Simple Stitches

I am currently in the process of deep cleaning and reorganizing my sewing room.  Amazing the treasures I am uncovering in the process!

This hand embroidered dish towel is one item finally seeing the light of day after years in a dark drawer.  Being almost Easter, the little bunny and his carrot especially caught my eye.

Please pardon the wrinkles.  I was cleaning, not ironing!

Sorry to say that I do not know who stitched this little gem.  I do remember it being in the kitchen as I grew up.  We had similar ones that aunts and grandmothers on both sides of the family stitched.  It came to live with me several years ago when I helped Daddy moved out of my childhood home.

What struck me most was how simple all the stitches are.  It uses only the very basic stitches:  outline, french knots, lazy daisy and a few straight stitches here and there.

Often, I get bogged down with overthinking a project.  Do you? 

This proves that delightful embroidery and stitching projects are attainable for all of us.  You do not need to know how to make perfect bullion roses or other complex embroidery stitches.

It also shows that hand embroidered pieces can be used, loved, and used some more.

Instead of thinking so much, maybe we just need to stitch a little more.  There are times that more attention to details is a good thing:  coming home from the hospital gowns, angelic christening gowns, birthday and holiday finery, Holy First Communion dresses and wedding gowns.  In between all of those, there are so many opportunities for simple stitches.  We just need to seize the moment with needle and thread!

I am working on a tutorial for ribbon rosettes and other bonnet streamer attachments.  Be back soon!

Inquiring Minds

There were a few questions from my last entry, which I will try to answer!

Martha inquired about the fabric for the bunny bishop I am currently smocking.  It is Honeydew Smoothie Microcheck by Nashville Cotton, and can be found here.

While I normally think of a honeydew melon as pale green, this fabric is more aqua.

Debbie asked about lengths for a size 18 month bishop.

It is true that dress lengths are a little longer today than those on older patterns.  Some of the newer patterns indicate finished lengths of 19-22" for a bishop of that size.  Children come in all shapes and sizes at that age, so it may depend upon your granddaughter's height. 

Personally, I prefer a slightly shorter length on smaller ones that are still learning to walk.  Too much fabric and length can complicate toddling, as well as hide those cute chubby legs!  Once they are a little older, I love the longer tea length.

To answer Kathy, I made The Pioneer Woman's version of macaroni and cheese!

It was very good!  The jury is still out whether we like it better than my usual recipe from Gracious Goodness, an older cookbook from the Symphony League of Memphis, Tennessee.  Might need to do some more cooking!

I love your comments, and always welcome questions!

A Weekend's Worth

Worked on this a little, and am eager to complete!

Actually used this instead of just reading!

Surprised to see this on Sunday morning!

Smocked a little, but not enough.

Spent much dreaded, but much needed, time with contents of this box.

Happy to see some old friends after a year!

Hope your weekend was full of wonderful moments, too!

Blessings

Sit and be still

until in the time

of no rain you hear

beneath the dry wind's

commotion in the trees

the sound of flowing

water among the rocks,

a stream unheard before,

and you are where

breathing is prayer.

                                 ~Wendell Berry~

Orange Roofs and Green Nuts!

Almost sounds like a line from a favorite children's book!
If you are of a certain age, you might remember a chain of restaurants named after their founder, Howard Johnson. They always had orange roofs.   Many were crowned with a cupola and weather vane depicting  the company logo of Simple Simon and the Pieman!

I especially remember dining at the Ft. Worth location when visiting my paternal grandfather.

One of their specialities was fried clams - a rare treat for landlocked North Texas.

Their other claim to fame was the ice cream:  28 flavors!  This was long before Baskin-Robbins or Ben and Jerry.

Mother's favorite was pistachio, hands down.  I remember sharing many scoops of that light green confection.  I was mostly enchanted with the fact that each scoop came with its own little Howard Johnson logo-bearing cookie.  A cookie that you did not even have to request. 
How sweet!

The other night, as I went dashing through the grocery store, I spied a display of these:

Nothing at all like a dish of Howard Johnson's pistachio ice cream, but they still conjured up some sweet childhood memories.

I might add that I am now totally addicted to this rather unique salt and pepper flavor and can't stop eating them!  Wonder what Mother would think?

Speaking of green, please visit Laurie to participate in her St. Patrick's Day Give-away!

Inspiring Way to Celebrate!

Amy, of Inspire Company, creates these uber cute grid samplers.
In honor of her upcoming 39th birthday, she is stitching a 39 square sampler.
She stitches one square each day.
What a wonderful way to celebrate!  Just a few stitches each day!

Of course, it is always more fun to celebrate with friends.

So, she invited others to join her and stitch 39 squares, too!

There are now about 100 participants in the 39 Square Stitch Along.

You may read and view more at
http://www.39squares.blogspot.com/

or

http://www.inspireco.blogspot.com/

Oh, and just a note -- there will be more bonnets with frills upon them between now and Easter!

Bonnet with Frills Upon It, III

Have you ever had one of those days?

You just want to stay in bed and pull the covers over your head.

If you do manage to climb out of bed, dress and head for work, you seriously contemplate veering off your normal route and heading straight for the park or countryside? 

Maybe you decide to eat dessert first, or just eat dessert all day long?

Yesterday was one of those days around here.

Instead, I went diving in the depths of my sewing room drawers and found this little bonnet.  I knew that its bright colors and cheerful print would make the sun shine -- even if the sun was hiding behind both real and figurative clouds yesterday.

This is defnitely a different bonnet from the ones shared earlier this week!

It was actually my "muslin"  made several years ago trying a pattern from the March/April 1995 issue of Sew Beautiful.  Looking at it, there are several things I would now do differently.

But I do love the streamer embellishments, and that is what we have been discussing.

I used two layers of cotton organdy and a built-in leaf motif on my sewing machine.  I stitched the leaf out four times -- two leaves for each side of the bonnet.

Trim the leaves close to the outline stitching.  Looks like I could have trimmed a little better in a couple of places, too!  Position on your bonnet and tack in place with a button.

Today, I might select a slightly more dainty button for this project!

The streamers for this bonnet are lengths of the bonnet fabric sandwiched between the outer bonnet fabric and bonnet lining.

When stitching them to the bonnet, I took a small tuck in the streamer.  Taking a tuck in the streamer, whether it is ribbon or fabric, just seems to make make them a little more graceful!

The design of this bonnet makes it possible to flip the brim back, and create a completely different look.  It also allows for the creative use of several coordinating fabrics.  I think it is just as sweet constructed with batiste, dotted swiss or other fine fabrics.

Every now and then we need to venture down a different path.  In coming days, we will return to the land of heirloom sewing, lace and ribbon rosettes. 

Or, I may just stay on this side of the fence and frolic a little longer!

And did you notice?

The little baby wearing this bonnet would have a touch of green on this St. Paddy's Day!

Wishing all of you the luck of the Irish, today and always!