September 3, 2015

September 2015

This Month’s Meeting

Our monthly meeting will be Tuesday, September 8th at 7:00 pm. We will meet at McAllister’s for dinner at 5:30. All are welcome! Please join us!

Kit’s Korner
Dearest Ladies, Because of your concern for my niece and her baby, I wanted to share the latest update with you. Please know that your prayers and thoughts mean so much to me and my family. Since this posted, Libby has moved back to oncology to start yet again chemo treatment. Tough, as this is in another building from NICU. 

Hudson McGee Lightfoot was born 8/24/2015 at 9:49am! He was 4 lbs and 17 inches long and came into the world screaming. He was taken immediately to NICU level B because he was successfully breathing on his own. Being only two weeks off chemo and having to go through a surgery under complete sedation, my body took a while to be strong enough to meet my baby boy, which was very hard emotionally. Luckily for our little angel it was love at first sight for his daddy and Frankie barely leaves his side. By the time I was able to make it down to see him on Tuesday he had been moved up to NICU level A because they discovered a hole in his right lung. They put in a chest tube to relieve the pressure and he is healing slowly but nicely. If this continues and his breathing steadies, the tube should be removed in a few days. I haven’t been able to hold or touch him because we are both neutropenic with very low white blood cell counts. His counts are slowly increasing with the help of a drug that stimulates his marrow. My WBC counts are going up as well, but my cells are leukemia cells not actual healthy cells. So for me, they want to start the next round of chemo right away. I will most likely start a WBC suppression pill today and take that until they think I have healed enough from the surgery to be moved from Labor & Delivery back to the hematology/oncology floor. Now that Hudson doesn’t have to go through the chemo with me, they will start me on a harsher more aggressive chemo drug on Monday or Tuesday of next week that will last 5 days. At day 14 they will do a bone marrow biopsy to check if my bad blasts are below 5%, and if so, they will immediately start the bone marrow transplant. My brother and sister have been tested as possible matches and we are still waiting on the results. They have found a few potential matches in the national registry already so that’s a good sign!

They started feeding Hudson today through a tube in his mouth with some donor breast milk per my request. Only a few drops at a time to see how he digests it. I finally got to reach inside the incubator and hold the tube up to help out with the feeding. I also got to hold his paci in his mouth while they stuck his foot. He didn’t even cry, just held on to my hand with his tiny fingers and stared over at me. It melted my heart, I never wanted him to let go. Little moments like this make every bit of this worth it. The aches, the pains, the fears, the doubts, all of them just disappear and we get to have a true moment of peace and happiness with each other. He is my strong little angel and has carried me through each day. I will continue to fight just as strong knowing he is counting on his mommy to come home soon after he does. I’ve waited 33 years to be a mom and nothing is going to stand in the way of that. Life will never be the same, and I’m counting on that. Only good things could possibly be ahead with this little miracle in the world now. Thank you all sincerely for helping us through this. 

Also in Show and Share is a reminder sheet from Lezette Thomason on Heirloom Techniques by Machine. Always helpful to have by your machine!!

Calling all Wee Care gowns!
Look high and low – finished or unfinished - for your Wee Care gowns and bring them to our meeting! It's time to gather the gowns together to share with our "littlest angels". Thanks!

Program and Refreshments
Our program will be presented by Kittie. Supply list for Tuesday night is just a Smocking needle, favorite color floss and a small pair of scissors.

Refreshments will be provided by Kristen.

Wee Care Gowns – 4th Tuesday of Each Month from  January – October

Please bring in any finished (or unfinished) Wee Care gowns and be prepared to take home some new ones! Our next Wee Care workday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Poplar Pike) will be Tuesday, September 22nd from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.
If you can come for all or part of the day, it would be a great help. We need folks to bring sewing machines to sew the outfits that have been pinned.  

Show and Share:
Amy – Tipsy Curvy Lucy and Charlotte



Virginia’s Quilt
Here is a photo of the twin sized quilt I made for my grandniece. My 89 year old mother embroidered the kitty designs and I constructed quilt. Best of all I finished a week before deadline - can you believe that!!



Heirloom Techniques

Media Reminders:

Memphis Area Smocking Guild Group - Facebook.  Be sure to Join and follow the latest news from our members and other interested smockers and sewers!

Sew Classic For Children – Facebook - Sew Classic for Children is a group for all levels of sewing children's clothing. We love classic, tailored and heirloom designs. Share your Children's Corner Pattern creations along with your comments. In addition we are delighted to answer questions.

