Spring has Sprung, the grass is ris….

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Andrea

I know, this is a little bit of wishful thinking, but I’m feeling like Spring is just around the corner, lurking right now under a pile of snow, but there’s supposed to be warmer temperatures coming people!

I haven’t been hibernating since last Spring, but I did put the craft show business on hold for a while, and concentrated on my theatrical pursuits (not performing, but providing costumes for 150+ youth actors for Into The Woods).

I put all my products into storage, and last week I brought them out again to select one for a charitable donation, and fell back in love with them!

I’m planning a little Spring Soiree in my home, for the local moms to come check out my wares. If you are going to be in the neighbourhood please drop me a line and I’ll send you an invitation.

I’m also lining up some Craft Shows, including this one (if my application is accepted). It’s at a wonderful location in Niagara on the Lake, I will be in the company of some brilliant artisans, and in their words you can “sip wine while you shop”…there’s nothing more to say really.

The roar of the greasepaint

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Andrea

No, I’m not starting an acting career, but I have started a new blog. Since my last craft show in April, I have spent a lot of time considering the future of Liligo, and it’s still up in the air. I love fabric, and crafting things from it, but I’m not so sure that I want to continue making and selling children’s clothing. It’s just not where my heart is anymore.

Right now my passion is with spending more time with my children, and a lot of that time is spent at our local youth theatre. I have created a new blog called theatremum, where I will continue to write about my family and the theatre, and hope to include some costume tutorials there too. I look forward to seeing you there.

I’m still undecided whether this one will continue, I welcome your comments and opinions on whether you think I should keep two separate blogs?

I’m not wearing THAT!

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Andrea

Yesterday was Day 4 of KCWC, and after reading about the mini-challenge-within-a-challenge started by Kristen and Rae (read all about it on their blogs) I thought I would join in on a mini-challenge-within-a mini-challenge-within-a-challenge (Inception people!) and make the catalog-inspired item. I pinned this coat last week as it’s adorable, and there’s no way that one of my kids can have this beauty when the price of this one coat has to clothe all 3 of my kids for the winter.

My mum bought the fleece with her when she last visited from the UK, and I had some jersey left over from when I was going to make onesies etc for my oldest (who is now 13 years old). I would have made them too, except for the fact that the first day of my mat leave, when I had set up my sewing machine ready to make receiving blankets etc, was also the day my waters broke…(but that’s a story for another day).

My sewing machine missed me on days 2 and 3 because I had to go to work, so yesterday, I spent most of the day drafting a “pattern” from an existing coat and a print-out of the coat, and was really proud of the result. It looks pretty close to the inspiration in terms of construction, and it was completely free. It’s also pink, flowery and girly, so when my daughter returned home from school, I expected squeals of delight. Instead, she informed me that it looked weird, and that only the teachers at her school would like it. She has since agreed to wear it in the house as a dressing-gown. (translation: bathrobe).

Finally making clothes again

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Andrea

After about a six month hiatus, where I didn’t really feel like making any kids clothes, the KCWC has got me excited again. I’ve made friends with my sewing machine, and today I sat down and knocked up this little skirt for my girlie, from fabric in my stash.

The pattern is the Lazy Days Skirt, a free tutorial from Oliver + S, which I printed out last summer but never got around to making. The tutorial is really easy to follow, and took me less than an hour to complete, so I had time to make the first of the three pairs of PJs on my list.

I hadn’t realized until today that Oliver + S make digital patterns as well as paper ones, so now I’m considering making this gorgeous coat. I have a large piece of fleece in my stash and I’m trying to make as much as I can for KCWC without purchasing new fabric, so I’m just wondering if anyone has made this in fleece?

Orange You Glad You Read This Post

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Andrea

I’ve always loved the colour orange, and discovered Jessica’s blog a few years ago. I love her fabric designs, and her support of a colour which (up until this year’s trend setters), was not very popular! I have even posted some of my items in her flickr pool of orangy goodness, but I hadn’t realized how much she has influenced me until last week.

Our local youth theatre group is currently rehearsing for a production of “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” and I’m responsible for coordinating the costumes. The Lambchop family will all be featuring orange prominently in their costumes (no one else in the entire play wears this colour so that it stands out), and when I was chatting with the set designer about a colour for the kitchen tablecloth, all I could think of was “How About Orange”.

If you’re wondering about the shoes, all the “cool kids” in the show will be wearing them in different colours. I may have to get myself a pair of orange ones now.

