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A Sweet Story about a Child, Kindness and Hope

Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the blossoms,
Kind deeds are the fruits.
~19th century rhyme used in primary schools

Robert finishing up a dishtowel for his mother.

Robert finishing up a dishtowel for his mother.

Like every grandchild, our 8 year old grandson Robert is beautiful, brilliant and extraordinary in every way. Let me share a story about this little guy, his kindness and his hope.  Never fear, as you can see from  this photo, there is a sewing connection.

Some time ago in Sunday School the children filled clay pots with paper flowers made with their own little hands.  Additionally, each child made a card to accompany his floral arrangement. The next Sunday, these were delivered next door to residents of the senior apartment complex, which is a mission of our church.  Robert and his sister Laurel were not in town with us that weekend, so they did not participate in the delivery or meet the recipients.

A week later, a thank you note for Robert was received at the church office.  An office volunteer reported that “a little old lady shuffled all the way over here with her walker” to deliver the note.  The carefully printed card expressed thanks for the flowers and especially for the message which Robert had chosen,  “God is always with you.”  Each child had selected his own greeting without suggestion. Most said “Have a nice day,” or “God bless you,”  but Robert had another thought.

He was absolutely delighted with the note which was signed “Miss Charleine, #752.”

The next week he decided to bring Miss Charleine a bouquet of real flowers after church. He was excited about meeting his new friend.  I did not call ahead for fear Miss Charleine would feel obliged to offer cookies or whatever.  We would just stop briefly. Continue reading

Aunt Rheeta~My Heroine

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Aunt Rheeta at our Rebecca’s wedding

 

Yes, she is my heroine and she would be yours too if you knew her.  I want to be just like her when I grow up—oops,  too late for that!  Well then, I want to be just like her when I am her age–78.

This post is only remotely related to sewing, but we all need inspiration and Aunt Rheeta is mine.

Her most recent activity spurred me to write this post.  She is one amazing woman.  Her friend Laura, the 88 years old  catcher (!!!!), is one of the few who can keep up with her.  Yes, Aunt Rheeta hangs with a tough crowd.

 

R swings

I think she said Mickey Mantle was her coach.

At the age when so many people are winding down, or have long since finished  that process, my  fit, fun Aunt Rheeta lives her life full steam ahead.  Now she is a medalist in the Senior Olympics where she competed in baseball, bowling (averaging 126!) and horseshoes. Continue reading

Smocked Nighties for 2 American Girls

L M stand

 

For Laurel’s 9th birthday I finally finished smocking this nightie.   The matching gown for her American Girl Molly had long since been done.   But when little Vivian Rose was born I was wrapped up making baby girl things, so this project was pushed to the back burner.  I was so glad to have both pink things out of my sewing room.

 

L close smocking

 

Like the Molly’s nightgown, Laurel’s has a machine embroidered heart in the unsmocked area at center front.  The designs are from Martha Pullen’s Little Pleasures collection which includes two nearly identical hearts in two sizes.  A little editing made them match almost perfectly.  Laurel notices and appreciates details like that.

 

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Continue reading

Cherry Bubble

"Isabella" for granddaughter Vivian Rose

“Isabella” for granddaughter Vivian Rose

 

 

Isabella is a sweet, simple little bubble pattern from My Childhood  Treasures.  When Judy Day saw this pattern on-line, she immediately e-mailed me with the link.  She knew I would love it for our granddaughter Vivian Rose.  It is a for sale downloadable PDF pattern so I had it in my hands moments after buying it.  Don’t you love these downloadable patterns?

 

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My daughter Rebecca loved it exactly as shown on the pattern cover and wanted Vivian’s to look just like that.

 

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But you know how that goes…..even though in my fabric stash I had apples, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries and most fruits grown in the continental US, there were no cherries. Continue reading

Train up a child….

“Train up a child in the way he should go:  even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

 

Karoline sewing on her grandmother's Featherweight

Karoline sewing on her grandmother’s Featherweight

 

This Scripture applies to more than spiritual guidance.  Now a successful nurse practitioner, Karoline began sewing here at our home when she was 7 and has never stopped.  She was one of my daughter’s dearest friends from toddler days.  Karoline went to church with us and joined us for family vacations.  She was like one of the family.

After she graduated from high school, I didn’t see Karoline for many years. Recently, she moved back to the area with Benji, her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Mr. Whiskers, an orange marmalade cat.   Yesterday, we had a joyous reunion and a fabulous day sewing on a special project for Benji.

 

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Now can’t help strolling down memory lane, recalling Karoline’s enthusiasm and projects she had through the years.  And  the fun.  She was a really fun child to be around. Continue reading

Easter Outfits by Judy Day~~Going with the Flow

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Many of you have been there—that place in time where your idea of what your child or grandchild should wear differs from that child’s opinion.  Selecting fabric, pattern, smocking design, etc. is so easy when  they are little, but as they develop their own personal taste you have to go with the flow.

 

Kennedy

 

Judy Day has done just that with fabulous results for her 9 year old granddaughters. Judy has always made holiday outfits in groups of 4, one for each girl and one for  each girl’s doll.   But this year, she recognized and acknowledged her girls’ growing sense of individual style.  Well, at least their different color choices.

