Heirloom…..

def.-Something that has been in a family for generations

I hope the heirloom quality outfits that I make become true heirlooms. I hardly keep anything that I make. I put lots of hours and love into everything that I make (ok, maybe not everything ). I just hope that these special gifts become as special to the recipients as they are to me. I have also learned that the hours of time spent stitching these creations are a great time for prayer and meditation.

This dress is from Australian Smocking and Embroidery #38 (sorry, no link as this is a rare issue). It was originally named Tuesday’s Child but I think my version will be called Serenity (The absence of mental stress or anxiety). Serenity is the only word I can use to describe the first month of this year. I have made changes during December that have already started to have a wonderful effect upon my state of mind. I have battled depression for the last 5 years and for the first time I feel that I am free from it rather than just having a respite before the next wave. Every time that I think of these changes, I will think of this dress. Anyway, on to the eye candy….(excuse the first pic, the light was awful)

This is the cover dress and I have loved it since I first layed eyes on it. It is so yummy, I could just eat it!!

It is of course a bishop so the whole neckline is smocked and embroidered with bullion roses and forget-me-nots.

The hem is part shadow-work embroidery and part bullion roses and forget-me-nots. Shadow-work and bullions are my absolute favorite embroidery. I love to see a picture take form from thread.

Tomorrow I will post pics of the Hedera socks that I finished today (shew! barely made the January deadline that was self-imposed).

Easter ‘04 Disaster

February and March ‘04 were consumed with making my children’s Easter outfits. Abby was 6, Luke was 3, and Nate was 2. I was determined that they would have matching outfits if it was the last thing I did. I finished all three outfits on Easter morning, 30 min. before church. They were so sweet!! (I’ll have to dig out the picture of them later). Luke had blue/white seersucker knee pants, a white shirt with blue/white trim, white knee socks and white saddle shoes. Nate had a blue/white seersucker shortall that was smocked with Peter Rabbit, white knee socks and white saddle shoes. Abby had this dress……The underlayer is periwinkle lawn and the overlayer is leno windowpane check. The neck and sleeves have tatting and it buttons on the front shoulder with mother of pearl buttons. This dress cost about $80 not counting the time investment.

Ok, so the outfits are done and worn for Easter services and egg hunting. I decided that the next weekend I would go and get professional pictures made (they were just so cute!!). Tuesday morning, I am at work and get a phone call. My babysitter/sil is crying and says that Luke has cut the dress. Well I’m thinking it can’t be that bad but when I get home I saw this:5 gashes in the right sleeve!! I have been so upset about this for 3 years that I cannot fix it. This dress was so special to me and I can’t get inspired to fix it. So I have decided to rework the whole thing. If not, I would probably keep the dress the rest of my life and take it out to cry over it every know and again. I have some ideas for it. Since it has a 6 inch hem there is lots of extra fabric. So stay tuned for update photos. I may make something wonderful or I might make a mess!!!

Have you ever had project heartbreak??

Green Sock KAL

I have unofficially joined the informal Green Sock KAL. These socks were started a couple of weeks ago. I have the first one finished (except for grafting) and the second started. The pattern is Hedera (another Cookie A. creation available for free at Knitty). This is a very quick and easy pattern to memorize. The yarn is Douglas Fir by Lorna’s Laces. I think LL is smaller in thickness that STR. But I’m still partial to the STR for its un-splittyness and its sproingyness (gotta love these technical terms). LL is still a little too splitty for a beginner IMHO.

When I started sock knitting, I was worried that I would have the dreaded and much talked about SSS (second sock syndrome). I am terrible about starting things and never fininshing. I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised to find that the second sock is more fun than the first. By the time I get to the second sock I have the pattern basically memorized and the bugs worked out. I am having a ball knitting the second socks! I must say that I am anxious to finish this pair so I can start on Monkey.

Nate’s Quilt

This was included in Nate’s take-home papers last week. The teachers do not tell the children what color to use. Most of the children color the whole page in one color. Nate has always used a rainbow of colors on his sheets. Well this one just got me tickled. I guess quilting is in his blood?? lol

More 2006 in Review

Last year I decided to keep up with how many spools of thread were sewn (can’t remember whose blog I had seen this on). I ended up sewing 18 spools of thread. My new sewing machine that I received in May keeps up with sewing/embroidery time. At the end of December, it had logged a little over 30 hrs. The spools and hours are not very impressive to me. I did not do much sewing last year compared to what I have done in the past. Hopefully, that will increase this year and I will get more accomplished. We’ll see…..

First FO of 2007-Pomatomus

Ok, I must say I am busting my buttons over the first FO of 2007. I have never been one to go with the easiest pattern. I get bored and never finish. So seeing as this is only my second pair of socks, I guess I should’ve been worried about tackling Pomatomus. I wasn’t . I just took it slow and ripped out every mistake until it was exactly like the pattern. The pattern was very well written (Cookie is my new favorite sock designer).The gague was the same on both socks, the row count, I mean everything was the same. So how the toes came out different, I’ll never know!! Can you see the difference? The toe on the left sock is longer than the right.It just boggles my mind. The only thing different is…… I switched to metal needles on the second sock while the first were done on bamboo. Both sets were supposed to be US#1. Who knows? Anyway, I’m still proud of my socks.
The yarn is Socks That Rock in the Nodding Violet colorway. I have to say, I love, love, love this yarn. I really didn’t want to spend that much money when I bought it but I am glad I did. It was a treat to work with. Ok, I’ll quit bragging now

Last FO of 2006

I finished these heirloom pillowcases (late Christmas presents for our pastors wife) on Saturday. Just a little lace shaping and madeira applique can sure dress up a little batiste. I was glad to get them finished and start the new year with a clean slate. Ok, ok, the slate is hardly clean.

Stayed tuned for more FO…..