Painting

I bought a plastic knife set from Walmart and this was my first attempt at palette knife painting.
Regretably, I haven't had any formal artistic training in painting. The public school I went to had art classes but we were only allowed one elective. I chose chorus and drama and only one year of art. In that class we never went over any techniques for painting. About 10 years ago, I picked up some cheap acrylic paints and just started painting. I painted a picture of Berkley Plantation in Virginia. Which is actually the sight of the first Thanksgiving in 1619. The long winding dirt road that leads to the grand entrance is beautiful and feels like traveling back in time. Berkley is the home of Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.


I lived in Suffolk, Va and I used to take a drive to the ferry in Surry, VA to Williamsburg. Then, I would drive route 5 to visit the plantations. My favorite plantation was Westover, William Byrd's estate. After reading his diaries that provide insight into the daily life of a colonial plantion owner in Virginia, I would sit under the trees along the James River and I could actually picture the people who lived there. There was a church on the property that Maria Byrd had dismantled and moved up river because there was too much partying after church on the property. That story made me smile.

Westover Plantation in acrylics
I think I improved from the first painting to this one.

The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia


Anyone ever tried painting with acrylics? watercolors? any insight? advice?

Making a Corset

I love this book by Susan Khale and Claire Shaeffer. Actually, any book by Claire Shaeffer is a favorite of mine. What a wealth of knowledge she has packed into her books. I highly recommend any of her books. Another one is below, "Couture Sewing Techniques". I have even taken this book with me while I soak in the tub.

And, I must say, I am a fan of Project Runway. I just wish I could see more of their sewing techniques. I like to watch the construction of the garments. I have a formal occasion to go to and I had this antique reproduction pattern that I purchased about a year ago. I can't find the pattern now, but it is a Simplicity pattern, I think. I made a muslin. The fabric is not very expensive. Its a faux silk outiside and broadcloth interlining and then duck cloth on the inside. After basting by hand and sewing the peices together by machine, I have been spending hours handsewing the raw edges under. I do need to make a modesty peice so that my skin isn't showing under the lacing. I want to use a different fabric, I think. I am thinking about covering the corset with machine embroidery, lace, and beads. I will make a skirt to wear with it. Just need to surf the net for some lace.

This is time consuming. I hope it turns out to be great.

My daily activity is full of breakfast, lunch, and dinner making. Although, I did make a huge pot of chicken and dumplings to eat off of for a week. I had to break down last night and eat steak with a red onion sherry sauce and horseradish on the side, sweet baked potato, and a salad with artichokes. This morning the pancakes I made were so filling I couldnt finish them. I used a quick biscuit mix instead of making them from scratch with buttermilk. Now its time to think about lunch and then back to stitching.

Christening Gown (smocked & embroidered)

slip with scallop edge stitch done on my Bernina





Shadow Embroidery on the bottom

lace and tucks created with crochet thread and a special grooved foot for pleats

hand embroidery on the bodice and the hemline

tiny seed beads sewn throughout

Australian Smocking Magazine had this gown feautured on the front cover of one of their issues. I fell in love with it. The materials were about $200. It was tedious, but loving work. Something that I hope she can look at later and see how much effort I put into this garment for her. A tangible object that when she touches the places I embroidered with my hands she will hopefully think about the hopes I have for her life.

I have been working on a pink fur coat and hat that has taken some time and design effort. In between I have baked pumpkin cheesecake muffins & shepherds's pie. Running back and forth to preschool and dance lessons has cut into my creative time.

An idea for an advent calendar of some sort is being drafted in my head. Hopefully, I will be able to actually produce it. My sewing area looks like a small animal was run over in there. pink fur rolls all over the floor. Faux fur is a mess to work with. My clothes were covered in hair. Not a great idea when you're wearing black pants. Knocking over a container of beads that were organized was a frustration. Luckily, my daughter decided to help me organize them again. It gave her something to do. She loves going through the buttons and ribbons.

Yesterday I cut dress shapes out of that foam stuff and she colored them with markers. I tried to show her how to sew with felt but she isn't ready for that yet.

There is never enough time in the day for me to do all I have planned for the day. Its a shame I require sleep.

Strawberry Shortcake Smocked Bishop Gown

smocking design is by Ellen McCarn

Two 1/2" tucks above the ruffle hem. I thought maybe I will take these out as she grows.


I hand crocheted an edging to match the angel sleeves

This dress was made a couple of years ago. It is still her favorite dress. The large ruffle hem at the bottom gives it a major twirl factor. She happens to adore Strawberry shortcake and she has the doll. The fabric, voile, in a pale yellow with strawberries, I found at Hancocks on clearance at the end of summer. Its very thin, and easy to see through.

