Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Sewing for Me!

It's been *sew* long since I've sewn for myself.  It seems like every time I do, it's a disaster.  However, I've decided that it's time to try again.  JoAnns had their Simplicity patterns on sale for 5 for $5 yesterday, so Hannah and I picked out 5 between the two of us.  I am going to start very simple - just a pair of pull-on shorts or capris.  I think my biggest mistake has been not using the right fabric for the garments I have made.  I live just down the street from an amazing fabric store that is mostly dress-maker type fabrics.  I need to look there for fabric and I think I will be happy with the end result.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Old Order-Mennonite-Embroidered Runner

 When Hannah and I went to Ephrata (Amish Country) on Saturday, we stopped at a huge "Barn Sale" where several old order Mennonite families were holding a garage sale of sorts.  There were so many neat things!  I found this hand-embroidered runner for only $1.  It's gorgeous.  If I were to have bought this at one of the gift shops in Lancaster County, it would have been $10 at least.
The detail work is simply beautiful.  This is the pattern in each corner.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

A Gorgeous Day in Amish Country

 It was a gorgeous day near Ephrata, PA today.  Hannah and I started out on a girl's trip to a new fabric store that I learned about, but ended up being so captivated with the Amish scenery that we never even made it to the fabric store.  There was apparently a funeral or wedding or special service of some kind because buggies were going down the road one right after the next for a very long time.
I found a great vantage point to take pictures and with my zoom camera, I could be far enough away to be respectful, but also get some good shots.  

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Free Sewing Machine Class


Take Control of Your Sewing Machine - Martha Pullen Company is offering a free downloadable class to help you learn to master your sewing machine.  It is a great resource!   There's general sewing machine information along with a great trouble shooting resource.

Monday, May 21, 2012

My Next Doll Bishop

I got this beautiful Michael Miller shimmering peach sparkle fabric at Elegant Fabrics in NYC two weeks ago.  It is just gorgeous!!  This swatch picture doesn't do it justice.  

I bought it to make my Martha doll a very special dress as my souvenir of my trip to the Fashion District in NYC.  It will be a smocked bishop with pearl trim on the sleeves and hem, along with lace with ribbon weave at the bottom.  I am really excited about it.  I will be using some of the techniques I learned at the Martha Pullen heirloom sewing seminar last week while making this dress. 

I cut it out yesterday and plan to put it together and pleat this afternoon and being smocking tonight.  I am thinking of smocking with white, but rather than just three strands of white DMC floss, I think I will do 2 strands of white and 1 strand of peach.  Or, if I thought it would work, I could try 2 strands of white and 1 strand of metallic.  Hmmm.... there's a thought......

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Martha Pullen Seminar

  This morning I attended a Martha Pullen seminar sponsored by Hinkletown Bernina in East Earl, PA at the Shady Maple Banquet Facility.  It was a wonderful morning filled with laughs and a wealth of information on the basics of heirloom sewing.
 
I brought along my "Martha" doll so she and I could get our picture taken with the real Martha again.  
Martha was demonstrating what to do with lace ends when lace shaping - it's called criss cross lace shaping.  We got a good laugh out of her explanation.  She also shared a great little song/chant with us.  It is... "Press til dry... Press til dry... Press til dry.... or you will cry."

Monday, May 14, 2012

Smocked Eiffel Tower Doll Bishop


This is my latest Etsy listing - an 18" doll bishop.  The fabric is an adorable Eiffel tower print.  The sleeves are finished with coordinating rick rack.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Awesome Garage Sale Find

I got this box full of solid DMC floss and lots of variegated floss.  There were at least 35 skeins of floss, and it was all for $2!  I am going to be spending my afternoon winding them onto my plastic bobbins to put in my set.  I am giving about half of it to Jonathan's girlfriend.  She had asked Jonathan to look for floss while we were going to garage sales.  I found it first, but I agreed to share.  :-)

Thursday, May 10, 2012

NYC Fashion District - WOW

Yes - that's me -- standing in front of a giant button and needle!  It is sitting atop the information center in the Fashion District of NYC.  My smocking guild went for a field trip to NYC fashion district this week.  It was a 2.5 hour bus trip for us.  We were there for 6 hours and went into over 17 stores.  It was absolutely incredible.  We didn't even make it to half of the fashion district.  We stayed on West 39th street and West 40th street.  We definitely want to go back and see more.