Me Time

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Andrea

It feels like I’ve been running on empty/low for so long that I don’t really know what a regular pace is. Since I started my business in 2009 I have lived in what feels like a constant whirlwind; juggling my own business, my family life and the lives of 3 children; making costumes for our local youth theatre company, working part-time, and attending craft shows as a vendor. This week I’ve decided to stop. For now. And just see what that feels like.

I’m not stopping everything. I have a new part-time job which I love. You would have to drag me out of the theatre world screaming. Kids and husband need to come first again. So for now I have put the craft shows on hold.

I love craft shows. I really enjoy the atmosphere, hanging around with crafty types, meeting vendors and customers face-to-face. But they are physically and emotionally exhausting. There’s all the time spent in my studio sewing things I love, in the hope that other people will love them too (and buy them). There’s the planning and preparation, set-up and tear-down of booths. And this is before putting on my happy face to meet the public. Don’t get me wrong, I REALLY enjoy meeting my customers, both old and new, but for every person who loves and buys my work, there is someone who thinks my prices are too high (they’re not) , they could make it themselves (they could, but they didn’t), or they want to haggle for a deal (they’re already getting one). There are some people who walk into my booth and just scowl. Seriously, how can pretty little girls dresses and bloomers make someone scowl?

So, I’m finally going to work on the list of household projects that I always keep meaning to get to but never do because there’s another craft show deadline approaching. Ironman needs frilly curtains in her room, Boy needs cool blinds in his room, Guy wants a bean-bag chair. I have 2 deckchairs to recover, and numerous cushions to make…for me.

Better Than The Grammies!

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Andrea

This weekend I had the privilege of working with our local youth theatre group to put on the musical “Oliver”. In 15 rehearsals a show was learned, memorized, blocked and choreographed…an amazing feat in itself. My children and I have been involved with this group for 5 years now, and every year I am in awe of what this group of young people, aged 4-14 can achieve. This year was particularly sweet for me because I coordinated the costumes for 2 shows, each with a cast of around 50 kids. (Below are some of my workhouse kids, in karate gis teastained for the production).

Since September I have enjoyed getting to know both casts and so during the performances I was proud not only of my offspring, but every one of those children on stage. I’m glad it was dark backstage so they couldn’t catch me blubbing.

Last night’s Grammy ceremonies may be celebrated around the world, but these kids deserve all the awards.

Pennies From Heaven

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Andrea

I love rainy days (except when I’m camping). I can hunker down in my studio creating things, without experiencing any of the guilt I might feel on a sunny day. On those days there’s always a little nagging feeling that I should be doing something else like sorting out my garage/shed, weeding my garden, getting some fresh air or something else that’s good for me. On rainy days I can snuggle up with a good book and a cup of tea, knit a few rows of the sweater I’m working on, or plan lists of future sewing projects.

It’s been pretty damp this week, so I have enjoyed participating in KCWC, and have these to show for it. As usual my list of projects was far too long, but I’m really happy with what I achieved, and so are my kidlets!

What’s your favourite thing to do on rainy days?

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Andrea

I made some Thanksgiving napkins yesterday, while the turkey was roasting in the oven. I’m thankful that I found all the fabric I needed in my fabric stash. I sorted out my fabric cupboard a couple of weeks ago, and organized everything by colour, so I was able to put my hands on all this orangy goodness really quickly.

There are a lot of really good tutorials on the internet for making napkins, here are a few of my favourites:
make your own cloth napkins at skip to my lou
these next ones are all from the purlbee, I love the variety of styles she has made.
handsewn napkins (these are great for using up all those tiny scraps you can’t bear to part with)
linen thanksgiving napkins
spooky cocktail napkins (love the zigzag detailing on these)

If you start right away, you can make some for Halloween….I’d love to make some in this:

Shoemaker’s Daughter Might Get New Clothes

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Andrea

Once upon a time I used to make clothes for my children. Then I started my own business making clothes for other people’s kids, and since then, besides an annual birthday T-shirt, their clothing has been store-bought. My daughter does at least get the chance to model some of the dresses I make to sell, but my sons aren’t really in to cross dressing (except my middle one informed me yesterday he wants to be a princess for Halloween, but that’s another blog post).

So, I’ve signed up for the kids clothes week challenge. I’m hoping to make at least 3 pairs of PJs, and my middle son wants a shirt made from this: