More pattern testing!

I love trying new sewing projects but always feel a little stressed out about selling them in my shop.  I get into this mentality that if I am sewing, it should be something to sell.  My kids rarely wear clothes that I make them and not one member of my family has a handmade quilt on their bed.  Terrible, I know!  This is why I love testing patterns so much.  Remember those cute Halloween treat bags I made a few months ago?  Adorable and my kids got something fun out of it.  This time I responded to a post by Tikatuly Designs asking for people to test her patterns.  Here's how it works... selling patterns on Etsy can be very successful and fun; especially ones that have lots of pictures.  They are similar to tutorials and usually sell for a few dollars each.  However, when you make a pattern, you need to know if other's can follow what you are saying.  It's like proof reading for sewing.  Here's where I come in!  I test the pattern out and in turn get to spend a little free time making something that I am not focused on selling.  This time, my little Sophie got a new skirt out of the deal!

Tikatuly Designs is owned by a super nice person from NY.  She makes patterns for really fun, modern, children's clothing.  Here is a peak at some of her designs...

Aren't they fun?!  They are different than most of the other kids clothing patterns out there and I just love the fabrics that she uses.

So, she asked if people would test out the pattern for her asymmetrical skirt.  Let me just remind you that I do NOT make clothing often and that is because I can not follow a traditional sewing pattern to save my life.  That entire section of the fabric store is off limits to me.  However, I love finding tutorials on-line or purchasing Etsy tutorials because they are so much easier to follow.

Well this pattern is no exception.  It is PACKED with pictures.  Every time you get a bit confused, there is a fantastic picture that shows you exactly what she is talking about.  The other great thing, if you get confused at all, you just email her and she writes you back!  Fantastic!

Well here is the skirt I made today.  Please note that pictures turn out better in natural light so I had my poor little one outside in the snow with dress shoes on.  Believe me, she didn't mind.  She had a new, funky, skirt and she was in heaven.

So here are some great things about this pattern.  Typically when you buy a pattern on-line, it is about 5 pages long.  This pattern was 40+ pages.  Not great for the ink/paper supply but you really don't have to print it if you don't want to.  The reason why it is so long is because it has OPTIONS.  And she explains each on in detail.

 There were many variations on the waist but I chose to use elastic.  I happened to have some extra so this did not require a store trip.  I left some of the fabric at the top to make it ruffle a bit more to mimic the ruffly, flowy feel of the skirt.

 Then there is the hem.  She gives great instruction on how to make handmade fabric ruffle which I know I will try next time but I chose to use some left over large ric-rac I happened to have had on hand.  I like it but I think I would change it up next time.

So there is it!  I would definitely purchase a pattern from this seller in the future and I certainly hope she lets me test out future patterns. 

Anyone else have any great patterns or tutorials out there?  I love building my stash of ideas!

Where am I now?

It's so much fun when other bloggers ask if they can feature you. This week Jeanna from Barnyard Chick asked if I would like to stop by for a visit.  She has a great blog where you can even get some adorable free graphics.  I am particularly drawn to her posts about organization.  Man I could use some of that!  Stop by Barnyard Chick and check us both out!

Holy DUST Batman!

I have a confession.  My sewing area is like fabric store that vomited all over the floor.  Sorry for the graphic reference but it's the truth.  Up until 4 days ago, all of my sewing and craft stuff was spread all over the floor in our unfinished basement.  Along with said craft stuff was the random toys and snack containers my kiddos would leave behind after spending time with mama while she sewed.  It was a disaster!  I should have taken a picture to help my full disclosure but I was way too embarrassed. 

The good part about my sprawling area was the ability to expand.  Because the basement is unfinished, I claimed it all.  I could make as big of a mess as I wanted and no one would care until the weekends when my darling hubby would have to climb over the stacks to get to the washing machine...yes he does ALL the laundry.

The good news is, our basement is in it's final day of getting new drywall.  Finished basement here we come!  There is dust everywhere!  We had dreams of DIY and we were well on our way.  My husband framed everything, ran wires, and hooked up lighting.  Then when it came time to drywall, we stalled out.  At the suggestion of my stepfather, we decided to wave the white flag and hire someone to finish.  This one guy seriously hung the entire thing in 4 days and he is currently down there sanding in the middle of a cloud of white dust.

My new sewing area is going to be SO beautiful.  I just know it.  However, it is going to be super-dooper- teeny-tiny.  I'm talking closet sized.  In addition, this basement has to function as a TV area, playroom, and general living space.  I can NOT have the dis-organizational problems I had before.  So my dilemma is this... how to keep my area perfectly clean and organized when I have a 1/4 of the space to do it in.  I have searched the internet for ideas and of course I found a few on Pinterest I am going to try immediately.

Here are two of my most favorite, inspiring items I already own.  

