....I went to talk to the sewing teacher at school about.....
.....what else.....
......wait for it.....
.....embroidery machines!
I remember Minnie Van Mom mentioning something about going to school and using their embroidery machine. So....I thought I would ask the sewing teacher if she had a machine or if she would want to buy one.....
....well.........
......she said the school has one. And not only that, she tried to use it once and it didn't work right with the old computer she had. She said they never get to embroidering anyways... and maybe I should take it home and try it.....
....thump.....
......(that was me hitting the floor!).....
....so I am sitting here next to a brand spanking new Janome 10000which costs a bundle I am sure.....and I am reading through the books on how it works in tears......
....now I know for sure some of you must have prayed for me about this so I want to thank you very much! I want to praise God for this wonderful gift!!!::
:
I finally did it. I'm kinda shy to even post this considering the wonderful things you ladies (and Tom) post but here is the Batman outfit I promised my sweet Grandbaby boy. It's my first ever attempt at applique and the first sewing I have done in years. Pants were too long because I had to guess. If we can get them off him I'll shorten them. His mama says it may just be easier to make another pair than to get them off.
Little sister is five weeks old and finally can wear a size newborn
She's starting to smile and coo
Penny
Thanks. I'm not offended at all. Many years ago a cousin lost a six month old baby girl in a car crash. I'll never forget seeing that little angel in that tiny casket. I'll be sure and mention it to her mama.
Thanks again, you may have kept her from being hurt.
Penny
Hi Penny!
You did a FABULOUS job on the batman outfit - I'm sure he loves it.
And what a beautiful baby girl! Bet you can't wait to sew for her as well.
I hope you don't mind me mentioning this. I am not sure if that is how she is always buckled into her carseat for the road - or if she is just napping at your house. The way she is buckled right now is not safe for the road. The little soft rolls by her face are so cute - but they are preventing the buckle from being in the proper position. The buckle should be placed at the armpit level - or she could come out of her straps in an accident. I hope I did not offend you by this - just wanted to help.
I am having an extreme moment of righteous indignation and I would like you all to join in it with me.
So Fairygoodmother (aka Auntie Darla) generously offered to sew a Mary Poppins dress for a silent auction for charity.
This dress...
She is going to custom make the above dress in the winners size.
So the silent auction ends and the dress sells for...........
$15.00
I can not believe that! I know it is for a good cause but come on.
There was all of 2 bids one for 5. and the winning bid for 15.
I know Darla is feeling a little sad about this.
Come on join me in my righteous indignation....
The woman who won the auction was quite excited by it...and then asked me if I could have it done by 4/25 for the little girl's birthday. Can you say "no" in a very loud voice????? The auction was on the 11th - I clearly stated "4 weeks" - and this is a woman I KNOW PERSONALLY! Sheeeeesh!
Thank you all for sharing in Karen's (poohnpigletCA) "righteous indignation". I was a little shocked - no, make that a LOT shocked - at the price. I believe that the women in charge learned a valuable lesson about minimum bids
At any rate, as much as I'd like to follow some of your suggestions, I won't. I will, however, NOT use expensive fabrics for any of this. Maybe I can find another lace tablecloth on clearance
But thank you. Your comments have somehow made me feel vindicated for my feelings.
And thanks Karen for sharing this (although I KNEW I shouldn't have told you!) I love you.
I could have just sat right there on the floor and cried. So much fear ran through me at that instant. Needless to say she is big trouble!! Should I tell her what could have happened? I told her that a stranger could have taken her and she would have been gone before I even realized that she wasn't in her room anymore, but should I tell her why? I thought they weren't supposed to do stupid stuff like that until they were teenagers? 
I was cutting out a dress for Jenna for school tomorrow and I heard what I thought was her chatting with a friend. I figured that she had her window open and was just chatting with one of her friends. I don't like her doing this because we live on the bottom floor and I make sure that the windows stay locked all the time. So I quietly walk to her room and she was climbing out her window!
Aisling ran away from us at Disney once and she got the "bad person" lecture and luckily hasn't tried it again. Try to get some rest tonight...I know you'll be worrying!
Please let me know if you have any questions!
I am having an extreme moment of righteous indignation and I would like you all to join in it with me.
So Fairygoodmother (aka Auntie Darla) generously offered to sew a Mary Poppins dress for a silent auction for charity.
This dress...
She is going to custom make the above dress in the winners size.
So the silent auction ends and the dress sells for...........
$15.00
I can not believe that! I know it is for a good cause but come on.
There was all of 2 bids one for 5. and the winning bid for 15.
I know Darla is feeling a little sad about this.
Come on join me in my righteous indignation....
I had the bad person lecture again and I will have her explain to her grandpa why she doesn't have her iPod and I will have him explain to her again about bad people tomorrow. She listens to him when he explains these things to her. I will be checking her window constantly tonight. I worry about these things already, this is going to make the worry worse.I think you did just the right thing Crystal. You must have been terrified
I have been super busy lately, but I thought I would do a fly by posting, an show you a quickie dress I made for a friends dd.
