Category Archives: linen blanks

PGM Gingerbread Aprons

Posted on December 7, 2009 | 2 comments

 

Gingerbread houses are truly old fashioned projects for old fashioned Nanas.  It can be one of the most lasting Christmas memories for your children  or grandchildren.

Since my children were old enough to lick the mixer beaters, we’ve made Christmas gingerbread houses.  And all the PlayGroup Mamas made gingerbread houses with their children (see earlier post, PGM-PlayGroup Mamas ifor explanation of PlayGroup Mamas).

 

PGM Arlene made four every year, one for each child.   Striving to make the best house or the best fire station or the best school or whatever,  they were fiercely competitive.  Each child  had a big idea and a big time.

A few Christmases ago, when a few of the PlayGroup Moms started backsliding in this time honored tradition, Arlene gifted each of us with an unadorned but constructed gingerbread house. We gathered together to decorate our cookie houses, each bringing a variety of decorative candies, a box of 10X confectioners sugar and extra electric mixers. Like Arlene’s children, we each had a big idea and a very big time. Continue reading →

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Posted in embroidery blanks, Holiday Projects, home dec, linen blanks, machine embroidery, party accessories and ideas

Christmas Aprons with Candy Cane Font

Posted on December 7, 2009 | Leave a comment

 

Josie

 

I’m not sure this guy knows what he is talking about.  These four ready-made aprons were embroidered for another doting grandmother who spends significant blocks of time with her two granddaughters and she seems to be aging not at all!

This ageless Granny and her daughter will be making Christmas cookies with the girls. I’m sure there will be some great photo opportunities for the multi-generational baking crew.   And I doubt either Granny or Mommy will look any older when the kitchen is finally cleaned up.

 

Josiebear1

When I embroidered aprons for my grandchildren, I had a hard time finding any appropriate designs. There is a plethora of chef collections, including those by Loralie, Amazing Designs, Adorable Ideas and Hatched in Africa. But none of these are for children.

Then I found Roberta’s Creations Cookie Cutters. www.robertasreations.com Continue reading →

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Posted in Holiday Projects, linen blanks, machine embroidery, techniques

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Posted on December 6, 2009 | 2 comments

The best babysitters, of course,   are the baby’s grandparents.  You feel completely comfortable entrusting your baby to them for long periods, which is why most grandparents flee to Florida.”  Dave Barry

Is there anything sweeter than a freshly bathed baby? Is there anything slipperier than a freshly bathed baby? (The word “slipperier” looks all wrong, but trust me, this is correct. I’ve checked.)

Sweet and slippery as they are, after I nearly dropped infant Laurel lifting her from the tub, I decided that a hooded bath towel was a layette requirement, not just a nice accessory. You can “hang” the hood on baby’s head and get a good grip on The Wet One. Since this Aha! experience, it has become one of my favorite shower gifts. Continue reading →

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Posted in baby accessories, embroidery blanks, linen blanks, machine embroidery

Monogrammed Linen Napkins for White Wednesday

Posted on November 27, 2009 | 2 comments

monogram_napkincrop

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and had much for which to be thankful.  We enjoyed a fabulous dinner and a beautiful day at the home of our son-in-law’s mother, Carol.  I was pleased to see one of these monogrammed hemstitched linen napkins at each place setting.   I had made/embroidered this set of 16 serviettes as a wedding gift for her and Alan.  Of course, knowing I would be a guest at her table, she is too gracious a hostess to use anything else.  But I was pleased, nonetheless. The napkins looked so pretty next to her gold rimmed china with sprays of pink roses surrounding the center.

monogram_napkin_close

color enhanced to better show the design

The napkins are linen blanks, monogrammed with letters and the companion design from Martha Pullen’s Internet Embroidery Club 2003 alphabet.  There are color stops for the flowers and leaves, but I preferred a monotone scheme.

More and more frequently, I see evidence of  a  trend to use lower case letters for the first names of the couple, rather than just the bride’s first, last and maiden names,  and the upper case for the last initial only. So I chose to use this approach. Continue reading →

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Posted in linen blanks, machine embroidery, White Wednesday

Thanksgiving Bibs

Posted on November 10, 2009 | 2 comments

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to think about bibs to keep the corn pudding and cranberry sauce off the grandchildren’s holiday clothing. Using ready made bibs reduces this project to quick and easy.  This is  a genuinely modern project for old fashioned Nanas who think bibs are in the  Dining Room Dress Code for every toddler.

