Stepping Out on a Needle and a Stitch!

This is not actually my work, but I do have this pattern, as it is one of my all-time faves! It criss crosses in the back, and I love to trim the diaper cover with ruffles on the backside! This is an awesome spring/summer outfit!


I grew up in the Deep South, and if I didn't know better, I would believe that I was born wearing a smocked bishop dress. My mother learned to sew from my Great-Grandmother and my Grandmother, and I was their "dress up doll". I loved every minute of it, and I have always coveted their talents. My lack of sewing talent as a teen/young adult was not due to their lack of trying. Adolescence was mostly to blame. Anytime you you put 2 grown women in a sewing room with a left-handed 13 year-old, the apron is bound to turn out with a few abnormalities.

Anyway, several years ago, I needed some curtains. Marc looked at me endearingly and simply stated, "Well, you better call your mama and learn to sew". I didn't call mama, but I did call a friend to ask to borrow her machine. Several days and 3 broken sewing needles later, my girls had new curtains hanging in their bedrooms. Ask anyone who lives with me or who has stayed with me for an extended period of time, the machine is always threaded, I always have at least 2 projects going at once, and my girls have made me pinky promise that I will not smock them anymore dresses or make them anything else with a Peter Pan Collar.

Luckily for me, I am acquainted with several babies who don't seem to mind the collars, monograms, and smocking. Luckily for me, the greatest heirloom supply shop in the south is still in business in Mobile, and she has a WEBSITE!!! Luckily for me, I am not an adolescent anymore, and my mama's hints and tips really work! Luckily for me, I have figured out how to turn a "right handed" pattern upside down and backwards and produce adorable dresses, bubbles, etc.

Luckily for you......I am ready to actually sell my creations!! Luckily for you.....I will customize, right down to the buttons and snaps!

Check out the photos of two basic patterns. These usually take a week to make, shopping to delivery. Prices are: $20.00/garment, newborn -9 mos. $35.00/garment, sizes 12 mos.-2T. $45.00, 3T-6 years. $55.00 7-16 years.

I will post photos and details of all patterns available. This is a work in progress, so keep checking back!

***Keep in mind that the photos below are for reference only. ****







This is only a sample. It is NOT my work. I pulled it from the PBJKIDS scrapbook. I do have this pattern, and it can be made to your specifications.
This is NOT my work, but I do have the patten, and I can make this to your specifications.

I DID make this little suit. I am addicted to these for this Spring! They are so cute and versatile. They can be worn with a onsie or as shown. This bubble suit features a lined bodice, buttons on the shoulders and snaps in the crotch. It is accented with ruffles across the behind in a fuschia gingham and white piping on the leg openings. My pattern is 0-24 months.
I DID make these for my girls this Christmas. Notice there are no collars, ribbons, or smocking! This is the jumper view of a very versatile pattern, available in sizes 7-16. This view features a scalloped bodice, lined with coordinating gingham and attached to the skirt with ruffle trim. There are NO buttons, zippers, or snaps, and it slips easily over the head and hangs loose but not baggy. The pattern features approx. 10 variations, and some include sleeves, long or short. It can be "dressed up" for a special occasion or all the way "down" for a school picture! It can also be worn as a sundress. I can make it reversible, and it is monogrammable. "Fine accents", such as lace, inserts, entredeux, and ribbon, can always be added for extra charge.

THIS is ALSO MY WORK. This is the Bonnie Blue "Bailey" pattern. I purchased the pattern from PBJKIDS, and it ranges in size from infant thru 6, I believe. It features a hidden buttton placket in the back, which results in a nice pleat. This material was also purchased from PBJKIDS, and it is great to sew on!! However, any cotton material will work. As stated in the jumper description, this one can be dressed up or down. I will post a photo of the pattern and of the back of the dress asap.

The Definition of Family Time

Ordinarily, when people ask me if I spend a lot of time with my husband and daughters, I reply, "I spend every single waking moment with at least one of them. Marc often comes home after he drives carpool, and we spend an hour or so together, and we are always going to some event with our girls in the evenings." However, this past week, aka Spring Break, has shown me that the everyday activities are not always true time together, simply because they are "everyday", and the "everyday" junk is still there. Marc and I spend time together in the mornings, but he is still getting ready for work, taking out the garbage, teleworking from his Blackberry. I am still feeding, changing, and taking care of the twins while throwing something in the Crock-Pot and doing a load of laundry. We take Libba to Softball practices, games, and AWANA; and we take Maggie to the barn and to her friends' houses. Once in awhile, Maggie and I will run away to the mall to shop while Libba is at AWANA. Yes, I tuck them in and say prayers every night, and Marc always visits both of their rooms to kiss them on the foreheads before coming to bed for the night, but we are still making lunches, paying bills, walking the dog, mowing the grass...the "everyday" stuff of life.

