Sophia's baptism gown

When my friend Melissa asked me to make the gown for her newborn daughter's baptism this coming March, I was honored. I didn't know much about heirloom sewing back when my own girls were little, so I sadly did not make such precious things for them... therefore I consider it a truly special task to create these things for others close to me.

Melissa had a few special requests - box pleats, clean lines, and white silk. I took her desire for simplicity, and hopefully created a treasure for this special day for both the beautiful baby girl, Sophia, and her family.





Designs for hand-embroidered crosses were practically non-existent on the internet and in my many back issues of Sew Beautiful magazine, so I designed this one myself.




Five rows of pintucks... three delicate hand embroidered arcs and french knot trios to symbolize the Trinity... I also added baby's initials & year of baptism...




I greatly modified the ideas behind an Ayrshire bonnet pattern from Sew Beautiful magazine Issue #79 for this bonnet - just a bit of flat lace, pintucks, and delicate crocheted edging...




I decided on the use of pleats to gather the crown, which kept with the design of the dress... I found this was actually easier than gathering, and the results are, in my opinion, quite lovely.

recent projects

I've been keeping busy through this wet winter weather with various projects... I even painted a few walls today, but pictures of that will have to wait until later.


another Itty Bitty Baby Dress, this time for Leslie's girl due 2/11...




I am working on a baptism gown for Sophia - this will be the front bodice piece. I designed this cross because I could not find a hand embroidery design anything like this.




And finally, this little top is newly listed in my etsy shop:

San Jacinto

Last week we tagged along with Chad for a business trip, and spent the week with Melissa, her husband and her darling Sophia.






While there, I took advantage of our closeness to San Jacinto, and took the girls on an exciting field trip to this historic battleground where Texas won it's freedom from Mexico. We had literally just studied this battle the week before in our history studies. History came to life for us on this trip!


the San Jacinto Monument




view from the top of the monument, of the reflecting pool on the monument grounds and the Houston Ship Channel




Claire and a rifle that belonged to Sam Houston, as well as two US presidents, and was used in the battle at San Jacinto




Nicole... behind her on the red box is a handful of Spanish silver coins from the age of exploration - around 500 years old




Ever been to a Six Flags amusement park? Did you know that the original Six Flags park was named thus because of the six flags that have flown over Texas? Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, United States, and the Texas State Flag... here are the latter three:




On the same grounds as San Jacinto is the last remaining US battleship that served in World War I and II!

Battleship Texas

Sophia Krystyn

Nicole & I drove down on Friday to visit Melissa & Charles and their new precious Sophia. What a joy it was to spend some time with friends and their new little one!





















{ mommy's necklace is Sophia's birthstone }

itty bitty dress

for Sophia...




I made this using Rae's free "itty bitty dress" pattern, which is so easy and quick!

One tip I learned a few years ago that makes easy work of clipping & turning curves, like the ones in the neck & ties of this bodice - use pinking shears to trim the entire curve, instead of trimming & then cutting in with standard scissors. I have had wonderful, easy, smooth results with turning curves ever since!

waiting.... waiting...

My dear friend's husband called late last night to let me know she was in labor!

Baby Sophia is going to make her appearance three days early...

I'm so excited I can hardly sit still...

just waiting for the phone to ring any minute...

trying to keep my mind busy with sewing for another baby shower I'm attending on Sunday...





is the phone working, anyway??

yes, it's working, there's the dial tone...

still waiting!!!


I realize they probably have so much going on that I'm not going to hear from them today, and since it's been over 18 hours since she checked into the hospital, she has more than likely delivered already (for her sake, I hope so!!)... but she is like a sister and if I lived closer I would have been there in the waiting room, not stuck here at home with no knowledge of anything whatseover... can you tell I'm sooo antsy??



Update! She was born at 11:10am, 6 lbs. 5 oz., 18.5" long.

Sophia and mom are both doing well!