The Old Fashioned Baby Sewing Room

French Handsewers Saga Guild Finishes Daygown Program

2013-05-22T07:39:00.000-05:00

Sweet and Simple Daygown made from Fairy Fabric.

We finished our Daygown Program (and began our Bonnet series).

A few ladies are very enthusiastic and finished matching Bonnets already!

Beautiful!

Suzette pin stitched the edge of the Bonnet Tie.

The tie was folded over and sewn to the Bonnet, then a Bullion was stitched over the thread.

And added a very cute touch where the tie is attached to the Bonnet.

It was so much fun to see all the different Daygowns.

Another matching Bonnet already completed!

Everyone had their own style.

So each Daygown looked different, even though we all used the same pattern.

Bullion Roses between the Buttons.

Baby Daygowns are the perfect garment for babies. They are the most comfortable thing a baby can wear and very practical for changing all those diapers!

As a friend of mine told her son when he balked at putting his newborn son in a Daygown....."He is coming home from the hospital with a bloody naval and gauze around his newly performed circumcision.....would YOU want to be wearing bluejeans?"

She had no argument after that blunt statement!

A Wonderful Sewing Room (not mine!)

2013-05-20T08:13:00.002-05:00

Love Suzette's seating area by the window for stitching.

With a chair for a friend!

A collector of Scissors - like I have never seen before!

Her lighting is perfect. Plenty of it but not harsh.

She told me these are the best lights. They are bright but don't put off alot of heat and fit into regular light bulb sockets.

I love this tea-stained look.

Lots of pretty cabinets to store all our necessary sewing stuff.

And fabrics etc. are kept dust free.

You can only see half her filled closet here.

Suzette is a prolific sewer and her closet is filled with garments all labeled with the class they came from or the pattern she used.

Suzette is a great seamstress.

She has taken many classes and then she finishes the project. Not only does she have a completed garment but she has practiced honing the skills that she took the class for in the first place.

That is so important. You have to practice those skills to improve your stitching.

I like this little ceramic dish by her machine where she keeps handy the feet most used.

Her ironing system is close to her machines.

Cute places to keep scissors at the ready.

Pretty display area.

A bed for her pooch!!

Wouldn't my Brown Dog love to have a bed in my Sewing Room?

Suzette's Sewing Room is really attractive and nice to be in even if you didn't sew. But her layout and planning make it very functional as a sewing room.

Thanks for visiting!

Emma

2013-05-19T09:59:00.002-05:00

The fix to the sleeve worked.

Emma is beautiful. And so is her (barefoot) doll!!

Emma's Frist Communion Dress. Part 2

2013-05-17T22:19:00.000-05:00

While fixing the First Communion dress for Emma to wear,

I made her American Girl doll a matching dress.

Notice pink around the waist, just like Emma wanted for her own dress.

Here is Emm'a doll dress all finished and being worn by her cousins doll.

I didn't use all of the trims like I used on Emma's dress since the doll dress needed to be a much smaller scale.

Unlike Emma's dress, I didn't cut the fabric away behind the fancy band of insertion. This was easier and made it more stable so it can be taken on and off and on and off etc., etc. by Emma.

The fix to Emma's dress was to unstitch the underarm of the sleeve from the armhole all the way down to the Swiss beading. I overcast the raw edges with a seam binding so it doesn't unravel while being worn and I will remove the binding and re-sew it afterward. The ribbon at the sleeve will keep the sleeve in place.

Since Emma doesn't live here, I will have to wait until they receive the package and try the dress on before I know how it worked out.

This is real life, folks!

First Communion Dress

2013-05-16T14:47:00.002-05:00

My Granddaughter Emma is wearing her Big Sisters First Communion Dress for her own upcoming First Communion. I made it several years ago after much consultation with Big Sister and my daughter.

They wanted simple but pretty....and puffy sleeves.

But Emma's favorite color is Pink, not Blue. So I had to change the ribbon to pink.

Emma trys it on for me last year.

Needs a wash and an iron.

But, she likes it.

The hem is made from several lovely Swiss trims all sewn together.

They go with the center band on the front yoke.

The fabric is Dotted Swiss and I used Angel Lace for all the lace edging.

I changed the ribbon, had it pressed and ready to go. Then...

Emma broke her elbow. Nice bright pink cast.

But she couldn't get the dress on.

So it was sent back to me to fix. More on this dilemma next time!

Having Fun!

2013-05-14T08:27:00.000-05:00

This is the crown of a bonnet that my friend is stitching.

I decided to celebrate spring in my garden with a couple of friends.

Isn't Spring beautiful?

This only looks like a plate of sandwiches and cheese.

But, it is a plate that I bought at a Paris Flea Market (I just love saying those words!) and has French Cheese on it.

Roses for my table.

Friends ebay treasures.

And friends who brought Show and Tell.

This vintage tatting was the inspiration for an entire outfit.

Sweet & Simple Baby Daygown Collections.

A Daygown, Bonnet and Slip.

The slip that sports the tatting is not shown.

The tatting proved to be too much for the Daygown. Isn't that funny how what we think will work and what really will work is often not the same thing at all!

I like her muted color choices.

And the design she is embroidering on her Bonnet Crown.

She used DMC 761 and 3815

Anchor converts to - 1020 or 1021 green and 877 or 875 pink.

Stitching With the Atlanta Smocking Guild

2013-05-12T09:05:00.000-05:00

Someone was kind enough to bring in this Baby Gown they made using my OFB pattern Antique T-Yoke, Gown and Christening Gown.

Her work is lovely!

On this day we were working on our Whip Tucked Baby Dress.

We were whipping the tucks and stitching the lace!

Eating with Sewing Friends is sew much fun! Notice the party favors.

Then a break for an amazing lunch.

Love the Aprons.

A talented member not only made this lunch but also the party favors to go with it! She used copies of old patterns for the cover of this notebook. Very clever.

Back to sewing.

The fabric was cut away from the lace and finished on the wrong side of the dress. I wish I had taken a picture of the front too. But, the wrong side of this garment is done very nicely indeed!

And then I went home!

More Fun With the Atlanta Smocking Guild

2013-05-11T13:27:00.000-05:00

A group of Sewing Ladies in the Garden.

It was such a treat for me to be taken to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Spring was in full evidence on this cool and sunny day.

Another two weeks and the Roses would have been in Full glorious bloom!.

The Roses were just coming into bloom and were beautiful! Of course my picture does not do them justice. And they smelled heavenly.

It was fun to see the work in progress on this wonderful event.

Larger than life Plant Animals.

They were just starting to fill in with plants and flowers.

Here is our group enjoying the day.

I love Gardens.

It was SO MUCH FUN!!

I was totally living out my New Years Resolution to Have More Fun!

Next post we start stitching...

Teaching and Having a Good Time in Atlanta!

2013-05-09T07:02:00.002-05:00

Wee Care garments, in progress, fill this basket.

This little basket sits on the floor by the sofa so it is always at hand for Mary to pick up a Wee Care gown to stitch.

Mary was my hostess during my stay in Atlanta.

Wee Care is a Saga service program for Babies in need. Saga members all over the country stitch little garments and donate them to area Hospitals for sick Babies.

A few of the members of the Atlanta Smocking Guild having fun!

Mary hosted a Pot Luck supper after class one evening. The term "Pot Luck" doesn't really do it justice. The food was more like what you would find at a catered event.

These ladies know how to throw a party!

I love the old brick patio and the potted flowers.

I have to confess to having Patio Envy.

I love pretty clay pots.

And Mary's patio was on two levels because Atlanta has hills. The hills are quite a change from Baton Rouge and very pleasing to the eye.

Baby's Smocked Layette Dress

2013-05-07T07:47:00.000-05:00

Just a little bit of smocking at the neck edge.

This garment was brought to Saga Retreat by a student to show me.

I Love this pattern!

And I love the white Dotted Swiss with a pink slip showing through.

Thank you to my student for bringing in your dresses to show and inspire us!

They were all beautiful.

Pretty Baby DayDresses!

2013-05-05T19:07:00.000-05:00

Made from my OFB pattern "Baby Daydresses".

A student at the Saga Retreat brought this pretty little dress to show me.

I love it when I get to see garments made up from my patterns!

And I love the matching slip!

This dress is also from the OFB Baby Daydresses pattern.

Blue's my favorite!

This Rose was also waiting for me to return from the Saga Retreat!

It is a David Austin Rose called Graham Thomas.

It smells as good as it looks!

Good Times at Saga Retreat must End!

2013-05-03T23:53:00.000-05:00

Beautiful old scissors that someone brought to show me.

Gorgeous!!!

My Sunday class was all about Bullion Flowers!

