Wow! Closet on Queen Creek!

I did a trade with Rhonda from Closet on Queen Creek for some flour sack towels with my company's logo on them. WOW! These are gorgeous and SO well made. Rhonda is so very sweet and very talented. Check out what she came up with:

I got a set for my Mom's birthday and a set all for me. :) Be sure to check her out. She can digitize any logo/picture to make something custom just for you. Brilliant!

I love her flour sack towels because they are huge and so absorbant. I use them for everything... including a set to roll out dough in. Have I convinced you to get some yet? :) Truly, they are wonderful.

Ho-Ho-Holiday Trades!

Lots of traded goodies coming up with:

Linda at OweWhoaWhen for some embroidered recycled longies:

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... and LOTS of goodies are coming from a trade I am doing with Carmella of Clear Hills Honey Company.

Tons of lip balms in great flavors like Cheesecake, Chai Tea, Sugared Violet, and Creme Caramel.Honey Cream Lotion with Shea Butter in scents that sound good enough to eat! Bee Balm and Knitters Balm.... And this sweet little guy:

YUM! I can't wait

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Whooooooooo! Check out this SuRpRiSe Stuffed Woolie Creature from Karma at Pirate Bootie Baby! I won this using HC$$$. I emailed Karma my daughter's favorite colors and she surprised me by making the animal of her choice. There is lavendar inside for calming aromatherapy too. West will love this because she has taken to owls lately and loves flying around the house hollaring, "WHOOO!" Ahhh! Perfect!

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Scored this little number from Naptime Designs. HUGE going out of business sale right now and free shipping. Bonus!

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1 buffalo
1 bear
1 moose

I won this set. Thank you, thank you to Kristena from Dreamseeds Organics for these cool ornaments. The artist always explains things best so here is her explanation in her own words:

"Made with unrefined beeswax we strain ourselves. These delightful creatures will don your space with the delights of the mountains.
In Jackson Hole, we love our wild animals and they represent strength and power to those that live here.
We add our Dreamseeds Organics blend of essential oils called Holiday Spice for an aroma that is perfect for the fall and winter."

They are so cute and smell amazing!




.... Now maybe one of these days I will remember to take pics of the cute dresses and tunics that I am sending out as MY half of the trade. LOL! :)

More Holiday Gifts for Scout and West! :)

Some super comfy lounge pants are coming for West! We got a great deal from the kind mama behind Bags N Wipes N Things. The print we got is extra special to me because my sweet Gampie always had duck decoys around his house growing up. I saw this print and instantly thought of him.

More Holiday Trades....

Loving this. Totally loving the spirit of Holiday trading and I have made some good ones. These have resulted in relationships with wonderful WAHM's and some fabulous, unique gifts under the tree for my wee ones.

I have really enjoyed sewing for trades as well. Are you a WAHM with feedback who would like to set up a trade for the Holidays? We all have more time than money these days, eh? :) Email me! dressingwest@gmail.com :)

Without further ado.... here are my latest trades:

I traded with Jennifer of Bumblebear Children's Wear for a couple of hand painted shirts for my piglets. We are getting:

... all with longsleeves, though. She has great ideas and unique designs. Check her out! What a sweet mama!

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We also traded with Andrea of Deep Elemental Dyes. She has store fronts on this congo as well as here.

Both of my girls are getting dresses like the one below... but I left the final say on colors up to the artist. How great are these?

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OK. I paid outright for this one... but who wouldn't?!?!?! Soooo soft and cute! This Draftbusting Set is from Sarah at Symbiotic Stitches on The Leaf Shoppe congo. Such a reasonable price for such a darling set. LOVE IT!

WAHM Holiday Trades

So, in a concerted effort to Buy Handmade this holiday season, I have been on a quest to fill my home and my children's hearts and imaginations with Homemade gifts.

Because the economy is so crappy right now (and maybe because WAHM's are the most giving and gracious people on the planet) I have been doing lots of Handmade goods trading for gifts. I love this because it allows me to give wonderful, unique gifts with a soul, while making gifts with that same love for someone else and their family. It is also much easier on the pocketbook. The other bonus is that my kids have toys and clothing that spark their imaginations and that not every kid has.

