Seriously classic- seriously functional- SUPER gorgeous.

I started this business by gift making- really- I made gifts for my girlfriends and it spiraled into a word of mouth, heaven of a job for me. I can remember several years of praying that I would be able to somehow use my creativity and still be able to stay home with my children and watching my answer unfold is amazing to me!!

The way that I approach each order is as if I am still making a friend a gift.....a little bit of her- a little bit of me- and hopefully something perfect for that person in the end.

This is not a purse that I would have probably put together on my own which makes me love it even more when I look at it- it's absolutely gorgeous!! Whenever I emailed "J" I felt like she was right in my living room because we worked so closely together on every detail. I got so excited about her being involved in the process that I got into taking "in progress" photos of the pieces that I was working on at the time (bear with me if in the next weeks I show how I make one....probably boring to most of you but nonetheless thrilling to me!). Because of "J"'s requests- this bag is 100% hers. The only pattern of it is right here in my little house- clearly, there will be no mass production as long as I have three kids under the age of 5- and I hope that makes it extra special to her! I had a hard time with the lighting so I didn't get good photos of the inside- which has 6 pockets (I think) and a divider down the middle. The outside of the bag is a little decieving as to what this thing has going on in the inside! I definitely have to name this bag after "J" but honestly, my brain is fried right now so my creativity is used up and I have no good ideas for the name. When I come up with one I will update the blog. If anyone has any ideas- feel free to send them to me!

"J"- you were wonderful to work with! I loved your attention to every detail and the energy that you brought into it all. I LOOOOOOVE how beautiful it turned out and it's SO you! Thank you so much and I look forward to picking your brain for more projects :).

Jenn A.'s shoulder bag is $48

Preview for "M"!!

A purse especially for "M" who was so sweet and undemanding as I fumbled my way through sick kids and sewing these past couple of weeks! This fabric looks AMAZING with this style- how gorgeous is that graphic-trellis thing that is going on in the print?! I'm looking forward to delivering it to her soon. For now, this is your preview! Thank you so much "M"!!!

This is my Miss Karen's Multi-tasker- price is $42.

Oooo- a waterproof purse!! (Carolyn's carry-all)

If you live at all in the sewing world you will recognize this recently released laminated fabric from Amy Butler- it's gorgeous and the possibilities are endless. It's completely wipeable and water resistant. I'm working on a bib made from it as well that I'll write about shortly.

My great friend, Miss Jenn, had a perfect thought to make a waterproof purse for her mother in law, Carolyn, for her birthday!! One of my favorite qualities about Jenn is that she really does focus when you are having a conversation and she picks gifts based on what she has picked up on in discussions with her. Whenever she asks me to make something for a friend she can recall a laundry list of reasons why that person could use the item. She is so darn sweet.

Carolyn works as a water therapist (I know that's probably not her exact title but you get the gist) and if you met her you would know immediately that she does something nurturing as a job. She is SUPER comforting and kind. Every time she comes to visit I am pregnant or with a newborn and she always lends a hand to help me even though she has her own grandchildren vying for her attention. She is a DREAM of a mother in law and I know that Jenn loves her like crazy. I get excited for Jenn every time I know that she is on her way to visit- they are terrific friends and her grandchildren are bonkers for her!!!

If I remember correctly, Carolyn is quite a successful seamstress herself so I surely hope she thinks I did an OK job :)! Jenn is hoping this will be the perfect tote for her to carry to the poolside while she works and she will not have to worry about it getting ruined. It has ample pockets inside, one large, easily accessed pocket on the outside and would also make a glorious beach bag.

I have to say- most things that I make I really want to keep! This one.....I want to keep it BAD.

Happy birthday Carolyn!! and I love you Jenn!

Oh yah- these will cost $46.

Easter dresses for two of the sweetest little ladies in my life

Before I talk about the dresses I'll talk about the girls!! The little one, "K" usually spends a lot of time with me and we are good buddies. I love it when she comes to me instead of her mom and her mother gets slightly jealous....is it OK that I like that kind of attention?? I can't help it and I'm totally enamoured with her. My daughter also kicks me to the curb for her mother so I guess it's even.

