Ellie Inspired

Some of you are new to my blog and didn't see the month long series dedicated to Valentine's Day on my blog last year so here is a quick recap for some fun ideas!  You can also search "Valentine's Day" on my search button above to see all the posts from last year.

The Sweetheart Apron pattern is free and found under the Free Patterns & Projects tab at the top.

This is my super popular Ayano pattern in a pretty pink/red floral print.  This comes in sizes 1-5 but after many requests last year, I also published Pixie Girl, a similar pattern for sizes 4-12 shown below:

I guess I HAVE made a lot of dresses in red...it is my favorite color.  Laurie still has some of this fabric, I think, in her sale section at Adorable Heirlooms!

Ellie's Christmas dress would also make a really nice Valentine's Day dress.  This is my Miss Mary Mack pattern with the free variations that I've published on my website to create the organza overlay.  Barbara at Fine Stitchery has created a beautiful document that she is including in her paper patterns of Miss Mary Mack that is very clear and easy to understand with the variations:  www.finestitchery.com

And I have to show you Jacob's Valentine's box he made for school today.  I had to be gone to a friend's house last night so Aaron helped him.  They had it almost done when I got home.  I think they had a lot of fun together and it turned out so cute!  You can see part of painting I've been doing in the house...red wall...what else!  I'll show the house stuff that's been keeping me busy another time.  The sewing room is next and I'm really excited for that.

Soo...last year, I offered a special Valentine's Day sale which I kind of forgot.  So, I will do the same thing this year!  Starting today until midnight Tuesday night (2/14), BUY ONE, GET ONE HALF OFF of all my e-patterns!!  Click on the special sale button in my pattern shop!

Ellie and I are baking all day today making individual ballerina cakes for her party tomorrow so...no time to sew today or take pictures!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Hey, remember me!?    A friend once told me she knew when I was up to something because my blog was silent.  Ha!  Well, she was right!  I'm up to a whole lot of somethings!

This quote has grasped a hold of me as I began this new year:

"I dwell in possibility..."

~Emily Dickinson

Isn't that a fabulous quote?  It motivates me to dream bigger.

Okay, I don't have anything quite yet I can show you.  My machine is humming and my poor computer never gets turned off lately but a lot is being accomplished. 

So, here's a whole lot of nothings to prove that I don't work all the time and Ellie and I have been having a lot of fun this year since it's just the two of us at home.

Tea Parties...

Horseback Riding...

Getting Mani/Pedi's...

Roller Skating...(by the way, this is a sneak peek at a new knit pattern coming!)

And Ballet Lessons...(some more new patterns coming!)

The boys have been having a fun year too.  Nathan started on a travel team for baseball and is busy already with practices.  Jacob and Seth are playing basketball on Saturday mornings.  They keep me hopping but I think these are my favorite ages of the kids (of course I have said that since they were born and we enter into the next fun phases of their lives :)).   I will do a blog post later with their pictures.  They are growing up to be such sweet, responsible boys.  I'm so proud of them.

So, that's what we've been up to as well as doing some redecorating and painting in our house.  I know none of this has to do with sewing but I missed you guys!  I'm almost ready to start rolling out new patterns.  Keep checking back!

January 16th only!

ALL E-PATTERNS are 25% off!!!! Any that you've been wanting? Spring sewing to get started on? Smocked patterns to begin for Easter?

Add THIS to your cart and adjust the quantity for the number of patterns you would like. In the special instructions to seller, list the e-patterns you would like and I will email them to you right away!

Thank you so much! I appreciate YOU!!!!

Butterfly, butterfly,
Sit on my chin,
Your wings are like tinsel,
So yellow and thin.
Butterfly, butterfly,
Give me a kiss;
If you give me a dozen
There’s nothing amiss.
Butterfly, butterfly,
Off to the flowers,—
Wee, soulless sprite
Of the long summer hours.

A brand new design for Spring 2012!  A two-piece outfit with assymetrical, overlapping ruffles.  An underlayer of tulle can be added to the skirt for extra dramatic effect.  The top has elasticized ruffled straps so...no buttons or zippers to mess with!  This is embroidered linen in purple and white.  Ellie got this fabulous purple headband for Christmas...so we had to make something new to match!

And here is just the top paired with white pique capri pants from my Lil' Bluebird pattern.  It gives it a much more casual look.  Great for summer weddings with outdoor receptions!

Doesn't Ellie look old in this last picture of the back of her?  Oh my!  She is still three years old for three more days!