I love hoop appliqué and find it especially appealing for children. So I usually seek out such designs for kid projects. This turkey is from the Autumn Harvest collection, Designs by JuJu  www.designsbyjuju.com .  The text has been added, using the Kid Block font from Monogram Wizard Plus, a great program that I use regularly.

Continue reading →

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Posted in baby accessories, embroidery blanks, Holiday Projects, linen blanks, machine embroidery, recipes

Koi Guest Towels

Posted on November 5, 2009 | Leave a comment

Laurel, koi gazing

One of things I love best about machine embroidery is the ability to personalize a gift to the nth degree. Today, I had occasion, once again, to give a uniquely appropriate token of appreciation to some very special friends. Laurel has been studying Japan for a week now, in anticipation of our field trip to the home of our dear friends, John and Susanna. I met Susanna 33 years ago at the public library story hour and we became  fast friends. My Rebecca’s middle name is Susanne in honor of this outstanding lady. Continue reading →

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Posted in home dec, linen blanks, machine embroidery

Bridal Shower Party Favors

Posted on November 5, 2009 | 2 comments

bridalshowerfavortray

 

When the PlayGroup Mamas hosted a bridal shower for my daughter, I assumed my regular assignment–party favors.  For this special shower, embroidered cross stitch monograms were embroidered on these little Aida gift bags.  The  guest party favors were filled with Hershey’s kisses, always appropriate, I think, for engagement and wedding celebrations.

No one loves a bargain more than I do.  So when I saw the bags on clearance, priced at $ .25 each, I bought three dozen, the entire lot.  I had no plan for their use, but I knew that for $9 I had the raw materials for  something wonderful.  Little more than a year later, Rebecca was engaged and my PlayGroup Mama friends scheduled a bridal shower for 3 months later.  Continue reading →

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Posted in embroidery blanks, linen blanks, machine embroidery, party accessories and ideas

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Linen Guest Towels

Posted on November 2, 2009 | 1 comment

new linen towel with machine shadow embroidery with some hand embroidery

My daughter grew up with antique textiles and now genuinely enjoys having them in her own home.  Her sizable collection of guest towels are displayed in her bathroom, interspersed with new towels I have made her.  Due to the company they keep, these too pass for vintage. NOTE:  All the  embroidery is a greyed lavender, not the brilliant purple shown in these pictures.  I’ve got to learn photo shop.

only the R monogrammed towel is new

The shadow embroidered “R” and the surrounding posies are from Suzanne Hinshaw’s  Shadow Work by Machine Monograms  design collection.  The linen towel is a so-called “blank,” and came with white on white  hand embroidery, including fil tire’, its own shadow work and surface embroidery. Continue reading →

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Posted in home dec, linen blanks, machine embroidery

Flamingo Floyd~converting to applique’

Posted on October 25, 2009 | 1 comment

 

Flamingo Floyd dishtowel

I love these “Flamingo Floyd” designs from Embroidery Library.

The folks there have digitized several designs with this goofy flamingo, all decked out for most seasons.   They are great on dishtowels for my daughter and son-in-law. Actually, they are for Harvey’s kitchen since he does all the cooking, but Rebecca does clean up so they both enjoy the towels.

Flamingo Floyd April showers

 

Their charming 1950’s home on a quiet tree lined street looks just like the sort of house and neighborhood where Ward and June Cleaver raised their boys, Wally and The Beaver.  My husband always says he feels like he has stepped back in time when we visit there.

Anyone who has lived very long in Florida will remember the pink flamingo “yard art” that graced so many lawns for several decades. None are on Rebecca and Harvey’s street, but their absence is noticeable. Continue reading →

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Posted in home dec, linen blanks, machine embroidery, techniques

DOW Quilting Dishtowels

Posted on October 16, 2009 | Leave a comment

My supply of Martha Stewart Days of the Week (DOW) dish towels is dwindling.   But paired with these whimsical embroidery designs, I thought they made  a perfect birthday gift for a dear friend. Catherine teaches exceptional children and has invested her own money in a few sewing machines for the use of her students. Over the years, they have created individual and class quilt projects. In her limited free time, Catherine quilts at home for herself and her family.

Continue reading →

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Posted in linen blanks, machine embroidery