Lukie, Tailor in Training 2

First Post of the Day

To my surprise, Lukie showed up with a fellow tailor-ette in tow. Mila! (And Gus, but I knew he was coming so he could play with Pepper and Tammo.)

Lukie was so proud of his "24 colors and one of them GOLD and three sharp things" and so we spent a few minutes admiring those before freeing them from the package.

Mila wanted to make a mini doll blanket for a doll and agreed with Lukie that she needed to learn  some basic hand sewing stitches. 

First lesson? Threading the needle and then a running stitch.

That decently accomplished, we moved on to making something. Lukie chose a little pillow. 

And he meant little! I suggested a 4" x 4" pillow, but he asked for a 2" x 2".

Mila and Lukie were really focused on their projects. I helped rethread needles occasionally and untangled and couple of thread lines, but they did all the work.

Lukie was so proud of his thread kit; see how he has lined all the spools up on my sewing table so we can see them and choose a color?

When we had visited the battlefield last week, we'd gone into the museum gift shop and I'd bought each child a memento. Mila had chosen a bone trinket box and the mini doll.

The vision of her completed blanket was not matching what the blanket was actually looking like.

Part of the problem was that I had forgotten to have her turn and press the blanket after she'd stitched the sides. We will fix that at our next lesson.

Lukie stuffed his pillow and then stitched the opening closed and his pillow was done.

He couldn't wait to show it to his dad...

... who tried it out and declared it to be very soft and would be comfy under his ear that night. LOL

Tailor Lukie was thrilled that he'd completed his first sewing project and asked me to iron all his practice pieces and then stack them for him for when he returned. (This kid had thought through the day and had a plan for everything!)

Mila was disappointed but I have some ideas in mind so that she will feel more successful at our next sewing lesson.

Stay 'tooned!

The July Give Away is ongoing now! 

Comment on any blog post published 7/22 - 7/25 to enter to win a show apron!

I'll spin to win this weekend!

The July Give Away!

Second Post of the Day

After much thought and despite how late into the month we are, I've decided to go ahead and hold the July Give Away. With everyone so busy with BreyerFest and all, I'd thought it might be too much and no one would be interested. But I enjoy these monthly give aways so why not? 

For July, I am giving away a show apron. I was asked at Indy Blooms to make some and figured that while I was at the sewing machine, I'd make a stash so I had some on hand and ready when asked again.

So, here are some just off the sewing table and are also listed on Horsiemama's Haversacks & Mercantile. You will be able to choose one of these. (If not sold already; if the one you want is, we will work something out.)

Dala Horses.

A close up of the pockets.

Blue Burros.

Pockets close up.

Pony Races.

These ponies are so sassy!

Girls Playing Model Horses (Chocolate) 1

My childhood captured on cloth.

Poseidon's Ponies.

A very unusual and unique fabric.

Girls Playing Model Horses (Chocolate) 2

I have this fabric in white and cream, too.

The Give Away begins now - comment on any blog post starting with the two today (Tuesday, July 22) and ending at 11:59 PM Friday, July 25. I'll spin to win on Saturday or Sunday. Be sure to include your name, initials, or a way for me to identify you if you win.

Good luck!

Teaching a BreyerFest Workshop

I was thrilled when Breyer posted its virtual line-up of seminars for BreyerFest 2023. I could finally talk about mine! Seeing the description of my workshop and the photo of Teacher Daughter Lisa and me was the culmination of months of planning, preparing, and in the end, filming.

I wanted to share the news with my hobby friends, but Breyer asks all presenters to wait until they have posted their list of workshops before we share the news. It was difficult at times, but I've been keeping quiet since last October.

I did need help with filming. Craig, Lisa, Curt, and Vanessa could not help me for various reasons, so I did have to tell one person that I was teaching a workshop - Barn Buddy Kelsey. She is as trustworthy as they come and she, too, has been keeping quiet. 

Kelsey came over one Saturday and spent three hours filming as I taught and sewed. She also set up my new ring light for me. (Thank you, Kelsey!)

Not only was Pepper wanting to hang around with us as we worked, but Nash did, too. More than once they snuck into my sewing room and suddenly appeared on camera!

By the time we finished, there was nearly an hour of raw video - way too long for a workshop. I went through and cut a lot of extraneous material out and got it down to a half an hour and then sent it on to Mountain Mama Jessica.

She LOVES to make videos and set them to music, but as she got into this project, there were some unexpected incompatibility issues. She ended up spending hours editing, with her husband Andrew stepping in occasionally to help or give her a break.  (Thank you both!)

The last thing to do to complete this project was to take some photos for Breyer to use to advertise the workshop. Lisa dropped by before school early one morning to help model two of the aprons I'd made for the workshop while Craig took the shots.

I sent several to Breyer and they selected this one.

This is the second virtual workshop I've done for Breyer. For BreyerFest 2022, Breyer asked me to teach in person at Kentucky Horse Park, but Breyer would've had to rent sewing machines for everyone in the workshop plus ironing boards, too. It just wasn't feasible. 

And since I am a classroom teacher (albeit retired) either virtual or live teaching are fine with me. I've done both. 

This project and volunteering for Breyer was "sew" much fun. I can't show anything else, but I do hope you will take some time to watch it during BreyerFest. And if you decide to make a show apron and need help. you know where to find me!