So, what do you think of "Butterfly"?  I have a fun, casual one I'm going to try next!

Aaron and I have had the fun privilege of visiting Churchill Downs a couple of times and watching a horse race in person.  The air is filled with excitement as the horses are led into the starting gate and all wait for the clanging bells and the gates to fly open.  That is how I felt this week!  Time to get my year started! 

When the kids went back to school last week after the Christmas break, I spent time reorganizing and planning my year and making my goals.  This week....I was ready to go!  Spring/Summer patterns have been narrowed down, I've begun writing some, fabric has been been chosen, and the first pictures are scheduled for tomorrow!  I updated my upcoming patterns slightly and made a small change to my tester request form.  So, if you have not previously filled out a tester form and would like to be included, please click the button at the top.

I do have one small request if anyone is interested.  I am one person...writing, sewing, photography, marketing, and website maintenance....not to mention bookwork!  Last fall, I got a little overwhelmed and asked from some help from three of my fabulous testers who I knew had extraordinary skills.  Smocking is time-consuming and I simply didn't have the time to create cover dresses for all of my upcoming patterns in addition to the muslins I had already created.  So, I sent them fabric and allowed them to keep the dresses in exchange for allowing me to use their dress on the cover of my pattern.  In the rush to get out my smocked patterns for those beginning Easter sewing, I would like to ask for that same help again.  I do not have strict requirements for my testers, in fact, I prefer to have a wide range of sewing experience.  But, for this, I really need to have an experienced sewist who has no trouble meeting a deadline and is able to make a size 4.  If you are interested, send me an email: ellieinspired@juno.com with pictures of past work (unless you have sewn for me before).  I have begun my smocking as well but I know my limitations and I just will not have the time to make multiples of these patterns in addition to drafting and writing them. 

I will also be updating my tester list...so sign up if you're interested!  One of my favorite parts of this business is seeing what my pattern testers create and going through their reviews.

Back to work....

This end of year post is really more for me so that I can check and see how I did with making my goals and the amount of work I accomplished this year.  It's so important to keep track and set new goals for yourself!  It motivates you to work harder and be more organized.  Maybe you will enjoy looking back and remembering different things we worked on together too.

I tried to pull together pictures of everything I made this year and count up how many garments I actually made.  I love to do this every year just to keep track for myself.  Last year (2010) I made 150 items, published 14 patterns, 5 free patterns for either Ellie Inspired or a fabric company, and one sewalong!!  

My New Year's resolutions last year were:

• Have my first ever Spring TRUNK SHOW!  (So super excited about that!  If you are a store owner and reading this blog post, please email me or send me a message to be placed on the list.  I'm having a hard time narrowing down my choices with all the cute Fabric Finders fabric available but can't wait to get sewing!)   I did not do this last year.  I am still open to doing this for 2012 if there is an interest from any store owners.  Just contact me!
• Get all of my patterns published in paper form!  (Working on that this week.  Oh, I can't wait to see my patterns in their cute little bags all folded and nice.  It will be like Christmas all over again!)  I DID get the majority of my patterns printed.  A couple of my very first patterns are all that are left to get put into print form!!
• Try to go to bed before midnight  (This may seem like a funny goal to anyone who doesn't know me personally.    It is usually much later than that.)  I tried....but I didn't do it much!
• Start working with my sister-in-law with professional photo shoots.  (Her work is amazing and I'll share more info about her later.)  Check!!  We had a lot of fun this year!  My sister-in-law is AWESOME at photography!
• Set a specific time for daily Bible reading each day so that it doesn't get lost in the busy-ness of the day.  Could definitely do better with this this year. 
• Sew more for myself.  Nope, didn't happen...hopefully this year!

In 2011, I made a little over 120 items, published 16 patterns (ending the year at 30 patterns), 3 free patterns, and 3 free tutorials.  We also raised over $1000 together for the victims of the Japanese Tsunami and contributed towards the relief efforts for the terrible tornadoes through Alabama (total raised =a little over $1000 again!).  I posted pictures of everything I could find down below if you're interested.  For every picture taken, there is at least one more muslin that became playclothes or a gift that I forgot to take a picture of but that's fine.  There's plenty enough to bore you with already!

Three FREE patterns:

THREE FREE TUTORIALS:

So, what are my resolutions for THIS year?

