GIVEAWAY FABRIC!!!! WINNERS

So have you ever entered a giveaway and went to check on the winners of that giveaway only to find that you didn't win???

Well to the 7 ladies that entered: YOU ALL WIN!!! YUP thats right.... whats the point to go to random.org and pick a winner when really you all are.... so I will just take the fabric and split it 7 ways. {YAY}

I just need your addresses: I will mail them out on Wed March 16th, 2011, so if I do not have your address by that date you will miss out!

Please send your address to katepixleydesign@hotmail.ca!!! CONGRATS Ladies!!! oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Wendymo!


By the way guys my new wedding line "Morning Doll" debuts today so keep checking in so you can see all the pictures!!!

How to: Quit your day job... Hopefully!

Ruffles, Lace and Feathers OH MY! I have been working hard behind the scenes here getting ready to launch my new line on Friday, and open up my website.

URG... websites. Have any of you opened your own yet? I was going to hire someone but the cost was so high that I posted on facebook for some reccomendations. I got a lot, some suggested Etsy (which I have), others Bigcartel (have you heard of that?), some suggested the free "make your own website sites".... like www.weebly.com, I chose to actually blend the two, and once I realized that you can actually link the pages together {I am really dense when it comes to computers} I was super happy. Actually if you chose to sell on Bigcartel or Etsy you can link the pages to your site which is awesome because you don't loose your clients {or buisness cards don't have to be destroyed... YAY.}

This has been such a learning curve for me, I have literally either been sewing or reading up articles {Etsy, Socialnomics-Book, On-line resorces} to try and take myself to another level. I spoke to my dad and told him where I was at {UM IT IS CALLED A FUNK}, and he actually got me phone numbers of people in my area that could mentor me. I think that having a mentor is very important mainly because it offers you someone you can bounce your ideas off of, and someone who can tell you where you are either wasting your time or other contacts you can go to.


These are some of the steps that I have taken to Quit My Day Job:
1. Went to the bank and got a bank card for all of my {k.p.d} purchases
2. Took hubby to the bank so that we could find out where we are and how much we can afford to put away as our {saftey net}, as you all know I have two babies, and we own our house so I want to make sure that when I make my {leap of faith} that should I fall I have a little landing.
3. I have sat down and eliminated items I was really not feeling the groove in and then focused on items that I love to make over and over and over again. {hopefully}
4. I went to the library and got books out on small buisnesses, searched and web and most importantly found others that had similar companies as mine and guess what I E-MAILED THEM!! Asked their opinions!
5. Looked at pricing, how much is my time worth? Design item, make pattern, buy fabric, take pictures, edit pictures, upload to {shop} and then create the description, tags etc, sell item, package item and put stamps on it, then go to the post office. Obviously I don't want to do all that for one $5 item... So I sat down and reviewed the process.

This is just the beginning for me, and for you too... I love the handmade buisness, it is full of wonderful sweet and lushious items and all made by really wonderful people. I hope that this helps even just one of you.

If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments please leave them I love to hear from you all and I miss you so very much!!!

XOXO Kate

Nursey Decor and Design

So if you follow {k.p.d} on facebook then you know that the girl bedding design was the winner in my newest baby bedding line. SO I thought I would do a little post with some of the newest trends in the "baby decor" department....

I have to admit, that vintage, and shabby chic are my favorites for little girls. The are so sweet and simply delightful. When you sit holding your sweet baby in the antique rocking chair and have the lace curtains casting small shadows I can't help but let out a small {sigh}.

{source}

Now on the other hand... mod always interests me, I love the clean neutral look, the white walls and punches of colour.

{source}I love the textures, and the plushness (is that even a word) of todays nursery decor, it isn't the same crib, change table dresser. It is reporposed dressers which double as change tables and decor that has been passed down generations.

So now I ask... what is your favorite style? How would you decorate it???

Ruffle Back Shoes

So my girlfriend just had a baby and I wanted to make a pair of shoes for her to wear.... AND we all know how I love me some {ruffles}.... and flowers...so here is what I came up with.


I love the addition of the flower, so pretty and feminine. These make me smile.

Linking to:

Please Vote Boy or Girl

Okay so I have been so super buys with KPD that I have had very little time to play with new ideas BUT that is changing as I have slotted in so "free time" sewing so that I can keep my sanity!! LOL... So I really really want to do some baby bedding... But I don't have an order or a friend to do it for so I am leaving it up to you guys.... and my facebook peeps (if you don't already like it please stop by and take a look... I post daily on there and am always adding new pictures.) to vote on either Boy bedding or Girl bedding. I have two sample charts that have 4 fabric selections, you are voting for the COMBINATION not and individual fabric. So let me know... Boy or Girl???

Q&A Kate Pixley

Jill from Creating My Way to Success sent me a Q&A a few weeks ago... I was finally able to return it to her. Here is her post. Thanks Jill!!!

Car Seat Cover and GIVEAWAY!!!

So I had a baby shower to go to, and my girlfriend knows she is having a girl, however, has not announced the name... So a name pillow wasn't going to work. As well... I moved my studio and to be honest have lost my flow because it hasn't grown on me yet... I liked my old space... (hubby did not.)

So this was my first project in the new year. As it rains here a lot, and can just generally have an "stepped out of the shower" cold feel I thought this would be awesome... something to keep her little lady warm and I think the minky makes it so it would be a little more quite when the little one wants to sleep.

