I am rushing to complete some summer clothes that need to be mailed soon so I put the finishing touches on this sundress last night. It is called "Hayden" and it is a Sew Sweet pattern. I found it on the "Fairytale Frocks and Lollipops" website. I love finding new and unique patterns that are fun to try. This is one. The three ruffles are attached at the hem after the dress is complete. I finished their raw edges will my serger and roll hemmed them.....so glad I did! It is a much easier way to finish a raw edge. Most sergers sold today will do this edging. This is an "E" pattern. You buy it online and they email it to you to be downloaded and printed on the spot......I REALLY love that...it is in your home immediately and you can begin your project. For impatient people like me this is a joy! Happy Sewing!

May 12, 2012 I had a productive Saturday putting the finishing touches on a few garments that need to get in the mail to my grandchildren. I am finding that my sweet granddaughter much prefers dresses to pants or shorts so I am busy collecting cute sundress patterns and other unique designs for her to enjoy this summer. I was able to complete her sundress that will match her little brother's shorts. I found a seersucker in blue stripes with red lobsters embroidered on it and it made me think of summer...and it was also one of those hard-to-find pieces of cloth that would be appropriate for a girl and a boy. I mentioned last blog the patterns I was using for each so you know what I used. Once again I will say that I LOVE this pattern for little boy shorts. Even though the easy elastic-waist are quick and do the trick these that I made have a much more finished look to them for not much more time at all. I found that if I cut out two pairs and make them together as I go I end up taking the same amount of time as I would have to make one pair...but I have two pairs when the job is done. They are dressy enough to be used for Sunday shorts as well. The patch madras make-up really well in this pattern, too. I hope if you are reading this blog and that you are a mother that you will have a wonderful Mother's Day. I love Mother's Day...I am so blessed to have an incredible Mom and Mother-in-law and it has always been a joy of mine to tell them on this day how much I love them. Mothering was one of the greatest things God allowed me to do...it is hard to give it up on a daily basis when you have enjoyed it so. I am also blessed to have a wonderful man to raise my children alongside. Looking back I am so thankful I had his wisdom and shoulders to lean on as I sought the direction, time after time, that God take my path as a Mom. One thing Jim always stressed that we do as parents was to discover what kind of child God had blessed us with...talents, desires, passions, gifts...and direct them in that way. He taught me that children are born with God-directed and given visions...and that it is our job as parents to see what they are and encourage our children down those paths. I love knowing that my children's happiness will come from a God-placed passion....not one of mine...and all I have to do is seek God's will for their lives. They are His anyway...He should be the one at the wheel of their lives. Too many times we are so tempted as parents, especially Moms, to live out our lives through our children's lives...and we destroy them and us in the process. Have a wonderful Mother's Day, Moms....it is a great job!

Is anyone out there in blogland? Yes, it is me and I have been away FOREVER! You can tell that summer is almost here and school is winding down...or I would not be doing this. I have missed posting and hope to be much better...at least for the next few months when papers are not calling on me to be graded and corrected.My brain is switching to summer mode very quickly, especially with the warm weather. I have been sewing like crazy, trying to get grandchildren ready for a warm change. I love seersucker...maybe because it reminds me so of summer and backyard fun. I have especially loved seeing all of the adorable embroirdered seersucker cloth in every color. I have bought 3 pieces lately-2 for my girl and 1 for my boys. I will post the picture of the sundresses I made and you can see what I chose to make for my granddaughter. I was able to find the Kelly's Kids sundress jumper online at a sewing site ( Twirl Dress-Lateedakids on an Etsy site and also on "Fairytale Frocks and Lollipops")and that is the pattern that I used......very easy and cute. I wanted the hem to be a little different so I chose a scallop edge decorative stitch on my machine......most machines have these....and put that scallop on the raw hem edge to finish the dress with a little color. I love how they turned out. This just adds a special touch to the dress hem and adds a little color. You will see in the pictures posted where I sewed on the raw edge using adding machine tape (at Staples) as a stabilizer and then coated the scallops with Fraycheck. Then I trimmed each scallop to give a more finished look. I also want to let the moms of boys know that the oliver+s pattern of shorts called "Sketchbook Shirt and Shorts" is a great pattern for little boys shorts. I wanted to try it out this spring and have been very happy with it. I do not have a finished product picture of these yet to show you but I will soon.I hate wasting my time sewing something that I end up not liking so I hope this passed on to you saves you some time!They are a little more difficult to sew than just a turned-down elasticized waist...but they finish looking very professional and are worth the time invested. I promise to be back with more ideas and pictures.I love sewing and creating and hope this encourages you to do the same!

Yeah for Summer!

It has been a while since I last blogged. We were out of town for the first two weeks of the summer. I feel like I am just now getting in the summer groove here at home. I have had some projects to complete and have been very busy getting those done. One of those projects has been pillow shams for my grandson and granddaughter. You will see them pictured below. I have also made the dust ruffles for both of their beds.
I made a trip to my local Bernina store here to buy some thread to use. While there I saw a display that caught my eye. This store had lots of pillowcases they had made....all colors, all fabrics and all were adorable. I had seen this pattern before and really never thought of making any for myself...until I realized that I could make some to match my grandkids pillow shams and add these to their bed linens. I want to share this pattern for the pillowcases with you. If you are interested let me know by responding to this blog and I will email it to you. They are very easy to make. A friend told me that her daughter makes them for her friends for birthday gifts and that the kids

love them. If you can sew a straight seam you can make these...that is all that is necessary to complete them. Let your creative juices and imagination flow...the sky is the limit! You can add cute trims and any personalization that you want to make them special. Notice that the pillowcases can be made in lots of sizes...have fun!

