Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. ~Erma Bombeck
Judy Day, my very dear and extremely talented friend, made this Thanksgiving shirt for her beautiful granddaughter. Judy has been sewing almost forever–30+ years–and teaches computer, sergers, machine embroidery and heirloom sewing at one of the largest Babylock dealers in the country. She smocked and sewed heirloom clothes for each of her three children. I think she said her daughters refused to wear smocked dresses when they turned 15, but I could be wrong about that.Correction: This shirt was made by Judy’s daughter, Amy Spriggs. The turkey design was a freebie from Embroidery Library. Amy added the text. Wait until you see some more of Amy’s projects!
Cute as this shirt is, it isn’t even the tip of the tip of the iceberg of Judy’s creativity and skill. She has graciously agreed to let me post some of her things from time to time. Everything Judy does is pure perfection, from design to execution. I love getting an e-mail from her with a photo attachment of her latest creations. I know you will enjoy them as much as I do.Â
Just today my daughter-in-law told me how much fun Robert and Laurel had tracing their hands and making turkeys this afternoon, just like on Kennedy’s shirt. It’s one of those time honored holiday activities, like paper chains for the Christmas tree. Next year I will certainly make a shirt like this for each of my three grandchildren. With digital photography, a parent or grandparent can document a child’s every activity. This photo is a joyful reminder of those happy times tracing around their little hands.
It always makes me so happy to see a mother pass on her sewing skills to her daughter. Judy has done just that with Kennedy’s mother, Amy, who has not only her mother’s excellent taste and design sense but also her drive to sew beautifully. Perhaps she, too, will allow me to post some of her projects.
I wish each of you a happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for.
Meanwhile, I think Kennedy’s shirt expresses the sentiments of the day!
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