I got a magnetic board for Christmas and I LOVE it!  In addition to the 4 little magnets (which are super strong), I also have 4 little magnetic containers that go on it.  It is perfect for my snaps and labels.  The shop is Moore Magnets and I know I am going to go back and buy a few more.

I already started organizing my fabric.  I got these two fantastic shelves from Ikea a few months ago and put all my fabric on comic book cards.  When I remember to fold them all up after every use, this has been working out really well.  Plus, I just LOVE seeing all my fabrics at my finger tips!

 Here are a few of my inspirational ideas that I stole from Pinterest.  Remember, I must use wall space when possible!

I have GOT to find a way to use the wall space in my new sewing nook.  These kitchen things from Ikea are going to be perfect for hanging up my rulers and notions.

I am going to buys a wall cabinet unit to go all the way up against the wall and ceiling and attaching jars like this will be perfect for all my ponytail holder and key fob supplies.  I have been collecting jars like this for a while and never knew what I was saving them for.  TaDa!

I have got to find a way to organize my ribbons.  I hate the round cardboard things they come on because they are constantly unwrapping.  Perhaps something like this that hangs from the kitchen racks mentioned above?

Here is another great idea.  I know I can get some ribbon in a smaller space by putting them on cards like this.  Hmmm.

 I'll keep you posted on my progress! In the mean time, I would love to hear and see what other people are doing in their favorite spaces.  Have you transformed a special space recently?  Let me know!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

This has been an interesting week for me. I have one TWO contests in the past three days! Woo Hoo! Don't they say good things come in 3s? Perhaps something else is waiting around the corner. Here's what I have won...

I won a $20 gift certificate to this great shop on Etsy called Jesse Anne Designs. She makes awesome jewelry and I can't wait to spend my winnings. Here are a few things I am considering,








Great stuff right? They are all beautiful so I am not quite sure how I am going to decide.

Next I won a radio concert. Crazy! So it was one of those typical call in, answer a question, win a prize kind of deals. I admit I call in for this contest about once a week. It always plays on my way to work and I really have nothing else to do (except drive) so I call if I think I have a chance. They never tell you the prize up front but typically it is tickets to a movie or bowling or something.

So the question: 43% of Americans will do this the day after the Super Bowl
Answer: Re-watch the commercials on-line

Yippie! I won. But what did I win? Tickets to see Andy Grammer in concert. This Thursday. And tickets to a sound check party prior to the show. Well, I am not really the concert type. I really like music but I only go to a concert about once a year. I can jam to the radio but I rarely know who sings the songs that I know all the words to. And, this is on a school night. This mother of 3 never goes out on a school night :-) I immediately called my husband, first asked him to google the band to see who in the world it is, then told him to get a sitter. We are going out! I think we will skip the sound check party to save a little cash on the baby sitter but this mommy will have a great Thursday night! Here is a video so you can jam along with me,



Well I have a feeling this is the end of my big winnings this week but it's not yours. Tomorrow starts a BIG giveaway on my blog. There will be 4 different Etsy shops giving away a great item and the winner of the giveaway gets them ALL! Check back tomorrow to see the items and to enter! See you tomorrow!

Before and After

I can't resist a good before and after preview in any magazine or on-line. There is just something about seeing a room or object transformed that gets me hooked. Today I want to share my before and afters. In my Etsy shop, photography is everything. I never knew I would have to perfect sewing and then learn some photography skills at the same time. But let's face it, a good picture can sell anything....and a bad picture of a great item won't get it sold.

I recently contacted a local photographer, Lindsay with Eclectically for You Photography, who I had personally worked with to take my family photos to see if she would be interested in helping me out in my Etsy shop. She agreed (thankfully) and it is amazing how she transformed my blah pictures into wow pictures. Now let's hope these items sell themselves.

Before:

So those pictures are not bad. They have been on my Etsy shop for a while and I have been fairly happy with them. Now these....these are GREAT!

After:

I am so in love with my new pictures. If you would like to find out more about Lindsay or Eclectically For You Photography you can check out her website or her facebook page.

Taking the plunge!

Well I have been fighting the urge to start a blog for some time now and finally I figured there was no time like the present. To me it seems a little self absorbed to think that others will want to read my ramblings. So, I suppose I shouldn't ramble.

Let's have some introductions. My name is Sarah and I am a wife and mother to three beautiful little girls. I work part time in the evenings as a social worker and in my free moments, I also run an Etsy shop where I sell all things sewn (specializing in quilts). Here is a quick look at my Etsy shop,

I intend to use this blog to highlight some of my favorite things. I will be posting crafting ideas for both adults and kiddos as well as showing off some of my creations. I will also be hosting some giveaways from some of my favorite Etsy sellers. I also intend to give a shout out to some of the wonderful Etsy sellers I have come across. When we find a great product out there, we should shout it to the world! And finally I will post about my crazy life as a Mom. We all have those wacky mommy moments so why not share them with the world...well...whoever happens to read this at least.