Category Archives: brother-sister

Haydee and Friends in PR

Posted on August 3, 2010 | 4 comments

Haydee, center, and friends

Some time ago, I wrote about the talent and charm of the ladies I met while teaching in Puerto Rico.  Haydee, a particular friend, has excelled in machine embroidery applique’ and has kindly shared pictures of  her projects and those of her friends.   I assume that the classes were held in San Juan, but I am not certain.

This set of photos shows a class making an A-line child’s dress with a fish applique. The pattern looks like the A-line dress from Martha’s Favorite Applique’s, but it could be any one of several.

But there is so much more to see here–check out the details.  Nestled into these vibrant underwater scenes are those extra details that make a garment grab our attention.  The 3-D button eyes stare right at you. Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, boys, brother-sister, clothing, girls, infant clothing, machine embroidery

Joyous Easter 2010

Posted on April 5, 2010 | 5 comments

Alastair does not want to sit!

UPDATE:  Alastair just looks so serious and even unhappy in the photos from this wonderful day.  So I have decided to include this picture.  I managed to capture one of his happiest moments in this blurry photo.  While we were getting dinner on the table, he discovered that the easily opened old oak wash stand in the kitchen housed a box of garbage bags with unlimited fun potential.

Alastair, anticipating a LOT of garbage after Easter dinner.

He was allowed to enjoy himself but was never left unsupervised with the potentially dangerous bags. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alastair has places to go and eggs to hunt.

What a lovely, joyous celebration we had today!  We are so grateful that both of our children and their families live near enough that we can be together for holidays and often just to be together.

When Ryan’s family arrived, Robert was perfectly happy to swap out his huge shirt for this one, version 2, which is more fitted than version 1 but still too large.    Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, infant clothing, machine embroidery, Nana fun

Big Boy Easter 2010 ver. 2.0

Posted on April 4, 2010 | 2 comments

I’ve embroidered a second shirt for Robert, hoping it fits him better than the knit golf shirt.  It looks dressier than the polo, so I hope he likes it. The contrast between the comical ducks and the formality of the monogram is greater than I would like.  But version  #2 is as far as I’m going with this suit.

The monogram is from Monogram Wizard Plus.  I wanted to get the ducks in there somehow, so I went to one of my favorite sites, Embroidery Library, www.emblibrary.com, and sure enough, for $1 these little ducks were mine, downloaded and embroidered within 30 minutes of finding them.

It’s late.   Bob and I have been babysitting darling Alastair while his parents went to an engagement party.  He went to sleep promptly and with no fuss at 8 p.m. so he hasn’t hampered my preparations.  Bob stuffed the plastic eggs while I stuffed the deviled eggs and made up the salad for tomorrow’s dinner.   Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, clothing, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Big Boy Easter Duds Done (ver. 1)

Posted on April 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

The shorts and a shirt are done for Robert Charles. This is the third and final (almost) coordinated Easter outfits for my three grandchildren.  The yellow baby cord shorts match the bubble made for his cousin Alastair and the shirt has a hatchling duck which appears to be approximately  the same age as the ducklings in the handloom used on his sister’s and cousin’s outfits.

Giving some thought to Robert’s obsession with Super Heroes at age “faw an a haf,” I thought perhaps a waterfowl with a little more maturity was in order. OESD’s Dreams of Childhood collection has a spunky ducky dunking, with feet and tail in the air, head apparently underwater. I thought that would appeal to his age-appropriate compunction to giggle and point out every “butt” he sees, from the dog to the cherub garden statuary. But this more juvenile design would still maintain the Spirit of Spring theme projected by the infantile ducklings. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, embroidery blanks, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, techniques

Lemon Meringue Pie

Posted on April 2, 2010 | 2 comments

zLemonMeringuewslip

 

Frothy and yellow and sweet, this dress reminds me of lemon meringue pie, which, incidentally, is on my Easter dinner menu.  Laurel will look like dessert!

I know that too many pictures of this garment have already been posted.  From gathering supplies, to slip construction,  and even the complications, it has been posted and discussed endlessly. And yet, seeing it complete with the yellow underdress and the added rows of lace at the hemline, I feel compelled to show the overall effect.

