Daydream Believers Designs: July 2011

Fall 2011 Feature: Blair

One of my favorite Daydream Believers dress styles, “The Blair” is back for fall!
"The Blair" is a fun, very versatile style; featuring extra-long straps that tie in the
back for a totally adjustable fit!

The comfortable elastic bodice grows with your little queen bee!
Wear it now as a dress, then later as an adorable tunic!

This sweet dress is made from crisp, modern, cranberry red fabric with a fresh red floral-chandelier print. The bottom of the dress is delicately trimmed with cream swiss-dot fabric and topped with two rows of handcrafted, fluffy cream knit ruffles.

Sweet flutter straps tie into a chic little bow.

This dress is a perfect blend of vintage styling and crisp, modern fabrics!
The Blair is perfect for holiday celebrations, fall portraits, or just as stylish everyday wear! :)

Now available for purchase!
The Daydream Believer Shop at Etsy

Fall 2011 Feature: Bliss

Ah, Bliss -
A fabulous peasant style dress from the Daydream Believers Dress Collection!

“The Bliss” is a wardrobe staple!
This classic peasant style dress is simply fabulous thanks to fresh, modern fabrics!

The comfy elastic neckline makes for easy wear. The perfect mix of comfort and style!

This sweet dress features a classic cream on taupe printed bodice topped with beautiful floral printed sleeves and dyed muslin trim.

Delicately embellished with handcrafted ruffles; this dress is a perfect blend of vintage styling and fresh modern fabrics!

The best part? This style is so versatile!
Wear it this year as a dress, then next year as a tunic!

{size 2t dress on my size 4t daughter - makes a perfect tunic!}

Now available for purchase in the Daydream Believer Shop!

The Daydream Believer Shop at Etsy

A peek into the studio…

I am a busy bee today, sewing non stop for the relaunch of
The Daydream Believer Shop at Etsy
Thankfully, I have the cutest lil’ shop assistants in town helping me out!

I am SO excited about the new pieces I am working on for Fall. The dresses, skirts, and tops are all classic, vintage inspired styles made from fun, modern fabrics.
The color scheme for the collection is goldenrod/coffee brown/cranberry with touches of honeysuckle pink. The pieces will feature lots of ruffle accents made from tea-dyed muslin and sweet crochet lace trims. I am really excited about it! :)
Here’s a peek at one of my “fabric boards”

Preview pics of the actual pieces coming SOON! :)

Crafty Mumma Show & Tell

Happy Monday! :) How was your weekend? Ours was pretty crazy! We knew it was going to be a busy one, graduation party, bridal shower, volunteering at a community clean up project, sewing time, a family dinner… just a normal busy weekend.
We did not anticipate a random plumbing problem destroying our bathroom.
There was water everywhere.
Floors ruined.
Moulding ruined.
Bath toys, towels, and our spare tp stash, ruined.
So NOT Cool!
Once the plumbing issue was fixed, Hubs and I (with both girls) found ourselves navigating our way through Lowes late on Saturday night deciding on new floors. We decided that night, that since we had to change the floors, we might as well change the paint, and the trim, and the vanity mirror…you can see where this is going! So our weekend plans quickly changed; the bridal shower was missed, the family dinner postponed, and no sewing was done. As I write this, our bathroom is completely torn apart and receiving a full makeover (which, I admit, is kinda fun… I just wish it wasn’t inspired by the great flash-flood of 2011) ;) Oh well, what can you do?

I had hoped to have some Fall 2011 previews to show you, but alas, no photos were edited this weekend either (sorry ya’ll!) – But, here’s a peek at some of the projects that have left my studio recently! :)

These chic banners were ordered for a Wedding Shower-

The black and white glitter is my favorite :)

This sweet cowboy bunting is headed to Texas for a birthday celebration-

I do believe my favorite custom this month was Ella's Birthday Outfit :) SO fun!

This sweet headband was crafted for a recent grad :)

I used it to embellish her wrapped gift in place of a bow. She loved it! :)

I love this sweet little .25 cent dress I made for Miss V*
One too-small onesie {purchased for a quarter from a mom-2-mom sale}
+ some rad black and white fabric {gifted to me from a friend}
= one adorable little playdress!

Can't beat a .25 cent dress! :)

My crafty-to-do-list is SO full! We hope to have our little remodeling project done today so I can be back to sewing for Fall, tomorrow! Yea! :)

SO, what have you been working on?

Blog Hoppin’

Hi Friends! I’m blog hoppin’ this weekend :)

If you’re a first time visitor, WELCOME! :)

I’m Michelle and Daydream Believers is my little dream-come-true creative outlet. When I'm not designing clothes, planning a party, or brainstorming ways to repurpose something old into something awesome - I'm enjoying life with my great family.
You can read more about me and my shop {here}

Daydream Believers – The Blog, is where I

Publish free sewing tutorials

Share inspirations and charitable opportunities,
Talk party planning
and

Feature the latest & greatest in Daydream Believer Shop news!
{Including exclusive product previews and great “insider” discounts!}

I’d love for you to follow along!

