Two posts in a day….a rarity for sure, but here we are….nonetheless!

A few weeks ago, we were asked to participate in something new for us – a Blog Hop. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a fun way of finding new bloggers and discovering a little background about their blogs. It’s mainly a way for bloggers to take a moment and reflect on why they actually go through the blogging process…getting back to one’s blogging roots, so to speak!

Annika, of Nah-Connection,  has passed us the Blog Hop baton this week!! Our first introduction to Annika was regarding a little German….you see, our hometown prides itself in it’s German roots, and we had written a blog post about Oktoberfest, and an outfit sewn for it. Well, we attempted a little German at the end of the post – INCORRECTLY {it was from a cross-stitch, in our defense :)} – and Annika set the record straight {well, someone did….and we are pretty sure it was Annika!}!!

Annika’s blog is full of children’s clothing, pattern reviews, and colorful photography. Currently, she is hosting an awesome series, Sew Fantastic Blogs, that gives an added insight into various bloggers, their creative process, style, etc.  We love finding out more about others {hopefully that doesn’t sound too nosy….}, and making more connections with sewing friends in the process! You can read her answers to the following questions HERE.

As for our answers to the questions?? Here goes:

* Why do we write?

Photo by: Little Toes Photos

We began our blog as a way to chronicle our nieces’ lives {and garments we made them} as they grew. As we enter our third year, it has remained that….but with a few other facets involved. We continue to share about our nieces, and their likes/interests/involvement, but have since utilized our site as a blogging network for other sewists to share creations with one another. The camaraderie between sewists is FLAT. OUT. ADDICTING. How cool is it to have “friends” all over the world?!?!?! We talk about these ladies on a first name basis, all the time! So, in an effort to build an even greater camaraderie, we began a series, “Flip this Pattern,” as a means for others to share with one another – large and small blogs alike! Sew-along linky parties are opened each month, giving everyone the opportunity to participate!! It is phenomenal and heartwarming to see designers and bloggers working together to showcase a given pattern.

* What are we working on?

Photo by: Little Toes Photos

WELL…..we have some pretty big announcements coming your way over the next two days!! Think: Introduction to “Flip this Pattern: FALL 2014″, as well as another spin-off to this series for the month of September. But, our lips are sealed until TOMORROW….it is seriously going to be a lot of fun, though. Just saying….

As for our SEWING projects: we have TWO “in the works”: 

1. The Cottage Mama Sewing Contest / Project Run and Play “Signature Style” Sew-Along Entry: MUST. FINISH. BY. SEPTEMBER. 12!!! It’s one of those crazy, labor-intensive projects….but one we are going to be tickled to have done when Easter 2015 comes along!!

2. A garment for CL {a guest post for an upcoming series, to be announced later this week}…and one that involves “color-blocked piping.” SQUEEE…. so excited about this one!!

Of course, there are always others waiting in the wings!! Our “WANT TO” projects include:

1. Oliver and S, Music Class Blouse and Skirt for EA

2. Delia Creates‘ Natty Jane shoes: cut and ready to sew for our newest niece, LG, as a continuation to our “Celebrate the Baby” posts.

3. Kitschy Coo‘s Skater Dress – a part of Sewing Rabbit’s Pattern Member August Patterns. We’ve yet to sew this dress, but want to give it a go!

And, then there are the non-exciting “HAVE TO” projects:

1. Two dresses that need hemming — nothing screams, FUN, more than a hem {enter sarcasm HERE}!

* How does it differ from others of its genre?

Photo by: Little Toes Photos

Well, our blog is VERY specific on its content! It is all about sewing – specifically, children’s clothing – and we plan to continue with that focus!! So, we only attract people that are interested in that ‘genre’….oh, and a few of our friends.

Occasionally, we might throw in a recipe for good measure {since our one and only recipe post went ‘viral’ on Pinterest this past summer}! You never can tell what might catch someone’s eye…

* How does our sewing / writing process work?

Check our calendar.

Discuss / gather a plan.

Shop for materials / check our stash.

Sew the garment.

Photograph the work.

Write about the process.

EASY PEASY, right??

It actually takes a whole lot of time {but you bloggers know that already}. Most of the time, our nieces give us some “story” to write about from our photo shoot with them, but other times it is a”no nonsense post” on a particular pattern. You can see a more thorough list of our sewing responsibilities HERE!! It’s definitely a TEAM APPROACH!!

So, there you have it – us, in a nutshell!  There probably isn’t a single surprise in this post…and that is fine by us!! Well, besides revealing the man behind “Father’s Fantastic Five” {a “Flip this Pattern: Year One” perk}…

We are now passing the Blog Hop baton over to a couple of our “real life” sewing friends and bloggers…and a couple of ladies that are WAAAAY MORE exciting than us!!

Michelle, of Handmade Martini, is an absolute delight! She’s funny, sweet, and has a lot of spunk {as is evidenced through her blog and many adventures}.  She is a do-er {is that a word??} that gives her all to any task at hand…from running marathons to sewing stunning creations! One of our favorite things about her blog is her “This Moment” posts {done every Friday} that captures a moment…just one….from the previous week. Such a priceless addition to her already wonderful blog!

Carrie, of Right Sides Facing, is another one of our “real life” sewing friends {and one we actually met at the same time as Michelle!}. When we first met, Carrie didn’t have a blog….but has since gotten hers up and going, and in full swing. Carrie pattern tested for various designers well before her blog’s inception. To say we were tickled when she released her first post would be an understatement!! We love seeing others take the “blogging leap” and look forward to following along on her many sewing adventures!

Thanks for reading our Blog Hop. Look out for Michelle and Carrie‘s own rendition next Monday, September 8.

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