5 Reasons Why Handmade Holidays Are The Best!

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Nobody is safe from the holiday season, but there are so many ways to make it great! Like really MAKE it great! Get it? Well, you will! Because I’m here to tell you why handmade holidays are the BEST holidays!

5 Reasons Why Handmade Holidays Are The Best!

Handmade gifts are more personal.

Sure you can buy gifts that will be personal to someone you love. But there are other ways to show your love too! Have a family member with a ton of graphic tees that they never wear? Turn it into a t-shirt quilt!

Handmade gifts can be personalized to the recipient.

If you have geeky friends and family, this is a HUGE bonus! Make something to symbolize something that they love that you can’t find in stores. Paint a picture of their favorite anime character and frame it. Of course, this can be said for non-geeky interests too!

The act of creating handmade gifts can be good for your mental health.

One of my main escapes from depression is sewing, I wrote a whole post on it here. The holidays are generally particularly hard on mental health for most people, so if creating is one of your escapes, just do it! You get a pick me up, and they get an amazing one-of-a-kind gift! It’s a win-win!

Handmade gifts show that you care enough to take the time.

The people in your life that know about handmade things will appreciate the time you took out of your life to create something special just for them. It shows how much you care that you took that time rather than just carting something online (which I HAVE BEEN guilty of! lol).

Handmade gifts could potentially save you a lot of money.

If you have a ton of fabric and/or crafting supplies sitting around and the time to do something with them, handmade holidays can take a lot of financial strain and stress off of your holiday plate! Making handmade gifts is very economical if you already have the supplies, aside from being rewarding and all of the other awesome reasons I’ve already mentioned above!

So, if you have the ability, the time, and the supplies, make this season the season of handmade!

Do you have any handmade gifts to make this year? We’de love to hear about them in the comments! And join our Facebook group for more fun and sharing, we’d love to see you there!

Giving Thanks, Bella Sunshine Style

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It is the season of Thanksgiving, of togetherness, of big family get-togethers and bigger meals. It is the time of year we give thanks for the things we cherish the most in this world. And this year we thought we’d share some of that with you. So today you get to hear from (most of) our staff to see what we’re thankful for.

Giving Thanks, Bella Sunshine Style

Sheila

This year I am thankful for my husband (and best friend), who puts up with me and all of my flaws. I am thankful for my children, even when they are pushing ALL of my buttons. I am thankful for our health, and for our better circumstances. And I am thankful for my friends, I would never be the same without them… they’re amazing to me and for me.

Danielle

I am thankful that my husband got home from deployment safely and we can spend Thanksgiving together. 

Maggie

I’m thankful for my first year of marriage, living in a new city, and my job!

Dierdre

I’m so thankful for my friends and family and to have a job this year. I’m also super thankful to now own a home and for my husband’s new job.

An

I’m thankful that my husband is such a great guy and supports my endeavors in sewing!

Rose

I am thankful for my wonderful family. My super amazing and helpful husband and our 3 beautiful kids.

Pam

There are so many things I’m thankful for this year but one thing comes to mind.  I would have to say TIME, something you can’t buy or request.  Time with my husband, time with my mother before she passed away, time with my dad, time with my new little grandson, time to focus on my new job and time spent with my daughters, their family, and my six grandchildren.

Melissa (Our Fearless Leader)

I am thankful to now be a family of five! Our little David is precious and our girls, Bella and Lilly are the best big sisters! I’m also super grateful to be sewing again after having to take a few months off.

We’d love to hear what you’re thankful for too! So please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. It goes without saying that we are ALL extremely grateful for YOU as well! Our fans, our friends, the reason we do what we do and why we love it so much! So from all of our families to yours, have a wonderful Thanksgiving season!

And as a quick reminder, don’t forget that our entire shop full of patterns is on sale at a 40% discount through Cyber Monday!

Black Friday Blowout Sale!

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We all love a good sale, right? We had a great one planned for Black Friday. But then something happened. Our Facebook group hit 2o,000 members! Exciting, right? Well, we had to do something for that! Party time! In honor of the upcoming holiday and thus HUGE milestone, we’re having a Black Friday Blowout SALE!

