BUTTONHOLES ARE MY CURSE

I finally have 10 buttonholes --- two in each dress but I think I made about 18. For those of you who don't sew much that means I had to redo eight ( I didn't actually count -- it could have been more). I love my Bernina and it makes beautiful button holes but I always have so much trouble with them. I think I need to find someone to give me private lessons! To celebrate the completion of the button holes, I went and dug through my stash for five -- yes five more pieces of material to make five more dresses and then dug out my pattern that has shoulder ties -- NO BUTTONHOLES. See - I'm smarter than you think!! Acutally, it will help empty out another drawer of fabric (one of my goals while in this house is to not buy any more fabric but to use up what I have so when I move I won't have a lot of fabric to move with me. And this pattern is so simple -- 4 pieces to cut out -- the skirt, a basically square bodice and ties to hold it up. Should go together quickly.
Back to the hankie dresses -- I'm going to sew my buttons on during my free time tomorrow at school (assuming I have any) and then get started with the other dresses this weekend. Here is some of the fabric.

Birthday Season Has Begun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY BETH!!

Molly Elizabeth Neal turned three today. She is the third of my five grandaughters. She is a girls girl! She loves dolls and dressing up with all the frills. She has a sweet and bubbly personality and will make a great babysitter when she gets a little older! Molly Beth loves her big sister "Nannah" and her brother Jack. She is a climber. Don't bother putting things up high where the kids can't reach them. It's a challenge she will definitely overcome. She has a wonderful mom and an awsome dad (and not just because he's my son :). She is blessed with a wonderful family--including her YaYa and Pops and Grams and Grandmother and lots of Aunts, Uncles and cousins -- and we are blessed to be part of her life. Hope your birthday was the best ever Molly B. Miss you and hope to see you very soon.

Tension Headache

Warning: getting the tension right on your sewing machine can cause headaches! I have a really pretty thread that I wanted to use to quilt the nursery rhyme quilt that has been sitting in my project pile for a year. It is a heavier thread and I can't get the top tension tight enough for it to sew right. It works fine with lighter weight thread. Don't know what else to do right now so I'm just going to switch to a lighter weight thread and use that. I've also decided to use a decorative stitch instead of free motion quilting. I think I'll like it. I'm going to try just a little bit tomorrow and see how it looks. Maybe I'll post a picture. Well, it's 10:30 and the thunder has started. I hope I'm not in for a long night of little sleep. Gonna unplug my machines and get in the bed for now. Here's the nursery rhyme quilt before quilting.

Micellaneous Ramblings on a Late Saturday Night

I decided my background wastoo busy. I like the brown and red lotus but I really want something with blue and brown so I'm going to try this one for awhile. It's not quite as busy and seems quieter if you know what I mean.

Yesterday after school I took the dresses over to show Mrs. Hackney. She thought they turned out really cute and was glad your material had finally been used.

Today was a nice day. The guy came and sprayed my yard. He seemed very nice. I'm looking forward to not too many weeds. I have a spot for one maybe two bushes on the east end of the house. I'm thinking of a hydreagea or two They always do well with an eastern or northern exposure. If I can't find any, I'll probably just go with forsythia. That's a favorite of mine too. Then I need to fill my two big pots and find a few more to put out on the patio. I'm going to put lantana around the mailbox and I think I might try a sweet potato vine too. I'm going to put some sweet potato along with flowers in at least one of the big pots. It'll be several weeks before all that though -- it's not quite warm enough yet for all that.

I straightened up a pile of "stuff" in my sewing room and found another project -- a dress for vail that I cut out last summer and never finished -- Frannie -- one of the Children's Corner patterns. I got this pique-- white background with different colored lady bugs and a lime green with tiny black dots for the contrasting collar and pockets. I worked on it a little and then took a quilt I had started and sandwiched and pinned and then put up and unpinned it and smoothed it out again and repinned it. It's a baby quilt with embroidered blocks. There is sashing between the blocks and the back is a green and white mattress ticking. The blocks are white with nursery rhymes on them in an outline stitch. The sashing is striped seersucker. The strips are pastel - green, pink, yellow, blue, peach on a white background. I'm going to quilt it by machine. I think I'm going to try just stippling with my BSR. I need lots more practice with it. I did some practicing tonight. I couldn't get the tension right. I think I'm going to have to adjust the bobbin just a little. I'll try that tomorrow and see how it works. The top thread keeps showing on the bottom and I had tightened the top tension to almost seven in small increments and the thread was still peeking through. So, I'm going to try setting the top at five and then loosening the bobin just a hair and see if that works. Then I'll start quilting.

Toby is laying on the floor snoring like a 70 year old geezer. I guess it is a good thing that I'm a sound sleeper. He would keep me up all night.

