Cupcakes and Balloons Bishop

This is a repost from a post I wrote yesterday on my sewing blog. Enjoy!

Smocking is one of my very most favorite things to do—I’ll admit I’m addicted to it. My husband jokes that if I haven’t smocked something in a few days I become hard to be live with. I don’t know if I’m that bad, but smocking is very relaxing for me.

My latest smocked bishop was a first birthday dress. The birthday girl’s mother saw a smocked bishop that was perfect for the theme of the party. However, the design was discontinued and a dress in the size they needed couldn’t be found anywhere. Like most of my projects, when they can’t find what they want, they call me.

She sent some photos of the original dress and asked if I could make one like it. I said that I could, but as with all garments made with only a photo for reference, it wouldn’t be identical, but I would get it as close to the original as I could.

  The dress is made from pastel green batiste, with a three inch deep hem. It turned out so precious! There is a bright cupcake in the center with balloon bouquets on either side, with ribbon bows.There is a tiny pink hearts border around the top, and a light purple scalloped border around the bottom. It almost made me forget my dislike of picture smocking when it was finished, it turned out so sweet.

I also made a pair of Vivianna Bloomers from the batiste to match.

I’ve been promised pictures of the birthday girl in her dress and when I receive them I’ll share.

A long overdue update!

Things have been insanely busy in my little corner of the world lately. I never knew having a baby would rearrange my time like it has.

The Lord has been so good to us this summer and I plan to share some of the things He has done for us in several posts.  Here is a quick update with pictures ;)

Our Little Princess is three and a half months old and I have no idea where the time has gone. I am finally getting back into somewhat of a normal routine and beginning to feel like my old self again.

 

Last month we celebrated my Poppa’s 72nd birthday. He is my maternal grandfather and the whole family was able to be there, which is rare considering how many of us there are now.

Livie, my Poppa and I at his 72nd birthday party last month.

Almost all of the 20-something grandchildren and 1 great-grandbaby with Nana and Poppa.

