tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040851743472222542024-02-19T19:32:55.513-05:00After the dress..."Yes, Virginia, there is sewing after the wedding dress."Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.comBlogger855125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-75617515139374621892012-09-02T14:28:00.001-04:002012-09-02T14:28:35.059-04:00Thank You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGPOpt3wDsP-g-E2Pg2ncBNwi3dhWMoUZDC2gU9ltcQXhU1gm98OkTwbKyG3aFc-LgP1XLAwndbPNSMDiOTOq8rc4L-jT8fcy7qB1ytbtuXyi0_W-KaQQhyphenhyphenV16L-LoT4y_8QXnmiT96o/s1600/Heart-Thank-You-Card2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGPOpt3wDsP-g-E2Pg2ncBNwi3dhWMoUZDC2gU9ltcQXhU1gm98OkTwbKyG3aFc-LgP1XLAwndbPNSMDiOTOq8rc4L-jT8fcy7qB1ytbtuXyi0_W-KaQQhyphenhyphenV16L-LoT4y_8QXnmiT96o/s1600/Heart-Thank-You-Card2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow”</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~ Swedish Proverb</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are no words to express how much your kindness and concern have meant to me. I can't tell you how many times, over these last few months, I've gone back and re-read your comments and emails and drawn strength from your words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All I can say is "Thank you!" and try to live my thanks by following your examples of friendship and caring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been a slow and halting climb out of the gloom that was threatening to consume me earlier this year. But there is enough sun shining in my life now that I find myself missing blogging and, most of all, missing all of you. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And so, I've been trying to decide whether or not to come back to blogging... and, more specifically, whether or not I should come back to <i><b>this</b></i> blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It seems like the blogging part of my life has been organized in stages around my friend Susan. I started my first blog (The Wedding Dress Saga) to document the process of sewing her wedding dress. That blog ended naturally when she and Matt were married on March 8, 2008. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At that point, I wanted to keep blogging, so I started this blog (After the Dress) as a chronicle of my new sewing projects. It was a wonderful 4 year run, with over 850 posts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then, on March 3rd, 2012, Susan passed away after suffering a completely unexpected stroke several days earlier. I tried to keep blogging for a while, but my sorrow from the loss of this beautiful young friend of mine - a wife and mother to a 2-year-old son - combined with other challenges in my life at the time, overwhelmed me and I had to cut down on the many commitments in my life while I tried to recover... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even though this blog wasn't dedicated specifically to her, it feels like it belongs to a time in my life when Susan was here on this earth - and I could call her up any time, we'd meet for lunch, laugh over toddler stories and share our excitement over new sewing projects... Coming back here without her just didn't seem right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, after a lot of thinking, I've decided to start a new blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope you'll come visit my <a href="http://gwenstriptych.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">new blog</a> - while it will be different in some ways from this blog, I'll still be posting about sewing and stories from my ESL classes - and I'll still have pictures of our cats and from our summer vacations. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Regardless of whether or not you decide to join me on my new blog, I want you to know that you have doubled my joys and halved my sorrows over these last few years. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. </span></div>
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-42109121832565946872012-04-08T12:20:00.000-04:002012-04-08T12:20:41.677-04:00White Flag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No man is defeated without until he is defeated within.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~ Eleanor Roosevelt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrALZNoXGUk6ehWtWubmFQ1CPvVip9nyyPBAXnI2Z-aouCa9lNa_CZg8KFhyphenhyphen5LoHqOirkFlzBA6CpDLNVphx4hmWmV5SoNdzON8lPa1qyUdNbHVaQJiMROjWY-R_hUb3iY3sZ2eq3-gDw/s1600/coyote-under-anvil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrALZNoXGUk6ehWtWubmFQ1CPvVip9nyyPBAXnI2Z-aouCa9lNa_CZg8KFhyphenhyphen5LoHqOirkFlzBA6CpDLNVphx4hmWmV5SoNdzON8lPa1qyUdNbHVaQJiMROjWY-R_hUb3iY3sZ2eq3-gDw/s320/coyote-under-anvil.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With all due respect to Eleanor Roosevelt, I am defeated without and within. A disastrous work trip last week was the final blow. I know that my life is blessed and many people struggle with much more difficult challenges than I can even imagine, but, for the moment, as Ana sometimes says:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Siento que mi corazón no tiene fuerzas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Right now, everything is too much for me - even those things that normally bring me joy and strength. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while - hopefully not long, but we'll see... </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please don't give up on me or forget about me - I know that each of you has a full life and reads lots of blogs and I am just a tiny drop in the bucket - but you are important to me and I don't want to lose you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Gwen</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-71274653391380279852012-04-06T11:00:00.000-04:002012-04-06T11:00:13.242-04:00Friday: Vicarious Vintage 1912<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today's vicarious vintage pattern is a blouse. Here is the pattern illustration: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXzS4arCsUPE8eX-m434I-ilr7qby7URacHmTy3_b9RYXHXlvaEhpvcDd0MnbAhh1YBN4N7Qb0C4FEpxCqk55LqwLoWneltxZ8mu9mCCKtGw2nyQfFq1dKCdnE6izLjKZOQKxwqhWhbg/s1600/pattern_illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXzS4arCsUPE8eX-m434I-ilr7qby7URacHmTy3_b9RYXHXlvaEhpvcDd0MnbAhh1YBN4N7Qb0C4FEpxCqk55LqwLoWneltxZ8mu9mCCKtGw2nyQfFq1dKCdnE6izLjKZOQKxwqhWhbg/s1600/pattern_illustration.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">People have had a lot of fun with this pattern. Msaviano eschewed (woo hoo, big word points for me!) the contrasting fabric shown on the collar and cuffs, and went for binding the collar to make it stand out. You can see more pictures and read about her version <a href="http://vpll1912project.org/2012/02/03/496/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3XCSZcbDeN0ESBbsajvD7uG7e77wO4dYvPIRmJJ_PyDarSefLqIBB7N76V8HcxzNeDKjaEmmG6uI5XbYFyxIKW9h16jb070-hm58qoCwJmGsmVvOCS62S3muXVErTV1rrgkIMGc1Hyg/s1600/fourth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3XCSZcbDeN0ESBbsajvD7uG7e77wO4dYvPIRmJJ_PyDarSefLqIBB7N76V8HcxzNeDKjaEmmG6uI5XbYFyxIKW9h16jb070-hm58qoCwJmGsmVvOCS62S3muXVErTV1rrgkIMGc1Hyg/s1600/fourth.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Karen thought it was the perfect pattern for some striped fabric - look at how she flipped the direction of the stripes on the cuffs. More <a href="http://sewingbytheseatofmypants.blogspot.com/2012/03/vpll-0191-striped-blouse-finished.html" target="_blank">here</a>... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg234p_K1RE-uDlCWmELoTirag4JpQ-JdY1QhVlnNA-3WJoC2QMqR4a94f5cYd2LghT9jFgO-66A0T2GVlKMMf3HCWu176AoZLF91EvK70sOtis_qvvOOP6uDvixyPgr9XfR70gykT6yBQ/s1600/karen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg234p_K1RE-uDlCWmELoTirag4JpQ-JdY1QhVlnNA-3WJoC2QMqR4a94f5cYd2LghT9jFgO-66A0T2GVlKMMf3HCWu176AoZLF91EvK70sOtis_qvvOOP6uDvixyPgr9XfR70gykT6yBQ/s320/karen.jpg" width="221" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lisa and Robin used wooden beads to decorate the collar overlay. Lots more pictures <a href="http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/02/1912-blouse-for-dummies-vpll-1912.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUCysQOwzockx6kYan-SNzPb3tShcWo5ms0war2s-c3D7MmUvPUt80hS5nI5042_69pNN3ZBLpzibvzWmcyfkJtG7IDjBhpcc0-9HcYBTNeDkQpYiDyIvjkZcFtVzmU6OLDaJomy7pbY/s1600/lisa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUCysQOwzockx6kYan-SNzPb3tShcWo5ms0war2s-c3D7MmUvPUt80hS5nI5042_69pNN3ZBLpzibvzWmcyfkJtG7IDjBhpcc0-9HcYBTNeDkQpYiDyIvjkZcFtVzmU6OLDaJomy7pbY/s1600/lisa.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And check out Theresa's beautiful fabric choices. More <a href="http://vpll1912project.org/2012/03/17/dyslexic-blouse/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-CYdQ7x2WaQlADoH7la-Z-u4hqJTRBzv11Fu_YT4WBVwMhv1V9-pugcy-87YTXqWjJZtp8ITGN93x14DEChkxHSHralRoq37qcRQUvHVXCo2BH9_a8BvCDQ_UKFLTJzZLU6FCrTMtBA/s1600/theresa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-CYdQ7x2WaQlADoH7la-Z-u4hqJTRBzv11Fu_YT4WBVwMhv1V9-pugcy-87YTXqWjJZtp8ITGN93x14DEChkxHSHralRoq37qcRQUvHVXCo2BH9_a8BvCDQ_UKFLTJzZLU6FCrTMtBA/s1600/theresa.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Isn't it amazing how one pattern can lead to such different blouses? I'm going to do one more post with a skirt - then we'll have been through a whole outfit - slip, blouse, skirt and the option of a wrap or a coat... ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hopefully, I'll be getting some pictures of my own sewing up SOON! :)</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-6568871133369585612012-04-05T18:00:00.002-04:002012-04-05T18:00:47.173-04:00Thursday: Vicarious Vintage 1912<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today's vicarious vintage project is a coat - called a duster. Here is the pattern illustration: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS0nvUifDJjD6K7hOQSyn5eflSZAhxjMtHjQaNtYL-9hHwosdKuFXBM3lKgk3qBvQPkhHjDjKtwA_0TzCl7FaQ6zOeNVr6hIBXG4Gu903Pwfnqu-KIA6zxKNrjWnhfvcalZrBrmLvnPA/s1600/duster_patternIllustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS0nvUifDJjD6K7hOQSyn5eflSZAhxjMtHjQaNtYL-9hHwosdKuFXBM3lKgk3qBvQPkhHjDjKtwA_0TzCl7FaQ6zOeNVr6hIBXG4Gu903Pwfnqu-KIA6zxKNrjWnhfvcalZrBrmLvnPA/s1600/duster_patternIllustration.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Not so many people have finished their coats yet, but there are two to show you: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sharon used a raw silk for the coat and a crushed velvet for the trim. You can see lots more pictures on her blog, <a href="http://sharonssewing.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjcwgJi1YOgK_OWqfN6oexumLb9yRRPpSZ-7qExyUoLJjLex3sTTaHAl0U7Iajv_9_oFd1Q1esavOehuFbjZM9GUHX7TzbWMUeM4ewYZl7ZBzdPaifRWH7XqqkUSE73YUouUhqXhsVAI/s1600/sharon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjcwgJi1YOgK_OWqfN6oexumLb9yRRPpSZ-7qExyUoLJjLex3sTTaHAl0U7Iajv_9_oFd1Q1esavOehuFbjZM9GUHX7TzbWMUeM4ewYZl7ZBzdPaifRWH7XqqkUSE73YUouUhqXhsVAI/s320/sharon.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Toby used a heavy cotton duck for his version. Again, visit his blog, <a href="http://tobybartondesigns.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/duster-jacket-for-the-1912-titanic-project/" target="_blank">here</a>, to see and read more... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGoc4yTSuJcL0VShVcOmra1K1s3ui9dX9s_gl6ZUkNAEDWcX3PH1oBWp5J76U-NLKHCNeQi_5BhYZwzHpjXbcPxDuiqiSxOj_KBhbuO9wTNFVxTeQTjlyN6F24BDpeZtd1mQS50Rl48M/s1600/toby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGoc4yTSuJcL0VShVcOmra1K1s3ui9dX9s_gl6ZUkNAEDWcX3PH1oBWp5J76U-NLKHCNeQi_5BhYZwzHpjXbcPxDuiqiSxOj_KBhbuO9wTNFVxTeQTjlyN6F24BDpeZtd1mQS50Rl48M/s320/toby.jpg" width="132" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh man, I really wish I was at home sewing... This weekend will be taken up by taxes, but hopefully I can at least put together the three, little 2T skirts I've got cut out - after all, two of those babies are due within a month! ;)</span></div>
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<br /></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-64701730314833098412012-04-03T09:00:00.000-04:002012-04-03T10:00:17.873-04:00Tuesday: Vicarious Vintage 1912<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For today's Vicarious Vintage, I'm showing the wrap that Maddie should be wearing... Here is the pattern cover illustration: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidy8F407jUKxQ6T4clgXnHB97DGMs8HWJcLBHk2pEPVylFKxJyziqsFqd8E_m-tySJzZyN0AYhqWyvnsacAWxqv1cfZeVRgVNnD9i_GAPKsFepLeywUn8vdhK23NO0lHwFoLshfcZmZdY/s1600/e0291_wrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidy8F407jUKxQ6T4clgXnHB97DGMs8HWJcLBHk2pEPVylFKxJyziqsFqd8E_m-tySJzZyN0AYhqWyvnsacAWxqv1cfZeVRgVNnD9i_GAPKsFepLeywUn8vdhK23NO0lHwFoLshfcZmZdY/s1600/e0291_wrap.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Melodyejoy has finished this muslin of the pattern and provided detailed modifications to the 100-year-old pattern instructions <a href="http://melodyejoy.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/e0291-ladies-afternoon-wrap/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL31X7yLdjGuc6mqZ6IiNWOaO2qDmn2DPwR3IOiqWy91i8d91kKCKTAbwXxy2Qeb8qNNtUpnAVS08a4iLhzhyphenhyphenZAlKl_oKEHFCYKtLjXiIBYOLm3RbBHLkk8yF-kcsJ5fsVsqpMkEx0_s/s1600/wrap_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL31X7yLdjGuc6mqZ6IiNWOaO2qDmn2DPwR3IOiqWy91i8d91kKCKTAbwXxy2Qeb8qNNtUpnAVS08a4iLhzhyphenhyphenZAlKl_oKEHFCYKtLjXiIBYOLm3RbBHLkk8yF-kcsJ5fsVsqpMkEx0_s/s320/wrap_3.jpg" width="257" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ELMO made this gorgeous version - you should see how beautifully she matched the fabric designs on the back center seam! And you can, <a href="http://adonising.blogspot.com/2012/03/vpll-0291-1912-ladies-wrap-finished.html" target="_blank">here</a>! ;)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9miqVE44_ZWS6UQuASv1YwhC-ssqCv4PHNS2AxiT8nnvDLA07BAUxzANfBbRqd31xXK6xuR3NZ7_cavnNdC2ry4NWwTX6tjhXrms_dCHbgzOJOxKi4dM5gbMi75jp1fkTEkYNA8Qufk/s1600/wrap_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9miqVE44_ZWS6UQuASv1YwhC-ssqCv4PHNS2AxiT8nnvDLA07BAUxzANfBbRqd31xXK6xuR3NZ7_cavnNdC2ry4NWwTX6tjhXrms_dCHbgzOJOxKi4dM5gbMi75jp1fkTEkYNA8Qufk/s320/wrap_2.jpg" width="184" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One more picture for you - take a look at Meredith's beautiful version of this wrap! You can see more pictures and read about her experience <a href="http://threadtheory.blog.com/2012/03/04/ladies-wrap-e0291/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPUNnCyNk2WKnng4qGjwHEekycjkvZkQyPuaT9aK1J5rrXIl1FdvP5l3Jdz3sDvciPgZYt5xB6xJtWvyf-npp5Ssin_p5i-ErkYN-5aMK-RN_iZv8qhlai98OGPYwjQ8JjuyBSCZsbbY/s1600/wrap_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPUNnCyNk2WKnng4qGjwHEekycjkvZkQyPuaT9aK1J5rrXIl1FdvP5l3Jdz3sDvciPgZYt5xB6xJtWvyf-npp5Ssin_p5i-ErkYN-5aMK-RN_iZv8qhlai98OGPYwjQ8JjuyBSCZsbbY/s320/wrap_1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These projects are really inspiring and the blog posts are full of helpful information - I can't wait to get to Maddie's wrap! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, if you want still more, check out the main page on the official project blog <a href="http://vpll1912project.org/category/ladies/outerwear/e0291_wrap/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope everyone is having a good week with time for sewing! :)</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-12400645189604890052012-04-02T13:26:00.000-04:002012-04-02T13:28:07.866-04:00Monday: Vicarious Vintage 1912<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I spent the weekend on a family trip and am now off to San Diego for a work trip. The cobwebs continue to multiply on my sewing machine and I am feeling more and more anxious to get back to it... :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the meantime, I thought I'd share some of the Vintage 1912 projects that others have been working on. (Poor Maddie is still in her modern, lilac linen shift...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today's vicarious vintage pattern is <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">a
Princess Slip from the March 24, 1912 issue of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>La Mode
Illustree. Here is the pattern illustration:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PPOHPgbMyVfKP4GS5Mf9wpyiBAqEzB4toxIyFtXZp0gdOdXXfreRC-1fyncU2uGhZI_O-6Zwhy9BuJSS9_17HfWxi0KojVfFr5-kBbs6ta_h4P2dA8-ufkuAkaeioWqdNlzR6MH9-oQ/s1600/e0336_image_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PPOHPgbMyVfKP4GS5Mf9wpyiBAqEzB4toxIyFtXZp0gdOdXXfreRC-1fyncU2uGhZI_O-6Zwhy9BuJSS9_17HfWxi0KojVfFr5-kBbs6ta_h4P2dA8-ufkuAkaeioWqdNlzR6MH9-oQ/s1600/e0336_image_web.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've got three "teaser" shots of three versions of the pleated ruffle along the bottom for you. First up, from <a href="http://costumedeeva.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/i-love-my-princess-slip/" target="_blank"><i>CostumeDeeva</i></a>: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8eIhfmH1fpPKHfZV-AM6m7IxaPDrBIS7PmpaXggtWtsRAo6hQmExd_xaN6JfZDdER3ta4kxwanyrkWhRs2iDfc5vn7PlZUTmtnCxfW-0q79R_2Pr99BRRhiUjiGdRhF-OEZqu3JSHh0/s1600/sli_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8eIhfmH1fpPKHfZV-AM6m7IxaPDrBIS7PmpaXggtWtsRAo6hQmExd_xaN6JfZDdER3ta4kxwanyrkWhRs2iDfc5vn7PlZUTmtnCxfW-0q79R_2Pr99BRRhiUjiGdRhF-OEZqu3JSHh0/s1600/sli_3.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next, a more minimalist pleat from <a href="http://mmemermet.blogspot.com/2012/03/1912-slip.html" target="_blank"><i>Madame Mermet</i></a>: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qCLh_lOSxP5XDPxF4412AZzRpMUCAhj6rDsGagLjknF9WCeIz7h4xbBNpiCe8e8_hC1WT7ca28j1beqDc6qxQ2KC2-zYWVDpSgigD8D6BRD5K9rFyTezIhMibg6w2HalsU2osZlzrC0/s1600/slip_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qCLh_lOSxP5XDPxF4412AZzRpMUCAhj6rDsGagLjknF9WCeIz7h4xbBNpiCe8e8_hC1WT7ca28j1beqDc6qxQ2KC2-zYWVDpSgigD8D6BRD5K9rFyTezIhMibg6w2HalsU2osZlzrC0/s1600/slip_1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, a gloriously petite pleat from <a href="http://chopkins2011.blogspot.com/2012/02/titanic-project-post-2.html" target="_blank"><i>Chopkins</i></a>: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEgE30U8498OvAvrAODBVSFWPtL3RhT7WtsjyWDnPe0ELkXiPK2s5H0EqmzerUdaV09s8CvZGIp1113zYAX6wQkuoOmjRXLCpy2H0KMwIXIcAthvJoYWOI2PfjLiZklQO2usG1KdX2ws/s1600/slip_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEgE30U8498OvAvrAODBVSFWPtL3RhT7WtsjyWDnPe0ELkXiPK2s5H0EqmzerUdaV09s8CvZGIp1113zYAX6wQkuoOmjRXLCpy2H0KMwIXIcAthvJoYWOI2PfjLiZklQO2usG1KdX2ws/s1600/slip_2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Follow any of the links above to see more about the construction of these three beautiful versions of the Princess Slip. And, for even more slips, you can start on this page of the <a href="http://vpll1912project.org/category/ladies/lingerie/" target="_blank">VPLL official blog</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'll try to get a Vicarious Vintage 1912 post up each day this week. Hopefully, by next weekend, I can get back to my own sewing! Until then, all my best for all of you! :)</span></div>
