Ellie's Easter Outfit

I knew it would be hard to get this done with us having to drive to cardiac rehab 3 days a week, but I decided to try. I saw an outfit made like this in a FB group, and I knew I had to make one. 
I ordered the fabric holding my breath that it would make it here in time. I don't sew as fast as I used to so it was a challenge. The pattern for the top is Violet Fields Thread Piper, and the bottoms are VFT Ruby. 
 I'll be honest. I wasn't thrilled with the top pattern in the way it is put together. If you want more details, then write and ask me. It turned out ok because I changed the way it was sewn. 
 The fabric is a woven, but it's stiff and hard to work with which didn't help. 
I took it to her mom on Saturday, and she wore it on Sunday to an egg hunt at church. 

These are some pics I took of it flat. 

I did like the bloomer pattern. I'll probably try to find some fabric to match them and make a summer top. They were so cute on her! 

Thanks for stopping by! 
 

Life is Busy!

 I'm so thankful in so many ways, but sometimes I do wish I could have more sewing time. You can read about why I don't have much time to sew Here.

 However, I was invited to a baby shower for the daughter of a long time friend. So I had to make something special for her. They aren't finding out the gender until the baby is born so that makes it a little more challenging. 
 They call the baby "Baby Bear McNair", and I found two designs on Embroidery Boutique that were perfect. EB has such great designs! 
 This is the quilt I embroidered on - no I didn't make the quilt, but it's really nice. 

 The other part of my gift was two burps I decorated from diapers. I buy the 6 ply BabysRUs brand, and I've been very pleased with them. I love the bright striped fabric that I got in a scrap pack from a sewing friend.

 The last one is a saying that I love because I know this baby had lots of prayers said for him/her. I can't remember where I got the design. I used a cute little animal print for the trim.

 I love doing baby gifts! My next project is some spring things for our sweet Ellie Marie!

Nancy Zieman

Since it was 4 years ago at this time that I was able to attend a Nancy Zieman Sewing Event, I wanted to share this post again. It was such a sad day in the sewing world when Nancy passed away this past November. 
 I can never say enough as to how much I enjoyed meeting her and listening to her lectures. She was so incredibly sweet and personable. She definitely left her legacy in the sewing community for many to enjoy for years to come. 


 At the end of January, I got to attend a Babylock - For the Love of Sewing Event with Nancy Zieman!! It was in Shreveport, LA which is close to where I live, and I can say it was "wonderful!" Three days of classes, plus lectures and demonstrations by Nancy Zieman.
  If you ever get a chance to see her live, take advantage of it! She was wonderful! My brain was overflowing with the wealth of information she shared with us.
  The Babylock classes were also fabulous! We got to sew on the Unity, Ellisimo Gold, an Evolution Serger, the Sashiko Machine, and the Embellisher. Oh what fun!! 
 In the first class I attended we made a Mardi Gras table runner using the Unity and the Sashiko machine. We made the 10 minute table runner, but we embroidered the mask, and did some top stitching with the Sashiko. It stitches a wonderful stitch and can also be used for quilting. 

After lunch, we moved on to the Embellisher - Oh my goodness! I could have played with that one for hours!! It's sort of like a felting machine, but so fast, and did I say fun?? We made a little bag. First we made the back with some stipping on the Ellisimo Gold, and then we made the front using the Embellisher. We used all sorts of scraps from scarves, yarn, trim - you name it! It punched it all into that fabric, and none of it looks like it did before we started. 

 I just know my little granddaughter, Shelby, would love making things like this with her Mimi!
  That night we got to meet and take pictures with Nancy Zieman. Now this made me feel like I was on the real show!

  After pictures, she shared some of her favorite projects, and also during the next morning she showed us how the show is taped, and more projects.
 Nancy's love is making landscape quilts, and she shared with us how she does it. It was so interesting, and let me say, I didn't realize how we could use just scraps, bits, and pieces of fabric to make a beautiful quilt. (and an occasional fabric marker.) (wink)
  The wonderful Babylock instructors also shared some of their own projects which was also very interesting. 
  My last class was with the Evolution serger, and we made a wall board completely on the serger. It was pretty much easy and fun! They had the sergers set up so we rotated and didn't waste a minute.  

   
 Of course, we had to visit the on site store every time we finished a class. My dealer in Shreveport was the sponsor of the event - Shreveport Sewing Center. I picked up some neat goodies, and at a discount during the workshop.

 My favorite thing is the magnetic pin wrap bracelet. It's so light, and so convenient to use. 

 Now I'm just going to post some random pictures I took during the workshop. Can you believe we only had to pay $199, and that covered our kits (3), lunch for 3 days, and snacks. I'm sorry to say I didn't win a door prize or the machine they gave away, but I certainly wasn't disappointed as I gained so much from this seminar.
Happy Sewing!

 

Missing in Action!

Good morning from the deep South! I know it's been a while, but I'm going to try and start back blogging as often as I can.

Life happens! I've not stopped sewing! My sewing is just sporadic at times. Sometimes it's for mission projects and sometimes for my grands.

My Shelby is going on eleven so I don't sew for her as much. We have a new great-granddaughter, Ellie. I'm enjoying sewing for her when I have time.

My church mission group keeps me busy making care bags for a domestic abuse shelter close to here. I'm the only one that sews so that makes it hard, but I do enjoy it.

The biggest change came in December when my husband had a major heart attack. Our whole life has changed, and it's also very busy at times. He's doing much better, but he takes a lot of my attention. Some days more than others. I had to take up running all of the errands and driving. I've never liked driving!

