This little ready-to-wear swim suit was embroidered for granddaughter Vivian Rose early in the summer. Like all Florida children, it is vitally important that she learn to swim and her lessons were beginning in earnest. Of course, wearing this she was one cute little fishy, but I have no photos of her wearing it.
UPDATE:Â My sweet daughter just sent this photo.
Vivian Rose ready to take the plunge.
Posted in girls, machine embroidery
Tagged Christmas stocking, machine embroidered bathing suit, sewing journal
mall-purchased dress, Nana made purse
There have been so many must-do projects in my sewing room that I’m way behind in clothing my granddaughters. Ten-year-old Laurel has outgrown almost all of her church clothes so we shopped at the mall.
Clearly she is a “tween” now and not our little girl. The mall is definitely where it’s at for clothes now. The good news is that it frees me up to sew for 19-month-old Vivian Rose. I have had to search hard to find the silver lining in that black cloud called “growing up.” Whew, I tell myself! I needed some help.
But as always, even with ready-to-wear, some sewing was still required to pull the outfit together. Before Laurel went to bed Saturday night, we added the white flower but she really wanted a purse for the outfit.
The lacy heart design is from the Let There Be Love collection by Kreations by Kara. The monogram font is from the 2007 Internet Embroidery Club alphabet by Martha Pullen.
She wanted one that would hold her inhaler, a handkerchief and hair brush. A 6″ x 42″ scrap of heavy linen was lying on the cutting table along with huge piles of other remnants from earlier projects. I was lucky that was on top because it was just perfect for the body of the bag. Had it been buried a little deeper, I might not have found it until the big Spring Sewing Room Clean Up. Continue reading
Five years ago, my 5 year old granddaughter wore a CC Frannie school dress for our first day of homeschooling.
With the start of another school year, I can’t help but look back. Most retired school teachers, I suspect, do the same. This post was written 5 years ago as we began our first year of homeschooling together.
Now, she begins 6th grade. Wow. If she’s getting older, I guess that means so am I.
Recently, she wrote a play which she will direct and has cast with friends. It will open at the public library in due time.
Perhaps you will find some of these school sewing projects useful for your special students. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Continue reading
Posted in bags, home dec, machine embroidery, school accessories
design from Suzanne Hinshaw’s Charming Embellishments collection. Collar featured in post Shadow Work Christmas Collar
Look what I found on eBay—a CD of Suzanne Hinshaw’s exquisite machine embroidery shadow work designs  Shadowed Bouquets posted for bids. Click here to see the listing.
This gorgeous set includes many designs of flowers, often tied up with a bow, koi fish in a frame arrangement, a wreath of holly, small single flowers, grapes, and one of my personal favorites, a frame filled with shadow worked bows as well as many other files. The sizes range under an inch to 5.5 x 9.12″.  Her designs inspire so many ideas.
The auction includes only the original cd without instructions, so that might give you pause if you’ve never done any of her designs. But I would be happy to help any reader who purchases this.
A few days ago I was tickled pink to win the auction for her last collection, Ladies and Babies, the only one I didn’t already have. And I was the only one who bid on it! I have not yet received this cd but as the seller has a 99% approval rating, it should be delivered as expected. Continue reading
Posted in machine embroidery, shadow work by machine
Children’s Corner Lillian in white linen
Almost overnight, Laurel has grown into a young lady and outgrown all of her church dresses.    She is taller and definitely matured beyond the little girl dresses I love to sew. I am grateful that there are patterns for tasteful big girl dresses like this Children’s Corner Lillian. Continue reading
Posted in girls, machine embroidery
Children’s Corner “Jane” with elephant applique
This was made while spending a week at our mountain cabin. With our daughter and her two children and all their activities, it was a busy time. And yet, I managed to finish this Children’s Corner Jane for 18 month old Vivian Rose.
What a terrific pattern this is! Fast as a New York minute, easy as pie and cute as a button. How’s that for a lot of cliches? But it’s all true. This may be the perfect pattern for our 18 month old granddaughter Vivian Rose.
I love a pattern that is simple enough to alter easily for different looks. For the size 2, the basic top required just 1/2 yd. of 60″ wide fabric. On this gray gingham top, a lace edged ruffle was added over the regular elasticized sleeve. An appliqued gray ultrasuede elephant adds textural interest. The loose tail is a bias tube made from the ruffle sleeve pink fabric. I hope she doesn’t pull it off. Continue reading
Posted in girls, machine embroidery
Tagged applique, Children's Corner Jane, easy pattern
Busy, busy, busy! What ever happened to the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer?” Is that another thing of the past? We’ve had crazy but no hazy or lazy.
In addition to lots of sewing, I’ve enjoyed two weeks at our cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, one week with our daughter, sweet Alastair and whirling dervish Vivian Rose, as well as one week with Bob. What great getaways from Florida’s hot summer!
This floral top was made for dgd Laurel, 10. The quick and easy commercial pattern lent itself to a variety of embellishments. In addition to piping and rick rack, crocheted flowers purchased from Farmhouse Fabrics were added into the mix.
Posted in embroidery blanks, girls, Kids Sew, machine embroidery
There is good news! Many readers were interested in the embroidery machine cover  I made for my mother’s Babylock Ellageo several years ago. But the pattern was no longer available.
Now they are back! Missi of Skeldale House went the extra mile to contact the pattern designer, Monica Aderton. Her site, Monica’s Miscellany, has been down for some time.
This is Monica’s response to Missi’s inquiry: Continue reading
My dear husband and I just returned home from a week at our cabin in the beautiful mountains of the North Carolina “High Country.”  This time it was just the two of us.
We wanted a break from the hustle bustle of our very busy-but very happy!- life here in central Florida. And we reeeeally wanted a break from the sweltering heat here at home. We surely got that!  To keep from freezing, I wore a sweater everyday and we slept under two hand stitched quilts.
Of course, my plan was to get some uninterrupted sewing and smocking done. So on the first morning after we arrived, Bob set up my sewing table and I set up my trusty Brother ULT 2003D. Continue reading
Posted in girls, machine embroidery
granddaughter Laurel feeling Parisienne
This fun French outfit was a quickie project. Just finishing a growth spurt, Laurel needed some new play clothes. Of course, that was all the excuse I needed. And I just love this cute design from Great Notions LuLu in Paris collection.
The inexpensive shirt was paired with a white tank top and hot pink leggings.
Posted in girls, machine embroidery
