Category Archives: clothing

FREE Thanksgiving Designs Alert and Thankful Sewing

Posted on November 21, 2013 | 10 comments

3 aprons

Precious, decades old friendships are near the top of the list when I count my blessings.   So when Catherine (one of the PlayGroup Mamas) asked me to embroider three apron blanks for Thanksgiving, I was happy for the opportunity to do something for her. Both of her sons and her only grandchild live in far-off Colorado where she will be spending Thanksgiving.  The aprons are for her two daughters-in-law and one of their sisters, all three of whom will  be cooking.  All the while, Catherine will be grinning ear to ear as she revels in the joy of grandmotherhood with one year old Jay.

 

Apron Hildie

The FREE wreath design (plus a cute FREE turkey through November 30) design is available at Embroidery Library.  I enjoyed playing with different colors, including some variegated threads so each apron is a little different from the others.  The alphabet used for the names is Loralie’s Loralesque.   Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, embroidery blanks, free patterns and designs, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

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Spectacularly Made by Cheryle Cole-Bennett

Posted on November 8, 2013 | 26 comments
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Rosey Alphabet from Hang To Dry is the source of the “P” and the flowers. The font for Page is Sweet Tart from 8 Claws and a Paw. The bib is an ITH design from FiveStarFonts.

Have you ever seen a sweeter combination of fabric and design?  Like everything Cheryle Cole-Bennett makes,  it is perfectly stitched and perfectly coordinated.  Any new mother who received a set like this would likely be dancing on the ceiling between each feeding and diapering session (if she weren’t too exhausted).

This set and everything featured here was made by Cheryle, an incredibly talented designer.  I happened upon her projects while surfing the very active, broad spectrum SewForum.com site which is graciously sponsored by AllBrands.com.  The forum is one you must join in order to have access.  Just do it–you’ll be glad you did.

 

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Here’s a close up of the onesie.  Cheryle mentioned a modification she made. “The P was edited to use the flower component from a different letter.” Can you see that the flowers are 3 dimensional?

After downloading many of my favorite photos from SewForum into my computer file called “pics inspiration,” I noticed that several were  “ccb” (Cheryle) submissions.   When I saw her preciously pink Roses for Page,  I had to know more about this person. Continue reading →

26 Comments

Posted in baby accessories, infant clothing, machine embroidery

Good Times~Autumn Leaves, Mountains, Grandchildren

Posted on October 28, 2013 | 5 comments
The tiny red dot is Alastair 4, just in front of our cabin.

The tiny figure in the road just in front of our cabin is Alastair, 4, examining a fuzzy caterpillar.

 

What a delightful week we just spent at our cabin in the North Carolina Mountains.  Except for grandson Alastair, it was a girls’ getaway.  With my daughter Rebecca,

 

Rebecca and Alastair

Rebecca and Alastair

her 9 month old daughter Vivian Rose,

bunny profile

Vivian Rose in her warm bunny jammies, protecting her from the bitter 34 degree weather.

Continue reading →

5 Comments

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

Halloween for Baby

Posted on October 20, 2013 | 10 comments

Candy Corn all

 

I’m packing for a trip to our cabin in North Carolina for some quality time with daughter Rebecca and her two children, 4 year old Alastair,  9 month old Vivian Rose and  Auntie Jeannette (Alastair’s NanNan).  We’re looking forward to a week of fall color and relaxation.  Actually, I’m not sure any  relaxation is possible with two little ones running around all day and Vivian Rose nursing 2-3 time through the night.  But with three adults, at least one of us should be relatively free at any given moment.

Post Trip UPDATE:  WRONG!!!!  It required one adult per child and one to cook meals and prepare Alastair’s non-stop snacks.  He must be having a growth spurt.

Our Florida baby girl would need some warm clothes, so I teamed up off-the-rack fleece pants and leggings with a few tops.  One, of course, had to have a Halloween theme. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

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Quick Big Girl Skirt

Posted on October 11, 2013 | 14 comments

L skirt

 

Laurel loves her new denim skirt and so do I.   My friend Suzanne Sawko recommended this pattern, telling me that it was a favorite of her granddaughter Alee, who is the same age as Laurel.

 

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You can cut out and serge this skirt in less time than it takes to bake a cake and it made Laurel even happier than her favorite–lemon pound cake.  It is such a unique pattern. Continue reading →

14 Comments

Posted in girls, serger

UPDATE: Game Day Shirts and Tailgating

Posted on October 8, 2013 | 13 comments

UPDATE: Robert’s spiral bound book, Football Frenzy, is now available.

front scanCR

 

Robert wrote every word, did the research and even typed this himself.  Finished before his 8th birthday, it includes a 7 year old’s experience and appreciation for the game, as well as interesting quotes and statistics along with Robert’s comments. It’s a bargain for $5 + $2 shipping. Get your copy now before Amazon picks it up and raises the price!!

