swirls. This is an original watercolour. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35888497

Another favorite of mine is 'Little Spring Field'. The flowing flowers and light colors will surely make you think spring!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40200233

Here's a beautiful pendant made from an original print titled 'Growing'. I'm looking forward to spring and this is a great piece to wear with a new spring outfit!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37693402

Check out Kirsten's other pieces at the links below.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/klbaileyART

http://twitter.com/kirstenbailey

http://www.klbaileyart.com/

T-Shirt Madness

2010-02-20T09:20:00.002-05:00

As a seamstress I have a TON of fabric. Some of my fabric stash is in small pieces, under a yard. These pieces are great for children's clothing, but not large enough to really do anything for an adult. Yesterday afternoon I pulled out some of these small lengths trying to decide what to do with them. I have a lot of jersey fabric and finally decided to do some color block T-shirts with it.

I drafted out a pattern for a 3/4 slightly bell sleeved T-shirt. This shirt features an extra wide neckline which can sit on both shoulders or slightly off one. Longer length, sits at hip. One side of the shirt is sage green and the other is a muted tangerine. The back is identical to the front. All seams are serged. I chose to leave the edges raw to keep with the easy-comfort look.

I have listed the one below on Etsy and will have a few others up in the coming week. These Ts are one of a kind (as I only had enough fabric to do one in each color combo). Sizes will vary depending on the amount of fabric I have in each color. This particular color combo was made in an XS. Larger sizes will be available in other color combos.

I tried one of these shirts on and really loved the fit and comfort of it. Needless to say, at least one of these has found its way into my closet!

This morning I was pleasantly surprised to find that my koi fish top has been featured in a "Tropical" blog on handmade spark. Check out the link below to read the blog post and see all of the featured items related to a Tropical Holiday!

http://handmadespark.com/blog/tropical-holiday-2/

Oh Baby pt.2

2010-02-15T19:41:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to post these pictures for a few days now. Things have been super busy here lately! Anyway, these are the pictures of the completed diaper bag I did for a friend of mine. I used a discontinued 'Charm' sage paisley print by Amy Butler. Her prints are fantastic and the quality of her fabrics is superior. I lined this bag in solid pink. It has one large interior pocket. The straps are made from pink belt webbing which is very durable.

To go with the diaper bag I made a waterproof changing pad for those times when a changing table isn't available. This is made of a floral fashion fabric by Robert Kaufman backed with PUL to make it waterproof. A layer of Zorb is sandwiched in between to add padding as well as wick away moisture from the fashion fabric layer. I added some sewn-in ties so that this can be rolled or folded and easily packed into the diaper bag.

Treasury

2010-02-13T08:27:00.000-05:00

I received a message this morning from klBaileyART that she included me in her treasury titled Bright Sparks. She has some fantastic items included in her treasury and I'm so happy she chose me to be a part of it!

Bright Sparks treasury

Oh Baby!

2010-02-10T09:24:00.000-05:00

One of my dearest friends just had her first child, Gabrielle, a few months ago. Over the course of her pregnancy, she and her husband chose not to find out the sex of the baby. I wanted to do something special for her once the baby was born and the gender was known. My intentions were to make a really nice day-trip diaper bag for her for her, fill it with all kinds of goodies, and send it out for Christmas. Well, things got super crazy over the holidays and my project was never finished. Here it is February, and I'm finally finishing this up. I feel bad because I really wanted to get this out for Christmas!

I chose a discontinued Amy Butler 'Charm' print. It is a nice sage green paisely with hints of pink throughout. The lining is solid pink. The interior has a single large pocket. I used pink belt webbing for the straps as it is really durable. I've also made a coordinating waterproof changing pad.

I'm hoping to get pictures of the finished bag up this evening. In the meantime, here is a picture of the fabric I've used on the exterior of the bag. I'm so excited to get it finished and finally get this sent out to her!

