New things!

I was pretty sure I'd never sew up another doll again, but my shop is almost empty and I had a friend request a ballerina-themed doll. I'm kind of excited to start working again with silly fabric and lace.

I'm also thinking of adding a couple shirts to the shop, so if you're a size 34 bust, keep an eye out for those. There are also some new small bags being made from the fabric I designed recently.

Annnnd, some photos I took while my family was in town.

It's been way too long...

So, I know...I've been really bad about posting. I haven't been sewing. I've been working way too much. I've also been trying to get out more and exercise more and turn my apartment into a workspace that inspires me to create more.

I also hated blogging because I had such a hard time getting good photos of my projects. But, I recently bought a great camera, so I'm back in business!

I don't have any new projects to show you but I would like to share some photos from a recent hike with my new camera. I hope to start posting more soon!!

Back by Popular Demand

The bearded boyfriend! Hooray! I got a message from a previous customer on Etsy who bought 3 bearded men last year and asked for another one. These guys are always fun to make and cause many giggles.

Also, I went with Jake and our dogs to the Oregon coast (Cannon Beach) for the day yesterday. I have honestly never seen anything quite like it. So much better than the beaches in California. It already has a special place in my heart.

(Note: my new phone takes kick-ass photos!)

Black and White Ikat with Pockets

I was inspired by this tunic on Burdastyle last fall and it's taken until now to finally have my own version. I found the perfect fabric for it this summer and was thinking about the pocket situation for a while - wondering which sort of pocket I prefer. I'm really happy with the result, but not sure how much I like the craziness of the fabric yet...we'll see.

I AM thrilled though about the pockets being red and INSIDE and in the side seams. Quite the accomplishment for me.

Right!?! Pockets for everything from now on!

Layered Lace Top

So here it is. My lace top. I'm happy with it, but I'll have to find out how it fits into my wardrobe. All I had were strips of scalloped edge lace that I overlapped and sewed together so the scallops create a layered look.

I love it with the cardigan.

It was a pain to hem around the arms and neck but worth it. This week was crazy. Expect more sewing next week and disregard my unmade bed in the background!!

Lacey

Inspired by Kendi Everyday's post with a lace top, I'm currently working on piecing together some old lace I got from my mom to make a sheer pull over top similar to Kendi's. We'll see what happens!

Exciting News!

Just a little recap of my OTHER creative exploits - I designed a graphic featured on Mashable.com. I'm getting some awesome traffic from that. I can't wait to get started on the next one.

AND I'm starting to do commission work with a surface design company (textiles, print, home decor). Very exciting for me since it's been a dream of mine since I discovered Anna Maria Horner's designs when I was still just doing web design in 2007. I'm beyond thrilled at the moment.

AND I might be starting some work on a French magazine cover. I'll keep you updated with that.

Things are lookin good! This year's been tough - especially with the recent move to Portland but I think I'm starting to see REALLY that things happen for a reason.

I'm also considering getting a tattoo. This seemed like the best way to break to my parents haha! I'll be waiting for your call, Mom (or Dad).

Story time

Still going through my stash of fabric. I rescued this awesome 80's pastel puke-fest fabric (keep in mind that I love it despite it's hideous qualities) from some pillow cases I found in Utah. Good old Utah. So great for finding ugly things old ladies gave away.

Observe, my shirt story through crappy laptop photos):

Application

Side detail - fave part is the curved hem. I'm getting better at hemming and caring about hemming.

close up of the nausea that is my shirt. <3 There are dots. within the dots.

Is that a pocket!?!!?! Yes it is, lady. It's a pocket.

Super love this shirt because I finally got the neckline and sleeves the way I want.

Also, I have a yard of this Anna Maria Horner fabric. Not enough for a full shirt but enough for pillowcases. Or a crop top. Please weigh in your opinions. I really want to wear this bright print but i realize not everything can be a wacky shirt. or can it?

Have a great weekend!!

Southwestern Sass

I had this southwestern fabric sitting in my stash for a while, just begging to be used for something cool. So it became a sassy little top for yours truly. Since it's so wacky I just went with a real simple square top, fitted at the hips.

I got the fabric in Utah at a thrift store. I had more than a yard so I think I salvaged it from a bed sheet or something. Not sure.

Either way, it's amazingly awesome.

And yes, there's my bed.

I'm back!!!

Here's my new sewing station! I ended up moving into an apartment sooner than I expected (last Friday) and finally got all my unpacking done. That means that the sewing begins NOW! My next project is going to be making reusable grocery bags out of a shower curtain I won't be needing (or using - I'm so over navy blue). We'll see how it goes...

So far, Portland has been great. Beautiful, even. Yesterday I played tennis in the most GORGEOUS park ever. I've already met some people I like and Jake and I have explored various neighborhoods. I think I'll be here a while :)

Let me mention though, that I (not thinking about it) put a picture of me with long hair on meetup.com on a tennis meetup group page and instantly got 3 men saying they would be more than happy to meet up and play tennis. And if you think I'm overreacting, I met up with one yesterday and he happened to be a lot older than me (his profile has no picture) and mentioned almost right away:

Oldster: You look different than your profile picture.