Black Friday Blowout Sale!

 

Details are simple. Everything is on sale! Awesome, right? It gets better! EVERYTHING in the pattern shop is 40% off! What?!?! AND It’s all on sale through Cyber Monday! Woot!

With winter well on its way (here in Wisconsin, anyway) I want to share a few of my absolute favorite patterns for cold weather sewing. Bella Sunshine definitely has more than a few great ones!

Gabriella’s

Gabriella’s Winter Coat is the only sew on this list that only comes in girls sizing, but it is such an amazing pattern! This fully lined little coat looks store bought once done, and since it was designed for wool, it could easily be one of the warmest coats in her closet. I won’t lie, it isn’t easy, but it is SO worth every tiny bit of effort it takes! And for only $5.40 right now on sale, how can you not?

Apple Cardigan

The Apple cardigan is great for those transitional days, or cooler days (if you live in a warmer climate). It’s also perfect for layering over long sleeves or under coats for a little added bit of warmth with a fashionable flair. The extended sizing makes it great for mommy and me pairings too! You can get the bundle with ALL of the sizes for only $8.40 through Cyber Monday!

Sansa Flares

You can’t have winter without pants. At least not in most of the US you can’t. The Sansa Flares work well because of the flare. Perfect for boots, right? They’re also flattering on SO many different body types! And can we talk about how adorable they are on the little ones? I can’t even. Plus, the price can’t be beat. The full bundle is on sale for $9.00!

Maggie

Maggie is a great staple because it can fit all the seasons. Her versatility is why she will forever be one of my favorites. In the winter months, the long sleeves are perfect. And you can make it in any of the three lengths without a problem. And being a busty girl myself, I just have to mention the built-in full bust adjustment that is included in all Bella Sunshine women’s patterns to my fellow curvy girls!  During this sale, you can get the full range of sizes, children’s through women’s for $8.40!

Emmaline

Most people see her as more of a sundress, but have you SEEN some of the formal looking dresses made from Emmaline? She lends herself to elegance. And the maxi length certainly works with the colder weather too! Plus, you have three different sleeve lengths and two different skirt styles to choose from which makes her versatile like Maggie. And who doesn’t love getting multiple looks all in one pattern? She’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for something with beauty AND comfort for all of those rockin’ holiday parties! Get all of the sizes in one bundle for just $10.80 through our Black Friday sale!

 

And while you’re grabbing these gems for cheap, don’t forget to also grab the Eden Leggings and Reagan Raglan for free! They’re also great choices for cold weather projects!

If you haven’t joined our Facebook group yet, you should consider it… There might just be an extra little surprise coming out in there for Black Friday! (*wink wink nudge nudge*)

Sewing and Depression: A Personal Journey

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Today we’re going to get a little serious. And maybe a bit personal. For me, very personal, but you’ll understand that here in a minute. Today we’re going to talk about depression. And how sewing can help it for some people. Sewing and depression don’t really seem like they’d go together on the surface, but I can assure you, for many they do. Let me tell you my story.

Sewing and Depression: A Personal Journey

I learned to sew fairly young. I was 13. But like many of my hobbies, my involvement with it came and went over the years. I was also into cross stitching, bead loom work, painting, singing, reading, writing short plays and stories… so many things. Sewing always seemed to come back around to me though.

Depression was something I struggled with through much of my childhood and young adulthood. There was a level of abuse involved, although I won’t go into detail there. There was also a period in my young life where my family was homeless. Suffice it to say, I went through some pretty dark times. Enter the baby of our family.

A New Beginning

My daughter is now 5. And I’ve been sewing solid for a vast majority of her life. Post-partum hit me HARD after she came along. And I had quit my job to care for her due to the high cost of daycare. My husband and I figured that it wasn’t worth me working if my whole paycheck was just going to go to a daycare anyway. So I stayed home. And the baby blues got me. Couple that with being alone with an infant every day, not seeing friends, not being able to socialize… I was in a bad bad place. I needed something.

