Unusual Valance

I made a valance for my dining room, I ended up switching the curtain to the front "parlor" which meant I had to cut it in half and add 5" to each side. The fabrics were remnants on the decorator fabric table at Hancock's. The print was Asian, so I decide to create a shape that matched the print. I put a penny in the corners for a weight to hold the curtains shape better. I put tassels on fabric covered buttons for a little added decoration. I hand sewed the lining to the curtain, (not fun).
It was a fairly cheap project and sure beats the department store price. For the most part I'd say that it is more economical to sew decorative items. Not always, though. My best friend is a fan of hot glue. That girl can take rubber bands and fabrics and make a terrific valance. Thank God for creativity, you need some when you don't have an abundance of money.

Pillow case dress

A pillow case dress of course is nothing new. Folded, unused sat two antique pillow cases that I made into dresses. I encased the front and back in elastic. I made bias tape with the pieces cut off of one end of the pillow case. It was very easy. Since I had two, I also made one for my niece, Leia.

By the way, there are some really beautiful antique pillow cases on ebay. I love that they were trimmed in crochet and hand embroidered. What a lovely way to recycle someone else's hard work. I wonder who the person was who made these pillow cases and what she would think of this dress.

I have always loved wandering through antique shops and thinking about who owned a certain item and what their life was like. Some beds so grand with gorgeous linen bedding, I wonder what the estates were like. Beautiful handkerchiefs in the hands of young or old and did they cry into them or were they used as a southern lady's statement of class. Golden perfume bottles etched with flowers sitting upon a mirrored dresser, on whose neck did the traces of scent fall? Was their no family who desired the possessions or was it too "old-fashioned" for their taste? Funny how the eye of one person catches an item that becomes an object of desire and anothers eye passes quickly by noticing nothing.

Wall Mural

I have been super busy. I haven't had time to sew the past few weeks. So I thought I'd post a picture of a mural I painted at my house in Suffolk, Virginia. I fell in love with the wisteria that laid so beautifully on the trees in Spring. Their smell can be overwhelming, but the colors are absolutely stunning. I love lavender anyway.

I had been dreaming of some beautiful southern estate on the water where two people share a magnificent view of the sun sparkling across the water. Two lovers share a warm evening together. Pushing her in the swing that is under the willow, she bites her bottom lip. He slides his hands around her waist and kisses her on the cheek. The ducks and ducklings waddling around the lake edge, draw the eye to the blooming daffodils. Warm light, and music calls from the inside the home. Food, laughter, and dancing creates an atmosphere of familiarity. Crickets are busy sending their evening message. Two girls are running across the bridge chasing the neighbors dog. AHHHH, the imagination is a spectacular place to live.

Pincushion

Love those fancy pincushions on the net. I made this one with a crochet trim I was working on. I found these little blue buckets at Michaels. There's room under the pincushion to store some snips, thread, wax, my mini bottle cap pincushion, etc. When I was in New Bern, NC I found some long glass head straight pins. (glass heads don't melt under an iron)

Check out these felt pincushions here. If you have a beautiful pincushion you've made, send me a pic, I'd love to see it.

I am still working on the microcheck dress. Concentrating on embroidery is intense but relaxing at the same time. There's just nothing like being climbed on, hair pulled, and trying to maintain a decent stitch while my toddler jumps on the bed I'm sitting on. She even managed to grab a hold of the organdy collar last night along with my mini pin cushion and stuck pins in the collar. I was stricken with horror, thinking she had snagged the organdy. Thankfully, it was fine. I'll post the collar when it's done.

Simple Blouse

Very Easy Vogue, 8392

Extremely easy blouse, except for the french seams ( not necessary). Last fall, I purchased some fabric that was left over from the summer. It was very cheap. I liked that it was partly sheer. I whipped this up quick, too quick. I have 3 colors. I really like the ruffle sleeves, just don't know what I would look like in it? Chiquita Banana? I adore romantic blouses sewn with laces and embroidery. One day, I will make the time to make a romantic blouse for myself. Maybe soon.

I have plenty of fabric left and I may make Eliana a "fairy" play skirt. She keeps asking me for a "tinkerbell" outfit.

Smocked Bubble in Varigated DMC Thread

Taking care of a sick child today. Since I don't have anything ready that's current to post, I thought I'd post her coming home from the hospital pic. I crocheted this blanket and smocked bubble for her. The thread for the bubble was a DMC thread that was varigated in lavender. The dark to light of the thread added another dimension to the basic smocking stitches. I had crocheted baby booties but her feet were too tiny for them. The pattern for the bubble is a Children's Corner pattern. After she was born, it took me months before she would give me enough time to sew anything again.

Tea Pot Jacket

Vintage 80's pattern jacket, butterick 6806

I enjoyed screen printing. I will do it again. I added

little rhinestones to the jacket. I don't think I really

liked the effect of serging all of the edges and then

zig-zagging it together. She really likes it, she says she

is going to have tea with the Mad Hatter.

I am still embroidering a collar for her microcheck

dress.

I am not happy with a few stitches and may have to

pull some out.

I tried to embroider while talking during

ballet class. That didn't work too well. I have to

concentrate.

I have learned a few things about my serger.

When a thread breaks in the loopers, you have to

pull the needle threads out of the switch plate and

to the back , behind the foot. If anyone has any

tips on serging, please send me an email, or

comment.