Creative Needlework Market

We went to the Creative Needlework Market in Birmingham this past weekend.  I enjoyed meeting all the shop owners and venders who were there.

A GIVE AWAY!!!

I have teamed up with Laura Johnson, from Ellie Inspired, to give away 3 patterns.  Three people will win a pattern of their choice from my collection!  Hop on over and see the beautiful and creative patterns that Laura designs and Good Luck!! Click here to enter.

American Girl Doll Shower

My nieces found the directions for this project on YouTube.  This lady has the coolest stuff!!  This is the cutest thing I have seen in a while.  I know it does not sound like a shower made from a cardboard box would look that great, but it is really cute!!!!  You should check out this lady's channel.  We worked on this for  about 6 hours and the girls never lost interest.  It was so much fun!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSk-R3DaUGk

We used card stock for the tiles, buttons for the shower faucets and drains, and a plastic clothes hangar for the shower curtain rod.  The curtains were made from scrap fabric out of my stash, as were the towels.  The girls were pleased as punch!

Stitch Craft Create

Have you seen the sister publication of Sew Beautiful magazine?  It is called Stitch Craft Create.  I believe this is their third issue.  I took one of my daddy's old wool sports jackets and felted it.  I made four needle cases out of it.  Two of the cases made from the jacket are featured in the Halloween issue.  These are so much fun to make! They are practical, as they carry all your sewing supplies and are made  from repurposed fabric.  Do you have a special needle case?

Matching Mother Daughter Skirts

In the latest Sew Beautiful - the July issue - there is a skirt for women on page 42.  It looks very similar to my "Brooke" pattern.  You can see from the pictures that lace could be added to the "Brooke" skirt in order to make a little girl skirt that matches her mom's.  This skirt is so quick and easy to make.

July Issue of Sew Beautiful

I was so thrilled to have my "Bella" dress in the July issue of Sew Beautiful!

Two more "Bella"s!

I found this lovely Tilda fabric at the Martha Pullen Marketplace. It just pops.  Martha is the only company in the US that is carrying this fabric, I believe.

This is the reverse side. I love the blue pocket against the bright pink polka-dots.

Here's another "Bella" I made for an upcoming class that I am teaching at Barb's Sewing Center.  Although the colors are softer in this dress than they are in the one made with the Tilda fabric, I still love it!

This is the reverse side.

"Bella"

Here's another version of "Bella" made out of corduroy.  The eyelet ruffle gives it a classic look.

A New Pattern!

I have a new pattern. It was revealed at the Creative Needlework Market.  It is "Baby Jack."  It is a precious little heirloom romper.  It has pintucks and box pleats on the front and buttons on the back.  Cleverly concealed buttonholes under the box pleats hold the belt in place.  There are 2 collar choices.  The belt can button in the front or back.  "Baby Jack" comes in sizes Newborn to 24 Months.

Is this not the most beautiful baby you have ever seen!  He is the model for my "Baby Jack." 

Creative Needlework Market in Birmingham

Two weeks ago I went to Birmingham to the Creative Needlework Market.  My daughter, Brooke, went with me.  This was our first time to go to the Market, so I was a little nervous, but I think it went well.

The booth wasn't very big but all of the stuff we had brought fit in it, so that was all that mattered.

My husband made me this ingenious stand to put my patterns on. It work well until it almost fell over because it was so top heavy.  We weighed down the back of it with a spare box of patterns and it worked just fine.  I knew that something had to happen since this was our first time.

On my beautiful iron stands, I put my "Jessie" pattern made as a raincoat, the yellow "Polly" pattern, and one of my newest patterns, "Bella."

We had a great time at Market and are planning to go back again for the Fall Market.  It was wonderful getting to meet all of the shop owners. Now I have faces to put with all of the names.

Christmas Presents

I got really creative today wrapping Christmas presents.  I like natural touches on everything.  These are really different from other presents that I've wrapped for Christmases past.  What special touches do you add when wrapping your presents?

My hydrangeas were beautiful all summer long.  We dried some of the blooms, as shown on this gift.  The blue and purple shades dried so well.  

This brown hydrangea was picked today straight off the plant.  The pine needles came from a tree planted 23 years ago.  This tree was our first Christmas tree the very first year of our marriage, and it has flourished in our yard.  

I was raised on a cotton farm.  I LOVE cotton! The brown paper wrapping suits the white bolls.  

I hope all of you have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.

A New Pattern!

I have a new pattern named "Bella." It comes is sizes 2-6.  "Bella" is a reversible swing jumper or sundress.  It buttons on the shoulders and has a scalloped Madeira border with a ruffled petticoat on one side of the jumper.  The other side of the jumper has a ruffle around the hem.  It is mid-calf length.  Create two totally different looking outfits while only sewing one jumper.

The fabric is by Anna Griffin. I absolutely LOVE this fabric!

Another "Brooke"

I'm sorry to be such a horrible blogger. I will try to be better in the future.  Here is the promised "Brooke."  This version can also be worn four different ways, just as the "Brooke" in the last post can be.

Brooke

 "Brooke" was my very first pattern.  I designed it for my daughter, Brooke.  She wore this design for several years.  It is very versatile and easy to make.  Both the top and the skirt are reversible.  It can be worn 4 different ways!  This outfit is made in a pretty fall fabric.  The green skirt is corduroy for colder days.  Here in the south, it stays warm until November sometimes.  If you live in colder areas, a turtleneck looks great paired with it.  I guess you can tell that I love scallops.  On the next post,  I'll show a different version made with a ruffle.

Guess What Came in the Mailbox?

I absolutely love this cover!  It is beautiful!!!  

Ivey Crenshaw adapted my "Avery" pattern to make this adorable jumper.  Thank you Ivey!!!

Smocking Club

I had such a lovely time at our local smocking club on Monday night.  One of the ladies demonstrated Kari Mecca's "whimsy sticks."  She made it look so easy to make these beautiful flowers.  She brought over a dozen different flowers that she had made from such beautiful ribbons.   Such eye candy!!  I just love ribbon!!

Dolly Hailey

"Dolly Hailey" is just like "Hailey" so that your little girls can dress up their dolls to look just like them.

Another Hailey

The floral dress on the front of the "Hailey" pattern is made from lawn and Flower Smocked with yellow seed beads.  I was skeptical about how this fabric would smock, but I really liked the way it turned out.

Notice on this dress that the tucks are simply pressed way from the center.

Hailey

"Hailey" is a precious little dress embellished with Flower Smocking across the bodice.  The dress buttons down the back, has underarm pleats and the hem is finished with a single tuck.  It may be made sleeveless or with three quarter length sleeves.  The sleeves are embellished with Flower Smocking which creates ribbons of fabric.  Matching doll dress pattern is NOT included with this pattern.  "Dolly Hailey" is sold separately.

The blue dress is made out broadcloth and flower smocked with swarovski crystal beads.  I bought these beads at Hobby Lobby.  It gives it a little bit of bling!

                                  Notice on this dress that the tucks are pressed into box pleats.

Baby Hailey

"Baby Hailey" is the baby version of "Hailey." The dress is made the same, but the pattern also includes the option of shortening the dress into a top with matching bloomers.