Classic Sewing Magazine Group - Facebook…..Classic Sewing will have 132 pages of glorious sewing ideas, patterns, tips, techniques and will include at least two full size patterns in each quarterly issue. The magazine will feature heirloom and everyday sewing projects to delight the most discriminating sewist. Patterns will come in a separate envelope along with the magazine. No more tearing out pattern sections……all of the patterns will be easy to read and store! Unlike anything you have seen before, Classic Sewing will feature designs from top designers in the industry. There is something fabulous for everyone in the magazine.
Subscriptions now available.

Lace Cottage – Facebook Grand re-opening was August 15th! Classes are available at a variety of days/times!

Birthdays This Month
Virginia  - September 4th

See you Tuesday!

Susan

August 5, 2015

August, 2015

This Month’s Meeting

Our monthly meeting will be Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00 pm. We will meet at McAllister’s for dinner at 5:30. All are welcome! Please join us!

Kit’s Korner

Hello ladies,

Hope this finds everyone well as we all try to survive the summer heat! Seems August heads us into fall and just maybe cooler temps are not too far behind.

 I guess our most exciting news is all the things happening with Lace Cottage. The girls, myself included, have been busy getting things ordered, painted, shelves built, and organized to open August 15th!!! They have been checking out other shops, to take the best of all, to make sure they can offer you the most fun, pleasant shopping experience you can have. 

On a quick visit to Children's Corner, Viv and Phyllis found out that a new pattern will soon be introduced. Need to keep checking the shop about that. Some of the fall fabrics are in already and more on the way. 

Classes are already in discussions and sit and smock on Thursday evening has already begun. Pack up your hand projects and join us for that!! 5-7 p.m. 

So come together and let's support our members Vivian and Phyllis, and local shop!! It promises to be exciting!!!

Calling all Wee Care gowns!

Please remember to bring your Wee Care gowns - ready or not - to our July 14th meeting. It's time to gather the gowns together to share with our "littlest angels". Thanks!

Program and Refreshments

Our August program and refreshments will be provided by Kristen Benjamin. She will be teaching us to make a Ribbon ruler case. You can find it in SAGA News Vol 35, Issue 2 (May, 2014) page 22-23.

Kristen will furnish the grosgrain ribbon. Please bring the following:

1 skien variegated stranded floss
1 yard floss for the flower centers
1 yard green floss for leaves
One 7/16” shank button
6x1 gridded ruler
Size 8 crewel or embroidery needles
Size 9 betweens

September Program – Special Request

Please start saving selvages for a program Debbie doing in September.  More information to come.

Wee Care Gowns – 4th Tuesday of Each Month from  January – October

Please bring in any finished (or unfinished) Wee Care gowns and be prepared to take home some new ones! Our next Wee Care workday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Poplar Pike) will be Tuesday,  August  25 from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.

If you can come for all or part of the day, it would be a great help. We need folks to bring sewing machines to sew the outfits that have been pinned.  

Show and Share:

Our July meeting with salad/dessert was relaxing and fun! We had 16 gals there!





Media Announcements:

Memphis Area Smocking Guild Group - Facebook.  Be sure to Join and follow the latest news from our members and other interested smockers and sewers!

Lace Cottage – Facebook Grand re-opening August 15th!

Sew Classic For Children – Facebook - Sew Classic for Children is a group for all levels of sewing children's clothing. We love classic, tailored and heirloom designs. Share your Children's Corner Pattern creations along with your comments. In addition we are delighted to answer questions.

Classic Sewing Magazine Group - Facebook…..Classic Sewing will have 132 pages of glorious sewing ideas, patterns, tips, techniques and will include at least two full size patterns in each quarterly issue. The magazine will feature heirloom and everyday sewing projects to delight the most discriminating sewist. Patterns will come in a separate envelope along with the magazine. No more tearing out pattern sections……all of the patterns will be easy to read and store! Unlike anything you have seen before, Classic Sewing will feature designs from top designers in the industry. There is something fabulous for everyone in the magazine.


August Birthdays

Aug 23 – Jane Soffos
Aug 26 – Kittie Hadskey

See you Tuesday!

Susan

July 9, 2015

July, 2015

This Month’s Meeting

Our monthly meeting will be Tuesday, July 14 at 6:30 pm. (We will not meet at Panera this month due to our annual salad supper meeting.)

