A Few Bits and Pieces

I think I can say I have fully recovered from SAGA Convention 2016. I just can't party like I used to, came home sick as a dog. The entire week after returning home I either coughed, blew my nose or slept. New week, new outlook. Time to carry on! Not without taking a quick look at the week of convention. Thanks to the blogger app I was able to post quickly while away even if I couldn't format the posts the way I normally do.

Originally Posted by Katherine Diuguid

The first night there was a dinner reception that also featured a keynote speaker. The speaker this year was Katherine Diuguid. She is an assistant professor at North Carolina State University. She presented a slide show about her Master's Thesis "Conseulo-The Glitter of a Dollar Duchess". For her thesis she created a wedding gown inspired by Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan's original gown. It was fascinating to hear about, see the slides and the gown itself.

The main reason for convention is education which means classes. Some years I have taken as many classes as possible, a different one each day with a different teacher. That is a whole lot of input! I have learned from that. I do better being able to concentrate on one project for more than six hours. I love two day classes. This time I only took technically two classes. I say technically, because the Scallop Hem dress and Jacket were listed in the brochure as two seperate classes, but in my mind it was a four day class with one teacher. The first day I took "Claira" with Phyllis Brown. I love the red and white and you know how I love gingham. Next up, four days with Gail Doane. First two days were spent on the Scalloped Hem Pique smocked dress. I actually got quite a bit more smocked than I thought I would. Also finished the yoke overlay and the sleeves. Pretty far in my opinion. The last two days were spent on the Quilted Liberty of London jacket. Yummy working with the lawn as you quilt it. It is way far along. All of the pieces quilted and cut out. These swing jackets go together pretty quickly. Anxious to finish it. I was very pleased with my class choices.

Another fun part about convention are the raffle baskets. I have posted about my local chapter's basket in the past. This year we again did the sewing room accessories, all made from the same fabrics. It is always fun to see the different projects come back. I have a great chapter, filled with many talented members. Sadly, I did not win any baskets this year. That is okay. You have to look at buying those raffle tickets as a donation. Otherwise you just get irritated. There were several first time attendees who won baskets. That is always fun to see.

There is usually a meal included each day of convention, it might be the opening reception evening, the annual business meeting, or the Saturday night banquet. A common thread between the meals are table favors and door prizes! It is always fun to see the different ideas from chapters. individuals and businesses across the country. It was even neat to see that a couple of them had machine embroidery of the convention logo. I have never tried to digitize anything so that is impressive to me. Inside the little pincushion jar are chocolates. On each of the chocolates are SAGA logos or again the convention logo. I wonder if I can salvage the the wrappers if I eat the chocolate? Life's big questions.

During convention there is also the Design Show which features original designs as well as Show and Share where individuals bring items they have made during the previous year to share with the attendees. At the last minute I grabbed LG's Easter dress that momma overlooked when she left. I had washed it after our trip to American Girl and left it hanging in the bathroom to dry. Momma hung it on the back of the door when she went to shower. So, oops, it was left behind. I just happened to see it when replacing clean towels in there. Light bulb moment "I should take that with me!" During Design Show and Show and Share attendees can vote for their "Viewer's Choice" and it is announced at the banquet on Saturday night. I was quite surprised when my name was called for Viewer's Choice for Show and Share. I was very pleased as well as surprised, it is one of my favorite garments I have made. Forgive the wrinkles, it was just taken straight out of the suitcase.

That pretty much sums up my week at convention. By the time I left I was well on my way to being sick so when I arrived home I immediately went to bed and didn't get up unless forced.

That is all for now faithful reader, there is lots going on in the sewing room besides just the mess created from unpacking.

I Lost My Mind!

Convention has so many high points. Girlfriends, meeting new friends, (hey Janet, hey Vicki), of course classes and learning new things. All that being said, there are two big highlights; market day and banquet.  I was walking to market, chatting with my friends. A lot of these gals don't have local sources for supplies or are not comfortable orderinng online. Neither of those situations pertain to me so there REALLY isn't a thing I need. I even said so as we strolled along on the way. "There is nothing I need."

I. Lost. My. Mind. between the door and the first table in front me. Lost. My. Mind! 

 

Before I knew it I had bought this delightful set of Dovo scissors from Vaune of Vaune.com. There is a third pair snuggled under the leather flap. They jumped into my bag and my credit card jumped right out. I was off to the races and there was no stopping me then.

