Brambleberry Cottage

Pattern Sale - April 2011

2011-04-09T09:57:00.000-04:00

ALL THIS WEEK. . .

Sunday through Saturday -- April 10 through 16, 2011

McCall's Patterns - 99 cents each

(MSRP $11.25 - $19.95 each)

Limit 10 No Special Orders

excludes Easy Stitch 'N Save

Vogue Patters - $3.99 each

(MSRP $11.95 - $30.00 each)

Limit 10 No special orders

Notice of Maiden Flight Clothing's Doll Jeans Give-Away

2011-04-07T12:37:00.006-04:00

Hi all! Many of you know that I try not to post about doll fashions anymore here at Brambleberry Cottage. I now list all my "dolly" news on a separate blog that bears the name I have given to my line of clothing for Karito Kids and American Girl dolls -- Maiden Flight Clothing. But I decided to post this here today because I know that several of you who come here are doll-lovers, and I don't want you to miss out on a give-away that I am holding on my Maiden Flight Clothing Blog for a pair of jeans for either Karito Kids or American Girl size dolls (winner has the choice).

Just click here for a post on how to enter.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - March/April 2011

2011-03-22T22:27:00.003-04:00

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately. I have gotten so far behind on baby gifts. We have had a bumper crop in the cabbage patch at church this year. I'm nearly finished with an outfit for one of the new little "guys". I'm rather pleased with it, so I'm sure you will be getting to see a picture of it soon.

So what are the sale dates for patterns at JoAnn's this time round?

Friday - Sunday

March 25 - 27, 2011

Butterick Patterns - $1.99 each
MSRP $10.95 to $19.95 each
Excludes See & Sew
Limit 10
No Special Orders

* * * * * * * * * * *

Thursday - Saturday

March 31 - April 2, 2011

Simplicity Patterns - 99 cents each
MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 each
Limit of 10
No Special Orders
Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look,
Burda & Simplicity Books

Remember, if you need other items, be sure to look for the in-store flyer for coupons.

Cherished

2011-03-11T19:18:00.004-05:00

"My beloved is is mine, and I am his"

Twenty-two years ago today, I wed my love, my best friend. How grateful I am to the Lord that He has brought us together!

Pattern Sale - First Half of March 2011

2011-02-26T21:50:00.005-05:00

If you need to get some sewing done for Easter, now is the time to pick up your patterns.

Thursday - Saturday

March 3 - 5

Butterick Patterns - 99 cents each MSRP $10.95 to $19.95 each Excludes See & Sew Limit 10 No Special Orders * * * * * * * * * * *

Sunday - Saturday

March 6 - 12, 2011 Simplicity Patterns - $1.99 each MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 each Limit of 10 No Special Orders Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look, Burda & Simplicity Books

Blossom in the Snow

2011-02-14T12:19:00.009-05:00

Hi, everyone! Those of you who know me, know that winter is NOT my favorite season of the year. While I'm not overly fond of being cold or having treacherous ice underfoot, the Number One Reason that I dislike this time of year is lack of sunlight and color. Greyed-out colors and dismal days last far too long in my opinion. Although, around here we consistently had a good deal of snow on the ground this winter, and that does a tremendous job of reflecting sunlight and brightening the world around me. So if it must be winter, my motto is "let it snow".

Those who know me, also know that the winter solstice is just about my favorite day of the year because I know that there will be more and more daylight as the days grow longer. By the end of this month, I will be making daily excursions into the yard to see if any little green "shoots" are there to greet me.

I found the most beautiful blossom, full of color and promise, in the snow last Friday evening.

I thought I would share the color and the beauty with you.

This was the first formal event, that she has ever attended,

and there was lots of excitement in the air.

I love the beading and the embroidery on the bodice and skirt panel of this very simple gown.

Her hair was pulled up and sparlies added.

And yes, it was too cold, even for this flower, to be outside, so she bundled up in a warm coat and headed off with her friends for a wonderful evening.

Pattern Sale - February 2011

2011-02-04T14:58:00.002-05:00

I seem to be running a little late on this one - Starting today Butterick and Vogue Patterns are on sale for the weekend.

Friday thru Sunday

February 4- 6, 2011

Vogue Patterns - $3.99 each

MSRP $11.95 to $30.00 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Butterick Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $10.95 to $19.95 each

Excludes See & Sew

Limit 10

No Special Orders

To Go With His Big Baby Blues

2011-01-27T14:00:00.003-05:00

There is sewing as a chore; I absolutely hate to mend. There is sewing as a job; alterations are not my favorite. There is sewing as an enjoyable, creative outlet; I love seeing creations in my mind becoming fashions for dolls. And then. . .

There is sewing that is truly a labor of love. . . each step of the process is performed with loving thoughts of the one for whom it is being created. In my mind, it must be just the right pattern, the perfect choice of fabric, and have added details to convey "I love you so much, and I want this to show how special you are to me!"

This little outfit fell into the last category for me. . . all the while I was making it, I thought about how I was going to call my dear friend who has moved away and whom I miss so VERY, VERY much and say, " Would it suit you if I came up for a quick visit?" But my hopes were dashed when my youngest was exposed to "Mono" , and I could make no such call. A few weeks later, we learned that she didn't have "Mono" --a fact that we are very happy about but disappointed that we were unable to make the trip to deliver this ourselves and see precious friends again.

After reading a post that the little guy that was to receive this was growing by leaps and bounds, I decided to mail it fearing that he would outgrow it before I could hand deliver it. In truth, after reading that post I feared that it might already be the case. So off it went, without me!

The good new is that it fits, "Mama" says that he even has a little room to spare. I tried something a little different with the leg closure. Instead of snaps, I used a zipper. I am anxious to hear how that worked out for Mama and son. The fabric is a soft-as-velvet miniwale corduroy that I fell in love with.

If you would like to see this little fellow wearing it, there are some gorgeous photos taken by his very talented Mama that you can see by clicking here.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - January 2011

2011-01-07T15:46:00.003-05:00

So, you have some sewing projects to do. . .

Well, Butterick, McCalls, Simplicity, and Vogue patterns are all on sale at JoAnn Fabrics this month. Not all patterns are on sale at the same time, so be very careful to check the dates for the particular pattern in which you are interested.

3 Days Only

Thursday through Saturday

January 13 - 15, 2011

Butterick Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $10.95 - $19.95 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Excludes See & Sew

and

McCall's Pattterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $11.25 - $19.95 each

Limit of 10

No special orders

Excludes Easy Stitch 'N Sew

* * * * * * *

7 Days Only

Sunday through Saturday

January 16 - 22, 2011

Simplicity Patterns - 99 cents each

MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look,

Burda & Simplicity Books

* * * * * * *

3 Days Only

Thursday through Saturday

January 27 - 29, 2011

Vogue Patterns - $3.99 each

MSRP $11.95 to $30.00 each

Limit 10

No special orders

A Quiet Moment To Write

2011-01-06T16:02:00.007-05:00

Well, I'm finally back. It's been a really busy few months, but it's also been rather exciting. I've been learning lots of new computer skills needed for my Maiden Flight Clothing endeavor and, of course, sewing and getting ready for the holidays.

Christmas was very good. Bill was off work the week between Christmas and New Year, so that made the time especially enjoyable for our family. We didn't do any homeschooling during that week, so Orangeblossom, the ManChild, and I were especially pleased about that. (Yes, we have often been known to continue homeschooling when others are out of school on Christmas vacation). The eldest had a much needed break from college work. While her two younger siblings and I have been back in full homeschool mode for 4 days now, she doesn't return to classes until the 10th. Much of her time off has been revamping and organizing her bedroom when she wasn't at work. I can barely believe that she only has one semester to go with her nursing program. This last semester will be a full one for her.

Yes, and she has also been doing some 'modeling" for me. I roped her into modeling these fingerless mitts that I am putting into my Etsy shoppe later tonight. I had made a pair for Orangeblossom for a Christmas gift, and they were a great hit. Then I made myself a pair because I thought they were so "neat", and fit nicely and snugly.. So, I'm going to try them on Etsy. They are a 70% wool blend, washable, and I have found them to be great for driving.

I really like the lacy pattern.

I thought the next two pictures of the "Eldest" were good.

I'm working on a sewing project that is almost finished, but I can't show it here yet because it's a gift. One can't be too careful about prying eyes, you know (wink, wink)!

I, also, wanted to welcome the new "followers" that have joined us here at Brambleberry Cottage. I notice that we have some doll lovers in the group. I don't blog a lot about my doll clothing here now, but you can still see what I am making over at my Maiden Flight Clothing blog. I'm having a Give-away over there duing January. Check it out, if you'd like.

There's been a good response to the patterns that I resized to fit Karito Kid dolls for Liberty Jane Clothing, so it's been agreed that I will proceed resizing some more of them. I started on that project last evening.

Well, if I plan on getting my "to do" list for THIS evening completed, I better get off here and get moving.

I hope this finds all of you well, and that 2011 holds great blessings for each and everyone of you.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - December 2010 January 2011

2010-12-29T11:02:00.005-05:00

Thursday thru Sunday
December 30, 2010 - January 2, 2011

McCall's Pattterns - 99 cents each
MSRP $11.25 - $19.95 each
No Special Orders. Limit of 10.
Excludes Easy Stitch 'N Sew

Vogue Patterns - $3.99 each

MSRP $11.95 - $30.00 each
No special Orders. Limit of 10.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of December 2010

2010-11-27T05:28:00.000-05:00

3 Day Sale

Thursday thur Saturday

December 2 - 4, 2010

McCall's Pattterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $11.25 - $19.95 each

No Special Orders. Limit of 10.

Excludes Easy Stitch 'N Sew

Vogue Patterns - $3.99 each

MSRP $11.95 - $30.00 each

No special Orders. Limit of 10.

Happy Holiday Sewing

from Brambleberry Cottage

I've Been Kidnapped by the Karito Kids. . .

2010-11-20T22:26:00.006-05:00

Gracious, it's been quite a while since I've sat down here at the computer to interact with all of you. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, but I have been immersed in a rather secret project. Finally, today the wrapper came off, and I can finally share the news and my excitment with all the people I love. I have been nearly bursting keeping this little secret to myself.

Since about the time of my last post, I have been adapting some fabulous patterns that Cinnamon Miles, Designer and Founder of Liberty Jane Clothing, had created for 18" American Girl Dolls. Anyone who knows me, knows my love for American Girl dolls and making fashions for them. Then I was introduced to the Karito Kids and have fallen in love with them as well.

When Cinnamon approached me about adapting some designs for the Karito Kids, I was honored and just thrilled to pieces.

So while I REALLY haven't been kidnapped by the Karito Kids I have been knee-deep in the project. Thus far I have adapted pieces for three patterns and am in the midst of the fourth. I have sewn a tank top, 4 tee shirts, 4 strappy tanks, 2 skirts, a pair of leggings, and two pair of jeans for the photos. And I have taken an awful lot of pictures of the completed items.

I have been so busy that no time has been left for blogging, and my Etsy Shoppe is rather poorly stocked these days because I have precious little time to sew things to put in it. Bill and the kids have been so sweet to pitch in around here to pick up the slack of my undone chores. And I could never be doing this without their wonderful help and support.

But, this is something I have dreamed about for half my life. . . to design doll clothes for someone other than myself. And I have to tell you today that I am so excited, and I thank the Lord with every stitch and photo along the way. Cinnamon Miles has been such a dear; I thank the Lord for letting our paths cross. She has shared so liberally!

Sorry for rambling; guess you can tell I'm sort of giddy. Just wanted to say hi, apologize that updates may be scarce for awhile, but at least now you know why. I know not everyone can get excited about doll clothes, and that is one of the reasons why I started the Maiden Flight blog -- to keep my personal/sewing blog from being over-run by my doll designing enthusiasm. I hope you'll overlook my making an exception in this post, but this is really too much to keep to myself. And since it is affecting me so profoundly -- I guess that makes it personal as well.

Anyway here's the cover to the first pattern book. . . that's my doll and I made those clothes. . . I have to pinch myself because this all just amazes me. The patterns will be available in the next week or so at Liberty Jane Patterns.

You can check out Cinnamon's announcement of the patterns to be released here.

Note Added: February 1, 2011 -- 9:05 pm

Although this post is two months old,I have noticed that many web serches about Karito Kids have brought folks to this post. If you are interested in some more things that we have been doing for Karito Kid dolls, please check out our Maiden Flight Clothing blog. I think you will definitely enjoy seeing the fashions and information we have there.

Nanci

A Wonderful Surprise

2010-11-01T12:11:00.007-04:00

I'm so excited that I just had to share this pic with you all. Orangeblossom has tried sewing a few projects over the years, but it just never seemed to be something she enjoyed. She had a ton of other interests, but needlework just didn't seem to be one of them.

At the beginning of school this year, she wanted me to sew a shirt like this for her. I told her it was a simple pattern, and I would be glad to help her with it -- but I wasn't going to make the whole thing. It's not that I think that she should love sewing as much as I do, but I do think that every girl should know a few sewing basics like sewing on a button, or hemming something, or (even for economical reasons) to be able to sew a very simple top if needed.

She agreed, and so at the end of August we cut it out and I reviewed a few things she should know about. She got as far as some of the casings, and then her interest in the project waned. I thought, "Well, that's the end of that."

Lately, she has been talking more and more about being a clothing designer. I offhandedly mentioned that she really ought to know about garment construction to go into that field.

Saturday, she spent most of the day in her bedroom, which seemed a little odd to me.

Imagine my surprise when she came down wearing this peasant top. She had decided she wanted to finish it, studied the instructions, and voila. I think she really did a great job on it. And it is probably one of the nicest surprises I have had. I was so happy!!!

In case anyone else is interested, this is the pattern that she used.

Anyway, a very pleased and proud mama had to show you what she'd done. Orangeblossom is one of those kids that once she decides on something, she goes at it full force.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of November 2010

2010-10-30T23:30:00.000-04:00

Boy, I almost missed the information on this one. It took me a little bit to locate it -- it looks like only one brand of patterns is on sale during the first half of November, but it lasts an entire week.

SUNDAY thru SATURDAY

November 7 - 13, 2010

SIMPLICITY PATTERNS

5 for $5

MSRP - $6.95 - 17.95 each

Limit 10. No special orders.

Excludes It's So Easy, New Look, Burda, & Simplicity Books

Thanks "sew" much for stopping by! ;D

Sew with Confidence - Where do I start?

2010-10-28T11:44:00.003-04:00

About a week ago, Dana left me a comment in which she asked me this question: ". . . I have visited you from time to time and was wondering if you have any sites/tutorials that would be good for me as a beginning sew-er to look at. My daughter (11) is anxious for me to make the very simple skirt I bought the pattern for. I know some things and have sewn some straight line things (curtains, bags). Any suggestions?"

First of all, Dana, I'm sorry I didn't respond to you more quickly. Time somehow gets away from me these days. Second, I thought this might be a topic that others might be interested in as well, and so, I decided to answer as a post.

I have taught my two daughters to sew when they were younger, and several of their friends, as well as a few adults. Several of them are becoming quite accomplished, steadily progressing in the difficulty of patterns they use.

My first suggestion is this: Always set yourself up for success. Start on projects that have only straight seams, perhaps casing and elastic waistband.. Progress to gentle curves in the next project. Perhaps gathering in the next. You want to walk away from each project with a sense of accomplishment that gives you confidence to do the next step. (I find that one of the biggest discouragements that causes someone (especially adults) to try one sewing project and never, ever try again is choosing a style they love, but the pattern is too difficult for them. They become discouraged and decide sewing is something they don't have the "talent" for. In truth they simply never learned the basics that allow them to eventually tackle a more difficult style.) ALL THAT TO SAY THIS -- START SIMPLE, WORK UP.

My second suggestion is this: A book rather than a tutorial. Why? Because a book is more portable, it can be taking right to the sewing machine. It's more easily referenced.

The book that I suggest is Sew with Confidence by Nancy Zieman. I have bought this soft covered book for my own daughters and also for a couple of their friends. It is a beginner's guide to basic sewing with lots of clear insructions and illustrations. It's a great reference book. The ISBN # is 0-87349-811-9. Here's a picture of the cover.

Nancy Zieman, learned to sew through 4-H when she was younger, and has now written the manual that is used by young girls in 4-H. However, this book is great for any beginner -- young or old. This and your sewing machine manual can get you started on your road to sewing well. I've always felt that she explained things simply and understandably in her books.

In the back of this book their are a few very simple projects such as the one shown above. There are also one for gift bags (good project with Christmas closing in).

I hope these suggestions have been helpful to you. If you have further questions, just comment and I'll try to answer them for you.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - Last Half of October 2010

2010-10-20T18:22:00.002-04:00

Thursday through Saturday

October 17 - 23, 2010

McCall's Patterns -- 99 cents each

MSRP $11.25 to $19.95 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Excludes Easy Stitch 'N Save

Thursday through Saturday

October 28 - 30, 2010

Butterick Patterns -- $1.99 each

MSRP $10.95 - $19.95 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Excludes See & Sew

Vogue Patterns -- $3.99 each

MSRP $11.95 to $30.00 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of October 2010

2010-10-04T09:10:00.003-04:00

In a continuing effort to cut costs, I try to reuse patterns, and if I do have to buy a new one, I try to buy it when it's on sale. You know the old adage, "A Penny Saved IS a Penny Earned." Here are the sale dates for patterns at JoAnn Fabric Stores for the first half of October 2010. If you have a costume sewing project you're thinking about, check out your local Jo Ann Fabric store for your pattern on the dates listed below.

FRIDAY - MONDAY

OCTOBER 8 - 11, 2010

Simplicity Patterns - 99 cents each

(MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 ea.) Limit of 10

No Special Orders - Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look,

Burda & Simplicity Books

* * * * * * * * *

THURSDAY - SATURDAY

OCTOBER 14- 16, 2010

Butterick Patterns - 99¢

(MSRP $10.95 - $19.95 ea.) Limit of 10

No Special Orders - Excludes See & Sew

Y What will you be sewing?

Nanci

Diabetes and Drink Stick Wallets

2010-10-01T09:25:00.006-04:00

You may remember these from this post at the beginning of the month.

I left you hanging as to what I was going to do with them. "Not to my etsy shop" was all I told you.

Well, today is the day all you curious types get your answer. It all began with a short email from Misty, mother to sweet Allison, a cute little girl with blonde hair and Type I Diabetes. Misty maintains a blog where she gives support and information and encouragement to other moms of children with Type I Diabetes.

Bill, my husband was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes a few years back. At that time, we had to make some changes in our life to accomodate his special needs, nothing too major -- just a few adjustments here and there. One of the adjustments was handled by coming up with the idea of a Drink Stick Wallet. His was black plaid. It was a nice neat way to carry sugar-free drink sticks in his shirt pocket. It worked out great for him. It was frugal and it was discrete; it easily could have been mistaken for a business card holder carried in his shirt pocket.

After Misty's email, I began to read Misty's blog. I became acutely aware of how many "adjustments" have to be made when your child has diabetes. There are so many things that must always be close at hand in order to minister to that child.

Take a look here to see just what became of those drinkstick wallets

More Prototypes for American Girl Doll Clothes

2010-09-28T13:13:00.016-04:00

Hi again! Well as you can see from the background in these pictures, fall has arrived in Central PA, and the trees are losing some of their leaves. I think this is mainly the result of dry weather because the leaves have not yet really turned colors. Around here in the mountains, we have beautiful displays each autumn.

I'm still working on some designs for American Girl dolls. Now before you look any further, remember these are just prototypes of the patterns I am working on -- trial runs to check for fit and such. The outfit is not co-ordinated in color, but a girl can't have her picture taken without having her bottoms on, and these were the jeans she was wearing. Okay? 'nuf said.

This is my shirred-front tank top. It can be worn alone or layered over a tee shirt. I'm really pleased with this. Now I am ready to make a couple in a little "snazzier" fabric. Note to self: shorten shirring by about 1/2".

I had been looking for a hobo bag pattern for an 18" doll but hadn't come up with anything that I had pictured in my mind. Then I ran across this full-size purse and just loved it. I knew I had to design a pattern for the 18" crowd.

So I grabbed some paper, pencil, rules, scrap fabric and such and began. I'm pretty satisfied with the results, but I need to "tweek" a few things before I really feel good about the pattern.

Just showing another angle. I think the size is good in proportion to the size of the doll.

I need to widen the tabs that hold the D-rings. I should, also, shorten the length of the tab.
Top stitching should be added for aesthetic reasons I think, especially on the straps. It has good body to stand on its own, and I like the contrasting lining. I think a tab with button closure would be a good detail to add.

One last picture of Sam in her mismatched outfit. . . Tsk, tsk, tsk.

If you have any input or suggestions on these, I'd appreciate your thoughts. Two heads are usually better than one.

Recent American Girl Doll Sewing Project

2010-09-22T19:41:00.010-04:00

I've been very busy around here lately as testified to by my lack of blogging. Our homeschool program is back in full swing, I've been doing a lot of sewing, and a little bit of designing.

So here's a look at what I've been working on.

Here's Sam sporting a Liberty Jane pattern design of an olive green T-shirt and khaki jeans. The only change I made to the pattern was to make the sleeves 3/4 length (instead of cap sleeves) which is very popular this fall fashion season. The crocheted cap is my own design.

The spaghetti strap top is, also, my own design. I love the layered look, and I think it blends very well with the Liberty Jane Design.

I used the same LJ pattern I mentioned before for the Tee and jeans. I think the Bittersweet orange shirt and copper cap really change the appearance of the entire outfit.

I really was pleased with the handkercheif hemline on the top, which was inspired by a shirt Orangeblossom wore this summer. It looks nice layered or all by itself.

A close up of the shirt's details.

Close up of the jean's. They have actual pockets in front and back, a faux fly, and lots of topstitching.

I'm really looking forward to sewing some more trendy doll clothes to sell. Orangeblossom is loving these, and the pieces mix and match to make lots of great outfits and looks.

