A Surprise For Me

Today after work when I picked up my stuff from the Fair; I had 3 notecards waiting for me! Two people want to purchase dresses I made. They may not like the price I'm going to quote them. Most don't realize how much time is spent on hand work items. Well, we'll see if what their reaction is to it.
The other is a lady who wants to learn how to smock. She has a pleater, but says that the needle keep falling out. I'm almost 100% sure what the problem is. I helped a lady last week with her pleater. She didn't have the needles sitting in the groove, so of course they kept falling out. :)  I'm sure this is the same problem.
I'm all signed up and ready to be involved with the Stash Challenge on FB with Adorable Heirlooms. I think it will lots of fun. I hope she posts the things that people make so we can all ooh and ahh over them. Or maybe she will just post the two winners. Something to look forward to seeing.
Happy smocking everyone!

Stash Challenge

On Facebook, Adorable Heirlooms, is having a stash challenge. There are a few rules. I'm going to be in on it. And she is going to have a surprise prize. I asked, but she wants to surpries us. I'm going to smock something I think. Maybe I better ask if there is any stipulation on that. Oh, glad I thought of that. I better go ask. If you are on FB, go on her page, click "Like" and then click on "Discussions". Well, I should get myself over to FB and ask my question. Happy smocking!

My Friend From the Bank

Don't these girls look so darling in their dresses! Remember I wasn't thrilled with how the baby's dress sleeves turned out. Well, it's looks much, much better on a little girl than hanging on a hanger. Which just goes to show that your creations should definitely be worn by a child and hanging in the closet. I'm thinking I will be making more dresses for these little angels and I think I need to make something fit for a prince. Maybe something with puppies. Hmmm, well now I have to go do some looking. I've started on some stuff for christmas. And I have to say a huge "THANK YOU" to the kids gramma, Janice, my friend from the bank.

Happy smocking everyone.

Other Things at the Fair

First of all, I have to tell you that none of these items you are going to see are made by me. Other very talented people made these items.

This smocked dress was made by a lady I don't know. Well, I should say, I don't know her yet. I did ask for a note card to be put with one of her items so she can get a hold of me. I'd so love to talk smocking with her!

The baby doll was made by a lady who lives just a few blocks down the road from me. Doesn't she do the most amazing job. And yes she did smock the baby's romper.

Same lady who stitch the previous dress and the one below. I think she's very, very good.

This quilt was made by my friend, Jerri. Remember she was the one who used to live in Paducah. She won first place. Go Jerri!

Here's another quilt she made and it won third place. She doen the most amazing work with her quilts! I can't say that enough!

I don't know the person who stitched up this parasol lady, but I just had to share this with everyone.  Well, I'm going to get busy on an xmas dress. For who, I have no idea. But I need to get smocking on a new project. I'm starting to have withdrawals from smocking. It will have beads and it will be red. That's all I'm going to say right now. Have to keep you guessing. Happy smocking everyone!

What I Won at the Fair

This wonderful dress won "Best of Division" Special Occasion, Smocking class.

The ensemble won 1st place Children's Casual Apparel, Ensemble class.

Christening gown won 1st place Special Occasion, Christening Gown class.

This won 1st place, Doll Clothes & Stuffed Toys, Doll Clothing class.

2nd place Embroidery & Crewel, any item class.

Doily won 3rd place in Crochet, Thread Doily over 17". (guess I'm not a one trick pony)

Out of everything I entered the two that surprised me the most was the doll dress and the doily, esp. the doily. I really didn't expect anything ribbon to be on it at all. I was kind of shocked really. But I guess that goes to show you can't second guess yourself or downplay your talents.

Over the next couple of days I will post more pics from this year's fair. There was another lady who put in a bunch of smocked dresses. So she was my competition and I have to say she's VERY good. I put a note on one of her dresses to have her contact me and I'm hoping we can get together some time and talk smocking; my favorite thing to talk about! This lady also won a "Best of Division" with one of her smocked dresses, but I think she entered it in the casual dress class. The funny thing is, I made the same dress at one time :).

All in all I wasn't surprised about my best of division rosette. If my attitude doesn't seem humble, I believe you should toot your own horn once in a while. I don't think it hurts to tell yourself you did good. One of the volunteers asked if I sell my stuff and I said sometimes. I also met one of the new superintendents. She was very nice, but said she was a bit overwhelmed taking over the Home Arts Dept. The other two ladies retired after many, many years. She said the retiring ladies made it much less stressful for them. That's great I think. This lady has been involved with Home Arts for 20 years. But I have to say, I wouldn't want the responsibility of it. So I admire those who can. And all the ladies who helped stage the whole dept. They did that all yesterday and they were back at the fair today for opening day. My hats off to them! Happy smocking everyone!

More Goodies For the Fair

"Journey" AS&E issue 94

Wouldn't you feel like a princess in this dress?

