Back to School Look with Baby Hobbes Designs

Merav, of Baby Hobbes Design, is back and does a stunning version of the Mary Fancy Sash Dress. The fabric used for this project is Sophia and Terrie, both in Green from the Hotel Frederiksted collection due out in November. Girl’s World patterns are only available as paper patterns in the back of the book, so make sure you grab yourself a copy off Amazon. It’s filled with 21 amazing projects for girls of all ages. We are so thankful for Merav and her beautiful creations in Sis Boom fabric. Make sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook for more inspiration.

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Hello again! I am so excited to take over Sis Boom today, and to share one my favorite Back 2 School (B2S) looks. Before I go any further, let me wipe away my tears thinking about Hobbes starting 1st Grade soon. When did this happen? All summer long we’ve been excited for this advancement, and now, I am heavyhearted over this huge milestone.

I am, however, fired-up about all the new B2S looks I am sewing lately. Especially previewing Sis Boom’s new collection Hotel Frederisksted. The pop of colors on this 18-fabric collection is mind-blowing. From soft reds with the hint of pink, to sapphire blue, and of course this gorgeous emerald green. This collection is FIERCE! Especially paired with Sis Boom pattern collections.

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One of my goals for B2S sewing with Hobbes is to sew separates. I want to give her the flexibility to mix her handmade collection with ready-to-wear jeans and tees from our local shops. Because each Sis Boom pattern is filled with details to achieve the perfect individual fit, I start with my finished look measurements and work backwards, modifying the garment for my ideal look. This time, reaching to my favorite printed pattern books: Girls World

I chose to work with the awesome Mary Fancy Sash Dress Pattern from Girls World, because I love the ease of the pullover dress. No zippers and no buttons means this mommy can finish her coffee in the morning while Hobbes dresses herself. I made 3 easy tweaks to the pattern. The most obvious one is that I left out the sash and turned it into tunic length. The second change was that I lined it. It doesn’t need lining at all, because the pattern calls for bias trim to finish all the edges. I have to come forward and express that bias bonding and I don’t always get along. Honestly, to save on topstitching time I just cut a lining piece of both the front and back and zipped it through my serger as you would with any other tank style lined dress.

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The biggest transformation to the pattern was how I cut the front bodice piece (top and lining) on a curve. I love the look and volume that a curve bodice gives to our tops and dresses, that I decided this Fall, Baby Hobbes Design’s collection needs to be cut on a curve. To achieve this look, I took the front bodice pattern-locating the side with the word fold and starting from the bottom, I measured 1.5 inch up. I marked it. Then I located the opposite edge of the side of the bodice under the arm curve. From there I drew a line on a curve, meeting at the 1.5 mark that I made on the other side, and voila, you’ve curved your bodice.

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* To see the tutorial on how I did this, stay tuned for my next Sis Boom guest blog post – I’ll share more of this technique.

Till then, Happy Sewing!

Merav from Baby Hobbes Design

Sneak Peek of Hotel Frederiksted

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It’s time to introduce the next fabric line…Drum rolls please for Hotel Frederiksted.

We are super duper excited. Next week we will be revealing some of what our Sis Boom friends have been working on!!! Aug 15th the ideas will all start rolling in. In the meantime dream a little dream.

Hotel Frederiksted releases November 2016. Hotel Frederiksted was a hotel my father owned on the other side of the island of St. Croix. Frederiksted was other worldly in its quiet nature where the only sign of life were the uniformed sailors that routinely took over the town when their mighty ships docked. Starting as a spec on the horizon, I knew slowly as these vessels approached, I would soon be dwarfed by these mammoth ships. This sleepy town lit up when the big cruise ships docked. We loved going on a trip to Frederiksted to greet the cruise ships and be awestruck by their size. Souvenirs lined the streets of the town and it was the local color that beckoned the tourists. The tourists were all dressed in colorful garb, and as a local, we quietly swore to never look like a tourist but it was their loud sometimes garish outfits that spoke to my soul. Here, repeated from the depth of the ocean blues to the pinkish orange sunsets is my interpretation of this sacred time in my life. Please share with your quilting friends. Stores carrying our fabrics are welcome to use our collages to promote.

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Sis Boom Super Fan: Amanda Wilson of Dream-for Girls

We are in the dogs days of summer here in the States, but our down under fans are enjoying cooler weather. Amanda Wilson of Dream-for Girls in Sydney, Australia released a darling collection of clothing for girls featuring our Color Brigade fabric and we are so flattered. She even named the collection Jenny Rose after Jennifer saying “it’s for a beautiful lady named Jennifer, with a sprained ankle and who paints roses with magic as well.” Jennifer sprained her ankle earlier this summer when her dog, George, took off after a chipmunk. Luckily she is OK and pleased old George still has some peep in his step.

Amanda’s collection is available in her Etsy Shop, so hop over and check it out. Amanda has 2 beautiful children, a playful puppy, a great loving husband and a large extended adorable family too. She has worked as a designer/patternmaker and it’s always been her passion.

When we asked Amanda to send her a little bio about herself, she sent in the sweet little poem below. Judging from her joyous spirit, a little extra love and happiness is sewed into every garment she makes.

“Once upon a time…
from down under here…
There was a dream…
of sunny days, beautiful fabrics, sweet party dresses, smiles and fun twirly skirts in our aussie gum tree bush, pretty bows and playful pants down under here !!
Along came a friend and captured some magical photos with love, along came another friend,to walk us on the way…
and hello !!! Dream – for girls.

Photo credit: Meredith West of Dee Dub Designs

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It’s Almost Time For Color Brigade!