Labor for the Day

2010-09-06T10:50:00.005-04:00

Since it is Labor Day, I thought I would give you a little work project that yields big results. I discovered this method of propagating plants a few years ago and have had such wonderful success with it that I would like to share it with you. This plum tree was started last winter in my propagation pot and then transplanted into this pot in the spring. You can definitely see that it is thriving. My daughter is about 5 ft. tall, so you can compare the height of the tree to her. The pit was planted just about 9 months ago.

This propagating pot is so easy to assemble. You will need a few supplies to start.

1 large terra cotta pot (the one I use is 12" in diameter & 10" in height)

1 small 4 inch terra cotta pot

Peat Moss & Sand (mixed in a 1:1 ratio)

2 cork stoppers

First, let me say that the pots cannot be plastic, they must be terra cotta for this system to work. The pots must be porous.

Okay, here's how you assemble the propagation pot:

Stop up the holes in the bottom of both pots with a cork. Press it in firmly.

Mix sand and peat moss together (do not use potting soil or soil of any kind). The mixture ratio is 1 part sand to 1 part peat moss.

Fill large pot with the mixture until it is about 5 inches from the top of pot. Press mix down firmly.

Set the smaller pot on top of the mixture in the middle of the larger pot.

Surround smaller pot with the sand/peat moss mixture. Stop the mixture approximately 1/2" below the top edge of the smaller pot.

Completely fill the small pot with water to its top edge. From now on, the only thing you will need to do to maintain the system is EVERYDAY fill the small pot with water to its top edge.

Do not start any cuttings in pot until you have been keeping the small pot filled with water daily for 7 days.

Each fall I take 2 or 3 cuttings from each of my geraniums, dip the cuttings in rooting hormone, poke a hole in the sand/peat moss mixture, and place the cutting in it. By spring the plants have a nice healthy root system and are ready to plant outside. In this way, I have doubled or tripled the number of geraniums I had the year before. I am showing you a picture of the rooting hormone that I use on my cuttings. Any brand will be fine for you to use. Just follow the directions on the jar or package.

Geraniums are not the only plant you can propagate in this manner. Many house plants can also be propagated in this way. Have fun and experiment. For instance, the plum tree was not even started as a cutting. I simply put a plum pit from a plum I was eating into the propagation pot to see if it would sprout. And as you can see, it DID sprout (and with a nice healthy root system).

The steady moisture leaking through the sides of the small pot creates an ideal environment in which cuttings and hard-shelled seeds/pits just thrive.

Also, as long as the weather is nice, I leave the pot outside. I take it in the house before the frost comes and keep it inside for the winter months. When it starts warming up outside in the spring, I move it back outdoors again.

Hope you all have fun with your little project. BTW it's a great home education project for the kids as well.

Patience is a Virtue and Carries Much Wait

2010-09-03T23:46:00.017-04:00

I have been working on several sewing projects this week. I have been sandwiching all my sewing in between the starting of our home school year. However, this is the only project that has been totally completed this week.

Last summer, I designed the pattern for these drink stick wallets, so that my husband could carry drink sticks to work with him for breaks and lunch. No, his was NOT in this color. His was in a MANLY black plaid. A few people saw his and liked it.

I made one for my sister. A few of her friend and collegues saw it, liked it, and ordered one from me. I made a few more and sold them around town, and it really seemed like they were becoming a hit. So I decided to put a few in my Etsy shop.

But, that's NOT where these two are heading. They are heading somewhere special and I am really excited about it!

This one, on which I appliqued a heart on the inside, is going to a very special someone.

But that is all I am going to tell you. Until the end of the month, it will have to remain a mystery.

ooooooooooooh, I always wanted to write a mystery!!! ;o)

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of September 2010

2010-08-24T16:21:00.008-04:00

Can you believe it's nearly time to start back to school again? I certainly can't!!! If you're planning to make some new school outfits for your little ones, then now is the time to head over to the JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store's Pattern Sale.

Here are the pattern sale dates:

Friday through Saturday

September 3 - 6, 2010

McCall's Patterns -- $1.99 each

MSRP $6.95 to $19.95 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Excludes Easy Stitch 'N Save

Vogue Patterns -- $3.99 each

MSRP $8.95 to $30.00 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Thursday through Saturday

September 9 - 11, 2010

Simplicity Patterns -- $1.99 each

MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Excludes It's So Easy, New Look, Burda, & Simplicity Books

Remember, it's not too early for all you little elves to get started on your Christmas gift sewing projects. Do you have any completed? We'd love to see them. In fact we would love to see any of the sewing projects you are working on.

If you join us to show what you are working on, be sure to share the Pattern Company and Pattern Number, Book Title, or Online Tutorial URL that you used in your post. Link only to the post of your sewing project (not your entire blog), and please link back to my blog within your blog post, so that viewers can return here to Brambleberry Cottage. Thanks.

Last of the Summer Roses

2010-08-24T11:07:00.003-04:00

Many of our friends have been blessed with babies lately, and we rejoice and celebrate the birth of each dear child with whom the Lord has blessed these families. I have just loved making dresses from this particular fabric. It has that vintage look about it that just seems, to me, to beg for an apron and Sunbonnet Baby applique to be added to the mix. I love the aquamarine color with the pink accents -- still very girly, but different from the "cliche-y" pink. I'm really rather sad that this is the end of my stash for this particular fabric.

Now for the patterns I used: The pattern that I used for the basis of the dress was a pattern that I had bought when my first child was being born nearly twenty years ago. The pattern brand is Sunrise Designs. They didn't number their patterns, instead they named them. This one was entitled Lullabies.

For the crown of the hat I used Simplicity Pattern #2905. BTW, if you are looking for an very cute "onesie" pattern, there is one included in this pattern.

Now, any of you who have been stopping by Brambleberry Cottage for any length of time have realized by now that I never can quite seem to leave a pattern well-enough-alone. But my philosophy is, "Why sew, if I can't change it to the way I envision it." To the right is a close up of the dress as the designer of the pattern intended it to look.

My vision was a little different. I wanted short puffy sleeves, no collar, and an appliqued apron attached.

The hat pattern had a straight brim, and
I wanted to "girly" it up a bit by making my brim ruffled.

So there you have it. I'm off to my next project. I have been working on revising and converting a pattern that I had created for an 18" doll into an E-Pattern. Everything has been coming along nicely as far as the instructions and photographs, but converting the actual pattern pieces into a PDF file is a little more than I was expecting. I've scanned them numerous times; each time the scaling is off. Maybe I bit off a little more than this technologically-impaired gal can handle. I hope not.

If you would like to share a sewing project that you have completed or are working on, click here.

A Year Older. . ., A Year Wiser

2010-08-20T07:51:00.001-04:00

Boy, am I ever behind on putting stuff on here. The summer is nearly over, and I just haven't seem to mention much of what we have been up to. And now that I am mentioning something, it's nearly 3 weeks past.

Two summers ago, we were introduced to "the country boil" and fell in love with it. So, it has become a annual summer tradition at our house when the corn comes in season. Last year Bill made it just for our family. That was NOT a good idea! Too much food and not enough restraint caused us to walk away from the table saying, "Oooooh, am I stuffed." This year we were much wiser and invited friends to enjoy it with us.

Good Friends

Good Food

Mmmmmmmm. . .

2010-08-12T22:07:00.003-04:00

I have been sewing all day since about 7 o'clock this morning and probably need to sew for another hour before I head to bed. I need to complete three dresses before Sunday. Since I was starting to get a little bleary-eyed, I thought I'd take a quick break and post about (what else) a pattern sale at JoAnn Fabric & Craft Stores.

Friday through Sunday

August 20 through 22

Simplicity Pattern Sale

5 for $5

MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 each

Limit 10

No Special Orders

Excludes It's So Easy, New Look, Burda & Simplicity Books

Okay, breaks over. . . back to the sewing machine.

Doll Socks are a SNAP

2010-08-10T19:55:00.005-04:00

Okay, this is really pretty pathetic of me, but I got sooooooooooooo excited recently when I made these socks to go with an AG doll dress I had designed. Why??? Because they fit well and didn't droop or bag at the foot flexure.

I've had a weird thing about socks ever since I was a kid -- sort of a "droopysockaphobia". Socks in those day would get all stretched out and droopy, and I absolutely hated how that looked, and even more than that I hated how that FELT. Tights were exactly the same -- bagging and drooping at the ankles.

After I got married and had children, the one thing that I was very particular about was that their socks and tights had to have a lot of "snap" in them They had to have socks that were snug and fit well. I just have this thing about this!

Anyway, while these socks don't really snap, still they are snug, fit well, and look good! Hey, what more could I ask for? Well, except maybe, SNAP!!

Catching My Breath

2010-08-09T11:00:00.006-04:00

Hi all! I really thought I would become more faithful in posting after the homecoming surprise my sweet husband had waiting for me when I returned from my recent vacation. But alas (hand to forehead and swoon), I'm as negligent of this poor, old blog as ever I was. I have been extremely busy sewing gifts for the multitude of babies that have been or will be arriving

But I have also been busy, busy, busy adding things to my Etsy Shoppe. Here's a teeny-weeny peek of the most recent additions.

Oh, you're wondering what my homecoming surprise was!

Drumroll please....

High Speed Internet Service

Yes, I know that's really old hat to most, but here at Brambleberry Cottage we have been struggling along with DIAL UP service until just a couple of weeks ago.

HOORAAAAAY! for no more dial-up.

It also gave us unlimited long-distance service.

HOORAAAAAY! for unlimited long-distance service.

This is such a blessing for me because nearly all of my phonecalls to family and friends are long-distance calls.

And thank you, thank you, thank you

to my dear, dear, dear beloved husband.

Quick Asian Chicken and Noodle Recipe

2010-08-02T10:19:00.000-04:00

1 pkg. (3 oz.) chicken flavor instant ramen noodles (I use the "oriental flavor" variety
1-16 oz. bag Birds Eye Frozen farm fresh mixture\

or just use some broccoli, carrots, and water chestnuts

1 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
1 lb. boneless chicken
1/4 cup stirfry sauce

Reserve seasoning packet from noodles

Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a large saucepan. Add noodles and cooked vegetables. Drain.

Meanwhile, heat oil in large non stick skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken, cook and stir until until browned, about 8 minutes

Stir in noodles, vegetables, stir fry sauce, and reserved seasoning packet. Heat through.

Make 4 servings

Prep Time - 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Progress Notes

2010-07-31T18:29:00.001-04:00

Hope everyone will bear with me on this very NON-EXCITING post, but I wanted to have a little picture-record of my garden progress. Since I have a tendency to misplace things, it is rather senseless for me to keep a garden journal . This seems to be the best place for me to remember where I put it since I don't keep a garden journal.

After cutting back the lavender (to the ground) last fall, it has made a very nice and full return. Last fall I, also, took 2 cuttings from my one mum and placed them in the propagation pot. In the spring I transplanted them to the garden at the front of the house. Both plants are filling out nicely and are loaded with buds. Red flower (in the daisy family) is spreading like wild fire and needs to be divided and given away or planted elsewhere.

I'm really thrilled with my flower pots this year. I planted several varieties of petunias which thrived, but had to be watered morning and night.

Knowing that I wanted a Hydrangea to plant in the yard, my first born had given me one for Mother's Day. After a few months in the house, it came as close to death as possible without being declared DOA. In desperation, I finally took it outside and continued to water it. I figured it was a lost cause, but I was pleasantly surprised (read "shocked") when it's crumply brown foliage fell off and was replaced with some beautiful, fresh green leaves. Then it went the extra mile and re-bloomed this past week. Who would have thought?

