have you cleaned your machine lately?

Labor Day 2011

**************************

Spent a lot of time in the sewing room this weekend as the rest of the family was out of town in various places.  Made pillows for the home of a soon-to-be-newlywed couple.  They get married in a month and are feathering their soon-to-be nest.  First time I had dealt with this type of trim.  It was thick and didn't really want to be co-operative.

But I won.

The pillows with brown and lime green pom pom ball fringe turned out to be my very favorites!

Y'know, I could do this for a living... 

if only more people needed decorative pillows and knew that I rock at making them.

***************************

After that project was complete, I made a table runner for a friend whose family has just moved to a new neighborhood.  I recovered their dining room chairs in the same fabric.

I'd never made a table runner before.

Y'know, I could sew those for a living...

but then I might put the poor children in China's sweatshops out of business.

And I'd hate to do that.

***************************

At the end of the weekend, I cleaned and oiled my faithful sewing machine.

It was well-deserved and much needed.  She made a lot less noise afterward.  But I am pretty sure I heard a small, sweet voice say 'thank you' when I walked out of the room.

help a fellow seamstress

Christine Haynes, is a genius.  I can highly recommend her book, and have.  She is now attempting to start her own pattern line.  Check out the link below and learn all about it.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/christinehaynes/christine-haynes-launches-sewing-patterns

I'll be honest, after I watched her video, I wished she was my neighbor.... what a sweetie!

beautiful spools

for a sweet little friend on her fifth birthday

For a sweet girl whose favorite colors are blue and green.

And who will be going to Kindergarten this fall!

Happy Birthday Cecilia!

second dress for auction

For a younger tot, this little apron dress would fit about a 12 month old.

Although I really really want to win this giveaway, I want to tell you about it, too. I haven't been this excited about someone else's handmade clothes in awhile!

There are just simply some people in the world who can mix and match fabrics and the end result is phenomenal. My friend Tori is like that. These ladies at Lillie Bee have the knack as well. Gives me something to aspire to.

Just look at some of their genius creations....

Akira Kimono Dress

Baby Bubble dress

Gypsy Ruffle Skirt

Blossom Skirt

a new beauty to love

Singer Model No. 27 circa 1910

Gonna have to practice to get the treadle rhythm just right.

Something consistently scratched this area.

the bobbin... odd, huh?

Bobbin case (shaped like a torpedo)

I am a sucker for the details!

Believe it or not, this was a gift from a friend! It was in her grandmother's house and when they cleaned out the house, she did not want it. I was honored to give it a home. I actually have it in my silhouette themed dining room, because just look at the detailing on the legs!

Interesting to note: Our house will be 100 years old this year and since this is about the same vintage, I will display it proudly. I really hope I can master working it well enough to make something lovely.