I'm listening to a good book on my ipod. I've collected close to 100 books I think. I've discovered that narrators can make or break audio books. My absolute favorite narrator is Scott Brick. I've found another I like a lot recently but I don't remember his name right now. Michael Beck is good with John Grisham books. Here's a tip if you decide to join an audio book club. Try to get unabridged books as much as possible -- you will definitely get your moneys worth that way. Also, don't ever look at books when they send you the sale adds -- you'll spend way to much. I've started just deleting those emails as soon as I get them. I'm such a sucker for a good thriller/mystery. I've discovered Michael Connely, Greg Hurwitz, James Grippando, not to mention authors I already like -- David Baldacci, John Sandford, James Patterson, and John Grisham just to name a few. And if you like serial murders Tess Gerritson is pretty good. For a fun mystery, read Chris Grabenstein or David Rosenfelt.

Log Cabins and Hankie Dresses

Here are the brown squares that are the center of my log cabin quilt. The layout will be different from either of the pictures. Think of the light and dark reversed in the first picture and that is the way they will be laid out -- unless I change my mind. :)) The next set I do will be green. I know I do at least twelve green squares -- probably more. I'll have to check the pattern. Anyway, when I started the first square, I thought I'm going to hate this -- pattern against pattern-- but when the whole square was done I was pleasantly surprised. I really liked it. I'm looking forward to seeing how they all come out.




One more dress down and just the finish work on the bias around the neck for the last three. Then it's just the button holes and buttons. They came in the mail today. They are smaller than I thought they would be. I'm going to try some practice 1/8 " button holes on scraps -- I may use little thread loops instead. I'll have to see.

The Faint Light at the End of the Tunnel

I can see a faint light at the end of the tunnel. I've ordered buttons for the dresses and they should be here Friday or Saturday. If so, I'll do the button holes, sew them on and be done with the dresses. In the meantime I'll finish the little bit of handwork I have left to do. I'm glad I'm making the dresses but I'm ready for them to be finished. I'm itching to get back to my quilt I'm doing for my boss. I'll post pictures of the squares I've done already one day soon. It is a log cabin quilt -- first one I've done. it is a lot of fun putting the squares together. It has greens, blues, and browns with touches of red and yellow. I know I'm going to want to keep it but I won't. I want to make four special quilts before I leave Cleveland. This is one of them. My boss is special to me because of all she did for me during Bob's illness and after he died. The other three quilts are for -- My mother-in-law who is also very special to me--I found a really neat pattern for a family tree quilt. I'm going to adapt it to fit what I want. it will involve appliquing a tree with autumn colored leaves -- some on and some off the tree. The pattern has pictures on the leaves but I'm going to embroider on them instead. She and grandad will be close to the top and then Bob and Donna and their familys will fill in the rest . It is really more of a wall hanging so I'll just add a couple of borders and make it quilt size -- and the other two are for the lady who cuts my hair and the lady who does my massage each month. My goal is to have them done before I leave which gives me at least 18 months and probably more. Then of course there will be the usual baby gifts and a few dresses and things in there also. So, I guess I'd better quit blogging and get some rest. I've got a lot to do :)

Addendum

Woo-Hoo -- It was just the pink dress. The other two are going together quite nicely. So, Back to work ::)

Dress Setback

Sometimes I'm not very smart. I got so involved in "binding" the skirt seams so I could attach them to the hankies, that even though I measured I didn't bother to lay the hankies on them before I finished the binding in case I needed to make adjustments. I had to adjust all three on the blue dress which meant ripping out and redoing (not all but about half of the front and both backs). Hopefully I won't have to do the same for the other two dresses - but, we shall see.

Second Graders Are So Sweet!

At school we have started something called reading to read to help some of the students who have trouble with their reading fluency (reading aloud). It is kind of a first step to diagnosing reading problems. Anyway, I'm working with two second grade girls. One of them I would take home with me if I could. She is very shy and doesn't have a lot of self confidence. It has taken me forever to get her to talk to me. She is a real sweetie. If I'm having a bad day, it disappears when she comes through my door. She is getting better and better with her reading too. The concept behind this is to have them read aloud for 30 minutes each day. We have a book that has 100-word passages from the literature book that goes with their reading series. The people in charge tested them to see the level they should start at. They have ten trys to read the passage with 3 or less errors. We record the number of correct words for each try. We begin by going over five or six words that have been underlined as vocabulary words. Then we model for them by reading the passage aloud and then they read. I mark the number of words on a bar chart and they color it in while I write it on the documentation I turn in at the end of the week. It has turned out to be as rewarding for me as it is for them.

I''m still planning on finishing Suzannah's dress later today after I get home and posting a picture. We shall see how that goes. I'm writing this from school. I can't see my blog but I figured out I can write in an email and send it to the address blogger designates and it posts to my draft folder. You have a choice to also post it directly to the blog but I'd rather save it as a draft and publish it later.

I'm staying away from all valentine parties at school as that is not fitting my "healthy" eating plan, so I'm kind of hiding in my room for now. Think I'll work on my Greg Iles book - Turning Angel. It's a great mystery!! He is a MS writer so you can't beat that combination. I usually listen to books on my ipod but for some reason Audio.com doesn't carry much Greg Isles so I've resorted to reading the printed version and giving my ears a rest. I love listening to books cause I can sew or whatever when I'm doing it although I do miss some parts of the story if I get too involved in what I'm doing. But I generally catch those missed parts when I go back and listen again a few months later. I get two books each month for $22. I stick to unabridged and have really gotten my money's worth.

Well enough rambling. I've got a book to read so I'm off for now. (Just in case you are wondering -- working in the computer lab does have its perks -- especially when teachers don't sign up to use the lab when I don't have scheduled classes -- which is most afternoons - thus the reading and listening to books. It's definitely a nice way to wind down to retirement -- as long as they don't change the activity schedule !! Don't tell anyone -- okay :) )

Here are the pictures. I didn't get the bias strip put around the neck but I did the back placket and the shoulder seams. I'm happy with that. Now I've got blue, aqua, and pink to go :)

Slow Progress

The peach dress is closer to being finished. I have to finish the placket and then bind the neckline. Barring anything unforseen, I'll do that tomorrow night. Hopefully the last three will go a little faster.

In other matters, I'm trying to be more healthy with my eating so I'm starting back on vitamins along with cooking healthier. I am not a fan of Oprah or Dr. Oz but I happened to turn on the tv when he was discussing vitamins and found that very interesting. Anyway, I'm taking a multi-vit, calcium and magnesium and omega 3. Half in the morning and half at night. I'm drinking 2 liters of water while in school. Needless to say I'm glad my room is close to the lav. I'm eating fruits and veggies every day too. Eating out less is the most help. It's just hard to cook for one but I'm finding that left overs are easy lunches for school and I make huge salads and keep them in the frig. They last for the week so I can either have a grilled chk or tuna salad for lunch or just a salad with supper.

Toby and I have started walking after school too. he loves sniffing out the neighborhood and the walking tends to revive me. I do it as soon as I get home before I get sidetracked by other things. So, here's to a healthier me :)

Sidetracked Once Again

This blog stuff can be time consuming. By the time you read and comment and write your own you miss out on the important stuff --- like sewing!!! :)

Actually I do look forward to seeing what's been going on with everyone but I sure do get sidetracked a lot :)

I did finish all the handwork with the dresses over the weekend and got started on finishing up Suzannah's dress . It is going to be so pretty. I'm going to sew tonight as soon as I finish this .... and maybe read a few more blogs. Here is a picture of Suz's dress with the bodice just sitting on the skirt. It looks pretty pink but it is actually a peach color.

That's it for now

Let's Add Some Pictures

Thought I would add some pictures of my very tiny (but fabulous - because I can close the door) sewing room and my four legged companion of ten years -- seems like yesterday when we got him and he fit in my hand.










Toby turned 10 on Feb. 2. As you can see he can't wait for me -- he has already retired. He is the best dog ever. Loves everybody especially the grands. He is definitely a people dog -he will tolerate other dogs as long as they leave him alone.






Here are some pictures of my 6x8 sewing room. I added the double layer of shelves on two walls. The wall with the hanging bar already had a shelf. I often set up a table or use the counter in the kitchen to have more room but it is so easy to stack everything in there and close the door if visitors are coming.

Last but not least my first attempt at a Handkerchief Sundress- a project from Peanutbutter and Jelly kids website. This dress is for Avery. I've got four more to finish. Hopefully I'll have them done this weekend.

This close up shows the pretty embroidery on the hankie and the french knots I added to hold the pleat down in the middle. I didn't embroider the hankie it came that way.





I love the dresses and can't wait to finish them. I hope the girls will like them as much as I do.




Tomorrow is my DIL Stacey's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACE! HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!


Guess it is time to stop blogging and start working :)

Weather Madness

Well, according to all reports early yesterday, Cleveland was in line for a huge storm complete with funnel clouds. However, the Lord was thinking differently and thankfully the main part of the storm went north of us but it sure was devestating to places in its path including Oxford, Memphis, Jackson (TN) and on toward Nashville. That's the good news -- the bad news is that it put me behind schedule with the sewing I wanted to accomplish this week :) I didn't do any machine sewing because they were unplugged. When things settled down a little I did work on the hems of my handkerchief sundresses. I'm still hoping to finish them this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

