Altered Mud-Pie Burlap Stockings

I purchased these three burlap Mud-Pie stockings at a boutique in town, 

Surprise Me! for my sister-in-law. 

She has a touch of robin egg blue in her house that I wanted to add to the stockings.

I found this YouTube link that taught me how to make satin ribbon rosettes

Here are the results!

New Retro Circle Monogram Font

A new font addition that has already been applied to 2 hoodies!

For the Bridal Trousseau

A client asked for monogrammed underwear and I was a bit skeptical. But how lovely!
What an idea for a bride.

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Erica and her family will enjoy these embroidered Pottery Barn stockings for many years to come. They are stitched with a deep red thread in Fontleroy font. She is such a planner - she bout an extra just in case they have a second child!

A Contemporary Frame

"Contemporary Frame" 
applied to a market tote.

What a great wedding gift!

Celebrate Your Family

New from FullerWorks, a quality 20" x 20"down pillow adorned with embroidery that celebrates the date a family is established. The cover has a zipper at the base.

THINGS FOR SBB

Thanks SBB for this great order!

ANOTHER REDUX

Recycling childrens' clothing is definitely a great way to save money, as well as method of reusing precious outfits older siblings or cousins wore. There are  fabulous consignment stores like Gigi's Consignment on Main Street in Belmont, or the always fabulous Junior League WearHouse on Pecan in Charlotte. Also look for community sales at churches. 

Don't shy away from a great, quality garment just because it is already monogrammed. It is fairly easy and inexpensive to "cover up" an old embroidery. See my pictures below to view a example. My friend brought an adorable outfit for her granddaughter, Preston. We decided to cover with a Sophia frame and top it off with an Empire Monogram. 

I think the "after" looks far better than the "before." Do you agree?

Alto - Improving the Sewing Machine

This is the most amazing thing. Consider that the sewing machine could be improved to be more simplistic. Most newer sewing machines include more stitches than you could ever use and repeat some design flaws year after year. I just never pondered the subject.

Enter the James Dyson Awards. The award is an international student design award that draws from the next generation on design engineers  And if the name is familiar, yes, this is of the famous Dyson vacuums. The entrants are to "design something that solves a problem." First, the problem must therefore be identified. I stumbled onto this story on a blog I subscribe to; my curiosity was peaked.

This year's top 50 projects will be chosen September 20th- a visit to JamesDysonAward website shows that some of the over 500 projects submitted include the Alto, a genetically engineered bread yeast and a prosthetic socket. 

    

How I would love to be someone who gets to test drive this invention.

  

Smooth Sailing

This adorable smocked outfit is a Ready to Smock Button Front Day Gown from Martha Pullen's Ready to Smock collection. The smocked design is Smooth Sailing by Mollie Jane Taylor. Just precious on a newborn!

The dress sells for $28.00 and the smocking plate is just $3.00.

A Muslin of IRIS

IRIS Pattern

As I have mentioned before, I like the website Colette. I have ordered several patterns from this site, but have not gotten around to sewing them. Today it has poured all day and I decided to make a muslin of the IRIS shorts pattern for my oldest daughter, a senior in college. For more about the value of making a muslin,
click here.

This is the fabric I used for the muslin - a very loose weave cotton which was on sale at Walmart for $.99/yard. Perfect.

Here is the "finished" product - no hem and no zipper on the side - just enough to check the size.

Oh great... it is very snug on my daughter. 

Good thing I made a muslin!

Bottery Parn Font

Smocked with Ribbons

This exquisite dress is a Ready To Smock purchase from Martha Pullen's Ready To Smock . The cost is not too bad at $28.00. The ribbonweaving smocking plate is Party Ribbons by Little Stitches and the cost is $3.00. Smocking is really not difficult to learn - I actually taught myself. So for not much money, you can create these lovely heirloom dresses for your loved ones. The only other expense is the embroidery thread and ribbons.

A side note, the developer of Little Stitches designs is Mary Siegel of Atlanta, Georgia. She is someone who has been able to apply her skills to help others. Click here to read an inspiring article about her 30 year love of smocking and her involvement with premature babies in the Atlanta area.

     

IKEA and Sewing

Did you know that IKEA sells a sewing machine? It is a basic sewing machine (named Sy) for $69.99. It comes with 13 stitches, both a zipper and buttonhole foot. I have researched reviews and have some links posted below... all in all, it is a good purchase for a beginner.


sewreview.com
patternreview.
cocosloft.blogspot.com

In addition to a machine and several basic sewimg tools. IKEA sells great fabrics. Their prices range from $4.99 to $9.99 per yard. The colors are vibrant; the fabric is 100% cotton and is 59" wide.

