Last Day! First Day!

Today ends this year’s National Sewing Month! I hope sewing for the experience of it continues for us all! It’s been a fun rewarding month of new adventures and techniques I’ve tried or have put on my bucket list! How about you?

Oh, and The State Fair of Texas opens today – through 10/23/2016!!!

If you’re looking for me, I’ll be at Thomas Sewing Center in Mesquite, Texas! They have such lovely fabrics, and oh… the… sewing, embroidery, longarm machines… what will be left in the store that is, as most will be at the Fair!

If you’re heading out to the Fair, check out their booth, located in the Grand Place building directly behind Big Tex!

I’ve already started my sewing to-do list for when I get back to the country after spending this next week helping out at Thomas’s! I’m certain the exposure in a lovely shop will fill me with even more ideas, not to mention supplies!

Remember, sewing for the experience of it benefits others, as well as us! 

Why Not?

Why not enter a sewing competition? I asked myself this question a few years ago. Have you thought about it? Why not do it? A county fair maybe?

Before I go any further, I must add that today is OPENING day of our Great State Fair of Texas! The fair will run from today through October 20th. You've not been to a fair unless you've been to the Great State Fair of Texas! (My Humble Opinion!)

Years ago, Momma entered the sewing competition at the Great State Fair of Texas. Back then, winners modeled the outfits created. I remember like it was yesterday, sitting in the audience with my daddy, watching as she walked down the runway. I will always love that two-tone iridescent mauve petal skirt cocktail dress! Another time, much later, she entered a wedding dress she and I designed together. I had the honor of modeling her award winning creation. Within a few months, a knock-off showed up in Lester Melnick’s store window!

I so wish I had a photocopy of both creations… oh well.

It took me many years to gather the courage to follow in Momma’s footsteps. Yes! I finally entered the Creative Arts Competition! I decided 2011 would be a fabulous time because it was the fair's birthday celebration! Can you imagine 125 years? The Great State Fair of Texas has provided all attendees with fabulous memories over the years. I have the special memory of seeing my apron, bag, and doll dress, on display during the 2011 fair!

I also entered an apron and doll dress in 2012. More memories added…

It’s 2013 now, and I entered the competition one last time with this apron. I can hardly wait to add seeing it on display to my memory bank!

All Things Grow With Love... 

Back in August, I entered this same apron in my local county fair! I was THRILLED beyond words when I learned it received first place, and the Grand Champion award for the category! I was excited to see it on display during the fair, to create a new memory!

Will you enter next year in your county fair? Why Not?

Big & Bright

“Big & Bright” is this year’s theme at the great State Fair of Texas! The words are straight from one of my favorite songs:

The stars at night – are big and bright

Deep in the Heart of Texas

One never knows what the Fair’s theme will be until around March of the current year. When I learned “Big & Bright” for 2012, I began pondering the dress I would create and enter for an 18 inch doll. What fabric could I use to carry this theme forward?

I cannot express the excitement I felt when I came across the bridal weight tulle in red, white, and blue with the Big & Bright metallic stars! It was absolutely perfect!

Proud to be an American living in Texas – where the stars at night are big and bright – Abrianna wears the finished creation:

The dress placed fourth in the 2012 Creative Arts Competition! She will model the dress during this year’s fair from September 28th through October 21st. I cannot wait to see her! Congratulations to the first through third place winners! I’m excited to see their work and learn from what they did!

Design and Embellish

While out shopping one day, the curvy, imperfect whimsical stripes in this fabric caught my attention! When I read the end of the bolt: 100% Cotton, Made in the U.S.A., I knew immediately it would be the apron to create and enter in the 2012 Creative Arts Competition at the State Fair of Texas. It took over a year to decide how I would design and embellish the apron!

Between each stripe is a quarter inch white space where I machine-stitched white rick-rack on top. I then took green embroidery floss and hand stitched a zig-zag along the rick-rack. Threaded underneath the green, I used a coordinating dusty rose shade of embroidery floss, looping and knotting at each zig and zag.

