Can spring be far behind?

Wednesday I blogged/bragged about my organized sewing room where I am busy creating dresses and skirts for spring and summer. Today I thought I'd give you all a look at a few of the new things.

This is the back of one combination and shows the ribbon sash. This style uses ribbon ties on the shoulders also. I love the madras patchwork!

Pink and more pink. (This is printed to look like patchwork unike the madras which is really patchwork.) Its such a girly color plus bright for the summer. Don't forget these look great with a blouse or tee shirt. So they're not only sun dresses.Two tier skirt. Don't you love the second ruffle peeking out?This twirly skirt is four fabrics put together. My favorite part is deciding what prints and colors to combine. The variety of 100% cotton prints is just never ending these days.

Because of the change in the laws for children's clothing, I've decided not to make my sun dress with the buttons down the back. My understanding is the buttons would have to be tested for lead. I will be making a design with white eyelet and just one fabric accent for a slightly calmer feel. So stay tuned.

Organized and loving it!

Having made the decision to spend more time on my line of custom designed, hand-made girls' dresses, I've been spending lots more time in my sewing/crafts room. This space has doubled as a guest room and a general "if its clutter it must go here" area. Well, for Christmas my daughter gave me the gift of 24 hours of time to help de-clutter and organize this room so it could serve as a business office as well as a sewing room for my growing business. This last weekend she came and we conquered. I now have a room which functions beautifully for the sewing. And is ready to serve as a home office as I phase out of the backroom here at Annarella Home. I even have lots of space to grow.

Although I don't have images of my re-done space, I went googling today to look for low cost ideas to create a home office and craft space. (Did I mention that we ended up spending only on lumber for two shelves, small can of paint and a new, large waste basket - for a total of well under $100?)

Here are a few clever ideas from Better Homes and Gardens that are budget friendly and functional.

I loved this idea of a desk made from an old door with added legs. It makes for a wide, flat area which is something I need. Also they took a parson's chair and slipcovered it for a comfortable desk seat.Here they've used slatted display walls like you see in many stores. Painted it. Added shelves and pin-up boards etc. Especially clever is the hanging file system. Simple and seviceable!

Here an old metal tray has been painted to create a magnetic board. I've also found a metal cookie sheet works well. Depending on what you need to attach, mesh stretched over a baking sheet works well to display or hold earrings, necklaces or anything small enough to be held by pins. Let your imagination roam.

Change is good

On Inaugaration Day 2009 change is a key word. It's exciting to see such crowds and such enthusiasm. Even if America must face reality and a lot of tough work tomorrow, it is fun to celebrate change and possibilities today.

As a lot of you know already, Annarella is making some major changes. We've been selling our inventory at 50% off so we can consolidate into 2 rooms and become Annarella Home, Pamela's design services. This week we should be able to begin to move all the fabrics into their new home, our second room. We will be vacating the atrium and adjoining design studio. Although there is a little sadness, this feels more and more right as we progress. The current economic climate means we have to tighten our belt and find ways to trim the overhead without hurting the wonderful design services that we can provide. So we are reducing the gift items we carry as we reduce our retail presence in downtown.

Our new store hours are Tues -Sat 11-5. But Pamela can be reached on her cell for questions and appoinments 512-818-6026. We welcome appointments for before or after regular hours. For the time being we will remain at 800 S Austin Ave here in downtown Georgetown. We promise to keep everyone updated on all coming changes.

Ellie will expand her Hugs from Mimi girls handmade clothing line. Right now I'm working hard at developing new designs and looks for spring. I'm building up stock with an addition of two skirts. Meanwhile I'll be working with Pamela. My smiling face will still be the one behind the desk. So stop in and see me. Any questions about the clothes can be emailed annarella@thegateway.net as I work on a schedule of art fairs I'll attend and on a website.

So change is good here. Thanks to everyone who has had such good things to say to us. Thanks to everyone who has said they'll miss us. We're still here just morphing.

Oops

My last blog referred to my congressman and senators. In my haste I mis-titled them John Carter is my representative and John Cornyn is my senator. My apologies to these fine and hardworking men.

Per my last posting I talked about the new federal regs for children's products. Some progress has been made with exemptions for cottons and wools. Since I use cottons that eases my mind, but I still urge everyone interested to write their congressmen to ask for a review of the bill and clarification so the bill can accomplish what it needs to - lead and phalates in foreign manufactered toys, jewelry and small items likely to be put in a child's mouth.

Here is an informative blog from j caroline creative which is accurate and up-to-date.

I promise I'll begin tomorrow with a blog that is not so serious.

When good ideas go awry

This morning a favorite customer of Annarella stopped in to ask me what I knew about the new regulations to control lead in children's products. I had to confess ignorance to the details. But when she told me it might affect the girls dresses and skirts I make, I started to do some research. This is a major economic news story which will impact childrens stores, toy stores, resell, thrift stores and even small handcrafters like me. Please read the LA Times story for a good view of what we have to face if this law is enacted as planned on Feb. 10. It appears that I cannot make and sell children's clothing without extensive and expensive testing to certify they are lead free.

Another good site with a link to a letter to Congress asking for changes is Enkor Kids. I made sure my Texas Senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Carter as well as my Representative John Cornyn received an email as well as a hard copy of my request to take another look at the law and enact some changes to make it possible for handcrafters, in particular, to create and sell goods. And also look at ways to work with thrift and resale shops.

