March Design, Part Two

Goal #1 from my 13 in 2013 list: 

Design something new every week in January (for Spring), March (for Summer), June (for Fall), and September (for Winter). 

Note: March designs will be for Summer and Fall, as I am working on my Fall Line this month.

Design #2 (week of Mar 3-9)

Embroidered Fleece Jacket

In my opinion, not all fleece jackets are created equal. While the typical baggy, hooded sweatshirt is comfortable, it is anything but flattering!

While hoods keep our heads nice and warm, they also add a lot of bulk. I prefer stand-up collars and zippers. Our necks stay warm without being choked. Sounds good to me!

(Note: It is still important to keep your head covered when it's cold outside. Please wear a hat or earmuffs.)

I love the collar, zipper, and fit of this fleece jacket! Plus, there are practical pockets and a cute embroidery design (probably a rose or custom monogram)!

I am making the sample jacket for myself in ivory fleece and gold embroidery. Which colors would you like to see?

13 for 2013 January Update

Remember my 13 Goals for 2013? Here's an update on how I worked toward them in January :)
(Italics are the goals, bolds are my comments)


Build myself as a Designer:

1. Design something new every week in January (for Spring), March (for Summer), June (for Fall), and September (for Winter). I want to produce those designs the following month, as a seasonal clothing collection.

I posted 4 designs, though perhaps not all in January ;)
Design #1: Vintage-inspired jacket
Design #2: Frilly blouse
Design #3: 3/4-sleeve-length fitted shirt
Design #4: Loose, long shirt

2. Launch Collections:
     - Spring Collection in February or March (2-3 pieces).
     - Summer Collection in April or May.
     - Fall Collection in July or August.
     - Winter Collection in October or November.
     - Bridal & Prom Collection in September or October.

Some of the designs from January will become my Spring Collection! 

Do you, dear reader, have a preference on which ones make it in? I always appreciate opinions!

In addition, I plan to make this dress (right) in a fun, spring print!

Expand my Etsy Shop:

3. Have a full page of listings (24) in the Bridal Accessories section(15 more). Preferably by February.

I have about 20 Bridal Accessories made, and they will be in my Etsy shop soon :)

4. Have 20 listings in the Dresses section (7 more) Preferably by May.

Currently, I have 14 listings, though more will be added this week.

5. Have a full page of listings (24) in the Dresses section (4 additional). Preferably by October.

6. Have 8 listings in the Wedding Gowns section (4 more). Preferably by February.

This section has 6 at the moment. Soon it will have 7. I just need one more.

7. Have 50 coffee sleeves in inventory. Preferably by November.

8. Don't buy any cotton fabrics. Use fabric stash to create new items (non-clothing).

Accomplished, so far!

Live Well:

9. Read through the Bible in a year. I've done this before, and it's wonderful! My church is doing it together, so I'm doubly excited!

I'm just about on track, maybe a day behind, and catching up today :)

10. Low-Carb Diet. Intensive for 1-2 months, moderate for the rest of the year.
My husband is pre-diabetic, so we need to regulate his blood sugar naturally.
I want to get good at cooking and baking low-carb. Hopefully we'll both loose weight, too!

We're still going strong! My husband has lost about 5 pounds (and might have lost more if he hadn't cheated with donuts a few times!).

I enjoy eating low-carb food. Lots of protein, lots of dairy, lots of veggies, a little fruit. 

Our favorite meal is pork chops with a cream gravy, made with carrots, celery, onion, and mushrooms, and topped with cherry tomatoes. 
We eat it with a mash turnips & cauliflower, which is a lot like mashed potatoes.
And, for dessert: plain Greek yogurt, sweetener, berries, and whipped cream. Yum!

11. Try 2 new recipes every month. I enjoy this, but I don't do it often enough.

Almond Flour Biscuits are incredible! Fresh from the oven, like soft bread. The next day, like pancakes :)
I played with that recipe by adding cheese & pizza toppings, then dipping them in pizza sauce. Pizza biscuits!

I also made Low-Carb Tortillas. They are flexible, which is nice, but have so many eggs that they turn out more like omelets. Still, it gives us something to add to our taco salads :)


12. Read at least one book each month. This is how I de-stress. Very important!

Even though I was incredibly busy, I read one! "Dragons of the Watch" by Donita K. Paul.
This author is great! Her books are part fantasy, part adventure, free of trash, and have lovely Christian undertones :)
13. Enjoy each month and document with photos. I love nature, changing seasons, holidays! I want to make a point of enjoying them, not just living through them.

Ok, I didn't do this much. Partly because I accidentally left my camera at my mother's house a few weeks ago.

January Design, Parts Three & Four

Goal #1 from my 13 in 2013 list: 

Design something new every week in January (for Spring), March (for Summer), June (for Fall), and September (for Winter). 
Ok, so January got away from me before I posted these, but I did design!

Designs #3 & #4

Fashion Shirts

Recently, designs for shirts have been popping into my head quite often! It's so much fun! Though, I haven't made many shirts, so we'll see if I still enjoy shirts while I'm sewing them ;)

The first shirt has 3/4-length sleeves, a mild scoop neck, and and falls to the hips. This has a waistband, to create and hourglass figure, and is loose enough on the hips to be comfortable.

I plan to make it from knit or woven fabric.
If knit, most of the shirt will be in a solid color, with a thin waistband of a contrasting color.
If woven, it will be of a solid or elegantly printed fabric, with a thin elastic waistband to produce a slimming effect.


The second shirt emphasizes a woman's form, but in a different way from the first. Instead of accenting the waistline, it falls loose from the shoulders/bust and is tighter at the hips. The looseness at the waistline creates the illusion of a small waist :)

This shirt will be made of cotton, silky, or peachskin fabric. How cute would it be in a floral print!
If made of a solid color, it might even have decorations on the collar or bodice.

January Design, Part Two

Goal #1 from my 13 in 2013 list: 

Design something new every week in January (for Spring), March (for Summer), June (for Fall), and September (for Winter). 

Design #2 (week of Jan 6-12)

(Confession: I actually designed and sketched this a few weeks ago.)

Frilly Blouse/Sweater with waist tie

 I love wearing shirts which emphasize the natural waistline for 3 reasons:

1. Convenience: with something tied or fitted to my waist and loose at my hips, it doesn't move much when I sit down or stand up. As a woman with a long torso, I usually have to adjust my shirt when I stand up, but not with a shirt like this!

2. Comfort: When I don't need to adjust the length of the shirt, it fits properly all over. If it's long enough to reach my hips, I don't have to make it stretch around my shoulders and bust. Yay!

3. Attractiveness: Every women's figure looks good with an emphasized waistline! While I dress (and create clothing) modestly, I do like to look good and flatter my figure. Who doesn't?

This top is moderately fitted at the natural waistline, and has a waist tie for further emphasis (and cuteness!).

The frills/lace/ruffles down the middle add a feminine touch, while the higher neckline establishes professionalism.

As a cotton blouse, the sleeves are 3/4-length, perhaps with small cuffs, and the ruffles are of cotton or lace.

As a knit sweater, the sleeves are wrist length, possibly with a rolled cuff, and ruffles are of the same material.

January Design, Part One

Goal #1 from my 13 in 2013 list: 

Design something new every week in January (for Spring), March (for Summer), June (for Fall), and September (for Winter). 

Design #1 (week of Jan 1-5)

(Confession: I actually designed and sketched this a few months ago.)

Vintage-Inspired Asymmetrical Jacket/Coat

Every time I think about this design, I sigh with contentment :D I absolutely love it!

Remember the asymmetrical seams and short, stand-up collars of the 80s? 

While sorting through my grandmother's huge pattern stash, I found one for a fitted dress with a one-sided lapel, similar to this. I like the idea of asymmetry in design, but with sophistication (I'm sorry, but NEVER would I use shoulder pads, and I don't like the boxy-looking dresses of the 80s).

In this jacket/coat, I combined the vintage asymmetrical seams and standing collar with a more femenine shape (princess seams and a fitted waist, instead of darts and boxy-ness) and large buttons for a more modern feel.

My plans are to make this in the shorter (hip) length as a spring/fall jacket, with fabric of fleece or twill. the longer (mid-thigh) length would be perfect in lined wool, denim, suede, or leather.

My 13 Goals for 2013

I love goals. I need goals. Without them, I start a project, then leave halfway through to begin another. When I have a goal or deadline, I work toward it, enjoying the pleasant feeling of accomplishment.

So, I have set 13 goals to accomplish in 2013! Some are personal, some are business-related. (Thanks, Regina, for the idea!)

Build myself as a Designer:

1. Design something new every week in January (for Spring), March (for Summer), June (for Fall), and September (for Winter). I want to produce those designs the following month, as a seasonal clothing collection.

2. Launch Collections:
     - Spring Collection in February or March (2-3 pieces).
     - Summer Collection in April or May.
     - Fall Collection in July or August.
     - Winter Collection in October or November.
     - Bridal & Prom Collection in September or October.

Expand my Etsy Shop:

3. Have a full page of listings (24) in the Bridal Accessories section (15 more). Preferably by February.

4. Have 20 listings in the Dresses section (7 more) Preferably by May.

5. Have a full page of listings (24) in the Dresses section (4 additional). Preferably by October.

6. Have 8 listings in the Wedding Gowns section (4 more). Preferably by February.

7. Have 50 coffee sleeves in inventory. Preferably by November.

8. Don't buy any cotton fabrics. Use fabric stash to create new items (non-clothing).

Live Well:

9. Read through the Bible in a year. I've done this before, and it's wonderful! My church is doing it together, so I'm doubly excited!

10. Low-Carb Diet. Intensive for 1-2 months, moderate for the rest of the year.
My husband is pre-diabetic, so we need to regulate his blood sugar naturally.
I want to get good at cooking and baking low-carb. Hopefully we'll both loose weight, too!

11. Try 2 new recipes every month. I enjoy this, but I don't do it often enough.

12. Read at least one book each month. This is how I de-stress. Very important!

13. Enjoy each month and document with photos. I love nature, changing seasons, holidays! I want to make a point of enjoying them, not just living through them.

What are your goals or ambitions for 2013? Please share!

the joy of knitting

Check it out, bloggers: Stitch Princess can knit!!!! This is a photo of a lace trim I am making for a crocheted purse of the same yarn.

My oldest sister came up to Indiana (from Texas) for Christmas. She knits frequently, and is part of a knitting club. And she taught me!

I am discovering that knitting is so much fun! But, I'm torn. Which is better: knitting or crocheting? I like both.

In my loads of spare time, I plan to do some of each, to decide which I prefer. Or, perhaps I will just keep up on both :)

I took a J-term class this year (2 weeks of one class before the semester began). I actually did have free time then. So, what did I do with my free time? I made scarves for my roommate and suitemates! Now, I'm making a trim for a purse, as pictured above.

I just love knitting!

snow, Snow, SNow, SNOw, SNOW!

I love snow so much! Every Christmas, I look forward to the first real snow in Northern Indiana. Winter is amazing!

Here in Mishawaka, my childhood home, we have lake-effect snow. Yep. Our clouds come from the west, and pick up moisture over Lake Michigan. By the time the clouds are ready to dump snow, it's fluffy, packing snow, full of moisture! And there is a lot of it!

Back in Warsaw/Winona Lake, where I go to school, there is no lake effect snow. So sad. The snow there is powdery--not good for snowballs at all. Sure, it's pretty, but it's not the same.

I'm a winter baby. Born on February 21, right in the middle of harsh winter. And I love it! The snow is so beautiful! These pictures provide a glimpse into the winter wonderland that is my backyard :)



Currently, I am enjoying the break from college. All four of my siblings are home, which hasn't happened for a few years. Though, it is a bittersweet Christmas, as my grandmother passed away in August. The family of my childhood will never be together again on this earth. But, for now, we celebrate each other and the time we spend together.