A Stitchin Life

I’m a professional fashion and costume designer. I worked in major theatre worlds, designed for circus performers, musicians, and even designed clothing for comic book characters. Sewing doesn’t have to fit in any mold! It’s a art form.
Let’s talk about techniques, draping, and hand sewing. Let’s collaborate with upcycling and unconventional materials! Come sew with me!
Thank you for reading and check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgB4Ojo02OE-et1M1wySYxQ
Also my podcast at: https://anchor.fm/astitchinlife

Monster Dresses

My husband and I participated in a fashion show that debuted our Monster Dresses. 

I love to repurpose garments and give them a second life. These dresses I took apart and mixed and matched the skirts, bodices, and straps. Then my husband painted a variety of monsters on them. I also made the jewelry from a variety of toys and second hand beaded necklaces. 

I am so proud of how these turned out. We all had a great time at the show. Our models walked the runway in fear of what monster may be lurking around the corner. 

Fall Kids Fashion

This little kids jumper from the 1950s is a favorite of mine. I love using recycled materials including these vintage fabrics. 

The jumper is made in a few sizes. Five months to two years old. They can wear it year round with a sweater and leg warmers. 

My designs come in a variety of colors. I like to design with very colorful patterns that aren't specifically gender labeled. I believe the outfit reflects on the personality of the child which is colorful, spunky, and funky! 

You can find my kids fashions at:

Bootyland Kids 

1815 N 45th St suite 204

Wallingford Shopping Center 

Seattle WA 

206-328-0636

SEWN 

18 S Broadway 

(between Ellsworth and Bayaud)
Denver, CO 

303-832-1493

Egg Shapers!

My husband and I got these on our trip to Seattle. Super cool and easy to use!

Boil eggs and while they are still hot pop them in the egg shaper and drop it in a bowl of cool water for 10 minutes then voila!! Yumma Yumma Yum!!

Patterns

I am inspired by the many patterns we see in our everyday lives. I take photos to inspire me to create my own patterns by using fabric and trims. We have art all around us! Be inspired to see the world a little more!

Mini Top Hat!

A friend of mine came up with the brilliant idea to make top hats from recycled pop can boxes, and styrofoam plates!

I covered them in batting to hide and smooth out the lumps and bumps.

Then stretched and covered them with fabric and trim.

I added a coarse tule to the bottom underneath of the hats, right where they sit on the head. Then I took bobby pins and pinned the hats like crazy to the heads of my models!

Dragons!

These costumes were created for two amazing aerial performers. They represent scales on a dragon. 

Typewriter

I gave my brother the task of taking apart a typewriter he asked me "do I have to put it back together?" : ) 

I am planning on using the pieces for various art projects. 

Game Pieces & Buttons

Here's a sample of my display for the bracelets I've made out of buttons, dominos, and scrabble game pieces.

Skirt to toddler top

I was given this skirt from my niece in hopes of turning it into something different. I made into a cute little toddler top with grey leggings and matching ruffles on the bum. So cute!

Toys!

Going to the thrift store is such a thrill for me. I love finding such strange objects. My favorite is the bags of miscellaneous toys. I grabbed some of these last time in hopes of drilling holes (with help from a friend) and making jewelry. I'm really happy with the results!

Trash to Flower

I've collected colorful bags from chips, onions, lemons. Thinking I will use them somehow. Well the time has come.

Skirt to Top

I took this cute but short (to me!) skirt and transformed it into a top for my toddler. I kept the zipper closure in the back, pinned it to fit, hemmed it, and added shoulder straps. Easy and cute!

I added a pair of leggings I made from a vintage thrift store fabric. The ruffles on the bum and the straps on the top are from a men's long sleeve shirt.

Cute as a button!

Alphabet Nursery Art

I made this for my niece. I used a large cut of felt, a dowel rod, and scraps of lace and vintage trim. I made a layout before I started, which I think was the hardest part! To make sure I could make all the letters fit and look appealing. Then I shaped each row at a time, adjusting according to the thickness of the trim. It takes more visual guessing and less measuring when doing each row. Then I finished the edges with bias tape, lace casing on top for the dowel rod, and wrapped (and glued) lace at the ends to hang it with.

(this is the first one I made for my daughter)

RAW Artists Showcase

Sketchbook Pro for IPad

 When I first got my IPad (for christmas a few years ago) I really wanted a sketchbook type program that was simple to use (not too many options, becomes overwhelming) and responded well to drawing with my finger. I never got used to using a stylus tool, they were just so bulky to me. I like how fine a pencil or pen can be. Now I know my finger is not like a pencil (who's is?) but I can at least feel where I am drawing.

 These are some of my sketches. They are of a variety of children's clothing that are inspired from vintage 1940's styled garments and toys.



I like to sometimes use the mirror feature on the Sketchbook Pro, sometimes not. I think it really makes the drawing look more like a picture with the mirror feature on, but as you can see with the bunny apron it looks pretty cool freehand. I think that says a lot about me. I sometimes like to be artistic/off balance, and sometimes I like to be exact/clean finish.

This little shorts jumper was sketched using the mirror feature. It really helps when you have an idea and you want to see more of a technical type sketch. (a technical sketch is used in fashion design to show the exact seaming, topstitching, proportion, and notions used in the production of the garment)

These two sketches I made into little toddler dresses and sold through my children's line called Octopus Robot. The top dress is made from a newer flower print and a second hand men's plaid dress shirt.

 I utilized the buttons as closures in the back.
The lower dress is also made from a men's dress shirt and a newer floral print. I threw in a vintage Packman sheet at the waist if you didn't already guess the pattern!  : )







I had a lot of fun creating these dresses from the sketches. I don't usually work like that. I just like to find 2 or 3 different patterns that look pleasing to my eye, then work with a vintage pattern for the basic shape.
I sometimes add trims, buttons, and appliqués to finish off the garment.



There are so many different ways to make a garment from idea to final look. I was taught in home ec how to do things one way I didn't know all of the possibilities out there. I actually was quiet bored with sewing for several years till I was inspired again to just do what felt right to me. I didn't have to be judged or graded on what I was inspired to create.

Craft from the Past

I sold these super cute cherry pins at a local shop in Seattle WA many years ago. I used the floral craft wire that you can find at Joanne's Fabrics to twist and shape until I made a cherry and stem shape.
I wrapped the wire with second hand green yarn for stem and fuzzy maroon/red for cherry (left over from a scarf project). I also had a collection of vintage leaves (used for hats and brooches) that I twisted into the yarn, then finished it with a pin closure on the back. Super Cute!

Museum Day

One of the last days in Tacoma WA. We went to the downtown Farmers Market and the Tacoma Art Museum, really great museum! Really tasty market! : )