Growth Tuck Adjustments

I see some pressing is in order, and I see a button that isn't in line with the rest.  I hadn't seen that until I saw this photo.  Strange isn't it?  I actually adjusted this dress by 4 inches.  I don't know what I was thinking when I put this together.  But, with this adjustment, Miss J should be in good shape.                                                         

I was sitting on my couch the other night, looking at these dresses, and I realized that Lil'B would be dragging the ground in this little dress.  I made a 1 1/2 in. adjustment.  At 7 months, even 1/2 in. makes a difference.  I am going to make bloomers to go with this dress. Lil'B is crawling everywhere, so her diapered little bottom needs to be covered.  She has to be a "lady".

I've started on the boys' shirts.  My machine is acting up!  Argh!  It is starting to make me mad!  It's my own fault, though.  I take my machine in for a check-up every summer, but with all that was going on last summer with new babies and my mother's condition, I never got it to the shop.  It is going just as soon as I get the Easter clothing finished.

Slip Cover

 I made a slip cover for this couch for my daughter.


It really doesn't look quite this wrinkly in person. Actually, after seeing these photos I adjusted the fabric on the cushions again. I should have taken new picts, but I didn't. I was having too much fun with my grands.
It wasn't easy to find the fabric for this couch, because we needed so much yardage, but we found an awesome store where all the fabrics are factory overruns, or seconds, or whatever. The fabrics were high quality, but inexpensive!!!! Yea!!!! It looks a little shinier in these photos than it really is. It's very soft and kid friendly. It also, all comes off for a spin in the washing machine. There are zippers in the cushion coverings and the rest, even though a tight fit, will slip off. I stuffed the back cushions so they would be fuller, and I covered the bottom cushions with batting to give a little more shape. This took two days, with half of the first day looking for the fabric. I've never done anything quite like this before, so I really didn't know what I was doing or how it would turn out. My grand daughter said that it looked like a rich person's couch. That's the best critique I could ever expect!

What A Difference A Few Months Make! Wordless Post

The Easter Parade Continues

Lil'E and Lil'B can be in the Easter Parade.

Their Easter frocks have been made.

Purple with sleeves and a bow,

Is all Lil'E asked for me to sew

For her and her little sis.

I hope these dresses will fill her wish.

 That's four Easter outfits that are done.

Of dresses left, there's only one.

Two shirts, ties, sweater vests and slacks,

Are all that this granmomma still lacks.

First, Fifth, Forever

http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

Last month, I linked up to Coloradolady's Letter Writing Challenge.  As I love to get and send mail, this really isn't a challenge for me.  Please visit her site and watch the joy on the face of this man as he opens his birthday cards!

This month, I sent:

1. A note to my friend who has just recently found out she's going to be a grandmom soon.  I taught school with this lady for YEARS!  I taught her daughter who is giving her this grandchild. 

2.  A 100th Birthday card to Miss Lena, with whom I worked in a fabric store when I was a teenager.  She was such a great mentor to me.  I loved working with her.

3.  A note to my sweet, dear friend, who was also my mother's, aunts', grandmother's dear, sweet friend.  She sits right behind my husband at church where she always sat with her husband and beautiful little girls when we were growing up.  I'm reading my grandmother's journals from when I was a child.  This dear lady is on every other page.  She was always bringing a cake, or hosting the Women's Club, or the Circle Meeting, etc.....  She lives alone now, and has recently celebrated her 90th birthday, even though you wouldn't believe me if you could see her.  She is beautiful and doesn't look like she's out of her 60s!

4.  A note to another sweet lady from our church who is now in an assisted living facility.  She came to church with her son recently and told me how much she enjoyed my note from last month.  Seeing that smile on her face has encouraged me to send her cards and notes more often.  I used to go visit her mother when I was a teenager.  I baked Snickerdoodles to take to her.  Her daughter sings in the choir with me at church now.

5.  A note to my dear cousin, Malinda.  She is always doing the most thoughtful things for everyone!

6.  A Sympathy Card to my friend whose mother recently passed away.  Her mother and mine were roommates for a while at the nursing home.  Her mother taught school at the elementary school when I was a kid.  She was either 94 or 95  when she died.

7.  A Get Well greeting to my friend, who is also the church secretary.  She had shoulder surgery recently.  

8.  A Get Well greeting to yet another dear lady who goes to our church.  In reading my grandmother's journals I am learning about just how much these families are tied to mine from many decades ago.  This lady grew up down the street from where I grew up (and where my mom grew up).  She lives just a bit beyond there now.  She was in my mother-in-law's high school class.   She's not felt well for a couple of months now.  She's had a BAD COLD type illness and just can't seem to get over it. 

9.  A package to our oldest granddaughter who broke her thumb last week.  I sent her the popcorn sweater that I knitted for her.  I was going to wait until I finished her sister's sweater, but decided that she needed a pick-me-up now.  Her sister will understand.  I included a note.

A Preview and a Poem by Honey

Here's a peek how the beading looks with the ribbon woven through it.  Since there were two holes side-by-side,  I wove the ribbon up through the top one, down through the bottom one, then up through the next top one, etc... So, it gives a poofy look.  I didn't want to hide any of the flowers embroidered on the beading between the holes, and this was my solution.  It took lots of time to do this.  There are over 2 yards in the width of the skirt.  It took more than 6 yards of ribbon to go around twice.  I am also using the beading on the sleeves.  I'm still waiting on the handkerchiefs to get here, to use for the collars.  Miss E's dress is done except for buttons, buttonholes, and the collar.  Miss B's still needs the ribbon and just about everything else.

Here is an inspiring poem that my grandmother, Honey, wrote.  Her real name was Beulah, but we called her Honey.  The oldest of the cousins thought that was her name because that's what our granddaddy called her.

Row

When there's no breeze, row.

Bend to your oars and go.

Look up, not down

With never a frown

For the man with a smile

Wins the race worthwhile.

So, row, man, row.

After All That Work..........

 .............and I'm not even going to use the faux entredeaux.  For one thing, when I looked at it the next morning, after a good night's sleep, I wasn't as happy with it as I thought I would be.  And........for another thing, I didn't need it afterall.                                 

I'm using these trims combined together. The vintage trim that I told you I had soaked to get the yellow out, forms the two rows in the center, the beading.   The trim on the edges is some that I have had a long time.  I don't remember where I got it.  But, I like the way these look together.  I'm also using ribbon in the beading, but not in the usual way.  It's taking me a lot of time to get this like I want it, and in the end, I hope it's worth it.