Gingerbread House Party 2010

Posted on November 28, 2010 | Leave a comment

Rebecca, Alastair and the house he wants to get his little hands on!

The day after Thanksgiving, my precious daughter hosted her annual family gingerbread house party and what a party it was!

Rebecca was especially excited about Cousin Robert’s hand-me-down John-John.  Smocked with gingerbread boys and candy canes, it  looked just as good on Alastair as it did two years ago on Robert.

Like so many of the brother-sister outfits I have made for them, these garments were both ready-to-smock.  It’s very rewarding to see this outfit have a second life with my second grandson. Of course, Robert and Laurel have been raised in our family’s gingerbread tradition and made their first  houses that year.

Laurel and Robert, wearing the gingerbread John-John now worn by his little cousin Alastair

Since my children were little, we’ve always made gingerbread houses for Christmas.  For several years, the PlayGroup Mamas gathered to make houses for the children, before they all left home. But that was before the handy kits with pre-baked walls and  roof panels, frosting mix and a generous supply of candies.  Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, clothing, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, Nana fun, party accessories and ideas, ready-to-smock finished projects

Thanksgiving ’10

Posted on November 27, 2010 | 2 comments

Alastair at home after dinner

We had a beautiful Thanksgiving day with our daughter and her husband’s family.  In addition to the tenderest pork roast this side of the Mason-Dixie line,  standard Thanksgiving fare was offered, including turkey and all the trimmings.

89 year-old Ruby again delighted but did not surprise us with her dee-vine Florida pear cobbler, chocolate pecan pie and blackberry cobbler.  Everything was delicious beyond words, except for the pumpkin cheese cake I made.  The gingersnap pecan crust was burned and I don’t know why.

But with a few of my ordinary but satisfactory pumpkin pies and Ruby’s contributions, there was no shortage of desserts.

In his turkey suit, Alastair, of course, stole the show from the roasted bird.  With his good looks and sweet nature, this little boy does not need cute clothing to win everyone’s attention. But he was precious in his black and white houndstooth check suit, made up from the John-John pattern in Martha’s Favorite Applique’s book by Martha Pullen.

The turkey design from the Autumn Harvest collection by Designs by JuJu was added to the front, enabling the John-John to be worn beyond Thanksgiving day.  I hope to get another button-on embroidered for other occasions. Continue reading →

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Posted in baby accessories, boys, clothing, Holiday Projects, home dec, machine embroidery

Cousin Christmas Tree Dresses

Posted on November 25, 2010 | Leave a comment

 Happy Thanksgiving!

Judy Day's two granddaughters and two granddolls

Judy Day’s two granddaughters and two granddolls

While most of us are likely busy stitching Christmas outfits or gifts, I thought you would enjoy seeing one of Judy Day’s outfits from a Christmas past.

My dear friend Judy Day made these for her two granddaughters a few years ago, along with matching dresses for their American Girls dolls.  And of course, Judy ALWAYS makes hair bows for girls and dolls. How cute are  these little Christmas darlings?

 

CousinChristmasDresses1

 

A few years ago, Judy attended the Martha Pullen’s school when I was teaching.  We  both spotted a dress like these made by master teacher Lezette Thomason.  Judy proclaimed right then and there that she would be making similar dresses for Courtney and Kennedy that next Christmas.  And she did.

Judy started with the jumper pattern in Martha’s Favorite Applique’s by Martha Pullen.  She lengthened it, because the girls’ mothers like the longer, mid-calf length.  Then she drafted a simple Christmas tree for the applique’.

The jumpers and trees are both featherwale corderoy.  The trees are decorated with buttons.   And the girls themselves are cute as a button.

Thanks, Judy!

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Posted in clothing, doll clothing and accessories, girls, Holiday Projects, Judy Day's creations

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Early Thanksgiving

Posted on November 22, 2010 | 2 comments

Saturday was a day of treasured memories.  Norman Rockwell himself never had it so good.  With their families, both of our children  gathered around the dining room table in the home where they grew up.  Bob and I were again grateful beyond words for all of our blessings.

The menu was traditional, with turkey, dressing, pumpkin and mincemeat pies and all the trimmings. A few years ago, we added a new item to the table and due to popular demand, it has become a regular.  Cranberry-orange relish is easy-peasy, can be made in advance and keeps for one week. The recipe is posted below.

 

The day began with everyone watching football as our beloved Gators tried to improve their performance in a disappointing season. At half time, the crowd moved outside for some action in the front yard.  Alastair surprised us with his strong 20 month old arm and both Robert and Laurel ran some pretty good routes.

 

our own sweet Sugar Plum Fairy

Half time also gave me the opportunity to pin up the hem in Laurel’s Christmas dress.  I think she will be prettier than the Sugar Plum Fairy herself when we attend The Nutcracker next month.

All three children clowned around, but as always, Alastair dodged the camera like a wide receiver outrunning a tackle.  Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, Nana fun

Gobble Monogram Shirts

Posted on November 20, 2010 | 3 comments

UPDATE:  Some new photos of all three in their turkey shirts…….

My grandsons’ Christmas outfits are on the back burner. This past week, I was tied up taking care of Alastair across the state.  His mother has been called into work at her job as a computer engineer for a full week, rather than her regularly scheduled two days, so I did daycare instead of holiday outfits.

I returned home Thurs. night, fully intending to plow full steam ahead on Christmas clothes, but now we are having an impromptu early Thanksgiving Saturday.

