Sit, Liberty......

Back in the summer, we had the ... privilege... of adopting, or being adopted by, a hound dog. Now, we live in the country, so it's not that unusual having a stray dog here or there, or even having hound dogs around. We don't know where he came from, but my wonderful husband said " why don't you feed him, and we'll see if he's here in the morning" ... Those proved to be famous last words. 

We contemplated naming him after he was still there a week later. Names of former pets were remembered.. Churchill, Akita, Owe-n. According to my family, he had to have an unusual, historic name. And my husband had an "Eureka" moment. 

One of his favorite Saturday Night Live sketches is of Chevy Chase playing Gerald Ford. In this particular one, Ford's dog, " Liberty" is portrayed by a porcelain pooch. My husband being the prankster he is, suggested we honor that memory. It stuck. 

Liberty

Liberty's a sweet dog. He's all hound, and mostly muscle. My nephew is still learning the finer points of training a puppy- and Lib's ALL puppy. 

But the Liberty Legacy didn't end there. We now have a family website where the boys, and my Darling spouse can play, muse, and post photos of their own. www.sitliberty.com is the Family Site. It's a work in progress, as are we all, but I'm told there will be more photos, links, and who knows what else, come up there. 

Hope you enjoy it!

Fire and Light Update.....

If ... 

1. IF everything works out... 
2. IF no one has any objections...
3. IF the proofs are good.... 
4. IF the printer's not backed up.....
5. IF the mail runs as it should...
6. IF the paper doesn't rip.....
7. IF the box doesn't split.....

THEN....

I'll be happy to announce the release of .....

Fire and Light

I was informed just yesterday that the artistic department has called for a proof approval. Pending everything goes well, we'll hopefully have it ready for release before December 25, but definitely before January 6. If the artist ( ahem, me) had known a bit more what they were doing, it would have been out by now; please forgive my lack of knowledge when it comes to computer graphics!. 

I'll post a partial tract list as soon as it's officially released! 

Sewing time

I've finally finished my daily regiment of housekeeping and resume's. Today seemed rather productive after the weekend's stomach bug. ( Right there with ya indeed Matushka!) Thankfully, the only one afflicted at this point is ... moi!

I've added a few things to my page, Some of my photography, and more information. Hopefully, they're helpful!

So now that I'm off to sewing, I'll admit. I have nothing profound to add today. No great video of Handel visiting the department store, no cute pictures of kids ... yet.

However, I do have a surprise I've been working on this for about 2 months now, along with several other, more talented people, in church.....

That's it for now. Even though this isn't the finished project, you can expect to see more hopefully VERY soon. 

Real Department Store Music.

I've always thought this would be cool, and now someone's done it.

So,even though I'm a week early,  grab the spiced cider or hot chocolate and relax for a few minutes.

The Best of Intentions Takes Flight

I received the most precious text today. My nephew made a special request- that I come to his Thanksgiving lunch with him. Knowing about the fast, he told my mother, "Tell her I'll make sure she only eats vegetables!" How can I resist the request of an almost 7 year old? 

So I went. 

We had a lovely lunch, went to the book fair upstairs, and took his Thanksgiving Candle home with us. I had never seen such a cute candle! They took a package of 15-bean soup ( yes, the whole package), mixed it together with a whole small bottle of white glue, sculpted a mound and stuck a candle in the top. I told my mom I hated missing out on that fun! The outcome was great! I'll have to do it with my young ones one day. 

Anyway, after "real lunch" as my nephew said, we went to my mom's and guess what... 

She did it.... 

She handed me a bag with 2  pieces of fabric, 2 smocking plates, and a handful of embroidery thread and had a pleading look on her face. 

"Can you finish these for me? I'll never get them done in time."

What could I say? I can't deny my niece her Christmas dresses- Not to mention, they will be REALLY precious! One has snowmen hanging out with ornaments, while the other has santa's dancing with holly. 

I tried to get my mom to let me do them earlier, but she wouldn't. I asked her if she was asking her daughter, or the new businesswoman to finish these. She said " Either, as long as they're done!" 

Oh, they'll be done, alright, and you'll all see pictures as soon as they're done!  Hopefully, that won't be too far away. 

Now, adding to the list of unfinished business, anyone want to start on MY unfinished projects? 

 

Opportunities and Possibilities

This week, there have been several changes in my life. Most obviously, a sharply decreased income; it is with great dismay that I could count myself among the masses, but at the same time, is this what I’m supposed to do?

Many of my dear friends know I make heirloom clothing for children, and many other specialized items for church.  Some of them have volunteered their knowledge and expertise to help me advertize and develop material with some of my designs. Here are some of my past work.

An Easter Dress

A Dedication Dress with mocha smocking

A pattern my mom designed, and I wore as a child. 

This was a special request.. it has another red cross centered on the back. 

I love making clothes for children. I especially love making Baptismal gowns, knowing these will be treasured heirlooms for, perhaps, generations. With every stitch, I find myself thinking about the precious little one and praying for them, and their family. Every garment I give to their owners has a piece of me… some more than others, since I’m still prone to pricking my fingers from time to time!

Recently, I’ve learned a technique called “Lace shaping”. I have fashioned a 3-bar cross, and I’m now working on a Celtic cross. Both those will soon be available in a gown with bonnets to match, on boys baptismal convertible suit (pictures of those to come!)  and on Pascha Basket Covers.  These match Matushka Anna’s “ Hand Crocheted Blessings” blankets and bonnets.

I’m also working on more specialized garments for St Symeon the New Theologian OrthodoxChurch. Recently, we have been blessed with many young men who are eager to serve God in church, and thus we have stretched our Sticharia (alter server robes) to their limit! As with the cassocks, I don’t have patterns, and must sacrifice one of the burned, waxed, frayed stichar. So, from the ashes rises a phoenix… maybe?

I’ll post more photos as I complete projects. If you or someone you know would like to have one of these creations, feel free to contact me.

And, any suggestions are always welcome! 

Ribbons, laces, bows, and crosses

Lately, I've found myself making quite a few Baptismal gowns. I've used several skills combined to make them special for the recipients, and their godparents. Many of my gowns have been smocked with rayon thread and delicate glass beads. Here and there have been a few red crosses, pin tucks and cuffed sleeves. 

While these are all wonderful techniques, I've always felt there was something more I could add; and maybe even something more masculine. Today I found the right supplies to try my hand at a new technique. Lace shaping. The results are so dramatic it looks like it took forever to place the lace and make it stay. The best part? This allows me to integrate another color or texture, whether with the lace, or behind. I'm a little excited, honestly. Here are a few pictures as an idea. 

 How sweet would it be for a boy, instead of the pin pleats in the center, to have a cross?  Or even have this lace shaping as the hem, of course with the cross in the center front. 

I've recently seen a blanket that I wish I'd designed. 

Matushka Anna Crawford is so creative! She has inspired me since we met. at one point, we contemplated finishing other people's projects they started, with a business " The Best of Intentions". That idea still has potential, since I'm still finishing other projects. 

Back to task. The bow looks very difficult, but with the right pins and a good surface, its done in a heartbeat. the only difficult problem is trimming out the bow without ruining the lace! 

so precious for a little girl! 

So, with all that in mind, I'm open for suggestions on crosses. I have a piece of pink batiste I intend to work on as a sample.  Who knows what that will become, but as my skill progresses, I'm sure this will find it's way into my gowns. I hope the owners enjoy the new designs as much as they have in the past.