The older girl ,"A" is also a little angel and doesn't have a nasty bone in her body. That works out great since her and my daughter are incredibly close and they play wonderfully together. "A" shares better than any child that I have ever met in my life and every day since it happened I think about the time we were making cookies together a few weeks ago and she looked up at me and said "I wuv you Miss Holly". It totally warmed my heart. I wuv you too "A"- a LOT!

These little girls are amazing and I'm so blessed to be a part of their lives!!

That all being said- I obviously like to make things for them, so here are my dresses (that work out beautiful for Easter this year!!) that I added a few more touches to so they would be extra special. I just can't stand how cute the ruffles are- the more the merrier!!

You can always add on matching bloomers and purses if you are interested. I only make these for custom orders.

I could look at these photos all day long, they are so darn cute. "A" and "K"- thanks for posing, hope you enjoyed your lollipop!

$62 each.

Make-up bags and more Mommyista.....

I am having a Mary Kay party soon......which I have never done before. So I had to come up with a way to tempt my girlfriends to come- other than the make up and my company of course!

My solution- handmade makeup bags to fit each of their amazing personalities. I think I had more fun deciding which fabric fits each girl than I even had constructing them. I have to say that I thank God for my friends often and always and I truly love making things for them!!!

The girls from Mommyista asked me to raffle one for their event that just passed this week (it was great!! The speaker is a coupon guru and did a wonderful job. I can't wait to use my newly honed coupon skills this weekend. I think you can find her at I Heart Coupons on Facebook.).

So this is the one that I brought. It can also be a wristlet if you just want to throw a few essentials in it instead of taking your entire bag along with you.

When I finish the bags for the party I will most certainly post them so I can share how adorable they all are. The price is $18 for those of you interested in one.

A fabric choice that was not by me and I STILL like it!!

Both of the incredible girls who run the Mommyista (see http://www.themommyista.com/) have previously ordered handbags from me for them and their friends. Nothing gets more more excited than seeing them walk in wearing some thing that I made- I LOVE it!!!

One of them ("A") requested that I make her friend a bag out of fabric that she already had. Normally- this may make me gasp- giving up control and wondering if I like what fabric she chose??? However- knowing "A"'s sense of style and her fellow fabric fetish I knew I was in good hands and here is the outcome. Everyone that has seen it gushes over how cute the fabric is and much to my dismay I can't take credit this time :).

Just a tidbit of info about how sweet "A" is- she had the bag made because she remembers her friend commenting on how great this fabric was and how cute it would be in a purse. Then she met me and quickly afterwards asked if I would make the purse. There is nothing like a friend who is truly listening! Note to my friends- please don't hold me to the same standard!

In my next posts I will show the bags that I am deciding from to have raffled at The Mommyista's next event (Jan. 14th) "Find your inner Fit Chick" at Seasons.

This is my Miss Jenn's Everyday Bag- price is $48.

Sick kids and tons of time to do awesome art projects

I have several items that I am behind on posting- our entire family has been sick since before Christmas with various illnesses and they just keep coming!!

In a selfish way- I have to say the time at home without being able to leave the house has been WONDERFUL! Especially since it is freezing outside so the only thing my kids can do is play board games, puzzles and art projects with me!

This is a really basic project but it was so beautiful I had to take a picture. Just dye various pasta and teach your little ones along the way about mixing and making colors. After that, we would string for a necklace and created little sculptures by gluing it all together. We were even fascinated by our leftover gorgeous colored pasta when we put it in a bag before it was dry and mold grew on it overnight....it was STILL beautiful!

What cracked me up is after I took a picture my 4 year old grabbed the camera and took his own close up (his pic is on top). He writes books for his reading teacher so he is currently very into taking his own pictures for his books. I was even scolded recently when I got his pics printed out for him because I didn't print the "black ones" that he took- I obviously thought they were mistakes but I was corrected!! It quickly reminded me to let my kids be the judge of what is part of their creative process or not- that's easier said than done sometimes :).