Celebrating the Day I Changed My Name

There are moments in life when you know your world is forever changed. The day you graduate from high school or college, the day you marry, when your children are born etc. You get the drift. Then there are days that change your life in ways you never imagined. I've changed my name before; when I married, became a parent and then when this little princess was born. My name became "Mimi" three years ago today. I knew I longed for grandchildren but I had no idea the effect it would have on my life. Any grandparent out there knows what I mean. You think you know before hand, you don't know.

I love my children, don't get me wrong. I love being their mom and wouldn't trade it for the world. That being said to become a grandparent is something that can't be explained. I am not really sure what it is that tilts the earth on its axis but man oh man, does it ever! I felt like I had waited so long for grandchildren that I might be a little let down. That perhaps it wasn't going to be all I had built it up in my mind to be. This was not the case! It was that and more. Much more.

She has grown up so fast and has been joined by two precious little boys since then.  First her baby brother and most recently by a cousin. I lamented I would never have any grandchildren and now there have been three in three years! I wouldn't have it any other way.

She talks a blue streak, has an attitude a mile wide, is smarter than the average bear, loves cake, pahcorn (popcorn), Dora and Cinallela (Cinderella), would rather read a book than do anything else, hates her hands being dirty and has logged more miles on an airplane in her short life than most people do in a lifetime.  She runs the show, no doubt about it! She has more adults wrapped around her little finger than the law should allow.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl! I love my new name, Mimi.

Stitchin' While Doing the Texas Two-Step

Have you ever wanted to learn to smock? Do you admire beautiful embroideries from by-gone eras? Do you love to sew for children but your garments have that “homemade look”? Do you read sewing blogs and wonder to what the terms pin stitch, faggoting, hemstitch and featherstitch refer? Would you like to broaden your sewing skills? Come join the Smocking Arts Guild ofAmerica (SAGA™) at its annual convention in Frisco, Texas October 23^rd-27^th and you will have a discover your hidden talents!

When you hear the word convention, think fun, exciting and educational classes!  Each class has been evaluated and approved by a SAGA selection committee so you can be assured that you will be taught proper technique and execution allowing you to expand your sewing skills. From pattern drafting for children, mastering the peter pan collar, designing your own smocked ornament, learning how to shadow embroider, working on pulled thread, tackling the pea hole hemstitch, mastering your pleater, stitching an elaborate Elizabethan Panel, or simply perfecting your smocking, there is something for everyone taught at all levels!

Are you ready to challenge yourself to improve your stitching? Join the SAGA Artisan Program and work toward attaining the level of apprentice, artisan or master in four different areas of expertise – smocking, embroidery, fine machine sewing and fine hand sewing. There will be an informational meeting of the Artisan Program at convention to explain the process and classes you take can count toward achieving the necessary levels. 

Interested in helping your community with a service project using your stitching? Come and learn about the SAGA Wee Care Program™, and get inspired by the talents of our members who donate hand smocked and embroidered gowns and bonnets to local hospitals for neonatal units and bereavement programs. 

Don’t know anyone? Don’t worry - ladies who stitch are friendly, helpful and love to have fun. So join the SAGA convention, learn a new technique, participate in the doll clothing contest and yes, even learn to Two-Step!

SAGA has chapters through out the United States and a chapter in Mexico and Australia! Local chapters meet monthly, bring teachers for seminars and participate in the WeeCare Program™. If there is no chapter located near you, you can still become involved through the members at large program. For more information, check out the SAGA website at www.smocking.org!

A New Man in the House

Another arrival has come to stay as well. When traveling to my daughter's she asked that I bring my iron because hers was really carpy. She was not lying! Carpy doesn't begin to describe it. I am not sure it ever got really, really warm; let alone hot.

I decided being the good mom that I am (and wanting those linen daygowns ironed after I left) to gift her with my Reliable Velocity iron. It is a great iron. I have blogged about it before, here. Also too, I will admit I had been wanting a later generation Velocity with the auto-shutoff override. So you see, my reasons weren't 100% altruistic. (Hey don't judge me, she got a great iron in the deal!)  SO of course I had to have an iron. I went looking and found the man of my dreams.

Meet Bubba. The Reliable J490 IronMaven. (Please, what a sissy name for this thing.) Is that a behemoth or what? I will admit I was a tad frightened when I took it out of the box and found wrenches, litmus strips and alarm bells listed in the info. After reading the manual; yes, all of it, I told you I was scared; I tested my water, filled the tank and turned that buddy on. WHOA NELLY! It will shoot steam half way across the room! No lie. I may have to get a separate table for it, it is huge! I'm afraid if I get one of those holders for the end of ironing board it will tip the entire thing over.

I will get over my fear. Hopefully, no lace or fabric victims will occur in the process. I have wanted one of these type of irons for a long time. I am hopeful it won't let me down.

Where in the World is Southern Matriarch?