Four generations.

~~~~~~~

Over the summer in addition to having a baby I sewed for FOUR weddings. I do not know what possessed me to allow such insanity to take over. Needless to say, I found out that I am not Superwoman by any means and had it not been for my mom and sister helping me out and saving my bacon I don’t know what I would have done.  I am currently working on my last project/event for the year—a quinceanera dress—and as soon as that is completed I am going to take the rest of the year off except for my Etsy shop orders.

Well, I’m off to sew some more and do laundry from last week’s hunting trip.

24 weeks—an update

Yesterday was the 24 week mark—now we have more behind us than in front of us and it won’t be too much longer before we are holding our little princess in our arms. I cannot wait to meet her! Between the little girls at church and my baby cousin we got to see yesterday, our arms are aching to hold our Livie and see who she looks like.

Olivia has introduced me to several new things over the last few weeks: sciatic nerve pain, heartburn, feeling like a beached whale, waddling occasionally, and NESTING. Nesting hit me full force last week and I was ready to repaint and redecorate everything. Suddenly I urgently want to get things done before the baby gets here. Some of my projects amuse Jacob and some of them make him cringe—like wanting to repaint the bedroom and make a new headboard and build the co-sleeper and get the flowerbeds ready….

I love feeling her move and kick all day. She is so active and now her movement are starting to be more than just kicks and flutters. She makes my belly move so much that we can see it and sometimes it feels like she is gently patting me from the inside. I love it! I never knew it would be this much fun <3

My belly is ever-expanding, but I can still see my feet! Adjusting my wardrobe has been, well, let’s say it’s been a learning experience. I’m finally starting to break down and make some maternity clothes. I’ve bought a few outfits but it is getting hard to find what I want and like. I’m currently working on a pattern for a knit top. It might be finished by this weekend, but who knows? ;)

Gifts have started arriving in little spurts for our girl. Sweet little dresses and shoes are hanging in the guest bedroom closet next to her Daddy’s work shirts. I started a smocked dress for her last week. All the smocking needs to  be finished is a few little purple flowers around the wreath.

After all this time of making little dresses for other little girls, I’m finally making pretty stuff for my own angel ;)

Olivia loves to listen to her Daddy’s voice—she gets very hyper when he talks to her. She also LOVES church. When I play the organ or piano she moves and jumps so much that it threw me off and made me lose my place a few times until I got used to it. This last weekend I was listening to a song that our choir is learning and as soon as I turned it on she started acting like she was at church. So far the only kind of music that she really responds to is black gospel and some classical. The black gospel is understandable since we are at church a lot ;) This song always gets a reaction from her—it is the new one that our choir learned:

I’ll close with that. I’ve got to play catch-up today after our long weekend and anniversary service for our church. Laundry is taunting me and it needs attention.

Hope you have a great week!

Clothespin Bag Tutorial and Pattern

In the vein of my post last week about line-dried laundry, I thought I would share with you a pattern/tutorial for an easy, quick clothespin bag. This bag can be whipped up in about 30 minutes and is a great project for a beginning seamstress, whether she be 8 or 48 ;)
Enjoy and let me know what you think of it. If you have any questions feel free to ask me.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Pattern for Smartness: Simplicity 1948

Here is a delightful vintage sewing video for you to enjoy. ;)

Busy busy busy

I’ve busy making and putting new things in my shop lately. Here’s a peak into what I’ve been up to. Stop by shop to see what else is there ;)

Crazy colored scarf ;)

Very ruffly, frilly jacket.

Houndstooth jacket with huge flower ;)

Bridesmaid dress project—final photos ;)

Here they are!!!!!

Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles everywhere!

Here’s a quick update on my latest sewing project:

Five of these froufy things are what have been keeping me busy and unable to blog much. I am pleased with how they are turning and thankfully, so is the bride! There will be one more ruffle added at the bottom, and 3/4 length sleeves and sashes are still to come.

Sewing Bee #3: Hostess Apron pattern & tutorial

One of the most useful accessories a homemaker can own is a good apron.  I like mine to have good deep pockets—they come in so handy while cleaning house.  Below is the pattern for a hostess or half-apron I drafted for a sewing class I taught. (Thanks to Lulu for modeling it and a dress I made from a vintage pattern)

Cut out the pieces to the measurements as shown. (The seam allowances are included – 5/8 in allowed)

For the skirt piece, cut it out as shown, then round the outside (selvage edges) edges. You can do this by taking a dinner plate and tracing the edge with a pencil then cutting on the line.

