Christmas Pillow–not ME

Posted on December 13, 2014 by | 6 comments
no embroidery machine needed!

no embroidery machine needed!

 

It’s not too late to whip up a holiday pillow.  Brother asked me to design a simple Christmas project that did not require an embroidery machine and this is what was created.    A dishtowel with a decorative hem is  teamed up with a bevy of buttons to create a whimsical Christmas tree pillow. It’s a quick and easy way to add a fresh look to your holiday décor and have fun doing it.

The template is at the end of this post, but you could just as easily draw your own.  If you download the .jpg and print it, you can resize as needed. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, free patterns and designs, Holiday Projects, home dec, linen blanks

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Christmas Finery for Sister and Brother

Posted on December 9, 2014 by | 14 comments

2 outfits

Hurrah!  Christmas clothes for our two younger grandchildren were finished, shipped and received late last week.  Toddler Vivian Rose’s white Swiss flannel bishop has the neck and sleeve bound with in red gingham pima cotton.  Heirloom lace is hand whipped to the bias binding.

 

smock close

 

The smocking design is just a simple diamond pattern that I made up as I stitched. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, smocking, techniques

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Stetson Mansion Christmas Tour

Posted on December 4, 2014 by | Leave a comment

exterior

 

My–Oh–My!!!  How I wish you all lived close enough that together we could all visit the breathtaking Stetson Mansion in my hometown DeLand, Florida.  The historic (1886) Victorian home of John B. Stetson is  gloriously decorated for Christmas.

dining room

 

Even I,  whose Indian name surely would be “Woman of Many Words,” cannot begin to describe it.  Make Room for Quilts by Nancy Martin features one style entitled “Too Much is Seldom Enough.”  That’s as close as anyone could come to accurately describing the look.  In a 10,000 square foot home, how could too much be enough?

The 1-hour Christmas tour with my PlayGroup Mamas was so spectacular that I am returning for another visit with my older grandchildren and other family members this weekend.

Tour guests waited on the veranda until the tour began.

veranda

 

The Frozen-themed reception parlor was so realistic that it gave us Florida gals a chill. Continue reading →

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Posted in Holiday Projects, home dec, quilts

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Thanksgiving Fun v.’14

Posted on November 28, 2014 by | 6 comments
3 towels ed

Brown gingham checks (not black, as it appears) border the towels, embroidered by 10 yo granddaughter, Laurel. The towels are from All About Blanks, my favorite on-line source for blanks.

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone and I hope it was your best one yet. We all have so much for which to be thankful. No matter what our circumstances, we all can look around our town, our country and around the world to see others so much less fortunate. So we Americans celebrate our many blessings with family and friends, around a table heavy laden with favorite holiday food.

Rockwell-Thanksgiving-Parody-02-560x727

Norman Rockwell captured the spirit of the day in this 1946 picture.

Some celebrate in the traditional manner, as shown above. Others dine in a more contemporary style, as shown below.

Rockwell-Thanksgiving-Parody-01

Someone else captured another way to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Either way, most of us celebrate our good fortune. Continue reading →

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Posted in Holiday Projects, Kids Sew, machine embroidery

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Irresistible

Posted on November 20, 2014 by | 4 comments

 

V store bought smocked close

Available from CiaoBebeBoutique    Now I see that it is offered in pink and with sleeves.

 

I did not make this dress.  It was ordered from CiaoBebeBoutique and I love it. When I saw it posted on Pinterest, I found it to be irresistible.

c9785395487876a52079168a280d37f4 Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, hand embroidery, Nana fun, smocking

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Toddler Harvest Dress and Gingerbread Houses

Posted on November 17, 2014 by | Leave a comment

DSC00379

 

This little top was made for toddler granddaughter Vivian Rose to wear to her brother’s kindergarten Thanksgiving program and then to Thanksgiving dinner.

It is another Children’s Corner Jane, my current go-to pattern, especially for garments which have a limited wearing season.  It is so quick and easy.

Jane patt

The cute little pocket is a free pattern creation of Children’s Corner designer Lezette Thomason.  The top will be paired with a pair of snug black or orange leggings.  These are still required for our little darling who can be counted on to release the velcro on her cloth diaper and remove it but for this wardrobe addition.  “Naked Baby” is her signature fashion statement.

It has been more than two weeks since a new Janice Ferguson Sews post has appeared, but not because I have done no sewing.  Enormous, terribly frustrating computer problems have plagued me as I struggled through two computers-my old one and then a defective new one.   This third one (second new) seems to be functioning well so now I am back to blogging.   Hurrah!

NANA FUN

4gingerbread kidscr

Houses feature Golden Graham roof shingles, caramel chimneys and pillar posts, and two yellow landing lights on a roof.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, Holiday Projects, Nana fun

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‘Tween Purses

Posted on November 1, 2014 by | 2 comments

Lately, I’ve been busy checking off a few items on my to-do list by making purses requested by my 10 yo granddaughter,Laurel.  She is delighted with each and every one.   Most were sewn using  Zippy Designs in-the-hoop purse patterns.  I really like this collection which comes in three shapes and multiple sizes.

 

gator shirt purse cr

From Zippy Designz Rik Rak purse design, I made this Gator bag for granddaughter to carry to the big game. It goes with the vest shown below. After I took this picture I remembered that I had a card of gator button from Farmhouse Fabrics. Now one of those buttons hangs from the orange ribbon loop.

 

It’s always hot for the first games of the season so she wore this retail vest with a Gator blue shirt.

 

Gator vest

 

 

After the Gator bag, Laurel asked me to make purses to go with her church dresses.  She has asthma and allergies so she needs to carry an inhaler and  handkerchief with her, along with the required hair brush.  I always pack her purses with Dove chocolates which she shares with her friends at Sunday School. Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, girls, machine embroidery, sporting gear

Halloween “Jane”

Posted on October 22, 2014 by | 10 comments
corn pump cr

“Candy Corn Cutie” design is from Embroidtique.

Children’s Corner Jane has got to be one of my all-time favorite patterns.  When it comes to play clothes or holidays with a short-wearing season, this is my go-to.

It is so quick and easy that I made two Jane tops for toddler granddaughter Vivian Rose.  Two!!!!

candy corn emb

Poor placement of text on fabric.  It would have been so much more readable if it had been embroidered on the almost white stripe.

Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, Holiday Projects, linen blanks, machine embroidery, school accessories, sporting gear

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Novelty Bishop~A Novel Technique

Posted on October 17, 2014 by | 2 comments

nov bish all

This little novelty bishop and two others were loaned to a friend many years ago. I had forgotten all about them until they were returned last week. Of course, they will end up in the closet of our toddler granddaughter, Vivian Rose, though most of them will have a bit of a wait until she grows into them.

Vivi will probably be 4 or 5 before she wears this classic plaid school dress.

nov bish plaid all

Excuse the ugly section of my potting shed shown in the background. It really is nicer than that. See here.

I don’t know what happened to the Liberty bishop shown below. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, Second Time Around, smocking, techniques

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Trick or Treat Bag

Posted on October 10, 2014 by | Leave a comment

treat bag

This sparkly trick or treat bag is a sweet girlie spin on the holiday that is rife with ghoulish images.  What little girl doesn’t love feminine Minnie Mouse, on a broom no less, wearing a coral colored witch’s hat?  And do you know anybody who doesn’t love candy corn?

This project began with a basic black tote 14″ x 14″.  The side and bottom seams were opened first and then the Trick or Treat text was embroidered.

 

bag top

Since the embroidery unit was still attached, the next step was to hoop up orange felt and embroider Minnie as she sails past the moon. The design was inserted into one of the built-in frames on my Quattro.  The excess felt was cut away near the black satin stitching and the piece was put aside. Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, Disney projects, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery