Well, I didn't get anything posted about all our sewing time this summer. She did finish two dresses and I've just finished the third. She also made a few other small crafty things. The new sewing maching was good the second time around...we had to return the first one as the thread kept catching in the take-up and breaking. i couldn't figure out why and no matter what it kept doing it. The second machine was fine and I even used it for some of the sewing. It is great for a first machine and will probably last her a while.

We never took pictures of the dresses so I'll have to do that...

Teaching my daughter to sew...

I bought my 12 year old daughter her first REAL sewing machine. She was intimidated by all the 'buttons and things' on my machines, and she said they went too fast. She has been sewing by hand for a few years now; simple doll clothes and purses. Last summer she made her first dress with little help. It turned out very well!
This year she has chosen a more sophisticated dress style (though the zipper will need some extra help!). The fabric is a white and black batik leaf print. She has decided to make a coloured midriff band - not sure what colour yet; we have to go and get that part this afternoon. It was going to be blue, then hot pink, but last night when we were cutting it out we decided that red would look good too! She is quite the 'fashonista' and loves art so I possibly see a fashion designer in her future!

Pictures to follow...

And these are in various stages....

I always seem to be lacking blouses...

Just off the cutting table...

Nice cotton to wear with jeans, a jean skirt or capris in the summer.

What a great husband!

When we went away this winter I mentioned to my husband on a formal dinner evening that I really would like a new formal dress for the next time we were away. The two formal dresses I have are okay but I was tired of the same ones every time.

Well, this year when he was away in the east for a week at meetings he went shopping and came home with another fabric surprise for me!! This man really pays attention...he bought this pattern, the lace, the lining and the crepe for the dress...with a little help fromt he sales lady. He said it wasn't the most pleasant of experiences because he got quite a few very strange looks and was shouldered out of the way a few times but it was a successful shopping trip and a wonderful surprise for me.

I asked him if he was going to sew it too!!! :)

Can't believe it's been so long!

I'm finally back to sewing for me!
I cut this jacket out about 3 weeks ago then ran out of thread to complete it due to all the top stitching (I know, I know, I should have bought new thread rather than using something I already have...but I didn't know it would be so hard to find in town...I know, I know, small town!) The fabric is a very soft, small wale cotton corderoy and it will look nice with black or navy blue. There is a nice butter yellow in the pattern to that I'm going to see if I can find fabric to match. The pattern was difficult to match in some places and I just squeaked the pattern out of the fabric I had. I hadn't planned on this jacket when I bought the fabric, it just happend. This is the first pic and I'll post the final this weekend when it's done as I want to wear it next week.

Bazaar Christmas Coasters

These are samples of the fussy little Christmas coasters I made for the Bazaar this past weekend. They are paper pieced with felt lining in them and about 4" square. They don't take me half as long now as they did the first time I made them. I might make two sets for taking to friends when we go for dinner next week and the following week...if I feel like doing any more! I don't think I'll do them for the Bazaar another year though.