I have always loved sewing since I was a little girl at about 10 and started making Barbie clothes on my Mother's treadle Singer sewing machine. Actually this machine was originally my great grandmother. My uncle had installed a motor on the machine but I was not allowed to use the motor until I was a little older. Mom made almost all the clothes for herself, my sister and myself on this machine. I remember standing in the middle of the kitchen table so Mom could use the hem guide to hem our dresses. When the dresses were done we would spin in the living room to see how far out the skirt would go. That was of course after we sometimes found a wayward pin in the waistline. Not only was Mom an inspiration for my sewing but also my Aunt Kate. If Mom didn't have a solution to a problem with a pattern, Aunt Kate surely did. And then there was my friend's Mom, Mrs. Muir who lived up the street that was always helpful when I needed it. They all encouraged me to keep sewing and I continued to use the old Singer machine. When I got my first full time job, I bought my own new sewing machine. It was a Pfaff cabinet model and I bought it at Witherill's from Mr. Thorne. And, this machine went in reverse! I soon upgraded to a Pfaff free arm machine and then to a Pfaff 1471. I am fortunate to have three beautiful daughters and I can't begin to tell you how many hours are on that 1471 making them clothes from infancy right up to adulthood. Play clothes, dress, coats, 1st Communion dresses, dozens of Halloween costumes - even in high school and prom dresses. For many years I did little sewing and missed what I call "my therapy". There is nothing more relaxing to me than to spend an evening sewing. So, last Spring I bought a used machine. I said, I don't want a fancy one - I don't do embroidery but the 2170 fit the bill for the features I wanted and it did embroidery. Well, I was soon taking classes at Knecht's and have found a love of machine embroidery. I was jealous of the other sewers with their Creative Visions and soon upgraded to one. I am having so much fun with this machine and have found a whole new world of sewing in embroidery. I thought that I would share some of my projects as I go along. I don't profess to be and expert seamstress but I love sewing and I love sharing these with you. Hope you enjoy them too! Thanks for looking.

REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY PICTURE FOR A LARGER IMAGE!

Sunday, November 13, 2011




Patty and Nadine at Web Fabrics in Purcelleville, VA
Well, here I am again.  August and September slipped away so fast that I hardly remember them.   October started off with a bang with a trip to Northern Virginia to the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Va.   Nadine Knecht who owns Knecht’s Sewing Center where I buy my Pfaff machines, Patty Wilborn  and I went along with my daughter Kristin. Kris lived in that area and was our driver and tour guide.  We had, as Nadine would say – “Sew” much fun!  It was three days of venders and exhibiters at the show and visiting 5 quilt/fabric shops.   And of course there was the Leesburg Outlet Mall!   There was hardly room for us in the Suburban on the way home!  We found some beautiful fabric and so many ideas and patterns that even a month later, our heads are still spinning.  Here are pictures at the shops we stopped and shopped at:


Nadine and Patty at Jinny Beyer Studio in Great Falls, VA

Patty and I at G Street Fabrics in Rockville, MD

Sisto's Fabrics,  Frederick, MD
We found so many wonderful fabrics and patterns along the way that my new and improved Pfaff Creative Sensation has been humming away burning the midnight oil!

Of course, early October, everyone is concentrating on Halloween.  At our first stop at Web Fabrics I found a booklet fom Disa Designs with table runners for all seasons and I made this one for Kristin with fabric purchased at Web Fabrics.  I also bought a book of purse designs by Amy Butler that I can't wait to try.




At the quilt show, we met the owner of Pickle Pie designs who has an amazing collection of designs all done in the hoop:

These are some of the cross body bags that the ladies did in a class at the sewing shop.  We have sew much fun there and they all loved their finished purses.  So many different fabrics make them  all look different and individual.







Another vender at the show was Dalco Home Sew with in the hoop applique designs - hundreds of them.  We brought this one home and I stitched it up.  So nice - so easy - - -
























I used the last two design to make these towels.



This is an Anita Gooddesign towel edge applique.  Easy and fast.
Another pattern bought at the show.  It is a wall hanging done in raw edge applique.


Some other projects I've been working on: 

A purse and accessories for one of my favorite girls - Mimi who loves pink!

A fall table runner for Kristin!
Last Sunday, Glenda and I went to a quilt show - yes, I said the "q" word at Lockport, NY.   I found a magazine there called Quilting Celebrations by designer Patrick Lose.  He is my newest and favorite applique designs!!! Love his work.  Here's one thing I've made so far from his collection.  They are called Minty Mug Mats and are so adorable.  
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and at work we asked our customers for donations to the Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund.   We collected over $500.00 in honor of Mimi's Mom, Susan Buckley who was diagnosed and started treatment at the same time I did.  Unfortunately, Sue did not make it and we honor her every year.  I made these aprons for Mimi and I to wear to promote donations.



Lots of other things in the works - but sh-h-h - Christmas is coming - don't want to spoil any surprises!


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