Gigi's New Car Coat

Spiritual - "If God had not decreed that the Incarnation of His Son should take place in the womb of a virgin, we should never have had that masterpiece of grace and loveliness, the Most Blessed Virgin; we should never have had her smile or her maternal caresses.  Therefore, we love and honor Mary because she is the Mother of God, the Mother of Jesus;  and loving her in her relations to God, our devotion to her only makes our love for God, for Jesus, deeper and more tender."  Divine Intimacy


Sewing -  Gigi has a new car coat.  I got this fabric from Heirloom Creations last year.  I am smocking a bishop in a coordinating fabric and will be posting about that soon.  This fabric is a two sided quilted fabric. During construction of the coat, I carefully separated the two fabrics to the seam lines, sewed the right sides together (choosing the animal print as right side).  Then I turned under the seam allowance under on the geometric side and hand stitched it closed.  I did this with all internal seams, including the hood.  This made the entire coat reversible.  I added a bias trim on the outside edges to complete the little coat.  I used Children's Corner pattern "Casey".  I first saw this coat in Heirloom Creations as a sample made by Babs Martin.  It was so cute I knew Gigi had to have one. I couldn't remember the technique Babs used in constructing the seams, but I like what I did.  Thanks, Babs for the idea!

Martha's Windowpane Shirt

 Spiritual -  Divine wisdom, perfect knowledge of God, is also perfect knowledge of all that exists and all that will ever exist - there is no error in it because it is eternal and immutable truth.  Therefore, God knows  everything about us, the most secret movements of our hearts.  "Let us ask Him for the grace to know ourselves in His light, in His eternal truth."  Divine Mercy

Sewing - I saw this jacket on one of my instructors while taking a certification course at Martha Pullen's in Huntsville, Ala.  I knew I'd be making one.  This project begins with one of her windowpane shirts.  I chose several designs from the Baby Vintage II collection of embroidery designs to machine embroidery in some of the "windowpane" squares. and on the yoke back.  The rounded tail is cut off and about 6 inches of the cuff is cut off.  The edges of the newly squared bottom and three-quarter cuff are serged and a lace is sewn on.  The lace is 1 1/2 inches wide.

I have windowpane shirts  in several colors and the lace in the shop. This is a quick and fun project.  Martha has a summer one in which she embroider stick figures and embroidered her grandchildrens' names on each square - darling!

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.

The Bomber Cap

Spiritual -  Since Divine wisdom is a perfect knowledge of everything, there is nothing new it can learn because it sees everything in an eternal present.  "The very hairs of your head are numbered"  (Mt 10,30)  During prayer time this morning I read this from my favorite prayer book, Divine Intimacy,  "God knows us much better that we know ourselves; the most secret movements of our hearts, even those which escape our control, are perfectly manifest to Him.  Let us ask Him for the grace to know ourselves in His light, in His eternal truth."  A priest told me once, during confession, not to concentrate so much on my faults, but on my virtues.  This last line helped me to finally understand what he meant.  If I could only see myself in His light, in His eternal truth, I probably would love myself and others more and sin against myself and others less.  Thank you,  Holy Spirit, for that revelation.






Sewing -  I made the pattern for this little cap when Liam, now 7, was one years old.  It was a cross between an antique pattern and a cap from a box of family heirlooms.  I've been wanting to produce a pattern of this cap, but needed to make sure I had the proper sizing  for today's child. I have been making and selling this cap for several years and I think I have the sizing down for a pattern.  Maybe soon. The chin strap and folded brim reminds me the leather "bomber's" cap of the old war movies.   The first one I made was navy corduroy and I made a double breasted jacket to go with it.  Liam was so adorable in it and wore it for 2 years.  I'll have to put it in the shop til the next grandson comes along. 

