Category Archives: machine embroidery

Florida Fall ~Stitching and Decorating

Posted on October 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

Everyone, it seems, loves fall. The stores are chock full of home dec items, the embroidery sites are brimming with new autumn designs and the department store displays show garments in brilliant golds, browns and orange.

In central Florida, fall brings cooler temperatures, ripening citrus, and the county fair.  I love them all, but my favorite is the show put on by the romantic Golden Rain Trees.  As a child, I watched Elizabeth Taylor in the movie, Raintree County, and fantasized about someday seeing such a tree.

All these years, I’ve remembered the theme song, sung by Nat King Cole.  I find myself humming it  when the golden showers begin.  The petals and pollen  cover the grass like a yellow carpet and are followed by vibrant rust colored seed pods in huge clusters. Continue reading →

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Posted in antique textiles, embroidery blanks, home dec, machine embroidery

Children’s Hankies

Posted on October 14, 2011 | 4 comments

UPDATE–see update at the end of this post.childrens hankies L all 10-14-2011 12-32-00 AM
“He had no little handkerchief to wipe his little nose.”  Rev. R.H. Barham

And I surely don’t want that to be said of my granddaughter, Laurel.  The poor child has allergies and without warning, her  little freckled nose can run amuk. Having a handkerchief in her pocket gives a measure of confidence, now that she is, in fact, seven years old.  She does NOT like to be embarrassed.

This week, Laurel sang the national anthem with the Orlando Symphony, along with several other children.  Each represented a school or group and was invited to sing at a special performance for children.

And what does this have to do with handkerchiefs? Continue reading →

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Posted in heirloom sewing, machine embroidery, uncategorized

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Free ME Baby Design

Posted on October 10, 2011 | 77 comments

UPDATE: I’ve just edited the design to fit the 4×4 hoop. Please indicate in your request if  you would like 4×4,  5×7 or  both.

Baby Pillow

 

It’s been so hectic here these last few days that I haven’t had a minute to write up a post.  We had two of our grandchildren, Robert, 6, and Laurel, 7, for two days of homeschool, county fair projects.

The culmination of those two days was a family gathering for Saturday’s football game.  We enjoyed every minute of our time together, except for the Gator loss to LSU.  Just into the second quarter of the game fiasco,  my DIL received this text message from a friend, “I don’t know what is more painful, watching this game or having my wisdom teeth extracted without Novocaine.”

Usually, Louisiana gal pal Linda McGehee calls during the game to congratulate or gloat, offer predictions and give  Jack’s read on the game.  This time, she was sensitive enough to just send a consolation e-mail, though her “Geaux Tigers” message title was less than sympathetic.   But today we have moved on and I’m ready to blog about sewing.

I  love stitching baby things, just like everyone.  The idea of a precious new life, a sweet new member of the family, often inspires us to get out needle and thread.  Whether we pick up a handsewing or machine needle, the urge to create something special for an innocent babe drives us to sew.

 

design scan

design scan

Continue reading →

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Posted in baby accessories, free patterns and designs, hand embroidery, linen blanks, machine embroidery

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Madeira Applique’ Hem Pillowcases

Posted on October 6, 2011 | 7 comments

monogrammed-birthday-pc3A

A pair of these pillowcases were stitched for my daughter’s birthday, which is this week. She loves pretty linens and monograms, just like her mother, so this pair of pillow slips should please her.

The “C” monogram is from Martha Pullen’s  2002 Embroidery Club  collection.  I chose this style  because of its angular lines, a nice contrast to all the swirls of the embroidery below.  Years ago, I attended a quilting workshop at which the instructor casually threw out this tip.  She mentioned that when piecing with geometric shapes, she likes to quilt with curves.  Conversely, she thought that curved pieces look best with rectolinear quilting.  I’ve never regretted following her advice for quilts and frequently have applied it to embroidery designs. Continue reading →

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Posted in heirloom sewing, machine embroidery, Madeira applique, White Wednesday

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Pillowcase Dress–Haydee’s Extras

Posted on October 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

The red gingham bias binding for the armholes adds a perfect contrasting balance to the top of the dress.

Ever since learning about the Little Dresses for Africa, I’ve been intrigued by the pillowcase dresses.  A ” blank canvas” sort of pattern has always appealed to me, but very few styles offer as many opportunities for creativity as does the simple pillowcase dress.  The pattern is a free download.

 Made by my Puerto Rican friend and former student Haydee,  this sweet little ladybug delight is probably destined for a granddaughter rather than for Africa. But it certainly shows the pattern’s potential, as well as just how much punch my Puerto Rican friend Haydee can add.  She is especially gifted when combining fabric and color, particularly in applique’.

Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery

Fall Pumpkin Pillow

Posted on September 28, 2011 | 4 comments

pumpkin-pillowLWcrop

Fall in the mountains is just breathtaking.  It has been several years since we were able to be at our mountainside cabin in  western North Carolina at the peak of the color season.  This year, again,  the calendar is not working for us so it is unlikely that we will be able to get up here when the leaves are most brilliant.  So we are enjoying this week in the early fall and I’ve brought along a few things to celebrate Mother Nature’s big show.

I love decorating the cabin for the different  seasons.  This pillow was embroidered before we left home and stitched into a pillow up here while I had a few quiet moments.  The embroidery design is from Anita Goodesign’s Vintage Autumn Sampler  collection. Continue reading →

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Posted in home dec, machine embroidery

Gator Kids

Posted on September 18, 2011 | 4 comments

At The Swamp--my handsome son with his children Laurel and Robert, settling in before kickoff. Shelly, their mother, took the picture.

Another September Saturday, another college football game.  Yeah!!!  Some  teams are celebrating, some looking forward to redemption next week.

After Florida’s very disappointing last season, we are celebrating the win in the first SEC game of the season:  Florida Gators 33–Tennessee Volunteers 23.

I love the ability to combine my love of college football with my love of sewing.  In an earlier post, I mentioned that I was embroidering new game day shirts for my three grandchildren. I don’t have a photo of Alastair, who lives on the other side of the state, but here are the other two.

Robert’s shirt is a repeat of last year’s model, a simple Gator Boy design.

Laurel was up for something new so I followed a new trend in college sports wear for girls and women. This style  identifies the team only by name or mascot,  not by team colors.  Instead, pink and gray is used, usually the heather gray you see on sweatshirts or athletic tees.

This frame is built into my Brother Duetta, one of many that can be sized to fill each from from 4 x 4" to 7 x 12".

Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, girls, machine embroidery, sporting gear

Update: Jumper Fair Entry

Posted on September 16, 2011 | 1 comment

back cover of book, Applique Martha’s Favorites

A request has been made to see a picture of the pattern Laurel is using for her jumper.  The scan of the back cover clearly shows that this is a simple A-line dress with buttons at the shoulders.

Because it is completely lined, there are no facings or hem to turn up.  It is an ideal starter project.

What concentration!  She almost bit her tongue off.

The book’s availability and prices make me laugh.  From Amazon new copies of the above book start at $79.95.  At Amazon  used books start at $23.99.  Brand new from Martha Pullen Company—$14.00.

  It seems that Amazon shopperss would be wise to do a little more market research.

 

 

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Posted in girls, Kids Sew, machine embroidery

County Fair Kid Entries

Posted on September 16, 2011 | 2 comments

On the seventh day, God rested. His grandchildren must have been out of town. Gene Perret

What a fabulous, fun day we had with Robert and Laurel yesterday! They are all atwitter with excitement about the upcoming county fair and the entries they are preparing.

Their enthusiasm and energy far exceed the energy and time that their grandfather and I have. I guess not making parents of people our age is further evidence of God’s wisdom. But then, there was Sarah and Abraham…I wonder how they managed! Continue reading →

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Posted in Kids Sew, machine embroidery, recipes

School Rocks!

Posted on September 12, 2011 | 2 comments
With a goofy grin, Robert, 6, stands next to his birthday tree.

With a goofy grin, Robert, 6, stands next to his birthday tree.

 

By now, the new school year has started for just about every child in the country.  With Labor Day as the traditional opening day,  our nation’s children have loaded up new book bags, sharpened  new pencils and cracked open spanking new boxes of Crayolas.

It’s a big day, that first day of school.  To commemorate the occasion, my three grandchildren each wore an embroidered shirt as they began the next year in their education journey.

We snapped this picture of Robert  next to his birthday tree, as his birthday almost coincides with the start of school.  He was so pleased to have a “cool” shirt, a real upgrade from his Backyardigans and Max and Ruby shirts of days gone by. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, machine embroidery

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