Madeira Applique’ Pillowcase Renovation

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The Madeira hem is actually a taupe/tan color, not gold as it seems in this photo.

My daughter Rebecca has always loved fine linens. When she went to University of Florida, the non-standard size dormitory bunk beds could only be encased in tee-shirt knit or rough polyblend sheets. So I custom made pima cotton sheets for her. Otherwise, my sweet princess declared, she just didn’t know how she would sleep. I was tempted to put a pea under her mattress before she left home to prove without a doubt that she was royal. Maybe I didn’t really want the answer to that question.

When she and Harvey married, she was delighted but not surprised when he brought a set of glorious 1000 thread count cotton sheets to their marital linen closet. This luxurious bedding was just one more quirky affirmation of the newlyweds’ compatibility.

Purchased in 2004 and washed weekly since then, the linens are showing signs of wear, most notably the pillowcases. When Becca brought her pillow along on our trip to North Carolina, I saw just how shabby it had become. But even when offered my favorite pima cotton, she was unwilling to replace it, noting their unique dense but almost velvet texture. Continue reading

Nana Fun–Spaghetti and Cupcakes

This is NOT pasta and meatballs. It is cake!

Having just returned from a week with my grandchildren, I am more eager than ever to do things simply to delight them.

In an earlier post, I featured some cupcake fun from my friend Suzanne Sawko (see Nana Fun category).  This is another of her bakery delights, inspired by the same books shown in  that article.

Note the realistic sunflower cupcakes.  They were actually made for the grandchildren.

The spaghetti, however, was made as a birthday cake for her adult daughter Amy.  Can you believe this Italian pasta dish is cake and frosting?!#$!??? Continue reading

Girlie Team Gear

Another Saturday, another game day.  I do love college football.  Today, Clemson nearly toppled Auburn but lost in an overtime.  What a nail biter! 

But it brought to mind this little dress, which was probably worn yesterday by a sweet little Clemson fan.

It is another Amy Spriggs creation, made for the daughter of a Clemson Tiger friend. 

Her choice of fabrics in Clemson colors is tasteful and creative.  I love the way the white polka dots on orange create interest and suggest texture.  The addition of interesting details–ribbons, rick rack and machine embroidery–give this little popover a real designer look.  Continue reading

Flannel Board Quilting

24″ quilt for American Girls dolls

I’ve always wished I could come up with a catchier name for this technique, but Flannel Board Quilting is the best I can do.  Through the years in various classes taught and articles written, I have called it Grid Quilting or Faux Quilting, but none of those titles pleased me any more than Flannel Board, which has a meaningful basis.

 But enough about the name.  This is a very useful technique for quick and easy projects.  Let me  tell you about it.

The idea for this method originated from a request by sweet Debbieanne Prusserman, hostess of the New England Academy of NeedleArts  doll school held on Cape Cod some years ago.  Mildred  Turner and I were the teachers and had been charged with designing an American Girl’s wardrobe.  The school was fabulous and we had a grand time, staying in Debbieanne’s historic 1790 home and teaching in her studio with a group of wonderful ladies.  Continue reading

Ladybug Garment Bag

Freckles wants Judy to stay home!

We arrived home last night about 10 p.m. after the 12 hour drive from the mountains.  I am still exhausted.  There is no joy greater than spending quality time with my three grandchildren, but there is no greater Nana energy drain than my three grandchildren.  So once again, I am relying on the beautiful projects of my dear friend, Judy, for a post.

 This is a really neat project, done with Judy’s universal good taste and excellent workmanship.

I love the way she took two totally unrelated items and brought them into the same family.  This surely looks like an expensive matched set to me.

I’ll let her tell you about it.

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Ladybug garment bag–I purchased a plain black garment bag to embroider to match my ladybug luggage.  I did the monogram in Masterworks II.  The ladybug on the leaf is a BabyLock design which  I sized it larger in Designer’s Gallery SizeWorks.

The design was stitched on my BabyLock BMP8 with adhesive stabilizer in the hoop.  The bag was  floated over the hoop and basted to the stabilizer instead of actually hooping the bag.

Game Day!

I’m still having a grand time here in the  mountains with the grandchildren and their mothers.  This blog is supposed to be about sewing so I’m focusing on game day projects.  The earlier post about football brought even more football fans out of the woodwork, so I hope those of you who are not big fans will indulge me as I pursue one of my favorite subjects.