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</div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-20243904258891997102012-03-29T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-29T08:00:06.946-04:00Talk Back Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-gjz7m-q34KuXMJ7wagMmQIxdSphl0l_Mj-YRM5DZV_Ne0wBy9eaU7S-XklLE42pdb-RtITNG3rlqGOgQorsSezcyxXRA_5yqBaom5IkOwRtYINE8V3egNYs1PU5blwJ7uXp-B1rEMY/s1600/thumbs-up-thumbs-down-md.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-gjz7m-q34KuXMJ7wagMmQIxdSphl0l_Mj-YRM5DZV_Ne0wBy9eaU7S-XklLE42pdb-RtITNG3rlqGOgQorsSezcyxXRA_5yqBaom5IkOwRtYINE8V3egNYs1PU5blwJ7uXp-B1rEMY/s1600/thumbs-up-thumbs-down-md.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you so much to <a href="http://www.sewducky.com/" target="_blank">Elaina</a>, <a href="http://allmyseams.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gwen</a>, <a href="http://sew-and-so.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Becky</a>, <a href="http://mary-sews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mary</a>, <a href="http://vernonfashionstudio.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Linda</a>, <a href="http://causeiwanna.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Carla</a> and <a href="http://www.sheilaz-ctk.com/" target="_blank">Shelia</a> for talking back to my confession last week! I confessed that I was teetering on the edge of purchasing a die cut machine - mainly to cut felt silhouettes to decorate my doll houses - and asked for advice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Let's see... How do I summarize the comments? A polarizing issue? Somewhat controversial? Pistols at dawn? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'll just say that there didn't appear to be much middle ground. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Okay, okay - that's probably my fault - it IS kind of a yes-or-no question...) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyways, I got some very strong "walk away!" votes and some really enthusiastic "go for it!" votes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And, as always, I got some very thoughtful advice: Don't buy it unless and until I am sure that it's something I won't regret. Some suggested that I make sure that I will have lots of uses for the machine - and not just a half dozen doll houses... ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Others indicated that sometimes, even if you don't use something all the time, if it does something important and you love having that capability, it's worth having. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two specific machines were called out - Cricut and Silhouette - with positive reviews. And one issue that was mentioned was making sure that you can create your own designs, and not being restricted to buying cartridges. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, you have given me lots of good things to think about! Thanks so much! I'll let you know what I decide after I obsess about it for a while... ;)</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-72262431966560041902012-03-28T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-28T08:00:00.608-04:00In the Queue Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3xVEdZ1Qizk9yGe9t-1EZ0WRDHauKRxCBy1R8QATQx6TN9fumImu4pM4l8N0gymrQQIlg81TAnt-a2T_6rgJHhL4Nw6MsOk4Cgz1fW9qAhp4ghrvZb0jFqFBcZyQnCxYZYt8g9dJgPc/s1600/normal1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3xVEdZ1Qizk9yGe9t-1EZ0WRDHauKRxCBy1R8QATQx6TN9fumImu4pM4l8N0gymrQQIlg81TAnt-a2T_6rgJHhL4Nw6MsOk4Cgz1fW9qAhp4ghrvZb0jFqFBcZyQnCxYZYt8g9dJgPc/s320/normal1.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So much has been going on lately - some good things, some bad things - but I've been feeling like my life is out of control. With the party behind us, the next thing in my queue is to have life settle back into its normal (albeit busy) routine... Wish me luck! ;)</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-89752673875787866692012-03-27T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-27T08:00:00.459-04:00Party Pictures!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~ Unknown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sunday night was Ana's going-away party. It was seven intense hours of setting up, partying, and cleaning up. Here are some pictures for you:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We rented a beautiful room and decorated it in blues and pinks. Half of the tables had balloon centerpieces. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr6b9R1KtO63xzFcYaE8Z5x48oZs2SM6Q4W9T58kipFC87sil3HN-L9aRP2xSrhZqshmChISrzIeSnfa3P6y_anWi5XxVP4pnAoxYsWiHxgPLhtYunN21xIeQEnw_koCec65EZmuUq_8/s1600/IMG_4125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr6b9R1KtO63xzFcYaE8Z5x48oZs2SM6Q4W9T58kipFC87sil3HN-L9aRP2xSrhZqshmChISrzIeSnfa3P6y_anWi5XxVP4pnAoxYsWiHxgPLhtYunN21xIeQEnw_koCec65EZmuUq_8/s320/IMG_4125.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And the other half had these (artificial) floral arrangements. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYqAZO79Fh6x0bfASGxKfdBM6x1_adAjWXptEZTzqpOa0XsrljeqpcEFk9-W3Clk7OVnmra_S4KCCasAVU9dqVrhzKSqB-17FjY5S4ul3Te_t2h2qvqErODUPvFawoPMdlHnD1Y6BFAw/s1600/IMG_4133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYqAZO79Fh6x0bfASGxKfdBM6x1_adAjWXptEZTzqpOa0XsrljeqpcEFk9-W3Clk7OVnmra_S4KCCasAVU9dqVrhzKSqB-17FjY5S4ul3Te_t2h2qvqErODUPvFawoPMdlHnD1Y6BFAw/s320/IMG_4133.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We hung accordion-style lanterns over the dance floor.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtjtIE11l7oLfBMAL0Evft8_ZLmG7ocF43Lwlgp5iQuin1BptKuaLHg17ADTQD1l28uFxCjt3E_y0hjqd93nEGIGDUqnp5G_ONb6IfB-3gA8r-eoUUgn5z85oi8C7YAI_cY3GfuG77OQ/s1600/IMG_4124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtjtIE11l7oLfBMAL0Evft8_ZLmG7ocF43Lwlgp5iQuin1BptKuaLHg17ADTQD1l28uFxCjt3E_y0hjqd93nEGIGDUqnp5G_ONb6IfB-3gA8r-eoUUgn5z85oi8C7YAI_cY3GfuG77OQ/s320/IMG_4124.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's a view of the room from the other side.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwO03AVBEdAyMZjD4twubJSNeC4OfvVL3YqRffo2L9pjbWRIgnZvpOpXq2X1Fros96O9goosVd7aqJNULcf24WwZnYFDNuGQidHTqSgpyflgWHFIDd6vn61vibiIP6ULgxbg2lUCdp10/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwO03AVBEdAyMZjD4twubJSNeC4OfvVL3YqRffo2L9pjbWRIgnZvpOpXq2X1Fros96O9goosVd7aqJNULcf24WwZnYFDNuGQidHTqSgpyflgWHFIDd6vn61vibiIP6ULgxbg2lUCdp10/s320/IMG_4131.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the background of the picture above, you can make out this sign:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOGyYs2vfCn58ofaEC30DCf5K0s6YT3YpG08EseaX9n8kA9TnUy6juMtMyQR7JwpxbHw_uUQ7qrLWDtkU9UV2yzrRdMim3hfzm2A0NTY_QV4AqENwsuitTBJtdMePosd-HOfReB8vcLg/s1600/IMG_4132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOGyYs2vfCn58ofaEC30DCf5K0s6YT3YpG08EseaX9n8kA9TnUy6juMtMyQR7JwpxbHw_uUQ7qrLWDtkU9UV2yzrRdMim3hfzm2A0NTY_QV4AqENwsuitTBJtdMePosd-HOfReB8vcLg/s320/IMG_4132.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Notice the butterfly decals on the windows? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also set up a special table for the children, with small toys, coloring books and crayons. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZ3xlg44uNuSRfljvKAZO6tP0ZFA60sf3L8xN1pY3kjp_BehwaxmRyu4SPE7CYcBM1Gxdk8-MzXJs2MY6hyphenhyphenjiU38AjFNPMJPlXhoZ_-V7jNNYjgKxFI3mjR2nfbmaRRNIO8ho37PVSZY/s1600/IMG_4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZ3xlg44uNuSRfljvKAZO6tP0ZFA60sf3L8xN1pY3kjp_BehwaxmRyu4SPE7CYcBM1Gxdk8-MzXJs2MY6hyphenhyphenjiU38AjFNPMJPlXhoZ_-V7jNNYjgKxFI3mjR2nfbmaRRNIO8ho37PVSZY/s320/IMG_4129.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the main activities of the night was picture taking. We set up a photo area (complete with butterflies) and most everyone had pictures taken with Ana. We printed 2 copies of each picture - one for the guest and one for Ana's photo album. People also wrote notes to Ana on colored index cards, which we included with their pictures in her album. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is a shot of Christine, our intrepid photographer, with Ana - Christine and her husband worked miracles to get the pictures taken, printed and distributed throughout all the chaos! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIbvd6oNL1fvIAaJst6aQD6HGJVIUB2I6Ux1XcW9Sf1bbO5FO5868fSIj86QRj5kHOx2sd_tH5jzRMDxNosDLyQnL8fuMCcltRO2A5iSq9YWnE6KdVOZCSMVaN0WwySWdjwYFc8GMRTI/s1600/christine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIbvd6oNL1fvIAaJst6aQD6HGJVIUB2I6Ux1XcW9Sf1bbO5FO5868fSIj86QRj5kHOx2sd_tH5jzRMDxNosDLyQnL8fuMCcltRO2A5iSq9YWnE6KdVOZCSMVaN0WwySWdjwYFc8GMRTI/s320/christine.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My picture with Ana:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RcolowBe9oUYAl82YJYjWWzEkbwWGKTSHp1MkG9S7onNOLGIT3vyes-aaT97HCbuF50nOATlDogqOSeP90W40IDI6t-bqJLz2Ka_iheQUVRqCYfnz6XXLlDUHpwbNU-FEkclMPdCcLs/s1600/gwen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RcolowBe9oUYAl82YJYjWWzEkbwWGKTSHp1MkG9S7onNOLGIT3vyes-aaT97HCbuF50nOATlDogqOSeP90W40IDI6t-bqJLz2Ka_iheQUVRqCYfnz6XXLlDUHpwbNU-FEkclMPdCcLs/s320/gwen.png" width="263" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My husband's picture with Ana: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHZgKpqENfdDRsacRkhTdw2Do36pZAPV5KnlYu5OgoU4CzR1zPT62xQWDuqF3tABUv_Uhh5GWDoMlug6v2SE68Trf6XZLT6JR0q-d0jxd3thwuL_iP9wwGIaaDnP9yv0wALszIXJF9xk/s1600/IMG_4152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHZgKpqENfdDRsacRkhTdw2Do36pZAPV5KnlYu5OgoU4CzR1zPT62xQWDuqF3tABUv_Uhh5GWDoMlug6v2SE68Trf6XZLT6JR0q-d0jxd3thwuL_iP9wwGIaaDnP9yv0wALszIXJF9xk/s320/IMG_4152.