Happy Holidays!

It's cold isn't it?

I guess that's why I've been replacing so many coat zippers lately--

I'm glad there are people out there who aren't giving up on the winter coats when the only problem with it is the zipper-- I can replace most zippers for $10. Cheaper than most winter coats, I think--it's worth getting another year out of your coat if the rest of it is still good, right?

Also, for your information- I will be taking a couple weeks off around Christmas-- if you're in need of something before Christmas, let me know as soon as possible, and we can take care of it this week, or next week--

The last day I will be taking in projects will be Thursday, December 9th

(You can still bring me your projects if you won't need them until the beginning of January or later. I've got a few wedding things in line for next summer, that sort of thing is not a problem at all-I just won't be working on anything over the Holidays.
Feel free to email me about anything though--I'll still check my email once in a while, I just won't be having appointments for the rest of December, after the 9th- But we can schedule appointments in January, if you know you'll need something then-)


Happy Holidays!

Finished products

Here are the final pictures of those refashion projects from the previous post-- in case you were curious about how they turned out--

Now they're safely on the way to North Carolina, a place I haven't been yet, but I imagine is lovely.

I love projects like this that take imagination and resourcefulness.


It also gives me something to blog about-- Because as exciting as pant hems are, it just doesn't seem very blog-worthy to tell you I've hemmed yet another pair of pants.... (though it does make me happy every time, to know that one more pair of pants is the right length for somebody, and I will gladly hem as many pants as there are people to bring them over to me.)

I have had several of the Idaho State Police in, wanting me to sew on badges and things--which I am very happy to do.

That's kind of exciting-- My boys love to see the police trucks and cars out the window- (they've begged for them to turn on the lights for them sometimes too-and I thank all of the very obliging and kind officers for humoring them. :)

It's fun to get to know the people that are working in our community to make things better.
Our neighbors might be starting to wonder about us with the frequent police visits... But I promise we aren't trouble makers.


Anyway- Keep the interesting projects coming!

Refashioning across the Country!

Well! I've been boring on the blog lately, haven't I?

Here's something fun though.

I'm so excited to be working on something for an Etsy friend. Early in the year Justine found me and had me customize one of my own designs for her.
Later she sent me a shirt she already had that I re-worked for her and sent back.
I'm excited that I'm needed again for some re-modeling work!

Justine sent me these two lovelies- Cute, but just needed something new to be more practical for wearing--I love that she didn't just give up on these pieces, but saw some potential for something new and fun. And soon she will have some more completely one of a kind items in her closet. Yay!



We collaborated with some ideas, and settled on making the green (oddly open in front) sweater into a cropped cardigan, and the dress into a tunic sort of top--

These pictures are what I've designed and am working on bringing into reality-- I'll post the final product as well as soon as I finish.



Also-later Justine sent me this boxy top that is becoming a spaghetti strap tank with a couple of ruffles- I'll get pictures of that soon too!

So that's what I'm up to at the moment! Hope you're all having a lovely October!

Happy Homecoming!

I've been working on lots of homecoming dresses during the past couple of weeks--
It's that time of year (fun!)

If you've found your (almost) perfect dress/tux for homecoming, I can still help you out if it needs something-- Just let me know soon!

If I don't answer the phone, just leave a message with what you need, and your phone number-I'll get back to you.

Thanks!

(Of course, I'm still doing non-Homecoming projects as well-so you can keep those coming too-)

Pant hems are still $5

(:

I've lost my phone...(hopefully temporarily...)

(---Update--- It's all good- Found my phone in our car- I thought that's where it was, I just couldn't check there all day because my husband had the car. )


Hey- just to let anyone know- if you've been trying to call me today, I've misplaced my phone...

I think I'll find it, but if you have anything urgent today, just email me-- Sorry for the inconvenience!

I hope I'll find it by tonight- I'll let you know...

Lace-Up Wedding Dress Alteration

Alright.. it's rainy today, so I'm finally going to update the blog. (:

Here's a project from this summer I did for a bride. She had a nice lace up back dress-
The nice part about lace up back wedding dresses is their relative flexibility in size--Not as many fitting issues as there can be with some dresses.

But even then they sometimes require a little bit of help-

This dress was just a bit too big in the waist- The bust fit nicely, and the length was great, so it was worth getting this size- It was just too big around the waist. When laced up tight enough to fit her waist, the laces pulled together the sides completely, which made them meet in the middle of her back, instead of leaving that nice V lace up effect--

This wasn't ideal, especially since the bride planned to lace it with a red ribbon for her final look- If it had to be pulled that tight together, it just wouldn't look right at all.

So here is me, getting the right distance and look with the lace up back-- See all the extra fabric in the waist (pinned on the side)? Between both sides I took the dress in about 5 inches(on all the layers of course) in order for the laces to look right.




And here is the final product, taken in from the sides. And a much happier bride- (:

Pant Hems... Always $5

Just thought I would make this official announcement.
(plus I just need to update the blog with Something, you know? To prove I'm still alive? I just can't seem to get over the beautiful weather here- My little guys and I been going out for adventures/picnics/playing/biking just about every day. So when we're inside, I do my sewing projects, and then.... I don't blog about them...)


So, officially I will be doing all pant hems for $5. I used to charge a little extra for a cuff, since it takes a bit more time-- But you know, so many people need their pants hemmed that I just feel like doing the world a little favor.

So, there you go world! Momentous day here...

And for all my fellow short people, I've been thinking of doing something like after having 5 pairs of pants hemmed, then you get one free- (should I make one of those little punch-hole cards? that could be fun-)
Anyway. If you're one that has to have Every pair of pants you've ever owned hemmed, it's just annoying, right? Especially if you don't have the time(or sewing machine) to do it for yourself. So there's one perk for you!

And as always I continue to give 'bulk' discounts if you have a pile of things you want taken care of all at once- I always believe in more for the money.

Thanks to all who have contacted me about clothing alterations in the Boise and Meridian area- I'm glad you're finding me, and I'm happy to help!

So, it's been a while. But I'm still up to things, promise.

Ok. I've been doing all sorts of things, but not blogging! We've been getting settled in and all after moving and adventures of sorts, so that's my excuse, if you wanted one.

Anyway, now that we're here, I have started out on a few alteration projects for people- And I'll still be working on gathering pictures from past projects.

My most exciting news is that I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful seamstress nearby in Boise-Brooke Davis- She's able to devote her whole basement of 3 bedrooms to her craft (I'm a little jealous!) and has brides scheduled in for alterations up until October- so it was a lovely time to meet her and see how she ran things-

I look forward to learning more from her- and she's been so kind to refer people to me when she doesn't have the time to help them out- (When you're that well established, you're always turning people away, no matter how much you'd love to help them-) so I'm happy to be here for those she's unable to help.

I am still excited about sewing... but the weather has been so nice, we've been out biking and walking just about every day, and I've let my personal projects fall off the to do list for a while... I really need to get my Etsy shop back in order after this long inactivity due to traveling and moving...

But speaking of Etsy, my new friend Kelly who I altered a bridesmaids dress for just recently turns out to be Kelly of daisykdesign on Etsy--in her shop you'll find all manner of cute bottle cap crafty ideas.

I love to meet fellow Etsy folk! You can check out one of my favorites from Kellys shop here.

And this is her in her cute bridesmaids dress- it was ordered just a bit small, but plenty long enough so I added nicely blending side panels pleated to match the rest of the dress, made from the extra 3 inches of length I stole from the hem- which made the dress a very flattering just below the knee length. (yay for when that sort of thing just works out perfectly!)


She looks quite cute in the dress.

And maybe I should have gotten a picture including her face, huh??
Sorry for beheading you, Kelly-- Send me pictures of the wedding or something!

Anway! It was about time for a post from me... It's been a while. I'll try not to be absent for so long anymore-

If anyone in the Meridian/Eagle/Boise Idaho area is in need of a seamstress for clothing alterations, I hope perhaps you'll stumble across me in you search! I'm happy to help, so give me a call or send me an email and let me know what I can do for you!

The After pictures! A beautiful wedding and a happy couple.

Well, it's about time I start catching up on all the 'afters' of the before and afters I've got going on...

So here is one-

(If you didn't see the before, refer to this post if you will)

Jenny was lucky to find a great deal on a dress that was supposed to be customized for her, and it came to her less than ideal- Luckily I was able to help her out by adding sleeves and raising the back of the dress a couple of inches.

And as you can see, she looks beautiful. I'm so happy for these guys!

On the Lack of Home Decor in My Life...

Dear everyone who has ever asked me to make them curtains, shams, pillows, valances, tablecloths, runners, napkins, couch and chair covers... and all the rest...


I'm sorry. I'm just not that in to it. It doesn't seem exciting to me.

I think I'm not letting myself get excited about all of that fun stuff.

Maybe it's because right now I don't actually own a couch, or a table worth a cloth. Or any windows on which to put curtains or other pretty hanging things.

Maybe it's because we've been moving every few months for the last 4 years, and all (yes, All) our belongings can fit into a 5 by 10 storage unit. (And that is where they are right now...)

Yes. Curtains are easy to make. As are pillows and all the rest. I am capable of it. No problem there.

Maybe I should just start liking it more (I'd have plenty of customers-I know because of how many I've turned down...)

Something I like about clothes is that Everyone can (and usually does) wear them...

Can everyone have a lovely living room all draped, pillowed, and table-clothed? Arguably, No.

Maybe I'm just waiting to get excited about the whole home decor thing... waiting for my own little house. With our own little windows. Where we live longer than one year.

I'll let you know when that happens.

And maybe then I'll be willing to make you curtains and pillows....