Stitching in the Mountains

Posted on August 8, 2010 | 2 comments

our cabin on Seven Devils Mountain in Banner Elk, NC

Bob and I are  at our mountain cabin in North Carolina, enjoying the cool air and relaxing a little.  I love this place, located between Boone and Banner Elk, in what is known as The High Country. The cabin is at 4500′ elevation, above the summer tourist bustle and the heat.

All afternoon I sat here, smocking and sipping sweet tea.

But there is always work to be done when we are here so we’ve done a little of that as well. And there is more to come.

This afternoon, I sat on the front deck and started on the ready-to-smock Jon-Jon for Alastair.  The combination of needlework and the tranquil setting left me feeling peaceful and serene. Bob was banging around replacing molding, cleaning out gutters  and hauling long-since forgotten storage bins from the utility rooms below the deck.  Even his noise seemed domestic and comforting.  Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, ready-to-smock finished projects, smocking

Utility Sewing

Posted on August 6, 2010 | 2 comments

It seems that I have been doing nothing but what I call “utility” sewing for the last little while.  My dear, sweet 89 year old Aunt Aileen has lost a good bit of weight in the past two years and asked me to do some alterations for her.   Robert’s favorite Transformer pajama bottoms needed mending.  My Aunt Rheeta’s son has just been called as  pastor of a church (his first head pastor position)  so she wanted a little design with the church name and “Pastor” embroidered below it.  Bob’s yard work shorts needed mending.  And there was more like this. 

Of course, I am happy to do my part for the family.  It makes me appreciate the time I spend on more challenging, creative projects.  I appreciate my wonderful sewing room, shelves of notions and sewing equipment.   I was pleased to finish the seams of my aunt’s linen dress and its lining with my Evolve Wave serger.  My PE-Design was pressed into service as I worked up the “Pastor.”  My ever faithful Pfaff 7570 did the mending and alterations.  Continue reading →

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Haydee and Friends in PR

Posted on August 3, 2010 | 4 comments

Haydee, center, and friends

Some time ago, I wrote about the talent and charm of the ladies I met while teaching in Puerto Rico.  Haydee, a particular friend, has excelled in machine embroidery applique’ and has kindly shared pictures of  her projects and those of her friends.   I assume that the classes were held in San Juan, but I am not certain.

This set of photos shows a class making an A-line child’s dress with a fish applique. The pattern looks like the A-line dress from Martha’s Favorite Applique’s, but it could be any one of several.

But there is so much more to see here–check out the details.  Nestled into these vibrant underwater scenes are those extra details that make a garment grab our attention.  The 3-D button eyes stare right at you. Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, boys, brother-sister, clothing, girls, infant clothing, machine embroidery

Woodland Treasures Nursery

Posted on July 30, 2010 | 2 comments

zWoodlandTreasuresheadboard2

Sewing for a grandchild’s nursery is pure joy.  When Sue Box’s embroidery design collection, Woodland Treasures, was released, I ordered it almost immediately.  I knew these designs would be just what my daughter-in-law would want for her baby.

zWoodlandTreasuresfootboard

When Shelly, with her overwhelming interest in nature and her environmental science degree, was months away from delivering our first grandchild, I was on a New Grannie High.  I began major projects with new enthusiasm.

zwoodlandtreasureslaundry

Shelly had also volunteered as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for years before her pregnancy.  She spent countless hours preparing  Mother Nature’s orphans for independent life in Florida’s woodlands.

zWoodlandtreasuresewing

Shelly agreed that these fantasy woodland creatures were perfect nursery companions  for her baby.

Continue reading →

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Posted in baby accessories, home dec, machine embroidery, serger

Greek Sewing

Posted on July 28, 2010 | 2 comments

Greekpillowpic

 

Greek life on college campuses can be a wonderful experience.  The costs vary according to school and fraternity, but the cost of the on-going gift giving can have an unexpected impact on the budget.

With back-to-school just around the corner and rush set to begin in a few weeks, it seems timely to offer these gift and garment ideas in the hope that it might be useful to those of you with co-eds packing for university.

Fortunately, my daughter’s sorority experience commenced after the machine embroidery explosion hit the sewing world.   The following text is taken from an article I wrote for Creative Needle  some time ago.  The photos are all taken from the magazine itself.

 

Greekbags

*****************

“It’s All Greek to Me”

On college campuses throughout the country, co-eds proudly wear Greek “letters” proclaiming their affiliation with a social sorority or service club. Students use surprisingly large portions of their budgets buying shirts, caps and other “lettered” items from the specialty stores found in every college town. Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, clothing, embroidery blanks, home dec, ladies, machine embroidery, school accessories, sporting gear

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Vintage White Baby Dress

Posted on July 26, 2010 | 2 comments

 

This sweet round yoke baby dress is the last of the six that hang in the nursery here at our home (see post Nana’s Nursery).  With a numerous embellishments, it clearly took considerable time to make.

