Wee Care Delivery......

Long time, no write!!!  I actually have been stitching a bit here and there - Just not taking the time to post, I guess. Our local SAGA Smocking Guild has been busy the past few months.  We were finishing up our Wee Care gowns for delivery. 

Our wonderful group of ladies really out did themselves this time around!!!  Just look at all these adorable gowns that are now ready and waiting at the local NICU to bless families going through potentially rough times!

I love seeing the creativity and individuality of the ladies.  All gowns were made from the same pattern but yet were all so very different.  Thank you to all our wonderful members that made this year's delivery a huge success!!!  Are you interested in making these precious gowns for your local community?  You can check out SAGA's website here and see if there is a local guild near you.  They would be thrilled to have you join in the fun!!!  And blessing others is always good!!!!

Finally....A Finished Bishop.......

Thank you all so very much for the kind words surrounding my kidney infection. This has really been crazy. I've never had anything like this in my entire life and I hope I never have it again. I was in bed for a solid 6 days! Finally on Monday I was able to move around a bit and actually had a bit of motivation in me to sit and hand stitch for a minute or two. During that time I made the button loops and stitched the buttons on this dress. I am so happy to be finished with it. Inside I am jumping up and down....but if I were to really do that I would have to hold my side which still hurts. (Seven solid days on antibiotics and my side still hurts....strange!)

Anyway it seems like I've been working a few minutes here and there on this bishop forever! I am so glad to be finally finished!!!

This little dress completes my requirements for the SAGA Correspondence Course I am taking. I will happily put it in an envelope tomorrow and send it to the instructor for her honest and experienced critique. I know I like it.

And although I still don't feel great, I am better. Last night I even picked up my OFB gown from last summer to work on. I can't believe I have let it sit this long unfinished....but I think some more hand stitching sounds like a good thing!

Remember This.......

I mentioned awhile back I was taking a Correspondence Course through SAGA. With all the craziness this Spring I almost forgot about this bishop and let it slip through the cracks. Not good. However, I am now actively working on it as you can see below. I have a few more rows to go and then some flowers to add. Plus then I have to construct the sweet little dress.

I am pleased with it thus far! And I'll be really happy when it is finished!

What have you all been up to? We are staying cool and keeping busy. Today we are headed to the library....it is truly one of our most favorite destinations! I haven't been able to squeeze much sewing in lately, although I did make the girls skorts for their church Spring program a few weeks back. I'll have to remember to take some pictures. Do you notice the trend here? I have lots of projects finished....I just can't seem to get my act together and get pictures taken and then posted. I must work on that!

Enjoy the day, friends!!!! And try to work in a bit of stitching here or there!

More Smocking......

It seems I always have multiple sewing projects going at any given time. Currently I'm working on the Larkin and a few other things....but I'm also getting started on a bishop. I mentioned before that I am taking a Smocking Correspondence Course through SAGA. I have so enjoyed this course! I taught myself to smock about 11 years ago so I've always wondered if I am doing things correctly. This course has reassured me I am doing it right.....and it has given me a few tips along the way too. The first three lessons involved creating a sampler and the final two lessons start and complete a bishop. I've made many bishops over the years and I've always enjoyed the process. Actually my first ever smocked project was a bishop.

Last year I realized I had a shoe box full of embroidery floss. Some of it was purchased the week before and some of it had been with me for 20+ years. I made a split decision to throw it all away unless I knew it was new. As a result I now have very little floss at any given time. So today when I went digging for floss, I was surprised that I actually had some that matched this floral fabric. The colors above look like they don't match...but they really do. I honestly do use the same floss colors over and over again. I bet you thought I was really kidding when I mentioned it before.

Week in Review....

(Those huge stitches are only basting stitches...so don't panic!)

Last Saturday afternoon our local Smocking Guild hosted a class with Claudia Newton. Claudia taught us how to do drawn thread work and the project was a precious little baby diaper shirt. I am about 50% complete with my embroidery at this point and I am loving it. I can't wait to finish it. I have consciously avoided drawn thread work for awhile now. Mostly because I thought it would be too fiddly and would put a major strain on my eyes. I am happy to say...I didn't find it too fiddly....but it is definitely a strain on the eyes! But I do think it is going to be well worth it!! Have you ever had the pleasure of taking a class with Claudia? She is such a wealth of knowledge and her kits are incredible...she thinks of everything!!!

While I was enjoying such a wonderful Saturday, my Elisabeth was at home developing a fever and a sore throat. That's never good.

On Monday Wayne had to travel to Virginia for most of the week. That brings me to the above picture. It probably doesn't look like much....but it's the raw ingredients for homemade cooked playdough. I surprised the kids and made some. Playdough is a staple in our house...but unfortunately we had none. So we made some. I used to make this recipe all the time when I used to teach. It is a little grainy compared to the store-bought stuff....but it is cheap and fast.

And it makes a lot so all three little ones can play and have fun....for hours!!! And that is VERY helpful when the daddy is out of town!!! I do not keep food coloring around the house...so we had naked playdough...no color added.

Unfortunately, Emily and Ethan are now sick too. And Elisabeth is still sick. Fortunately, Wayne is back home to help out and Sweet Ean is still his pleasant self...even if he doesn't like to sleep much. Hopefully this weekend everyone will get back to normal and I'll get some stitching done....we'll see!

I've Been Smocking.....

A few months ago I told my friend Penny that I was thinking of taking some SAGA Correspondence Courses to earn some Artisan points. She recommended I take the Beginning English Smocking course because she had heard it was wonderful. I taught myself to smock when Emily was 1 year old. I've continued to smock for 10 years now....but I'm always wondering if what I am doing is correct. I mean it looks ok...but am I missing any critical information? So I thought taking this correspondence course would be the perfect way to learn how to do things the right way.

The smocking course consists of 5 lessons....the first 3 will start and complete the above sampler. The final 2 lessons start and complete a bishop dress. I have loved the course so far. I have realized that I really do know how to smock...even though I kind of taught myself along the way. But I will tell you the course has some wonderful little tips and tidbits that I have found to be very helpful and well worth the cost of the course. The literature that comes with this course is the best smocking information I have ever seen!!! Plus I can work on the course in the privacy of my home (with 4 little ones) and on my own time schedule (like at 1 am). However, I should mention that you have to finish the course in one year from the time you receive it.

I have finished the above sampler except for some backsmocking. When I finish that I will send it and my bishop fabric back to the instructor and she will critique my sampler as well as send me the bishop directions and smocking plate to use. I find the whole process fascinating and liberating!!!

These courses are just another reason why it is great to be a SAGA member!!! If you are interested in becoming a SAGA member you can go here. If you already are a SAGA member and would like to check out the Correspondence Course offerings, you can go here. And remember these courses count towards your Artisan Program too.