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Roxanne Rodriguez Portfolio

My Sewing Journal: Custom Children's Projects- Volume I

2/26/2020

5 Comments

 
As a Freelance Fashion Designer,  specializing in Women's Wear, I don't often receive client requests for Children's Clothes or for other children's sewing projects. Every once in a while, however, I do receive such a request. Recently, I finished my first sewing project of the year for a dear friend of mine, Custom Keepsake Teddy Bears, which was a first for me! As that project came to completion, along
with the recent end of 2019, and the beginning of a new decade, I began to reflect back on the few Children's and Baby Projects that I have thus completed in my sewing and design career. 


In the last two years or so, I have only worked on a hand full of items for babies, or children. You may recall one such project, that I completed in October 2018, when I had the privilege of creating Dance Costumes for the P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group. You can check out my Blog Article detailing behind the scenes design studio details of that project by clicking HERE. 

In addition to the P.R.O.U.D Modesto Girl's Dance Costume project, I have created the following children's projects for my own family, friends, or for my clients... 
Custom "Bath Time" Baby Toy Holder 
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Work in Progress: Hand Stitched Embroidery, and Hand-Cut & Stitched Bathtub Applique, on Felt. By Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, SkyLynne, in 2017, I checked out a book from the local public library that featured homemade craft projects for Baby! In that book, a plastic Baby Bath Toy Holder was described. The photo in the book was far different then the one I created, but the concept was the same. Instead of purchasing plastic by the yard, as suggested in the book, I purchased a brand new clear Shower Curtain, and cut the curtain to my desired dimensions. By using the existing Shower Curtain, I was able to keep the metal rivets that already existed, and use them as a way to attach the toy holder to the towel bars on my shower door. 
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This is the finished "Bath Time" Baby Toy Holder that I Created. It features Hand-Stitched Embroidery, Hand-Cut & Stitched Bathtub Applique, and Hand-Cut Rubber Ducky Applique design detail, as well as three clear pockets. Created by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel.
To achieve the idea I had in mind, I Hand-Stitched the words "Bath Time" in Embroidery, and I then cut and stitched a Bathtub Shaped Applique design which I attached to yellow felt. I also cut out a Rubber Ducky shape, also in felt, as well as the eye and duck-bill pieces. I sandwiched the felt details in between two sheets of plastic. On the top layer of plastic, I cut out and sewed three clear pockets, that would later be used for toy storage. The pockets have drain holes punched through the bottom to allow for drainage of wet toys. 
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I loved the final outcome of this project! It is a fun piece to display in my children's bathroom, that is both decorational and functional! My family and I have gotten much use out of this toy holder over the past two years, and it has held up quite well! 
Custom High Chair Pillow 
After my daughter, SkyLynne was born, my Mother-in-Law, gave our family an old high chair that was my husbands when he was a tot back in the 1980's! I loved the colors, and simplicity of the 1980's design! After a fresh coat of orange paint on the tray of the high chair, and with the addition of a safety latch to secure the tray down, I then created a custom pillow to help support our growing infant. I used scrap fabric, that I already had on hand, in my fabric supply bin, of the same colors, black, orange, yellow, and green, that the High Chair originally featured. 

​Take a look at the pillow that I created for our high chair! I am sure that it will be a treasured keepsake, along with the high chair for many more generations to come! 
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Work in Progress: Cutting fabric for a piece work pillow, that matches the original colors of our High Chair!
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Here is our High Chair, with a fresh coat of orange paint on the tray, along with the custom pillow I created to help support our growing infant!
Custom Children's Mermaid Inspired Pants
In the Summer of 2017, my oldest daughter, Iyska, and I attended one of my baby showers, that happened to be Mermaid Themed! We were encouraged to dress up in Mermaid Inspired clothing! My creative daughter, came up with her own design for a pair of pants, that featured bell-bottom design details that resembled the fin of a mermaid. I drafted the pant pattern and created the pants for her. Iyska then painted her own t-shirt with fabric paint, while I helped her glue pebbles and seashells to a headband to complete this Children's Mermaid Inspired look! She loved it! 
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Children's Mermaid Inspired Pants. Designed by Iyska Rangel, Created and Constructed by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel.
Custom Children's Greek Play Costumes
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Custom Children's Greek Play Costumes, created by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel.
Here is a photo of my two oldest children, Tenzing and Iyska, who both had parts in their school play, "Theseus and the Minotaur". All of the children who participated in this play were required to supply their own costumes and props based on their character. Since I can sew, I created these Greek Inspired Costumes for my kiddos, complete with Homemade Cardboard Grecian Sandals!
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I drafted the patterns myself using each child's specific measurements. 
They were so happy with their costumes! Their increased confidence was evident in both of their outstanding performances! I can't wait to create more costumes for upcoming school plays! 
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Quick sketch of measurements and design concepts for my children's Greek Costumes!
Baby Couture 
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This is the lovely fabric from my clients Wedding Gown. I used the train of her dress to create a toddler's formal gown, bonnet and booties, out of the fabric!
In the Spring of 2018, I was hired to create a fantastically creatively fun piece for one of my clients. The project was to create a baby's formal gown by using the material from my client's wedding dress! The wedding dress was an amazingly beautiful beaded lace gown with a long detachable train. I was honored to have been chosen for this special task! 