I shot this photo of it for Foto Friday when the topic was "Blue". Now I guess the topic would have to be "Pink" since it has changed its color.

I need to get it in the ground and give it some time to settle in before winter.

Some of you may remember this picture of a Rose of Sharon shrub I had started from seed in the fall of 2008. This is what it looked like in May of 2009; by August of last summer it had
managed to produce 2 lonely blooms.

Here it is today. It has grown approximately a foot since I planted it and has several blooms and dozens of buds.

All of these plants would probably have died while I was away because of the hot dry weather. So I owe a real BIG THANK YOU to my male child (who can hardly be called a child anymore) because he had carefully tended and watered them for me each day while I was gone.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of aUGUST 2010

2010-07-29T13:45:00.004-04:00

Arrrgh! August is almost upon us. Who can believe it?

Why do winters drag on and on and on

while

summers fly by us at supersonic speed?

Okay, that's out of my system now (well, sort of).

Since August is almost here, it high time I post the dates for the pattern sales at JoAnn Fabrics.

Friday through Sunday

August 6 - 8, 2010

McCall's Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $6.95 - $19.95 each

Limit 10 -- No Special Orders

Excludes Easy Stitch and Save

Vogue Patterns - $3.99 each

MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 each

Limit 10 -- No Special Orders

Remember to check the in-store flyers for coupons on other items.

....................

Anyone planning or making Christmas gifts yet?

Feel free to share your ideas in our Comments?

We'd all love to hear about them.

Like Rain that Refreshes

2010-07-27T07:45:00.000-04:00

I hate being an observer, and I LOVE being a participant. So it seems that the more I am enjoying myself or the more comfortable I am in a given setting, the fewer photos I take. Such was the case of a wonderful refreshing week with a dear, dear friend of mine. I am shocked when I think that I've really only known her and her family for four years, and that she lived nearby for only two short (much too short) years.

Last week I did something I have not done in twenty-one years of marriage. I spent a week away from home by myself and visited a friend. I have missed her so badly. I have missed talking with her and making things together and enjoying her company. I am often amazed at our friendship; afterall, I am twice her age at this time. Yet, it is as true and cherished a friendship as I have ever had with anyone. And when we get together, it seems to me as if the years between us seem to slip away, and we are just two moms who love Christ Jesus, our husbands, our children, and our homes -- oh yes, and to make things ;-)

It was such an enjoyable week. . .

filled with such things as
having an indoor picnics, when rain interupted our plans to have one outside

Walking in dry creekbeds and finding fossils.

Reading stories

Listening to stories

Cuddling with little ones

Answering the familiar question, Mrs. *, will you tell me a story about when you were a little girl?"

Watching the little "man of the house" helping Mama with chores, as each morning he brought produce from the garden without being asked to do so and helping to feed and water the animals.

Working on projects

And asking Rebecca every question about raising chickens I could think of except, "Why did the Chicken cross the road?"

and snapping a few pictures the very day that I was to come home

of children that love working with their Papa

and working with their Mama

But I knew my visit with them was over when Andrew came in the house on Saturday afternoon and announced, " Mrs. *, I'm sorry to tell you, your family is here." They had come to pick me up. I was so glad to see my family, and so sorry to leave this wonderful friend and her family behind. But first we made plans to have them to come to our house for a week next summer.

Among God's great blessings on our lives are treasured and faithful friends.

Pattern Sale - July 2010 (Last Half of Month)

2010-07-16T19:00:00.000-04:00

In a continuing effort to cut costs, I try to reuse patterns, and if I do have to buy a new one, I try to buy it when it's on sale. You know the old adage, "A Penny Saved IS a Penny Earned." Here are the sale dates for patterns at JoAnn Fabric Stores for the last half of July 2010. So if you have a sewing project you're thinking about, check out your local Jo Ann Fabric store for your pattern on the dates listed below.

THURSDAY - SATURDAY

JULY 29 - 31, 2010

Simplicity Patterns - $1.99 each

(MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 ea.) Limit of 10

No Special Orders - Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look,

Burda & Simplicity Books

* * * * * * * * *

SUNDAY - SATURDAY

JULY 18 - 24, 2010

Butterick Patterns - 99¢

(MSRP $7.95- $19.95 ea.) Limit of 10

No Special Orders - Excludes See & Sew

Y So, what are you going to sew?

Nanci

Ahoy! Matey

2010-07-10T00:35:00.001-04:00

I'm behind in everything. . . sewing . . .posting. . .you name it. I finished this outfit last week. The little fella' for which I made it is already close to six months old. I took it to church to give it to him last week, and his family was away for the Fourth. So I'll try again tomorrow. He is such a little cutie and growing quickly.

It is a traditional "John John" romper and sun hat made in blue and white seersucker. I always find it difficult to come up with ideas for baby boys, but I DO really like this.

In keeping with the nautical theme, I wanted the buttons to have anchors on them. Easy to find. . .right? Well, I searched every store I could think of locally and NADA -- no such button was to be found anywhere. I finally found them here on Etsy. They were even a great price. Next time I have a specialty item in mind, I think I'll just head over to Etsy and save the running around town. A lot of the Etsy shops sell supplies, too.

I was pleased with the results of the applique. The cute thing is that the boat is actually a pocket that holds a little Teddy Bear Sailor made from fleece fabric. (I must say I'm not really anxious to make the teddy again real soon. It was a real "bear" to make him, if you'll pardon the pun)

The bear can be taken out of the pocket to play with. A ribbon anchors him to the boat so that he isn't lost if he falls overboard.

The back of his middy collar.

The finished product.

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

I've been trying to remember to carry my camera in the car lately. I was so glad I had it with me on Sunday because I was able to get this picture of this little sweetheart when she wore the dress I made her to church. Can you tell that her mama is smitten with her?

Her grandparents, who were here from Korea to see her, told me that she is the first girl in their family in 60 years. So you can be sure that she has stolen more than just her mama's heart.

Frugal Health Spa

2010-06-23T12:42:00.002-04:00

When we first moved here we had no riding lawn mower. We had to mow about 3/4 acre with a push mower. Because I didn't want Bill to have to mow it in the evening when he got home from work and take away from our family time, I mowed the lawn. There are three rather distinct sections to our yard. Each section took about 45 minutes to mow. I would mow one section of the yard Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (unless it rained, then I would have to adjust my schedule) In this manner, I got an aerobic workout three times a week and the whole yard was cut each week, and I didn't mind cutting it in the least.

Then around five years (or so) ago, my father-in-law found out what I was doing and decided we needed a riding mower. No matter how I tried to explain that this was like a cheap substitution for going to the gym for a workout, he just couldn't accept my explanation. Nothing would do until he took Bill to buy a mower. I know he was just being kind and generous, but it was my downfall. Once we had it, I felt ungrateful if I didn't use the riding mower. I didn't want him to have wasted his money. Pretty soon our son was old enough and took over the lawn chores.

This all sounds great I know, but there was a down side. Over the past couple years I began picking up a few pounds of extra weight each year. I finally realized that my summer mowing routine had been keeping at bay those couple pounds I would gain over my more inactive winter months. The cycle went like this: pick up a few pounds over the inactive winter, lose the weight over the summer from my "frugal health spa" (a.k.a. mowing the lawn). In this manner while I certainly wasn't thin, still I was not gaining accumulated weight. Once the mowing duties were relegated to riding mower and son, I began to add on just a couple of pounds each year. Multiple that times 3 or 4 years and well, you see where this is going.

So this year I am back to mowing the lawn with modifications. I mow the back section once a week, my son does the rest of the yard because he needs to know that he is helping with the upkeep of our family's property. I'm a firm believer that kids need chores, because everyone one needs to know that they are a contributer and not a taker. God has designed us for work. Don't worry mowing the lawn is NOT his ONLY chore. . . . Okay, back to me now. . . The days I don't mow,I have been going for a 40 minute brisk walk.

Hopefully, this will begin to reverse this weight gain. I couldn't find a cheaper "health spa".

Pattern Sale - First Half of July 2010

2010-06-22T17:02:00.004-04:00

A lot of sewing projects are in progress here at Brambleberry Cottage. I love it when summer is here and I have lots of opportunity to sew. I hope you, too, are having time to work on all those sewing projects you have been planning.

Patterns are not on sale everyday, but for a few days each month JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores usually has certain manufacturers' sewing patterns on sale. Buy your patterns when they are on sale, and you save a bundle.

FRIDAY through MONDAY

July 2 - 5, 2010

McCall's Patterns - 99 cents each

MSRP $6.95 - $19.95 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Excludes Easy Stitch 'N Save

Vogue Patterns - $3.99 each

MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

THURSDAY through SATURDAY

July 8 - 10, 2010

Butterick Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $7.95 - $19.95 each

Limit 10

No special orders

Excludes See & Sew

THURSDAY through SATURDAY

July 15 - 17, 2010

Simplicity Patterns - $1.99 each
MSRP $6.95 - 17.95 each
Limit of 10
No Special Orders
Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look, Burda
& Simplicity Books

Be sure to check their in-store flyer this week. The one at our local store had coupons inside.

First of Summer Sewing Projects Completed

2010-06-14T10:06:00.015-04:00

This is my first completed sewing project for the summer. You might remember that I introduced this little one way back at the end of April. She is the youngest of twelve children and the first daughter in the nearly fifteen years. So believe me when I say that she has made quite a stir in that family. You can see why I had to make her something VERY feminine. But, at this busy end-of-the-schoolyear-time, my progress on it was very sloooooooooow. I was getting fearful that if I didn't soon complete it, it would end up being too small for her. Babies seem to grow at an alarming rate. However, when I gave it to her on Saturday, it was still too big for her. I am so thankful.

Okay, now on to the outfit.

The front of the dress and headband.

The back of the dress. The back is shirred with elastic to give a little "grow room."

The Sunbonnet Sue on the apron is hand appliqued and embroderied.

I usually make the headband from the same material as the dress and add the large blossom, but I found this wonderfully soft, wide headband and thought it would be just perfect. I added the flower and was very pleased with the result. I have a feeling I'll be going this route again.

A pair of ruffled pants add versatility to the outfit. In addition to the elastic waistband, I add a fabric drawstring for adjusting the waist size.

Front view of the complete outfit.

Back view of complete outfit.

Please forgive me if you saw more views of this outfit than any one person would care to see. However, my memory is not what it once was (not that it was ever REALLY that good). So I've realized that if I post several angles of a project here on my blog, I can use it as a reference if I decide to make a similar outfit in the future. This is especially helpful since I make so many changes to the original pattern.

Next on the sewing docket: An overdue outfit for a little boy baby. (I suppose that instead of sitting here writing about it .... I'd better get sewing :-)

All The News That Is News

2010-06-12T16:00:00.000-04:00

I've been meaning and meaning to post a little something, but each day I seemed to put it off and put it off. I was flabbergasted when I realized that my last post was on May 20th. I guess I have just been too busy living life to write about it.

