Maisonnette Charming Clothing for Children

Cupcake Apron! YUM!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 2 Comments Filed Under: Blog, Patterns at Maisonnette, Things I've Made

Melody Miller created this fabric especially for me…at least I’d like to think that! Here’s why…1. I’m obsessed with sea foam green paired with yellow, citron or mustard 2. I love teacups!! Here’s a little glimpse at part of my collection…. need I say more? Melody Miller definitely had me in mind while designing this fabric!

If this apron doesn’t make you want to invite all your friends over for a “Real House Wives of Beverly Hills” style tea party… then I don’t know what would!! (…yes I watch that show…I’m sorry!) Did you see that episode? $50,000 tea party for her 4 year old?!

This is Jamie Christina’s newest pattern “The Cupcake Apron”. This fabulous design can be made as a single or double sided apron…but why make just one apron when you could have two for one!?

I used fabric from the Japanese fabric line “Ruby Star Rising” by one of my favorite designers Melody Miller. Melody Miller just emerged into the fabric design scene at Fall Quilt Market, and she is, to say the least, making waves in the fabric world! Her designs are so unique and different from anything that’s out there. Her line was inspired by 1960′s catalogs, and all the things that women craved inside of them. I mean, how clever is that?!

Look at how cute my sister Natalie looks in this sassy apron… she should bake me some gluten free cupcakes in it!

You may have noticed this blog now links directly to our online fabric shop just by clicking the “Shop” button. So now when you fall in love with a fabric on this blog, you can click directly over to the online fabric shop and pick it up! How great is that?! Happy sewing!!!

Oliver + S Sketchbook Shirt…that was deep

Sunday, September 26, 2010 4 Comments Filed Under: Blog, Things I've Made

My new favorite thing to do is make boy clothes. The reason is, I love the challenge of thinking outside my natural state of mind. Just like I’ve noted in past posts about making clothes for boys, it can be tricky. Wait! As I am sitting here thinking of the next thing to write I just had a major epiphany!! Hold on, because this post is about to get a lot deeper than I intended! Okay, I’m going to tell you a story about last Christmas…. a story that will explain where my insecurities about guys clothing are rooted…here I go.
If you were a follower or an anonymous reader of my blog during Christmas time 2009 you may recall I handmade all my gifts with the exception of a couple gifts that supported my local community ( I know, aren’t I great). Anyways, I thought I was so cool, and on top of everything because I gave myself 3 weeks to get 7 pairs of pj’s, 5 clutch purses, a quilt for my brother, a minky blanket for my dad, and (DHuu) a dress for myself done. Let’s just say, come 8:00pm on Christmas eve I was still at Maisonnette sewing my butt off! My fantasy of everyone waking up Christmas morning, opening their handmade xmas pajamas and showering me with love and happiness came true…for the most part! The other part that wasn’t so fantastical was me CRYING on Christmas morning for the first time in my life, when my dad wouldn’t wear the pajama pants I made him! Apparently I had a stressed out Christmas brain fart when I choose the fabric for my dad that had dresses and diamond rings all over it!??!?! He could have spared himself from the female water works by simply putting them on and keeping his mouth shut….but then again what are dads for? To give you a glossed over plastic sense of reality? Nope, not my dad! So thanks dad, thanks for teaching me those life lessons…I will never again made a guy pajamas with anything less than macho manly fabric.
This shirt was a ton of fun to make! I love adding subtle details with contrasting fabric…and how cool is that tree/wood grain fabric by Tina Givens?! The pattern is Oliver + S Sketchbook Shirt. It’s a great pattern! Try it, you’ll love it!!

This is the short sleeve version of the Sketchbook Shirt

XOXO Madeline
http://www.maisonnetteoceanside.com/

Shmerpi is the CUTEST monster ever!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 4 Comments Filed Under: Blog, Patterns at Maisonnette, Things I've Made

Shmerpi Monster
Originally uploaded by MadelineMaisonnette

I have been dying to make a Shmerpi ever since we started carrying these darling stuffed animal patterns from Australia! I love these patterns because they are very simple to construct but the end product is something special, that looks like more work that it really was! The Shmerpi pattern has the option to make a boy or girl outfit, and a little teddy bear friend for the Shmerpi is also included in the pattern. What better excuse for me to make one of these loveable creatures than a new baby! A few weeks ago my friends had a beautiful baby girl named Ember, and I can’t wait to deliver this to her!
To personalize it I stitched Ember’s name on a felt heart and sewed that on to her. The Shmerpi’s body was made with lime green velour minky to make her extra soft and huggable, and for her face I used scraps of wool and felt. Her dress was made with an Echino print by Etsuko Furuya. All together, she is lovely!
I couldn’t resist putting together this little movie! Enjoy!
xoxo Madeline

Knits! Knits, jump on board!

