The Old Fashioned Baby Sewing Room

Baby Gown Class - SAGA National in Atlanta

2012-01-28T08:44:00.001-06:00

Hemstitched Lace Baby Gowns is one of the Classes I will be teaching at the National SAGA Convention in Atlanta.

The Smocking Arts Guild of America National Convention will be held over the week of October11th, 2012.

For more information, visit the SAGA website

This gown is made using the OFB Baby Layette pattern.

So many old baby clothes use bits of hemstitching as embellishment. So very dainty.

The techniques that I will teach include Hemstitching in the middle of your fabric as well as attaching lace with the Hemstitch.

And the Irish Bullion Rose. A unique Bullion Rose with an eyelet center.

This class will focus on embellishment which is the fun, fun part!

Mark your calendars!

And join me visiting other pretty pink inspired Blogs!

My Birthday Dress Stand

2012-01-27T08:37:00.000-06:00

This is my Birthday Dress Stand!

It was a gift for my Birthday.

I love the swirly design on it.

I love the color. And I love the base.

I love everything about it!

This is where my Birthday Dress Stand lives for now.

I smile every time I walk by it!

When the time was right,

the sea parted,

the walls fell down,

the lions went hungry

the sun stood still,

the star appeared,

the waves were calmed,

the stone was rolled away,

the Lord ascended...

And when the time is right,

The King of Kings will return.

God is never early and He's never late-

He's always right on time and His plans for you are good.

(This was printed on the cardboard behind my new Dayspring calendar. I love the way it was just hidden there for me to find.)

That's all for now,

Jeannie

Sister Visit -New Orleans

2012-01-25T06:52:00.001-06:00

Lovely White Dresses.

We took my niece to New Orleans to see the sights.

I popped into my favorite shop on Jackson Square while they looked at shoes.

The entire shop is filled with Linens and items made from Linens.

You would love it!

Me and my sister with a walking Garden. Weird!

Jackson Square is filled with street performers.

New Orleans is decorated for Mardi Gras.

We stopped for lunch in this cute Courtyard Cafe.

There are courtyards everywhere in New Orleans. I love them.

And you can't go to New Orleans without stopping for coffee at the Cafe Du Monde.

It was a fun day!

Join Faded Charm for White Wednesday!

Sister Visit -Nottoway Plantation

2012-01-23T19:47:00.000-06:00

This is a beautiful Sewing Caddy we saw. I guess it is from the mid 1800's.

My sister came to visit me.

One of the fun things we did... was visit Nottoway Plantation.

I wish they had filled it with time appropriate sewing items!

The inside scrollwork lifts out to place your project into a cubby.

Nottoway Plantation

The front faces the Mississippi River.

Wow!

My niece came for a visit too! (photo used with permission)

My sister and my niece are in front of the side entrance.

Yes. I think I could sit on this porch and stitch quite nicely, thank you!

And I love the lace curtains in the windows.

My birthday cake was a King Cake.

If you don't know what that is...you haven't been to Louisiana at Mardi Gras time.

I had the needed help to blow out my candles!

I took an entire Birthday Week off to spend with my family.

And I had a great time!!

(Tomorrow I will answer phone calls, ship orders and respond to email.)

Thank you!

Fun with the Sew Sew's in New Orleans!

2012-01-21T07:18:00.001-06:00

I love Lorraine's fagoting. So pretty!

Lorraine P made this sweet Bonnet for the Wee Care project.

It will go to a local hospital.

Lorraine B sews a Baby Gift.

This is going to be a Baby Sacque using a design I featured in Sew Beautiful magazine.

The Sacque is from a out of print pattern of mine.

But you can use the Sacque from my other pattern.

Lorraine B. is queen of the Bullion Rose!

From the window.

We went to New Orleans for this Sew Sew get together.

It's only an hour from my house.

Jennie had made this pillowcase. I LOVE it!!

It is the perfect little project for Grandchildren to sew.

Each strip is cut 4 1/2". And she used two fabrics for some of them. She did it because she ran out of fabric. But I think it is cutest because of the joins. I would do it on purpose.