We are at last finished with school. Daily logs are in order, portfolios completed, and the kids have been to our evaluator for their interview and to have their portfolios reviewed. All that's left is a medical exam and eye exams that are required by the state. On June 30th, all the paperwork, portfolios, daily logs, and evidence of medical, dental, and eye exams must be turned into our local school district. I always heave a big sigh of relief when that day rolls around.

Next year our little homeschool will have a freshman and a senior. They have both decided that they would like to get a jump on their school work over the summer and get a subject or two underway. That will lighten their day some once September comes 'round.

The last couple of days has found me trying to catch up on the housework that gets behind during the school year. Babies are arriving all around us, and I have been working on an outfit for a little princess that was born over a month ago. (If you think that is late, I have to complete a little boy outfit for a little guy that was born 3 or 4 months ago). But at least now there is more time to work on these things.

I have had so many gifts to make lately, that I am afraid my Etsy shop has been neglected as well. So, I need to get things moving on that as well. It amazes me that it has almost been a year since I began that little venture. Although it has not been as well stocked as I would like, it has still been plugging along. I am so excited because I have 14 people who have marked my shop as a favorite (and only 1 of those people is someone that knows me). So that is pretty neat when I think about it.

We (I use that term loosely) have put in a little garden. We have some roma tomatoes, sweet green peppers, jalapeno, habenero, and chili peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, bush beans and onions. Oh yeah, and 2 volunteer pumpkin plants. Well, there were about 30, but we pulled out all but 2. Our garden just isn't big enough to accommodate that many pumpkin vines. I have to admit that the only thing I was responsible for was planting the beans and the marigold seeds around part of the perimeter.

I hope we have a better harvest than last year. The local wildlife apparently thought we were the farmer's market because they helped themselves to most of our small, pitiful crops. And what should I see today, but deer tracks in the garden? Let me tell you, I am no fan of Bambi when he starts pilfering my produce and destroying my plants.

My daughter's dearest friend has graduated this year. She's been home-educated all her life. (She is the sweetest, gentlest girl you'd ever want to meet. I think of her like my own daughter). She is an accomplished cook and baker, a budding needle woman, and her homemaking skills are outstanding. So this weekend is her graduation party. I've been baking a batch or two of spritz cookies everyday this week for the party. My oldest gave me a cookie press for Christmas last year. It was a Pampered Chef cookie press, and I love it. I've heard a lot a people complain about working cookie presses, but this one has worked like a dream for me. I've been concocting all sorts of flavors, and it's been a lot of fun. I came up with a Hazelnut coffee flavored cookie dipped in chocolate. I've got to admit it is pretty good.

The picture at the top of the page is of a plate my oldest daughter picked up at a tea shop. She said she saw it and just knew I would love it (AND I DO!) She had planned on it being a Christmas gift for me next year, but couldn't wait to give it to me. In case you can't read the writing on it. . .

Enjoy the little

things in life for

someday you'll look

back and realize they

were the big things.

You just have to thank the Lord God for all the "little things" with which He has blessed us.

And one of the little things that I am thanking Him for and looking forward to is a couple of months of sunshine and following my creative spirit.

Well, I hope that I haven't "bent your ear too much" or bored you. I hope to be able to post a few of my sewing projects here for you over the next few weeks and maybe I can even add another tutorial in my "sewing lessons for the young" series. I haven't added anything to that since last summer.

Foto Friday Challenge - This One Last Time

2010-06-11T14:16:00.007-04:00

Well, today is that last Foto Friday Challenge for . . . I'm not sure how long. I have truly enjoyed challenging myself to photograph the world around me rather than just taking snapshots. It's been good for me. . . I'm seeing my skills grow slightly as I've looked at the participant's photos and tried to analyze just what it is that draws me into a particular photo. It's been a great learning experience for me.

An added plus is that I have met some really neat people and been introduced to some really great blogs.

The following are from photos from my archives that please me, and are the direct result of the challenges. I'm sure I wouldn't have "stretched" myself without Rebecca's influence.

Thanks, Rebecca, for sharing your love of photography with all of us and encouraging us to try to make our photographs artistic.

And now YOU have one last opportunity to join us by clicking the Foto Friday logo below

Crochet Wallet

2010-05-20T17:17:00.012-04:00

Many of you needleworkers and crafters can completely understand what I am saying.

Although I could probably fill a small room from wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling with the items I have made, very few of them now belong to me. Aside from some clothing I have made myself and a couple other items, the rest has been for my children, or to give as gifts, or to sell.

For years (and years), I have wanted to make a case to keep my crochet hooks in. I have lost, misplaced, or my daughters have walked off with so many of my hooks that I have lost track. So often I would finally buy another and THEN find the original hook later. I needed a central place to keep them, a place where I would know if one were missing. But I just never got around to making myself a case, because I just wasn't sure what I wanted exactly. That is until I saw a crochet wallet similar to the one below.

I was so excited while I was sewing this. With just a tweak or two, I knew this was exactly what I needed.

It is a trifold, closes with a snap, has a handy little wrist strap to free my hands for all the other things I am dragging along with me (crocheting, or knitting is a very portable craft item -- much better than trying to drag a sewing machine with you). Wink, wink. The crochet flower with the covered button is just there for looks. Since it is a Crochet Wallet, it seemed fitting that something on it was crocheted, right?

This is the inside. Lots of room for hooks as well as a see-through pocket to hold such things as gauges, measuring tape, little rings to mark stiches. . . just anything my little ol' heart desires. The half-moon shape at the top is a padded pin cushion to keep a needle and a few pins "nearby and handy."

I thought you might like to see what it looks like empty.

The original wallet that I saw did not have the pocket in the back. I added it for more storage. I keep a notepad and pencil there to record any projects I am working on. I write down what size hook the project requires and return the hook to the clutch even though the project isn't complete. Yeah! No more lost hooks!

The really great thing about all of this is that I only spent fifty-cents to buy 2 zippers at a local surplus store. The rest was all made from left-over scraps that I had hangin' around from previous projects.

So, this one is a keeper -- just for ME!

Foto Friday (Saturday?) Challenge - Sky/Clouds

2010-05-15T01:39:00.002-04:00

May is always a rough month for us here at Brambleberry Cottage. The end of the official homeschool year is in sight, but pressure to tie up last minute details like putting finishing touches on state required portfolios, meeting with evaluators, making sure that all medical requirements (eye exams, dentist exams, physicals, etc.) have been completed, and wondering over and over again if I have forgotten anything just drains me. In addition, I have several projects I am working on to give as gifts and several of them are already belated. Visions of half-completed projects and projects that need to be completed (though as of yet unstarted) haunt me as I close my eyes at night. I DO NOT handle deadlines well.

All that said, you can understand why a dreary sky overhead all week made it easy for me to decide NOT to try to participate in Foto Friday this week. That was until this evening.

It had been a hot, muggy day all day today. At times the sun peeked through the clouds today. At other times it was raining. It was that way all day long. Then this evening after supper, things began to get really interesting. The wind really kicked up, and the first thing we knew it was hailing. Not little pitter-pattery hail (which is the only kind I have ever seen), but good-sized goobers the size of acorns and walnuts.

When it was all over, we went out to survey the damage. What was amazing was the sky! And believe me, these pictures are a very poor representation of what we saw.

Every section of the sky was different and would change so quickly it was like looking at time-lapse photography. Clouds were moving at different speeds at different altitudes. The higher clouds were speeding by, while the lower ones were almost standing still. It really gave an eerie 3-D effect to the sky.

All these pictures of the sky were snapped within a four or five minute span. While I'll be the first to admit that there is nothing particularly artistic about the photos, there was truly something beautifully artistic about the "real thing"! I just had to marvel at our Creator God.

After we stood and watched the sky for sometime, the little spring went off in this steel-trap mind of mine, and I realized I ought to get some pictures to record the hailstones before they completely melted in the heat. (I wish now I had put a familiar object to compare the size of the hailstones in the shot?) Afterthoughts, you know.

The wind had driven these up against our steps in a pile, so they didn't melt quite as quickly.

This is what the grass looked like about forty-five minutes after it had stopped hailing.

A shot of the debris that was plastered to the side of the house. I guess I know what I'll be doing in the morning. (SIGH, SHOULDERS DROOP)

I have definitely stayed up farrrrrrrr to late to post this. (There's got to be something wrong with my mind -- what was I thinking?) Now it's off to bed for me and visions of unfinished check lists dancing in my head.

Just click the Foto Friday button to see how others interpretted this week's subject, which btw was "Sky/Clouds".

Gentle

2010-04-29T10:03:00.008-04:00

I know there are some of you who are anxiously awaiting a glimpse of this little rosebud that just arrived last week. We had the chance to visit her family and become aquainted with her last evening. She is just a tiny little peanut, and beautiful in everyway. How can we not marvel at our Creator?

Her doting "big" brother keeps a constant watch over her. These sdays, his favorite word seems to be "gentle", and he repeats it over and over while caressing her and kissing her. He is definitely smitten with his newest sister.

None of us could get enough of holding her and cooing over her. It's so easy to forget how tiny and feather-weight a newborn is.

She is absolutely adorable!!!

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of May 2010

2010-04-29T06:30:00.001-04:00

I have been swamped with sewing projects lately. I even managed to get a sewing project done that is a gift for MYSELF. That doesn't happen very often, so I'm really excited. I just have one more small detail to finish on it before I can show you what it is. But that can all wait, because of course, I know what you are really interested to find out -- the dates for the pattern sale at the JoAnn Fabric and Craft stores.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

McCall Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $6.95 - $19.95 each

Limit 10

No Special Orders

Excludes "Easy Stitch 'N Save"

Butterick Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $7.95 - $19.95

Limit 10

No Special Orders

Excludes "See &Sew"

Foto Friday Challenge - Red

2010-04-22T13:22:00.024-04:00

Little Red Caboose Behind the Train

Here's my contribution to this week's Foto Friday Challenge. The topic is RED.

Little Red Caboose, chug, chug, chug

Little Red Caboose behind the train, train, train, train

Comin' round the bend, bend, bend, bend

Hangin' on the end, end, end, end

Little Red Caboose behind the train

Find lots of other pics that will have you "seein' red" by clicking on the button below.

The Second-Half of the Equation

2010-04-21T13:36:00.006-04:00

In addition to being sure that I interfaced the buttonhole as explained here, I also needed to add manageable bulk to the strap in order to produce a larger knot that would not slip through the buttonhole. The following illustrations explain how I accomplished that.

If the interfaced yoke and buttonhole in addition to the additional width of the strap don't rectify the problem of the buttonhole drooping and the knot slipping through, I'm not quite sure what else to suggest. The only thing I can thnk of is making the buttonhole a little smaller.

Remedy for Droopy Buttonholes

2010-04-19T08:46:00.002-04:00

I have decided to answer a comment on a recent post here rather than in the comments section because (1) the answer to the question may help others that have the same problem and (2) because I think that the photos will help illustrate what I am trying to say.

The question pertained to preventing "droopy buttonholes" (my words) that occur in knot jumpers. Any buttonhole causes a lot of stress on a garment's fabric around it just by the normal movement of the body. So my rule of thumb in my own sewing projects is that I NEVER, EVER make a buttonhole until I first interface the fabric. In the case of this jumper and this jumper, I reinforced the entire yoke, because the entire yoke can begin to "droop" with the stress of the weight of the full skirts that they must support.