Staying Busy!

Happy springtime! I hope you are enjoying the beautiful world around you as I am. My favorite flowers are in bloom (peonies) and I am thrilled to be able to fill my vases around the house with their perfume. I will be so sad when they are gone...we were never able to grow these in my home state of Mississippi because it does not get cold enough there. When I moved to Tennessee I discovered these plants and immediately became a fan. ( I think I also love them because I know when they bloom my summer break from school is not far behind!) I heard tonight on our news that this area of East Tennessee is the number one place in America for allergy sufferers to suffer the most...I am so sorry for all of you that sneeze and cough...but I guess that is our trade-off for so many lovely flowers blooming in our home town.
I have been deadlining my latest sewing projects because I will be sewing some Roman shades for my daughter's new home. I had 3 or 4 sets of cloth ready to be put in dresses before summer arrives and I have been busy. I want to get them completed before I begin the shades. I LOVE the cloth that my friend Gina has in her store...her selections make me want to create something. I found 2 patterns by "Pink Fig" that looked cute and unique...so I tried them both. I am including the picture of my favorite one. The long dress in 3 different brown designs is that pattern. I learned to "sheer" with elastic that you thread through your bobbin.....a totally new experience for me! I like it...except that when you are doing it the size of the dress looks like it will fit only a Barbie doll....it looks SO SMALL! That is why the second dress pictured looks so TINY! Sewing these dresses long distance does not help....I am waiting for my granddaughter to look at it and think it is a doll dress! I got discouraged while making it but made myself complete it because I love the butterfly fabrics in the dress....who knows...maybe by luck it will actually fit her! I think the brown one will be fine...we will see if the yellow/butterfly one can even fit over her head!
The third dress is one exactly like another that I made for winter. My friend Chyrl told me to make this dress with a tank top...you may remember that the dress I made for winter was attached to a long-sleeved t-shirt. This tank top look really is cute for summer...and this is super easy to do! If you want more explicit directions to make one send me an email and I will be glad to talk you through it. It works up so fast and will be so cute with summer flip-flops.
I need to change modes now....from clothing to Roman shades...wish me luck!

Easter is here!

I am so happy that I met my deadline and completed my grandchildren's Easter outfits today. I have to put them in the mail so I knew that today would be the day to get everything finished. I included pictures below of the dress and button-on suit that I made. I have also included the patterns that I used for the dress and suit. I LOVE Wendy Schoen's patterns so I was excited to try her design for D's dress. It required some shadow stitching that I was a bit nervous about. I had a long car trip last weekend so I knew that would be the time to get busy doing the embroidery. I would encourage you to give it a try....you may surprise yourself! I love trying a new pattern and taking on a new project...that way I get something completed and I learn so much in the process. So many beautiful designs today include some embroidery and are easy to do.
My grandson's suit is a Gingersnaps design and I liked the pattern and the methods they used to get it made. I used tatting on his collar so that it would not look too feminine for him. This pattern is great...they give you so many options for the design so the pattern is well worth the price. I am sure I will use it again.
I am also including a picture of a burp cloth that I made for a friend's new granddaughter. I love the applique...it is from Applique Frenzy if you want to go on their website and see their designs. I think this one is so cute for babies.
Have a wonderful week. I love this week preparing for Easter. I hope you enjoy yours!

Rainy Saturdays...Where is Spring?!

I guess I should be thankful for days like today...cannot work in the yard because it is raining and it is too cold to buy plants yet to put in the yard. So...I hunkered down in my bonus room, set my embroidery arm up on my sewing machine and cranked out the 3 t-shirts pictured below, along with 3 polo shirts that needed a monogram. I feel great...so accomplished! I set my goals for today and achieved them. Of course I was watching the Lady Vols compete in their March madness and after hearing Pat Summit's interview play over and over all afternoon I could have quoted it from memory. I learned something today...in case you do not know it ESPN just keeps rolling over the same interviews and action shots over and over and over...but it was good entertainment while I labored away.
My grandson needed the sized-up polos...the 3T's I had already bought him are washing out to be too short. The three pictured are 4T. Keep that in mind if you are buying these same polos at Target or WalMart. His golf applique will make him happy...he loves golf!
My granddaughter's two t-shirts came from Target and make great applique backgrounds. You can see where I had my hoop when you look at the purple one in the photo but I will get that pressed out later. She LOVES purple so I had to make that one for her. The flip-flops make me think of summer...YEAH! She loves anything princess so I wanted to create a princess for her. I think the little princess is very sweet.
The applique arm is stored...later this week I MUST start on Easter. I am tired tonight...but it is a GOOD tired. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

PS....my disclaimer...I got lazy and took pictures of my work today and forgot that I have not even clipped the threads joining some of my letters on my work...must take care of that asap...so sorry !!