The pattern called for the ties to be out of the same fabric as the cumberbund. But I remember my daughter telling me when she was little that the knot hurt her back when we were sitting in church. So after that I tried to make smaller size ties. I still wanted to her to wear pretty dresses, but not at the expense of her feeling uncomfortable.

The embroidery in the mag. does not have beads, but I just had to put some on this. It was screaming at me to add beads. The smocking is different than the mag showed. I did do a little bit with the way the plate shows, but I just didn't like how it was turning out. And since this is for the fair, I just had to do something else. I think it looks like a lattice with roses growing on it.

Here's the capris/bloomers to go with the dress I posted a couple days go. I used the same Simplicity pattern as the dress. Although I couldn't leave well enough alone. I had to add in a extra ruffle.

And here's the hat I made. Isn't it the cutest?! Now all I need is a flower to add to it. The pattern for the hat is "Lucy's Cloche" from Olabelhe. Doesn't Dawn make the cutest things. I certainly think so. I bought the pattern through Fairytale Frocks and Lollipops as a ePattern. Some people may not like them because the number of pages, but I didn't mind as there are only 11 pages and just 2 of them are the pattern pieces. So now I'm headed over to Hobby Lobby to see what kind of flower I can find for this hat. Next I will be making the fleece jacket I posted a teaser pic a few days ago. Well, happy stitching everyone!

Too Cute For Words

I'm so happy with how this dress turned out! I think it took me about 1/2 hour to put together the right combination of prints versus solids. Sometimes it's hard work to be creative. But I have to say that it paid off.

I used Simplicity 2171, view A. Still need to finish the capris and I'm going to make a hat to go with. The skirt fabric, polka dot and stripe came from Hobby Lobby. The trim on the skirt is two ribbons layered (black grosgrain on a hot pink polka dot grosgrain). I made my own piping out of some gingham check. Haven't decided just how much I'm going to do on the capris. I'm sure it will be a work in progress like this dress was. I decided after I had everything cut out that the apron needed some piping on it as well. I had barely enough of the green from the bodice left to make piping. The check trim was from a piece in my bag of bias.

The pattern on the right is the one I used from the above dress. The jacket on the left is one I'm planning for the fair as well. The jacket is from Sew Beautiful issue 130 and using Simplicity 2876. I've already got Sewing With Wimsy from Kari Mecca for instruction on ricrac flowers. Speaking of Kari Mecca. Doesn't she make the most amazing things?!

Well, I'm off to go grocery shopping and then I can have another date with the sewing machine. I guess this week is going to be a sewing marathon for me. Sometimes, don't you just need to glut yourself on a favorite activity? Happy stitching everyone!

Vacation Time

"Princess Isabella" AS&E issue 86

Made with inexpensive batiste from Hancock Fabrics. Since I couldn't find the exact lace that it shows in the magazine, I decided to crochet on entredeaux. For the crochet I used #10 Cebelia by DMC and a #7 steel hook from Boye. I followed the same crochet instructions as I used on a previous a couple of posts ago. I'm not that crazy with how the sleeves turned out, but they are what came with the pattern. So if I make this dress again, I will use one that's a bit more puffy. But how do you know you will love/hate something til you try it out?

And yes, I am on vacation this week and one of my sewing days was wasted because I had a migraine yesterday. That makes me upset, because I wanted to get the most out of this vacation and a headache was not it. So what do you do? Sew like mad I guess.

One of the items I'm going to do is an ensemble and I going to use a pattern from Olabelhe. I think I will be using one of the hat patterns as a starter. Haven't quite decided which one exactly. But at least I have a start. I am going to finish up a smocked dress for the fair also. And of course finish up buttonholes on my chistening gown. I'll keep everyone posted on the different cute stuff I'm going this week. Until next time, happy stitching everyone. I know I'll be a stitchin' fool this week!

Pattern Testing

I have some very fun and exciting news to share with all of you! Laura over at Ellie Inspired patterns has chosen me to be one of her pattern testers. I just can't keep it to myself any longer. The only other thing I'm going to share about it right now is that it will be smocked; my favorite of course.
I'm so exicted I can barely stand it. Well, I will just have to contain myself while I wait to get a pattern. And I suppose I better get myself in gear and get stuff finished for the fair.  Happy stitching everyone!

Antique Gown

About 6 weeks ago a lady came into where I work. Her name is Sally and she brought in the most amazing christening gown. I just about kicked myself because I didn't have my camera at the time to take some pics to share with my follwers She was able to take some pics and here they are.

This gown was stitched entirely by hand which definitely impresses me. I do lots of handwork, but nothing of this magnitude.

It was made in the 1800's.

Notice the feather stitching at the top the skirt.

And all the yummy lace.

There was lots of feather stitching. Sally does loads of Victorian and Edwardian ladies wear. Here's a link to her website if you want to check out the lovely clothing she makes.

www.sallycdesigns.com

I hope you all love seeing this gown as much as I did. And no the pictures just do not do the gown justice. But I'm so happy Sally sent these to me and that I got to share with all of you. Happy smocking!