Current signup includes the following – please bring your favorite dish
Kit – Grape Salad
Vivian - Drinks
Amy – Chocolate Dessert Delight
Susan – Applesauce Salad - Rolls

Kit’s Korner

Dear Ladies,

I'm hoping everyone had a happy and relaxing Fourth of July! Is it me, or does everyone feel like this sort of marks the halfway time for summer? Seems like it just got here, and now it's halfway over! However, it also marks some exciting things happening in our sewing world!! 

Hopefully you know by now that Lace Cottage has been purchased! If you don't know the good news, let me be the first to tell you!!!!! Our own Vivian Sturks and her partner Phyllis have decided to keep the legacy going! They are in the process of restocking merchandise and changing locations. 

As of now, it looks like Lace Cottage will be relocated to a space off Exeter off Poplar. The driveway right after Germantown Rehabilitation Hosp. and straight to the back on the right. Previously a hair salon. It is all freshly painted and remodeled and best of all, has classroom facilities!!!! So it's basically just at the opposite end of where we were before. I believe the target date is mid-August, but I think this will be posted on the Lace Cottage Facebook page.

This is a huge step in anyone's life, so let's not forget to support our local shop when they re-open!!
So, Just when we think all is lost, it seems miracles do happen!! Thanks to Vivian and her partner!
kit

Calling all Wee Care gowns!

Please remember to bring your Wee Care gowns - ready or not - to our July 14th meeting. It's time to gather the gowns together to share with our "littlest angels". Thanks!

Program and Refreshments

Our July meeting will be our annual salad/dessert supper. Please note the time change is 6:30. Bring a salad or dessert to share and your current sewing project. See you there!

September Program – Special Request

Please start saving selvages for a program Debbie doing in September.  More information to come.


Wee Care Gowns – 4th Tuesday of Each Month from  January – October

Please bring in any finished (or unfinished) Wee Care gowns and be prepared to take home some new ones! Our next Wee Care workday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Poplar Pike) will be Tuesday, July 28 from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.
If you can come for all or part of the day, it would be a great help. We need folks to bring sewing machines to sew the outfits that have been pinned.  

Kudos to those 9 ladies who helped at June’s workday: Amy Johnson, Regina Sanford, Jane Soffos,  DiAnne Drennen, Jane Gross, Glynda Whitlow, Marty Cobb, Connie Scott and Susan Batson

Show and Share:

Our June Wee Care Workday was really productive – see our ladies hard at work!





We celebrated Regina’s birthday!



Connie shared her finished quilt project - 6 months in the making!



Susan’s granddaughters in Baltimore, Molly (8) and Leah (5 ½), are taking sewing lessons from their mom (Susan’s daughter), Jen, this summer. Here they are concentrating on sewing samples during Lesson #2. Both girls are sewing on actual sewing machines!




"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy fabric, and that's pretty close." – Unknown

Media Announcements:

Memphis Area Smocking Guild Group - Facebook. 
Marty Cobb has created the MASG Facebook page. Be sure to Join and follow the latest news from our members and other interested smockers and sewers!

Sew Classic For Children – Facebook - Sew Classic for Children is a group for all levels of sewing children's clothing. We love classic, tailored and heirloom designs. Share your Children's Corner Pattern creations along with your comments. In addition we are delighted to answer questions.

Classic Sewing Magazine Group - Facebook…..Classic Sewing will have 132 pages of glorious sewing ideas, patterns, tips, techniques and will include at least two full size patterns in each quarterly issue. The magazine will feature heirloom and everyday sewing projects to delight the most discriminating sewist. Patterns will come in a separate envelope along with the magazine. No more tearing out pattern sections……all of the patterns will be easy to read and store! Unlike anything you have seen before, Classic Sewing will feature designs from top designers in the industry. There is something fabulous for everyone in the magazine.

Lace Cottage – Facebook Watch for information about reopening

July Birthdays – None known this month
See you Tuesday!

Susan

June 3, 2015

June, 2015

This Month’s Meeting

Our monthly meeting will be Tuesday, June 9 at 7:00 pm. We will meet at Panera for dinner at 5:30. All are welcome! Please join us!

Kit’s Korner

Hello Friends!

This month's Kit's Korner is somewhat bittersweet for me. As most of you know by now, Lace Cottage is closing at the end of June. This has been a 15 1/2 year endeavor between lots of people.  When my sister Diane and I opened Lace Cottage in 1999, there were several Smocking shops to choose from. Today there is basically just one and that is Lace Cottage. It saddens me to think there will be nowhere for us to go and visit, touch, look and just simply enjoy the ambience of a Smocking shop!