I hope the dialogue grows until it cannot be ignored. There has to be a solution somewhere between the law as written which appears to mean many second-hand items will end up in landfill, and small businesses like mine will be unable to afford testing or waiting for all the components used to be tested and allowing lead-filled toys, materials and supplies into our country and into the mouths of our children and grandchildren.

Pretty Girls

Thanks to photographer, James Polnick, I have lots of photos of my dresses on 4 very pretty girls. Two months ago I did a trunk show of the Hugs from Mimi Handmade Dresses in Houston where I met some wonderful girls (and their mothers, grandmothers and fathers) who agreed to be in a photo shoot with their dresses. Here are the marvelous results.

This is James daughter, Brighten, who certainly does brighten up at the sight of a camera. She was a champ and just kept smiling on and on. The one just below makes me giggle.

Next is Lauren. She is a little more serious, but those eyes!! She is adorable.

Blond and quiet, Macy, posed the most seriously of all. Doesn't she look so grown up?Here Macy and Brighten show off like but not matching sun dresses.Ryann, my granddaughter, is the final model. She is all girl and loved being my top model. She is my guinea pig. If she likes my creations, then I know I'm on the right track. I can't wait to see her over the holidays, as I have two new designs for skirts she needs to critique.Best friends, Macy and Ryann.It was so great to see the girls playing and being so comfortable inthe dresses while they looked soooo good. I feel like little girls should wear clothes that are comfortable for running and sitting with no scratchy fabrics. For the moms the clothes should be easy care. Who has time for lots of ironing?Here are all the models resting after a hard day of looking good, smiling and posing. They were all so cooperative. Thanks.

If you want me to do a trunk show next year, just holler. I had a great time in Houston. It was fun to get the instant feedback from Moms and their daughters. Email me at annarella@thegateway.net

Don't forget tomorrow, Dec 13 is Market Days in downtown Georgetown. Also the tour of historic homes put on by the Georgetown Heritage Society is Saturday and Sunday, the 13th & 14th. Click on the name for times, places and tickets. This is a highlight of the ho;iday season here in Georgetown.

Too many projects, not enough time

I can't believe that I haven't blogged since Oct 19. I've missed you all. But I've been trying to complete several projects, and there just isn't enough time. I know many of you can empathize with me.

First I'm almost finished with an online store. What a stretch for my elder brain!!! But I'm determined to have it up and operational by mid-week. When it does go public, I'll send out fireworks in celebration. The store will have some of our most popular items. It has been fun picking them out and photographing them. My huge thanks to Lauryl for the pics.

Tomorrow is November First Friday. Traditionally that is our kick-off of the holiday season here at Annarella. It has been frantic here as Pamela, Emily and Mindy have done a major redo of our floor - moving furniture into different rooms. Then they had to get all the new merchandise out. More about what's come in on a later post. Finally everything has to be decorated for the holidays. I'm in awe at hopw much they have accomplished in this week. Wait til you see how pretty we look. Pictures will be next week.

I did my first trunk show with the dresses from Hugs From Mimi. It was a great success. So whenever I wasn't on the computer these last weeks, I was at my sewing machine. What fun it has all been. This Saturday I'll be at Second Saturday Market Days with more dresses and stuff from Annarella, like the Lux candles, Victoria Miller necklaces and more. I'm sharing space with MAry Louise Poquette who has wonderful hand knit scarves and bead jewelry. Come by to see the goodies.

We have a new art show starting First Friday - Small Pleasures & Quiet Moments. These small works on paper are from Carol Hayman, photographer; Cathie Kayser, printmaker; and Anna Marie Pavlik, printmaker. Artist reception is from 6-8pm. In the next weeks I'll be posting interviews by all 3 ladies. They are very accomplished and extremely interesting. (This is another" more to come" post.)

I can see I have much to catch up on. But for now I hope to see you all this weekend. (I'm posting now without proofing. An apology for all the typos and mistakes, I'm sure I have made!)

Hugs from Mimi Dresses

Some of you know that I have a little sideline called Hugs from Mimi. It started with baby burp cloths and small lovies because I couldn't find stylish but sturdy ones to sell in our baby section at Annarella Home. So I dusted off my sewing machine and made some. That was 5 years ago, and they still sell here. This spring I was putting together a raffle basket of baby gifts for my daughter's school fund raiser. It included the burp cloths, lovies, Fun Bath blanket and Caldrea Sweet Pea Collection. It was a good gift, but I was looking for a wow finish so they could make more money. So I decided to make a baby outfit. It was so much fun. And that became the beginning of the Hugs from Mimi Custom Dresses.

I love working with all the different fabrics and putting them together in unexpected ways.Some of the fabric combinations get pretty funky, but I keep the designs comfortable and easy care. Little girls should be able to run, jump and climb trees while looking drop dead gorgeous.The sizing goes from 6 months to girl's 8. The construction with tie shoulder straps and sashes allows for growth with a range of at least two sizes. And although here in central Texas we have a lot of summer, we do need some clothes for cold weather. These go beautifully over a shirt and leggings or tights for winter wear.

When I was a little girl I spent hours designing clothes for my paper dolls. I dreamed about becoming a designer but, alas, I couldn't draw. Now at the other end of my life I have returned to playing with dresses. Isn't life full of surprises and twists?