Busy Is As Busy Does

What have you been doing this week? I hope it involved some pleasurable activities, even if it involved working for money. I have been busy working for money, and with deadlines looming, I haven't had much play time lately.

The little outfit pictured here is part of my Little Frenchy line. I post new little dresses, skirts, overalls and jackets as I finish them in my Magic Baby shop on etsy. I am so partial to these patchwork creations, because they are the first designs I created for my Magic Baby line, and because they are FUN to make, like creating little collages. I am looking forward to making a whole batch of new ones for the coming Spring, so stay tuned. Oh, and thanks for stopping by my blog!

The Artist Grandmother

Becoming a grandmother was the inspiration for creating Magic Baby Designs. When my own children were babies and my husband was still in college, I had to make do with what we had. I recycled sweaters, coats and usable cottons to make all of their clothes. I started making quilts in earnest about the same time. The first Christmas we were married, I got my first sewing machine, a $99 Singer. I still have it. It's the machine I use to stitch paper.

When I was still living at home, I sewed on my grandmother's converted treadle machine. Having come very close to getting kicked out of Home Ec. in Junior High for making a bikini instead of an apron, it should have already been clear to anyone who knew me that I was going to follow my own path.

When my first granddaughter was born a few years ago, I was thrilled. Although I have sewn several things for my grandson, I admit that making fancy baby dresses for little girls is a lot more fun than a Thomas the Train pillowcase. I made her this dotted dress outfit for her first Valentine's Day. I now own more baby patterns than I ever had when my own children were small. Of course, I never follow the pattern instructions. I prefer to use them as a suggestion, and proceed as I do when making my artwork: do something, respond, do something else; collage and layers upon layers.



Happy first Valentine's Day, Miss E!

My own grandmother was very artistic. Even though I was still little when she died, I remember how she always encouraged my artistic efforts. And when she was able to finally have the time, she started making art and craft pieces for the sheer enjoyment of it. She was the only grandparent I knew, and I absolutely adored her, even though I only saw her a few times a year.

As a grandmother of three, the youngest born two years ago already, I cherish taking some time away from work to make special things for my grandchildren. With my Magic Baby line of clothing, the hardest part is not making everything for them. I have told their mothers that the baby girls will be the recipients of my learning curve process; the prototypes go to them, or, as in the case of Baby E's Valentine dress, are designed for them. Some patterns are just too intricate and detailed to make for anything but a custom order.

The Little Frenchy dress, to the left and below, was my very first Magic Baby design. I made this one, the prototype, for my oldest granddaughter. She wore it for years, then passed it on to my youngest granddaughter just this year. It is designed to fit for a very long time, is completely reversible (two dresses in one,)and transitions easily from dress to cute top! These are now available in many color combinations for custom order in my etsy shop, from newborn sizes on up to girl's size 8. I also have designed a Frenchy Girl style, which is has a patchwork skirt. Very cute! 

With fall around the corner and a wearable art exhibition and a fashion show booth coming up, I am busy finishing up new fall designs. I would love to know what clothes YOU loved wearing as a kid. Leave me a note in the comments section!

 

Baby dress to cute top, several years of wearable cuteness!

Dhoti Pants, Shweshwe, and French Stripes

In my last post, I showed you the dress I finished out of my new stash of South African shweshwe fabric. I wanted to make an outfit, so I finished a pair of dhoti-style pants in a matching knit, completing my vision for a WorldWear design to add to my Magic Baby Designs repertoire. Here are some pictures, including another pair of dhoti pants I made from my own granddaughter.



Here is the dress with matching knit pants. The dhoti pants are adorable, but look so much cuter on a body!



Here is a pair of dhoti pants for my granddaughter. I love how they fit! You can't see here,
but I appliqued some flowers to the side cuffs.

Earlier in the week, I discovered a real fabric find online. I am always on the lookout for blue and yellow striped fabric for my Little Frenchy designs. I use other colors for the reversible dresses, overalls and jackets, but I truly love the traditional colors of French Provence. When I saw one of my favorite sellers on etsy who had yards and yards of these fabrics, I snatched them up. You can be sure you will see these fabrics cropping up in my Magic Baby Designs very soon.

Spring is for Sewing

Robot Double Flannel Blankie

I love this time of year, don't you? With the days slowly growing longer, I feel more energetic. More energy means more fun, creative time in my world. I have been busy so far this week, trying to keep up with the piles on my sewing table. I sew during the day, but at night I like to hang out with my husband, so that is often when I size out my patterns, or cut out new pieces to be sewn.  This week, I have tried to move things along, sewing a bit on this one, a bit on that one. I was really pleased with the little robot flannel reversible jacket I am finishing up. It matches the Robot Snuggle flannel blankie already finished. I'll show you pix soon. By the way, my snuggle blankies are adorable, and I have several listed in my etsy shop. They make great shower gifts, as well. They are designed to be perfect for both infants and toddlers, with two sides, rounded corners, embroidered edges, and a tag for dragging : )

Last night I received my first custom order from Italy. The client ordered my always popular Little Frenchy dress in pink and lime green. This one is single-sided, but I also love making the reversible ones. I am partial to the design first, because I think it is so cute and, secondly, because it is the first design I made for my Magic Baby Designs. Love it! Single sided or reversible, Little Frenchy dresses are available from newborn babies to girl's size 8. Here are a few examples. Hope you love them as much as I do : )

This one is in traditional French Provence colors. It's completely reversible and height adjustable.

Look at these sweeties, two Little Frenchies! Oh yes, the design is available as a reversible overall, too.

 

A Little Frenchy baby dress