New Release: The Sophia Tank, Tunic, and Dress!

July 20, 2018/0 Comments/in Images, New Releases, News /by Sheila Sisco

Did you hear about our newest release? Sophia is ALL the rage right now and PERFECT for warmer weather sewing! Would you like to meet her? Let’s go!

New Release: The Sophia Tank, Tunic, and Dress

Sophia is the newest addition to Bella Sunshine Designs and she is SO amazing! Sophia is a racerback tank style which features 3 different lengths and a gorgeous waterfall hem that flatters all body types. What makes it even better is that it comes in both adult AND children’s sizing, so mommy and me sets can be made and enjoyed!

As always, our testers really nailed this one! And they’re results are stunning! Let’s start by peeking at some of the girl sized creations… They will blow you away!

Girls Sophia

We got SO many great pictures from our testers… as usual. Let’s start by looking at a couple of these amazing backs!

Although, the fronts are completely adorable too! Especially when a girl loves to strike a pose!

Ladies Sophia

The women’s version is just as gorgeous (if not more so)! And we are so blessed to have testers of all different body types to ensure the fit and proportions are perfect! Just look at the backs of these Sophias and how completely flattering they all are!

How can you not love this one? Oh, and she definitely doesn’t disappoint from the front, either!

Oh… did we mention that this pattern is maternity friendly???

And of course, new sews are always better when you share with friends!

And in looking at these, you also can’t forget the ever-popular mommy and me possibilities!

So what do you think? Are you ready to add Sophia to your closet? You can buy the ladies version here, and the girls here. Or if you want to go for the mommy and me option, you can get the bundle here!

Please come join our Facebook group and share your gorgeous Sophia sews with us! We would LOVE to see them!

An Emmaline Sew Along is Coming!

April 19, 2018/3 Comments/in New Releases, News, Pattern Hacks, Sales, Sew Along /by Sheila Sisco

At Bella Sunshine, we like to hold regular sew alongs to foster a sense of community, to create together, and to give those who might need an extra little push that needed motivation. So, when one of our favorite new patterns released, we thought the timing was perfect! So… let’s get ready for an Emmaline sew along!

An Emmaline Sew Along is Coming!

How excited am I? SO VERY! I’ve been waiting for the Emmaline for a very long time. I absolutely adore the chevron color blocking. It’s effortless to wear, and easy to sew. The sew along will begin on Monday April 23rd and run for 8 days. Here’s the schedule:
We WILL be allowing hacks during the sew along also! So feel free to grab your Sahara or Amelia pieces to mash with the Emmaline! Be creative! We LOVE seeing all of the thought and work that goes into creating the PERFECT garment. So start thinking about fabric choices and get ready… because it’s going to be fun! You are welcome to do the ladies or child version. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, grab the bundle and make it a set!

Be sure to join our main facebook group as well as our sew along group to participate in the fun! We look forward to seeing you there!

New Release ~ Emmaline

April 12, 2018/0 Comments/in New Releases, News, Sales /by Sheila Sisco

We’re always so excited for a new design. And this one is no exception. The style and ease of this newest release, Emmaline, will have everyone taking notice! Are you ready to meet her?

New Release ~ Emmaline

Emmaline is perfect for spring and comes with so many options! Let’s work from the top down, shall we? First of all, there are multiple sleeve lengths. You can choose long sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves. The skirt comes in 3 lengths, top, dress, or maxi. The skirt in dress and maxi lengths also have the option of being a simple skirt, or a color blocked chevron skirt! Cool, right?

One of the BEST things, though, is that it’s compatible with the Clementine, which means you can swap out the sleeves or skirts to make a whole new dress! How exciting is that?!

Tester Photos

As always, we have some super talented testers who killed in this test! Look at some of their absolutely stunning creations below!

We’ll start with the girls. They’re so adorable and the Emmaline is so versatile! Perfect for any child who loves a good twirl!

Even the older girls love Emmaline! And with the right fabrics it can be absolutely stunning as a more formal dress!

