Christmas is Almost Here!

For some reason it really doesn't seem like Christmas. Maybe it's because we saw Christmas personified at Disney during our Thanksgiving vacation there. All the decorations were up and carols were sung. We came back to a messy house and no Christmas decorations. We probably should have decorarted before we left -- but no time, no time. With recovering from my cataract surgery the week before, we barely got packed.

Then we were worn out before we got there. And just to let you know, I was tired all the time we were there. We stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort and I was so disappointed. The beds weren't comfortable, chairs weren't comfortable, and the food was blah. Do I sound like Mrs. Scrooge? Seriously, Motel 8 probably has better rooms. We didn't have a microwave even. We did have a mini-fridge that wasn't really what it should have been. Thank goodness for the ice machine!

Even when we had reservations for our meals (Deluxe Dining Plan, mind you), we had to wait for 1 to 2 hours to get seated. Food was frankly the last thing on my mind by the time we were seated. Most of the time we had to stand and wait. A couple of times we had a place to sit.

The only bright side to the trip was getting to see Grandbaby sometimes enjoying herself. Needless to say, we couldn't keep up with her and her parents! LOL

Sorry to be a Gripie Gussie, but I was so disappointed. Next time I want to go to Disney, I'll stay at the nearest Hampton Inn. The one where we stayed on the way back home made the Resort look like what it was. And, if you ever need a place to stay in Valdosta, GA, stay at the Hampton! Super room, super service, good food!

Baby Gown for Peyton

I love my first Baby Day Gown. I took a class at Material Girls Fabric Shop to learn how to do some of the basic heirloom sewing techniques. It was especially nice to have someone to gift with this first attempt. Baby Peyton was born just before I completed it. Now I can't wait to make another one! Maybe pink next time?

For this one I chose white batiste as my fabric. I had some very nice lace just crying out to be used. I wish I had more of the lace. I think it would have added to it tremendously, but I used what I had and wasn't able to find more to match. This is some left over from another plan for a dress for a toddler. The only other embellishment added was machine embroidery down the center front. This design is from a "Martha Pullen" embroidery designs for babies CD (available from www.marthapullen.com) I can't say enough about the beauty of the design. It is exquisitely perfect!

For my next baby gown I'm going to be using pink batiste with white embroidery (maybe) and tucks. Of course the fabric will be from Material Girls and the embroidery design from Martha Pullen.

Can't Stop Now!

While the iron is hot, I'm publishing another post. This one has a picture of a dress I made for a birthday girl!

Long Time Passing

Hello Blog!

I haven't been able to access my blog since last time I wrote. I don't know what was wrong with it -- probably Operator Error.

But I really wanted to let anyone know out there that Whimsical Fabrics is having a great giveaway. Just my style!!! Fabrics for the stash and patterns, too, are always on my "Wishlist" and theirs are wonderful!

I have always been so pleased with my purchases from Whimsical Fabrics. It's always a happy day when I receive my "pur(chase)prize". I love that term. I can't remember where I first heard it, but I do feel as if I have a happy day prize when my shipment arrives! Not only are the products fantastic, but they are packaged so nicely! It just makes me happy all over!

I've been super busy - making some baby gifts and of course, sewing for the now three year old grandbaby. I'm hoping that I can get some of my pictures posted before I mess up again.

Have a happy day, and don't forget the giveaway!

Summer

I guess it's just a fact that I can't blog more than once a month (if that). I've been pretty busy. We went to the beach for 7 days. It was so enjoyable, restful and fun. When we went to Melbourne I bought beautiful, beautiful fabric - everything from summery, essentially Florida fabrics to new Christmas fabrics that I doubt I would find anywhere around here!

Before we left I had tested a pattern for Little Lizard Kings. As you see in the pictures above, it turned out beautifully. Grandbaby loves twirling in it! She didn't want to take it off! It stitched out so well. Directions were clear and easy to follow. It would be great even for a beginning sewer. Because of a teeny chest, I did put elastic to gather the front of the dress, which changed the integrity of the pattern. The next time I make it, I will adjust the pattern to fit my Emma. Go here for wonderful children's clothing patterns. See you next time with a new outfit I've made. I hope you like this one!

Summer Busy-ness

I guess it's just a fact that I can't blog more than once a month (if that). I've been pretty busy. We went to the beach for 7 days. It was so enjoyable, restful and fun. When we went to Melbourne I bought beautiful, beautiful fabric - everything from summery, essentially Florida fabrics to new Christmas fabrics that I doubt I would find anywhere around here!

Before we left I had tested a pattern for Little Lizard Kings. As you see in the pictures above, it turned out beautifully. Grandbaby loves twirling in it! She didn't want to take it off! It stitched out so well. Directions were clear and easy to follow. It would be great even for a beginning sewer. Because of a teeny chest, I did put elastic to gather the front of the dress, which changed the integrity of the pattern. The next time I make it, I will adjust the pattern to fit my Emma. Go here for wonderful children's clothing patterns. See you next time with a new outfit I've made. I hope you like this one!

