Category Archives: machine embroidery

Elephant “Jane”

Posted on August 2, 2014 | 10 comments
Jane-elphant1a

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.

 

Jane patt

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 →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery

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Summer Fun Sewing

Posted on July 29, 2014 | Leave a comment

flower top

 

 

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.

 

floral top crochet

 

Continue reading →

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Posted in embroidery blanks, girls, Kids Sew, machine embroidery

Patterns~Embroidery Machine Covers

Posted on July 23, 2014 | 8 comments

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.

 

ellageocover

 

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 →

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Posted in machine embroidery

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Mountain Sewing Getaway

Posted on July 17, 2014 | 2 comments

DSC_0020

 

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.

 

cherries 2

 

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 →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery

French LuLu Shirt

Posted on July 16, 2014 | 3 comments
L paris 2

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.

Paris closer

Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery

Happy Independence Day and Cornfed Cutie

Posted on July 4, 2014 | Leave a comment

happy_4th

UPDATED:

I hope you all are having a fabulous 4th.  We’re grilling burgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob while waiting to watch a Capitol 4th on tv tonight.

 

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Granddaughter Vivian Rose tucked right in to a traditional 4th of July dinner–fried chicken and corn on the cob.  Notice the bare chicken bone–that little girl can eat!  She is loving that corn on the cob.

 

 

 

So this is a relatively quiet celebration for us.  Holidays always cause me to look back on good times and good years gone by.  So I am sharing with you some of my fondest memories and grandchildren outfits from earlier Independence Days.

 

Patriots-corner

This is on my to-do list. I’d love to hang this when we have another 4th picnic.

 

When our children were younger, we hosted an annual  4th of July picnic for family and friends at our home (scroll down to the bottom if you’d like to read about the picnic).  Fun, fun, fun! Continue reading →

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

Wedding or Holiday Chair Backs

Posted on June 13, 2014 | 11 comments

 Another wedding repost.  Quick and easy to make, these chair covers could be embroidered for birthdays, Christmas or other holidays.  Any event that calls for a guest’s special recognition is a good reason to whip up a few.

The BRIDE and GROOM chair backs lived with the trunk show samples I displayed when I taught classes.  At every event, they got a lot of positive attention, with students measuring and making notes on the construction.  

Have you ever made chair covers?  Please share pictures.

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zwedchairsCOMP

 

Sewing for a wedding is just about as much fun as sewing for babies.   It’s like the prelude to grandchildren. Continue reading →

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Posted in Binche Lace, home dec, machine embroidery, party accessories and ideas, serger, wedding

Wedding Aprons

Posted on June 5, 2014 | 4 comments

wedapronwhole1beccca

 

A wedding is not a marriage. A wedding is only the beginning of an undertaking that may or may not, someday, develop into a marriage. What the couple have on their wedding day is not the key to a beautiful garden, but just a vacant lot and a few gardening tools. (David and Vera Mace)

Because it’s June, the favored month for weddings, I will re-run some earlier posts about my daughter’s wedding.  Sure,  a lot of sentimental fluff is included but that’s because I’m a sentimental gal.  There are also some useful ideas for wedding sewing.

This month, my fabulous husband and I will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. I wish every couple could have this much happiness.

 

1968

1968. Because we wanted to be married in Florida, where we would start our life together, fewer than 30 guests attended. But we didn’t care.  My mother made my dress.

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Rebecca’s garden wedding for 130 guests at our home was a hands-on affair, orchestrated almost entirely by family and friends. Only the photographer, ceremony string quartet, reception Cajun band and wait staff were hired.

As soon as Rebecca and Harvey’s engagement was announced, my dear friend Susanna presented me with her own well-used tote bag.   It was embellished with the text MOTB–Mother Of The Bride. She had used this bag extensively while planning her own daughter’s fairy tale wedding.

Susanna graciously offered to serve as wedding coordinator and was promptly engaged in that volunteer capacity. From that time on, in our conversations and planning sessions, familial relationships were designated by letters–MOTG (mother of the groom), AOTB (aunt of the bride), Grandmother of the Groom (GMOTG) etc. It was fun.

 

Continue reading →

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Posted in home dec, ladies, machine embroidery, recipes, wedding

Pooh and Alastair

Posted on May 30, 2014 | 10 comments

It’s been such a long time since I have posted, but I’ve been having too much fun with 5 yo grandson Alastair to sit still and write.  He  has been with us for 10 delightful days.   More on that below.

 

Pooh suit

 

Meanwhile, I did manage to sew up a little suit using a commercial pattern.  You know how those 5 for $7 patterns from  Joann’s stack up.  As always, I was in a hurry and grabbed the first one which would work.  I should have looked through my Children’s Corner and Michie patterns.  Some modification was needed to meet my vision for a fully lined project. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, Disney, machine embroidery, Nana fun

Slumber Party Pillowcases

Posted on May 12, 2014 | 10 comments
L cake

Laurel, out of the pool and ready for birthday cake

 

Granddaughter Laurel recently celebrated her 10th birthday at a resort hotel.   Five of her closest friends and a few mothers had a big time enjoying all the activities and amenities typical of a resort hotel.

 

pcs 6

 

For party favors, a pillowcase was embroidered for each girl.  I have been reluctant to post these photos because there is sooooo much puckering in the embroidery.  It was caused by operator error–my use of  inadequate stabilizer.  But the girls were absolutely non-judgemental and seemed to love their personalized gift.

 

six pillowcase party favors

six pillowcase party favors

Continue reading →

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Posted in machine embroidery, party accessories and ideas

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