Hmmmm....

Just when you think you have it all figured out....

I know I pretty much threw up over all y'all with that last post, but apparently I had some things that needed getting off my chest.  I think at the time I was going through the process of letting go of what I thought Pretty Jane was meant to be--but I had no real idea what Pretty Jane was becoming.  It might've come off as grumpy and bitter and for that, I'm super sorry.

Here's the funny part, though: this past weekend, I took part in the Inman Park Festival, one of the biggest annual street markets here in Atlanta.  I was there under the Pretty Jane name, but had designed my booth to really promote Whipstitch, since the last few months that's where my energy has been going and it was where I saw myself moving professionally.  I took about four dozen Pretty Jane pieces with me--the same styles I've taken before, but a pared down selection.  The Lily reversible jumper, the Abigail pinafore, the Jacob western-style boys' shirt.  Some of those hand-dyed knits I showed you a few weeks ago.  And guess what?

I sold them.  I sold those puppies like crazy.  I think I expected to go and have folks really interested in the fabric and the classes (which they were) and largely ignore the clothing, almost as though my designs were a prop to promote everything else.  But that's not what happened at all.

I've been telling my husband for months that the reason I do all three--design, teach, sell fabric--is because they feed one another and build off one another.  I guess part of me kept thinking I was exaggerating that a bit, and that I'd come to a point where it was no longer true.  I got my feelings all hurt by someone else's bad behavior and was feeling pretty down about my abilities and vision as a designer.  This past weekend really changed that for me, and made me more aware of the true interconnectedness of all the things I do--which was such a joyous, joyous discovery.  I hated the thought that any one of my teeny triumverate would have to give way to allow the others to grow.

Pretty Jane will live on--I'm reconfiguring the website to move my few remaining pieces over to the Pretty Jane Etsy shop (the shop I set up ages ago and never listed in), and hope to see the same level of excitement and acceptance there that I did in my little booth this past weekend.  If you were one of the lovely people who came by and smiled and said nice words and bought a jumper or a shirt, thank you!  You can't know how good your compliments and enthusiasm were for my soul.

Soon: photos of the booth, featuring all the yummy designs from this spring, and images of up-and-coming Etsy deliciousness, debuting over the next few weeks!

Friday Preview #3: Hand Dyed Appliqued Tees

This is actually LAST week's preview, which I postponed as I digested my new minivan ownership. Look tomorrow for another, BONUS preview post, and keep in mind that the preview with the highest total number of comments will be featured in a GIVEAWAY in early March!

I've done appliqued tees in the past, but I always struggled with the colors that were available. Somehow, it had escaped me that I could MAKE the colors I wanted, to go with the rest of the collection. This season, I've embarked on what may prove to be a huge experiment, and have hand dyed all the tees and knits in the collection, and am working my way through embellishing them to fit the "Woodland Picnic" thing I've got going on.

What was once a rack full of all white is now this:

I used two brands of dye and did things in lots of little batches. Then they were washed and dried and some of them washed again, just to be sure. Then they hung here for a while, as I admired the colors. I don't think I was going for an EXACT color with the dye here so much as I was going for a family of colors, none of which were adequately represented in what I saw out there. So, lots of limes and buttery yellows and teals and aqua and lilac. For the boys, some blue spruce and deep olives. Still a little white here and there, too. There are cap sleeved tees for girls, plus smocked A-line tops, babydoll tanks, ruffled snapsuits, and for the boys there are short sleeved tees and snapsuits, plus diaper covers with appliques on the bum! So many yummy shades of loverly colors--I'm really pleased with how well they turned out.

Then, the appliques. In the past, I've always done a straight satin stitch over all the exposed edges, and this time I wanted to try some other things. In some cases, I did a more open zig-zag stitch, leaving less thread (and therefore less color) along the edges. On other cases, I used a straight stitch to allow the edges to unravel and give the shirt a little three dimensionality. So far, I love love LOVE these a LOT more than any of the applique I've done in the past, so that's always a good sign.

