Granddaughter’s Sewing Camp

Posted on July 23, 2012 | 3 comments

 

Kennedy is proudly wearing the sundress she made at her grandmother's ("Mimi" Judy Day) sewing camp.

Kennedy is proudly wearing the sundress she made at her grandmother’s (“Mimi” Judy Day) sewing camp.

Mimi’s Sewing Camp at Judy Day’s house has been a whirlwind of activity.  Before the arrival of 8 year old Kennedy, Judy prepared a variety of projects.  Then they sewed and laughed and had a great time together.

Kennedy, who has sewn with her grandmother before,  stitched some fabulous things.  This sundress was an ambitious undertaking–and didn’t she do a great job?!?   Don’t you love her fabric choices?

See how cute the back is? Continue reading →

3 Comments

Posted in doll clothing and accessories, girls, Kids Sew

Tagged , , , ,

Embroidery for Tea Party

Posted on July 21, 2012 | 9 comments
Please excuse the tacky, wrinkled backdop. I was swamped and wanted to get this post up.

Please excuse the tacky, wrinkled backdop. I was swamped and wanted to get this post up.

 

Today, a dear friend came to do some special embroidery.  She brought 14 linen napkins to embroider for an upcoming event at her home.  Susanna loves to entertain.   So for her church’s fundraising auction she donated a tea party for 8 at her beautiful home!  With a well-deserved reputation as an exceptional hostess, I imagine the tea party was a hot item at the auction.

 

Susanna-FX

 

With plans to use her mother’s china tea cup collection, Susanna wanted embroidered napkins–each different–to sit with each unique tea cup. Continue reading →

9 Comments

Posted in machine embroidery

Tagged ,

Copper Lace Collar

Posted on July 19, 2012 | 5 comments

The redecorating of the grandchildren’s bedroom at Nana’s house is coming along. But I don’t want to break stride and thought you might enjoy reading this re-run post. Soon, I will have a new post about the projects for the children’s room. Meanwhile, let me know what you are stitching.

I love colored antique laces. Today, imported laces are rarely available in a color other than white, ecru or ivory. But vintage and antique laces came in a variety of hues and have always appealed to me. Much as I love adding unique pieces to my collection, I am loathe to use one unless the project seems worthy of the sacrifice.

coppercollarscan2

When I found this short length of copper colored lace, I knew its use would be limited. The Star of David ground identifies it as a Binche lace, the lovely pattern outlined with a cordonnet thread. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in antique textiles, heirloom sewing, smocking

Crabby Old Man

Posted on July 17, 2012 | 6 comments

Laurel brings smiles to nursing home residents.

My kind hearted daughter-in-law (in black pants standing just behind Laurel) has always had a soft spot for the elderly. She strives to nurture this trait in her children by example and by regularly offering opportunities for them to interact with senior citizens.

So what does this have to do with sewing?  Well, it made me think that perhaps I should follow her example and reach out to this fragile age group, giving them a few sewn gifts and a few hours of my time.

Of course, it is always a joy to sew for family and friends, especially the children.  But it wouldn’t hurt me one little bit to reach a little further and periodically stitch for those at the other end of the age spectrum, especially some forgotten nursing home patients.

Before my sweet Aunt Aileen passed away last year, I found great pleasure in taking her special little presents, like this lap robe.  She treasured the soft, personalized fleece throw, as well as a satin pillow embroidered with her name,  made by her sister Rheeta.

It gave me a warm glow every time I thought of her snuggled under that warm blanket. But my gifts and visits were all for her, not for any other residents.

my Aunt Aileen, 1921-2011

Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in uncategorized

Almost Ruined Wedding

Posted on July 14, 2012 | 5 comments

This post is only marginally sewing related (skip down for Sewing Related) but it is too funny not to share.  Of course, at the time, it didn’t seem quite so hilarious.

Rheeta Jordan

 

It’s about the wedding of my Aunt Rheeta’s delightful, sweet granddaughter Jordan who was married two weeks ago.

 

Jeff Jordan crop

 

She has always worked tirelessly with her father, my cousin Jeff, who is pastor of Freedom Worship Center in Omaha. This spring she graduated from University of Nebraska.

The wedding was held at a lovely botanical garden, with all the natural beauty and wildlife of the area.  This pictures shows Jordan with her dearest friends and cousins.

 

bridal party pics

 

Moments later, about 50 feet from the group, the photographer spotted this bridesmaid wannabe, dressed in matching black and white!

Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in Kids Sew, uncategorized

Tagged , ,

Sewing at Nana Camp

Posted on July 12, 2012 | 9 comments

We’re having a big time with granddaughter Laurel, 8, who is here for the week.  While brother Robert is at basketball day camp, she is here at sleepover Nana Camp, where there’s a lot going on.

