Smocked Padded Hanger

Our smocking group chose the padded hanger as it's group project this month.  Part of the decision, was to show smockers there are several projects they can do long after they have finished smocking dresses.

 I wish I had a better picture of the fabric, it has cute little clothes on it.  Perfect for Zoe.

Materials Needed:

9"x45" piece of fabric.  I used a fat quarter and just cut it in half and sewed the pieces together.
Floss:  Colors of your choosing
Lace: For finishing the bottom
Sewing thread:
Satin ribbon:
Padded Hanger--They are so easy to find, why pad your own?

Directions:
1:  You can hem the long sides now or wait to do it later. I do not like to hem before putting through my pleater, but, it's your choice.

2: Mark the center of the fabric. Run 13 rows of pleating threads, 6.rows one  each side. 
I pleat 13, then remove the center thread, leaving 6 on each side for design.

3.Tie off piece to 10-1/2"

Piece after pleating.

I did a very simple smocking design:

You can get as elaborate as you like, or simple. It is your creation.

When I assembled mine.  I marked the center, where the hanger would go, by measuring the hanger and then my smocked piece.  I did a small machine button hole, but you could just do a hole and secure it with fraycheck.  It is not going to get any wear at all.

I had an already padded hanger from the dollar store.

Once I had the button hole made, I sewed the ends together, using a french seam.  Slipped it over the hanger and secured the bottom by slip stitching the pieces together. 

The secret is out

This project was such a first for me. It all started when our quilt shop wanted to do their first  mystery quilt challenge.  

I had no idea what a mystery quilt even was. I do not think my friend Louise knew what it was either but she was excited for us to join.
Join we did, and for weeks we would get little clues.  We would then cut and bag pieces of fabric.  The only one thing I did know, was,   the colors would be red, white and blue.  The other thing I knew is,  how ever this quilt turned out it would go to my granddaughter and her hubby who is in the military.
With out to much more chatter here it is.

A first for using a quilter or as I call them a long arm person.  Didn't she do a beautiful job?

I didn't want to say much about this project, as I wanted it to be a surprise.  The quilt is now in it's new home.

Birth of a forest fire

I can not tell you how many times  have seen a puff of smoke like this.  It almost looks like a puffy cloud, doesn't it?

 The puffy cloud just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

 That is how quickly these fires start and spread.  This was the Entiat that is still not 100% contained.

Whimsie -Have to have it.

Remember this?  http://everythingsewingnet.blogspot.com/

 Store sample 
here.




















My version is here!

Plus I was able to hire a couple of chefs to help me in the kitchen.  Not sure how much help they will be they love to hang on the topper.

Being a good shopper I also spotted these plates.  This is the dessert size.  There is also a luncheon size plate and oh yes, cups. Not finished yet--canisters!  I can see just where this is going.   

Paradise--We have a problem

I love, love living here but there are times that things do not go to well.   Like this week-end when the hill by our house went up in a blaze.

 The roof top is the house across the street.

 We have a great department for handling these fires.

No homes were lost, thanks to the work of the fire crew.  Crews remain doing  clean up but people are allowed to go back to their homes.  It looks at this point it may have been illegal fireworks but then people were also shooting in that area.  

Happy Fouth of July from paradise

I wish you all a Happy and safe 4th of July.  We have rediscovered the joy of hiking in our wonderful paradise, what a beautiful country God has graced us with.

Love

Great place for the kids.

 The roar of the water.

 The falls quiet for a bit, before their next deep fall.

 From the mountains to the desert, all right in my back yard. We can truly say America the beautiful.

Summer reading

Once upon a time, many years ago, I was a student.  As a student, our English teacher  thought when school dismissed for summer, that reading would be a good idea.  To some students she would assign books, others were left up to chose on their own.
That set in motion a life time habit of loving to read especially in the summer.
Summer reading means finding a shady spot and losing yourself for hours in the pages of times gone by.  

I happen to love OLD BOOKS, the older the 
 better. I was thrilled to find this book tucked away with some of our families old treasures.

 An inscription on the inside makes it a bit of a mystery.  Were these family friends? Were they family members?   I know my father was born in Chadron, Nebraska.  The date the book was gifted May 26th 1896.

Look at that price.  I am also looking at the beautiful hand writing.

 The pages are now yellowed and crisp and must be handled with great care.  Oh, How I love reading the pages, as they share so much history.



 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._D._E._N._Southworth
http://www.streetsofwashington.com/2012/01/prolific-mrs-eden-southworth-and-her.html


More about the author

Her home. I am just fascinated by this woman and feel so lucky to have one of her books.  I might need to collect more.