There are other times that in an infant dress or doll's dress I may choose only to "spot interface a buttonhole" to prevent bulk while still reinforcing it. In such a case, I would cut two squares of light to midweight interfacing. Each square would be slightly larger than the length of the buttonhole. Then, I fuse them to the inside of the fabric where the buttonhole will be located. (In the illustration below, I used heavyweight interfacing so that it woud be more visible in the pic.)

The advantage to interfacing both insides in that it will also help prevent fraying of the fabric in the same way a "fray check" product would.

In preparing the example of buttonholes above, I was also struck by the appearance of the buttonhole even before use. Notice that the fabric fibers on the right buttonhole were stabilized, and therefore did not shift or stetch as the buttonhole was being sewn.

Another thing that can be seen from the above photo, is that the stess of cutting the buttonhole also was minimized in the interfaced buttonhole. One more little note about interfacing is illustrated in the photo above, and that is the importance of using the proper weight of interfacing for your projects. When the weight of the interfacing matches your fabric weight you will not see the interfacing "shadow" that is evident in the photo above. If you see "where the interfacing has been used", you need to be using a lighter weight interfacing.

I'm running a little short on time here, so I'm going to address how I keep the knots from slipping through the buttonholes in another post.

Hope this helps.

Foto Friday Challenge - Mellow Yellow

2010-04-16T07:09:00.000-04:00

The Foto Friday Challenge this week was YELlOW.

I was trying not to get too wordy this week, but the above photo does need a tiny explanation. The man-cub has not taken up a life of crime and vandalism. He's simply displaying the sign that was knocked down by a car that then proceeded to speed through our backyard (driverless). DON'T ASK!!! Long story, and you NEVER would believe me if I told you.

Click on the Foto Friday button above to see other's photos for this week's challenge. Hey, why not check to see what next week's challenge is and add your pics to ours.

Sew Crafty Friday - Great Outfit / Lousy Pictures

2010-04-15T23:17:00.007-04:00

I'll warn you right up front that these photos are not the greatest. Everytime I would try to snap a shot, a breeze would come along and spoil everything. However, since I have no daughter small enough to model these. I guess, this is the best I'm gonna' get.

I have become the number-one fan of these little outfits. I think my daughters and I figured out that these three pieces (peasant shirt, knotted jumper, and ruffle pants) could be mixed and matched to a total of six different ways.

Add the little pants and the peasant shirt, it can be suitable for wearing on a cooler morning or evening OR wear the jumper/sundress alone in the hot afternoon.

I've been working on this during the past few days, and shipped it out yesterday morning.

Y Sew glad you stopped by,

Nanci

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of April 2010

2010-04-13T19:09:00.004-04:00

Okay, I make a confession here. I love sewing patterns!!! And as you can see from the picture above, I love to horde patterns, too. A close look at these patterns and it is easy to see that the price has gone up and up and up. (Just like everything else!!!)

I can't believe that it's been nearly a year ago that I started posting the pattern sales at JoAnn Fabrics. Since I first learned of JoAnn pattern sales several years ago, I no longer buy patterns at full price. Then I thought why keep this to myself, so that began what has (for the most part) become my regular semi-monthly post.

Well, I finally decided that these little posts needed a sort of logo of their own and thus the reason for the above pic.

And now, on to what you are really interested in. . . the sale dates for April 2010

SUNDAY - SATURDAY

APRIL 11 - 17

McCall Patterns - 99 cents each

MSRP $6.95 - $19.95 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Excludes "Easy Stitch 'N Save"

Vogue Patterns - $3.99 each

MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

THURSDAY - SATURDAY

APRIL 22 - 24

Simplicity Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $6.95 - $17.95 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look, Burda

& Simplicity Books

Enjoy It While It Lasts!

2010-04-12T12:34:00.004-04:00

Our magnolia tree is in full bloom, or maybe I should say WAS in full bloom. Even now it is starting to fade with the heat. I truly love the deep mauve and cream blooms.

Two (or was it three?) springs ago it bloomed so profusely that it looked as though it had been transported here from Fairyland. It was an umbrella of blossoms and dripped petals so that even the earth beneath was covered with a carpet of mauve and cream. It was beyond beautiful. I have chided myself ever since for not having taken a picture of it. In the time that we have lived here, I have never (before or since) seen it as gorgeous as it was that year.

During a survey of the yard yesterday, I discovered that my old-fashioned Iris have buds on them, as well my Coral Bells and Bleeding Heart. I'm trying very hard not to let myself believe that warm weather is here to stay, but it is very difficult. Each year I am lolled into a sense of false security, thinking cold weather has been banished for good, only to be rudely awakened by a cold snap and a scurry to cover the flowers in a hope to save them. Still, I am enjoying the wonderfu weather. Hope you are, too!

Foto Friday Challenge - True Blue

2010-04-07T14:05:00.018-04:00

Welcome once again to Foto Friday

hosted by Rebecca at Renaissance. This week's challenge was BLUE.

I must say that I especially enjoyed this week's challenge. Last Friday evening my daughter surprised me by bringing home this beautiful hydrangea plant. She knew that I had for a long time wanted to plant one in the yard .

As soon as she gave it to me, I knew it would be the "headliner" for my contribution to this week's Foto Friday.

I never realized how much I must like blue until I began to gather some objects for my photo shoot. As I began gathering, I realized that these were some of my very favorite decorations around our house. Since our Magnolia tree is now in bloom, I added a few of the blossoms to some of the shots. I like the contrast they create and the way that they "break up" all that blue.

I took a gazillion pictures. Rather than bore ya'll to death by listing them separately, I stole an idea from someone else, who a week or so ago presented a collage. (I apologize to whoever did this first, but your idea was just too good to pass up.) I wanted to achieve two very different feels to the two collages. I wanted the first collage at the top of the page to feel serene and to have a simple elegance about it. I wanted the one below to have a more down-home country feel. I had a lot of fun playing with and combining the photos until I thought they had the "feeling" that I was trying to convey.

This last shot was from my photo archives. It was taken in January of 2009. I included it because I love the shade of the blue sky and the play of the lights.

We're all just amateurs who are trying to improve our photo skills, and we would love for you to add your pics to ours.

Click on the Foto Friday Challenge button below, and join us for a great time.

History Repeats Itself

2010-04-06T19:08:00.000-04:00

Per special request, this post addresses our dear daughter's recent hair cut.

For reference, this is the before shot. . .

5 and these, of course are the after shots. 6
She donated the hair to Locks of Love.

Seven years ago, as a 12 year old she made her first donation after hearing of other children who had lost their hair due to illness. Realizing she had plenty to spare (she's always had VERY thick hair), she asked to have her hair cut to help other children who needed wigs.

Way back then, this was the before shot. . .

and this was the after shot.

I am so grateful to God for her compassionate heart.

Foto Friday - Egg on My Face

2010-04-02T20:59:00.007-04:00

Another week has flown past, and it's time once again for Foto Friday! The topic today is eggs, and I really couldn't come up with an original take on the subject. Since I remembered this picture from the summer of 2008, and since I never gave it blog space, I'll share it with you now. If you would like to see pics taken by those who actually put effort into the challenge this week, click on the button below. It will take you to Rebecca's place where you can join in the fun.

Foto Friday Challenge - Spring

2010-03-26T12:37:00.005-04:00

Another week has flown by, and it's once again time for the Foto Friday Challenge hosted by Rebecca. The Challenge topic this week is SPRING. (Isn't that a glorious word?)

For our oldest, Spring meant disgarding her long, weighty, winter locks for a fresh new look! It has certainly given new life and bounce to her hair, and (in my opinion) a more mature look.

Two weeks ago this was only a bouquet of daffodils. It amazes me how quickly the hyacinths sprouted and bloomed.

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Join us to share your pictures or view those of others by clicking the button below.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics -- Pre - Easter 2010

2010-03-22T12:59:00.003-04:00

During JoAnn Fabric's Pre-Easter Sale going on

Thursday to Saturday

April 1 - 3

Simplicity Patterns are on sale for 99 cents each

(MSRP is $6.95 - $17.95 each)

There is a limit of 10

No Special Orders.

Excluded are It's So Easy, New Look, and Burda Patterns

as well as Simplicity Books

So "hop to it" and get started on those special sewing projects for spring!!

Sewing Session - Sew Crafty Friday

2010-03-20T09:31:00.006-04:00

I've been working on several projects this week, but I'm not far enough along on any of them to share them this week. However, I do want to share a very precious sight at my dining room table this past week.

My oldest daughter is helping a very dear friend of hers make some pretty throw pillows to accent her new bedspread. The pillow they are working on here is a square pillow with a shirred border and piping. Between the shirred border, A*** will embroider a rose bouquet. It should be beautiful when they finish. They plan to make several different styles of pillows, and I'll be sure to let you see the finished items.

I think I enjoy seeing my dining room table being used for sewing projects more than for eating. It has been the site of many a sewing lessons. I taught my daughter to sew when she was very young. Several years ago, I was able to teach her friend and her friend's sister. I guess I just love sewing so much that I want others to have the same enjoyment that I do. Teaching others to sew, knit, or crochet has, also, been a wonderful way to make some precious and lasting friendships.

I encourage you to share the abilities that God has blessed you with. You never know what it may lead to.

If you would like to see some projects others have made, or if you would like to share a project of your own, be sure to click here and join the fun at SEW CRAFTY FRIDAY!

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Nanci Sings Those Low Down Green "Blues" - Foto Friday Challenge

2010-03-19T12:40:00.015-04:00

Have you ever obsessed over something that it made absolutely NO logical sense to obsess over? Well this past week that is exactly what has happened to me. The subject of my obsession was the color green. This has NEVER before happened to me as a result of a Foto Friday Challenge; and truthfully I have yet to determine why it did this past week. Perhaps I have just been cooped up too long this winter with everything outside my window being shades of white or grey.

We road to town last weekend using the back country roads. All along the way I kept seeing green street signs and I tried to think of how I could make them into a really interesting picture. Since we were on country roads, I saw plenty of green John Deere equipment that would make a swell subject of a photo. When we arrived at town, I saw green traffic lights that I mulled over what perspective might make them interesting. In fact, I was so lost in thought about the green things around me that my husband finally asked me if I was okay or was something bothering me. (So, you can see that this girl had a SERIOUS problem). To compound my misery, I did not have my camera with me.

Through the week it continued to be the same for me. Everywhere I seemed to see green -- green lids, green bowls, green fabric, green thread, green houses, and green water towers. I even ran across green scrubs on nurses at the hospital (I had taken my FIL for followup tests at the hospital on --you guessed it--St. Patrick's Day.) And often I was kicking myself because my camera was not is tow.

Late in the week, we once again headed off to town -- Bill at the wheel and me riding shotgun. The difference was that we didn't go the nice scenic country roads. We took the interstate, but I did take my camera this time. The problem is that great green signs fly by much too fast to get a shot. Suddenly, what goes by -- but a tractor hauling this on it's flatbed. It was BIG!! And it was GREEN!!! So the following was taking while riding down the interstate at 65 m.p.h.

