Sewing Stockings and Reminiscing

I've been sewing stockings today, for a custom order and it had me thinking about several things.

For one, I'm a self-taught seamstress. Sometimes that can be a frustrating thing. A couple of weeks ago, I was working on an set of stockings and as Angea would say "I nearly lost my Jesus." It was a disaster and I cut up / scrapped three of them today, because I totally made a mess of them. It was one of those orders that I should have said "No" to from the very beginning, as it was something more complicated than I usually take on...

I really don't know how to use patterns, so I just create my own templates to use. Sometimes getting everything sewn in the correct order - wrong sides together, sew,  right sides together, sew, flip, sew, yada, yada.... gets confusing. Thankfully, today I was able to peacefully sew all of the stockings without any complications! 

While Grandmama was an excellent seamstress and made all my dresses up till 8th grade, she didn't teach me to sew. I watched her quilt and occasionally helped a little bit. As an adult, I wished I would have learned so much from her. You know, there are so many skills that I wish would have been passed down from the older generations. Maybe they thought we weren't interested or would never use the skills. I'm sure she's looking down and surprised to see me sewing and making a living with fabric... I also wish I would have learned more in the kitchen and garden from my grandparents.

 The first thing I ever remember sewing was a giant stocking for Jeff. It was our first Christmas together and I decided to make a huge stocking and fill it with things for him. I was staying at Grandmama's house that night (she had a stroke and couldn't stay alone, so I stayed with her a lot) and decided to use her machine to sew the stocking. I think my mom helped me some, but I really just made Grandmama nervous with my sewing. The stroke affected her speech, so she couldn't properly communicate and teach me at that point.  It all worked out in the end and if I look in the storage building, I can probably still find the stocking.  After she passed away the next spring, her old Sew Gem sewing machine became mine. I don't use it much anymore, as I have two other machines, although its a treasure I'll never part with. 

The stockings were hung on the mantle with care... this is a snapshot of our shared booth at Uniques and Antiques. Angea makes the French Country style stockings, while I created all of the burlap stockings. You can also find my burlap stockings in my online shop, with worldwide shipping. 

Our stockings are all handmade, right here in East Texas!

What's the one thing you wish your grandparents would have taught you? 

The stockings were hung...

The stockings were hung by the CAMPER with care! 

Sadly, we don't have a chimney or fireplace at home to hang the stockings by. Sure wish I had a mantle to decorate though. Anywho, lots of stockings have been shipping or delivered and the pic above and below were both from a custom order going to one location. Red burlap sash for the boys, lace for the girls! 

So, for all of you who ordered stockings, I would love to see where you hang them! Please share a picture of your mantle, wall, etc where you decorate! 

Please tag me on Instagram or Twitter @gypsyfarmgirl #gypsyfarmgirl or you can post on my Facebook page! 

P.S. This set of stockings is still available and I can customize if you would like. Also have a couple more of the hemmed stockings with optional sashes and I can make more.  

Open House Event at Starry Nights Art Studio and Vintage Rose Venues

I'm excited to formally announce that I will be set up with my glamper boutique at the Starry Nights Studio and Vintage Rose Venues Christmas Open House Event! 

The art studio is ran by Kelly Laminack, who was my high school art teacher. She stopped by our booth at the Yamboree last month and insisted that we be a part of their open house event! The studio is located in a historic old bank building in the Rosewood community and she host painting parties and the venue is available for birthday parties, wedding or babies showers and the such. I attended a surprise birthday party there over the summer and it's a very neat place and they have it decorated oh so shabby vintage. 

So we have jumped head first into Christmas mode and been creating new items for my shop and the show. Here's a small sampling of the stockings, arrangements and wreaths I've been making. 

Also, I'm working on restocking the glamper pillow and tote bag line as well! These items are all currently available in my etsy shop and I'm waiting on a shipment of pillow forms and I'll have more glamper pillows ready soon. 

Angea from Rooster Tails will also be joining us with some of her handmade items! We hope that you can come visit and shop with us at their open house! Beat the holiday rush and shop the week before Thanksgiving and you can get new Christmas decor in time to decorate on Black Friday and gifts ready to go under the tree!