Category Archives: girls

Second Hand Roses

Posted on August 29, 2010 | 5 comments

 

Lawnbinchefront

 

I’m really into recycling Rebecca’s dresses that have been packed away for 25+ years.  It’s amazing how timeless a smocked dress can be and how well they hold up.

Some, like Barbra Streisand,  may turn their noses up “second hand,” but neither Laurel nor I mind.

I had to drop the hem, as little girls’ skirts are longer now. Fortunately, when the dress was made, I followed the standard recommendation of putting in a 6″ hem so  I had a good 3″ to drop.

This basic yoke has a sash that ties in the back.  It is smocked to just above the waist and meets the back yoke at that same depth.  The sash snugs the dress up and feels more like a big girl dress.

The intriguing smocking plate is Chinese Chippendale by Barbie Beck, an almost ancient design.  If you blow up the photo, you will see how interesting the design is. Continue reading →

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Posted in Binche Lace, clothing, girls, heirloom sewing, smocking, techniques

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Haydee and Friends in PR

Posted on August 3, 2010 | 4 comments

Haydee, center, and friends

Some time ago, I wrote about the talent and charm of the ladies I met while teaching in Puerto Rico.  Haydee, a particular friend, has excelled in machine embroidery applique’ and has kindly shared pictures of  her projects and those of her friends.   I assume that the classes were held in San Juan, but I am not certain.

This set of photos shows a class making an A-line child’s dress with a fish applique. The pattern looks like the A-line dress from Martha’s Favorite Applique’s, but it could be any one of several.

But there is so much more to see here–check out the details.  Nestled into these vibrant underwater scenes are those extra details that make a garment grab our attention.  The 3-D button eyes stare right at you. Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, boys, brother-sister, clothing, girls, infant clothing, machine embroidery

Busted!

Posted on July 24, 2010 | 2 comments

Laurel, still wet from her most recent swim

Recently, we were delighted to have of our grandchildren, Robert, 4, and Laurel, 6, for three days and nights while their parents enjoyed a well-deserved mini vacation.

Our son, Ryan, and his wife, Shelly, were hiking in Oregon, on the other side of the country, about as far away from Florida as they could be, three time zones to the west.  We were footloose and fancy free!

While they were at Nana’s house, Robert ate just one serving of vegetables, Laurel ate two juice pops in one afternoon, ice cream was considered a dairy food and their whims for new embroidered shirts (Toy Story, Wiggles, etc.) were lovingly indulged. We stayed up late watching Toy Story, slept late in the morning, lounged in the pool and picnicked at the park.  We had a big time.

On our last night with the children, we had planned a bonfire and marshmallow roast, as soon as we finished watching another Disney movie.  At 8:30 p.m., before the movie’s conclusion and 15 minutes past their regular bed time, the parents called, surprised that the children were still up, giggling and bouncing around.

With neither regard nor awareness of the violations we were committing, the children prattled on to their parents about our plans for the rest of the evening.

Busted!

Continue reading →

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

Samantha and John Deere

Posted on July 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Amy is a busy young mother, teaching school full time and working on her doctorate.  But still she sews–it is her creative outlet, her soother. Though her mother, Judy Day, has sewn all her life and made smocked and heirloom sewn dresses for Amy, her sister, and now the grandchildren, Amy just began sewing a few years ago.

When she was bitten by the machine embroidery bug, she really blossomed. Aside from being very creative, Amy is meticulous in all her sewing.  She sews for her own child as well as the children of her friends.

This  darling set shows her sense of practicality–one pair of pants, two shirts, one with short  sleeves, the other with long sleeves for cooler days.

The hair bows she always makes to coordinate with the outfits are always the perfect finishing touch.

I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect someone in Samantha’s family has a  tractor.   This shirt is sure to please a John Deere fan.  The other, with  her name and the cute monogram is just cute as a button for school or play.   And the two shirts/one pair of pants set is a great idea for back-to-school, especially here in the South where a November day can be 35 or 85 degrees.

Great job, Amy!

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Posted in clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery

Teaching in Puerto Rico

Posted on July 20, 2010 | 6 comments
This is the view from one of the classrooms. The other had the same view along one entire wall.

This is the view from one of the classrooms. The other had the same view along one entire wall.

In all my years of teaching, I have traveled to some beautiful places, met beautiful people and seen beautiful projects. San Juan, Puerto Rico, was one of my favorite venues, a place at which I taught several times for Luis and Rosa Medina, owners of the San Juan Brother dealership. They were absolutely the most gracious host and hostess that you could imagine.

Their 12 year old daughter helped out but spent most of her time in the classroom, sewing on the Quattro 6000D.

Rosa Medina and 12 year old Deborah, a sewing student! We all talk about learning to sew on our mother's old straight stitch machine or some even tell tales of learning on a treadle. But Deborah is learning more than basic sewing on this technological wonder. June Mellinger, in ivory shirt, discussing project with two entrants.

Rosa Medina and 12 year old Deborah, a sewing student! We all talk about learning to sew on our mother’s old straight stitch machine or some even tell tales of learning on a treadle. But Deborah is learning more than basic sewing on this technological wonder.

