To Tie or Not to Tie?

The books I read and life I lead are sensible, sane and mild; I like calm hats, I don't wear spats, but I like my neckties wild.

Neckties are the finishing touch to any man's outfit...there is nothing nicer than a man dressed up in a nice freshly ironed shirt and a colorful necktie. I think ties are to men what jewelry is to woman. Ties can make a rather dull outfit look amazing. As said in this poem which was published in 1964 by OK News. The tie can tell a lot about the personality of a man. Does he have a calm and subdued personality, wearing silk ties in soft muted colors? or does he love a wild tropical print in his tie to remember his last trip? Or perhaps a tie that is symbolic of his favorite hobby? or sport? or pet?

These ties are created from the Folklorico line of fabric from Alexander Henry 100% Cotton. Small Sugar Skulls on black, Los Novios on Black, Fiesta de los Muertos on Black and Dancing Skeletons on Black and Tangerine Batik fabric. Back lined with silk. Ties: $40.00. What's your favorite?

I couldn't resist posting just one more poem.
(It is poetry month!)

"Oh I have been to Ludlow fair, and left my necktie
God knows where, and carried halfway home, or near,
pints and quarts of Ludlow Beer.
Then the world seemed none so bad,
and I myself a sterling lad.
And down in lovely muck I've lain, happy - til I woke up again!
...Alfred Edward Housman

More for the Babies

Since I am going to be a first time Grandmother in June, thanks to my youngest son and his lovely wife, I have to get in practice for spoiling the newest little member of our family that is on her way.

My daughter-in-law comes from a very large family, and I was worried that I would give her something that she might already get from her family so to make sure, I decided to craft the gift myself and make something beautiful, original and unique, but also practical and useful.

Traditionally, handmade quilts are gifts that are given to married couples and new babies because they embody a part of your spirit and love in the gift. Nothing is as meaningful as something you or someone else has created with their own hands. At least that is what I have always felt. I have a hard time throwing something out that was made by my Grandmother or Mother because I know how much love and time was put into it, which makes it so special. Also, a quilt is something every child can use, and sometimes becomes their best friend. I guess that is why they are also called "comforters". My son carried his first little quilt around until it was nothing but a piece of fabric about one foot square. It was his "comfort blanket" or "bankie" but I'll never tell anyone that now.

So, my first effort was to create a crib quilt out of 100% cotton squares, not a difficult quilt that takes five years to make like my last attempt at a quilt, but one you can sew up in a week (if you work at it) and not feel bad if the baby up-chucks on it. It is lightweight and totally washable, can be put on the floor to lay the baby on or taken to the beach, or put it inside the playpen or just use in the crib as it is intended.

One can never have too many quilts so I created this one in colorful shades of pastel hues of sage green, butter yellow, sherbet pink, luscious lavender and sky blue turquoise accented with a darker pink border. The backing is white soft popcorn fleece with a very feminine look and feel. The inner lining is a soft poly quilt lining which gives the quilt some stability but not extra bulky. I also made a matching pillow to place in the crib. The ultra soft pillow is filled with 100% deluxe down & feathers and can also be used by Mom to support baby as she is nursing. The pillow includes a removable cover that is totally washable. Quilt dimensions: 66" x 42". Pillow measures 12" x 18". Complete Set: $150.00. Customer can choose colors of your own preference for boys or girls.

Another quilt that I have added to "Sew Artsy Baby" is the "Little Hound Dogs" quilt. This quilt is smaller with dimensions of 30"x 40" and lined in fleece. A great quilt to carry in the car on day trips. Fully washable and patterned with 100% cotton print material.

You can request this quilt to be special ordered with Cats or Dogs fabric or your favorite theme.
Advance payment is required. Please allow one week to ten days for completion. $55.00.


Other handmade items that I have created include two hooded bath blankets in large size [34" x 44"] and fully lined with 100% soft flannel and cotton terrycloth. The hooded part is lined with pink fleece and is reversible. These are more generous in size than most baby towels so they can be used until the baby becomes a toddler. Also available in boys colors. The hooded bath blankets are $40.00 each.

Sew Many Choices

"A spotless apron is like a photo album with no pictures..." Every smudge on your apron is a stain of love, holidays and home. Collect and savor them one and all!" Quote from "Apronisms" by EllynAnne Geisel.

One of the favorite pastimes of any stitch artist is wandering through fabric stores looking for new inspiration for things to make and I am no exception to that.

I found these lovely prints last summer and they are forever popular with java sippers and much more traditional than the Folklorico collection but just as fun and colorful. This one is a hit with the Coffee Klatche Crowd! I call it Coffee Latte!

The two small photos show details I added to enhance the apron: large button trim at the top of the apron and a polka-dot pocket.

The Brown version of this fabric apron includes a "coffee mug" shaped pocket. Very unique!

This is another great apron for dessert lovers out there. A fun apron to wear at a summer picnic! (click photo to view large format)

An Apron - Domestic Armor

"Shielding our clothing against the splatter and tatter of keeping house and cooking. Wear an apron and your guard is up!" So says Ellyn Anne Guisel of the book "Apronisms - Pocket wisdom for Every Day".

Aprons are making a come-back. With the popularity in cooking shows and more people staying home to cook and eat, what more welcomed gift item than the chef's apron or a fancy half-apron?

There are literally hundreds of ways to make an apron but my favorite and most popular stand-by is the simple chef style apron with a pocket or two. This one shown is in the colorful "Paseo de los Muertos" from the Alexander Henry collection of "Folklorico" fabrics. Shown above is the "Skulls and Roses".

