Autumn Burlap Pillow

Posted on October 24, 2019 by | 2 comments

Get a detailed tutorial for this pillow at http://blog.brothersews.com/home-decor/harvest-time-pillow

This fall pillow gives you all the colors of autumn, even if you live in Florida, as I do. The fabric selection for this season is just remarkable! A trip down the aisles of my favorite sewing store reminds me of our drives down the Blue Ridge Parkway in October. I can almost smell piles of leaves burning.

You can make this pillow in a very short time. Working with burlap is a drastic change in gears from heirloom and the burlap rose was fun. Every burlap flower I researched online required hot glue and I did not want that. So this is my version of a no-glue posy. Detailed instructions are in the post at Brother’s Stitching Sewcial blog.

This sturdy pillow can bring fall colors to the outdoors as shown above or it can enrich the colors in your home. By changing the print fabric on the sash, you could make this a Halloween pillow. Then swap the sash to fall fabric after Oct. 31.

It reminds me of Halloweens past with my children’s and grandchildren’s goofy costumes, of huge Thanksgiving dinners with family and friends, of fall festivals at church, of tailgating Gator football games, and fall festivals. So many memories of this season…..

Required disclosure: I am a paid Brother Ambassador/sewing expert. Not required: I love my Brother Dream Machine 2!

Check out the tutorial here and leave a comment if you like it. I would really appreciate it.

http://blog.brothersews.com/home-decor/harvest-time-pillow/

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

Laughter

Posted on September 17, 2019 by | 18 comments

Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life. Anon.

I just came across this old post and thought it bears repeating. My life is great, rich and full of joy, and I hope yours is as well.But laughter is good for everyone. I hope this gives you a good chuckle.

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This post has only the most tenuous link to sewing. But some days tenuous is all I’ve got.

There has been a lot of illness among my elderly relatives. Sadly, since this was first posted, we have lost both Aunt Aileen and Uncle Richard. But life goes on. We accept as God’s blessing the merciful death of one and peaceful death of the other.

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When my Uncle Richard, 92, healthy and fit, stopped by my home after visiting his hospitalized sister, my sweet Aunt Aileen, his sadness and depression were palpable. I steered the conversation to the past, leading him to talk about his career as a restaurateur.  He and his long-departed wife spent many years as owners, managers and sometimes cooks for this restaurant.

Ahhhhhhh, I thought. A true, funny restaurant story should give him some distraction and a good laugh.

So I told Uncle Richard……..

After teaching for seven full days at Martha Pullen’s school in Huntsville, Alabama, I was tired and eager to get home to Florida. I’m like a long distance trucker on these road trips. With 650 miles to travel alone, I make every infrequent stop count–1) gas, 2) bathroom and 3) food —then back on the road.

Somewhere near the Florida state line, I stopped at one of those huge truck stops that could pass as a mini-mall. On one side was a sub shop and a sit down restaurant. A turkey sub sounded good to me.

Directly inside the door was a sub sandwich counter and a few small tables. To the left was the large dining room of the restaurant. I waited at the unattended sub counter for a few minutes then went into the restaurant to see if I could get some help. Two or three tables were occupied with diners, but no wait staff or attendants were visible.

Tick tock tick tock…….I don’t wait well. But I called up all my patience and gave it a little longer, a total of 6 minutes from my arrival. I had my gas and bathroom break but no lunch. I needed to get on the road!

So stepped behind the counter, washed my hands, put on a pair of plastic gloves and started on my sandwich. I had the roll sliced, the condiments slathered on and had just plopped the meat, cheese and veggies on the bread when a lady came out of the restaurant shrieking, “What do you think you are doing?!?!?!”

Very calmly, I replied, “I’m making a sandwich, of course. Since no one was here to do it for me, I assumed this was a self-service shop.” Continue reading →

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Vivi’s Cruise Dress

Posted on September 11, 2019 by | 7 comments

Almost 7 yo Vivian Rose is tiny. A size 5 Children’s Corner Louise would have fit her ever so much better. She poses in Central Park on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas cruise ship.

Life has been a whirlwind for us these past few weeks. Of course, Hurricane Dorian was expected for a very long time and preparations were non-stop. With 3 acres of patio furniture, potted plants, a standing basketball hoop, pool, and other miscellany, it seems there is always more you can do to prepare for a Cat 5 hurricane.

My fabulous husband, Bob, up on first story roof to put up storm shutters on second story windows. Already the skies were gray.

Additionally, I spent more hours in front of the television than I have in the past year. The weather and each of Dorian’s tiny turns to the east and then the west were monitored vigilantly. The weather had never seemed so important.

But living 30 miles inland from the coast, we were spared. Our damage amounted to two downed palm fronds and a few clumps of Spanish moss. But days were spent waiting and watching Dorian’s painfully slow progress as it viciously battered the Bahamas and inched up the Florida coast. We thanked God for His mercy, prayed for the poor Bahamians who were suffering bitterly, and prayed for those still in the storms path.

We had a cruise to the Bahamas scheduled for Sept. 2 and that was cancelled, of course. By the time the storm passed, we were rebooked on a cruise which departed from Port Canaveral Sept. 5, just 30 hours after we received confirmation.

The purpose and highlight of the cruise was spending time with our two younger grandchildren, 10 yo Alastair, 6 yo Vivian Rose, and their parents. We had a fabulous time.

The “cruise” dress I made in such a rush for Vivian Rose was done well before the hurricane was due to make landfall. Inspired by a gorgeous dress made by famous smocking plate designer Terry Collins, I ordered the fabric the very day she posted her dress on-line. The pattern is Children’s Corner Louise.

This is a terrific pattern, a blank canvas for a variety of embellishments. Or it is lovely as shown as a jumper or sundress. The bodice is fully lined.

While making this, I faced many of the problems familiar to those of you whose grandchildren do not live nearby.Though Vivi soon will be 7, she is very tiny. Yet her mother declared that she wears a size 6 and that’s what I should make. So I did.

Obviously it it too large in every respect except the length. You can see the gaping armholes in the first picture.

Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery

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Free Happy Face Pencil Toppers

Posted on August 23, 2019 by | 10 comments

My turn to present the Children’s Message at church came this week just in time for back-to-school.

The children range in age from 4-10 so the message needed to be catchy to get their attention and brief enough to keep that attention.  Additionally, there must be a meaningful message.

This bag and fabric was a gift to me from the Ghana mission team in thanks for the garments our sewing group made. The bright colors certainly caught the children’s attention.

With a large, colorful  tote bag next to me,  I mentioned that they had all begun a new school year.  Then I asked what they learn at school.  The answers were just as expected–math, reading, manners and to be kind (that was nice to hear).

They were curious about the bag but I said they would see what was in it later.  It was a surprise.  Darling tow-headed Reid, 4 yo,  had snuggled up to me before the service began and sneaked a look in the bag.  He shouted smugly, “I know what the surprise is!!!!” Continue reading →

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Posted in church projects, free patterns and designs, machine embroidery, school accessories

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Summer Fun Bug Bag

Posted on August 10, 2019 by | Leave a comment

You can’t beat bug hunting for kids’ summer fun. Make this bag with or without embroidery and they will be kept busy prowling the bushes and grass. Whether the prey be creepy crawlies or fireflies, the adventure is a child’s version of an African jungle safari.

But where to put the catch? This fiberglass screen wire teepee bag (the name is suggested by its shape) is a perfect accessory and holding pen. Use insect designs from iBroidery.com and your personal design library to embellish the outside.

Most machines handle the screen wire effortlessly. The stand-alone butterfly swaying inside the bag will intrigue the children and send them racing out the door away from their screens and into nature. Without embroidery, print a butterfly on cardstock and dangle it with monofilament, just like the embroidered one. You could even include a few plastic bugs in the bag, as shown in the photo, to get the children in the mood.

This was my latest project featured on Brother’s blog at Stitching Sewcial. It includes detailed instructions for the basic bag as well as a downloadable template. This template shows the sections and sides of the bag, making embroidery placement easy.

The basic bag is my standard, favorite teepee bag, used dozens of times. But the zipper insertion varies and frankly is easier with less opportunity for error.

See that the zipper is simply placed on top of the screenwire and held in place with a decorative stitch that mimics grass.The embroidered ladybugs could easily be replaced with ladybug buttons.

There is still plenty of summer left. Why not give the children a last adventure before the start of school with this fun bag and activity? Check out the Stitching Sewcial blog post for particulars. Enjoy these last lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer with your kids.

http://blog.brothersews.com/projects/catching-critters-diy-bug-bag/

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Baby Bea’s Bumblebee Set

Posted on July 24, 2019 by | 5 comments

NOTE: I apologize for all the wrinkles. It was one of those aftenoons with on and off showers. As I began walked the yard for a site to take photos, the rain came up suddenly. I clutched the outfit and ran inside. Momentarily, it cleared and I did not have time to press it again. I was in and out of the rain multiple times.

Baby Beatrice, my youngest delight, is most often called “Bea.” Of course, all things “bee” are suitable for her. Her adoption story is long and complicated with many twists and turns. It is clear that the hand of God has chosen her to be Kyle and Joanne’s baby girl.

Like so many adoptions, the first 9 months of her life were very stressful for her parents as they awaited the finalization of her adoption. But now with the joy of new parents, they are about to celebrate her first birthday. Of course, as her officially appointed Nana, I was eager to make a new outfit to mark this important milestone in her life.

The bumblebee pique and the yellow polka dot fabric were purchased shortly after her birth, along with several other “bee” prints especially for her. One of those fabrics was sewn into a little sundress when she was 4 weeks old, for a party following her arrival home.

For this bumblebee garment, the pattern used won my heart the first time I saw it.

I love the curved lines of the back.

Back of Bea’s bumblebee set. I don’t know why didn’t I notice that the top was not centered on the hanger. Must have been the thunder that distracted me.

A special button treatment was used, with a tiny yellow button stacked on a larger black one, echoing the bee color. I enjoy adding little touches like that.

Continue reading →

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Posted in infant clothing

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Family Cruising

Posted on July 18, 2019 by | 6 comments

How’s this for a Cozumel tropical paradise?

It’s been way too long since a new blog has been posted but I’m trying to catch up. To say we have been busy is a gross understatement. But let me tell you one of the many events that have kept us running– our wonderful Royal Caribbean cruise with our daughter and family. There are some sewing projects to see but lots of fun to report.

I had packed a bag of smocking projects which I expected to complete while enjoying the view and sea breeze from our balcony. Some smocking was done but I packed way too many projects with way too many great expectations.

My good friend Carol, our daughter’s fabulous mother-in-law, was with us and had the same idea. She knitted and I smocked. So we sat and stitched, but only for short periods of time.

There were so many activities. Vivian Rose wore “Nana clothes” every day. Here she is leaving an activity wearing a bishop Easter dress from a few years ago.

The dress was generously sized for her two years ago and desperately needed a tuck under the arm. It still needs the tuck and the only other fitting problem its short length. Regardless, she loves the dress.  I really need to make those tucks. Why she is wearing her backpack under the dress is a mystery to me. She wore this dress to dinner one night.

For dinner each night she was dressed in smocking. This dress was made for her mother 30 years ago and was worn by cousin Laurel before Vivi for a few years. Now it’s another one of Vivian’s favorites. It’s still in perfect condition, another hurrah for Spechler-Vogel’s Imperial batiste Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, smocking, uncategorized

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Summer Yo-Yo Frock

Posted on June 24, 2019 by | 4 comments

This is my latest creation for Brother’s blog, Stitching Sewcial. I must say, this is one with which I am almost completely satisfied. That rarely happens!

Isn’t that back cute?

I do regret not noticing that Farmhouse Fabrics has gingham buttons. I would like to have used those instead of the MOP pink ones as shown. But then again, maybe not. I’d have to have them on hand to compare.

These are the bloomers.

The little garment, size 24 months, was inspired by Kari Mecca’s Yo-Yo and Buttonholes Bubble pattern https://karimeccasblog.typepad.com/my_weblog/yoyo-buttonholes-bubble-pattern.html which appeared on the cover of Sew Beautiful magazine summer, 2009. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, infant clothing, machine embroidery

How-to: Garments for Ghana

Posted on June 20, 2019 by | 8 comments

Required disclosure: I am a paid Brother Ambassador. Not required: I absolutely love Brother Machines.

Several readers have written asking if they may participate in the Garments for Ghana project.  Others asked how our project operated so they might do a similar event in their own community. When I mentioned in response to a comment on this topic that I might write this post, at least one promised that she (sweet Sandee) would not find these details boring. I hope she is not the only one because I am going ahead with this.

Before I began, I was given some direction from the mission team leaders. The request was for bright colors, since the landscape there is pretty bleak. We did that. Check.

Second, there must be no buttons or closures that might break or need replacement. Such replacement is not an option for mothers in these areas. Check. Elastic at the neckline was the only closure notion. I know elastic gives out after a couple of years, but I expect these garments will be worn out long before the elastic is.

Third, in many African nations and apparently in Ghana, bare shoulders for girls and perhaps adult females, is taboo. So we needed some sort of sleeve. Check. I did notice early on that many photos of pillowcase dresses for Little Dresses for Africa showed the girls wearing a tee shirt under their dresses. Now I see that the site offers a free pattern that has a sleeve, much like the pattern I used.

Fourth, each garment must be marked with its size. I had a bag of labels for sizes 1-5 and for the others I embroidered sizes on grosgrain ribbon in the hoop. Ladies who worked from home used a sharpie to write on ribbon, which like the others, was tucked into the elastic casing at the back. Continue reading →

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Posted in accessories, bags, boys, girls, Kids Sew, machine embroidery

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Garments for Ghana

Posted on June 16, 2019 by | 16 comments

This is the first of 7 clotheslines that hung from the walls in fellowship hall.

Required disclaimer: I am a paid Brother Ambassador.  Not required:  I genuinely LOVE Brother machines.

UPDATE:  The first picture is in from Ghana!  Though this little girl is not needy, I think she is the daughter of Ghanese pastor who hosts the mission team.  Gayle had said this child would be given first choice.  She certainly looks pleased. Her father reported that she didn’t want to take off  the dress and slept in it!

 

What an exciting, satisfying project this has been!  Since the end of Feb. a group of ladies and 4 children of River City Church, EPC, have gathered every Thursday to sew for the needy children of Ghana. Our goal was to make 100 garments. We finished the last week in May with 76 dresses and 44 pairs of shorts!

Getting started with basic instructions.

 

Starting a pair of cargo shorts.

Our efforts were in support of this summer’s second medical mission trip to Ghana, led by a church member Dr. Lyle Wadsworth and his nurse wife Gayle.

NOTE:  Please excuse the wrinkled dresses.  The garments were pressed before being hung on the clothesline. But after being packed for shipment to Ghana, many were unpacked to be photographed.  It was just too time consuming to iron all of them.

Overturned yo-yo’s created puffy balloons. The teepee bag covers a runaway balloon.

Continue reading →

16 Comments

Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, boys, girls, Kids Sew, ladies, machine embroidery

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