Category Archives: uncategorized

Florence Roberson and King Tut

Posted on July 24, 2011 | 14 comments

our Golden boi LeRoi, 14, with my granddaughter, Laurel, 3, wearing a Little Sunday Dresses pinafore

Remember the smocked pocket pattern featured in a previous post?  Credit was given to Florence  Roberson, designer and owner of the patten company Little Sunday Dresses.

1984~~my gap-toothed Rebecca, 6, wearing LSD pinafore ~see post Little Fawn Pinafore http://www.janicefergusonsews.com/blog/2009/09/06/little-fawn-pinafore/

I had copied it from an old SAGA Newsletter but didn’t know the issue or date.  A smocking friend from long ago, Lorraine Whyte, posted a comment that the pattern was published in the Fall, 1983 issue.  She also informed me that it was included in Little Sunday Dresses Sundress and Panties pattern.  She had used  that pattern to make a Valentine’s dress for her daughter, Monica, who appeared on the cover of Mildred Turner’s 2nd book on heirloom sewing.  Thanks, Lorraine!

Shortly after  that, this comment was posted by Mrs. Roberson’s granddaughter:

Dear All,
I was doing some research on the web and stumbled across this blog and questions about my grandmother, Florence Roberson. She passed away almost 10 years ago at almost 90 years old! In my opinion, she was one classy lady and I adored her. It is really neat to read what others write about her and to know her legacy lives on through smocking. I live in Fayetteville, Arkansas and still meet smockers who use her patterns and say she is a legend. I talk to my own daughter about her all the time. Thanks for continuing with the lost art… it is beautiful………Ann Catherine Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, smocking, uncategorized

Creative Needle Magazines

Posted on July 13, 2011 | 61 comments

 

 

61 Comments

Posted in uncategorized

Loralie Doll Pin Pendant

Posted on July 11, 2011 | 4 comments

How cute is this?  A precious student in Puerto Rico made this  pendant pin cushion after a long day of sewing and presented it to me on the last day of class. What a thoughtful, personal gift.  I love it.

The Loralie doll pin cushion includes many of my personal features.   It reminds me of the American Girls “Me” doll, created with specially selected features to mimic those of a specific child.

When I sew and when I teach, I always have my half-eye glasses and embroidery scissors hanging around my neck.  The doll’s brown eyes, just like mine, peer over similar glasses above the scissors hanging around the neck.  Of course, full of pins, it looks like a voodoo doll, but I ignore the suggestion. Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in machine embroidery, uncategorized

New 4 Sale 7/06

Posted on July 6, 2011 | Leave a comment
New items for sale 7/06
Browse “A STORE” categories for items that interest you.  Payment can be made with personal check, postal money order or Paypal.  Send an e-mail to NCcabin@aol.com with your order, your shipping address and your method of payment.  I will respond with a total, including shipping and  sales tax for Florida addresses.  If you choose Paypal, I will send you an invoice.
I’m sorry this is more tedious than the one-click purchase option on other upscale sites. This is more like a yard sale–bargain prices, changing inventory, and limited quantities.   You might be surprised at some of the unique items I have in my stash/hoard/collection!***

Swiss organdy strips...$5...white...10 strips 4-5" wide x 12" along selvage

Connie Palmer recently made a christening gown with Swiss organdy diamond shaped medallions inserted in the skirt.  The medallions were embroidered, white on white,  and the effect was spectacular.  Each 4-5″ x 12″ strip should render two 4″ x 5- 6″ medallions.  These are left over cuts from making class kits.
~

Monogram Crest GT...$8...Irish linen...13-1/2" x 23"...available 12...some prewashed in anticipation of embroidery..apparently scanned at an excessively high resolution

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God Bless America~Liberty 4 Sale

Posted on July 3, 2011 | Leave a comment
Happy Independence Day!

pillow made from linen towel, chain stitch alphabet, ribbon woven through hemstitching

God bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
to the oceans, white with foam.
God bless America, My home, sweet home.
******************************************************
It’s true  that freedom isn’t free.  But you can buy Liberty –at janicefergusonsews.com  for $12 per yard.
In my humble opinion, Liberty of London tanna lawn is the most divine fabric there is.  These exquisite cotton lawn fabrics are finely woven, light weight and ultra soft.   The prints are inspired by nature, architecture and heritage and are known for the precise registration of the prints.  Great for clothing, quilting, home dec or anything.
I have long been a die-hard fan of Liberty tanna lawn, to the extent that I have purchased at least some yardage anywhere I see it.The pieces in my collection were purchased in Sydney, Australia at the Liberty store, in Tokyo at a four building fabric mecca,  at San Francisco’s legandary Britex Fabrics, at cosmopolitan G-Street in DC and many locations between.
But my supply has long since exceeded my demand, so I am reluctantly trimming down my stash of this luscious fabric.  This is the start of my separation anxiety!
Even a small amount of Liberty makes an elegant statement.  Lezette Thomason (Children’s Corner pattern designer, etc.) loves Liberty and often uses it for a ruffle against a solid colored fabric, such  her Kitty pattern. She has also suggested that a contrasting Liberty print be used as facing on the armscye or along the yoke as on  Callie.
Check out the dwindling supply by clicking on “fabric” under “A STORE” in the menu on the right. 

 

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New 4 Sale 6/27

Posted on June 27, 2011 | 1 comment
We’re enjoying the cool weather here on Seven Devils Mountain.  Aside from the respite from Florida’s summer heat, I am tickled pink at the condition of the plants I so lovingly put out years ago.

 

At the time, our children were grown and there were no grandchildren.  We came to the cabin 5-6 times each year.  But since Laurel was born, followed by Robert and then Alastair, we can’t bear to be away from them that often.  So the maintenance of the roses, daylilies and rhododendron were left to Mother Nature.  But she tended them well and they have thrived.

The rhododendrons–some 6′ tall!– behind the rose bush were transplanted from  1 gallon cans just 8 years ago.  The Flower Carpet rose was planted at the same time and has struggled through dry summers and winters that left it burdened with several feet of snow  But now, like my stash, they all have grown.  Pretty weak segue, I know, but I had to share the picture.~*~*~*~*


Browse “A STORE” categories for items that interest you.  Payment can be made with personal check, postal money order or Paypal.  Send an e-mail to NCcabin@aol.com with your order, your shipping address and your method of payment.  I will respond with a total, including shipping and  sales tax for Florida addresses.  If you choose Paypal, I will send you an invoice.

I’m sorry this is more tedious than the one click purchase option on other upscale sites. This is more like a yard sale–bargain prices, changing inventory, and limited quantities.   You might be surprised at some of the unique items I have in my stash/hoard/collection!****************

Such a tiny, delicate edging, perfect for babies and dolls.   The holes just below the header look like entredeux but without the bulk.  See edging on Laurel’s 1st Birthday Dress  and on the doll bedding. 

#3 Swiss Tulips~~embroidered insertion 1-1/2″ wide~~$6 per yard

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E-20…$$1.00 per yard…1/4″ wide…copper

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Kindle Cover~Lessons Learned

Posted on June 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

 

My dear husband got a Kindle for Father’s Day.  He’s pretty hard on his electronics, having shattered 2 or 3 i-phones and dropped his iPad several times.  I knew this Kindle was going to need some protection.

The first line of defense was a padded mailer envelope.  That actually works very well but it is not attractive.  I covered the address label with a photo of the grandchildren, but it still looks like an old, recycled mailer envelope.

 

My guy is the ultimate Gator fan.  He has a closet full of Gator shirts as well as caps, slippers, calendars, neck tie, boxers, long flannel jams, etc. etc. etc.  But he did not have a Gator Kindle cover.  That’s what I would make. Continue reading →

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Posted in machine embroidery, uncategorized

Hand Embroideries

Posted on June 19, 2011 | 5 comments

Browse “A STORE” categories for items that interest you.  Payment can be made with personal check, postal money order or Paypal.  Send an e-mail to NCcabin@aol.com with your order, your shipping address and your method of payment.  I will respond with a total, including shipping and  sales tax for Florida addresses.  If you choose Paypal, I will send you an invoice.

Quantities are limited.
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When this ad ( outdated contact information has been removed) appeared in Creative Needle magazine in 1986,  I was smitten.

