Attack of the White Stuff

They said the snow would come.  I didn't believe it.  Why?  Well, if you live in the South long enough you begin to see a pattern.  Snow is predicted.  Everyone goes crazy and stocks up milk and bread.  The kids get excited.  The snow doesn't come.  This time, however, it looks like they were right on the prediction.  It started snowing yesterday morning and didn't stop until around 3 or 4 PM.  Then, it started again sometime this morning, and, as I type this at 10:30 AM, it is snowing pretty hard.  So, we are stuck inside, because as we know in the South the roads will be bad.  Also, most people here are not use to driving in the snow, because it rarely happens here.  So, inside we will stay.  Well, unless we get the urge to go have a snowball fight.  Hmmm...I wonder who will start that.  LOL!

While we are inside, I am trying to keep my hands busy on a new bishop.  I must admit that I had great plans for a cute green and white chevron bishop smocked dress.  After fighting with my pleater yesterday, I am not sure how it will look in the end.  I am not sure why, but sometimes my pleater has a mind of its own.  Actually, most of the time it is O.E.(operator error).  Despite all of my struggles, I managed to get the dress pleated.  The smocking will be flowers and the dress will be sized for a 2 year old.  The goal is for a 2 year old little girl to have something special to wear this Spring. 

What do you do to get ready for days inside?  Do you cut out a new pattern?  Do you get some yarn for crochet?  There are several things a "crafter" can do to avoid boredom.  Mine would include the smocking, sewing, and crochet.  So, when I get bored with my bishop pattern, I may find myself making a hat or scarf.  Who knows?  Post a comment below and let me know your favorite "snow day" activity. 

Also, before I forget, I am running a special in my shop for the month of February.  Here it is:

Easter is a long way off, but this dress takes some time to complete. Therefore, I am offering a deal. Pre-order the dress below by March and receive a $20 discount. Just enter the coupon code PREEASTER, when you purchase this dress in my shop. Hurry, the offer ends on March 1st.

Garden Tea Party Dress

Just click on the name of the dress and it will send you to my etsy shop.  You may purchase this dress there.  Are you not a big fan of white?  That is fine.  I can customize this dress to fit the colors you would like.  It would make a great Easter dress, Spring dress, or Flower Girl dress for a wedding.  Just send me a message via etsy and I can get started.  

Don't forget to post comments about what you like to do on a Snow Day.  Have a wonderful day and stay warm and inside, if you are near this storm. 

OH NO! I am LOST!

Ok, my husband and I have been discussing getting rid of our AT&T U-verse cable.  We really like the DVR thing, and being able to watch when we want.  The problem is, it is expensive.  We think we could save some money if we did things another way.  Our family is not a huge TV family.  We only have like 3 or 4 shows that we watch, and 2 that are favorites.  The others we most likely could get by not watching.  So, on to research.

We started by looking into Netflix.  We signed up for the one month free trial.  WOW!!!  The amount of shows that are available is amazing.  We found a bunch of old episodes of shows we watched as kids, and some new ones we had not seen.  We also tried Hulu Plus for a few days, but that was not much different than the Netflix.  Actually, Netflix gave us more options.  We are still in the process of trying to decide what to do, but for now the Netflix stays and the U-verse is on its way out. 

One of the new shows that we found is Dr. Who.  If you don't know, Dr. Who is a show from the BBC.  It is about a man that is a time traveler.  My kids loved it.  There are a few references to lifestyles that are questionable to us, but for the most part it is interesting.  Now, I told you my kids loved the show.  Me, on the other hand, became addicted.  I just keep watching.  I am totally lost in a huge time vortex.  OH NO!!!

Maybe I can get Dr. Who to come and save me.  LOL!!!

Seriously, I have spent time watching this show, but I have also been busy.  I did manage to complete one dress and started another.  Below is a picture of the first one.  The second one, began with a great idea, but it is not working out the way I had planned.

Bishop Smocked Dress

So, I decided to put the second one aside, and wait until I have had time to think about the finished product. 

Now, that I have put that one aside, I purchased some Green Chevron.  I have 2 ideas for 2 different bishop smocked dresses.  My plan is to have them ready by Spring.  Flowers and Flip Flops.  That is the idea that I have. 

So, if you ever get addicted to a show, make sure that you have something to work on while you are lost in the show.  By the way, the dress in the picture is available for sale on my Etsy shop.  It can be purchased there, or you can custom order one of my other outfits there. 

Guess What I Did This Week...

I would like to say that this week I worked very hard and accomplished a lot.  That is not the case.  I had great plans for this week.  I was going to finish an outfit and get it listed on Etsy.  I was going to get my meals planned and grocery shop for the week.  Then, on Tuesday, it happened. 