In the sewing room! For two and half days I have traced, erased, retraced, wadded up, restarted, traced again and finally settled on a design for the new family gown for Baby Peanut and his future siblings. I don't know what made me think I could do this while I was away awaiting Baby Peanut's birth. I am a pretty good multi-tasker but for this process I need head space. I realized last night that in those two and half days I hadn't even had the TV on and very little music playing.  And heaven knows I needed a printer! If I find an image I want to adapt, I end up resizing it in multiple sizes with my all in one printer/copier/scanner. I certainly got in my "steps" the past few days, up and down the stairs between the printer and my sewing room.

The need for the physical space to spread out is also a must. Well that is the case all the time, but stencils, rulers, paper, pens, pencils, lightbox, tracing paper, etc. etc etc. take up a lot of room.  All that aside, the design is done and this morning blue pen will meet fabric.

So that is where I have been. As I said, I will spend a good bit of my time today tracing onto fabric and getting ready to stitch. This evening I will take a break to have the obligatory grilled meat and watch some fireworks. Happy 4th of July faithful reader.

May your burger be just right, the breeze cool and the fireworks aplenty. We are blessed to live in a great country. Celebrate that with those you love. My daughter who lives abroad wrote a great post about it. It is amazing the perspective you have when you live elsewhere.

Introducing our New Little Man

What can be more precious than sweet baby feet?  Harrison Edmond is just precious. I had the best time cuddling, gazing, rocking and kissing baby cheeks. The time passed too quickly. Mimi is back home while Mommy and Daddy get on with becoming a family.

When I first traveled to my daughter's, I took these two sweet urchins as well as their mother with me. Poor Wildman had fallen onto the side of the crib a few days before we left. That is why he is sporting that war wound on his forehead. While I attended class at Wendy Schoen's they beached, parked, walked the lake and had a generally good time.

 

After I was finished traveling to the South Shore to stitch we took a trip here.  A trip to NOLA is not complete without going here.

Princess relished this trip to the utmost. As you can see here, she is chillaxin' with her beignet. Good thing her Mommy was able to be a foot rest for her. She is wearing as much powdered sugar as the tables. And if you have ever been to Cafe Du Monde, you know the tables have a LOT of powdered sugar on them. All. The. Time.

Wildman wasn't too sure about those delectable treats. Not sure what gene pool he is drawing from! Princess was more than willing to take his beignet off his hands. Who lets fried dough go to waste?

After walking several hundred miles, a few dozen spicy meals and finally some medical coaxing, he made his arrival. He is just perfect. Here he is wearing his coming home gown. It is featured in this post. He was quite handsome.

Princess was having nothing to do with this new member of the family but Wildman was very curious. Here is Nanny Erin holding her sweet treasure for the first time as Wildman looks on. "Baby!"

After he came home it was time to marvel in every squeek, yawn and stretch. Why is watching a newborn so fascinating? Here he is getting ready to yawn. Genius! :)

We got a giggle out of our "casserole baby." Pediatrician was concerned about his weight since he is nursing. Mommy was so resourceful. Weighed him before and after feedings on the kitchen scale. Worked like a charm! Glad to report he had gained back to his birth weight in no time.

All in all, we are basking in the glow of his arrival. Thanks for humoring me as I bragged on this sweet, sweet boy. After I unpack and do a load or two of laundry, I will report back on my class with Wendy Schoen.

Until later, faithful reader.

Cheers

So much to celebrate. A little piece of heaven has come to stay.

Master Harrison Edmond born this past Tuesday weighed in at 7 lbs.8 oz., 20" long. And every bit perfect. He looks just like is Daddy,

wouldn't you agree?

We have all been busy gazing our days away. Only in between rocking. Having too much fun.

Eye Candy and Hittin' The Road!

Via Elisabetta Embroidery

Does this padded satin stitch just not make your heart skip a beat? To say nothing of the divine linen it is stitched on. This is an Italian blog I discovered, (thank you Google Translate) and every post is full of delightful eye candy. One prettier than the next.

La Broderie Bayou

I am headed to the land of live oaks, magnolias in bloom, beignets, milk punch, seafood and stitching. Except instead of on the bayou, we will be on the riverfront. That is okay by me. I haven't been in a couple of years, so I am looking forward to it. And this is just a bonus, the real reason....

is to await the birth of this little punkin'. He is due sooner than it seems possible. I will be sure to let you know when he arrives.

In the midst of preparing to leave, these little people and their momma arrived home for a quick visit.

Announcing the Winner

Sorry I didn't make it back here yesterday to let you know who the giveaway winner is. Life exploded; as in the grandchildren have arrived. If this tells you anything, I was asleep last night by 9:15! Mimi gets tired really fast in the beginning of a visit. You forget about how much energy it takes.

Without any further distractions, the winner is:

ANTCAN!

antcan commented:

I think geometric smocking is my favorite form of hand needlework. A friend taught me many years ago and although I don't smock as much as I used to, I enjoy smocking the little preemie dresses for the hospitals.

