The picture that inspired a pattern

I am so excited the new Natalie pattern is now available from Sew Beautiful! :-)

I want to share with you the story behind this pattern. This is the picture that inspired the pattern. (note: I think my brother cut my bangs.)

This all got started over some jacquard ribbon. Several years ago Kathy B and I were working on the SB Dainty Design samples and she showed me some new jacquard ribbon that Martha Pullen was carrying .

That got me started on the story of my favorite dress when I was little. We were living in Bermuda and my Texas born and raised mother did not really understand the exchange rate. She bought some really pretty jacquard ribbon for a gingham dress that she was making for me. Later on she realized the ribbon cost more then the entire dress! I loved that dress!

The Natalie pattern is a "semi princess" style dress and is available in girl sizes 2-6 and 8-14. There are three different necklines available and three different sleeve options with this pattern.


http://store.marthapullen.com/p-7524-vintage-natalie-2-6.aspx

http://store.marthapullen.com/p-7525-vintage-natalie-8-14

As a bonus, a christening gown pattern based on the Natalie pattern is available in the pull out section of Sew Beautiful #135

http://store.marthapullen.com/p-7507-sb-issue-135

I can't wait to see what everyone creates from this pattern!

Cutie Pie!

Hope you will indulge this new grandmother by allowing me to show off some baby pictures. :-)

We just spend a week with our new granddaughter (and her parents) and I am going through baby withdraw symptoms. This is the outfit she was wearing when we arrived. :-)

I sat down with her and told her I was her Fairy Godmother and anytime she needs a fancy dress for the ball she just needs to give me a call!....... Okay, she was asleep when I told her this but her mother heard me. "Have needle and thread, Will travel".

Here are some pictures of her modeling outfits. She is about 9 pounds so you can get an idea on the fit. The size 0-3month onsies were perfect.

I love the "mend" feature on my Adobe Elements software. Every outfit is magically clean.... at least they are in the photos. We all did a lot of laundry but it gave me an excuse to put her in another outfit. :-)

Here is the Cup Cake onsie with the diaper cover from MP Round Yoke Baby book. Diaper cover was a little big but all I needed to do was tighten the elastic.

This is a smocked version of the MP square yoke Baby daygown.

And last but not least a size 3 month Cherry Williams Baby bishop.

On the way home I got to stop at "The Stitching Post" in Little Rock, Arkansas. I had a great time buying fabric for my new muse. Okay, I always have a great time buying fabric but the combination of a great store and a new granddaughter made it extra special. :-)

Monkey Business

I am busy working on stuff for Miss Amelia but want to wait and show off her wearing them. In the mean time I want to show you some Baby Onesies that I have embellished.

This little monkey suit is embroidered with a bullion monkey from Kari Mecca. The neckline and the cuffs of this onesie are a ribbed knit. I used the ribs as pleats and stitched a one step trellis with one strand of floss.

Here is a close up. I am so happy with my little monkey. The first time I stitched him was during a SAGA convention several years ago. It took me most of the day and he only looked like a monkey if you squinted.

I have practiced a lot so that my bullions are not as scary looking any more.

Here is another one. The cupcake is my design. The neck and cuffs are stitched with a Herringbone stitch with one strand of pink floss.

Here is a close up of how I stitched the neckline. I am stitching a 2 step trellis on a pink onesie. You can also use this technique on the cuff of baby socks.

I paired the onesies with pull on diaper covers from Martha Pullen's Precious Baby Day Gown Round Yoke Collection. I love this pattern. I added the ruffle for something different.

The End! :-)

Life is Good

I want to thank everyone for their kind words. Our new grand daughter is doing great! Her parents are doing great also.

Here is a picture of the dress she was wearing in the photo.

It is a Cherry Williams bishop in a size 3 month. The neck size was okay but the rest was way too big. The fabric is Martha Pullen's Victorian Batiste.

I wanted to show you the buttons/beads I used as an embellishment for the dress. I had bought them years before at Michael's. They are really tiny.

My thought were when I first saw them was to use them on Wee care gowns instead of embroidering bullion roses. They can be added to almost any smocking plate.

They worked perfect on my new born Valentine baby dress.

They come in a package and I transferred them to the container show here. It is a almost like a Tic Tac mint container.

I will close with a photo that just brings tears to my eyes and peace to my heart. It is a great feeling when you know that you have raised your sons right. :'-)

Hope you have a great day!

Best Valentine Ever!

I'm a Grandmother!

I am ecstatic to introduce you to Amelia Grace!

She arrived 4 weeks early on Saturday, February 12.

She weights 5 pounds 15 oz. and is 19 7/8" long. Mom and Baby are doing great.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Year of the Rabbit

This dress was one of the first dresses that I picture smocked on. The fabric was Imperial Broadcloth. Pattern for the dress is Cherry William Yoke dress. I think the size was 12months. Smocking plate is by Ellen McCarn. Ears were provided by my SIL. :-)

Another " Baby Charlotte"

Here is another bishop smocked with the Baby Charlotte smocking design. This one is for my granddaughter.

My camera and my computer monitor do not do the color of this dress justice.

The fabric is a tiny old fashion cotton print in a dusty purple color. It is smocked with DMC # 3042.

I added 3 pearl beads at the points of the smocking design.

I always love looking at a smocking design when it is blocked in a circle! The cable row just under the bias band was smocked after the bishop was completed.