I wanted to develop some designs that I could use over and over throughout the season, and I wanted each of those to be tied into the overall theme. So, we have lemons, for the lemonade:

Note the contrast stitching for the pith:

And we have a happy little teapot, because what's a picnic without sweet tea? At least, in the South, anyway.

Open zig-zag here, and I'm really liking the contrast.

Always plan for ants at your picnic, that's for sure:

I think this little guy needs a face. But no nose?

For the boys, I think we all know it's not really a picnic until someone gets out their guitar:

In the back pocket, he can keep his pick:

For the moments when he's overcome with the urge to play.

My husband thinks this touch is a little silly, but I think he means it's kicky and FUN.

More to come, but I don't want to reveal all the funnest bits at once! Would love feedback in the comments--am always looking to refine these and make them the bests they can be. Like, I really think the teapot needs some steam, don't you?

What Might've Been

The fabric for the Rinse aprons finally arrived--AFTER Market was past. Ah, well. I whipped up a couple aprons anyway, since Heather says she still wants a few for upcoming street markets, etc. One is flouncy and gathered and very French Maid:

The other is flat front and has more of a retro feel, with a round pocket made from the pressed flower medallion:

I've been reading today about the "controversy" from a couple years ago surrounding using Amy Butler's fabrics in items to sell--best as I can understand, she at one point disallowed selling creations with her prints on them, as an infringement of her copyright over the print design itself--which makes sense, since she licenses her designs all over the place. There was quite the uproar, though, since so many designers get their inspiration from vintage origins, and who's protecting THOSE folks' intellectual property? More here, if you're interested.

So, I had a brief moment of concern. I know Heather prefers the flat-front apron, so I figured I'd make a child's version of the French Maid shape and put it over at Beehive as part of the Mommy-and-Me apron collection I'm installing in time for Valentine's Day baking. But what if I was infringing on Amy Butler's copyright? It seems she's since rescinded her decision, and now we can all use her prints, thank goodness. But it gave me plenty to wonder about and worry about, and made me even more aware of the burden each of us has to protect what we create. This IS a free market, and my policy generally is that if someone else is doing a style or design that is very similar to one of my original ideas, either I'll move on to something new--why go to the mat over an idea that's achieved such saturation that it's no longer distinctively mine??--or I'll rely on my fabric choices, craftsmanship, detailing, and customer service to put my product over and above the copycats. Having said that, I'm being much more careful with my intellectual property these days, and am finding that while I like the security I get from knowing I'm more protected, it's a double-edged sword: I also think more about property and ownership than I like.

So, with each of these Friday posts I'm putting up, I feel as though I'm marking my territory a little, putting my ideas out there early and making them mine. Silly, maybe. The aprons are the same way: lots of apron designers out there these days. Not as many doing Mommy-and-Me, and fewer still doing the shapes and styles I like. I hope Heather likes hers, and am looking forward to having something new over at the store.

Friday Preview #2: Reversible Skirt

This is the Kirsten skirt, in sizes 12mo to 12 years. I've done it in loads of fabric combinations this season, and one of my favorites is this Sandi Henderson fabric:

Elastic waistband makes it fully reversible, with bright flowers in pinks on one side, and a flush of petals on the other:

I like the "paper bag" effect of the waistband here, too--does anyone else remember this style from the late 80s? on the "Boyfriend Jeans" we had in 9th grade, perhaps?

Hem is fully encased in wide bias tape, visible on both sides:


I love this style for its simplcity, its clean A-line shape, and the fact that it works so well for so many ages. Vary the fabric, and it has a whole different feel!

Remember the GIVEAWAY coming in early March--as I post previews of the spring collection each Friday, the selection with the MOST COMMENTS will be given away to a reader in a random drawing. Thanks for stopping by!

Friday Preview #1: Spring is Coming--with a GIVEAWAY!

I know, the holidays are barely even over yet and here I am, blabbing on about spring.