Friday, July 16, 2010 1 Comment Filed Under: Blog, Fabric, Patterns at Maisonnette, Things I've Made

Have you sewn with them? Did they roll and stretch on you? Fear not, Michael Miller double knits are here!!! Double knit means they won’t roll up on you or involuntary stretch as you sew them. I personally hadn’t sewn with a knit since I made a cropped sweatshirt jacket in 9th grade( hahaha), and I remember it being a little tricky to work with. I am so impressed by these Michael Miller double knits! They are so easy to work with, and I’m confident that anyone can successfully sew with these.

If you have a serger, great! If you don’t, no problem! As long as you have a small zigzag or an elastic stitch on your machine, that will work just fine! When making garments with a normal sewing machine, it’s important to use a stitch with some give like the zigzag or elastic stitch because when you stretch it to get it on your body, a straight stitch will snap. Well, anyways enough with the technical stuff, here’s some pictures!!

This is the “Maya” pattern with a shirt, skirt or dress option. I made the dress option.

This is a baby blanket I made. The outter space fabric is a woven cotten and the stripe and binding are a double knit.

These are all the cute colors and prints we have!

I hope I’ve inspired you to try sewing with knits! I know you will love it!
Here is a link to a free tutorial on how to make a cute yoga skirt in any size!
xoxo Madeline

Cool Dude Clothes

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 2 Comments Filed Under: Blog, Fabric, Patterns at Maisonnette, Things I've Made

What boy doesn’t love cars? What boy doesn’t love cars with flames blasting out the back? My thoughts exactly! I even think this look might be dad approved!! When it comes to homemade clothes for their sons I’ve heard it’s a touchy subject…. can you blame them? I’m sure they have some horrible memory of wearing a plaid romper their grandma made them at age 12. I hope this outfit will change some perspectives on homemade clothing for boys!

I made these shorts from the Oliver + S “Sandbox Pants” pattern. The pattern is indeed for pants but can easily be made into shorts by cutting them to the desired length. The pattern also has a pattern for a starfish stencil but instead I stitched a car from the fabric onto the shirt. The fabric is an Echino from Japanese designer Etsuko Faruya. Both the pattern and fabric are available at Maisonnette and on our webstore! http://www.maisonnetteoceanside.com/
xoxo Madeline

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My vacation in paradise and Maisonnette fabric!!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010 4 Comments Filed Under: Blog, Things I've Made

HELLO! It’s just wonderful to be back in all this LOVELY June GLOOOM! I was just so happy to leave paradise I can’t even tell you! Life was entirely too hard in paradise…the food was too good, falling asleep to the sound of the waves was too much, breathing underwater via a snorkel was too stressful, laying under a palapa for hours reading a book was too boring. You don’t even want to hear about the other horrible things I had to endure while in paradise…. uhhh do you buy it?

Well, in all honesty it was actually extremely hard to come home because no matter how much you love your life and your job, leaving paradise is not easy!

I had big plans to blog about all the different outfits we wore made from Maisonnette fabric while I was down there…but when ever I was at a restaurant that had the Internet I couldn’t even bring myself to check my e-mail!! Sitting there with the warm ocean breeze and that aqua colored ocean…uh ya, forget it! Bringing a fork to my mouth felt like effort!! So now that I’m (physically) back I shall go forth with my original plan to inspire you to make summer clothing!

Emily’s dress (left) was made from Amy Butler’s appropriately named “Paradise Garden” in periwinkle, and the dress pattern is “Honey Girl” by Jamie Christina. My dress was made from Heather Bailey’s “Hop Dot” in olive from her newest line “Nicey Jane”, and the pattern is Simplicity 2362.

Next we have Emily in the Evening Empire dress pattern by Anna Maria Horner. Her fabric choices were a green shot cotton by Kaffe Fassette and “Coloring Garden” in citrus by Anna Maria for the triangle accent. I’m wearing Amy Butler’s “Water Bouquet” in midnight made up with the “Honey Girl” dress pattern.

Emily, looking poised and beautiful

For my “Evening Empire Dress” I chose a Kaffe Fassette shot cotton in a berry color, and accented it with a fabric from Anna Maria’s Dobby Dot line that is no longer available (SORRY!). Natalie’s dress was made from a Heather Bailey fabric that is also no longer available but the pattern is “Honey Girl” and that is most defiantly available!!! Can you tell we like that pattern??! We also love the “Evening Empire” pattern too!!

