Spring 2010 Workshop

Our annual workshop featuring Trisha Smith of Trisha's Treasures was a great success. We may have been a small crowd but we were mighty.

Pocket Full of Posies Dress

by Trisha Smith

Friday's project was the Pocket Full of Posies Dress. We learned several new tips, tricks and techniques. The dress is even more cute in person, if that is possible.

We had a visitor join us for the workshop, it was great to have you, S.B. Hope you will join us again. Here, S.B. is trying to work Trisha magic with her continuous placket. Trisha has a great technique to attain a puckerless placket. 

F.T. is pinning her posie. It promises to be a cute one.

R.S. is stitching her posie. We were glad to see her after she has been so sick all winter. Welcome back R.!

Trisha is such an accommodating teacher, she had already cut out all of the bias trim pieces for us. Now that is service! Also pictured are some of Trisha's patterns that were just launched at the SAGA convention last fall.

 

Then it was time for lunch. Girls can't together without lunch! One of the girl's husband texted her to ask if she was in "salad heaven." Lunch was provided by our members. It was delicious both days.

And because not only did we enjoy lunch, we had flowers 

and favors to match. Life's pleasures are in the little things.

Tucked Away Dress

by Trisha Smith

Saturday's project was an adaptation of Children's Corner Maggie called the Tucked Away Dress. Very cute.

After checking our patterns for accuracy and matching plaids,

we learned how to change the look of the plaid in a creative way. Trisha proved to be a very patient teacher.

Our chapter is very fortunate to have a great space for classes with lots of natural light and plenty of space. We decided though no matter how much space we had, we creep out to fill it all. 

Trisha also brought along lots of samples. This is just a peek at one of the many items she brought for us to drool over.

All in all, we had a wonderful time. Now it is time to put on our thinking caps to decide who to have next year come to our chapter.

And it should be fun in the next few months to see the finished projects at our monthly meetings.

March 2010 Meeting

 Sorry for the blurry picture.

We gathered together to celebrate the coming of spring. There were no guests this month but we did enjoy the return of a long time member, P.R. Welcome back.

We remember in our thoughts and prayers D. B. and V.K. who both lost their fathers in law this past month. Also remembering R.S. who has been feeling under the weather this winter.

The pot of gold was brought by J.S., great to see her looking well. The pot of gold was a darling Easter themed smocking plate with flosses for the recipient to use for stitching. G.S. was the winner, again! For our visitors, our monthly Pot of Gold drawings help fund out library.

The Spirit of St. Louis Smockers has instituted a "Show and Share Incentive" this year. Tickets are awarded for each item brought for show and share, with additional tickets being awarded if the item is smocked, a Wee Care gown or entered into the state fair. The prize is two $100 gift cards to be awarded at the end of the year. It has definitely increased the shared inspiration brought to our meetings. Pictures to follow.

Our program for the evening was presented by A.G. on different pleating methods that included pleating double layers, preparing to pleat a bishop, seamless pleating and general pleating tips. C.T. paid close attention to how to pleat a bishop. She is determined to smock a bishop after smocking for 28 years. We will see if she has one to show off soon.

Above are F.T.'s Easter eggs. A cute touch to be ready for the spring holiday.

How cute is this? C.T. made this bra apron for a local school fundraiser. She also said that she often gives this as a bridal shower gift. She gives it with instructions that if the bride wears only this, she doesn't have to cook! Very clever.

M.T. was busy this month. She brought not only this beautiful bonnet;

she also brought this sweet Wee Care gown,

as well as this blast from the past. An Easter dress she made for her daughter 25 years ago. It is still a classic. Very pretty M.

 

J.R. has pledged to reduce her stash. So she made this gorgeous bishop with matching slip. The back was as pretty as the front.

A.H. is busy preparing for her daughter's wedding. After bringing two beautiful flower girl dresses last month, she brought a ring bearer pillow to match this month. She used the cut away armholes from the flower girl dresses to make this smocked pillow. Very clever use of some beautifuly beaded smocking. She told us that there were over 2000 beads smocked into the two dresses. Who would want to waste any of that?

N.Z. made a precious diaper shirt using Kari Mecca's pattern. Sorry the second picture is a bit out of focus but her bullions monkeys were darling. Oops, we didn't get a picture of the tiny banana on the back. What a cute gift for any young man.

S.C. made two adorable jumpers for her granddaughter. One for Easter with a sweet bunny  hopping along the contrast hem, and a cute cute clown. Her granddaughter wore the clown jumper recently to the circus. How fun!

M.B. is getting ready for her first granddaughter. She brought a beautiful daygown and 6 easy but cute burpcloths. (Notice the matching hanger for the gown. Talk about going overboard!)

And you really missed it if you weren't there. J.R. brought a wholecloth quilt her mother recently stitched. All stitched by hand and it took her mother only four weeks to complete. This picture doesn't begin to do it justice. She made it for a 25th Wedding Anniversary gift.

We hoped you enjoying hearing about our get together this month. Stay tuned to hear about our upcoming workshop with Trisha Smith next month.

Welcome

 Cathy G's Smocked Easter Eggs

Welcome to the Spirit of St. Louis Smockers blog. Our goal through this blog is to not only help members keep up with chapter happenings but also to introduce potential members to our great group. We are 26 members strong with needle artists of all ages and abilities.

Feel free to look around. Notice the tabs at the top of the page for meeting times and places. Also notice the Flickr badge to your right to see some of the beautiful work by our members.