I know things will get better, but it's going to take a while. He starts cardiac rehab next week so that will involve lots of driving. I'm hoping it won't be long until he can help with that.

These are some of the bags, and a pic of what we put in them. Louisiana has a whole lot of domestic abuse cases. I was able to visit one of the shelters. It is an old two story building with no signs of any kind. It's kept locked, and someone stays there 24/7 to service whoever is living there. They try to help the ladies to become independent, find jobs, and start over.

Of course, many don't stay but a day or two and go back to their abuser. They're offered counseling and lots of support, but that is their own decision.

I will be adding some more posts. I hope there's a few people who will follow and read my posts. I love reading blogs!

Shirley

Sewing Room Randomness....

  "Where I Sew".


I love my sewing room. I spend the majority of my time in here. Since I took these pics, I have added a cutting table I bought from Joann Fabrics. It is a life saver for me! 

 My husband bought me furniture from the Christopher Lowell collection when he retired from teaching. (He's since gone back to work. He loves working. LOL)
 I'll share a few pics of my area. A few things have been rearranged since I took these pics, or I should say that I have a little more junk. I do clean out about twice a year.
 I have 2 big desks. My embroidery machine and serger sit on one. My computer and smaller sewing machine sit on the other. My chair sits in between. That part is really convenient for me to sew and embroider at the same time.

I lucked upon this Brother machine at a yard sale for $45. It sews like a dream. The lady sold it because she didn't know how to thread it. So I put my little Janome away for now, and use this one. I hope to teach sewing lessons one day soon.

I have a big armoire that has lots of storage room, and it also holds my TV. The desks both have drawers and cubby holes that hold thread, stabilizers, and my notions.

                This pillow is SEW me!!!

My tiny ironing board my son-in-law found at a yard sale. It really helps on kids things. 

Below is my Sew Beautiful magazines, and all of my patterns. I put them in binders, and they are so much easier to find.

My "most used colors" of thread sit in a tray that my daughter bought make-up in a few years ago. She tossed it out, and I grabbed it. I wish I had another one. It is just perfect to slide in my cubby space in my desk.

 I have an extra chair if anyone wants to come and sew. Anyone want to come? I also use it as an extra work station.
 I really need to make a space for a small, narrow table to use just for sewing. I don't really have enough room on my desks with the machine and the computer monitor. I feel I could find something perfect at Ikea if I ever get to go. 

 I've been working on reorganizing my sewing room, as always this time of year. My daughter made me some vinyl chalkboard labels, and I bought a few. It has made a world of difference in being able to see what is in my bins in the closet. 

 She did an etched design on this jar I put some old wooden spools in that came from my mom's stash. 

  Now for the humor part. I collect threads from my embroidery snippings. I only put embroidery threads in this red bucket. Any ideas for what to do with them? They are pretty to gaze upon!

Since I took the pic of the bucket, I've bought a 12 needle Babylock Embellisher, and I've used some of the threads with that. I still need to find more projects to do using the threads.

Happy Sewing Everyone!

Linked to:Love Your Sewing Space

Mug Rug Swap on FWFS - The One I Sent!

 The person I sent my mug rug to never posted it on the Linky page for Fort Worth Fabric Studio blog so I'm posting a picture myself. 
 These swaps are fun if everyone follows through. At least I did get one in return whereas some people didn't. 
 Anyway, this is the one I made for the person's name I got which is Julia Juedes. I don't know her or even if she has a blog. I hope all is well with her. 
 I thought it would be fun to do a little embroidery and use some stitches on my machine.  Sorry the last picture is blurry. I should have checked it when I loaded it, but you can see that I used variegated thread. 

 It was fun, and thanks again to Lindsey for hosting the swap.

Mug Rug Swap FWFS

 Lindsey at the Ft. Worth Fabric Studio blog is hosting a mug rug swap. I thought it would be fun to join.This is the mug rug I received from Tracey Hindman. If I find out she has a blog, I will come back and edit my post.

 Thank you Tracy for the beautiful mug rug made with my most favorite colors! She also sent me a pretty fat quarter which will come in very handy. 
 I love it all including the sweet note!

 Thank you, Lindsey, for hosting a fun way to share and meet new people!

Voting Begins on Nancy's Zieman's Pillow Challenge!

  Voting begins today on the Pillow Challenge (my last blog post here). Voting end March 14.
 My pillow is the black one that says "Creativity Comes Out of Chaos". (pic below) I would appreciate your votes, but I know there are many gorgeous entries. You can vote up to 5 times!
Voting Link.

Thanks so much!
 Shirley

Nancy Zieman's 2015 Pillow Challenge!

 I follow Nancy's blog, and when I saw this post, I knew I wanted to enter. I had planned to enter more than one pillow, but time got away from me, and my embroidery machine broke.
 So I'm just entering the one, but it is my all time favorite!
 Voting starts on March 7, 2015. I will post again when the link is available. 
 I know many of you can relate to this for sure! My friend, Jenny, and I made her one several years ago, and I finally got around to making myself one. I look at it everyday when I come into my sewing room!

 Pictures really don't do it justice! I used several different fonts on my computer to make the words in Font Engine from Embird. I love Embird embroidery software! 
 I hope you will vote for my pillow! Thanks! 

Surprise Gift in the Mail!

It's so much fun to receive a gift in the mail, and especially a surprise gift from a friend. 

 Today I received this box of note cards that are images of vintage McCalls patterns. They are so darned cute! 

 The side of the box looks like a tape measure, and the envelopes look like pattern print. 

 Let me just say I am one happy girl!

If you want some for yourself, you can order them here at BasBleu. 
 Thanks for stopping by!