Sew a rolled hem all the way around the sides and bottom of the apron.  Set aside.

Pocket Preparation and Placement:

Fold top of pocket over (to the inside) 1 inch and press. Cut a piece of bias tape the width of the pocket and pin an inch below the folded top edge. Stitch in place. Fold under and press remaining sides 1/4 inch.

Place pocket 5 1/2 inches down from top edge and 8 1/2 inches in from side edge. Back stitch at the top sides of the pocket for reinforcement and sew around sides and bottom.

Gather top edge of skirt to 16 inches wide and set aside.

For the waistband:

Sew the two waistband pieces together—matching the 4 1/2 inch ends together. (You should have a piece close to the 30” long) Fold it in half lengthwise RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER. The wrong sides of the fabric will be to the outside. Stitch as shown below, leaving 16” in the middle open. Turn the piece inside out and press.

Next, pin the gathered edge (right sides together!) to one side of the opening and sew in place. Sew the remaining side by hand, using a blind stitch or whatever suits you.

Press and Enjoy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are a few ideas for posts for our sewing bee:

• Tutorials: these can be for anything from how to put in a zipper to how to make your own pattern. These can be for clothing and accessories, for things for your home (curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, throw pillows) or how to fix and repair things.
• Resources: websites and companies where you have purchased patterns, supplies and materials. Give us a review of different ones.
• Book Reviews: There are scores of sewing books out there and it is always nice to read a review about one from a lady who has used it.
• Favorite Patterns
• Also, if you know of a great tutorial online, share the link here
• In short, anything you’d like to share!

Guidelines for sharing in the Sewing Bee:

• Join by using the link widget below. Submit your link and it will show up in the list at the bottom.
• Grab a button from the sidebar to the right and place it in your Sewing Bee post. (If for some reason you are unable to get the button, please place a link back to this) This is so others can join in the fun too!
• If you do not have a blog but would like to share something for the Sewing Bee, write it, email it to me (withallofthyheart@gmail.com) and I’ll post it as a guest post. (Be sure and send a photo of yourself too!)
• As a courtesy to others, please make sure all of the posts submitted here are God-honoring. Keep it classy ladies ;)

Enter your Link Below:

Sewing Bee

Welcome to Country Mouse Musings’ Sewing Bee!
    Many years ago our great and great-great grandmothers would get together with the ladies in their communities for quilting and sewing bees. Many times they would help a soon-to-be bride finish filling her hopechest with pillowcases, tablecloths, curtains or whatever else she needed to set up housekeeping in her new home.
   Sewing bees allowed older women to pass on knowledge and skills to younger women and girls and presented an opportunity for them to develop friendships and bonds that would last for years.
Sewing—whether for the home or clothing—is quickly becoming a lost art and skill. Sewing to me is an essential part of homemaking. There was a time when a homemaker very literally made everything in her home—from the quilts on the beds to curtains at the windows to the clothing the family wore. It was a given that a woman could sew and make what her family needed. Sadly, that is not the case these days. It still amazes me that there are some women that do not know how to do something as simple as sewing on a button! Thankfully with today’s technology and resources, learning to sew or adding to one’s knowledge is fairly easy. It is my hope that the Sewing Bee link-up will be a place for us to share what we know and learn from each other.
   
Here are six reasons to learn to sew:

 1. You can create beautiful, unique clothing tailored especially for you, exactly how you want them.

2. You can "modestify" clothing you buy, or alter something from the store and make it work for you.

3. It can be a money saver. (Especially if you can do all of your own mending and not have to send your clothing out. It amazes me how many women can't sew a button on and have to send things to the dry cleaners to be mended.)

4. It can be a money maker and a good industry from your home.

5. It is a way to express yourself and personality everywhere--your clothing, your home, etc.

6. It's FUN! 
 
 Here are a few ideas for posts for our sewing bee:

• Tutorials: these can be for anything from how to put in a zipper to how to make your own pattern. These can be for clothing and accessories, for things for your home (curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, throw pillows) or how to fix and repair things.
• Resources: websites and companies where you have purchased patterns, supplies and materials. Give us a review of different ones.
• Book Reviews: There are scores of sewing books out there and it is always nice to read a review about one from a lady who has used it.