On one of these trips, June Mellinger and I taught the classes and were asked to judge a sewing competition. June, by the way, is Brother’s Director of Education in the US, president of the American Sewing Guild and just a terrific, fun lady. We were absolutely astounded at the variety and quality of the entries.

The following photos show just a few of the beautiful items the ladies brought from all over the island.
Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, girls, heirloom sewing, home dec, infant clothing, machine embroidery, uncategorized

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Under the Sea

Posted on July 2, 2010 | 1 comment

undertheseaKennedyBrite

 

This dress is just breathtaking.  Judy Day has been working on it for more than six months–well, on and off for six months, as she dealt with other must-do’s that popped up.  This is her granddaughter’s 6th birthday dress and Kennedy is just as lovely as the dress!

I’ll let Judy tell you about it.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I made this dress for Kennedy’s birthday.  She has been crazy about fish from day one.  When I saw a picture of a similar dress on Martha Pullen’s weekly e-letter last year, after her event in Arlington, I just knew Kennedy would love it.

The planning took more time than the actual embroidery.  I tried several different fabrics for the dress overlay.  Of course, Swiss batiste would have been perfect if it did not require a lot of starch and pressing.  So I decided on a sheer poly fabric for the easy care.  I ordered several different ones from www.fabric.com

I knew the underdress would be Imperial broadcloth.  I searched my stash and did not find a blue that would work.  When an overlay is put over a color fabric, the color must be a bright, clear color or it looks muddy.  I ordered 4 yds.of 4 different bue fabrics from Baltazor Fabric Boutique www.baltazor.com ….one can never have too many blues in their stash!

 

under the sea overlay

 

Baltazor’s has wonderful customer service.  They only had 3 of the blues, so they picked another and then included a 5th at no charge!  It was one of the fabrics they chose that was perfect.  The color was clear and bright even with the overlay.  The overlay gives the dress depth so that some of  the fish look as if they are swimming in the distance. Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, girls, heirloom sewing, Judy Day's creations, machine embroidery, techniques

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Matching Mismatches

Posted on June 18, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

Laurel in her matching mismatched outfit.

Laurel in her matching mismatched outfit.

Some time ago, there was an article in Sew Beautiful magazine that caught my attention. After buying children’s separates from the clearance rack, the author coordinated them with other separates by using embroidery or appliqué designs. The little outfits looked like matched sets from an upscale department store.

I couldn’t help but think of on-line dating services, like Harmony or Match.com. Previously unknown individuals meet up and match up and sometimes even marry up. Ask me how I know—but  then again, I took an oath of secrecy so never mind.  Don’t bother. Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery

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DIY Heirloom Upgrade

Posted on May 24, 2010 | 4 comments

dress XX

 

 

I did not make this dress but I did upgrade it. I think of it as Strasburg Children ver.1.1. , Laurel’s flower girl dress.

Though there are for sale many really lovely ready-to-wear smocked and heirloom garments, for both children and adults, invariably, everything in my price range falls short of my standard of excellence.

 

Lwalks back


Laurel took two steps and then stood like a deer in the headlights. This is the only photo that shows forward progress.

 

Laurel was to be the flower girl at our daughter’s wedding, which took place at our home in 2006. I would love to have made Laurel’s  dress, but I was nearly overwhelmed by the task of getting the house ready. Having sustained major damage from two hurricanes in 2004, the repairs were finished just 2 months prior to the big event. Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, girls, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, uncategorized, wedding

Twin and Triple Needle Work

Posted on May 21, 2010 | 2 comments

 

zTwindresscrop

 

Judy Day made this intricately embroidered heirloom dress which showcases decorative stitches. By using a single color for both the stitches and  the satin ribbon sash, the frock exudes a quiet elegance, in spite of the complexity of the embroidery.   Adding more stitches to the skirt balances out all the stitches on the bodice.  The overall effect is just so pleasing.

The dress was a blank canvas for twin and triple needle work, the subject of a sewing club meeting that Judy taught for years at B-Sew Inn, a huge Babylock  dealership in Springfield, Missouri.

As you can see, the use of the twin and triple needle in combination with a sewing machine’s decorative stitches creates complex, perfect patterns. But if you have no experience with their use, you would be wise to read up on the topic.

 

zTwindressclose

 

It is important to note your machine’s maximum stitch width. The width of the twin or triple needle must be subtracted from that in order to determine the maximum width for your decorative stitch. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, Judy Day's creations, techniques

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Bargain Sea Scene

Posted on May 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

“To sell something, tell a woman it’s a bargain: tell a man it’s deductible.” Earl Wilson

Everyone loves a bargain and I am no exception. When I saw these  pants on the department store clearance rack for $4, I snatched them up for Laurel. It was a more than pleasant surprise to find the matching shirt for $3.50.

The white polka dots easily pass for bubbles, so the outfit certainly lent itself to a bottom-of-the-sea setting. The designs are all from Dakota Collectibles. The underwater scene  is from the Seashells collection while the angelfish are from Aquarium Scenes.

One angelfish was extracted from the pair and embroidered  just above the vent at the calf. Since the single angelfish lacked bubbles, I went back to my old reliable collection, Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Elements, and inserted, copied and pasted a simple dot that Suzanne Sawko had digitized. These were just the right size to mimic the dots in the shirt fabric and inside the pants hem. Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, girls, machine embroidery