 

first time tailGators

First time tailGators, Laurel in a new shirt and Robert in one of his VBS tie shirts.

 

What a great time we had Saturday at the Florida/Arkansas football game in Gainesville!  Robert and Laurel’s first tailgating experience was just about perfect.  A good win for our beloved Gators, good food, good family time, and good weather.  Okay, so it was a sunny 90 degrees, but there was a nice breeze and it didn’t rain.  In Florida, that’s considered good weather, but not great.

 

L shirt closeCR

 

Sewing always seems to play a role in all the major occasions of my life.  I’m sure it’s the same for you, whether it’s party favors or decorations or gifts. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, girls, machine embroidery, recipes, serger, sporting gear

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End of Summer Dress

Posted on September 2, 2013 | 10 comments
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The coral rose and passion vine tangle up and cover this bench trellis. It’s a pretty spot to sit—or hang a dress.

 

Have you ever had a project that made you wonder if you would ever finish it?  That’s the story for this summer dress that I started in June.  Finally today,  Sept. 2, it is ready to wear.

Yes, it’s a little late for summer, but in central Florida, summer lasts until late Oct.   There are still plenty of 90 degree days ahead for Laurel, my 9 year old granddaughter, to wear this cotton sundress.  Add  to that the fact that it is a little big, so she will be cool and cute next summer.

The pattern is Summer Separates from the Sew Beautiful collection.

summer separates Continue reading →

10 Comments

Posted in girls, machine embroidery, techniques

Moving on…..

Posted on July 23, 2013 | 24 comments

all w headband2BR

 

It seemed as though I would never finish this simple little pini-4, but at last it is checked off on my to-do list.  There were no technical complications, but rather just a matter if life getting in the way.  Entire days passed when I did not sew and that makes me cranky.  I feel better now.

The original plan was to add a row of cable under the beaded ribbon, but in my eagerness to finish this up I just forgot.  Of course, it’s not too late and I could still do it.  It  really would look better.  But I am tired of this project.  It’s done. I’m ready to move on.

The pattern is the same one I used for the Liberty of London popover for granddaughter Vivian Rose.  But I look forward to when Lisa at Mommy’s Apron Strings releases her very similar pattern.  She has so many improvements, like sizing.

 

pini4-patt Continue reading →

24 Comments

Posted in hairbows, heirloom sewing, infant clothing, serger, smocking

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Modeling their New Clothes

Posted on July 5, 2013 | 8 comments

 

modeling their July 4th outfits

modeling their July 4th outfits

I simply must show you the pictures that Rebecca just sent of Alastair and Vivian Rose wearing the outfits I made recently.  You’ve probably already seen these clothes and I know I am Pitiful Nana to HAVE to show these off.  I’m like the grandmothers who pull out the 11 x 17″ g’baby photo albums at every opportunity.  But I am what I am.

 

V-stands

 

 

Six month old Vivian Rose, our own four-tooth “Chubbalicious,” is finally getting hair in a reversed sequence of her mother’s development.  Rebecca was born with thick, dark hair that nearly covered her ears but it all fell out and at her first birthday she had about as much as does Vivian Rose now.  Vivian also has 2 teeth now while her mother didn’t cut her first almost until her first birthday.  I thought I might have to send her to  kindergarten with pureed baby food in her lunch box.  FYI, this Children’s Corner Bobbie bubble is a size 18 months!

Continue reading →

8 Comments

Posted in boys, Holiday Projects, infant clothing, machine embroidery

July 4th Outfits and At Home Celebrations

Posted on July 2, 2013 | 9 comments

both

I love the 4th of July and everything that goes with it.  I love the picnics, the parades, the fireworks, the flag waving, the declarations of patriotism, the television broadcast of A Capitol Fourth, all that and more.  But what I love most is the blessings and freedoms we celebrate on Independence Day.  Oh–that and the children’s clothes, too!

When our children were still at home, we hosted a huge picnic with as many as 175 guests.  I wrote an article about it for the 1988 summer issue of Sew Beautiful.  For any who would like to stroll down Memory Lane with me, the  article is reprinted at the end of this post. Continue reading →

9 Comments

Posted in boys, brother-sister, Holiday Projects, infant clothing, machine embroidery