They predicted snow.  The whole town got so excited.  The kids, my kids, were anticipating the calling off of the school day.  We woke up.  Not a snowflake in sight.  At around 11 I got a text from my daughter saying that they were letting the kids out at 12.  Seriously???  Once again, not a snowflake in sight.  So, off I went to wait in car lines for kids.  We came home and relaxed.  Well, I took a nap.  LOL!  Still, no snow.  At around 3PMish, there were snow flurries coming down.  Well, I would really call it that.  You see, I am originally from Ohio.  This was more like micro snow flurries.  A friend of mine on Facebook described it well.  She said it looked like little gnats.  She was right.  However, it continued and was constant throughout the night. 

By Wednesday morning, we had snow dusted all over our back yard.  It was not that big of a deal, but the ice on the roads was serious.  See, in Ohio, they would have had salt trucks out as soon as the snow started falling.  In the south, they do not.  Why?  Well, it is because we do not get snow that often.  They do not use tax payer money to buy up a bunch of salt truck that may or may not be used.  That equals icy roads that do not thaw and people driving on them that are not experienced with driving on ice.  I was very thankful that they did send the kids home early.

Why?

Well, my sister and her family live south of us.  They were absolutely not ready for the storm they received.  They schools did not call off early enough.  The snow hit fast and hard.  They also do not have the snow/salt trucks there, because, once again, snow is rare.  She and her husband left for work and picking up the kids at around 11 in the morning.  At 5:45PM, I received a text from my sister that she and the kids were finally home.  There were also people and kids in other areas that did not make it home until 24 hours later.  WOW! 

So, I was thankful for my time at home and getting here safe.  We relaxed and I worked in spurts.  I did accomplish finishing up some smocking and back smocking of an outfit that is still in the making.  I hope today to get some work done on the sleeves and put the top together.  Be looking for this new outfit on my Etsy shop.  Also, if you are need of some custom made dresses or outfits for your little one, or if you need a baby shower gift, stop by Sewing Sweet Tracy or my Facebook Page.  We can get started making something special for you and your little one.

The Passing on of a Family Skill

Well, I almost forgot to blog this week.  Wait! I actually did forget to blog last week.  Oops!  Well, I will just start this week out right.  So, here we go...

Family traditions are amazing.  Most families have traditions.  They can be holiday traditions, seasonal traditions or just plain old traditions.  They are things you get use to doing.  Sometimes, they are things you want to pass down to your children.  Sometimes, they are things you want to start in your own family.

However, family skills are different than traditions.  Family skills are things that whatever you do, you want to make sure someone in the family passes that skill on to the next generation.  That is what has happened over the course of a few years in my family.

Several years ago, when my daughter was small enough to sit on my lap, I would have her help me sew.  She would come to the sewing room and sit on my lap as we guided the material through the machine.  Now, she didn't know, but I was trying to pass on the love of sewing to her.  Then, after many times of sitting on my lap, I had her practice.  She finally got the hang of sewing simple 5/8 inch seams.  I then, had her sew some fabric squares that my Grandmother had cut, but never had put them into a quilt.  None of the squares matched or would be the kind of thing you would put together, but it worked for the time.  As she was sewing these squares, I was filled with emotions.  There was my daughter, sewing together squares that her Great Grandmother had started to use to create something.  It was amazing. 

Well, after this my daughter attempted to make a pillow case dress.  She took a long time to finish, and it was obvious that sewing was not something she loved like I did.  However, she really wanted to learn how to crochet.  Well, I am left handed.  She is right handed.  Do you see the problem?  So, I had her sit with my right handed sister, and had my sister teach her the skill.  My daughter did a few stitches, but never really got the hang of more than just a simple chain stitch. 

This past Christmas, she took off.  I sat with her again and showed her some basic stitches.  She learned to single crochet, to half double crochet, to double crochet, and to turn the work.  I was so amazed at how she worked at this crochet thing.  She even finished a scarf.  Was I proud?  You better believe I was proud.  After the scarf, she and I started to each work on a beanie hat.  She finished hers before I finished mine. Below is a picture of her scarf.  We do not have one of the hat just yet.  The scarf is listed on etsy for your purchase.

Brown/Blue Scarf

If you follow the link on the picture in the middle, it will take you to my Etsy shop.  There, you can buy this great scarf from my daughter.  She is so excited to have her first item listed.  I am so proud of the work she is doing.  She is currently working on another scarf that is pink and she has decided on her own stitching.  It should be another wonderful creation.

Ruffles, Ruffles Everywhere

So, here it is the end of the week, and I have not posted a blog.  Oops!  I almost forgot.  Have I been busy?  No.  Have I misplaced my computer? No.  I have just been lazy. 

My work this week has centered around one of my favorite customers.  She is always pleased with my work even when I am not.  The task this week was to make some denim ruffle pants.  She didn't ask for a monogram on the ruffle, but I thought I would give it a try.  It turned out great.  The pants were so very cute.  I had a hard time seeing them go.  She also wants a darker pair of denim pants.  So, next up is the darker pair.  Denim is such a great fabric for pants.  Denim goes with everything.  So, without going on too much, here are some pictures.

