All Four Of Us In A Single Shot!

It doesn't happen often.

I mean, we very rarely are in the 

same place at the same time,

when we are dressed in decent clothing,

makeup on and hair brushed,

and,

at least appear,

in our right minds.

But yesterday at our new church,

Sebastopol Christian Church,

I grabbed a new friend

and handed her my phone.

I threatened my family 

with mayhem if they made 

anything less than the most

charming and lovely 

smiles.

And there you have it!

Look closely at the hand on India's leg.

It's mine but it looks like it is hers,

only the fingers are opposite of what they should be.

It makes me laugh!

And I am pretty sure that 

India was saying 

"TAKE THE PICTURE ALREADY!"

Ahnalin refused to sit up straight 

and actually smile.

But hey!

There we all are now. 

Whew!

Now.....back to my sewing.
Unless I finish India's Christmas dress,
she will likely be dress-less on Christmas day!

Happy Sewing!

Dresses for Cherish and an Angel

This little dress is for my precious, 

adorable, 

and in-every-way-wonderful niece Cherish.

I want to see her in it so much!

You see, it is red and white

and reminded me of 

Olivia the Pig, 

 so of course, I had to add 

some Black Rick Rack.

And,

well, 

I loved it so much,

that I had to make one for a little

girl whose tag we picked off 

the Angel Tree at First Pres. Church. 

So this one is for a precious little girl

who I will probably never meet.

And Ahnalin found this "Sonya Lee" Little Peoples set

that we had gotten for her when she was little.

But she only ever played with her wood blocks

or her babies, 

so it was still in the box.

She decided to give it to the 

little Angel Tree girl. 

I am proud of my sweetie for thinking

of this little one.

Well, and then Ahnalin

decided that she wanted a dress

JUST LIKE the dress for her
Christmas dress!!!

But, I had to shake things up a bit....

So this is just a teaser of Ahnalin's dress.......

When I fell in love with this fabric

a few years ago,

I bought the rest of the bolt!

It has been in my stash

just waiting for me to decide to cut into it.

It's Michael Miller Iron Work

and I even have enough left over 

for another dress or two!

I need to take photos of Ahnalin

in her dress before

she gets "Christmas" all over it.......

And yes, 

I did. 

I made ANOTHER Rapunzel costume!

You see, 

next summer we plan to 

visit Cherish

and her Mommy and Daddy

and Ahnalin is dying to play dress-up 

with Cherish. 

I decided to simplify Cherish's Rapunzel 

dress and chose not to use grommets for

lacing the bodice. 

The ribbon is actually sewn in place

for the sake of comfort and simplicity.

The lace overskirt used every last inch

of the purple embroidered lace.

(well, I do have a skinny bit left for a doll dress...)

I machine sewed the hem so that it would 

be sturdy for 3 year old dress-up action.

The lace is vintage hem tape

that had a price tag of 65 cents on the wrapper. 

I love using my stash goodies!

So, one of the red dresses and the little Rapunzel

dress are on their way to my precious niece 

for her birthday and Christmas.

And the other red dress and the Little People

are on their way to another little angel.

And one more red dress

will be posted in a day or so

on my wild Ahnalin.......

Next project........

I get to start on India's 

Christmas dress,

which will be made from a gorgeous

length of vintage Pendleton wool

given to me by my Hot Rockin' Hubby's 

Aunt Dona Vee. 

After that.....Christmas Jammies

and then some mittens, hats

and slippers from felted cashmere sweaters.

And......Ahnalin wanted some new
doll clothes for Christmas!
Yep, I think that Santa can fulfill
that request....

Oh fun!! 

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

Candles, Cocoa And Change

Tonight we lit the Shepherd's Candle of Joy.

We love Advent Sundays in our family.

They are my favorite tradition of the 

Christmas season!

We usually use a brass Advent wreath or 

a red cutout metal Swedish Advent wreath.

But this year, we are using the wood and greenery

wreath that Ahnalin and I made at the Advent Festival

at our old church. 

( More about this below.)

In this picture, we were singing

"The First Noel".

I can't tell you how much I love this picture.

I love love love love it!

Every Sunday night of Advent, 

we read the Bible verses,

sing the songs,

pray the prayers,

and light the candles.

Then we enjoy dessert and 

salted maple hot chocolate.

Last week, we had chocolate cake

and the same salted maple hot cocoa.

Do you see my darling Christmas Goose china?

I love it!

And the first Sunday of Advent,

we had dark chocolate brownies

and salted maple hot cocoa.

And yes, I have lots of different Christmas china.