The reverse side of the Pillow case is one solid piece of fabric. That way, you can lay your head on a smooth surface and it is comfortable as well as pretty. Don't you like it?

Home of Pralines! And Shutters that really work.

going home we see people waiting for the Street Car

It is a serious mode of transportation here.

And here comes the Street Car!

until next time.....

Jeannie

A Beautiful Beginning.

2012-01-20T05:00:00.001-06:00

A beautiful winter morning.

Have you noticed...

..the sun always rises?

"Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning."

Psalm 30:5

Day 2 of Sewing in Lake Charles

2012-01-18T08:00:00.001-06:00

On Day 2 of sewing, we worked on the Embellished Sweet and Simple Daygown.

I love this Daygown!

We hand stitched tucks, which I love to do. And I heard (from more than one lady) "That wasn't bad, it didn't take much time at all". I am always happy if you just try new things, even if it is the only time you do it. Because, you just never know....

Always cut on the outside of the black line of OFB patterns. Probably all patterns!

Proper pinning and cutting is important!

I was the guest of one of the members of the group.

When I woke up in the morning and looked outside....this is what I saw!!

I don't think I would ever leave home if this was the view of my world!

Cute Daygown sleeve.

Me.

She had an amazing garden.

And I loved her little garden critters.

....now, back home and on to other adventures!!

Teaching in Lake Charles Day 1

2012-01-16T18:57:00.000-06:00

Student Sample of the Bonnet Embroidery - Great Job!!

One student worked on the Bonnet in class and finished it at home the same night.

I was so excited to see it the next day. She did a great job. I love eyelets and hers are very nice!!

And it is encouraging to everybody to see the finished work. That means it is a do-able project.

The first day, we stitched an embroidered Bonnet. It had French Eyelets, Daisies, Seed Stitch, Old Fashioned Double Featherstitch and Pinwheel Posies.

Attentively learning new stitches.

Student Sample of a Class Project.

This is the finished Class Project from a previous class a student had taken.

I love it when ladies bring their finished projects to show me. Isn't it pretty?

The Contraband Heirloom Stitchers (and me).

Aren't we a merry group?

Having fun sewing together!!

A Woman of Inspiration.

2012-01-13T13:00:00.002-06:00

You can imagine how I love this.

Lovely blues, my favorite color. And Roses.

Elfrieda Baumeister.

Or Grandma as she was better known to us.

I received a box in the mail from Lisa, my sister in law.

The box was full of Grandma items. I was overwhelmed when I opened it.

And I think I actually swooned (yes, we do swoon down here in the South) when I saw this!

Grandma Baumeister was an amazingly creative woman. She was born and raised in Germany and fled to Alaska before the war. And she filled her life with beautiful things that she made.

She was a woman I admired.

Getting Kits Ready To Teach!

2012-01-12T08:00:00.001-06:00

I have been busy getting kits together for my classes with the Contraband Heirloom Stitchers.

They are a group in Lake Charles Louisiana.

I want to tell you what I have learned from the first chapter of 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life, by Joyce Meyer. The first chapter is Do One Thing at a Time. Not surprising that I have no problem immersing myself in "one" thing if it is something I love to do....like designing. If fact, it's hard to get my attention away from it.

My problem lies with everything else! I look for things to distract me when I don't want to do something that needs done like paperwork. And it is especially hard when I really want to do something else.

I worked on my kits and finished them. They are all ready!

I have concentrated this past week on doing one thing at a time.

I once read that to be efficient, handle a piece of paper or letter from your desk only once. In other words, pick it up, deal with it and file it away. Rather than put it in the ever growing pile of things to do later. That could be said about most of the things of our life too.

I am teaching the Sweet and Simple Embellished Daygown and the Embroidered Bonnet.

Lots of pretty stitches! It will be fun.

Maybe this can help you too.

1. Set a timer and do the one thing for that amount of time only. Amazing how much you will get done.

2. Or plan to do that one thing until it's done but take a 30 minute break to do what you really want to do...like sewing.

Some of us can't just do a thing without props!

Sleeping Baby in Sweet Daygown

2012-01-10T06:04:00.001-06:00

Baby Mariko looks pretty content!