But I have a secret:  I've been working on spring and summer styles for months now, and I can hardly stand the cloak-and-dagger any longer.  It's really, really difficult, when you find something you love, to NOT talk about it all the time.  I remind myself of E with her first real high school crush.  Wow.

So these next few Fridays, I'll be showing tantalizing sneak peaks of the spring line, bit by bit, all leading up the the grand Trunk Show at Beehive to launch the new season.  There are a LOT of surprises along the way, and I'm busting at the seams to tell you all about them...

Oh, and as I reveal teensy glimpses of each piece, I'll be watching the comments: the garment featured in the post with the MOST comments by February 15 will be GIVEN AWAY!  So keep checking back each Friday between now and then, and be sure to leave a note for the ones you love--I can't wait to send the first of this collection away to someone I know will adore it!

Today:

From the TWEEN COLLECTION, our renewed focus for Spring 2009.  Lots of very cool, very wearable styles for girls' sizes 7, 8, 10, and 12.  This is a version of the Abigail jumper for littler girls, in a very tween-friendly print: mod guitars in lime and aqua on a chocolate background.  Cap sleeves, A-line body gathered at a square neckline, buttons up the back to wear as a top, a tunic, with a shirt beneath.

Yum!

Let the Holiday Craziness Commence

December? WHAT?? How did THAT happen?

Now that Thanksgiving is officially behind us, there is no denying it: the Holidays are HERE. Our tree went up yesterday. And down today, when gravity toppled our vintage spruce right to the floor. It's in recovery status at the moment; photos when we're out of the ICU**. 

I was out of the house Saturday morning and Sweet Husband, E and M did all the unpacking of decorations and arranging and general holiday-ing up. I got to come home to lights and ribbons and wreaths. It was awesome. I love that the lights are draped in coils on the front porch rather than wrapped around the handrails.
I love that the tchochkes are all mish-mashed on the bookshelves and tables, running into one another like a Christmas boxcar derby.
Mostly, I love that my family did all that for me as a surprise.  See?  I'm not the only one who gets all squishy around here--I was having a tough morning Saturday, too, so this was an awesome way to come home.

And I spent some of my day making for them, too. I had a chunk of this silly Sesame Street print in the stash, and am embarking on more Brother/Sister outfits. Clearly, I am a woman obsessed.
M's got done first, as it took the least thought:

She insisted on wearing it right away.

Next is E's, but we'll need a new tee for her--that last one was an XS, since she is in fact extra small. But their idea of XS is a little, well, trampier than E's idea of XS, so we're getting her an S as she goes into Beta on this whole matching outfits thing. O's will be last, since the Thanksgiving outfit juuuuust fit, and once we sent it through the hot dryer didn't fit at all. He'll need a whole new pattern, so I'm putting that off a bit.

Am also thinking of gifts to give, and who'd like what. My family have largely declared they'll not be exchanging gifts with the adults this year--my sister, my parents, even some of our friends have cut back and are focusing on the kids only this giving season. I, on the other hand, wisely neglected to mail gifts to my sister and mother for the past two Christmases, always thinking, "I really should send those..." And so we have plenty to share this holiday season. See how procrastination can often be in one's favor?? Clever me.

Still, all the little ones would love to have something handmade under the tree this year, so my dance card is filling up with ideas for them. Stay tuned this week as I work my way through sewing projects to give and get.

**I suppose I'll know I've become a true blogger when rather than shriek in horror when I get out of the shower and see our Christmas tree lying sprawled on the living room floor I rush not to rectify the tragedy, but to my camera to document it, instead. Sorry to cheat all of you--us, really, and posterity--out of that image. Will do better next time.

Fabric Shop OPEN Online!

I'm delighted to announce, just in time for Black Friday, that I've gotten the beginnings of my new by-the-yard fabric shop open via Etsy. We're building an independent URL bit-by-bit, but I have all this yardage burning a hole in my pocket, so we've opted to launch through Etsy at a small scale now and then expand over the next few weeks and months to a new site. Will keep you updated, but in the meantime, please visit

Whipstitch Fabrics

over at Esty and check out the selection!!

Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, but most importantly, please comment below and give suggestions for what you'd like to see as we grow.

Take care, y'all!

For Bitty Babies

A friend of ours asked me to bring in some styles of baby items so she could choose a gift for a friend set to deliver her little girl any day now. Most of them are based on the prototypes for the spring expanded line of baby things, and made up in fall/winter fabrics. I'm super excited to offer lots of new styles for littlest ones come spring, and to announce that we'll be focusing with similar intensity on our Tween collections. Both of those size ranges are ones that Pretty Jane has neglected these last two years, and that are rarely designed for, and have so few choices. I'm excited to grow our offerings, and hope you like what you see!

These teeny overalls are the flagship design, and are based on the ones I made for O for Thanksgiving.  Astute observers will also recognize them as the Dylan overalls from this fall, but now in a teenier size!

Little pockets

Fully reversible, with an elastic back waist

Button closure at the crotch for easy diaper changes

More updates as I complete other designs--if only I'd taken a shot of the bubble for girls that she purchased to give as a shower gift! All in the shop just after the New Year (or by special order in winter fabrics NOW!).

Holy Holidays, Batman!

I struggle with this, but I'm already well into whipping up Holiday-themed goodies for the shop.

See, I'm a die-hard Not Until The Day After Thanksgiving kinda girl. I really, really, really don't like the consumerism/commercialization/earliness of Christmas these days. It makes me tired. It makes so many of us want it OVER ALREADY by the time it finally arrives. And I don't want to feel that way about such a quiet, reflective, peaceful, family-filled time of the year. I wrap each ornament individually when I pack them away each year, convinced that they absorb somehow the love and joy and peace we feel during the holiday, and wanting them to hold onto that until we unwrap them the following year. It's special to me, and I want it to be special for my children, something for them to pass down.

And now here it is, just days past Halloween, and I'm already up to my knees in red and green and holiday lights. As a manufacturer (even at my tiny scale), I don't feel as though I can wait longer to unveil Christmas products. But as a mom, I cringe.

I beg your indulgence, then, as I show what I've been working on these past few days:


Winter and Christmas MegaBibs--they're super-sized for all those giant meals. Button closure at the back, and fully reversible!

Matching burpies, also reversible, and just the right size for dozing off. Two designs in each package.

Holiday gift sets, with one bib and a matching burpie.

Speaking of gifts, aprons and mommy-and-me apron sets, perfect for ALLLL that holiday baking.


Even my ironing board has gotten in on the action!

Forgive me, Internets. It is the market pressure what made me do it. Hope you like it enough to cut me some slack.

Have a great weekend!

Orders Shipping Out!

We had SUCH a great time at the trunk show hosted by some sweet friends recently, and now orders are ready and starting to ship out! Just in time, too, since the weather (praise heaven!) has finally started to turn.

Alphabet tees--with some of the letter hiding on the back.

Lots of little girls getting this coat/dress for the fall, in bright shades of corduroy.

Here it is in wide-wale olive cord, lined with a green damask print cotton. So perfect for days that start crisp but not frigid--too cool for a sweater but too warm for a down coat.
Big covered buttons and a Mandarin collar that can be turned down to a mini-Peter Pan.  Lots of room to layer, too.

And in the baby wales, it doubles as a dress over tights and boots when the snows come.

All packed up and ready to go!

I love the satisfaction of putting together an order and knowing just who will wear it. I know it sounds like an ad line, but I really do think about the wearer with each stitch then, and I try to make it something special they'll really treasure. I get a lot of pleasure out of making each piece by hand.

And now--more time to focus on the spring line!! Oooh, I can't wait to show it off. I might be EVEN MORE excited about it than I was about the fall and winter collections, if that's possible. More soon!

New Winter Collection on Its Way!