Plus, not ingesting lead is a good thing. :)

Here are a list of some of the great WAHM's I have traded with so far. As the products come in, I'll photograph them as well!

We got this Apple Jumper from Lori at Beneath the Rowan Tree . She also has a shop on Etsy.

We also got a a dyed leaf shirt for West: (pic coming...)

Getting a great set of embroidered flour sack towels with our company's logo on them from Rhonda at Closet on Queen Creek. (Can't wait to post pics of these when we get them!)

Great appliqued fleece pants for both girlies (like the ones in this set) from Amelia and Macie's Boutique.

The appliques for each girl are going to be a surprise to us and I'm so excited about that! I love letting WAHM's be the artist and expert of their craft! :)

Here are Scout's appliqued pants:
Fabulous and magical winged shirts for both girls from Winged Kids! Kind of like this one... but brown and green dyed for West and pink and purple for Scout. So magical and creative. They will love them!!!

Are you a WAHM with feedback? Would you like to set up a trade for holiday goods? Leave me a message on this post and where to contact you. :)

BUY AND INSPIRE HANDMADE!!! :)

Inspire Handmade!

Take the Handmade Pledge!




Get inspired this holiday season (and EVERY season!) to buy handmade goods. Those at the heart of it have said it best:"Handmade items have a soul and enrich our lives in a way that mass-produced items simply can't. "Pledge to consider handmade items and gifts for all of your purchases. Get unique items with a soul and support others as they support their families!

Peace.

Happy Anniversary Dressing West!!!

HUGE Anniversary Stocking with Guests from every direction:

Begins: August 22nd, 2008

Featuring Dressing West and the following guests:

* Clothed In Scarlet
* Batik Bum
* Indigo Onion
* Rising Sun Earthworks
* Blind Stitch
* Whiffy Bean Bags
* Totes-N-Togs
* Beneath the Rowen Tree
* Craft Monkey Co.
* Pumpkin Pie Baby
* Kukae and Mimi
* Mr. & Miss Wooly Pants
* Spiffy Knits
* G Button Baby

Happy Anniversary, Dressing West!

Wow! Hard to believe that one year ago was our first opening. We have experienced so much success and made so many friends along the way.

THANK YOU to all who have supported, shopped, and encouraged us along the way.

We are thrilled to announce our Anniversary party!

Stand: A Directional Stocking (North, South, East, and West)

Beginning August 22, 2008

Last minute???

Still doing some holiday shopping for those you love? Check out:



for some very cool gifting ideas!!!


Holiday Hours...

Dressing West will remain open for customs throughout the Holiday Season. Please email to request a custom spot or buy the "Custom Spot" through our Hyena Cart to begin creating your darling dresswear!

We will not be listing any new fabric until the first of the year... and BOY is some great stuff coming up!!! There may be a surprise stocking or two before December closes. Watch those stocking calendars!!! :)

We are so thankful to all of you who made our first 6 months of business so very successful. We look forward to much of the same in the new year as well as expanding on many of our products and designs.

Peace,
Kate

Holiday Cuteness!!!

Looking for something darling for your darling this season? Dressing West is full of new fabrics and designs for your little one!

Visit our home storefront for first dibs on:

*The Evening Star

*O Christmas Tree

*Winter Blooms (with Dolly Dress option)

*Jack Frost Toile Bow Set

*Chirp, Chirp




Come see us at our Congo: Take Off Your Shoes to check out:

*Christmas Cookies and Milk

*Corn Cob Pipe and Button Nose



Buy with confidence, mamas! These dresses are designed to be worn as shirts over jeans and skirts for years to come! Versatile holiday wear? You betcha! :)

(Finished products are shown in the model gallery.)

Back That Thing Up!

We are back in town! Whew! Lots of fun but soooo very much work. Traveling with small children should earn you angel wings, extra lives, or Congressional Medals of Honor. LOL! They were very good. It was just l-o-n-g.

