Lil Blue Boo

In the weeds….

September 19, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 16 Comments

I’m in the weeds. I love using that phrase. I used it all the time back in my investment banking days. I’ve got a local boutique show “Artisans & Commodities” in a few days. But here is where I am struggling…..my Lil Blue Boo blog has become a place where my painting, sewing, crafting, Lil Golf Girl, homemaking, journaling can come together. Outside of the blog world though it is hard to pinpoint what I do…..am I a painter? am I a crafter? am I a pattern maker? What am I? How do I reconcile all of it into one? What do I take to a boutique? How about everything!

All day I’ve been:

….putting tags onto Lil Golf Girl shirts….

In the weeds lil golf girl shirts via lilblueboo.com

….putting tags on nursery art….

In the weeds nursery art via lilblueboo.com

….pulling out different portraits, nursery paintings to show examples of commissioned work….

In the weeds portraits and paintings via lilblueboo.com

…..sending patterns off to my rockin’ printer Plan-It Reprographics to be printed and bound….

In the weeds patterns via lilblueboo.com

….pulling out signage to make sure it hasn’t been crushed in storage….

Look at these great t-shirt colors I found today. Now all I want to do is some sewing.

In the weeds t-shirt colors via lilblueboo.com

So that is it for today. Sorry, not much new to share. Now I’ve got to take a break….and start getting dinner ready. My sister and fiance are still visiting. I’m off to pick up Sienna and get groceries for fish tacos! Yum!

Have a wonderful Friday night!

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: botique, lil golf girl, nursery art, paintings, pattern, portraits, shirts, signage, T-Shirt

The Sienna Dress

September 19, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 204 Comments

Update: The Sienna Dress Pattern is now available in the pattern shop! Giveaway winners (jellaan and roseylittlethings) at the bottom of the post! Thanks everyone for the entries and nice comments!

If you’ve followed me for a while you know how much I love using old t-shirts to make clothing for my daughter……but I like to make them with a pattern so the pieces look finished and boutique. I spend weeks and weeks on a pattern to get it just right. I love adding in tons of options to make a pattern versatile and customizable. I love finding ways to use existing seams and hems to minimize the amount of sewing. And then, after a gazillion versions are created in every size by myself and my fabulous testers, I can finally share it:

The Sienna Dress

I love this dress because it is so versatile. Options include: short sleeve, long sleeve, bell sleeve, tapered sleeve, bottom ruffle, and others. Use your old college t-shirts, tie-dye and other knits to make your little girl the coolest wardrobe ever.

Thank you Nicole, Shari, Angie, Deanna, Becky, Lisa, & Leslie for all of your sewing and help with this pattern!

The Sienna Dress is now in the Lil Blue Boo Etsy Shop along with the new Paper Doll Dress pattern. But of course I’ll give away a few first!

You’ll find the giveaway info at the bottom of the post after some cute photos! There were too many cute dresses to show, but check out the Lil Blue Boo Flickr Gallery soon for more!

(Thanks Deanna for the photo!)

The Sienna Dress PDF pattern & tutorial includes:
:: 26 pages of easy to follow step-by-step complete sewing instructions
:: 71 full color images, diagrams and drawings to demonstrate pattern specifics
:: 7 pattern pages which include separate patterns for sizes 6-12M, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5 & 6
:: Options for sleeve lengths and bell sleeves or tapered sleeves
:: Options for customizing your dress by adding a ruffle and adding your own graphics

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED (originally posted 9/15/2009)

The winners of the Sienna Dress Pattern are:

Congratulations jellan and roseylittlethings! I’ll be emailing you the pattern shortly. Thanks to everyone for the all of the entries and all the thoughtful comments. I loved hearing all the t-shirt ideas!

Filed Under: Children's Clothes, LBB Patterns, Recycled, Sewing, Sewing Patterns, The Sienna Dress, Things I've Made Tagged With: girls clothing, pattern, recycled, sewing, The Sienna Dress, upcycled

"Mom, do you think I could have something "store" bought…..