Color Brigade is starting to ship and we couldn’t be more excited. It should be hitting your favorite fabric stores and online retailers in the next few weeks. If  you receive a shipment of Color Brigade be sure to tag us on Facebook and Instagram and we’ll help you get the word out!

Lots of bold colors in this line after the soft romantic pastels of Nostalgia! A very personal collection for Jennifer, she writes: Happy is the moniker of this lovely selection. Large florals with deep colored backgrounds lay the foundation for this strong Island vibe that once again has that “take me away” vacation vibe.  Having grown up in the Virgin Islands and embracing the world of mismatched pattern on all the lovely people that resided there is where the foundation for my textiles begins.  Layers of different cloths and head wraps are the origins of my homeland and the cruzan culture of my sensibility. Textiles played a huge roll in my early aesthetic development.  These florals come alive with the saturated colors of Sis Boom. Coordinates and color mixed with these florals or the huge Fluer de lis and this wonderful check will look as though you threw it all together when in actuality there is a color harmony that keeps the fluidity intact. Two toned wood cuts, and rhythmic lines keep it all cohesive.  I can see amazing quilts and gorgeous dresses and products crafted from these amazing designs. Cabanas and beach umbrellas dot the beaches, and the bathing suits and trunks all cohabit  here to bring you another resort vibe from none other than me.

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What are you planning on making with Color Brigade? We can’t wait for you to share with us.

 

Are You Ready for the Nostalgia Line?

Shae from Saflower Photography and Saflower Designs wrote a lovely and informative post on Pattern Revolution yesterday on how to best photograph your boutique creations, fabric and patterns. If you’ve ever wondered how to best photograph and style your creations, run, don’t walk over to her post and read it now!

We are honored she made a dress in Sis Boom’s newest line, Nostalgia shipping next month, with amazing lace trim and button details for her daughter. Seriously, how amazing are these photos and the dress on her cutie patootie daughter??

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She also used Nostalgia fabric to create this to-die-for dreamcatcher. Find the free tutorial over on Pattern Revolution.

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We hope you are in love with Nostalgia as much as we are! What are you going to be making when it drops next month?

Coming Soon….Nostalgia

Sis Boom’s newest line, Nostalgia, debuts in October and we are thrilled to show you the full line today. Nostalgia has a whisper quality that is uncharacteristic of Sis Boom while still embracing pops of color that allude to Jennifer’s earlier fabrics for Freespirit. Confident and robust Nostalgia has a very feminine painterly quality that is soft and warm. The Harlequin pattern is perfect for creating the graphic quality in modern quilting and for bordering (framing) quilts and creating contrast with the orb quality of the other designs. It’s the pinks, the greens, the blues, the golds; the symphony that is Sis Boom. And oh the florals! Those fantastic florals with a faded old world sensibility sun kissed and ready to party! You’ll find it fits your vintage infused interiors, your vintage infused brands. It is romantic and happy just the way you like it.

image Blues in left to right: Kumi, Hilary, Tilly and Jimmy
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Blues in left to right: Kitty, Figgy and Jackson
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Golds in left to right: Hillary, Figgy, Tilly and Jimmy
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Greens in left to right: Kumi, Jimmy and Jackson
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Greens in left to right: Kitty and Hilary
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Pinks in left to right: Kumi, Figgy and Jackson
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Pinks in left to right: Kitty and Tilly
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What projects are you planning with this fabric? Don’t forget to share with me on Instagram. I love seeing what you create with Sis Boom fabric.

Instagram Inspiration

Sarahbear621 – crazylovequilt matching pillows

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bettylebonbon – stunning skirt in Melody from the Beauty Queen line

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melisajanehandmade – lovely bag in JoAnn from an oldie but goodie, Crazy Love!
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oneygirl50 – shared this throw back Thursday photo of me at the Country Living Fair in Ohio from 2011! You can learn to make a similar decoupage suitcase by watching my YouTube video.

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menthree_3 – Melody in midnight from Beauty Queen makes a lovely clutch

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Thanks for sharing your lovelies with me on Instagram. They always brighten my day!

Gossip Girls

Run, don’t walk to get a copy of this month’s Weekend Quilting magazine.   Jo Avery made these sassy dolls with fabric from the Circa line and they are just darling. What can I say, I love this girl and her use of our fabrics to make these Gossip gals hum!! The pattern is in the magazine and you could make a couple by this afternoon…She also has Kaleidoscope pillows that you will totally want to create, but I won’t share here so you can be surprised. This issue is jam packed with some great great peeps and their wonderful projects…check it out!

 

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They’re here, they’re here!

We have been working hard for the past few months with Sew News to debut our newest patterns and special videos and it’s happening TODAY!  The new Sew with Me video series features moi and the ever-talented Carla Crim.  In each video, we take you through one new project from start to finish. Sis Boom Pattern Company developed four new amazing projects including Bonnie’s Flouncy Skirt, the Peggy Party Runner, the Wendy Weekender Bag and the Shellie Clutch, and all are shown in Sis Boom’s newest fabric line Caravelle Arcade.  Find the kits, patterns and videos exclusively at Shop Sew It All and all go on sale today.  Go check them out and let me know what you think! Carla and I had so much fun filming the video series, and I hope you enjoy watching and creating along with us!

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Modified Angie and Gabriella Fae for Summer

The ever talented Jeanine, customer service for Sis Boom Pattern Co and Scientific Seamstress Fan page made this gorgeous modified back maxi Angie with bold ric rac and long Gabriela Fae’s for her little girls. Maxi dresses have been a popular warm weather dress for a few years, and these are stunners!

Head over to the Scientific Seamstress blog to learn how to modify the Angie back. For the long Gabriela Fae dresses, Jeanine added a front panel and quilting details. Just darling.

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