
Hello my sewing friends!! I know you’ve been patiently waiting for me to get the Part Two of this sweet little Apron Sew-Along to you!

Hello my sewing friends!! I know you’ve been patiently waiting for me to get the Part Two of this sweet little Apron Sew-Along to you!

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Hello Farmgirl Friends!!!
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I’m very (VERY) late on this blog post!! I’m not going to give you all the crazy excuses but I will tell you this one: I went out west to spend some time with my mom and I brought her home with me for the winter again this year. Which is wonderful and awesome and perfect. But it’s also thrown me way off my routine and I’ve hardly even been capable of meeting the deadlines on my calendar this month! Smile!
What a beautiful picture, you are blessed have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy New year to you and your family.
Kathy Gaughran
Oh, how wonderful! Reminds me of my Grandmas (both of them) and their patchwork wonders made for family and friends. My own (now 90-years old) Mom passed on the love of sewing and quilting to my sisters and I, as well. I especially LOVE making aprons, and will make one, for anybody that shows even the most remote interest in wearing and using one. In the past couple weeks, I’ve made at least four, with more already cut out. Thank you for sharing your Mom, family, and love of fabric. Have a wonderful day, and may God’s Peace be with you.
I love it!! Will follow along from beautiful Washington State!!
How exciting! I love aprons and am always looking for new patterns, especially ones of older days. And the best benefit for me is that I can use up the many, many scrap pieces of materials I have lying around in boxes!
I can’t wait to start this sewing project! It’s so great to bring back old patterns, recipes, etc.. My sisters and I just sent all our nieces and nephews projects we did in memory of our mom. When she had time, she liked to crochet, embroider dish towels, and bake. We did an embroidered dish towel, a crochet dishrag, and a copy of a recipe we found in her handwriting. They are so excited to get these packages! I’m retired now, so I’ll start finding material for the squares!
What gifts you share on all levels! Thank you for these memories and pattern!
Thank you Dori, I am going to work along with you
and try to make the apron. It is so pretty and looks like fun. I am not a seamstress at all but I do like to try.
And it is such a lovely photo of you and your girls with your Mama.
Enjoy your mamas visit and have fun.
Farmgirl Hugs,
De#2682
Beautiful photo Dori of you, your Mama and girls such beautiful smiles.
I love the sweet little apron and it looks like fun to make. Even though I am not a seamstress I want to try and make it.
Thank you so much for offering the sew along.
Enjoy your Mama’s visit.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Dear Dori,
What a beautiful group of ladies! Glad to hear that your momma is with you for the holidays and through the winter. Enjoy the Christmas preparations 🙂
Tammy
So happy your Mom can spend the winter with you again! Merry Christmas!

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Hello Farmgirl Friends!!!
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I’m very (VERY) late on this blog post!! I’m not going to give you all the crazy excuses but I will tell you this one: I went out west to spend some time with my mom and I brought her home with me for the winter again this year. Which is wonderful and awesome and perfect. But it’s also thrown me way off my routine and I’ve hardly even been capable of meeting the deadlines on my calendar this month! Smile!
What a beautiful picture, you are blessed have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy New year to you and your family.
Kathy Gaughran
Oh, how wonderful! Reminds me of my Grandmas (both of them) and their patchwork wonders made for family and friends. My own (now 90-years old) Mom passed on the love of sewing and quilting to my sisters and I, as well. I especially LOVE making aprons, and will make one, for anybody that shows even the most remote interest in wearing and using one. In the past couple weeks, I’ve made at least four, with more already cut out. Thank you for sharing your Mom, family, and love of fabric. Have a wonderful day, and may God’s Peace be with you.
I love it!! Will follow along from beautiful Washington State!!
How exciting! I love aprons and am always looking for new patterns, especially ones of older days. And the best benefit for me is that I can use up the many, many scrap pieces of materials I have lying around in boxes!