Only a month has gone by.....

Well, hello! I think I'm getting much better at posting. It's been just a few days over a month since my last post. For some people that's not much progress, but if you look at my track record, I'm really doing quite well.

I've been busy, busy. I have been sewing and embroidering. I sewed a test pattern for a child's dress for www.littlelizardking.com. The pattern was an e-pattern (PDF download). It was well written with great instructions. I love the pattern and will be using it again. The picture at the top of the post shows the dress I made. Of course, I have the most beautiful model in the world. My, how she loved twirling in that dress..... she didn't want to take it off!

As you can see, we have also been to the beach. Seven wonderful days of beach house living, lying under the umbrella, listening to the surf, sunning, playing with Grand Baby, nice beach walks, Utopia!

I have also tested some embroidery/applique designs for www.originalstitches.com. Erin, the digitizer is wonderful. Her designs are a joy to work with. They stitch out beautifully every time. Please stop by her site and check out her work. She takes great pride in her work and strives to give only her best to her designs.

It has been a while since I last posted. I have been very busy, but I really can't say what I've been doing to be so busy. I know I've spent all my time. It's gone anyway.
Well, I have embroidered and appliqued and I've Facebooked and Facebooked and Facebooked some more. I have spent way too much time with my computer and not enough sitting down at the sewing machine. I'm really ashamed of myself. Time to stop all this nonsense. LOL Actually I have learned so much from my new embroidery friends I found in a Facebook Group. They are mostly young stay at home moms with from 1 to 6 kids, so what do I have in common with them? We all embroider or sew or craft in some way -- and I just want to mother-hen all of them, I guess. Be that as it may, they have taught me some new ins and outs to embroidery and applique, and a new appreciation of the generation that is bringing up the next generation of people. Way to go, girls.




I have decided to try to sell some of my little goodies I've made. I love making them, but you know, I don't have a place to store all that I make. And I've given away all I want to give away. So I either have to stop or sell some -- to make room for more, don't you know? (Big smile here!) So gradually, little by little, I'm getting my pictures in order to display for all to see. In the meantime, I am showing the few of you who read my blog a few things I will be showing. I hope you like them.

I won third place!

I can't believe I tied for 3rd place in a contest at Pickle Pie Embroidery Designs. Check out all the winners at www.picklepiedesigns.com/page/hair_pretties_contest_winners.aspx and see. I almost didn't enter but decided at the last minute that I would just for fun. I'm really happy because I love Lisa's designs and Emma did love those shoes!

Baby Gifts I've Made

These are a few of the gifts I've made for new babies. The pacifier clip is a design from http://www.embroiderygarden.com/. The embroidery design on the diaper burp cloth is from http://www.fivestarfonts.com/. These are two of my favorite designers. The bib is an in-the-hoop design from http://www.zippydesignz.com/., another super website to check out if you love to do machine embroidery as much as I do! I loved the bib, and so did the new mom. I used a soft Super Minky in pastel pink for the front and lined it with the brown and pink cotton fabric that matches the other pieces I made for her. It is reversible, however. Wasn't I lucky to find a Minky with stars to continue the theme of bears and stars? I thought so! I also used this Minky for a ribbon blankie and a Binkie Baby (so named by Grandbaby when she took a dolly I made for her to replace her binkie). It's actually the Softie Baby Bunting by Lisa at www.PicklePieDesigns.com. I don't know how many babies have enjoyed those, Lisa. I've lost count of the ones I've made.

I'm on a roll!

I have been soooo busy! I actually feel as if I have accomplished something lately. I made inserts for 2 of the travel mugs I bought at www.embroiderygarden.com. The design that Reen sent to use with them is beautiful. A big thank you to her. The one I made for my son-in-law was done in camo with signal orange monogram. He really liked it I think. The one pictured here will always be a winner with me, because I love black and white! I still have to do my daughter's. I can't wait to show it off -- for more reasons than one!

I'm very excited. I met a new home economics teacher from one of the nearby schools. She needs some help with one of the school's sergers. Since we don't have local repairmen, I will see if I can help her with the "ancients" who are giving her problems. She told me the school will be having a craft fair in April, and they are looking for vendors. Hmmmm, I am very tempted to see if I can get some things ready for it. It would help the school and give me an excuse to sew some more!!

Please enjoy looking at a few of my things I've done. I've found some really terrific blogs to look at and some neat embroidery digitizers out there. I'll try to pass along some of those as I think of them.

Embroidered Faces

I discovered the neatest embroidered face designs from Huskey Designs. The bag (I love those in-the-hoop designs) is from My Embroidery Haven. I can't wait to try making some bags of satin with embellishments for weddings and proms. Can't you just see them now?

Cosmetic Bag

Time goes by too quickly. I get too caught up with doing and don't get along with telling about it. I guess that's why I never did keep a diary, lol. Well, I am going to put in a couple of photos to show a few of the things I've done recently -- well, since I posted last!