Friday, January 24, 2014

Glitz Blitz :: Melissa Q from a happy stitch!


Hello there! I'm Melissa Q. from a happy stitch.  I'm so excited to be visiting here!
I started noticing the Michael Miller Metallic "Glitz" Collection popping up in my Instagram feed and was instantly intrigued. Gold? Pastel? Are you kidding? The glitz looked amazing.  I was beyond thrilled when some of it landed in my mailbox.  Turns out, it's even more amazing in person.  I actually opened the package, screamed, left the room to avoid hyperventilating, returned to my sewing room and screamed again. That's the honest truth. 

I was conflicted about what to make for a while.  The fabric is so spectacular I needed to make the right thing.  

I don't have any girls but if I did I would have made a flouncy, over-the-top skirt for them to spin around in.  I also considered using the mint and gold fabric to make bow-ties for my two boys. Eventually, I decided they would never appreciate the Glitz quite like I do and I selfishly made myself a travel bag.  The pattern is from the Betz White 'Travel Bag' class on Creativebug. I used thrifted leather for the bottom of the bag.  The metallic and pastel paired so nicely with the neutral leather.  This fabric really shines all by itself, it doesn't need dramatic accompaniment so the leather was a great partner.  Now I just need a fabulous trip somewhere so I have an excuse to use my new bag!

http://ahappystitch.com/2014/01/22/glitz-blitz-my-fabulous-leather-and-gold-travel-bag/
Find more of my adventures and more information about my Glitz travel bag on my blog. Thanks for having me! 

 

Thursday, January 23, 2014

April Rhodes "Getting PEPy with GLITZ!"


YAY! Lucky me.. I got my hands on some Glitz by Michael Miller,  just pre-release, and oh how I love it!! I thought it would make such a great New Years Peplum Party Dress so I whipped up this one for NYE... and of course Amanda looked incredible in it, not to mention the fun we had dancing around at the Hart and Honey studio!

The gold glittery print is perfect for the girly swing of the skirt and romantic shape of the hemline... I wish I could get all dolled up and wear it everyday. Sadly, I must except my reality, I'm a momma, and date nights, though we try to have them regularly, don't often call for this level of dressy.
If only I was a little girl.. I could wear gold dots everyday!!!! 
{INSERT DAUGHTER}
Ah-ha!! A mini me!!
It just might be true, that the only thing better than being a little girl, is living vicariously through one. In "fashion sense" that is! 

[Hey. Don't get any ideas! I'm still a maker of women's wear sewing patterns.] 

This being said, I had to try my hand at a mini version!  and again, lucky me, Michael Miller sent just enough of the Quarter Dot Pearlized in Confection to cut out a tiny second dress. My "mini me" wanted her Party Dress to look just like the big one. 

After I made it, I had to put on the original to play dress-up with these cuties. It was an entirely different setting than the grown up studio in my last journal post, but every bit as fun!!

We giggled and shared the dress with one of my daughter's best buddies. I only wish I'd had the time to make another before her mom, Suzanne, snapped these photos of us. They would've made some seriously cute twinsies!!

 

*All photography is by Suzanne Gipson

The 2 girls agreed with me that the Confetti Border Pearlized in Mist would also make a darling dress!! 

Now I just need to get cutting...

Happy GLITZy Sewing,
April


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Glitz and STYLO – Modern Kids Sewing Pattern eMagazine

I am so excited for our friends Jessica Abbott and Celina Bailey! They just launched STYLO- it's the first fashion forward eMagazine centered around children’s sewing patterns and style- and it's incredible!! Click here to subscribe (you will love it.) You can also visit Jessica's blog, Me Sew Crazy, to learn more!

We were lucky enough to partner up with STYLO for a fabric challenge in their first issue.  They chose Quarter Dot in Mist from our Glitz collection. We chatted with the six designers about their designs so we could share it with you!

......1 fabric, 6 designers......
Here's what they said about Glitz & STYLO!

Hi everyone, Shannon here from luvinthemommyhood. When I first spotted the new Michael Miller Metallic Collection "Glitz" I got really excited! I got even more excited when I got my hands on the fabric - Quarter Dot Pearlized in colorway Mist! Both myself and my daughters loved it! I knew right away that I wanted to make something that really just let the fabric shine! It already has so much pizazz and personality that I thought a fun and modern high waisted floor length skirt paired with a comfy knit crop top would be a great combo! We had a great time styling and shooting this outfit which is part of the premier issue of STYLO Children's Sewinge-Magazine. You can also find more of my work and designs on my website veryshannon.

