Elizabeth's Day...

Brynwood Needleworks - Elizabeth's Pillow

The celebration was yesterday, so I can share my completed gift. I made a pillow for the nursery, featuring a machine embroidered monogram, and my great-great niece's name and birth date on the front. I have this beautiful fabric that features nursery rhyme characters used for the borders and back.

Brynwood Needleworks - Elizabeth With Mommy and Daddy

Baby Elizabeth is wearing the Christening gown/coat that I made for her daddy's celebration when he was just a wee boy. I'm so glad that they are carrying on the tradition of using it for their family baptisms.

Brynwood Needleworks - Elizabeth With Pastor Bob

 

This is Pastor Bob, who performed the beautiful ceremony. The entire service was a congregation-wide embrace of Elizabeth entering into their flock, and into the fellowship of God. It was really a perfect way to welcome this new baby into their midst. I especially love this photograph, both for the genuine affection in Pastor Bob's face, and also for the expression on Elizabeth's. 

 

I'm so glad I was able to attend as another witness to the day this child was dedicated by her parents into the loving arms of their church. May she grow in His grace, protected by her parents, her family, her church, and her faith.

 

Sunday Scripture...

Psalm 91.11

  Elizabeth Diana Quinn Born 8/30/19 Christened 11/10/19  

Walking AND Chewing Gum...

Brynwood Needleworks - Bread Day

 

I got sidetracked yesterday when Handsome told me we were out of bread. That doesn't send me to the grocery store. It sends me to our kitchen. It was snowing like mad when we got up, so I wouldn't have left the house anyway.

I alternated my kitchen time with studio time, running back upstairs while my dough was proofing. By the end of the day, not only was our kitchen smelling of fresh-out-of-the-oven bread, but I'd also completed machine embroideries for a special project I'll need this weekend.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Embroideries and Fabric

 

Destiny and I ran the embroideries, chose the fabric, and would have completed this project if I'd had one more element that I was missing here in the studio. I'll be running out this morning to get that, and you won't see this again until after it's gifted on Sunday.

 

I'm making this is for the newest member of our family. She is my great great niece. This doesn't make me feel old, as her dad isn't yet 20, and her grandma is only 34. My sister is her great great grandma at 54.  This baby is being Christened on Sunday, so I'll be there to celebrate with her/my family. First, I need to finish this project!

Stephi's Garden...

Yesterday, I spent part of the afternoon and evening with my niece, Stephanie.

(I call her "Stephi" or "Stevie".)

I took lots of photos of the lilies bursting with color around the entry to her

home, but I'm only sharing one of these garden pics today. When I refer to

"Stephi's Garden", I have other wonderful, colorful images that spring to mind.

This handsome sprout, my nearly 13-year-old great-nephew, Ethan.

Standing next to him would make me think it's so much longer than

a year since I last saw him. I swear he's at least a foot taller! I can also

say that he's still the sweet, considerate young man I remember. (sigh)

Then, there's Stephi's second son. Her five-week old peanut, Jace. This was

 my first meeting with him and we hit it off like old pals. What a sweet child.

 Daddy wasn't home yesterday, but I'll try to see him while I'm there today.

  His mommy took a picture of me holding him. I'm going to call this our  "Calvin and Hobbs" moment. Aunt Donna's gotta snuggle the boy after all!    I'll be back to see him again this morning. We're having a Christening gown  alteration session. The set I made for his big brother is a little lot too big for  him, but I'll spend however much time it takes to make it right for him. After all, his "big day" is Saturday, and he's the (little) Man of the Hour!

Another Baby Project...

  Our newest great nephew is being Christened in July. His Momma and Daddy  planned the date to coincide with our visit to Wisconsin. We're looking forward to meeting the little guy for the first time, and being there for his special day.
When his older brother was born (nearly thirteen years ago), I made a complete ensemble for his baptism. I made a Christening gown, bonnet, booties and a blanket for the church service. A few weeks ago, my niece brought out the set to try on her second son to gauge the fit. Even though the ceremony is still three  weeks away - and babies grow like weeds - it was obvious that the six-month sized gown and bonnet would never fit the new baby. She sent me photos and we all giggled to see him nearly drowning in fabric. We needed a plan.
I told her that I'll put the gown on him (inside out) when I get there and baste it to fit him. I don't want to alter the original gown so, when the time comes,  the next child to wear it will have space if they were larger than our boy.
The bonnet was another matter, so yesterday I made one in a newborn size from the same fabric I used for the original ensemble. When we get to Wisconsin, I'll  try it on him. If it's still way too big, I have more of the fabric to adjust my  pattern one more time and make it even smaller. I'm hoping it's not necessary.
I've decided that I'll make another kimono in newborn size. If this little boy is as small as I'm told he is, it might take quite a while for him to be able to use the one I just finished. I'll see how big he is when I get there and then choose the best size to give to him so he can wear it through the summer.
It rained again all day yesterday, so sewing and knitting were the perfect  pastimes while Tag and I spent our days inside. I believe I'll knit again today.

Sweet Liam's Christening Gown...

Sweet Liam's christening gown is nearly finished.

I only have to hem the little sleeves, sew buttonholes
and sew the buttons onto the back opening.

Sewing the components together is a joyful process.
For instance, sewing in the pleats requires multiple steps...
mark, pin in two places for each pleat to secure them, then, baste.
Nothing difficult, but concentration is required.
But the result is well worth the effort.

I also love the process of lining up elements,
as in the bodice with its brocade insert (and stitching)
matching up with the skirt brocade insert and stitching.
Those parts are sewn separately, and then
the bodice and skirt are sewn together.
It's such fun when everything lines up as it should!
You can see from this photo
that I made the front of Liam's gown mimic the
front of Mama's wedding gown.

The wedding gown had a brocade skirt, with a
silk overskirt. I didn't have the fabric to make a separate
overskirt for Liam's piece, so I did brocade inserts instead.
I'm very happy with the resulting effect.

I'll finish the gown today and then begin
work on the next piece of the ensemble.
The plan is to make the coat, bonnet and slip for the set.
I have to see if I have enough fabric to be able
to make everything on my list.
I promise an update tomorrow.

Filled With Symbolism and Hope...

As I said in my Easter Sunday post, I finished Preston's gown on a day special to Christians.

I had worked on the gown, slip and bonnet for the week leading up to Easter, and as I usually do with garments that hold special meaning, I sewed love, hope for the future and a little symbolism into this project.

Keeping in mind the Trinity - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - I decided that I would use motifs and elements in threes to follow my theme. There are three pintucks on each sleeve, three oval motifs in the front of the gown, three circles (love never-ending) on the motif I chose for the yoke, and finally three crosses on the motif at the bottom front of the gown.

I said special prayers for Preston's future - and for every child who will wear this gown - as I did my handstitching.

I shipped the finished gown, slip (bearing Preston's name and birthdate as the first child to be christened in the gown), and bonnet to Wisconsin today to the baby's waiting parents.

My nephew, Daniel - Preston's father - said he and Preston's mother, Amber chose the baby's name in hopes that their child would grow up to be strong and successful. My prayers for their baby asked for blessings that he grow into a man who loves the Lord and his family, a man who is hard-working and studious, and a man who believes in himself to become anything he chooses to become.

I look forward to watching this baby grow into a young man. I'll continue to pray for him and his parents...beginning with the symbols embodied in this simple cotton batiste gown.

You may view larger photos of the completed gown and bonnet in my Christening Gown Flickr album.