Another lovely dress by a student. She chose such happy colors for this dress. The OFB pattern is Baby Rose.

And This is what I came home to!!

My Peggy Martin Rose gone stunningly wild.

I have a few more things to show your from the Retreat.

If you didn't attend, you missed a great time.

Be sure to look for other Saga events in your area. The big event is the National Saga Convention and registration is in progress for classes held in the fall in Frisco, Texas (near Dallas).

You should come!

Saga Retreat Fun...cont.

2013-05-02T06:15:00.000-05:00

Above you see Looped Bullions and Buttonhole flowers.

The second day Class was embroidery.

The Newspaper was printed in 1914

The design we used in class was actually designed as a Money Bag. We were making it as a Potpourri Bag. The design came from the Newspaper page pictured above.

We stitched the Padded Scallops to finish the raw edge of the fabric.

Here is Wanda taking a picture (with permission) of the Class Project using her I Pad.

It certainly is a new world we are living in!

One of the stitches we worked in class was the Chain Stitch.

One of the students brought in a very neat book. The pages were illustrated with stitching, then photographed. And the Chain Stitch was everywhere.

This is the book, if you are interested.

We also worked Padded Eyelets in class.

We were pretty busy!

Joan has been working hard.

(She has a great light)

One more day to come....

Saga Retreat Was Great Fun!

2013-04-30T06:38:00.000-05:00

Jane Brisco, Cindy Foose and Gail Doane waiting for our flight.

The Saga Retreat started for me at the Detroit Airport.

I met up with Sewing Friends for the final flight into State College, PA.

My Friday class was "Daygown Design and Application"

I loved this 9 hour class.

We learned how to change about a pattern to get different looks.

Then the students began designing their own Daygowns.

It was like Project "Daygown" Runway!!

There were great ideas being formed and I enjoyed seeing the creative process go to work!

This will be the Daygown back. It will have the center pleat at the back with a tuck on either side of the center pleat. I love this look!

A sleeve was designed and stitched in class!

She used the Shadow Embroidered Bows from my Embroidery Book.

Someone brought in Daygowns she had made using my pattern "Sweet and Simple Baby Daygown Collection".

Love the color choices.

I love it when students bring in garments they made using my OFB patterns!!

This design is on page 30 of my Embroidery Book.

The Daygowns had slips.

The ruffle on this slip was finished with the Shell Hem.

Very pretty and economical too!

A pretty touch of lace was added at the hem on this Daygown.

The lace design came from my Baby Daydresses Pattern.

Her garments were all very pretty and a delight to see.

Each teacher had a small market in their Teaching Room after class.

That was fun, too!

more to come about the Saga Retreat...

French Handsewers Saga Guilds Upcoming Programs

2013-04-28T07:46:00.000-05:00

Lorraine brought in a collection of her Bonnets to get us excited about the next program!

We are continuing with our Baby Layette theme for our programs.

Lorraine's lovely lace Bonnet

Dotted Swiss Bonnet.

Lorraine will be showing us how to make a simple Bonnet that can go with our Daygown.

Our two young visitor's were excited about the Bonnets. It is so nice to have young ladies who want to carry on our sewing traditions!

I applaud the Mothers and Grandmothers who are teaching young girls to sew!

French Handsewers Saga Guild Program

2013-04-26T07:39:00.000-05:00

This meeting of my French Handsewers Guild was the last in the three part program of the Baby Daygown.

We were finishing up our Daygowns. Learning how to gather the lace edging and attaching it to the front placket. Then stitching the sleeve in a French Seam.

Several members brought in their Daygown almost done.

And quite a few brought completed Daygowns to show.

It was fun to see the different looks that were created by the members while using the same Daygown pattern.

We were using OFB Sweet and Simple Daygown Collections.

We also learned how to stitch the Shell Hem for our slip.

I love Daygowns

It was a nice surprise to see two of the ladies who were in my Ark (Stitching In The Foothills) class a couple of weeks ago. They drove an hour and half to attend our meeting.

And brought friends!

Class Dress Finished by Marilyn

2013-04-24T04:00:00.000-05:00

This dress is the project from my class "Whip Tuck Baby Dress".

It is a class I will be teaching in Atlanta soon and I am getting ready for my trip right now!

I will be teaching for the Atlanta Smocking Guild.

Marilyn, who is in my own French Handsewers Smocking Guild, took this class a while back.

And finished the dress.

She did a wonderful job on this very cute Baby Dress!

