Pattern: Flamingo Cove   Notice the yo-yo’s on the fish, turtles, crab, pelicans, flamingos, bush and more. My favorite is the sun yo-yo, surrounded by rick rack.
The Lakeland Quilt and Sewing Expo in Lakeland was the highlight of last week for Suzanne Sawko and me. We were swamped with inspiration! Our last minute trip was scheduled too late for us to register for classes, but the vendors and quilt displays made the trip more than worth while.
Lion’s Den pattern
Each of us who sews is asked occasionally to make something for a fundraiser.  It feels good to use our skills for a worthy cause and reminds us that we have the power to make this world a better (if only slightly) place because we can sew.
Posted in machine embroidery
Git ‘er done #1—simple, everyday onesie with machine embroidered lambs from Ultimate Baby Layette collection by Martha Pullen.
Though many of us would prefer to spend all of our sewing hours stitching heirloom christening gowns, lacy Easter dresses and smocked bishops, there are many less exciting projects that demand our time–and I’m not talking about cooking or cleaning. My “git ‘er done” list has gotten so long that I had to get a few out the door.
DEFINITION for readers living outside of US South: It’s southern dialect for “Get her (‘er) done” — an imperative statement expressing a desire to start a job or complete an unfinished task.
Many objects and actions have a feminine persona (like when a farmer refers to his truck as a she, or when a captain of a ship calls his vessel a she). In the same way, a task may be given a feminine context. In the southern American English dialect, something can be “gotten done.” Hence, “Git’r done.” Continue reading
cot sheet for Vivian Rose, made of heavy pink twill with a border of Children on Parade by Michael Miller
Valentine NEWSFLASH!!! Sarah Jane, the fabric designer for Children on Parade and many other adorable prints, has posted on her blog a downloadable PDF for an absolutely adorable, printable (4 to a sheet) kids’ Valentine card. With Olympic hearts and a gold chocolate coin taped to the back, it will delight all your children’s friends. Check it out here. Thanks, Mary Sue, for the link!~~~~~~~
Our 13 month old granddaughter, Vivian Rose, is now enrolled at a Montessori school two days a week.  After the first day, I called her mother, my Rebecca, to see how it went. When she said it hurt to hear Baby Girl wailing as she did, I sympathized and said it must have been hard to leave her.
“NO!” Rebecca said. “She cried and cried when I picked her up! She didn’t want to leave! When I dropped her off she gave me not a single backward glance and toddled off to the play area. That hurt a little.” Vivian Rose is one independent little girl.
The font is JuJu’s Sugar and Spice. Isn’t it so cute? The set comes with numerals, upper case and lower case in 3″, 5″ and 6″ sizes. The letters had to be staggered in order to fit in my largest (8″ x 12″) Brother Quattro hoop.
But like all of the “Ones” in her baby class, she has a scheduled nap time. Â For that, Rebecca asked for a personalized cot sheet, much like those I had made for Big Brother Alastair and his friend Carson.
My Oh My, so sew much drama ensued.
But first, I have to ask if you have seen this most adorable dress made by Cheryle Cole-Bennett whose facebook page is SeeSeeMe Custom Designs.
The fabric is Michael Miller’s Children on Parade.
Posted in baby accessories, girls, machine embroidery
Tagged Cheryle Cole-Bennet, cot sheet, jenni leigh, machine embroidery
Our congregation is celebrating the birth of yet another precious baby. Due to some complications, little Laura Jane came into the world a month before her due date. At just over 4 lbs., this pocket sized preemie spent her first ten days in the hospital.
Two weeks later and now at home, Laura Jane weighs 5 lbs. 8 oz. Hurrah!
As a deacon of our church, one of my responsibilities is to welcome new babies with a gift, hence, this blanket. I love my job, but wish we had more newborns!
The delicate pink color of the ready made 100% cotton flannel blanket is much like the blush color of sweet baby cheeks. The flannel’s heavy but luxurious texture made the embroidery process a real delight.
The text was arranged in Brother’s PE-Design. The little angel cherubs are from Petite Designs, Brother’s card #20, one of my most often used collections. The corner embroidery nestled perfectly in my Brother Quattro 8×8 hoop.
UPDATE: And look at it now.
Viv “eating”Aunt Peggy’s chocolate pudding. Surely some got in her mouth.
first birthday dress for Minnie fan
Our precious granddaughter Vivian Rose recently celebrated her first birthday with family and friends at a party in her own back yard.
Cousins Laurel and Alastair
Posted in Disney, heirloom sewing, infant clothing, machine embroidery, Madeira applique
Tagged birthday dress, Disney, Madeira applique, Minnie Mouse
This fun font is Great Notions Princess Polka Dot.
My 9 year old granddaughter continues to expand the product line for her little business, Laurel’s Specialty Sewing. After introducing monogrammed tote bags, she added the service of sewing Girl Scout patches on the vests of her fellow Scouts ($ .50 per patch, monofilament thread, free motion sewing). This product and service has proven to be very profitable. She recently bought an American Girl doll with money she earned.
Now Laurel is promoting a new item in her line. The simple felt hangings are destined for the upcoming Girl Scout Camporee. The girls bring little items to trade, momentos of the event or trinkets, such as these for an event they call SWAPS–Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.
Posted in Kids Sew, machine embroidery, Nana fun
Look at these! What a steal they were! These zippered, sturdy, lined totes are really very, very nice, featuring an inside pocket and leather handles. At JC Penny they were originally over priced at $100, not a cost I would have been willing to pay. From the quantity available at the final clearance price, most shoppers were of the same opinion. I did, however, do a google search for the bag name and found it listed on more than one site for $60-$65.
While Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving, my daughter came across a table loaded with these bags. They had been marked down repeatedly.
After a quick call for a Mama consultation, sale-savvy Rebecca marched full steam ahead to the cash register loaded down with every one of the bargains. Well, no doubt she had to march more than once but clearly this girl grew up under the influence of her mother’s Buy Bargains in Bulk!!! philosophy.
Nana Fun: This is 9 yo Laurel’s note to Santa. With grandchildren, there is always something to smile about. Like the fact that her house does have a fireplace and a chimney. Was she messing with ol’ Santa?
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recipe designs from Embroidery Library, raspberries from Ace Points Raspberries, strawberries from Ace Points Strawberry Delight
Many of you know this blog was down for almost two weeks before Christmas. Because of that, there is a backlog of sewing projects waiting to be shared.
With a long list of recipients and a month-long variety of unexpected demands on my time, it was apparent that the gifts must be quick and easy. Nothing is faster than machine embroidery on a ready made item so most of my gifts were of that kind. Many were towels from All About Blanks.
gingerbread recipe design from Hatched in Africa’s Winter Recipes
Posted in embroidery blanks, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, Nana fun, recipes
Tagged dishtowels, quick christmas gifts, recipe towels
Vivian Rose’s first Christmas dress has a gingerbread theme.  With a long standing family tradition of making holiday gingerbread houses, I knew her mother would like it. Her brother sported gingerbread in his first Christmas outfit. This is important because Baby Girl doesn’t care one way or another.
trying to climb down off her father’s lap at her brother’s Christmas program
It was first worn for Big Brother Alastair’s Christmas program. She would have looked better with her long sleeve white shirt with a lettuce leaf finish at the cuffs and collar, but it was a very warm day, too warm for long sleeves. Ahhh, the joy of winter in Florida! Continue reading
Posted in girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery
