I found the flamingo fabric on Etsy. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to find something to go with the flamingo theme that wasn't too girly looking. I was happy to find that fabric. It was just the right size too. I was able to squeeze out the pair of shorts and the strips that I needed for the skirt. The skirt was fun to make. I tried two new methods for the gathers. One on the tiers, I tried using clear elastic to do the gathering and on the other tier I used the tension method on the sewing machine. I thought both methods worked well but I absolutely LOVE the clear elastic method. It works like a dream and no pulling bobbin threads anymore!!!! I was able to order like 20 yards of clear elastic on Etsy for about $3.
It sounds like you are going to be keeping busy with your sewing this summer. What plans do you have for the jeans you are going to embellish? More horses? Or is there another theme this time? I did a cute set of horse themed jeans and tops for my girls a few years ago. However, those were some of the last things that I made them before they decided they didn't like my sewing anymore.
My girls liked everything that I made until they were almost 9 and 10. Then they suddenly hated my sewing. They are just starting to say that they want me to make them pajamas and a few other things. I recently found a really cute tank dress pattern that you make with old t-shirts. I am thinking of trying that with some of their old shirts but my girls have not committed to it yet. I also bought some fabric to make them each a dress at the Joanns sale on Memorial Day. I am not sure what pattern I am going to use. Did you ever make the Lucy dress pattern? I looked at that one but I thought it was cut too low in both the front and the back for my girls. I like that style though.
They do like when I make them bags. I made each of them a Patricia tunic and matching Rosetta tote bag for Chanukah. They loved them. I also made them a zippered pouch with one of those in the hoop designs. I would like to get around to making each of them one of those two zip hipsters because they really liked the ones that I made and donated to the synagogue for their silent auction.
Oh my, this was a long post. Sorry! I didn't realize that I had so much to say this morning!!!! Today is the last day of school for my kids. We were supposed to go to the pool this afternoon but it is a yucky, rainy day. I guess I'll be finding something else to entertain them.
Your post was only long b/c I asked a lot of questions!
How do you gather with clear elastic? Is it similar to what you do for shirring? My favorite is zig zagging over dental floss, but I'm always looking for any methods that are easy.
I don't know what I will do with the jeans. My dd is into almost any kind of animal. She loves cats and dogs just as much as horses. I also have a paisley fill design that I think is really neat looking and thought that would be fun on jeans. I also though doing circles in various sizes would look neat and I have Heather's circle set which I bought to do just that -- never mind I bought it about a year ago and haven't gotten around to it yet!
I guess I should consider myself lucky -- dd is 8.5 and still loves t-shirts and skirt sets. She's not as much into dresses but for some reason she really likes most all of the skirts I do for her. She loves the attention of people complimenting her outfits.
I love the look of the Lucy pattern and contemplated getting it for myself, but the low cut back is what is turning me off. I have to wear a bra -- my coconuts are droopy
I am dying for someone to make it though so I can figure out if it's feasible to alter it to accommodate a bra.
I'm glad your dd's at least like bags and purses so you can make something for them. PJs are fun and easy too. And the t-shirt dress sounds neat -- I might be interested in seeing that pattern! I was just pulling down some of dd's old t-shirts and want to repurpose them but am not sure how. Most have spots on them so aren't fit for resale, but I could cut around the spots. I may try a patchwork skirt or something. Most are horse designs from gymboree and the like. Some are a little babyish but some are OK.
We're having rain here too today -- it must be up and down the coast.
Just wanted to add that my 9 year old still loves customs and my 14 year old just asked me to make her a skirt for every day of the year! 
(love my girls!)
I hope Arminda has a big closet to hold all those skirts! I also hope Alexa follows in her footsteps -- so far, so good! Every time she sees fabric she likes she tells me to make her something with it!
That's great! My girls have definitely been in a long period where they need to look like everybody else and wear what everybody else is wearing. I can't wait for this to end!
I thankfully don't have that problem but on rare occasion where dd will a certain style of shoes -- like she had to have a pair of Twinkle Toes a couple of years ago. Yesterday she went to school in a tank top, short shorts -- way too short to meet dress code -- and Ugg boots that I just got her on clearance. She wanted to wear her high heeled white sandals she had for the piano recital but I put a stop to those.
It has been so long since I have been here I almost feel like I should introduce myself all over again! LOL!!
I am seriously hoping for things to slow down a tiny bit so I can get back to sewing and still have time to get on the DIS... especially now that both my computer and the DIS seem to have their bugs worked out at the SAME time!
Later today I might try and go back to read...but seeing as it is now over 100 pages that I am behind I am not so sure I will have the time...
We now have confirmed free dining dates for the week after Thanksgiving. So I have to get my rear in gear to make 80+ shirts for the trip. My grand Princess has put in a custom order for one dress, and her mommy is thinking of a completely different dress.
...of course the beach trip in only 10 days has got me a little behind since I have almost zero planning done for that!
I think I need a life secretary. Someone to follow around behind me taking notes and writing down some seemingly random thoughts that I come up with for my blog (but keep forgetting them before I actually type them out!); doing the paperwork for the launches; keeping my schedule straight... and reminding me when I am supposed to be somewhere!
See ya'll later!
Nini
Hi Nini!!! You have tons of time to get those shirts done
Hope all is going well.
I need one of those too 
the prices 
!
I only use the website if I have a specific thing in mind for what fabric I'd like to use. It's great quality. Plus you're supporting a design student. 
I also saw a Fabenmix pattern for a similar dress and found an on line tut and think I can do it without a pattern. My only problem now is I don't have any extra money for knits 
