Posts from — March 2010

As a girl I always looked forward to Easter and not just because I got to hunt eggs and eat candy.  I loved Easter because I got to dress up.  Sometimes I got to wear the white shoes or sandals, gloves, tights, and sometimes even a hat.  But, no matter what I always had a dress that was sewn by my grandmother.

My grandmother had 4 granddaughters at that time.  She faithfully made us all dresses that matched each year.  The only difference would be the color.  Guaranteed there would always be layers and lace, better to twirl with.  Since I was the oldest I usually got to pick out the dress and fabric.  That was always a fun experience for me.  Going to Wal-Mart in the next town and sitting in front of the big pattern books looking at all the pretty dresses.  Then we would go to pick out the fabric and all the trimmings.  When we get back to the house she would pull out the measuring tape and take down our measurements.  My grandmother always had little notebooks that she jotted things down in.  I came across one in her stuff not to long ago.  In it were several of our measurements but also addresses, telephone numbers and recipes,  There was even a recipe for making pickles.  Which, I am going to try if I can get my cucumbers in the garden to grow this year.  I love looking at the things she wrote down, what she thought was important.

So, this year I decided I was going to carry on the tradition and make my nieces their Easter Dresses.  I was lucky enough to receive a cute pattern from a friend who was not going to use it.  It was so cute I thought it would be perfect for Project Easter Dress.  I surfed the net looking for the perfect fabrics and had decided on a few.  My sister and I went to the fabric store to get the fabric I had picked out.  And like any other time I walk into a fabric store, I get mesmerized  by all the pretty colors and quickly want to buy more than I can afford.  Luckily my sister was there to help me focus and find just the right fabric for this project.

Now that it is spring break I finally had some time to sit down and delve into this pattern.  It was filled with things I’ve never done before.  Ruffles, layers, rolled hems, and shiring.  I had to make a special trip to the fabric store to purchase a rolled hem foot and elastic thread.  It took me 2 days and a lot of seam ripping (I think everything I sewed eventually came back out) I finally finished the 1st dress.  I am very proud of the way it turned out and learned a lot along the way.

I thought I post a couple of tutorials on the different techniques I learned if anyone is interested.  So, What do you think?  Was Project Easter Dress a success?

It’s that time of year again.  The hummingbirds have started there long journey over the Gulf of Mexico and should be arriving in Texas any day now.  I look forward to March 15th every year hoping to catch a glimpse and maybe even entice one to stay through the spring instead of continuing their flight North to breed.  Last spring I cam across this great website showing a Channel Islands Allen’s Hummingbird sitting on a nest in someone’s backyard.  They have a web cam that records every moment.

Visit Phoebe’s website to watch and learn more about her http://phoebeallens.com/

Unlike Phoebe’s yard, mine is great for feeding but not so great for nesting. After doing a little searching on the web I was able to find a great alternative for those that don’t have established yards that provide protection from wind and rain. It’s a hummingbird house!

Who knew! I ordered it from Duncraft and just got it yesterday. I installed it today on my front porch. It’s the only place around my house that provides the shelter that hummers prefer.
Who knows if it will work. I may just be too close to the gulf coast for a nesting hummer.  One can hope! In the spring I will see one or two feeding off my honeysuckle vine but that is about it.  But come mid July, hummers are zipping past all over the place.  So if I am successful and am able to attract a nesting hummer, I just might have to get me a nifty web cam and broadcast it.  Maybe she’ll become famous like Phoebe.