BEATRICE: SHE WHO MAKES HAPPY

It is the little things that I like to take my time with when sewing. French seams where possible, if not a Hong Kong seam with a contrasting bias. Decorative stiches. Definitely hand made. But hand made with love.

I originally bought this fabric because of Jarvis's love of bees. But, now it has gone on to a customer who deserves to have 'Beatrice' in her life.

Beatrice (Italian):  is a name derived from the French name Béatrice, which came from the Latin Beatrix, which means " she who makes happy".

This skirt definitely made me happy while making it. I sure hope it brings Same happiness as well. 

MOD BOX SAROUELS FOR BIG KIDS

I could title this post many things...Styled by? Or Styled as my Three year old. Who wore it Better? Being a Big Kid...But basically I wanted to show the fun side of wearing sarouels as an adult. Most know I love my vintage inspired skirts and dresses.

I love getting dressed 'nice', but I also love being comfy. So sarouels are my favourite item to wear. What is not to love about an elastic waist? And a drop crotch? So much comfort.

After hours of drafting and re-drafting this pattern to upscale it from Jarvis size to me size I think I have perfected it.

So I present Mod Box Sarouels for Adults in coral. 

COURTNEY

Meet Courtney, my latest 1950's inspired skirt. She is fun and friendly, a skirt that makes you feel happy.

Oh, but don't get me wrong, Miss Courtney had a level of tough bitch in her.

This waistband/zip that took three attempts, and even now the OCD in me is screaming, "not straight".

Main reason is the stripes/checks pattern of the fabric are not even, so pattern matching was a nightmare. When you lay the fabric flat, the right side of the fabric has the lines running about two centimetres higher than the left. I solved the problem of pattern matching in the skirt by the huge pocket placement. But no where to hide the waistband.

She was super comfy and fun to wear. Even after eating excessive amounts of wantons on Easter Sunday. I love this style of skirt, hides a multitude of sins, while making me feel 'dressed up', when in fact I am dagging it in my bunny t shirt and skirt.  

Customer orders welcome. I have enough fabric left over for two more skirts. Just send me an email: iliska_dreams@hotmail.com

ROBOT SAROUELS AND ROBOT BUNTING

Last week was all about Robots. 

Two separate orders for robot sarouels, one for shorts and one for standard long ones. So I cheated a little, and use a fabric I love for both.

I am yet to work out the art of a perfect flat lay photo, so images do not do these justice. But that fabric is so cute. Shorts and sarouels were a teeny tiny size OO. Smaller than I normally make, but now I have requests for more from a certain daughter for her son. Tamika got excited cause she thought they were for Chester. Sorry Bubby, both for babies yet to be born.

The bunting, is a mixture of robots on one side and bright colours on the other side. Since I was making these up, (they take forever to hand cut and sew) I made double, so I still have one left. It is a double sided, handmade, three meter, eight flag, robot and bright bunting. $25 plus postage and handling.

Okay so does anyone have any hints on how to take a good flat lay photo? 

MOD BOX SAROUELS

I like to use fabrics for things that are not what they are meant for. Jarvis's new sarouels are a perfect example. Thick quilting cotton would not be a first choice for a relaxed pants style. But it works.

Plus colours, I also got this fabric (it is called Mod Box) in grey, but no, Jarvis picked the coral.

Jarvis got the first pair as I am experimenting with different pockets, and do not like to sell them until I have made couple 'practice' ones. Oh, and sad to say, I have a matching pair. Though I will not be rocking the skater boy look with mine. My look is more relaxed daggy Mum.

But I am thrilled to say the pockets have turned out perfectly. Amazing what you can do with a little guess work and basic pattern drafting knowledge.

So I present to you Mod Box Sarouels in coral. Modelled by my gorgeous boy. 

ROBOTS AND POCKETS

I have been sewing what has become a big of unintentional theme, of robots. There is  dinosaur or two thrown in but robots have been under the needle allot.

With the last of this print I made another pair of sarouels. I have been thinking of not selling these and keeping them for Jarvis they are so cute.

But then the other day I got another new batch of robot printed fabric. Super excited to sew those up as well. My kid is going to end up with a huge wardrobe, if I keep making one to sell, and one for him cause I love them so much.

The other thing I have been doing is experimenting with different pockets. What pair of pants is complete without a pocket or two? 

SIMPLICITY OR HAVING IT ALL

Behind the scenes I have been sewing like crazy. I want to have enough stock so I can open my 'shop' properly. I have been selling bits here and there on Etsy, only because I can't help myself. Plus, to trial what works and what does not.

The other night with Justin at work, I knew I would have couple of hours to myself, once Jarvis went to bed. However, instead of sewing for the shop I felt the call of this gorgeous cotton sateen.

A couple of hours later, I had a skirt almost made. (Knew my eyes were getting too tired to do the invisible zip) Don't you love it when something comes together so beautifully?

With belt and petticoat.

Without belt and petticoat.

After I made the skirt I got into a conversation with Tamika, she thinks I should sell my skirts, as well as the kids range I have been working on.

So what do you think? Should I keep my range simplified and just sell children's clothing? Or can I expand without it getting confusing as to the goal/direction of my clothing range? 

STEPS TO FINDING MY HAPPY

If January was all about planning, early February seems to have been all about getting things into place, Including giving myself a week to mourn.

Then like a switch was hit in the last few days I have been filled with creativity. My sewing machine has been going none stop.