One day I saw a sewing machine in Walmart. I saw a machine on clearance and pointed it out to my husband. We didn’t have a lot of money, but he bought it for me. We picked up a paper pattern and a little bit of fabric and took it all home. I don’t think I can even begin to describe the feeling I got when I sat down in front of that machine for the first time. A great weight was lifted off of me at that moment.

Now, the baby being a baby meant that I didn’t get a LOT of sewing done at a time, but I did what I could as I could. It was freeing. Sewing gave me a sense of purpose. It gave me a great feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when a project was finished.

Why It Helps Me

I think for me, a lot of it is the order of it. The methodical nature of it. It just all makes sense. You can make order and beauty out of a flat piece of fabric. You cut the pieces and you fit them together to make something new in the world that didn’t exist before. It gives me such peace to this day. And when I’m turning a flat piece of fabric into something amazing, I don’t have time to dwell on the negatives. I’m in the now and doing something I truly love.

It started with tiny baby dresses… But now I make all kinds of things for all different kinds and sizes of people. And I love every minute that I get to create.

Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out

Depression is hard. And everybody copes with it differently. But sometimes we all need a little extra help. If you’re struggling, please reach out. Try phoning a friend or a parent, send a text, hop on a messenger. Or, if you don’t feel like any of those are viable options, you can call 1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) to speak to a real person any time of any day. Someone is ALWAYS there. They also have an online chat if using a phone causes too much anxiety. Just do what you need to do to be the best you. You are loved. And you ARE worth it!

Same Patterns, Different Body Types

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How often do you see a super cute pattern, but then stop to wonder, “What will that look like on ME?” I do it all the time. Luckily, Bella Sunshine Designs creates patterns in a very wide range of sizes. And the plus sizes are drafted with those bodies in mind, they aren’t just graded up. So the fit is still flattering on plus-sized women. Awesome, right? Let me show you some of the amazingness that Bella Sunshine Designs has and how amazing these looks can be on all kinds of body types!

Same Patterns, Different Bodies

I’m just going to show you a few examples from different garment categories. Let’s start with tops.

Shirts

First, we’ll look at our newest release, Sophia. Here is one of my very favorite Sophia tanks on the smaller end of our size range.

Beautiful, right? It hugs in all the right places and flares just right to make it flattering. Now, for a size on the larger end of our spectrum.

Still absolutely gorgeous. Still fits and flares in all the right places! And when you see them next to each other?

You can certainly tell how expertly and carefully each size was drafted to get the best, most flattering fit.

Shall we look at another? How about our Maggie top?

This is a more fitted style, which makes some people nervous. But it looks great on her, right? So let’s look at an example of larger sizing.

Still so flattering and cute! I just love how confident she looks!

Bottoms

Now we’ll take a peek at two of our amazing bottom patterns, the Tess Tulip Shorts, and the Sansa Flared Leggings. First up, Tess Tulip Shorts!

She looks so cool and breezy, doesn’t she? I love how they hug her hips but still have a beautiful flat front waistband. The plus size looks much the same.

Flat front, hugged hips, perfect fit! I really adore how amazing everything looks in the plus sizes of these shorts!

I remember when our group members were begging for an adult version of the Sansa Flare pants… And then dreams became reality!

The fitted tops and flared legs give these a great funky retro feel while still being super comfy and stylish.

If it’s possible, I think the plus sizes are almost more dramatic in the flair of the legs, which makes me love them even more. Doesn’t our An look stunning in these pants?

Dresses

Dresses are always a huge summer staple wardrobe piece. And Bella Sunshine has SO many of them! One of our newer dresses is Emmaline. She has SO many different options, she’s perfect for just about anyone.

This is definitely a breathtaking example of Emmaline. From casual to formal to traditional to quirky, Emmaline can fit any bill.

This is a more simple version in one of our larger sizes. Still perfection in my eyes. Even though the design is a bit simpler, this picture also shows the impact fabric choice can have. This dress would fit right in during a formal event!

Our final examples will be our best-selling Sahara dress.

The fitted bodice and circle skirt are so flattering! I also love that it sits right at the natural waist.

