ms. domestic

Handmade Gifts

My niece has been asking me to make her an apron lately.  So, I did, and I made it in the style that she requested--the smock apron.  It's all cotton fabric, so it's soft and easy to wash and wear.  I gave it to her last night at her party, and she loved it--so, I'm very pleased!

 

These are the skirts that I made for her to go along with that smock apron.  They are a pattern by Oliver + S company, and it is called the Lazy Days skirt.  I first saw this pattern on one of my favorite blogs, then I searched it on flickr, and then finally decided to give the pattern a whirl.  I love how A) it was so easy, and B) it's so cute!!!  They're like little twirly skirts...  I'm thinking I might need to make one for myself ;)

 

Now, these were surprises for my other niece--the baby sister of the birthday niece.  I just had to make her a matching little sister skirt set :)  You know???  I have to say, the skirts are even cuter the smaller they are!  The dark blue skirts are a lightweight denim and the lighter skirts are a medium weight 100% linen (my absolute favorite fabric in the whole wide world)...just in case you're wondering...

 

And, finally, this is the adorable little half apron I made for the little sister of the birthday girl.  Even though I don't think she'll be wearing it to cook or bake in, she loves to play house;  and for that, this will be perfect!  (She's 3 1/2 ;) ).

Thanks, as always, for stopping by my little corner of the 'net!  Please stop by again soon :-)!

Take care,
Melanie

Aprons

I was recently forwarded this email about aprons and all of their many wonderful uses around the home.  I would like to share it with you...

The
History of 'APRONS'

I don't
Think some kids know what an apron
Is.

The
Principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect
The dress underneath,because she only had a
Few,it was easier to wash aprons than dresses
And they used less material, but along with
That, it served as a potholder for removing
Hot pans from the oven.

It was
Wonderful for drying children's tears, and on
Occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty
Ears.

From the
Chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying
Eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched
Eggs to be finished in the warming
Oven.

When
Company came, those aprons were ideal hiding
Places for shy kids.

And when
The weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around
Her arms.

Those big
Old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent
Over the hot wood stove.

Chips and
Kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in
That apron.

From the
Garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out
The hulls.

In the
Fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that
Had fallen from the trees.

When
Unexpected company drove up the road, it was
Surprising how much furniture that old apron
Could dust in a matter of seconds.

When
Dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the
Porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was
Time to come in from the fields to
Dinner.

It will be
A long time before someone invents something
That will replace that 'old-time apron' that
Served so many purposes..

Send this
To those who would know (and love) the story
About Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma
Used to set her hot baked apple pies on the
Window sill to cool..

Her
Granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to Thaw.

They would
Go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs
Were on that apron.

*   I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron. *

It's about time

Ok, now I'm starting to get my sewing groove back.  I was in a no sewing funk there for a while and I couldn't figure out why I was so glum.  Now I know why.  I wasn't doing something--one of my favorite things to do, of course--sewing.  Doesn't it just make you happy?  It makes me quite happy, content, and gives me the feeling of anything's possible, right?!  I must say, though, that I am not a huge fan of all the "prep" work that goes into a sewing project.  You know, the laying out of the fabric, the pinning of and cutting out of a pattern part.  I do love the sitting at the machine and stitching and pressing part, though.  What about you?  What part is your favorite?

Here's my newest machine.  It's an old Janome "Vogue Stitch" that I bought at one of my local Sew and Vac shops in the area.  I still haven't figured out how old this machine really is and I have tried researching it on the internet numerous times.  I LOVE this machine.  It's got the smoothest stitch and it will stitch through just about any fabric I put through the feed dogs.

Here's a little closer look.

 

As I was saying, I am finally getting my sewing groove back...  And, this is the project that helped me do it.  Hallelujah!

I know it's probably hard to see, but I ended up making the one on the second row, second over.  It's option F, and as you can see, it's Simplicity 3893.  Fabulous!  I highly recommend it!

Ta-da!!!  Here it is completed.  It fits me AND is very comfortable.  It fits, it's comfortable AND it's cute.  What more could I ask for?  I'm so very happy.

Here's hoping you're getting in the groove, too!  :-)

Handmade by me for my newest niece

 

Finally.  I finally got around to making something new.  It took my sister-in-law's baby shower and my soon-to-be-born niece to get me in the sewing spirit.  Has anyone noticed how few Fall/Winter baby clothing pattern designs there are out there lately?  I was kind of disappointed when I went out shopping for one a few weeks ago.  I did, however, find this one for pleated overalls and a cute hooded cape/poncho to go with them.  I had a pattern for pantaloons already, which I decided to make into some "puffy baby jeans" by using a really lightweight denim instead of the usual cotton or broadcloth.  I purchased a package of plain white long-sleeved onesies (to go under the overalls and with the jeans), which I then dyed two of them (using Rit fabric dye) fuschia and green and left the other two white--so that she could use them with or without the overalls, cape, and/or jeans.

