Tween Girls (ages 8 to 12) can learn how to make their own accessories, garments, and doll clothing to match.

In 2010, I started sketching ideas and finding fabrics for a series of sewing classes for tween girls. At first it was a small collection of only 10 pieces. I got a few fabrics and made some sample projects like a lined flower hat with a brim, funky belt with lace side ties, and tiny polka dot hair bows on elastics.

It was all really fun, but I decided to put it away to film my Kids Sewing - Pixie Projects Series.

Then we made a big move to a farm in upstate New York. After getting a bit settling in our new location, I set up a studio in a very small bedroom. Somehow during that time I had a burst of creative energy on the project and turned those 10 projects into many more (almost 200 projects). I started shopping for pink and black fabrics and looking at young models that would be willing to trade clothing for photos.

It was quite amazing how each model I choose inspired a new character that I named. In no time I had 24 separate bins each with multiple fabrics to make 7 clothing or accessory projects. Each bin had a little print off of the character avatar too.

Then I started to look for wardrobe to wear for filming each one. But before I could get started filming I was surprised by a 3rd pregnancy, so I decide to put filming on hold until after the baby.  Rather than filming, I decided to just make samples to send to models.

​To organize all my ideas I also made a cute little website (on the Ning platform which doesn't really exist anymore). I put up a page for with every girls names and photos of the fabrics. It had a great pull down menu feature and was a nice way to keep everything straight.

After the baby (which was my first daughter) I decide to open a studio because our house was just to small. We decide to rent a space in the nearest town (Herkimer, NY) where I could teach real in-person students. I really missed teaching and in one little corner I could also set up another little set for filming again.

Within one month I was teaching sewing classes and filming, but I wasn't doing Little Fashion Designers projects. I'm not sure what happened. Instead I created new courses to teach at the studio and started filming a series called Sewing Fashionistas. I think maybe it's because I thought it would be a warm-up from almost 2 year filming break. Well turns out it become a whole series (of over 60 projects) and then Little Fashion Designers was once again put on hold.

Honestly, I think it's actually meant to be this way because it has given my time to really just let it become what it's suppose to be. Right now Little Fashion Designers sits at the studio on a display with sketch/swatch cards for each character.  And I'm still not sure if it will be clothing to fit girls, just their 18" dolls, or matching outfits. I guess that depend on the time I have to put into the series, which may not be much because now I'm pregnant with my 4th now.

So when I have the time again I will pick up where I left off. Maybe by then my writer will have time to write stories, and my artist can continue making the paper dolls. Whatever it may be I look forward to working on the project again and sharing it with new little students around the world!

Creatively,