My New Toy!

Newell Pleater

Look what came in the mail today!

What is this, you ask?  This is a Newell Pleater for smocking.  Now I can make my own pleated panels out of any fabric I choose.  

A couple of weeks ago, I finished two smocked ornaments for the Flickr Handmade Ornament Swap organized by Locodowo.  I am also a member of the Learning to Smock Yahoo Group.  The members of this group helped me improve my smocking when Beautiful Daughter #1 asked me to make Abby's blessing gown.  (I love to lurk on the site and see all the beautiful things people make, so when I made the ornaments, I shared them.)

I was grateful for the advice on the gown.  And honestly, it turned out better than I expected. It really was lovely. 

Then, for the ornament swap, I smocked these two ornamments.

I have been buying my pleated panels at Derrell's, the only heirloom sewing store in the area.  In fact, Mary at Derrell's pleated the ivory silk for the blessing dress.  But, when I finished the second ornament, I went back for more pleated panels and they were out of stock.  And I went back a week later, and they were still out of stock.  And then the third time they were still out.  Frustrating, to say the least.  Finally, I happened by on a Saturday morning just as Mary was pleating something for someone else.  I waited until she pleated my two little panels so I had something to smock.  I plan on a couple more ornaments and maybe something for Abby's first birthday.

Anyway, in my frustration, I commented on the Yahoo group that I had been unable to make any more ornaments due to lack of materials and a couple of days later this nice lady emailed me and offered to sell me the above pleater at what I think was a great price.

I know that they don't make the Newell pleater any more, and I also know that it doesn't have as many rows as some pleaters.  But needles are still available for it , and I generally only smock 10 rows anyway.  Except for the blessing gown, where I think I smocked 14 rows.  Anyway, it should fit most of my needs, and if I only smock a few things, it has paid for itself.

It came with the manual and extra needles.

 Now, I just have to figure out how to use it.

Thank You, Veterans!

On this Veteran's Day, I want to say "thank you" to those who have served and are serving in the U.S. military.  Those who sacrifice so much to keep our country safe and preserve our freedoms.  My dad served in the U.S. Army during WW2.  Wasn't he handsome?  Here he is in his uniform on his wedding day, August 14, 1944.

My father-in-law served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WW2, and then a career spanning Korea and Viet Nam, retiring after 26 years, I think.

My uncle served during the Korean War.  He was gone when my oldest cousin was born, and came home just before his first brithday.  He is not the only service man to miss the first year (or more) of a child's life.

And Wonderful Husband served.  He grew up an Air Force brat and was drafted during Viet Nam (yes, his grades were THAT good) and served three tours.  He flew attack helicopters, Cobras.  I think he must have been just a little crazy then, when I hear his stories.  certainly he thought he was invincible. 

Later, after he earned his degree, he served in the U. S. Coast Guard and spent much of his career teaching young Naval Aviators to fly.  I think he was a great teacher.  Once, after we had been out in the evening, we pulled up at the house to find a car out front.  It was a little scary, even in those days.  After we parked in the driveway, a young Ensign pops out of his car with a bottle of champagne - he had passed his check ride that day and the champagne was a thank you to WH for all the extra hours he put in to pound basic flying skills into this young man's head.  The young Ensign was so excited, we didn't have the heart to tell him that we don't drink champagne.

And whether we as a society acknowledge it or not, those left behind also serve and sacrifice.  The young bride (my mom) whose true love leaves her for more than a year three days after the wedding.  The young mother (my aunt) whose husband is deployed when their first child is born.  And the young (and not-so-young) mothers, fathers, wives, and children who wait for their loved one to return from deployment - hoping, wanting to believe, that they will return healthy and strong and resume their place by your side, but knowing that many do not.  When our children were young, the Navy acknowledged this with a slogan:  "Navy Wife.  The toughest job in the Navy."  In so many ways that is true.

So to all of you - those who have served, those who are serving now, and those who simply wait, I say

Thank you!

National Blog Posting Month

November is National Blog Posting Month - or NaBloPoMo - great acronym. Kind of a mouthful, and doesn't really flow, but hey!  Who am I to criticize?

I have read lots of blogs where folks are going to try to post every day.  Well, I have already missed out on that, but I've decided that I will try to post every day from now until November 30.  Hopefully, I will find enough interesting things to say. 

Somewhere deep down, I always wanted to be a writer, but I never had the burning desire to write that they say it takes to be successful.  I have lots of notes, jotted on napkins and scraps of paper, tucked in drawers and notebooks, but none have ever come to fruition.  Maybe blogging is the way to fulfill this dream?

Well, anyway, here goes.  Day 1 of a month of blogging!  What fun!

WEAR PURPLE FOR BABIES

Did you know that November is Prematurity Awareness Month?  For many years, November has been Blue Jeans for Babies month, where employees could buy a t-shirt and wear jeans to work.  This year, many areas around the country, including our area in Florida, plan to wear Purple on November 19 to raise awareness about prematurity.  Babies born too soon and too small cost $26 billion a year in the United States alone.  More babies are being born too early now than in the 1980s.  Why?  I certainly don't know, but I'm helping to raise money to find out.

For many years, I have served on the Walk Committee for our local March of Dimes region.  In addition, I am Team Captain where I work.  This is a cause I can support.  I hope someday, every baby will be born healthy.

Here is my beautiful little granddaughter at 10 months.  Don't you love that smile?

I have been very fortunate.  All of my children and my adorable granddaughter were born full term.  Two of my children were born on their due dates.  My youngest was two weeks early, and even that two weeks made a real difference in her early development.  If you have ever seen a baby in the NICU - one that will fit in the palm of your hand - you are aware that every day, every ounce, every milestone counts toward a healthier baby.  

