Changes

I've made a few changes to this poor neglected blog.  As much as I want to have a blog devoted just to sewing, my life is busy with so much more.

I hope the few who read this blog (or have been looking at the same old posts since I haven't been keeping this thing updated) will like the name change and the new look.  Knowing myself, I'm sure there will be a few more tweaks here and there.

We've been keeping busy here on the farm and my days are filled with homemaking and homeschooling the boys.  I am able to get to the sewing machine every so often and have had a few custom sewing jobs over the past several months.  My BIG project in the fall was making sixteen corded box cushions for a couple from our church that have a cabin in the hills.  The husband made log furniture for the cabin and asked me to make the cushions for two couches and a love seat.  It was a challenge, but I enjoyed the process and learned a few new tricks along the way.  Enjoy!

Reading through the Bible in 90 days?

Oh boy... I've decided to attempt to read through the entire Bible in just 90 days.  Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21 . . . 90 Days . . . *gulp*

Amy over at Mom's Toolbox is once again hosting the Bible in 90 Days read-along.  I attempted this twice before, once in January and again in July, but I allowed life to get in the way and never made it through either time.  

I'm really looking forward to the daily discipline and extended reading time in God's Word.  Why don't you go on over to Mom's Toolbox and join us?  Any time spent in God's Word, is time well spent!  

Visiting

My Dad came up to visit us last week.  He rode the "Amish Bus"  from warm and sunny Sarisota, Florida up to our cold and rainy Indiana.  The bus stops only two times - once for fuel in the middle of the night and then a second time for breakfast.

Dad brought along two boxes of citrus fruit for us.  The grapefruit, oranges, and tangerines are amazing - you can't get anything from the grocery store that tastes as good as fresh from Florida!

Andrew took this picture while Dad was reading his Bible.  The boys sure enjoyed having Grandpa here, I just hope they didn't wear him out too much!  (Have you recovered yet, Dad?)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Hubby told me they were "Just because."
*dreamy sigh*

Sew-Vivor

Well, I got my nerve up and decided to join the Sew-Vivor competition being held at Family Ever After.  Sew-Vivor is a sewing competition that is a spin-off of the TV reality show, Survivor.  The judges will pick the top 10 sewists who will then compete in elimination-style challenges throughout April.  

There are many talented entries so far, I have enjoyed seeing the variety of sewing projects.  I wish everyone well and look forward to the competition, whether or not I advance past the first round.  :o)

Stacey's Dress

I had several sewing projects in 2011, but one dress in particular took most of the year to create.  About a year and a half ago my brother's (then) fiance, Stacey, sent me a message that she would like me to make her wedding dress and asked if I would I think about it.  I didn't have to think about it, of course I was honored to be asked to make her dress!  :o)  

Stacey had tried on a few dresses and had found "The Dress".  However, she didn't want the puffiness of the gathered tulle over-skirt.  She wanted something more streamlined, but with the same floaty effect.  I searched bridal sewing patterns until I found one with the right silhouette.  View A of Butterick 6926 was  a perfect base for this dress. I added a chapel-length train to the skirt and changed the bodice to a sweetheart neckline.

After searching for months for affordable (cough, cough) beaded lace, I found the perfect trim at our local thrift store.  I made a full length toile out of muslin for the first fitting.  Other than a small length adjustment, the only other fit alteration that I needed to make was for a sway back. 

I referred to Susan Khalje's book, Bridal Couture, quite a bit while constructing Stacey's dress.  Using Susan's suggestions, I used a total of 15 pieces of boning and added a grosgrain ribbon waist-stay to the bodice.  The bodice seams were catch-stitched by hand to the flannel underlining to keep the seams smooth on the outside. Once the bodice and the skirt were constructed and double-checked for fit, I started to hand stitch the beaded lace trim onto the bodice and the chiffon over-skirt.  

This is about the time when things got very interesting as I ended up with a viral eye infection, in *both* eyes, that lasted for almost six weeks.  I spent a lot of time resting with my eyes closed and a cool cloth laying across my eyes.  Hand stitching was slow-going as I could only focus on the fabric and lace for about 20 minutes until I had to go rest my eyes for the rest of the hour.  I felt like I was stitching blind!  I never realized how much I sew by instinct until I realized I could thread a needle when I couldn't even focus on the eye of the needle.  :o)  I was able to get all the beaded lace onto the bodice and on the chiffon over-skirt.  There are almost 10 yards of beaded scalloped lace trim that was hand stitched onto the hem of the skirt.  Thankfully, my eyes were mostly healed before the wedding so I could enjoy the celebration.

Stacey's dress is one of my favorite sewing projects that I've made so far.  I really stretched my sewing skills by adding several couture techniques that I will want to use in future sewing projects.  I'm looking forward to my next formal dress project - it might be soon as one of my daughter's friends has asked me to make her prom dress.  

In the meantime, I have some seat cushions to make for my husband's CASE 930 Comfort King tractor.  Here on the farm, you never know what will show up next on my sewing queue!  

To whet your appetite...

I had a major project that I worked on for most of 2011. Here are a few small hints. More details to come!

*peeking in*

Wow, talk about taking a break!  It's been just over two years since my last post.  Bad blogger, I know.


I think I have most of the settings the way I want them, but I don't promise anything.  :o)  I am working on a few posts and hope to be up and running soon.