The Graduate

I'm trying to catch up on my posts, which is why this one is so late in coming. Our son, Evan graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette last month and we couldn't be more proud of him. Earning a degree in Visual Arts, specifically web design and graphics, Evan was scouted by three separate companies before school ended. He decided on the Jones Group of Lafayette, LA where he serves as head of the web department. After commencement, we celebrated with our entire family and friends with a buffet dinner at our home in New Orleans. I'm beaming.

Evan's first congratulations after commencement.

Red velvet cake with chocolate dipped strawberries and raspberries on top.

Billy, Evan and me.

Evan and Andrea.

Dubutante Hoedown

Last weekend Evan and Andrea join Billy and me at a coming out party for the daughter of our best friends, Rhonda and Chris Simmons. This delightful and beautiful young girl is being presented this year and we couldn't be more proud of her. The Western theme party was one of the best we have ever attended. Congratulations, Maddie.

Evan and Andrea "chillin'"

Self portrait of Wendy and Maddie

Cowboy Billy and Wendy. Heehaw!!!

Wendy's Girls

For the past 2 weeks, I have been doing something I never thought I would ever do. I hosted a sewing camp for girls ages 10 and 11. If you have ever been in my class, you'll know I hardly ever teach beginning sewists, as most of my classes are geared to intermediate/advanced embroiderers. And even though I was let's say, a bit hesitant to try, I admit this experience has been the most rewarding of my career.

The first week, I planned to accept only four students in the age group of 9 to 13. I had three girls sign up and luckily, they were all the same age. These fifth-graders had never turned on a sewing machine before, and had never touched an iron in their lives. Before class even started, I was mentally preparing for a challenging week. Class was slated to run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and I wasn't the least bit sure how the planned projects would be received, nor if the curriculum was possible during the allotted time. If nothing else, this would be a very interesting experience.

With Jane Briscoe at my side, I began explaining how sewing machines worked and how to thread a bobbin and adjust the settings. Okay, so that went well, I had to admit. Two of the girls rented machines from me and started class in the morning. The third girl was arriving after lunch, as she would be getting new braces first thing in the morning. I was worried about whether she would be feeling well enough to participate in the lesson, but I put it in the back of my mind while I concentrated on the two other girls.

We started on a cute and simple little cloth tissue holder consisting of one piece of fabric and three seams. I decided to prepare the fabrics and cut them to size so we could begin immediately. I gave each student a scrap of fabric so they could practice sewing straight. Everything was going nicely. The little tissue holders turned out cute and the students were feeling confident so we decided to stop for lunch and wait for our third attendee to arrive. We spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the next day making cute tote bags, then we decided to make little purse pincushions. Things got a bit hectic the next day without Jane's help, but I managed to keep control of the situation and continued to have fun with the girls. Having both projects turned out darling, I was beginning to feel my sewing school was turning into a great success.

Wednesday, we began working on pillowcase dresses for each girl. I measured them and adjusted the patterns accordingly. We worked on the dresses two days and each girl completed them and wore them home. Even the moms were getting excited now. Friday was spent working on cute Hello Kitty pillows made of terrycloth and satin. The girls learned basic applique techniques while reminising about a wonderful week of sewing.

The following week, two of the students decided to return for another session and were joined by a third girl. I started them working on sewing machine pads with organization pockets in their choice of fabrics. Each one was completely different and suited their personalities perfectly. The next day we worked on a Crazy Patch square and embellished it with machine stitches. Then, we turned the square into an ipad cover. Each girl made a tunic of cute printed fabric and contrasting microcheck flounce. They turned out darling. The last day, we decided to make a lap quilt with puffy appliqued softballs, in homage to their team sport.

If you think your daughter or granddaughter would be interested in joining me for our next session, please don't hesitate to contact us. As of now, we have four spots available in July. I promise, you won't regret the experience.

La Broderie 2012

We just got back from our final La Broderie Bayou retreat on Avery Island a few weeks ago. We had a great time while working on my latest design, "Lulu" a pretty baby gown and matching coat. With a full four days of stitching instruction, I feel certain that everyone had ample time to perfect a bullion flower and a ton of beautiful Granito dots. It was so relaxing and such a luxury to spend an entire day working on one stitch. Many actually completed her embroidery in class, which has to be a "first."

My friend, Margaret Taylor was on hand to prepare the delicious food and refreshments. Homemade from scratch desserts and a bounty of good eats awaited the hungry stitchers thrice daily. Linda Burns, my co-teacher from the Martha Pullen School pitched in to help in the classroom and kitchen. And of course, Penny and Jane were there to see to it that everything went off without a hitch.