All of my dishes for the rest of the 

year are super practical,

but I love my wonderful Christmas dishes!

And in case you were wondering,

the "Salted Maple Hot Cocoa"

is my own concoction.

You see, I had been very, very committed

to the Anti-Inflammatory diet, 

and had avoided all sugar, wheat, corn and potatos

for months.

But pure maple syrup is allowed occasionally. 

And I loved the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

at Starbucks, so I wanted something similar for me!

So, here it is!

Salted Maple Hot Cocoa

Serves 4

4 cups milk

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon plus a pinch of salt

3/8 cup pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup boiling water

whipped cream 

(yeah it has a bit of sugar. I don't care!)

cocoa powder to sprinkle on top

In a medium sauce pan, heat the milk on low heat.

(Be careful not to scald or burn the milk or you get a yucky

brown film on it.)

In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder,

salt, maple syrup, vanilla, and boiling water until foamy.

Carefully blend the cocoa mixture into the hot milk.

Pour into 4 mugs and top with whipped cream.

Sprinkle a bit of cocoa powder on the top of the 

whipped cream. 

YUMMY!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

And the change I was referring to.........

Well, we have loved our time at Santa Rosa

First Presbyterian Church,

but we are so excited for our next adventure!

Last Sunday was our final Sunday at First Pres,

and this morning was our first Sunday at 

Sebastopol Christian Church!

Don is the new 

Director of Music and Worship

at SCC! 

We had such a fun time 

in worship with our new fellow

singers and musicians. 

We can't wait to get to know new friends

and serve in new ministries.

God is so good!

And the best part is that 

we will still be able to see

our friends from First Pres because we 

are staying in Santa Rosa!
YAY!!

I am so grateful to God 

for the gift of His Son

and the gift of worship.

Happy Advent!

Madison's Birthday Dress

Once again it is birthday time for

one of my favorite little fashionistas!

For the last 4 years,

a darling little girl named Madison

has requested a very special dress for her birthday.

Last year, when she was 6, Madison

requested an "Olivia" themed dress.

More pictures of this dress are HERE.

And when she was 5, 

Madison requested a Tinkerbell themed dress.

More photos of this dress are HERE.

And this was the very first dress I smocked

and constructed for Madison, 

when she was 4.

Each year, Madison chooses her theme,

color, and other details and then I get to create

a dream dress for her.

Madison's mommy sent me a picture of the

design that our little designer had chosen.

Because there are no smock plates 

(smocking stitch pattern)

for this kitty, 

I had to figure out a way to 

smock this design. 

Just like last year, 

I ended up smocking free hand.

Madison requested Hot Pink 

as the color of her dress but left 

the rest of the design up to me.

I loved the contrast of the black 

outline in the design,

so I chose to use black for her name

and for the rick rack as well.

And like last year, 

I sewed a row of tulle to

the attached petticoat

to add a little bit of fluff to the skirt!

And I found the most fabulous

hot pink sparkly buttons to match the fabric

just perfectly!

And of course,

because we all know of my passion for rick rack,

I had to add some to the skirt......

 And the sleeve cuffs.

And, 

of course,

because the attached petticoat

is sewn to the lining of the bodice,

there are no scratchy seams visible.

(The color is wonky in this photo!)

And it had to have a

Sivjegoose label too!

While the measurements

are customized to Madison's actual more petite size,

I chose to put a size 7 tag

inside because this is for Madison's 7th birthday!

I can't wait to see pictures of the birthday

girl in her dress!!

Her mama told me that Madison is considering

being a dress designer when she grows up.

I think she will do a marvelous job!

Happy Birthday darling girl!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 100

Make a JOYFUL noise unto the LORD

All ye lands.

Serve the Lord with GLADNESS.

Come before His presence with SINGING.

Know that the LORD, He is GOD.

It is He that has made us and not we ourselves.

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING

and into His courts with PRAISE.

Be THANKFUL unto Him 

and BLESS His name.

For the LORD is GOOD.

His MERCY is EVERLASTING

and His TRUTH endures

for ALL generations!

This was one of the first chapters of scripture

that I memorized as a child.

I think of these verses often

and they remind me that even in 

difficult times,

I have SO MUCH! 

So being thankful is so much 

easier when I remember this.

 

I love to sing my Thanksgiving to the Lord

and this is a favorite hymn of mine.

I am so very thankful for my beautiful family.

I am thankful for the freedoms we enjoy in this country.

I am thankful for a variety of healthy, delicious food.

I am thankful for the gift of creativity.

