Squares.

Hmmm. . . wonder what I'm gonna do with this stack of beautiful squares.


Well, i can tell you it came from this

And i have plans for those korkers and bottle caps too!!!!
So have you figured it out yet!

That's right! Easter is nearing fast and i haven't even started. I have found in this business you have to start a season ahead of the game, and i still haven't been able to keep up. 
I've been staring at those squares still sitting in the same spot for 2 weeks. I need an organizer, or something to remind me of everything i need to do so i can get it done in an orderly manner 'cause that's not happenin'
However, i have made a few outfits to get photographed on some models, still working on that too! Participated in an auction, auctioning off clothes i have made to help bring in business, and been working on some bottle cap projects gone wrong! I have been trying to make some key chains to use as a fundraiser for Samantha so we can get her stem cell treatments, but the epoxy is driving me insane. Some turned out cute, but the pics will come in a later post. 
Also, been trying to get more local fundraisers in the works for Sam! We are having a poker run, a BBQ, and a benefit yard sale, oh and the girls are having an auction over on our auction page on facebook here  starting February 21.  So we have a few things lined up.

If you know of any good fundraising ideas let me know.  Hopefull in my next post , there will be some Easter patchwork garments!

New and Upcoming Designs.

Thank you for reading Southern Stitch Designs Blog Posts! There are several new and upcoming designs in the works. Can I get a Woot Woot !! I am really liking some patchwork and stripwork and decided to make some new patterns!!
Here are some works in progress . . .

This is a new stripwork design! I love the ruffle and the ruffle straps! Super excited about this one.

Also, many people think that patchwork is difficult , but it really is not. There are a few different ways people do patchwork.  In these patterns I will show you how to put these together the way i like to do it! I am all about minimalism and simple! I like quick also, but patchwork does take a little more time due to cutting and sewing extra seams, but once you get use to it, it flies by!

Here is a beautiful patchwork skirt, super simple to make!


And here is a pretty little peasant patchwork dress that is not hard to put together at all!  This particular dress will be in the auction here one facebook. I will announce when the St. Patty's Day auction will take place!

A quick update on some of my patterns that have been awaiting release. I had trouble with my pdf files and my printer so was having  a hard time determining if they were the correct size and shape! So I have revamped all of my patterns with computer drawn patterns and will be releasing some and retesting some.
If you would like to test patterns for Southern Stitch Designs pleas go here and fill out the application so i can keep your email and info in a database and go back to it when a pattern comes up for testing :)
Thank you!

The Cici Pocket Skirt is my first released pattern. Check it out here on etsy or here in my pattern shop.

Custom graphics.

It's time to enjoy each day, play all you can and celebrate those you love. This is the philosophy behind A Time To Laugh, a new custom invitation line by McSwain Design. Over the last five years, McSwain Design has created logos, flyers, cards and all other forms of advertising for a variety of clients from industrial development companies to science museums. In 2010, McSwain Design launched A Time To Laugh, the custom invitation, party novelties and t-shirt design line. Contact Wendy today for super fun, creative designs that are created just for you. Go to Wendy's website A Time to Laugh and see what she can do for you!
Wendy designed our new logo which you see on our blog header and my etsy banner which i love!
Wendy also has an etsy shop here and a facebook page here.

The Best Santa Ever.

So we went to see Santa Clause last week! He looks like the "real thing" with his red face and snow white beard and hair.  Best smile ever too!The kids sat on his lap and told him what they wanted. James did most of the talking and told him what "sissy" wanted. James wants a Nintendo DS and sissy wants a Nintendo ds pink and a Barbie game.

James he is 5 and Samantha is 3.  This is part of the list he wrote Santa.

 He added to it later, i didn't get a pic of it though.

So they had a great time going to see Santa Clause. The line was really long and the photographer was crazy, but we had a great experience. Santa clause told them he loved them, it was really cute. This Santa clause is called the Story Book Santa. He cannot move his arms or legs, he has Muscular dystrophy. We were talking and he asked me what Samantha had and i explained it to him. He said he knows a Santa Clause with Spina Bifida :) 

On a different note. I have been working on some outfits for a friend, Wendy. She helped me with my website logo and some other design things.   Here are a couple outfits i made for her daughter, Sammy modeled them for these pics :) It is also a couple patterns that will be coming out soon. I've been saying that forever, but i can't get my files to cooperate when i am creating a pdf, so once i get that figured out, these designs will be up for sale.
This is the Layla swing top also comes in a dress length.


Here is the 3-tiered dress. The pattern will include short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, and long sleeve.



Also, last week we had Samantha's program at her preschool. It was pretty comical, a bunch of toddlers sing Christmas songs. By the end they were climbing the bleachers and wandering around, lol!  It was from my iPhone, so it's not that great of a video.
here they are singing Jingle Bells. They mumble and then get really loud on the "HEY" part, lol! Sammy is sitting in the middle on front row.

To hear the video, go to the bottom right hand of the blog and click pause on the song playing :)


Kids are so hilarious and cute!!!!
Ok, gotta go, the fam is waiting on me, so we can go out to eat.

Thanks for reading!!    I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

Work work work. Fun. (Huge Post)

I hate to start out on a sad note :( It has been rather crazy around here. We have all been spreading around sickness for at least a month.  Also, a very dear friend of mine died last week at the young age of 30. I don't know all of the details , but she had a blood clot in her leg and then died of an aneurysm.

This is Melinda and myself when we graduated from nursing school. She was in my
wedding 2 weeks later!  She was full of life and laughter. I miss her so much. It had been
a while since i saw her, but just knowing she was alive and well, i was comforted. Now
she is not here, she was planning her wedding :( I feel so bad for her family!

So i have been sewing a lot and getting items ready for an auction here. It is Christmas themed, so come on over and join in the fun. It starts on Black Friday!

This is a size 3-4 Christmas version of my Layla dress design that is coming soon.
Also included is the hairbow. It is a red crochet hairbow with gem center and alligator clip.

That was a sneak peak :) I will have more items in the auction.

Here is a new design in the works,not sure on the name but instead of a skort, it is skants, lol! May call them ruffle skants, but i don't really like that. So if you have a cute name for these, please share :)

Also, I have all kinds of hair goodies i am wanting to list on here and facebook.

I have a few different colors in these. These are fabric flower clips. They have a
an alligator clip on back for hair, and a small pin that is latched, so you can
pin it to a bag or clothing.  I love these because they are elegant.

This is a tutu puff clip I made, it has a gem center and is made of tulle. It has an
alligator clip on the back, but you could also dress up a bag or clothing with these.

This is a hair bow I made from a handkerchief with a matching necklace

This is also made from a handkerchief.

I am going to make up a little tutorial on how to make those little flowers. I made them with the flower loom by Boye.

This is the flower loom. You can buy one from Wal-mart for about $6.
Super cheap and makes really cute accessories. You can get creative
with it. The package has instructions, but i am going to make up
a small easy tutorial and post it soon.

I also have a pretty good selection of these grosgrain ribbon scrunched headbands with matching hairbows i made. These are also super easy to make and will make a small tutorial to show you how to make the headband. Super cute and super easy and inexpensive to make.

Now for my Easy Jammy Pants. I made these for my son James. They are super quick, i made these 3 pair, plus a bunch of other stuff in 1 day! This will be coming out in a pattern. I always get caught up in girl stuff, here is something easy for the boys too !

So, here you go! This is what i have been working on. Sorry this post is pretty huge!!! I have been working on so many things, i have someone helping me right now to design this website. Going to switch it up a bit. Opening my pattern shop soon. Will have the cici pocket skirt and Sammy Grace dress to start, may a couple more. . . .
Stay tuned and come check out the Christmas auction, it starts on Black Friday !

Now, I was going to watch sparkly vampires A.K.A. Breaking Dawn, but i think we may go Friday instead. It is starting to get late here and i don't have too much time to get ready. Team Edward, i'll see you on Friday.

As always, thanks for reading!

Christmas is in the air.

So, i go to the mall today to pay my Sears bill, yes i try to pay my bills on time, lol! Normally i would do this online, but i did't want it to be late since friday is Veterans Day.  Speaking of bills, no more credit cards for me except my paypal account. Our goal is to get those pesky cards paid off and never get another one. Gotta have my paypal though :) Anywho, Christmas music was playing all throughout the mall. Sam was with me and was singing along as she walked with her little crutches. People trip over their own feet just to stare at Sam :( That makes me sad because these are grown adults, just running into things or tripping over their feet because they stare at her. I know she's cute! Is she really that interesting, I mean she is more like everyone else than not like them, she just doesn't walk the same.  Anyways got off on another tangent about Sam, but it just amazes me how grown adults just stare. This one guy tripped on  the curb walking into sears as we were walking out because he couldn't take his eyes off of her, lol! Most older men just love her and want her to pay them attention, and she keeps going about her business, lol!

Anyways, enough of that! Back to Christmas, Santa is getting ready to hit the malls, I saw where they were setting up his little station for pictures :)
 I have been making some Christmas dresses and thought i would share, these are from some of my patterns I have been perfecting and trying to get my etsy shop opened soon!


This is a longer version of the Bonnie Lynn Flutter Sleeve Dress. Sometimes i just love a longer dress, but Sam crawls around the house a lot and it probably wouldn't do well on her :)


This is the Layla Dress. This should be in my first batch of pattern releases on etsy.
Sammy and her little side kick Misty who thinks she has to be in all the pics.


The Layla Dress has 3 different strap options. This pic shows the criss cross option. There
is a halter and standard strap option also. Sizes preemie-7 girls.


Here is miss priss running down the walkway. This shows the front better than the first pic :)
It is a full front bodice, which was one of my goals, because don't get me wrong, i like other bodice styles, but some of them just don't cover the little girls chest quite enough if you know what i mean.



Here is another pic of a Layla Christmas dress. The Layla dress has an apron option also. Super Cute!! You can also put a long sleeve tee under this for warmth. Layering is always good.



As always, thanks for reading. You can read about my giveaway here , for a chance to win 3 different times!

Olivia's Party Dress.

I have been a horrible blogger lately!  However i have got some sewing in.  So Sammy and I went to the local fabric store and she picked out this really cute kitty cat fabric, I picked out the matching dots and viola! This is what we came up with. A new design that i will be writing up soon for those seamstresses who love to test patterns.

This design is different than any of my other designs. It has a different sleeve and a shirred back. In these pics it is paired with my Lucy Belle Bottom pants that will also be available to purchase in my etsy shop.

Unique in design with it's square neck appearance and v shaped back, it's one of my new favorites. Now i just gotta write it up and get it out to testers and see if they like it as much as i do!!

Another great thing about it is it has twirl, every little girl likes a twirly dress.
My little secret on achieving more flare and twirl is going to be in this eBook :) It is a little different than some of my other designs.  Which i guess is what i am always trying to find, something different or at least another way of doing something:)


Just a cute little picture of Sammy in the Cici Pocket Skirt and Layla Anne Swing top which will also be in my etsy shop. These have already been tested along with the Lucy Belle Bottoms. Now these are in the finalizing stages. So very excited and can't wait for my grand opening with some unique pattern designs.

 



Don't forget to check out the fan giveaway post here for 3 chances to win some Southern Stitch Design items.

As always, thanks for reading.