Maysen Hi-Lo Dress

We all know the hi-lo dress or skirt is very popular right now.

From casual to formal, this dress has lots of style!

Celebrities are wearing them for every occasion.

I am trying to learn how to style watch.
Follow trends.

Design from that point.

And then create a pattern.

For a little girl.

That gives her a little "oomph" but still keeps her covered.

I had a trial run but didn't like the bodice much.

And I received quite a bit of feedback from my gals in

the {SIG} Creations Patterns group on Facebook.

The skirt also needed to have more volume.

But volume can be a challenge if you want to keep it cost effective.

Most longer dresses eat up fabric very easily.

This makes it not affordable for boutique seamstresses to make.

Taking all that in to consideration,

I went to bed that night and my brain would not shut off.

Low and behold, my dreams held my answer.

Eager to get up the next morning, I sketched a couple of alternative bodices.

Finally, I settled on tweaking an existing pattern,

cutting off one sleeve, making it a one-shoulder bodice.

The result makes me smile!

Sofi loved it as well as if you couldn't tell by the photos!

I couldn't stop there.

I have decided this dress will have 4 sleeve options and instructions for a tie

on the opposite shoulder for those that are a bit more conservative.

Of course, I had to sew out another one, with the 3/4 length sleeve.

I have to wait patiently for one of my girls to come home.
I want to see that sleeve draped on an actual arm!

So exciting!!!

Now, comes time to start drafting all the sizes.

Then it will be time to write the pattern.
Oh what fun this is!

But I think you will be pleased when the pattern comes out.
I will even add the sash tutorial in the pattern.

What an amazing little dress.

::swoon::

Ruffle Fabric Maxi Dress

I stumbled across this.

It wasn't really planned.

It was a brainstorm moment between a mommy and me.

And it turned out beautifully.

As a matter of fact, it is very simple to make.

That is, if you have a serger.

Not sure I would have the patience to fight the ruffling

needed if I was just using my sewing machine.

Or attaching the ruffle fabric to the elastic.

{SIG} has created a ruffle fabric maxi dress.

And I can make it in just about any solid color!

You can wear the maxi dress 2 ways.

Melina is wearing the maxi dress without a waist ribbon tie.

Flows beautifully!

{isn't she delish???}

 Or you can add a simple ribbon tie.

We like to use grosgrain ribbon.

Sofi modeled this dress beautifully despite that it was WAY TOO LONG.

I also think this would be a great photographer prop.

Could you imagine doing a mini session or a group session

using several different color dresses?
I sure could!

Hmmmm...maybe I should!
Although my photog skills aren't necessarily up to professional standards.

Either way, these are a great addition to any little girl's wardrobe.

Don't you think?
Now the question remains, should I put them in the Etsy store as a staple?

Let me know!

Scrappy Flip Flop GIVEAWAY

Seems like I have goodies to give away after every tutorial.

Not a bad thing.

Cuz I can't keep it all.

Mr. SIG wouldn't be happy.

I already have cluttered up the "dining room".

eh hem...took it over and it is now my office

So I gotta keep moving this stuff out!

If you didn't catch the tutorial on how

to make your own scrappy flip flops,

make sure to check it out HERE.

And if you aren't a DIY'er,

then here is your chance to win these pretties!

Love the color combo on these.

Glad that Skye Reve sent us this fabric and sponsored our tutorial!

Here are the deets to these size MEDIUM

(they fit up to a 8-9 cuz I'm about an 8.5).

You will have through Saturday, June 23rd at midnight, to enter.

Please leave only 1 comment for the following...

1)  LIKE {SIG} on Facebook and leave us some love on the wall.

2) Make sure you are following the BLOG.  The more traffic

we get, the more goodies we can give away!

3) Subscribe to our newsletter (which reminds me...gotta write one).

You have to complete all 3 for your one entry!

And for a bonus entry...yep, an extra one...

** Leave some {SIG} love on Skye Reve Fabric's Facebook page,

leave a comment saying that you did!!!**

That is 2 entries.

Simple.

And you win some great scrappy flip flops.

For the beach.

Around the house.

To go to the pool.

What ever floats your boat!