September 17, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 15 Comments

….manufactured, or maybe even mass-produced?” That is exactly how I picture the conversation starting one day. I make most of my daughter’s clothes and I am positive that one day the novelty will wear off for her.

Two things I do NOT make: shoes and underwear, so that part of her wardrobe becomes very neglected. But in all seriousness, does a two-year-old really need more than one pair of shoes (and maybe a pair of pink “super hero” boots)? Besides, I happen to think skater shoes look cute with a church dress….

"Mom, do you think I could have something "store" bought via lilblueboo.com

Thank goodness for Grandmothers. Thank you “Mimi” for Sienna’s new shoes! I no longer will be embarrassed when her school thinks she came in barefooted because none of the shoes on hand fit…..

"Mom, do you think I could have something "store" bought shoes via lilblueboo.com
Changing the subject: I am a little horrified that Sienna “captured” Tinkerbell in her juice cup and then filled it halfway with water. Tink even looks like she is yelling “heeeeelllllppp”…….

"Mom, do you think I could have something "store" bought Boo and Tinkerbell via lilblueboo.com

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: Boo, life, shoes, superhero boots

The Paper Doll Dress

September 16, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 266 Comments

Update: The Paper Doll Dress Pattern is now available in the pattern store! Giveaway winners (Liz and Desi) at the bottom of the post! Thanks everyone for the entries and nice comments!

I’ve been sewing up a storm (along with my wonderful pattern testers!) trying to get my two fall patterns finished. The Paper Doll Dress is ready for release and will be available this week. But FIRST….you have a chance to win it! See details at the bottom of the post and I’ll pick a winner this Tuesday evening. My fall recycled knit pattern to come soon….just adding some options to it!

How great are the big “collecting” pockets?

The Paper Doll Dress collecting pockets via lilblueboo.com

So comfy and perfect for layering……can’t wait until it is cool enough for ribbed tights and clunky brown boots.

The Paper Doll Dress comfy via lilblueboo.com

Wow, was this a pose?

The Paper Doll Dress Boo posing via lilblueboo.com

I’ve stocked up on “home spun” cotton plaid. They are great for mixing and matching and usually run between $2.99 and $3.99 a yard.

The Paper Doll Dress 'home spun" cotton plaid via lilblueboo.com

The pattern includes an “idea” book for customizing your dress…..

The Paper Doll Dress pattern and idea book via lilblueboo.com

…..and different pocket and applique templates.

The Paper Doll Dress pocket applique via lilblueboo.com

If you are scared of buttonholes…… this is the pattern for you. I show step-by-step how to create a button hole WITHOUT having to use any fancy settings or attachments. An easy solution.

The Paper Doll Dress button holes via lilblueboo.com

There are no zippers or buttons in the back….the dress is easy to step in and out of (or over the head) with the straps buttoning in the front

The Paper Doll Dress no zippers or buttons in the back via lilblueboo.com

The PDF ePattern:

:: 23 pages of easy to follow step-by-step complete sewing instructions

:: 68 full color images, diagrams and drawings to demonstrate pattern specifics
:: 5 pattern pages which include separate patterns for sizes 6M, 12M, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5 & 6

The Paper Doll Dress epattern via lilblueboo.com

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED (originally posted 9/12/2009)

The winners of the Paper Doll Dress Pattern are:

Congratulations Liz and Desi! I’ll be emailing you the pattern shortly! Thanks to everyone for the all of the entries and all the thoughtful comments!

Filed Under: Children's Clothes, LBB Patterns, Sewing, Sewing Patterns, The Paper Doll Dress, Things I've Made Tagged With: download, dress, ePattern, girls clothing, paperdoll, sewing

New and Improved Frog Beanbag (He’s a Prince!)

September 14, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 43 Comments

Stuffed Frog Beanbag Toy DIY Tutorial and Free Pattern Download via lilblueboo.com
Do you remember my 25-pound frog? This frog turned out much better than that one.

To make him I cut two top pieces, and one bottom piece (see my template at the bottom of the post).

Stuffed Frog Beanbag Toy DIY Tutorial and Free Pattern Download step 1 via lilblueboo.com

I sewed the two top pieces together.

Stuffed Frog Beanbag Toy DIY Tutorial and Free Pattern Download step 2 via lilblueboo.com

Added button eyes and pinned a ribbon tongue in place.

Stuffed Frog Beanbag Toy DIY Tutorial and Free Pattern Download step 3 via lilblueboo.com

Then I placed the bottom piece on top of the top piece, right sides together and sewed all the way around using a 1/4″ seam….leaving a 2″ gap on the inside of one of the legs. I filled him with beans and then sewed him shut.

Stuffed Frog Beanbag Toy DIY Tutorial and Free Pattern Download step 4 via lilblueboo.com

He looks better with a crown on! A cute little frog prince.

You can download and print my frog pattern here:
Frog Beanbag Pattern

You can find the crown template at this link: Frog Prince Crown

Filed Under: Downloads, Free Patterns, Sewing, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial Tagged With: download, free, frog, prince, sewing, toys, tutorial

There is this one song…..

September 11, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 10 Comments

……I can’t even sing it because my voice will crack. Sometimes listening to it I get that feeling like my chest is being crushed. When the “live” version plays from iTunes some mornings Sienna will look up at me and say “are you okay Mommy?”

Michael W. Smith’s ”Awesome God” from the album Worship

It was released on September 11, 2001.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: Awesome God, song, worship

The Original Lil Golf Girl……

September 10, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 11 Comments

My little sister Perry arrived today! She is here for two weeks for a tournament and LPGA Qualifying. We went to the driving range this evening to watch her practice.

The Original Lil Golf Girl via lilblueboo.com

The great thing about having a professional golfer in the family is getting free golf advice!

The Original Lil Golf Girl 2 via lilblueboo.com

Who wouldn’t want a private lesson?

The Original Lil Golf Girl 3 via lilblueboo.com

Except maybe Sienna…..all she wanted to do was tee up all the golf balls…..

The Original Lil Golf Girl 4 via lilblueboo.com

….and rummage through Perry’s golf bag.

The Original Lil Golf Girl 5 via lilblueboo.com

I kept cracking up because every time Sienna put her golf club down it lifted up the back of her dress.

The Original Lil Golf Girl 6 via lilblueboo.com

I really need to do some sewing tonight because Sienna is wearing this dress out……

The Original Lil Golf Girl 7 via lilblueboo.com

Filed Under: Friends and Family, Life Tagged With: family, golf, lil golf girl, Perry

My Painting Jeans

September 9, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 1 Comment

These aren’t the originals. My original pair that made it about 10 years and were deemed “toxic and flammable” a few years back and had to be thrown away. I did a lot of experimenting with alkyds, resins and solvents long ago. When I became pregnant with my daughter I gave up the oil paints and the chemicals that went with them (plus the movers that moved us across the country insisted that they weren’t HAZMAT equipped and made me leave my “laboratory” behind).

I made the patch from a piece of “Frida” fabric. From the looks of these jeans I really need to get into the studio more! I am working on a commissioned portrait right now of a darling little girl and some nursery paintings but not much else.

During the intensely hot desert summer I don’t wear my “painting” jeans, so I have paint on just about every pair of shorts I own.

Filed Under: Life, Painting Tagged With: jeans, painting

Fabric shopping today…..

September 8, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 17 Comments

….and Sienna once again terrorized the entire store. I had five minutes where she made a fort in the cart and I covered her in fabric bolts….then that got old and she was across the store again yelling “WHUUUUHT MOMMY……I’M OOVVEER HERE” I just wish I could keep her away from the buttons and ric-rac…..I spend more time re-stocking than I do shopping!

Have you ever seen so many hideous fabrics in one place? They are for one of my new fall patterns. Ok, don’t get turned off yet. It is SO cute! The ladies at the cutting table were gagging over my fabric selections until they saw Sienna’s outfit and then they were drooling. I can’t wait to share it…..and do some giveaways!

Fabric shopping today via lilblueboo.com

My other purchase of the day…..seam rippers. I have never ripped apart so many seams in the matter of a few weeks. I’ve dulled TWO already! My hands are SO sore.

