Simple Sewing for Shelby...

  Usually in between making Shelby a special "Mimi" outfit (to be posted at a later date), I like to do a few things that are simple and fast. 
 I found some cute stretch pants at WM for $2.00 a pair. I should have gotten more at the time because she can wear these to daycare, but I didn't, and I lost.
 I made a little peasant style top to go with the hot pink glittery pair and monogrammed her initial on it. It always takes me longer to decide what to do than it does to actually do it. The top came from the pattern "Sweet Innocence" by www.mytreasuredheirlooms.com. I got a free pattern because Annastasia chose the name I submitted to name this special pattern. I love this top as it is so easy to make.

 

  For the other pair of light pink, I used a simple little tee I had on hand, and embroidered a design from www.emblibrary.com. Shelby's dad says she is "too high maintainence". Well, she is, but she is our princess so this design fits her perfectly!

 

  I am so excited to see the number of my followers has been increasing. I hope to be doing a giveaway soon. I am trying to think of something everyone would like. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Sew Beautiful #129...

  I got my new issue of SB yesterday so when I went to bed I decided to read it. That is always the best uninterrupted time for me to read anything that I read.
  I was carefully reading every article, and I got to the one about "Eco Friendly Sewing", looked on the right hand side, and there was my tip I had submitted to Facebook a few weeks ago. I had even forgotten that I had replied. I told them about an old make-up tray that I use to store my embroidery thread in that slides inside my desk.
  I know this is nothing compared to having your handmade outfits published, (I can't even imagine the thrill that must bring), but it did make me feel good to be quoted in such a well read magazine.
 I'm posting a couple of pics of the tray I use for my embroidery thread. When my daughter was living at home, she cleaned out her room, and threw this in a garbage sack. I dug it out because I felt it was too good to throw away, and I was always needed storage containers in my sewing room.

 

 The next pic shows the little cubby hole in my desk that I slide the tray into. It is so handy and easy to reach. I keep my most used colors in it, and the others are kept in plastic threads boxes under my desk.

There is just enough room to have 2 of these. The other one is for sewing thread.

   I have 2 large desks from the Christopher Lowell collection, and they have some really neat storage places. One day I will have to post more pics of my sewing space.
Happy sewing!

Another great giveaway...

  In honor of National Smocking Month, a blogger friend of mine, Sara, is giving away a precious baby bonnet to be smocked.
  If you would like to know how to be eligible to win, go over and visit her blog to see. She is extremely talented, and you will enjoy looking at some of her creations as well.
  Happy Blogging!

http://saranorrisltd.blogspot.com/2010/02/heirloom-smocking-my-first-give-away.html 

Getting the most for your money!

 I know my husband doesn't believe this, but since I retired I do try to spend my money wisely on things that I know won't be wasted. I had made myself a promise that I wouldn't buy anymore fabric until I made a big dent in what I have. Well......I guess I didn't do too good on that, but I have a plan for everything I have bought.
  I made Shelby a little outfit in the fall of '08 from a pretty floral pique, and a hot pink micro check fabric. 

 

  It was from the pattern Bonnie Blue Lauren. I love this pattern, but it seems to run a little large. I also made bloomers to match. Shelby did wear it, and she wore it in the fall of '09 also, and guess what? She can still wear it as a top, so I made her a pair of capris that she can wear into late spring. (I made the size 2).

 

  Now I'm going to show you an old picture  of her wearing the outfit. She was so funny as she had to keep her "hankie" in her pocket (just like my mom used to do). A girl mustn't have a runny nose by any means!

  She has grown up SO much since these pics. I will have to update when I get a new one with her wearing the capris.  I paid full price for this material so I was really glad that she has got to wear it for 2 seasons. 

  If you have a blog, please add mine to your list of followers. I want to have a giveaway when I get more followers.

Everybody Love to Win!!

  I love to win - anything! Unfortunately, I very seldom win anything so when I do I get really excited. I guess even at my age we have those childlike instincts.
  I entered a blog giveaway over at http://southernmatriarch.blogspot.com/. Martha was giving away some darling padded hangers for a child. Notice the last one in the pic was one that she made herself. It is embroidered and piped in this lovely lacy piping. 

  I will use these for some very special outfits of Shelby's. I think her homecoming gown should be displayed on the one Martha made. Thank you, Martha.


  This has been a lucky month for me because I won something else when I went to my Babylock Club meeting at Shreveport Sewing Center. Melanie always has one or two door prizes, and I won this cute little sewing tool tote. It will really come in handy when I go to the sewing workshop in AR in March. I've already used it the other day when I went to Embroidery Club. (That will be another post.) Thank you, Melanie.

 Now if anyone wins anything, I hope you will post and tell me about it. When I get more blog followers, I want to have a giveaway of my own. Even my husband thought it was a good idea. 
  Happy Sewing!! 

3 month check up with Dr. Kim....

  The reason for this blog to begin with was to update everyone about my tongue cancer suregery, recovery, and post op information.
  I had my quarterly check up with Dr. Kim today. I never get nervous until the day I go because at anytime if there is an unusual bump or anything I would call and go in for them to check it out.
  Everything looked good. In 3 months, I will have made it 2 years since the surgery. Two years is a big milestone with any kind of mouth cancer. Dr. Kim also mentioned again that most mouth cancers return within 2 years. Mine was on my tongue, and it was cut out and replaced with a flap from my forearm so I keep telling myself it would be rare for it to return, although I know it's not impossible.
  I hate the "C" word. I hate to hear of anyone having it. I have been so blessed that I didn't have to take chemo or radiation.
 I would like to thank my true and faithful friends who have kept up with me and my progress through this blog, emails, and phone calls. You are and will forever be in my heart. I love you all. Keep me in your prayers.