• Favorite Patterns
• Also, if you know of a great tutorial online, share the link here
• In short, anything you’d like to share!

Guidelines for sharing in the Sewing Bee:

• Join by using the link widget below. Submit your link and it will show up in the list at the bottom.
• Grab a button from below and place it in your Sewing Bee post. (If for some reason you are unable to get the button, please place a link back to this) This is so others can join in the fun too!
• If you do not have a blog but would like to share something for the Sewing Bee, write it, email it to me (withallofthyheart@gmail.com) and I’ll post it as a guest post. (Be sure and send a photo of yourself too!)
• As a courtesy to others, please make sure all of the posts submitted here are God-honoring. Keep it classy ladies ;)

<a border="0" href="http://countrymousemusings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhzeC785FlTQwapAARPButK7iZFgAgPls4izZk3eV-D1V1hBKUskWabv3sLFCsCIllJauKIknulSc4Xhz0C31soRCbm2NHBIPUmqFLOyAj1FNDCNWyT3LL33mVqWJC2TLf3wS7iM_WTlF/s350/18348368084.jpg"></a>                           <a border="0" href="http://countrymousemusings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof8NF5VZi36hxhI7aNBp8GxWAgj9cmeAcC9OoU5fQnO1rQCn6lGkKOY0o-9vo0RxJdXyaha30ZUe54QWFyLaF09g1EHMlZSqccwggphfoH4tJ7ShRsnip7pi2KDyRKozYlxX1W4OWQIPE/s350/18348389757.jpg"></a>

Enter your link here:

Update and an Announcement!

This is Country Mouse Musings’ 100th post! I can’t believe it. I didn’t think that I could have 100 posts in under a year, but I did ;)
We were blessed to have Jacob’s parents come and stay for the weekend with us. We had a wonderful time while they were here and ran into some old friends of theirs. My mother-in-law and I had a wonderful girls-day-out shopping—we love to go to thrift stores together and we found some really good bargains.
We were able to make it to the Texas Circuit Finals rodeo and Jacob was able to meet Trevor Brazile. For those of you who don’t know who he is, he holds the most world titles of any professional cowboy—16! He is the best of the best. He is also a very bold Christian, so that makes him even better :)

Me and my Jacob at the Circuit Finals

  Unfortunately, the weekend wasn’t all fun and games. A nasty cold has taken up residence here and I’ve been fighting it. Now it looks like Jacob is coming down with it as well. Does anyone have any cold remedies (other than all of the OTC ones?) I’m not against taking medicine, but if there is a more natural remedy I prefer to try it first.
Now, on to the announcement:

  Beginning next week, Country Mouse Musings will be hosting a Sewing Bee link up. I am very excited about it and I hope many of you will join in the fun.
Many years ago our great and great-great grandmothers would get together with the ladies in their communities for quilting and sewing bees. Many times they would help a soon-to-be bride finish filling her hopechest with pillowcases, tablecloths, curtains or whatever else she needed to set up housekeeping in her new home. 
Sewing bees allowed older women to pass on knowledge and skills to younger women and girls and presented an opportunity for them to develop friendships and bonds that would last for years.
Sewing—whether for the home or clothing—is quickly becoming a lost art and skill.  Sewing to me is an essential part of homemaking. There was a time when a homemaker very literally made everything in her home—from the quilts on the beds to curtains at the windows to the clothing the family wore. It was a given that a woman could sew and make what her family needed. Sadly, that is not the case these days. It still amazes me that there are some women that do not know how to do something as simple as sewing on a button!  Thankfully with today’s technology and resources, learning to sew or adding to one’s knowledge is fairly easy.  It is my hope that the Sewing Bee link-up will be a place for us to share what we know and learn from each other.
Here are some  ideas for the Sewing Bee link-up:
Tutorials and how-to’s,; sewing mistakes and fixes; altering clothing for something else;  “modest-ifying patterns and clothing; basic mending and repair skills; Sewing for your home; pattern reviews, pattern making, sewing technique book reviews, places to buy quality supplies….
In short, anything that has helped you better your sewing and you would like to share.

I am very excited and looking forward to seeing all that you share. Look for it next week!
----------------------------------------------
Rebecca

My current projects

I’ve been working on a few things for myself lately. My favorite so far is this grey, vintage inspired dress I made using Simplicity pattern #2053.

I’ve also been on a flower-making craze.

I ended up making two headbands and the flower pin below, and my little sister has already asked for a headband to match one of her outfits. I’m considering making them available from my Etsy store, and possibly a tutorial, if there’s an interest for one ;)

Home Again…well, almost…

The holidays are over and we are back to our new city home. It was so hard to leave this time and come back. We had a wonderful five days with our family and it was so good to sleep in our own bed for a couple of nights. I have felt like quite  the nomad the last several weeks.

