Just Move Those Buttons!

Because the weather is still very warm in Arizona, I decided to include a pink gingham sundress in my things to take to Emma. You might recognize it from a previous blog, and it was also one of our projects at Martha Pullen School a couple of years ago. It is really exciting that there are now babies in the family to wear these outfits! The balloon smocking design is great for those new to picture smocking and is down loadable on the original blog.

I now join many of you in the struggle in guessing the size of the out of state grand baby. The sundress was a little too big, so I moved the buttons on each shoulder up about and inch and it looked fine on her. The dress has enough room for a white blouse underneath as the weather gets cooler.

"Pretty in Pink" would have also been a good name for this blog! :) I had a few questions about the smocking design that I used for this outfit and the floss colors. The design is "My Mini Friends" by Kathy Crisp Design. The floss colors are DMC #3354, #318, and black.

I have had the design several years and had overlooked it in my binder. While Tiffany was here she actually spotted it and commented on how cute it was. Sometimes we just need a fresh pair of eyes!

Michie'

New Sew Beautiful Magazine

I could hardly wait until a got back from Arizona to see if my new issue of Sew Beautiful Magazine had arrived. I met Janet Gilbert at Martha Pullen School and she gave me a heads up that she had something in the magazine made by one of my patterns. Janet has a special talent for designing beautiful smocking designs.

Isn't this the cutest outfit for fall? And what a handsome little guy! Pattern #114 was used for the outfit and pattern #134 is available if you need smaller sizes. The smocking design is included in the magazine.

Thank you Janet!

Michie'

The Happy Accident

I love how both of the girls ask politely and a little hesitantly, "Could you do a little sewing?" Are you kidding? That is what I live for! So about a week before I left for Arizona, Anna called and said, "Our little guy now weighs 14 lbs. his diaper shirts are getting a little small and it doesn't look like cooler weather is happening any time soon." So, of course I got right to work. This fabric came from my stash and is trimmed with white Imperial Broadcloth. Dark grey buttons, also from the stash, gave it a masculine look.

I quickly cut out the shirt, hoping to having it constructed by supper so that I could spend the evening completing the handwork. As I began to sew the shoulder seams together, I realized that I had not taken the time to match the stripes which are one of the signs of a professionally constructed garment. Oh well, it is only a diaper shirt and Christian won't know the difference and Anna will not care. If I don't say anything maybe no one will notice, but I am suppose to be the professional here....

Imagine my surprise when I pressed the shoulder seams open and the stripes matched perfectly and on both sides!!! If there were "sewing fairies" involved, I would like to thank them right here and now.

Anna came over a few days later and I presented the shirt and said, "You aren't going to believe what happened!" She responded with, "Wow, you cut up one of Dad's shirts."

Let's set the record straight, I have not been cutting up his shirts. I just happen to like fabric that looks like the shirts that I pick out for him!

Michie'

A Visit From Nana

I absolutely couldn't stand it another minute, so I made a trip to Arizona to visit Emma. 9 months old! When did that happen? I went prepared with new clothes for Emma, my camera and a lot of baby hugs.

This trip was planned for a week of uninterrupted play and that is exactly what we did.

I am soooo thankful that she is such a friendly baby. She acted like that I am always there when she wakes up in the morning!

Not only did it give me a chance to play and take lots of pictures, I also re stuffed Daddy's old teddy bear. "Pacie Bear" has certainly seen better days, but he still has a whole lot of love left in him.

Michie'

Pattern #101 Photo Shoot

While Daniel was home for his visit, he helped me order a different lens for my camera. We had it express shipped, so he would have lots of time to show me how to use it. Here are some pictures from one of our lessons.

The gown is pattern #101, with Ellen McCarn's "Moo-Strology" smocking plate.

Christian started getting tired during our photo shoot, so we thought that this was the perfect daygown to end our photo shoot in.

Michie'

What I Did With My Summer Vacation Part 2

I've always thought that it would be really cool to go to the beach right after Martha Pullen School. As it worked out this year, not only did I get to go, but Daniel was home from South Korea for a visit and Tim joined us too. We were hoping this might just work, since Rex and Tim are not overly wild about the sun and sand and Daniel and I are. It helped that we had two cars, thanks to Tim.
And it worked!!! We paired off and did what we were interested in then got together for meals and games. Daniel and I spent a lot of time on the beach and had several photography lessons, while Rex and Tim, well I'm not sure what they did. But they seemed to have a good time doing it.

