Weekly topics for my blog

I have been giving some thought to trying to tackle topics in my blog post. So, I am going to make that my goal for this year. Each month I will try to do at least one post with a topic - something related to my business. It might be about embroidery, sewing, running your own business, or children's clothing. I will also still have examples of my work in each blog post so you will probably have to scroll down to see those items. Today I am going to tackle FABRIC!!!!!!!!! I'm choosing fabric because I lately I have been thinking I am addicted to fabric. I mean, I guess that is why I started this business right? My husband told me if I wanted to keep making clothes for my daughter I was going to need to sell some things too. I really have a weakness for fabrics, please feel feel to leave me a comment and let me know what type of fabrics you like. I tend to purchase things that catch my eye like this:

and thisor thisor this or this

or this

I never know what it is going to be that gives me that "I have to have it" feeling. I love both traditional toiles and mod geometric prints. I love whimsical children's prints, simple polka dots, madras plaids and classic seersucker. These days I tend to buy the funky fabrics that I feel are cuter for older children, mainly because I am always thinking about what to make my sweet 7 year old. Some of my favorite fabric stores? Here is a list:

• Etsy.com - search under "supplies".You can find Robert Kauffman, Michael Miller, Amy Butler and other designer fabrics at great prices.
• Fabric.com
• Hawthorne Threads

I have also been hearing for a while now about the rising prices of cotton, some say between 10-20%. I am not sure yet when or how much this will affect Lucy's Closet. I am watching closely the prices of fabrics and I do know that the prices of my premium burp cloths might be going up. At this time, I am not adjusting prices but I can't rule out that possibility if I start to get hit with super high fabric prices. Let's hope not!

and here are a few creations from Lucy's Closet....

I do still have a few size 4 red play dresses left ($23). A-line dresses - $30-$35. Jon Jons - $35. T-shirts - $20. Set of 2 Burp Cloths - $15.

On a more personal note...my dear friends H & JY are about to welcome their new baby M! I am so excited for them and can't wait to meet him! Here are a few personalized things they received from me at their baby shower.... I know this is quite a mix but I tried to do something my friend and her husband would like.

Etsy Shop is turned back on!

I took down my etsy shop over the holidays because I had so many orders and had to set realistic ship times. I have now turned it back on and have some items in my shop. I do not even list 1/3 of my items on there. I do love etsy and might think about revamping my shop a bit this year. That being said, if you want to purchase something, you can buy it if it is listed in the etsy shop or you can email me and I can invoice you through paypal. Most customers like to email me, especially if they want to tweak a dress a bit (like change a font or a color). Either way is fine! My turn around time right now is 2 to 2 1/2 weeks.

A few new things:

Someone brought me the navy dress below and I embroidered it and added the rick rack so it would coordinate with the pink dress. The pink dress is a Lucy's Closet original.

Lucy's Closet DID NOT make this green dress but it is really cute!!! I did cover the old monogram with the patch and new monogram. This dress was too precious to not be worn by this customer's second child! Congrats to R. on your new baby girl!

Here are a few fabrics I just couldn't resist! I thought they might make cute a-lines for spring and I am a sucker for Michael Miller fabrics. Email me if you are interested in any of these. These are my red play dresses. I no longer sell these dresses but I still have a few left for sale in size 4 and 6 for $23 (regularly $28) and this includes personalization.

A few T-shirts ($20):

January is always a big month for birthday clothing and baby gifts. Lots and Lots of baby gifts!!! 2 bibs - $15, Bib and Burp Cloth Set - $15, Bib and Bloomers - $15, 2 Burp Cloths - $15

Also, what do you think of the new blog look?

On a more personal note, Images by Susie Lynn, who took the great photos at the very top of my blog, has now taken some of my family. You can read all about it here...I highly recommend her to anyone of my local customers looking for a photographer. She is truly gifted!

My Lucy turns 7!!

Hard to believe that my baby turns 7 today! I am quite proud of the happy, funny, inquisitive, outgoing and smart young lady she has turned out to be. Who knew that she would people such a people person when she was scared of the whole male race as a toddler! She is the reason I started Lucy's Closet. I am happy to say that she still begs me to make her clothes, even at 7, and I am hoping that it will continue for as long as possible. Happy Birthday my sweet Lucy!

Happy New Year!

Lucy's Closet is back from vacation and excited for what 2011 might bring. I have rearranged my office, organized it and sort of decorated it. Here are some before and after pictures. I mentioned a few posts back that I applied for an HGTV show but I am not holding my breath and thought I would take things into my own hands. So after convincing my husband to clean out the attic, move things from my office (a bed) to the attic and hang all my threads on the wall, purchasing new shelving and baskets (so expensive!), I am finally feeling like my workspace is better than what it was 2 weeks ago when I thought the walls were closing in on me. It has been a wonderful 2 weeks spent with my family and I am very sad and not quite ready to have the kids going back to school.

BEFORE AFTER
Wall Mounted Thread Racks!!!

Velcro Table Skirts with free fabric!!! Thanks to my friend Kim!

More Shelving. I am very excited about this. Thanks Target. I would like more black bins but they are super expensive!!!!!

Fabrics organized by color and space for more fabrics to come!

SPACE!!!!

Try to ignore the hot mess in the corner. That is my husband's home office and it will hopefully be relocating to another part of our house in the near future. This room also needs to be painted but if I eventually swap my office with my daughter's room, this color will be perfect for her pink and green color scheme. I also want to thank my friend Kim for giving me all the fabric (her old curtains and pillow cases) that I turned into table skirts to hide a lot of my stuff under the tables. Nothing better than repurposing something that was free! I even had enough fabric to make my daughter a pillow and blanket for her baby.

SALE - I also mentioned a few posts back that I was thinking of a sale for January 2010. Well, I have taken inventory and I am going to do a sale on playdresses for now. I might do a t-shirt sale in the near future as well. The sale prices will only apply to these items listed here. If you email me about an item and it has already sold, I will let you know. At this time, I will not be selling anymore of the playdresses so once they sell, I will not be ordering anymore. The company I get them from has become too unreliable.

**Playdresses (with applique or monogram) - $23 (normally $28)

Red Size 4 -6 of them

Red Size 6 - 5 of them

and finally,

Here are a couple things I worked on for my twin neices over my vacation.

And these A-line dresses were from before Christmas break.

Navy Cotton with Garton font and white rick rack - $30 per dress

Please email me with any questions about the sale.