As all babies wearing sweet baby clothes made by loving friends and relatives are apt to be!

(especially if they use my Old Fashioned Baby patterns)

Thankyou Sarah, for sending me these cute pictures!

Sarah used my Sweet and Simple pattern to make this Christmas Daygown.

I love the way little Mariko is floating through the stars, just like Wynken, Blynken and Nod!

The pattern I used for the Daygown featured in Sew Beautiful is my new, yet to be released Daygown.

You can use any of my Daygowns, though. The article was showing how to lengthen any Daygown and add a ribbon or elastic to close up the bottom and keep the little feet snugly!

Baby's First Daygowns Pattern.

This is an illustration showing my new Daygown in baby colors - now that Christmas is over.

And Joy!! Pattern is almost ready to be sent to the Printer!

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

by Eugene Field

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night

Sailed off in a wooden shoe-

Sailed on a river of crystal light

Into a sea of dew.

"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"

The old moon asked the three.

"We have come to fish for the herring-fish

That live in this beautiful sea:

Nets of silver and gold have we,"

Said Wynken,

Blynken,

And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,

And Nod is a little head,

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies

Is a wee one's trundle-bed;

So shut your eyes while Mother sings

Of wonderful sights that be,

And you shall see the beautiful things

As you rock in the misty sea

Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:-

Wynken,

Blynken,

And Nod.

This poem is a favorite of mine...many nights I read this to my own little babies.

To read the entire poem...go HERE.

Sweet Dreams!

This is my White Wednesday for this week!

Jeannie's Fun Day!

2012-01-08T21:49:00.000-06:00

We found these little treasures in a bucket of towels. My Friend bought one and I bought two.

Aren't these the cutest vintage Dish cloths you have ever seen?

On Saturday, I had no problem doing one thing at a time! Because, all day long I did the same thing. I had FUN!! Fun with a Friend!

Wednesday is the day for Sewing! Imagine. An entire day each week set aside just for sewing! That sounds like fun.

I spent the entire day with a Friend. We went shopping, mostly in a nearby town known for Antiques.

Monday is wash day. He doesn't mind that it's raining.

It was dark by the time we headed home!

And she fixed me a cup of Tea.

It was a good day.

Shopping on Thursday.

These towels fit right in with the book I am readying to help me simplify my life. The chapter for this week is do one thing at a time. These towel represent the practice of choosing one day for a particular chore. They didn't Wash and Shop on the same day.

No, Monday was Wash Day, Thursday was Market day, on these towels anyway.

And all day Wednesday they sewed (sounds more like a reward than a chore !).

One for my Friend. One for Me.

My Friend spotted these two Ready To Embroider Pillow Case Kits! It reminded me of when my Sister was visiting and we found an entire bag of Pillow Cases to embroider.

How can I be so lucky for this to happen twice?

Cross Stitch Flowers to embroider.

I had more FUN than should be legal.

(and you don't even know the half of it!!)

Miss January!!

2012-01-07T08:50:00.001-06:00

Flat Baby Betsy is Miss January!!

Doesn't she look surprised?

To find out more about Flat Baby Betsy...go HERE.

Here she is up on her lofty perch.

Her outfit for January is the Daygown from Smocked Baby Clothes. It's made out of yummy Swiss Flannel to keep her toasty warm.

The sleeves are so cute.

Just the right amount of gathers. And Smocked at the wrist. Smocking is the most beautiful way to gather fabric!

I smocked them with two rows of Cable stitch.

Then added a Rosebud.

The gown is Smocked with the old fashioned Honeycomb stitch. And notice how I finished the yoke where it meets the Smocking. No piping, instead, I inserted lace edging.

The front facing is edged with lace and I stitched embroidery between the buttonholes. If you notice how the floss has a bit of a sheen, it's because I used silk embroidery floss.

Look at the narrow lace edging. I think one mistake people often make when sewing baby clothes is to use lace that is too wide. I usually use an edging that is 1/4" to 3/8". Sometimes a wider lace looks good, especially on dresses or Christening gowns. But most Daygowns need a narrow lace.