Happy Valentine's Day to ME!

  I have an old friend that now lives in the Virgin Islands. I haven't seen her in years until we crossed paths on Facebook. I have kept up with her mom because her mom and my MIL used to be the best of friends.
  Hope and her first husband used to play cards with my husband and me when our oldest were babies.
  She has an amazing talent of making jewelry. I will post her link at the bottom. I'm not one who wears a lot of jewelry, but her creations just took my eye. So my husband told me to get her to do whatever I wanted. I love pretty bracelets, and I loved one of hers called Carnival Dangle, but I wanted a few of the other types of beads.

  She made it and surprised me, and I absolutely LOVE it! It is even prettier than these pics. I made a pic of it from 2 angles hoping you could see more of the stones. I had her put an "S" on one of the stones. It's in the bottom pic. That way Shelby can also wear it someday.

 

www.hopegibson.com

It just gets crazier around here!

  It started snowing yesterday (Thursday), and since daycare was not open today (Friday), we chose to keep our grandbabies overnight for my DD since she works for 911. The roads were predicted to be hazardous for travel or we would have gone to their house early this morning. We surely don't mind keeping them overnight, but sometimes it's just easier to be where they have all of their toys and stuff.
  It did snow, and a lot for this area. I think at least 4 in. It was beautiful, and we got to see the kids play in the snow. Cayden had a blast playing with our older grandson and some friends of his. Shelby, the princess, chose to only stay out a few minutes. It just wasn't as thrilling for her.
  Now I know you are probably wondering why there are no pictures? I do have pictures, but my main computer decided to die or something when the lights went off this morning. It won't turn on. Yesterday, my camera card decided to also die, and in order to get pics in the snow I had to delete every pic from my digital photo frame card. I am on my laptop, but I can't upload because I can't find my camera cord, and there are no card slots that fit my card. Bummer!
  Then we take the kids home and decide to go into Shreveport to meet the oldest grandson for dinner. On the way home at a main intersection, an 18 wheeler runs a red light. The SUV next to us swerved into our lane to keep from getting smashed, but they were able to stop 1/2 in. from our bumper, and I am not exaggerating. I am very thankful that my DH is not one to gas it when the light turns green, or things could have been a whole lot worse.
  I have enjoyed looking at everyone's snow pictures from everywhere so when I'm able, I will be posting some here, plus a couple of other things I had on my mind.
  Hugs to all!

I had the scare of a lifetime today!

  I sure don't want to make my daughter feel bad because she couldn't help it. I had just gotten home from Shreveport, and she had called me on her cell phone on her way to go and get the kids.

  All of a sudden - BAM! Someone hit her!  I knew immediately what it was. My knees went weak for what seemed like an eternity before she spoke or hollered, but I know it was maybe 2 seconds. 

  She was making a left hand turn, and a woman ran a red light. Luckily, Emily drives a Hummer. The other car was much more damaged. The Hummer did have some damage, but not in the way the other car did. It seems to be out of line or something. Her air bag didn't even deploy.

  She was shook up quite a bit, and her knee got banged a little. She doesn't even know how. 

  I thank God for protecting my oldest child today. It could have been so much worse.

Life is precious. Live each day as though it was your last. Love your family and your friends, and thank God for every minute you get to do that.

A beautiful website, and a neat giveaway!

http://thoughtsfromovertherainbow.blogspot.com/2010/02/met-monday-art-blogaversary-and.html

Sewing With Carol Ahles in the Ozarks...

  I am so excited because I am planning a trip to a sewing workshop that will be in Springdale, AR March 25-27.

  I have always wanted to attend Martha Pullen's conferences, but they are always so far, and they usually a involve a lot of walking. Right now, that's just not much fun for me especially if I am lugging a machine.

  This sewing workshop will be taught by Carol Ahles who is the author of the book Fine Machine Sewing. She is also a frequent contributor to Threads sewing magazine.

  

   Since I am going to her class, I decided to order her book, and I can tell by just thumbing through the pages that I have made a great investment. There are so many techniques that I have been wanting to learn in this book. So that makes me doubly excited to be attending her class.

 

  One of them is the Parisian Hemstitch, and of course, joining lace to fabric using hemstitching. There are soooo many techniques that I would like to learn and/or improve upon. I have dibbled in a few, but I've never had the chance to learn from a real pro.

  I know some of you are thinking, "How boring!" LOL I'm sure it is if you don't sew, but sewing is my therapy. I have sewn since I was a kid. I hope the Lord above allows me to sew for many more years. 

  When I return from this class, I will post pics (hopefully) of some things I learned. Here is a link to her website in case you want to check it out.

http://www.carolahles.com/

Pray for my friend, Jerry

 My friend, Jerry, that lives in MS wrote me an email today and said her father-in-law was found dead in his yard.
  Mr. Roberts did have heart problems, but he was at the doctor's office yesterday, and they said he was doing just great.
  We never know what each day will bring. Please say a prayer for their family at this time.

Thanks.