How can you get involved?  First, wear PURPLE on November 19 and let everyone know you support the March of Dimes Prematurity Awareness campaign.

Next, get a team together and find a way to raise some money.  Even  small amounts can make a big difference.  Did you know that the March of Dimes actually started during the Presidency of Franklin Roosevelt?  It was in the 1930's - the Great Depression -  and President Roosevelt asked every child in America to send 10-cents to the White House to help find a cure for polio.  All those dimes added up, and in 1956, Jonas Salk had a vaccine ready to inoculate thousands of children.  My mother's best friend was a polio victim (as was President Roosevelt), but today, you never hear of a child getting this horrible disease.  All thanks to the collective power of thousands of dimes.

Finally, get involved in your area's March for Babies.  You can go to the March of Dimes website and find out when and where the Walk is in your area.  National March for Babies day is the last Saturday in April, but there are walks all across the country practically any time of the year.

My Happy Stack

Last weekend for our anniversary, in addition to the "Blue Thingy" Wonderful Husband made for me, he gave me a certain amount of money to spend at my favorite fabric store.   While he had very considerately planned to take me there that very evening, what he didn't know is that they close at 3pm on Saturdays.  So sad.  I had to wait until Monday.  I did not take (too much) advantage of WH's good nature - in fact, I didn't even spend the entire amount he had alotted.  But I had a really good time exploring the beautiful fabrics.  What fun!

Then, when I got home there was my box from Fabric.com.  More fun!

So this weekend I pre-washed all that fabric.  Of course, that was the easy part.  For some reason it got all tangled up in the dryer and it all had to be ironed.  Tonight I sat down and spent about 2 hours ironing all that beautiful fabric.  I can't wait to play with it.  Some of it has a specific destiny.  I bought some "Adoring" that I hope to make into a Nativity quilt.  I also bought some more French General to finish a project I have started.

But some of it I just bought because I liked it.  These are the ones I just get out and play with every now and again, until inspiration finds me.  I did a little of that tonight as I was making room on the shelf for the new additions, and I found a piece of fabric that I needed to back the table runner I made yesterday.  I also made little Abby a pair of pants, which are waiting for some elastic and some snap tape, which I don't have on hand.  Another trip to the fabric store?  Oh, darn!

Now that I have finished the ornaments for the Handmade Ornament Swap, I think I will try to get them in the mail.  Imagine, me being 30 days early.  THAT never happened before!  I hope my partners like them.

I actually did a little stamping today, which gave me a chance to show WH that the "Blue Thingy" is appreciated.

So tomorrow, back to work.  I'd rather stay home and sew, but alas, that is not to be.  I'll just have to look forward to it when I get home from work. 

And sometime this week I should find out who my partner is for the Pillow Talk Swap. Something else to look forward to.

Have a great week.

Another Smocked Ornament

Tonight I finished this little candy cane ornament.  This may be the last ornament for the Handmade Ornament Swap.  It is an adaptation of a smocking plate by Ellen McCarn I picked up a couple Saturdays ago at the Bernina store, which is the only heirloom sewing store we have in town.  (I just realized I haven't "featured" them in my blog, so that may be the subject of another post sometime).

Once again, the smocking was the easy part.  I seem to really struggle with finishing the ends once the smocking is complete.  When I did the Christmas tree smocked ornament, Beautiful Daughter #1 suggested I try to finish it like a wrapped candy.  Since this ornament was, in fact, a candy cane, her suggestion seemed natural.  Still, I'm not perfectly happy with how the smocking fits over the ball.  Because the smocking isn't stretched over the ball, it is pretty loose in there.  But, as my Aunt Margie used to say, "You're not supposed to play football in it!"

Then, because batiste ravels like crazy, I had to come up with a way to finish the ends.  I decided to crochet around them.  Amazingly, the red crochet thread matched the embroidery floss pretty well.  A few of the little batiste ends refused to be corralled, but I guess it's OK - it is a candy cane, after all.

There's Something About Fall....

There's something about fall that has always stirred something in my soul.  I love fall colors.  I love the change in the leaves.  I love the cooler temperatures.  I love the smell of a new box of crayons and sharpened pencils.  I love turkey and cranberries and pumpkin pie.  I love jack-o-lanterns and candy corn.  Fall somehow bespeaks change - in good ways.  Something about fall means winding up and starting over all at the same time - the possibility of growth and change.  Yes, I know that symbolically, it should be spring that gives that feeling, so maybe it has to do with school starting in the fall, but it always seems like fall is alive with possibilities.

Somehow I always feel more creative in the fall.  Last year, as we were waiting for our new granddaughter to arrive, I crocheted countless receiving blankets.  My grandmother used to make these - one for every baby - and they were a treasured gift for every new mom.  I had honestly forgotten about them until we were expecting our own grandchild.  I was compellled to resurrect the tradition.   I must have gotten just a LITTLE carried away, because Wonderful Husband wondered if any baby could use THAT many blankets.  Perhaps not, but I was on a roll.

This year, sewing and quilting have intrigued me, and I have had a lot of fun creating all kinds of things.

And it's always fun to get ready for Christmas.  Too many years, I have been in a rush and shopped out of desperation at the last minute to find something - anything - to give to the ones I love.  This year, I hope it will be different.  This year, I want to (mostly) create thoughtful gifts that are both useful and come from the heart.  With any luck, I will achieve that and have fun in the process.

Meanwhile, happy fall!