These durable and practical aprons are made of 100% cotton fabric in every color and pattern imaginable. I have chosen to open my line with a popular Folklorico Fabric which is very popular in my town.

I also have aprons done in the vintage 1950's style fabrics of flashy hollywood, retro poster designs, colorful tropicals, coffee house prints and beautiful florals.

I've even created special aprons for animal lovers and aprons for little girls to match their Mommies while helping in the kitchen
like the "teacup" apron modeled here by a special little doll.

My aprons are always fully lined in complimentary colors and have ties on the neckline and at the waist long enough to adjust for different heights and weights. My aprons are both feminine and unisex.

Pockets and straps are either matched to the main fabric or complimentary, in a contrasting color, depending on the main fabric design.

I realize "Skulls and Roses" are not for everyone, even though they are very popular here in California. I will be posting again with examples of my other aprons, in stock currently, with food themes, tropicals from the 50's vintage patterns, Wine themes as well as florals. Stay tuned for more! Prices are $40 for adult aprons; $20.00 for girls sizes and $15.00 for little girls under 5 yrs.

In addition I feature a special order apron with a laminated vinyl protective coating for Artists, hairdressers and groomers. This apron also features full sized "tool pocket" across the front. Pictured here is "Pink Sugar Skulls" from the Alexander Henry collection. $60.

Men's aprons and larger sizes are also available upon request, and I will be posting some of those soon.

Today's Apron Quote: Fear Not Letting go the Apron Strings-- "Sometimes the best way to hold on to something is to let it go."
--Author unknown.

Visit soon....

What's In That Bag?

One of the fun things about sewing is that you truly can never get bored. There are so many fun things to create with the wide range of beautiful patterns and fabrics available the problem is usually staying focused on just a few things and perfecting them.

This year I discovered Vintage Barkcloth, not the actual Vintage fabric, but reproduced to look exactly like the vintage patterns. The first time I saw the fabrics they reminded me of my Mother's old drapes and were even more beautiful than I remembered.

Vintage Barkcloth is wonderful if you can find it in good condition but this fabric is more affordable, and just as durable. These bags are lightweight and can be tossed over the shoulder or across the chest, with a long double lined durable strap.

Some are decorated with beadwork and closed with a large button (often Vintage). The insides are lined in colorful complimentary cotton prints and include a large pocket for your cell phone or compact. These are a great little Tote bags to take to the beach or shopping for a day. Only $45.00.

My newest line of more modern Tote Bags are featured in the all-cotton Folklorico and Day of the Dead fabrics which are extremely popular on the West Coast, especially in Southern California.


Shown here is Frieda's Garden in Golden Yellow, Scarlet, Terracotta Red, Palm Green and Earth Brown on an Ivory Background. Lined in a dark brown and ivory pinstripe fabric. Also available in Black background.

Next is an Alexander Henry Canvas cotton in black with skulls on a Toille patterned modern fabric. Lined in Cotton Red Pepper fabric. Very festive!








This tote is created from "Folklorico Vida de los Muertos fabric again from the Alexander Henry collection. Lined in a terracotta red with mini skulls fabric and black button.

What's in my Basket?

This is one of the "Ice Cream Cone" series that I love, for little girls especially, this fabric was very popular last summer and I think it will continue to be a best seller.

These two are also girl baby bibs, one with pink ruffles and gingham checks, the other with the popular "Sandals fabric.













Pink Polka-dots and purple mod fabrics are always
a hit for the little girls! This one is decorated with
pink rosebuds too!

More for the little "surfer dude" babies out there, this one is a colorful tropical print with cars, surfboards and palm trees on a nice red background. Matching set, hat and bib.



Just in case you were wondering how I finish the back side of these bibs, they are fully lined with matching fabric from the front. Here are three samples of other bibs showing the back only.

It all Started with a Bib

Making a baby bib should not be that hard, right? My friend tells me she has been making these darn bibs for 12 years and is tired of it already. So she gives me a pattern and instructions on how to make this little bib and swears I can sell them and start up a little home sewing business. Just like that...

Well that's how it started with a Bib. I had no one to give my first few failures to so I had to take a lot of bibs apart before I perfected the technique -- under my friend's watchful eye.

These colorful and very sweet little bibs are made from, believe it or not, re-purposed blue-jeans! It is a ton of work, and before they are finished the fabric is washed at least six times, but the results are really nice. First, finding discarded jeans in good shape, no burns, holes or ghastly stains on them, then cutting them up into small pieces so you can position the pattern on the seam. The pockets are made from various sources on the jeans, then they are sewn and decorated with all sorts of trim to give them personality with pizzaz. These two are for a little girl and I made a hat to match. Here is a close up of another girls hat. The hats are fully lined with fabric to compliment.



Then I have the little Buckaroo style bibs for Boys which are more cowboy or sportsy in nature but none-the-less very cute.

The fabrics I use for the back and front of the bib is 100% cotton quilting fabric and they are closed with a velcro tab on the top. These are sized for a small child, sizes 1 mo. to 1 year and can be custom made with any fabric of your choice. Shown here is a small sampling of what I have in stock at present.

If you, or anyone you know is interested in ordering one or more of these darling bibs, a hat or a bib/hat combo please contact me for pricing and payment options. I also sell wholesale.

I will be posting more bibs in different colors and patterns, as well as several more of the Sew Artsy Baby products on my blog.