A sweet bonnet

Had to take a break from applique cord on the christening gown and decided to stitch down the silk ribbon ties for this sweet bonnet. It is a UFO from a SAGA convention over 10 years ago. On the Heirloom Smocking and Sewing Forum of Delphi we had a sew up your stash challenge that went for 3 months.

I finished up this project for that challenge. I need external motivation to get things done. This little bonnet is made from Swiss batiste and has a Madeira applique hem, granito flowers and a tiny bit of applique cord done as an embellishment on the front. I actually chose that as a practice for the applique cord on this gown. It had been quite a while since I had done it and didn't want to practice on the gown.

As always, click on the picture to make them larger. Not the best pics, I was in a hurry.

Home again

I have returned home. If you were in the Memphis airport yesterday I apologize for nearly knocking you down as I RAN from concourse C to B. I have never shaved making a flight quite like that. I am sure it was not a pretty sight. A very un-relaxing way to top off a vacation at the beach. Weather at the beach was very cooperative, kids were great. Everyone had a good time I think. As always I am glad to be home. Hope to have gown pictures soon.

No I haven't forgotten you

What have I been doing you ask?

Ran a few of these, okay a lot of these.

In order to stuff them into one of these. A LARGE one of these. I am only paying for one stinkin' bag and I am going to make it count.

Trying to do this,

thank heaven they put this christening off until the end of June!!!!! Whew! Because I plan to take it

here,

while I sit here,

sip a few of these.

and do a bit of this.

I have 4 planes and 3 airports. I should get the embroidery finished and can sew it together when I get back. I PROMISE when I return next week the embroidery will be done.

I promise to

NOT hang out with this guy,

or these little guys.

I'll be hanging out with these lunatics instead except for one son in law who can't be there. Or at least that is the story he is telling. He may be going on his own vacation without the rest of us. He is smarter than the average bear!

This is what the weathermap says:
Heavy rain occurring on May 20 | May 21 | May 22 | May 23 | May 24. Total amount 3.89 Inches.

This could be me by next Wednesday if that is the case.

While I am gone remember to do this.

Sweet, sweet, summertime!!!!!

Working my fingers

to the bone!!! No not really. I am at the point in the embroidery on the gown where I feel "almost" done so it seems to be taking forever to get done. I hate to even show pics at this point because to me it looks like a dishrag.

But here are a couple of peeks. Above is the dove worked in shadow work on the bodice.

In this picture is a glimpse of the shell,done in satin trailing that I took out three times. I am laying lots of hope on my magical wash and iron theory here. Looks a little sad to me. But it always does at this point. And the grapes and wheat are a combo of granitos, stem stitch, back stitch and split back stitch. THe embroidery is done in a combo of coton a broder and silk flosses. The fabric is silky voile I got from BessieMary.

A little church teaching; in the Catholic church there are three sacraments of what we call "initiation". The dove represents the Holy Spirit for the sacrament of Confirmation, the shell for the waters of Baptism and grapes and wheat for the Sacrament of Eucharist. It is one of my favorite things to do on a christening gown because in the Roman rite Baptism is the first of the three. Though I do think for the next gown I will stir the design up a bit. The is the third time for these and I want to mix it up some.

So there you have it, I am off to stitch some more. Want to get it done before we leave for the beach next week. Just wanted you to know I haven't forgotten you.

It's Registration Day!

For SAGA National Convention that is. I know so many of my stitching friends and I get excited about registering for SAGA convention every year. We look forward to the time together, the classes we will take, the laughs we will have, the new things we will learn, the catching up we will do, the inspiration we will get from other stitchers, the late nights of solving all of life's trial and troubles, the sharing of stitching ideas and resolving to keep the friendships alive. Do you see a trend here?

Convention is more than taking classes. Its is about the people as well.

On a flip side SAGA is more than convention. Being married to a former Executive Director of SAGA I was used to hearing him say that, but I just had this conversation with another SAGA member earlier in the week. I have posted before about the mission of SAGA but it bears repeating:

"Our purpose is to preserve and foster the art of smocking and related needlework for future generations, through education, communication, and quality workmanship."

SAGA has much more to offer than just convention. Because lets face it, there are many times in everyone's life when going away for a weekend or a week to take classes and hang out with other stitching friends is just not possible. It hasn't always been possible for me. I am thankful that at this time in my life I can.

SAGA has opportunities to take correspondence courses if getting away for a class isn't in your calendar or budget. For a correspondence course you have 2-4 lessons that you stitch, send to a teacher who offers critique as well as encouragement.

There are small snippet projects that can be purchased for the affordable cost of $8. They are called SAGA Stitches. These quick one time "classes" can be used individually or stitched with a group of friends or in a chapter meeting if you are fortunate to belong to a chapter.

Individual chapters are also one of the treasures of SAGA. There are chapters of all sizes across the country and the globe. If you have one near you I encourage to join it. If not, it only takes 3 people, a nominal charter fee and the desire to learn and grow together to start a local SAGA chapter.

There is also the chance to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, reaching out to those in need through Wee Care. I have posted many times about my love of Wee Care. Here and here and here. I told you, I love Wee Care.

So I have registered now so that I can do this again.