I bought laces, patterns, buttons and interfacing as well. There was nothing I needed.

 

I have also made my donation for raffle basket tickets. Banquet is tonight, wish me luck. 

 

In class today we are cutting into our Liberty of London lawn. 

Later, friends. 

SAGA Convention Day 2

 

Today, the weather may be rainy and grey but inside we are playing with Liberty lawn, pique and gingham. Can you hear the angels sing?

That Time of Year Again

 

Its that time of year!!! Time for SAGA convention. This year convention is in Hampton VA. A week of stitching and girlfriend time. It doesn't get much better than that.

 

First day of class is faggotting Phyllis Brown.

 

Time to get back to class... 

A Sweet Sweet Girl

The littles have been here for a visit. This sweet girl enjoyed a girl's afternoon with Mommy and Mimi. Mommy snapped this pic before we left, just melts your heart. She is wearing her Easter dress I posted here.

She has grown quite a bit since Easter. Look at those sweet chubby knees peeking out now.  I think another CC Bessie is in her future.

Mimi had a bit of fun as well. LG's first trip to the American Girl store.

These are the memories that make life sweet.

A Few Modeling Moments.

First up is the bubble I just posted last week here. I'm not sure what she is doing with the leg there, but all of the photos where she isn't doing that, turned out blurry. Isn't that always the case? I love the way it fits. I made it longer in the stride length intentionally so it would "bubble" out. She is a clothes horse! When she tries on something new, she doesn't want to take it off. Ignore the wrinkles, it came straight from the suitcase.

Next up is the birthday dress posted here. Also love the fit on this one. Not the best photo.

The only photo of the robot shirts. LG is wearing Children's Corner Mamie with Frannie bloomers a dear friend made for her.

In other news, all of the kids except LG started school. Always a big day. I love how clean and crisp all of their uniforms look with their fresh haircuts and clean faces. It won't take long for that image to change. Especially those boys.

This has got to be one of my favorite photos from the first days of school. Some little man was more interested in making faces at himself in the shiny mail slot. Too cute. If only they would stay little like this forever.

I am off to plan little pink daygowns. I have not sewn one thing for the new baby yet. Time to remedy that!

Just Playin'

Sometimes I do get to just play. I had run across a button on bubble a few months ago that I just fell in love with. I am not usually adverse to plunking' down my money but this time I just wanted to see if I could re-create it. Its not like there isn't a closet full of fabric needing to be sewn. This is my take on that button on bubble.

I also have friends with way better memories than I possess She remember that in this old issue of Sew Beautiful magazine there is a Button on Dress by Cheryl Davidson. I used that for my bib.

For the bottom bubble portion I adapted Children's Corner Wright.

I am pleased with how it turned out. I am anxious to see it on Little Girl. It is a size 2.

In retrospect  I should have used smaller buttons up the back but since it is a play bubble made from easy care poly/cotton skip dent by Spechler-Vogel and broadcloth I am okay with it. Sadly the skip dent no longer comes in colors. Since the skip dent is very sheer, I lined the bubble portion with batiste to prevent her mickey mouse diaper from peeking through.

The machine embroidery I showed you last week came from SWAK Embroidery. It is called "Following Mama" there are many other designs in the set I plan to use in the future.

So if you see something you like, look through your pattern stash and see if you can replicate it. I'll let you know how it fits. Thank goodness, Little Girl lives in a warm climate and wear it for a few months yet.

I couldn't leave the others out, so the embroidery machine to the rescue. Not always a faster option. The apple for our big First Grader came from Creative Appliqué on Etsy. The boys will get this friendly robot also on Etsy from Ladder Hill Designs.
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What is on the Machine?

I was on the road last week, sorry to have missed you. Heres what's on the machine today. I'm excited about it. Hopefully I can show you in a day or so.

On the machine

Whatcha workin' on? Pink gingham and aqua chambray is what I am working on.

I Have Fallen and Can't Get up

Man down! When you barely touch something and bam to the floor it goes, pieces everywhere. The struggle is real. Your first instinct is to immediately order another. Then a shred of common sense intercedes with a whisper "Maybe it can be fixed?" Soooo off on the search into the cave known as the garage. Wood glue!

Sadie Stand is back on the job. Not much worse for the wear, She won't hold up a Mac truck but she can wear a toddler's dress. Whew. Though I do need to order a bigger sister for the two I have. :sniff sniff: Princess has outgrown the larger one that I have.

Keep stitchin',  faithful reader.