The amazing thing to me is that I actually have it in focus. LOL

You can check the speedometer to verify the speed we were going, because like I had been doing all week with other things, I noticed the green-lit dash.

These pics are the wonderful green life that is popping up around me. HOORAY!! This shot is of my propagation pot that sits by our living room window. These cutting were taken last fall, and now have roots and are ready to plant outdoors when the weather permits. I keep meaning to post how to construct and use this wonderfully easy method for increasing your number of plants cheaply.

This is how my Autumn Sedum appears these days. I actually prefer to see it in the spring when it reminds me of little green rosebuds.

This pic and the following one were both taken the same day this week. One doesn't receive as much sun as the other.

You can see the difference a little sun makes. The other thing I notice is that the yellow of these Dwarf Daffodils completely overwhelms the green foliage.

This is a treasure of mine given to me by a dear, sweet lady at church who is in her eighties. She gave it to me when she downsized to go into a smaller apartment. The value for me is that she entrusted me with this vase that holds a wonderful memory from her childhood.

As a young girl in her parent's home she remembers her mother always kept it full of pansies. I planted some pansies at my house so that I could keep up the tradition. However, it is too early for pansies so my Dwarf Daffodils grace it in the spring.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Be sure to scoot on over to Rebecca's place and join her for Foto Friday Challenge. There's always a great assortment of photos echoing the week's category. A wonderful way to start thinking of how things look through a camera lens. Participants are always welcome.

The Grand Reveal

2010-03-10T11:27:00.016-05:00

Rebecca asked when the "grand reveal" to last week's teaser would be (thus the title of this post). Several of you hazzarded a guess. My teaser was either extremely transparent, or perhaps you just know me too well, because your guesses were all very close and some were spot on correct. So here's is my finished project.

I had planned on making this a knot jumper, but didn't make the straps long enough. Since I didn't have a pattern for the top, I simply took the measurement for the bodice from another pattern I had. I love traditional children's clothing, so I've been learning to mix the elements that I love in the old with some more trendy elements of today's children's clothing. Here the old elements are the muted colors of the skirt and bodice, the applique, and the eyelet lace.

This is the back of the dress. Here it's easy to see the main fabric of the skirt. My daughters said the print reminded them of a fairy garden.

For the trendy elements, I added the ruffle-pants that are so popular now in a more contemporary fabric print and color.

I'm too much of a traditionalist, so I just had to add a pair of bloomers.

The waist of the ruffle-pants and bloomers both have elastic waists, but I added a drawstring to the waist so they could be adjusted. Hopefully, that will allow this little one to wear the outfit a little longer.

This is the entire ensemble and also shows the headband that is so in vogue these days. I finished the entire outfit only a few hours before the baby shower on Tuesday evening (typical of me).

This was a labor of love for a young woman and her husband who are expecting their first baby. From the time they began coming to the church I attend, I could tell she loved babies and children. She was always holding or cooing over someone else's little one. When I heard they were expecting, I was just so thrilled for them.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On a different trend of thought, momtofur commented that the apron of the dress would make a pretty pillow case. I chuckled at how close our thoughts were, because I had been thinking that it would make a wonderful dresser scarf.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Click Here to see all the projects that others are working on this week at SEW CRAFTY FRIDAY.

Why not join the fun and show us what YOU are working on!!!

Pattern Sale - First Half of March 2010

2010-03-08T11:42:00.003-05:00

Our oldest daughter is on spring break this week. Since her courses began in August, she has had a full schedule (between classes and working). That leaves precious little for us to spend time together. She needed to head to town today, and I went along. We had a wonderful day talking and laughing. It was so wonderful to be able to spend time with her. Since we both love to sew, we had to stop at JoAnn's. (Simplicity Patterns are on sale this week, and I needed one.)

Patterns are not on sale everyday, but for a few days each month JoAnn usually has certain manufacturer's sewing patterns on sale. Buy your patterns when they are on sale, and you save a bundle.

The pattern sale dates for the first part of March 2010 are:

THIS WEEK ONLY!

SUNDAY - SATURDAY

MARCH 7 - 13, 2010

Simplicity Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $6.95 - 17.95 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Excludes "It's So Easy", New Look, Burda

& Simplicity Books

THURSDAY - SATURDAY

MARCH 18 - 20

McCall Patterns - $1.99 each

MSRP $6.95 - $19.95 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Excludes "Easy Stitch 'N Save"

Vogue Patterns - $3.99 each

MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 each

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Be sure to check their in-store flyer this week. The one at our local store had coupons inside.

THE SEWING CIRCLE

2010-03-05T13:29:00.014-05:00

Laziness or Efficiency?

I leave the answer to this question for you to decide. Presently, I am only participating in 2 blog links. One is Foto Friday; the other is Sew Crafty Friday. Now the observant reader will notice that there is a common thread in these two. For those of you who are a little slower on the uptake - They both occur on FRIDAY.

It's been a busy week for me. When my sewing project just happened to have the elements of the Foto Challenge, I seized the opportunity to combine two posts in one.

My sewing project is only partially completed, so for those here from Sew Crafty Friday this post is more of a teaser for you. I am excited with how it has been progressing, and next week I will show the completed items. Any quesses as to what it is?

For my Foto Friday buddies, these are the circles that have been haunting my thoughts and imaginings this week.

Now. . . if you are completely befuddled and confused by the mixed topics and are wondering how to get back to where you came from, I give you these directions:

If you came here from Foto Friday Challenge, click HERE to return and enjoy all the lovely pics that others have contributed.

If you came here from Sew Crafty Friday, click HERE to return and see the wonderful crafty ideas that others have been working on.

Hooray!!! Sew Crafty Friday is Back

2010-02-26T16:00:00.002-05:00

Here's what I've been working on lately -- A Depression Era ensemble for an 18" doll. I crocheted a cloche and envelope purse that were so popular at that time. In the 1930's the lines of dresses became much more simple. The expense of the added material needed for gathered skirts, or lace and other such embellishments made them out of reach for most people. Yet, some very lovely styles were created in those hard days.

This ensemble is for sale in my Etsy Shop

I love using the reproduction prints that are being manufactured now. I repeated the fabric of the bodice in the hatband, and the jacket binding repeats the skirt fabric. Since I love textures, the waffle textured fabric of the jacket suited me just fine.

So, that is my latest project. . . Would you like to see some projects that others have been working on? Stop over and visit Shereen's Sew Crafty Friday and join in the fun.

Foto Friday Challenge - Squares (sort of)

2010-02-26T15:16:00.006-05:00

It's Foto Friday again; it's been a while since I participated. This Week's challenge is "Squares". I only have one entry. All I could think of was a mantra from homeschooling my kids -- a geometry concept -- "ALL squares are rectangles, BUT. . . Not ALL rectangles are squares".

So while these are not EXACTLY all squares, this was the best I could come up with. (Don't tell my kids, please.)

I have to tell you that I would rather be photographing blocks that spell the word SPRING with colorful FLOWERS in the background!

See all the great photos by clicking the Foto Friday button above.

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of February 2010

2010-02-22T12:24:00.002-05:00

I APOLOGIZE that I did not have the pattern sale dates listed for January and the first half of February. My dear FIL was hospitalized for over four weeks and was quite ill. I really didn’t give a lot of thought to other things such as my blog.

But if you are interested in knowing the dates for the last half of February there is a

3-Day Pattern Sale at Joann Fabric & Craft Stores . .

FRIDAY - SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2010

McCall's Patterns $1.99 each
(MSRP $6.95- $19.95 ea.)(Limit of 10)
No special orders -- Excludes "Easy Stitch ‘N Save”"

&

Vogue Patterns $3.99 each
(MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 ea. (Limit 10)
No Special Orders

Fresh As a Daisy

2010-02-18T12:36:00.003-05:00

Matching Easter Outfits for Bitty Twins or Similar 15" dolls.

This is the latest addition to my Etsy Shoppe. I had such a good time making this set -- it reminded me of the matching outfits that I used to make my kids when they were little. I love the Little Guy's cap.

The dress collar is fashioned from a cut-work embroidered, vintage handerchief that I found last summer at the flea market. The blue in the collar is an excellent match for the blue stripes in the seersucker fabric. I thought the flower headband was a great way to update this otherwise traditional outfit.

I needed to chase away my winter doldrums by sewing something that was fresh and airy like the spring I am soooooooooooooo longing for. ;D

ACCORDING TO MOLLY

2010-02-15T13:52:00.011-05:00

Hi! I'm Molly. I'm the very special pup in this family. It's hard for me to believe that it's been nearly three months since I came to live here. I heard my pets saying that it has been about nineteen years since they last had a dog in this household. Pssst... don't let them know I said this, BUT they really are a bit out of practice.

Still, they do their best by me, and I'm not complaining. In fact, I really like them!

It's really boring around here during the school day. All I hear is, "Molly, we can't play now. We're trying to get our schoolwork done!" or "Molly lie down and be quiet!" And they won't let me out of their sight. It's almost as if they think I might get into something or piddle on the floor. I mean ... not that I haven't had an occasional accident, but I think I'm pretty good at "going" outside. So other than Piddle Breaks during school, it's not much fun during the day.

BUT once, school's over and the BIG GUY gets home, then it's wonderful around here. I chase balls and sneak things and run so they have to chase me to get their stuff back. I'm telling you it doesn't get any better than that. UNLESS...

It's being outside in the WHITE STUFF that's been falling from the sky. It just showed up one day, and it keeps getting deeper and deeper. It's higher than my shoulders, so I must (mostly) confine my wanderings and play to areas that have been already shoveled. My boy has created a maze for me in the snow, and I get plenty of exercise and fun racing through it. They tried to catch some snapshots of me running the maze, but the results were nothing but a BLURRRRR! My friends call me "Speed"!

But I let them get a few shots of me.

Here I am on SURVEILLANCE. . . are there any other animals or birds invading My Territory? Sometimes I have to climb up on the snowbank to get a better view.

Sometimes, I have to do a little SUN-BATHING. This white stuff is cold.

Whoa, wait a minute. . . I smell something. What is that?

Gotta get to it!!!!

Gotta dig

deeper

and deeper, still. What's down there?

Oh, yeah . . .I remember this green stuff. Yummm

Well, I'm kinda busy, so I'm gonna sign out for now. See ya around later.

MOLLY

The Unearthing

2010-02-09T17:02:00.008-05:00

I'm not sure that "The Unearthing" is the appropriate title for this post. . . We really weren't moving earth, but rather that fluffy white stuff. Maybe I should have called this the "Excavation" or "The Archaeological Dig" for DIG WE DID!

A few of you might have noticed that I have been missing from the blog neighborhood for over a month. My precious father-in-law was hospitalized on the 18th of December. Since that time he underwent five procedures including a cardiac valve replacement and bypass. This left Bill's mom lonely at home. #1 Daughter stayed over several nights during that time to help ease her loneliness. Last Friday night was one of those nights. This is was greeted her at 5:30 Saturday morning. Fortunately, she was within walking distance of work.

After digging ourselves out at home, we decided to surprise #1 by going into town and digging out her car. We weren't quite expecting what we saw. It was only a large (VERY LARGE) bump in the snow.

Ahhh. . . it's not a wooly mammoth -- it's a little car.

