Posted on July 5, 2018April 11, 2019 by Elaine

A Swimsuit for a Special Doll

On the 4th of July, I decided to take a break from sewing fleece car seat ponchos and do a little sewing for fun. I already had a project in mind. I wanted to make a swimsuit and beach bag for my granddaughter’s 18″ My Life doll. Aaliyah is six years old, and she loves playing with My Life dolls! I enjoy watching her change their clothes and create scenarios for them while she’s playing. I knew that she didn’t have any swimwear for her dolls, so the project choice was an easy one.

This is Aaliyah with one of her dolls that looks a lot like her. The doll is modeling her new swimsuit and swimming goggles. Aaliyah is modeling her pink cast that she’s been wearing for the past three weeks.

Project Inspiration

My inspiration for the fabric selection for this project came from a kitchen towel that I found on clearance at Walmart. When I saw the towel, it reminded me of a beach towel. It was a little larger than most doll beach towels, but I knew Aaliyah wouldn’t mind.

I chose a yellow floral swimsuit fabric for the main part of the swimsuit. I used a black and white polka dot fold over elastic for the edges of the swimsuit. The polka dots in the elastic mimic the black and white pattern on the towel.

For the beach bag, I chose yellow with a black and white trim again. But this time, I added a coral color print for the pocket to coordinate with the coral letters on the towel. I chose blue jelly bracelets for the beach bag handles.

Swimsuit Details

Everyone’s favorite part of the swimsuit is the bum ruffles! This detail on this particular pattern is just adorable! The pattern is from Lee & Pearl. It’s their Retro Ruffled Swimsuit Pattern.

I chose a black and white check swimsuit fabric for the bottom ruffle with a solid yellow for the top ruffle. These particular fabrics were available from Lee & Pearl, too, and I’ve had them in my stash for a few years.

This project reminded me how much I enjoy making doll clothes. I love the process of choosing a pattern and fabrics with no complicated fitting issues to work around.

It’s pretty awesome to hear Aaliyah tell me how amazing I am, too!

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Posted on April 10, 2018April 23, 2019 by Elaine — Leave a comment

Why I Became an Entrepreneur

When I was a child, I remember people asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’m pretty sure I never once responded to that question by saying, “I want to be an entrepreneur.” As a child, I had never once considered the possibility of owning my own handmade business. Yet, here I am, sole proprietor of Elaine Searer, Sewing & Alterations, and I’m loving it!

Three Reasons I Started My Own Business

My top three reasons for owning my own handmade business are as follows:
1. Opportunity to work in my own home
2. Setting my own schedule (except during my busy season)
3. Satisfaction of doing work that is appreciated by my customers.
Making fleece car seat ponchos

Not only do I make custom items, but I also do alterations. I find it extremely satisfying to take a garment that someone couldn’t use and turn it into something that fits and works for that person. I feel that same satisfaction when I take two pieces of fleece fabric and make a car seat poncho that will keep a child warm all winter long.
Paperwork is part of my business My husband and I have created a comfortable, practical sewing studio in the basement of our home. It’s one of my favorite places to spend time. I am very thankful that I can contribute financially in a way that is enjoyable and fulfilling.
Choosing snaps for a car seat poncho

Flexibility

Before I became an entrepreneur, I was a high school English teacher. I liked that job, too. The time I spent in the classroom with my students was especially enjoyable for me. I did find, however, that I was not well-suited to running my life by a system of bells. I craved an opportunity to be more in charge of my own schedule.

Owning my own business doesn’t mean that I can work only when I feel like it, but my schedule is flexible. My husband, Jack, and I start every day with coffee and a “business meeting” in our living room. We love our local customers whom we see face-to-face. It’s fun to follow our packages that are sold in my Etsy shop and here in my own online store as they travel across the U.S.A. and Canada. Our customers often make our day with their orders and positive feedback for my products.
Handmade fleece car seat poncho
For right now, I’m fully convinced that I’m doing exactly what God created me to do right here in the space that He’s given me. If anyone would ask me what I’d like to be doing with my life, I’d proudly tell them, “I’m already doing it!”

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Posted on March 27, 2017April 25, 2019 by Elaine — Leave a comment

Licensed Fabrics Are Off Limits for My Business

Licensed fabrics that have favorite TV and movie characters on them are quite popular especially with children. I often receive requests to make ponchos or bibs using licensed fabrics from Disney, John Deere, NFL teams and other companies.

The Facts About Licensed Fabrics:

If you’ve ever bought licensed fabrics, you may have noticed that the selvage (edge) of the fabric is usually printed with these words: “For home use only. Not intended for commercial use”.

That warning means just what it says. Those characters, phrases, and even color combinations may have been copyrighted by the original owner. Using those words or images for business gain is not legal. Some small business owners believe that a multi-million dollar corporation is not going to concern themselves with a small business’s infringement of their intellectual property.

The truth is that Disney, Marvel, and other companies HAVE filed suits against small business owners who have used their images, color combinations, and copyrighted phrases without first purchasing a license to do so.

My Policy:

I have chosen not to sell items made from licensed fabrics. It is so tempting to bend the rules to make a poncho with Ana and Elsa, Minions, or Minnie Mouse fabric. But the bottom line is that I am not willing to jeopardize my business by infringing on the rights of other businesses.

It is perfectly legal to make gifts, donations, and personal items with licensed fabrics. It is also legal to make items from licensed fabrics if my customer purchases the fabric and delivers it to me. In that case, I’m performing a service, not selling a product.

Just this morning, I made this Paw Patrol bib for my sister’s granddaughter. While I was happy to indulge little Brinley’s obsession with Paw Patrol characters, I can guarantee that you will never see licensed fabrics in my Etsy shop or in my Facebook group. I’m playing it safe with my business, and I trust that my customers will understand my reasons for that.

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