What a DOLL!

 

Miss Mckenna looked adorable in her new smocked dress and bubble shirt I made her. It was such fun to meet her...she's a little doll as you can see...we are so blessed to have her in our family! She was all smiles the few days we saw her. Not a tear or cry from her, so she is a very happy and content babe.

Here's the little Uggs I made for her! They were a bit small, so I will save these for the next baby that comes my way and make her a larger pair this week. They were so quick and easy to stitch up it won't be a problem to whip up another pair!

 

I started on DD and SIL's quilt for their new home. It is a modern style with a touch of country, very simple large stripes. We saw it offered in a linen magazine, but it wasn't offered in King size...so, what a quilter to do? Make it of course!

Here it is all layed out on the floor and ready for sewing. It only took me a few hours to stitch those stripes together and I will start quilting it tomorrow I hope! Here's the picture of what we are imititating from TheCompanyStore.com

 

I hope it turns out just as beautiful as this one is. We used solids, quilter's linen and quilter's suede fabrics to add a bit of interest instead of all solids. I am trying to decide if I use warm and natural batting if I should also use a fluffy poly to give it the loft shown in the pic above. If you have any advice on this, I'll take it!

Take care and Happy New Year!

Missie

 

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What's Happening at My House Today!

MMMM Good! My family loves soups...hearty thick soups! We are headed to a potluck Christmas Party tonight and I thought this soup would be something different to offer. It is Cheeseburger Soup. If you have not had Cheeseburger Soup before, you really must try it! You can make it thick or thin; whatever your tastes are.

 

Start off with browning some ground beef. I used prepared frozen meatballs today, browned and chopped into tiny pieces. Then add an onion, chopped, and a few carrots, chopped. When the veggies are a bit soft, add some salt and pepper to taste. Go easy on the salt as the cheese and broth cubes, added later, are salty too. Add a few teaspoons of Italian Spices. I purchase mine pre-mixed. Next, add about 4-6 cups of water and chicken broth cubes and bring to a soft boil. Then add the Velveeta. I use half of a block. Turn the heat down to medium so the cheese does not burn. Add 1.5 cups of milk while the cheese melts. Sometimes I like to add potatoes to soups. You can add chopped potatoes when you add the water and boil a little longer, or if you are in a rush like I usually am, you can add leftover mashed potatoes or frozen potatoes of some sort. Hash browns work great because they are so small. Otherwise, chop up what you have after microwaving a few minutes. This makes the soup much thicker and fills the big boys up! This Cheeseburger Soup is so good alone, or with a sandwich on the side! Give it a try!!

I have been working on my hexies recently. I think I am in love with the starch method of prepping them! Yes, it takes time on the front side with the little iron before you stitch, but I like the trade off of where my time is spent. The picture above shows how nice it looks after it's sewn and the picture below shows how easy it is to hold while stitching...soft and bendable rather than stiff and hard to hold! I like it!

I highly suggest you try this also!

 

My Katie is making comfort teddies to sell at her Etsy Store. She makes a pouch of rice to put in the microwave or freezer to make the teddy warm or cool and cuddly. Scents of lavender are soothing and relaxing. I love that she is creative and a bit of an entrepreneur at her young age.

One of my works in progress, well actually just begun, is Pennies From Heaven. I worked on my Christmas version a bit this week at the wool club in the local store, Creekside Quilting. It was a small group of us, but we had a great time. I am looking forward to the monthly gathering to keep me working on wool projects!

I may change thread colors...it bothers me that I can see the thread on some pieces, but not all of them. Maybe I will use a light and a dark...we'll see after I stitch a bit more. These wool pieces are being sewn onto a nice thick cotton that I hope looks like wool.

I've finished the little smocked dress for my niece, but still need to finish the little shirt. I am making it button at the legs so it will be like little bloomer panties under her dress as well as a shirt. She could also wear it with some pants and tuck it in with a cute belt! Using measurements from her Mama, I made this to fit. It looks sooooo tiny and brings back so many memories of smocking for my girls.

With these updates, I will head down to my sewing room to finish that little shirt and quilt her quilt also! Sure would be nice if I could get it done today!!

Before I sign off, I just wanted to mention the families involved in the terrible incident Friday. What a tragedy...my thoughts and prayers are with those touched by this. Kiss your babies and grand babies near and far and be sure your loved ones know you love them!

God Bless and Take Care,

Missie

 

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Don't Peek Michelle!

I'm getting ready for Christmas! We need a little snow, or at least some cool weather to get me hopping, but I'll do my best to get things done even though it feels like spring!

The first gift I am making this year is for my new niece, McKenna Lyll. Isn't she a sweetheart!! We are so blessed to have her in our family now. She was adopted in June as a newborn. Her parents waited for her for 3 long years. I have not met her yet, but will have the chance to hold this little bundle at Christmas. I can't wait! Above is her birth announcement and below is a pic at about 4 months old. I hope her mom, Michelle, turns off the computer now as I do a little show and tell.

I used to make and sell English Smocked clothing for children. It has been about 15 years since I have smocked anything. I was so excited to find out this baby was a girl so I could smock a little dress or two for her! Here is a sneak peek at the first dress I am making her. It is a basic bishop with angel sleeves and will have a little ivory shirt I will make to go under it. It is bringing back memories to work on this little dress! My girls wore smocked outfits daily. I bet I have a tub full of about 60 downstairs.

(Can you say obsessive?)

 

The color is showing up deep purple in this pic, but it is really more of a plumb color in person. The thread colors are pinkish plumb and tanish silver. If you don't know about smocking, you can see the horizontal threads showing underneath the stitches. These are the basting threads which pleat the fabric. I use a pleater to do this.

 

This shows how the fabric rolls through the pleater, running the basting stitches through the fabric. This used to be done by hand, so I am spoiled to always have a pleater to use.

As the smocking is stitched, each pleat is grabbed with the thread, thus holding the pleats in place after the basting threads are removed. It is very simple and I compare it to cross stitch the way you follow the design patterns. I will post again when it's done so you can see the whole outfit. Now I just hope it fits Miss McKenna!

 

In a few days I will be joining the Holday Lane blog hop! See the button on the top right of my blog...come back soon to see how I made the pillow! Thanksgiving day is my day to show my pillow. I hope you will have time to come back to see!

And last, a little update in Ginger. She is mending slowly. She had the go ahead to do the garage steps but slipped the first time she tried it and sort of reinjured her leg. No damage, just made it sore. She gets excited when someone comes to visit and then starts to hobble again. My folks and other family members are coming tomorrow so we hope we can keep her calm when she greets them all. It may just postpone her total healing a bit, but there is nothing we can do to keep her calm. She is a happy girl no matter what!

Take care everyone, and enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday!

Missie

 

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