Processing

It has been a MAJOR month full of goodness and inspiration. My mind is already so full from May that it's trying to live in June. However, I'm doing my best, to keep my thoughts in the present and to process all the wonderful moments and exciting developments that have recently transpired.

First, there was camp... ♥ 

and then there was Portland .....and of course Quilt Market!!!

I still hope to elaborate more on of these, after I've sorted through all the thoughts and photos.

As far as sewing's concerned, I've worked on just a few things in between all the travel.  

For Market I made an extra special, rainbow, maxi, Staple Dress.

I pieced together a foxy tote bag.

And durning the flights and car rides, I've stitched a bit more on this...

my ongoing, black and white, cross stitch, wip. I'm now calling "Road Work", because I really, only work on it while in transit.

Plus I've been working on 2 new patterns... {perhaps you've seen little peaks of them on my IG...}

phew.. It's felt like a lot. It kind-of-is. For me anyhow.

Now for the to do list that has my mind wandering into June...

• Write a newsletter for The Shoppe
• Sew cover "garments" for new patterns
• New patterns - cover shoot (i.e. party with my lady friends and watch Suzanne work her magic!!)
• Build new website
• The Staple Dress pattern - IN PRINT
• New patterns - testing and finalizing
• Remodel studio!! 

(not on this list is the small matter of selling our old house!!! and, of course, mothering two small children, and washing the dishes, and folding the laundry and cleaning the cat box and planting flowers and making dinner and driving to play camps and and and...) 

Maybe, if it's like you to do so, and you wouldn't mind too much, you could send me some calming/grounding thoughts or perhaps a little prayer. 

I hope I'm not in over my head this time!

Katy.....

Camp was amazing!!! Overwhelmingly good.

I am still processing it in many ways..

I hope to be able to share more on the details of camp later... but today I am overcome by another campers words..
Katy Jones could never know how meaningful her words are to me this morning.. I am crying again.. She could have never know when typing her post that I had thought, and felt, the very same things as her.. about her. Feeling intimidated, but longing to know her.  Soooooo scared, as I walked in and SHE was right there.. sewing my little dress. I worried it wouldn't be good enough for her!

I had run into Katy a few, very brief, times at Quilt Market. I didn't want to seem stockerish this weekend by sharing my memories of these mini encounters... but they left strong impressions on me.  Katy has a magnetism. I wanted so badly to know her! I knew, after just passing her in the bathroom of a Kansas City hotel ballroom, that she was funny, talented and clever. I admired her bold style and tattoos.. her witness. She was with a small group of other bloggers/designers/makers. I was alone and shy.
I wanted to be friends.
Now Im crying again... maybe this is TMI. but whatever.. this is me. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I except that about myself.
Now, reading Katy's post about ME, I feel absolutely ________. I don't know the right word. The fact that someone else, someone I was intimidated by, felt the very same feelings about me has kind of shattered my world in the best possible way!

Katy ♥

I love you Katy! I really do. You are beautiful and funny and dear. You made me feel "a part of". Now... being a hugely dorky, Anne of Green Gables fan.. all I can think to say, is that I feel we are "bosom friends."
I couldn't be more grateful to know you!
Thank you for your kindness.

HUGE HUG!!

Here we are with Melody Miller! Another idol in my eyes... We are all ll in our Staple Dresses :)

I will have to write more about Melody. And Rae and Jen and Amanda,  Brenda, Rashida, Jan, the Toronto ladies, Sonia, Libs, Caitlin, Anna, Shari, Ellen, Maureen, the mom that also made me cry, and all the other ladies..  (that I can't remember names while typing right now.. forgive me, I still love you! ) I loved EVERYONE at camp!

