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 !!

Inspired!

Nothing like beautiful weather and babies to inspire a little creativity! I am so thankful that my world is breaking out in beautiful, colorful flowers and trees and warmer weather...I am so ready for old man winter to be gone. With this inspiration I have been back at my cutting table getting ready to put some Easter outfits together and even a few sundresses....yes, it is so nice to even be able to look forward to that!
I have some new babies that need gifts and I got busy. The blankets I have pictured are flannel from JoAnn's that I bought with a coupon this week. If you are not a JoAnn coupon clipper you are missing out on some great sales. Get on their email and mailing list...they come weekly. I like to re-stock my needles and stabilizers when their 50% coupons come out...and their Gingher scissors are a great buy as well with a coupon. I used my new Bernina sewing machine to put a name on two of the blankets and I appliqued the "Onesies On A Line" on the pink-gingham flannel for a new baby girl. I never thought that I would say this.....but the Children's Corner pattern that I have pictured below is a GREAT buy for anyone expecting a baby or needing to make a baby gift. I bought that pattern to use for a knit nightgown that I serged and made...it turned out so well. After opening it and seeing that it had blanket instructions I got curious.....who needs a pattern for a blanket, right? (those were my thoughts). I was SO wrong.....the pattern instructs you on how to cut and finish a beautiful sewn edge on your blanket and how to miter the corners for a nice finished edge. It is well worth the investment...as you can see mine is very worn from its use. It also has a bib pattern...I use it whenever I need a quick and easy gift to make for a new Mom. The items that you make are so much nicer than anything that you can buy...the blankets can be made to the size you want and the gowns last a lot longer after washing than the store-bought.
I plan to clean off my table this weekend and cut out with Easter in mind. I will post my progress....have a wonderful weekend.

Ready for some Sun!

I have had a ball this week completing some shorts and pants for my grandson. Some of you Moms have asked me the pattern that I am using...it is the Kwik-Sew pattern number 3149. It is a very simple pattern but does not have the cute finishes that make these homemade items look store-bought. I always make 2 patch pockets (using the Britches and Bloomers pattern pocket) and put them on the rear ends or the side of the leg for a cargo pocket-look. It is amazing what a difference it makes in the look of the shorts. As you can tell, I have fallen in love with all of this adorable patch-madras that seems to be selling everywhere this spring. You may be surprised that I have found it in some unusual places...Hobby Lobby (also ADORABLE ribbon), Joann's....

so always check in a store before you give up and walk out! The blue chambray patch in these pictures came from JoAnn's and the orange patch cloth came from The Children's Corner in Nashville. It is usually so hard to find cute shorts and pants fabrics for boys so every time I found a cute plaid this spring I bought it....2/3 yard makes the pants and 1/2 yard will make the shorts. Now my grandson will be decked out for spring with pants and shorts. I encourage you to try this pattern...if you can sew a straight seam you can make these shorts!
I also added some t-shirts that I have appliqued for my granddaughter and grandson for spring. I love my new embroidery machine and am having a great time creating these t-shirts. The patterns for the shirts come from some incredibly cute applique websites. Let me know if you want to know what they are. YOu need to have an embroidery machine to download them and use them.
I am heading to the beach and am finally ready...warmer weather, here we come!

PS....the t-shirts that I appliqued came from Target and Wal-Mart...and as always, the pants pattern I use is "Britches and Bloomers".