Shoog the terrorizer

Moments before the above photo was taken...

She does this every morning if I don't give her a bone to chew on.  She never actually bites into the couch.  It's more of a threat.  She's basically saying, "This is what I'm capable of doing if you don't pony up the bone."  Since I have big plans to reupholster this couch, I hesitate in giving her the bone and calling her bluff.  She would save me time in tearing off the fabric.

The other day I had to take Shoog to the Vets for a spider bite.  While sitting in the waiting room, I noticed a poster on the wall that said the following...

Why dogs are better than kids

1) They eat less.

2) They get their hair cut exactly as you want them to.

3) If they get pregnant you can sell their babies.

They make a compelling argument.

Cheers,

Jamie

Sunny Day pattern shoot

I made a slide show of the Sunny Day pattern shoot via Image Shack. Thanks to the hospitality of Kaj and Crystal, who were so generous to let us use their home for a set, this shoot will always be memorable to me. Their intimate  home supplied an abundant of backdrops for the models. I most enjoyed the beauty of their backyard English Garden, which set the stage for the wonder Pierre tried to create. On top of that, the home's close proximity to the the beach added the coastal air and summer carefree sun which the Sunny Day Dress reminds me most of.

Crystal is an interior designer and it is obvious by the charm and originality of her home that she is very talented at her profession.  I wish she had a blog because her work is harmonious.  For example, she made a pillow and stitched a branch with a felted flower to the pillow.  She lined the inside of her cabinets with a beautiful vintage inspired wallpaper and trimmed it with black rick rack.  The backyard is an English garden that could easily provoke the thoughts of fairies and talking animals in a little girls imagination.  AND Crystal loves Anthropologie!  If she ever starts a blog I'll be sure to let you all know.

The models are friends of my sister. They were perfect for the pattern.  Francis modeled the dress and Christalle modeled the skirt.  Francis works at an organic hair salon and is a mom to a 4 year old little girl.  Christalle studied fashion design, so I tried to pick her brain as much as I could without loosing focus on the shoot.  Stacie (seen reading a book in the above slide show) modeled a piece for another pattern that I'm working on.  More to come on that.  Taryn Goedart was the make-up artist whom herself could have easily been one of the models.  She has the sweetest face sprinkled with freckles.  I love freckles.  As most of you already know, Pierre Olivier was the photographer for the shoot.  He always knows how to capture the mood and look I want to be portrayed in a shoot.  He is getting quite busy and popular in his photography career.  I always enjoy reading about his other shoots on his blog.  My sister was my right hand woman.  She styled, organized, and did anything and everything I needed.   She's the best!

The shoot is always one of the highlights for me in putting a pattern together. I find great enjoyment from the collaboration that these shoots create. Everyone is able to share their craft with mine, and have a blast while doing so!  It's rather poetic watching it come together in a shoot.

Cheers,

Jamie        

New fabric and Anna Maria Horner fabric sale

Before I jump into the fabric news, I need Maddy Maze Studio to email me at apronstreet@yahoo.com to collect your Sunny Day sewing pattern prize.  Thank you =)

New fabric at Phat Fabric...

Echino Bike

Nani Iro - Fuwari

This is the fabric I used for the modified Sunny Day Top.

AND 30% off Anna Maria Horner Voile fabric (link).  Ooh la la!

Jamie

The Sunny Day Dress and Skirt Cover is...

Cover #1!!!

Oooh...I know a bunch of you thought it was #3. Ah...but it's not.  I too was torn between cover #1 and #3.  Cover #3 captured the feeling of a sunny day, plus Frances (the model) looked so happy and natural riding a bike with the dress on.  However, I felt cover #1 showed the dress the best.  Who knows, maybe I'll print #3 for the reprint.  Or, I may use it for the web.  It really was a difficult choice, which is a good predicament to be in.  I liked the 2nd cover, because if you noticed, it showed off the lining option for the dress.  For Cover #2 I used a nylon netting for the skirt lining which added fullness to the dress. I'll write more about the pattern in a bit, but first let's announce some winners.  If you chose correctly you were entered twice for the giveaway.