Fabric shopping today seam rippers via lilblueboo.com

One of my recycled T patterns is back from my awesome testers. My bloggy friend/tester Nicole (visit her blog full of creations here) had some great suggestions so I am going back to the drawing board for a bit to make sure it is perfect before I put it out there for you……as much as I would LOVE to release it this week. Believe me……after weeks and weeks I am starting to be OVER it

Filed Under: Sewing Tagged With: fabric, seam rippers, sewing, shopping

You is talking loco and I like it.

September 7, 2009 By Ashley Hackshaw 13 Comments

Can you guess the movie?

I was looking for some journal pages to share tonight and it hit me…..I’m kinda random. All over the place. Maybe it has to do with my ADHD. Oh, and Zoolander is the movie the quote was from. I’m wondering if a person can be so random that they become non-random? How does my OCD fit into that?

Anyways, below are a few pages I picked out and some quotes that were intermingled…..I wanted to share because so many people get hung up on journaling because they don’t want to “mess up” or they want to be consistent. Just decide that “anything goes”….and you won’t be paralyzed. Just say “I meant to do that.”

Ok, I’ll stop rambling….here are the pages:

I have a thing for Sylvia Plath…. maybe because my great-grandmother took her life the same way Plath did. I read and reread her unabridged journals when I can’t sleep. I created the page below around a random journal entry Plath wrote about being tall….I’m 5’11″ and I thought she described the “hip slouch” perfectly….I used to do that when I was younger…..before I appreciated my height.

You is talking loco and I like it via lilblueboo.com

“He was the type of fellow I can’t stand. I’m five foot ten in my stocking feet, and when I am with little men I stoop over a bit and slouch my hips, one up and one down, so that I’ll look shorter, and I feel gawky and morbid as somebody in a side show.” – Sylvia Plath in Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

The page below was just a paint palette I was trying to figure out. Why not put it in your journal, right?

“For years I struggled with who I wasn’t. But seeing and believing in who I truly am has given me an unstoppable faith and conviction in what I can do with my life.”

- Sabrina Ward Harrison

“If you are going to send your thoughts in an email again, please attach an Advil with it.”

-a managing director at my old investment banking job

For a while I was experimenting with mailing labels. I printed out a picture of Marilyn Monroe and stuck the labels onto some image transfers I botched (or as I have called them since Kindergarten art class: a “happy mistakes”). Any-hoo, I love how the labels break up the picture.

Memories from a Dolly Parton concert my sister and I went to. We had to drive through an ice storm to get there. I love Dolly. Ever use a bleach “stain” pen to write on a photo? Try it. That is how I drew the flowers and dots onto the photo pasted on the page…..

“How very.” -from the movie Heathers

“I’m fine. I just threw up in my mouth a bit.”

-from the movie Dodgeball (I have a thing for Ben Stiller movies)

I worked on this page on a flight back in my investment banking days. Great quote. I always use it when a friend is down on themselves for doing something stupid. Medium: crayons and Sharpie markers.

Lyrics from the song Burn it Blue, sung by Lila Downs in the movie Frida. The words are stamped onto a collage I made from rice paper and a skeleton photo. Don’t worry Mom, I’m in a good place!

I used to get my car serviced at this great auto shop in NC. The guys were so honest and could fix anything. They had these great big white birds. The photos were taken with my izone Polaroid camera and I borrowed the receptionist’s stapler to attach them to the page.

A flu diary (did you expect me to actually write more than this when I had the flu??)

You is talking loco and I like it 8 via lilblueboo.com

The page below is an excerpt from two pages I did after our friends’ wedding & rehearsal dinner. I didn’t want to post their personal information so I cropped most of it. I photocopied the two full pages and gave it to them a few years ago and now it hangs framed on their wall……so now it is a permanent plaque for everyone to see just how much I drank that night (no lectures please, I am aware that it was too much)

You is talking loco and I like it 9 via lilblueboo.com

So my journals are totally random, you never know what you’ll get from page to page. But it keeps it interesting right? And I feel no pressure to stick to a script…..have I scared anyone off yet?