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For the children's table, I printed a bunch of butterfly coloring pages onto pieces of card stock - we saved the pictures that the children colored to put in Ana's album too! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYyxP8N181g12zvvRGsf00dp1V28KtodYk92vH8oecU-R4hz72AXLL0SazCQF4ASK8C46EqLI2r3T7K54JgN4IQC2TxvshLnNIXvFrNnGF_hZwOzH6GvUBZ5Zk3fg25gcsoeYXXSDT_o/s1600/IMG_4148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYyxP8N181g12zvvRGsf00dp1V28KtodYk92vH8oecU-R4hz72AXLL0SazCQF4ASK8C46EqLI2r3T7K54JgN4IQC2TxvshLnNIXvFrNnGF_hZwOzH6GvUBZ5Zk3fg25gcsoeYXXSDT_o/s320/IMG_4148.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(I stood behind Christine when she was taking this picture and made faces and acted silly and put bunny ears on Christine - but I could not get that little girl to crack a smile for anything... Apparently, in her world, picture-taking is a very serious business.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ana didn't spend ALL of her night in front of the bed sheet - she was able to get around and talk with her guests. You can also see here in the background that we had a D.J. - services volunteered for Ana. :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OpxqpwZBIk4KKaJnlR-_HmqHjWEtWeIttfalPp719Wh0sU1oE0bLa2fRfV8n7wPLK03fLnIvKmNzODQgglQWAfstFv2Ha4OO-u31bHQHAY5zNxSz12KxQ5Miopr6MeTPx4Lv3lrPLO0/s1600/IMG_4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OpxqpwZBIk4KKaJnlR-_HmqHjWEtWeIttfalPp719Wh0sU1oE0bLa2fRfV8n7wPLK03fLnIvKmNzODQgglQWAfstFv2Ha4OO-u31bHQHAY5zNxSz12KxQ5Miopr6MeTPx4Lv3lrPLO0/s320/IMG_4166.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the food - but there was a huge buffet table groaning with chicken and mole, tamales, rice and beans and other delicious foods. All made by hand with love by Ana's friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And we had a cake for dessert. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeZbYiJubqFwWLJ3Gtgm6FwsbrVB7ckFdgkH9GFvkIphY7DJ4VQt7PnfFNZuSC6P7uTVB04XdvHeCpPwk-48lHtcVpSVoifprQ6vbmQOLUPnhnljHhG_7fCEmU-HLnvcVfyCBrspsf70/s1600/IMG_4181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeZbYiJubqFwWLJ3Gtgm6FwsbrVB7ckFdgkH9GFvkIphY7DJ4VQt7PnfFNZuSC6P7uTVB04XdvHeCpPwk-48lHtcVpSVoifprQ6vbmQOLUPnhnljHhG_7fCEmU-HLnvcVfyCBrspsf70/s320/IMG_4181.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It looks big, doesn't it? By the end of the night there was not a single piece left! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, and if you are wondering about her dress, she couldn't make up her mind between wearing her fuchsia dress or her blue dress, so she decided to change half-way through the party and wear them both! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, my camera has about 80 shots like these: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pictures of Ana and the people who love her.... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lnOkDlVN72_4x4ieE03ZZ5oNxaciwGnT6d4inAp8Lk_mFClF1mMrgqhslaEqGJVLL9bmS-b3x04x6Ox_at5RHHs69FFFS358ASzzU-9hetcOGa3a4TV33XMKwcKJz3zC7jkgY6iOIRc/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lnOkDlVN72_4x4ieE03ZZ5oNxaciwGnT6d4inAp8Lk_mFClF1mMrgqhslaEqGJVLL9bmS-b3x04x6Ox_at5RHHs69FFFS358ASzzU-9hetcOGa3a4TV33XMKwcKJz3zC7jkgY6iOIRc/s320/IMG_4174.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was a very special night for everyone! :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXqAxNXh-oe_Igo9RgtL2xDmZML7IsPt4xEB1g-azgni0A2xr_qgUB1PJsy-Nkfidfp8M3k_w6-CmVT-881iqeVYKpmR-BP5D6LOjsRI-aIOEGjiCJeOO_hF6MImaYrQXftBg6V0yE4U/s1600/IMG_4189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXqAxNXh-oe_Igo9RgtL2xDmZML7IsPt4xEB1g-azgni0A2xr_qgUB1PJsy-Nkfidfp8M3k_w6-CmVT-881iqeVYKpmR-BP5D6LOjsRI-aIOEGjiCJeOO_hF6MImaYrQXftBg6V0yE4U/s320/IMG_4189.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-69189091234526079742012-03-25T09:32:00.000-04:002012-03-26T12:05:42.716-04:00Weekend Project: The Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">because it means I have been surrounded by friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~ Nancie J. Carmody</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tonight is Ana's "Vaya Con Dios" (going-away) party, and I'm expecting quite a mess to clean up afterwards! We sent out about 60 of these invitations:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3p0aTI9KmCkysmi1NjM_ud-lPpCClHLHpv2ikozvl9srFk2QME3R46X4cVKhQk3M0WM7CmPoE2Ne5n99J9PFYk_1swHK_RI9j1KJkFskGPK6lDV1xOVjrBegHgDoOZau_s5_QVzZW2o/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3p0aTI9KmCkysmi1NjM_ud-lPpCClHLHpv2ikozvl9srFk2QME3R46X4cVKhQk3M0WM7CmPoE2Ne5n99J9PFYk_1swHK_RI9j1KJkFskGPK6lDV1xOVjrBegHgDoOZau_s5_QVzZW2o/s320/IMG_4114.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And based on our RSVP count, we're expecting about 150 people to show up! Yikes! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If I recall my wedding reception correctly, we also had a factor of 2 involved between invitees and attendees, but it was in the opposite direction! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The colors are pink (or, as Ana constantly corrects me, "fuchsia") and blue. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeyrxsk4fzlmibIhRsl9lpPCtgonfxSXpqcCrV9V_bVnMQyP0oCuvtSis14smo6tizL78Z45o9nm8w1ZbhKm-3PIKg9qOzjC2XTC2KBjjb7fl3XfAN-syl0LrosV3rm1ZRoKHz0Xm_Vc/s1600/IMG_4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeyrxsk4fzlmibIhRsl9lpPCtgonfxSXpqcCrV9V_bVnMQyP0oCuvtSis14smo6tizL78Z45o9nm8w1ZbhKm-3PIKg9qOzjC2XTC2KBjjb7fl3XfAN-syl0LrosV3rm1ZRoKHz0Xm_Vc/s320/IMG_4120.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The theme is butterflies. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCJs_swkPV_ttQKmso4hFiguz5RHUQlh_m_6sUerFuLWconIdFzVaKCh0dd5kZ9ZXQKJOiMmMdnwNI-HVsUd7B69JIJm8gx_c4Gw5QSRWNyPwxYqIwTCiEbc5rsZpX8lDsBJznUpgxmg/s1600/IMG_4121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCJs_swkPV_ttQKmso4hFiguz5RHUQlh_m_6sUerFuLWconIdFzVaKCh0dd5kZ9ZXQKJOiMmMdnwNI-HVsUd7B69JIJm8gx_c4Gw5QSRWNyPwxYqIwTCiEbc5rsZpX8lDsBJznUpgxmg/s320/IMG_4121.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the New Year's Eve I-know-I'm-busy-but-I'll-still-be-able-to-sew-my-dress debacle, I sprung for a store-bought party dress this time. ;)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1XuLqzz8iHHpP3tjMj5VFSEtV6LZpfmHU8VaB4UNsnmBwNtNYjcR9g5FCxitdO-MdLPdCJCS2eUYkw6kC86tspBovbqRm7PreTG-jVLrzFXoFp4Ofi9isl2Z__qUCn_pCvwtwbhWspM/s1600/IMG_4119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1XuLqzz8iHHpP3tjMj5VFSEtV6LZpfmHU8VaB4UNsnmBwNtNYjcR9g5FCxitdO-MdLPdCJCS2eUYkw6kC86tspBovbqRm7PreTG-jVLrzFXoFp4Ofi9isl2Z__qUCn_pCvwtwbhWspM/s320/IMG_4119.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I normally go for more color, but the party is about Ana. So I'm happy to let her be in the spotlight. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Throwing the party is a truly a team effort of love. Scott and I are providing the room, the decorations and the cake - others are providing the music (2 volunteer D.J.s) and food. I'm not sure if the group of 5 women knew what they were getting into when they agreed to make the food - I don't think anyone expected 150 guests! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Luckily, no one was at home when I called with the final party count and I was able to just leave apologetic voice messages... I know, I'm chicken! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Don't worry, I'll have tons of pictures for you next week! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the meantime, I hope everyone is having a wonderful sewing weekend. :)</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-74333783429237513192012-03-23T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-23T08:00:04.257-04:00Friday Confession<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheURMHWLrq_K3el9w-2Vi_LocMRyRjtKxx1AypDffVk4NRUjmJTkvB5YIlBX-o3xHfgGZhUi1Z5F9B8g6q7UCJEpOQCfxmadK3POthlE1fOXktGcoK5LPACYj96gWDzG0ubcYsH-GMLVk/s1600/die+cut+machine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheURMHWLrq_K3el9w-2Vi_LocMRyRjtKxx1AypDffVk4NRUjmJTkvB5YIlBX-o3xHfgGZhUi1Z5F9B8g6q7UCJEpOQCfxmadK3POthlE1fOXktGcoK5LPACYj96gWDzG0ubcYsH-GMLVk/s320/die+cut+machine.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am considering doing something a bit crazy... ("Not for the first time", her husband grumbles affectionately...) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm considering buying a die cut machine (of some sort) to cut felt decorations for my fabric doll houses... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What do you think? Major overkill, right? Does anyone out there have one? Any advice for me? (BTW, "Back away from the BUY NOW button" counts as advice!) </span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-16771946852267675892012-03-21T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-21T08:00:15.823-04:00In the Queue Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As you know, I've made a couple of doll houses using the pattern from the One Yard Wonders book and I offered up 5 custom-made doll houses for the silent auction that raised money for my friend Susan's husband and son. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was hoping for some fun, creative assignments, and I think I've got them! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I do have a request for one relatively standard doll house - with a request for vibrant colors and two Labrador retrievers. This will be fun and I'm going to focus on getting all the sides to line up perfectly! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have two requests for barns, which I plan to populate with these Fisher Price farm animals: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnmYW-SUso6cv8NdoVRY1OWeoNqRgjSXNlnzLfuT3qLCXRYIOd6kbfSvNWkOZLyFZaayqwdD5-OoIZrDXOpjrvlxEaOHrRJbyrGgjv765YcyXkruRVQmwsluizndp_HrkGi4y8r4cjc4/s1600/farm+animals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnmYW-SUso6cv8NdoVRY1OWeoNqRgjSXNlnzLfuT3qLCXRYIOd6kbfSvNWkOZLyFZaayqwdD5-OoIZrDXOpjrvlxEaOHrRJbyrGgjv765YcyXkruRVQmwsluizndp_HrkGi4y8r4cjc4/s320/farm+animals.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm thinking to do bright red barns with black roofs, white doors, yellow haystacks and fun signs painted on the sides, like they used to do before bill boards. Remember those? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have a request for a mail box similar to this existing product - this project will be the most creative in terms of modifying the pattern. I've got some ideas for making the mail box shape and having little boxes that can open and close and are big enough to fit a couple of Hershey's kisses. ;)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1x-L2ZmoRg1ft9MHArNTgmG7-Sxw7BGKimI0xzIoeKZbBDcrw829I8mLLRFGGH42Pt7l9Waez5EC6rLYfvE6kShEeD4KjDLxDk9MsPdYuFiry6Z_Mq6o5rzPd98-sPYWfG2W5LAKYaw/s1600/mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1x-L2ZmoRg1ft9MHArNTgmG7-Sxw7BGKimI0xzIoeKZbBDcrw829I8mLLRFGGH42Pt7l9Waez5EC6rLYfvE6kShEeD4KjDLxDk9MsPdYuFiry6Z_Mq6o5rzPd98-sPYWfG2W5LAKYaw/s1600/mailbox.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, the project that will be most creative in the decorating component, is the Super Hero "lair" for Batgirl and Superman! It's going to be a blast to decorate that one! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It may be a couple of weeks, as all of my spare time right now is going towards Ana's party next Sunday, but don't worry, I'll get to these! They're in the queue... :)</span></div>
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</div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-42314136495875843722012-03-18T11:44:00.001-04:002012-03-18T11:44:27.659-04:00Weekend Project: Winners!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesps3yazKTZ3mkZENLgy9KwdZCtC30jTB_iQDoF9qC5_LqMJUF9NStfffJQpAbJ3JRWNHPo2gEKqucwVedL791jYjcC3KmOnJpdJUDf_rCaG-F9q-dRDN940xhvbSX1LLK_PxaPJEFuM/s1600/IMG_4107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesps3yazKTZ3mkZENLgy9KwdZCtC30jTB_iQDoF9qC5_LqMJUF9NStfffJQpAbJ3JRWNHPo2gEKqucwVedL791jYjcC3KmOnJpdJUDf_rCaG-F9q-dRDN940xhvbSX1LLK_PxaPJEFuM/s320/IMG_4107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You'll have to excuse Oliver - he is beside himself with excitement over the announcement of the winners of my blog's 4th birthday give-away... ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You know how cats can be... ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As always, I find these give-aways bitter-sweet, because I read all the wonderful comments and wish that I could give something to every single one of you... As soon as I win the lottery, I promise! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For now, I'm going to have to stick to 4 winners. And those randomly drawn names are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">#2 - Vintagegal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">#15 - <a href="http://mimi-ohs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Mimi O</i></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">#19 - <a href="http://sewnthreads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>SewSue</i></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">#30 - <a href="http://sewingadventuresintheattick.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><i>Simona</i></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Congratulations! Please email me at gwendolyn_campbell@hotmail.com and we'll coordinate the details... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you again, to everyone for being supportive and patient - it means more to me than I can express... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gwen</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-5518723751555816142012-03-17T09:21:00.001-04:002012-03-17T09:21:39.039-04:00Sorry...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8cjkCyN0g1TtCPaZztieJmK2pdeI2KcwwoaMGD5os6g0vL6EBw7EztaTabu-ifshGTTcuWU3Vjq8VwczwXPKeokb3AX4vqDwsqIyTlN6kmM8A2exhPuFq94s6NJqZxzpIQc-2A9FW4w/s1600/overwhelmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8cjkCyN0g1TtCPaZztieJmK2pdeI2KcwwoaMGD5os6g0vL6EBw7EztaTabu-ifshGTTcuWU3Vjq8VwczwXPKeokb3AX4vqDwsqIyTlN6kmM8A2exhPuFq94s6NJqZxzpIQc-2A9FW4w/s320/overwhelmed.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I know I owe you some posts... :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There's a lot going on right now and some of it is pretty difficult, but don't give up on me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'll announce the winners of my <a href="http://afterthedress.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-birthday-four-years-old-today.html" target="_blank">blog birthday give-away</a> tomorrow and I'll get back on track soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Major things on the horizon:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1) <a href="http://afterthedress.blogspot.com/2012/03/blog-birthday-four-years-old-today.html" target="_blank">my 1912 garment</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2) <a href="http://afterthedress.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-queue-wednesday_14.html" target="_blank">my silent auction items</a> - so far, 1 doll house, 2 barns & 1 mail box</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3) Ana's going away party (next weekend)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the meantime, I hope everyone has a wonderful sewing weekend. </span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-13034345293868533772012-03-14T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-14T08:00:01.047-04:00In the Queue Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYJ5XDIOtQ7CyJUUoMpZdmoVJ2Fd32lWy45gFJih4n84M4zHXjsocaSQN_bV827avaP4lobYL7M7_c0vHjEFDKliNJbUMnvwJ_VcqM0AnwwEneaMTBfiZ8_usCbPJCaPEyECgAmOUDhk/s1600/silent+auction+for+Susan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYJ5XDIOtQ7CyJUUoMpZdmoVJ2Fd32lWy45gFJih4n84M4zHXjsocaSQN_bV827avaP4lobYL7M7_c0vHjEFDKliNJbUMnvwJ_VcqM0AnwwEneaMTBfiZ8_usCbPJCaPEyECgAmOUDhk/s400/silent+auction+for+Susan.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are having <a href="http://www.llamabear.com/susan/fundraiser-auction/" target="_blank"><i>a silent auction to raise money for Susan's family</i></a>. She was very active in a number of local communities that involved new mothers - including <a href="http://www.getpumpedonline.org/" target="_blank">Get PUMPed</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MilaMommy" target="_blank">Mila Mommy</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/ICAN-of-Orlando/109924146018?sk=wall" target="_blank">ICAN of Orlando</a>. So, I figured that lots of people bidding in the auction are going to have small children. And so I'm hopeful that my contribution - 5 custom-made doll houses (or similar) - will be popular and bring in a respectable amount of money. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm also kind of looking forward to making some different ones - fingers crossed that some Mama will want a fire station or zoo for her toddler boy... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'll let you know what kind of requests I get and show you my progress. Don't worry, I'll get to them! They're in the queue... </span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-63635278404581906062012-03-12T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-12T08:00:14.735-04:00Monday Morning Quarterback<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The power of little things to give instruction and happiness should be the first lesson in life, and it should be inculcated deeply. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~ Russell H. Conwell</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I found the energy and spirit to do some sewing this weekend. I stuck with something simple and joyful - pinafores for the daughters of my friends... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Adalyn - the daughter of a big football fan...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgIAAw29cNEBcDih71pydifIIJffr_8bEbOXphboWBzVjZUW9tQOd_2xfgcvqCNADeWkjieBm6-kjlcvVihpF5sg43pN_JHrZKnQ_U9rAKzYP3p9qYHktMC0KjE3zwNZlhoWFNehhlTs/s1600/pinafore_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgIAAw29cNEBcDih71pydifIIJffr_8bEbOXphboWBzVjZUW9tQOd_2xfgcvqCNADeWkjieBm6-kjlcvVihpF5sg43pN_JHrZKnQ_U9rAKzYP3p9qYHktMC0KjE3zwNZlhoWFNehhlTs/s320/pinafore_1.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The pinafore pattern comes from the <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-yard-wonders-rebecca-yaker/1102181046?r=1&ean=9781603424493&cm_mmc=Google+Product+Search-_-Q000000630-_-One+Yard+Wonders-_-9781603424493" target="_blank"><i>One Yard Wonders</i></a> book. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyLOGJZvJjGso6TrwXjgiAqFcMo7W8UaavQOZZEqO3z8KYSF2aTfWALMGQVsyboWlHUoeTL-j9fruMGtAYUWS6ZajdOXjimuGklf8uYwVcKlV4kItCjsqXumNAgdtgmnzio1YJN02qNA/s1600/pinafore_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyLOGJZvJjGso6TrwXjgiAqFcMo7W8UaavQOZZEqO3z8KYSF2aTfWALMGQVsyboWlHUoeTL-j9fruMGtAYUWS6ZajdOXjimuGklf8uYwVcKlV4kItCjsqXumNAgdtgmnzio1YJN02qNA/s320/pinafore_2.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Evie, the daughter of a Steeler's fan! ;)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqqiswzFTAiYfeIOu8EH3DWK7pZYBoAHTm-KkTzuBmx2POYZF9LVDvfAaBw4ERI7vGSHTXARR8zFT7LHm00Hi9LQZ89GoKkxgQCBM4l-Xle9KXvrxN_pvmr017qL45Gd0UJlYp9ciZbY/s1600/pinafore_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqqiswzFTAiYfeIOu8EH3DWK7pZYBoAHTm-KkTzuBmx2POYZF9LVDvfAaBw4ERI7vGSHTXARR8zFT7LHm00Hi9LQZ89GoKkxgQCBM4l-Xle9KXvrxN_pvmr017qL45Gd0UJlYp9ciZbY/s320/pinafore_3.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The pinafore is open in the back, except for the ribbon tie, and is meant to be worn over other clothes. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjqrKZgHYwPa-vz0DhEankltpyWMd0gVzqclF_PHwUDFCci_BW0D-WnN351r8QpiOXteTz5nEP8g4ZxhIZuydpNJSGFPrBkgYXkqR1ofw76ANpovrrhKeVf9jIvymtSTnx0Y1r95UFpE/s1600/pinafore_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjqrKZgHYwPa-vz0DhEankltpyWMd0gVzqclF_PHwUDFCci_BW0D-WnN351r8QpiOXteTz5nEP8g4ZxhIZuydpNJSGFPrBkgYXkqR1ofw76ANpovrrhKeVf9jIvymtSTnx0Y1r95UFpE/s320/pinafore_4.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And Lena, the daughter of a woman who loves penguins! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmMlZqq47_wneYrBYb-M3l-upZWNvCgl5ylbMTfgFRmJVu5YTF_Gj2sTYWeE-I7jVEE-FYUJQjFF0K7VYltT5Nu8SVyHZYoekjLdGzj5oB93ZEaoNTUveZwzgwWChImCUQ3KsMs1O_Qg/s1600/pinafore_5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmMlZqq47_wneYrBYb-M3l-upZWNvCgl5ylbMTfgFRmJVu5YTF_Gj2sTYWeE-I7jVEE-FYUJQjFF0K7VYltT5Nu8SVyHZYoekjLdGzj5oB93ZEaoNTUveZwzgwWChImCUQ3KsMs1O_Qg/s320/pinafore_5.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Note that the pinafores are size 2T, and the girls are all younger than 8 months old, so you might say I'm jumping the gun a bit... ;)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hlh2zfhhF4QSUIHsjbGYUYOnOgph5h2Qz_-Taz-cGxhHM0CAfuvK0ExAFq-WREHHKmSmUsOPt5uImuZGQNWuD0I5egh1uxGFiwPhBplXvzxZkqCsP6KvsfNKFA3DHKJZ6g7_mFYGxoc/s1600/pinafore_6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hlh2zfhhF4QSUIHsjbGYUYOnOgph5h2Qz_-Taz-cGxhHM0CAfuvK0ExAFq-WREHHKmSmUsOPt5uImuZGQNWuD0I5egh1uxGFiwPhBplXvzxZkqCsP6KvsfNKFA3DHKJZ6g7_mFYGxoc/s320/pinafore_6.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Given that the pattern is so simple, I tried to pay special attention to the details - french seams, 3 rows of basting stitches to gather the skirt, and careful stitching-in-the-ditch to attach the skirt to the bodice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was peaceful and, as some of you have suggested, I found some comfort in immersing myself in the simple, well-known steps. Thank you again for all the kind words and thoughts during these last difficult weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope you had a wonderful sewing weekend! </span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-46031058276241978032012-03-11T08:00:00.000-04:002012-03-11T08:00:05.150-04:00Blog Birthday - Four Years Old Today<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To celebrate the 4th anniversary of my blog AND my participation in the 1912 Titanic sewing project at the same time, I will be giving away:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(a) 4 year-long memberships to the <a href="http://www.vpll.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1" target="_blank"><i>Vintage Pattern Lending Library</i></a> - so that you can try some of the 1912 patterns for yourself! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">AND</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(b) 4 books on historical fashion sewing. And not just any books - but books by Frances Grimble, a leading author in this area. Here are just some of her covers: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s5EDaW5ZRAmlLSIRZ929zh08o7WhwpK48Yaaw3_ONtNy_ZE_Y0GVyHUbF3pdLAa4RWpMjCPRdyHTvdLsLRq30BkVUwn6JgwnmOf8v7982nMcQWzXRgi44e-cteTG-443KYSynfxo0q0/s1600/Slide1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s5EDaW5ZRAmlLSIRZ929zh08o7WhwpK48Yaaw3_ONtNy_ZE_Y0GVyHUbF3pdLAa4RWpMjCPRdyHTvdLsLRq30BkVUwn6JgwnmOf8v7982nMcQWzXRgi44e-cteTG-443KYSynfxo0q0/s320/Slide1.PNG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can read more about these books at the <a href="http://www.lavoltapress.com/" target="_blank"><i>Lavolta Press website</i></a>...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9Lh-lmPfl3yQ5eFlF5DnbRD1DLICmVtv69nV2uTWDh0EK2BMFgvMUE-t5u-xRrwRxdj0FNWNEyzlft-52lAxSPLoB3gSYvB887GNn2_xRbF-50MtbORmiEsycpwvTAuhmWsJdczgOa8/s1600/Slide2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9Lh-lmPfl3yQ5eFlF5DnbRD1DLICmVtv69nV2uTWDh0EK2BMFgvMUE-t5u-xRrwRxdj0FNWNEyzlft-52lAxSPLoB3gSYvB887GNn2_xRbF-50MtbORmiEsycpwvTAuhmWsJdczgOa8/s320/Slide2.PNG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LavoltaPress?sk=app_4949752878" target="_blank"><i>Frances Grimble's Facebook page</i></a>...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5PCrUtiSDnseFILjG8fPhRA-f2kL_5Vc-4QAXkB-Y7gBoc8d743yoL-Mqj0tvmZw51Z-KvlzQYfqtZfclu24RNTl_ptKc2NmG8T2UhKK6tQqpdHSaWb6_xtjnrumO-Jx3BIMdD-It_E/s1600/Slide3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5PCrUtiSDnseFILjG8fPhRA-f2kL_5Vc-4QAXkB-Y7gBoc8d743yoL-Mqj0tvmZw51Z-KvlzQYfqtZfclu24RNTl_ptKc2NmG8T2UhKK6tQqpdHSaWb6_xtjnrumO-Jx3BIMdD-It_E/s320/Slide3.PNG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> or even on (cue gasp) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=frances+grimble&x=0&y=0" target="_blank"><i>amazon.com!</i></a> ;)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI-7YsqreJES6ohx2Y6FnmyWskHdQY2hi7PVtyzroiu2I4mz3wHY_urF3WL4IIK9HRYOcxwATXpOjs_Zz2WIGp9G8Ld9o2TxNeSiQZUBXwPiTpbaGy54OpthGetd07zyo2KxX3oUrcLE/s1600/Slide4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI-7YsqreJES6ohx2Y6FnmyWskHdQY2hi7PVtyzroiu2I4mz3wHY_urF3WL4IIK9HRYOcxwATXpOjs_Zz2WIGp9G8Ld9o2TxNeSiQZUBXwPiTpbaGy54OpthGetd07zyo2KxX3oUrcLE/s320/Slide4.PNG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Each of the four, randomly drawn winners will get an annual membership to the Vintage Pattern Lending Library AND be able to select the Frances Grimble book of her (or his) choice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To enter, just leave a comment on this post with your name, before midnight EST on 17 March 2012 (next Saturday). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Good luck to everyone! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And extra special thanks to those of you who have been with me since the beginning... :)</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-63429636657388261762012-03-10T09:30:00.000-05:002012-03-10T09:30:01.222-05:00The Story of Susan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmCf_KTftvJnfqspnMpVd412BpQdy3asiyQWBWIyq3UcqyeitupuqEOzjzA5OMAhp-9lTo01y4I2sT73BLtMFDpOFv3PltlsHX0LCVaHlm09AE-P57fMy4nJSH08hTiDcwDSYaD4XpG0/s1600/susan_andrew_matt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmCf_KTftvJnfqspnMpVd412BpQdy3asiyQWBWIyq3UcqyeitupuqEOzjzA5OMAhp-9lTo01y4I2sT73BLtMFDpOFv3PltlsHX0LCVaHlm09AE-P57fMy4nJSH08hTiDcwDSYaD4XpG0/s320/susan_andrew_matt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Written for Andrew</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named
Susan. Everyone in the Kingdom loved
Princess Susan, because not only was she beautiful, but she was also strong and
brave, smart, loving and – sometimes – just a tiny bit silly! Everywhere she went she brought sunshine and
laughter. Everyone she met became a
friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now, there are lots of stories about princesses out there
and they all say that their princesses are special. But Princess Susan was the most special of
them all. What made Princess Susan so
special? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, for one thing, she was strong and brave. She could ride her Royal Bicycle through the Royal Forest as fast as the wind – and she wasn’t even afraid of the wolves. She could climb the tallest mountains and
touch the clouds – and she wasn’t afraid of falling. She could ride the wild waves of the ocean on
her Royal Surfboard - and she wasn’t afraid of the sharks. And she kept her body strong by lifting
weights and doing yoga in the Royal Gym.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For another thing, she loved animals. She had two Royal Kitty Cats, named Teva and
Ziggy. I’ll tell you a secret –
sometimes Princess Susan spoiled those kitty cats, but they were good cats and
they loved her very much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And everything that Princess Susan did, she did well. Princess Susan was so smart that she went to
the Royal University and became a Royal Engineer. She loved reading and kept her Royal Car,
named Bunny, full of books from the Royal Library. And she was so good with computers that soon
everyone in the Kingdom knew about her Royal Spreadsheets and the Royal
Websites that she made. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Princess Susan also loved to sew, and she made lots of
wonderful things with her Royal Sewing Machine.