Okay well, not none stop. I have also spent a lot of time with the people that heal my heart. Including lots of babysitting Chester. (Tamika and Guy hope to open their cafe on Monday. More on that later.)

But, time with them, has me filled with creative ideas. Abstaining from my goal of opening an online store has been useful, it also seems that creating distance allowed me to actualize what I do and do not want. 

For a long time, research has pointed to happiness as being the ideal state to create in. So I guess I had to find my happy.

For me I had to :

1. Let go of negativity. Learn to forgive and forget.

2. Live in the present. Actually be with and concentrate on the now.

3. Treat everyone with kindness. Being careful with my words. Speaking gentler, kinder, and wiser. And listen more than I talk.

Obviously still working on my list, but for now it seems to be working.

And yes I know there are things like eating healthy and exercise, but lets face it no way I am going to do that shite. I am too busy eating chocolate and playing with Jarvis.

How do you find your happy? 

JANUARY GOALS

This year, I decided my word for the year was believe. Well, since I am greedy and picked three... Believe in Myself. And since I am such a lover of lists, I opted to make a list of three things I want to achieve each month in regards to feeling self worth and growing my business.

Betinna recommended a Brendan Burchard podcast on starting your dream and his advice was - if it's really important to you, you can find time to do just three things a day towards it. I thought this tied in really well with my list of three goals per month.

January Goals

1. Narrow down what you want to start selling. Get a focus to your stock ideas.

2. Spend fifteen minutes per day improving my skills, and learning new techniques.

3. Take action.

Did I manage this for January? Did I manage to do three things each and every day? Yes on every day off, but struggled on days I work.

1. I have gained clarity in regards to this, now looking at fabric choices and suppliers.

2. This has been the easiest to do, I love learning new skills. Every day off, I have allowed at least half an hour in my sewing area. I need to find how to achieve me time as well.

3. I read this on Bloggers Bazaar: Imagine your life as if you’ve already achieved your goals. What will it look like? What will it feel like? Imagine feeling totally confident in yourself. Now, from that place of total confidence, ask yourself what kind of actions you would take if you were already successful? Choose one small action to take right away. Action brings clarity. I found one and two allowed me to achieve three. 

P.S How cute are my new clothing labels?! More on them later.

DID I ACHIEVE MY SEWING GOALS FOR 2014

One year down... did I achieve my sewing goals for 2014? I wrote a post at the beginning of this year trying to keep myself accountable. 

* Sew one item a week post it online

* Practice one new sewing skill per month

* Sew one item per month for someone other (more on this later)

*Sew items from my vintage pattern collection (what is the point in having them if I do not use them?)

Number one. I did sew well over 52 items, but not one a week, some weeks none. Other weeks, several items at once. Did I keep up my sewing posting online, no. So I think I go this goal about half way.

Number two. I did practice new techniques including vintage ones. But I do not believe I got one a month.

Number three. Yes I definitely achieved this goal.

Number four. I did this, also added to my vintage pattern stash. New to stop buying patterns. Okay this is not going to happen. I achieved this goal.

Over all not too bad, considering the lack of time I have to sew. Next year I should simply make the goal: make more time to sew every week. 

SHOP UNDER CONSTRUCTION

With working a lot of hours in the past two weeks I have been sewing in small snippets of time, when ever I can. But my mind stays up late, way after I have gone to bed, thinking of all of the things I want to be doing. Most of these thoughts of late have got to do with adding a shop to my blog.

I have been sewing up a few test patterns I have made, and will show you soon. But for now I will leave you with images of Justin in the men's sarouels mucking around on the diggers in front of our house.

Justin is wearing a small men's, with extra drop, sarouels by Iliska Dreams Sleepware.

If any of you out there have kids and a tape measure, I would love for you to measure your children for me. I am trying to see if the so call standard sizing apply to our children of today.

Measurements needed

Height

Waist

Hip to floor (leg length)

Shoulder to wrist (arm length)

Neck to waist

Shoulder to shoulder

Plus age of child.

Thanks heaps for all who help out :)

FIRST PHOTOSHOOT FOR ILISKA DREAMS SLEEPWARE

Yesterday the first photoshoot for my Iliska Dreams Sleepware range, coincided with my wish for a photoshoot of myself and my babies for Mothers Day.

My website will be coming soon, but for now I can give a sneak peak here on my blog and up on my Facebook page.

The stunning photos were styled, photographed, and edited by Justin Ma Photography.

LABEL OR NO LABEL?

Now, I am actually taking orders for my sewing Justin thinks I need to get a label. Normally I do the dodgy ribbon option to mark the back and don't even care how slap haz I sew it on, but I feel this is not acceptable for customers.

Yes, I know I need a new unpicker.

But I am torn. Jarvis, and I, both hate labels and I will unpick any from our garments. The other option is an 'outside' label. But this too has it's faults as I normally do not wear any branded clothing, so why would I brand my own?

I looked at Etsy, but how do I find a label that is soft and non-scratchey? What should I do? What have you found other sewers with a handmade sewing business do?

 

ILISKA DREAMS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Flanel is flying. I finally have got myself to a place where I am confident enough to start accepting orders for my sewing. The last couple 'nap times' have seen me in my element at the machine.

It may only be a small amount to many, but those six orders this week-end have made my heart swell with happiness. The next step? My dream would be to get enough stock to open a small online shop. However, for now sewing custom orders is making me feel so grateful and so happy.