Because the wedding dress had a huge train that separated from the wedding gown, I was able to use the train fabric, leaving the beautiful wedding dress intact for future generations. The fabric included lovely beaded lace applique, that I took apart very carefully. All of the pieces I created, a Baby Formal Gown, a Bonnet, and Beaded Booties, are made of the original wedding dress material. I removed all of the beaded lace applique from the original fabric, and then reattached the beaded lace to the bonnet, booties, and dress. The final outcome was perfect! 
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Formal Wear: Baby Bonnet and Baby Booties, by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel
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Formal Wear: Baby Couture by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel
Check out this video featuring Behind the Scenes Photos of this project in my Designer Workroom: 
E.T. Pillow
I love all things E.T.! Last summer, I was in the fabric store, and my eye instantly caught sight of this marvelous E.T. novelty fabric! I couldn't help myself, and I bought several yards to make myself a fun skirt (Click Here to see my Vintage Inspired E.T. Skirt)! I used the leftover fabric remnants to construct a lovely little pillow for my daughter's room! I love it!

​(My sister, Desiree, thinks that E.T. is absolutely creepy! I can't wait to surprise Desiree by wearing my new E.T. Skirt to her house! He he...)
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A close-up photo of the Novelty ET Fabric that I purchased!
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Here is a picture of the Custom Children's Pillow I created using some of the Novelty ET Fabric I had purchased!
(Can you find my E.T. Doll in the photo of my E.T. Pillow? I snuck him in there just for Desiree! I hope she is reading this article and is creeped out! Muah ha ha...)
And now for my most recent completed children's project...
Custom Keepsake Teddy Bears
A very dear friend of mine, Megan, experienced tremendous loss, when her father passed away several years ago. Since his passing, she, and her only sister, have been married, and have had children of their own. Unfortunately, these grandchildren were born after their Grandpa passed away, and the children were never able to met him personally. Megan asked me if I could turn shirts that belonged to her father into a keepsake teddy bear for her son. I loved the idea, and agreed instantly, especially since I know the family so well. When Megan brought to me her father's shirts, I was pleasantly surprised that there were four shirts, with enough fabric, that would allow me to create four separate teddy bears! I didn't tell her that I made four until I presented the final project to her. My idea was that she, her sister, as well as both of their children would have their very own keepsake teddy bear to cherish, or she can do whatever she wishes with them! She loved the idea and she loved the teddy bears!

Check out my Work In Progress photos of this project, as well as what the shirts looked like before I transformed them into bears!
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Photo of Shirts (Before)
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Work in Progress: Bear Pieces...
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Work in Progress: Unstuffed Bear Heads
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Work in Progress: Unstuffed Bear Legs...
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Final Details: Button Eyes and Embroidered Noses...
Check out the finished bears: 
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The four finished Keepsake Teddy Bears, made out of four Men's Button Front Shirts.
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Close up of the Hand-Stitched Embroidery on the Teddy Bears chest. I embroidered, by hand, the name "Chuck" on each of the four bears.
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Ready for delivery! Thank you to American Express for supporting Small Businesses, and supplying me with shop supplies every year, including these "Shop Small" Totes!
Making these Teddy Bears was a fun project, and I definitely learned much in how to improve my Stuffed Animal making skills! It was especially hard for my youngest two daughters, ages 2 1/2, and 1 to watch me create Teddy Bears that they could not play with! I have since been inspired to create a Fig from Tumble Leaf Doll, as well as a few Frida Kahlo Inspired Dolls! I will keep you readers updated on those projects! 
That completes my recap of the sewing projects that I have made for children or babies! Although these types of projects are not my professional specialty, it is definitely fun to create sewing projects that are different than what I normally do, and that are interestingly creative! 
I hope that you enjoyed my Blog Post!
Which project did you enjoy viewing the most? Do you have any ideas for upcoming children/baby sewing or design projects? 
Please leave me a comment below with any of your feedback or opinions!
Until we meet again, Dear Reader!
​ Have a exceptional day!
Related Links: 
My Sewing Journal: Satin Stitch and a 3T Ladybug Dress 
Creating Youth Costumes for the P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group 
An Interview with My First Sewing Student!
5 Comments
betinfo link
11/22/2022 08:08:18 pm

It was a successful post.These types of posts are very helpful.

Reply
mrbahis link
12/6/2022 06:31:56 pm

Congratulations for the successful article. I can't wait for the sequel.

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mrbahis link
12/8/2022 08:51:17 am

This is nice work. Seeing good works on good days gives one peace of mind.

Reply
vbet link
12/9/2022 09:22:47 am

Congratulations, it's a nice post. I'm always waiting for such nice posts in the future.

Reply
sportsbet link
12/10/2022 10:14:22 am

I follow your work closely. Congratulations for this beautiful content.

Reply



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    Author

    Hello Readers! Welcome to my Blog! I am Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel, a Fashion Designer from Northern California. I love all things Fashion, particularly historical fashion! Join me, as I take you around Northern California, covering fashion events and related topics!

    Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion Design & Merchandising.

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