My heart skips a beat

Even with the craziness of last week, I had a few minutes each evening to flop in the chair and work on my jacket from Gail Doane's class. I have 8 more hearts to add the running stitch to, then I can bind the jacket. If you have never done one of Gail's jackets I highly recommend it. The jackets are featured in both Australian Smocking and Embroidery and in her jacket book:

Gail's book is available from Country Bumpkin, most heirloom retailers as well as book retailers nationwide. The best way to learn is from Gail herself. If a class comes to your area, jump at the chance.

Since the embroidery is a larger format with more strands, it goes pretty quickly. And it so stinkin cute! The fabric is Dakota pique from Spechler-Vogel. Again available from most heirloom retailers. Very nice weight for a spring jacket and easy to work with.

February is National Smocking Month. What do you have planned? For one, I have the bishop that matches this little jacket as well as some spring and summer ideas swirling in my head.

New blogs for inspiration

Don't know if you noticed on my blog list in the side bar but I added a couple of new blogs.

Jeannie Baumeister of the Old Fashioned Baby has a new blog. The Old Fashioned Baby Sewing Room. Jeannie also has been featured in Creative Needle (::sniff:: we still miss you.) and Sew Beautiful magazines. I love Jeannie's patterns and have had the privilege of taking several classes from her. I plan to take another one at the end of the month at SAGA convention. She may ban me from any future classes after I spend two days grousing about rolling and whipping by hand. I am not good at it, I hate the way mine looks and will admit that I don't hold out much hope that I can improve. But... I am going to give it another go. I was looking for a picture to post because as I told Jeannie, I can't write a post without a picture or several, and realized that I have completed four items from Jeannie's classes or patterns in the past year. Not bad I don't think.

The gown at the top was from this post.

This little onesie type bubble was from this post.

This little bonnet was a 10 year old class UFO from this post.

And Wally here was the baby gift I talked about here. I still love that little whale. Just makes me smile.

Another blog that has come on the horizon recently is Lulu and Annie by Gail Doane. Gail is the author of the recently published

as well as a sought after teacher and is featured in Australian Smocking and Embroidery often.

The little jacket above is featured in her book. Again I had the pleasure of taking this as a class at SAGA convention. It is made from wool blanketing and embroidered with bullion bunnies. I swear you use a ten penny nail to embroider those bunnies. I love this, they are so fun. I won't allow myself to put away the fabric I have ready to make a bishop to match. Love those little bunnies. And for all of its cuteness it really is quite quick. It takes longer to whip down the binding on this jacket than it does to cut it out, embroider it and construct. Lots of bang for your buck when it comes to time.

One of my favorite projects I have ever done, was this class with Gail, making a lace jacket and a pintucked dress. The dress and jacket were made for a friend's daughter. I loved every minute of this project. There are no bad lace combinations. As you can see from the below picture. And not all of the laces were expensive ones.

So please drop by and see these two great talents. Tell 'em the Southern Matriarch sent you. :)