 

zLemonMeringueslipyoke

 

From the planning stage, my vision of this frock presented a white dress with yellow shadowing through the sheer batiste.  The yellow shadow beneath the lace was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.  Continue reading →

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Posted in brother-sister, Freckled Laundry, girls, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, techniques

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Day Grandchildren’s Easter Duds

Posted on March 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

Update:  In discussion with Judy, I was reminded that Jackson’s shorts were actually made from a man’s shirt.  After searching high and low for fabric to coordinate with the mint green dresses, Judy finally found a very pricey shirt that would do.  She whacked that shirt up for shorts which had to be lined, due to the light weight of the shirting.

I’ve always said that heirloom sewing is very expensive, either in terms of time or money.  Judy paid both ways for these beautifully coordinated Easter outfits!  She says she just did what a grandmother had to do.************************

A few years ago, Judy Day made these three beautiful, coordinated outfits for her grandchildren.  The girl cousins are the same age and Big Brother Jackson is the oldest of the three.

The mint Imperial batiste bishop dresses seem to project the essence of Spring. Ribbons woven through the smocking add shimmer, making the dresses even more classically elegant.  Tucks add another special detail to the skirts.

The sleeves are trimmed with tatting made by Judy’s grandmother–that would be the girls’ great-great grandmother.  What a special treasure for these girls!  Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, embroidery blanks, girls, Holiday Projects, Judy Day's creations, smocking

Christmas Critters III

Posted on December 17, 2009 | 5 comments

ChristmasCrittersIIILaurelbrite

 

Laurel’s Christmas dress was finished just in time for her brother Robert’s preschool Christmas program. In fact, her father had taken her for an afternoon outing and managed to get her to the program wearing jeans and a tee shirt only a few minutes ahead of me carrying her holiday clothes.

She was absolutely taken with the dress, mostly because of the fullness of the 90″ skirt.   This motivated her to twirl, perform some of her ballet moves and smile at everyone, entertaining the waiting parents, grandparents and friends. Laurel loves an audience, even if, technically, it’s her brother’s audience.

 

 

critter bib

 

The bib, collar and sleeves are all trimmed with ecru tatted edging. The design on the embroidered button on bib is yet another from Bernina’s Current Critters Continued. Laurel’s mother has decided that the “critter” nestled in the big bow is a baby squirrel and she should know. As a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, she has hand fed hundreds of them. I always thought it was a mouse, but I defer to her expertise. Continue reading →

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Posted in brother-sister, clothing, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

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Candy Cane Christmas

Posted on December 2, 2009 | 1 comment

 

buttons pending!

buttons pending!

 

These brother-sister outfits are truly modern projects for old fashioned Nanas.  They are quick, easy, wash-and-wear and contemporary.  Yet, the classic styles and candy cane theme are as old fashioned as can be.

Our Christmas tree decorations have always included  a dozen celophane wrapped candy canes.  When little guests  visit, they are invited to pick one from the tree.

Last year, when Robert and Laurel were 3 and 4 years old, and their visits were blessedly frequent, I knew we needed more.  For them, it seems that here is just something irresistibly delicious about a candy cane that actually hung on a tree.  Their Christmas outfits  reflected their holiday appetite for the striped sugar classic.

 

Xmas card

 

Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

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Two Turkeys

Posted on November 16, 2009 | 2 comments

Last year was  the second time I had made  Robert and Laurel matching Thanksgiving outfits. Now,  it seems I have unwittingly established a tradition as they now are eagerly awaiting their 2009 turkey clothes. 

Using the ever popular jumper and Jon-Jon suit patterns from the book Martha’s Favorite Applique’s, by Martha Pullen, they made up quickly.

The appliqué design is from the Autumn Harvest collection, Designs by JuJu,  www.designsbyjuju.com  There is an amazing variety of designs on this site, but my favorites are always applique’.  The grass below the turkeys was added and not a part of the collection. But I don’t like poultry or any other animals just hanging free on the front of their clothes.

Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Pair of Pumpkins

Posted on November 1, 2009 | Leave a comment

As we move into November, with Halloween and all  the hoopla associated with that frenetic event, I am busy making Thanksgiving outfits for Laurel, Robert and little Alastair. This is the first time I’ve had three little ones to sew for.   I am really looking forward to seeing them all together, sharing DNA,  matching outfits and family fun.

The children love to participate in dinner preparations and at 2 and 3 years old, Robert and Laurel had limited opportunities to do anything more than get burned.  So they handled the Sister Schubert rolls, painting them generously and sloppily with melted honey butter.  Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery