As a self-described Only-When-Absolutely-Necessary digitizer/machine embroidery designer, I worked up this design for a Children’s Corner Callie. Â It was made in a huge hurry for my granddaughter to wear to the Bunny Lunch at church the day before Easter.
I hope you all had a joyful Easter. We had a beautiful weekend-long celebration with a houseful of laughing adult children and grandchildren. Our daughter, Rebecca, her family and our son Ryan’s family were here. He is a pilot and, sadly, was unable join us. We’re happy that he loves his work, but we miss him at so many family gatherings.
Friday night, while taking a break from my sewing, I made more than 100 little raisin bread/cream cheese/jelly sandwiches for Saturday’s Bunny Lunch at church. My dear, helpful husband sat with me and cut away the crusts from 5 loaves while I spread the filling. The sandwiches were topped with cream cheese carrots sprinkled with a little orange sugar which pleased the children.
Tie design from is Linnie Pinnie, with single bunny extracted from Bernina’s Warm Wishes from Ingrid collection.
Vivian Rose’s white Easter dress with pink slip
UPDATE:Â Finally I have a photo of Vivian Rose in her Easter dress.
NOTE: Please excuse the poor quality of these photos. They were taken midday, making it nearly impossible to get a shot without shadows. The breeze was blowing and the dress kept moving. And photography is not my strong suit.
Are you all busy with Easter sewing? Busy, busy, busy has been the status around here for some time and it’s not been all about sewing. With Aunt Rheeta’s visit, Rebecca’s 3-day visit with Alastair and Vivian Rose, and sleepovers with our other two grandchildren, progress on Easter outfits is way behind schedule. But I loved every minute of these visits and have no regrets.
During that time, however, I did manage to make some progress on Vivian Rose’s holiday finery and now that things have quieted down, I have just finished her dress and slip.
dress without pink slip
SOLD
ALLÂ DOLLS ARE SOLD
My mother, Dollie Manning, was a very talented doll maker. For several years, she teamed up with Lezette Thomason who sold the Lilliputian dolls at sewing events such as the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion. Most of the dolls are signed, but a few were missed in the rush to meet a deadline.
This illustration is on the front of an old Needlecraft magazine. I love those old covers. I’m not sure what the crutch is about, but the image reminds me of my mother surrounded by her dolls.
The prices are shown but do not include shipping or insurance. If you would like any of these babies, just leave your request as a comment or send an e-mail to NCcabin@aol.com.
I’ve held onto these dolls for several years, gifting some to my granddaughters and putting others away for future birthdays and Christmas presents.  But these naked babies need to be liberated from the drawer in my sewing room. They also need some clothes!
Bonnie Babe Bow (there is another just like her but without the bow, shown further down) is just a precious little girl and so cute when she wears a smocked bishop dress. Continue reading
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Tagged bonnie babe, Coquette, dolls, forget-me-not, Lorna, Marla, porcelain, porcelain doll, sugar britches
Happy Valentine’s Day to dear readers of Janice Ferguson Sews. I am so grateful that you read this blog and for your kind and helpful comments. And I hope today there is a Whitman Sampler and a dozen roses delivered to you by a loved one.
It’s hard to read the writing on the boxes but I’m pretty sure they say Whitman, Godiva, and Russell Stover.
A year has gone by since this was originally posted. Still, it remains the most touching Valentine story I can share with you. My 94 year old Uncle Richard and his bride, Carmen, have just celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Well done, Cupid. Continue reading
This holy day is almost over, but I want to wish you the joy of the season, which my family certainly has enjoyed. While their mother was at home preparing for a big Christmas day, Robert and Laurel spent Christmas Eve day at our house decorating gingerbread houses.  They absolutely love this activity.
Christmas Eve, Laurel bottom left and Robert (blond) far right, littlest one, Caroline, front row with white hair bow
<< In keeping with the sewing theme of this blog, I will mention that I altered several of these robes, hemming up two, adding 6 inches to another and altering one from a child’s size 12 to a lady’s 14. Then they were all pressed. Does that make this a legitimate post?>> Continue reading
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At the last minute, I decided to join my darling daughter Rebecca on her trip to our family cabin in the mountains of North Carolina.  We loaded the car with her four year-old Alastair, 9 month old Vivian Rose and the children’s great Auntie Jeannette who is younger-than- springtime even though she is almost my age.  We drove through the night while the children slept.
Amid the glorious fall colors, we are enjoying fabulous fun and quality family time.
When we arrived, I was pleased to see this fall pumpkin pillow nestled on the couch, announcing the season.
I’ve managed to get a little smocking done but will share that project with you later. Meanwhile, I came across this post draft written earlier in the summer and want to share it with you. This shop might have something you’ve been looking for. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After several days of quiet at the cabin, we drove down the mountain and into Boone, about 10 miles away. I always like to stop at the only sewing spot in the area, a great shop called  Sew Original.
Quilting seems to be their main focus, but they also have have lovely heirloom fabrics and smocking supplies. There were racks of new patterns but also some old classics that I rarely see in other stores, like Sarah Hoard Stone’s Basic Yoke in every size. This is one which I have used very frequently, for Rebecca years ago and recently for granddaughter Laurel Cade.
Sew Original also has the optional pattern packages for her second book, French Handsewing for Infants.
I treasure these patterns.
Posted in home dec, machine embroidery, uncategorized
NOTE:Â Several antique baby dresses and other items will be posted for sale Wednesday morning.Â
“Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.†Leviticus 19:32
All set up and waiting for the 11:00 service to be over (faces obscured because I for got to ask permission to post). Gold table toppers and table numbers were left over from our daughter’s wedding.
Today at our church there was a gala luncheon celebration for members of our congregation who are over 90 years old. Sponsored by the deacons, this was an especially lovely event! Twenty-two of the 46 eligible members were in attendance with their family and friends as guests. Almost 125 dinners were served.
Bob and I were both busy serving, so this is the only photo that we took.  After our church photographer posts photos, I will include more. Fellowship Hall really did look very festive. The theme was “fall,” though I thought for an event with so many elderly guests, “Don’t fall” would have been a better choice.
As each honoree entered Fellowship Hall, a boutonniere or corsage was pinned on and a photo taken.
The lady on the left, above, decided the honorees should have a goody bag as a sort of party favor. On her own and with the help of her 11 yo granddaughter, she filled gaily wrapped bags with a word search booklet, a Bible scripture bookmark, a picture frame for the photo that was taken today, some hard candy, and a daily devotional booklet. Each honoree was also give a souvenir booklet with a bio of each of the over 90 members.
I was in charge of decorations and was pleased to be able to reuse many things made for our daughter’s wedding and– much to my dear husband’s dismay– still stored in our garage.  Twenty gold table toppers, some sheer and some tapestry weight, were placed over the green cloths and the embroidered table numbers were once again put into use.
at Rebecca’s wedding— same tapestry table cloth, same gold chargers, same embroidered table numbers, same linen napkins
When the table numbers were made, I knew it was a lot of time spent on a small detail, but Rebecca and I both liked the idea. Since the wedding, these same numbers were used for four Mother’s Day teas at the church of my daughter’s mother-in-law and then for the wedding of a sweet family friend. And in the next year, they will be used again for the wedding of another family friend. So the numbers have been put to good use. Continue reading
Sept./Oct. 1985: Interview with Elizabeth Travis Johnson, Teaching Children to Smock (by yours truly, Janice) with smocked barrette project, Children’s Coats, Teddy Bear smock plate by Gwen Milner, Handkerchief Collars, Sewing for Dolls.
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NOTE: Some readers have requested advance warning of an upcoming Nursery Closet Sale, so here it is. Coming soon, probably Monday morning, Nursery Closet Sale #8 which includes a linen shadow work burp cloth, pique hand embroidered sunsuit, pink bubble smocked with Scotties, sweet flannel wide brimmed bonnet, and more.~~~
Recently, a reader of this blog sent a heartwarming e-mail which is posted below. It details the thoughtful efforts of Jennifer, a foster mother, and her husband who have opened their home to foster children. This couple goes far beyond providing food, clothing and shelter and Jennifer’s sewing contributes mightily to the children’s loving care.
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove . . But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” -Forest E. Witcraft
Charity sewing is not a new topic and many of you readers are actively involved in a multitude of worthy, meaningful causes. But Jennifer takes an entirely different approach than I have ever read or heard about. She stitches love into garments and goes even further to make permanent photo memories for the children in her temporary care. Her expression of love for foster children has been a powerful inspiration to me.
“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.” ~ Matthew 18:5 Continue reading
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Tagged foster children, foster mother, heirloom sewing, sewing for foster
