Category Archives: girls

Re-run: Smocked Brother-Sister Frogs

Posted on March 12, 2011 | 2 comments

LaurelRobFrogs21

This post is a rerun.  I’ve spent most of every day this past week tending to my dearly loved  89 year-old aunt.  She has been hospitalized and has suffered a rather dramatic fall into dementia, so I have been trying to arrange a move from her assisted living facility to a higher level of care in a nursing home.

Between dealing with her needs and tending my 2 year old grandson Alastair, I have run out of time and decided to re-run some old posts until I can get caught up.   I doubt if any readers have read all  or even most of the 386 posts from the birth of this blog.  So here it is……

I love to see siblings in coordinating clothes.  My son and daughter are fully 4 years apart in age, so I was only able to indulge in this practice for a very short time.

But my granddaughter Laurel is just 15 months older than her brother Robert so I have made them many “matching” outfits.  Laurel loves it, her mother loves it and Robert, frankly, doesn’t care one way or the other.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in boys, brother-sister, clothing, girls, ready-to-smock finished projects, smocking

Summer=Sundresses

Posted on March 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

 

Almost 2 year-old Alastair needed daycare this week.  His mother, my computer engineer daughter Rebecca, was called back to work full-time for a big project so I am tending the little guy on the west coast of Florida while his parents work.  I love it but his presence adds a new dimension to the challenge of snapping photos for a post.

plain jane sundress, unembellished except for cat hair

The dresses (one embroidered, one plain) were carried here in a bag, meant to be ironed.  But Alastair thought that was not a good use of our time and nixed the session at the ironing board.  Okay, we’ll live with the wrinkles.

Then I wanted to sew three tiny buttons onto the bow knot on one shoulder.  But before they were stitched in place, Alastair snatched them from the leather ottoman where they were resting and ran like the wind with them clutched in his hot little hand.  As he ran, he squealed with delight that Nana was chasing him. 

When I finally convinced him to return the buttons to their rightful owner, he dropped them onto the oriental rug where they became invisible.  I quickly recovered the buttons and sewed them to the bow knot. Finally, I got things set up to take a picture. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in clothing, girls, hairbows, machine embroidery, Nana fun

Coming soon: St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 1, 2011 | 1 comment

“St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time-a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.”  Adrienne Cook

zComingSoonshirt

Though March 21st is the official first day of spring, March 17th is truly the harbinger of sunny days to come.

St. Patrick’s Day is just plain fun.  Snakes are said to have been driven away by this popular saint and yet parades “snake” through town in celebration of all that is Irish.

 

ComingSoonshirtscanBRITE

The holiday implies no responsibility for candy or roses or gifts or greeting cards.  A celebrant’s only duty is to wear green, The Great Equalizer that enables people of all nationalities to share a single ancestry for a day.  Of course, there are always those who take advantage of a situation and sport shirts or hats demanding “Kiss me.  I’m Irish!”

On this day, everyone of good humor is Irish.   Though the smallest dab of green on one’s clothing implies participation in the day’s festivities, it is more fun for children to dress for the occasion. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in button machine, embroidery blanks, girls, hairbows, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Tagged , , ,

LOVE for Laurel

Posted on February 14, 2011 | 2 comments

Every year for Valentine’s Day, I plan to follow James Taylor’s advice to “Shower the People You Love with Love.”  If you are unfamiliar with this sweet ballad,  I suggest that you treat yourself to a few minutes of his wise counsel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkAhQBbK-oM

The good news is that I am blessed with so many people whom I love.  The bad news is that  I was unable to get a full blown love shower up by Feb. 14.  This year, it is more like a drizzle. 

I’ve started with my precious grandchildren and gotten not much further.  You’ve already seen the Egyptophile shirt I made for Robert.  The next post will show the shirt I made for Alastair and which he wore home after spending the weekend with us.  This LOVE outfit is for my sweetheart and only granddaughter, Laurel Cade.

When I found this red sale-rack pettiskirt I knew it was the perfect start for her Valentine’s Day party ensemble. I wish I had a big poufy hair bow to go with it.  My dear friend Judy Day is coming for a visit at the end of the week and will teach me to make the fabulous bows she makes for her granddaughters.  

NOTE: Have you seen the darling design for boys that says “I like girls with big hair bows.”  Next year I’ll make that for Alastair whose prissy playmates don these flirty hair accessories.

A white shirt was pulled from my size 5-6 bag of blank shirts.  I added some ribbon roses at the neckline and applique’d LOVE with letters from www.planetapplique.com, Planet Applique’s Gobble Alphabet.  The gobblers were removed in BuzzEdit2.  Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in clothing, girls, machine embroidery

Encore Collar

Posted on February 10, 2011 | 8 comments

Encore:  a reappearance or additional performance demanded by an audience (definition from Merriam-Webster dictionary)

 

EncoreShadoworkCollardress

There was no real demand and I’m certainly not a real audience, but this collar has definitely made a welcome reappearance.

Worn first by my daughter 27 years ago when she was 5, it turned up at the bottom of a box of old samples I unpacked to take to Sewing at the Beach.  Now, it will be worn by my granddaughter Laurel, who is 6.

Laurel’s  black velveteen Christmas dress (2010)  featured an heirloom sewn pinafore bib,  machine embroidered with the seasonal Sugar Plum Fairy.  The encore shadow work collar refreshes the garment for a Valentine’s Day party.