Here is Judy’s story about the Easter outfits.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Continue reading

Sew Lucky, Sew Beautiful and Sew Much More

Vivian Rose, 3 months in her Farmhouse Fabrics bubble.

Vivian Rose, 3 months in her Farmhouse Fabrics bubble.

Farmhouse Fabrics Bubble Sample

This adorable bubble was a sample at Farmhouse Fabrics.  Did you know they are made available for sale periodically, for very reasonable prices?  As luck would have it, this little beauty was a 9 month size, nearly a perfect fit for”chubbalicious” 16 pound Vivian Rose.  She is one well-nourished nursing baby!  I was lucky to snatch up this bubble shortly after it was posted for sale.

The body fabric of the bubble is cotton sateen trimmed with what feels like pima cotton.  It is very well-made and nicely understated.  Vivian Rose’s mother thinks  this will be Baby’s 4th of July outfit, along with a big red headband.  She might even have a little more hair by then!

Sew Beautiful

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The current issue of Sew Beautiful includes a blurb about  this blog, Janice Ferguson Sews.

My Sew Beautiful magazine has not yet arrived, but others who have theirs in hand have let me know that  Janice Ferguson Sews  has been included in a blog list!  The picture, however, is of a dress I have never seen.  Oh well, it’s a pretty dress.  I welcome all you new readers visiting my blog and hope you will stop by often. Continue reading

Lighting Candles, Playing Dolls, This and That

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crying Karoline

My mother, Dollie Manning, was a very gifted doll maker. Years ago, she made the as many as 80 porcelain dolls for each of the Sewing for Dolls events that Mildred Turner, Terri Johnson and I held around the country. Additionally, she provided dolls for several similar schools sponsored by Ellen Nickerson in the San Francisco area. Mom also made tiny 3-8″ dolls that Lezette Thomason marketed and for which Lezette had drafted patterns. Then there were the dolls she made for our daughter Rebecca. That’s a lotta dolls.

When 8 year old granddaughter Laurel discovered that there are 3 storage bins of dolls in the garage, she just had to see them. She was allowed to select one to keep and she chose this very unique baby who had lost a shoe through the years.

You don’t often see a doll crying but Karoline (the name given her by Laurel) had tears that looked real.

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The sheen on Karoline’s tears is from clear fingernail polish.

Then I told Karoline’s story to Laurel. Continue reading

G’Kid Stuff and Preschooler’s Cot Sheet Pattern

 

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Alastair with his new preschool cot sheet, fresh out of the priority mailer envelope. There is a tiny race car crossing the “t” in his name.

It’s been busy and hectic here with lots of fun with grandchildren and friends.   And some sewing, but there is nothing pretty to show you.

Alastair is 4 now, though the celebration at Nana and Granddad’s is not scheduled until next week.   But to my great surprise, this early birthday cot sheet gift seemed to thrill him only slightly less than a visit from superhero Captain America.  It was made to compensate for the duck fiasco detailed below. Continue reading

Matchmaking~Liberty, Puerto Rican Diaper Shirt and OFB Bubble

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Notice thata the front overlap is greater at the neckline than at the hem. That’s an interesting way to add a little flare to the shirt, which has no side seams. I will be replacing the utility buttons with mother-of-pearl.

 

It was like a Match.com encounter in my sewing room.  This little hand embroidered diaper shirt purchased in Old San Juan on one of my teaching trips to Puerto Rico needed a mate–you know, the half that would make it whole.  It was purchased on one of my teaching trips to Puerto Rico.

 

OFB-bibble N patt

 

After plundering through all my patterns, the bubble from Old Fashioned Baby’s Summer Clothes pattern seemed like a good companion.  The shirt and the bubble would work well together and yet could go their separate ways. Here in central Florida where new grandbaby Vivian Rose lives, the weather can be 85 degree in Feb. and then 55 degrees (or colder) in March or April.  The coordinating shirt and bubble offer comfort in a wide range of temperatures.

As I searched my stash for a fabric to bring the bubble to life, this sweet Liberty of London print seemed like a perfect, well, match.  There are a lot of blues in the print, but one of them is the same shade as the embroidery on the diaper shirt.

I’ve been on a roll with OFB patterns, but I especially like the simple design which allows you to add your own embellishments without redrafting the pattern.  Vivian Rose’s mother had specifically requested ruffle bottom outfits.  Adding that feature to this 3 piece pattern (front, back and crotch extension) was easy.  Baby tatting gave an even sweeter look.

 

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With a shirt from Puerto Rico, fabric designed in England and produced in Japan, tatting made in China and a pattern from the bayous of Louisiana, this set is like a meeting of the United Nations.

 

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I’d really like these pieces to present as a happy couple rather than two random individuals partnered in an arranged marriage.

Right now, the plan is to add the same baby tatting to the bubble neckline and sarmscyes. But I haven’t yet figured out to combine the tatting with the diaper shirt. The tiny scalloped edges are machine made, but very cleanly trimmed.  Perhaps I could cut 3/4″ from each sleeve, reverse it and sew it back on to make a cuff with the scallops at the top.  Then tatting could be added to the seamed cuff edge.   Or should I just leave it alone and omit the tatting?

Any ideas or opinions?