All in the Details

Take Two ~

Every detail counts.

There's probably no event which that holds true for,

more than a Wedding.

Aside from my usual sewing projects, you know...

the upholstery, window treatments and quilts, I have my little Etsy shop, where I sell my handmade table linens, cloth napkins, table runners, and the like.  I do lots of projects with Brides-To-Be.  You can see some of my earlier wedding projects here.

Well just last week, one of my brides (yes they are "my brides" once I work with them), let me know that her wedding was published in "STYLE ME PRETTY"!

SO ~ I just had to share it with you!

First ~ The Bride ~

Location, location, location...

The Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, Minnesota.

Now, KK didn't want your cookie-cutter wedding or reception.  She wanted her guests to feel comfortable, as if they were at a summer party, something unique, with lots of charm.

Milk glass vases belonging to her Mother.

Burlap table runners for some old-fashioned charm.

Roses with Queen Anne's Lace in blue mason jars...

what could be prettier than that?

The brides bouquet wrapped in ticking stripe.

She didn't want to waste money renting the typical reception items, so the ticking stripe fabric was used to make tablecloths...

The cotton napkins were sweet country prints ( I think we used 16 different fabrics ).  She'll never have to buy napkins again for the rest of her life! 

A sweet reminder of her very special day,

that she can use every day.

The ticking fabric will be used to  upholster her kitchen chairs, and outdoor furniture this summer.

Keeping with the outdoor summer party vibe, the menu included fried chicken, mac n cheese, and corn on the cob...  YUM!

Even BBQ sandwiches...

Feels more like south Georgia than Minnesota,

and I LOVE IT!

Cotton Candy, too!

Tender moments...

with furry friends, too.

And they lived Happily Ever After.

 Wedding Design & Coordination: Elizabeth Anne Weddings / Wedding Photography: Whitney Furst for Laura Ivanova Photography

Simple Country Style

The Latest Sewing Room Project: ~

My client (and gardening friend), Mrs. Ann L,

wanted a country style guest bedroom.  I've done several other projects with my sweet friend, but she wanted this room to have a more masculine feel. 

She already had this fabulous wrought iron bed, painted ivory.

L.O.V.E.

Perfect fabrics for a (manly) country bedroom:

Natural flax color linen,

deep red burlap,

with taupe ticking stripe.

I made the duvet and shams with the ticking stripe.

I wish I could take credit for that FAB red & taupe quilt on the foot of the bed, but I believe it was from either Rich's or Macy's.  It was the perfect inspiration, and all of our projects were designed around that.

The linen drapes were tab top, and hemmed just below the lower edge of the window.   The valances were finished with a simple linen stripe a few inches from the lower hem, with center pleats.  The toss pillow on the bed was finished with the same linen stripe, as was the bed skirt. 

I didn't get a photo of the bed skirt, 

because Mrs. Ann wanted to share a little history, and some of her treasures with me,

and this is the kind of history that I love.

Her grandmother's name was Matilda.

She was born on December 26, 1862.

She passed away on Dec 18, 1940.

And she was a Quilter.

This quilt is almost 100 years old.

It is quite delicate,

but there isn't a single hole in this quilt, anywhere. 

It is in pristine condition.

A real treasure.

Mrs Ann has stacks of these incredible quilts that were made by her Grandmother, Matilda, as well as her Mother.    Matilda continued to make quilts until she was almost completely blind.  I feel absolutely honored that Ann allowed me to finish the last quilt top that Matilda ever made.

She made these quilts entirely by hand.

The precision on these points...

well....

I'm all about precision.

Especially when it comes to quilts. 

Hundreds of tiny little triangles, and diamonds, perfectly stitched.

And all of that perfect applique,

makes me swoon.

You fellow quilters know what I mean.

Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.

And this is the work of a true artist.

This next photo is the back of the quilt.

You can really see the quilting on the back.

Those tiny little stitches...

so perfectly spaced...

I am in awe...

My quilting is all done on my trusty Bernina.

But one day, when I'm old(er)...

I hope I can slow down enough to master the art of hand quilting like this.

That's one for my bucket list.

My dear friend has entrusted me to finish several more quilt tops that were made by her Grandmother.  The next one is more beautiful than the last.

I will have photos to share in a few weeks.

Stay tuned!!

Every Quilt Tells A Story

This quilt is one of the latest projects I've been working on.

Quilts have to be the projects that I love best. 

Every quilt tells a story, has a history.