And last (but definitely not least!) Let’s talk the ladies version! Oh so pretty! And with all the options you can make so many completely different dresses with the same perfect fit every time!

And we can’t forget one of the best possibilities… Mommy and me sets! I mean, really, how can you not LOVE these?!

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that you don’t want to NOT own this pattern! And you can get it on sale for a limited time! Sale is good until Friday, April 13th at midnight EST. Get the child’s version here for only $6, ladies here for $7, or buy the bundle and save more for those mommy and me creations for only $12!

Also, be sure to join our Facebook community to share your gorgeous creations, get help, and see all of the other amazing BSD sews by talented seamstresses!

New Releases: Amelia Maxi, Dress & Top

May 16, 2017/0 Comments/in New Releases, News /by Melissa Prendergast

Today is a dream come true for me. For the past two years, I have had this design stuck in my brain just waiting to be released on the world. I’m so happy that day is here. And even more happy to have several of these beauties in my closet. I would like to introduce you to…

The Amelia Maxi, Dress & Top

The Amelia is perfection. It hugs all the curves you want to show off while hiding the ones you don’t. The neckline is perfect for date night while still hiding the assets. The lined bodice along with the tight band gives the bust plenty of support. And since the pattern comes with not only three garment lengths but also options fo a sleeveless, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve and long sleeve version as well, you have options that will last you all year long. Even more exciting, this dress also comes in a children’s version which means… matching mommy-and-me sets! That makes my heart so excited. I sewed up a version for my girls and I and wore them on Mother’s Day. It was the perfect time for a mom and me photoshoot. Take a look:

Another exciting thing about Amelia is that we expanded our size range to include MORE plus sizes! So many of you lovely ladies have messaged me over the past several weeks saying that you are in love with our Ladies Sahara and Ladies Alice, but that you didn’t fit into our current size range. We plan on fixing that. The Amelia Maxi, Dress & Top ranges from size 0 all the way to size 30! We plan on updating past patterns as well over the summer to the new size range.

As usual, our tester did a great job! Check out some fo their photos below:

And since you guys loved the last one so much, we also made a video of the Amelia so you could see her at all angles:

The Amelia Dress & Top is available for only $5.50 for girls and $6.50 for ladies through Wednesday, May 24th at midnight EST. Be sure to pick up your copy before the introductory sale ends!

New Release: Josephine Dress & Top Featured in One Thimble Magazine!

May 12, 2017/0 Comments/in New Releases, News /by Melissa Prendergast

I have been keeping a secret from you guys the past couple months. If you were to ask my husband, he would tell you that things like this physically pain me. I’m one of those people that tell you what I bought you for your birthday because I just can’t contain my excitement. Well, the cat is officially out of the bag and I am now able to talk about the thing I’ve been keeping for the last several months…

Bella Sunshine Designs has been featured in One Thimble Magazine.

I’m going to let that soak in for a moment. Ahhhhh. I can barely contain my excitement. If you are unfamiliar with One Thimble*, you have been missing out! They are an Australian based digital sewing magazine that is FULL of wonderful things such as sewing related articles, tutorials, and PATTERNS! The magazine comes out once a quarter, and every issue they feature different pattern makers. I am honored to be featured in their current issue. I have been geeking out about it for months, and I am so happy I can now share it with all of you. So without further ado, I would like to present you to…

The Josephine Dress & Top

The theme for the magazine was “Prepster”. I knew this design would fit into that theme perfectly. I had originally planned to release it last year for fall and got sick and behind schedule. I’m so glad it’s finally a part of our pattern collection.

The Josephine’s boat neck is such a classic design and pairs perfectly with the princess seams. The pattern includes instructions to add optional piping in the princess seams to really make them stand out when you are doing the garment in one fabric. The bodice features capped sleeves and a dropped waistline which is completely different from any of our past designs. The garment comes in three lengths: a top length, a mid-thigh vintage dress length, and a knee-length dress length.

I did both a traditional and a vintage dress length for my girls, and I was super happy with how they turned out.

