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December 6, 2004
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Website: Garden Fairies Smocking & Needlearts Catalog
Smocking Newsletter - Beth-Katherine Kaiman, copyright 1997-2004, all rights reserved. Please respect my creativity and hard work and ask permission before you copy something from these newsletters for your non profit goup, I always ask that you quote me correctly and give me credit with a way for people to get back to me. Thank you. IF you wish to quote me in a venture for profit please contact me separately concerning royalties.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸Last Minute Christmas Ideas¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
Over the year while working with all these creative ideas that flow through my store I find myself day dreaming about what I want to make for my family for Christmas. Usually the time flys by so fast I find myself at the last minute frantically making things so I thought perhaps I might share some of these last minute ideas with all of you as my gift to you.
My suggestions are:
The standard size for making up a smocked 3" ball with pleated fabric is: 6" x 40", 12 gathered rows with 10 smocked. Finishing off the top and bottom are done when the smocking is finished, using the top pleating thread, pull tight and hand stitch the edges together. You can cover this over with a bell cap if you like or piece of gathered lace, anything will do just as long as it covers the stitches. Hand stitch the tube together so the smocking stitches match, insert the ball. Designs are a plenty, but use shiny floss such as rayon or rayon/silk blends as well as metallic threads for extra sparkle. Add a tassel on the bottom or dangle beads on the bottom (saw an issue of AS&E years ago with ornaments such as these). For an extra touch add in some dried lavender and rose petals.
The standard size for making up a smocked 3" ball with pleated fabric is: 6" x 40", 12 gathered rows with 10 smocked. Finishing off the top and bottom are done when the smocking is finished, using the top pleating thread, pull tight and hand stitch the edges together. You can cover this over with a bell cap if you like or piece of gathered lace, anything will do just as long as it covers the stitches. Hand stitch the tube together so the smocking stitches match, insert the ball.
Designs are a plenty, but use shiny floss such as rayon or rayon/silk blends as well as metallic threads for extra sparkle. Add a tassel on the bottom or dangle beads on the bottom (saw an issue of AS&E years ago with ornaments such as these).
For an extra touch add in some dried lavender and rose petals.
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This year I found a great website which generates your fairy name based on your name.
With all the heaviness that has been going on lately I thought that lighthearted gifts that made people laugh would be just the thing and when I found the fairy name generator I knew it was just the thing.
http://www.emmadavies.net/fairy/
Just type in your name or the name of a loved one and see what their fairy name is.
(Little risque)
For those of you who are watching your cholorestorl here's an old recipe with a new twist. Buffalo meat is becoming increasingly more popular as it is much lower in cholesterol than beef. After tasting a sample of the tasty ground buffalo in my local supermarket I immediately came up with an idea for the perfect gag on my family this Christmas ... I'll be making Swedish Meatballs with Buffalo meat and tag the platter "Buffalo Balls".
Christmas Cordials
Making cordials for the family has been a tradition that my sister started years ago so this year I thought I would try my hand in it. Turned out pretty good as the year's tasters have been saying. My recipe is as follows: In 1 pnt bottle of Vodka, soak for 7 days. You can also use brandy but it changes the flavor a bit. Black cherries Star anise (just a little, strong flavor) Elder flowers Dried cranberries Licorice root Red raspberry leaves Strawberry leaves Red Clover blossoms Strain the mixture in cheesecloth so as to get all the juice out of the leaves and berries. Add an equal part of water to the berries/leaves mixture and let soak for 7 days. At the end of the 7 days mix the two mixtures together, sweeten with honey and let sit for at least 7 days. Bottle and share with family.
Making cordials for the family has been a tradition that my sister started years ago so this year I thought I would try my hand in it. Turned out pretty good as the year's tasters have been saying. My recipe is as follows:
In 1 pnt bottle of Vodka, soak for 7 days. You can also use brandy but it changes the flavor a bit.
Black cherries
Star anise (just a little, strong flavor)
Elder flowers
Dried cranberries
Licorice root
Red raspberry leaves
Strawberry leaves
Red Clover blossoms
Strain the mixture in cheesecloth so as to get all the juice out of the leaves and berries. Add an equal part of water to the berries/leaves mixture and let soak for 7 days. At the end of the 7 days mix the two mixtures together, sweeten with honey and let sit for at least 7 days. Bottle and share with family.
Due to the fact that my family is spread apart over distances I thought the idea of making Christmas gift bags for those little gifts we like to give each other would be just the thing. Making pretty bags for the above cordial can also be part of the gift. Using black silk velvet (or any color really), line it with silk or rayon lining. Work silk ribbon embroidery on the outside using shiny floss (metallics, silk/rayon). Work their fairy name onto the bag or else include their name inside printed in colored ink onto colored card stock that you cut with paper pinking shears.
Due to the fact that my family is spread apart over distances I thought the idea of making Christmas gift bags for those little gifts we like to give each other would be just the thing.