I created custom made bias trim from complimenting dusty rose 100% cotton fabric to finish the neckline. A button centered yo yo accents the mock closure for a pull-over-the-head fixed apron.  

The fully lined pocket has several embellishment points. Between the dusty rose and a portion of the main fabric is half visible rick-rack. Along the top of this rick-rack, I used green embroidery floss to do a tiny blanket stitch. At the bottom of the daisy horizontal stripe, I added a bit of variegated green and dusty rose crewel embroidery floss to accent the flowers within the 100% cotton eyelet lace. A running stitch of sorts in dusty rose floss fills the holes within the bottom edge of the lace. The larger button centered yo yo on the pocket coordinates with the smaller one at the back of the neck. Two strands of dusty rose satin picot ribbons complete the pocket’s embellishment.

Using a poly/cotton white-on-white fabric, I fully lined the apron. I then top-stitched around the apron’s perimeter.

I’m a happy camper! My hard work paid off! The apron placed 3rd in the competition! It will be on display during the State Fair of Texas from September 28, 2012 through October 21, 2012! Congratulations to the First and Second place winners! I can hardly wait to see their entries and see what they did!

Seventh Day of Christmas – Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone! It’s hard to believe 2012’s already here! On this Seventh Day of Christmas I wish everyone a joyous and prosperous New Year! God willing, Lanetta’s Creations will have a fabulously Happy New Year, too!

Rather than making any resolutions this year, I’m taking the advice a friend posted on her Facebook wall, her invitation to make a “Proclamation” instead! She advocates not resolving to do anything but to proclaim it! Love this! It’s like a dynamite filled shot of positive attitude.

Each of the Day of Christmas articles I’ve written so far, I’ve shared a little about me and why I’ve created the items offered at Lanetta’s Creations. Most articles have an exclusive coupon code (only found within the article) for savings during the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Following what I started, the next area I should share is about the Handbags and Totes by Lanetta’s Creations. However, I have none left to offer a special coupon code! I’ll simply say I love making them!

This is the one-of-a-kind (OOAK) ~ never again will be made J ~ handbag I designed, created, and entered in the 2011 State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Competition!

Primarily constructed using the same brand of blue jeans Big Tex wears; I was thrilled when I learned I'd won

Second Place

in the competition! This is my new spring 2012 handbag I'll be using!

I proclaim a new line of “Handmade in Texas” at Lanetta’s Creations handbags and totes in 2012! Yes! I’m excited about the designs I’m working on and the fabrics I’ll use to create the unique OOAK awesome items!

NOTE: Life is too short to use store-bought handbags and totes!

If you’re looking for something in a specific color and/or style, just send me an email and we can talk about it! I would love to create a made-to-order handbag or tote especially for you, or one for you to give.

My lovely Facebook Fans are told first when a new product is listed in my studio! Be sure to “like” my page to get the Breaking News and exclusive coupon codes offered only for fans!

Again, Happy New Year!

Summer of 2011

Someday I’ll look back and the summer of 2011 will be a blur. Although not seemingly at the time, it’s amazing how quickly it blew by, leaving me breathless most of the hours that collected into days. The various upheavals appear to be settling now. I hope and pray everyone continues to get better. Through all the trials and tribulations, I have an unending gratefulness for all the blessings God has given me.

Today marks the end of 2011’s National Sewing Month.

During the month of September, I created a smidgen of items compared to last year and I didn’t write as often, but I’ve enjoyed reading other’s articles, learning new sewing techniques, and – thanks to my sister – vicariously experiencing the First Annual Texas Statewide Quilt Shop Hop!  Mid summer we had talked about visiting some of the shops together during the Quilt Across Texas event, but it didn’t work out for me. She gave me the next best thing!