And the waistline is one of the things that makes the Sahara SO flattering in the larger sizes! The flare of that circle skirt just brings out the femininity and curves in everyone who wears her! It’s no wonder it’s one of our top sellers!

Now that you’ve seen a range of examples, we hope you’ll give some selfish sewing a try! There are so many amazing patterns out there that will look GREAT on you, no matter what your size might be!

If you want to see more pictures of our patterns made in all kinds of sizes, please join our Facebook group! We have posts made by our members every day with things they’ve made and we’d love to see your sews too!

Great Sews for the 4th!

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Independence day is sneaking up fast, and who doesn’t love to dress themselves or their kids for the occasion? Today, we’ll share some of our favorite patterns for hanging out and watching all the fireworks!

Great Sews for the 4th!

Amelia Top, Tunic and Dress

This pretty dress is the perfect knit dress for the holiday. With options for skirt and sleeve lengths, so can make just about anyone happy. Plus, the knit fabric makes it super comfy for a long day of celebrating. And better yet? Think if all of the amazing mommy/daughter options! It’s perfect!

Felicity Top and Dress

A perfect sew for girly girls, the frills and twirl of this dress are sure to please! A lightweight cotton will make this cool and comfortable on top of being fashionable. And what girl doesn’t love a little ruffle?

Maggie Top, Tunic and Dress

Maggie is the perfect versatile piece. From top to tunic to dress, short to long sleeves, you can match anyone’s style. And this is another style that would make great sets for family-matching as it comes in children’s and ladies’ sizing.

Rose Bubble Shorts

Got a smaller girl to dress? Consider the Rose Bubble Shorts! It’s cute bubble style is SO cute on little bums, with plenty of room for a diaper. And it’s also cute on bigger girls! Perfect for running and playing, these are a great choice for a summer holiday outfit!

Sahara Top, Tunic and Dress

Yet another great choice if you want to sew a matching set, Sahara is stylish and comfortable and best of all, twirly! The lined top means no neckband for a beautiful finish. Relax and dance away the day and night in style in one of our best-selling designs!

Violet Top, Tunic and Dress

An older, but beautiful design, our violet tank has a little something for everyone. The multiple straps, the optional flounce, and the different length options really make this easy to customize to many different tastes. Plus, it’s another one of our many patterns that come in both ladies’ and children’s sizing.

 

So which of these patterns will you be sewing? Did we miss one of your favorites? Please let us know in the comments! And join us in the Bella Sunshine Facebook group for news, games, giveaways, and more! We love to have fun and we’d love to have you join us!

5 Reasons Sewing Is The Best Hobby Ever

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I began my sewing hobby when I was around 13 years old. I’ve always loved it. And I’ve strayed away a few times. But I always find myself coming back to my machine and the fabric to let my creativity shine. Why? Because sewing is the best hobby ever! Let me tell you why…

5 Reasons Sewing Is The Best Hobby Ever

Express your style like only you can!

Whether it’s clothing, quilting, or home decor, you can put your own style stamp on everything you make. Nobody is just like you, so nobody will create something exactly the same as you. From geek to floral, bold geometric patterns to pale pastels, make it what best represents you and let the compliments roll in!

Clothing tailored for a perfect fit every time!

One of the most beautiful things about sewing is being able to alter a pattern to fit your body. Off the rack clothing can be good, but typically even the best garments will have small fit issues. By making your own clothing, you can tailor the patterns you use to get a perfect fit every time.

Dress your kids in boutique pieces without the boutique prices!

Do you LOVE the look of the boutique clothing but balk at the prices? That was me. I was so in love, but there was no way I could afford those gorgeous clothes for my little girl. Enter my sewing hobby. Yes, it’s more expensive than buying clothes at those large discount chains, but you can get the most adorable boutique looks for a fraction of the boutique pricing. Just make a few pieces for your child, dress them up, and wait for the compliments to roll in.

MAJOR Bragging rights!