Making pretty bags for the above cordial can also be part of the gift. Using black silk velvet (or any color really), line it with silk or rayon lining. Work silk ribbon embroidery on the outside using shiny floss (metallics, silk/rayon). Work their fairy name onto the bag or else include their name inside printed in colored ink onto colored card stock that you cut with paper pinking shears.
Appliqued smocked motif onto bags or the lid to a fabric box. Origami boxes are fun to make. I saw them on Crafter's Coast to Coast one morning and thought wow it would be fun to glue fabric onto the card stock and add in a smocked insert and either applique it onto the box or sew it in. Use piping all around the insert to either apply or insert it. Stitch in the ditch to apply onto the fabric. Or work embroidery onto the fabric before gluing to the card stock.
Appliqued smocked motif onto bags or the lid to a fabric box.
Origami boxes are fun to make. I saw them on Crafter's Coast to Coast one morning and thought wow it would be fun to glue fabric onto the card stock and add in a smocked insert and either applique it onto the box or sew it in. Use piping all around the insert to either apply or insert it. Stitch in the ditch to apply onto the fabric. Or work embroidery onto the fabric before gluing to the card stock.
New Products mentioned in this newsletter:
Meco Modes Karin & Tanya http://www.smockingstore.com/whatsnew3.html
A delightful smocked panel purse perfect for that little girl in your life or make one for yourself. Uses 22" of fabric with 14 rows so one of our 16row inserts would be enough for two or one for practice.
Meco Modes Patterns from Australia
Smocked Blouses for the Younger Woman (or those who still have a figure)
Another innovative pattern from Meco Modes to satisfy your craving for style as well as smocking. Multi-sized halter-neck top, the shaped midriff section is fully lined and buttons through at the back. View A -0 With shoe-string straps that tie around th enck. View B - With an elegant neck band which closes at the back with buttons. Both are suitable for evening wear, especially if you make them in fine silks or satins. Pattern contains all sizes plus a smocking graph with full instructions and thread color suggestions to stitch the design. Suggested fabrics: Soft materials that drape well, lightweight cotton, silk , polyester, rayon (or blends), voile, batiste, cheesecloth, lawn, chiffon, crepe de chine, georgette, challis. Takes 1 1/3 yards for most sizes.
Suggested fabrics: Soft materials that drape well, lightweight cotton, silk , polyester, rayon (or blends), voile, batiste, cheesecloth, lawn, chiffon, crepe de chine, georgette, challis. Takes 1 1/3 yards for most sizes.
View A - Smocking forms a narrow band around the entire neckline, including an extension that sites across the top of the arm, while rows of smocking, to replicate shirring, control the fullness under the bust. Tiny frills trim the neckline and the upper and lower edges of the armband. A deeper peaked frill is the feature of the hemline. View B - This peasant style, short-sleeved top features the same neckline smocking as view A. The lower edge of the top is cropped short to site beneath the bust. The edges of this top are also finished with tiny frills. A drawstring (narrow cord or ribbon) is use to gather in the lower edge of the sleeves. Suggested fabrics: Soft materials that drape well, lightweight cotton, silk , polyester, rayon (or blends), voile, batiste, cheesecloth, lawn, chiffon, crepe de chine, georgette, challis. Takes 2 1/4 yards for most sizes.
View B - This peasant style, short-sleeved top features the same neckline smocking as view A. The lower edge of the top is cropped short to site beneath the bust. The edges of this top are also finished with tiny frills. A drawstring (narrow cord or ribbon) is use to gather in the lower edge of the sleeves.
Suggested fabrics: Soft materials that drape well, lightweight cotton, silk , polyester, rayon (or blends), voile, batiste, cheesecloth, lawn, chiffon, crepe de chine, georgette, challis. Takes 2 1/4 yards for most sizes.
Terri Woods Pleating DVD http://www.smockingstore.com/pleaters.html
New from Terri Wood - Pleating DVD
In this new pleating DVD by Terri Wood (see her Smocking Video) the quest for visual pleating information has finally been fulfilled. Techniques covered in this DVD include:
Dumpling Dolls http://www.smockingstore.com/childrensbooks.html
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"It's snowing still. AND freezing. However we haven't had an earthquake lately." — Eeyore
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A to Z Sewing for Smockers $28.00
Click on book for table of contents. Price $33.00 Quantity requested *:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*
Click on book for table of contents.
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"With all this snow, not to mention icicles and such-like, it isn't so hot in my field about three o'clock in the morning. In fact, quite-between-ourselves-and-don't-tell-anybody, it's COLD! — Eeyore
Don't forgot to check out our What's New Pages and front door.
For complete information on how to get started smocking please visit this page.
Special Edition - How to do a Bishop Dress
Special Edition - What is Smocking?
Special Edition - How to Get Started Smocking
Special Edition - Eleven Rules of Smocking
Special Edition - How to make the Perfect Bullion and Bullion Rose
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