The magazine also did a full photoshoot for the issue and they had some amazing shots of the Josephine along with some of the other patterns included in the issue. I am overjoyed that our dress made the cover of the issue. Check it out along with some of the One Thimble photos below:m

Our testers also did a great job with their dresses.

The Josephine Dress & Top is included with the current issue of One Thimble magazine. You can purchase a subscription here.* I have seen the issue, and it is FABULOUS! Be sure to check out the other patterns included in the issue! There are a lot of super cute, classic children’s designs this issue. You can also purchase the stand-alone pattern on the One Thimble website.*

*This post contains affiliate links. That means when you click on the link and purchase something, we get a small percentage of the sale which helps keep this blog running. We only promote things that we recommend and love.

New Releases: Ladies Alice Pleated Dress & Ladies Sahara Dress & Top

April 11, 2017/0 Comments/in New Releases /by Melissa Prendergast

The day is finally here BSD fans! We have had SO many requests for both of these patterns, that I know you are going to be so excited for this. Our two most popular patterns, The Alice Pleated Dress and the Shara Dress & Top, are now available in Ladies sizes!! And the fit on these is perfection! Take a look.

The Alice Pleated Dress for Ladies

It’s not often that you get a woven pattern that fits so well with minimal adjustments. But the Alice is that pattern. Alice comes in sizes 0-20 with 7 cup sizes (Cups A-G!). The fact that most people don’t need to do a bust adjustment is what helps make the fit so good right off the bat. I made myself an Alice for Easter, and it is wonderful! I cannot wait to show it off this coming weekend.

Don’t you love it? I think my favorite part is the pockets. That way I can carry my keys but still look posh. I’m not big on carrying purses, so that’s a nice feature for me.

Our testers also did an amazing job on their Alices. Everyone worked really hard this test. Look at their photos below:

Sahara Dress & Top for Ladies

Next up we have the Sahara. When the girls version came out last month, at least 40 of you requested a ladies version stat! Sahara comes in sizes 0-20 and includes a full bust adjustment for those of you that need one. I must say this is quickly becoming a staple in my wardrobe. It is such a quick sew and super flattering. I love how you can wear it casually with jeans or leggings or you can dress it up with heels just depending on the fabric you use. The pattern comes with two different necklines, three sleeve lengths (plus sleeveless!) and three dress lengths. My final was a sleeveless version. It was worn to date night that weekend. I love it that much.

Once again, we had a ton of fabulous testers that really helped perfect this pattern. I don’t think there is a single person that this garment doesn’t look flattering on.

If you already have the Sahara Play Dress & Top for girls, you know it currently only comes in two garment lengths. Well, that’s about to change because we have since added a tunic length! Some of our original testers were nice enough to test it out for me. Take a look.

All you have to do to get your updated pattern is head to our My Account page to the downloads section. Your updated pattern will be waiting for you. We also changed the construction method to make for nicer finishes. And if you don’t already have a copy, be sure to pick it up!

As if all that eye candy wasn’t enough, we made a video so you can take a closer look at these amazing garments.

The Ladies Alice Pleated Dress and the Ladies Sahara Dress & Top are currently on sale fo only $6.50. If you join the BSD Facebook group, you can get a coupon code for an additional discount valid the first 24 hours after the release.

New Release: Sahara Top & Dress

March 7, 2017/2 Comments/in New Releases /by Melissa Prendergast

The Sahara: This sophisticated and elegant dress is a must have in your child’s wardrobe. The design features a low scoop front and back; sleeveless, short sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, long sleeves and fully lined bodice. The dress has a full circle skirt that your child will love to twirl in. The design comes with two lengths; top length (hits at the hips) and dress length (hits just above the knees). It is a perfect dress, for every day and all year round!

You will love it!! The bodice is meant to be quite fitted so it can hold the full circle skirt very well.

New Release: The Sahara Top & Dress

Our testers as always did an amazing job! They all worked so hard to make sure the fit was perfect. Check out some of the great Sahara tester photos below:

Sleeveless

The sleeveless Sahara is perfect for warm climates and those with hot summers. Plus, it’s super fashionable!

Short sleeves

Short sleeves are a year round staple for your child’s wardrobe. Modest and still cool, but easily layered with a cardigan or jacket, it’s perfect for any time.

3/4 sleeves

Like the short sleeves, 3/4 sleeves can work in all kinds of weather. Very nice for early spring and fall weather especially.

Long sleeves

Cold weather, here we come! The fully lined bodice and long sleeves will help with warmth in the cooler fall and winter months. Plus, it’s so beautiful.

Top Length

Dress Length

This length is so perfect for all the girls who love to twirl. And some of our testers got some exceptional action shots! Just look below and be amazed at the twirl and movement these dresses can achieve.

Amazing, right? The top can be paired with our Rose bubble shorts, Bow-tie leggings and Sansa Flare pants. Take a look:

The Sahara Top & Dress will be on its introductory sale of only $5.50 through Wednesday 15th March at midnight EST, so be sure and pick up your copy if you haven’t already.

Happy 2 Years to Us!! Plus, gifts for you!

February 24, 2017/41 Comments/in New Releases, News, Sales /by Melissa Prendergast

Holy smokes, guys! When I started on this journey, I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined that BSD would grow to what it is today. Bella Sunshine Designs started off as a hope and a dream, and it has grown to something so much more. I want to take a quick moment to say thank you to all of you that have believed in me along the way. Whether you were a frequent customer, a pattern tester, or just someone that cheered me on along the way, I could not have done all this without your continued support. I really mean that.

Gifts for you!

So I promised presents! And boy, have I got presents for you?! I have been keeping a couple HUGE secrets from you. As a huge thank you to all past customers, we have updated your BSD account with print shop files!!! That’s right. Go check your downloads section of the My Account page, and you will find A0 sized files that you can use to print out your pattern pieces at your favorite local print shop. Think of all that time you will save on taping those pattern pieces together? And even better news, all future BSD designs will now have these files included at no extra charge.

Next, we have TWO new releases today: The Reagan Raglan for Ladies & the Reagan Raglan for Kids And even more exciting, join our Facebook group and you can get these patterns for FREE!!! Yep! Just check the pinned post for the coupon code (please don’t share them outside of the group!). Check out the tester photos of the free Reagan Raglan for girls, boys and ladies!

Thank you to our sponsors!

On top of ALL that, we are giving away lots of patterns and fabrics from some of the best of the best! Check out our generous Sponsors below:

The Wolf and the Tree
Lulus fabrics UK
Designs by Call Ajaire
Itch to Stitch
Chalk and Notch
Threads and Stitches
Designer Stitch
Pickle Toes Patterns
Handmaiden’s Cottage
Pollywoggles
Serger Pepper Designs
Laela Jeyne Patterns
Pumpkin & Bunny Patterns
Patterns for Pirates
Peach Patterns
Sunday Girl Designs
5 out of 4 Patterns
Flosstyle
Sofilantjes
Ellie and Mac

Be sure to check out their sites. You might find something amazing to put on your wish list. You can use the form below to enter to win some cool prized from them (as well as some free patterns from BSD!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So closing the celebration, we are also having a pattern sale! For a limited time only, you can get 40% off all sewing patterns from Bella Sunshine Designs. Offer ends Sunday, March 5th at midnight (EST).

New Release: Lala Spring Top & Dress

February 14, 2017/0 Comments/in New Releases /by Melissa Prendergast

We want to introduce to you, Lala. This cute, 70’s vintage-styled, raglan-sleeved, oversized blouse has it all; optional neck ruffle detail, elasticized neckline, and sleeves which make it easy to put it on and off your little ones, billowing sleeves that you will love and a flared hem! The design requires no zipper or buttons which make it super fast and easy to sew and beginner friendly. The pattern is meant to be quite loose-fitting, which is extra comfortable to wear for your child.