Chuckin' duces peeps!!!

Chalkboard Placemat GIVEAWAY

I didn't have enough to make more full size placemants.

But these are still plenty big.

11" x 15" big.

I'd say little hands would still have room to do just about anything.

And rather than giving 1 away, I am giving a pair away.

Super cute!

Not much you need to do to win this.

You will have through June 17th at midnight (tomorrow...Sunday) to enter.

You only get one entry...so make sure you get it all in the comment

otherwise you won't qualify to win this pair of chalkboard placemats!

*Follow the blog and LIKE our FACEBOOK page cuz

I'll check to make sure you are LEGIT...AND...give me a blog topic.

Anything goes, well...almost anything!

{see how much fun they are having}

Have fun!

I'll announce the winner on Monday!

Have a wonderful Saturday my peeps!

Chalkboard Placemat Tutorial

I've been wanting to do a placemat tutorial for a while.

Problem is we don't use placemats.

Not now anyway.

Not with the three monsters.

But maybe again in the future.

So, that proved to be a dilemma...

or not as it turns out.

Because who knew there was CHALKBOARD fabric?

Um, I didn't.

But I'm hear to tell you it is a true fact.

And yes...it does work!

To fulfill my need for placemats,

why not combine the two?

placemats + chalkboard fabric = fun for kids

Sounds like a fantabulous plan to me!

Materials:

~ Chalkboard Fabric (purchase locally at Joann's) - as much as you

need to make as many as you would like but at least a piece that is 14" x 19".

~ Oil Cloth fabric (purchase locally at Joann's or you can find some cheap

stuff on www.fabric.com) - purchase at least a 16" x 21" piece, giving the

chalkboard fabric a 1" border to make our placemat have a pretty edge.

~ Spray Adhesive (not absolutely necessary but will make life easier)

~ Chalk

~ Sewing notions

First, you are going to want to cut your chalkboard fabric in to a piece that

is 14" x 19" or what ever size you prefer, maybe a little smaller.

Once you do that, spray your adhesive on

to the back of the chalkboard fabric.

Lay that piece on the oil cloth, leaving at

least a 1" border all the way around it.

This should adhere your chalkboard fabric to your oil cloth.

If your oil cloth is much larger than the chalkboard fabric,

go around and trim so that there is a 1" border.

This is where things get a little tricky.

You cannot use any pins as it will leave a permanent hole.

Fold over your corner as pictured.

Fold over again so it is diagonally across the corner of

your chalkboard fabric and use a piece of tape to hold in place.

Fold the 1" border to the chalkboard fabric and then

again over the chalkboard fabric.

This is going to create a nice border of oil cloth

all the way around giving your placemat a framed look.

Doing the best you can (this stuff is slippery),

go to your sewing machine and continue to roll the border

over the chalkboard fabric until you get to the opposite corner.

BUT WAIT...before you sew all the way down,

you will need to repeat folding the corner piece.

See how nice the corner will look?
Now, just like you did to start the border,

go ahead and fold the oil cloth to the chalkboard fabric,

and then again over the chalkboard fabric.

**An easier way is to just use bias tape but it will get

really dirty after your kids start writing.**

This is what it should look like finished!

See how cute the other side is?

You have to treat the chalkboard fabric before you write on it.

Taking a white piece of chalk,

color the entire piece and then wipe off.

Should be ready for kids' drawings!

Yep, had to make a manly one for my son.

He is going to be so excited!

Well, all 3 kids will be.

I can't wait for them to get home to see!

Now, make sure you share your creations with us!

I want to see what you come up with.

Happy chalkboard sewing!!!!

The Millie Skirt Pattern

I finally got the pattern done!

And the testers have tested it for me.

So tomorrow, I make the corrections and start

selling both the toddler and the tween version.

I really like this skirt.

It may be my favorite one yet.

And I have a plan for a modified women's version.

As a matter of fact, tomorrow I try to make one for me.

Then I need testers for women's sizes minus me (size 6/8).

Next on the list is the Millie Dress, or so I think.

Either that or a new peasant dress I have come up with.

Can't decide.

Hope you all are having a fabulous Monday!