Category Archives: boys

Stitching in the Mountains

Posted on August 8, 2010 | 2 comments

our cabin on Seven Devils Mountain in Banner Elk, NC

Bob and I are  at our mountain cabin in North Carolina, enjoying the cool air and relaxing a little.  I love this place, located between Boone and Banner Elk, in what is known as The High Country. The cabin is at 4500′ elevation, above the summer tourist bustle and the heat.

All afternoon I sat here, smocking and sipping sweet tea.

But there is always work to be done when we are here so we’ve done a little of that as well. And there is more to come.

This afternoon, I sat on the front deck and started on the ready-to-smock Jon-Jon for Alastair.  The combination of needlework and the tranquil setting left me feeling peaceful and serene. Bob was banging around replacing molding, cleaning out gutters  and hauling long-since forgotten storage bins from the utility rooms below the deck.  Even his noise seemed domestic and comforting.  Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, ready-to-smock finished projects, smocking

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

Teaching in Puerto Rico

Posted on July 20, 2010 | 6 comments
This is the view from one of the classrooms. The other had the same view along one entire wall.

This is the view from one of the classrooms. The other had the same view along one entire wall.

In all my years of teaching, I have traveled to some beautiful places, met beautiful people and seen beautiful projects. San Juan, Puerto Rico, was one of my favorite venues, a place at which I taught several times for Luis and Rosa Medina, owners of the San Juan Brother dealership. They were absolutely the most gracious host and hostess that you could imagine.

Their 12 year old daughter helped out but spent most of her time in the classroom, sewing on the Quattro 6000D.

Rosa Medina and 12 year old Deborah, a sewing student! We all talk about learning to sew on our mother's old straight stitch machine or some even tell tales of learning on a treadle. But Deborah is learning more than basic sewing on this technological wonder. June Mellinger, in ivory shirt, discussing project with two entrants.

Rosa Medina and 12 year old Deborah, a sewing student! We all talk about learning to sew on our mother’s old straight stitch machine or some even tell tales of learning on a treadle. But Deborah is learning more than basic sewing on this technological wonder.

On one of these trips, June Mellinger and I taught the classes and were asked to judge a sewing competition. June, by the way, is Brother’s Director of Education in the US, president of the American Sewing Guild and just a terrific, fun lady. We were absolutely astounded at the variety and quality of the entries.

The following photos show just a few of the beautiful items the ladies brought from all over the island.
Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, girls, heirloom sewing, home dec, infant clothing, machine embroidery, uncategorized

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Another Recycled Heirloom

Posted on June 7, 2010 | 5 comments

 

Alastair, 13 months 2010

This Madeira appliquéd outfit, a gift for my son’s first birthday in 1975, is one of the first heirloom garments I had ever seen. Nilda, a dear friend of Cuban and Puerto Rican ancestry, had purchased it in Miami, where clothing of this sort was readily available.

I was instantly smitten by the classic design and detailed embroidery,  as well as the absence of Sesame Street characters. On either side of the tiny red teddy bears are clusters of greenery and French knot flowers. The collar is embellished with a row of red cross stitches. Side tabs allow for a custom fit.  It is just sweet as pie.

Ryan, 21 months, 1976

Ryan wore the suit at every appropriate occasion.  With his little white high top shoes, he was adorable. Nilda told me that all of her aunts spent their days embroidering similar clothing for the babies in their family. I desperately wanted a Cuban/Puerto Rican auntie for my son! Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, hand embroidery, infant clothing, Madeira applique

Apple of Oma’s Eye

Posted on June 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

Alastair, 14 months, with his personal pastry brush at the ready.

Alastair, 14 months, with his personal pastry brush at the ready.

 

When I first saw the machine embroidery design featuring a  rosy red apple with the text, “of Grandma’s eye,”  I thought it would be fun to stitch on an outfit for Alastair  in recognition of  his other grandmother’s love.

As one design in a newly released collection, it tempted me to buy on sight.   But then I realized that it was the idea that appealed to me as much as the design itself. And I could certainly reproduce a satisfactory facsimile of the design. So I did.

 

AppleofOmascan

 

Alastair’s paternal grandmother, “Oma,” adores him as much as I do. So I thought this little ready-to-wear set would give her an extra big smile the next time she sees him.

Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, embroidery blanks, machine embroidery, techniques

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Tool Time Boy

Posted on May 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

Robert, 5, with the tool caddy he made with his grandfather.

Robert, 4, with the tool caddy he made with his grandfather.

 

 

Since 4 year old Robert joined Laurel for homeschooling 6 weeks ago, shop class with Granddad has been a part of his curriculum. Robert loves it and so does his grandfather.

 

ztooltimeshirtscan

His first project was the tool box he is holding in the photo. He was so incredibly proud of it  that he carried his tool box around his home, showing and re-showing it to his entire family, all of whom ooohed and awwwwhed appreciatively. Seeing the satisfaction on that little boy’s face  just melted my heart. And Bob’s, too.

 

ztooltimescrewdriver

 

Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, embroidery blanks, machine embroidery

Mickey Mouse Outfit

Posted on May 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

Our son took his family to DisneyWorld on Mother’s Day to celebrate Laurel’s 6th birthday. Her princess shirt was shown in a previous post and, as expected, our little Disney Princess fan loved it.

Laurel’s shirt with added jewels and French knots

Robert’s tee shirt features a 5×7 Mickey from the Big Magic card. The added grass is from Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Elements, a collection done by Suzanne Sawko and me. I use this grass very frequently. Somehow, to my eye, it just doesn’t seem right to have a figure floating on a shirt, walking on air. So I often add the grass as a foothold. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, Disney, embroidery blanks, machine embroidery

Another Boy Shirt

Posted on May 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

Sewing for girls and babies is pure joy. Little boys, however, and even bigger ones, cannot be left high and dry when the girls and babies are showered with stitched delights.

Alastair is too little to care, so long as he has his blankie.   And it is still fun and satisfying to make things for him.

But I try, always, to keep things even between Robert and Laurel. Robert can count, add, subtract and compare amounts. He raced through the “more” and “fewer” work pages in his math curriculum as quickly as he rides his scooter down our sloped driveway.  He would know right away that none  for him is fewer than one for Laurel.  He keeps score, like most children. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, machine embroidery

Even-Steven

Posted on April 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

Now this is a terrific modern project for an old fashioned Nana. Finding something to make for older boys is a real challenge, but these quick and easy, low maintenance pajamas are just the thing for any guys who no longer wear sleepers.  And that includes men.

Judy Day made this sleep set for her 8 year old grandson. His name is not Steven, but this was made to keep things even.  She loves heirloom sewing and smocking for his prissy little sister, but she always includes something special for Jackson. These were in his Easter package.

 

She simply purchased a pair of knit shorts and a tee shirt in colors to match the alma mater of Jackson’s maternal grandfather.  Since the boy already has more University of Tennessee Volunteers gear than most of the football team, he requested some Georgia Tech attire. I guess Judy didn’t want him going out in public in anything but UT duds.  Jackson loves them.

With our Robert now almost 5, I know it’s time for me to be looking ahead for masculine things to make. He, too, has a prissy sister and I don’t want him to feel slighted.  Of course, to his way of thinking, he’s got the better deal when he gets an embroidered Spiderman tee shirt and Laurel gets an heirloom sewn Swiss batiste dress. But the next time I make her a garment, I think he will get some Florida Gator pajamas, just to keep things even-steven.

Thanks for the inspiration, Judy!

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Posted in boys, embroidery blanks, machine embroidery, sporting gear

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