A finished Christening gown for Baby Crimson.

The angel sleeves and hem are edged with Ayershire lace and a lovely hand-tatted variegated pink lace.

The Peter Pan collar edged with hand-tatted lace

Blocking the tatting.

White on white embroidery on the smocked area

Two Christening Gowns in Progress

 Yesterday I made two smocked Bishop-style batiste Christening gowns (I embroidering them today). One is an order from a colleague for her newborn great-granddaughter. It will be white embroidery on white fabric. On that one I used some lovely double-edged Ayershire lace that was given to me. I cut the lace lengthwise and used it to fashion angel sleeves. I'll also be doing some French insertion along the lower skirt with the Ayershire and trimming the Peter Pan collar and the hem with hand-tatted variegated pink lace (made by my friend, Margaret). Since I had enough fabric for a second dress, I went ahead and made one for my ETSY shop. I made hand-made lilac gingham bias to trim the angel sleeves. I may do a simple lilac embroidery on that one. I think I have enough fabric for matching bonnets for both. If so, that will be the next project.

This is a close-up of one of the pillow tops.  Stitch and Slash Technique (from a Craftsy tutorial).

Both pillow tops.  The fabrics are identical. but, I varied the layering and the design.  They look very different, but, fit together beautifully.

Another close-up.

So, the studio clean-up didn't take very long yesterday.  I just needed to re-organize and clear out a few things.  I always have a surge of creativity when the studio is tidy (just can't resist messing it all up again!).  Here are some pillow tops I started for my best friend's new studio.  She is moving into a new home and finally has room for her own creative space.  I am so happy for her, and I'll be going to Nashville soon to help her set it up and decorate it!  YAY!  The next step in the process on the pillow tops above will be couching on cording and other flat trims over all of the stitching lines.  Then, I am very tempted to bead the butterflies as they are screaming out to me to be embellished!  Last weekend I had a sciatica flare up and I was flat on my back on the couch.  I used the down time to take online classes at Craftsy.com.  I learned so many things (even about general sewing, which I have done for over 30 years now).  I'll post pictures of the finished pillows when they are complete.  Today's project:  a smocked christening gown for a colleagues great-granddaughter...I'll post as I go!

Long Weekend: Clean, Organize, Create!

The studio gets disorganized when I don't spend enough time tidying between projects.  I am happy to have a space where I can close the door and not have to see the mess I have created.  HOWEVER, I am much more creative and productive when my workspace is orderly.  I admire artists and crafters who can make beautiful things in messy spaces.  I am not one of those people.  I am looking forward to the long Labor Day weekend ahead.  I have taken Friday as a vacation day and the agency is closed Monday.  That means I have four days to clean and re-organize the studio...and to CREATE some new projects.  Pictures above:  Rubber stamps and some wonderful Jaquard favbric paints stored in nick-nack shelves.

This is my sewing table, bought at the Habitat Re-Store (they always have great sewing cabinets and tables!).  The lifting mechanism was rusted shut, but the wood of the cabinet (Teak, I think) is gorgeous.  My sweetie put a shelf in it to hold my sewing machine.  It has lots of storage inside (did I mention you can never have enough studio storage), and a drop-down extension leaf.  Best feature?  It is a lovely mid-century piece that looks great in my home. Above the table is a rubber stamp storage piece made from some slat wall that the previous homeowners left behind in the basement.  

The wire grid wall was also left behind by the previous homeowners.  They were using it as a pot rack in the kitchen.  With a few s-hooks, it holds tons of things.  The bulletin board on the right side of the picture was given to me by a girlfriend who was throwing it away.  Her dad made it for her when she was in high school.  It is VERY heavy and very nicely made.  Makes a great design/inspiration board.

These are mostly CD storage boxes (and a few other sizes) from Ikea.  They fit perfectly into cloth hanging closet organizers and hold all kinds of things.  They are labeled to make it easy to find my stuff.

These are inexpensive ($14), assemble-them-yourself bookshelves from Garden Ridge.  I stacked them on each other to give me a whole wall of storage...which is currently abysmally messy...and a major focus of the re-organizing I'll be doing.

Serendipity: A New Treasure and Storage, Too!

I found this great piece on clearance at Micheal's this week and thought it had potential as a decorative studio storage piece (can you ever have enough storage in a studio?).  It is a jewelery mannequin made of wire.  It coordinates well with the dress-form-printed sewing machine and serger covers I already own and it is very useful beside the sewing machine.  I haven't filled it with notions and tools yet, but, I'll post another picture when I do.

Bonjour Mes Amis! I started a blog so I could ramble on about the handmade items I am designing and making in my home studio.  I might like to offer tutorials here as well.  I want to make things that I will enjoy creating and things that will be loved for generations.  I sell my items on ETSY in my shop:  Hot Gumbo.  This is the entrance to my studio.  Bienvenue!