Easter

Hope that your day was as blessed as ours.

These are the oldest of my 8 Grandchildren.  True blessings.

I cooked dinner tonight and had a house full of family.  The Lord has truly blessed us in ways that are too numerous to list.  All we have now and the promise of Everlasting Life.

Happy Easter

Happy New Year

December 26 we traveled to Austin to visit with our Son and family for a few days.  Had a great visit!  We got to go with them to Julie's Dr. appointment on Friday and we all got a great surprise.  The Doctor had previously told them that the twins were both boys but during the viewing of the sonogram, it was discovered that there is a girl and a boy.  They already have 1 son, Nathan(3) so the girl will complete all wishes.

The first week of 2014 has past.  I did not make any resolutions....though

I have lots of thoughts running around in my head on projects to sew.  More than I will reasonably complete. I am hoping to retire sometime this year.  Hopefully before June.  So, this begins to build an unbelievable race in my head on things I think I can get accomplished.

1st --- on my list is to complete several clothing projects that I have had cut out for myself for years.
...a denim jacket
...a brown tapestry vest

2nd----
smocking project for the upcoming twins

3rd---
join the local quilt guild,
they do small quilts for children that the local law enforcement takes in emergency situations,  and I want to complete one for this project

4th---
I have purchased fabrics for window treatments in 3 rooms of my house....this has been in the closet for a year.....need to get this completed

And to add to this, I accepted the 
---2014 RTW Fast invitation from Goodbye Valentino to stop shopping for "ready to wear"
I am not a big shopper....but I have lost a large amount of weight and have few clothes.....will be a challenge and a great chance for me to learn to fit myself....something that I have been wanting to do for quite awhile.

 

 

Last challenge....
---I invited my sister to join me in the challenge to do a 1/2 marathon.  She accepted and we trained all the fall to run the St. Jude's in Memphis in December.  The weather was unbelievably cold that weekend and the race was cancelled.  Since we had felt the health benefits of this training, and we were very disappointed in not getting to complete the race.....we have now signed up for the Nashville Rock & Roll.  We begin training again this week for the race April 26.

Full year planned....Ready to get started

Hope that I can keep focused to complete the list.

Happy New Year to All

 

 

 

Easter Ready!!

I have been working the last week to get this ready for Lola.  This pattern is from the OTTOBRE design book from Summer 2012.  If you are not familiar with this magazine it is from Finland and it comes with all the patterns.  There are 4 children's volumes a year and if you wish to subscribe, 2 women's.  I subscribed to the magazine for about 3 years but did not seem to get around to using the patterns.  So, I have discontinued.  I love to look through the books often and have now begun to use it more.

 

I made a domestic sample of the body before cutting this out.  The patterns are all in metric and British sizing.  It takes some getting used to.

 

I am very please, and I think that Lola will love it when I deliver tomorrow.

 



Sundress trimmed with pink gingham piping

 Knowing that all little girls want the summer dresses for Easter, but the weather always presents itself a little cool, I used a simple cotton knit to make the jacket.  This was also from the same volume of OTTOBRE.  I have never been very successful with the cotton knit.  It usually puckers and stretches.  I used a knit interfacing on the shoulder seams, arm sleeve hem, and jacket hem.  I was very pleased.  Maybe not be quite as stretchable as those that you purchase in the stores, but sure made up nicely.

cotton knit jacket

 Now that I have completed this.....taxes have to be completed this weekend so that I can get on with the top challenge from Fay's Sewing adventure.

 



I have signed up for a sew-a-long with Faye's Sewing adventure.


I have never participated in these type of adventures, but I definitely need a boost to get me onto some sewing for myself.  I need spring clothes and her encouragement will be great!!

Can't wait to see what everyone creates.

I do not have a plan.....

I have been having a great time lately @ the sewing machine.  The projects that I had on the table in February some are finished, others on hold.

The white blouse I was working on for myself, almost got complete.....up to the point when the sleeves were in....tried it on...and the sleeves were too tight on the upper arm.  Went back to the fabric store for more to re-cut.  I was tooo late....This project is on hold until I get a few things done for the grandchildren then I will get back to it before fall and see if I can work out the sleeve issue.