She could make magic things – she made magic quilted bags for her friends
and family that were always full of love.
And she made magic shirts for the knights who were fighting in a war far
away. The shirts helped keep them cool
in the hot desert sun and protected them from harm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now, one day, when Princess Susan was practicing her
mountain climbing in the Royal Gym, she met a knight, named Sir Matthew. Sir Matthew was a very special knight in the Kingdom. He didn’t have a horse – instead, he had a Royal
Hound, named Brix. And every day and
every night, Sir Matthew and Brix would patrol the Kingdom, looking for bad
guys. When they found a bad guy, they
would put him in jail, so that everyone in the Kingdom could be safe and
happy. It was a dangerous job, but Sir
Matthew and Brix were very strong and very brave and they kept the people of
the Kingdom safe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Of course, Sir Matthew took one look at the beautiful
Princess Susan and immediately fell under her magic spell. And, of course, Princess Susan took one look
at the strong, handsome and brave Sir Matthew and immediately fell in love with
him. So, it was no surprise to anyone,
when Sir Matthew asked Princess Susan to marry him, and she said yes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The wedding of Princess Susan and Sir Matthew was the biggest
and most wonderful event in the whole Kingdom.
Everyone came to celebrate and there was joy and happiness throughout
the land as they became King Matthew and Queen Susan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But the joy of the wedding was nothing compared to the joy
when Queen Susan and King Matthew welcomed their baby boy, Prince Andrew, into
the world. And while Queen Susan was
good at everything that she had done in her whole life, when she had her baby
boy, Prince Andrew, she found her most special passion – being a mama. And every minute that she wasn’t taking care
of her husband, King Matthew, or her baby, Prince Andrew, she spent helping
other mamas and their babies in her Kingdom.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Queen Susan and Prince Andrew went everywhere together and
did everything together. They went to a
magic land called Amaya Papaya, where everything was small, just the right size
for Prince Andrew to play with. They had
play dates at the Royal Park with Princess Lyla and the Princess Sisters CeCe
and Frannie. They went to the Royal Zoo
and played in the Royal Water Fountains and fed the Royal Goats. They played in the Royal Chik-Fil-A
Playground where everyone has to take off their shoes – and sometimes Prince
Andrew tried to put on other children’s shoes!
And they went to another magic land called the Grow and Sing Studio,
where Prince Andrew learned to play music and dance and sing. And everywhere they went, they smiled and
laughed and had fun together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And Prince Andrew grew, tall and strong and brave like his
father, King Matthew; with a warm, open and loving spirit – and just a tiny bit
silly! – like his mother, Queen Susan.
And Queen Susan and King Matthew and the Royal Hound, Brix, and the Royal
Kitty Cats, Teva and Ziggy – they all loved their Prince Andrew with all their
hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One day, God realized that there were a lot of babies up in
Heaven who needed a mama to take care of them. And He searched the entire world for the very
best mama that he could find. Of course,
Queen Susan was the best mama, with the biggest heart and the most love, so God
decided to bring her to Heaven to care for those babies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Queen Susan didn't want to go. She wanted to stay with King Matthew and
Prince Andrew. But God said that they
were strong and had each other, and He promised Queen Susan that she could
become an angel and watch over them and take care of them from Heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so now, Queen Susan is up in heaven, taking care of all
those babies that don’t have their mamas with them – but she still loves her
King Matthew and her Prince Andrew best of all.
And she watches over them and takes care of them and sends good things
and good people into their lives every chance she gets. And she will be with them forever and she
will never stop loving them. Her love is
forever and ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The End. </span><o:p></o:p></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-23134665049393083332012-03-09T08:00:00.000-05:002012-03-09T08:00:00.224-05:00Friday Confession<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMc16eKAcAfSKI2eO-k9QC5ttRq6k78NMxscAMIVmvBVhtEDG8Xm3Gwovuh7NLSszadRnkSgT-N8LCp7qsqgxzPanVq9Ib52ufCAUGml0KRYtBq-WNryKOZ8bt1kcQ3rpuxOPuBjsv8os/s1600/patch+quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMc16eKAcAfSKI2eO-k9QC5ttRq6k78NMxscAMIVmvBVhtEDG8Xm3Gwovuh7NLSszadRnkSgT-N8LCp7qsqgxzPanVq9Ib52ufCAUGml0KRYtBq-WNryKOZ8bt1kcQ3rpuxOPuBjsv8os/s320/patch+quilt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I mentioned in my post on Wednesday, I offered to make Andrew a quilt from some of his Mother's clothes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My confession - I've never made a quilt. :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, what about you? Do you quilt? If not, why not? If yes, I'd love to hear about your quilting experiences - especially any "first timer" stories. Finally, have you ever made a memorial quilt? I'd really appreciate any advice. Thank you! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="http://quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/twenty_five_pat.htm" target="_blank"><i>About.com Quilting</i></a></span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-19707057121594913172012-03-08T22:31:00.000-05:002012-03-08T22:36:36.972-05:00Talk Back Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCe735wK4aeGPi7IEf0QBTtxHGNqlj6ZuHuEiYKqT0PTK8r58GC8iP-TGBDjp09fzAOKYQ8vfLi2PNdJa2EFhaGXwICGaFi8BOOqMyCSZ2K09u83ZHfcAgvG7qQvW7u8ktM4fxh1honw/s1600/duck_tape_prom_dress.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCe735wK4aeGPi7IEf0QBTtxHGNqlj6ZuHuEiYKqT0PTK8r58GC8iP-TGBDjp09fzAOKYQ8vfLi2PNdJa2EFhaGXwICGaFi8BOOqMyCSZ2K09u83ZHfcAgvG7qQvW7u8ktM4fxh1honw/s1600/duck_tape_prom_dress.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Duck Tape Prom Outfit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks for the link, <a href="http://anachronismsarah.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Sarah</i></a>! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Photo Credit: <i><a href="http://duckbrand.com/Promotions/stuck-at-prom/Gallery.aspx" target="_blank">Stuck-At-Prom</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you so much to <a href="http://catsandcalico.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>BConky</i></a>, <a href="http://maydela.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Shannon</i></a>, <a href="http://www.embroiderydesignsplus.com/default.aspx" target="_blank"><i>Patsijean</i></a>, Debbie, <a href="http://missemilyscloset.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Katie</i></a>, <a href="http://anachronismsarah.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Sarah</i></a>, <a href="http://sew-and-so.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Becky</i></a>, <a href="http://www.sewducky.com/" target="_blank"><i>Elaina </i></a>and <a href="http://costumedeeva.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><i>CostumeDeeva</i></a> for talking back to my confession last week! I've decided to try to make some bloomers out of bed sheets, and asked what other unusual materials people have used in their sewing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Reader's Digest Condensed Version of the responses: You guys are one creative bunch. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The most popular non-standard materials called out were curtains (and the legacy of Scarlett O'Hara lives on...), table cloths and bed sheets. A few people mentioned using these items to create regular, everyday clothes. For example, Patsijean recently made her grandson a nice, casual shirt out of a curtain - she said it was a loose, nubby cotton - really nice, but prone to unraveling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many of the stories of creative sewing with creative materials had to do with costumes or unusual garments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Believe it or not, there were two stories associated with religious clothing! BConky made real vestments for a friend of hers who is a priest, and Shannon made this <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maydela/2377970848/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><i>costume priest's shawl</i></a> with cross-stitched pictures of Dean Stockwell with a halo! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Becky made this gypsy costume for a Renaissance Fair from an eclectic collection of thrift store finds, including a bed sheet, tablecloth AND curtain panel. You can see more pictures on her blog, <a href="http://sew-and-so.blogspot.com/2009/08/best-laid-plans.html" target="_blank"><i>here</i></a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sarah also used a table cloth as part of a Renaissance dress. (And now I'm just showing off that I can spell the word "renaissance") </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of Katie's favorite costumes was made from a super soft sheet, and BConky always smiles when she thinks of the Glenda costume (the good witch from the Wizard of OZ) that she made for a 6' 3" XXL man! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Other unusual sewing projects mentioned included:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Becky tried to recycle a leather trench coat into a bag - but her sewing machine wasn't very cooperative...