I can’t wait to start this sewing project! It’s so great to bring back old patterns, recipes, etc.. My sisters and I just sent all our nieces and nephews projects we did in memory of our mom. When she had time, she liked to crochet, embroider dish towels, and bake. We did an embroidered dish towel, a crochet dishrag, and a copy of a recipe we found in her handwriting. They are so excited to get these packages! I’m retired now, so I’ll start finding material for the squares!
What gifts you share on all levels! Thank you for these memories and pattern!
Thank you Dori, I am going to work along with you
and try to make the apron. It is so pretty and looks like fun. I am not a seamstress at all but I do like to try.
And it is such a lovely photo of you and your girls with your Mama.
Enjoy your mamas visit and have fun.
Farmgirl Hugs,
De#2682
Beautiful photo Dori of you, your Mama and girls such beautiful smiles.
I love the sweet little apron and it looks like fun to make. Even though I am not a seamstress I want to try and make it.
Thank you so much for offering the sew along.
Enjoy your Mama’s visit.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Dear Dori,
What a beautiful group of ladies! Glad to hear that your momma is with you for the holidays and through the winter. Enjoy the Christmas preparations 🙂
Tammy
So happy your Mom can spend the winter with you again! Merry Christmas!

The last bouquet of the summer from our flower garden
Hello Famrgirl Friends!!!
It’s October and guess what? This is my birthday month! My daughter and my grand-girls took me to lunch on my birthday and out for a little shopping on our local square. It was just the perfect thing for a birthday celebration! But here’s the thing. I had a hard time leading up to my birthday last week. A really hard time.
Love reading,thank you
Happy belated birthday! What a joy to read your blogs. I’m thankful for folks like you who share the beautiful “small” joys in life… in reality they truly are the big things.
Love this,Thank you
What a wonderful posting to read today… smile I learned something about monarch butterflies and I was inspired as well. Thank you, Dori!
Hello Dori,
A belated Happy Birthday to you!! It’s okay to be melancholy on your birthday; I think. But as you say, you indeed do have much to be thankful for! Thank you for your inspiring and fun blogs.! These really are a gift to us the readers. So; you are already fulfilling your goal, in a way, to give gifts on your birthday ;). God Bless you and keep you…..Love, Tammy

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Hello to my sewing farmgirls!
Do you own a needle book for all your little hand sewing projects? If you don’t, then YAY! This blog post is for you! I love little needle books and I have many of them scattered around my house… anywhere that I might sit and do a little sewing; there’s a needle book!
My favorite hand-sewing project is making folk-artsy looking dolls, with long skinny legs, embroidered faces, and calico dresses on them. Each one is “dorky” in it’s own look, but they’re so much fun to make.
These are just so cute!!
My favorite hand sewing project is really having a quilt that I’m working on just handy so I can sit down to it any time. One of my hand quilting projects is a hexie quilt that I use for a traveling project. It’s been overseas with me twice and will be going again in a few days.
I have always sewed but lately started hand sewing again. Felt, wool table runners, crewel embroidery, counted cross stitch…I need to make an adorable book for my needles. Love your prints. Would love having one of yours
My favorite hand sewing right now is working with small wool applique stitching, but I plan to try something new because of an earlier article you wrote. I just shopped for some sashiko supplies, and I have signed up for some classes to learn this craft. I just have to say, your needlebooks are too sweet! I will have to try these, too! Thank you for always inspiring with your handiwork!
I love to embroider, do EPP quilting, and needlepoint. Your needlebooks are adorable.
I embroider on dish towels. I was taught how to do this from my grandma and mother. I always have a towel, needles, and thread handy. I use them for gifts, and I donate a lot of them to shelters or local places that need them.
I love to do embroidery. It’s my favorite handwork. I’m not very good at it but I am practicing! Thanks for the chance at such a lovely giveaway. Love reading your blog
My favorite hand sewing projects are creative clothing repairs to extend the life of my wardrobe.
Although I’m “getting up there” I still love to make little things and give as gifts to friends and family. This little needle book definitely is on my to do list….how cute!! Thank you Dori!