>> - - - - -♥- - - - - >

April

➤➤➤ arrows ➤➤➤

It was last Quilt Market that I approached Melody Miller about making a dress for her. I am sure I was bumbling quite a bit, because I still get nervous around those designers I am so in awe of, and her booth was fantastic, it just made me... well, bumble.. but she was gracious and sweet and she said that she would like to have one of my dresses.
I had no idea what the new line would be like. I knew I'd love it, because I always love Melody's work but I didn't know I'd love it THIS MUCH!
I also remember seeing the arrangement of arrows in Melody's booth. I loved them! (I wanted them!) Had I'd known they'd be a main feature in this new line, Ruby Star Polka Dot, I'd probably have bumbled too much to even speak.

see them there, behind the chair..?

I pretty much love arrows, any type... the sign, symbol, the object of an archer.
As kids, my sisters and I used to go searching for arrow heads while camping in Hawking Hills and other parks.

As a sewer, I really enjoy arrows in the simple form of triangles, flying geese all in a row..
I'm also quite fond of making arrows with type, such as  >> - - - - >  or   >>------}>  or even  >>---♥---]>

Now, this print has rocked my arrow loving world! It is so amazing! I want to make everything from it! Curtains, dresses, bags, quilts...

But the very first thing is Melody's dress!

There are so many things I love about this dress. It's my Staple Dress pattern again ;).. not yet shirred in these photos, because I'll be customizing that with Melody tomorrow.
She requested that the border print run along the hem and I think it is a fantastic detail!!
I know that the arrows are completely different form the the ones I once searched for, but they somehow capture the essence of that memory for me. Not to mention the fact that they are just plain AWESOME!


Note: I still feel very passionate about camping, which is one reason why I bought my husband this camper/trailer fixer-upper, which also happen's to be called an "Arrow"!  how perfect is that?!

oh.. and just one more dress photo.. with my topless photo-bomber ;)

The above photo-bomber does have a new dress too, and it also reminds me of the searching for arrow heads...

It's her Indian Summer Geranium (pattern by Made By Rae)! 

I finished it on the very last day of Kids Clothes Week and just had't gotten around to posting it yet.

Anyways,  I adore it!! 

I'd say more, but it's not necessary. The photos speak for themselves. 

And I should head off anyways, because I need to rest, at least a little, before for actual CAMP! 

Tomorrow I take off, bright and early, for Camp Stitchalot! YAY!!

>>- - - - - - ♥- - - - - - - >

Spring Top Sewalong

This is a first for me.. I have seen and voted on tops in Made by Rae's Spring Top Sewalong, but I am a little timid when it comes to competitions. When I read Rae's announcement, about this year's STS being more of a true 'sewalong', having no judges and no winners, I immediately committed to join in!
I'd already sewn the two tops in that pervious post.. and according to the rules I can enter them too.. but this one. This is the one!
I NEEDED to make this one!

It started with a sketch..
I chose my Option 2.
Got down to business.
And the next day I had a top!

and I LOVE it!!!!!

The Pattern: Why... it's my STAPLE DRESS PATTERN!!! What?! Yeah. It really is.
(Are you tired of it yet?)
This one is cut exactly the same just shortened to a tunic/long t-shirt length. The original pattern is roomy enough and has a wide (almost boat neck) neck opening that I was able to add the pintucks straight down the front without adding any width to the pattern piece. I then added a small box pleat to the back neckline, to balance the difference. I drafted the collar from another free pattern I had on hand, greatly lengthened it and completely altered the shape of the points.

The Fabric: Solid Designer Voile from Freespirit.. not certain of the color. I purchased it last year and it's been sitting in my stash for sometime now. Don't even remember why I bought it. I know I must've had a plan to buy as much as I did... but I can't imagine a better use than this!

I'm literally so in love with it. I NEED to make another. VERY SOON! not only that, but I promised some of you that I'd offer this variation as a free tutorial...
That was before thinking about the fact that I took zero photos of the collar attachment process.... guess I'll just have to make another! ;)

Now, I'm debating whether I'll try the next one in a print or go with another solid... The voile is the perfect weight. I can leave it long to wear out and belted or tuck it in. It's so thin it doesn't result in any unattractive bunching under my goofy new high rise jeans!

Once again, the photos here are by Suzanne Gipson. She is such an amazing photographer and friend. Just makes a girl feel good! You know what I mean?