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011

The Garde Soleil

 Spiritual - "When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us."  Alexander Graham Bell    Lord,  Show us how to live for today.  Help us to be so attuned to Your Will that we will experience all that You have for us.  Amen

 









 Sewing - The garde-soleil or sun bonnet was designed and worn by European and Acadian women and children to protect them from the sun.  "Garde" refers to guard and "soleil" refers to sun.  There are many patterns for the sun bonnet because women made their own patterns to reflect their own styles according to their place in society and, also, according to the function of the bonnet (working in the fields, church, mourning, etc).  Most patterns we have today are made from bonnets that were passed from mother to daughter for many generations.  You can still find dated ones in antique stores in this part of the country.  What a treasure!  They look so cute on babies and little girls and protects them from the sun and wind.

Hair Accessories Class - Wednesday, August 31, 6-8

Spiritual - "The two most powerful tools a woman has to influence a man are respect and admiration.  He will do most anything to get genuine appreciation, respect, admiration, and pride from you."
Rick Johnson, The Man Whisperer 

Sewing - These are so much fun to make!  If you have minimal cutting skills, minimal hand sewing skills,  and minimal hot gluing skills, you have it in the bag . The class is $15.00 + a kit fee of $6.00.  Materials used are chiffon, satin, and wool felt in a variety of colors. You will learn to make three different styles of hair clips which may be applied to bobby pins, alligator clips, pony tails holders, or headbands. You'll take home at least  three finished pieces and the skills to make tons of hair clips for your girls, nieces, and granddaughters!   Reserve you spot!

The Classroom & Shop are Ready

Spiritual - The promise of Jesus that They would take "abode" in us is never ending; it is renewed every time we exhibit charity.  This gift, so freely and generously given, should compel us to our own generosity and constant charity. As humans we need much help in this area.  "The Blessed Trinity will set no limits to the effusion of charity and grace in our soul, provided we place no obstacle to their development. Our horizon is broad and boundless, because the model proposed to us by Jesus for our life of union with the Blessed Trinity, is that very union that exits between the three divine Persons Themselves."  All we have to do to grow in charity is to try to love a little more each day or receive grace through the Sacraments and They multiply that love until we don't even recognize ourselves.

Sewing -  My arm is a bit stiff, but out of the splint and sewing and altering away!   Caroline, my PA is a doll and has a great business mind.  You can see her sitting at the desk pretending she's loving putting in all that inventory.  She'll be going to school in the fall, but will still have a few hours for me each week.  We have everything ready in the shop and in  the classroom.  As you can see, I've posted a few classes.  If you are interested in a full schedule, email or private message me.

I will be opening the shop on an "on call" basis and on particular Wednesdays of the month.  The shop will be open  from 9 - 4 on Aug. 31, Sept. 14 & 28.  Of course,  I will sell merchandise before and after classes if students need anything.  If you know anyone who needs sewing supplies, please give them my number - 942 1485.

Please call if there are any classes you are interested in or particular time frames that would work better for you.  I am pretty flexible.  I hope you will call soon:)

Four More Weeks in the Splint!

Front  Door

Spiritual - "The kingdom of God is within you." (Lk 17,21)  The Blessed Trinity took abode in our soul the very moment of our Baptism.  If They are already present in our soul, then why do we continue to ask Them to come to us in time of prayer or need?  The church teaches us that the friendship or relationship we have with the Trinity is in different degrees.  As a soul grows in grace and charity, it acquires a greater capacity for a deeper relationship and this visit is renewed each time we advance in charity or receive grace from the Sacraments.  Because these new "effusions" produce effects which are new, we call them new visits of the divine Persons.  "Their visit does not come from without but from within the soul itself, where They dwell and give Themselves; and even, to a certain degree, reveal Themselves to the soul according to the words of Jesus: "He that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father and I will Love him and will manifest Myself to him"...  Divine Intimacy     More on this next time.

Rear  Foyer

Sewing - FOUR more weeks in my splint!  This fractured arm has given me a whole new perspective.  It has made me more cognizant of disabled people and maimed soldiers.  It has also slowed me down a bit and helped me to "smell the roses."  That is a good thing.