While placing my order, I spoke with Mary Wadsworth who had developed this unique product.  She shared some details of how these embroideries came to be.  All were made in China by ladies who were given 36″ squares of Swiss batiste.  These squares were marked off into 6″ sections, each embroidered with one of the patterns. The finished hand embroidered insertion was 6″ wide by 36″ long.

No edgings were ever posted.  But many patterns of the embroidered insertions were purchased and as more were released, I added them to my special treasure trove.  Now, they can be yours.

They were only available for a few years and now might be found on e-Bay or as old stock in heirloom shops.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#1HE Antique Cars~~~$12 per yard--Hand Embroidery on Swiss batiste~~6" wide

Available in 36″ lengths @ $12 each
OR in one 9″ length (3 cars) for $4

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#2HE Orchid Vine~~$12 per yard...Hand Embroidery on Swiss~~~ 6" wide

Only one 23″ length available~~ $8 Continue reading →

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Irish Crochet

Posted on June 18, 2011 | 1 comment

Irish collar

 

A few posts ago, a reader commented that she would enjoy a post explaining  the difference between Irish crochet and regular, everyday crochet.

I’ve done very little crochet and have only token knowledge of the subject.  As I have declared time and time again, I am an expert only on the merits of my children and grandchildren.  But I am happy to share what I know and what I have discovered after doing a little research.  I was especially pleased to find the Irish crochet demonstration YouTube video posted below.

Irish crochet is made up of motifs, basted to waste fabric, connected with crochet stitches and then removed from the waste fabric.  This makes possible the dimensional motifs which are characteristic of Irish crochet.

Pictured below are three pieces from my collection in the very popular shamrocks and roses pattern.

 

Irish Crochet 3A

 

These, obviously, are all edgings.   The first piece is 4 yds. long, with a definite curve.  I suspect it edged a tablecloth.

Continue reading →

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Fabric

Posted on June 17, 2011 | 10 comments
Browse “A STORE” categories for items that interest you.  Payment can be made with personal check, postal money order or Paypal.  Send an e-mail to NCcabin@aol.com with your order, your shipping address and your method of payment.  I will respond with a total, including shipping and  sales tax for Florida addresses.  If you choose Paypal, I will send you an invoice.
I’m sorry this is more tedious than the one click purchase option on other upscale sites. This is more like a yard sale–bargain prices, changing inventory, and limited quantities.   You might be surprised at some of the unique items I have in my stash/hoard/collection!
Fabrics include Liberty of London tana lawn, Swiss organdy, silk organza and more.  Quantities are limited.~~

Swiss organdy strips…$5…10 strips 4-5″ wide x 12″ along selvage… 3 sets available

~~~~~~~Connie Palmer recently made a christening gown with Swiss organdy diamond shaped medallions inserted in the skirt.  The medallions were embroidered, white on white,  and the effect was spectacular.  Each of these strips should render two 4″ x 6″ medallions.  These are left over cuts from making class kits.
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SOLD L-13 Liberty tana lawn…36″ wide…$12 per yard…2 yds. 23″ available

 

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SOLD L-5 Liberty of London tana lawn …white leaves of black…available 4 pieces, each 20″ x 36″ @ $6 per piece

SOLD L-7 Liberty of London tana lawn…36″ wide... pink/blue grey print, another classic Liberty print……..available 6-1/3 yds. and 3-2/3 yds @ $12 per yard

SOLD L-8 Liberty of London tana lawn…36″ wide…art deco green/peachy coral..available 3 yds. 16″ @ $12 per yard

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antique lace bonnet lined with mint Swiss organdy

This  Swiss organdy was purchased 25 years ago in Chicago at an upscale “yard goods” store that was going out of business. There is some discoloration at the selvage edges. The 36″ fabric is very fine.$8 per yard for royal navy, mint, kelly green or seafoam.
The mint organdy was used to line the antique lace bonnet featured in this post. 

$7 per yard~vintage silk organza in orchid pink. One selvage edge was damaged and has been removed. Width is 32″.

Orchid pink silk organza $7 per yard.  Along with the Swiss organdy above, this was purchased in Chicago and is very fine.    The pillow below featured in Creative Needle magazine, was made with this silk organza.
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