Adventures in Vintage Resales... fka adventures in baby-sewing

but I have been working on a baby blankie for a baby present for this weekend. I know of 6 babies needing presents, 2 of which are already (recently) born. Time to get cracking! No, what I am blogging about today is my daughter in 2nd grade. She said they held "elections" (just like we did in 3rd grade for Ford vs Carter, gosh, I am old!) and she voted for Obama. Now some of you reading may be Obama supporters and I am not trying to offend anyone, please bear with me. We do not support him due to our religious beliefs (pro-life) and for other reasons. Do we love McCain? Maybe not 100%, but he is pro-life and more conservative, but he is not who we had wished to be on the ticket originally. This is a very conservative small town, too, in a ranching and farming area. But, in questioning her, she could only remember Obama's name (probably because it is unique). She said her teacher had not endorsed him, so that is good, because the teacher should not endorse anyone...

I have closed my ebay store, Yorktown Texas Treasures, because ebay has gotten so expensive. I will be, over the next few weeks, listing my crafting/sewing inventory to etsy as well as some items made for sale. Will probably be baby blankies, burp rags, decorated onesies, crocheted scarves for girls and kid's apron smocks. I also have some patterns and fabrics to list that I will never use. Please look to the sidebar for added items. It will not be immediate but a gradual process. I may continue to list as an individual on ebay auctions, but decided the storefront was too expensive to keep.

This is the weekend of our town's festival, Western Days. As promised, a picture of the finished bandanna dress for Hayley. She is modeling it with a white onesie and socks as she would not leave her shoes on. It is from New Look #6842, view D minus collar and waist tie. It is made from red bandanna quilting cotton. Made like the directions asked for, used size small (approx. fits like a realistic 9-12 mos RTW), but is just snug enough in the bodice. The next one will have to be slightly larger, say a medium. I handhemmed and hand finished the back facings and bodice lining for a cleaner edge. This will be the pattern for her Christmas jumper. Onward next to my other projects... More Western Days photos: Wells Fargo Stagecoach/horses: Budweiser Clydesdales There were antique tractors, cars, buggies, fire engines, football teams, bands, etc. Last night, I went to the booth with Mike & plan on returning tonight after kid's bedtime to help again. Lots of fun, street d...

Western Days is this weekend, so I will be helping out with the Knights of Columbus booth tomorrow (have a sitter) and keeping the kids the rest of the weekend while Mike is working at the booth. I went to Hobby Lobby and found a wonderful dress fabric today and used a 40% coupon. I want it for Christmas so I might have to start now. I finished the bandanna dress, will post a pic on Saturday when the baby wears it. I was going to make vests for the kids for the parade, but could never get to it, so they will wear tshirts, bandannas and cowboys hats. The weather was cooler today after yesterday's cold front. Creatures were stirring, our handyman told us some lady outside town found a copperhead (poisonous Texas snake) snake in her house. We had a tarantula in the house yesterday. That has never happened, only outside. I think one of the kids left the back door cracked open and when it was raining, it slipped in. It was about the size of a small orange. Sorry, animal love...

We got new mattresses this week and they are tall. I bought new sheets, too big (deep), so Mike went to return them and while there, to buy the buttons I forgot for the baby's dress, 3/8" shank buttons in white. Imagine explaining this to my husband, who has no knowledge of sewing, or wants to. I wrote it down, and he brought me the right ones, the only ones they had, so I am impressed. By the way, the new mattresses are great, but now our bed is so high, I have to climb up using the side rail (yes, I am short!). My daughter said I need a bench. Oh, what a sense of humor they have!

Well, still working on baby's bandanna dress' hem, so I should be done today. I am also finishing a quickie pieced blankie for my new nephew - I strip pieced it yesterday and backed it with white flannel, machine-quilted it and it needs binding. I swear, I have sewing ADHD. I can't keep focused. No sleep this week is probably it - baby has been sick again with a cold/allergies and not sleeping until I took her in Thursday to the doctor and she got antihistimine/decongestant from the pharmacy. Mike came in late last night and I worked on the blanket until then. I calculated about 3 hours on it. I used a jelly roll from "Recess" from Moda. At 24"x24", I have enough for 2 more blankies. These are about the size of the receiving blankets used to cover them in a carseat or carrying the baby from car to keep the air off them. By not using batting, only flannel, they are flexible and lightweight. Also, need a suggestion. I am removing the tie and leav...

I am alone with the baby today. Mike went to see his sister, who had her baby yesterday. Three of my kids are in school. I have cut out a New Look knit shirt and see if I can put it together while he's gone. He won't be back until this evening (3 hours each way). I also have to work on the baby's bandanna dress for Western Days next weekend. It's done but for handwork (hem, buttons, etc). I wanted to take advantage of the alone time to cut and piece this top. The dress can be worked on in front of the TV.

I haven't posted all week because the blue dress is vexing me so. It is all basted together, (waist, sleeves) and, even though not pressed and crooked on the dressform, looks fine. Put it on and it fits fairly well. Need to adjust back waist to take up for a bit of swayback, take more off hem to keep it around the knees and curve the bust darts inward a bit. I also think the sleeve hem could be shortened a bit. It's that tie collar, though. I am considering taking it all out and going collar-less. It is too much on my bodice against my face. I need some suggestions. Help!