Bill had to exchange his snowblower for a shovel.

The last few shovelfuls, and we were done at last (We thought)! Oh yeah, we then realized that we needed to dig out Gram's car, too. And then the Man-child got an offer he couldn't refuse. A man at Gram's apartment building offered him $25 to shovel his car out as well.

Believe me, we were ready to sit down when we FINALLY finished.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Snow Happy To Be Back

2010-02-08T18:36:00.005-05:00

On Saturday, this is the view to which we awoke here at Brambleberry Cottage.

See the little speck in the snow on the picnic table. Let's take a closer look. . .

This was our measurement at about 9:00 a.m. We had a couple more inches before it stopped snowing in late morning.

This pic might not look like anything spectacular, but when you know the history to this picture, you understand why we are praising the Lord for such a simple thing as snowblowing . My guy has come a long way in the past year and a half, although his man-child sure liked playing with Dad's toy last year.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Fancy Holiday Dress American Girl Doll

2009-12-19T18:48:00.005-05:00

Sometimes, but not always, when I see one of my finished doll dresses, I get so excited because it is exactly what I envisioned from its inception in my mind. This is one of those times!!! I truly love this dress. The colors are cool, like a snowy winter's midnight.

Midnight and Sparkles

From now to Christmas, my thoughts will have to turn to baking and cooking. . . so this is the last thing to go on my Etsy shop before Christmas. I do have one more sewing project to finish. . .an outfit for a special little friend.

Hope this Christmastide is especially blessed for each and everyone of you.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Busy Days!

2009-12-15T15:15:00.008-05:00

Like, everyone else, my posts have been few and far between of late. What's keeping me busy these days?

Schooling

Sewing

Crocheting

Baking Cookies

Caring for our Nursing Student, who has 4 impacted wisdom teeth extracted during Winter Break

Training a New Puppy who thinks she needs to TRAIN US on taking her out to piddle every hour on the hour.

Christmas Get-togethers

And just life in general. . .

But mostly I have been trying to get things on my Etsy Shop. Here's the latest -- my third Bitty Baby/Twin outfit. I decided to go trendy with this one, rather than do my usual traditional or historical outfits. I love seeing young girls in this style and thought it would be fun to dress a doll in it. It was sort of nice to step out of my mold for a while and shake things up a little.

I decided to add an extra piece so that some little girl can have two outfits and get some extra play from it. Not like anybody has minutes to spare this month, but if you do and you'd like to take a peek . . . here's a link to my shop.

I know I'm partial, but I love the hat. I guess it does what a hat ought to do . . .

top things off!

Do what's keeping you BUSY these days?

Here Comes Suzie Snowflake

2009-12-05T20:23:00.008-05:00

Since the Christmas Season is here, I thought I'd show you a festive, little dress I made to sale on my Etsy Shop. This is one of the few Bitty Baby dresses I have made; I usually sew for the AG 18" dolls. My oldest daughter likes it so much, she said if she ever has a little girl, she wants me to make one just like this for her little girl to wear. Nothing like planning ahead. ;D

I had gone to a good deal of trouble setting up the background for this picture of for my shop and was pleased that it gave that Holiday ambiance that I was striving for. When I was done taking the photo, I checked the photo and was pleased with it. Then I took down everything that I had set up for the photo shoot and put it away. It wasn't until the next day when I looked at the photo again that I thought that the dress was missing something. It just didn't look quite finished. It was then that I realized that it needed something at the neck and sleeves to break it up a little. So I couldn't use this photo in my shop, and I just didn't have the energy or the time to set everything back up to get a pic with the same effect.

So I ended up using pics with the bows on the bodice that lacked the Christmas "look", but definitely improved the look of the dress.

I love the fabric for the skirt overlay. It's sheer organza with sparkly snowflakes.

Now, I need to go get started on one for an AG 18" Doll.

Foto Friday Challenge - Feet??????

2009-12-04T08:54:00.014-05:00

I originally thought this week's challenge was LITTLE feet, and while I love kissably-sweet, pudgey, little baby feet, and love cute, pitter-pattering, little toddler feet -- they have been scarce around Brambleberry Cottage for such an ever loonnnnng time.

I will admit a little quirk of mine. As feet grow older, they are less and less appealing to me. So, you can see why this challenge could really be a CHALLENGE for me.

Now, I've said that there have not been any LITTLE feet around here for a long, long time, but that is not ENTIRELY true. As a matter of fact, there are these. . .

LITTLE eight-week old feet. . .

sleepy LITTLE feet that came to live with us at Brambleberry Cottage

about a week and a half ago. . .

Prancing, pitter-pattering, follow your nose LITTLE feet. . .

that just have to take a rest every now and again.

Now, if you would like to see some REALLY CREATIVE pictures of feet, head over to join Rebecca for the Foto Friday Challenge. See what next week's challenge is and join in the fun!

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of December 2009

2009-12-01T12:41:00.003-05:00

We've all been scurrying around trying to complete all the Christmas gifts we are making. Well, maybe not ALL of us, perhaps some of us haven't started yet. If you still need a pattern to make that special gift or holiday outfit, then here are the dates for the pattern sale at JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store.

THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY

DECEMBER 3, 4, & 5

McCall's Patterns $1.99 each

(MSRP $5.25 - $16.95 each)

Limit of 10

No special orders -- Excludes "Easy Stitch 'N Save"

Vogue Patterns $3.99 each

(MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 each)

Limit of 10

No Special Orders

Foto Friday - Macros

2009-11-19T18:25:00.000-05:00

It's Foto Friday at Renaissance today. Each Friday the participant's in the challenge link their photographs to Rebecca's blog to show how they have faired in the challenge posted the week before. This week's challenge was "Macros (close-ups).

It is said that a collection of a photographer's work reveals as much about the photographer as it does about the subject. If that is so I fear that what this collection shows about me is that I don't know how to choose. I was not near as pleased with this weeks collection of photo's as I was with my collection last week. These for the most part seem very "lack lustre" to me; nothing seems to really "POP". So Rebecca, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE give your input.

The second thing this collection reveals about me as I look at it is that I love textures -- I'm very tactile. If I am interested in something, I have to feel it. Is it soft? Is it rough? Is it prickly or downy soft. Does it feel icy-cold or is it warm and soothing?

For those of you managed to get this far, I will reward by sharing a little tip I figured out while photographing the seed pods below. You will notice that the seed pods below are VERY blurry. This is only one of um'teen shots of these that turned out blurry. It was just too small to get the camera to focus on it.

I kept trying because I'm bulldog-stubborn, but it just wasn't working. I was getting plenty frustrated until I finally struck upon an idea. I asked my daughter to rest a index card directly over it (as shown). so that I could focus on the card (which was larger, yet thin). She then took the card away, and I snapped the picture without moving the camera.

Voila, a fairly decent close-up (at least better focused than it had been).

Okay, now it's time for you to head over to Rebecca's to take a look at what others have done. The challenge for next week will be posted there as well. Why not join us for the fun? It's a great way to improve your photography!!

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - Last Half of November 2009

2009-11-14T08:41:00.001-05:00

For all of you who, like me, are procrastinators and haven't finished up your sewing projects for Christmas, I just want to remind us all that the time is growing short. (Don't shoot the messenger. . . that was just a gentle reminder) ;D Not to worry. . . patterns can still be found for a good price at JoAnn Fabric Stores on the following pattern sale days.

Saturday - Wednesday

Novermber 21 - 25, 2009

McCall's Patterns $1.99 each
(MSRP $5.25 - $16.95 ea.)
(Limit of 10)
No special orders -- Excludes "Easy Stitch ‘N Save”"

Simplisity Patterns $199 each

(MSRP $6.95 - $17.95)

(Limit 10)

No Special orders

Excludes "It's So Easy", "New Look", "Burda", & Simplicity Books

Thursday - Saturday

November 19 - 21, 2009

Vogue Patterns $3.99 each
(MSRP $8.95 - $30.00 ea.
No special orders
(Limit 10)

Time to Leave

2009-11-13T06:25:00.003-05:00

At long last, creative juices and opportunity have merged supplying me with some photographs and enabling me to join Rebecca for her Foto Friday challenge. This first photo is of the small oak tree in our yard that reminds me of living death each late fall and winter. It wears its dead leaves all winter until the new buds push them off the limbs in the spring.

Our maple tree only had four leaves clinging to it. As I was focusing my lens on one uncooperative leaf, it had the audacity to let loose and drift out of the frame before I could even snap the shot. THIS ONE was a little more cooperative.

Some of you have already seen pictures of the leaves of this tree on a recent post, but I went out again this morning to take fresh shots. The folage on this tree seems to set it ablaze and persistently cling to the limbs long after other leaves have abandoned their trees.

I must be honest and admit that this pic was staged, but I liked the stark contrast. I am truly excited about the photographs in this post because none were retouched or cropped -- something that is very, very, very (Did I say VERY???) rare for me. While the pics are far from top-quality, still they are very good for ME. I usually have to do a lot of fudging to make them look half-wise decent.

And now we come to that last variety of leaves that is so dear to my heart. . .

The LEAVES of a good book.

Thanks to Rebecca for hosting FOTO FRIDAY. Visit her and check out all the other great photos there.

Hmmm, What did ya say?

2009-11-12T10:08:00.000-05:00

There are certain things I, as a child, was told a hundred times by my mother.

There are certain things that I have, in turn, told my own children a hundred times.

I remembered one the other day.

DON'T PICK!!!!!

Were my children "picking" in the French's Fried Onions I was using to make a green bean casserole?

Nope, but I was.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Pattern Sale at JoAnn Fabrics - First Half of November 2009

2009-11-03T13:13:00.004-05:00

As I typed the title of this post, this one thought came blasting into my mind

How can it possibly be NOVEMBER already?

Well, ready or not, here it is, and there's not a whole lot of sewing time left before the gift-giving season is upon us. If you need patterns to make some gifts for those you love, you'll be happy to know that Simplicity Patterns are on sale at JoAnn Fabric and Craft stores from Sunday through Saturday, November 8th through 14th for just one dollar each. This is a pretty good deal, considering that the manufacturer's suggested retail price for these patterns is between $6.95 and $17.95 each.

As usual, this does not include special orders, and there is a Limit of 10 patterns. Also, excluded from this sale are It's So Easy, New Look, and Burda patterns, as well as Simplicity books.

My holiday wish for you. . . May your seam ripper gather dust and your thread never break.

Y Blessings,

Nanci

Octobter's Bright Blue Weather?

2009-10-30T14:31:00.007-04:00

From my youngest days, I have always loved autumn and one of my most favorite months is October. I think this is because of a poem my mother always recited this time of year about October's bright blue weather.

BUT, if you look at these pics I think you might have to say "October's dismal white weather". No blue skies in sight.

In the fall, this tree in our yard is my very favorite. It is always the first to put on its new autumn ball gown, and it is usually the last to shed it. The range of color is extraordinary; the leaves' palette ranges from a deep maroon to brilliant crimson to gold and palest maize.

Although the month is nearly over, and we haven’t seen a lot of October’s bright blue weather, it’s hard to fret too much. With so much color abounding, even rainy days don’t seem quite so bad.

Y Blessings,

Nanci