dana lee designs

Fabric that's yummy enough to eat

I don't know why, but I get extremely giddy with a new stack of fabric.  I like to arrange it in different ways - by designer, buy color, etc.  I like to feel it, lay it all out and imagine what it could be.

Yes, I admit, I sometimes buy fabric with no idea what I will do with it, but I must have it for it's pure beauty.  I think what amazes me most is thinking about the designer, the artist, who sits with their sketchbook and with some inspiration and the creative juices flowing creates shapes and patterns and color combinations so beautiful and inspiring.

It starts with the idea, and through all the stages the artist goes through to have that image replicated on a piece of fabric - something tactile that is meant to be touched and held or worn against your skin is simply amazing.  You can't do that in an art gallery.

Guess what I'm sewing...

 

 

 

 Yep.  Aprons.  Ten of them.  They were so fun to work on!  The cutest girl's theme party place called Girlfriends & Giggles ordered them for a little girl's birthday party and plans to use them for future parties.  They're all reversible and just slightly different using four coordinating fabrics and various ribbons, trim and ric rac.  I'm loving the citrus-y color combo, too.  Makes me want some lemonade!

Pretty Paper Pouch

If you have school-age kids, then you know how quickly a harmless stack of papers can turn into a gigantic heaping mountain of a mess.  It multiplies exponentially and pretty soon it takes over a basket, then a table (or in our case - a storage trunk) and then the entire room!  Help!  Well, I decided that it would help if they were at least filed vertically in one spot instead of strewn across every horizontal surface they could find.  So I set out in search of an office supply type of wall mounted mail/file organizer.  No such luck.  I found those ugly plastic things, none of which I wanted to hang in my kitchen.  Then I thought baskets might work, but it wouldn't be easy to find the right size, shape and color.  Plus, nice baskets can be expensive.  It finally dawned on me that I should just sew something using some of my favorite fabric.   I just dove right in trying to beat the clock before the paper pilers got home from school.

I ended up with this fabric wall pouch hung at kid height with enough room for a hefty stack of papers and a couple of library books.  I really like the way it looks.  I just hope it does it's job - and no more lost papers that are "supposed to be signed and turned in today!"

 

Sewing clothes

Lately I want to sew more clothes.  Some recent projects: ruffly girly lounge pants

a simple summer tank

little girl's tank shirt/dress inspired by this Mini Boden one

and next in line:

one more summer top to be made with gorgeous Amy Butler fabric before I catch the bug for fall fashions.   

My Favorite Fabric Shop

Quiltology in Chicago is my favorite quilt fabric shop.  If only it were closer to home.  I wish I would have taken pictures.  I was just too excited.  It's a quaint little urban shop.  Hip, fresh, inspirational, modern fabric.  Makes you feel like you've found a hidden gem.  This photo is from the website:

I had no idea what I was going to make, I just new I had to have some of it.  So here's what I came home with:

Now begins the vicious cycle of washing, ironing, spreading them out, abandoning the pile because I can't decide what to make, another quick stop at a fabric store, just a few more to add to my collection, and here we go again.

Summer Sewing

Just finished this little number.  I'm sure it won't be the last one either.  I used the Cute Skirts pattern by Favorite Things.  It was super simple, except that I made it more work for myself since I didn't have enough of one fabric.  I just split the panels into 2 parts and used 2 of Heather Bailey's  gorgeous fabrics.

   

And here's some more Heather Bailey "Freshcut" goodies just calling out to me.  Hmmm...what to make next.  Pillowcases?  More headbands for the shop?  Another skirt?

 

Welcome!

This is a child's apron I just finished for a sweet little girl's 3rd birthday.  It's reversible with pockets for keeping her spatula and spoons at hand.  I love mixing and matching cute retro patterns.