>>----♥---->

             April

Are you sewing a Spring Top? YOU SHOULD!!!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

THE WINNER OF THE COLLAGE LAYER CAKE IS:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

11

Timestamp: 2013-04-12 04:43:19 UTC

MARTINA!

she said:

stufenzumgericht said...

The Stapel Dress fits very well to this beautiful fabric line! By the way, I'm sewing the dress at the moment and have to say, that it's pure fun! Martina

April 11, 2013 at 10:24 AM

Thank you Martina!! and thank you all for you comments and for hoping along with the COLLAGE party! Remeber to keep following the other crafter's. They are sharing incredible projects and giving away more layer cakes!

tags and SUCH ;)

I am super thrilled to be a part of this great blog/social media tour today.... we're spreading the news about my beautiful friend, Carrie Bloomston's first ever fabric line, COLLAGE for Windham Fabrics!

^Photo by Jill

I first met Carrie at Houston Quilt Market in 2011, where she was debuting her first booth of sewing patterns. My husband was with me on that trip and he spotted SUCH. Knowing that I'd love it, he called me over. Carrie and I have become fast friends and since meeting. I've look forward to seeing her at every QM.

This fabric line perfectly captures the essence of Carrie and I couldn't be more happy for her!
She is a truly genuine, caring and spirited woman with amazing talents. Every piece from her line, like her, stands perfectly strong and beautiful on it's own, but when in the group as a whole, each one plays so nicely with all the others in a supportive, collaborative and collage sort of way!

For my part in her COLLAGE party, I'm sharing The Staple Dress I made from her brilliant Bauhaus Red new's strip print.

^Photo by me (April Rhodes) 

When Carrie showed me the line and mentioned the prints she thought would work well for this dress I was thrilled that she included this one! The news strips were a stand out for me and I am so pleased with it now. It is a little "edgy" while still being whimsical.  I think the styling could go in any number of directions.

To celebrate Carrie's line, I included a little tag made from her selvage. Doing this made me think of how fun it'd be to do add tags to any handmade garment.. not just with the selvage this was made from, but searching for all the words and special little details that a selvage can contain. I've always saved them thinking I'd find a fun use.. and this, I believe is my favorite idea yet!!! 

^Photo by me (April Rhodes)

^Photo by me (April Rhodes)

If you want to try it,  simply cut of the selvage off the fabric and stay-stitch (machine sew with a short stitch length, 1mm or so) the cut edge. Fold it in half and cut to desired tag length adding about 3/8". Pin tag under neck facing just before you topstitch it. Voilà! A special little handmade tag for your garment!

Here are some photos of the dress in action taken by Carrie's photographer, Jill.

Also, for my stop on the COLLAGE tour/party, I get to give away a little something..

^Photo from Carrie ;)

a layer cake of the entire line! 

Leave a comment here for the chance to win!! I'll randomly choose the ONE lucky winner.

Carrie and Windham have given all the tour guides a layer cake to giveaway, so if you don't win from me, don't despair, keep following along with the list of awesome crafters, and stay tuned for COLLAGE to arrive in stores, early July!! We'll definitely be stocking it here, at Sew To Speak!

still to come...

 April 12 – Tia Curtis

April 13 – Shelly Figueroa (Figgy's)

April 14 – Ramona Burke

April 15 – Sally Keller

April 16 – Angela Walters

April 17 – Shea Henderson (Empty Bobbin)

April 18 – Anna Graham (Noodlehead)

April 19 – Jenny Kelly

April 20 – Sam Hunter

April 21 – Rachael Gander (Imagine Gnats)
April 22 –Karen Le Page (One Girl Circus) 

I hope you love it as much as I do!

