Oleta's Insights

And, last but not least, our guest post today is from the person where I get my inspiration. She is my teacher, my mentor, my mother, Oleta.

Who taught you to sew? 

Being the youngest child of six girls and one boy, we all sewed. Our mother helped us and we learned from each other. When I was five and my sister next to me was seven, we would take turns paddling the treadle sewing machine for the other to sew. I remember clearly, we made doll clothes. 

Why did you start sewing? 

Never really wondered why I started sewing. It was just something we did. Everybody sewed either by hand or machine, even our neighbors came over and sewed with us. 

What inspires you? 

I get inspired with the designing aspect, especially making formals and wedding dresses. I love listening to another’s description of how they want their special dress to look. I then sketch it out until it meets their vision, and then make it happen! 

I’ve made special dresses for both my girls and both granddaughters, and a niece, and my girls’s high school teacher who did not have a mother to do it for her. In fact, for Leola, I designed the whole wedding, picked out the material, beading, lace, and even designed and made the hats worn by the bride and bridesmaids.

Leslie & Leasa getting ready for prom night

Leslie's dress

Leslie's petal sleeves

Working on Leasa's dress

Leasa's finished dress

Leasa

Leasa

Leola and Oleta

Leola's soft train

The Ladies

Close up of Bridesmaid dress

What do you love most about sewing? 

Making it right the first time without having to rip out the seam and start over. 

What are your favorite things to make? 

Things that a family member would like to have. 

What is your favorite sewing tip or trick? 

After testing first on a scrap, always press anything that has a nap to it by first laying out a terry hand towel then place the garment face down on the towel. Lightly put the iron on the wrong side. 

What is your favorite project you have created? 

One day I brought in a large brown paper sack filled with pieces of white, shaded with blue, fur skins and the tape I’d gotten at a furrier. From the pieces, I made a fingertip length coat. I only had it a year, before someone took it during a home burglary. 

Another favorite project was the designing and making of my high school Senior Day outfit. It was a red linen two piece dress with a bright print sash, a white hat with a band of sash material, and white shoes with a band of the sash material. I received the opportunity to model it and present my fashion drawings to the Dallas Sportswear Meeting of Representatives. This effort resulted in winning the Neiman Marcus Design Scholarship to Southern Methodist University in Dallas. 

What are you currently working on? 

Well, I was going to make a print skirt for a yellow jacket I have to wear to a last club meeting before Fall arrived. But, that was before I stepped on a needle and had to have eleven stitches in my right foot! Maybe I can get it done before next spring!

Thank you, Oleta, my sweet momma, for sharing insights into your world of sewing! I hope everyone stopping by leaves her a comment!

Arleen's Insights

Today's guest blogger is Arleen! Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy reading Arleen's insights into her world of sewing!

Who taught you to sew?

My Momma, who was my first hero, and a single parent to three girls and one boy. Although she taught herself to sew, most of our clothes were store-bought during our elementary school years. But once I learned how to sew and was able to buy/translate patterns for her, she created some of my most memorable outfits in high school as well! 

 Why did you start sewing? 

The summer before I turned 13, my Mom came home from visiting a friend. It was summer school vacation in a border town in Texas, 1967, and not much to do. She was put off when she found me and my other two sisters, ages 10 and 6, just watching TV. 

 So my Mom threw the challenge out by saying that her friend’s two daughters, ages 10 and 9 had been sewing their school clothes when she had stopped by. It was the good old “shame on you” tactic and it worked. 

 I like to think that part of the success came about because the 60’s and 70’s were the most awesome time (style-wise) to sew in America. There was the “mini” – the “maxi” – the “midi” – hot pants, bell-bottomed pants, the “granny” dresses, the poncho, the peasant blouse, dresses with cutouts, I even remember a short stint with paper dresses! Add to that, the fall of 1969 was the beginning of my high school years and the disco era was another hook into sewing for me. 

What inspires you? 

When I first started to sew, it was the opportunity to have many outfits at a very low cost, something that was doable for my single parent. Then the inspiration was fueled by styles of the 60’s and 70’s and the ability to own one-of-a-kind outfits. 

I did try to sew some shirts for my husband early on but somehow men’s clothes were not fun for me. When my daughter was born, however, that was a whole new “territory” to explore. Dresses on a small scale, “new” fabrics to sew with, wow! It was like Alice in Wonderland falling down the hole all over again! 