 

Here's a detail photo of the cape's closures and its design.  I made the little flowers by making yo-yos, and then embroidered a little green center on them to tie in the cape's overall color. 

 

I also did a little whip stitch embroidery on the edge to finish it off.

 

Here's a little close up of the pleat(s) on the front of the overalls.

 

...And here's those onesies that I dyed.  I did a little blanket stitch embroidery on the green one (as you can plainly see...), and I decided to leave the fuschia one without embellishment.  The white ones I left untouched as well.  For the sake of simplicity and all.

My Sister-in-Law and Mother-in-Law seemed to love it, and I got several requests for custom Christmas clothing orders, too.  Maybe I'll start working on some new stuff for the shop(?).  We'll see...

Hopefully, I'll have more sewing projects to share soon.

I so love thrifting and a good bargain

Well, now that school's back in session for the kids, hopefully I'll be able to keep up better with this here blog.  We'll see.  Anyway, I wanted to share some fun things--some thrifted, and some not.  First, I have some fabulous thrifted goods I got my hands on last week.

I absolutely love this little vintage green footed glass bowl.  Green happens to be one of my favorite colors, but it also is generously peppered throughout our house.  I love how one little colorful piece can add such "punch" to a corner of a room, don't you?!  What is also so exciting is that it only cost me 1.25!!!  Yay!

I love this little saucer/ plate, too, of course!  This, I think was 2.00.  It's marked on the back--Made in England.  My mother has a small blue and white English plate--almost just like this one--that belonged to my Great Grandmother.  I've always loved hers that she got from Grandmother, so, when I saw this one, I had to have it.  It's so sweet and charming :)

I really love this little vintage English tin tray I found while thrifting as well.  This one was 6.00.  I love, LOVE it!  It's the perfect little touch for my black coffee table that my husband made for me.  It's also a nice addition to my newly formed English tin collection ;)

To further the revamping spirit, I finally got around to making some very inexpensive new window treatments for my livingroom and kitchen.  I picked these curtain panels up not too long ago, and I just got around to working on lengthening them for the living room, and cutting one of them up to make valances for the kitchen.  With the fabric I have left, I'll make a valance for my sewing/ front sitting room, and some new pillow covers for my worn out pillows (in the living room and sitting room) that I have now.  Can't wait!  Here's what the living room curtains look like...

And, yes, I will be making a new chair cushion, too.

Take care everyone.

Melanie

I love ruffles on my little girl

Ta da!  Well, here's one of those three patterns (that actually came to fruition) that I mentioned last post.  Isn't it cute?  I am pretty darn pleased with it.  My daughter loves it, which is the most important opinion to me.  It really wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be.  It didn't take but about a day from start to finish, although I broke the time up into like three day mini sewing sessions.  I tend to get impatient with my projects sometimes.  I just can't wait to finish what I am making so that I can see if A) it fits whomever it is for and B) if it looks like the picture/ my craftmanship was acceptable.  I've used these fabrics before on one of my aprons in my shop.  The fabric combination is just scrumptious!

This was my first attempt at pintuck pleats.  I just love pintuck pleats.  They're just so tailored-looking or something.  And, yes, I love the ruffled sleeves.  Especially on my girl.  They're so girly and sweet!  Who can resist ruffles on a little girl?  Not me.

The back of her top--or the yoke part of the back of her top--just goes straight across.  There's a little gathering up under the middle part of the yoke back for a little fullness, though.  All in all, a very cute little girl's top and I highly recommend this one.

I hope to be showing you my new top next... btw, right?

Take care.

Melanie :)

I NEED to sew SOMETHING!

 I am not quite sure what it is with me lately.  I have been having a creative dry spell for the past few months.  I mean, I have the urge to sew something, but I just can't seem to get all my sewing goodies out and dive right in.  You know what I mean?  As you can see above, I have a great little workstation to work at (which my wonderful husband built just for me :) ), I just can't seem to get all my thoughts together or something...  I haven't been doing "nothing", though.  I finally got around to playing around with Microsoft Movie Maker--the program where you can make your own home movies or slide shows to music.  I only found out late last year that I had it on my computer all along.  My older brother told me about it, and he's gotten quite creative with the whole thing--all the transitions and special effects, etc.  I must say, it's quite fun to play with, and sort of addictive once you get your initial movie project going.  The end result is a sweet, touching compilation of cherished photos to some great music.  I encourage everyone to check it out to see if they have it already installed on their computer.

Here's a few patterns that I have been really wanting to get started on.  The left one is a pattern that can be a shirt or a dress (love that), and has all types of options as far as sleeve detail, neckline, etc.  It will be made sometime in the near future for my daughter.  The other two will be tops for me.  At some point.  They both can be made out of lightweight cotton fabrics, which I tend to love, and will hopefully be a nice addition to my somewhat boring "wardrobe"--if you can call it that.

This would be the top I would like to make for my daughter first.  It reminds me of the kind of stuff that I grew up wearing as a girl in the 70s.  Holly Hobbie-esque?

