Fabulous Elastic Thread

This will be a quick blog as I need to get to work, but.... since I shared with you about threads in a previous post, I thought that I would share another thread type with you that I think you might enjoy.... elastic thread. Gutermann thread company makes elastic thread that can be used to make those wonderful, whimsey, summer dresses that are so popular right now. Below are a couple of pictures of dresses that I made for two of my granddaughters. The second dress you have already seen... my mistake was not making it long enough. I had not realized that those summer dresses that are so popular right now are also very long... big mistake. What to do..... I added more fabric to each dress. The first one was easy enough as I hadn't finished hemming it yet.... I simply made some piping and just added more of the same fabric to it. The second dress.... which, like I stated, I had already completed, was slightly more difficult. I had to take the entire dress a part at the top and add more fabric there. I liked it better before, but this will work... after all it's just a fun, little, (long) summer dress for the girls to wear for this season.

Here's a picture of the front of the first dress.



And here is the back where I used the elastic thread. By making the back piece nearly double in width, I finished off the top edge, then began sewing across the entire back piece with regular thread on the top and elastic thread coming through the bobbin on the bottom. The trick is to hand wind, loosely, the elastic thread onto your bobbin. Slightly lengthen your straight stitch and begin sewing across the width of your prepared back fabric piece. Your next line of stitching should be approximately 1/2" from your first line of stitching. Repeat all the way down your back fabric piece making sure to leave at least 3/4" at the bottom so that you can easily attach the skirt of your dress. The key is also having a good steam iron. Once you have sewn your back piece with all of your rows of stitching, hold your steam iron over your now elastisized fabric piece. Give it a couple of good shots of steam, as this will make your fabric piece shrink up even more.



The second dress.



And the back of this one.



Make sure to click onto each picture if you need a closer look. The pattern that I used was Kayla Bubble by Izzy & Ivy. I did not make the dress into a bubble as designed, but instead made it simple and straight. Try out the elastic thread... it's something different and fun! Now get sewing!

Cash's First Bath

I stopped by Beck's house after church and had the wonderful privilege of giving Cash his first bath. I was honored with a fountain of pee.... by my unsuspecting grandson.... once his backside hit the water. He has got to be the most laid back baby ever! So much like his dad!!
I thought you might enjoy some pics.

With grandpa.... before he knew what was about to happen.



His present for me.



During the bath.




And once he was done. Isn't he cute??

Groupon Nation

How many of you out there love those Groupons that come into your life via email? Everyone wants a deal and those Groupon offers are pretty amazing as well as pretty tempting aren't they? I have found that even I have purchased items off of those Groupon emails... items that I normally wouldn't have purchased otherwise if it hadn't been for the great deal that was offered.

The quilt shop where I periodically work has needed me to come in and help of late because they decided to give Groupon a try and see if it would bring more traffic and recognition to the shop. WOW!! The shop has been inundated with people responding to the deal of learning how to sew and going home with a finished project... a zippered make-up bag.. it has been amazing!!! I am a teacher through and through and it has saddened me to see the art of sewing quickly dying off. Let's face it..... it's no longer cheaper to sew...... just go to Target or Walmart and you will find many young moms that are purchasing some awfully cute clothes for next to nothing... who can blame them? So when these gals called and wanted to learn to sew.... I got ready!

Most of those who come to the class literally know NOTHING about sewing. I take the time to walk them through the basics of a sewing machine, how to thread it, wind a bobbin, change the feet as well as change the needles. The gals have ranged in age from their late twenties to their late forties... a couple have even been my age. It has been my joy and pleasure to not only educate these women, but to help them become familiar with the art of sewing itself. Simply a pleasure!

Below are pictures of the bags that these gals make in the class. The bags I am sharing with you are bags that I made from scraps of fabric that I had at home. (Of course I had to glitz them up a bit!) I tell my students that they can do anything they want to with their bags and the shop includes enough fabric in each kit to make another bag when the women get home. It's a deal.

You might recognize the fabric that I used on this first bag. It was left over from one of my granddaughter's dresses that I shared in a precious post. She says it's her bag because it matches her dress. ;-)



The lined inside:



I made this bag for Becks.



The lining inside has a pocket added as I thought Becks could use it for not only diapers and wipes but for those pesky nursing pads that you always need as well:





Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrations!

I've been absent for some time due to the many events and celebrations that have been going on in my life since my last post. In June, all of my kids and grandkids came into town to celebrate my mother-in-law's 90th birthday. What began as a birthday celebration quickly turned into a family reunion for my husband's side of the family. It lasted for three days down at the beach over Father's Day weekend. Not only was it my mother-in-law's birthday, but it was my daughter-in-law Stef's birthday along with my daughter Rebekah's as well. Such a great week-end! (Lots of hugging, chattin' it up, and lovin' took place among all who came.... just what my mother-in-law wanted and needed to see.) Happy Birthday mom.

My mother-in-law at 90.... who left for a cruise after spending the weekend celebrating with us... always the traveling woman... amazing!



The two other birthday girls.... my daughter-in-law Stefani and my daughter Rebekah.



Some of my kids having fun at the reunion.. my son Michael and his lovely wife Casey.



My daughter Paula... back from Australia.



My daughters' Nicole and Elizabeth..



My son James with his wonderful wife Stef..



My daughters-in-law Lindsey (missing her husband, John) and Casey..



Paula and Elizabeth, along with four of my grandchildren, ended up staying for a little over three weeks during that time. Every day seemed to be filled with one event after another with the beach being the favorite place to go. While we were here celebrating, my son John was off fighting fires in Texas. I never realized how much devastation the fires were causing until my son went to help. Unimaginable! Pray for the people in Texas. Pray for rain. Pray for the firefighters. The drought and the fires continue... since January... with no end in sight.




On July 4th, after being gone for one month, our son John finally was able to come home and we celebrated July 4th together.... so thankful!! And celebrate we did. We had games... the best food ever.... and held our own little fireworks show in the backyard. We ended the night by sitting on our roof and watching the fireworks that were going off nearby. Fun!

Some of the grandkids having fun celebrating the day...




Michael the best cook ever... good job son!



And John... being John. Nice mask son...



Sitting up on the roof with the kids and grandkids.... so safe... ;-)



Right after my daughters and grandkids left for home, my daughter Rebekah went into labor with her first little precious gift.... awwwww.... isn't he simply adorable? Like I stated... it was one busy month!

The kids saying good-bye at the airport..




Proud auntie holding her newest little nephew.



Today, July 13, is my husband's birthday.... Happy Birthday sweetheart! Here he is with our daughter Rebekah as team mates on July 4th...



With his brother Byron..



And with our daughter Elizabeth.....




My prayer is that each of you are having a safe and wonderful summer season with those you love... just like I have been. I'll be back to sewing soon! Blessings!

Philippians 1: 3-4, 9-11.