"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

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.

OFB Toddler Summer Dresses Pattern

Spiritual - Prayer of Being Forgiven  Loving Lord, mindful of your mercy and the love that took you to the cross, I place myself before you and ask your forgiveness for all the times when I have failed to follow you.  Lord Jesus, forgive me and help me become more like you each day.  Amen.

Sewing -  In 2011, the Old Fashioned Baby Sewing/Bible Retreat ladies made Jeannie's new pattern (not out at the time), Toddler Summer Dresses, size 1-3.  The dress has two views with different construction techniques.  One version has a tucked yoke with lace insert and the other version has a yoke in which hand shadow embroidery or your favorite machine embroidery design can be used.  It is made with white 100% cotton broadcloth.  I will have a picture soon with Gigi in this dress at the beach!

Simple sleeveless yoke dress, ribbon inserted in beading at waist

Skirt bottom border - hand embroidery, triple tucks, Swiss edging with floss woven through

Yoke - Lace edged Swiss insertion, floss woven into insertion double tucks, ribbon and beading at waist

Old Fashioned Baby 2012 Sewing/Bible Retreat

Spiritual -  Regina Coeli  Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia: for he whom you merited to bear, alleluia, has risen, as he said, alleluia.  Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Sewing - During the 2012 Old Fashioned Baby Sewing/Bible retreat, we made this adorable little nighty and pillow case. Both are made from a sweet all white blended fabric ($8.95/yd) that resembles the wonderful all cotton Swiss dimity ($23/yd).  Of course, I have it in the shop.  It would look adorable in a little sleeved yoke dress with a pastel pink or blue slip underneath!  The techniques Jeannie used in this little nighty included shadow embroidery, bullion loop trim, ribbon slipped through lace beading at the hem, and a sweet trim using floss on the heading of the pillow case.  Jeannie Baumeister is a wonderful, patient, master teacher.

Little girl nighty, size 3 - made for Gigi

Entredeaux at neck edge with hand made bullion trim

Pillow case showcasing the shadow embroidery done on pillow and on bodice

Nighty & Pillow case to match

Diane Kimono Dress from Serendipity Studio

Spiritual - When the Lord tells us that we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8), He is not punishing us;  He's telling us that we are going to pay the "natural consequences" of our actions.  This Law of Sowing and Reaping eventually changes our behavior and we become better people.  Unfortunately, the Law of  Sowing and Reaping can be interrupted.  That is, we don't reap what we sow because someone else steps in and prevents us from paying the consequences which enables us to continue irresponsible behavior.   (Ex.:  mother keeps paying our overdue bills so we are not hounded by creditors and we keep spending beyond our means).  "The Law of Sowing and Reaping has been repealed. It is still in operation.  But the doer is not suffering the consequences; someone else is."  Boundaries, Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend


Sewing - Finally, I have a new dress! I got this pattern for the shop many "moons" ago and made it from a floral red print cotton lawn I have in the shop.  I really like it!  The lady who designs this simple little dress is Kay Whitt of Grand Prairie, Texas.  She has designed several other dresses that are "vintage" looking with  simple, but well done, construction techniques.  I'll be making another pattern of hers soon.

No. 117  Diane Kimono Dress from Serendipity Studio

 

Dress front

                                           

    Dolman sleeves & overlapped front bodice

Drawstring  "above" the waist;  edgestitching for nice detail

Back

The pattern has options to make a slim or full skirt with or without tiers in four different lengths.  Bodice variations include plain or ruched shoulder seams.  This dress slips over the head...no zippers or button plackets to do!

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!

Family Christening Gown from "Grandmother's Hope Chest"

Spiritual - "O Christ, sweet Jesus, give me this holy charity, that I may persevere in doing good and never give it up; for he who possess charity is founded on You, the living rock, and by following Your example, he learns from You how to love His Creator and his neighbor.   St. Catherine of Siena

Sewing - When my daughter and her husband were expecting their first child, I asked them to pick out a Christening gown from Grandmother's Hope Chest, French Sewing by Machine by Martha Campbell Pullen, PhD.   They chose the Christening Puffing Coat and Underdress. 



The "coat"  is actually an overdress and buttons at the front bodice.  It is made of white Nelona and Cluny lace.  There are three panels of 2-inch puffing sandwiched between panels of three double needle pintucks with machine featherstitching between the sets of three pintucks. The sleeves have a straigth panel of the feather/pintucks strips with entredeux on both  sides and Cluny lace at the edges of the sleeves.  The lined front bodice, closed with two buttons, has pintucks/featherstitching panels with entredeux between each panel. A 5-inch ruffle edged with Cluny lace is attached to the bottom of the coat with entredeux. The total length of the gown is 33".














The underdress  or slip has Cluny lace at the neck and the sleeves.  It has a 5 inch ruffle that is trimmed with Cluny.  Each child that is christened in this dress has his/her name embroidered on the slip along with the date of the baptism.  The Christening cap is made of panels featherstitching /pintucks with Cluny lace at the brim. 

Christmas, 2005

Spiritual -"Rejoice in the Lord always." "Whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the  glory of God"  (Phil 4,4 - 1 Cor 10,31)

Sewing - Diamants Noirs , Sew Beautiful Issue 103, 2005, designed by Kathy Barnard, inspired Jennie to have me make the "Black Diamond Dress" and "Button on Suit" for Audrie and Liam for Christmas.  I used white silk dupioni and black cotton velveteen.  The pattern for the dress, Pascale) was in the centerfold.  It is now a pattern published and sold by Martha Pullen Pattern Collection.  Liam's button on pants is "David" from The Children's Corner and the shirt is from "Michael", also The Children's Corner.  I did not find the technique, peek-a-boo diamond windows hard.  I stayed focused and tried to be as careful to detail as possible.  The instructions and diagrams were easy to follow and understand.  Liam is now 7 and can't believe I "put" him in that "outfit!"  I think he is adorable!  Audrie looks like a southern belle.

Gigi's Bikini Sun Suit

Spiritual -  "The Lord 'wakeneth my ear, that I may hear Him as a master,' says Isaiah, 'The Lord hath opened my ear, and I do not resist;  I have not gone back' (50,4.5).  This should be the interior attitude of a soul  who wishes to let itself be guided by the Holy Spirit."

Sewing -  Jackie Young's article in Sew Beautiful Magazine, issue 130, forced me to make this cute little sun suit for Gigi.  Of course, I traced the pattern out a year ago and just completed it.  I used pink seersucker from the shop and placed her monogram on the bikini top.  Once she saw it, she threw her clothes off and put this on and refused to take it off for a long, long time.  This was fast and easy.  The pattern is in the centerfold and is for sizes 6m-4T.