Crossing stitches and counting blessings

Finally picked up "Gathering Honey" again. I need to knock it out but just haven't felt very creative lately. I'll share an update pic soon.

I've been job hunting so that has been the priority. I recently had a great interview with a senior executive for exec. administrative assistant. Didn't get the job though...they went with the interim candidate instead. Still, it was a neat blessing just to get the interview.
  

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." ~Christopher Robin to Pooh

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  ~Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  ~Romans 8:28 NIV

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you." ~Matthew 17:20 NIV

 And this just puts a smile on my face...my granddaughter....Miss P

Missing My Soldier

He has less than a year left before he can return home for good (unless he changes his mind and re-enlists). I don't think he's going to do that though, but you never know.... I miss him. He sure has aquired a lot of "bling" on that uniform!! I'm so proud of him.

Contest For Handmade Planner!!!

I ran across a contest for a neat day planner at Make It and Love it. The planner is handmade by Much Ado About You. The contest ends on May 18th, so hurry if you want to enter! You can see Make It and Love It's blog by clicking on the button in my sidebar, too. There are lots of great projects and ideas there. Check it out!

Loudly Silent

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

I know I haven't blogged lately, but a lot has happened recently. My daughter, son-in-law, AND granddaughter, moved almost 8 hours away from home in April. It's been quite an adjustment for everyone, but I think things are settling down now. I plan to visit soon. :)

No stitching lately, but DS/13 gave me a new pair of purple victorian cross stitch scissors for Mother's Day, so I'll be picking up the "Gathering Honey Sampler" again very soon! DH and DS/13 also gave me a gift card to Marshall's. I love gift cards! DD gave me perfume (the same scent she wears) and a soup mug! She actually had it delivered to me by a friend of hers that lives in town. So sweet!

DS/13 recently took a trip with his school choir to Disneyworld in Orlando. He also has a mission trip to Ohio coming up with the church choir in a couple of weeks. This week he received the William H. Sweet award for maintaining a high grade point average all year and having good conduct. I'm so proud of him!

I also have been blessed to have some work coming in this month after being laid off since July of last year. It's still slow, but any work is better than no work! Just not sure when any housework will get done...LOL!

So, when I'm silent and not blogging...I'm still here...just living out loud.

Another Pillowcase Dress

This was a fun project! I used the notes I had written before when I helped my DD made the previous pillowcase dress.

She provided the fabric (1 yard cotton)
I purchased the grosgrain ribbon ("shocking electric pink" color) 2 yards
I had vintage brick red rick rack and threads to match in my stash.

Tutorial:

NOTE: Make sure you have your iron handy! There is quite a bit of ironing for this project!

Cut 2 panels (RST-right sides together) 18" wide x 22" long
Press under 1/4" on all 4 side seams (the 22" sides are the side seams)
Press under another 1/4" on all 4 side seams and stitch close to edge.
Pin the 2 panels (RST) at the side seams from the bottom edge up to 16" from the top. (mark with a pin).
Sew 1/2" side seams from bottom edge up to the 16" mark and STOP. (these will later become armholes.)
Press seams flat.
Press under bottom edge 1".
Press under bottom edge additional 1" and pin.
Sew hem close to edge.
On front and back panel, fold under 1/2" and Press.
Fold under another 1 1/4" and Press, pin and Stitch close to edge. Either lay the 36" ribbon in tunnel before sewing or feed through the tunnel afterward...just be careful not to catch it in the stitching if you do it the first way!)
Gather the fabric to the middle of the ribbon leaving 7" of gathered front and back panels and equal amounts of ribbon (approx. 14" of ribbon on each side).
Sew the fabric to the ribbon on the edge to keep the ribbon in place.
I cut the ribbon at an angle and burned the edges to keep it from unraveling.

Baby Doll Bed & Coverlet

I recovered a doll bed mattress and made a new coverlet for my granddaughter's antique baby doll bed that belonged to her great grandmother. The nursery is painted yellow and has shabby chic pink accents, so my daughter chose a floral print that would better match the room than what was already on the doll bed.

The "Before":The "After":
I added antique lace and satin ribbon trim. The coverlet originally had been 2 pieces of fabric sewn together and tied to mimic a quilt. I chose to add a layer of batting to the new coverlet and quilted around the edge, tying only in the middle. As you can see, I also stitched up a pillow for the doll bed. Doesn't every dolly need a pillow?? I made a pillowcase for the pillow and added more lace and ribbon trim.

I was pleased with the result since I had no idea what I was doing!

Pillowcase Dress & Recycled Shirt Dress

I'm teaching my DD, at Moms the Word, to sew. She wants to make things for her daughter who is one year old (my granddaughter). I took measurements from a purchased pillowcase dress she had and added seam allowances and showed her some basic sewing techniques. All the sewing was straight stitching which was good practice for her on the sewing machine. She had white satin ribbon in her stash that we used for the ties. This photo was taken before the ends of the ribbon were trimmed and treated, so please overlook! The photo doesn't do the dress justice. Hopefully, I'll have one with my beautiful granddaughter modeling it soon!
Here is an earlier project I sewed a few weeks ago for my granddaughter. My DD found a tutorial on Waldeck Dry Goods blog for a dress made from a shirt with fabric added to it. I didn't follow the tutorial exactly, but it is the same result.Of course, it looks much better with my sweet model in it! I used one of my granddaughter's Gap shirts that was getting a little short. She's ready to go shopping!