Proof of Spring

Last week we were so lucky to have four days of sunny weather in the low 70's.  Of course the crocus just popped up right away.  Fortunately, I got out and took pictures when I did, because the next morning they were all gone - victims of hungry rabbits who apparently love crocus flowers.

Emma's Birthday Dress

I made this dress for my granddaughter's third birthday present.  I bought the shirt at Walmart.  It had a double ruffle on the bottom of it.  Took a jumper pattern in her size (that I've used before to make a jumper).  Found the waistline and cut off the shirt with 1/2 inch extra for a seam allowance. 

Then I strip pieced apple green, pink and lavender quilter's cotton prints.  When I had enough I cut out the bottom of the jumper pattern (from the waist down); leaving 1/2 inch seam allowance at top and bottom.

Next I cut out the skirt liner.  What I mean is I took one piece of fabric and cut out the skirt pattern (ended up with a back and front).  I did this because I thought the pieced seams would be rough on a child's skin.  So I put the pieced front and the liner together, rights sides to right sides and inserted one of the ruffle pieces; sewed the seam.  When it was sewn and fabrics turned right side out, the ruffle (that had been on the bottom of the shirt) was now on the hem, tying the two together.  At that point all I had to do was sew front to back and then attach to the shirt.

When it was all done, I thought the waist looked too big for Emma.   She's very petite.  So, I took some stiff interfacing and zig zagged the green, pink and lavender polka dotted ribbon to it.  Basically made a cumberbundy sort of belt.  The loose ribbons can be tied in the back and it'll fit her like a dream.  My son told me she really liked her dress, but she was equally in love with the girls overalls I'd picked up for her.  My kinda girl!  Hopefully a picture soon.

The Prairie Schooler Spring Ornament

Finally I have finished the last of my Prairie Schooler seasonal ornaments.  This one is Spring.

The chart came from an issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine a few years ago.  I don't have the exact issue number because I tore the page out and kept it while passing on the rest of the magazine to my DIL.  I did completely changed the color scheme because I just thought it wasn't at all Spring-like.  And after all the snow we've had here this winter, I needed something REALLY Springy!  It is stitched on 28 ct. Busy Bee from R&R.  I used the light and dark portions of Gentle Art's Vintage Lace as well as Poinsettia on the houses.  I used GA Tropical Ocean on the windows, doors and blue bird.  Then I used GA Sunflower for the word.  I used two greens, one medium and one light and I didn't keep track of the names.  GA Nutmeg was used on the house roofs and Sarsparilla on the trees and branches.  Regarding the trees - on the chart they were just green blobs.  I changed one to be light green with pink (done with the Vintage Lace) becoming a cherry tree in bloom.  Then on the other I used my other green and did a four square of GA Chalk (white).  Then, I went into the center of the four square and did a cross stitch over top in the sunflower - making it a suedo-dogwood tree.  Finally, on the word - SPRING.  I tried to do a doily or lace effect with white.  I only used one strand of floss and think that's why this experiment failed (in my opinion).  It may also have something to do with the size of the word.  But, I haven't completely given up on the idea. I'm not 100% sold on the colors of the silk ribbon, but it's what I have on hand for now and may eventually change.   I have a friend who said it made her think of Miami Beach.  It reminds me of the pretty painted houses I saw in Ireland.

Interesting Daily Mail Article

Found this LINK on the blog of Jen Funk Weber.  It is a very interesting news article on a 70 year old woman creating an embroidered tapestry about her life.  It is HUGE!  You may want to check it out.