Smocking in the Hoop - Brooch or Pin Cushions

Spiritual - Since we know and believe that He who directs all things is our Father, we will entrust ourselves to His direction with absolute confidence, and this we will remain sere even in adversity, strong in the conviction that He can made use of evil, of man's errors, and even of sins and malice for the good of the elect.

Sewing -  These delicate pin or brooch cushions are machined smocked rather than hand smocked.  Lace or edging is gathered around the outside.

AS&E "Marigold" - A Matching Dress for Gigi

Spiritual - "Mary teaches us that when our love of God is really perfect, it flows at once into generous love of our neighbor, because, as St. Thomas says, one who loves God, loves all that God loves.  If then, we have to recognize that in dealing with our neighbor we are not very charitable, nor very kind to him, nor attentive to his needs, we must conclude that our love for God is still very weak."  Divine Mercy

Sewing - This is  "Marigold" a little dress made from AS&E 97, page 18.  I made this to match the smocked top I made for Audrie.  It was fun to smock and fun to construct.  There is piping around the neckline.  The back skirt has a placket and the back bodice closes with two buttons.  The angel sleeves are self-lined.  When their mom gets a chance to take pictures of the two of them,  I'll post.

Dress front, sized from two in the issue to a three

Smocking pattern in article, piping detail, and angel sleeves

AS&E "Pony Club" - Smocked Top for Audrie

Spiritual -  "If Jesus is the Father of our souls,  Mary is their Mother, for, in giving us Jesus, she gave us true life; and later, by offering on Calvary the life of her Son for our salvation, she brought us forth  to the life of divine grace."  St. Alphonsus

 Sewing -  Audrie won't wear smocked dresses anymore :( .  So, I found this smocked top called the "Pony Club" top made using a pattern  in AS&E , Issue 98, page 27.  It is adapted from Sis Boom Pattern "Maddie" Top/Dress.  She picked the fabric and helped pick out the embroidery floss. 

Audrie

Pony Club smocked top

Smocked pattern in the issue - easy

Back is softly gathered.  Top slips over head.

Smocked Summer Dress

Spiritual -"In view of Jesus' infinite merits, we can never ask too much in His Name; we can never be too bold in imploring the plenitude of divine grace for our souls, in aspiring to that sanctity which is hidden, perhaps, but genuine.  There is no fault, no want of fidelity, no evil tendency, no sin, which, if sincerely detested, cannot be cleansed, purified, and pardoned by the Blood of Jesus; there is no weakness which He cannot cure, strengthen, and transform." Divine Intimacy

Sewing -  I started "Miss Daisy" for Audrie in 2002 when I first saw this in Issue No. 58 of Australian Smocking & Embroidery. The pattern sizes in the magazine were 1, 2, 4, and 6 years.  I cut out a size 2.   I smocked the front panels, then placed it, the remaining fabric, and the magazine in a project bag to complete later ...and forgot about it!  Well, many years later,  I finally completed that little dress just in time for Gigi to wear it.  She will be 3 late this summer.  I think it will fit perfectly, especially  because of the adjustable shoulder ties and fabric sash at the back waist.  It is made out of  baby blue poly cotton imperial microcheck  The front skirt is smocked and then embroidered with large white daisies. The original dress did not have the growth tuck in the skirt.  This was easy to smock and easy to construct and makes a darling summer dress.  I can't wait to see Gigi in this dress!

Audrie's Easter Dress

Spiritual - "Stay with us, Lord!  It is the cry of the soul who has found its God and never again wishes to be separated from Him. Let us too, as the disciples at Emmaus, go in search of the Lord.  Our whole life is a continuous journey toward Him, and we are often sad, even as they were, because we do not succeed in finding Him, because, not understanding His mysterious ways, it seems that He has abandoned us."  We are often frustrated because we do not know His ways and sometimes give up all hope, but like the experience of the apostles on the way to Emmaus, "God draws near our soul, makes Himself our traveling companion, and still more, lives in us by grace."  It'll only be when we reach heaven that His ways will be clear to us.
Divine Intimacy

Sewing -  I have to confess that I used McCall's M5838 for Audrie's Easter dress this year AND last year.  Last year I used a linen/cotton blend and a band of Spanish cotton lace at the waist.  It also had a ruffle at the skirt bottom.  This year, I used two cotton coordinating prints.  Audrie wanted a bubble skirt.

To make the bubble,  I cut the bottom of the skirt 3 inches below the knees, then made a 1/2"  casing at the bottom edge for 3/8" elastic.  I measured around her legs about 3 inches above her knees.  I cut a piece of elastic this measurement and placed it in a casing.  The elastic bottom is gently tucked under about 3 inches.  This makes the bubble!  She loves it!

New Bishops for Gillian

Spiritual -  God, let me be a living sacrifice of praise and example of your glory.  Please give me grace to accept daily life's inconveniences  and chores as your will.  Help me to put my wants and desires secondary to the service of my family and people you put in my life daily.  Only then will I maintain peace and joy.  This I pray, through your son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Sewing - I've decided to make two new dresses for Gigi to put under the tree - a rust plaid one and a mint green one with a matching swing coat.  The dress & swing coat pattern I used was Gail Doane's wonderful book Sew Cute Couture . The bishop pattern has a slight curve in the center front and back. Plaids must be pleated along the plaid lines. Therefore, the neckline is straight rather than slighted curved when pleated and smocked.  During construction, I accounted for this by placing the the bias neck band  3/8"  lower in the center front and center back.  That ensured that the hem would be even all around the dress.  Is that as clear as mud?  lol.  I machine-embroidered Sandy Jenkin's Nursery Rhymes on the swing coat.  You should see her in this outfit! 

Christmas Dresses

Spiritual - What we celebrate at Christmas is the incarnation of Jesus.  That opened the floodgates  of grace to be able to live virtuous lives.   In order for us the be virtuous or "do good actions",  virtues must be practiced consistently and with proper disposition.  The more we practice them, the sooner that become habitual or a way of life that  builds and identifies our character.  Our church, as well as early philosophers identified four that have been labeled "cardinal" -, fortitude (moral courage), justice(give God and our neighbor what is his due), prudence (right judgment), and temperence (self-control).  Lord, please help me develop and improve these virtues so that I can give glory to you and that I may bring happiness and peace to myself and those around me.  Amen.

Sewing - This year Jennie chose a silk taffeta reproduction of a Crewcut dress for Audrie and a smocked bishop for the baby.  I found a beautiful light grey (silver) silk taffeta from Fabric.com.  It took awhile to decide what smocking pattern and silk ribbon colors to use on Gigi's dress, but all was finally decided and the smocking began.  Gigi's dress was easy compared to Audrie's.   Several patterns in my stash went together to get the pattern needed to copy the Crewcut dress.  Next, I made a muslin to fit her.  Finally, the dress was completed  and the underskirt was started.  I made the underskirt separate and with several "growth" tucks so she could wear it with other dresses later.  I'm happy with the results.  Gigi got a hair clip and paci clip, too!

Evening Bags - Smocking by Machine

Sewing - These evening bags were all made using instructions and inspirations from The Boutique Collection CD by Debbie Yedziniak.   The flaps of the bags were smocked in the hoop by embroidery machine and were so much fun to make.  The purses are made of dupioni silk, various trims, beading, and chains.  I have given a few as gifts and have sold a few.  I took a class from Debbie during a Martha Pullen seminar in Opelousas that was hosted by Brambleberry Lane owned and operated by Elaine Richard in 2007.   Debbie has wonderful stuff on her website and is a generous teacher and developer.  She allows her students to make and sell stuff made from her patterns and CDs.  Yea, Debbie.