CHRISTMAS IN CORONADO

 The Hotel Del Coronado is all decked out for the holidays.  After 3 straight days of rain, last night it finally was clear and I went and took pictures of the hotel.

 The tree inside the hotel lobby.

 Another display in the hotel.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa to everyone!  And all the best in 2011!!!

A VERY VINTAGE DRESS

This dress is/was my Great Aunt Leta's (second) wedding dress in 1950.  I wore to a family dinner last Saturday night to honor her.  

It has a full circle skirt.  The dress is made out of a silk taffeta with a quilted waist and horsehair at the hem to make it stand out.

With my cousin Ryan

And my cousin Grace

This is Leta with her new husband Joe, 1950.  She was born on 22 December 1915 and died several years ago at almost 93.  (There is a picture of us together, taken in 2001 at a family reunion, but I cannot find those pictures.)  

So, even though you are gone, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow on what would have been your 95th birthday!

AN EASIER WAY

 When my client asked me to replace the covers over her outdoor cushions (you know, the kind that are made out of the almost plastic-y fabric that have a bend in them so that the seat and back are together in one cushion) that are on the chairs in front of her shop here in Coronado, I balked.  The covers that were on (and falling apart) the cushions at that point had (gasp) velcro for a closure.  Have I ever mentioned I HATE velcro?  Not only do I hate it, my sewing machine hates it as well.  I avoid it like the plague.  

So I figured out an easier, and I think, better way.  I used little ties instead.  It becomes a part of the design of the cover and looks waaaaay better than velcro ever could.  This cover was actually pretty simple.  It has a mock-box at the bottom to give the cover a more fitted look without making a boxed cover, which probably wouldn't bend the way it needs to.  My client was happy, I was happy, and, most importantly, my sewing machine was happy!

AND THE WINNER IS...

Debby from Romancing the Bling!

And do yourself a favor and go visit Deb's blog.  She makes the most amazingly beautiful jewelry.  As I've said many times, I am not a jewelry person, but her stuff could almost convert me!  It's that lovely!

Congratulations, Deb!

This giveaway is the last I'll have for a while.  At least that's what I'm thinking today.  Next week, who knows?  Thanks to everyone who left a comment.  I wish I could have sent something to all who entered!

SEWING CLASS

 This past Saturday I taught a How To Make a Slipcover for a Dining Chair class at a local fabric store.

 There were two of these chairs and as the class was scheduled for just two hours, I made this one at home on Friday.

 I knew I couldn't do this short, ruffled skirt at the store since the thickness of the fabric (a kind of bark cloth-type weight,) the time factor and the fact that I needed to sew it on with my industrial machine made that impossible.  

 I also wanted to show two different styles for the same chair.  I had everything cut out and ready to go.  I thought the tailored skirt would be a more practical one to demonstrate and I figured I would be able to sew the skirt on with my regular Bernina.  I thought wrong.  In the end, I had to bring it home to sew the back corners with the industrial.  Still, I was able to show how it is done and even put it on the chair so that everyone could see the finished slipcover.

 The finished chair with its long, tailored skirt.

And the same chair with its short, frilly skirt (my favorite.)  The manager of the store liked them so much that he is now going to design the new bedroom display around these slipcovers chairs.  Not bad, if I do say so myself!

And just a reminder:  You have just one more day to enter my Christmas Tree Skirt giveaway.  I know that blue and white toile may not be everyone's cup of tea, but you can always give it as a gift.  The pictures don't really do it justice.  It is very pretty and will look great under YOUR tree, so leave me a comment on the post from 7 December.  I'll be drawing tomorrow morning.

THE OTHER VELVET SLIPCOVER (FINALLY)

 I'm kind of embarrassed to say how long it took me to get this delivered.  I finished it the week BEFORE Thanksgiving and just took it yesterday to my client.  I forgot about it because I put it in the guest room and, for me, out of sight tends to mean out of mind.  Plus, when I finish something, in my own mind, it's done and delivered, even if it's sitting in my guest room.

 This velvet was no easier than the other one.  At least, though, there wasn't a skirt, so I didn't have to worry about lining.  I did a 1 1/2" ruffle at the bottom instead.  If you click on the picture, you can see the detail better.

 I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to button it (like the other one I had to fix) that I made it slightly looser than I wanted to.  Still, it doesn't look bad.

My client was happy and that's all that matters!

DON'T FORGET MY TREE SKIRT GIVEAWAY.  YOU ANOTHER WEEK TO ENTER THE DRAWING.

A NEW MOTTO TO LIVE BY

 I got this wonderful tile at Artisan's Alley this last Saturday in Coronado.  The artist's name is Carla Stephenson-Funk.  I've decided it is the way I am going to live my life from now on.  And, really, if I am living Happily Ever Now, doesn't that included Ever After, as well?  

Seems to me it does!

You may remember a while back I posted this:

When I first made them up, I did them in several different colors and only the top one made the blog.  This time I thought I'd include the pink variation, too.  I still haven't decided how to use the particular mantra or motto.  Pillows?  T-shirts?  On canvas?  Still contemplating this.  In any case, between this motto and my latest, I think I'm set.  What motto do you live by?  

I'd love to hear.

Tomorrow I will do the tree skirt giveaway.

WE HAVE FOUR WINNERS!!!

The winners of my sea star necklaces are:

Karin from Creative Chaos

Karyn from French Charming

Teresa from Cozy Cottage Slipcovers 

Sandra from Quilt Art Star

Congratulations to all the winners.

I told you I am in a giving mood and my next giveaway will be a blue and white toile tree skirt.  Stay tuned for all the details.

THERE'S STILL TIME TO ENTER

You still have time to enter my sea star necklace giveaway.  I will be drawing 4 names tomorrow morning. To see the other 3 I'm giving away, check out the original post from Sunday, 21 November.  All are different but equally lovely.

To be entered, just leave me a comment on the original post, here on this post or on my Facebook page.  Be sure that your contact info is included so I know how to let you know if you've won.

Good luck!!!