Up for Stitches South

Apologies for not getting back to the blog sooner! Life is busy and my camera was missing in action for a few days. Much has transpired since my last post. Here's a quick update . . .

We celebrated Easter with Philip's family . . .

and with my family   . . .                                                                                                                               

Ashley and her Dad went to the Masters . . .                                                                                       

                                                                                           

I finished the "Cotswold Vest". More on that later . . .

Started the "Catch the Wave Tee" . . .                                                                                               

And made Annette's first "Lilly" dress . . .                                                                                                  

  

I just can't tell you how proud I was to see her wearing that cute dress!                                                         

So . . . tomorrow morning Sister Cathy and I are headed off to Atlanta for a little work and play.  The work part will be a pediatrics conference on Saturday and Sunday. Cathy will get to do a little shopping at Lenox Square. The play part for me will be a visit to Stitches South where I will get to ooh and ahh over a convention center full of fabulous fiber, take in a few lessons, and "perhaps" make a few purchases. It would be quite an understatement to say that I am a little bit excited.                                                                                                                                    

                                                     

Blue Bedroom

Finally, I find time to write this post on the blue bedroom project. The goal was to make a bedskirt and two Euro-shams to add some interest to this otherwise boring bed.

Ashley found this fabric for me. It is made by Braemore textiles. I haven't been able to find the name of this pattern.

I made the gathered bedskirt in 3 panels and used bedskirt pins to attach the panels to the top of the boxspring. I have found this to be very easy and provides flexibility so that the length doesn't have to be "exact".

Look at this mess!

The Euro-shams are 26" sqares with 4" ruffle and basic cording. Here I am attaching the cording to the top side of the pillow.

One good turn deserves another. So now I'm looking for just the right artwork for the wall above the headboard. And . . . thinking that a duvet would be nice. However, I still think this is a good start to putting this room together.

Any suggestions?

Busy Weekend

I was out of the office on Friday and devoted most of the day to working on the pillow covers for the blue bedroom. One done, and the other is close. I've only broken 3 sewing machine needles so far. No wonder I procrastinated on this project for so long!

I did some mending and button sewing. Finally got the buttons on the Baby Surprise Jacket. Not to bore you with one more picture, but here is a proper picture with the buttons. Yeah!

Philip and I took a little time-out in Charleston on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate our anniversary (number 31 - but who's counting?). We enjoyed the "camellia walk" at Middleton Gardens. The guide was very informative and the camellia "trees" were amazing. Some of these camellias were brought to the Middleton's from France and planted in the 1700's. There is also a "new garden" of camellias that was planted in the 1930's. It is like walking through a camellia forest. I had never visited there before. It was worth the trip. In about 2 weeks the azaleas will be in full bloom. I highly recommend a visit if you're a plant-lover.

The picture below shows one of the original four camellias brought from France and planted in the 1700's. The plant was damaged by Hurricane Hugo and has been reduced to about one-third the size it had been.

Below, Philip is standing next to the trunk of one of the very old camellia plants.

Alba Plena, a beautiful white specimen.

We also visited Hyam's Nursery on James Island. (They don't have a website.) This is also a wonderful place to visit (and buy plants) for those who get excited over springtime and planting.

We purchased a wire basket to repot our Staghorn Fern. He has outgrown his little orchid box. These ferns are so peculiar that I didn't quite know what to do with him, so I decided to try a larger basket with a liner. I planted him in a 50/50 mixture of spagnum moss and potting soil. Hope he likes his new home.

We are back home now and I intend to get the other pillow cover finished pronto!! I'm ready to put up the sewing machine for a while - I better get a few new needles, too!