I wanted to show you the facing at the hem. Often we are wondering what to do with the lace at the lower edge. Here, I continued the lace edging all the way to the bottom of the un-finished hem.

Then I turned it under and finished the hem.

So, you notice that there are two layers of lace edging on the outside of the facing.

Sometimes I will leave the lace un-gathered where the hem is turned under to reduce lace bulk but I rarely remember to do it.

I like it!

I am joining the Pink Saturday group (How Sweet The Sound)..

and continuing to try to simplify my life by doing "one thing at a time"!!

Tea In My Sewing Room and Simplify!

2012-01-05T13:03:00.001-06:00

It was a Fun surprise to receive this cute picture from Sarah!

She made my Christmas Baby Daygown using my pattern "Sweet and Simple Baby Daygowns". This design was featured in the Christmas Sew Beautiful magazine. But with a different Daygown pattern. I like the way it came out using Sweet and Simple. I like the tucks.

She did a very good job!

I have begun my New Year well! (having fun)

Tea in my Sewing Room with a friend is always a great way to begin the New Year!

Especially if you sew while having tea.

I am reading this book.

One chapter at a time.

This is what I learned from Chapter 1 : Do One Thing at a Time.

Now, this is good advice for me. I focus best when I have one thing in front of me. I know this, but there is so much I need to do and I want to do that sometimes I am all over the place, not doing anything well! I want a simpler life. I want to savor the moment! To put this in sewing terms....enjoy the stitching.

To quote Joyce "..by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do.." and for me that would mean NOT thinking about what comes next!

She gave a scripture for this chapter. Hebrews 12:2

"..and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..." Faith wise, it is all about keeping our focus on Jesus. And aren't we to do all things as if to the Lord.

So, do your best!

Smocked Bonnet.

2012-01-04T07:10:00.000-06:00

This Bonnet is in my Smocked Baby Clothes pattern.

This is the Classic Smocked Bonnet.

I love the way it frames a Baby's face.

They look like the center of a Flower!

Side View of Bonnet.

My friend Lorraine P came up with this finish when she was smocking Premie Bonnets.

Do you see how the edge is finished? It has been serged with the Rolled Hem on a Serger. And no fancy thread was used. Regular Dual Duty Thread in colors.

I love this finish.

Adjustable back, closed with a ribbon.

This is my White Wednesday for today with Faded Charm.

"There are two ways to reflect light:

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."

Edith Warton, 1862-1937

Reflections of a Sewing Lady...

2012-01-02T09:24:00.003-06:00

Baby Emma Pattern made from Blue Dotted Swiss Fabric. A favorite of mine.

Reflection is good.

I love cute babies in pretty Old Fashioned Baby clothes!

I have enjoyed reading many blogs about the projects and accomplishments of the year just past and I marvel at how productive everyone is!

I have been measuring my sewing tasks a little differently for a while now.

I am in love with my Baby Emma pattern. I just love stitching it!

Which projects brought me the most stitching joy? Did I look forward to working on them or was my attitude...I can't wait until this is finished!!

I always have both kinds of projects going at the same time. But my desire is to stitch garments that I delight in the making of them.

For me there are different parts of the project that will help make that distinction.

Fine, fine fabric is a pleasure to hold in my hands as I stitch.
And I love old lace!

* The materials I am using.

This has been part of my "Have more Fun" resolution and I continue with it. Who knew how much pleasure it would bring me! Pick my favorite fabric, lace, trim etc., for my project. No more waiting until I am doing something "worthy" of the lace I have been hording for 15 years. The time is now.

Find a project worthy of the materials you want to use.

And use them!

Stitching in my Garden.

* The physical environment I am in when I am sewing.

Now, my favorite sewing spots are my Garden and in front of my Fireplace. I have to plan and set aside the time to sew in those places. But I can enjoy my stitching curled up in a chair with a good light and music playing too.

And I love stitching with Friends...anywhere!

This little Redwork Bubble turned out to be one of the cutest garments I have ever made!! And I absolutely LOVE it.