Just think of the looks you do/will get when someone compliments something and you can say “I made that!” It’s a fantastic feeling. I always feel such pride when my daughter loves a dress I’ve made and then SHE tells everyone, “MY mommy made this!” as she’s twirling around in it. It’s amazing. And everyone should experience that.

The stress relief!

This is my #1 reason to sew. Sitting in front of my machine, listening to it hum… that is my happy place. Turning a flat piece of fabric into something amazing makes me feel warm and fuzzy. There’s just something about it that speaks to my soul and makes a bad day feel good again. I have never found anything that is as relaxing to me as sewing is.

Well, that’s it for this week’s blog! What do you do to relax? Why do you think sewing is the best hobby ever? Please share in the comments below! And feel free to join our amazing Facebook community to share your triumphs and troubles as well as get help with ALL of your BSD questions! We’d love yo have you!

Interview With A Tester ~ Veteran Edition

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Last week we spoke with Sarah Beasley, a newer pattern tester. She had some amazing answers and insight! This week, for out interview with a tester, we caught up with, An Staute, veteran tester and BSD international admin. Let’s see what she had to say!

Interview With A Tester ~ Veteran Edition

How long have you been testing for Bella Sunshine?

I think 1 year to the day almost!

What made you decide to apply to be a tester?

Amelia! I saw that call and was sold! I was actually very nervous, because it seemed so professional!

 

What is your favorite thing about Bella Sunshine patterns?

I love how the patterns are so well drafted and lots of thinking went into them. I love testing these patterns cause it’s fun to be part of the process and we usually have a lot of fun in the process

What is your favorite part of the testing process?

Seeing what other testers come up with, the friendships I got out of it and our little twirl offs.

I love that! Which pattern has been your favorite to test? And why?

Amelia, because it was such an inspiring experience. I had no clue how to really fit for my body, until BSD taught me. I learned so so much from that test! And it’s just a stunning dress!

What types of patterns do you hope to test in the future?

A classy jumpsuit!

Oooh! That would be amazing! Ok, last question! What advice to you have for other tester hopefuls?

To come join us! It’s fun and educational!

 

What a great interview! I love the answers I got from both ladies so much! I hope you have enjoyed some of An’s favorite pictures that she’s shared with us from some of her pattern tests. And we look forward to many more tests with her! If you’ve enjoyed our interview with a tester mini-series, let us know in the comments! What are some questions you’d like to ask our testers?

If you haven’t already, please consider joining our Facebook group for fun, games, sharing, and support! We’d love to have you! See you next next week!

Interview With a Tester- Newbie Edition

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We all know that a pattern must go through multiple incarnations and many rounds of testing to get it just right. How does it get there? With the help of testers, of course! So we thought we’d interview a new and an experienced tester. And now you can learn what it’s like in the life and mind of a BSD tester!

Interview With a Tester- Newbie Edition

For the newer tester, I interviewed Sarah Beasley. She’s a newer tester with Bella Sunshine and we thought she would give a great fresh perspective on what it’s like!

Here’s our conversation:

How long have you been testing for Bella Sunshine?

Tess Tulip shorts were the first, so I think last summer.

What made you decide to apply to be a tester?

I had done a couple with other designers, but never shorts! This was the first pattern test for bottoms for me. I have a little girl who has bad eczema and polyester gives her hives. This was a way for me to see if I could make her some cute bottoms and control the material she was exposed to.

That’s so sweet! What is your favorite thing about Bella Sunshine patterns?

I love how the tutorials are not overly complicated and give a beautiful finish. Simple ways to enclose seams for a finished look on the inside as well. Plus I love the community. I am a very visual person and if I don’t understand a step then there are usually 5 people ready to jump in and help.

What is your favorite part of the testing process?

Learning new techniques! With every BSD sew I have learned something new to me and I am able to take it and apply it to other projects which is awesome. I also love the picture taking though all I have is my cell phone.

Which pattern has been your favorite to test? And why?

Tough choice. I think Rebel Girl Party dress. I love the back cutout and the pleats! It is the one design I have made multiples of and my kiddo loves the twirl factor she gets out of it and I love another option besides gathering. I made a rainbow one and it is her favorite dress to date!