Although we have no plans to return to Avery Island, we are leaving the door open in case we change our minds. Meanwhile, La Broderie Bayou will be held in our New Orleans studio next June. Please mark your calenders for this fantastic event.

If you would like to order a pattern or kit of the project, please let us know. The pattern is available in size 6mo only.

Lulu baby coat and matching baby gown featuring feather-stitched smocking and hand embroidered bullions and Granitos.

Humpty Done-dy

If I said I was one hundred percent happy with my completed piece, I would be stretching the truth. Honestly, I wish I had one more day to redo some of the cutwork brick areas. I was so focused on not cracking the bullion purl, I wasn't watching my spacing. Some of my bricks look so crowded but I truly don't know how they will be graded. I had to let them go as they were, as time ran out quicker than expected.

If you noticed, there is a big gap in the work progress as depicted in my photos. Those were the critical moments when I was working on my own well into the night and told myself I would photograph my work first thing in the morning. Well, that didn't happen, so here's what I have managed to record.

Last minute details take shape. Lips stitched in stria-shaded padded satin stitching, jacket studded with French knotted paillettes, and work begins on brick wall.

Cutwork along bricks is almost completed. The tiny shoe is formed of pueter colored kid leather complete with tiny buckle and strap. Along the brick ledge is S-ing technique of rough purl and bright check alternately.

The completed work with added shading to legs and wall.

Closeup of bricking and details of sock. Note the lapel is stitched with plate, one of the advanced stitch requirements.

Gold Rush

I'm sorry that I haven't had time to check in with you this past week. I have been busy working on my goldwork project in San Francisco and haven't had a moment to spare for anything but stitching. I did manage to keep a photo diary of my progress each day.

Here I am working on my slate frame and trestle stands.

This photo shows the felt areas in preparation of metal threads. The yellow areas are for gold threads and the white areas are for silver threads.

Silver Japan thread outlines the head while Gold Japan threads form the pants.

A closeup view of the right hand. Notice the shades of purple shading.

Kid leather forms the bow and work begins on the left hand. Note the string padding along the crease of the hand. The head is outlined with silver pearl purl and the facial features take shape.

Up to my ears in Gold!

Greetings from San Francisco where I am working on my Advanced Goldwork project with the Royal School of Needlework. I cannot believe I have already completed Day 3 of 10 of my module.

I designed a whimsical project not knowing if it would be allowed, and a more traditional Jacobean project just in case the first one was rejected. I was delighted when my tutor, Sarah Homfray gave the "thumbs up" and I could begin working my adorable Humpty Dumpty design. This character has always been near and dear to my heart. As a child, I happened on the most charming over-sized stuffed Humpty Dumpty I had ever seen at a nearby gift shop. Christmas being only a few days away, it was the only item specified on my Christmas list. Although it was quite expensive, I knew if anyone could afford to buy it, Santa could.

My mother, the single parent of four girls, knew how much that stuffed Humpty Dumpty meant to me and on Christmas Eve, she approached the store manager and with all the fortitude she could muster, explaining how slim his chances of selling it after Christmas. The manager was convinced and a sizable price reduction was administered, making the unusual item affordable. Needless to say, I was completely overjoyed that Christmas morning at the sight of my Humpty Dumpty. I kept it throughout my teenage years and when I moved out, I made throw pillows from his stuffing for my first apartment, unable to bear throwing it out.

Here are a few pics of my design and progress so far. I have managed to stay on target with my work, completing the pricking and pouncing in order to transfer the design onto the fabric and lacing up my slate frame on Saturday, completing the padding (applying felt) on Sunday, and working the pants today in laid work. Tomorrow, I hope to complete all the plunging (bring the thread tails to the back) and beginning the laid work on the hands. Stay tuned.

Pencil drawing of Advanced Goldwork project, featuring Humpty Dumpty. Notice the thread breakdown and stitch plan. This design is taken from a 1930's Nursery Rhyme book.

The pink gingham silk dupioni is the fabric I have chosen for my piece. What you are looking at is the goldenrod colored felt applied to the fabric. The gold threads are a combination of Japanese gold #5 and Roccoco gold. The white padded felt areas are the hands, which will be stitched in silver threads.

This is a closeup of my work in progress. Note the yellow paint lines on the fabric, which will be covered with metal threads. The dark areas are where I have couched the threads in place with purple silk, facing out to light lavender to create coloration and shading to the pants. All the ends will be brought to the back and tied off. For now, they are held in place with hair tape so they don't get caught in my stitches.