I was planning on getting my green dress finished today, but my plans changed, due to the snowy weather. Do you remember me telling you about a little 10 year old girl from Columbia who came over to my house for Christmas? She asked me if I had any scraps of fabric… remember her? I sent her home with more than just scraps, and each time I’ve seen her I would give her something else… needles, buttons, bows, ribbons, more fabrics, etc. Well, today her school was canceled because of the snow, but her mom had to go to the University and her dad just got a new job and today was his first day. They asked if Sara could come over and be with me… SURE…one seamstress and one “wanna be” seamstress…we’d surely have a fun time on this cold snowy day.
Well, almost as soon as she got here, she opened up her little bag and showed me what she has been working on… I found her a little doll at the Thrift Shop the other day that was nice and clean and had more of a “child-like” body unlike the body on her Elsa doll. She has been one busy little girl! I was astounded… and wanted to introduce you to the next “Jeanne Marie!” She definitely has the skills and is so eager to learn! She’s learning English pretty quickly from her school that she attends, so language isn’t a big hindrance to our sewing. I told her I wanted to take some pictures of her things and feature them on my blog post. You should have seen her smile! Let me show you a few of the things she’s made…
If you click on any of the pictures they will enlarge.
Look at the little boots she made…
…and a scarf for her neck…
This is a dress for her Elsa doll…
Look at her button and buttonholes… :o)
She said they weren’t very good… so I showed her some of my earlier doll clothes and she just smiled…
She has a little dog named Paco that she’s had since she was 2 and she made him a doggie sweater…
She wanted a doggie carrier for Paco, so we got started on it… but her dad picked her up so we’ll have to finish it another time.
So here she is… the next “Jeanne Marie”…. I mean Sara! She is destined to be a great seamstress… I just know it!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What an ADORABLE little girl Sara is—-and talented too! She did a great job on those outfits! That fluffy blue material is just the thing for hiding imperfections and it looks professionally made, actually! Oh my goodness, she actually tried buttonholes!
That pink dress looks like something I would have worn in the late 60’s! She certainly shows promise and sewing is a wonderful hobby, even if she doesn’t go into it professionally. It’s a wonderful talent to have and will be so valuable in the future. I can’t imagine not being able to sew, and believe me, there are plenty of women who don’t know how!
I can’t think of a better person for her to have to guide her along the way, Jeanne, than YOU!
HI Linda,
Yes, she shows real promise and we had fun with our photo shoot! I LOVED the buttonholes… I’d say hers were better than mine when I tried them…so long ago!
They will be here for 3-4 more years so we’ll probably have lots more sewing sessions in the future.
Blessings, Jeanne
What a wonderful way to spend the day for both of you! Sara is on her way if she can deal with the boucle fabric. Fearless! Thanks for sharing your special day with us.
Susette,
Sara loves that boucle knit fabric…she also got some from me in purple too! It hides a multitude of mishaps! It went wonderfully with her new blue eyed doll.
Blessings, Jeanne
She is beautiful and doing great for just starting to sew. 🙂
Hi Christine,
She is so eager to learn and has a real eye for how things go together…
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you for such a heart warming story on this bitterly cold morning, Jeanne. What a wonderful feeling to inspire a child and perhaps awaken their passion in them. Sara is beautiful and her little creations are so sweet. She most definitely has potential to be the next Jeanne Marie.
BTW, YOU are an inspiration to all of us reading your blog! I look forward to your warm and friendly stories each day. 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful day that is (maybe) filled with “green” sewing.
HI Cindy,
Thanks so much for enjoying my everyday happenings… yesterday was quite special in our photo shoot. I’m hoping that by the time Sara goes home, she’ll have enough sewing skills to keep going on her own. Oh, the thoughts of them going back to Columbia…I can’t even think about it.
Blessings, Jeanne
I didn’t have so many “work” emails today…I always read yours last…it’s my treat.Finish the “have to” emails and then enjoy yours!