Me: Well, my hair is short.


Oldster: Yeah, I think that's the only thing.

You think?! UGH! I won't even go into how awkward the rest of the time was. So I came home and had some wine and changed my profile to "I'M NOT LOOKING FOR BOYFRIENDS AND NO I WON'T CHANGE MY MIND, TRUST ME. I JUST WANT TO PLAY TENNIS"

And immediately got a message from "heidi" who said "is all caps necessary? seems like you might be speaking directly to someone"

Only if that someone has a penis, heidi. Thanks for your input. I changed it to "Just looking for tennis partners - no dates :) Thanks!!" this morning anyway. I hope she sees that smiley face and knows that I'm being sarcastic in her direction.

Sorry about the rant. Had to do it.

On to sewing!

Sweetheart Heart Dress

I've been toiling away with this new project. Some hours at night, some hours in the morning. Here's my final product:

Which came from this. I chopped off the top and constructed a pretty weak sweetheart top with three darts for each boob, attached it to the skirt with piping in the middle, added elastic to the top of the back piece for extra grip (and to avoid a booby show), AND added a zipper. P.S. you can't tell but the top is navy blue with white hearts on it :)

THE most complicated thing I've made so far....and all without a pattern. My 4th design. Not bad for a prototype. But of course, if you know me at all, I didn't really do the hem very well...which makes me a terrible seamstress.

Oh well. Expect more new things next week. Have a great weekend!

(here's a picture my dad took and sent to me today. I love it!)

The "Grand" Finale

Get it? Because the end of our trip was an adventure at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I still can't fathom just how massive the Canyon is. And for someone with a fear of heights, it was definitely hard to walk out even on the ledges with railings. I think I ran away from the edge twice when the wind picked up. But, aside from being a weenie, I loved it.

Greatest anniversary present :) Thanks, Jake. Love you!

Print & Pattern Feature!

So apparently I was featured on Print & Pattern last week and had no idea until a reader of the blog emailed me about it.

I read the email at midnight and checked Print & Pattern and flipped out! I'm so excited! This means a lot to me since I was unsure of my patterns and if anyone else liked them and all that. So expect some more pattern work!

Don't forget to read up on Healing Hearts, too :)

Also! I forgot to mention, I'll be out next week as my husband and I are going on a week-long vacation with my family to celebrate our anniversary. I set up email posting though so at the very least you'll have a few snapshots of our activities.

Have a great weekend!

Elloh Handmade x The Heart Touch Project

I worked with The Heart Touch Project last year while I still lived in California. I worked with the founder Shawnee Smith as a freelance designer doing some pro-bono work. I really liked Shawnee and the other volunteers that I met and was moved by their motivation.

From their site:
The Heart Touch Project is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to the training and delivery of compassionate and healing touch to homebound or hospitalized, men, women and children.


I was especially moved by this because I remember when both of my parents did hospice work - they worked on call and long hours all of the time giving their care to other people and I always thought it was very noble. I still do. So for me to work with Shawnee again and in this way - through my creations that I put a lot of love into to give to people who can then love my creations - is really exciting for me.


So, I'd like to introduce you to Healing Hearts plush toys.

I have so many scraps from sewing my plush toys that I can't use them right away. I also don't want to let them go because I feel like they can still serve a purpose. So I decided to use them to make dolls to sell in my Etsy store and then donate the profits to The Heart Touch Project since I've already worked with them and I feel more personally invested than with any other non-profit organization.


The dolls even have a special Elloh x Heart Touch tag.

I'm really glad to be giving back. So go ahead, take a look at Heart Touch and all of the good they do. And then if you want, donate. And not through me...feel free to do it on their site. 


Caring and healing touch is such an important thing - vital to human beings. I'd just like to support them in their work. 

Totally Totes Tote

Looking for my giveaway?? Here it is.

My latest project was a tote bag. I used a fat quarter of the geometric fabric I designed and made a pattern for a bag with two pockets inside. This is probably the most well-made item I've made to date. I took a lot of extra care with it and was thrilled that it came out so clean and nice.

I'm excited to get my fabric designs out into the internet world and see what people think.

Also, I wanted to share with you the outfit I made up yesterday. I loved Kristen Wiig's pairing of a blazer with a dress in Bridesmaids and I've read a few blogs that noted it as well. I'm pretty new to accessorizing and dressing up and making an effort so I'm still really amped when I come up with something I think goes really well together but wouldn't be my first choice. AND since I work at home and don't see anyone, I must share.

Necklace: Forever 21
Jacket: Thrifted (Ann Taylor)
Dress: Ross
Shoes: Payless

AND I thought I'd show the true functionality of this outfit by posting a picture of how good it looks even when I'm fixing my hair.

May Giveaway Day!

It's finally May Giveaway Day!
I worked long and hard on my giveaway prize. I tried some new techniques and I used two fabric combinations that I'd been saving in my back pocket for a while.

