Smocking in Arizona

What a surprise that Emma's mommy and daddy still wanted to hold and feed her occasionally during my visit!

This did give me time to smock a bonnet to match the dress that I had sent a few weeks ago.

And to smock a seafoam green bishop with white floss. Emma even cooperated while we set her up for a photo shoot.

Even if I couldn't hold her every minute, I was still in her presence and sometimes that is enough! :)

The smocking design for Emma's seafoam green bishop will be available on the next blog!

Michie'

Sew Beautiful "White Issue"

Sew Beautiful's first "White Issue" is about to arrive and it is out of this world! It is full of inspiration and even includes several outfits for the boys.

I was thrilled that several of my submissions had been accepted and am always anxious to see how they were photographed. The first outfit is made by pattern #129 out of Martha's Classic Cotton. The fabric is a nice weight 100% cotton for a boy's bubble. The little belt is not included in the pattern, so I will be sure to post instructions on the blog in the near future.

The best surprise is when someone else has something in the magazine made by my pattern! The white and ecru dress made using pattern #127, was made by Joan Burden and is absolutely lovely. (I think that Emma may need one just like it!)

And at the bottom of the page, both outfits are made out of handkerchief linen and ecru lace, using pattern #112 for the Christening gown and pattern #111 for the bubble.

Hoping that your issue arrives soon!

Remember, this is the last week for the December Sale!!!!

Michie'

Christmas Surprises

I did not expect to write a blog today, but so far today has been full of many surprises. The first surprise today was that Rex and I woke up to a white Christmas which is very unusual for North Alabama. It snowed all morning and was so pretty that we hardly mind that the Christmas plans for today were cancelled. Fortunately our big event was yesterday. But I am going ahead and making my cashew, cranberry chicken salad for the two of us and we have plans to watch "Muppet Christmas Carol" (one of my favorites) later. :)

This is the first time since the first year we were married that we have been alone in the house on Christmas morning and we have never spent the whole day alone! By this evening I might be having a "melt down" being the social butterfly that I am, but right now it feels good. So, it looks like this Christmas is a year of "firsts" in many ways. First time we are alone, first Christmas to have a grand baby and first year to open a very special gift.....

Anna and Jason gave us, Jason's parents, and Tim (#2 son) each a box of jelly beans to open. And they were blue. It is a boy, due in May!!!! There was a whole lot of screaming (of course that was me), laughing, hugging, and phone calls. Everyone in the family had guessed "boy" and I think that is what everyone was secretly hoping for. Having three older brothers, Anna will be a fantastic mommy for a boy and Jason will have that first son that all men dream of.

I might just go back in the living room where Rex is watching the military channel by the gas fireplace and work on the quilt for Anna's baby. Not a bad day at all.

Michie'

Merry Christmas

One of my favorite Christmas decorations is this framed family Christmas card from 1963. Not only do I love old photographs, it reminds me that there was a time in my life that nothing was expected of me during the holidays!

Because of Rex hurting his back and our trip to meet Emma, we never did get around to putting up the tree or sending out cards this year. And guess what, it still feels like Christmas! We will still be getting together with family and friends and we will see two of our four kids on Christmas. Anna will be telling us whether the baby is a boy or girl and I am looking forward to taking some time off from work and starting the quilting on her baby quilt while watching silly Christmas movies.

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And most of all, take time to remember how truly blessed we all are.

Michie'

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

A Visit With Baby Emma

Rex and I were finally able to fly to Arizona and spend a week with baby Emma! I whole lot of rocking, feeding, snuggling, and admiring happened during the week. Emma is now almost 6 weeks old, weights close to 8 lbs. and is starting to act like a newborn.

During our visit we also enjoyed temperatures in the 70's

Sightseeing in Bisbee and Tombstone.

Beautiful views of the desert.

And time with Ben and Tiffany who we hadn't seen since last Christmas! Ben is our oldest son and Tiffany is the best daughter-in-law in the history of the world.

I even worked in a little shopping and bought a baby bracelet for Emma at my favorite shop in Tombstone.

Emma loved Grandda Rex! How were we able to stand to leave all of this behind and come home to Alabama where it was 32 degrees when we got off the plane?

Well, we were coming home to this......Anna and Jason will be telling us on Christmas Eve whether their baby is a boy or a girl! I promised not to ask ahead of time and so far I have kept my promise.

*Don't forget the December sale!

Michie'

Garment Size Tags

I had been on the lookout for garment size tags and finally found some at "Beth's Heirlooms!" I'm sure that the mommies will be happy that I can now stitch a real tag into a side seam. Beth did not have any Newborn tags available, so Emma's mommy knows that if it is tag less it is for now!

At a month old, Emma is just about ready for a newborn size. Emma's daddy skipped that size!

Michie'

Of Course I Took Smocking!

I wouldn't want you to think for a minute that I could possibly travel to Arizona to meet baby Emma and not take some smocking along! Here is what I am packing, a mint bishop and a white bonnet to match a dress that I have already sent. These will be tucked away in my suitcase just in case Emma's parents decided that it is best if I not hold her every single moment for an entire week!


Michie'

Is It Really Christmas?

This might be the first time in 33 years that Rex and I have not put up a Christmas tree! I say "might" because we really can't remember that far back, and have a sneaking suspicion that we skipped the year when I was 2 weeks late with baby #2 and had an active 2 year old in the house. This year Rex hurt his back the weekend designated for decorating (he is all better now) and I am too chicken to get up in the attic. I did get desperate and managed to get far enough up the steps that I could reach one box of ornaments while Rex held on to my ankle. I'm not sure what the ankle holding did except insure that if I fell it would be on him, but it did make me fill more secure. So the house is all decorated and it looks like Christmas except for the tree.

Besides, we have more important things to do like kiss on these! We are on our way tomorrow to visit baby Emma for the first time! With excitement like that, who needs a Christmas tree?

Michie'

*Don't forget the December sale!

A Bishop Dress for Emma

What have I been working on? A pink bishop dress for baby Emma. The dress is made from Imperial Batiste, buttons down the front and has lace on the sleeves and down the front placket.

Smocked with Ellen McCarn's "Amanda". One of my all time favorite smocking plates

I couldn't resist making matching panties and a little bonnet. The panties are from pattern #123 and the bonnet is from "Old Fashioned Baby".

While working on this outfit something seemed VERY familiar..... I finally remembered that I had made an almost identical dress for my niece 12 years ago! Some things are just worth repeating.

Michie'

A Baby Shower Gift

Although I have know for months that I was going to need a baby shower gift, I was caught off guard when the invitation came in the mail! This is also one of those cases where the parents don't want to know whether baby is a boy or a girl ahead of time. So, the challenge was to make a gown suitable for either and a winter baby at that! I had enough Australian Cashmere Flannel left from Emma's gown and I always have plenty of gingham scraps on hand.

The gown is a variation of pattern #128 and goes together quickly. I made the gown and a matching blanket and then did the embroidery after all of the sewing was completed. The embroidered bunnies can be found in the "Heirloom Embroidery Book" and are done with a Back Stitch. The tutorial for adapting the gown can be found in a previous blog.

Michie'

December Sale!

All of December will be "Buy Two Get One Free Month!" The whole month, buy two patterns at the regular price and pick out an additional pattern or the "Embroidery Book" at no charge. You can let me know which free pattern or book you would like in the comment section of the order form.

Michie'