APPLIQUE WORK, AND SOME MOTHER'S DAY THOUGHTS

It's late Thursday afternoon and my head is ALL over the place. I will attempt to get a few thoughts down.  Let's start with the "light" stuff.  I have spent the last couple of days playing with the embroidery attachment on my machine and having "some" fun, but OK I will admit it, some frustrating moments as well...sigh.  From the moment I first got my machine, I wanted to be able to do MACHINE applique and embroidery designs.  They are just soo cute.  Now I have done lots and lots of straight embroidery, and I have done applique for years. But NOT with my embroidery attachment. Sooo I watched a couple of quick tutorials, decided it looked pretty easy and quick (my favorite!), and got busy picking out a design. I had promised my sister's daughter Michelle that I would make a birthday shirt for her baby to wear at his second birthday party.   I knew he love trains, so I started there.  I downloaded the design, and added on my own touches of age and name. I decided to do a practice one first and it was a good thing I did as it did NOT go as easy and quick as it seemed to do in the tutorials.  Isn't that always the case?  Or maybe it's just me with that problem, lol.  Anyway, I did finally get it to look pretty cute (too bad I am such a perfectionist, as this does make things way more difficult!). I had some fabric on hand that will make a perfect fabric for a matching pair of shorts. (tomorrows assignment) Basically you need such small pieces of fabric that it is the PERFECT way to use up some of your scraps. Most of my frustration came from trying to trim the fabric as close as you possibly can for the finishing satin stitch, without either cutting into your threads, leaving fabric behind that SHOWED, cutting a hole in your shirt (did that once!) and getting into those close together places.  And some of this happened AFTER I purchased this morning a pair of NICE applique scissors too!  I also had the fabric bubble up once as I was trying not to have to spray 505 on the scraps as I was afraid it might make it harder to trim.  Now I am making TWO short sets.  One for the birthday party outfit, and the other to finish off my gift. I have got both shirts done, and just have the shorts to whip up.  That will be soo easy, and I am planning on getting it done tomorrow morning. There will be a party at my oldest son's house on Sunday afternoon after church. I have told you about his yards, which make it just the perfect spot for outdoor parties. Anyway, let me show you the outfits.

THE BIRTHDAY SHIRT OF COURSE...NOTICE THE PLAID PRINT AT THE BOTTOM FOR THE SHORTS...PERFECT HUH?

NOW JAKE'S MAMA HAS A THING FOR SKELETON CROSS BONES AND PIRATES, SO I FOUND THIS FABRIC AND THOUGHT IT WAS PERFECT. I LOOK AT THESE SHIRTS AND THEY LOOK SOOO EASY, BUT I DEFINITELY NEED TO PRACTICE SOME MORE, BECAUSE IT JUST WASN'T THE CASE, LOL

And as for the rest of my thoughts, maybe I will just leave them alone for a while. It's just that's it's May.  And Mother's Day is coming....Mom had her stroke ON Mother's Day last year (pretty much will always be on my mind now) and passed away on the 18th.  I honestly cannot believe we are approaching the one year mark.  How I miss her would be soo hard to explain.  I read back over all my posts from last April and May and had myself a good cry.  Sometimes you just got to do that. Honestly though I am glad most of my thoughts are down in black and white to see and remember.

And!  Our air conditioning is NOT working right... Yes, that's right!  98 degrees outside and my house is NOT cool.  sigh...how dependent we are on things like air conditioning.  I feel like I am living in a desert...oh wait, I am, lol.  The repair guy "MIGHT" get here today, but if not, then not till Monday. The heat wave will be over by then.

A busy week-end is on the horizon and I am looking forward to it as always.  I need to finish up the shorts tomorrow, and then next week I can concentrate on the back of the quilt and those chair cushions.  Hope you all have a relaxing, joy filled week-end!  (and yes, I do know it's only Thursday...just a little ahead of myself, lol)  Blessings,  Debbie