When my son was born in 1980, I found out that infant/toddler clothes for boys were very limited. So I sewed for him as well. Sometimes, both of my kids reminisce about the MC Hammer pants/shorts era when Mom used to sew those whacky shorts made of different colors/prints! My son, who is now 31 will say, “Mom, I can’t believe I wore those shorts!” My answer is always, “You weren’t the only one, but no one else had your shorts and I didn’t pay store prices for them!” 

Today, my inspiration comes from my six-year-old granddaughter (and soon, my new infant granddaughter).  She loves dresses. She gives me the opportunity again to explore a whole palette of colors and to go back to an era when little girls dressed like little girls.

And close on the heels of my granddaughter, is my love for dolls. I’ve sewed for dolls when my daughter was a child and didn’t pick it up until about a year ago for my granddaughter’s dolls. It’s gotten to the point that I’ve started to buy my own dolls, including a vintage “Grocery Store” doll I recently purchased because it looked like the one I used to have! 

My granddaughters and my dolls, they are my inspirations! 

What do you love most about sewing? 

Spring and summer are my favorite “sewing seasons.” I love the fabrics (whites, pastels, summer prints) and styles for those seasons. Because I live in the southern California desert where temperatures can reach 118 degrees in the summer and winters are paradise, I’m able to indulge myself. Our “spring” is ready to go as early as mid-February and our summer heats are still with us into late October. 

What are your favorite things to make? 

In my younger and working days, women’s dresses and suits. My favorite styles were in the 1990’s when all pattern companies were cranking out beautiful jacket styles. 

Today, the vote goes straight to little girl dresses, from infant to size 8, and doll clothing. Unlike my granddaughters who will one day “outgrow” those sizes, doll clothing is a journey that will always stay the same “size and age.” 

What is your favorite sewing tip or trick? 

That’s a tough one since sewists, whether you’re just starting out or been at it for a long time, we’re always learning new/better/smarter ways to do things. 

But one of the tips that I will teach my granddaughter as she learns to sew, is visualize, visualize and visualize. It’s important to learn how to “visualize” what your finished product, especially an outfit, is going to look like before you even begin. How is it going to fit YOU?  Do the colors fit my skin tone? Is this print too loud/not appropriate? Will the fabric fit the style? 

It sounds like a lot, but once it becomes second nature, it actually becomes part of the shopping pleasure we experience in a fabric shop – or at least, I do! 

What is your favorite project you have created?
When my daughter was about 16 months, I made her a denim overall, with matching fleece-lined coat and bonnet. It was a hard project for me at the time but I got so many compliments from other moms with children the same age, I’ve never forgotten it. 

What are you currently working on? 

I’m planning and currently working to establish myself on-line to sell my homemade dresses and doll clothing. I am currently laying out plans to find a clientele of Moms who still like to outfit their infant/toddler daughters (and their dollies) with clothes appropriate (and fun!) for children. 

Towards that end, I’ve been adding to my doll “family”, exploring the Internet (wow! and is that overwhelming!), putting together “libraries” of tutorials, help sites, notion vendors, looking for vintage sewing patterns, “inventorying” my supplies, etc. 

Oh, yes, and admiring all the beautiful creations of my fellow sewists!

Thank you for sharing your insights, Arleen! I hope everyone who stops by will leave her a comment!

Gail's Insights

Our guest blogger today is Gail! In the following interview, Gail shares her insights into the world of sewing.

Who taught you to sew?

Mom taught me how to sew on a button and I did some simple embroidery as a child but in high school, I took home ec and finally got my hands on a sewing machine.

Why did you start sewing?

The spark began by wrapping little fabric scraps around a doll and calling it a dress, I remember my girls doing the same to begin experimenting with the fashion world. When I got to high school I wanted to make “real” clothes and did so for the next 30 years, then I discovered quilts!

What inspires you? 

Magazines, but mostly the creativity of other people.  I love attending quilt shows, in small towns especially, to see the wonderful hand work. And playing with color is really my biggest inspiration. To see the finished project inspires me to do the next one.

What do you love most about sewing?

It is so relaxing to be at the machine; unfortunately, my life has become so busy I haven’t worked on a project for months.

What are your favorite things to make?

I am currently only piecing quilts, occasionally I will make a wearable art piece.

This the first and only quilt I have made completely by hand.

Started in July/August 2000, in Hawaii.

Hand appliquéd and hand quilted.

I finally put a border on it in 2009 and have it hanging in the house where I can enjoy it.

Beacons of Light quilt displayed at the Lampasas Show in 2008

Finished 3/7/2012

What is your favorite sewing tip or trick?

Hmmm? Too many to think of a single one to share. 

What is your favorite project you have created?

I love each and every one of my quilts, but my favorite is a crazy quilt Christmas jacket. 

