Nurse Nancy Update-- Review

You can go see the original write up here but my friend, Nancy, had something to add once I delievered the order:

My granddaughter loves the story of Nurse Nancy, the 1950s Little Golden Book which was re-released last year. She asked for the Nurse Nancy dress for her birthday, but I was unable to find anything even remotely similar. Fortunately, I found Tonya! She used an old fifties pattern for the dress, had a pattern for the cape, and found the perfect material for both. Then she made up the apron and hat from scratch! Tonya used her sewing skill, attention to detail, and creativity to make a Nurse Nancy dress of the highest quality. Highly recommended. Thank you so much, Tonya.


Thank you, Nancy. I couldn't have been more pleased to be able to give something back to you.

Memorial Day

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
~Excerpt from http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Thankfully, our town does celebrate Memorial Day and has a parade. Yesterday, I started pulling things together and collecting what I needed to make sure the kids were dressed patriotically. It wasn't just me who wanted them to have red, white and blue.

They did too.

I think we've finally made it. The dh and I can truly take credit for this one.

Our children are patriotic, proud of their country, and thankful to those that serve. And we modeled it.

Thank you, Veterans, past and present. We love what you have given us and pray for you every day.

I stole it.

Yes, I stole it. From someone else who stole it. And she before that stole it..

If you steal it too, let me know so I can see!

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.

Not as easy as you might think.
Remember: one word answers

1.Where is your mobile phone? Kitchen
2.Your significant other? Bedroom
3.Your hair? Ponytail
4.Your mother? Deceased
5.Your father? Honest
6.Your favorite thing? Cookies
7.Your dream last night? None
8.Your favorite drink? Coffee
9.Your dream/goal? Satisfaction
10.The room you’re in? Living
11.Your ex? Dunno
12.Your fear? Illness
13.Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
14.Where were you last night? Home
15.What you’re not? Boring
16.Muffins? Morning
17.One of your wish list items? Serger
18.Where you grew up? Cranston
19.The last thing you did? Sew
20.What are you wearing? Jammies
21.Your TV? Survivor
22.Your pets? Dog
23.Your computer? Dell
24.Your life? Hectic
25.Your mood? Relaxed
26.Missing someone? Yes
27.Your car? Mustang
28.Something you’re not wearing? Jewelry
29.Favorite Store? Fabric
30.Your summer? Hot
31.Like someone? Huh?
32.Your favorite color? Pink
33.When is the last time you laughed? Minutes
34.Last time you cried? Dunno

Tag. You're it.

I won!!

Oh yay!! After a very busy, hardworking week, I found this !! Lookee me! I won!



Now, what to get at Sewzanne's ... oh my.. so many choices..

Oh happy day!

Wonderful Day!

~white ash tree~

A friend of ours organized a trip to a local spot, Capen Hill. It's a sanctuary off a busy highway. A quiet spot amidst noise and traffic. Just a lovely place to visit.

There were guided tours organized and the group was split into two- olders and youngers. It was a great time to connect with nature and get a little bit of an education, all in one! My camera battery was dead but thank you to Karen for letting me use these pics!

~ Lil Lady- Grouchified~


~not the salamanders we scooped but just like them~

~the frog Lil Lady spied!~

~the example of taxidermy and a wonderful lunch spot~

~that's me with Lil Lady looking at a find on the table (white hat, white shirt) ~

Duffy's Closing

There's this store out my way called Duffy's. It's a wonderful place for a mismash of fantastic items for KILLER prices. And they are closing. I'm upset about it and here's my letter to United Natural Foods, the company that bought out Millbrook Distribution Services. It kind of explains it all.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my discontent at your closing Duffy’s. It’s a wonderful way for my family, and MANY others, to get regular items for reasonable, affordable prices. Not only that, but I can get my favorite United items without a food coop or insane grocery store prices.

I was a member of a food coop. I enjoyed it, for the most part. There were many parts of it that were difficult for my family to maintain. Now, you are taking my resource to get my children low processed, quality ingredient foods away from me. With this decision, you are only making enemies as being the ‘big corporate bad guy’ and coming in and removing a local favorite. My sister would come from RI to frequent Duffy’s so it’s not just locals even.

I have access to that food coop but I can tell you wholeheartedly that I will NOT be rejoining now or in the future. You are a big corporate meanie just like all the others and are showing that you care little about the customers. My children are growing up thinking that the only place you can shop is crummy, disgusting, shameful WalMart.

Regards,
Tonya

Custom Orders

Oh yes, I'm actually taking, and FILLING, custom orders! I'm still in shock. I mean, who am I, after all?

This is, yet, another post about "a little credit". I have trouble 'saying' it out loud but, yes, I can sew. I can create. And I am talented. ~gulp~ that last one was hard to type. After all the stupid mistakes I make, it's hard to consider myself skilled. However, look at some of my April accomplishments:

This:

As requested from this:

A friend asked me if I could make her granddaughter Nurse Nancy's dress from this little book. Yes, it's a dress from a pattern from the late 50s. Yes, I located the right fabric. Yes, I created the apron by eye. The hat is still in the creation process but everything else, as you can see, is completed.

Then, there was the Alchemy request from Etsy that went from simple to hectic to ...well.. to be not so humble.. beautiful

There was my first show. There was the tutorial submission. There was the adding back of Lil Lady and my playgroup facilitating. There was the taking on another childcare job. And there were all the sewing projects that I did for Lil Lady, some simply for her, some as prototypes for the custom orders.

Such as:

It was finally warm and she needed shorts!

Then there was the Redondo prototype, which is my new favorite pattern!

Then, just to be sure that the capelet pattern wasn't any harder than it looked (and it wasn't but lining it was no picnic on the actual order)

And then, the Alchemy order that I'd hoped I'd finish today but I did work a 12 hr day today so perhaps I was aiming a tad high.. Cute Alexander Henry base for a Redondo and coordinating appliqued tank.

I'll bet I'm forgetting some things. Such as the opening of my new Etsy shop- http://www.thesensoryshoppe.etsy.com/ which is going to provided weighted items- and the custom order of two lap pads.

April has been quite a month! It's been wild and stressful and exciting and invigorating, all in one. I do need to thank my family and friends for helping me get through this month and hanging in there with me.

Hey... anyone have a custom order??...

Much love XOX