149 Shopping (Finishing) Days Until Christmas

     Here is the second dress finished and ready to wear. I think my sister's daughter Mailee will get this one too. It appears to be her size. It was definately easier to make than the first one. My machine cooperated  and I did alot by hand. Thanks to Mrs. Bradstreet, my 8th Grade Home Economics teacher; she would be so proud. I hand gathered the top and used the blind stitch for the hem. (I now know why it is called the blind stitch. I had to take off my bi-focals to see and without them I am blind... (as my father would say "too bad the neighbors ain't.")
      I am convinced now more than ever that Home Economics classes should be offered in school to any students who wants to learn the basic skills.
     Next up is the first of several American Girl outfits that I am determined to finish once and for all and before my neices Nina and McKenna are too old to want them. It took me a while to detangle the yarn and find the crochet hook but I did it. Why didn't I finish these you ask? You would think because the AG doll clothes are small that they would be easy right? You would be wrong. Its not so much that the patterns are small, its that my hands are so darn big. 
     See you soon! What are you finishing these day? Let us know so we can support you!

Christmas In July

 Could anything be cuter?  Here, my neice, miss Mailee models my 3rd finished project. I certainly learned a lot on this one so I expect the next to be a little bit easier (and quicker )  I have to admit to feeling a sense of accomplishment getting things done.

     Today I lifted an old Target bag out of the closet and low and behold it had not one but two partially done, American Girl outfits that I had started for Nina, and McKenna. Well they didn't make it under their tree last year but I hope to get them there this year! So, I guess it is time to announce my Christmas in July Bonanza.  Some of the things to be completed are Christmas stocking I started for Bob many years ago but dropped because I didn't know how to knit with double pointed needles (I  have since had a tutorial with my mother and can now continue on. A gorgeous pocketbook for someone special that only needs handles put on and a pair of no sew pillows. (I shouldn't be allowed on Pinterest)  Oh, and was I really going to make a pine cone centerpiece? I must have although I have no memory of collecting pine cones or buying the wire, frame etc. Finding the directions for these projects is the real challenge.
     So long for now, this little elf has got her work cut out for her for a while.
            Merry Christmas and Peace to All!!!!

One Down.....So Many To Go!

     Well, I now know why I don't finish anything. It is hard. I don't like to do hard things. I figured this out way back in the 5th grade when I joined the Riverdale Drum and Bugle Corp. I wanted to play the Glockenspiel but "No Can Do" Mr. Bradford talked me into the Bugle. It was too hard.  I never got the hang of the whole concept "tongue, spit and blow"   I quit two weeks later. That may have been the beginning of not staying with anything.
     That said, putting this dress together was hard. I know I made it more difficult than it had to be. I do that! You see I am a perfectionist when  comes to some things and handmade things is one of them. It needs to be perfect.  'Every stitch in place. I've been accused of being controlling too. I guess I am.  So needless to say putting this together took a long time. First of all my sewing machine is smarter than I am. I need to go back and read the instruction booklet. It is a new machine; the Brother -Project Runway Model -Limited Edition. It does everything but I don't know how to use it. So before I put the next dress together I will study the manuel. I hope this little dress fits Mailee! It really is a pretty!

      Going through my closet and seeing everything that needs my attention is overwhelming. This endeavor of mine may take the rest of my life.(depending on how long I live I guess) I have to admit though, it feels good to finish something.

Addressing the Dresses

Back to the closet!   I know before I get there what comes next. Sun dresses....The sun dresses I started over a year ago on a whim. I remember being inspired by a memory of a dress I had made for my daughter Meagan 30 years ago. I had seen the pattern in one of the woman's magazines that I read at the time. Maybe it was Family Circle or Good Housekeeping, I can't recall. It was a free pattern and we were broke.  It had a dainty,  crocheted, cotton bodice with an attached skirt. It came out beautifully; whenever Meagan wore it we got compliments and comments. So inspired by the gorgeous fabric that I saw at PearlSOHO in NYC the last time I was there, I bought some and went to work.
Yup you guessed it. After I started and as soon as the hard part was done, I once again, for whatever reason, abandoned the idea and stored it away for another day. Funny, "another day" never came........ until today. So here I go, into the depth of the closet in search of the bag of beautifully crocheted bodices and the tower of  matching fabric.(which by the way has already been washed and pre-shrunk).  Of course the names of the recipients have  changed. They outgrew the dresses before they were made, but thats o.k. The first completed dress  goes to my sister's daughter Mailee! (If it fits!)  Bear with me and wish me luck .


Crocheted with 100% cotton. I have three sized ready to go and two more in the making.



Here it is the fabric selection all pre-shrunk and ready to go.



Following Through

My Beautiful Town!

Well, In keeping with my promise to follow through, I have good news to report. My little rosebud creation was sent to Maryland today to the "expectant parents". I will not miss that little hat calling to me whenever I opened the closet door. "finish me first" I think I heard it say. On another note,  the zipper arrived in the mail yesterday. Tonight I will sew it into the sweater. I went on
 http://www.youtube.com/  to see the best and neatest way to do it. That was very helpful. In a day or two I will begin my next project.....stayed tuned.

Zippity Do Da

I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July. I did, thanks to someone up the street who set off  an unbelievable display of  "illegal fireworks"  I was able to enjoy my own private light show. Thanks neighbor!

I can't believe how hard it has been finding a 10" blue separating zipper for my grandson's sweater jacket. His birthday is next month and I am getting nervous that another year will pass and the promised sweater will not be done. As you all know it is a slippery slope for me when I am working on something but don't have all the materials I need. The project is apt to go into the dark hole (guest room closet) never to see the light of day again. So I headed "down the line" to Joann's, to A.C. Moore and Michael's without luck. Fortunately though, I was able to buy a few things that I will need to help me finish my stash of "already started" projects. Ultimately though I did find the zipper "on line." PurlSOHO.com  They had the exact one I needed. Purls is a (not so) little knit/sewing place my daughter Meagan and I discovered in SoHo the last time we went to NYC.  I loved the shop and everything about it the minute I went in and had to pulled out kicking and screaming. I have since done business with them on line numerous times. Their fabric is gorgeous and I have bought tons of it. Of course I have yet to finish anything I have started with it.......but I will. check them out at http://www.purlsoho.com/ (highlight and click) You will love them too.

While I am waiting for the mailman to deliver my zipper I will finish the infant hat that I started over 2 1/2 years ago when my daughter told me she was pregnant. I was certain she was going to have a girl!  As you see the hat is done but needs the finishing touches, a spray of rosebuds to be sewn on. Today the rosebuds. (If  I can find the rest of them) then I will send it to my nephew and  his wife. They are expecting their first baby in October ......I have a strong hunch it will be a girl.

Thanks for listening! As you see I need accountability!   See you soon.