Our First Model

I have to share some pictures and a story of an outfit I made for the new son of a friend from Alabama.  As much as I love to sew, anyone who knows me should know I only make things for people I love or are related to unless it's commissioned for business. Needless to say, this friend holds a special place in my heart. That's all I'll say about that.

Since I wanted this to be a surprise for my friend, I didn't confirm the baby's initials with her. I just stalked facebook. In one of her posts I found a name for her future baby. I took it from there for the monogram. The whole time I worked on the outfit I had a gnawing feeling that she may have changed her mind about his name, but I would just suppress it. Below is the picture of the fabric in the hoop during the embroidery process. After I monogrammed the fabric, I cut out the "bubble". This monogram is one of my favorites that I've done so far. I just kept hoping it was the right one.

Just a side note. Every time I look at this picture, I remember that I was watching the funeral of Whitney Houston while I was digitizing and embroidering this. Of course, the Dolly Parton's song that Whitney sang also goes through my head..".I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU".

The baby was born in January and was a few weeks old before I even got to start work on his gift. I was concerned I would put all this love and time into an outfit that would be too small when they received it. Still, while working on the project I developed a couple of new techniques for trim. I'll have to share the steps for that in a later post.

I have always felt there is plenty of time for dressing little boys in suits and ties and jeans and t shirts and while they are little they should look as sweet and soft as possible. I realize there are those who don't share this opinion. Since this outfit was for the son of a man from Alabama who's favorite color I'm certain is camo, I didn't want to push my luck and add "lace" for the trim. Therefore, I added a scalloped piping that I created in white fabric to contrast with the baby blue.

It was so exhilarating for me to make this outfit for my friend and I looked forward to seeing her son in it. I still had concerns that he would barely fit in the Newborn sized suit because I had not made it and gotten it to her as soon as I would have liked. I'm a perpetual procrastinator and I vowed as I made this that I would do better and not wait until the last minute ever again. (Something I have to confess I have done over and over again in my life. Don't judge, you know you have done the same. lol)  Below you will see the final result. It's the precious baby boy wearing the outfit that was lovingly created just for him. I was happyto find out his mother did indeed name him the very thing I'd hoped and the initials on the monogram were correct. I was then able to breathe a sigh of relief.

It was also a relief to see I had not procrastinated too long in making this newborn outfit. From what I understand this little fellow weighs 12 lbs now. It's nice to see how a NB size fits a not so new born. He even has some growing room in this bubble suit. It does my heart good to see my handiwork being worn on such a sweet young man. There will be plenty of time for camo when he's older and hopefully University of Alabama jerseys. (wink, wink)

I think our first model has done a great job and I hope we will get a chance to see this young man model other Chandler Heirlooms and Designs as long as his dad will allow it.

 A special thanks to his mom for sharing these wonderful photos.

If not now, WHEN?

I finally did it!! I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, obviously, to those of you who are professional bloggers. I have only discovered blogs a few months ago. There is a whole world of communication and education out there untapped by people like myself.

I have a motto for the year. "If not now, when?" I'm not sure where I heard it or how it came to my mind but it haunts me. Life is passing me by. I feel that I have something amazing to do and I need to hurry and step out and do it. This blog is one of my first attempts this year in that effort. 

You can read my background information to get more details on me personally. I would like this blog to help me focus on my creative endeavors. I'm sure every now and then, however, I will be compelled as a proud mother and wife, to mention my 3 amazing children or my awesome husband.

I have been sewing or crocheting ever since I was a young child growing up in Northwest Florida. I had a couple of aunts that allowed me to sew on their sewing machines when I was as young as 7. I got my first sewing machine for Christmas when I was 12. I got a top of the line Singer sewing machine when I graduated high school in 1980 and still use that machine today! It is my favorite, eventhough I have others now. I have made many things over the years on that machine such as my suits for church or when I was in banking. Maternity clothes when I was expecting and then some sweet things for my babies. My masterpiece so far, though, has been my oldest daughter's wedding dress.

I taught myself to smock and learned heirloom sewing techniques from SEW BEAUTIFUL magazine when my children were young and we lived in Tuscaloosa, AL.

 I would make everything in 3's. I would make two girl outfits and an outfit for my son that matched his sisters. It was a challenge to pick colors and themes that worked for both sexes and allow my son to still be "all boy".

 My children are grown now and my oldest daughter is married and graduated from BYU last year. My son and youngest daughter attend LDSBC in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

I miss those days of chaos. Trying to sew, cook, clean and balance activities of the children and whatever was going on at church was always a challenge especially since I was homeschooling the children. But, I would not trade that for anything!! I miss it, as I said, and suppose I long for such chaos again while I'm waiting on the next wave to hit. That would be "grandchildren". So while I wait I am going to CREATE and hopefully post those creations and see what happens from there. Please follow me on my journey. I'm not sure where it will take us, what will happen or where we'll go. It should be interesting though. Let the chaos begin. If not now, WHEN?

Leslie Chandler