Monday, December 22, 2014

Christmas Special... Little Girls Dresses...

Merry Christmas Everyone!
As a special for this week, I wanted to share with you some of our Christmas dresses, and a comfy sherpa coat that any girl would love for snowy days!

I love playing with fun sparkly fabrics, that make a little girl want to twirl all day!
So, without further ado... here they are!







Monday, December 15, 2014

Christmas Home Decor...Tips and Tricks!

I have so much fun decorating for the seasons. Before beginning the seasonal change, i always decide what "theme" I am going for. This helps me stay on track and not get too over whelmed with ideas or clutter. So for this winter I decided to go with the Pacific Northwest rustic theme.

I started by looking at a lot of pictures... Then you want to look at the areas in your house and decide what can be decorated that is bare, or what will people see throughout the room when they come in, and what be overly cluttered. In my house I have my "go-to" areas: the mantle, tops of side cabinets in my living room, the piano in my family room, the dining table, and my entryway hutch. Notice all of these areas are not just in the same room. I want to have my seasonal decor tastefully in each room of the living space. Also each of these areas are flat top open spaces.

Next we begin to accumulate all our goodies from the past year, and decide where we need new and fresh pieces. This year I did my spending on the greenery, since in the past I hadnt done too much greenery.
I also got an old window I collected a couple years back, for about $10. Look around your house, garage, shop and woods for anything that can be used, without having to spend a penny! Because we all know how much it can add up!







I then saw lots of ideas with logs and candles, so I went out to my log pile and found a few! I cut them to my length, drilled a few holes, and popped some candles in. For my center piece on my dining table, I did the same idea, but laid the log sideways and drilled the holes.



Opposites attract in decorating, so with the rustic I knew a little bit of the crackled silver glassware would be the finishing touch! It helps balance the look, without it being too overboard on glassware, or too overboard on logs and green!



You always want to stand back and try to balance out your decor. If you have an arrangement of flowers or foliage, then have a shorter candle and a medium frame, like on the piano. This is pleasing to the eye, without everything matchy matchy.


Last but not least, I love changing out my pillows with the seasons. Its pretty inexpensive, if you reuse your forms and just make new covers with zippers! I like to warm rooms up with texture, so I found a fur blanket at Marshall's for $20- I cut it into 7 18"-20" pillows! You cant beat that price on material! I then bought some cheap but beautiful sweaters, and cut them into two pillows each! Also about $3 a piece for materials. This adds a cozy feel to our living room! 



Anyways, hope this helps you with your decorating! Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions :)

Merry Christmas to you all!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Sewing classes for little ones...

In the past month I have started giving sewing classes to 3 and 4 year olds. Generally people would think they are too young, and how would they remember anything?... Well folks, do I have a surprise for you! These girls are young so their minds are fresh, they remember from one week to the next what they have been taught! I was surprised on their second class to see them doing everything I taught them the week before. 

Repetition is what these little ones need, but with that repetition comes the skill that they will never forget. At this point they are learning right sides together, pinning, cutting, back stitch and holding the fabric on their own as it goes thru the machine. We are pressing the pedal so they can learn everything else, and as they grow taller, they will be able to learn multitasking! 

It's a joy to teach these children and see them so excited about every class, and so excited when just one seam gets sewn. 

So I encourage you all to start teaching your little ones skills early in life! They love it 😄 and you will learn from them! 


Monday, December 1, 2014

Chair slipcovers and Cushions

As winter comes, Bella Jean moves from altering lots of wedding gowns, to sewing cushions and slipcovers. We love to take our customers drab pieces of furniture and make them brand new! 

Here are a few that we've done lately... 

BEFORE:



DURING:
COMPLETE:


FAUX LEATHER CUSHIONS:


OUTDOOR CUSHIONS:

BEFORE:

AFTER:


Thursday, September 25, 2014

We are having a party!



On October 1st we are celebrating 5 years of being in business. You’re invited to celebrate with us! 

Bring your friends and neighbors!
Enjoy complimentary refreshments!
All visitors will receive a 10% off coupon. 

Take a look back at how we started and see where we are now!

Thursday, March 27, 2014

DIY Chair reupholstery...and recent custom work!


Hello again everyone! It's nice to be back with you all.

Business has been even busier than before, and I'm glad I've gotten on top of scheduling before the wedding season hit! I'm so excited to be able to alter and create wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. I realized how much I missed working with lots of brides over the winter.  

Anyways, on my spare time ( late Sunday nights) I finally decided it was time to redo my chairs that customers sit and wait on in my shop. 

Here's how they originally looked: 

I then stripped it down... 

Then with the help of my little niece  we painted the wood white... 


I then cut the basic shapes of the fabric and began to staple! It was actually quite basic upholstery, just stretching properly and stapling in place! 

Now I just have to finish it with double piping! But for now... It's in my shop and looks gorgeous with the decor. 



And here are a few pictures of my recent happenings! 

One of my students projects! She made this for a recent wedding in a matter of weeks... And she's 14 years old! 

Fitted slipcovers for 2 armless wingbacks... 


Couch reupholstery...

Custom Drapes:


A preschool drawn quilt for an auction! 

And fun with my little helpers today!




Until we talk again!...