The next time you are at IKEA, check out the fabric department and if you decide to make a purchase, don't leave without grabbing some thread to complete your project!

Scented Linen Spray

Click Here for SNIPPETS link

  

I follow a blog called Coletterie and on that blog you will find a great little trick to subscribe to - Snippets.
Snippets is a weekly sewing tip that is emailed directly to you. I absolutely love this. So, the tip this week is from Emily S. and the subject is LINEN SPRAY. Emily suggests that one use this instead of water in the iron. Her tip is "I use linen spray instead of water in my iron for steam. Not only does it do the same job, but it doesn't get stale and it always smells fresh." What a great idea!! So, I promptly linked to Emily S.'s blog, lemony fresh. I just love to find blogs about sewing.

Then I start thinking - how does one make their own linen spray? After an entry in google, here is a great link to answer that question...Make Your Own Scented Linen Spray on the onegoodthingbyjillee blog. Who knew vodka would be involved?

So, I am going to try this experiment..the making of linen spray and then using it in my iron. My old iron first.
In the meantime I have increased my blog reads by 2 with this little Snippet email.
I'll keep you posted....

Scalloped Whale Applique

Soccer Anyone?

Both of these designs were applied to soccer bags. 

The font is FLAIR and the soccer ball is an embroidered design.

Great Way to Dress Up a Strapless Seersucker Sundress

Navy EMPIRE font on orange seersucker.

Round Monogram

New Font - Master Circle

Love those Fantasy Isle Girls at Holden Beach!!!

Fantasy Isle Ice Cream and Mini Golf at Holden Beach

Sydney Monogram

Too Cute Mermaid

What a great addition to a plain white tee-shirt!
Click here to view on etsy.com

Bratton In His Outfit

Couldn't you just eat him with a spoon?

Prop Plane JonJon

My third creation is another reversible JonJon size 9 months with

a prop plane appliqued on royal blue twill and the child's monogram on the corduroy side.

The outfit has two sets of fabric covered buttons and

I also made a matching white bib to catch those drools.

Ohio State Jon Jon

This is the second JonJon I made this week.

It is reversible - one side is dark grey corduroy with Ohio State embroidered on it;

the other side is a burgandy/grey check embroidered

with the child's first initial and name on top of that.

It sports one set of  plastic buttons and one set of covered buttons.

It also has snaps in the crotch for easy diaper changes.

The outfit is polished off with a white bib embroidered in coordinating colors and the same font.

Truckin' for Surfin' Jon Jon

This is the Johnny pattern from Childrens Corner.

It is sewn in turquoise pinwale corduroy and turquoise gingham.

Changes to the pattern include making the garmet reversible and

using one button per shoulder instead of the recommended two.

This particular version is 9 months and is embellished on each side.

A coordinating bib will protect the chest during feedings!

All fabrics should be laundered prior to cutting.

Here is a link to a fabulous video series explaining how to accomplish this!

Couturiermommy.com

For the Children

FPC Weekday School

Curious about a Monkey Named George

This adorable shirt is on its way to little Caroline who loves Curious George!

My Favorite Store - Mary Jo's

I recently made a large shopping trip to the best assemblage of sewing supplies an fabric I have ever seen...Mary Jo's in Gastonia, N.C. This store has been around as long as I can remember...my mother used to drag me with her when it was in Dallas, N.C. Even as a child, I loved to touch every bolt I passed. I never realized how lucky we were to have fabric outlets located all over ... I miss them now. Mary Jo told me years ago that she would no longer be able to secure Dotted Swiss fabric due to OSHA regulations.

Anyway, I purchased many pieces of fabric in preparation for my appliqued tee shirts. Here are some photos..

Off to Disney in Style!

"E" and "H" leave Thursday for Walt Disney World in Florida.

I hope they enjoy their new tee shirts!

These shirts are new products for FullerWorks.

MONAG interlock cotton long sleeve or short sleeve tee shirts are now available for embroidery-

applique, monograms, etc.

They are listed on http://www.fullerworks.etsy.com/.

Here is the entire Disney Font, also something new to FullerWorks:

Rollup Playmat

This playmat is made from a CHOO CHOO YOU panel by Richard Neuman.

I bought the panel at my local Bernina store,

lined it with black flannel, and "quilted" the road on the sewing machine.

This is perfect for grandparents' houses, trips,

or for the child who doesn't live in a MacMansion and have a playroom!