Our adventure began as we all piled in the mini-van to drive half way to Naples to surprise Grandma Pat and Grandpa Chuck. It was 7:45 pm, and the downtown connector was still a parking lot, so we all let out the typical Atlanta sigh as we settled into our seats to make our way south. The radio was boring, and Marc can't telework and drive, so we actually talked! We guessed what the grandparents would do when they realized that they weren't really meeting Aunt Karen for the Good Friday Fish Supper. We talked about baseball, birthdays, and stuff. I reminded everyone that the Publix Greenbag Cooler must go everywhere with us, as the Easter Bunny said it would melt otherwise.

The weekend was wonderful. Grandma didn't have a heart attack when she saw us, but she thinks that is what we are trying to accomplish since we tend to surprise her at least once every couple of years. The girls played with their cousins, and we saw some good friends. Marc golfed, I shopped, and we spent lots of time together. There was no "everyday" associated with our time. We went swimming, sometimes twice per day. That would NEVER happen "everyday" at home. We went to Easter Mass with Grandpa and Andrea. That is definitely not "everyday" for our girls. They had lots of questions, but they enjoyed seeing how other Christians worship. Maggie played with baby Emma, and we couldn't stop talking about "our" twins. Libba pitched with Uncle Lou, who played baseball in college. Marc and I stayed up late together, and we didn't telework, take out our garbage, pay bills, or cook crock pot meals. I will admit that I had to do some laundry...it is my nemesis. The Easter Bunny's goodies made it to the Easter Baskets without melting.

After spending great time with our extended family, we loaded up the minivan once more, and we took off for some time with just the four of us. We froze the Publix Greenbag and a huge bottle of Smart Water, in hopes of getting the Easter Bunny's goodies safely back to Buford. Busch Gardens will never be the same! It was wonderful! We rode roller coasters over and over again. On several occasions, we allowed the girls to ride without us as we waited at the bottom, and I wasn't scared. I was sad that they were old enough to not be attached to us at all times. I was glad that they they weren't in the double stroller and that I didn't have to participate in the "mommy swap" ride program, but I mourned the fact that they really didn't need me. However, we spent all day and night together, laughing, joking, playing, and loving. Marc and I didn't see one fight between sisters, and Maggie didn't roll her eyes at me all day! The Easter Bunny's goodies survived after spending the entire day inside the Publix Greenbag Cooler
inside the hot minivan!

We arrived home from Florida on Wednesday. Marc went straight to the Braves vs Cubs game, and I went straight to the laundry room. The trip was worth the laundry, though.

Friday morning, we woke at 5:45 so that we could be on the road to Thomson by 7am. Our mission of the day was three-fold. First, we were going to visit my grandparents (Florence-88 years old; George--92 years old) at their home on our family farm. While I talk with them on the telephone weekly, we had not seen them in about a year, so the time was very special to all of us. Secondly, we were meeting with a photographer for a family photo shoot. As we had hoped, the sky was clear and blue, the pasture was cut, and the horses behaved. The Dogwoods, Wisteria, Azaleas, and Camelias were in bloom, and it was a perfect day. Far from "everyday", for sure. The final mission of the day was to have a portrait made of MawMaw and PawPaw with my family as a gift to my mother. They are the anchors of our family. They taught my Mother how to live everyday with what she has, not without what she wants. They raised her in the Word and in the Church, and MawMaw prayed for the man who would someday marry my Mother. When my Mother married, she and my father lived everyday with what they had, and they worked for what they wanted. My grandparents were their mentors and their friends. When they started their own family, my parents raised us as they were raised, and my grandmother was my mentor, my seamstress, my friend. My grandfather was my fishing buddy who taught me how to ride a bike, read to me from his Catholic Bible, let me light his pipe after dinner, but never let me see the fear and anguish that he felt inside from his years in the South Pacific during WWII. We went on long walks in the Spring Hill gulley, and he never showed favoritism between my brother and me. As a young adult, my grandparents were always "there" for Marc and me, and they love us unconditionally. Because of what they have taught us, verbally as well as through example, we raise our children to live everyday with what they have and work towards the things (they think) that they want. They have shown us the rewards of living simply and living for the Lord. They have shown us how to live "everyday" and how to make the most of the rare days that don't fit that definition. They have shown us how to be married for 67+ years.

We arrived at 9:30am, and we arrived home at 9:40pm. We enjoyed twelve hours of family time, and I didn't cook or wash anything. Libba didn't pitch one ball. Maggie didn't take one lesson. Marc watched The Masters with a master. I copied some recipes and told my grandmother how beautiful she is and that she is not old.

I was with my family for 9 days. I spent every waking moment with them. I didn't have to scold anyone. I didn't have to cook. I didn't drive to softball practice or riding lessons. I took as many photos as humanly possible. I gave lots of kisses and hugs. I spent my time loving them.