New Release: The Lala Spring Top & Dress

The pattern includes 3 lengths: top length (hits the hips), Vintage-length (hit mid-thigh) and dress length (hits just above the knee). Take a look:

Top length with ruffles and long sleeves

Top length without ruffles and short sleeves

Vintage-length with ruffles and long sleeves

Vintage-length without ruffles and short sleeves

Dress-length with ruffles and long sleeves

Dress-length without ruffles and short sleeves

And our testers as always did an amazing job! They all worked so hard to make sure the fit was perfect. Check out some of the great tester photos below:

Amazing, right? Lala looks great with shorts, bloomers, pants and leggings, knee-high socks just to name a few. It is perfect for Spring/Fall and also can easily be layered year round.

The Lala Spring Top & Dress will be on its introductory sale of only $5.50 through Wednesday, February 22nd at midnight EST, so be sure and pick up your copy if you haven’t already.

New Release: Juliet Flutter Dress

January 26, 2017/0 Comments/in New Releases, News /by Melissa Prendergast

OMG, our newest release is Juliet is to die for. This dress is dreamy romantic and whimsy! Juliet has it all; bodice flutters both front and back, tucked center, button up back and beautiful back sash. Swoon! Both the bodice and the skirt are fully lined, so there are no itchy seams to irritate delicate skin. I did a photoshoot of my Bella and Lilly in their new Juliet, and I am so in love. Take a look:

The Juliet Flutter Dress

And my testers as always did an amazing job! They all worked so hard to make sure the fit was perfect. Check out some of the great tester photos below:

How adorable and perfect are these girls? So cute! But we have more!

Some have sass, some have class, but they are all absolute perfection! I can’t get over how perfect they all really are! I mean, some of these faces…

And the styling some of the testers did just blows me away. Accessories can definitely make any outfit pop!

Just a few more beautiful little dresses to share! There were just so many, it was impossible to pick only a few!

Amazing, right? They really knocked it out of the park! The Juliet Dress will be on its introductory sale of only $5.50 through Friday, February 3rd at midnight EST, so be sure and pick up your copy if you haven’t already.

New Release: The Sophia Tank, Tunic, and Dress!

New Release: The Sophia Tank, Tunic, and Dress

Girls Sophia

Ladies Sophia

An Emmaline Sew Along is Coming!

An Emmaline Sew Along is Coming!

New Release ~ Emmaline

New Release ~ Emmaline

Tester Photos

New Releases: Amelia Maxi, Dress & Top

The Amelia Maxi, Dress & Top

New Release: Josephine Dress & Top Featured in One Thimble Magazine!

Bella Sunshine Designs has been featured in One Thimble Magazine.

The Josephine Dress & Top

New Releases: Ladies Alice Pleated Dress & Ladies Sahara Dress & Top

The Alice Pleated Dress for Ladies

Sahara Dress & Top for Ladies

New Release: Sahara Top & Dress

New Release: The Sahara Top & Dress

Sleeveless

Short sleeves

3/4 sleeves

Long sleeves

Top Length

Dress Length

Happy 2 Years to Us!! Plus, gifts for you!

Gifts for you!

Thank you to our sponsors!

New Release: Lala Spring Top & Dress

New Release: The Lala Spring Top & Dress

New Release: Juliet Flutter Dress

The Juliet Flutter Dress

More About BSD

Pattern Help, Sewing Chat, and Awesome Friends:

Need Some Customer Service?

Categories

Archive

New Release: The Sophia Tank, Tunic, and Dress

Girls Sophia

Ladies Sophia

An Emmaline Sew Along is Coming!

New Release ~ Emmaline

Tester Photos

The Amelia Maxi, Dress & Top

Bella Sunshine Designs has been featured in One Thimble Magazine.

The Josephine Dress & Top

The Alice Pleated Dress for Ladies

Sahara Dress & Top for Ladies

New Release: The Sahara Top & Dress

Sleeveless

Short sleeves

3/4 sleeves

Long sleeves

Top Length

Dress Length

Gifts for you!

Thank you to our sponsors!

New Release: The Lala Spring Top & Dress

The Juliet Flutter Dress

More About BSD

Pattern Help, Sewing Chat, and Awesome Friends:

Need Some Customer Service?

Categories

Archive

Add A Knowledge Base Question !