...... 
Hello! My name is Hayley from Welcome to the Mouse House and I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be over here today. When the lovely ladies from Stylo Children's Sewing eMagazine first contacted me and told me they were sending me Michael Miller fabric, I knew I would love it, but I had no idea what to expect. When my beautiful mint green and gold fabric arrived, I was in LOVE and knew immediately what I would create. Using my own Caroline Party Dress pattern, I created a timeless and classic dress with a gold peter pan collar, gold satin lining, and a golden tulle kicker skirt. I added a gold belt to it and my daughter was in love. She begs to wear it on a weekly basis and yes, we have even allowed her to wear it to the grocery store! The Michael Miller glitz line is absolutely gorgeous and I hope to get my hands on more of it for future dresses. LOVE!!!
http://www.welcometothemousehouse.com/2014/01/stylo-magazine-issue-1.html
...... 

When you are being asked to be contributing editor to a new fashion forward e-Magazine all about sewing for kids AND on top of that you are being told you will received some secret fabric from Michael Miller to make whatever kids clothes you want THEN you know you have hit jackpot.
I have never opened an envelope as quickly as when I saw the name Michael Miller outside and wow, did the contents not disappoint. I am absolutely in love with this fabric. Gold and mint...yes please!! 
 I LOVE mixing fabrics so I have paired it with this golden/dark mustard colored viscose. I got the inspiration for the dress watching Fashion Police on E! (Love that show btw). They were talking about trends for 2014, lowered waists dresses for women was one of them, and showed this red and white amazing dress. Bingo, I immediately knew that the shape would be perfect for this project. I did not totally copy the dress. My neckline is different and I added a front button placket with big brass gold snaps. The starting point for the pattern is from a Japanese pattern book but I added the flounce, button placket, color blocking and fold up on the sleeves. In other words there is not much left of the original pattern.
Feel free to visit my blog SewingLikeMad for more info on this dress.
http://www.sewinglikemad.com/2014/01/stylo-magazine-contribution.html
 ......


Hi, Shauna here from Shwin & Shwin. I was beyond thrilled to work with Stylo (children's sewing Emagazine) and to get the chance to work with such lovely fabric was great. As soon as I saw the fabric I knew it had a destiny. The gold circles just screamed bubble skirt, so I knew it was perfect for a new pattern I had been working on. I used the Martha Bubble Dress Pattern. I love the fullness of the bubble skirt with the cross over wrap top. I added a gold ribbon that wrapped around the bodice and worked with the lovely gold in the fabric perfectly. It's girly and perfect. 
http://www.shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/2014/01/stylo-emagazine.html
 ......


Hi there, I’m Stef from Girl. Inspired.  The second I laid eyes on this polka dot fabric from the new Glitz collection, I was in. love.  As if the minty “Mist” color wasn’t perfect enough, they’d gone and added metallic gold polka dots??!  I knew immediately that I wanted to make a dance bag for my daughter, something functional yet also a bit luxurious.  I began drafting a duffle bag pattern and decided to accentuate the fabulous gold.  I quilted a diamond pattern using metallic gold thread, added gold piping, and I even snagged the most perfect gold strapping!!  The bag is fully lined and has straps for carrying it by hand or over the shoulder.  When the bag was complete, I decided it was probably my favorite thing I’ve ever sewn.  If my daughter hadn’t known I was making her a dance bag, I might’ve kept it for myself… This project was created as part of the 'STYLO Children's Sewing eMagazine' The Quilted Luxe Duffel pattern will be available soon at thegirlinspired.com
http://thegirlinspired.com/2014/01/stylo-magazine/
 ......


Hi, I’m Lindsay from The Cottage Mama. 'The Little Lady Classic Coat was created merging two patterns from my new book, 'Sew ClassicClothes for Girls: 20 Girls' Dresses, Outfits and Accessories from The CottageMama'. The coat uses the longer length of the Classic Coat Pattern, but incorporates the ruffle sleeve and neck tie from the Little Lady Coat. I wanted to use the metallic dot fabric in a subtle way, thus using it for the neck tie and ruffle sleeve, but also for the entire coat lining. The coat is as pretty on the inside as it is on the out. The exterior of the coat is made from a wool blend fabric which is perfect for added warmth. I incorporated additional gold through the use of metallic rick rack in the collar, down the front of the coat and on the sleeve between the main sleeve and sleeve ruffle. I found several gold buttons to tie the look together. Through the use of the metallic dots this coat is classic, yet modern all rolled into one. Check out my blog for more information!


 ...... 

Congratulations to everyone involved in the launch of STYLO!

Happy Sewing!
xo
kait