An elephant! With a trunk and ears and blue flowers all over it. She's about a foot tall and VERY soft and plushy. I loved the gray plaid with the yellow floral print the second I saw it together in the discount bin at my local fabric store. When I thought of the elephant, I knew it would be perfect.

I wanted to create an animal with a sectioned body to give it more personality. For reference, I turned to the only stuffed animal I own that I didn't create - Patches, a silly bear I've had since I was a baby. He looks pretty worn now but I remember when he was brand new. His nose has had to be stitched on again and my mom likes to tell the story of when I took him in the bath with me. Patches has been very well-loved. The stuffing has settled and uneven in some places and he's more like a pillow now than a doll and I love that about him.

So this elephant is brand new, created just for a lucky winner - but it's also very well-loved. She can sit up on her own but has floppy ears and arms/legs. She goes perfectly on a shelf but also fits nicely in the crook of a tiny little arm. As soon as I finished her, she felt like an old friend. Instead of passing along to you a friend to break in, I thought I'd share one that felt like it had experience being a special companion.

All you have to do is comment below between today, May 23rd, and Wednesday, May 25th, telling me what you would name your new old friend. Please leave me an email address or a way to contact you if you win in your comment! The winner will be picked randomly and announced on May 26th. I will ship to international participants as well.

The giveaway ends on May 25th.

I can't wait to see what names you all come up with!

New STUFF!!!

(Looking for my giveaway? Here it is.)

I'm not much of a runner or exerciser at all. I like to get my exercise by doing things I already like to do rather than putting myself on a schedule.

With that said, I'd like to relate my little experience this morning. Today was a self-proclaimed vacation day. I woke up, read, bugged my husband to wake up, woke up the dog to bug my husband to wake up, and decided I'd go for a jog with my little friend.

I put on my shiny new Puma shoes that I inherited from my sister-in-law due to some sizing misunderstandings, put on my little black workout top with a built-in bra, and some black shorts. I stood in the mirror and was already jazzed about how fit I was. I looked at myself, posed a few poses, and decided I'd make running an every day thing for sure; It already felt so good.

Finally, I'm outside with my dog, quickly running behind his little Chihuahua butt that can run at speeds I wasn't anticipating. About 2 minutes later, I'm running through the baseball field behind our house thinking to myself "This little SOB can run. Forever. WHY?!"

After about 20 minutes of recovery with a glass of water on the floor of our living room, I was decidedly against fitness, sweat, and feeling like my head is going to implode and that the lights may be dimming - are they even turned on? Where am I?

So there you have it. I'm Lorena, I'm 24, and I am not going to try to pretend that I'm some sort of crazy exercise person EVER again.

There's some new stuff in my shop! A cowboy bear with a vest and leather details, a silly floppy-eared bunny (fabric I designed on the ears), and...could it be?! Yes, the boyfriend with a removable beard is BACK! And I'm very excited.

I also got some more proofs of my designs from Spoonflower! Very happy with these - expect to see some fabric in my shop soon! Well..like in a month because it takes forever to get it.

Also, did any of you watch the Office, episode 23 recently? Did you see Erin's AWESOME shirt? If not, here it is:

Is there anywhere I can buy this? No, is there any way I can make this? I'm going to ponder the last question and get back to you. Any ideas? Seems simple enough - like you could just sew a little piece of fabric there to hold the top down and the bottom up. But it does look like it goes through the front of the shirt..hmmm

I love Erin and Angela's style on that show. They're always wearing something really feminine and making great color combos.

Lotso Triangles

Finally finished my table runner! Yes, it took a lot of time and yes, it was also sort of a pain in the butt. But (hah) I love it.

I also forgot to blog about the gem you see below. My dad has always been a carpenter but these past couple years he has been making small structures. He brought the cottage below for me a couple weeks ago. I have a deep, deep love for miniatures and dollhouses. Every time I peek into this little cottage I get an immediate feeling of curiosity and almost feel like I'm looking into another world. I love the rustic feel of his creations and I keep thinking I should fill it with stuff but I really like it the way it is.

My Dad doesn't do much promotion for himself online so I had to take the opportunity to show you all.

High Seas

I know I don't often post other people's work. I feel like there are a ton of blogs that already do that and we probably already read the same ones. But, I think I could make an exception for someone's work that really made a difference to me for whatever reason.

Cartoon Monster creates kinetic wood sculptures that involve boats and the ocean. Some pieces are really tiny and some are huge. I can't really explain to you how these sculptures moved me. I saw a video of one of them in action and I could not help but get a little teary-eyed. Maybe wooden toys remind me of being at home with my family, or maybe it's the lighting in the photos, or maybe (now I'm probably going to read too much into it) I feel like the boat - just tiny and sometimes really alone but still moving quietly along on the big ocean. There's something about how the little fragile boat just keeps sailing.

Either way, I love these. Especially this one. It's almost like the fantastic things a child can dream - sailing your boat through the stars.