Smocking a Diaper Shirt in 500 easy steps!

The process of making a little smocked bishop's diaper shirt begins with sewing the right back to the right sleeve to the front to the left sleeve to the left back.  hahaha!  so simple! so easy!

So there it is, a size 12 month diaper shirt, not intuitively obvious at this stage.

At this point, you mark the back of the material at regular intervals for the pleating:  500 spots!

Now it is time to pleat the material--taking a little "bite" of the material at each bite, quilting thread is nice and strong, but regular thread works well too.

At this point gather the material...

how are we going to fit this over Charlotte's head? hmmm....did i miss something?

then unfurl the little shirt into a circle.

done at last!  now you tie the thread securely, some distance away from the pleating, to give yourself some breathing room.

fold over and there is the shirt at last!

the initial smocking:

praise God!

(note to self: next time lay the front and back of the pattern with the lower edge on the selvage to avoid needing to put in a hem)

9 months

day after tomorrow, Char will be nine months old....

and her little cousin is just around the corner!

turban baby

thyme out :-)

beauty at bloomers'

This is the corner rack in Mrs. Bloomer's formal dining room.

I like all the pretty plates, candles, napkins, etc. all ready for entertainment.

(even a coffee grinder!)

Would you like a cup of tea? Don't mind if I do, thank you!

How LOVELY!

and yes, i snapped these pics as quickly as possible so Mrs. Bloomer would not catch me in the awkward act of taking pictures in her house before jeanne's voice lessons began.

some sewing and a walk

Today Madeline's baptismal gown was pleated!  After being pleated, the gown was laid out and sprayed with starch. After the starch dries,  it will be ready for Teresa to start  the smocking:

Betty and I have been dreaming of screened in porches.  Here is what Laura's looks like from her kitchen:

And  Lu's kitchen:

After which we went for a walk:

But Teresa STILL did not go into labor!  Oh, it's just as well--she isn't due for 3 weeks!

                                                                                       

                                                                               

A Couple of Visits

Yesterday afternoon Mikey left for mobilization.  We stopped by just after Seton pickup to say goodbye and got this picture.  Of course, we should have thought to take a picture of Laura and Mikey, but we didn't.

After dropping Peter off for wrestling, Ken and I stopped by again for a little evening visit with Laura and Charlotte.

Wrestling

Peter and the Cougars Wrestling Team

so

what do you think his professional wrestling name might be?

Mosquiter Peter?

Myers the Plyers?

The Sixth Grade Grenade?

Lego Pawn Stars Store

Baptismal Gown

Betty inspired me to smock a baptismal gown for Teresa and Pat's baby.  This gown is size  0-3months,  and made of cotton.  The small cross is embroidered at the hem in the front of the gown, and Teresa will embroider her little one's initials and a shamrock on the gown too.  The very tiny oblong pearl beads on the front smocking are from Teresa's wedding veil.

This has been an amazing experience, and thank you, Betty, for the patterns and directions!  Teresa's friends Mary and Stephen are expecting a little girl in June, and have asked Tee and Pat to be her godparents.  This week Teresa and I are starting on little Madeline Rose's baptismal gown--I'll sew and pleat it, and Tee will  smock the gown.  Fun!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Myers

Happy 76th!

as in 76 trombones led the big parade!

Grandma's comment: "He's as old as i am again."

Kenny replied: "The age of wisdom!"

Jeanne's good fortune

Please pray for Jeanne as this semester she begins to study

the New Testament with Mrs. Carroll.  Jeanne said

today that without doubt this is the best class she has ever 

taken, and that she believes Mrs. Carroll to be a living saint. 

Keep at it, for the Lord!

Super Bowl Party

The Gracious Hosts!

The Cute Baby!

some of the beautiful guests

Uncle Buncle Johnny!

And doting grandpapa and Uncle Buncle Peter!

Oh, and I think there was a football game, too! :-)

Cooking Adventures with Ina

I received this lovely book from a friend

and this is the result of the first recipe!

the roasted kale was delicious and i definitely would like to fix it again.

jeanne and mimi

Sisters are also the pepperoni 

on the 

pizza of life!

Jeanne and Teresa

Tee came over yesterday to write thank you cards to all the generous friends who have given the Greniers so many lovely baby gifts.

In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips.

The Blessed Sacrament, our best Friend on earth!

The words of St. Catherine Laboure

"Whenever I go to the chapel,
I put myself in the presence
of our good Lord and I say to him,
'Lord, I am here. Tell me what
You would have me do.'

"If he gives me some task,
I am content and I thank him.

"If he gives me nothing,
I still thank him since I do not deserve
to receive anything more than that.

"And then, I tell God everything
that is in my heart.
I tell him about my pains and my joys,
and then I listen.

"If you listen, God will also will also speak to you,
for with the good Lord,
you have to both speak and listen.

"God always speaks to you
when you approach him plainly and simply.

Visiting Falcons Landing

 Betty, Laura, Charlotte, Mimi, Peter and I braved the wind chill and traffic this bright February morning to visit Nonie and Nano.

Charlotte enjoyed seeing the "greats"!

Uncle Peter helped her keep her balance on the little oak chair.

Mommy sat there too :-)

Aunt Betty had some fun games to play.

Loving from Mimi

Charlotte found an upside down reflection in an unlikely spot and was very intrigued about that other baby.

a couple candles and a tray bought at The Store

Blessings!  Thanks be to God for His Mercy!