These are so cute, Dori! Right now I am making that cute little fall swag that you gave a tutorial on last year. I had them all cut out last year but was not able to finish them. Hope to get it hung up this week! Other than that, I have some embroidery projects for winter I am doing. I figure if I work on the next season to come, I may get it finished to enjoy, lol
Hi Dori! I love these little needle books! I’m always looking for something special to make for friends. I think this will be this year’s project. Thank you. My favorite hand-sewing project is any small item that I have quilted. The last thing I made was a cheery table runner for the summer season. I like making big hand stitches on something like this. Gives it a homey look.Happy Sewing! Carol
I have a yo-yo quilt top that has been in the works for years but I love to shop or sew on it when I have time. I’ve taken quite a few quilt classes but it’s all done on a machine & I like that the yo-yo is all by hand.
I enjoy hand embroidery & embellished hand embroidery (I’ve taken classes to learn how to do different stitches for embellishments!
My favorite hand sewing is doing for others – whether it is sewing a hem up for my daughter, fixing a button for our grands, or helping my mom with something she needs. It always feels good to give and help other. :0)
These little Needle keepers are so cute!! I made several last year for Christmas gifts. My hubby likes his really well! He uses the needle when he gets a sticker in his finger. I got the pattern from a quilt show my friend and I attended. I LOVE your posts or blogs, and just LOVE reading about your flower stands and your family helping you with it.
Hi Dori – what a sweet blog post. Were expecting Hurricane Lee to hit us here on the coast of Maine tomorrow so after battening down the hatches this afternoon, I know what I’ll be doing to morrow to ride out the storm…making a needle book!
I’m working on a US map quilt these days. It’s appliqued and I’m hand quilting around the outside of the map. Doing small random running stitches. I’m finding it to be really relaxing. So, for now, I’ll say that it’s my favorite project. But who knows? May e after tomorrow, making needle books will be my new favorite :-).
Thanks,
Jane
My favorite needlework is counted cross-stitch.
I have stitched many things as gifts and they are in homes all over the world.
My favorite is the Nativity ornaments I made for my Mom. They are glass beads, double sided and stitched on perforated paper. A lady admitted them and asked me to make a set for her. I did.
I have since inherited the set I made for my Mom.
I enjoy reading your blogs. Thank you
My favorite hand sewing project is visible mending on old jeans!
Thanks for the inspiring post. Most of my hand sewing is hand quilting and finishing the binding. My favorite part of the process.
My favorite handwork is going to sound a little unusual. I like mending. It is such a great feeling to mend something and know that it will last a little longer or bring new life to something that would have been tossed away. Recently I bought two items at big discounts because they just needed a little mending and TLC. One was a cute set of fabric ghosts that the seams had come apart and the other was a snowman whose spool thread and buttton legs had been sewn on backwards.
Right now I’m working thru a series of snowman hand embroidery blocks that will end up in a quilt, hopefully next year. I enjoy hand quilting smaller items.
My bag was heavy enough after walking thru the quilt show yesterday I would have been tempted to purchase more embellishments if I had seen this first. I treated myself to a new silver thimble and a book on using some of the tatted and crochet pieces from estate sales.
I like Christmas cross stitches
My favorite handwork is going to sound a little unusual. I like mending. It is such a great feeling to mend something and know that it will last a little longer or bring new life to something that would have been tossed away. Recently I bought two items at big discounts because they just needed a little mending and TLC. One was a cute set of fabric ghosts that the seams had come apart and the other was a snowman whose spool thread and buttton legs had been sewn on backwards. It’s fun to be able to mend things that have sentimental value as well.
I love hand sewing little doll quilts and ornaments for my tiny Christmas tree.
I Love to make little critters or little dolls out of felt!
I am eyeing a felted mail box pattern with handmade felted snail for the cards I make. Thank you for this super cute giveaway.