Ryan and Shelly were already on board because it is a regular football Saturday. We called Rebecca and Harvey Friday at dinner time to ask them to come.  They piled into the car and arrived late that evening with sweet Alastair sound asleep.  Having a baby tucked in the nursery crib is just one more thing to be thankful for.

It will be just like the real thing, though on a slightly smaller scale, as I have just begun cooking.  But with turkey, dressing, lots of trimmings, pumpkin and mincemeat pies and a day rife with college football games, the only difference will be that we are not celebrating on the 4th Thursday of November. Continue reading →

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Posted in brother-sister, clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, serger

Boys’ Christmas Outfits

Posted on November 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

Now that Laurel’s Christmas dress is finished, I am ready to begin  outfits for her brother, Robert, 5, and cousin Alastair, 20 months.  Black velveteen and embroidery designs from The Nutcracker are the common components that will coordinate these garments.

Robert was to have had black knickers but his mother wisely suggested otherwise.  It’s likely that none of the homeschooled boys  attending The Nutcracker matinee have even seen a pair of knickers, let alone worn them.   So I’ve changed the plan and Robert will wear black dress pants. 

His shirt, however, will be as planned–ivory linen with an embroidered nutcracker.  Black lace tape will run vertically along  either side of the embroidery and perhaps some  twin needle pintucks.  I’m not sure just how much width there will be to work with.  I do plan to make him some velveteen shorts for Christmas day.   That’s a photo op that I won’t miss! Now, if I can just keep him out of the tree house until picture time. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, clothing, Holiday Projects

Christmas Dress ’10

Posted on November 15, 2010 | 14 comments

black velveteen

Laurel’s black velveteen dress and pinafore bib are finished, complete except for the hem. It was such a pleasure to plan and stitch this holiday outfit for her. Handling and stitching the goods for heirloom sewing just makes me say ahhhhhh.

Christmas outfits for Laurel and her brother need to be finished in time for family Christmas card photos. Then, they will be worn to The Nutcracker performance in early December. So the rush is on to complete Robert’s clothing. His shirt will be embroidered with a nutcracker.

pinafore bib

The champagne Swiss batiste pinafore bib features the Sugar Plum Fairy design from A Bit of Stitch’s Mini Nutcracker Motifs collection. This is a really lovely design, very delicate. The motif below the dancer is stitched with 80 wt. Madeira Cotona, which makes the design very light.

I was almost finished with the bib when I noticed that the ballerina was not centered. How did that happen? I measured ever so carefully, I thought. But I’ll have to live with it now.

Ecru beading threaded with pink satin ribbon runs on either side of a delicate antique lace insertion. Wide pink satin ribbon ties the bib front and back at the side. Continue reading →

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Posted in brother-sister, clothing, girls, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, serger

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Buttonholes

Posted on November 13, 2010 | 4 comments

my buttonhole sampler

After years of frustration, I can now make perfectly formed  and perfectly placed buttonholes.  Thanks to Embroidery Library www.emblibrary.com one of my favorite sites, I no longer grow apprehensive when it comes time for the garment closure.

 Buttonholes have always caused me  trouble.  My quest for success with this necessary garment construction component began with the buttonhole attachment for my 1968 Kenmore machine and progressed to the 4-step program on my Bernina 930. I hated every one I made. Continue reading →

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Posted in machine embroidery, techniques, uncategorized

Heartstrings

Posted on November 12, 2010 | 2 comments

Several years ago, this sweet little project was given to me by my dear friend Suzanne Sawko.  The stuffed 8″ heart carries the message:

“Mothers and daughters are tied together with heart strings.”

The appliqued hearts of  blue pima gingham and floral lawn are simply ironed on with Wonder Under. The embellished front and gingham back are seamed by machine, while the text is machine embroidered. But the blanket stitch around the perimeter was done by hand, as was the  running stitch “heart strings”  which illustrate the sentiment.

The tender thought and its textile presentation certainly warmed my heart, which Suzanne knew had a hole in it that August when my daughter went off to the University of Florida.

Rebecca and I have always been very close, so the 90 miles that separated us seemed like a continent.  I missed hearing every detail of her day and her plans for tomorrow.  And I worried. Our 18 year-old was smart and wisely cautious, but her father and I knew we were no longer able to shield her from harm.  Only her own good sense, our prayers and God’s grace could protect her.  Continue reading →

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Posted in hand embroidery, machine embroidery, uncategorized

Quilt Label

Posted on November 7, 2010 | 3 comments

Laurel did not finish her quilt before she and her brother went home today. But she did manage to stitch out this quilt label.

While their parents enjoyed a mini vacation to celebrate their 15th anniversary, our grandchildren gave us four  fabulous, fun filled, hectic days.

Aside from doing their regular homeschool work, Laurel quilted with me and Robert worked on a woodworking project with his grandfather.  They roasted marshmallows over a roaring bonfire, made 5-minute artisan bread (recipe below), spent an afternoon at the library….and more.

Grandchildren are such fun.  They make us feel so young when we are with them, and so old–and tired–after they have gone home.  Now Bob and I need a mini vacation.

Today, in a flurry of activity before our time ran out,  Laurel managed to stitch out her quilt label.  Because her sweet little Brother PE 300S machine has only a 4×4 embroidery field, she stitched the label on my ULT2003D, using the largest hoop.  She loved the upgrade but confided that she is more comfortable with her own machine.  Continue reading →

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Posted in Kids Sew, machine embroidery, Nana fun, quilts, recipes