Square Yoke Daygowns Faggoting

Spiritual - "God's goodness is so patient that it does not stop at the ingratitude, the resistance, or even the crimes of His creatures, but His grace always pursues them.  God could, in all justice, requite man's sins by depriving him of life and all the other good things He has bestowed upon him, but His infinite goodness prefers to shower upon man new gifts and new proofs of His kindness. Has he not said: "I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live' (Ez 33,11)?"  Divine Intimacy

Sewing - "Precious Baby Daygowns, Square Yoke Collection", is a fabulous book published by Martha Pullen Publication and contains daygowns, bubbles, bonnets, bibs,  and nursery accessories.  The patterns for these are included.  What is wonderful are the techniques covered in this book from bias bands, continuous lap plackets, tucks, peek-a-boo pleats, heirloom techniques, pinstitching, to hemming with fusible thread by serger ... all for $20!  The technique I learned from this book was hand faggoting or bridging that looks so much more complicated that it looks!  The instructions were clear and easy to follow.  I made a boy daygown and a girl daygown, using the bridging in different places.  It was really fun.  I have to practice  little more when turning corners around the front collar - probably have to shorten my stitches.  You will notice that in the collar picture.  I love the technique on the sleeve!  You just have to try it!

Family Reunion Dress for Gigi

Spiritual - How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly... Ps. 139:17  Help me, Lord, to always remember my total dependence of You.
 
 Sewing -  This is the Family Reunion Dress by Oliver + s.  I started this dress for Gigi about 4 weeks ago and just completed it!  I am that busy - lessons, alterations, campaign parties, doctors, not to mention husband, child, and grandchildren!  Ahhh...the challenges of life.

Liesl Gibson, founder and premier designer of Oliver + s, uses a system of scissors on the envelope to denote the difficulty of the pattern. She gives this one a two.  As you can see on the website, her designs are unique .  Even the pattern envelope is different - they include a five-inch-high paper doll and outfit to match the dress.  They sell for $15.95, are multiple sized, and are available in the shop.

This dress has two options for embellishment - a tab and button, or,  the one I chose, a ruffle down the center.  It also features pintucked pleats at the front and back,  short sleeves, and several rows of top stitching at the hem.  It  buttons up the back and would be darling shortened to make a blouse.

Gigi's Easter Dress - Another Gail Doane Design

Spiritual -   "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold,  Oh Lord, 

                       You know the whole of it

                  Behind me and before, you hem me in and 

                       rest your hand upon me.

                  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

                       too lofty for me to attain.

                  Where can I go from your spirit?

                       from your presence where can if flee?

                   If  I go up to the heavens, you are there; 

                       if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.

                   If I take the wings of the day, 

                       if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

                   Even there your hand shall guide me,

                       and your right hand hold me fast.

                   If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall hide me,

                       and night shall be my light'

                  Truly you have formed my inmost being 

                       you have knit me in my mother's womb.

                  I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;

                       wonderful are your works.

                  My soul also you know full well;

                       nor was my fram unknown to you

                  When I was made in secret,

                      when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth

                  Psalms 139, 4-16

Sewing - This took me a long time...but, I had to do it.  You may remember a similar outfit I did for Gi from the 12-16-10  post.  This bishop and swing jacket is from Gail Doane's "Sew Cute Couture"  book.  I did use the designs from one of her ideas and the colors from another - my own way of mixing it up.  I will be carrying this book in my sewing studio and it comes with the patterns for a bishop dress, a yoke dress, this swing jacket, a jacket with bound edges or contrast bands for the older girl,  a wrap skirt, and several purses.  The size range is 6 months to 12 years, making this book a great buy for the patterns alone.  The instructions are clear and precise. These are classic patterns that will never go out of style.

The Old Fashioned Baby Retreats

Spiritual - Our gifts are from God and are meant to be used to bring glory and others to God.  I am so blessed to have received the gift of being able to sew, to love friends, and to want to teach.  Since I taught high school for many years, I appreciate how hard most teachers work to do justice to their students.  I think they do it because of the higher calling they received from God.  Success in teaching is hard to assess because we are only one teacher in the educational or spiritual process of any student. Mother Theresa used to say that it is our trying that counts, not whether or not we succeeded.  I embraced that concept and believed it.

Sewing - Jeannie Baumeister, owner of The Old Fashioned Baby, hosts annual sewing and spiritual retreats that are wonderful. She and a bff have figured out a perfect recipe for a retreat that combines a themed Bible Study with a sewing program. Jeannie always has a progressive sewing project and is a patient, loving, and capable teacher. She and Belinda love their faith and their knowledge of the Bible shows in the study periods. This retreat begins on Friday around 3 and ends on Sunday at noon. I look forward to it every year.