New Outfit for Me! and Bloomers for the Annie Dress

I don't sew for myself, but every now and then I do buy myself something. My husband and I are going to a cookout tonight in honor of our niece and her fiance who are getting married this fall. I needed, well, wanted, something new to wear. There is a fantastic store in a town about 30 miles from us where I can actually find things that are age appropriate for me. I am not a teen or even a young 20, 30, or 40 anymore, but I am also not in my 70s or 80s either. It is so hard to find something that is somewhere in between those two age groups. But, this store, Christopher & Banks, has beautiful garments for the 50 and 60 age group. Anyway, I found this linen skirt with these beautiful hot summer colors. It is a mock wrap skirt. It fits perfectly. I looked for something orange or that plum color and couldn't match it, but decided I liked the yellow anyway. I love all things yellow. I thought about looking for shoes, but how smart would that be right now, while still wearing my post op boot on my right foot. I have white, lime green, tan, etc.... shoes that I can wear anyway. I just have to decide which one.

I learned that the smaller boot was not made for walking in very far. I actually didn't walk all that far. My husband let me out at the entrance that is just around the corner from this store. But, by the time I was through looking I thought I would die from the pain. My husband went to the Verizon store, which was just a couple of stores away, but by the time I got there, I was in serious pain. I then walked to the rest room and back to the Verizon store, where my husband was still working out a deal. He then decided he needed a new shirt so I sat on a bench out in the mall like most husbands do while waiting on their wives to finish shopping. Then, I had to walk back out to the car which was just outside the door of the mall. I have decided that as much as I was looking forward to the smaller boot, the bigger one gives so much more support, so I'm going to wear it when we go anywhere.

I love bloomers on little girls who are still in diapers. So, I decided to make some for the Annie dress. I didn't have enough of the red left, but I found this tiny houndstooth black and white check in my stash. There was just barely enough to make the bloomers, but I really like the way they look with this dress.
I didn't post a photo of the back of the dress before. Rather than have a white band sewn into the waist line, I thought a separate belt would work better. The belt has a velcro closure so the buttons are just for show, but I like the way they look. My daughter asked me to make another dress using the pattern that this was based on, so that's today's project. I have it cut out and waiting by the machine.

Sharing With our Neighbors

This beautiful creature and her family live in the woods behind our house. Late last evening she was visiting and enjoying the fruits of our apple tree. We love having her and her family members over for dinner so we just leave the apples on the ground for them. She just stands and looks at us. She usually has a little one with her. She comes often in the early mornings and in the evenings. Last fall we looked out and saw at least 10 of her family members.

This is another vintage sewing machine of which I have the blessing to possess. It belonged to my husband's other grandmother. This is the grandmother whose house we actually live in, now. This is a Singer.

Look at the clever idea she had for a place to keep her pins nearby and for a place to put them as she took them out when she sewed.
This is the quilting frame that she used all the time. My husband's grandfather hung it from the ceiling in the basement so that it could be raised out of the way, but easily lowered for her use. It's still hanging in our basement, even though I don't quilt. I cannot imagine taking it down. There are so many things in this house that still remind me of Grandma and Grandpa. They were both remarkable people. The message she gave us just a few days before she died will be with me always. The doctors told us that they could do bypass surgery if she wanted it. She was in good enough health at age 92 to undergo this serious procedure in their opinion. However, she said, "Children, (she always called us children) I know you want me to go through this surgery, but I have had a wonderful life, and I'm ready to go. Please don't be sad." My husband was by her side when she died. He said it was as if peace just washed over her face at the moment she went.

I can "Put My Whole Self In and Do the Hokey Pokey"

Yes, I know this is a very corny title, but it's what popped into my mind when the doctor said that I can now get my foot wet! I felt like doing the "HOKEY POKEY" right then and there! He took out the stitches. He is an amazing sewist! My 4 1/2 in. and 2 in. scars are not going to show much. He sewed them from the inside. Don't ask me how he did it. I do know that it did not feel good when he pulled them out, but that's ok, they are gone!! Now, I can stop using the Peel 'n Stick. (Yep, this stuff works when you have a body part that can't get wet. I mean, you can't put your foot, or whatever, directly in the water, but it does act as a pretty good shield.) I have been sitting on a stool and hanging my leg over the side of the tub to take a shower. I, now, can "put my whole self in" the tub. I'm still going to use the stool, because without the boot I can't put any weight on my foot. At least the boot is smaller.
As for driving, not yet. He said I could, but that if I had to break quickly I probably wouldn't be able to do it. We saw an accident just before we got to the doctor's office this morning. After seeing that I realized that I just wouldn't be able to slam on the breaks if needed.
The two vehicles were coming in opposite directions and turning into the emergency room parking lot behind the hospital. The lady who got hit was making a right turn into the lot. The man who hit her was crossing traffic and just rammed into her. I hope none of them were hurt. I don't think so. I also hope that neither of them had family members at the ER that they were on their way to check on, etc.....
My husband also saw the doctor for his plantar faceaitis today. He has been suffering with it for months and months. Our doctor today is going to have inserts made for his shoes. This should take care of the problem.
I had a picture of my foot in just the harness, but it looked kind of gross so I took it off. Really it doesn't look as bad in person as it did in the photo. There's still some swelling and bruising, but not much. I just got through "Putting my whole self in" and OH! do I feel better!
Won't I look great in this at the cookout that we are going to Saturday night in honor of our neice who is getting married in a couple of months?