I am thankful for loving and fun friendships.

I am thankful for the gift of music.

I am thankful for the beautiful rainbow of color,

evident both in people and in nature.

And most of all,

I am thankful that God loves me

so very much.

I pray that this Thanksgiving,

you enjoy love and bounty and blessing.

I pray that you bless others.

And I pray that you rejoice in 

the creativity that allows

us to share in the joy of our Creator.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A New Slipcover for Goosegirl's Sewing Chair

Way back in February,

I posted this picture.

I blogged about it HERE.

Well, I am sure I have told you 

that I have major Sewing A.D.D.!

But I FINALLY finished my chair!!!!

I LOVE IT!!!!

When I originally had the chair made,

I was working at a furniture store in 

Nevada City.

I wanted a sewing chair that had a ruffle!

The manufacturers laughed at me!

So for years, I put up with my

cute, but boring red checked chair. 

It started to wear out and look awful!

I said for years that I would slipcover it.

But then I always got sidetracked and

put it off.

I have been a bit bummed out lately

and kind of feeling sorry for myself.

Don used to tease me that when I got

depressed, I would start painting things yellow,

to make my own sunshine.

Well!

I now have my very own chairful of sunshine!

This is the back. 

Yep!

I know it looks like a dress.

I made covered buttons........

And they match the custom piping.

And I fussed the back all up

just the way I wanted it!

And I love every detail about it.

And everything came out of my stash!

I had purchased these fabrics

to decorate our living room

in our home in Lake Bluff, Illinois

back in the 90s.

So yes, they are maybe a bit dated.

But I love them 

and they make me feel happy.

My sewing area is in my kitchen. 

This was probably intended to be 

the breakfast nook

So my space is VERY LIMITED.

Those curtains underneath the table

hide my clear plastic shoe boxes

that hold all my notions. 

I also have my smocking pleater,

my floss box,

some fabric and current projects,

and other things.

Most of my fabric is actually stored 

in the garage.

Ahnalin's little Hello Kitty Janome

stays set up right next to my Janome,

so we can sew together.

My other machines are in the garage too.

I grabbed my old bookshelf

and put it on the sewing table to hold

my antique spools.

I use the spools for my elastic,

piping cord, 

rickrack and other trims.

This is a vintage spice rack that I painted

with some leftover craft paint.

I think I want to repaint it yellow,

or maybe a paler aqua.

And the Mary Engelbreit print

desperately needs to be framed.

It is signed by Mary!

But it will go on the wall right there.

I painted this at a pottery painting 

workshop with my girls on Ahnalin's birthday.

I sew much better than I paint, 

thankfully!

I took photos of most of the steps 

while I was making the slipcover,

so I may post them soon.

But I am so glad that I finally 

finished my chair and fixed up my sewing area.

It feels like a huge gift to mysef!

I need to get back to my smocking now!

Happy Sewing!!!

Simple Corduroy Skirt For My Girl

So my girl was on another design kick the other day.

She pulled this remnant of black,

white and pink corduroy out of the stash

and requested a pleated skirt

to go with her new hat.

And it had to "Swish" too.

I found an unopened roll of this black

and white ribbon and used every inch of 

it to trim the yoke and hem.

And do you remember this dress from THIS post?

Well, Ahnalin wanted the same effect
on a long sleeved shirt
that just happened to have a stain in front.


The ribbon hides it perfectly!

And the shoes, 

well, I love them!

This picture makes me laugh!

Between the hot pink sweater and hat,

and the standing-on-one-leg,

I think she looks like a flamingo!

And then I started to play with the Black and White

feature on the camera.

And I love this one too!

Can you tell I really want to learn

to take pictures? 

She wanted to swing on Daddy's arm

and is still just short enough to do it.

And then she put her boots back on to

ride her scooter home.

But she reminded me that we had not taken

the "Classic Ahnalin" pose,

so she remedied that!

As to the skirt,

well, I did not use a pattern.

It was just a less-than-a-yard

remnant and math.

If there is interest, 

I may write up a quick tutorial 

for this super quick skirt.

But my projects for today

include smocking for a favorite client

and finishing the slipcover for my sewing chair.

I find that with the tendonitis in my hands,

that I have to take breaks from smocking

and do other types of motions for a bit.

And then I can go back to smocking.

I will have pics of the chair hopefully tomorrow!

Thank you all for your prayers for my hands

and for my India. 

She will be having surgery in January on her foot,

so she is off dancing for a while. 

Off I go to sew and smock!

Happy Sunday and Happy Sewing!