This is a really fun and easy project... okay well if you have a spare infant carseat hanging around they are.

I have two posted... this pink damask one is flannel, there is a black and white polka dot one with hot pink minky... this is the one I originally blogged about but my uploader was down... and today when I went to upload it... hubby had accidentally lost it. SUPER... oh well you get the idea.

To see more stuff head over to my facebook page... not only will you see my day to day studio uploads you can also win some prizes. The GIVEAWAY ends tomorrow at midnight, "like" my page and change your fb status to I want to win a Kate Pixley Designs Giveaway and then tell me on my wall or in comments and you are entered!!!

The winners will receive one of these:
1. Make-up Bag
2.Coffee Cozy
3.Baby Headband (these are new to the shop)

So go on over and check it out.

Vacation OVER I am Back!!! Wanna see what I have done?

Hi guys I am so sorry that I took a way longer break than I thought!!! Between work and Christmas and everyone in my family getting sick I have not had a chance to think.

I literally was working till 3 am the last 4 days before Christmas to get all my orders done but I was sucessful and everyone get their presents!!! YEAH!!! I have made so many personalized pillows.... that I wanted to show you all!!! Here are some I have made in the last week:












So I did this mostly in the last two weeks.... so please forgive me for not being here I am really sorry.... BUT I am back now and ready to tackle my house.... starting tonight with my basement which will be my new studio/kids area!!

Stay tuned!

Personalized Pillows

So here are two that I have made...



So I have been working away at my Personalized Pillows.... And I have been busy!!! I have 6 more but i am still taking orders for Christmas. I love love love knowing that I made something meaningful for someone.... it makes me oh so happy!

The Craft Fair

HEY EVERYONE!!!

So the craft fair was so much fun. It was a two day event, friday night and Saturday. After doing it I have decided that I want to do three day events... and there are many reasons which I will later talk about.

FYI this might be a long wordy post so feel free to skip it if you want... but be warned... you do and you might miss so fun stuff!!!

I was so proud of myself because I remembered eveything but my calculator (NEEDED) and my camera BOOO :( but I did take a picture with my cell phone camera and my friends camera... I just have to get them from her. I know the picture is bad quality but well deal with it... it is all I have.

I had a great corner table with some of the sweetest most amazing women out there. Nicole from Sweet Savannah actually lives really close to me and she makes these sweet little hair clips!!! And Jessica Rae was awesome, she does really sweet jewellery and photography... I know I will be placing my order soon for Christmas Presents.

Well I sold out a few items on the first night which was awesome. It was really wonderful to see what everyone liked and what they wanted to see more of. I sold out most of my aprons, posy pins, coffee cozies but not to worry I have been working hard to update my shop so by thursday I hope to have more posted!

So until I can get my photos you all will have to wait to more pictures but I will explain a little.

My Banner in the front is made of ribbon
I have a coat rack for my aprons so people could finger through them and try them on.
I got little red Christmas ornament place card holders and put my product names in them.
On everything that needed individual prices I used card stock from Michaels (and got my 50% off) so $2 and printed prices out there, and used old ribbon that I bought when I was single and tied it to the items.

Are there any questions??? I will get more up hopefully in the next few days, as well as more pictures of my name pillows as I have quite a few orders.

PS. I stil have some time for Personalized Pillow orders, they start at $25!!!

To all my new followers: HI and thank you for being here!!!

12 days of Christmas is approching fast!!! Are you ready ARE YOU??? 12 Days of GIVEAWAYS!!!

Auction Apron for the United Way

My hubby is working on a campain at work for the United Way and he made a comment the other night that he was looking for prizes to auction off... I was thrilled when he asked for an apron... I am so excited to help out and give back!!!

So I wanted a new a different apron.... thats how this little diva came to life!

An Apron

My brother in law has a pretty steller girlfriend... she is awesome... (hint) so last week she asked for an apron, she wanted damask and she wanted black trim. I asked her to please trust me... and if she hated it I would make something different. So I did polka dots! Needless to say she loved it... the polkadot just added personality! I am so glad that she let me do this!!!

Goals

Okay so today I had to take Joshua to Sunnyhill hospital for an assessment (these suck) they are long full days, and he is in one room and Peyton and I are in another. The good thing about Sunnyhill is that it really is full of wonderful staff who make sure that you are taken care of, with toys for the kids, and coffee for the parents.

Well while I was there today I sat down and made my goals for this month.

1. Have my etsy account up by Septemeber 15th, 2010
2. Have 10 new zipper pouches and 10 new aprons done (4 being seasonal... halloween/fall/christmas).... btw this is my favorite time of year... I love the changes in the seasons... and the colours and then it ends with the best time of the year CHRISTMAS!!!!
3. Have at least 1 new pattern up and ready in PDF format to sell... (oh and learn how to do that too)

So when we came home from the long drive in the rain, both kids were asleep and I was quiet tired (and I am a bad sewer when I am tired) so I decided to create my etsy account.
Yeah so as of today I am on etsy!!!! Goal #1 Check!!!!

So please come and take a look, the yellow apron fabric is now discontinued so I only have 1 left... so if you were interested in it now is your chance!!!


Thank you guys so much for your love and support, I am really honestly so happy to be out there!!!