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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

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

more about patterns

Well I have posted the news of my pattern all over the place... but I haven't shared with many about how absolutely terrified I am.

It's true. The more it comes together the more fearful I feel..

I mean lets face it, this is ME.. and I don't have the greatest track record when it comes to following through with things...
ugh.

But I have to finish. I could never forgive myself if I didn't. Not to mention all the folks out there who have said they want it. I hope they really do want it, and I truly don't want to leave them hanging... but I have to finish this first one for ME. At least this one. For once.

So I've set myself some deadlines.
And they are coming up {very} quick!

• By February, 21st I will be finish with all instructions.
• I will than begin testing editing as needed.
• By March 1st I will have all photos and modeling edited and complete.
• I hope to  will release my patterns for SALE on March 9th.

I actually tend to work better under the pressure of deadlines, so please, be my witness, hold me accountable...

>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - }>

Stepping in the right direction..

I had a fitting with one of my models yesterday, Lacey Jones. She is beautiful, photogenic and comfortable. Not to mention tattooed and has a gorgeous, "real" woman's body.
Also my amazing photographer friend Suzanne Gipson will be taking the shots. Thank you Suzanne and Lacey for sharing in my excitement.
The support of friends and community means everything to me!

>>------}>
           April

oh yeah,

THIS is happening!!! 

Crazy happy right now.

Waiting for Baby

A new cover for our much loved, hand-me-down bassinet. I appliquéd four little scenes around the inside. Squirrels, and their house, a horse and a bunny in the trees, a spring meadow, and a bird under a bunting... they are all waiting for you little baby! 

(I snapped these photos with my new iPhone.. they are definitely not the quality of my nikon, but I wanted to give it a try)

My Mini Matryoshka's

Update: the Mini Matryoshka tutorial is now up, so go make cute dolls and let me know what you think ;)

****************************************************************

These little lady's are a soon to be free pattern on the Sew To Speak blog (the one that consumes all my blogging energies and my excuse for not blogging here more often).

DRESSES!

OhMyGoodness... I'm making dresses.. all I've worn for the last 18 months since Av was born (and probably 6months before that) is jeans and very long cut off jean shorts. But I'm really ready to reclaim my pre-mommy style. I used to put some effort into my image. I don't want to get into tons of primping or any thing, but I think I could stand to spice it up a little.
so here goes.. I've been working on some dress designs that feel/look nice but are super no fuss throw on and go.
Heres the first look I've finished
I'm looking forward to warmer weather when I can toss it on over some gray leggings and a pair of cute flats.