The best part of all was the dolphin sailboat cruise that we went on. We were all a little concerned about whether I would get sea sick, but I was determined to go and told the boys that if I did, just make sure to spin it into a funny story. I'm proud to say that I didn't get sick and we had some good laughs while the boys practiced yelling, "Mom overboard" before we left. I am not a strong swimmer so that might have come in handy. Rex and I laughed after we got home and were talking about the best beach vacation and realized how little we had done together. So all though it was a little strange, a good time was had by all and we are thrilled when adult kids care to spend a little time with us.

*Just for the record the scores to put-put golf mysteriously disappeared before it could be proved that I had won! Sounds like a conspiracy......

Michie'

What I Did With My Summer Vacation Part 1

What a wild and crazy summer this has been! I barely had time to recover from Anna and Christian's two week visit while daddy was out of town and suddenly it was time for Martha Pullen's School of Art and Fashion. Fortunately I was teaching the same classes that I taught in February so I pretty much showed up and had a wonderful time. For pre-day classes I taught embroidery, beginning smocking, and picture smocking. Then Thursday through Sunday, I taught the Smocking Construction School where the students learn to construct garments suitable for smocking.

I enjoyed working with my new assistant, Peggy, and loved having the opportunity to get to know her better. I had a class of 24 ladies from all over the country for the Construction School. We had a lot of fun and learned many new techniques.

I will have new classes and projects for the February school. I am looking forward to starting on the samples. Once they are finalized and approved I'll give a sneak peak to the projects.

Michie'

Bullion Dragonflies And A Little Color Inspiration

Where do I get color inspiration from? This time it came from my hydrangea bush! As I was watering it one day, and who knew that they needed that much water, I was reminded of how well purple and green go together.

This little shirt and shorts outfit were included in the box that I mailed to Emma several weeks ago. The fabric came from my stash and the shorts have no side seams, so they are super easy to make.

Instructions for the bullion stitched dragonflies can be found in the "Heirloom Embroidery Book."

Michie'

A Few Baby Questions Answered

After the last blog a faithful reader asked, "Is Christian a cloth diaper baby?" Yes he is. Not only that, he is a nursing baby, and has such sensitive skin that we call him our "nature baby." Right now Dreft is the only detergent he tolerates and he is even allergic to baby wipes! He gets his sensitive skin from Grand da Rex and his Mommy. After 34 years of marriage, Rex will still question if I have used fabric softener, because he is itching. If I haven't used it in 34 years why would I suddenly start now?

Yesterday, I met Anna and Christian for a little shopping. I guess it was because he had not seen me out shopping with them before, but the little stinker frowned at me the whole time like he didn't know who I was! I'll remember that little guy the next time you are wanting to take a nap with Nana......

Michie'

A White Bubble For Church

And who doesn't like white on a baby? And how can anyone resist a white bubble with blue piping? And doesn't he look perfect for church and isn't he the cutest thing ever!

This outfit was made by pattern #129 and is suitable for tiny tucks down the front. I have a few tricks for getting the tucks in straight that I will share in a future blog.

What is your favorite color for babies?

Michie'

Vintage Sewing For Emma

How is Emma doing? She is doing great and growing like crazy! Although she promised not to change and do new things before I had a chance to see her again, apparently she lied. Last time I saw this sweet baby she was 4 months old. What a difference 5 months makes! I am soooo glad that I will be traveling next week to see her.

This cute little outfit was in the "Nana box" that I sent a few weeks ago. The top features an elephant applique' from http://www.bunnycup.com/ and is trimmed with pink rick rack.

The pattern that I pulled from my stash is dated 1980. Since that was during my baby boy years, I think that a friend passed it my way in hopes that we would eventually have a girl. It would be 7 more years before Anna's arrival! I'm glad that I held onto this pattern because it is still cute 31 years later. That is when a pattern is truly a classic.

Michie'

A Daygown For The Boy

Christian's Daddy reluctantly allowed him to wear a daygown home from the hospital, whereas, our boys wore them until they were walking! I called them "night shirts" and they only wore them at home, so Rex was okay with that. Maybe we should just change the name.... But, no matter what Daddy thinks and he wasn't here, Christian loved modeling the daygown as you can see.

The daygown is made from Imperial Batiste and is piped with pale blue piping. The Shadow Embroidered bunny can be found in the "Heirloom Embroidery Book."

Michie'