Miss Dot Makes a Baby Dress - Baby Layette

2013-04-22T06:30:00.000-05:00

Continuing my posts from teaching at Farmhouse Fabrics.

Miss Dot used my back button version of my Old Fashioned Baby Layette pattern to make this little Baby Dress.

Very cute and Old Fashioned!

With sweet embroidery at the hem.

Miss Dot Adds Lace Applique to Baby Layette Daygown

2013-04-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Continued from my posts about teaching at Farmhouse Fabrics.

Miss Dot used the Front Button version of Old Fashioned Baby Layette.

Miss Dot used Swss Windowpane Dimity on the Daygown .

And lots of fancy lace work.

This pretty Lace applique looks nice on the skirt.

Miss Dot and The Blue Baby Layette Daygown

2013-04-18T07:48:00.000-05:00

Continued posts from teaching at Farmhouse Fabric.

Miss Dot made a pretty Blue daygown using my Old Fashioned Baby Layette!

I love the color Blue!

Notice that Miss Dot attached the sleeves using entredeux!

This is one of my favorite lace designs she made!

And look how fancy she stitched the sleeves!

Miss Dot and Her Lovely White Daygown From Baby Layette

2013-04-17T07:42:00.000-05:00

continuing my posts from teaching at Farmhouse Fabrics

Miss Dot used my Old Fashioned Baby Layette pattern to create a lace V yoke on this Daygown.

I like the ecru lace on the white Windowpane Dimity Fabric.

This is the back of her Daygown. It would be lovely as a Front!

Daygown back with matching slip!

Miss Dot Makes a Pretty Pink Baby Layette Daygown

2013-04-15T07:37:00.000-05:00

Continuing my posts from Farmhouse Fabrics.

Miss Dot used Old Fashioned Baby Layette to make this stunning gown.

She used the Daygown version that buttons in the back. She stitched tucks on the front bodice and then arranged lace over the tucks and attached them with a machine Pinstitch.

And added lovely embroidery!

And a lacy hem.

But then, she fancied up the back of the daygown too! With lace insertion along the back facing.

And notice the sleeves have lace too.

Sigh! It's a beauty.

(Wish I had taken a close picture of the sleeve and matching slip.)

Miss Dot Makes Another Baby Layette Daygown

2013-04-13T07:28:00.000-05:00

Continuing my Posts from Farmhouse Fabrics...

Miss Dot used Old Fashioned Baby Layette to make this pretty Daygown.

She stitched three tucks from the shoulders to the hem on either side of the Front Placket.

And she attached a tiny lace edging to the outside of each tuck.

Very Pretty, indeed!

Old Fashioned Baby Layette is a very versatile pattern. You can button it down the front or the back. You can leave the front plain or include tucks. It's a great pattern if you like to change up designs to suit yourself!

Miss Dot fancied up the hem too!

Miss Dot and Baby Layette

2013-04-12T07:20:00.000-05:00

I am continuing my posts from teaching at Farmhous Fabrics.

Miss Dot does amazing things with my patterns.

She loves Lace!

And she loves Embroidery!

And she always makes a slip to match her Daygowns!

And I am so happy Miss Dot loves my OFB Patterns!

She used my pattern Old Fashioned Baby Layette for this Daygown.

Miss Dot....you go girl!!!

Goodbye Snow and Stitching Friends

2013-04-10T09:42:00.000-05:00

I love it when students bring in garments made using my patterns.

I think this dress is made from Best Embroidered Baby Clothes.

Design at the yoke.

Cassie did wonderful work on this Satin Stitched Embroidery Design.

Design at the hem.

Cassie stitches beautifully.

She is a serious student in the Artisan Saga Program.

Another garment brought in by a student is the Redwork Romper.

This romper is too cute!

Do any of you remember this Daygown?

We stitched it for the "Blog Sew A Long" I did!

Embroidery on the hem of Embroidered Raglan Daygowns.

I will miss all my stitching friends!

Every morning my personal chef (I did have to share him with the other Hotel Guests) made me an Egg white Veggie Omelet! It was Divine.

I miss this Hotel too!! It was amazing.

Cook to order breakfast, the best bed I have ever slept on, and free drinks and nibbles in the evening! Plus , there was a SPA in the hotel and I had a Massage. Woo Hoo!

I felt totally spoiled day and night by the Ozark Guild and the Hotel!

Bye, I hope to see you in Frisco at the Saga National Convention.