Problem: the crochet thread ended up bleeding onto the fabric after a washing. I was not happy about that, needless to say. I recommend Ellen McCarn's beginner smocking booklet. I have one that belonged to my mother. After my initial smocking lesson, I referred back to it from time to time. I also am a "Sew Beautiful" magazine fan.

Hope you are inspired...

Fall Corduroy Skirt and Blouse

Back of the blouse. I used an older pattern about 2 years old. McCalls 5693.

Front of blouse. The fabric is a good quality batiste. Elastic gathers in the front and back.

Welted button holes. I made purple piping out of some scrap corduroy, so I decided welted button holes would be a good fit.


Back of the skirt. An Amy Liz original design. gathered with elastic in the back.

The front kind of has a German feel to it. The plaid reminds me of Celtic dress. The buttons are celtic knots. It was time consuming making the piping and button holes. She wears white tights with orange pumpkins on them. I have scraps of corduroy leftover from other projects I have made in the past. I am debating making something with them. Not sure what I would make.

I really do like the look of welted buttonholes. They add a quality to the garment that looks well made.

When I was a child, my mother used to say, "I am not buying that, I could make it, quickly". She never did make the item I was looking at but I get that she was noticing the quality and the price didn't match in her opinion.

On the other hand, I have seen garments priced so cheap sometimes that I purchase them because I know I could not make it for that low price.

Ignorance really is bliss. It makes shopping a little more challenging in some ways. Except the fabric store. It is a destination that I could stay in for hours on end. I mean, I could hire a babysitter just for the express purpose of hanging out in the fabric store. Meandering through the decorator fabrics, imagining curtains, upholstery, etc... Then, onto the pattern books and every kind of sewing, crochet, craft book on the shelves. Seriously, I have been so much that the staff knows my kid. They comment on how much she has grown. We have holiday greetings and smiles when I walk through the door.

The button wall holds me mesmorized. Tiny little plastic replicas of toys, flowers, trucks, fruit, and beautiful vintage reproductions...I just have to stand there and stare. The notion section, well, I adore anything that makes producing a project easier.

I am not a prolific quilter. I have made 2 quilts. They were crib quilts. Maybe I should post those if anyone is interested. Quilting is not an activity that holds my undivided attention. I sure admire anyone who has the dedication to create such a time consuming project.

Tulle and a Rose Girls Tunic

We love the Fancy Nancy books. She has a fantastic vocabulary already for 4, but reading really has added to it. Pretty much if it doesn't have sparkles or some show stopping appeal to it, my daughter won't wear it. She changes shoes several times a day. Sneakers have to have sparkle also.

In my adventures with knit fabric I am discovering its limits. After construction and washing, I look to see how well it holds up. She loves the tutu aspect of the skirt. The rick rack at the top I had leftover from a vacation bible school project years ago. I save lots of scraps like that. I experimented with the "lettuce leaf" edging with varigated serger thread, which I love. This was an original design, also. The knitwear rose was pretty easy, but sewn by hand. Sparkly seed beads added the final touch. It has held up to washing pretty well and is roomier than the tea time dress I featured yesterday.

There are some things I would like to change on the design if I make it again. I have been skimming over Don McCunn's book, " How to make sewing patterns". It is a great resource. Also, "Sewing with knits" by Connie Long. That book is fantastic. Great pictures, graphic illustrations of techniques, and a great source of tips and ideas. The beginning explains the different types of knits. Some of the knits fearured on ballerinas are so beautiful. It's a Taunton Press book and I love their sewing books. I will be doing a give away soon.... some books, I think.

Knitwear Tea Party Outfit

Knit is a wonderful, soft, easy care fabric. You don't need a serger to sew with knit. Although, I did use mine. I grabbed a small amount of a couple of cotton prints and designed an outfit without a commercial pattern. The knit I purchased was $12.99 a yard at Hancocks and I was informed it rarely ever goes on sale. There is a small percentage of spandex in this knit. I have skimmed over several pattern making books recently. I took measurements and set about coming up with a unique design. I am not thrilled with the leggings. they were too tight and I had to add extra fabric on the sides. Freezer paper appliques, glitter fabric paint, and hot fix crystals added some glitz to this girly outfit. Hot fix crystals are super easy but a little pricey in my opinion.

Lately I have been reading on serging techniques. I purchased a pile of books from a woman emptying her mother's sewing room. What a treasury of knowledge I bought for $50! She was really happy to see her mother's books in the hands of another sewing enthusiast.