This little piggy...

Little piggy toes everywhere!  I promise you, you will not go cold!

Through no fault of your own, and a few little harmless kicky-kicks (some might even call it developmental) will you have to endure a Popsicle-like cold existence. Those of you who love those little piggies (and the babies attached to them), gone are the days of turning the stroller around and, in vain, tracing your steps to find a lost sock. Hey, you can still cup those toes in your hand to warm them up if you want to, a little nibble and giggle as well, but it'll be just for fun and the pure love of those perfect pudgy piggy toes. 

This is my way of saying that today's project bootie prototype went well today, and another little bootie reveal. They're soft, snugly, special aaaannnnnd they don't fall off!!

I pulled out my needle, thread, pencil, muslin and fabric and sewed and measured, measured and sewed. It's just what I had in mind (functionally) and I'm oh-so happy with it. Now it's off to the factory to get gorgeous looking!

Bitty Baby Bootie Reveal

There are times when you know it's time to push. January was my month to hit the ground running… AND. I. DID!!

I kicked off the year with my full "official" month dedicated solely to belle&beanzer business. I can't describe what an amazing month it's been. Every day I wake excited to begin, to see what I'll get done to be seated at the front row watching and on stage doing. 

One of my goals was to learn to make my own patterns and sew them myself. Knowing how my line is made goes a long way with communicating to factories. Also, I decided that I should be able to create my own protos when and if I need to. And, I find I really need to, because fit is important to me.

Many places I worked with/for didn't care how it fit baby, it needed hanger appeal. Honestly, I can't write that without an eye-roll. I know! I've done it too! Love, love, LOVED something on the hanger, put it on and thought, er? 

With your baby you don't really try things on do you? They don't tolerate it so well (as in not at all), and by the time you get it on your baby, they've drooled, thrown up or exploded into/onto it. Aaaand, in one juicy swipe there's no returning it.  I CARE about how belle&beanzer garments fit. So, truth is, I've been through A LOT of protos. (lots!) 

A wonderful surprise for me during family fittings was every single parent told me the unique way our rompers fit encouraged them to reach out and touch their baby. To rub a little back. To smush a tush. And, this was the best part…they had more enjoyment of how it felt to touch their babies in our rompers! That is EXACTLY what I want for this line.

Back to booties…I was sewing this month and started off with the bootie. I've been fiddling and tinkering around with the construction. Snaps here? No snaps? Does it wrap? How will that feel? Is it accessible?  Two protos later and more sketches, and I'm about to embark on the third, and hopefully last proto. 

Without further ado…

I loved this old coat sewing machine. 

First proto! (and yes, that is a little hint-hint in the background)

Second Proto!

And did you see the second layer to my branding work?

More to come!