• Finish printing all my patterns and get them into many more stores.
• Attend Creative Needlework Market this year and get to meet many of you in person!
• Sew more!
• Take more pictures!
• Publish 20 patterns this year (Gulp!)
• Finish my Masters correspondence program in Fashion Design & Pattern Drafting
• Give my blog and website a fresh new look!
• Paint and set up my new sewing room
• Possibly hire some part-time help to help me pack patterns and mail shipments each week.
• Finish up my Sewing School part of my website.
• Some more exciting new ventures that I'm going to leap into!  (Still a surprise!)

This year has been incredible for me!  I can not believe where I am today when I think of two years ago and how pattern drafting wasn't even a thought in my head at that time.  God is good!  Although I plan my steps, the direction they take is definitely up to Him and it is exciting to see His plan unfold.

Happy New Year, dear friends!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas and much love from our family! 

Sorry for the delay on this!  I know some of you have been checking it all day to see if I had it loaded yet....it is now!  I changed it to sizes 1-12 too!  Happy Sewing!

Merry Christmas everyone!  I'm not sure if I'll take much time to blog next week.  This week was hard enough to find the time.  But, the kids are out of school next week and there are a lot of fun things I want to do with them and some last-minute sewing I still need to do.

So, I wanted to leave you with a free pattern, a special sale until December 25th, and an opportunity to share gift certificates with your friends or family who are wanting to begin sewing or wanting certain patterns.

Every year, during the month of December, Aaron and I have a tradition of setting aside one special night for a romantic Christmas night away.  One of our moms keeps the kids over night.  Sometimes, we go into the city and watch Handel's Messiah at Symphony Hall and watch the ice skaters in the park, go out to eat and spend the night at a fancy hotel.  It is such a fun thing to look forward to when we're so busy during those last couple of weeks and barely see each other.

Bad picture with my phone, sorry!

Last night, we went to The Story Tour which was BY FAR the absolute best thing I have ever been to!!  If you are in Missouri and can still get tickets for tomorrow night....go!!  Steven Curtis Chapman and Natalie Grant sang their grammy-nominated songs which were awesome, the Newsboys - as always - gave a fun, entertaining performance, and Selah sang most of the songs (they are my favorite anyway).  I loved seeing Max Lucado in person too.  I've always liked Nichole Nordeman but after listening to the 18 original songs she wrote for the tour, each one better than the last, I have an amazing amount of respect for her. 

Okay, anyway, I can't show you the concert (you can buy cd's or dvd's from the website I think, though) but I will be a bragging momma and show you Nathan's first solo at the school Christmas program this year.  Oh, I was sooooo nervous for him!  I remember singing solos for school programs and how nervous I would get!

So, here is my Christmas gift to you!  I made this damask charmeuse dress for our holiday photo shoot, intending to make it into a pattern for the shop.  But, I decided to finish it and offer it for free in appreciation for your loyalty and friendship this year.  Click on the picture to download the pattern, in case you need a last-minute holiday dress, gift, or want to get a jump on your spring sewing!

And, here is your gift certificate!

Just click on the picture and you will be taken to the second page of the pattern shop where you can choose the amount.  The 9.95 one is the amount of one pattern and the 19.90 one is the amount of two patterns.  In the "amount", I will just write "one free pattern of your choice" or "two free patterns of your choice".  The last one is for $40.00 which can be used for a bundle pack or a different variety of patterns.  If you would like a different dollar amount, just email me at ellieinspired(at)juno(dot)com and I can certainly do that for you!   I will email them out the same day that you purchase them to the email address that you specify!

And, lastly, ALL PATTERNS are on sale for 20% off until December 25th! 

Let me know in your comments what pattern(s) you want at 20% off.

I have to show you Miss Nicole's cute variations of my Sleeping Bunnies and Sporty Girl knit patterns:

Isn't she awesome?

Merry Christmas!  Thanks for an incredible year.  Love you guys!

My knit patterns are now going to be available at THE FABRIC FAIRY!  If you haven't visited her store before, you are going to love it!  She has so many great options for knit fabric at wonderful prices!  But, she also carries wovens, trims, and patterns.

People are always asking me where they can purchase knit fabric or fold-over elastic and here is a wonderful store to visit for these!

Thanks so much, Meg, for carrying my patterns!  Now, you can purchase one of my knit patterns and the fabric to make it all in one single transaction!  Talk about easy!

She has also generously offered a 5% off coupon code good now until the 21st.  Use the coupon code "inspired".

Visit THE FABRIC FAIRY here!!