But, I made it for a magazine article and the deadline was coming at me like a speeding bullet and I had not even decided what I was doing. So there is tension stitched up in this Romper. I want to make another....just for the fun of it. It's really easy to stitch, but it was hard to design!

* The time frame with which I have to sew the project.

I never enjoy sewing a garment when I am behind on a deadline. It is a tense, hurried affair. I could change that by beginning my project way in advance but I rarely do that. So, for me, it is the little Daygowns that I am making for pleasure, or a baby that is months away from being born or a pattern that is only in my imagination that delight me the most. I love making something that I know is destined to be worn.

Stitching pretty lace onto lovely fabric! Sigh...

* The pleasure is in the Process.

I love hand sewing. I love the feeling of the fabric in my hands. I love handling the lace and watching the stitching bring it all together. The way it comes alive with the soft colors of the embroidery thread.

This dress turned out to be an all time favorite of mine. And the stitching of it was pure bliss. It involves one of my favorite techniques - hand hemstitching. I could hemstitch for hours.

* The Technique that I am using

It is always fun to work your favorite techniques. For me they often involve hand stitches that are repetitive. It soothes me and I don't have to think about what I am doing too much. And the beauty of the stitches evolves before my eyes. Like Hem Stitching, or Snail Shirring, or the Shell Hem.

Loved doing this little Slip Dress for Sew Beautiful. I liked everything about it, especially the nifty way the ruffle was attached to the skirt.

* Sometimes I just love the project!

I am measuring my past "stitching" year by the pleasure I gained from the garments I made. And I am planning new projects for the coming year with the same attitude.

So, I am curious as to what brings you stitching joy?

"Behold what I have seen: it is good and fitting for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he does under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his lot; this is the gift of God."
Ecclesiastes 5:18-19

The Year of 2012!

2012-01-01T09:05:00.000-06:00

The New Year is like a Blank Sheet of paper....just waiting for your input!

"The Lord bless thee,

and keep thee:

The Lord make His face shine

upon thee, and be gracious

unto thee:

The Lord lift up his

countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

May the coming year bring you Peace, Joy and Plenty.

Pink Ruffled Brim Smocked Bonnet

2011-12-31T09:39:00.001-06:00

If you haven't been following the Bonnet posts, you can read about this model here.

Todays little Baby Bonnet is Smocked.

I call it my Ruffle Brim Smocked Bonnet.

A side view.

You can see that the bonnet is gathered up at the back and ties with a ribbon. Classic Smocked Bonnet style. This makes it somewhat adjustable, which is nice.

The lace edging was attached to the Bonnet Ruffled Brim using the machine Pin stitch. Stitched on the Pfaff Sewing machine.

This ribbon tie was attached to the Bonnet by simply folding the ribbon under twice and embroidering a little flower on top of it.

I think it's more comfortable for Baby to tie the ribbon off to one side of the Bonnet.

Italian Organdy fabric was used to make it. The fabric choice was perfect as the body of the Organdy really makes the ruffle pretty. Italian Organdy is not as stiff of Swiss Organdy. I love it.

The bonnet pattern is included with my OFB pattern "Baby's Smocked Layette"

And this is my Pink Saturday post along with How Sweet The Sound.

Pretty Blue Baby Bonnet.

2011-12-29T17:17:00.001-06:00

This Baby Bonnet features a fabric tie instead of Ribbon.

Todays Baby Bonnet comes from my OFB pattern "Baby Layette".

Although I did make up a different design than the pattern Bonnet, the basic bonnet is the same. Fabric is Swiss Nelona Batiste.

I love this zig zag Baby Lace Insertion.

I used the Tuck Guide that is included in the pattern for the French Daygown. Then I used an embroidery design from My Embroidery Book and stitched Lace Insertion on either side of the Tucks.

I stitched a Fancy Entredeux to the bonnet edge (which is unlined - unlike the pattern) and wove soft pink embroidery floss through each hole of the entreduex.

Added softly gathered Lace Edging to the ends of the Bonnet Ties, which I have hand sewn (easy peasy to do!).

