Here in Ohio we have had the first signs of spring and it is so refreshing.  I have been able to take the grandkids to the park the last two days and it’s been so wonderful to see crocus pushing through the ground and we found some snowbells blooming.  It feel so good to be back outside again.

I have been busy digitizing and making outfits for the grandkids for Easter.  I took some photos of Saarah’s dress which she loves.  Yes, I have to admit it, it’s another Feliz dress.  I just don’t seem to stay away from that pattern.  I just love the way it looks and I had a hard time convincing Saarah to take the dress off.  She said “it’s so comfy, Grandma”.  I think that means she might actually wear it!

Here are some photos of Saarah in her new dress.  It’s long – she wanted it that way.  I would have put the pocket up higher, but she had a request for a pocket, after I had finished the front of the dress and she wanted the pocket where she could easily reach it.  So, there it is.  A little lower than usual – but Saarah is very happy with it.  And that’s what counts!

The designs used on this dress and on Eliana’s will be up for sale shortly, plus some that I did not use for the dresses but that were a digitizing “by-product”.  The set’s name is:  Daisies and Sweet Flutterbies and will have 10 designs in it.  Look for it to go up soon.

Have a wonderful Spring – or whatever your upcoming Season might be.And should I not be blogging again before Easter, have a blessed Easter.  He is Risen.  He is Risen indeed.

Monika

I am hoping that for most of you, if not all, the New Year is off to a good start.  Life has been very busy here at Oma’s Place, with many new designs in the making.  Since I do most of my own testing, it will take me a while to get them all up for you to see.

Our youngest granddaughter loves the color purple.  If it was up to her, the whole world would be colored that way.  Her brother recently broke his arm and had a cast applied.  The very first question Eliana had for her brother after she saw him with the cast was “why didn’t you pick purple for your cast”?  He had picked blue.  -  I found this great velour at JoAnn’s recently and was very happy that  they had it in purple. It is incredibly soft.   So I decided to make Eliana a hooded shirt by Farbenmix called “Jule”.  I love this pattern.  I am beginning to realize though that most of the Farbenmix patterns seem to be running a little on the small side for our grandkids.  You want to be sure and take and compare measurements before cutting out these patterns .   Here is a photo of Eliana with her new shirt, matching leggins and my applique ricrac rose embroidery.

Wishing all of you a great and blessed 2010.

Monika

I just thought some of you might enjoy seeing what I did with some blanks from www.allaboutblanks.com.  I just love Susan’s high quality blanks and fast service.   This blanket is a cotton velour and the bear, too, is made of velour and both are super, super soft and cuddly.

The design is mine and should be up for sale sometime soon.  Just wanted to share in case you needed another idea for your Christmas stitching.

Monika

Have you ever sewn with oil cloth before?  I hadn’t and decided that it was time to use the fabric I had bought several years back.  I made a little carrying tote for my little grandson and I think it turned out really cute.  I was glad though that I had read some tips about sewing with oilcloth at a number of sites.  One of them was particularly helpful and you might want to check it out:

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=5

Overall, I found it a very pleasant experience.  It’s great that you don’t have to finish off the edges.  That came in particularly handy when making the handles.

Give it a try – I think you will like it.  I certainly did.

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s time to decorate “the halls” and work on Christmas gifts.  I am finding there are not enough hours in the day and I am sure some of you feel the same.   I just finished a couple of gifts for the grandkids and thought I would share some photos with you.  I used my new Boy Add On Sets as well as the applique Font and I think they turned out well.

You can look for a satin alphabet (1 3/4″ ) to match the applique alpha soon.  Also am working on a 3/4″ satin alphabet as well.

I love doing those pillow cases.  Quite addictive may I add.  They come together so quickly.    I used the Sausage Pillow method that I had heard about on AllBrands’ SewForum.  There is a video on YouTube demonstrating how to do it – it’s great and fast.  You might want to check it out if you are not familiar with it.  And my boy add on designs work well for them, as you can see.

Here is the link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLnrC9yo8tY

Are you pleased with the way your gifts are turning out?  Why not come and join our yahoo group and let us see your projects.  It’s so fun to see what others are doing and such an inspiration.    By the way, Yahoo group members get special little gifts (see one below).

And while we are busily running around buying and making gifts, getting ready for Christmas, let’s not forget why we celebrate this Season.   Take some time to reflect on His birth and the great gift of salvation.

Wishing you deep joy and contentment this time and always.

Monika