Keeping up Appearances
The 8 Commandments of Children’s Clothing Care
Last month, Cintas Corporation which makes corporate uniforms as part of the services they offer, released their 8 Commandments Of Garment Care. While they intended these clothing care tips for hotel managers who want to get the most out of the uniforms their employees wear, their suggestions may as well have been written for household managers who want to get the most life out of the clothes their kids wear. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Keeping up Appearances, Under Control | 
Tags: care, laundry, making clothing last, wash | 
2 Comments »
Book Reviews: Small Stash and Handmade Beginnings Sewing Projects
Two books caught my eye this past week. That's saying a lot, because, sheesh, there are so many books with cute projects these days! Check out Handmade Beginnings and Small Stash Sewing for some inspired sewing projects this coming weekend. Read the rest of this entry »
Spoonflower: How cool is on-demand, custom-printed fabric?
I was roaming around the web tonight and landed on Heather Ross's website. If you haven't seen it yet, Ross's book Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching is a fun book with some cute children's projects.
But, that's not what drew me to the site. Heather Ross is also a textile designer. And, a pretty amazing one, at that. While perusing her site, I noticed that many of her out-of-print designs are only available on-demand from Spoonflower, a fabric printing company based in North Carolina. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Keeping up Appearances, Shopping Around | Tags: books, fabric, Heather Ross, sewing, tips | No Comments »
Guest Post from Suzanne Rielle of LoobaLee.com – Size Tips for Buying and Selling Kids Clothing on Resale
We asked Suzanne Rielle, owner and co-founder of LoobaLee.com for size tips when it comes to buying and selling kids clothing on resale. LoobaLee.com offers a premier resale marketplace, custom for kids clothing, for the savvy Mom who likes to dress their kids in quality and style, but loves a bargain too.
When it comes to resale, there is one major factor that comes into play making each and every piece of clothing one-of-a-kind: How many times has it been washed and/or dried? And how? Learn more about caring for children's wear to make it easier to re-sell. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Clothing Sizes, Keeping up Appearances | Tags: care, resale, size chart, tips | No Comments »
Upcycled children’s back-to-school clothing saves money and the environment
Clothing purchases on new items such as jeans, shirts, and shoes, are expected to average $225.47 per child, the single largest back-to-school expense for the year.
The question is: Do our children really need all of this clothing and does it all need to be new, or have we set an expectation that puts unnecessary pressure on our families' budgets and on the environment? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Keeping up Appearances, Shopping Around | Tags: back to school, eco-friendly, market research, resale, tips, upcycling | No Comments »
10 Tips for Kids Clothing Back to School Shopping
The temperature is cooling down and the stores are fully stocked with book bags and clothing basics. Must be back to school time again. Here are ten tips to help you find what clothing your kids will need for BTS at a price you can afford. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Keeping up Appearances, Shopping Around | Tags: back to school, shopping, tips | No Comments »
Books: Pattern and Technique Books for Carefree, Recrafted, and Embellished Clothes for Kids
Though I still have yet to find a book that addresses boys clothing patterns specifically, here are two recently-published books which focus on girls that are worth mention: Carefree Clothes for Girls, and Hand Me-ups. Read the rest of this entry »
Books: Dragons, Dresses, and DIY
I went to my local library the other day and saw three new books on display that I just had to check out. From costumes, to clothing to repairs, these books have you covered. Read the rest of this entry »
Button, button, who’s got the button?
There is a beautiful jacket hanging in the closet of my work room. I meticulously matched the fabric pattern at each of the seams – the only time I have successfully done so. I also lined it and finished it by hand. It represents many hours of work. And yet, I've never worn it. For almost 4 years now, it has remained in the closet missing only a button.
There is a pin in the place where I intend to place said button, but, I am stuck. Few things cause me to leave projects unfinished; they are typically small tasks that have the potential to cause disasters, rework, and frustration. Making button-holes tops the list. Read the rest of this entry »
The Impact of Unwanted Clothing
The average American throws away 70 pounds of clothing each year - here are ideas on how to reduce your impact and clothe your child at the same time. Read the rest of this entry »