It might be kind of hard to see from this photo, but I also love the dress option in the middle.  It is so cute, and would look adorable on Bailey.  She is tall for her age--she's 8 almost 9--and she's got the long legs to pull this one off.  I actually like the fabric shown on that one.  I usually can't stand the fabrics shown on pattern envelopes...

Now, this one would be made for me.  I am drawn to options E and F for the most part.  They look stylish AND comfortable, which for me, is a really good thing.  I hate being uncomfortable in what I am wearing.  I am all about being comfortable.  Looking cute while being comfortable is a really nice bonus!

Hope to update you soon on my progress.

Take care.

Melanie 

Gift has been given!

Well, here's my baby gift recipient in his new handmade outfit!  So very cute, I must say!!!  He is the sweetest little baby boy.  Of course, since his parents are two of the sweetest people I know--and they happen to be our next door neighbors!  Aren't we lucky?!  His parents loved what I made, and insist that I should try to sell some just like this one.  We'll see...  I haven't had much luck with my aprons on Etsy.  I think it's mostly because I just put my stuff out there a little too late in the game.  I wanted to get my aprons out on Etsy.com about three years ago, when there wasn't much competition.  But now, there's just an enormous amount of aprons to choose from, and some of them on there are priced so incredibly low, I don't know how they're even recouping any of their costs to make them!  It's kind of unfair if you ask me.  I mean, I am not running a sweat shop here at my house...  Oh, well, at least I've sort of satisfied my curiousity about the whole Etsy shop online thing.  I may end up just getting my own website all together--one of these days.  In the meantime, I'll continue to sew for my kids, my family, and my friends for fun.  At least that's what sewing should be anyway; fun, right?!  Take care and go sew something!

Melanie

 

What I've been working on...

This is what I've been working on lately.  I have been making one of the rompers and the hat for our favorite neighbor's little son who turns 6 months old this month.  He is absolutely adorable!  I feel so bad that I am just now getting around to making something for him.  But, what can I say, I've been a busy girl.

This is the actual option I chose to make.

And, this is how mine turned out.  I am so pleased with the way this turned out!  It's made out of what I like to call "pool water blue" linen.  I LOVE linen--who doesn't???  Anyway, our neighbor is from the Virgin Islands, so I thought the blue linen would be quite appropriate for his son.  I embroidered the little crab and starfish for fun, for that extra beachy feel!

Here's a little close-up detail of the button/ shoulder.  I love the crispness of the linen!

And, a little closer shot of Mr. Crab.  Love it!

Now, let's just hope it fits him (it should, I think)!

Next, a cute new shirt for me and my daughter...  Until next time, take care.

Melanie  

 

"Orange Delight" it is

Well, the apron I was working on the other day is now complete and up in my Etsy shop.  I am very pleased with the way it turned out.  This is the first apron I've made from an "antique" pattern.  I have to say, I think back then, maybe the average woman's body proportions were a little different.  By different, I mean maybe women were a bit shorter than they are now.  Or, at least shorter waist-ed.  I don't know.  It's hard for me to tell sometimes, because I am very tall--6 feet tall to be exact--and normal or average things don't seem to fit me the way they should.  So, that's why I say that.  I also happen to have a longer torso, too.  When I tried the apron on myself, the "waist" part happened to hit me a little high.  It will probably fit someone shorter than me just fine, though.  I just love the cheery colors!  It's so Spring-y and Summer-y!

Here's the back of it.  I love the little back straps and collar with the button closure.  The button is actually from one of my button jars that I got at an antiques shop in the Heights.

I don't know if you can see it well enough, but the button is like a stylized swirly flower--if that makes any sense?.  It's cute in person.  I promise.

Anyway, I thought I'd finish off today's post with a few of my favorite (thrifted) things lovingly placed throughout my house.  I really do love to decorate my home with things that I find on little treasure hunts to the thrift or "antiques" stores.  Each little item has its own little history...

This sweet little piece makes me smile and reminds me (daily) that I need to start doing more embroidery!  I am actually in the process of trying to finish some pillowcase embroidery for my daughter's room.

These two English tins I picked up on two different outings, but I must say, they do work well together, don't they?

There's actually several favorite things in this photo.  The first one would have to be my husband (in the photo with me--with his head chopped off).  The other two would be the blue hobnail vase that my husband's grandmother gave us, and the vintage children's books.  I love to use the books for reading, of course, and also to use them for "lifts and levels" to make decorating buffets and bookcases more interesting and not so "cookie-cutter-ish".  Know what I mean?

And finally, here's one of my "platters" from my handpainted Russian platter collection.  You can see more pictures of this in my Flickr photostream--in the left sidebar.  I only have four "platters" total, but I consider it to be at least a "mini" collection.  This one happens to be my favorite of the four, and its my largest, too.  They are all very beautiful in person, though.  You have to see them in person to be able to appreciate all of the graceful, sweeping brushstrokes that make up the flowers and leaves.  These are the kinds of things that bring me joy in life; everyday.  I hope you enjoyed looking at them, too!

Hope everyone has a terrific weekend!  Take care.