Doo Dads and Thing-ama-bobs

2010-02-06T15:22:00.000-05:00

I'm always looking for ways to save time, be more efficient, and generally become better and what I do. I was "window shopping" on Clotilde.com today (an online source of sewing and quilting notions), when I came across some neat things. I'd like to hear from anyone who owns any of these fancy little tools! Do they work? Do you use them on a daily basis, or are they simply taking up space in your sewing basket?

This is great, especially if you have little ones around, like I do, who may be inclined to pick things up from the sewing room floor. It is a telescoping pin magnet. It extends to 24" making it easy to pick up pins that may have fallen on the floor, rolled under the baseboard heat, etc. It can hold up to 5 pounds. (not sure if I own anywhere near 5 lbs. of pins...but good to know).

Then there's the bendable 120 volt bright light. I could see myself using this, except for the fact that you need to actually mount it onto your machine. I wish there was another way to attach it. I would say magnet, but you know they don't make sewing machines like they used to. The majority of them are plastic now!

Finally, I found this Make-A-Zipper spool. Great concept if you need an odd-length fixed zipper...but, how often does that happen? Enough to buy this? Would it be easier to go to your local fabric shop, purchase a zipper, and shorten it yourself?

Those are my notion finds for today. I can't wait to get some feedback on you sewers out there who may own one or more of these items. Let me know if they are a must-have!

All items can be found at http://www.clotilde.com/

The Sewing Machine Song

2010-02-05T09:54:00.001-05:00

Found this clip from the "Perils of Pauline", a musical from 1946 starring Betty Hutton. Very funny, enjoy!

That's a (Faux) Wrap!

2010-02-01T19:13:00.001-05:00

A lot of times I like to take random pieces of fabric, throw them together and see what I get. That's exactly how I came up with this faux wrap dress.

I had a rather large piece of silkies fabric in pink and black left over from a nightie I made a while back. It was kind of an odd shape, but worked perfectly for an asymmetrical skirt. I always have plenty of jersey on hand, so I made up a quick tube top with elastic sewn into the top and attached it to the skirt. The skirt has some added bulk on the left side that cascades down the side giving the illusion of a wrap skirt. I added a simple tie belt in the same fabric. When knotted on the side it makes a perfect looking faux wrap dress! This is a simple pull over style.

This dress would be very cute for dinner on the beach, a night on the town, or just as a lazy summer day dress. The ease of just "throwing it on", and the dressy look to the silky fabric will have people thinking you spent all day getting ready! Heads will be turning in this little number.

Here are my amateur pics. If you've been following my blog you know that I have yet to coordinate a photoshoot with my photographer. Hoping for this weekend! This dress will be added to my Etsy shop and to eleventeenapparel.com as soon as I get some nice photos taken. If you have any questions about this dress or other pieces by eleventeenapparel, please feel free to contact me. This is a one of a kind dress. If you are interested before it goes in the shop, let me know!

Special Preview

2010-01-26T19:12:00.004-05:00

I have been working on some new items over the past few days. The pictures aren't the best, but I wanted to get my clothing out there to show everyone what I've been doing! My father-in-law, who runs Chris Bolduc Productions, takes all of the good photos for me! (You can totally tell who took which pictures in my Etsy shop!) Anyway, I'm hoping to get together with him sometime very soon to have a photoshoot for my new items as well as for the items currently in my shop that need better photos.

I wanted to do a gaucho pant that would be good for spring/summer. I chose a

medium weight polyester material instead of a light, airy, strictly summer fabric. This way the pants can be worn in the spring, on cool summer nights, and even into the fall. These pants were done in Kelly Green; I like the boldness of the color.

This tube top is pretty much your basic tube top. I made it quite a bit longer than ones I have made in the past. This style is meant to sit at thigh level. It is fitted from top to bottom. This piece would look fabulous with a pair of stretch leggings. (Leggings are currently on my "to-sew" list). Fabric is a lightweight jersey in a gray/white stripe pattern with threads of silver in the stripes. I have accented the front with tiny rhinestones to give it a real feminine feel.