Check back next week for images from the Winter additions to the Fall collection! With any luck, they'll join the other pieces in the shop SOON!

Little Project

M needed a new pillowcase for her little pillow if she's ever going to move out of the crib and let the O take it over. I realize this even more now that I've spent the weekend with houseguests and the other two kids, trying vainly to explain to everyone that our newborn is sleeping in my room, which shares a wall with the kitchen, and if they yell and slam cabinet doors or unload the dishwasher at all hours, he WON'T be sleeping anymore.

Since I've been getting in the fabrics for the spring line already, I had a hard time resisting cutting into some of it to make her this sweet pillow for her big girl bed:


I adore gingham in general, and in this delicious apple green I like it even more. Plus, since M and O are sharing the nursery now, I thought doing her pillow case out of the same fabric as the piping on the changing pad would begin to tie the two sides of the room together a little more, and maintain a more cohesive look as a whole. Especially with the pink-o-rama that is M's side of the room!

Very simple pillowcase shape with a ruffle at the opening. I used my new(ish) rolled hem foot on my machine to finish the edge of the ruffle, and boy-o-boy, are you people gonna see a lot of ruffles from now on--that bad boy makes them EASY!


Have also been filling some orders for tees this week, and adding some samples to the line for the Winter Collection, which I'm hoping will be in the shop in another week or so--will keep you posted!

Recently Shipped

Our auction winner received her Lucy jumper not too long ago. Here's her daughter, modeling the dress, and thrilled with the paperdolls fabric. Thanks, Nanana, for letting me post photos!



When our girl's mommy won the auction, she also ordered one of our letter pillows for her girl--here it is, waiting to ship out. I'm told there was much rejoicing when the package arrived, which is just what I always want to hear from any Pretty Jane recipient!



Hope you're dancing through your week, too!

New in the Shop!

I ordered this Japanese fabric--direct from Japan!--months ago. It came in finally a few weeks back, and boy oh boy was it worth waiting for! So soft, such a sweet print, fantastic colors. Awesome. I am completely in love. And so is our Toddler: check her out! (When she first tried it on for me, just so I could check the fit, she flipped out when I tried to take it off her. And this is how samples become part of my child's wardrobe--and why the new baby gets about 12" of rod space in their shared closet.)

First thing I did was make a fall version of the Abigail pinafore from last spring. This one's substantially longer than the spring/summer version I did--that one was intended to hit at high hip, this one is mid-calf. Over a long sleeved tee or a turtleneck, maybe with some tights and a little half boot? It SOOOO says fall to me. It's the squirrels that do it, see?


This one's already up and in the shop. Am working on another more shift-like version with sleeves (cap sleeves, I'm thinking? puffed?) that should be there in a few days--keep checking back!

Going Around Like A Rash

There are three women on our cul-de-sac who are pregnant. When we had our toddler two years ago, there were FIVE. Something in the water.

The one whose house backs up to ours--and who we like better, frankly, than the other one--is due about 6 weeks before I am. She asked for some burp cloths for this second boy they're having, and her only requirement was that one side be the frogs fabric from Michael Miller. Outside of that, she was very flexible.

Here they are, in all their froggy glory:


I changed the shape since I made burps last year. The flat rectangle seems to miss some of the funk as it flies out baby's little gullet. I wanted to make the cloth curve at the neck line just a bit--not so much that I end up with crust under my chin, but enough to be comfortable. At the same time, I wanted them to flare out a little over the shoulder to catch the maximum spittage. These are reversible, but they're also fully lined with cotton flannel to create Super Absorbancy.

The backs each have a different contrast fabric, for variety and interest--one cord, one flannel, and one cotton in a geometric print. This way, she can avoid inadvertently packing the one that gets puked on the most right before she goes out to dinner with childless friends, thereby ensuring that they'll never reproduce of their own accord.


Might need a set of these for our baby...but will they be frogs or flowers?? You'll just have to wait and see! About 8 weeks to go, people. Then Mommy gets a rest. Sort of.