If you haven’t heard about this First Annual event, let me share a little bit… The state was divided into 8 regions and included over 90 shops. Depending on how many shops you visited (and received the appropriate stamp) within all regions, or some of the regions, you had different opportunities to win some great prizes! Not to mention, of course, to purchase beautiful fabrics and supplies! Which my sister did, often!!!

I loved hearing her almost daily report of which shops were FABULOUS, and would make the trip back, or probably not see again (until next year). Sometimes she’d call and I was able to give her better directions (thank you Google maps!) than what the shop owner provided, or the GPS showed. I loved helping her and her friends get to where they needed to go!

Next year I hope to participate! Note to self: Start saving $$$ now!

The way I plan to spend this last day of National Sewing Month: Attend OPENING DAY of our State Fair of Texas! I can hardly wait to see my 1st and two 2nd place ribbons! What will you do?

State Fair of Texas

It had been many years since I’d visited the State Fair of Texas, just to visit and not work on a special event (a past life) then run quickly to the special places I hold close to my heart. Last year, my husband & I decided to go, just because. I’m so glad we did on several levels! We rode the DART rail, transferred once, then got off right at an entry into the fairgrounds. It was fabulous and the ONLY way we’ll go to the fair ever again!

While at the fair, my favorite place to visit is the Creative Arts building. It’s there one can view all the fabulous handmade creations people submitted for competition. You only see the best of the best – First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention – ribbon winners.

Several decades ago, the items were housed in what was called the Woman Building. During that era, my mother competed and won several ribbons over the years. Back then, entrants modeled their designs during the judging segment, and winners also modeled their wares during the fair! One design she created stands out vividly in my memory bank. During the fair, I remember sitting with my daddy as we watched her model a mauve colored satin “petal” dress. At the last questioning, I learned she still has the "after five" dress safely tucked away in their cedar chest.

Between the wonderful memories my mother gave me and seeing all the lovely items on display last year, I became inspired to enter the competition for this year’s fair.

I learned 2011 would mark the fair’s 125^th birthday! I knew their “theme” would focus on the celebration in some form or fashion. For this reason, the red, white, & blue apron I created and entered had 124 x’s cross-stitched and 1 large 5-pointed star on the bodice and waistband to represent the past and present years that people have enjoyed the State Fair of Texas!

I also wanted to create a bag using a pair of repurposed Dickies jeans. Big Tex wears Dickies! I couldn’t believe the specific bandana fabric I’d pictured in my mind would be difficult to find, but I finally did at Hobby Lobby! Of course, I had to add some rhinestones and Texas Star shaped brads I found at Michaels!

The doll dress – I really didn’t make a “Texas” or “Fair” specific theme – is a print with the saying “winter quilts and warm friends” scrolled around different common quilt blocks. Because people usually attend the fair with friends and so many beautiful quilts are on display, I guess the primary fabric used is “fairish” after all!!!

Well, on Tuesday, I FINALLY received notification in the mail as to the decision! And, I won! All three entries placed! Their website now has the results posted. I'm on page 7 & 8 !!!

The apron won 1^st place!

The bag won 2^nd place!

The doll dress won 2^nd place!

When I shared the fabulous news on my Facebook page, a friend asked me, “What did you win besides bragging rights forever?”

My response: “RIBBONS!!! The honor of being displayed during the Fair! And, the quality of my work was recognized by the judges!!!”

Thanks again to Mother for the inspiration to try and follow in her footsteps.

Thanks again to Sister, who encouraged me to continue when “life” got in the way.

Thanks again to Daddy, who instilled in me the excitement and appreciation for the fair.

Thanks again to Bud, for the never-failing support for me to do the things I love to do!

The State Fair of Texas is from September 30, 2011 through October 23, 2011!

I hope everyone will attend this year!

I'll leave you with a great quote to remember, that applies to anything and everything...

"Goals. There's no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There's no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There's no telling what will happen when you act upon them." - Jim Rohn