And the winners are...

Maddy Maze Stutdios (said... I'm going for #1. I really think that's it)

Belinda (said... Option 2 is my guess!)

Sapo Verde (said... I think you chose option #1 for the cover. It really features the dress nicely.)

Congratulations winners!  I will contact you for your shipping info.  

About the Dress

The dress is based off of my Pretty Ditty Apron pattern.  The top is a halter top with neck straps that tie behind the neck. However, you could sew a couple of buttons to the back of the waistband and criss cross the neck straps to the back and button them down.  That too would look good!  The skirt is gathered and the back of the waistband is gathered with elastic.  The dress is backless and the bodice covers beyond the side seams, which makes the dress comfortable to wear.  You can also wear it with a tank or form fitting t-shirt just as you would with an apron.  Very versatile!

 About the pattern

Something new that I constructed with this pattern print job is that the instructions and illustrations are in a booklet form. The booklet also includes a page for adding notes such as modifications and such.

Other highlights

~ There are plenty of detailed illustrations for the visual learners.

~ A Glossary

~ Options such as: 

adding waist ties

adding trim to the waistband

lining the entire dress

AND

a pretty darn cute skirt option.    

Of course after the pattern was made, I discovered that by cutting off most of the skirt I could make a top too out of the pattern.

I added the running stitches to the waistband before I added the waist ties.  Here's the back...

You can see what the pattern looks like with a tank under it.

  The sizing chart located on the back of the pattern helps direct you by simply finding your size on the chart and following that column down to locate the fabric requirements. 

The pattern is now available in my shops - Jamie Christina, Phat Fabric, and Pretty Ditty.  Also, be sure to check out my list of shops that carry my patterns (link).  

I will share more pics from the shoot and write about all who were involved with the shoot soon.  It was a lot of fun and I am so thankful to everyone that participated with this project.

Happy creating!

Jamie

The Sunny Day Dress & Skirt pattern plus giveaways

The giveaway is now closed.  I will announce the winners tomorrow.  Thank you all for entering.  It was very interesting =)
The Sunny Day Dress and Skirt booklet pattern is at the printer.  Yippee!  While I'm in waiting mode for the booklet I figured we'd celebrate with a giveaway...or 3.  Below are 3 possible covers for the booklet. Since the pattern is already at the printer, we all know that I have already chosen the cover, but just for fun which cover do you think I chose?

Cover #1

Cover #2

Cover #3

How to enter

Leave a comment guessing which of the 3 options above is the Sunny Day Dress and Skirt pattern cover. All comments will get one entry, however, if you guess correctly you will receive 2 entries.  Be sure to leave your email address with your guess, or contact me via email if you are one of the winners.

Who can enter

Any and everyone - including international friends.

When 

The giveaway begins now and ends Wednesday the the 21st of July. 

The winners will be chosen via a random number generator.

Here's the back of the pattern...

When the pattern booklet arrives, I'll write more about the pattern and photo shoot.

Good luck!

Jamie

Boo!

Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt

It's me.  Jamie.  The apron/pattern/mom/Anthro loving/occasional blogger. Remember?

Well that was quite a break!  Originally I had intended the break for working on my new patterns, but I'm sure I would have taken a break even if I wasn't working on the patterns.  Between swim classes, youth sports, and beach visits, this has become quite a busy summer. Not to mention how messy this place can get with so much going on.  I don't know what it is about the 3rd child, but ever since that little shooga booga arrived 4 years ago I can't seem to catch up with things.  

Take the laundry for example.  Never a problem 5 years ago, but now... well, now I just tell the kids to check the couch for their swim trunks.  And if they can't find a matching sock, which is almost always the case, I'll settle for matching colors.  No one notices anyways... right?

*** Pattern News ***

I am finished with one pattern and will be sending it of to the printers this week. I'm anxious to share some pics in the upcoming days.  I've leaked a few on my flickr page.  The talented Pierre Olivier photographed the goods.  You can check them out here.   

More to come!

Jamie