Precious Baby Gift~Old and New

Posted on January 17, 2013 | 7 comments

Great, Great Aunt Marian’s baby jewelry

This has to be one of the most precious baby gifts ever given.  Great Auntie Jeannette presented her newborn niece, Vivian Rose, with antique baby jewelry.  This finery belonged to Jeannette’s Aunt Marian.  That would make her Vivian Rose’s Great-Great Aunt Marian.

Since falling heir to these treasures, Jeannette has been waiting for a baby girl to be born to the family, heavy with sons.

The jewelry included two baby rings, an engraved gold bracelet and a gold beauty pin.  Making it even more special, Jeannette included photos of Aunt Marian and a tiny envelope with her newborn calling card.

 

For this special presentation to Vivian Rose, Jeannette had a silver jewelry box engraved with Baby’s name and birth date. Continue reading →

7 Comments

Posted in baby accessories

Smocked Polka Dot Gown~My Attempt at “Contemporary”

Posted on January 14, 2013 | 11 comments


As I began planning Vivian Rose’s layette,  I pulled out my favorite baby patterns, including this Baby’s Smocked Layette.    Making it was just a pleasure.

I love this pattern.   Because of the simple design an excellent directions, the gown practically falls together.  I especially like the illustration of the drawn up neckline in preparation for binding.  It includes precise measurements for the width of the front and sleeves at the neckline.  The back opening buttons all the way down to the hem, making it easy to dress Baby. Continue reading →

11 Comments

Posted in infant clothing, serger, smocking

Baby Comes Home

Posted on January 11, 2013 | 15 comments
Vivian Rose sleeps sweetly in spite of he jaundice.

Vivian Rose at home, sleeping sweetly in spite of her jaundice.

 

Vivian Rose is home with her family and I am here helping, but mostly enjoying this precious baby. Of course, she is beautiful and strong, and we are pretty sure she can talk and read. She just chooses not to.

This polycotton daygown, which was intended as an everyday, utility frock, was promoted to Coming Home Outfit  because the other garments– of   Swiss batiste, Swiss flannel, dotted Swiss stripe, and Liberty  were much too large.  Even this newborn-3 month size enveloped her like a gunny sack. Frankly,  I think the yellow Old Fashioned Baby gown would have been the best fit.  But yellow is not a good color for a baby with significant jaundice. Continue reading →

15 Comments

Posted in heirloom sewing, infant clothing, ready-to-smock finished projects, smocking

Vivian Rose and Her New Smocked Daygown

Posted on January 7, 2013 | 18 comments

Vivian Rose 2 hours old

 

Hurrah! Baby Girl arrived today, Monday, via C-section weighing in at 8 lbs. 7 oz., measuring 21 “.  Mother and Vivian Rose are both happy and well.  We are thrilled!

From the moment she was placed in her mother’s arms, she latched on and nursed for almost 2 hours.  Of course, it was not non-stop, but she never let her little mouth stray from the source of her contentment.  She screamed when she was moved to the opposite side and then went silent when she was in the vicinity of lunch.  So she was 2 hours old before we got a good look at her and took this photo.

Rebecca was very pleased with this pink Swiss flannel bishop daygown.

 

 

It matches the bonnet made earlier.

Continue reading →

18 Comments

Posted in baby accessories, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, machine embroidery, Nana fun, smocking

OFB Daygown with Petit Point Handloom

Posted on January 5, 2013 | 6 comments
OFB yellow all

Baby’s First Daygowns pattern by Old Fashioned Baby

 

I absolutely love this pattern.

 

patt cover

 

It is versatile, with three distinctly different views.  All the hand embroidery designs are included.   The directions are clear and specific.  Scattered between the pattern pieces on the blank tissue are sweet notes and Scripture. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in heirloom sewing, infant clothing

Tagged , , ,

NEW..Year, Beginnings, & OFB Daygown

Posted on January 2, 2013 | 8 comments

“Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities.  ~Michael Josephson

January, 2013,  a time of beginnings.  We awaited the drop of the big ball with a  a fabulous, fun-filled New Year’s Eve with our son and his family.  They brought along Apollo, their 100 lb.  German Shepherd and it was a time of happy chaos here at our house.