I Have a Few Questions

My daughter is wanting me to make some reusable sandwich bags for her daughters to use in their lunch boxes this year. Now, for my questions....... Can you purchase "food safe" vinyl, or is oil cloth safe and the way to go? I have searched a little bit on line and did not feel that my question was answered. Walmart has cute vinyl that is fabric on one side. Is this safe to use? Or would I be better off just making cloth bags with no water proofing?
I thought while I was at it I would look into making insulated lunch boxes. Is that fabric hard to find. Remember that I live in a little bitty town and will probably have to buy online. There is a JoAnns about an hour away, and I've just learned of a store called Mammaw's Thimble that is also about an hour away. I don't know what types of fabrics they have there, though.

Dress Up Clothes for the Fashionista!

For Christmas a few years a go I made a set of dress up clothes for our, now, big girls, Kellen and Jenna. That was before Riley was born, but she has gotten to play with them alot. The big girls have added to their collection through dance costumes, Halloween costumes, etc... so when I was thinking of making some just for Riley, her mom said, "No, they have enough." So, now, we have Emory, who will be 2 soon and is the biggest little fashionista I've ever encountered. Her mom asked if I would start her collection of dress up clothes, and here they are......


The pink princess ballerina, princess, whatever she dreams that she is in this "lovely " costume.

Now, for a jazzy little Emory! I kind of cheated on this one. I made this vest for a little boy for a dance costume and it was too small, so Emory gets it. I made the skirt from scraps. Actually, all of the fabrics in all of these outfits are from my stash!


A tuquoise princess ballerina, a grand lady in a long shimmery dress, or a queen with a cape? We'll let Emory decide.


A fashionista on the red carpet. Add the cape and she can be a queen or a super hero or whatever her imagination makes her be at the moment.

Now, for the grand finale, here comes the bride! Emory has just been to Canada to her uncle's wedding, so I hope she enjoys playing the part of bride. What little girl doesn't dream of her wedding day? Yes, I know Emory is a little young to have those dreams, but anyway, she needs a wedding dress, right? I made this so she can wear it, as pictured, up high and tied as a halter, but when she gets older she can wear it as a skirt, and I can make her a top to go with it like I did for the turquoise and the pink. The veil is a "lovely " 80s style! The University of Tennessee's mascot, Smokey, has been called into modeling again. He looks thrilled doesn't he? I can actually see Emory wearing this dress much as Smokey is with a UT shirt, or maybe a NC shirt if her daddy has any influence, but however she wears it she will be adorable.

Go Vols! Football time in Tennessee starts in just a few weeks. Labor Day weekend to be exact.
Going to lunch with a friend who is sweet enough to come pick me up since I still can't drive with this huge boot. I go back to the dr. tomorrow to get my stitches out, and I hope to have a smaller boot and maybe get to drive again!

Post 100 and a Special Dress for a Special Little Girl!

I can't believe this is really my 100th post! I have decided to celebrate by honoring all 50 of my followers and my 5 grand children by making and donating 5 blankets to the Linus Project! I wish I could gift each of my 50 followers with something personal, but since I can't, I thought this would be a good way to honor all of you (one blanket per 10 followers). I will also be honoring my 5 grandchildren in this special way. They are blessed to have all they need and most of what they want. They will be happy to know that they are being honored by my giving blankets to other little ones to keep them warm. There's a lady at my church who makes blankets for the Linus Project all the time, and I've been reading about lots of bloggers like my friend at Hanging On By A Needle and Thread, who do this. Check out the newest quilt on her blog. So, I decided it's my turn.


Now, for my third project of the day! Our little Emory is going to be celebrating her 2nd birthday. She loves, loves, loves the movie, "Annie". She is so funny to watch while she's wathing it. She's very dramatic. She throws her hands over her open mouth and exclaims her excitement. She will give a play by play of the movie. She says, "Annie, dress," "Annie, boots," "Annie, dance," "Annie, sleeping," etc..... You get the picture. She really is a funny little one. So, her aunt suggested that I make her the red Little Orphan Annie dress, and here it is.

I used this pattern, Simplicity 5647, to get the basic shape. I took fullness out of the sleeves and made the collar white, cuffs for the sleeves, and a white belt. Of course, I used black piping on the collar, cuffs, and belt, as well. I lined the dress with a light weight red cotton that I had. I just sewed the lining in with the dress as one. This may end up being Emory's Halloween costume, but even if it isn't she can play in it at home, or why couldn't she wear it anywhere she goes?

Three Posts In One Day! Another gown!

Post Number 99! Three in one day!! I am on a roll!!! Whoo Hoo!! This post is really just a continuation of the last two. I did make the gown pattern again. This time I was a more particular about the trim I used, a simple little sweetheart lace that I had in my stash. I pretty much followed the pattern, McCall's Easy Stitch'nvSave # 5355, this time.


I have decided what my celebration is going to be, and I'll let you know in my next post, which will be number 100!!! It has to do with honoring all 50 of my followers and my 5 grand children!