Who doesn’t love a wedding? For those of us who sew, it’s one welcome opportunity to make special gifts. Sandee, my sorority sister (a neat discovery made through this blog!),  has used a fabric I covet to make some wonderful items for newlyweds.
When she sent these gorgeous pictures to me, I just had to ask permission to share them with you. Can you imagine how pleased the young couples must have been?
Posted in bags, home dec, machine embroidery, wedding
Tagged newlywed bag, newlywed pillowcases, newlywed placemats, wedding gift, wedding placemats
but she was not happy about it.
Two yo granddaughter Vivian Rose was crying her little heart out, I’m pretty sure, because she was wearing the Easter dress disaster. Â Â Her mother declares that it was not about the dress, but a grandmother knows these things.
First thing at home Easter morning, she kicked away her Easter basket and refused to hunt for eggs. (I think she saw the dress hanging.) There is no photo documentation of her hissy fit. Later the children attended 2 other egg hunts.
She and her happy, easy-going brother, Alastair, joined a large group of children at a friend’s waterfront home.
Alastair had a great time.
See followup post She Wore the Dress.
Happy Easter to you all! This is such a joyous season, filled with promise of renewal and new beginnings. Beautiful worship services, inspiring music, egg hunts and family gatherings all make it so special.
I will enjoy all these blessings, but right now I am dealing with major disappointment–the Easter dress I made for 2 yo granddaughter Vivian Rose.
For this enormously significant holiday, every mother and grandmother tries to outfit her little darlings in beautiful garments.For me, “tries” is the operative word here. And believe me I did try.
This post is not meant to be all about moaning and wailing, though this Mary Engelbreit illustration captures my feelings pretty accurately. But I do hope listing the details of my failure will be helpful. Also included are the few (very few!) good things I did.
So, reluctantly, I post this sad photo of the disastrous dress.
MISTAKES:Â (If you are prone to depression, just skip this and go to the few little success at the end of the post.) Continue reading
Lately, I’ve been on a Disney roll embroidering items for a good friend.  This backpack was a fearsome task, making me wonder if it was a mistake to take it on.  It brought to mind my “sewing in a cave” experience monogramming a large tote bag. I did NOT want to repeat that.
The bag was a Christmas gift for grandson Alastair’s favorite pre-school teacher. Then I tackled another one for my dear Aunt Rheeta. But it was no fun at all! Continue reading
We’re re-modeling our kitchen. What, you might ask, does that have to do with a Peter Rabbit blanket? Let me explain.
We have no counters, no kitchen sink, and until last week, no stove. Of course, breakfast and lunch are cold or prepared in the microwave and eaten on paper plates. For dinner, we have no choice but to eat out every night. What a hardship! I told the kitchen guys to take their sweet time.
Posted in baby accessories, machine embroidery
Apparently, there is no limit to what we will do for our children or grandchildren.
I can’t believe I’ve just made 43 Pokemon Ninja headband birthday party favors for sweet grandson Alastair. That’s LOVE!!!
Now 6 years old, he and most of his friends are smitten with Pokemon characters. The headbands are embroidered with four of the all-important “energy symbols.”
Alastair is the little guy standing with his hands in his pockets.
a Kari Mecca creation with her signature ribbon trim (made with handy Whimsy Sticks) and spaghetti bias
Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Lakeland, Florida– what a fabulous event! This past week with my dear friend Carol (my son-in-law’s mother) we took classes and shopped at the enormous and tantalizing market. Seeing so many friends, making such great buys, and learning so many new things made OSQE a circus of fun.
My schedule included 2 “Whimsy” sessions with Kari Mecca, two serger classes and one quilting adventure. Each offered great techniques and loads of inspiration.
My classes with Kari Mecca inspired me beyond words. Being the smitten grandmother of 2 year old Vivian Rose, I dream of making every garment on Kari’s sample rack–a dream that’s unlikely to come true! Continue reading
Posted in accessories, girls, infant clothing, serger
Weddings are important because they celebrate life and possibility. Anne Hathaway
The wedding gift includes twelve linen, hemstitched dinner napkins like this one. And in case the bride or groom read this post, please note that nothing else in the picture is part of the gift 😉
These napkins were stitched for a couple who embrace both life and possibility. They seem to know that
“In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.†—Janos Arnay
And for them, one of those possibilities is a great deal of entertaining.
The gift includes 12 hemstitched linen dinner napkins monogrammed with designs from JuJu’s Adorn Trio Ornamental Monogram. This set comes in 4 sizes and is now marked down from $20 to $5! I love this collection and Juju’s other designs. Note: I have no affiliation with JuJu except as a satisfied customer.
Along with the dinner napkins, there are 12 monogrammed cocktail napkins, too many to include in the photo. Continue reading
Is there any more joyous occasion for sewing than Easter? It’s time to get started but instead of pulling out the lace and batiste, I find myself looking back at those confections from the past. For me, it’s not about seeking inspiration so much as it is about enjoying the memories all over again, like re-reading a very good book.
Among these outfits, there might be some inspiration for those of you who have not yet jumped into this special sewing season.
Who doesn’t love babies in daygowns? And with a sweet big brother they are even more precious.
If daygowns interest you, details are posted here Happy Easter ’13. This post details the daygown with fagotted lace and a hand embroidered front placket
The next year Big Brother Alastair wore this little suit.
This hurry-up Easter suit was made for my grandson Alastair.
It seems like I am always in a rush to get Easter outfits finished. This one for Alastair was no exception.
Making this dress was pure joy. I love the Swiss handloom and laces.
Baby’s Easter Dress, made for Vivian Rose last year. It was a modification of a dress I made for her mother 31 years ago.
And I love this picture of her strolling through the grass.
Vivian Rose, 15 months old, Easter 2014
I hope your Valentine’s Day was filled with
Our family had wonderful celebrations, both at our home with the older two grands and across the state where our littlest darlings live.
The younger ones marked the occasion in their own special way. While she prepared things to take to the school Valentine party, Rebecca asked her 5 yo Alastair to sit with his sister, 2 yo Vivian Rose, and to please make sure she didn’t leave the table with the markers.
“No problem, Mom,” said Big Brother.
True to his word, she never left the table with the markers.
At school on the big day, Alastair spent a whole dollar to have a carnation delivered to the darling girl who sits next to him in kindergarten. According to his mother, who volunteers in his classroom every week, this little gal runs and wrestles and roughhouses with the boys. Many are as smitten as Alastair.
When he was a toddler, it was obvious that he would be a charmer. For that Valentine’s Day, I embroidered this shirt for him. Continue reading
Posted in Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, Nana fun
