Category Archives: boys

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 →

2 Comments

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 →

Leave a comment

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

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 →

Leave a comment

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

Easter Bubble Done, almost

Posted on March 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

A bubble

 

Alastair’s Easter outfit is almost done. As soon as I get his thigh measurement, I can put the elastic in the legs and it will be ready to wear.

 

flowering plum

wild flowering plum tree

 

It was a gorgeous spring day in central Florida and I so enjoyed being outside to take these photos.  My wild flowering plum tree is in full bloom and was full of busily buzzing bees.  The azaleas are all showing off in orchid and pink, the dogwood tree is ready to burst open its buds and the orange blossoms will scent the air in a few days.  Spring in Florida is a glorious time.

Aside from taking these few pictures,  planting some impatiens and cooking dinner, I have done nothing but sew. After dinner, I stitched the buttonholes, sewed on the buttons and gathered up my materials for Laurel’s dress.   It has been a sewing extravaganza for me.  And, as always, I learned a few things. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in boys, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, infant clothing

Tagged , , ,

Everything-Wrong Birthday Suit

Posted on March 9, 2010 | 2 comments
 
Alastair, hanging out with the girls

Alastair, hanging out with the girls

 

Everything Right Birthday Party

Family and friends just celebrated Alastair’s first birthday at a party in his back yard. His parents did a fabulous job of making everyone welcome with good food, good company and thoughtful accommodations for all. From the 86 year old great grandmother to Alastair’s friends and cousins, ages 9 months to 5 years,  there were fun treats and comfortable seating. Yet Alastair’s parents made the event look effortless.

 

Everythingwrongcupcaketreewhole

 

 

The menu consisted of really excellent pizzas, a flat of fresh strawberries, coolers of cold drinks and a cupcake tree laden with darling bug and caterpillar cupcakes made by his mama my Rebecca.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in boys, infant clothing, smocking

Tagged , , ,

At Last! Christmas ’09

Posted on December 27, 2009 | 1 comment

 

At last, it finally happened. I had all three of my grandchildren in the same place at the same time wearing their matching outfits. Getting a group shot that includes a 9 month-old baby is dicey at best, but the two older children were very cooperative and patient. Maybe that whole Elf Watch threat still hangs over their heads.

Alastair in Glenn suit with his paternal grandmother, Oma, after church

The details of each outfit are in previous posts, but in summary the plaid is Viyella, the button-on bibs are a linen blend, the pattern for the boys’ suit is Glenn by Children’s Corner and Laurel’s dress is an extended yoke pattern. The embroidery designs are all from Bernina’s Current Critters Continued collection. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in boys, clothing, girls, infant clothing, machine embroidery, smocking

Christmas Critters II

Posted on December 16, 2009 | Leave a comment

 

Glenn button-on-bib

With only 9 days left until Christmas, I am down to the wire  finishing my grandchildren’s holiday outfits. Baby Alastair has been wearing his since Thanksgiving (see Lemonade post), but 4 year-old Robert and 5 year-old Laurel are expecting delivery tomorrow. This button-on bib is the last piece of Robert’s suit which will be complete just in time for his preschool Christmas program.

The Children’s Corner Glenn suit is made of a beautiful piece of vintage brown plaid Viyella from my stash.  Vintage!  Did you know? I didn’t. I just thought it was old.  (See below.) The button-on bib is made of a linen look-alike blend and embroidered with a design from Bernina’s Current Critters Continued. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in boys, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Just Plain Glenn

Posted on December 9, 2009 | Leave a comment

In previous posts, I’ve mentioned that Children’s Corner Glenn is one of my favorite patterns for little boys.  It comes with a button-on bib which offers countless opportunities for hand or machine embroidery.

For my 9 month old grandson, Alastair, I have made two Glenns, this one in black check and the other of brown plaid Viyella.   The bibs were for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Mother Goose Story Time.

One of the best things about this pattern is that if you embroider the suit itself, a soiled, embroidered bib can be removed, leaving the baby looking fresh, clean and well dressed.  This just plain Glenn (suit with no bib) was shown in the Mother Goose post, with a bib of the same name.  With the zebra, embroidered on white fabric and applique’d on to the black check,  Alastair can be Mowgli, playing with zebras in the Jungle Book. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in boys, infant clothing, machine embroidery

Mother Goose and Elizabeth Travis Johnson

Posted on December 3, 2009 | 6 comments

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” Emilie Buchwald

zMotherGoose2A

Alastair and libary Mother Goose

 

My 9 month old grandson is shown here with the library’s Mother Goose storyteller. While she is a familiar figure to him by now, he seems to find it a bit intimidating to be in such close contact with her and her fantastical flying fowl.

NOTE:  This suit looks much better with a shirt, but it was more than 80 degrees when the picture was taken this week!

 

zMotherGoosestorytime

Babylock’s Mother Goose on white baby cord

 

Since Alastair was a few months old, his mother has read to him and taken him to the weekly toddlers’ Mother Goose Story Time at the public library. Not only does it give him enriching opportunities to hear more language and have social interaction with other children, it gives my daughter opportunities to meet other like minded mothers.  They both enjoy it.

I thought it would be fun for him to have a special outfit for library day.  Alastair’s parents are avid readers and will do everything they can to encourage him to share their love of books.    Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in boys, infant clothing

Tagged , ,

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 →

1 Comment

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

Tagged , , , ,