Here is just a quick peak into our Christmas. We are having friends come and stay with us for New Year’s and I have lots of preparing to do. My best and oldest childhood friend married one of Jacob’s best friends 6 weeks after we married. Does it get any better than that? Holly and I had always hoped we would marry men that liked each other so we could spend time together and the Lord worked it out to where we married best friends. :)

Our first married Christmas  was wonderful. This was actually our third Christmas to spend together and each year it gets better.  We had our little Christmas, just the two of us, Christmas Eve morning. As usual, Jacob spoiled me completely rotten. He surprised me with a wide angle and a telephoto lens for my camera as well as lots of other things.

We spent Christmas Eve night with my parents and siblings and were there to watch the girls open their gifts the next morning. This year was a little different than most—usually the little people are up first and wake everyone up.This year however, we big people were up first and woke the girls up to open gifts.

Jacob loves to tell people about Christmas morning at my parents’ house. Unlike most families, we don’t take turns, opening our gifts one person  at a time. The night before we sort out all the gifts according to who they belong to. Christmas morning, when everyone is awake and in the livingroom, Daddy says “Go!” and the wrapping paper starts to fly. Jacob refers to it as chaos and having been an only child, had no idea what he was getting into with a Christmas for seven kids.

Of course, after close to 20 years of opening gifts this way, we have perfected our method and no gifts are lost :)

I made all the little girls fancy dresses for Christmas. Faith loved hers so much she didn’t want to take it off. Even at barely a year, she already loves “foofy” clothes and shoes. The other girls floated around in their dresses and had a fashion show for Daddy. I put invisible zippers in their dresses instead of buttons so they felt very grown up. My little sisters are so much fun to sew for.   

 

 

 

Our family grew by one this year. Meet Lulu:

One of my gifts from my in-laws was this lovely  dress form (already modeling a dress in the works for my Etsy shop)

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 12

Busy, busy busy! That is me right now.

This week started off rather sorrowfully--my beloved sewing machine nearly gave up the ghost. I just knew she was mortally wounded and rushed her to the hospital. There is an elderly man in my hometown who works on sewing machines and is amazing with them. That's where I took the 'ole girl. He and his wife have been married almost 60 years and they are wonderful Christian people.
 He called me about an hour later and told me that the clutch assembly had gone out (I didn't even know my machine had a clutch!) and sadly, Singer had discontinued that line of parts. He was checking with some other suppliers to see if he could get a matching part for it. But it would probably take a little while to get the parts in. This was not good news, especially since we are about to move. I didn't want to be without a sewing machine for a few weeks.
 Thankfully, my Mom had a spare machine she had picked up at a yard sale about a month ago. It needed to be put back in time and needed a presser foot. She dropped it by the sewing machine shop the same day that I took mine. Mr. Williams went ahead and fixed Mom's machine so I would have one to take with me.
  Well, yesterday Mom and the girls came over and brought the machine to me. Mom decided to just give it to me! I was shocked and so excited. So I'm saved :) and have a machine to take to Waco.

This is what my home looks like right now--boxes everywhere. My poor coffee table is buried. I'm trying to get everything packed to leave. I've got multiple lists of things we can't forget scattered throughout the rooms. I don't really like moving :(

This is what helps me keep going ;) Thank the Lord for coffee!

October already!

I can't believe October is here! Where has this year gone? It feels like it should still be in July or August.
 A cool front blew in last weekend and has made the temperature more bearable. Not quite hot chocolate weather, but at least now we don't have to worry about heat stroke. I can't wait to sit on the porch in the evenings with my honey and enjoy the weather.
 I've been busy with dress fittings, music practices and company the last week. The bridesmaid dresses are almost finished, though it is a little difficult since all the bridesmaids but one live about an hour away and work strange hours. Some of my creativity has been squelched by only working on one project at a time. I have probably close to fifteen (well, that may be an exaggeration) projects I'm dying to try, but I am going to finish the dresses first.
  My mom and sisters came to see me Friday. Faith says my name now and will take one or two steps by herself now. We all went to a few of the many resale shops that are close to my apartment and came home with some bargains :).