Aww take a look at this girl who JUST learned to sew!! The dress she is wearing to your left was seriously made 10 minutes before we needed to leave! It was made fast for the LOVE of fabric… not the lack of clothing we both have! The fabric is Anna Maria’s “Four Square” in berry. The shirt she is wearing to your right is also Anna Maria’s “Diamond Mine” in ink. The shirt pattern in a great downloadable pattern by Jennifer Paganelli and I will give you more information on that soon.

My mom in the “Honey Girl” dress pattern by Jamie Christina. Such a great pattern! To your right you will see Emily with one her of very first sewing projects a lap top case from the One Yard Wonder book.

I hope this has pumped some summer sewing inspiration into the air for everyone! If you are looking for something fun to do this summer try taking a sewing lesson with me! $25 dollars for 2 hours, and you pick the project! Maisonnette is located just blocks from the beach so make us a part of your day at the beach and stop by to say hello, sand and all!!!
xoxoxo Madeline
PS I did miss you all!!
PPS I’m having trouble with this DUMB new blog template….I miss my old one!

It’s done and I love it!

Thursday, May 20, 2010 2 Comments Filed Under: Blog, Fabric, Things I've Made

Remember this post? This dress was a journey to make! It started with the tissue fitting but did not stop there! I changed just about everything about that original dress pattern. The size, waist band width, armhole size, length, skirt fullness, and the bodice were all completely changed! Every time I “finished” I would try the dress on, only to find something more I wanted to change for it to be just right. Sometimes that involved pulling apart the lining, or taking out serging…ya I’m learning! I’m so happy I didn’t just settle for something I didn’t truly love! What’s the point in going to all that work if you don’t love it? I feel so comfortable and happy in this dress!
A few years ago my grandma gave me a little black shift dress that was hers in the 1960′s. The craftsmanship is obvious, it fits me like a glove, and I wear it whenever I can’t decide what to wear yet I need something I know works. I love it, and I hope one day I can give this dress to someone special and they will feel the same way about it!

Here’s some pictures of the weddng…I mean mostly of Emily and me! Haha!

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xoxo Madeline

Got sewing for boys on the brain

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 3 Comments Filed Under: Blog, Things I've Made

Yep it’s been on my brain! It’s such a fun challenge for me to come up with inspirational things that meet all of our customer’s criteria for sewing for boys. Sewing for boys is a sensitive subject, and when brought up I usually get responses like the following… my husband would never… oh no, I don’t sew for boys… boys are no fun to sew for… they don’t make cute things to sew with for boys. Sewing for boys is not as easy as it is for girls but to me it’s no less fun. If anything the challenge makes it more exciting and unexpected when you create something that isn’t your run of the mill. Oh and, the man at home usually has to approve so for the most part it needs to be pretty manly.

I’m so excited about this new Oliver + S pattern Sketchbook Shirt and Shorts! It sews up so nicely with no little quirks or bizarre pattern instructions. I sewed that entire shirt on my “new” Elna Grasshopper…it was a dream! Fabric is Echino by Etsuko Furuya and pattern by Oliver + S are avalible online http://www.maisonnetteoceanside.com/
xo Madeline

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Jump Rope Dress

Thursday, April 15, 2010 Leave a Comment Filed Under: Blog, Things I've Made

Isn’t spring wonderful?! I think it is, even though I have no idea where the first half of this year went, ugh hate it when that happens! Lately I’ve been intensely sewing away as always, and gardening (my other hobby). I’ve also been reading Dear John by Nicolas Sparks, and so far I like it (did NOT like the movie!). It’s one of those no brainer reads that at the end of a day the brain needs! Oh and it’s a love story duh! Organic gourmet dark chocolate and a summer love story, what more can I say?!

This is the Oliver + S Rump Rope Dress using Sandi Henderson fabric. Mucho Amore….
xoxo Madeline

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Repurpose your t-shirts!

Friday, March 26, 2010 4 Comments Filed Under: Blog, Things I've Made

An idea came to me as I was trying on a $14 shirt. The top of the shirt was t-shirt jersey and the bottom was cotton fabric. The fabric on the bottom was cheap, thin, and felt like it was coated in hair spray. With the right accessories and a pair of skinny jeans it could have been pulled off. Then I though to myself why should I represent this kind of cheapness when I could make a better version that will last me a long time? So I did just that, and lucky for me, my mom was just about to give a trash bag full of clothing to the Good Will (sorry Good Will I got all the good stuff out!).
The things I rescued for myself, according to my mom never fit her right so they were hardly ever worn.

The first shirt I redid was a Michael Starrs shirt that looked like something a Nun would wear if she wasn’t wearing her gown. An ugly shirt but awesome knit fabric!! I added a little curve on the front for visual interest, and cut the sleeves off for a summer shirt!