I really do sew

Even if all I got done was half of the costume I feel it's something. I did not get the cape done but can do it later and mail it off. I hope to get pictures back of her wearing her dress. It one of those "I hope it fits". The pattern is Simplicity 2817, the fabric is broadcloth so it can be washed.

Roberta's Pumpkins

I think these are so cute. I hope I can make some for next halloween, it would be fun to have a little tree of them for a table setting. There are so many cute things you can make using smocking.

The Christmas ornaments were for the raffle, can you imagine what fun it would be to collect smocked ornaments and have a little tree just for them? Maybe I will put that on my to do list.

Apple Valley Smockers

I am a member of the Apple Valley smockers. Each year we are invited by the quilters, to have booth at the quilt show. They have been doing this for 25 years. It has really grown through the years and just keeps getting bigger and better each year.

We make a few items through the year to raffle off, this is our groups only fund raiser. We make doll clothes for the AG doll and also Chritmas ornaments . It is always fun to see the little girls get excited when they see all the doll clothes.

Update on sis

I have been asked by many for an update on my sister. I find writing about her both therapeutic and at the same time a hard thing to do. I don't want to come to grips with the fact that she is slowly slipping away. She still tries to have her wonderful sense of humor and helps us all find little thing to laugh about.

Sometimes I think if I could only have a good cry, then things would feel better. I am very happy that we got to bring her home. She has a room with huge windows that over look the back yard. she can see the birds, flowers and trees and the little fountain.

I will share the picture that I love so much because it is peaceful. There is nothing as wonderful to me as to watch the sun set over the river. It always has such a quietness to it, bringing all the hectic part of the day to an end. The time of day when you can just relax and let night come so softly.

Another great creation

This outfit was sewn by my friend Jerry. She does the most amazing designs and really is an expert at mixing fabrics. She call this "cute little witch top". I love the embroidery on the jeans and you might also notice how she did the ruffle.

This is the third year in a row we have used this print for a Halloween outfit; but the last two years the print was on an ivory background. My daughter found this fabric on her recent trip to NYC. Then she scouted out the embroidery sites and found an applique designed to match the "Cute Little Witch" in the print from http://www.divadoodles.com . I tried to match the applique fabrics as closely as I could to the print which left off any touches of the teal of the background of the print. We will pretend the jeans will represent that color. I actually had an orange tee, but failed to put either that one or a white one under the top for pictures...sorry!

Karens skirts

My friends are still sewing up a storm, so I will share a great inspiration from Karen. The skirts, tops and headbands were made for her granddaughters. When she sent me the pictures she said I could pick one, little does she know I am going to share more then one. The girls are just to darling in their skirts, so how do you pick just one??

Karen sewed these skirts using strip's from Michael Millers fabric call Children: I will let Karen explain:

It was such cute fabric. And a BIG THANK YOU to Nonie for posting this for me. I'm so sorry that I have to have her do it.This is "Michael Miller's" called "Children". The polk-a-dot on the top was a seperate bolt, but the rest was just cut from the "Children" fabric. It has a third (stripe?) panel across the fabric which was boy's silhouettes, didn't use that. Being pink/brown, don't know how you'd use it for a boy. I tried to find a picture of this fabric to show you gals, it was in Oregon. I fell in love with it, and bought 2 yards. Just enough to make the two skirts. The color is wrong here, it's the regular brown/pink like the polk-a-dotsThe pattern was from an old Ottobre. It's just the center section, top yoke, and skirt. I pieced justthe bottom row from some of the fabric to get the combinations.KarenThe fabric:http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/MMF%20...%20&Kwds=pink

What a great idea, thank you Karen for sharing.

The Butterfly by Betty

Since spring is right around the corner. I thought maybe you need a reminder to add sometime fun when sewing for little people.

I know you will want to add this little butterfly to your own design: So here are Betty's instructions.

A: Top, middle and bottom shows drawing on transfer paper, paper ironed on the back, peel paper off and iron on the lining.

B: Tiny zig zag in matching color on the very edge of the wings, cover body in a darker thread covering it solid. Use fray check or fray block around the edges, let dry well.

Second picture shows cutting away the extra fabric. Bottom picture shows completed butterfly.

C: Attach butterfly by straight stitching around the edges of the body only: Either embroider black "feelers", use a thin script perm marker or heavy carpet thread with a knot on each end and tack in place.

Bend the wongs up and curve.

The same idea can be used for flowers, ect.