Something about sharing your projects with like-minded people, whether you even know them or not, is so gratifying. Many, many times, I have stood working in the shop and a new sewer had received praise and ideas from an experienced sewer, just standing side by side ready to check out! I will miss that kind of mentorship. I will miss not seeing the customers as often, helping them through their ideas and projects. But most of all, I will miss the routine and friendships that Lace Cottage forged, a reason to stay involved!

Thank you for allowing me this bit of self-indulgence- SEW ON!!

P. S. 
Lace Cottage Sale……..fabric 30%, lace 25%


Program and Refreshments

Our program will be provided by Marty and refreshments will be provided by DiAnne.


For Marty’s program she will be making a baby bonnet. It will be a demonstration session, so be sure to bring your notebook to take good notes from the discussion!

You can also 1) bring your sewing machine with basic sewing kit and make the bonnet at our meeting or 2) take the instructions and try it at home. She will have one made up to show the finished bonnet and then go thru the steps with us. 

Materials and Supplies

  • 14" X 8-1/2" Bastiste 100% cotton or synthetic fabric 
  • 46 inches of 3/8" wide satin ribbon 
  • 36 inches of 1/2" wide satin ribbon 
  • Embroidery thread to match fabric 
  • Spray starch 
  • 60 weight thread to match fabric 
  • Wing needle  

September Program – Special Request

Please start saving selvages for a program Debbie doing in September.  More information to come.


Wee Care Gowns – 4th Tuesday of Each Month from  January – October

Please bring in any finished Wee Care gowns and be prepared to take home some new ones! Our next Wee Care workday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Poplar Pike) will be Tuesday, June 23 from 9:30 – 2:00.
If you can come for all or part of the day, it would be a great help. We need folks to bring sewing machines to sew the outfits that have been pinned.  

Show and Share:

Thanks for this cartoon, Amy! So true!



Sewing on Wheels! - Debbie




Thread Spool Holder - Amy

This is an antique spool holder from late 1800's. It belonged to Mark Twain (Samuel Clements) mother. It was in his childhood home.



Dress from Stitchers Playhouse Class - Glynda



Wee Care Design - ALLISON LEIGH.....Ellen McCarn –  Facebook  Sew Classic for Children


Happy Birthday!

Kellie – June 17th
Regina – June 26th

See you Tuesday!

Susan

May 6, 2015

May, 2015

This Month’s Meeting

Our monthly meeting will be Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 pm. We will meet at Panera for dinner at 5:30. All are welcome! Please join us!

Kit’s Korner

Hello ladies,
     I sent Susan a picture of a Bib Dress that I just completed for a customer. The original pattern came from an older Sew Beautiful Magazine. I must admit, I was somewhat surprised at the lack of instruction that came with the pattern. Now I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable sewer, but even this one threw me several times! It had no instruction for the skirt, so one just fumbles thru that part by oneself!! Finally complete, I was very pleased with the end results. Now in review, I do believe you could make this dress from a yoke pattern by merely extending the yoke down some about an 1 1/2 below the armhole. I also think the yoke can be a palette for a number of different ideas, from vertical Smocking with insertions, to heirloom techniques, embroidery to hand loomed fabric as I used. Even silk ribbon is an option. The original pattern is not lined, but I chose to do so. This dress is adorable, but only goes to a size. 4. Happy to answer any further questions on Tuesday night!! 
See everyone then! 

Program and Refreshments
Our program and refreshments will be provided by Kittie.

September Program – Special Request

Please start saving selvages for a program Debbie doing in September.  More information to come.


Wee Care Gowns – 4th Tuesday of Each Month from  January – October
Please bring in any finished Wee Care gowns and be prepared to take home some new ones! Our next Wee Care workday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Poplar Pike) will be Tuesday, May 26 from 9:30 – 2:00.
If you can come for all or part of the day, it would be a great help. We need folks to bring sewing machines to sew the outfits that have been pinned.  


Show and Share:

 DiAnne Oliver & s garden party dress size 8




Photo from Easter from Jane Soffos -  suits I made for my grand niece's boys for Easter

From Kit:
Something I recently made!


 Amy from Stitchers Playhouse Class

This is the dress we made in class.  We all had a wonderful time. Ann and Jeanie are so much fun. It is the Bonnie Blue Ashley pattern with Jeanie's own ruffle creation. Also, the lunch was worth the drive. Great!!!



DiAnne – Dress from Stitchers Playhouse Class




Happy Birthday!

Laura - May 14th
Debbie - May 29th

See everyone Tuesday night!

Susan