And The Winner Is...

First of all, I must say that I enjoyed reading every single entry about what you are sewing on!  How inspiring!  It is obvious that all of us have more ideas than time and it is a major victory if we are able to complete something.  And now it is time to announce the winners for the random drawing.

Carolyn's Sewing Room said...

I am finishing a smocked dress. The pattern is the Gwen view of the Bishop dress from Children's Corner and the smocking plate is the free pattern from Sew Beautiful this month. This dress is for my beautiful new granddaughter born on Thursday!

Shelley said...

My next project will be a jon-jon (1st try at your pattern #137) and some bubbles for my 10 mo. old baby boy! My first sewing project since his christening gown completed in Dec. 2011....


Both of you ladies need to email me at crmichie@aol.com.  I need your name, address, and which book or pattern that you would like for you free giveaway.  Congratulations!


Michie'

A Playsuit For Hot Summer Days

Speaking of hot summer days....I don't know how it is where you are, but we are suppose to hit the 100s this weekend!  So, it is appropriate that Emma is modeling a cool playsuit made by pattern #123.  The playsuit was inspired by a style from the 40s and 50s that I ran across several years ago.

This playsuit was the sample garment for one of my Martha Pullen School classes a couple of years ago.  The smocking design is from the "Beginning Smocking Book."  Simple geometric smocking is always a good choice.

Michie'

Free Giveaway!

Let's celebrate these hot summer days with a Free Giveaway!  There will be a random drawing from the comments left on this blog.  I want to know what you are sewing on right now or are getting ready to start.  Leave your comment and be sure to attach your name so that I can contact you if you are a winner!  I will draw two winners on July 30th who will receive a free pattern or book of their choice.


*There is a delay on the blog when you leave a comment, so don't be alarmed if your comment does not appear until the next day.


Best of luck!


Michie'

Adjusting The Playsuit

This sweet little playsuit made by pattern #123, is just right for our hot summer days, and has been waiting for someone special to come along who could wear it.  So, last week I retired it from the Trunk Show and promoted it to Emma's closet.  But first it needed an adjustment...

Yes, the ice cream cones are hand stitched using the Satin stitch.  The ice cream cone design and Satin stitch instructions can be found in the "Heirloom Embroidery Book."

Emma is a short little thing, so the playsuit was a little long waisted for her.  Once again, hanging onto scraps is a good thing and I was able to find a scrap just the right size for a new waist band.  It didn't take any time at all to take off the old waist band and cut a new one, which also needed to be slightly longer.  I then shortened the front and back bib fronts by 1" and attached the new waist band.  Total adjustment time was less than 2 hours.  Not bad for a wearable outfit for our little sweetie!  :)

Michie'

"Sailboats" Smocking Design

 Perfect for summer!  A Jon-Jon made by pattern #137 out of blue micro check gingham.  Wouldn't it be cute at the beach?

Click here for the free "Sailboats" smocking design!

Michie'

Sew Beautiful July/August 2012

Since I am having a hard time believing that June is half over, it was a bit of a surprise when the new issue of Sew Beautiful July/Aug arrived in the mail!  

The "Just For the Boys" article features three picture smocked Jon-Jons.  Yes, that is Christian.  He was 3 1/2 months old at the time of the photo shoot!

The magazine article gives you "Three tips for great picture smocking" along with the free smocking design for "Tiny Turtles."

The free smocking design for "Christian's Elephants" may be found on the blog on the side bar under "Free Smocking Designs."

The free smocking design for "Sailboats" will be available on Monday's blog.  :)

Michie'

Those Special Hugs

Not what anyone planned, but our sweet girl, her mommy, and daddy have been with us almost 3 months during the transition of moving from Arizona to Alabama.  And now the new house is ready and they will be moving tomorrow which fortunately is only minutes away.  I will miss hearing "Mommy? Nana?" first thing in the mornings, but I will be reclaiming my office and sewing room.  :)

We have loved watching her go from toddling to running and climbing and many other "firsts."  One we have especially enjoyed are the hugs she has begun to freely give at bedtime.  Sunday morning, she decided to give me an especially big hug as they were leaving for church.  My heart soared when she singled me out, ran into my arms and gave me a special hug.........until she ran into the kitchen and also gave the refrigerator a hug!

Michie'

A Pressing Subject....Wrinkles

First, I wanted to give you a peek at my latest fabric purchases.  Not to ever let a road trip go to waste, I worked it out so that on the way home from Rex's doctor's appointment in Nashville, we were able to stop at Textile Fabrics and Children's Corner.  You can see that I am a sucker for seersucker, my all time favorite summer fabric.  Not having a clue what I will be making, and since most were 60" wide, I bought 1 yard of each.  I am hoping to start my planning soon and will keep you posted as the projects progress.  *Rex picked out the peach floral for Emma. :)

I am often asked about fabric choices when it comes to wrinkles.  Anything that is 100% cotton will wrinkle.  You must embrace this ahead of time before committing to the fabric and decide you are okay with it!  I use Mary Ellen's Best Press instead of starch when ironing.  It does nicely while not leaving a residue build up on the iron.  But, even though the garment looks great after being freshly ironed it is still going to wrinkle in the car seat on the way to church! 

When I don't want wrinkles, which the girls often request, I use the cotton polyester blends.  For these I always use Imperial Broadcloth or Imperial Batiste.  Both of these are 65% cotton and 35% polyester with the difference being that the Broadcloth is slightly heavier.  It is important that the word "Imperial" is attached to the Broadcloth or Batiste name on the bolt of fabric.  It is higher quality and pleats nicely with no risk to your pleater.

While on the trip I had a "first" I was not introduced as Michie', but as Emma and Christian's Nana!  

Michie' 

Emma's Favorite Sundress

Just so happens that Emma's favorite sundress is by the same pattern as Christian's favorite sunsuit! It is really funny to see the babies show up for a visit in almost matching outfits! The dress is made from white Imperial Broadcloth and pink striped seersucker.  The yoke has a Shadow embroidered ice cream cone and is edged with piping and eyelet lace.

If you need larger than a 24 month size,  pattern #121 has the larger sizes for the dress.

* I am now one week away from my sewing room to becoming all mine again!  I'm sure that after almost 3 months Emma is looking forward to getting her own room in her new house and her crib back.  So hang in here with me.  I will be having a free give-a-way, and be adding a lot of tutorials and new sewing tricks to the blog.

Michie'

Christian's Favorite Sunsuit

Our summer came early this year, so I imagine that many of us are scrambling to get something cool and quick made for the kids.  According to Anna, this is Christian's favorite sunsuit.  It is made from light weight pima cotton using pattern #120. Click here for a tutorial for attaching the yoke.

Christian likes the yoke since it doesn't slip off of his shoulders like straps tend to do.

The leg openings are cool and breezy for hot sweaty days.

And it is Shadow embroidered with really neat sailboat.

Although the sunsuit is great for the walking running guy on the go, this photo shows how cute it was when he was still just a "creeper!"

Michie'