It's All in the Details

These 4 daughters of mine. The've been bitten or the genes are just strong.  We all have that creative energy that drives us in one way or another.  For some it is the home, others the wardrobe.  Jobs are given attention or the garden is flourishing.  Each of us expresses it in a different way, but when it comes to big events...all bets are off!

This youngest daughter must have inherited the gene in every area of her life.  Oh My Goodness!  The details.  It is no secret there is a wedding in 137 days.  We are not counting. It is no secret either that I love planning a party and making little things a special.  I'm doomed this time.

My sewing room has taken on a life of its own.  It is a disaster to say the least, but it is filled with projects for this wedding.  I was working full time when the older girls married and the details were given over to others.  This wedding it's all on me.

There are 4 flower girls dresses to complete and sashes to monogram.  The shirts for the bridesmaids are hanging and ready for their own design when the bride decides.  And then those napkins..... it started out as a simple suggestion to appease the " I'm not renting 200 chargers at $12 a piece" rant.  Maybe the chargers would have been a better idea.  These napkins will grace the head table of 34 and then the new couple will have a beautiful set for their home.  The design chosen though has a color change and means that every single napkin has to go through a re-threading of the machine.

I'm really not complaining.  I love being a part of making their dreams come true. But last night I did have to ask my sweet youngest to be a little more aware of others.  We all have those moments you know:)))

Cutting the Silk

Most of the time I post about my knitting, but I have been sewing since I was a teenager.  My girls were all clothed in my creations when they were small and now I sew periodically for the granddaughters.  These dresses, however, are for 4 little flower girls.  All 3 granddaughters and the fiance's niece are in the wedding and I was asked to sew the dresses.

Long a fan of Children's Corner patterns, this is the same pattern used for my own girls 30 years ago. I love these kinds of stories and memories.  A simple, sleeveless dress of white dupioni silk with a navy monogrammed sash.  Simple...stunning.

***  a little Pride and Prejudice soundtrack while cutting doesn't hurt:)

Delivered

Today is my oldest grandson Patrick's feast day!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  The very first member of my father's family to come to America was named Patrick.  It pleases me so to have a family namesake:)

The quilt is complete and delivered.  I so wanted to take pictures with he children when they saw it, but my camera was acting weird.  I even had difficulty uploading these pictures.  This is not the time for my camera to die on me.  Not in the budget!

They loved the quilt though.  The class is called the Owls, so it was appropriate to back it in that specific fabric.  I hand tied it at each intersection and then used a pin stitch to attach the backing.

This will go in the school auction in a few weeks.  I especially want to thank my daughter Julia for giving me the opportunity to work so closely with Patrick's class.  I have tried to be very careful to not step on toes or interfere.   I think we did it!:))

{ P,H,F,R }

 Pretty

Three of my grandchildren go with me on Wednesdays to bible study.  They each are in a different class so I cannot just put all the needed items in one bag.  I had been using paper gift bags and writing their names on them, but they became torn after a few weeks.  Last weekend I was making a new project bag for my knitting and had an epiphany!  I would monogram the children's names on a new fabric bag.  They could be washed when needed and would fit perfect in the bottom of the stroller.  Wallah!!!!!

Happy

Luke is 3 1/2 months.  It is so hard to believe that time has passed this quickly.  I call him my chunka- munka!  Tired of being on his back, in the swing, or on a playmat....I  had the bright idea to put him in the  saucer.  He loves the different perspective!

Funny

On Monday the schools were out for teacher in service.  Patrick, my oldest grandchild, joined us that day.  He is 4 1/2 and trying to work himself out of taking naps.  We had been in the car to go home no more than 5 minutes.  I turned around and saw this.  I think he still needs naps.

Real

I have wanted for a while the USB stick that goes to my Bernina sewing machine.  It is pricey for a thumb drive, but anything associated with Bernina is. I went in to my favorite fabric store, which also carries Bernina machines, to pick up some fat quarters to sew with.  The store sales clerk noticed I had 2 accounts in the computer.  One had my name spelled incorrectly so she combined the accounts. When she did, it showed that I had a considerable sales points from the merchandise I had purchased over the year.  Guess what?  It was enough to take that little thumb drive home with me!  This opens up so many possibilities for monograming and embroidery on my machine.  A few granddaughters already have their eyes on these.

Linking up with Aunt Leila today at Like Mother Like Daughter!

From the Sewing Room..A Lined Project Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:: About 2 years ago I stumbled upon a pattern PDF for a project size drawstring bag.  It was lined and oh so cute.  My oldest daughter and I made several bags and settled our knitting into them.  They were just the right size for socks or other small projects. 

But our knitting projects began to get larger.  Blankets and sweaters were just to large for these little bags.  And just about that same time the author and designer of the original pattern made a PDF available that encompassed many sizes.  From tiny to laundry size!  Jeni Baker did an amazing job of taking a simple pattern and doing all the math for us.  This bag has a flat bottom that makes it so convenient and usable.  The PDF is $9.00, but that is a small price to pay for such versatility.  My next step is to monogram the fronts of the bags before putting them together. They could be gifts for anyone for anything.

A sweet baby blanket I am working on is now all nestled inside.  I can work directly from this bag without having to remove all the yarn.


:: I also came across some fabric for my rocker/ glider.  I really think these chairs are not very becoming, but they are so comfortable.  I had painted mine back in the summer, but think now when it warms up I will make it white.

This fabric picks up the turquoise I so love, but also provides little pops of gray and yellow.  I had enough to add a couple of pillows.

I hope your New Year is off to a positive start.  The weather has turned chilly here again, but we are not suffering like those further to our north. 

Blessings to all!

Sprucing Up

On Sunday I had to park a couple of blocks away from the church building because of the School hosting their Country Carnival.  I parked the car in front of a little house that just made me stop and admire.  It had the sweetest front porch with 2 little red rockers just like mine.  But what was captivating were the turquoise chevron pillows on the chairs.  They just made the porch "pop"!

So on my way home, I made a little stop at the fabric store and came home with 2 yards of this:



Making little envelope flap pillows takes about 15 minutes if you don't do any fancy trimming. For outside, I didn't.

Come and sit and join me for a cup of Pumpkin Spice coffee?