All Because a Girl Loved a Boy...the tale of two gowns

I was struck by the two ends of a spectrum this weekend represented. Both brought about because a girl loved a boy. And he loved her back. I have seen so much evidence of that this weekend.

I had the thrill of seeing my daughter try on wedding gowns. I saw the tears come when she found the gown of her dreams. I felt my own throat tighten at how beautiful she was in that gown. (and no this is not THE gown)

I also had the thrill of seeing another gown, placed on this handsome baby boy. Today he was baptized into the family of faith in a gown just as beautiful. As my daughter said to me this morning, "Now it really is a family gown." The same gown his sister wore when she was baptized. It too brought tears of joy.

The tale of two gowns, each one because a girl loved a boy...

Making Dreams Come True

God is so good to me. Today I have the privilege of taking my baby girl, my youngest child, shopping for the dress of her dreams. How did we get here? Where have the years gone? How did she grow up when I wasn't looking? Where is the little girl who told me she could never be a mommy because she didn't know how to drive? The perfect question for a child whose formative years were spent in the car car-pooling her older siblings to and fro.

What happened to this little girl who was so excited for her "very special day"?

She has grown into this beautiful young woman who is very nervous this morning. And we will begin this journey that every mother dreams of and dreads all at once.

This is how I am feeling today, faithful reader....

Time to Get Started

You could practically sweep the dust bunnies out of here; it has been too quiet in this blog space. I know everyone is busy and life is crazy for many, but................. life around here feels like it is flying by at warp speed. I seem to say that a lot don't I? A friend and I often make snarky remarks about people who post the SAME THING on Facebook every.day.of.their.life! I seem to be of the same ilk, I complain about the busyness around here all the time it seems. Must get a handle on that. Or hush about it. Which ever comes first. I am stitching, I just don't have something to show for it yet.

So on to a new year. As promised, when I posted the kids Christmas outfits here, I will address the piped back yoke on Master Hank's romper.

Have you ever tripped in the parking lot in front of all your friends or co-workers? You quickly look around to see if anyone saw you and then try to nonchalantly stroll to the car. Never mind that your face is burning bright after you tried your Dick Van Dyke trick of tripping over your own feet. Well that is what this is all about.

As I had shared with you, I had reduced the number of smocked rows I used from the original smocking design. This caused a needed change in the depth of the front yoke. I don't know about you, but I stink at math! I am a visual person, so the math part stumps me every time. After much "cipherin" I altered the depth of the front yoke successfully. I KNEW that it meant I would have to change the depth of the back yokes as well. I lined them up several times before I cut it out. Several. I was positive I had it right this time.

WRONG! The back yoke was an inch and a half too short. It couldn't have been too long. That would have been too easy. Add to that, we are talking about $26 a yard fabric, two weeks before Christmas. This couldn't be scrapped and started over. Nor did I have enough fabric to re-do. We won't even discuss the fact that the collar was already on it when I discovered the glitch. I wasn't re-doing that either. What is that saying about necessity and invention? Well it came to my rescue.

I thought there has to be some way to add to this back yoke that would be acceptable. Finally after much swearing and fretting it came to me. Piping!

I decided to pipe the section I added to make it look intentional. And as the angels would have it, it was just the right width to put the button on to make it look like a little faux belt. Whew! Saved from myself.

Here is the inside of the yoke. I just cut a strip on the fold the width of the yoke bottom, piped both the top and bottom edges and then attached the romper bottom as usual.

I have to say, after all was said and done, I really like the way the back looks. It gives more visual interest to the back besides just the red buttons. I may do this again, on purpose this time.

Moral of the story: check your pieces before you try to sew them together and know that there is always a way out of almost every predicament.

2011-The Year in Review

Well faithful reader, it is that time again. Time to assess where you've been so you can see where you are going. This past year has flown by for me as I am sure it has for so many of you. There have been the highest of highs and some low, low, lows. All in all it has been a very good year. So this is what I have done this year:

As always, I say to myself time and time again; "I don't get enough done." I am not sure what the word "enough" is all about. I sure did a whole bunch more than I thought. Sure there are countless projects up in that sewing room that I didn't get to and they are waiting for me with a mocking sneer. At the same time I have more to show for the year than I anticipated. Why do we tend to focus on the negative space of accomplishments instead of the positive?

Here is the rundown:

• 23 pincushions
• 20 snip bags
• 7 Silk Ribbon Embroidered Pencil Holders
• 5 bishops
• 3 Children's Corner Lucy jumpers
• 3 Blouses
• 3 Rompers
• 3 Aprons
• 3 Chef hats
• 2 Daygowns
• 2 Slips
• 2 Wee Care gowns
• 1 Basic Yoke Dress
• 1 Smocked Full Bodice Dress
• 1 Embroidered Summer Dress
• 1 Christening Gown
• 1 Coming Home Gown
• 1 Overalls
• 1 Doll Dress
• 1 Jacket

For a total of 84 items. Not bad. In addition to that

• 1 Sewing School
• 1 SAGA Convention
• 2 Bathroom remodels
• 2 Chapter Programs
• 3 Tutorials
• 1 extra trip to Louisiana
• 3.5 kids of varying ages moving in
• Same kids moving out
• Birthday party of the decade
• 1 Family Portrait with grown children from all over (Try it and see if you don't consider it a big accomplishment)

and

• 1 design being published in Australian Smocking and Embroidery!!!!! Go me!

