flyTie Clothing for Babies!

I mentioned in my last post that something special would be coming soon to the Etsy shop.

What might that be???

Yes, y'all.  Dresses for baby!  

Today is my baby girl's first birthday, and we're rolling out the first ever flyTie clothing garments for the little ones.

The material used for these dresses is the same as what's used for the customizable tunics for women.  Light, airy, cool, and comfortable.

And, in honor of her name--which means "of the leopards"--I'll soon be offering this style (or a similar style)  in this print:

There'll only be a few available, since the fabric is limited, but I look forward to making her one and some for a few other people as well.

Stay tuned...

https://www.etsy.com/shop/flyTieClothing

Tropical Tunic Collection

Admittedly, it hasn't been easy--or maybe the better word is convenient-- to pursue design/sewing activities in the last year given all that comes with having a baby as well as living in a space that doesn't necessarily lend itself to doing much of anything other than relaxing, playing, and preparing/eating good food. 

 

Last month though, I was inspired by some of the beautiful views that we witness on a day-to-day basis living right on the ocean on the west side of this island.

 

An excerpt from the garment listing gives a description:

 

 

Each day the ocean outside my door boasts a range of emotions and shades of blue. The western sky, too, is varied in hue each evening as the sun goes down. Blowing down from the mountains on one

side and in from the ocean on the other, the wind fills my space with feelings of peace, cool vibrations, and uplifting energies. It is all of these elements inherent to the natural landscape of

Hawai'i that inspire this tropical tunic collection.

Yellow

 Aqua

 

 Coral

This style of tunic goes way back in my design career.  I was first inspired to make these several years ago after seeing the attire of a group of Indian women having lunch at a restaurant.  The flowing fabrics of their tunics and saris as well as the cut of Indian-style garments in general have always appealed to me, and eventually those characteristics made it into my own design techniques.

 

The Tropical Tunics are available for custom order in sizes small-xlarge.  They come in three lengths and a few different colors.  The coral material  is currently out of stock, but yellow, aqua, and white are all available.

 

 

 

 

More information and ordering details can be found on Etsy via this link:

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/239204521/flytie-clothing-square-neck-tropical?ref=shop_home_active_1

I've got something even more special coming up.  It's certainly new to the collection and definitely brings a new energy.

 

Photos soon!...

 

Restart + Clearance

Lately I've been really wanting to get back into making tunics --ones like those shared on Facebook the other day here and here.  That was one item I always enjoyed making back in the day, and they always had a great reception among flyTie Clothing supporters.

Right now I'm contemplating fabrics and colors to use, and so far I'm thinking of using a cotton voile material--mainly because I have some on hand. I like the feel of it and how lightweight it is, plus I've come across some nice colors that they'd look great in.  Tropical colors, which is just how I'm feeling these days.  

In addition to that, I'm working on rephotographing some of the garments that are currently on clearance in the Etsy shop.  

Green Batik Floral Sundress, Large--$38.60

This dress is a sample piece remaining from a Spring/Summer 2014 collection.  You can find it as well as all other clearance items at  flytie.etsy.com.

Have a great week!
~

New Domain

I recently changed the domain associated with this blog from flytieclothing.com to flytieonline.com.  I'll be using flytieclothing.com for another site that I'm working on specifically dedicated to my past and present (if any ever comes anytime soon) design work. 

Please make a note of it.

My intention is to start back blogging here pretty regularly.  The topics won't necessarily only be focused on clothing design and the like, though.  I hope to also share some of my experiences here in Hawaii as well as showcase some of my favorite work by designers/stylists of all sorts.

So, please be sure to add this new domain to your bookmarks!

flytieonline.com

Animal Spots

The other day on my Facebook page I shared a post about my efforts to learn--or re-learn--the difference in various animal prints--particularly large cats with spots.  Since we chose a name for Baby that means "Like a leopard", I figured I should really know the difference between the various prints.  Although I wasn't necessarily a fan of animal prints in the past, it turned out to be inevitable that my leopard-named child would end up with some pieces  adorned with the animal's spots.