As usual, I thought about its maker and wondered if the dress had been made for a child, grandchild or perhaps a niece.  Obviously, it was lovingly stitched.  Due to the range of skills exhibited, I even wondered if it had been a group project, perhaps mother and daughter working together.

 

The simple but extensive embroidery appears to have been done by a very competent needleworker.

The three petal rose pattern is worked between the rows of tucks on the bodice, along the round yoke itself, between tucks on the puff sleeves and in a cascade down the skirt front.   The coordinated designs are carefully stitched. Continue reading →

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Posted in antique textiles, clothing, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, infant clothing, Nana's nursery

Busted!

Posted on July 24, 2010 | 2 comments

Laurel, still wet from her most recent swim

Recently, we were delighted to have of our grandchildren, Robert, 4, and Laurel, 6, for three days and nights while their parents enjoyed a well-deserved mini vacation.

Our son, Ryan, and his wife, Shelly, were hiking in Oregon, on the other side of the country, about as far away from Florida as they could be, three time zones to the west.  We were footloose and fancy free!

While they were at Nana’s house, Robert ate just one serving of vegetables, Laurel ate two juice pops in one afternoon, ice cream was considered a dairy food and their whims for new embroidered shirts (Toy Story, Wiggles, etc.) were lovingly indulged. We stayed up late watching Toy Story, slept late in the morning, lounged in the pool and picnicked at the park.  We had a big time.

On our last night with the children, we had planned a bonfire and marshmallow roast, as soon as we finished watching another Disney movie.  At 8:30 p.m., before the movie’s conclusion and 15 minutes past their regular bed time, the parents called, surprised that the children were still up, giggling and bouncing around.

With neither regard nor awareness of the violations we were committing, the children prattled on to their parents about our plans for the rest of the evening.

Busted!

Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery, Nana fun

Samantha and John Deere

Posted on July 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Amy is a busy young mother, teaching school full time and working on her doctorate.  But still she sews–it is her creative outlet, her soother. Though her mother, Judy Day, has sewn all her life and made smocked and heirloom sewn dresses for Amy, her sister, and now the grandchildren, Amy just began sewing a few years ago.

When she was bitten by the machine embroidery bug, she really blossomed. Aside from being very creative, Amy is meticulous in all her sewing.  She sews for her own child as well as the children of her friends.

This  darling set shows her sense of practicality–one pair of pants, two shirts, one with short  sleeves, the other with long sleeves for cooler days.

The hair bows she always makes to coordinate with the outfits are always the perfect finishing touch.

I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect someone in Samantha’s family has a  tractor.   This shirt is sure to please a John Deere fan.  The other, with  her name and the cute monogram is just cute as a button for school or play.   And the two shirts/one pair of pants set is a great idea for back-to-school, especially here in the South where a November day can be 35 or 85 degrees.

Great job, Amy!

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Posted in clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery

Teaching in Puerto Rico

Posted on July 20, 2010 | 6 comments
This is the view from one of the classrooms. The other had the same view along one entire wall.

This is the view from one of the classrooms. The other had the same view along one entire wall.

In all my years of teaching, I have traveled to some beautiful places, met beautiful people and seen beautiful projects. San Juan, Puerto Rico, was one of my favorite venues, a place at which I taught several times for Luis and Rosa Medina, owners of the San Juan Brother dealership. They were absolutely the most gracious host and hostess that you could imagine.

Their 12 year old daughter helped out but spent most of her time in the classroom, sewing on the Quattro 6000D.

Rosa Medina and 12 year old Deborah, a sewing student! We all talk about learning to sew on our mother's old straight stitch machine or some even tell tales of learning on a treadle. But Deborah is learning more than basic sewing on this technological wonder. June Mellinger, in ivory shirt, discussing project with two entrants.

Rosa Medina and 12 year old Deborah, a sewing student! We all talk about learning to sew on our mother’s old straight stitch machine or some even tell tales of learning on a treadle. But Deborah is learning more than basic sewing on this technological wonder.

On one of these trips, June Mellinger and I taught the classes and were asked to judge a sewing competition. June, by the way, is Brother’s Director of Education in the US, president of the American Sewing Guild and just a terrific, fun lady. We were absolutely astounded at the variety and quality of the entries.

The following photos show just a few of the beautiful items the ladies brought from all over the island.
Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, girls, heirloom sewing, home dec, infant clothing, machine embroidery, uncategorized

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Another Busy Mom Tote

Posted on July 18, 2010 | Leave a comment

This past week, Rebecca and 16 month old Alastair spent a few fun filled days with us.  Among her gear was a tan tote bag of faux fabric imprinted with Alastair’s pediatrician’s office info.  Heavily loaded, as always, the bag’s side seam had begun to come apart, so I offered to mend it.

That’s when she mentioned that she would surely like a monogrammed tote as large as the one I embroidered for her sister-in-law.  As a matter of fact, she could really use two!  Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, embroidery blanks, machine embroidery