Once again it doesn't compare to the time spent with this Princess

and just as wonderful

welcoming baby brother right before Thanksgiving. What a gift to be thankful for.

So all of those hours snuggling, tickling, reading or sweet neck kisses from last year, are double this year. The most difficult thing has been finding time to take enough pictures. Thank goodness Oldest Auntie was home at Christmas and made up for my woeful lack of pictures. Even if I did develop a bad case of camera envy. I don't think a new camera will give me more hours in the day.

As if all of that wasn't enough....


He asked

and she said, "Yes!" Their excitement knocked my angel right off the top of the tree evidently.  Exciting day for all, Santa brought dollies, books and BLING! (Say a prayer for me because trust me, I live with George Banks!)

The coming year promises to be just as eventful as the last. My wish for you faithful reader, is that with each day of the new year, a blessing is realized.

Thirty Four Years

Happy Anniversary to my fabulous husband of thirty four years. To a wonderful husband, a great dad and now an awesome grandfather. Here is to thirty four more wonderful years together.

Hurry!

Is Santa chasing you? He is sure chasing me. No gifts are wrapped, groceries aren't bought, some shopping still needs to happen. As of last night, offspring have descended, so time is at even more of a premium.

There have been a few moments like these that make all the rushing around worth it. I hope your holiday preparations are coming together.

Be back soon, faithful reader. And bringing back an all time favorite to remind us all of the peace to had this wondrous season....

Do Not Be Afraid

In today's Gospel, the angel Gabriel appears to a young girl. A young girl engaged to be married. On the threshold of her life, she had it all planned out. Or so she thought. In her quiet solitude, an angel appears with news that would rock anyone to their core. Can you even imagine her confusion? Her fear? Fear of not only the unknown but the known. This was going to uproot all she had thought her life would be, what would her family say? How would she ever explain this to Joseph? Would he love her enough to trust her?  The angel tells her,

"Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favor."

After some consideration, she places her trust in God. Wow, I can't even imagine. I would have had a whole lot more questions!

Do not be afraid. It resonates within me. A very timely message for me, for us all. Set your fears aside as we wait for the coming of our Lord, at Christmas and at the end of time.

Do not be afraid.

A Tale of Santa

We decided to try the Santa thing again. Here is how it went.

 

First I met some new friends that were also waiting to meet Santa. They seemed to be much more excited than I.

 

The stage was set. There were lots and lots of other kids there. I was taking it all in; the music, the trees, the kids, the chair, that man.

I am not so sure. Our turn is next, I am getting a little nervous.

 

Nope, I don't like him! Did you know that Mommies go to see Santa too?

I would rather just go to lunch! I think Mommy agrees.

 

That new kid they brought to live at our house is a traitor if you ask me. Not one peep of protest from him. He even seemed to enjoy it.

 

I am pooped! This Christmas thing will wear a girl out. Has anyone seen my shoe? Rumor has it, I was snoring. I think they are mistaken, Princesses don't snore.

Prepare our hearts
and remove the sadness
that hinders us from feeling
the joy and hope
which his presence
will bestow.

Ho Ho Ho

Ho Ho Ho! Time for Christmas finery. Just in the nick of time, Breakfast with Santa was this morning. Princess and her baby brother were decked out and ready to go! Mommy and Mimi are a little ragged around the edges but they had a great time. For someone who has only been walking a week, Princess has turned into a modern day Road Runner. Good thing the dress is cute from the back, that is all we saw as she dashed here, there and everywhere!

There was one thing that stopped her dead in her tracks, that tall man in the red suit! I don't think it is possible for two little feet to be more firmly planted to the floor.

She was having none of it.

She may not have been willing to visit with Santa, but sitting in his chair with Mommy was okay. Master Hank didn't have much of an opinion.

On to the sewing! Both garments are made from Swiss flannel, love that stuff, trimmed with Susie's Ready to Smock red microcheck piping.The romper again is Chery Williams "Baby Bubbles" smocked with Ellen McCarn's "Candy-liscious". Since Master Hank is only a month old, I reduced the size of the insert by almost half. Much more in proportion for him. I pictured smocked the candy canes on his with three strands instead of four, that reduced the size of the candy canes. Then I squished (very technical term) the borders in close to the candy canes. I was happy with how the insert turned out.

The back view. We will address that faux belt another day. Ignore the fact that I took the picture before I stitched on the snap at the neck.

Like baby brother's, I reduced the depth of the original smocking design for the bishop as well. On a size 2 bishop, I did use four strands to picture smock, but repeated that "squishing" technique with the borders. As you can see above, it was the perfect depth. Normally I would have fretted about "bishopizing" (another technical term) the bottom border. For some reason, smockers have been led to believe that you HAVE to have use trellis and wave stitches at the bottom of a bishop design in order for it to drape properly. I took on the "They are not the boss of me!" attitude and decided to go against that philosophy. It worked great. You do have to smock more loosely along the bottom but it worked great.

I didn't get the slip made yet, have to do that in the next couple of days because "baby, it is cold outside!"

Onto the next projects after I clear a path in that tornado of a sewing room.

Parting Shot:
Just a kiss....