Workforce has been on strike!

Well, at least 50% of it.
And really, not by choice.
It's called getting sick.
Crummy sick.
Not get out of bed for 2 days sick.

If you know me,
that means really, really sick.

I never stop.
That's just how I am.
For me to run a fever,
its gotta be bad.

So, for the past 2.5 days,
no sewing has been happening on my part.
Thankfully, I have another 50% of the workforce
still up & running.

THANK GOD FOR ANDREA!

The problem is thaat 50% is down.
That translates in to 50% cut in production.
And then there is the catch up time.
The next couple of days of not being completely back to full throttle.

But I am almost there.
Thankfully, this happened while
{SIG} is shut down for new orders.
Cuz no way could I have answered emails,
tended to orders,
looked up fabrics,
invoiced anyone,
or anything else that falls under my umbrella to do.

I did appreciate the down time.
I did not appreciate the fever.
The aches.
The pains.
The headache.
The sore throat.

Thankyaverymuch!

Hopefully I will be fully mended tomorrow.
For now, it is bedtime.
Gotta preserve the body.

XOXO,
Astrid

The Creative Process

Normally, it starts w/ me posting some gorgeous fabric.
This one caught my eye immediately.
Tea Garden by Dena Designs...


I've said it before.
The photo never does the fabric justice.

Kimberly loved this fabric.
And that is the next step.
Getting commissioned to do something.

This particular fabric was slated to become a knot dress.
Three times over.
Yep, for triplet girls.

And then Miss Natasha sends it to me.
This is what I get.


From there, I get to sketching.
Yes, sketching.
I actually do it.
It is my blueprint.
This is the sketch to Kimberly's dresses.


And that pretty Pfaff,
that's my new machine.
Fefe Pfaff to you.

From there,
it is time for the fabric to talk to me.
I have to figure out the bodice first.
Then the shuffling begins.
Fabrics get tossed back & forth.
Put with one & then the other.


It is a matter of letting them get to know one another.
To find what looks good.
Cohesive but different enough to stand alone.

Then the sewing process begins.
In this case,
it took 3 days.
Only b/c I had a very sick little girl yesterday.
And b/c we switched the kids to big beds.
(yep, busy weekend)
Otherwise, maybe 1.5 days.

As it comes together,
there are minor adjustments.
That's how the cookie crumbles.
Some shifting in fabric,
not much.

When the last stitch is sewn.
The last piece is pressed.
The knots are knotted.
I sigh a big sigh of relief...



And can't believe the end result.
Sometimes I wonder where this came from.
Me?
I just sewed that?
Impossible.
Some ghost of years past must have taken over.
I swear!

XOXO,
Astrid

Dr. Seuss LOVE

We are big Dr. Seuss fans.
So big that the kids' b-day party theme is Dr. Seuss.
And I had to share the Seuss LOVE.
Robert Kaufman did an amazing job.
I'm so lucky to be able to work w/ this fabric.

I paired these gorgeous prints w/ an awesome bowling shirt pattern.
The Scientific Seamstress provided me the pattern.
Very clear, precise instructions.
LOVE THEM.

There are 2 different lines.
Celebrating Seuss.
Cat in the Hat.

The end result, after the fabric talked to me.
This is the Cat in the Hat along w/ Thing 1 & Thing 2.
Gorgeous.
But I am a HUGE.FAN. of the aqua/red combo.
It's my thang.


This 2nd shirt is from the black & white print from Celebrating Seuss.
Pair it w/ the aqua eggs.
Perfect.
Love the pop of color.
And it helps that my boy has this in the same print w/ red eggs.
(see below for his shirt)



Ian (my boy) will be wearing his Seuss shirt & matching pants
for the big b-day party.


This is the back of both the red egg & aqua egg shirts.


This fabric is just too fabulous!

XOXO,
Astrid

Bonjour Take 2

I told you that I would show you.
And here it is.
Pretty as pretty can be!

Paired w/ a black shirt,
it is the perfect outfit for summer.
And the {SIG} bloom is a great way to finish the outfit.
Or, Mommy can wear it to match!

XOXO,
Astrid

Bonjour Paris!

I've had my eye on this fabric for quite some time.
Didn't know what to think of it but I liked it.
Wasn't sure what I was going to make with it.

Then someone wanted a treasure skirt.
(eh hem, Danielle of Happenings of the Harper Household)
She wanted the pink in a treasure skirt.


I got so excited!
And then I decided to get extra.
And in the red print.


Cuz I was going to make my girls treasure skirts as well.
Love to coordinate them,
especially when it is the same print, different colors.

Now, I have yet to get to the treasure skirt for Danielle.
It's coming, 2 orders down.
I promise!

But I had an emergency.
My little family is going to be the featured family in a local magazine.
What better way to promote {SIG}?

And what were suppose to be treasure skirts,
turned in to Sofi tops.
A necktie.
And 2 beautiful {SIG} blooms.



The pictures NEVER do the fabric justice.
Michael Miller is a fabulous designer.
LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.
And I should know by now that when I order something,
it will take my breath away when I get it.

He hasn't failed me yet.
Now, on to getting the kids ready for this family shoot!

XOXO,
Astrid

FRONT PAGE NEWS!

That's right folks.
You are reading correctly.
{SIG} has made the front page of the Houston Chronicle!

After all, it is Rodeo season.
And the girls wearing the outfits are absolutely precious.
A big thanks to Jaime for sitting me down & making me sew
those beautimous outfits that crazy Friday.

Hopefully, this is the first of a few media projects.
The next is a family photo session for Reviewit Magazine.
And another project is in the works for an Orlando area magazine.

Anyone else w/ connections to any publications?
I'd be willing to give outfits away for advertising.

Just let me know!

XOXO,
Astrid

Can I get a twirl & a skull with that?

A little bit of punk.
A little bit of twirly girl
And you get quite the combination.

Skulls are cool.
Especially when you put a girly spin on them.
Literally.

My twirlies are really full.
On purpose.

What little girl doesn't love to twirl around?
I know both of mine do!


Add that bit of punk in to the mix.
Add a girly color like purple or pink.
It makes everyone happy.

This is really more my style.
Don't get me wrong.
I love the more feminine prints as well.
But this is sure to turn heads.

Even the girliest of girls falls in love.
This dress can be made in any fabric choices.
But you pair this w/ a pair of Chuck Taylors,
my absolute fave,
and you get a throw back to the 80's w/
a twist of 2011.
All rolled up in 1 beautiful outfit!

The real combo is the little girl silhouette
and the punk rock feel.

Oh, gotta add the girly polka dots.
a dash of black & white gingham,
and you have the perfect outfit!

XOXO,
Astrid

Goodies from Skye Reve

This is how it starts...



I get a big box of goodies from Skye Reve Fabrics.
Some of the time, the customer pics.
Most of the time, I get to pick.

Either makes me happy.
And I wait eagerly every week for my box of goodies.
Actually, make that impatiently.
I can't wait to get my hands on the new fabric.

There is just something about it!
I know I'm a little crazy.
Crazy about fabric.

Sometimes I even have a hard time cutting it.
Cuz it's so pretty.
Just the way it is.

Then the end product appears & I fall in love all over again.
Sometimes I wish I could keep it all for myself.
Actually for my kids.
But I can't & that's ok.

I think I would be a certified hoarder.
No doubt.

From this box has already come 2 skirts.

The first is from Ingrid Slyder's Ballerina Fairies collection.
A very full twirly skirt.
This is a VERY popular print!
And the fairies are absolutely adorable.


This treasure skirt is from the Fifi & Fido collection by Anna Griffin.
The colors are a bit muted but it give it a vintage feel.
I think this is great for little girls that love dogs & cats!


I can't wait to see what else comes from this box of goodies!

XOXO,
Astrid

**Accessories by Miss Beanies n More & Melbows Place**