Hopefully these will be up on Etsy by early next week! The gauchos are currently available in small and medium. The tube top is only made up in a small right now, but other sizes will be available soon. Feel free to e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing either piece before it shows up on Etsy!

Featuring Venni Caprice

2010-01-23T16:44:00.005-05:00

Venni Caprice is a handmade clothing line made by Boston native, Lori DiVincenzo. She built her label from the ground up over the past few years. She has had no formal training in fashion design or sewing; she is self-taught. Lori began selling her handmade clothing on eBay. Once her designs started taking off, she opened an Etsy shop. Finding great success on Etsy, Lori was able to open up a second shop with higher end items. She then started http://www.vennicaprice.com/ in the Fall of 2009. Venni Caprice is a "one woman show" taken to the next level. Lori designs and constructs every item in her shops. She also models her own clothing, takes her own photos, and even does the photo editing! She is on FaceBook, MySpace, she Tweets, she blogs, and she vlogs. You name it, she's got her hand in it promoting and growing her business. What a talented woman!

I own some of Lori's work and it is amazing. Her fabrics are high quality and her sewing skills are to perfection. Her clothing is fashionable, comfortable, and made to last. Though I haven't met her in person, I consider Lori a friend of mine as we have kept in touch through e-mail over the past two years. She is a hardworker, a fashionista, and definately has her act together when it comes to her business!

Here are some of my favorite pieces from Venni Caprice. The first two items are from http://www.vennicaprice.etsy.com/.

This is the Enigma dress from the 'Basics' collection. It is a strapless bubble dress with an Obi belt. Bust is made from poly cotton jersey. Skirt is cotton. This dress is made to order in your size! Available in XS-L.

The Deluxe Valentine's Hoodie features an Obi belt, victorian sleeves, and an oversized hood. This is a limited edition piece that is only available once a year! Available in XS, S, M, L. This is also made to order.

Here are some of my favorites from the sister store, http://www.vco2.etsy.com/.

The Sarina cap sleeved jacket comes in two colors, peach or seafoam. This is a wrap style jacket made with sweatshirt fleece. Ruffle is made from silk or jersey. Again, this is made to order in
XS-L.

How fabulous is this dress?! This is the Sasha Cocktail bubble dress. The one pictured here is in rust/tomato, but it is available in other colors. Dress features a stretch satin bust and belt, crinkle poly blend bottom, and a jersey liner.

If you enjoyed seeing these pieces by Venni Caprice, please visit the websites below to see all of the collections and one of a kind pieces that are available! Support small businesses and handmade artists like Lori and her label, Venni Caprice!

http://www.vennicaprice.etsy.com/
http://www.vco2.etsy.com/
http://www.vennicaprice.com/

Follow Venni Caprice on Facebook and Twitter!

??Priorities??

2010-01-15T12:05:00.001-05:00

I spent some of my lunch hour today catching up on the blogs I follow. One of them, inkOBSESSIONdesigns, had a post today about how she may have too much on her plate and needs to reprioritize things. I feel the same way!

I am a part time medical transcriptionist and work from home. Working from home has its ups and downs. I don't need to put my children in daycare, I am here to make meals, do laundry, and keep the house in order. On the flip side, there are a lot of distractions. I find myself playing referee a lot with the kids having to break up petty arguments. There is also more time away from my typing for making snacks, wiping bottoms, finding lost crayons, you name it. Sometimes I feel I could get a lot more work done if I worked say, in a hospital setting or doctor's office. On the other hand I would need to pay for daycare and would have to hurry home at 5:00 to make a quick dinner, bathe the kiddos, and get them in bed at a decent hour. Not sure I want that stress.

Then there is the sewing business. I started my business in October of 2008. It has been growing slowly, but steadily. I find I need more time to devote to my sewing, which is where my heart is. I sit here typing medical reports for the majority of the day, but find myself constantly thinking about what patterns I am going to draft next, what fabrics to buy, what garments to make. My head says, "keep with the MT job for a steady pay check", but my heart says, "you really don't like the type of work you do...why not take the plunge and do something that you love." It's a tough battle and I fight it every single day.