I love anything handmade especially with embroidery on it and appliqués. Your books are delightful and practical! I’m just beginning to learn hand work now that my boys are grown and I have down time to create. I would love to win one of your books to have in my home for upcoming embroidered tea towel projects I want to do for Christmas presents❤️
I just started to hand sew, so every project is my favorite right now. I love these little books, I can’t wait to try it out.
At the moment, my favorite needlework is counted cross-stitch. But, that could change. I also do embroidery and EPP.
Those are sooooooooooo cute!!!
My favorite project might be counted cross-stitch picture.
They have so many to choose from or you can make your own.
My favorite handwork is applique. I can’t wait to get started on a needlebook though. Thank you sew much for the inspiration!!!!
I love this idea! Will definitely try to make one. I love to make little projects to give away. Right now I am making quilted tree shirts to give to my kids.
Darn these fat fingers! I meant tree skirts
I’m trying to finish cross stitching a pillowcase, but do enjoy trying small sewing projects.
I just started quilting in January of this year. I want to hand-quilt my next project, instead of machine quilting on a long-arm. In the past, I’ve done counted cross stitch and a little needlepoint. These needlebooks are just adorable! Now that I’m retired, I have more time to enjoy my hobbies!
I know it’s kind of plain for others, but I love to make different dishcloth patterns!!!
I have done hot pads and coasters and just thoroughly enjoy giving them as stocking stuffers or just a surprise gift!
I do think my favorite may become these needle books!!! I am always searching for what I need to mend or alter something and these are the cutest and most sensible sewing extras I have seen in a long time!
Thank you, thank you, Dori!,
Christine
I enjoy cross stitch. I would like to try Brazilian Embroidery. I have made a dolly out of saved items/fabrics. It turned out real cute.
My favorite hand sewing project has been learning to darn wool socks.
I love embroidery! I enjoy hand stitching receiving blanket edges. I always have a knit or crochet project going. I know that isn’t hand sewing, but it keeps my hands busy.
I make replica wedding and bridesmaids dresses and other outfits of family and friends for American dolls.
I love hand-stitching seasonal decor with felt and penny rugs.
I love hand sewing embellished items for military shadowboxes for family members. Love seeing handmade hearts, flags & etc made from their families past lace, leather & quilt cottons.
Sweet little book and so useful too! Love it.
My hand projects are usually stitching binding to a newly made quilt. But, my favorite and most memorable hand project is a little pieced I hand-embroidered when I was about eleven years old. I taped the embroidery design to a window in the dining room and taped a piece of muslin over it before beginning to trace the embroidery designs on the muslin. It took me forever to trace and my arms were so tired reaching up to trace the designs. The piece has a poem in the middle, under a young boy and girl walking up the staircase. And, it’s framed by embroidered children’s toys. Good memories. I still have the piece which was completed over 50 years ago.
My favorite hand sewing project is mending. I am laid up from surgery and have been catching up on.
I love the sewing needle book pattern and idea.
I love using scraps for small pouches for my embroidery floss or scissors or small gift bags.
Thank you…
You’ve inspired me to get out my needles and scissors and start crafting again! I’m 74 y/o and I know I have another quilt in me
I love to make Christmas ornaments. I’ve made many little ginger bread men. I give them all away.
Dori, I love your blog! My favorite needlework is embroidery which is perfect for the Crazy Quilt I am finishing. My Aunt Mary Witte was unable to finish it and gave it to me. Crazy quilts have always been my favorite quilts. I am also finishing up one the Dresden Plate table toppers you had in a recent blog. Thank you, Dori, for sharing your world with all of us! Joan
Currently into little things, having finally finished 52Tags from 2020…! Now working on a Tiny Tannenbaum wallhanging with lots of shiny bits added. Besides embroidery, mostly my favorite handsewing project is finishing the binding on a quilt–such a soothing, nearly mindless activity, suited to TV watching if that’s your jam, and satisfying at the end of the flurry of creating a quilt!
