What have you been up to so far this spring? Well, I’ve been volunteering quite a bit around town. I enjoyed several days of helping with the Grand Prairie Friends Native Plant Sale this year. The sale is over, but if you are interested in adding plants to your landscape that support diverse native pollinators, you’ll definitely want to check out this sale next year!

I found that helping to transplant seedlings into their sale pots, pulling plant orders, and working a quality control shift really helped me get to know these plants quickly. 

I also helped with the Take Me Fishing event at the Middlefork Forest Preserve on Saturday, May 25. What started out as a rainy weekend, turned into a picture perfect day and some exciting fishing action for some young fishers. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy doing with your child(ren) there are two more events planned for this summer. Check the CCFPD website for more information. While you’re there, check out the FREE Concert Series, and look for the 1890’s Schoolhouse pop up events, too!

June will be a busy month for me, as I’m taking on four shows! I’m full of ideas for doll clothes for the 4th of July holiday, garden themed items for the the Garden Walk Market, and some other other fun clothes for the discerning doll! I’m very excited to return as a vendor in Ogden for the newly named Ogden Open Air Market, and to Tolono Fun Days. It sounds like both venues are working to add value to their markets!

I’m very excited to participate in the Muncie Fall Festival for the first time. I live so close, but didn’t know that this festival has already happened three years in a row! They’ll have music, and a large number of vendors, among other events. What a great way to celebrate the fall!

Well, I’ve posted the schedule, and now I need to sew, sew, sew! Keep an eye on Fashion Pece’s page on Facebook for glimpses of some of the fun new items I’m adding to my inventory. As always, I hope to see you there!

The Illini Radio Group Holiday Market and The CU Junior League’s Festival of Trees

Saturday, November 18, 2023

10 am – 3 pm

I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center

1900 S 1st St.

Champaign, IL 61820

*************************************

CU Winter Farmer’s Market

Saturday, December 16, 2023

~and~

Saturday, March 16, 2024

8 am – Noon

Lincoln Square Mall

201 Lincoln Square

Urbana, IL 61801

Onward Ogden Farmer’s Market

Thursdays: August 3, 24

4:30 pm to 7:30 pm

At the Pavilion near the ball diamond on Market Street

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Middle Fork Jeep Fest for Mission K9 Warriors

Saturday, September 16

10 am to 4 pm

Vermilion County Fairgrounds

17528 N 1180 East Road

Oakwood, IL 61858

Mahomet Soda Fest

511 E Main Street

Mahomet, IL 61853

Saturday, June 10, 2023

10 am – 7 pm

*********************

Tolono Fun Days

Westside Park

Tolono, IL

Saturday, June 24, 2023

10 am – 7 pm

********************

Dresses have been flying off the table at Fashion Pece’s this spring, so I’m working to make sure you continue to have plenty to choose from this spring and summer. This dress, from a pattern by Sofie Clareese Doll Fashions TM, has a shawl collar, pleated skirt, fully lined bodice, and a dress length Velcro brand closure for easy play.

I’m finalizing my summer calendar, and hope to release dates and locations soon. My next show at the CU Winter Farmer’s Market will be on Saturday, April 29, 2023. I hope to see you there!

Sometimes people ask me where I get the ideas for my outfits. I find ideas everywhere! I might get an idea from the catalogs that arrive in my mail. I take a photo, and store it in my phone for later use. Often, a trip through the fabric store inspires an outfit, which happened recently when I saw a sweet cotton fabric with a tiny octopus print and immediately thought I could sew up a skirt and pair it with a tee if I could find a little octopus to embroider. I love the little octopus I found at Embroidery Designs Online! Expect to see the octopus print in a jumper, too.

I frequently get ideas from the weekly classes I take at Sewing with Cinnamon (SWC). I belong to a few Facebook pages about sewing for dolls, and may see something to spark an idea. Sometimes I want to emulate an outfit that I see on a TV show. For example, last year, I was inspired by the fashions in Emily in Paris (and one of my SWC classes about embellishing outfits).

In additon, you’ll see some of my own interests represented, like hiking, gardening, reading, writing poetry, etc. Of course I also get inspired by clients making special requests that challenge and grow my skills.

I always learn something about my venues, and create clothes specially made for the people/events in those locations.

Finally, I also pay attention to what my clients are wearing. Yes, I should be adding more unicorns and rainbows to my collection. So you see? Ideas are everywhere.