Let's move on to my support system. Well, my husband is all for the sewing, as a hobby. He doesn't believe it is a full time business kind of thing. He's always been the type to go to work "for the Man" and bring home a fat check whether he likes the job or not. I'm the opposite. I'll take a smaller check in favor of a job I love. He tends to discourage me from taking the sewing business to the next level. In order for it to grow I need to be able to devote more time to it. I feel like I am being pulled in two opposite directions, but, as a Christian, I need to listen to my husband and not just up and quit my job to pursue my dream.

Do any of you crafters find yourself in the same situation? Pulled between a "real job" and a real job you love? How are you managing your time? I would love to hear from you!

Valentine's Project

2010-01-13T12:52:00.001-05:00

Santa brought my 5-year-old daughter a sewing machine for Christmas. She has a real interest in learning to sew like Mommy. Awwww...yes, I'm psyched about it!

We have been starting with super simple things since her attention span is about as long as my pinkie finger. The first time we sat down I went over the parts of the machine, what to touch and what not to touch, and how the machine worked. She wasn't too interested in the details, she just wanted to do a project! I had her make a simple sleeping bag for her Barbie by taking two pieces of fabric right sides together and sewing along two long sides and one short side. It took maybe 15 minutes total time, but she was soooo proud of her accomplishment!

The second time she wanted to make a birthday gift for my husband. We decided on little pouches for his Wii controllers. (Again, 3 straight stitches). She picked out some nice football print fleece and went to work. The excitement and anticipation of what Daddy was going to think of her work put a huge smile on my face. She was so proud as she handed him the two fleece pouches.

She is ready to do another project now, but I know she must be tiring of the same old three stitch process. I found this Valentine buddy on Craft Elf. http://www.craftelf.com/Craft_elf_Valentine_Stuffed_heart_person.htm

I think it will be the perfect next step to take in her sewing journey. I know that her little sister will be tickled pink when she gets this Valetine from her big sister, handmade with love.

Gotta Have it!

2010-01-11T19:44:00.000-05:00

I'm very new to Twitter. I just signed up last week actually. My first week "Tweeting" has been a very fun experience. I have been introduced to many other crafters that, like myself, have a passion for their work. I came across this crafter, TJB Designs the other day. I was checking out her Etsy shop this morning and fell in love with her scissor fobs. What a great idea! These would be very helpful when attending a sewing class or goup, as your scissors will stand out from the crowd and be very easy to find.

TJB Designs creates scissor fobs, stitch markers, and counting pins. She uses glass and porcelain beads as well as bone, wood, and acrylic depending on the design. The tassels and cording are also handmade using embroidery thread. What a beautiful gift for anyone who knits, sews, or crochets!

Visit TJB Designs at http://www.etsy.com/shop/TJBdesigns

Draping Part III

2010-01-08T21:06:00.000-05:00

I finally finished my very first draping project. It came out pretty good actually! I tried it on this evening, but no one was around to take a picture of me in it and I'm not so great with the self-timer. I do have a few pictures of the finished shirt on my dress form though!

As I mentioned in the last post, all I had left to finish was putting the hem in this top and trying it on for fit. I played with the neckline a little and came to the conclusion that this top can be worn completely off both shoulders, resting slightly on one shoulder, or pulled all the way up to the neck on one side. Depending on how much skin you want to show it looks great all three ways!

I do believe I will be adding this design to my Summer 2010 line. I'll have to do some fabric shopping to find the perfect colors/prints!

Draping Part II

2010-01-07T14:24:00.002-05:00

The learning continues as I teach myself to drape. This morning I put an elastic in the neck edge of my shirt. This was a step that could not be passed over. No one wants to wear a shirt that is constantly falling down! I measured the elastic on my dress form prior to deciding how much to use. After making a simple casing and sliding the elastic through, I put the shirt on the dress form to make sure the fit was correct.

Being happy with the neckline, I proceeded to finish the sleeve. Remember, this was supposed to be a long sleeved top, but was adapted to a short flutter sleeve after realizing I didn't allow enough room in the sleeve for an arm that was any bigger than, say a 5-year-old's. I thought I could do an easy rolled hem on the sleeve and have it come out fabulous...WRONG! This is my rolled hem sleeve edge. Not so wonderful.

After mulling over my options, I finally settled on finishing the sleeve the usual way, with a nice hem. I'm pleased with the way it looks!

I did cut the shirt to the length that I prefer. Tonight I will put a nice hem on it and hopefully be ready to try on the finished garment! I will have a final post regarding this shirt with finished pictures, stay tuned!

Newbie to Draping

2010-01-06T09:19:00.000-05:00

I've always admired the people who can take a piece of fabric, throw it over a dress form, play around with it, pin it, and make it into something stunning. I'm a flat pattern kind of gal. I design flat patterns, cut my fabric, and sew garments from them. From what I've heard, flat pattern making is a little more difficult because of all the measuring, but for some reason I find it comes easily to me.

Last night I decided it was time to expand my horizons and try draping. Mind you, I have no books, pamphlets, or anything else to help me in my journey. I thought I could just "wing it" and figure things out along the way. I know of some good draping text books, but, call me cheap, I'm not willing to spend $89.99 on a fashion text book right now.

I invite you to join me on my journey in learning to drape. Everything I have done is purely by trial and error. I have a page of directions I am writing along the way. This will be of great help when I start making duplicates of draped garments.

I have this great piece of stretchy fabric with shades of purple, white, and black stripes. There is also a pinstripe of silver in the pattern. I've had this fabric for well over a year and it just hasn't "spoken" to me yet. I dug it out last night and decided to use this fabric to give draping a whirl. I wanted to start with a simple project before delving into something more complex, so my plan was to create a one-shoulder top with a single long bell sleeve.

The first thing I did was drape the fabric on the bias (for that slimming effect!) over one shoulder of my dressform. I pinned the side seams and where I wanted the sleeve to be.

Next I cut the side seams and both sides and left room for the sleeve opening on the other side.

My next step was to sew up the side seams making sure to leave sufficient room for a sleeve opening. My original idea was for a long bell sleeve.

Finally, after sewing up the side seams I realized the sleeve opening I left was too narrow. I'm a small girl and even my biceps wouldn't fit through that opening! Time for some rethinking. I cut the sleeve length off and split the side seam a bit to create a larger opening. Now I'm looking at a flutter sleeve.

So, this is where I am now. I will be finishing the neck edge, sleeve, and hemming the shirt in the following day or two. I'll be sure to post pics on how the process is going. So far, so good!

Fabulous Fleece

2010-01-04T15:31:00.001-05:00

When in the midst of a big winter storm like the one we experienced this past weekend, nothing beats cuddling up in some cozy fleece clothes with a good book or a good movie...if you don't have kids. If you have kids like mine, they'll want to take advantage of all that fresh white snow. Here are some pieces I created over the weekend. Perfect winter-wear for snowman making, fort building, and snowball fights.

This vest is totally reversible. Pattern on one side, solid on the other. Warm and comfortable as outerwear on a mild winter day. Layer it over a thermal or a turtleneck and you are good to go! This can also be worn as a regular indoor vest. This is a child's size 5/6. Vest is available in other colors and sizes.

A fleece hat will surely keep that noggin' warm when playing outside. This is a flap-style hat with braided fleece strips on each side. Fleece pompom adorns the top. Matching mittens are also fleece. This particular pair is straight cut with a raw edge making tucking them into a coat a breeze! Mittens can also be made with elastic wrist band for a snug fit. Available in other colors and sizes.

Fleece items are not listed on Etsy as of today. Follow me on Facebook and place your earlybird order there, or look for these pieces at http://www.eleventeenapparel.etsy.com/ by January 9th!

Eleventeen Apparel

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