Scout turned three years old while we were in Denver. Three years old. I cannot believe that I have such a big girl. When we came home from our trip and were talking about what we did there her Dad said, "Scoutie, what did you do in Denver?"

"I turned THREE!" she shouted! Love it!

West had a milestone in the Mile High City as well. Something about the altitude must have given her the confidence of 10 men because she began walking. I went to CO with a 2 year old and a crawler and left with a 3 year old and a bi-pedal toddler. What a productive trip! :)

Now to get that luscious fabric out that I have been sitting on and get everything uploaded to my sites. The time off was sooooo needed but it is time to get BACK into the swing of things again. These fingers are itching to sew, baby! :)

Hope the Holidays were wonderful for all of you as well.

A big, fat TO - DO!

Arg! Why is leaving town with 2 small children and 1 large man-child so difficult? :) We are scheduled to leave tomorrow morning before the sun rises and I have so much to do tonight...

In no particular order... my "Turkey To-Do:"

Turkey To - Do:

* Finish laundry for myself and girls. This is what we are wearing in the car and to change into. Remember to bring extra changes of clothes for diaper compression leaks and the occasional vomit/spit up/drool that seems to land nicely right as we are about to go somewhere... or juice box/chocolately substance that I use to pacify them in the car.

* Remember juice boxes and chocolate.

* Take the dog to my mother's house and thank her 10,000 times for taking the obnoxious brute.

* Go to the grocery store and RE-BUY the food that I bought for the car trip already. Yes, I brought it home last night and this morning there was a severe dent in the crackers and there were water bottles missing.

* Stop by the post office and mail out two dresses.

* Pick up my girls from the sitter's.

* Take my nephew to his grandmother's (who lives across the river and into the next state.)

* Make sure the DVD player works and install it in the car.

* Clear out the lumber that my hub has been stockpiling in the garage so I can pull my car in. It is supposed to snow while we are gone.

* Stuff the cloth diapers and pack them to go. Remember wetbags and Tea Tree Oil.

* Don't forget to take Snoopy! Scout will never forgive me and no one will sleep if we do!

* Pack movies to use with said DVD player. (Wouldn't that be nice? A working DVD player, a crying 3 year and 1 year old and no movies!) Ahhhhhh!

*Lord, don't let me forget my license!!!



Happy Holidays to you and yours!

*

"I so love you..."

There are few things in life that melt your very soul and make you completely weak at the knees. That's right. Kind of like you see in the movies...

Apparently, little girls who are about to turn three have this mystic power. I am sure they can use it for good or for menace... but my little one turned me to jello on the spot.

Scout woke up last pretty terrified of something. She was standing on top of her bed screaming when I got in there. I snuggled her up and laid her back down and laid with her for awhile. She was calming down and began to rub my face. She touched her nose to mine and whispered, "I so love you!"

Ahhhhh! I so love her, too. She will turn 3 on Thanksgiving this week and I am so proud of the little lady she is becoming. She is inquisitive and thoughtful, fair and precocious. Everything I've hoped for. I'm so very, very lucky.

Day One or.. "Hi, my name is...."

Whoo-hoo! Look who found a big, fat blogspot! My own little space on online real estate. :)

Hi! My name is Kate. It is my head that you are in and you are more than welcome to come along for the ride. I am the wife of a lovely husband (7 years) and the mother of two amazing little girls. Scout will be 3 on Thanskgiving and West will be 1 right before Christmas. I know, I know... two holiday birthdays. Well, at least when they are older they can commiserate together about how horrible the holiday birthday fate is. LOL!

I am a Special Education teacher at the junior high level for children with behavioral disorders. I also have a little shop called Dressing West which sells specialty dresses and other such notions. I love this outlet to be creative, as my Master's Degree is in art and I love the palatte that fabric provides for creativity. You can check out my creations at:

www.hyenacart.com/dressingwest or at:
www.hyenacart.com/takeoffyourshoes

Alright. Off to get some actual work done while I still have some time...