They helped us out in a giant way during a time of need for our family, and I found out just a few days ago that they were planning a trip to Disney in a few weeks. I wanted to make something quick for their dd, so here it is!
Front:
Can you see my big mistake?
back
I was cutting out a dress for Jenna for school tomorrow and I heard what I thought was her chatting with a friend. I figured that she had her window open and was just chatting with one of her friends. I don't like her doing this because we live on the bottom floor and I make sure that the windows stay locked all the time. So I quietly walk to her room and she was climbing out her window!
Since some of you have asked. .. I originally did have a pattern, but have modified it a zillion times, and here is what I have come up with as the best/easiest manner:
Here is a simplified pattern/diagram:
What you need:
- Two different fabrics each 1 1/3 yards each (or a total of 2 and 2/3 yards if you want to use the same fabric on both sides)
- 1 1/3 yards of batting (the thicker the fluffier, not necessary, but nice)
- 1" wide elastic, 1 3/4 yards of it
- 1 package of matching double folded bias tape
OPTIONAL - if you want to have your own straps, instead of using the ones on the shopping cart - then:
- 1 yard of seat belt strapping
- 1 plastic locking seat belt connector
Instructions:
- lay your two pieces of fabric, right sides together and the batting and pin.
- stitch around the entire outer edge of the fabric (not the leg/belt holes - just the 4 outside edges of the cover).
I try to use only about a 1/4 - 1/2" seam around the outer edge so that you aren't taking up too much of the fabric. Stitch a solid
seam all the way around the outer edge of the cover and stop stitching about 6" before the starting point so that you end up
with a hole that you will use to turn the cover right side out.
- Turn the cover right side out.Top stitch around the VERY outer edge of the cover leaving the same 6" "hole" the way around to give the cover some added strength and a neat appearance.
- Now, you will stitch another seam around the outer edge, but not on the very edge, this seam will be 2" in from the outer edge of the cover. This seam will be a casing for the elastic around the outer edge. Make this seam 2" in from the outer edge all the way around the cover. You do not need to account for the "hole". (Now, when you look at your fabric, you will see one seam going all the way around the very outer edge, with an 8 section where you left an opening. Then, you will see another seam 2 further in from the first seam. This seam goes all the way around, without an opening. It starts and stops at the same place, without any gap.
7. At this point, you will want to finish your leg and seat belt holes. You can use the seam tape, which makes a nice, clean
appearance or you can use a serger or even a tight zig zag stitch close to the edge of the fabric. Whatever you chose to use is
up to you and depends on the look you want. What I do is mark with a fabric marker where the leg and seat belt holes should go, and then do an initial stitching around where I will be cutting, then I cut just inside - this helps keep it all together a little easier than just pinning (which I used to do).
- after cutting out the holes I then attach the bias tape around the leg hole cuts I made and the ones for the seat belt.
8. Now is time for the elastic. It is the hardest to do using a safety pin (your hands will get tired and it will take a while, but it can be done). What I have been using is one of those cheap curtain rods - I take the plastic cap of the end and push the elastic in a bit and then recap, and push through. If you have real tools for it, have at it. .. just get it through
Whichever way you use, once you have the elastic through
the casing and have both ends of the elastic back at the 8opening, you will need to stitch the two ends of the elastic together
tightly so that it doesn't come apart. Once thats done, stitch the 8" hole closed at the top/finish the edge top stitching.
9. Lastly, you need to make the seat belt, if you are making one. Split the seat belt material in half and attach at either side. I've never done this, but have seen that some do.
Double Cart Cover Alternate Instructions: To make the double cart cover, you will do everything exactly as stated in the original pattern, except you will need to make 4 leg holes instead of two and you'll need to make 4 seat belt holes instead of 2. You will need to purchase 2 yards of seat belt strapping, 2 locking clips for the seat belts and extra binding, since one package, most likely, will not cover all 4 leg holes and all 4 seat belt holes. To add the leg holes, you will need to cut one additional leg hole on either side of the original 2 leg holes. Space them 2" apart from the original holes, just as the two original holes are spaced 2" apart. So, you will end up with 9.5" of fabric left from the edge of the outer holes to the edge of the fabric, instead of the 16.5" which is shown in the original pattern. To add the seat belt holes, you will just look at the leg holes as two sets and put one hole above the outer edge of the leg holes of each set. (see the original iagram for placement above the set of leg holes and do this with each of the two sets).
Super simple, once you have done it once
You can get creative and add pockets or toy loops (I usually do toy loops). and you can make pillows to prop smaller babies up with any left over fabric.
If this is of any use to anyone, feel free to add it to your bookmarks Teresa
But its all good, it was only 99 cents. How much fabric do you use? I was concerned about their pattern wanting over 2 yards for each side. Then I saw they have a bag to put it in. 
!!!
