"Baby Dress" by Creations by Miche

Spiritual -  Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen today that you and I can't handle together.

Sewing - The "sit and sew" group is working on an heirloom dress using "Baby Dress" by Creations By Michie - their first venture into heirloom sewing. Most of the students chose View A which is the dress with the scallop hem.  I made View C  using Martha's Favorite Batiste in white with ecru lace and embroidered with ecru DMC  floss (one strand).  Although, there are embroidery designs included in the pattern, I chose a design from a vintage embroidery book that I have in my collection. At this point, most of the students are completing the lace at the hem edge.  During the the next class they will trace an embroidery design and practice the embroidery stitches. Some are loving "heirloom" sewing and some are finding it a bit "tedious" after sewing less complicated projects.  Some are working on their 2nd dress!  Pictures of the completed dresses will be posted later
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Dress front

Round yoke, ecru lace, pinstitching

Embroidery on yoke

Embroidery on lower dress front

Preparing kits for Embroidery 101

Spiritual - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.  For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God." Heb 12:1-2  Hebrews 1-13 gives me such comfort knowing that Jesus chose to know pain and suffering for the sake of each one of us.  This inspires me and gives me deeper faith and courage to endure the trials and crosses in my daily life, because glory awaits me, too.  This passage seems to state that we are to look at these trials as "disciplines" because a good father disciplines his children.  I look back on the many hardships and painful trials I suffered due to selfishness, self-centeredness, etc.  I didn't always want to own up to my part.  Thank God, through the eyes of a growing faith, I see them more clearly now. They have made me a better person. Now, when difficult situations occur, I am quicker to see them as loving discipline which helps me to avoid mistakes, make amends, and forgive others for their transgressions.  Thank you, Lord, for your loving mercy.

Sewing - Life has been very busy lately and I haven't been able to get to the machine as much as I would have liked.  But, today I am getting all the kits for the hand sewing embroidery class ready to go.  The wool felt feels so good and looks so pretty.  I'm now a distributor for wool blend felt in this area.  If anyone is interested in this luscious felt, let me know.  I'll be offering childrens' hand sewing classes starting this summer and using this felt for those classes.  The kids will eventually move up to machine sewing.   I'm also trying to complete an order for seven daygowns for a baby boy due soon.  The client wanted them white or blue and very simple.  As soon as I am finished, I'll take pictures.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011

Needle book for my pincushion!

Spiritual -  Lent.  This lent I have to change my attitude about confession.  I  have studied what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is and what that unbelievable sacrament has to offer.  So, why don't I go as often as I should?  That is the question I will tackle this lent.  In a sincere confession to a priest, acting in His Person (in perona Christi), I receive the grace to make a great effort to "sin no more" and the "promise" of hearing those words again, "I resolve you" when I commit the same sin again.  Pride, assumption,  lack of preparation, and habit are all areas I will think and pray over.  I have known the transforming power that comes with consistent prayer and the Holy Eucharist.  To grow more fully in Christ, Confession, on a regular basis is essential.  God, give me the grace to identify the root/cause in me that prevents me from experiencing You even more fully.

Sewing -  I have made this little needle book to go with the yellow wool heart pincushion.  Pincushions are great for pins, but not so great for needles.  Because needles have no head, they can get buried in the fiber.  You can find them later ("ouch") or you won't find them when you need them.  A needle book solves the problem and is great for taking to classes.  I put a little pouch on the inside front cover for needle threaders or even a small pair of embroidery scissors.  There are also little ridges on each page at intervals to place the needles. The needle book and pincushion are both made of wool blend felt and fiberfill.  Wool felt flowers, leaves, beads, and embroidery are added for embellishment.  These are completely hand stitched and is a perfect beginner sewing project!

Why handsewing as a first lesson???

Students often can't wait to get to the sewing machine, thinking that things will go faster and easier. They sometimes have the misconception that EVERYTHING can be done on the machine. But, on many projects, hand basting is needed to manipulate the fabric to make the project easier to sew with the machine, eliminating mistakes and frustration. Ninety-five percent of the time the last stitches on a project or garment will be handsewing - bias bands, sleeve bands, hems, buttons.

Embroidery is a wonderful embellishment on garments, baby clothes, bonnets, hair accessories, felt animals or dolls.

To many sewists, handsewing is a curse instead of being a pleasurable experience. Handsewing can be very relaxing, calming, and fulfilling. I think the problem is that many sewists didn't learn to enjoy the process and only thought of it as a means to "complete" the project. Learning to handsew first, IMHO, will help to alleviate many frustrations.

What do you think?

Beginner's Handsewing Class

Spiritual - What happens when women give their lives over to God? They become vessels of grace, bearers of healing, consolation, encouragement and strength to a troubled world. Far from being passive, the woman of grace will actively embrace God's will, actively seek out the suffering and lost, and actively bring God's healing love to others. Johnnette Benkovic, Full of Grace

Sewing -  Create one of these lovely hand stitched pincushions in which you will learn 4/5 stitches in this lesson - the back stitch, lazy dazy, french knot, running stitch, and the blanket stitch.  These are made of wool blend felt, embroidery floss, beads, and polyester fill,  It will be completed totally using hand stitches.  This is a wonderful "take anywhere" project and makes a very nice gift. 

  

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011