Sara is darling…she has that American Girl look about her..she could have modeled for one of their faces!
Good luck finishing the green dress
I am getting a quilting lesson today!
Thanks Kathie,
She truly is a wonderful little girl with a bright future…sewing as well as everything else.
Have fun at your quilting lesson!
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, it is so encouraging to see the younger generation taking up the skills of sewing. Your Sara certainly has the interest and talent. She is at a prime age for encouragement toward becoming an accomplished seamstress as her mentor is!
Thank you Jeannie,
We had a lot of fun and I’m sure there will be many more sessions in our future.
Thank you very much for being a wonderful subscriber and friend.
Blessings, Jeanne
Tell Sara that I said she is on her way to becoming a great seamstress.. I love seeing the creativeness of the young.. I always think I wouldn’t do those fabrics or colors together.. and then I see the finished project and some how it worked.. and it shames me that I didn’t have open eyes/heart to what could be.
Way to go Sara!!!
She is so lucky to have you… but I know you are feeling like you are the lucky one having her in your life.. hugs to you both
Hi Kath,
I think half the fun of sewing is trying something new and seeing how it turns out. Believe me when I say I’ve had my fair share of things that were “nope….not this time!” It’s fun to experiment and see what happens.
We are both blessed when we can talk “sewing” together!
Blessings, Jeanne
Sara is adorable and she is going to be a great seamstress..cute doll too!
HI Regina,
Yes, she’s a quick learner and very creative!
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh Jeanne, this is funny! When you mentioned that Sara was going back to Columbia in a few years and couldn’t bear to think of it, I thought to myself—why, that’s just a 2 hour drive—what is so bad about that? Ha! ha! ha! You might know, I am living in St. Louis, MO, and we hear about Columbia all the time here, since so many people go or have gone to school there at Mizzou, including my son.! THAT’S the place I think of when anyone says Columbia! So, Sara is a native of Columbia, the COUNTRY!
HI Linda,
YES…it’s Columbia, South America!!! That’s bit far for me to see them very often. Her mom is going to school and they wanted to come here so Sara and Edgar could learn English. Sara is doing very well with her English and Edgar is learning pretty quickly too. He works with my hubby sometimes at the church and somehow they manage to figure things out even with a language barrier…
They are such a neat family!
Blessings, Jeanne
What a special little girl and very pretty too. I would say she is off to a great start in sewing. I love the jacket for her little stuffed dog. Looks perfect.
I wish Sara well in her future sewing progress!
Have a blessed day!
Thank you Paula,
I just sent her mom the link to my blog post with her in it. I think she will enjoy reading all of your wonderful comments! Thanks everyone… and Paula, yes, she is very pretty! Paco thanks you for liking his jacket!
Blessings, Jeanne
I have to tell you how much I enjoyed your post today. There is nothing so important as being a role model and encourager for the next generation. Kudos to you, Jeanne, for being both of those things! I love the things Sara made; she’s very talented.
Thank you Carolyn,
It’s nice to be a mentor to someone who wants to learn as much as they can from you…
Yes, Sara shows a lot of promise and might be Columbia’s next big Fashion Designer…who knows!
Blessings, Jeanne
Isn’t it just the Best Fun to encourage and help a new sewer?! She not only has the talent, but also the desire, both things to be nurtured.
If you have 4-H in your area, perhaps she would enjoy a 4-H sewing club. She would have a chance to learn how to make clothes for herself, and be with other kids who love to sew. I learned how to sew in 4-H many years ago; now I am a 4-H judge (clothing and textiles, baking and foods) at our local fair. It’s fun!
Hi Charlotte,
Yes, it is fun to be an encourager to the young who want to learn to sew. I’ve been asked many times to teach a class to some youngsters so they could learn how to sew.
4-H is a good idea so I might check into the clubs around here. The 4-H club I was in has been gone for ages…
Ohhhh, a 4-H judge at a county fair would be so much fun!
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne