This last month has been a whirlwind of activity. Buying curriculum, buying sewing machines, buying sewing tools and fabric to make samples!!!! Well, the shopping part has not been too bad. I kind of enjoyed being able to go out and look at all sorts of neat sewing stuff! But the shopping was followed by the organizing which I don't find as fun but know is completely necessary. We are converting a room in our basement into my sewing classroom. It is not quite done yet, but has come a long way. The only problem is that that room was previously serving other purposes and so there was a lot of stuff getting shuffled around all over the house. That led to a complete clean out of multiple areas of the house (a project that we are still working on). It has been busy.
I had started Easter dresses for my girls several months ago and then this whole idea of starting to teach sewing hit me and I got so excited that I put the dresses on hold. Then this weekend came and suddenly I realized I needed to finish the dresses ASAP. They got done, but not quite as done as I would have liked. I think they need some kind of yellow trim on the front at the waistline and I was already planning on putting some kind of yellow embellishment at the peak of each scallop.... but alas that did not get done. When I get some time I may have to add it as I think it would make the dresses oh so much cuter!!!What does this have to do with sewing classes? Well it shows those of you who do not know me that I can sew and it takes us to the related topic of fashion design.
These dresses came from a retail pattern, but then I changed it. The dress had an option for either a scalloped skirt bottom or a straight skirt bottom. I decided to combine the two and layer them and then I thought why not add some tulle in between. I had never really worked with tulle before this project so it was fun to figure out the ins and outs of working with it. The yellow tulle ended up being fuller than I had originally planned, but I liked it and decided to go with it. I did have to add some tulle up higher under the skirt to support it above the yellow layer. 
I think they turned out cute and I was having so much fun working with the tulle that I ended up making a baby gift for a friend using some pink tulle. I made everything except for the onsie I put the tutu on. What do you think? Back on topic. The curriculum that I use encourages the kids to use their own style and ideas to personalize their projects. As their skills improve they can take a project they did earlier and add trim or ruffles or whatever else makes that item uniquely theirs. They are only limited by their current abilities and their imagination! The better they get at sewing the more options open up to them. This is what makes sewing so much fun. Imagining something in your head and then bringing it to life!
I still have openings in my summer sewing camps. Check out the camp link above. I am also starting a wait list for my fall classes that will be 1 hour once a week. Send me an email or give me a call if you are interested in either of those options.