I love to do counted cross stitch. I get so much enjoyment from looking at all your projects. Makes me wish I could quilt.

Hello friends!!! Here I am again… bringing you a blog post with all the deep thoughts that ended up in a “winging it” kind of project! Smile!
So glad to see your fun work I sewed 2 tablerunners today for my kitchen table. I used some fabric I’d been saving for whatever came my way. One side is blueberries on the stems( navy blue and light colored polka dots backgrounds). The other side is a multicolored outdoor scene of different birds and birdhouses. I used the 10 minute tablerunner pattern given to me by a friend. I added decorative stitching on the borders. Voila!!! LOVE IT ! Wish I could post a picture of it. Oh well. Going to work on fabric boxes tonight to give as gifts to friends. Blessings!
Beautiful job on the table toppers! WAY more hand stitching than I want to do, though.
Those cups are from Starbucks, aren’t they? I have one, from Houston, where I used to live. Maybe next trip I’ll get one that says Texas.
I would love to find one or two of those old Coke boxes, and exactly for that kind of thing.
What an eye-catching beauty this table topper is! That fabric is scrumptious! The only spiffing up I’ve done is knitting cotton dishcloths to match my dish towels. I so enjoyed choosing yarns to match the colors in the towels. Be blessed!
what a beautiful project, that will put a huge smile on your face each time you walk into the room. You have such a good eye!
I love the Dresden Plate and as always, beautiful done. your always an Inspiration. Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy Fall season.
Dear Dori, thank you for sharing your beautiful creation! I don’t think I have ever seen a cheerier “table runner/centerpiece”. I wonder if it’s possible to not smile when seeing it? I doubt it. :):) As for me, I am not a fabric artist but; I do collect vintage doilies and lace etc. which I have all over my home. Have a great rest of the Summer! Tammy
I think your projects are just adorable! I so enjoyed seeing the steps I wonder if the waterproofing product you used would help keep fabric from fading outside on my deck tables Would love to make cute table cloths for them Thank you again for sharing your talents and awesome projects!
I love Dree#den Plate design. I love what you did.
Absolutely darling!!
Great job, it is lovely.
Marilyn
Love it!!
I just love that Dresden plate table topper! It is so pretty and heartbreakingly nostalgic. Great job winging it!
Absolutely beautiful!!
Love your work and you hand quilted!!!!!

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Hello my Farmgirl Friends!!!
Most of you here know that my daughter and I are Flower Farmers (in a VERY small scale) and we sell our flowers by the honor system at on our darling little roadside stand. This is our ninth summer of business! Through the years we’ve really streamlined our little business. We know what grows best for us and we know what sells. We rarely experiment with anything else now that we have it figured out!
Great idea. I especially love the rustic trailer? you use to display your bouquets.
Dori, Just wanted to tell you how beautiful your flowers are! Wish I was close enough to buy some. I live on the East Coast in Mechanicsville, VA. I lost my dad in January of this year. So sorry for your loss! Joan
Dear Dori,
Thank you for sharing a beautiful (Really extra beautiful with all the gorgeous flower pics!!) post with an inspiring message. Your bouquets are the perfect Summer bouquet. I can’t believe you give them away for only 5! I would be buying one every few days if I lived nearby. God bless you and give you comfort and happy memories about your dear Dad.
I ALWAYS LOVE your posts! I LOVE flowers too and grow mine mostly along our yard fence. How about tiger lilies? they are so tall and beautiful
❤️
I love zinnias, sunflowers , cosmos smo gst a bunch of other flowers like snapdragons columbine and asters.spme last longer than others . Ive never sold anything I just give it away. I like putting a smile on a Face.
I love zinnias, sunflowers , cosmos amongst a bunch of other flowers like snapdragons columbine and asters.some last longer than others . Ive never sold anything I just give it away. I like putting a smile on a Face.
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Hello Friends!
Its almost July and I had on my mind to make a super easy new bunting to hang. Most of you know me well enough to know that I absolutely adore buntings! I decided to just use up some fabric scraps and make a “no sew” bunting that ANYONE can make! Dig through your red/white/blue fabric scraps and let make one together!
