Fourth of July Dress!!

I looked around to see if I could find any cute outfits for 4th of July but I came up with nothing that I loved....but also completely inspired because I have a zillion ideas for one that I can make (and sell) myself! I get really into holidays and costumes because the rules get blurred!!

As always I worked hand in hand with my 4 year old and we came up with a bustle of ruffles, lots of mixing fabric patterns and a way to incorporate jeweled stars- woo hoo! Laci thinks this is her "4th of July princess" dress and I'm all about letting her bask in her glory. We talked about finding red cowgirl boots but then we decided she will make her own flip flops to match- her creativity rivals my own so I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with.

I will also be posting similar 4th of July tutu skirts ($32), headbands ($12) and I can't wait to post my Flag Bags for boys and girls (that we will take to our local Fourth of July parade to catch candy in- it's one of the highlights of our year because we always go with our close friends and have a blast!!). Stay tuned for those.

Any order that you need completed by the 4th of July must be in to me by June 15th- thanks!

Fourth of July dresses are $56

Preview for "D" The Erika Messenger bag

This is the back, also lined with pockets!!

Here is a preview for you "D"! Thank you so much for letting me pick!!! I always have a great time when I can "go crazy" ;). I hope it's dark enough to keep it nice and clean with 4 kids at home! You have been fantastic- thanks again!

holly

The Erika Messenger bag is $55

The Mary Sling, exclusively for Blossom and Poppy

Ok- this is my fine tuned, poured it all into this one design. The outside has two large pockets (where the dips are) and then a panel of front smaller pockets for a crazy amount of functionality! The inside is also lined with pockets and is still thin enough to not feel too bulky. It closes with a snap to ensure all of your items stay nice and snug but is not cumbersome to open.

I really love a curvy shaped purse but it can be tricky to make it the most user friendly. I really feel like this one hits it all! I will also make this bag often with a sling strap but this particular one has classic straps with two handles.

xo-

holly

Making fabric out of your children's drawings-

I've been obsessed with Spoonflower (www.spoonflower.com) since Jen A. sent the link to me about a year ago. It's a site that allows you to upload your image and then they print it as fabric. They offer different ways to repeat the pattern on the fabric and you can play around and customize it from there. The instructions are amazingly detailed and well written and helpful- it's incredible. At $18 a year for cotton (they offer many fabric types) it's also quite a steal.

Since that first realization that I have the option of making my own fabric I've been working on sketches and ideas as often as time allows. But better yet, I realized that I can use my kids drawings as well and THEY can make their own fabric and that got my heart racing.

So after fiddling around with a line tracer program and my 4 year old and I laboring over colors-here is what she came up with! I'll post what we make for her out of it after it's completed. She is fascinated that it will come in the mail just like mommy's fabric does ;).

If I had the money I would do this with every student in my class!! If you are interested in making an item out of your own child's drawings (I thought backpacks would be super cool for boys!) then email me (lacijean@yahoo.com) and I'll tell you how to send me a drawing and I'll take it from there!

Origami flower barettes

I make these origami flower barrettes to go with items often but I never seem to post them ;). This one was made for the Block Printed Sundress in my last post. I really, really love making these! I have issues with sitting still (ever! I never sit still.) so when my husband drives and I can't sit idle.....I make a zillion of these flowers. I add them to purses and tutu skirts that I make for girls and I make them into hair clips. Pure fun!!

Barrettes are $8

Hand printed fabric summer dress

While in a fabric store the other day my 6 year old asked me "Mom, why do you love fabric so much?" (he also asked me the other week if God made himself so he has hit me with some whammy questions lately!).

I am constantly intrigued by how my art making evolved. I jump between my worlds of domesticity and my yearning to keep making paintings and how I can merge both of them. I look back through my sketchbooks and I see my obsession, even in college, with pattern and it seems natural that I adore fabric. So my simple answer to him was "Pattern! I love it!"

That being said- I'm craving making my own fabric (unless I'm looking at Anna Maria Horner fabric and then I know there is nothing I could make that rivals the gorgeousness of her fabrics!!). I've been working on designs that I can get printed on www.Spoonflower.com for several months now so I'm hoping to have bags made out of it in the next month or so.

In the meantime I sketched and carved some blocks that I can print on fabric and this dress is one of the first that I have incorporated it in. The dress is silky and light- Laci absolutely loved wearing it. The waist is elastic and it ties on one shoulder like the Brooklyn dress- it is truly perfect for summer!

Xoxo!

holly

Block printed Sundress is $58 and can be made in other color schemes- please email me at lacijean@yahoo.com for a custom order dress form

The Erika Messenger Purse and a preview for "R"!

Currently this is the same design that I am carrying and it is PERFECT for me. This one has been tweaked a little from my own- it's much smaller, and pleated a little differently, and good heavens there are outside pockets on the front AND the back! Mine is a well refined work horse of a purse and I packed all of it into this smaller version as well. It's a messenger strap, elastic outside pockets for easy grab and store, it's sturdy, structured-simply fabulous.

I made the smaller version right before Christmas for Erika- her sweet sister took tons of care picking adjustments just for her! I always enjoy seeing how much love and thought is put into people custom ordering a bag for a loved one. Erika's was the last purse that I made before I almost fell flat on my face with exhaustion the day before Christmas and I never did get a chance to even take pictures of hers because it was such a rushed time for me. Lucky for me her super cool friend, "R", liked the purse she was wearing and ordered one and now I have pictures!

"R", I got this in the mail for you yesterday- you were so much fun with work with!! Thank you!

xo,

holly

The Erika Messenger is $55

A peek into my studio so I can share my thrift store find!

Calling it my "studio" is a joke you would get if you know me....because my studio is half of our living room, not a quiet, serene place for me to work. The quality time that my husband and I spend together after the kids are in bed consists of me, sewing away......him, peacefully watching any sport that is on. If I ever moved my "studio" to another location I would lose the only time I get to spend with my husband- so in the living room I will stay!

That being said, space is TIGHT up in here! I feel like I'm in a perpetual state of reorganizing my space to handle my newly made patterns (I can't tell you how excited I am to see how many patterns I have designed over the past years!!), more and more fabrics that I get in and my precious drawings and notes from my kids that absolutely MUST be placed on my walls (there is not much wall left).

So when I walked into the Goodwill the other day and found this glorious Pottery Barn piece that fits perfectly folded fabric so beautifully....I swooned. It's even in perfect condition and cost $12!! Yippee!!

It couldn't possibly hold a fraction of my fabric but I can keep just enough for inspiration and it looks so cute next to one of my paintings they look like they were made for each other ;).

xoxo!
holly