The Hive

Welcome! The Hive is a small Atlantic Canadian sewing studio that specializes in handmade, one-of-a-kind special occasion outfits for children. Not local?

I ship worldwide! Welcome to Redleaf Handmade! Each and every item I sell is handmade in my smoke-free, cat-friendly Atlantic Canadian studio. No worries! I ship worldwide.

07/19/2024

So! I've had quite a few inquiries in the past few months about an Intro to Sewing workshop for teens… and it's a go!

The workshop will be broken up into three Sunday afternoon sessions, and new sewists will be able to complete two projects: a drawstring bag and a skirt (with pockets).

Since our local fabric shop is closed, I'll have to source fabric online, and that means the fabric for both projects, along with all other supplies, will be INCLUDED in the workshop fee this time around! That's right: your fabric, thread, elastic, and drawstrings will be provided, as well as a beginner kit for you to keep. The kit contains fabric scissors, thread snips, a seam gauge, pins, and a seam ripper.

I want everyone to love what they make, so there will be plenty of fabric options to choose from.

Spots are extremely limited, so don't wait long to register!

~ * ~ * ~

Workshop: Intro to Sewing for Teens

Sessions: Sunday afternoons from 2-5 pm on August 4th, 11th, and 18th

Fee: $150 taxes and all supplies included

PLEASE NOTE that there will be cats in the studio and they will occasionally interfere - River, in particular, loves people and must greet everyone who comes through the door.

02/11/2024

Spring’s not quite in sight, yet, but there’s nothing wrong with looking forward, and thanks to that we have a new style up for grabs! The jumpsuit in the photo is a gift for a colleague’s new baby - but I have five other colour choices in stock just waiting for custom orders.

This jumpsuit style has a lined bodice, shoulder snaps for easier dressing, full-length pants, and a sweet lace-and-bow detail. It’s sewn from soft, breathable 100% cotton. Darts at the back and pleats at the front leave plenty of space for a diaper.

Love the style but not the lace? You can choose an animal patch for the front, instead - a cat, a bee, a fox, a dinosaur, or several other options. The pants can be finished with a straight hem or an elastic cuff.

There’s a special debut discount on these jumpsuits for the next two weeks! After the 25th of February pricing will revert to the usual.

Sizing: NB (newborn) to 2T.
Sale price:
NB to 9m - $34 CAD, taxes included [$25 USD / £20 GBP]
12m to 2T - $39 CAD, taxes included [$29 USD / £23 GBP]

I ship Canada-wide and also to international destinations - just ask for a quote! Local pick-up in Bathurst, New Brunswick is also available.

Leave me a comment (or send me a message) with a size and colour choice to claim!

01/01/2024

Brand new year. Same old Hive. Or is it?

I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions. I don’t like the idea of setting oneself up with a long list of inflexible expectations and wanting all the changes to take place overnight. I do, however, at this time of year, like to reflect and think about goals and what I might want to work toward over the next several months.

The conclusion I’m coming to is that I need to shift focus. I took comments about pricing to heart and attempted to source affordable fabric to be able to produce a line of children’s clothes for everyday wear at a much lower price point.

It didn’t work.

I have a minimum standard of quality for the fabric I choose to sew with, and the fabrics available at the cost I’d need were no better than what’s used to sew ready-to-wear clothing that doesn’t last. Quality fabric, thread, and notions are expensive, and handmade garments take more time than you’d think, even if you leave out the bells and whistles and sew basic garments.

So. Since the original plan isn’t viable, what am I to do?

Head 180 degrees in the other direction, naturally, and elevate it instead.

Going forward, my focus is going to be on special-occasion dresses – birthdays, holidays, photo shoots, school pictures, and the like. I’m also going to debut some newborn outfits for parents who’d like a special dress for heading home from the hospital with their brand new baby.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them or send them via messenger. I’m also on Instagram as .hive.atlantic and can be reached there.

Let’s see how this goes.

Happy 2024, all.

12/25/2023

So this is what happens here at The Hive when friends or day-job colleagues announce pregnancies. I don’t just sew for sale - I love sewing little gifts, too, and it’s not limited to new babies! If you’re a friend, and you have children, I’ve probably sewn for them at some point, and if I haven’t, yet, I can guarantee you I’m thinking about it.

The top for this little set is Malibu Baby by Little Lizard King sewn in Art Gallery cotton, and the bloomers are Willow by Sunflower Seams sewn in denim chambray.

12/10/2023

EDIT: Flash sale! Now marked down to $28 CAD [ $22 USD / £17 GBP ]

Bubble rompers are the cutest, and - if the messages I’ve received are any indication - you’d like me to make more of them! So this Essential collection handmade romper is just the start.

I chose classic holiday colours, this time around, but the print is abstract enough to be just right for year-round wear. Imagine pairing it with tights for photos with Santa, or with rubber boots in the spring; with sandals at the park, in summer, or with a cardigan for apple-picking in the fall.

This one-of-a-kind romper has puffed sleeves and a sweet bodice ruffle, and is sewn from 100% sturdy woven cotton. It has snaps down the back and at the crotch to help with dressing and quick diaper changes. The bodice is fully lined, and the waist seam is enclosed to make it softer on sensitive skin.

