We’re re-modeling our kitchen. What, you might ask, does that have to do with a Peter Rabbit blanket? Let me explain.
We have no counters, no kitchen sink, and until last week, no stove. Of course, breakfast and lunch are cold or prepared in the microwave and eaten on paper plates. For dinner, we have no choice but to eat out every night. What a hardship! I told the kitchen guys to take their sweet time.
Posted in baby accessories, machine embroidery
Apparently, there is no limit to what we will do for our children or grandchildren.
I can’t believe I’ve just made 43 Pokemon Ninja headband birthday party favors for sweet grandson Alastair. That’s LOVE!!!
Now 6 years old, he and most of his friends are smitten with Pokemon characters. The headbands are embroidered with four of the all-important “energy symbols.”
Alastair is the little guy standing with his hands in his pockets.
a Kari Mecca creation with her signature ribbon trim (made with handy Whimsy Sticks) and spaghetti bias
Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Lakeland, Florida– what a fabulous event! This past week with my dear friend Carol (my son-in-law’s mother) we took classes and shopped at the enormous and tantalizing market. Seeing so many friends, making such great buys, and learning so many new things made OSQE a circus of fun.
My schedule included 2 “Whimsy” sessions with Kari Mecca, two serger classes and one quilting adventure. Each offered great techniques and loads of inspiration.
My classes with Kari Mecca inspired me beyond words. Being the smitten grandmother of 2 year old Vivian Rose, I dream of making every garment on Kari’s sample rack–a dream that’s unlikely to come true! Continue reading
Posted in accessories, girls, infant clothing, serger
Weddings are important because they celebrate life and possibility. Anne Hathaway
The wedding gift includes twelve linen, hemstitched dinner napkins like this one. And in case the bride or groom read this post, please note that nothing else in the picture is part of the gift 😉
These napkins were stitched for a couple who embrace both life and possibility. They seem to know that
“In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.†—Janos Arnay
And for them, one of those possibilities is a great deal of entertaining.
The gift includes 12 hemstitched linen dinner napkins monogrammed with designs from JuJu’s Adorn Trio Ornamental Monogram. This set comes in 4 sizes and is now marked down from $20 to $5! I love this collection and Juju’s other designs. Note: I have no affiliation with JuJu except as a satisfied customer.
Along with the dinner napkins, there are 12 monogrammed cocktail napkins, too many to include in the photo. Continue reading
Is there any more joyous occasion for sewing than Easter? It’s time to get started but instead of pulling out the lace and batiste, I find myself looking back at those confections from the past. For me, it’s not about seeking inspiration so much as it is about enjoying the memories all over again, like re-reading a very good book.
Among these outfits, there might be some inspiration for those of you who have not yet jumped into this special sewing season.
Who doesn’t love babies in daygowns? And with a sweet big brother they are even more precious.
If daygowns interest you, details are posted here Happy Easter ’13. This post details the daygown with fagotted lace and a hand embroidered front placket
The next year Big Brother Alastair wore this little suit.
This hurry-up Easter suit was made for my grandson Alastair.
It seems like I am always in a rush to get Easter outfits finished. This one for Alastair was no exception.
Making this dress was pure joy. I love the Swiss handloom and laces.
Baby’s Easter Dress, made for Vivian Rose last year. It was a modification of a dress I made for her mother 31 years ago.
And I love this picture of her strolling through the grass.
Vivian Rose, 15 months old, Easter 2014
I hope your Valentine’s Day was filled with
Our family had wonderful celebrations, both at our home with the older two grands and across the state where our littlest darlings live.
The younger ones marked the occasion in their own special way. While she prepared things to take to the school Valentine party, Rebecca asked her 5 yo Alastair to sit with his sister, 2 yo Vivian Rose, and to please make sure she didn’t leave the table with the markers.
“No problem, Mom,” said Big Brother.
True to his word, she never left the table with the markers.
At school on the big day, Alastair spent a whole dollar to have a carnation delivered to the darling girl who sits next to him in kindergarten. According to his mother, who volunteers in his classroom every week, this little gal runs and wrestles and roughhouses with the boys. Many are as smitten as Alastair.
When he was a toddler, it was obvious that he would be a charmer. For that Valentine’s Day, I embroidered this shirt for him. Continue reading
Posted in Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, Nana fun
I have a sweet story to share with you. It’s a story of a daughter’s love and the loyalty of her friends. And there is a sewing connection.
Aunt Rheeta, 73
Many of you may remember my dear Aunt Rheeta who has stitched many projects featured on this blog. (See Aunt Rheeta’s Communion Cloth, Vacation or Sweat shop, Bible Cover, My Heroine, Patient Pillowcases.)
Just before she left her home in Indiana to come visit me, Aunt Rheeta celebrated her 80th birthday. Continue reading
The photo has been darkened to show the detail in the design.
Needleworkers–or sewists if you prefer–so often share their time and talents with friends and relatives and charitable organizations. I am especially touched when I hear from readers who do faith-based needlework. Some have sent pictures which are shared below.
After the previous post about church linens, reader Sandra commented that she too had made eucharistic corporals for relatives. I was delighted to read that she is, in fact, my Sigma Kappa sorority sister! That’s just one more benefit of writing this blog!
I asked Sandra if she would send pictures to share and hurrah! She did. Here’s what she had to say about the exquisite pieces she made.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Continue reading
Posted in church projects, machine embroidery
Tagged altar cloths, church linens, communion cloth, eucharist corporals, hardanger
I was honored to make these church linens for a mother to give her son upon his ministerial ordination this very Sunday. This thoughtful mother has made up a gift package that includes these and other items her son will need as he pursues his calling.
Made of very fine linen, two communion napkins (or “veils”) to cover the elements were embroidered, hemstitched and edged with tatting. The napkin corners were rounded because mitering tatting is way above my skill level.
Pin stitch was worked around the perimeter with a #100 sharp needle. I’ve learned that using a wing needle with tatting is a recipe for disaster. But stitching slowly and carefully with the sharp, there were no tatting casualties.
slightly modified design is from the spectacular Christian Symbols collection of ABC Embroidery Designs
The baptismal lavabo is made from a blank linen guest towel with three rows of hemstitching.
I had a hard time coming up with a design that suited me. What I wanted was a simple baptismal shell with three water drops symbolic of the trinity. After an extensive and unproductive search of both my design library and on-line designs, I finally bought this design from Embroidery Library, deleted the green scroll and rotated the shell. Continue reading
Our granddaughter, Vivian Rose, that’s who. And what a time she had all day.
Her mother likes to start the celebration at wake up with a special breakfast. For Vivi, it was her favorite English muffins with nutella.
A corduroy jumper from a pattern in the book Martha’s Favorite Applique’s was worn for her party. Â Continue reading