 Project #3 was the dresses below.
I have the Pilgrimage dresses ready for the granddaughters when they arrive at the end of March.  I will get the hems done when they arrive.

Allie's Dress

Nora Ruth's Dress



 
My niece had her second daughter on Feb 15, and was wanting a big/lil sis set for the girls. Got these completed and they are in the mail.

The twins, Lola & Julian, turned 7 this week.  They each wanted their own theme for birthday.  I decided to make them a T-shirt and cake to match. 


Lola wanted mermaids

Julian wanted monster trucks



I have made birthday cakes in the past but have never worked with fondant.  Found a recipe on the web for making the fondant and decided to play around with this.  This is edible playdough.

 

I made this up early to practice with the colors and do a test picture to make sure that I could get it presentable.

 

Today was the party at the horse arena.  Julian usually goes each week for his therapy and Lola has also been learning to ride.  Cakes were ready and all kids got to ride the horses, had a great day!!

 

Monster truck was harder because the pieces were larger and hard to move to the cake without distortion.

the mermaid pieces were smaller and worked better.

Lola is able to ride alone

 I Did not get a good picture of Julian on the horse but he had a great birthday party with his friends.



I will get busy this week and get Lola's Easter dress ready.  I purchase Julian's and have delivered the shorts/shirt in colors that will work well with Lola's.

Then I want to get several things for the kids for summer started.

Lots to do.....

I have Labels!!

MANY PROJECTS on the table............

PROJECT#1
I have been wanting to develop a nice quick label process for the clothing that I make.  Found a great tutorial(http://patchworkpottery.blogspot.com/2008/09/fabric-labels-tutorial.html) this weekend and I am excited. 



Using Avery LightFabric transfer paper

and twill tape 



PROJECT #2

My sister purchased this pattern(Vogue1165) on sale in November....said it was calling my name....something she knew that I would like.  I am finally getting to start it....

 



I purchased a  white on white fabric because I just do not like plain white but did not want much pattern to show

 

 

I have gotten the fronts pleated and the rest is cut and interfacings ready to work with.  Goal for the week is to complete...

 

Project  #3

I have 2 dresses to get started on for the Pilgramage in April.

 

Project  #4 

Mom is 84 and had a stroke a year ago.  She is doing great.....is a little slow communicating.....and really her only restriction is 'no driving'.  She has been independent all her life and this has been very hard for her to accept.  She has also sewn all her life...so I was watching a Sewing with Nancy episode in the fall and saw a charity 'Tender Loving Care'.  This charity makes or provides clothing for the needy in the Apalachian area.  I ask Mom if she thought she could make some dresses for this project.  She tells me that she is ready to start.  She can not cut things out because of the arthritis in her hands....so I have two on the cutting table to get ready for her to give it a try.....I am excited....want her to continue to feel useful. 

 

Here are Mom's projects:



 

This little dress on the left will be made out of the historical Windham print.  I have made this pattern several times for the grandaughters and it is very cute.  I will cut this in a size 4.

 

 

The second one is a Andover print pair with a plaid that I have had in my stash for quite some time.  I am going to cut this in a size 8.

 

I am cutting fall outfits, because I do not want Mom to feel any pressure....do not know how successful she will be, but if this turns out to be something that she can not handle, I will get them ready before the fall delivery.

 







New Baby on the way......

My niece, Brittany, is expecting her second little girl, Amelia Joy.  Brittany saw a picture and shared that with her Mom(Joy) and I back around Christmas time.  We did not understand that this was similar to what she wanted for the 'Coming home' outfit.









Amelia was originally slated to arrive around Feb 22 but she seems pushing for an early arrival.  So, a couple of weeks ago, Joy received a text asking how the outfit was coming.  Since the earlier message was not clear....we had no idea what she was talking about.  So, once again we received the picture again. .....

I received notice on Wednesday that I probably had 10 days max to get the outfit ready......so it was delivered today. Not quite as dramatic a 'prison' uniform, but I think that it presents the same idea.

The next project will be 'Pilgramage' dresses for 2 of my grandaughters, Nora Ruth and Allie.  These are the fabrics I have chosen.  I took the measurements when they were here @ Christmas.  I will begin later this week and get them all done except hems and then I will have to wait for them to make it home to complete.

I have plenty of other projects to get done....but scheduling will be as time permits.