Admittedly I'd typically just do a quick internet search in order to satisfy my query on the subject.  However, in this case it was one of Baby's books about big cats that filled me in on what I wanted to know.  While I'm sure I must have learned this information at some point in school, the book---even in it's inherent simplicity--gave me a thorough understanding of the difference in appearance of various big, wild cats.  Most notable of them are the leopard, the cheetah, and the jaguar.

Here's a quick break down to assist with distinguishing which print is which, particularly when it comes to clothing and accessories.

Leopard

Leopard spots are two toned, with the overall coat color being a shade lighter than the color of the inside of the spots. 

Prints such as this can be found in a range of colors.

Now, this is also considered leopard even though the background color is the same as the color inside the spots.

Not a true representation of the print, but as a stylized design, it works. I'd be more inclined to choose this print than the one above it.  

Cheetah

The spots of a cheetah are simple.  They're probably more in line with what people think of when they think of spots.

If you do a search for cheetah spots, though, you'd probably come up with a whole page of results that look like the leopard print images shared above.  

Jaguar

I'm not sure that I've seen jaguar a whole lot or at all on fabric, but it's similar to leopard, except there are small dots inside the larger spots.

Unlike with leopard or even cheetah print, I wasn't able to find examples of this print in various colors.  It seems that designers of cat spot fabrics and graphic designers aren't too much into the jaguar look.



I've only got one leopard print garment, a dress I made when I was about 5 months pregnant...

While little Ms. Leopard Girl--who's now 8 months old--has a few, including these two hats.

I'm sure having such pieces in her wardrobe will be a constant, at least while she's young.

:-)

It's Not Over

Hopefully I'll be back to my regular sewing in the next few weeks!  Last week I got some new fabric in the mail, and I'm currently online shopping for more.

My most recent sewing project was some legwarmers for Baby.

Organic Cotton and Hemp Jersey Knit Legwarmers

It's been pretty cool out here (I'd like to say cold, but something about it being Hawaii won't quite let me), and unlike pants, these make our early potty training process easier when she needs something warm on those legs.  I intend for these to last 2-3 years.

I had some help making them.

:)

She was about to have a fit of excitement from seeing the machine go.  Hopefully she'll be just as enthused when I teach her the skill in years to come!

New Blog!

For months now I'd been considering creating a blog where I discuss my experiences with mothering just so that I can assist and share with others who may be new parents.  Of course, seeing as how this is my first child, I can only share what I'm learning as the process progresses.

 

My way of doing things is sorta of rustic and definitely as natural as possible.  When I search for information online it's always nice to find a blog post or article written by someone who's also coming from that perspective. I mean, it'd not a necessity, but it is nice.

 

The title of the blog is MamaAmma.com: Natural Baby Care and More.  I came up with the name based on the fact that my partner calls me Amma (as well as most people who know me in Hawaii), which means "born on Saturday" among the Akan people of Ghana.  Also, one of baby's middle names is "Ma'ama'ama" which is a Hawaiian word meaning to care for, nurture, tend to, etc.  So, MamaAmma--although unintentionally--is also sort of a play on that name.

 

Anywho, you can check it out at:

 

http://www.mamaamma.com/

 

In the first post I talk about my experience being pregnant. Later today I'll be updating with some info on the noni fruit and juice, which I drank plenty of while pregnant. 

 

I'll be updating there more regularly since, at this time, tending to her is more relevant.  If you feel inspired to do so, enter your email address on the right side of the blog in order to receive email updates. 

 

Hope you join me!

Have a great week.

~

 

P.s...I'll still update here as well to share whatever may be going on in the design department.

This & That

Lately I've been contemplating a new collection for the spring. I don't know all the details just yet, but it's slowing coming together in my mind.  Dresses.  Long dresses.

 

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Baby turned 4 months yesterday, November 29th!  We had a pretty chill day.  She slept most of it away.

 

 

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Here's a photo collage from my b-day earlier this month on the 20th.  Good times.

 

Have a lovely Sunday.

 

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It's almost hard to believe that December is here. Another year gone by.

 

Have a great Sunday.

~

More Life

Another birthday has come around.  This time it's the 32nd one.  I feel great. :-)

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Earlier this week I finished an outfit created by turning one of my favorite dresses into a two-piece.

I used some of those hemp and organic cotton pieces mentioned in my last post, which matched the print fabric perfectly.   There's also a couple of pieces of dark denim in there--just some scraps left over from another project.

I got the printed dress a few years ago on clearance for $1.99 (!!!) at Macy's.  I really liked it because of the pockets and the length. After giving birth, I realized it was also great due to the front zipper, which made nursing easy.   Now, I started out only intending to repair the dress, since the zipper had broken.  In the process of removing said zipper, I ripped the dress. (Yeah.  Sometime removing a zipper without a seam ripper works.  Sometimes, not so much. :-/)  So, from then on it was all about creating something new.  There's no longer a zipper in the front, but I'm fine with that.  It's still pretty functional for what I need.

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I think today will be a beach day! :)

Have a wonderful Thursday.~

In the Making

I've really been off my sewing/design flow for the past few months but am making small efforts to get back on track.  I have to admit that hasn't been the easiest thing to do.  That's not just because of baby, but also because I don't seem to feel the same strong urgency to do it the way I once did.  

Seasons change.

But the other day I finished up a skirt that's made from a dress purchased from the local thrift store.  I'd planned to wear it as a dress, but it turned out to be too small.

I used the bottom to create a simple flared skirt with an elastic waistband.  The fabric is transparent chiffon, and the dress was lined with a green polyester material.  Rather than use that, I lined the skirt with a piece of cotton that I hand-dyed with turmeric last spring.  

I did use a piece of the green lining to make the waistband, though.

I really like how easy it is to wear.

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Last week I ordered a bag full of hemp and organic cotton jersey knit fabric scraps that I'll be using to make baby items.

And even though I'm struggling to get back into the groove of making garments in general, I do intend too if only on a small level.  These fabric pieces motivate me to put forth energy.  

Many times Ive contemplated making a collection of garments that use hemp and organic cotton.  This is the most of these types of materials that I've ever owned.  It could be the start of something nice.  And environmental. :-)

Have a great weekend.

~

 

Cozy Legs and Birthday Sale

Although it's generally hot (and humid) where we are on the island of O'ahu, things can get chilly when the ocean/beach is literally your backyard.  The breeze that comes through the house is pretty amazing.  I really like fresh, cool air over central air--which this place doesn't have anyway--and having the windows and back door open with ceiling fans on provides just what we need.

There are times, though, when I notice baby's legs are cool to the touch, and now that I'm practicing Elimination Communication with her (which is going surprisingly well, by the way), I prefer not to have pants on her around the house just so we can get "in position" when the need arises. ;)

The other day I started working on some leg warmers for her.  I finished them up today.

The gray jersey knit material was left over from a customized tunic I made last spring, and I've got plenty of Kente scraps lying around.  I'm pleased with the warmers overall, although they are a bit loose at the bottom and end up covering her feet with all the moving she does.  I'll be sure to make the next pair just a little bit more snug. 

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It's November!  This means that I'll be celebrating another year of life in a couple of weeks.  

In honor of this (and also because I need stuff to GO!) I'm having a 20% off sale in the shop!  Just enter code NOV20 at checkout.

I'm also offering free shipping on all US orders.

Shop online at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/sewfly?ref=hdr

~

Baby Functions, Pineapple, and Fatoumata Diawara

Ok. This is completely off the subject of clothing or any of the other stuff that I've previously talked about in my posts.  It does relate to baby though, so I guess it's not totally off the subject. 

Three or four years ago I saw a film in which I witnessed a woman in Namibia, Africa sitting a young baby over her leg to relieve himself.  the child was free of any sort of diaper. She just knew he had to "go", she positioned him correctly, and he "went". This wasn't the focus of the film, but that small scene caught my attention and had me like, "Wait...this is what's happening in terms of tending to baby's elimination needs in other parts of the world? And at such a young age??? When/if I have a child someday, I'm doing that!"

Fast forward to me having a baby (who'll be 3 months old tomorrow--Wednesday--by the way). 

