Pattern Making Love!

I have to admit, my FAVORITE part of making clothes is the actual designs/pattern-making part of it. Nothing like coming up with an idea, making the pattern and seeing it to fruition after all the pieces have been sewn together!

A few weeks ago, I gladly volunteered to make a dress for my daughter's Fall Festival. I was more than excited to do it, as I love her school and all the wonderful women that work there! I got to work on creating something new...something more in the direction that I envision future k.a.i-y.a designs. I decided to work on two dresses simultaneously (as I often tend to do), and I knew I wanted the skirts to be full....very, very full! So I completed them and decided on which one would be the more ideal to send out to the school. The red Christmas-esque one is the one I fell in love with. The other with the gorgeous damask print (that I have to admit, I've used plenty of times on other designs) that I tend to horde because I love it so much went to my model...a little something she got to use on our very last minute trip to NJ. My fabric collection continues to grow as my addiction doesn't subside.. I think I need to start plowing through my fabric-stash, because I keep forgetting about all the wonderful prints I currently have!

Size: 2T-Size 6
Cost: $48

Size: infants-Size 5
Cost: $48

And now, we sit basking in the sight of this beautiful afternoon...enjoying the snow plowing down on us! I just hope we're able to make it out tomorrow...duty calls, and school and work aren't going to wait :)

Happy Saturday, lovely peeps!

xo-

The "Dainty Lace Dress"

So I have a parenting confession to make :/ I've been keeping Miss K off the blog because she's sort of been on a "dress time-out." Yeah, I know I'm mean, but she was acting up and I knew the ONLY thing that would get her to stop would be taking away ALL of her dresses...for TWO weeks! Yeah she's been TOTALLY cut off for that long, and let me tell you it has huuuuurt! It hasn't only hurt her, but it's hurt me too (if it's any consolation). For one, I haven't been able to post anything with her in a dress but now I have to play catch-up with my post.

This little number is a light flowy cotton dress with a multi tier white lace sleeve. It's very comfortable and dainty looking. This is one of her favorite dresses...made it a little while back, and it represents the last of the dresses I had archived. I'll be introducing some fresh new looks soon.

Doesn't she look stoked to be back wearing what she LOVES the most?! I'm just happy I figured out what will work from here on out when she's acting up :) I know, I know mother of the year...don't judge!

Dress Size: Infant-5T
Cost: $45

The "Damask Play" Dress

I find it interesting how my style is always evolving...not just for me but for my daughter and for the things I'm inspired to sew. I find that trying to recreate something for my daughter that I myself would love to wear is so much more exciting than whipping her up something that is very kid-like and just plain safe. However, there are times when I do enjoy seeing my daughter wear something I totally couldn't pull off...but that looks adorable on her. Lately I have been gravitating more towards a more 60's/70's type feel for her dresses. I try and incorporate that not only when I make the pattern, but when I think of the fabric. I'm very addicted to vintage patterns and find inspiration in pictures that are popping up everywhere online.

The dress top is a soft brown and cream cotton with a damask pattern. The top is fully lined, and the bottom is a soft pink voile cotton that allows for a flowy comfortable feel.

I think the awesome iphone app used on the last two pictures makes the outfit appear even more vintage...adding a nostalgic feeling to the overall look.

Cost: $50
Sizes: Infants-5T

The "3-Tiered Knit" Dress

Knit fabrics are quickly becoming some of my favorite to work with! I found this particular one in NYC a few trips back and had to whip something up for Miss K from it! I created a multi-tiered skirt portion for the bottom of the dress, and decided on keeping the edges raw which to me add to the beauty of working with this type of fabric.

I have a limited amount of this particular fabric but have other beautiful knits to work from.

Cost: $48
Sizes: Infants-5T

The "Black & White" Knit Dress

Those of you who know me know that I don't love dressing my daughter in full pink/purple/or any color that to me is too girly. While little Miss K does love her some purple (and at times I have to budge and make exceptions), she’s totally easy about just going with what I put on her. She’s usually even more easy-going if she knows I’m making her a dress…so for her, that’s typically my outfit of choice.

Being a California girl at heart, I don’t believe in the whole “no white before Memorial Day” mumbo jumbo. To me, white is a precious hue…it should be worn year-round. Yes, even in the winter for you northerners (go ahead, roll your eyes, whatever). So now that I live in a state much like California that is sunny almost year round, white continues to be plastered on some of my little one’s clothing.

When I went to California in March, I dragged poor McHubbers and the little one up to my old stomping grounds…the LA Fashion District (especially the places I frequented back in fashion school). Wow…I had forgotten how incredibly amazing it is to go up there!!! I was in HEAVEN…I mean, it’s like NYC but warmer and with Mexican taco trucks on every corner...which, by the way, smelled awesome.