That’s awesome! I love rainbows. So what types of patterns do you hope to test in the future?

I sent a couple of recommendations in the last poll for ideas! #1 has to be some boys or unisex patterns. I have two girls I test for often and my little man gets left out! He is the one that loves to help me the most! #2 I saw an awesome pin of what I call a mash between the Sansa and an overall! So some more bottoms would be great as well! #3 I will eventually get over my fear of knits and so some knit tops would be great!

You have some really GREAT ideas! Ok, last question! What advice do you have for other tester hopefuls?

To keep on trying and ask questions! Even if you don’t understand a step chances are someone else doesn’t either or a different way to write it for a total beginner! Be willing to try something a little outside your comfort zone and the results over time will be amazing! I love pattern testing as I make myself learn something new or try something new! So sometimes even if my end result isn’t perfect, I am still proud of myself.

We want to thank Sarah very much for her time. She gave us some really great answers and we hope you enjoyed climbing into her mind about testing! Next week we’ll dive into an interview with An Staute for a more experienced tester’s perspective! We hope you’ll join us!

5 Reasons to Rock Out with PDF Patterns

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If you know Bella Sunshine, then you at least have a basic knowledge of what PDF patterns are. But what makes them so great? Why buy those over paper patterns? I have some great reasons to share with you to prove why PDF patterns rock!

5 Reasons to Rock Out with PDF Patterns

 

PDF Patterns Make Midnight Shopping Fun

We all get the urge to shop at odd hours. Or maybe you learn that your kid needs a specific outfit for school the next day that doesn’t exist in their closet. What do you do? With PDF patterns, late night shopping is so easy! You don’t even have to get dressed. Just browse, click, buy, print! You can’t argue with shopping in your PJs without having to leave your couch.

PDF Patterns Often Have the All-Important Layers Feature

Paper patterns can be confusing when you’re trying to get the right size cut. The layers feature that all Bella Sunshine patterns have make that aggravation a thing of the past. Only print the size you NEED to make the confusion go away. Yes, you have to assemble the pattern, but this tutorial will help make that easy too and you’re on your way!

You Can Reprint PDF Patterns Anytime

Another awesome PDF feature is that you store it on your computer. Or a flash drive. Or somewhere out in the digital cloud. So they take up SO much less space. And if you need a different size, you misplace a piece, something gets ripped, or any other myriad of things that might happen, you can just reprint what you need and keep on keeping on. Unlike paper patterns, where if it tears, you have to oh so carefully try to repair it. Or if you lose a piece, you have to re-purchase it. Or if you need a different size… well, that’s a whole other possible can of worm and brings me to my next point…

PDF Patterns Typically Have Wider Size Ranges

I was always discouraged to buy paper patterns when you only got 3 or 4 sizes and they were so expensive. But with PDF patterns, you get a much wider range of sizes (for example, BSD patterns range from 6 months to 12 years for kids and 0-30 for ladies). And with Bella Sunshine and a few other designers, you can also get Mommy and Me pattern bundles! I’ll be so sad when my baby girl doesn’t want to be like her mama anymore. (Pictured is Clementine)

Personal Service

Finally, one of the BEST bonuses to PDF patterns (in my opinion) is the personalized service you can receive. Since PDF patterns are largely created by indie designers, they often have Facebook groups where you can get to know them as people, get help from them, make requests for particular designs, etc. I LOVE being able to see the person behind the business and know I’m supporting a real person and their family, and not just some faceless corporation. Melissa, the beautiful and amazing mind behind BSD, has always amazed her fans with her sweet nature and her eagerness to provide the best possible service to her customers.

There are more reasons to shop and love PDF… I could go on forever. But I’ll leave you with this. If you want to sew clothing that will fit, with minimum aggravation, and with outstanding personalized customer service, PDF is always the way to go! Why do YOU love PDF patterns? Share your reasons in the comments below!

If you haven’t “met” Melissa or her team, or would love to share you projects, questions, or just join in the general sense of community, join our Facebook group and jump in! We’d love to have you!

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