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Debbie repaired a friend's vinyl camper awning - she said that she had to set up her sewing machine in the driveway and it took 6 extra people to help her control the awning as she sewed, because it was so heavy - yikes, that's friendship! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And Elaina used 4 Army sand bags (at $0.50 each!) to stitch up a tarp for her Mom's ferret cage - Army sand bags are a Project Runway challenge-worthy material! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, CostumeDeeva - a new FL friend from the 1912 project - created a <a href="http://nationalsewingmonth.org/html/contest_entries_2009.html" target="_blank"><i>corset</i> </a>from an old t-shirt, and old dress shirt, shoe laces and aluminum pop tops! Is this amazing, or what? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks again to everyone who took the time to leave an example - I really enjoyed reading your stories and seeing your pictures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And special thanks for all the kind words about Susan and her family. It may seem like only a little thing to you, but it actually makes a difference and means a lot to me. Thank you.</span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-76146173404906567272012-03-07T08:00:00.000-05:002012-03-07T08:00:05.307-05:00In the Queue Wednesday<div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tonight is Susan's Memorial Service. When someone you love dies, you search for things to do, for ways to help... I offered to make Andrew a quilt from some of his Mom's clothes, so that he could feel wrapped in her arms each night in his bed. Matt is going to get me some of the clothes that she wore when she was pregnant with him. This project will be on par with <a href="http://weddingdresssaga.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>sewing her wedding dress four years ago</i></a> - far from perfection, but full to the brim with love...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/changetheworld/2010/09/aids-memorial-quilt-comes-to-florida-mall.html" target="_blank"><i>Orlando Sentinel</i></a></span></div>
</div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-13810455464607231732012-03-04T19:17:00.000-05:002012-03-04T19:17:00.036-05:00Weekend Project: The World Keeps Turning...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...whether we want it to or not. :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was so odd to see that my pre-written, scheduled posts came up during this past week - I had completely forgotten about them... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A week ago I would have been thrilled to receive my first assignment for the 1912 Titanic Sewing Project. While I was in the hospital, sitting by Susan's bedside, I received this "Afternoon Wrap". </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGjrkxAyvpAWhAlhbQkIirRWbCQcVKCCvbbCEobD7Hb4woMJy73p7IMhBqTPjQMXWMzDeY5NNG4GCQRnmp5sw6-wSftH0uQ1vc69ZPPzzAoYDBk7_VmkmFJKzbqyBfi0zE47Ar32eY9U/s1600/wrap+illustration.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGjrkxAyvpAWhAlhbQkIirRWbCQcVKCCvbbCEobD7Hb4woMJy73p7IMhBqTPjQMXWMzDeY5NNG4GCQRnmp5sw6-wSftH0uQ1vc69ZPPzzAoYDBk7_VmkmFJKzbqyBfi0zE47Ar32eY9U/s320/wrap+illustration.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a good first assignment for me - only a couple of pattern pieces and probably not that fit-critical. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-N0KaLFjYvNJYNPKAZlJbuRR-8_JY9iDCjHSWbDzfq4JOjgmqtqVTVStBFXslYDlguXVst57ndzdW7Z63vxki9Ozq9Z3uj1Q5EUWYoVvF1QQUNuT_P_84lG6vEGkfKV6mAIMaqXENos/s1600/wrap+pattern.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-N0KaLFjYvNJYNPKAZlJbuRR-8_JY9iDCjHSWbDzfq4JOjgmqtqVTVStBFXslYDlguXVst57ndzdW7Z63vxki9Ozq9Z3uj1Q5EUWYoVvF1QQUNuT_P_84lG6vEGkfKV6mAIMaqXENos/s320/wrap+pattern.png" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Of course, Mattie is going to look silly with a 1912 wrap over her current simple, modern shift dress. But eventually she'll have a complete 1912 wardrobe... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just like, eventually, I'll find the energy and the spirit to join the world as it keeps turning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone for your kind words over these last few days - please keep Susan's family in your thoughts and prayers. </span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-64648774777075267852012-03-03T19:02:00.001-05:002012-03-03T22:05:44.162-05:00Susan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is one of the worst things about having someone you love die: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">it happens again every single morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~ Anna Quindlen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Susan, Andrew and Matt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.nielsensonline.com/" target="_blank"><i>Cristy Nielsen</i></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can read the photographer's tribute to Susan </span><a href="http://www.llamabear.com/susan/2012/03/03/dear-susan-you-taught-me-so-much-in-two-short-days-2/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>here</i></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<br />Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704085174347222254.post-82528813517738156762012-03-02T08:00:00.000-05:002012-03-02T08:00:04.611-05:00Friday Confession<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Photo credit: <i><a href="http://www.costumesofnashua.com/CNWebSite105/Active905/Pages/CostumeRental/CivilWar/CivilWarSBelle.htm" target="_blank">Costumes of Nashua</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remember this classic Carol Burnett spoof on the Gone with the Wind, Scarlett O'Hara dress made from curtains? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've never made clothes out of curtains, but I've made a purse out of juice bags and I'm getting ready to make bloomers out of bed sheets! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And that leads me to my question for this week: What is the most unusual thing that you have ever sewn with? I'd love to see pictures, if you can leave a link! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Years ago, we became friends with an amazing young woman, Susan. We met at a rock climbing gym and played a significant role in her meeting Matt. (Now, the falling in love part is all HIS doing!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are the 4 of us, and a friend from Italy, at our climbing gym. Susan and Matt are on your left. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Susan and Matt fell in love and got married... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGx4FZvJpTZfFnHF2MkjLFr996U6EI13TXuNBlT0zEXFz38X_uesSMjX2vrtRQ5ifltQLR-SxqE36I-u9nKpkYt_THvWYT7ZwpK1I2teg6TYfN58yb-i4XVz6pYQMBAczOACRxrkeFik/s1600/wedding+dress+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGx4FZvJpTZfFnHF2MkjLFr996U6EI13TXuNBlT0zEXFz38X_uesSMjX2vrtRQ5ifltQLR-SxqE36I-u9nKpkYt_THvWYT7ZwpK1I2teg6TYfN58yb-i4XVz6pYQMBAczOACRxrkeFik/s320/wedding+dress+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And Susan paid me the most singular honor of trusting me to make her wedding dress. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8qMNEnmek0fQzpN-2uJuGz4zNuFDS3gDL0FEw80TnbhvokUqP2p3vfR-FbmNDLpoZPTs4sHpKVMRYMhdmZ-FdAAaf3fW8pT3HCW1oczqbqQPsvQKQ5E8LSNvcosdPr3bsXdlaHGr0Jc/s1600/wedding+dress+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8qMNEnmek0fQzpN-2uJuGz4zNuFDS3gDL0FEw80TnbhvokUqP2p3vfR-FbmNDLpoZPTs4sHpKVMRYMhdmZ-FdAAaf3fW8pT3HCW1oczqbqQPsvQKQ5E8LSNvcosdPr3bsXdlaHGr0Jc/s320/wedding+dress+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A couple of years later, they were joined by the most adorable young man, Andrew. Here he is at his first birthday party: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMaBEEhKcsmkR6HgoEKzoJAcRHFZSKPJ5f4gaoLatvVXA-jJwuIhBX0BOq9sTfK6jXSySLo5ek9-AouUQnOn1Vc_pN4vJcHNAqBr9XCN-WRZRccdASte_NJm9hoC-KiOnkIaWcGIqwwY/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMaBEEhKcsmkR6HgoEKzoJAcRHFZSKPJ5f4gaoLatvVXA-jJwuIhBX0BOq9sTfK6jXSySLo5ek9-AouUQnOn1Vc_pN4vJcHNAqBr9XCN-WRZRccdASte_NJm9hoC-KiOnkIaWcGIqwwY/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You may have been able to predict where the story was going up until now. But no one could have predicted what happened on Monday. Out of the blue, Susan suffered a massive stroke. To date, neither medication nor surgery to remove a piece of her skull have been able to prevent the swelling from impacting other areas of her brain, including her brain stem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She is currently lying in a hospital bed, unresponsive, with medicines controlling her blood pressure, a machine controlling her breathing, and a special type of blanket controlling her body temperature - while her husband keeps vigil, holding her hand, and her two-year old son plays with toys in the children's waiting room... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Her friends have set up a website where you can leave a message of love and support or read stories about Susan written by just some of the many people who love her. Every day, her husband reads those messages and those stories to her, believing that she can hear them and will feel the strength and outpouring of love traveling through the internet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is the website: <a href="http://www.susan.llamabear.com/">http://www.susan.llamabear.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please keep this family in your hearts, your thoughts and your prayers. If you feel moved to do so, please leave them a message - every single message speaks to their hearts and gives them strength. And don't forget to kiss your husband, your parents, your children, and tell them that you love them. Thank you. </span></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953347562329586677noreply@blogger.com9