I’m participating in these great blog-hops! Please check them out!

Thanks for visiting! Have a GREAT Weekend!

I'm a {designer} ?

I'm sure ya'll read LMM, Ashley is awesome.

She is honest, funny and cute as a button; her blog is one I check daily.

Recently, she wrote that she has a hard time calling herself a writer.

I thought this was so interesting because

1. girlfriend is totally a rad writer and I would absolutely describe her as one!

2. umm... I have the same issue!

Well, sort of the same issue.

Source: Bluntcard via Michelle on Pintrest

My issue is with describing myself as a designer.

There it is.

Scary.

I don't understand why I have such a hard time owning it.

When I was teaching, I had no problem describing myself as a teacher.
When I was coaching, it was never an issue to describe myself as a coach.

Yet, I feel so self conscious about describing myself as a designer. It's weird. I know.

I LOVE designing clothes! L-O-V-E Love It!

I love everything about the creative process! I am SO proud to make clothes for my

kids and my fantastic clients! I feel SO blessed to be a part of the Etsy community

and this fab crafty-mumma-bloggin' world! It is a dream come true to be able to

stay at home with my sweet girls and to do what I love.

But,

I left the "mother's occupation" box blank on all of Miss I*s preschool applications.

It's lame. I know. I just didn't know what to write. What is my occupation?

What should I say when people ask what I do?

Source: SeeKateSew via Michelle on Pintrest

Am I a designer?

I design clothes.

I am inspired, by nearly everything I see, to create clothes.
I swoon over fabrics and trims.

I can't seem to hold a pen without sketching something that I want to create.

I love being at my sewing table and creating;

turning my visions into something real, concrete, lovely.

I love designing.

BUT...

I have no formal design training.

My sketches sorta look like my toddler drew them.

I am essentially self taught.

My studio is in my bedroom...

all of these reasons surely discredit my being a full fledged designer, right?

I *want* to be a designer.

I *think* I am a designer.

On her blog, Ashley wrote,

"I realized if I want to be a writer, then I need to own it"

It sounds so simple, but it is so scary!

I've been questioning myself for months now, and after reading Ashley's

post, I can't help wonder how many other

bloggers/writers/artists/designers are dealing with this too?

It's just so interesting to me.

I know in my heart that I have to just own it -

If I want to BE a designer, then I need to own it!

Source: Observando via Michelle on Pintrest

So, I'm going to try!

Wish me luck!

xo Michelle

DESIGNER ;)

A Fabulous Pink and Orange 6th Birthday Outfit

I love my "job" :)
It is seriously fun to design and create fabulous outfits for sweet kids to wear;
especially when the outfits are for extra special occasions, like birthdays!
This sweet outfit is for sweet Miss Ella -

Ella is turning 6 and celebrating with a roller skating birthday party!

Her mom suggested the bright neon colors, but gave me complete
design control, telling me to "design whatever I would have my own girls wear"
Seriously - that is music to a designer's ears! ;)

Here is the look with Full-Fabulous-Birthday styling!

Ruffle Shirt with Removable Glitter Birthday Badge

Orange Ruffle Skirt over a Prima Ballerina style tutu in Bubble Gum Pink

Sweet 5 inch, polka dot printed, pinwheel style hair bow.

I love that this outfit can be worn in multiple ways!
The badge can be removed, so the shirt is no longer a "birthday shirt"
just a cute ruffly shirt :)

The Shabby Chic Birthday Badge can be worn on it's own too!
Wouldn't it be sweet clipped to her jacket or backpack? I love it! :)

The fun ruffle skirt can be toned down and made "school appropriate"
just by eliminating the tutu layer.

I think this would be SO cute with a black top and fun leggings for Halloween!

The Prima Ballerina style tutu is adorable all on its own and is easily embellished
by clipping on the polka dot hair bow! SO sweet! :)

I had so much fun creating this outfit for Ella! Thanks Angela, for the opportunity!

Happy 6th Birthday Ella!

Linking up to THESE fabulous sites! Please check them out!

100 Fan Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to... Lynnette at Enchanted Aria

You've won the 100 Fan Giveaway!

Yea!

Lynnette, I'll be contacting you soon to begin designing your custom piece!

THANKS to everyone who entered!

Have a GREAT weekend! :)

{Winning entry #11 was selected via Custom Random Number Generator}

You can BEE the designer! Contest ends tonight!

Today is the last day to enter the “BEE the Designer” giveaway!
Contest is open to ALL Daydream Believers Facebook & Blog fans!
Enter by clicking the link below and leaving a comment on the contest post.
{It's super easy!} Winner will be selected tonight! Good Luck! :)

BEE the Designer * 100 Fan Giveaway