Sewing With Cinnamon

Simply Shoes - Let's Make Janes!

Hi Everyone! This week I invite you to follow along as I make Janes and Open-Toe Janes shoes. We've got many shoe patterns on Pixie Faire, and with a bit of practice you will be comfortable making a variety of styles! The shoe bodies may vary, but the sole construction is very similar. So, sit back, relax and let's learn to make shoes together...

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Simply Shoes - Topic Overview and Resources

Hi Everyone! Let's talk about shoes!  Not just any shoes, but those tiny intricate adorable doll scale shoes! As with most things at this scale, there are challenges to overcome to master the art of making doll shoes. However, I do feel confident that with a bit of practice this will be easy to accomplish. We will use the Liberty Jane shoe patterns for the demos throughout this course, as well as a few other tips, suggestions, and demos from some of the other shoe designers featured on Pixie Faire. The basic shoe construction is the same for most patterns. We will focus on those elements and by the end of this course, you should have the confidence to any type of shoe pattern that you'd like! So let's dive into this topic and learn the art of making doll shoes.  I promise this will be a fun month!

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Embellishments - Hand Embroidery and Sewing With Beads

Hi Everyone! To wrap up the topic of embellishments we are going o take a look at hand embroidery and sewing with beads. I love this type of detail work because a little bit can make a big impact on the overall look and feel of the garment.

As promised, we are keeping it simple with just a few basic stitches. The great thing is that you can build on this and experiment with a bunch of other techniques to build on what you've learned here!

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Embellishments - Painting On Fabric

Hi Everyone! Today we get to have a bit of fun and get our hands dirty while learning some fabric painting techniques! This is a fun embellishment that you can add to a variety of items. There are many different types of paints and a variety of painting techniques to use which result in a large variety of outcomes - which is fantastic! This is something anyone can do, there are simple techniques and more complicated techniques- you don't have to consider yourself an a painting artist to use paints on fabrics. Of course, if you have that skillset, then you can really take this type of embellishment to the next level! There are some amazing designer examples, just browse Pinterest... Gucci comes to mind, but there are a lot of examples of painted denim and leather, it's all pretty inspiring!

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Embellishments - Fabric Flowers, Lace Trims, and Ruffles

Hi Everyone! Today we go deep into embellishing with fabric and lace trims. I love this type of embellishment because it adds interest and a unique look to your item without adding additional cost. Using what you have on hand to create something that stands out is the goal here! I'm excited to share with you what I've learned!

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Embellishments - Topic Overview and Pre-made Embroidered Appliqué

Hi Everyone! Let's talk about - Working with embellishments!  I've been working with adding embellishments for quite a while. I've tried many things that work well and a variety of things that were an epic failure! I'm excited to share the things I've learned with you as well as pick up new tips and suggestions from the group. Adding the right embellishment to your item gives you the opportunity to stand out and create something unique and beautiful! So let's dive into this topic and experiment with some fun new ideas and techniques. Don't worry, I am a big fan of "Keeping Things Simple" while focusing on the end result looking amazing. I promise this will be a fun month!

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Sewing In Bulk Quantities - Packaging and Branding

Hi, Everyone! You've worked hard to make your items, now let's talk about the finishing touches! Packaging and branding are so important as you think through how to pass along your hand made items. Whether you sell them or plan to give them as gifts, you should plan to "Wow!" the recipient with beautiful packaging! Including things like a handwritten note card, logo stickers, boxes or bags; logo tags sewn into your items, and a few added ribbons or hanging tags. Remember that you only get one chance to make an unforgettable first impression and if you do it well, they will be coming back for more (and possibly tell their friends!)

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