Does this hit too close to home for anybody else?

I think we had this very conversation Saturday...

(I scanned this in from my local paper this morning. You can see it online at Comic Strip Archive.)

Spring has Sprung!

Ugh!

I was so excited about my silver 'linen' pants.

They fit, they were perfectly casual, they looked cute with my silver sandals.

The material is a linen look poly blend with just a hint of shimmer.

And poly can melt if the old stinkin' iron is too hot!

Well, now they're sorta cute capris.

Ugh!

My Sewing Backstory-Part 1

A lot of folks have recently shared their sewing backstory. So, like Kristine, Dawn, and Summerset, I have decided to share mine.

I grew up surrounded by women who sewed and the men who loved them and let them accumulate stashes and wander through fabric stores. Rather than give you dates and details, I want to show you some of the things these women have created. Let's start with Mom.

My Mom has sewn forever. She has made dresses and PJs and doll clothes and tote bags for every girl I grew up with. I learned to sew on her trusty Singer Featherweight when she sent it back to OBU with me one semester! Mom's current passion is quilting. She has made several full size quilts and tons baby quilts. Here are a just a smattering:

Mom pieced this quilt for the BG's room. (I appliqued it and Aunt Kathy quilted it.)

The Tortoise and the Hare was created for Connor.

Here the LM and BG are with their cousin Will on his Football baby quilt.


This one was made for me!

The LM's Cowboy quilt created for his birth.

Mom is holding the quilt she made for Sister #3, a Double Wedding Ring.

Mom made this one for my dear friend before John was born, but we forgot to get a picture until later--much later!

I'd venture to guess that Mom's given almost 50 baby quilts in the last 5 years, so the pictures could keep coming. But I'll stop for now. Mom, I hope you'll be okay with me showing off your work!

Stay tuned for more about my sewing backstory--I'm hunting down the pictures of quilts made by grandmothers and great grandmothers and even great-great-great-great-great grandmothers to show you next!

Come on Mom, I'm a Flamingo!

Tonight was Wild Kingdom night at AWANA.

No problem for the LM. He has this lion costume from Halloween. No such luck for the Big Girl. But not to worry--she had a plan.

She disappeared into her room for a few minutes. Then she comes out wearing pink shoes, pink tights, pink leotard, pink skirt, pink feather boa. Here's the conversation:

Me: Are you wearing that to church?

BG: Yes.

Me: But your supposed to dress up like an animal.

BG: Come on Mom, I'm a Flamingo!

Me: Of course you are. Just stand on one leg and make yourself a beak!

She may look like her Daddy, but this one can think out of the box.

A few of my favorite things...

My serger

A rolled hem foot and plate

New (SHARP) pins

Nuts (as in nuts and bolts)

A good reference

A Walking Foot

Freezer Paper

An Edge Stitch Foot

What are some things you can't live sew without?

Dolly Aprons

I've been using this book to make some sassy girls some aprons. I also made dolly aprons to match for my BG and Kit and her Favorite Friend and Kirsten.

Please ignore the hair! The girls had "pop-star" make-overs in honor of FF's birthday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here are the goodies I whipped up for my 2 to wear today:

The Big Girl has to wear a uniform, so we had to be creative with her green today. This is just a fabric-covered button attached to a ponytail holder.

And, here's the rest of that 1/2 yard of fabric. This is another version of the boxers from Simplicity 9958. I promise I did press these as I went, you're just seeing them at the end of the day!

The Source of My Creativity

When I'm overwhelmed, I just want to sew, to bead, to glitter and glue, to create. Yesterday, while studying the sanctity of life, I discovered why --I'm designed to create! More accurately, I'm formed in the image of God, the Ultimate Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,

And He who formed you from the womb:

"I am the Lord who, makes all things,

Who stretches out the heavens all alone,

Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself."

Isaiah 44:24

Wow!

So, since my creativity is from God, shouldn't I be certain that my work is honoring to Him?

A cute apron and a give-away

The Apron:

This apron is based on one I found in A is for Apron by Nathalie Mornu. This is a cute book full of inspiration. I'll review it for you soon. But, for now, you can enjoy another picture.

The Give-Away: This one is hosted by my Aunt Kathy in honor of her 1000th reader. You have until Friday the 20th to sign up. You can see some of her beautiful quilting at her blog. Head on over there and check her out.

Just for Dad...

Since life has been busy, I haven't updated my blog lately. Now, Dad's complaining that he's tired of looking at the LM in his boxers. So...

here you go Dad! I've updated my blog just for you! (And I'm wasting my 200th post on this!)

Book Reivew: Sewing for Your Home

Better Homes and Gardens Sewing for Your Home
Published by Meredith Corp.
Published in 1974
ASIN: B00161VWBI

Some Chapter Headings:
Colors and Fabrics
Window Fashions-A Decorating Asset
How to Make Pillows and Cushions
Room Dividers and Wall Hangings
Children's Rooms are Special

I liked:

• The nice explanation of special cutting circumstances like fabrics with a pile, one-directional designs, or plaids.
• The sliding fabric panels on page 73. I love these! You'd have to see them, but basically the fabric panels attach to sliding tracks and essential create the impression of a fabric wall when closed.
• The introduction to quilting.
• The folding chairs that are made of 3 covered cushions that are hinged together. They can fold into cubes, chairs, lounges or mattresses.

My dislikes:
Not really any. I suppose that's because the decor ideas are what I expected out of an early '70s book.

Conclusion:

All that's old is new again--well almost! If you are looking for a great home dec reference, this is it. This book includes great tables and diagrams for measuring and creating lots of basic, timeless home dec pieces: pillows, bedspreads, table runners, slipcovers, etc. I must also add that the chapter in color is wonderful with discussions and examples of rooms done in various color schemes. And, for an added plus, if you're looking for some great ideas that translate into wonderful retro and modern ideas, a book published in the early 70s just might be the ticket!

Would I buy this book for myself?

Probably not, but as I "inherited" it, I'm glad it's in my collection.

Would I buy this book for a beginner?

An old book is a great, and usually cheap, reference for a beginner. Somethings, like how to measure your windows, never change, making a book from a different decade, just as applicable.