Today was Game Day for the Gators and most other college football teams.  With a noon kickoff on the schedule, we donned our Gator gear, fed the children an early lunch, set out our snack food and hunkered down for the game.  Robert was clad in the new Gator shirt I embroidered for him, while Alastair wore one of Cousin Robert’s hand-me-down Florida warm up suits.

Continue reading

Mountain Times with the Grandchildren

he historic Mast General Store, Valle Crucis, North Carolina

The historic Mast General Store, Valle Crucis, North Carolina

 

I’m in North Carolina at our cabin  enjoying my three grandchildren, my daughter and daughter-in-law and sweater weather. Well,  it just doesn’t get much better than this.  The only things missing are our three guys, Bob, Ryan and Harvey, all at home working hard.

Yesterday was  chock full of activities.  We spent time at the famous, original Mast General Store which has been in operation at the same location since 1883.  There are others in downtown Boone and Waynesville, but they cannot duplicate the charm and history of this historical building.

 

Laurel, 6, Alastair 18 months, Robert, 5. We have a 1988 photo of Rebecca sitting on this same swing drinking a soda. She attended a summer camp just down the road from the Mast General and Candy Barrel. After we picked her up from the healthy-eating camp, she chose this as her first stop.

Laurel, 6, Alastair 18 months, Robert, 5. We have a 1988 photo of Rebecca sitting on this same swing drinking a soda. She attended a summer camp just down the road from the Mast General and Candy Barrel. After we picked her up from the healthy-eating camp, she chose this as her first stop.

 

This remnant of early 20th century mountain life features creaking wooden floors and stairs, shelves stocked with mason jars of homemade corn relish, pickles, blackberry jam and other preserves, bins of nails, sensible clothing, a vintage 1883 working post office,  an ancient reach-in, waist high Coke cooler stocked with cold sodas.

Touring this old market was a great history lesson for Robert and Laurel.

 

Laurel, 6, Alastair 18 months, Robert, 5. We have a 1988 photo of Rebecca sitting on this same swing drinking a soda. She attended a summer camp just down the road from the Mast General and Candy Barrel. After we picked her up from the healthy-eating camp, she chose this as her first stop.

To his mother’s relief, he spilled the almost full bottle shortly after the first photo was taken.

 

For Alastair, it was his first taste of soda, Cheerwine.  He liked it. Continue reading

Liberty Love Quilt

 

made for me by my teenage daughter (Liberty from my stash) while I was out of  town

made for me by my teenage daughter (Liberty from my stash) while I was out of town.  It is flat but was flapping in the breeze.

This triple Irish Chain quilt was made by my daughter, Rebecca, when she was 16 years old.  Fifteen years ago, it was my birthday present.  It was also my Liberty of London tanna lawn, but no matter.  My Liberty is Rebecca’s Liberty. And I love this quilt.

Rebecca was introduced to needlework at age 5.  She smocked a little bonnet and bishop dress for her favorite doll, an Alice in Wonderland by Madame Alexander.  Alice in Wonderland.  Becca always called her Allison Wonderland.

Continue reading

KICKOFF!!!!

baby Gator

baby Gator

 

At last, it’s time for football.  The first game of the year is awaited as eagerly as Christmas and the celebrations last far longer.  Few women outside the deep South understand the seasonal passion that pervades Southern  kitchens, calendars, wardrobes and sewing schedules.

 

1-kickoffAlback

 

 

But Millie, Judy, Amy, Suzanne and other readers know all about it and welcome this invasion into their every day lives.

 

my sweater for cool game days--why didn't I stitch Albert's sweater in blue?

my sweater for cool game days–why didn’t I stitch Albert’s sweater in blue?

 

For the enthusiastic and loyal fans among us, there are a multitude of sewing opportunities.  From team gear to tailgating accessories, my sewing machine has been humming for some time. Continue reading

DIY Ready to Smock Bishop Nightie

DIYreadyLfront

 

Fewthings are sweeter than a little girl in a smocked nightgown.   This ruffle sleeved classic bishop in blue batiste is smocked in white with pink bullion roses, edged with French lace.  Six year old Laurel loves it.

The nightie was completely constructed before it was smocked.  Again and again, I have heard friends talk of their stacks of unfinished projects.  Many, if not most, are smocked garments awaiting construction.  Smocking is a joy.  Construction is less so.  Some of these projects will never  be finished.

 

DIYreadyLside

 

Some time ago, I began making my own ready-to-smock bishops.  To me, doing the construction first makes as much sense as eating your vegetables before dessert. The initial surge of enthusiasm for a project can get me through the sometimes tedious construction phase and before the project is yesterday’s news, it is ready to smock.  Yippee!!! Continue reading