What is happening in the shop?  Wreaths are on the doors, fabric priced and  on the shelves, patterns organized,  notions, beads, and floche on the pegboards, books in racks, laces, piping, bias, and ribbons in slots, wool felt on shelves,  and sewing tables and machines  are ready for students.  Thanks to my PA (personal assistant), a student between semesters, I have been able to continue to get things going in spite of my splinted arm. The shop will also carry sewing and serger thread, elastic, trims, buttons, small supply of zippers, DMC embroidery floss, DMC floche, Madeira silk floss, interfacing, stabilizers, jewelry, baby gifts etc.

Laces and Ribbons

Classes have been postponed as well.  I taught a few private beginning sewing classes and have managed well. Classes I plan to offer starting in the fall include "learning" your sewing machine and serger classes, beginning sewing, beginning hand sewing,  heirloom bonnets, day gowns,and Christening gowns,  hair accessories, unlined jackets, making and fitting panties,  skirts, sundresses, knitting and crochet, baby layettes, etc. These classes will be scheduled according to demand.  Jewelry lessons will also be taught by Jennie P. Stelly, JennStones.

Sit and Sew classes will be for sewers who already know how to sew and know their machines well.  These will be 3 hour sessions.  There will be a morning session and an evening session once a week to start. Tuesdays seems to be the plan for Sit and Sew at the moment. 

Caroline, my PA (lol) and I work everyday to get ready to start teaching & selling.  Actually, if you need supplies, call me, 942-1485, and we can make arrangements for you to come by. 

Back  Door

Fractured Right Radius

Right Angle Weave Bracelet Class by JennStones

 Spiritual - "When you are tormented by any passion or evil inclination, if you be so weak as to yield to it, and let it lead you, take it for a certain truth, that it will take deeper root, wage a more violent war against you.  But if you resist it courageously at first, it will daily diminish.  Every day it will have less strength to act upon you, till at length, it will come to have none at all."  St. Dorotheus 

This class is perfect for ages 8 and up.  The right angle weave technique is fun, easy to learn, and can be used to make an endless variety of accessories.  In this class, you will learn the right angle weave and toggle clasp attachment techniques.  For $15 plus the price of materials, ranging from $7 to $36, depending on your choice of pearl, gemstone, or Swarovski crystal, you can have a fun new hobby and a breathtaking, timeless accessory that you made yourself!!!!!! Also, these bracelets make excellent gifts.  Jewelry making parties are available for ages 8 and up.  Please call 692-7786 for inquiries.

 Glass Pearl Bracelet        Kit Price: $9.00

 Vintage Rose and Turquoise Bracelet       Kit Price: $18.00

 Swarovski Crystal Bracelet          Kit Price:  $36.00

Photography by Jennie Stelly

Spiritual - "Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize?  Run so as to win.  Every athlete exercises discipline in every way.  They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.  Thus I do not run aimlessly;  I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.  No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified."  1 Cor 10: 24-27.  The great St. Paul put things so clearly.  St Paul, pray for me that I run the race as if to win and have the courage to live what I preach.  Although I desire to overcome them, my faults are many.

Sewing -  SewHealing Sewing Studio will open in July.  I have been working like a dog - roof  roof - to get everything ready.  The classroom is just about there, needing a few more chairs, and a schedule, of course.  The fabric, patterns, lace, and notions are not all priced and in their "homes", but I'll keep working on that in the next couple of weeks.  The shop and class schedule will be posted by the end of this week.  I'm very excited, albeit tired.  Jennie will be teaching jewelry classes.  She has already planned an intermediate class.   As soon as I can take pictures of that project, I'll post them and her class schedule, too.  Anyone interested in a shop hours and class schedule by email, please send me your email address via private message on fb.  Hope to have pictures soon.