Category Archives: Holiday Projects

Christmas Apron How-to

Posted on December 16, 2014 | 4 comments
apron

Don’t you love my vintage painted sifter and the kiddie sized rolling pin?

It’s time to bake everyone’s favorite Christmas cookies.  Children love to “help” though even with youthful assistance, really delicious holiday treats CAN be made.

We all know that if you start too early, the goodies are all eaten up before Dec. 25.  (Be sure to read the cookie storage tip at the end of this post.)  “Helpers” often love to be “tasters,” and require great quantities of cookies to be certain they are fit to serve.

A special child’s apron, whether plain or gussied up with embroidery, will make the experience even more fun.  Plain, personalized or embellished with embroidery–whatever–a child will love it.

Here’s how this one was made. Continue reading →

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Posted in Disney projects, embroidery blanks, free patterns and designs, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, party accessories and ideas, Tutorials

Christmas Pillow–not ME

Posted on December 13, 2014 | 6 comments
no embroidery machine needed!

no embroidery machine needed!

 

It’s not too late to whip up a holiday pillow.  Brother asked me to design a simple Christmas project that did not require an embroidery machine and this is what was created.    A dishtowel with a decorative hem is  teamed up with a bevy of buttons to create a whimsical Christmas tree pillow. It’s a quick and easy way to add a fresh look to your holiday décor and have fun doing it.

The template is at the end of this post, but you could just as easily draw your own.  If you download the .jpg and print it, you can resize as needed. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, free patterns and designs, Holiday Projects, home dec, linen blanks

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Christmas Finery for Sister and Brother

Posted on December 9, 2014 | 14 comments

2 outfits

Hurrah!  Christmas clothes for our two younger grandchildren were finished, shipped and received late last week.  Toddler Vivian Rose’s white Swiss flannel bishop has the neck and sleeve bound with in red gingham pima cotton.  Heirloom lace is hand whipped to the bias binding.

 

smock close

 

The smocking design is just a simple diamond pattern that I made up as I stitched. Continue reading →

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

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Stetson Mansion Christmas Tour

Posted on December 4, 2014 | Leave a comment

exterior

 

My–Oh–My!!!  How I wish you all lived close enough that together we could all visit the breathtaking Stetson Mansion in my hometown DeLand, Florida.  The historic (1886) Victorian home of John B. Stetson is  gloriously decorated for Christmas.

dining room

 

Even I,  whose Indian name surely would be “Woman of Many Words,” cannot begin to describe it.  Make Room for Quilts by Nancy Martin features one style entitled “Too Much is Seldom Enough.”  That’s as close as anyone could come to accurately describing the look.  In a 10,000 square foot home, how could too much be enough?

The 1-hour Christmas tour with my PlayGroup Mamas was so spectacular that I am returning for another visit with my older grandchildren and other family members this weekend.

Tour guests waited on the veranda until the tour began.

veranda

 

The Frozen-themed reception parlor was so realistic that it gave us Florida gals a chill. Continue reading →

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Posted in Holiday Projects, home dec, quilts

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Thanksgiving Fun v.’14

Posted on November 28, 2014 | 6 comments
3 towels ed

Brown gingham checks (not black, as it appears) border the towels, embroidered by 10 yo granddaughter, Laurel. The towels are from All About Blanks, my favorite on-line source for blanks.

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone and I hope it was your best one yet. We all have so much for which to be thankful. No matter what our circumstances, we all can look around our town, our country and around the world to see others so much less fortunate. So we Americans celebrate our many blessings with family and friends, around a table heavy laden with favorite holiday food.

Rockwell-Thanksgiving-Parody-02-560x727

Norman Rockwell captured the spirit of the day in this 1946 picture.

Some celebrate in the traditional manner, as shown above. Others dine in a more contemporary style, as shown below.