We have hired a new preacher at our church. We went through a pretty difficult split early in the summer. The preacher and a pretty large group left after some pretty ugly things were done and said about our elders and some others. No warning - just got up and walked out one Wed. night and didn't come back. The whole thing is really a difference in philosophies. One - fogiveness and acceptance of repentance (among other things) and the other judgemental (rather than letting God judge one's heart in repentance) and non-forgiving. I will say that since the preacher and those closest to him left, things have been much less stressful and more conducive to being able to worship the Lord. People who had quit coming started coming back. People who weren't taking part because of fear of criticism, etc. began to take part. People stay and visit with each other more after service and the atmosphere is just more loving and Christian. It has been nice. I miss a lot of those who left and I'm hoping they will eventually see the light and come back. I think they will eventually. For others it will be best for all if they stay where they are. There is a bit of humor to the story. I'm sure they will eventually build or buy a building somewhere but for now they are worshipping in the local synagogue. It has definitely raised a few eybrows :) Thing is, none of us "made" them leave. It was their choice. On to bigger and better things.

Brian made it through Language school and was the first student at that school to make it into the third book. I think he told me there are five books total. He is on his way back to Shiyan via plane to Wuhan and then bus the rest of the way. He loves his work over there but I'm sure he gets homesick sometimes. I'm so proud of the work he is doing. Brian is my "baby" He'll be 26 in March. He is not perfect but who is? He
has such a big heart. He is giving and humble in spirit. I know his Dad would be so proud of him too. We all miss you Bubba :)

Enough rambling for one evening. I'm off to stitch a hem before bedtime.

Eli Wins!!

Well, today was the Super Bowl. I saw about ten minutes at the beginning and then the last 25 seconds. I'm not a football fanatic but being a MS transplant (I grew up in PA) I was happy to see Eli Manning and the Giants prevail. He must have played a really good game since he was also named the MVP .

We are making a new pictorial directory for everyone at church. The elders decided a loose-leaf directory that pages could easily be added to or removed would be a good idea. I've been asked to put it together. I created a table in Word to put in personal info for each family and then the picture -taken by a couple of us who have digital cameras - is going at the top of the page. I've got about half the pages done. Getting the rest of the family's to fill out their info sheets will determine the time it takes to finish it.

Besides adding the pictures we took today to the directory, I got valentines ready to mail to the "grands" and a birthday card for a my son's sweet wife. Her birthday is bittersweet for me because it falls on the day that my husband died. It will be ten years this saturday. It seems like forever ago and just yesterday.

I also put in a little sewing time. I finished the side seams in the skirts for the other four handkerchief sundresses I'm making. I also pressed and pinned the hem in one of them. I'm going to stitch the hem during any free time I have in the computer lab tomorrow and hopefully tomorrow night I'll press and pin the other hems and cut the arm holes and and bind them with bias strips if I have the time. I'm hoping to have them all finished except for button holes and buttons by the end of the week. I won't do button holes until I find the buttons Iwant to use.

Now I'm off to bed.

Today I Actually Sewed!

A friend of my mother-in-law (Mrs. Hackney) gave me several pieces of batiste. I had seen a project on the Peanut Butter 'n Jelly kids site for a "handkerchief sundress". I finally decided to take the plunge and make one for each of my girls since I had enough material. I found a pretty hankie and got five of them. Today I finished the first except for button holes and buttons. And I do mean finished -- hem and all. The bodice is the white hankie with embroidery in the corners and the skirt is pastel green. It's for Avery - it'll be so pretty with her red hair. Vail Blue will get a blue dress (of course) and Katie's will be aqua. Suzannah and Molly Beth will get peach and pink. All the bodices will be the same hankie. If I can get them all together and make a picture I'll post it. Some are in Texas and some in TN. And I'm in MS so that won't be an easy feat!!.

I played some more with my layout tonight -- added a few more links to blogs. I looked at the settings and found one that I might use a good bit since my school has a filter that blocks almost everything including blog sites. With my children spread out from China to Texas, I like to check their blogs during lunch and after school but always have to wait til I get home and sometimes don't get to it til bedtime. Anyway, I figured out that I can write a post and email it to my blog and it will be saved as a draft. I could publish it directly but I like the draft thing better. I tested it out and it worked!

Time for bed so I'm outa here.

What have I gotten myself into?

Well, you might think I'd be pretty familiar with blogging since I teach in a computer lab but I'm not. I've spent several hours over the course of this week getting registered and then trying to find a template I liked and after that attempting to upload the scripting for the new look. It took a phone call to my daughter who already has a blog to understand what I needed to do but after that, I tried about ten different looks before deciding on this one. I won't be changing anytime soon unless someone can tell me how to change just the background. (I found and downloaded a graphic that I really really like and would at least try as a background if I knew how to do it -- Hint Hint:))

This is about all the blogging my brain can handle tonight but atleast it is a start. If I keep this up, my plan is to write about my sewing projects, my family and my future plans.