What are you currently working on? 

I have a cheery Mary Englebreit quilt in my new frame to be hand quilted.  Gotta get un-busy so I can sit and stitch on it!

2012

 Thank you, Gail! I hope everyone stopping by will leave her a comment!

SueEllen's Insights

Today’s guest blogger is SueEllen! She shares a bit of insight into her world of sewing–

Who taught you to sew?

I first learned to sew in junior high home economics class.  It was only a 2 week segment of that class, so we only learned the basics.  After that, my paternal grandmother helped me whenever I got “stuck”.  She was a wealth of information and knew a lot of shortcuts from having worked in the garment industry.  I fondly remember working on her Singer treadle machine.

Why did you start sewing?

At the time, I was between girl sizes and misses sizes.  There were no size 0-6 at the time either.  Clothes went from girls 14 to misses 8.  So, I started sewing all my own clothes, and my grandmother taught me how to fit a pattern.  I loved to stay in my room and sew all weekend.  I even made my prom dresses, then my wedding dress and one of the bridesmaid dresses.

What inspires you?

I love to ‘surf the net’ and look at what others have done.  When I find something I want to be able to find again, I pin it to Pinterest.

Now, I mostly enjoy quilting and sewing for my granddaughters.  I love to make things for other people and see the joy on their face.  In quilting, I enjoy the design and deciding the colors the most.

What do you love most about sewing?

I can do it at home anytime, and I can share my love of sewing with others at local shops and take classes to learn new things.  I love the social aspect of ‘sit n sew’ groups.  I attended my first quilt retreat in August and really enjoyed it.  I’m going again in October!

What are your favorite things to make?

Dresses for granddaughters, pillowcases, and quilts for family.  I made a pillowcase for all 8 grandchildren last year – and put their gifts inside and tied it with a bow!

What is your favorite sewing tip or trick?

I have really appreciated the sidewinder bobbin winder I bought.  I no longer need to unthread the machine to fill a bobbin.

What is your favorite project you have created?

Last Christmas I made a quilt for my mother’s bed.  She lives in NH and the winters get very cold.  I made it using the Summer Breeze and Wildflower fabrics to cheer her during the long winter.  I also made pillowcases to match.

Summer Breeze Quilt made for Mom, 2011

Summer Breeze Quilt

This quilt was made with love for Mom

Christmas 2011

To bring some Summer cheer to the

long cold nights of winter in NH

Blueberries – for the bush by the lake

Texas Bluebonnets

Daisies to remember our Easter dresses

with matching capes

Birds – look for a red breasted Robin

to know it is Spring

Blue – Mom’s favorite color

Pink – Sue’s favorite color

Yellow – for Sunshine

By SueEllen George

What are you currently working on?

I am almost finished making a t-shirt quilt for my niece who just started college in Kansas.  I just lack sewing the binding, then it can be mailed off to her.  She wants to use it on her bed in the dorm.  She played volleyball all through high school and gave me those t-shirts to create her memory quilt. Soon I hope to start my first Carpenter’s Star quilt.  I intend to keep this one for my own bed!  All the quilts I have made I have given away! I also have a wedding ring quilt in process using paper piecing. I just found out today, our 9th grandchild will be a boy!  He is due Feb. 12, 2013.  So, I need to get started on a quilt for him, too! And, I plan to make table runners for the 5 kids for Christmas presents.  Not sure yet what I will be making for the grands for Christmas! So much to do – so little time!                            

Thank you, SueEllen for being a guest blogger at Lanettta’s Creations. I hope everyone leaves a comment for SueEllen!

Jackie's Insights

Today we have another guest blogger to share insights into their world of sewing. I hope everyone enjoys what Jackie has shared with us in this interview. I know I have, especially her lovely pictures!

Who taught you to sew?

My Mother

Mother made this prom dress for my oldest sister, Freddie

Why did you start sewing?

I liked the feeling of accomplishment of something I created.

What inspires you?

 Sewing for my grandkids

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2011

What do you love most about sewing?

Losing track of time.

What are your favorite things to make?

Anything that I know will make someone else happy, but I love, love, love machine embroidery.

What is your favorite sewing tip or trick?

Using a glue stick for the extras such as piping.

What is your favorite project you have created?

Santa Claus outfit out of red minky fabric.

What are you currently working on?

Just completed a Big Sister outfit for my granddaughter to wear at the hospital when her new baby brother arrives (in 2 weeks) and getting ready to attempt a belly dancers costume!

Thank you, Jackie! Please everyone, give her a shout out by leaving a comment below!