Now, I'm cloth diapering her but must have put that whole no diaper use thing to the back of my mind, or I must've taken it for granted or something because the other day when I discovered that there's a movement called Elimination Communication, I was hit like, "Wait! I said I was gonna do this a long time ago!"

So, it began. :-D  I have had some success with the process so far and intend to have this child "going potty" by the age of one. Ok, at least by age two.

This is sooooooo up my alley, and I'm determined that we'll get it.

(I should add that there certainly won't be any pressure on baby or myself to do this.  It's not that big of a deal. Just something I'm fascinated by and want to try. I'm reading a lot of info on the subject as well as watching videos.)

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One another note, sometime last spring we planted a small pineapple top.  Here it is today!

It's even bigger than it appears here. 

I look forward to the fruit coming up.

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Today on Facebook I posted about Fatoumata Diawara and this dress from her video Bissa.  I intend to make me one like it. 

 Lovely dress and us pictured together at the International Festival of Lafayette, LA in 2013.

There's something about Malian music that I love, and this woman is phenomenal.

Hopefully I can soon find the right material for the dress...

~

Bird's Eye View

Seems like these days are moving so very quickly, but I'm loving every moment of it all.

Yesterday I worked at figuring out where I'll set up my sewing machine in our new home.

This seems like the ideal spot to me. :-D

I'm not sure how practical it is, though.  The wind would have fabric all over the place.  The height is a problem too, but I've already thought of a way to fix that.  This probably won't be my permanent sewing spot, but hopefully I can make it work some of the tine.

Here's our little dove friend who not only likes to walk around on the lanai/balcony looking for crumbs but also comes indoors sometimes (the screen is usually always open). 

 

Not sure how I feel about that yet, but since he/she usually doesn't walk in past a certain point and never flies in, I usually let it slide.

From my understanding there's a hurricane headed for these islands (again), but I'm not completely sure.  A lady at the bank said it's not coming this way after all.  That sounds kinda off to me, but we'll see. This particular island was missed by the last two that were out this way a couple of months ago, and with us living right on the beach now, I certainly wouldn't be thrilled about huge waves crashing in due to inclement weather. :-/

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On another note, I recently published an essay on my writing blog that I wrote relating to the whole Ferguson, Missouri ordeal. Something just a little bit different. Check it out here:

http://communityscribe.blogspot.com/2014/10/keep.html

Have a great weekend.

~

Glorious

So, last week was crazy and exhausting, but we finally got moved into the new spot right on the beach!

View from the back lanai/balcony.

 Sunset, something we witness every evening.

 

 Watching the sunset with baby!  

Yeah, it's pretty amazing. We're extremely grateful. :)

Have a great week.

~

On the Move

Happy Friday!

This Monday we will be moving from up in our beloved valley down to a place that's right on the beach.  It should be interesting having the ocean right outside your back door (or in our case, lanai/balcony).  I'm definitely expecting this to be an adventure and am hopeful that no tsunamis come our way!

So, given this move, I really need to rid myself of some items.  To facilitate this I've decided to mark some items down to $25 in the shop!

This sale will be going on through Tuesday.  Shipping is a flat rate of $5 in the US, and all items will be shipped priority.

This is the perfect time to get a flyTie Clothing original!

Purchases can be made at

https://www.etsy.com/shop/sewfly?ref=hdr

and no code is needed.

Your assistance in helping me free up some space would be greatly appreciated!

:)

Have a great weekend.

~

Milestones

I'd been intending to try on a pair of jeggings (jeans/leggings) that I used to love wearing to see if I could start wearing them again, since the extra 40 pounds I gained when pregnant has pretty much gone away.  I finally did it this weekend, and they fit.  

They are just a tab bit more snug than I recall them being, but they can certainly be zipped and buttoned since the big belly is no more.  (I posted about this Saturday on Facebook.) This is my only pair of pants, so I'm glad to put them back in rotation, since they can be paired with one of my favorite mini dresses that's feeling extra mini these days.  

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On another note, baby is two months old today!

:-D

Have a great week!

~

Every Which Way

Happy Monday!

Here's a look at what's in the works.

Yeah, I had to do it! :-D

I used the sewing machine to sew the fabric pieces on the first one in the photo and found out that It'll probably be better to sew these by hand.

The bodysuits are so tiny and stretch so much that the fabric pieces--when sewn on by machine--end up out of position.  It's not that big of a deal, but I want them to to look a certain way.  Plus, I suppose they'll be even more special if they were hand sewn. 

Gonna work on these today.

Have a wonderful week.

~

At Your Best

So, here lately I'm into making baby headbands. :-)  I really like that they take very little fabric, because I've got a lot of scraps. 

Here's a reversible one that's in the works.

 It just needs elastic and to be sewn together.  

Naturally I'm now wanting to design and make  a line of items for babies.  These will definitely be a part of it.  

Speaking of baby stuff, I saw an episode of Project Runway (a show I never saw until recently). and the challenge was for the designers to make an outfit for a baby about one year in age.  (I believe it was an episode from last year.)  It really inspired me to create a baby collection.  I think one of the first things I'll make is a pair of patchwork bloomers.  Patchworking is one of my favorite processes.

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So, my lil boopy will be 7 weeks on Tuesday, and she seems so much older.  She's very active and alert.  Also, she definitely knows what she doesn't want and don't want or like and don't like!  

Yesterday she had her first experience with the computer when I showed her a video of her namesake, Wangari Maathai, speaking.  

It's a nice animated video, and she was thoroughly engaged. 

Even though she's very young, I make it a point to do educational and inspirational stuff with her each day.  We read, look at pictures in books and magazines, count, call out parts of the body, name the various machines in the house that make loud sounds when they're being operated  (juicer, blender, etc.), say ABCs, sing, talk (she can't form words yet, but the child can talk!), and whatever else I can think of. Fortunately she is very attentive and really enjoys it. We gave such a great time together!

Here's the video we're watching in the image above:

Enjoy, and have a lovely weekend. ~

Cotton and Baby

I've been sharing various things on my Facebook page here and there, and most recently I shared some images of cotton that I picked from a local cotton tree, deseeded, and cleaned for use.  

This wasn't my first time doing this since being in Hawaii, but the process always gives me insight into the arduous task that those before me had when being forced to do this type of work.   It ain't easy!  However, in my case--having picked only a zip lock bag full from a tree and being able to sit peacefully and comfortably in an air conditioned home while cleaning it--the process can be very meditative.

I'm just thankful.  

Wish I had the means to make cloth!

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I really enjoy visiting a thrift store located right down the valley from us, particularly when they're having the 50% sale during the first weekend of each month.  Having a new baby, my focus when going there has shifted.  Before I was just looking at whatever caught my attention. Now I'm usually exclusively focused on baby stuff.   We've come across some many useful items.  Recently we got 2 baby carriers by this company for $4.50 each!  Just before leaving the house the day we got them I was online researching carriers and was looking at paying $40 or more.

I plan to get fabric and make my own, but the ones from the thrift store come in SO handy.  (I'm not too crazy about strollers due to not liking clutter and having a lot of stuff, so the carriers work well for me.  Baby is getting bigger and heavier though, so I may have to change my anti-stroller attitude in the future.)

So, in addition to that thrilling find, I also found this onesie.

 

I've been a fan of The Very Hungry Caterpillar book since forever, and I found a copy for twenty-five cents sometime last spring at a library book sale.  To have come across this garment really just made my day.  It's 0-3 months though, and the child is growing rapidly.  I'm gonna have to put her in it really soon if I hope for her to ever wear it.

The Kente print fabric behind it will be used to make a headband.

Speaking of that, I made her first headpiece yesterday. :)

Have a great week!

Sold Items

Happy Friday!

Just a quick post as a reminder about the $40 clearance sale happening in the Etsy shop.

Threes of the items that were part of the sale are now on their way (or have made it) to their destinations in the US and UK.

Several more items are available (including one more like the third dress above), and I'm offering free shipping on each.

Shop online at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/sewfly?ref=hdr

Have a great weekend.

~