We watched football, ate goodies, had a bonfire with s’mores, then fireworks.  Robert and Laurel found a farewell letter from Peter Elf and said their goodbyes to him.  Laurel, the little businesswoman, had bags to embroider so she got that done.  New Year’s Day was more of the same, except for the bonfire and fireworks.

As the above quote states, the new year brings new opportunities.  Our overdue granddaughter has still not made her appearance and I’m seizing this nail biting opportunity to sew more baby clothes.  The challenges he predicts will come in their own good time.

Ready to begin!  Yellow Imperial broadcloth, Vintage Swiss petit point handloom, French lace, entredeux and OFB Baby’s First Daygown pattern.

Thank goodness, I’m finally well and healthy enough to hold a newborn any day now.  I don’t know if it was all hot tea or the fresh-off-the-tree citrus I consumed, or maybe all  the naps.  But thankfully, I’m back in the sewing room. Continue reading →

8 Comments

Posted in antique/vintage textiles, heirloom sewing, infant clothing, Nana fun

One Last Elf on the Shelf

Posted on December 31, 2012 | 5 comments

Peter’s message reads, “Donut miss church. Muffin but good things happen there.”

Bob and I had so much fun with Peter, our Elf on the Shelf, and our two older grandchildren.  Because we grandparents were sick,  we missed Christmas church and family gatherings.  So we were especially grateful to have shared these magical elf encounters with Robert and Laurel on their overnights with us.

This visitation came on a Sunday morning.  Saturday night, Robert had complained that he didn’t want to go to church.   He was tired and didn’t feel well and wanted us to stay home.  That is not an option at Nana’s house.

When the children came downstairs for breakfast, there sat Peter, perched on the napkin box, with an elf-sized donut in his hand and a box of elf goodies at his feet.  There were Krispy Creme donuts, blueberry and zucchini muffins for non-elves.

Peter’s message reads, “Donut miss church.  Muffin but good  things happen there.  Peter.”  The children are just the right age (7 and 8) to appreciate this corny, juvenile humor.  They loved it.

Elf donuts with a restorative sprinkle of cinnamon.

Fascinated with the miniature donuts, Robert reached out and briefly brushed Peter’s arm.  That is a HUGE elf no-no.  It is said  that elves lose their magic if they are touched by human hands. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in Nana fun

Bonnet, Monograms and Chicken Soup

Posted on December 28, 2012 | 13 comments

What does this baby bonnet

have in common with chicken soup? Continue reading →

13 Comments

Posted in antique textiles, baby accessories, heirloom sewing, infant clothing, machine embroidery, Nana fun

Elves and Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 24, 2012 | 2 comments

Three year olds Alastair and Aliya, share a hug. Don’t they look like elves? They are all jammied up after watching the nighttime Christmas parade. Their joy and excitement are infectious.

The world has been celebrating Christmas for nearly 2000 years now.  In the past 100 years, there have been many  changes documented in my beloved vintage Needlecraft/Home Arts magazines. Alastair and Alyia, in their knit and serged holiday pajamas are dressed very differently from this little guy in 1928.

But it this 1936 Home Arts shows that footed sleepers are not new. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Bassinette Skirt Finished!

Posted on December 19, 2012 | 6 comments

Hurrah!  The bassinette skirt is finished.  I’d make a lot of changes if I were to do it again without feeling rushed.  But it’s acceptable.

I  really dislike being interrupted in the midst of a big project, but that is what happened with this bassinette skirt.  After time passed and other projects rose to the top of the list, getting back to the UFO skirt was more like a chore.

Rebecca was so pleased with the first skirt that she took it home so at least the presenting side of the bassinette was covered.  Nesting, you know. But in the interim, I forgot—and neglected to check the photos in the earlier post–that all the sheep appliques on that skirt were satin stitched with white, pink or ivory.

With the Time Out Bad Boy sheep below setting the mood for skirt 2

and the curious, mischievous bee challenger,

this bassinette skirt will show the dark side of mutton flock behavior. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in baby accessories, machine embroidery