I folded the upper part of the Bonnet Tie into tiny pleats and wrapped floss around it to keep it all together and then stitched it onto the Bonnet edge. And sewed a pretty old Pearl button on top of it.

The Bonnet Crown had the same pretty treatment of Tucks and Lace (again, using the Tuck Guide in the pattern).

I think Pinstitching the Lace to the fabric would make this Baby Bonnet extra lovely.

"Beautiful Bonnets are welcome in Babys' wardrobe year round and can serve a useful purpose. They keep baby warm in cold weather, and shade the eyes in summer. Bonnets accent Baby's pretty face as well!"

Pretty Baby Bonnet and Bonnet Training!

2011-12-28T07:26:00.001-06:00

This little Bonnet was made using my OFB pattern "Raglan Christening Gowns".

Find out about the pretty Bonnet Display in my first Bonnet post.

This is a classic Baby Bonnet such as was made for ages and ages. Lace and Swiss Batiste. The lace frill around the face is always flattering.

This bonnet has a lace embellished brim on it. And embroidery. My favorite stitch, Featherstitching!

I love a bonnet that has embellishment on the crown too.

I have used "Angel Lace" for most of the bonnet. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you can see the angels on the insertions (they are in the center of the insertion and alternate with one right side up and one upside down).

The ribbon ties on this bonnet have been double folded and stitched in place by hand. Sometimes you don't need a fancy Rosette.

Bonnet Training.

Did you know that you must Bonnet Train your little baby?

If Baby is used to wearing bonnets every time they are out and about, they will think nothing of it. But if you do not put bonnets on Baby as a regular part of their wardrobe, they will not want to keep it on their head at all!!

This is my White Wednesday for this week, along with Faded Charm!

About Baby Bonnets.

2011-12-26T07:13:00.000-06:00

Pink Bonnet is made from Swiss Flannel fabric.

I love Baby Bonnets!

And I love Babies in bonnets.

This used to be in my OFB Shop, used as a display.

I meet many nice people in my line of work. And I find Sewing ladies to be extra nice people. One lady I met was a Doll Maker many years ago and she would sew for her dolls. I think Carmel is now in her 90's, and she has given me this beautiful doll head that was mounted on a stand.

Perfect for displaying Baby Bonnets.

I used my pattern "Antique Christening Bonnet Collection" to make this bonnet.

This pretty little bonnet was featured in the September/October 2011 issue of Sew Beautiful magazine (page 54). The article did not have the Bonnet pattern in it but it did have all the instructions to create this Snail Shirred ruffle. And the embroidery design, too.

Snail Shirring (a name I kind of made up) is an old technique used to gather fabric in a pretty way.

I added a pretty Rosette to each side using Silk Satin Ribbon. I do have a kit for a different bonnet with instructions for Snail Shirring. But not as warm and snugly as this one.

I have a few more Bonnets to show you in the coming days....

Loves Pure Light.

2011-12-25T00:04:00.000-06:00

There was the true Light (Jesus) which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. John1:9

Jesus spoke saying"I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life". John8:12

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him". John 3:16

Happy Christmas to you all,

Jeannie

A Heavenly Host of Angels

2011-12-24T23:57:00.000-06:00

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!"

..they shall call His name Immanuel which means God with us. Luke:2

Handmade Christmas Ornaments

2011-12-23T17:26:00.001-06:00

I have a Friend who gives me Christmas ornaments every year.

She makes them.

This year she gave me a Hobby Horse.

They are all little works of art.

My Christmas Tree is a testament to how many years we've been friends.

My sister made this special ornament for me.

The little girl you see pictured is my Grandmother. She was 2 years old when the picture was taken in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Memories can be such good friends.

Stitching By the Fire.

2011-12-21T21:12:00.000-06:00

Well, a couple days ago, it was cold enough for a morning fire.

Cold is a relative thing.

It was in the 50's. And I was cold.

I was adding lace to the facing on my new Baby's First Daygown pattern.

Almost done.

and my brown dog was keeping me company

Doesn't he go well with this room?

I love to watch the flames dance.

And here is my cosy little chair where I can sit and stitch.

And watch the fire.

And sip tea.

And be with my brown dog.