A Sewing Seminar for BreyerFest: Prost

  At last! I can share some news that I have been excited about ever since it happened way back last fall.

See that bottom right photo on the BreyerFest workshop page?

That's me - I am teaching a workshop for BreyerFest this summer on how to make Pony Pads!

When Breyer contacted me in early November, they invited me to teach an in-person seminar at Kentucky Horse Park. I was willing, but I felt that asking Breyer to have 20 plus sewing machines on hand for me would not be feasible. (To say nothing of the irons and ironing boards that would be required, too.) So, I suggested I do an online seminar instead. Breyer agreed.

Vanessa agreed to help me with the seminar's recording and production. 

Last weekend she came over to film the seminar. (I made an oblique reference to it in the previous blog post but at that point I could not share what project we were working on together.)

I was a little nervous beforehand but teacher-mode soon kicked in.

Breyer sent me an email yesterday and said that since the workshops have now been posted, I could begin promoting mine. 

All collectors who purchase tickets will be able to watch my seminar. 

As I understand it, that is the only way you will be able to watch - I won't be able to put the video on YouTube for you all to see when BreyerFest is over.

I've attended many BreyerFests, but this is the first time I've presented anything. I've always thought that if I ever did, it would be in connection with my twin loves of collectibility or vintage Breyers. 

Never did I dream that my other hobby of sewing would bring me into the Breyer spotlight.

Mila's Blessing Gown

During Christmas break, I asked Vanessa if she would like me to make a blessing gown for Mila. I was thrilled when she responded with a yes! I asked her to think about patterns and fabrics, and then we would go shopping for the things I would need.

I received this picture from Vanessa soon afterward, asking if this would be possible for me to make.

Found on Etsy, it was darling but very pricey. (As a seamstress myself, I understand that price. Having said that, I would not pay that much for a dress.)

I was on winter vacation, so one afternoon we met at JoAnn's and sat down at the pattern desk to see if we could find a similar pattern.

Sharp-eyed Vanessa found the very pattern the Etsy sewer used!  Then we struck gold when buying fabric - Vanessa wanted dotted swiss, and there was just enough left on the bolt to make the dress. Better yet, since it was the end of the bolt, I got it for 80% off. Total cost of the dress was $23. Not bad!

 Because Vanessa wanted a full length dress, I had to lengthen the pattern pieces.

 All cut out and ready to sew.

School began January 4, the day Mila made her arrival. Time was no longer my own, and Saturdays became my only day to sew.

 I got the bodice (sans sleeves) done the first Saturday.

 The following Saturday I added the sleeves and the skirt lining. (The skirt looks longer on the left, but it isn't. The back of the dress was open and it was sagging a bit on the hanger.)

The skirt is gathered, and when you are sewing something that tiny, it is very easy to catch the gathers and the skirt in places they should not be stitched. The solution is to pin frequently and carefully, checking both sides of the fabric to make sure you have not caught unwanted material into the gathers. It is time consuming, but much better than having to go back and rip out a seam (which can damage the fabric) and resew it.

Last Saturday's work.

This weekend, all I needed to do was to put in the zipper, make the bow, and tack it to the bodice.

 A closeup of the bow.

The finished dress! I may put a hook and eye at the top of the zipper, but will check with Vanessa first.

Next Sunday is Mila's blessing day, and I can hardly wait to see how she looks in her new dress.

Ian Opens His Quiet Book

This is the "big moment" for me - the time when a child or grandchild opens their quiet book and sees the pages for the very first time. So much time, effort, thought, and love go into the book, and I hopehopehope my gift is liked...

Last Sunday Ian opened his with help from his mom and dad.

What is this? He reaches into the bag...

...and pulls out the pillow that is made from leftover cover fabric. (I always make a pillow.)

Awwww! It's so soft!

Then Ian grabs the book and draws it out of the bag.

Curt pulls his son onto his lap and they begin to look at each page.

At this point I am holding my breath, hoping the family will like my gift.

Ian absolutely LOVED the stoplight.

He figured out right away how to pull off the lights. Mom and Dad show him how to reattach them. (Velcro makes it easy for little fingers.)

Ian also liked the turtle and pulled its head waaaaay out. It's attached with elastic and quite stretchy.

Curt exclaimed over the Caps for Sale page, just as I'd hoped he would.

Opening the tipi by using the zipper.

Looking at the five monsters on the counting page. (I thought they were pretty cute, but I had a hard time finding five different ones!)

The look on Curt's face makes all that time and work worthwhile.

Pulling the jack o' lantern's other face pieces out of the pumpkin.

The shoelaces for the football's lacing arrived the day after Ian opened his book.

I love this dinosaur page. Since I designed it myself, I was pretty anxious to see if Ian and crew liked it.

They did! And they opened his mouth immediately to discover what the dino had been nibbling.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle stickers!! Curt loves the Ninja Turtles, and I thought the stickers would be something quiet that Ian could play with in church.

Success!! They like it!