Come in sizes 6 mo. to 18 mo.

You can customize them to your liking.

You can pair these pants with just about anything that I make.  All of the bishop dress that I make can be shortened to a top and be paired with some cute ruffle pants.  If you like these, you can customize your order.  Just post a comment here or on my facebook page.  You can also send me a message on Etsy.

The other news for the week is that I started a Twitter account.  You may follow me there if you would like.  @sewingsweettrac

Happy 2014!!!  So, we celebrated the New Year the same way as always.  We watched the ball drop on Fox New channel.  It was pretty uneventful, but it was a blessing to watch with my family.  I pray that you were able to spend the New Year with your family.  I also pray that 2014 brings you a year full of blessings.

So, this is the first blog of the New Year.  Hmmm...What do blog about???  That is always the question.

Today, I am going to write about my creation yesterday.  For a while now, I have been making some Infinity Scarves, or Tube Scarves, or Endless Scarves.  They have so many different names.  When I make these, I notice that there is several inches of material left over.  Well, being me, I can't help but think, "You know there is something that can be made with that left over material"  For a long time, I had no ideas.  This Christmas, I was making some of these scarves for my mom and mother-in-law.  It finally hit me...HEADBANDS.  A headband is just simply a smaller infinity scarf.  WOW!  I seriously can't believe it took me this long.  So, yesterday, I began creating a headband.

It started out pretty simple.  Then, I tried the first one out.  Bummer!  The first one looks good, but I can barely get it over my head.  It is so very tight.  Well, maybe it is just my big head.  So, I gave it to my daughter to try out.  She couldn't even get it on at all.  So, back to the drawing board.

It seemed to be that the material stretched, but the stitching kept one side from stretching.  OH!  That is right.  I was using the wrong stitch.  DUH! A straight stitch doesn't stretch.  So, out comes the manual to the sewing machine.  Did you know that there is a stitch for stretchy material(LOL)?  Yes, I know dumb question.  I did know this, but I had forgotten.

After changing my stitch, I had better success.  The next 2 headbands turned out great.  One was still a little small, but would work great for a young girl.  The other one was good for an adult sized head.  I do still need to work with the size a little, but I have a good start.  Check out the pictures, and post a comment here about what you think.  Enjoy!

Other colors and styles to come.  The other big news of yesterday is that my daughter finished her first crocheted scarf.  She had decided a while ago that she wanted to learn to crochet.  We had some bumps in the road in the area of learning stitches, but she has got it down now.  Here are pictures of her first finished product.  I am a very proud momma.

And here comes 2014!!!

So, while I am thinking about the New Year and my business, I am thinking about some changes.  My etsy.com shop has seen little to no business in a while.  My husband and my dear sister-in-law continue to suggest that I blog.  Well, since I am not so great at this blog thing, I have not posted anything in a very long time.  Also, it is all so very confusing to me, and I seriously have not taken the time to get into this whole blog area.  I guess that I am trying to start out the New Year with a more consistent "blogging" habit.  Is that what you call it???  So, here goes.

The following are questions that I always have when blogging. "What do I blog about???"  I mean what can I tell you that you would want to read or hear?  Do people really want to hear about the projects that are currently in the mix?  Do people want to hear new techniques?  I hope not, because I don't have any.  Do people want to read about the show or movies that I watch while smocking or sewing?  Do I blog about  blogging?  Can you do that? 

After I go through several minutes, hours, days, etc. of this, I end up blogging about my outfits or my sales.  The other result is, I just stop and don't blog.  Why?  Well honestly, sometimes I feel it is a waste of time.  I don't see much traffic here, and I have other things to do.  Also, I go back and read it several days later.  BIG MISTAKE!  The re-reading leads me to question all that was written.  So, once again, I give up. 

So, here is the plan for the New Year...

1. I will post a blog entry once a week.  No more, and, hopefully, no less.
2. I will blog about what I want to blog about.  If it is not a great blog, then I will just try to blog something better the next week.
3. I will try not to get discouraged.  Seriously, no one wants to read a blog that is filled with frustration.


So, there it is.  If you follow this blog, and I would be surprised if you did, I ask you to keep me accountable.  Let me know when I have missed a week.  Keep me up to date on the things you are interested in hearing.  Comment.  PLEASE, comment.  That is the only way I can improve this blog. 

As I close, I pray that all of you have had a wonderful Christmas and God will bless you and your family in the New Year.  Happy 2014!

Back To School Giveaway

OK, here is the special that I am offering this week. 

Share this Esty listing with as many friends as you can. If one of your friends purchase this listing, have them write FRIEND and your name in the "Notes to seller" section of the order. Your friend will receive this great Back To School outfit for the listed cost. You will receive a free drawstring cinch sack backpack.

Back To School Etsy Listing 

Stop by my Sewing Sweet Facebook page to find out more details.  Follow the link above to the listing to see what you are sharing.  This offer ends on Friday, August 9th at 5PM.  Good luck.