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

I started this over a year ago - had the machine and fused applique done, machine quilting on the border done, most of the binding done. I just finished the hand quilting around the hearts so I can enter it in the local quilt show at the town festival. It is 100% complete, binding, hanger on back, everything. It is based on a pattern in the mini-quilt book Bits and Pieces, but I made the colors seem like cherries and chocolate, using Thimbleberries and other Civil War era prints.

McCall's 5616, bought either last summer or summer before, for the oldest. I wanted her to have a big girl-styled dress without being too grown-up. Used a cotton for the body and black broadcloth for yoke and hem band. Made size 10. Only thing is I am having a heck of a time with zippers right now, shifting. I had to put this in twice. I did lapped as it was white and there are so many colors involved. It called for 16", but it only made it to the bottom of the yoke, so I stopped it there and have only closed the yoke back with hook and eye. Her hair is long, no one will notice. I hope it fits, it should as I just used a McCalls 10 for Easter. I never tried it on her after I put the bodice together. My mistake. She got some cute slides in white last night that should work well with this. If it fits her well, I may make another one in plisse or seersucker. She needs 3 summer dresses for church so that she can rotate them. I never make more than that - they will n...

We have been experiencing some economic slowdown here in our home, trucking is slow this time of year. It started around the election and is just starting to pick up, but we experienced the full brunt of it this month (Feb.) Therefore, I had to keep #3 home some from his day school to cut down on expenses. Wow, I am not used to following a 4 year old boy around that doesn't have his sister to keep him busy. He is used to going everyday and was bored without the older siblings to keep him busy. Also, the baby was distracted by him being here and refused to nap longer than an hour or so. He returns tomorrow, I am ready, poor baby. The baby is in a playpen or walker and I can continue my chores, sewing, cooking, etc. without wondering what he is into. Despite that, I did make (most of the way) a clothespin bag, finished another version of B5216 in rayon jersey from Fabric.com, worked some on the dresden plate quilt and made progress a few minor things. It was done in small sp...

Well, the hunting trip was great. We had some fun with friends and met some new people, they guys enjoyed their time out. I came back to the house yesterday for a bit to relieve the babysitter, but otherwise, enjoyed hanging out. There was exotic game, deer, elk, llamas, doves (which it is dove season) and other creatures. The deer came up to the house pretty much all of the time and closer when deer corn was thrown. Today, I picked up my kids and took them out to see the animals. They had so much fun. They shot 2 doves, and shot clay pigeons. I love the view from there, you could see our town in the distance. Tomorrow will be catch-up on laundry and housework, maybe I can work on my BWOF muslin. Now it's bath time for the kids and bedtime.

I haven't done much, I was feeling a little off yesterday after going up to the church to fix flowers now that Christmas comes down this weekend. The storage room was so dusty (a very old church) and my allergies were awful all afternoon and evening. I will work on the BWOF muslin today for a bit to see what works from the suggestions I have received. I am also working on a lap quilt started Tuesday when I was stalling with the shirt, the quilt for my mom, I think, as she has some medical issues going on right now and is a little down. I will probably take it to a lady outside town that long-arm quilts from her home. I do not want to take the time to hand-quilt it and machine quilting on my machine never seems to come out right. Whatever gets done today is it for the week as we will out a lot this weekend. Mike and the baby's godfather won at the church auction last fall a hunting trip at a local ranch, so we will be going back & forth to the ranch. I should be nice...

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...

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...

I have worked on the leopard knit print top, I have the bodice put together, but am working on the lower "skirted" section now. I have to rip a seam as it was chewed a bit in the machine (I don't have a serger). Enlarging the pattern and smaller seam allowances seem to be enough. I don't have the motivation to work on it, but need to. I feel a little punky (I better not be getting sick) and tired (baby is up alot at night still), plus the festival is put off a week due to Ike seeming to come this way. That entails some planning, babysitting arrangements being changed, etc. plus making sure we have enough diapers, formula, food items, etc. on hand. And cleaning the yard of toys, etc. I am not scared of a hurricane, having grown up in Houston and here, we are about 80-100 miles inland, rather than 40. It's not being able to get to Walmart for the sundries that is an issue, because the local grocery is small. Getting to Walmart could be an issue as the Guada...

A busy month, to be sure. We have our church's festival/auction, which is absolutely great fun (not proper english, I am sure), my son's 5th birthday and anniversary of Joseph, the baby we miscarried a year before Andrew and another miscarriage 2 yrs ago. Not to mention the usual, school, work, religious ed classes, etc. And I need to finish this dresden plate/nine patch quilt top for a lady here in town. I did work on it some after taking the baby to the doctor. She has been sick all weekend and her ears/throat appeared fine today, but had elevated wbc, so she was administed antibiotics and we go back tomorrow for another blood test. I have a pic of one dresden plate round. Eleven more to go and 13 more nine patch blocks to go... On a weird note, we had 2 vultures on the neighbor's drive, going after a squirrel. As DH would say, it's country living...