Rockwell-Thanksgiving-Parody-01

Someone else captured another way to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Either way, most of us celebrate our good fortune. Continue reading →

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Posted in Holiday Projects, Kids Sew, machine embroidery

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Toddler Harvest Dress and Gingerbread Houses

Posted on November 17, 2014 | Leave a comment

DSC00379

 

This little top was made for toddler granddaughter Vivian Rose to wear to her brother’s kindergarten Thanksgiving program and then to Thanksgiving dinner.

It is another Children’s Corner Jane, my current go-to pattern, especially for garments which have a limited wearing season.  It is so quick and easy.

Jane patt

The cute little pocket is a free pattern creation of Children’s Corner designer Lezette Thomason.  The top will be paired with a pair of snug black or orange leggings.  These are still required for our little darling who can be counted on to release the velcro on her cloth diaper and remove it but for this wardrobe addition.  “Naked Baby” is her signature fashion statement.

It has been more than two weeks since a new Janice Ferguson Sews post has appeared, but not because I have done no sewing.  Enormous, terribly frustrating computer problems have plagued me as I struggled through two computers-my old one and then a defective new one.   This third one (second new) seems to be functioning well so now I am back to blogging.   Hurrah!

NANA FUN

4gingerbread kidscr

Houses feature Golden Graham roof shingles, caramel chimneys and pillar posts, and two yellow landing lights on a roof.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, Holiday Projects, Nana fun

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Halloween “Jane”

Posted on October 22, 2014 | 10 comments
corn pump cr

“Candy Corn Cutie” design is from Embroidtique.

Children’s Corner Jane has got to be one of my all-time favorite patterns.  When it comes to play clothes or holidays with a short-wearing season, this is my go-to.

It is so quick and easy that I made two Jane tops for toddler granddaughter Vivian Rose.  Two!!!!

candy corn emb

Poor placement of text on fabric.  It would have been so much more readable if it had been embroidered on the almost white stripe.

Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, Holiday Projects, linen blanks, machine embroidery, school accessories, sporting gear

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Trick or Treat Bag

Posted on October 10, 2014 | Leave a comment

treat bag

This sparkly trick or treat bag is a sweet girlie spin on the holiday that is rife with ghoulish images.  What little girl doesn’t love feminine Minnie Mouse, on a broom no less, wearing a coral colored witch’s hat?  And do you know anybody who doesn’t love candy corn?

This project began with a basic black tote 14″ x 14″.  The side and bottom seams were opened first and then the Trick or Treat text was embroidered.

 

bag top

Since the embroidery unit was still attached, the next step was to hoop up orange felt and embroider Minnie as she sails past the moon. The design was inserted into one of the built-in frames on my Quattro.  The excess felt was cut away near the black satin stitching and the piece was put aside. Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, Disney projects, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Halloween already?

Posted on October 2, 2014 | 8 comments

Mickey pumpkin tabletopper outside

 

As I’m sure you have noticed, the stores have been jam packed with Halloween costumes, decorations and jack ‘o lanterns for a month now.  With all that pumpkin exposure, I couldn’t help but get in the mood to make something to celebrate the season.

I’ve always found that the orange and black signature color scheme just too grim.  But with the addition of purple, the entire Halloween mood is lifted, at least for me.

And my goodness, the fabrics!!!!  In addition to the adorable prints, the currently very popular burlap is available in a rainbow of colors, printed with text, and to my delight, with orange polka dots.  Now that was something I could work with. Continue reading →

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Posted in Holiday Projects, home dec, machine embroidery

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Gallery of Readers’ Easter Projects

Posted on May 8, 2014 | 4 comments

 

Children's Corner Johnny

Julie’s Children’s Corner Johnny–how many French knots do you think there are?

 

It seems like forever since there has been a new post at Janice Ferguson Sews.  Busy, busy, busy is what I’ve been but only some of that busy-ness has been sewing. Sigh….

Now the distractions and other responsibilities are mostly behind me so I can share more sewing projects and chat.  Before the joyous Easter celebrations are even further in our past, I want to share some of the Easter outfit photos I received from our creative and talented readers.

Julie shared these photos and information about the precious, classic Johnny she made for her nephew.  She also smocked a dress for her niece.  I’d love to see that. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, smocking, uncategorized