This is Laurel’s new sewing area.  She has finished more than half of the 9-patch blocks and 4 oval yo-yo’s.  The blue painter’s tape helps her maintain the required 1/4″ seam allowance.

A new sewing station has been set up for her in my sewing room.  From here, where my cutting table, iron and all my equipment is located, to the dining room where she has sewn before, it’s a  three day trip.   Her new spot is much more convenient. This is a permanent set up so she won’t have to put her sewing away at dinner time.

The antique sewing table where her little Brother machine is perched was a birthday present from my dear husband several years ago.  See the “yard stick” printed on the table top? Continue reading →

9 Comments

Posted in Kids Sew, Nana fun, quilts, recipes

Ho-hum Sewing

Posted on July 9, 2012 | 3 comments

 

At one time or another, every needlework blog waxes eloquent on the joy and satisfaction that we all get from sewing.  I absolutely love it and I know you do, too.

 

Fun!

 

Good news caption for this photo:  Sewing also one of the hobby.This hobby is usually for the girls and for the woman,but we can see that mostly housewife will do it.If the person do not know how want to sew but have the interest,they can learn it from the book that are provider for them.If we the person know how to sewing and very good in it,they will normally sew many things such as baju kurung, kebaya, punjabi suit, blaus , pants,gowns, curtain , bedsheets and many more.By sewing also we can do a great business because we know to sew many things so that people will come to us for the help and we help them to sew what they want and they will pay us,so by it we also can earn some money.We also can save our money without buying at outsider.Sewing is a relaxing hobby and now it is considered as a great hobby also.

But it’s not all fun and punjabi suit,  embroidery blanks and bana kurung,  heirloom lace and kebaya, quilting cottons and blaus.  Sometimes, sewing is just ho-hum, practical and necessary.  There are projects which generate little enthusiasm but still need to be stitched.  That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing lately.

 

 

These last few days, the fabric that has passed under my presser foot is so vanilla  that I haven’t even bothered to take pictures. Continue reading →

3 Comments

Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, home dec

Luke’s Quilt

Posted on July 6, 2012 | 4 comments

Luke’s twin size quilt–shown on queen size bed

It is so easy to come up with sewing projects for daughters and granddaughters.  But finding things for the boys, especially as they grow older, is a real challenge.

My dear friend, Suzanne Sawko, has always made fabulous things for her four grandsons. Now, she is on a quilting binge and the boys are quite pleased with their birthday gifts.  This one was made for 11 year-old Luke. Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in home dec, machine embroidery, quilts

Tutorial: Consumer-made Entredeux

Posted on July 3, 2012 | 30 comments

Looking back over 35 years of teaching needlework classes (WOW!  That’s a lonnnng time!), from quilting to smocking, heirloom to machine embroidery and more, there is one question that is asked again and again.   “What is the difference between pinstitch and entredeux stitch?”  Considering all those years and all those classes, that amounts to a lot of curiosity about hemstitching.

At a cursory glance, the two stitches look very much alike–rows of decorative holes.  But they are very different.

 

lacetapedolldresskirt

American Girl lace tape dress

 

This photo shows a doll skirt with pinstitch outlining the U shapes beside and above the yellow lace tape machine made entredeux below below  the curves of yellow.  The lace tape was stitched in place on the wrong side of the fabric (a machine applique’ technique) and the pinstitch covered the tiny, ho-hum straight stitches which held the lace tape in place. Continue reading →

30 Comments

Posted in Tutorials

USA Mini Quilt

Posted on June 30, 2012 | 5 comments

I am always moved by Independence Day celebrations and they start early this year due to the 4th falling in the middle of the week.  But I’m busily working on an entredeux tutorial so this patriotic mini quilt post is being re-run.

I hope you are all enjoying picnics and fireworks and celebrating this wonderful nation in which we live.  God bless America!

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We can’t all be Washingtons, but we all can be patriots. Charles F.  Browne

Don’t you just love 4th of July?  Flag waving at the parade, fireworks, picnics, and  proud Americans, clad in red, white and blue, professing their patriotism on their backs.


The bell is rung every morning before we begin our homeschool day.  One of the reasons I love homeschooling my grandchildren is that it gives an extra opportunity to teach them about patriotism.  The bell ringing is followed by a time honored educational ritual no longer practiced in most public schools, the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of God Bless America.   My little students currently are learning the Star Spangled Banner.  In fact, 7 year old Laurel was just selected to sing our national anthem with a group of other children at a special Florida Symphony performance. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in quilts