>>---♥---->
           April


+ + +  PLEASE BE SURE YOU'RE NOT A NON-REPLY BLOGGER.. so that I can contact you if you WIN!! :)  + + +

Finishing things

^ Something I'm typically not good at.
But, somehow I've been on a roll.
Here are some recently finished things...

a tsuru "Staple" T

...I simply traced the top 28"(starting at the shoulder) of my Staple Dress pattern and stitched it together as I regularly would... with these exceptions: I only shirred 2 rows across the lower-back, from side seam to side seam and I added a shirt pocket! Easy! :) 

a stretchy striped "Staple" T

..this one was far less successful than the first.. The material I used was a very drapey knit with a lot of stretch. My pattern is already a roomy cut, but in this fabric, I am swimming. Also I didn't use the shirring at all, so there is nothing to bring it in. It was redeemed, however, when I put it under a more structured layer, like this ready made jacket. 

I'm not too disappointed because wearing these together was my intention all along.

 

another little drop hem piece

...this time it's a bottom. I hope to perfect a light-weight Staple T or a Wiksten tank to pair with it.

and finally... I FINALLY finished my scrappytripalong!

This one is for my little girl, it's been on her bed every night since my finishing it and even drug out into the living room for couch snuggles. It's my first, real, life size quilt. She loves it and so do I.

I have  a few more "finished things," I just can't share quite yet.. ;)
But I'll give you a hint. One will be part of this super awesome blog tour line up, featuring Carrie Bloomston's first fabric line, COLLAGE!
It's rad.
Check back here on my scheduled day, this Thursday, April 11th.. and follow along with the rest of the gang bellow..

April 8 – Erica Sage (Craftyblossom)

April 9 – Julie Goldin 

April 10 – Ayumi Takahashi (Pink Penguin)

April 11 – April Rhodes

April 12 – Tia Curtis

April 13 – Shelly Figueroa (Figgy's)

April 14 – Ramona Burke

April 15 – Sally Keller

April 16 – Angela Walters

April 17 – Shea Henderson (Empty Bobbin)

April 18 – Anna Graham (Noodlehead)

April 19 – Jenny Kelly

April 20 – Sam Hunter

April 21 – Rachael Gander (Imagine Gnats)
April 22 –Karen Le Page (One Girl Circus) 

so much ♥

I have been seriously blown away by the kindness and encouragement of the blogger/IG world over the last week!

Since releasing my pattern last Wednesday, I have had so many kind comments directed toward me or about my little Staple Dress!

I have seen women start to post photos of their process, making the dress. Some people posting have been personal friends, but most are women I have never met,

some names I  have recognized are those of women I very much admire, ones I "follow" and look to for inspiration... 

To be honest, I cried a little when I first posted the pattern and saw the orders start to come through. I was overwhelmed and humbled. I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

To hear that other women are excited to make my design, and to see them wear it has been the most INCREDIBLE feeling! 

My favorite place to keep tabs on who's making THE STAPLE DRESS has been on IG. If you're making the dress and you're on Instagram, be sure to use the hashtag, #thestapledress, so that I can see it!! It's such a thrill for me.

I shared in the past about how I feared I just might not have it in me to finish... Creating and designing sewing patterns has been a dream for so long. But I would say things like "I might try that someday" or "when both the girls are in school". I never in my wildest dreams thought it would be HERE and NOW. Like this.

The STAPLE is just the beginning.. I have another dress, a skirt and possibly 2 bags in the works.

I feel very blessed and honored to be a part of this connected network of amazing women and crafters! It fouls me. And I want to do and make even more than before!!!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

To all those friends who talked me up and supported me through this, THANK YOU!! 

Sincerely,
April

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

a little more ♥: my mom has decided to offer 10% off of any staple dress fabric purchase at our shoppe, Sew To Speak!!  Discount good when you buy the pattern... if you're shopping our online store email me and I'll give you your own personal code! ;) aprilarhodes {AT} gmail (DOT) c o m

Spring is here and so is the STAPLE... happy day!!

- - - - - - - - - - >THE STAPLE DRESS < - - - - - - - - - - 

sewing pattern and instructions by April Rhodes

AVAILABLE NOW!

To purchase, visit my SEWING PATTERNS page by way of the tab up top or just click here.

I hope you enjoy!!

>>-----♥------}>

April

photography by Suzanne Gipson

Making my morning bright!!

This lady, my beautiful friend, Emily Passias, is ringing in spring with her gorgeous green Staple Dress!

Emily is one of my testers and an amazing crafter!! I always enjoy her styling and fabric choices. This is no exception!

>>--♥--->
A very happy first day of my favorite season!

off to the testers!

It's done!!!
The PDF pattern for The Staple Dress is done!


Well almost... at least I'm done, for now.
             That is until I hear back from the amazing ladies that are testing it!

I can't tell you what a relief I felt today when I realized it was just a few more clicks and a save away from complete! I'm also very anxious to see how the testing goes.

I made up a little PDF PATTERN PREVIEW for you...

just keep in mind (if you spot any typos) it hasn't been fully tested yet ;)

I'm still shooting for a release date of April 6th.

Meanwhile I thought I might share a "behind the scenes" shot of what my instructional photo shoots generally have looked like around here....

What you see...

and what you don't.

 I wished I'd taken a full room shot the day I was working around the cardboard box+blanket+pillow fort my 5 year old built... I just couldn't (and wasn't allowed to) move it.

I love being able to do something from inside my home, among my children, that I am excited about and that fulfills my need for creative expression while also teaching them about going for their goals.

Please let me know what you think of the preview! 

>>-----♥----->>

April

possible cover...

I think I'm going to keep it real simple. I just took this shot into photoshop and put some type on it.. 

I pretty much love it.

but won't be getting too attached.. there are SOO many shots to choose from.. I can't say which will be the one yet... but it'll keep this flavor..

Also I added a pattern tad up top there ^

Eeeeeek!!!

Postponing, just a little..

Things often take longer than I plan.

I sometimes I work better under pressure and sometimes I break down.

While I have not yet broken down I also don't feel I'd be doing my best job by rushing things. So... I am setting a new time frame. This change of date was in fact forced upon me by a conflicting schedule/event but as I tried to juggle event times around and virtually be in two places at once, I found it was a relief to give in. This means the pattern will have to wait a little longer. But really a few weeks is far shorter than the years I once thought I'd have to wait before starting this adventure.

The new release date and PARTY will be April 6th... There is a chance I will announce them for sale before that date, but that is the official, get-it-done-or-else date! And more importantly the PAR-TAY!!!

What are the other upcoming events? Well, I just found out that on Saturday, March 9th my biggest little lady will have her first opertunity to dance on a stage in her bonus ballet/tap class..

Than later that day I'll head to the shoppe to help celebrate our 5th year of business at our White Wedding themed event. We give away a TON of beautiful fabric that day. And I may... just may.. have a limited supply of first print patterns at that time. But we'll have wait and see about that last part..

Until then I'll be working out all the important little details. Crossing my "t"s and dotting my "i"s.

>>-------}> Stay tuned.

little sleep, lots of progress

Well.... I missed my first deadline, this past Thursday, the instructions are still in the works.
They have been much more time consuming to compose than I expected. I have had them written in my little note book for so long, but now putting it all together and making it make sense for others to read is overwhelming me. I've been up till 4am more than once this week...
but I am getting close now.. real close.

Actually I was a big bundle of nerves about that and about my upcoming cover shoot when I first started writing this little update (late last night).. but tonight I am a big bundle of excitement!!

I had the shoot today with Suzanne and my last minute savior of a model Mary.

Between the three of us and the amazing space it all blew my expectations out of the water! I haven't even seen the final photos yet and I know they are beyond my wildest dreams.
Speaking of dreams... it's still happening, my dreams.. they are becoming less and less my dreams and more and more my reality.

And just as I am typing Suzanne is emailing me sneak peeks from our shoot.
{then it all starts to make me cry}

^ I took this one of my amazing team! 

I am still overwhelmed but in a very happy way....

I am blessed.

I can't wait to show it all.
>>----♥----}>
    April

photography by SUZANNE GIPSON