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Friday, September 30, 2011

My First Dress

During the week I got a few patterns in the mail. I really wanted to make myself a dress.. I also got some gorgeous fabric in the mail so instantly I knew that was the material for my first ever dress. I have never made a dress before so I was really glad when I pulled out the pattern and discovered it was a super easy one... no zips... no fancy cuts... nothing more than basic.

The pattern was the Clair Cami Pattern. It makes from short cami/tunic style top to a full length maxi dress. :)

This was my final creation. (I altered the neck line though)


As you can see I did the old photo in the mirror thing again LOL. When I cut my pattern I decided to do the above knee length... which actually ended up being VERY short... like I cant bend over short... so I added in the layer you can see down the bottom before I put my hem on.

Next time I am going to alter it a little again. Bringing in the sides under the arms a tiny bit, a different neck line again... and maybe adding a sash around the middle instead of the small draw string.

Here are some up close shots.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Fabric Heaven

I get lots of comments on the Soleful Steps Facebook page asking where I get my fabric, where I find all that yumminess from...

Everything I buy is online... mainly because I dont live anywhere near shops to be able to hit them fabric shopping. I love a sale too so I keep an eye out online for sales on websites but also on Facebook.. there are a lot of facebook pages that sell off random amounts of fabric at times.

One of my favourite places to shop is Wrapped in Fabric though. I have 3 reasons why I like to shop there.

1. Wrapped In Fabric stock a great range of fabric all the time, with new stock always coming in.
2. The owner, Sandy is lovely to deal with, super helpful and always friendly.
3. I am supporting another Mum out there, working from home to improve her family life, its great!

I thought I would do a quick post about Wrapped in Fabric so that you can pop over and see for yourself...

Here are some things you may not know....

Wrapped in Fabric offers free postage. Postage days are Monday and Thursday, and you can request and pay for Express Postage if you need your fabric quickly.

If you are a big fabric shopper, Sandy does a great wholesale deal. She offers a 35% discount for wholesale customers when they spend more than $100 at one time (postage paid by customer)

Here are some of the latest creations that feature fabric from Wrapped In Fabric:




Saturday, September 24, 2011

When on a Roll Why Stop?

My kids have gotten in the habit of staying up on Saturday nights to watch the movie...(which is fine but I just wish it started at 6:30 instead of 7:30 its such a late night for them) Last night it was Jurassic Park... and with Mr nearly 9 being a bit of a sensitive kid I was really reluctant to let him watch it... but he was so desperate that I gave in and let them... It also gave me some time to sit down and trace out a pattern and cut the pattern pieces for a pair of shorts that I wanted to make. I managed to even get it sewn up so that I could wear them today...

These were so easy its not funny..... You could make them with your eyes closed... though maybe not cut them as you might loose your fingers.

You can find the pattern here!

Anyway I am not much of a elastic waist person so that is my only hang up with them... they tend to poof out a bit and with hips thats not a look you want. Plus I think I needed to make them a bit smaller... I chose a size that I thought would be a bit snug... but actually turned out a bit too big.. but that is ok.

These are about 6 inches shorter than the actual pattern... I just followed the lines and took the extra off the bottom it was pretty easy.

Next time I am going to make them with a thinner cotton material that has a nice hang to it and make them into full length pants... I think they will look pretty funky! I love funky.

So until next time....
Sew Love You!

Friday, September 23, 2011

What To Do When The Power Goes Out?

Today we had no Power from 9am til about 3pm.... I totally forgot that it was happening... actually thats not really true... I knew last week and expected it all day on the Friday but I was a week ahead of myself.... usually I am a week behind so I should be pleased LOL.

Anyway I was not ready at all. I had planned to iron on interfacing on all the material for my wholesale order so that when the power went out I could spend the time cutting... but alas I wasnt that organised...

Miss 3's solution was "Mum we should clean!!!!"  Ahem... I dont know if her Daddy has had a word in her ear... or maybe she thinks that the house is a little unkept at the moment... but anyway thats not really my idea of a way to spend a Friday... no matter how bored I am... (we ended up doing the bathrooms but that was it)

Once they were clean... I thought I would spend some time tracing out some patterns that I have had for ages but never got around to using... and seeing as I made it my mission this summer to make lots of my own clothes and I have about 5 sets of patterns coming from Wrapped In Fabric I thought I better get a start on it.

I traced and cut out this Amy Butler Skirt... its from the Barcelona Pack just incase you are wondering... its actually a layered skirt...but its hard to see in the photo as it hasnt frayed yet.


Once the power came back on a 3pm... I quickly sewed it up and added in the top sash bit (thats not part of the pattern... but I didnt have any zips so instead I used snaps and wanted to cover them up somehow... .plus I love a good bow!)

Hope your Friday was powered and productive.

Sew Love You!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Take a Break

Its been a pretty full on week at Soleful Steps headquarters this week. I have been working extra hard (which I didnt think was possible as I am always working really hard) on Custom orders trying to get them out of the way. I have a huge wholesale order that I am about to get material for and I have just over a month to fill it. Its going to be tough... really tough... but I always do whatever I set my mind to so this is going to be no exception... and even with the pressure its putting on my I AM PUMPED.

Its really exciting... but not only that its a real sign that my Business is working... Its going places I never expected it to... I dreamt ofcourse... we all dream,... but my dreams are sometimes out of reach... but this time I am climbing up to that highest point and am going to make it work.

This was my other new development in the last week:
Care labels! They are super awesome... I was so pumped to put these babies in... and I think they look great. I got these from Bags and Tags, they were a great price and they feel so soft, so they shouldnt annoy little feet inside my shoes....or big feet either. Plus they are easy to cut out if needed. :)

Yesterday our house took the morning off. We wanted to take our Kayak out on the water while the wind was down and the sun was out... It was glorious.

Yes that is me out of the Kayak looking super sexy in Hubby's work hat... NOT! :)

It was great to have a break... at first the boys went fishing so me an the girls stayed on the beach and enjoyed the sun... the girls made castles and balls of sand, and I laid back and enjoyed not doing anything.... nothing.... ahhh the bliss.

I have been really mindful lately of taking time out to do nothing with Hubby and the kids... I have banned myself from sewing or study on Friday and Saturday nights... (ok sometimes I pull some shoes in the lounge and sew buttons on but I am still in the lounge atleast and not really working) ...even though I am doing "nothing" its still so hard to relax... there is always something to do.. or something that needs to be done. Its not always work stuff... sometimes its just washing or sweeping or the dishwasher.. but there is always something.
So yesterday laying back at the beach was bliss... there was no guilt of I should get up and change the washing over... or sweep something... it was just relaxing.


So I hope today that you have had a lovely week to reflect on.... whether it was busy or relaxing or both.