I picked up the white knit fabric at one of my favorite shops up there, and made this little number. I liked the slight stretch of the knit and is very comfortable, I also lined it with a with cotton voile fabric. The knit has a lace/vintage type pattern to it, which to me made it even more beautiful. I attached black lace to the hem and a thin black sash to the top to allow for tying in the back. I love the way it looks with black Chucks too. I suppose if it was paired with a cute pair of sandals or mary-janes, it could be suitable for a fancier occasion.

Cost: $58
Sizes: Infants-5T

I'm in a "Turquoise and Red State of Mind" Maxi Dress!

I've been in love with red FOREVER...it's ONE of my favorite colors. However, over the past few years I'm totally diggin' turquoise...I mean, I painted the outdoor furniture I made turquoise if that gives you any indication of how much I LOVE THE COLOR! The best part about it is that it looks amazing on anyone, really...tan or not tanned.

Anyhoo, I was going through my massive fabric stash and came upon a few yards of fabric that I have been hoarding for a few years. I bought the red fabric in NYC when I lived up north on one of my bazillion fabric shopping escapades before we moved, and was saving it for, you know, just the "right" outfit! Well guess what...that "right" outfit came to me and I just had to get right on it and start cutting into it!

I am in love with maxi dresses (In fact, I'm in the works of making one for myself...but that's a story for another post). And I knew my little muse would look amazing in one, so I got to work and came up with this little number.

I proceeded to use part of the paisley pattern on the red fabric and hand-beaded around it, adding a little more turquoise to the mix. I hand shirred the back for a more comfortable fit, and voila! The red is a flowy voile type of fabric and the blue is cotton, both super comfortable! Kaiya LOVED it...even if it had no purple on it!

Sizes: Infants-Size 7
Cost: $73

Love Me Some "Pebbles" Pillowcase Dresses

For those of you wondering...it is named the "Pebbles" because that's what my Hubby calls our daughter when she wears hers. Since I was a fan of the Flintstones, I let him :) These dresses are one of my favorites to make.  I find that they allow for creative variation and the ability for the wearer to continue to get some use out of it even as they grow in size.  Rather than it being a pillowcase dress it turns into a cute shirt they can wear over some leggings or shorts. 

I make these in all sorts of different fabric combinations.  I can make them with two straps or one single strap (my favorite version).  This little number is one that I get tons of request for, especially during the holidays and special occasions, as playing around with the fabric always adds a different look to the dress.

Sizes: Infants to Size 7

Cost: $40.00-$45.00

Sizes

Infants $40.00 2T-5T $43.00 Size 6-7 $45.00

The "Flower Child" Dress

I'm starting to believe that little Miss K is a hippie at heart. She loves flower prints, but not just any flower prints...those that have a hippie vibe to them. She picked this fabric all on her own and requested guess what...another dress! So here you have it, her very own flower child dress.

This dress will be made using two different fabric combinations, while at the same time keeping the original "feel" of the above dress.

Sizes: Infants-5T
Cost: $58

The "Little More Lace" Dress

This dress again was inspired by my newfound love for lace. Something about the look of lace makes me feel like I'm rewinding time and making something completely vintage looking.

I'm not sure if your daughters are anything like mine, but she loves her some purple.  Whenever we go to the fabric store she makes a bee-line to the "purple section" and requests everything and anything that has the color in it.  This dress was made per her request, utilizing the plethora of purple that is now growing in my fabric stash.  The lace was of course my touch, but she being her mother's daughter can't seem to get enough of the lace herself!

I love the look of this dress with an assortment of fabrics, but I can stick to a single palette if that's your preference.

Size: Infants-5T
Cost: $58.00

The "California Lovin' " Dress

This dress was made for a trip we took a few months back to California. Me, being a California girl through and through, wanted to take family pictures with my adorable godchildren, my cousin and the rest of our little family out there down by the beach. I figured not only would I have beautiful shots with my family but I would also be reminded of my favorite Southern California beach every single time I looked at these photos. Laguna Beach was the place my husband and I went on our first date, so let's just say it brings back a lot of wonderful memories. Not to mention it's the place we usually go to for a fun night out or a beautiful stroll down the boardwalk when we go back to visit.

This was a very fun photo shoot and trip. I find myself daydreaming of California beaches often, taking a drive up PCH and getting some grub down at my favorite french bakery, C'est Si Bon in Newport Beach. Ahhhh how I love me some California. Who knows...maybe one day I can get the hubby to move back out there :) This dress will be made in different fabric combinations, all of which will maintain the "feel" of the initial design above.

Sizes: Infants-5T
Cost: $60

Summer Frock

At the present time, I'm addicted to two things: Lace and light-weight fabrics...which is how this design came to be. I'm loving the flowiness (is that even a word??) of the orange fabric and the detail the lace gives it. It's sort of vintage-y while still young and current.

A little silliness is a good way to enjoy a hot summer day!

I have a limited amount of both fabrics, but can make this with all sort of different fabrics. I will maintain the "feel" of the dress while staying unique and one-of-a-kind. The overall design of the dress will remain the same.

Available Sizes: Infants-Size 6
Cost: $68.00