Church Bazaar Projects

church bazaar sign

 

I love church bazaars–never met one I didn’t like.  To see such a concentration of women’s creative efforts is inspiring.  From baked goods, knitting,  quilts, crochet and sewing to  plants and crafts, the variety is enormous.  The effort put forth for such good purposes is proof positive of the kindness and compassion of women.

Doing my little part for our church bazaar is always such a pleasure.  I like to drag out unused items and try to make them marketable.  Then it’s always fun to try something new.  This year I did both.

 

church bazaar potpourri

Christmas sachet

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Antique Tabletopper Reproduction

 

reproduction tabletopper

 

White Wednesday seemed like a good excuse to re-run this post.  You might enjoy viewing this lovely antique textile even more if you enlarge the photos by double clicking.  ~~~~~~

Antique textiles have long been a weakness of mine. The extensive handwork and intricate details routinely stitched in an earlier era are almost impossible to find in contemporary  household linens. Some of the design elements, however, can be duplicated for a very nice effect, if not the elaborate, luxurious look of the antiques.

The ho-hum tabletopper shown above is patterned after a special linen treasure, shown below. Made of linen like the original, the reproduction was stitched as a project sample for a 6 hour class, so the elaborate embroidery was necessarily minimized to what could be completed in that short period of time.

 

antique table topper

antique table topper

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Winners!

1-Winners L dress

Does this child look excited or WHAT? Seven year old Laurel was thrilled beyond words when  she saw her polka dot A-line jumper had earned a Best in Show award in the junior sewing category.   The matching teepee bag is part of her “ensemble.” The matching, lined teepee bag is on the hanger with the ribbons.

 

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In September, after she had finished on a rainy day in North Carolina, she proudly checked it off her fair entry list. Continue reading

Tooo Cute!

The Red Hood Gang

This year, Halloween was extra special for Jo’s neighbors and her children.   The storybook quartet must have charmed the candy handlers at every house they visited.

Jo hunted high and low to get just the right materials.  She sewed and smocked and then tweaked what she had on hand to finish up the costumes for Little Red Riding Hood’s cast. Continue reading

New 4 Sale~Bunnykins, Jack and Jill, and more

 

$4~~silk violet heart ivory, lg. fabric 6-3/4" x 5-3/4", image 3-3/4" x 4-3/4" .... $3 small . fabric 3-7/8" x 4-3/8", image 2-7/8" x 2-5/8"

A few days ago, while I was deep in my sewing room clean up, a friend on Facebook posted her status as “Day 4 of Occupy Sewing Room.”  As it happens, we both labor at the same time with the same goal in mind.  Somehow, it is comforting to knowing that I am not the only one unable to sew because of this necessary maintenance.

At any rate, I keep coming up with more duplicates of books and patterns that I liked so much that they were purchased twice.  I’ve also unearthed some long-lost and/or forgotten treasures.  They are being posted for sale before I lose my resolve.  Already I’m tempted to and pack them away in that overflowing old steamer trunk labeled  “WORK ON THESE NEXT” projects.  I am a weak woman.

So for now, they are available.  It’s the same drill.  Post your shopping list as a comment or drop me an e-mail at NCcabin@aol.com.  I will get back to you with a total, then you pay (check, money order or Paypal) and I ship.  Simple enough?  Just let me know if you have any questions.  I am real “customer support,” not “Peggy” as seen in those entertaining ads on tv.

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$5~~silk lattice heart $5, signed by Jenny Haskins..on ecru satin fabric 6 3/4" x 5-7/8", Â image 4-1/2" x 4-1/4"

After taking a class from Jenny Haskins at Martha Pullen’s Orlando Market many years ago, I fully intended to make up one of her gorgeous quilts.  I bought several of these silks at her booth and a few more at Susan York’s.  Actually none are really silk.  Some are on satin and others are on a silky fabric.

$3~~silk violet girl, ivory~~fabric 4-3/8" x 6-1/4"...image 3-5/8" x 2-1/8"..on silky fabric~~ 2 available,Â

How sweet is this? Continue reading

White Hankies

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This image has been darkened to show details of the white-on-white embroidery.

 

The opportunity to post a White Wednesday blog along with others at Faded Charm motivated me to plunder through my handkerchief collection again.  As I said in an earlier post, there are few genres of needlework that include so many wonderful techniques as handkerchiefs.

 

 

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In a relatively small area, spectacular stitching is often combined with extraordinary edgings.  These beauties are tiny treasures.

 

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Note the unusual shaping of the linen and the delicate handmade edge. Continue reading

Today only!! FREE Mary Frances book

My dear DIL just sent this link to me.  The classic Mary Frances Sewing Book~Adventures among the Thimble People book is available as a FREE download today only.  Get it while you can!

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THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK – Adventures Among the Thimble People (PDF ebook)

She’s BACK! One of the most beloved & popular children’s book characters from the early 1900s returns in another CLASSIC story. And while all the Mary Frances books are excellent, many folks say this sewing book is the best of the bunch!

In this part “fairy tale” and part “instruction book” various sewing implements come to life for Mary Frances, and they teach her how to sew – beginning with outfitting a sewing basket, then learning 10 or so basic stitches, then progressing to a sampler, and then on to doll clothes. The wonderful illustrations sprinkled throughout the book are very reminiscent of the L. Frank Baum Oz series.

This fun book can be enjoyed just as a delightful fairy story, or you can use it as the basis of a hand-sewing curriculum. Don’t miss it!

http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/

Haulin’ Pumpkins

Florida weather has finally reached temperatures cool enough for Alastair to wear his pumpkin pullin’ shirt.  This was made early in October, with hopes that it would be worn for the annual family outing to the pumpkin patch.  But our hot blooded 2 year-old wouldn’t be comfortable in long sleeves when it is 90 degrees in the shade. Especially when he had a heavy gourd to haul.

Choosing just one was hard.  So many pumpkins!

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Funeral Humor


Aunt Aileen, 1921-2011

Today we laid my dear Aunt Aileen  to rest.  Her passing was peaceful and welcome–she was more than ready to relocate to heaven.

A few weeks ago, looking back on almost 90 years of life, this four-times married (thrice widowed) delight told me, “I moved from my mother’s house in Danville to Mike’s house in South Bend, to Jim’s house back in Danville to Cliff’s house Sarasota, to Leo’s condo in Bradenton.   I moved to assisted living in DeLand then moved to this nursing home. I’M TIRED OF MOVING. My next and last move will be to the House of the Lord—AND I HOPE IT’S SOON!”

She had a habit of talking in CAPS. Continue reading

Vintage Baby Laundry Bag

baby-laundry

 

Antique baby things always enchant me.  I hope you are not bored with them because I have several I’d like to share with you.

This little white laundry bag is one of my favorites.  It makes me wonder how a young mother, with all the responsibilities of raising children and running a house, could find the time to make this sweet sack for soiled baby clothes.  Of course, there is the possibility that a resident grandmother or other relative could have made this elegant little accessory for the family’s newest member. At any rate, it is charming.

This is truly a modern project for old fashioned Nanas.  A sturdy, 15″ x 18″ drawstring bag is a useful item appreciated by young mothers.  My daughter kept one folded in the diaper bag for the soiled clothing inevitably generated on outings with baby Alastair.

My friend Suzanne Sawko used this vintage bag for inspiration when she designed and stitched these for an article in Creative Needle magazine.

 

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