 

zshadoworkcollarRL

 

Swiss batiste and tatting work well with the hand stitched surface embroidery and red shadow work bows.   Continue reading →

8 Comments

Posted in clothing, girls, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing

Tagged , ,

Part II Goodbye SATB2011

Posted on February 8, 2011 | 2 comments

I hope you are not yet tired of the details of Sewing at the Beach 2011 because I am still enjoying the fresh memories of a great school.

The young man in the handsome blazer was a doll and a great escort for the cutie pie in the smocked dress. She had been well-coached to smile at people. But the minute her eyes turned away from a member of the audience, her dazzling smile warped into bored fatigue. It was late for little ones.

As a wrap up, I would like to share with you a few photos of the students projects, fashion show and banquet table party favors.

Then I want to introduce you to living proof that sewing is, indeed, a bona fide Elixir of Youth.   Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in boys, clothing, doll clothing and accessories, girls, home dec, ladies, machine embroidery, quilts, smocking, turn tube hem, uncategorized

Goodbye Sewing at the Beach 2011

Posted on February 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

This incredible week of fun, friendship and sewing classes is over. And what a memorable time we have had!

I was privileged to be part of the faculty which included  Connie Palmer, Jan Kerton of Australia, Kathy Farmer, Jane Briscoe, Margaret Fain and my wonderful, talented, wild and crazy roommate, Terri Click.

Their classes included Jan’s exquisite handwork projects, most notably her underwater landscape quilt, Kathy’s camisole and celtic heart, Jane’s faggotted romper and elegant etui, Margaret’s vintage sachets and mug mania, and Terri’s tee shirt pattern drafting and kumihimo bag handles.

The variety of projects amazed me.  There was truly something for everyone, though everyone seemed to want everything.

Each day, mid-morning and afternoon, students trekked to the hospitality suite.   Stocked with homemade goodies,  fresh fruits and vegetables, the suite was a comfortable and welcoming place to visit with old and new friends.  And talk about sewing.

On the 16th floor, lunch was served in a private dining room that overlooked the ocean.  Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, uncategorized

One Well-Spent Dollar

Posted on January 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

the honest-to-goodness Snow White with 6 year old Laurel, Snow White Jr.

This Disney Snow White costume/dress has more lives than a lucky cat.  It just keeps coming back!  Laurel’s homeschool group just spent the day at  Epcot and her mother sent this picture of Laurel wearing her favorite princess dress with Snow White Herself.

3 year old Snow White, aka Laurel Cade, Greg Wiggle, aka Robert Charles, and Robert’s constant companion moose, aka Moosie

The dress has a long history.  And just when I think it has finally seen its last days, it rises like the phoenix to be born again. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in clothing, Disney, girls, Nana fun, uncategorized

Kids Sew Jumpers

Posted on January 18, 2011 | 1 comment

6 year-old Kennedy hard at work in her Mimi’s sweat shop

Few activities delight a sewing Nana more than sewing with a grandchild.  Of course, we encourage this interest in all of our grandchildren, but some take to it like the proverbial duck to water.

Six year old Kennedy is one of those ducks.  Not only does her mother sew fabulous things for  her, but her grandmother, Judy Day, is an extremely accomplished “sewist” who sews almost around the clock for her three grandchildren.  Kennedy has reaped the benefits of matriarchal stitchers and observed that it is fun.

The little Snow Princess with her doll–doesn’t she look proud?

This summer, she and her cousin Courtney spent time with their grandparents and loved working  in the sewing room.  The girls made matching sundresses and were thrilled with the results.   ( The proud six-year old cousins will be featured with their sundresses in a later post.)

Recently, Kennedy spent a week with  “Mimi” and “Papa” and was more than eager to tackle another project or two.

Careful planning and extensive preparations are critical when sewing with children.  Having years of experience teaching sewing classes,  Judy knew how to guarantee her little granddaughter’s success.

Her choice of materials and pattern were suitable for Kennedy’s sewing skills. Polar fleece is a forgiving fabric and the jumper pattern was the quick and easy Lucy from Children’s Corner.

For American Girls doll Rebecca Judy drafted a similar style using a bodice pattern from Martha’s Doll Dressing book.  It features patterns for dolls 13″ -19″.  Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in clothing, doll clothing and accessories, girls, Judy Day's creations, Kids Sew, machine embroidery, Nana fun

Faux Heirloom Sundress

Posted on January 12, 2011 | 7 comments

1-fauxwhole2

 

This is the quintessential modern project for old fashioned Nanas.  I love this easy care/faux heirloom dress.

It may seem early to be thinking about sundresses, but the commercial  pattern companies have already put out their spring and summer pattern books. I’ve had to think about it because Faux Heirloom Sundress is another class I will be teaching in Myrtle Beach at the end of the month.

The beauty of this summer frock is its easy care properties.  It’s no surprise to heirloom loving grandmothers everywhere that ironing organdy and Swiss batiste beauties is a real problem for busy young mothers.  This wash and wear, easy care, easy sew pop-over meets many of the requirements for an heirloom garment.  And still, it comes out of the dryer ready to wear and is as sturdy as Old Navy.

 

 

1-fauxyoke2

 

The fancyband on the skirt and front yoke are applied, rather than inserted.  Nothing is cut away behind thee bands.  The base fabric is intact under these embellishments, maintaining the structural integrity of the solid fabric. Continue reading →

7 Comments

Posted in clothing, girls, heirloom sewing, techniques