One of my finds was a very pretty king-size pillow case that I want to make into a little girl's nightgown. I found this tutorial and free pdf pattern and I can't wait to do it. I have never really cared for the pajamas that they make for little girls these days. I prefer old fashioned, modest and feminine little gowns :) And if they are made from pretty pillowcases, how much cuter can they get?
 After my mom and sisters left, my oldest little brother came and stayed most of the weekend with us. He has been wanting to get into bow hunting so this weekend Jacob helped him get set up. We spent several hours at the Bass Pro Shop on Saturday. I'd never been to that store before and all I can say is "wow". It's like a Gander Mountain, Cracker Barrell and Buccee's all rolled into one.
 And last but not least, a somewhat amusing story for you:
 The last several weeks I've been threatening to make gumbo again. After the disaster last time I made gumbo, I've been a little reluctant to try it again. But it sounded great to Jacob for supper last night so I summoned up the courage to go at it again, this time vowing not to leave the stove at all.
  Jacob requested okra again (yikes!) and shrimp this time. I am clueless when it comes to shrimp. I don't eat shrimp so I do not know anything about it. My mom had always bought the shrimp and taken care of it. Jacob suggested just getting some frozen cocktail shrimp and using them. So I did. They worked out great.
  Well, supper was almost finished, the cornbread muffins were almost out of the oven and I was setting the table. I went to stir the gumbo one more time and heard Jacob's truck pull in. I started dishing up the gumbo and something just didn't look right. Then to my dismay, I realized that I'd forgotten the okra AGAIN! All I could was laugh. Jacob came in the door and I told him what happened and he started laughing (thank heavens!). So we just delayed supper until the okra I added was finished.
Wait, there's more. Look at this picture:

 

 Yes, guess who left the TAILS ON THE SHRIMP? As I said, I don't know anything about shrimp. Jacob popped one in his mouth and about 3 seconds later out came the tail. Thankfully, he laughed again.

  What is really funny is that he almost sent me a text to remind me to put okra in the gumbo, but decided not to because "surely she'll remember it this time."

 Oh the joys of domestic bliss!

Busy, busy, busy--that's me!

So, what do you think of the new look? :) Comment and let me know! Thanks to ShabbyBlogs for the new look.
I've been so busy lately--life seems like it's been crazy the last few weeks. So other than laundry and giving the blog a facelift, what have I been up to?
 Our church choir has been busy practicing for a conference this week--that has taken up several evenings.
Jacob's cousin had her baby girl---she is sooo precious! I'm so excited because we get to be Aunt Bec and Uncle Jacob to her.
  My crafting side has really been showing the last few weeks, probably caused by my steady diet of DIY and crafting blogs.
They say pictures are worth a thousand words so here are a few of my life (in projects ;) ) lately.

This is one of the headbands we made at our Keepers of the Faith meeting. The girls did really well, and I think I am the only one that came away with any serious hot glue burns.

My most recent craze: fabric flowers. I love them! I like to put a pin on the back and wear them on my shirts. One of the ladies at church saw one I'd made and wanted one. They are so much fun to make. Maybe a tutorial in the future....

And I've almost finished another pineapple doily. I think they are beginning to become an addiction for me. My mom once remarked that they had the same effect on her, so maybe I'm not too badly off ;)

Last week I started a wedding project. I'll be making the bridesmaids' dresses from this pattern, using view B. The fabric they chose is lovely! Three of them will be latte' colored crepe back satin with chocolate brown belts and flowers, and the other (the matron of honor's dress) will be solid chocolate brown.
 I made a practice dress in my size out of some black and cream checkered suiting and it is adorable! I love the way it fits. I can't wait to see how the bridesmaids' dresses turn out :) Here are some pictures of what I've been doing:

Luscious, creamy, dreamy folds of crepe back satin....ahhhhhh

A bodice ready for the first fitting

Now I have to get back to the real world  and sew--not just talk about sewing. I need to make plans for supper and start another (!) load of laundry.  I think I hear a cup of coffee calling my name :) It must be the latte' colored fabric making me want some.

6 Reasons to Learn to Sew

1. You can create beautiful, unique clothing tailored especially for you, exactly how you want them.

2. You can "modestify" clothing you buy, or alter something from the store and make it work for you.

3. It can be a money saver. (Especially if you can do all of your own mending and not have to send your clothing out. It amazes me how many women can't sew a button on and have to send things to the dry cleaners to be mended.)

4. It can be a money maker and a good industry from your home.

5. It is a way to express yourself and personality everywhere--your clothing, your home, etc.

6. It's FUN!