Vaune has a very nice website. I "lust" after all the thread clubs. Enjoy using all of those threads but especially the floche which is what I learned to smock with.

Congratulations. Look for an email.

I hope you have big plans or at least relaxing plans for the holiday weekend. I'll be reading, snuggling, chasing and giggling.  

Sweet Baby Stitching

 

I totally forgot to post the other sweet treasures I had made for my daughter's baby shower. Found these photos looking for something else. Anywhoo, here they are. My local chapter, The Spirit of St. Louis Smockers, was fortunate enough to host Debbie Glenn this spring for a workshop. One of the classes she taught was her Banded Diaper Shirt and Nappy Cover. It is pattern #139. Cute and QUICK project.

Her class kit comes in blue gingham with cotton pique. Generous kit and great directions. This project is so quick, I came home and finished the set that evening.

The provided embroidery design is a sweet little bluebird singing of spring.

Did I mention this set is quick? I finished the second set the next day! I had some of the same pique in my stash along with some spring green gingham. My love of gingham is known far and wide. Her kit was generous enough to include enough fabric for the second diaper cover.  Debbie teaches an interesting method of doing the appliquéd bands on the diaper shirt. I did change up my order of work for the second shirt though. I stitched my side seams before satin stitching along the outer edges of the bands to enclose that "tail" of the French seams along the bottom of the sleeves and hemline.

And a future DZ houseboy needs a little green turtle! This cute little guy, came from Michie' Mooney's book, Heirloom Embroidery. He was quick to do. Not sure he is my finest embroidery, but he is kind of cute.

If you need a quick gift, these are just the ticket. You could also substitute macine embroidery or applique.

Don't forget to comment on the post below to enter our wonderful giveaway of DOVO scissors.

Anniversary Celebration Continues- Another Giveaway

Our celebration continues. My girlfriend's mother used to celebrate her birthday "month." So why can't we do that with an anniversary as well?

This time our giveaway is sponsored by Vaune. The owner, Vaune Pierce, is also a teacher, pattern designer as well as a contributo for Sew Beautiful. She teaches for chapters, shops as well as nationally for SAGA. She is a long time supporter of SAGA. I am fortunate enough to say I count her among my friends as well.

Are you a scissor lover? Well I am! I need a recovery plan but don't plan to seek one. I have quite a few scissors, mostly Gingher and Dovo. As well as some other inexpensive embroidery scissors.

 first posted Vaune.com

I have lusted after this set of Dovo scissors for years! Years, I tell ya. There is something about the scissors and the velvet lined case that makes my heart sing. 

Vaune also has a variety of Thread of the Month offerings. A great way to be able to build a stash of threads you might not encounter at your local shops. A very affordable or at least managable way to build a stash. Few of us can afford to buy an entire line of floss at one time but would love to have every color. With that in mind, I recently signed up for the Anchor Floss of the Month. I did opt out of the bobbins for the floss. There is one shop here in town that carries Anchor, but it is a hike and not a part of town I frequently go to. I often prefer Anchor over DMC threads because I am more drawn to their "cool" undertones as opposed to the "dustier" undertone of DMC. Also many times, Anchor will cover better when picture smocking. Don't get me wrong, DMC is still a viable choice and I have a selection of both and use both. I do prefer Anchor though over DMC for hand embroidery because it has a glossier finish. It is the little things in life!

Vaune has graciously offered to sponsor a giveaway that I think you will all be excited to see. It speaks to my love of scissors. 

A pair of DOVO scissors! These are a pair of nubbed embroidery/lace scissors. They can be found here on Vaune's site. Thank you Vaune for the very generous offer for my readers. The lucky winner will LOVE these scissors as much as I do. I happen to own two pair, one DOVO and another unmarked pair. 

via Vaune.com

That little nub makes them perfect for both lace work as well as machine embroidery. They are also sharp all the to the end of the scissors, so are wonderful for hand embroidery work as well.

Since I had some duplicates of Anchor Floss I decided to throw in a few skeins for the lucky winner to try. I can see some beautiful bullion roses with some of these colors.

I loved the comments from the last giveaway and can't wait to read the comments this time. To enter, leave a comment on this post only, answering these two questions:

1. What is your favorite stitching pastime? Hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, smocking, machine embroidery etc. And why?
2. Also visit Vaune.com and let us know what your favorite find was.

I can't wait to hear what you have to share. To enter:

1. Leave a comment here, no email entries please. Remember, it is a two part question.
2. If you share this giveaway on your blog or facebook page, come back and leave an additional comment saying you did so, to be entered twice. 
3. Each entry must have a valid email or blog address with which to contact you. This is especially important for those "Anonymous" commenters. 
4. The winner will be announced on Friday morning.

Again thank you to Vaune for being so generous. Good luck to you all.