Essential collection rompers are easy care: just toss into the washer in either cold or lukewarm water then fling into the dryer on low heat. It can be ironed, if you prefer, but please do not iron the plastic snaps.

Leave me a comment (or send me a message) to claim!

Size: 12-18m
Price: $43 CAD, taxes included [$32 USD / £25 GBP]

I ship Canada-wide and also to international destinations - just ask for a quote! Local pick-up in Bathurst, New Brunswick is also available.

Pattern: Roanoke Baby by Little Lizard King. Modifications are my own.

10/01/2023

And it’s officially October! That means that it’s time to start thinking about Christmas - or other winter holiday - dresses for your little ones.

Like previous years, I have a limited number of spots for custom holiday dresses. Several of them have been claimed, and there are just TWO remaining. Two!

A custom order means you get to choose the fabric, the style, and the size, and I’ll work with you to make sure you get exactly what you want. Sizes from 6 months to children’s 12 are available, and styles range from sweet & simple to glitter & tulle.

Send me a message if you’d like more details or would like to discuss claiming a spot for a custom order! If you’re in love with the vintage-inspired fabric in the photo, please don’t wait long - this fabric is hard to find and I have just enough left for ONE dress.

09/25/2023

Strawberries, anyone?

This little size 2-3T handmade dress is one of the very few remaining from spring/summer and is therefore on sale - marked down from $46 to just $28! It's sewn from 100% sturdy woven cotton, and the back fastens with snaps to make it easier to dress little ones. The bodice is fully lined and the waist seam is enclosed to make it softer on sensitive skin. A matching hair bow is available for free.

Size: 2-3T
Price: $28

Local pickup in Bathurst, New Brunswick - or can be shipped anywhere else!

09/18/2023

Welcome to The Hive!

Yes, the hive.

Redleaf Handmade has been in a state of flux for a while, now. What started out as a small handmade collection has expanded to include sewing classes and workshops, with lots more planned for the future. I’m attached to Redleaf, true, but it’s time for a change, and I decided that change would be to rebrand with the same name I use for my at-home sewing studio.

There’ll still be children’s dresses here, on occasion, but beginner learn-to-sew classes will continue to run - and there’ll also be advanced-beginner-to-intermediate skill workshops. I’m even planning a sewing ‘camp’ next summer, taking place over a weekend and containing all kinds of sewing-related fun.

One more thing: I know it’s only September, but the c-word (yes, I mean Christmas) is coming. I have a limited number of holiday children’s dress slots for the coming season, so if you’re interested in having a custom-made dress for your child, watch this space - or send me a message, and I can give you all the details!

So. Welcome! Let's fly.

09/08/2023

Halloween fabrics are here and waiting to be sewn into dresses! We’ve got potions, spiders, and bright pink ghosts - pick a fabric and tell me in the comments what size dress you’d like to see! Have a child who’s not fond of dresses? Rompers are also an option.

08/22/2023

Edit: spot filled! Autumn classes are now all full.

* * *

It's almost autumn, and this season's sewing classes are almost full - so if you're thinking of learning to sew, now's the time! Monday and Thursday classes are at their max students, but there's ONE spot left on the Tuesday evening class. It runs from 6:00-7:30 from the 12th of September to the 7th of November.

Cost is $140, and that includes 12 solid hours of sewing instruction, plus a kit that contains fabric shears, a seam ripper, pins, a measuring tape, a seam gauge, a bobbin, and universal machine needles.

Send me a message here if you'd like to claim that spot!

08/08/2023

And it's time for another Intro to Sewing workshop! Are you interested in learning how to sew garments but don't want to invest in a machine before you know if it's for you? No problem! I have a teaching machine you can use during classes. Already have your own machine and want to learn how to use it? That's great, too!

During this class you will learn the ins-and-outs of a sewing machine, stitching, picking out fabric, basic garment construction, seam finishing, and you'll get to sew your first item of clothing! I have a selection of beginner patterns to choose from so you can choose what you'll make first.

Time: To be determined. I can work around your schedule and find a weekly time slot that works for all of us. Classes are a maximum of TWO people (there will be more than one time slot) so I can ensure everyone gets the instruction and attention they need.

Fee: $140 for eight 1.5 hour sessions - that's 12 solid hours of sewing instruction! Included in the cost is a starter pack containing fabric shears, a seam ripper, pins, a measuring tape, a seam gauge, a bobbin, and universal machine needles.

FYI: I do have cats and they sometimes like to participate in the lessons. I don't let them too close to the machines, but they do like to be in the room.

Another FYI: These classes tend to fill up quickly so hop on it if you're interested!

05/22/2023

It’s a long holiday weekend and the weather is fantastic. Something else that’s fantastic: sewing lessons! Here are two of my first students with their brand-new tops - and they’re both so awesome that they completed their projects in just three sessions.

Classes are full for the moment, but if you’d like to be on the list for later this summer just send me a quick message.

Address

Bathurst, NB

Website

https://www.facebook.com/the.hive.atlantic

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