Most of us have quilt tops that we've inherited from Mothers, Grandmothers, or Aunts.  This quilt top was made by my clients mother.  I'm working on the 2nd quilt at the moment, and I'll share those photos as soon as it's finished. 

The quilt blocks are simple. 

And simple can be beautiful.

The design isn't intricate or complicated.

Yet... this is a treasure.

You can see in the following photo, just how many pieces of fabric that she used, in order to make the size needed.  For example, if you'll notice the brown triangle in the lower left of the block.  She used 6 tiny pieces of fabric, hand sewn together, just to make a 3 inch triangle. 

It reminds me of how much we take for granted.

And how plentiful our lives are. 

I can only imagine what she was like...

She didn't waste even the smallest scrap of fabric.  Some of the pieces are only 1/2 inch square. 

The blue fabric that she used for the sashing...

(for you non-quilters, thats the strips between the blocks)

must've been a dress.  You can also see in the photo below, how the strip that is horizontal, above the quilt block, is faded, compared to the strip that is vertical. 

Was this a favorite dress?

Is that why it's faded and worn in places?

Or was it that she had few dresses, and this one was just no longer wearable?  I wish I knew more about her.  My client did tell me that when her Mother made this quilt top, she was nearly blind.

That - to me - is amazing.

For me -  when I've finished a quilt...

the magic happens when I give the quilt it's first washing.

I use old fashioned, unbleached quilt batting.  1/4" thick cotton.

The kind our grandmothers would have used.

When it's washed and the dryed, it shrinks, just slightly.

Just enough to give it a little bit of puckering.

The same area of the quilt after washing ~

Now it looks like a vintage quilt that's been around for years.

I love that.

When I think about women from that era, it absolutely amazes me that they made beautiful quilts like this.  Every stitch by hand.  No sewing machines, no rotary cutters, just a needle and thread, fabric from feedsacks, or worn out clothing, never wasting a thing.

That is why this is a treasure.



Pillowcase Dresses

How to Make One ~

This one is made entirely from remnants,

so think of it as "Zero cost!"

Start with a piece of fabric measuring 14 x 28 inches.

This piece is a little short, measuring only 10.5 x 28".

It's easy to make up that difference by using more remnants to add to the hem..

Here, I decided to add a 2" strip of yellow fabric, folded in half lengthwise, layered on top of a 3" strip of red fabric, which I hemmed and gathered.

Next, cut out the openings for the arms.

Fold your main piece of fabric in half, then fold in half again,

like this...

You can see the 4 layers of fabric above. 

Cut out a small section measuring 1.5 x 3 inches,

in the shape of a "J", like in the next photo.

Now when you unfold your fabric, it should look like this...

For the shoulder strap, I'm using red fabric measuring 3 x 36".

For the arm hole binding, my yellow fabric measures 1.25 x 10".

Next, I've attached the ruffled section to the main section of fabric.

For the arm openings:

Lay the binding strip face down on the inside of the dress,

so that the right side of the facing is against the wrong side of

the dress.  Stitch using a 1/4" seam.

I find it's easier to do this freehand (no pins).

The easiest way to work around the curved area, is to keep

the binding strip straight, and to gently pull the curved section of

the main fabric to the left, so that the cut edges are even.  Sew

just a few stitches at a time, then re-adjust your fabric.

That may sound confusing, but it's really easy.  The photo

above should make it easier to understand.

Once you've done that, lay your piece right side up,

just use your fingers to fold your binding like the following

photo... You have a 1/4 inch seam allowance, now

fold 1/4 inch from the raw edge toward the seam allowance.

Then fold it over again, and you have a nice 1/4" binding

for the arm opening. 

Topstitch just along the folded edge.

Next, stitch the center back seam.

Fold over 3/4 inch hem along the top,  front and back.

Next,

Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew your piece for the

shoulder strap, turn inside out and press.

Pull the strap through the top casing, and you are done!

How cute is that??

And made entirely from remnants!

In total using less than 1/2 yard of fabric.

Once I got started, it was hard to stop...

My sister has 2 grand-daughters under the age of one,

and another due in 6 weeks, so these will  come in handy.

And if I do say so myself...

I think this is the cutest way ever to use up all of those

little scraps of fabric and trim.

Six dresses in two days, and I think I may be everyone's

favorite Auntie after this.

Now I have to get some real work done...

Have a Lovely Day!!

Edited to add adjusted measurements for other sizes ~

For the main fabric piece (body of the dress)

Up to 6 months - 14 x 28"

12 months - 16 x 30"

18 months - 17 x 32"

2T - 18 x 33"

3T - 19 x 34"

4T - 20 x 35"