Continue reading
Loved the idea, great for children to help with.
Happy May to all my Farmgirl Friends!
Do you remember the tradition of May Day? Where on the first day of May you celebrate spring by secretly delivering a little basket of flowers to a friend; like literally knock on the door and then run? Smile!!! Do you keep up this sweet tradition? Or are you like me and every year on May 2nd you remember that you were going to do that and forgot??? (I’m the worst for having great ideas AFTER the fact.).
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Happy May Day Dori
You are always so wonderfully creative. Wishing you and your mother a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Kathy
Hello Dori, Your May Day baskets are so sweet! Thank you for sharing your clever ideas.
I remember a few May Days long, Long ago when I delivered surprises which we hung on the door handles of neighbors of my Grandma. She lived in a small Wisconsin town called Poy Sippi. I must have been only about 5 but; I remember feeling just wonderful doing that and I still do when I recollect ;). Blessings, Tammy
Thank you! I am so excited about this! We delivered homemade paper flowers to all of the elderly neighbor ladies when we were young , knocking and running!
I love your ideas. Thank you again for sharing.
Happy mother’s day!
I laughed at your comment in regards to coming up with great ideas at the last minute!
Me too!
Love these baskets. They are going on my April 2024 calendar.
What cute ideas. I wish I was your neighbor. I live in a big city and neighbors are nothing like country girls. Happy Mother’s Day.
Dori~
Such a clever idea and so fun. The cute little baskets can surely put a smile on friends faces!
Thank you for such wonderful ideas.
Happy Mothers Day to you
Farmgirl Hugs,
Debbie
Greetings from Colorado! What a great idea and it sounds like you had so much fun doing the deliveries. Happy Mother’s Day. Blessings, Ruth
Lovely and so creative. Wishing you and your mother and daughter a Blessed Mother’s Day. God Bless.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
You are such a lovely source of inspiration! Thank you for this and all the links! Happy Mother’s Day and God bless you!
Happy Mother’s Day Dori!
What a wonderful idea for a “from the heart” gift. Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration- and including your granddaughter was a terrific way to start and pass on this tradition. Have a terrific Mother’s Day!
Donna
What a fun gift that was so sweet!! Love it!
Hello Farmgirl Friends! For those of you that have been following me for years you know that every April I run the Oak Barrel Half Marathon in Lynchburg, TN. I’ve written about it here numerous times… I have no idea why exactly except that when something goes around in my head a hundred times I have to write about it! Smile! So of course… here we go again!
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Great job!
Not my own accomplishment, but my husband’s!!! He just had both knees replaced on Feb 22, and has just yesterday been released by his Orthopedic Dr. Dr says he is doing superb, has graduated from therapy and doing just excellent. The pain has been bad for him. I have just been his encourager and help(mate)er to keep him going. Pain is still part of his recovery while his body gets used to all the metal! but he is doing great! thanks for keeping us posted on your runs and your life! I LOVE your posts!
I really admire the way you went thru this with the adversity in your life. In the last year I lost my husband of 54 years each day is a challenge but at the end of the day I try to remember the good things and be grateful- we never know the road a head of us but the determination to complete it is what matters. Take care and I hope to read that you do make the 10 races- Janice
I fractured my hip last January and had 2 steel pins inserted and after a couple months of physiotherapy and lots of walking, I can now walk freely (with a little limp!)…and I’m 82, by the way ! Being active most of my life helps.
Congratulations to you and Jillian.Great job.
Marilyn
Dori, I am so proud of both of you–but especially you. I was a track runner in school–I dare not tell you how many years ago that was! It was a challenge, it was hard work, but I felt such satisfaction at the end of the race–win or lose. My bones couldn’t take that now, though I do still walk and hike as much as possible. Hang it there. You need to meet your medal goal!
Great blog as always.
Way to go!! Congrats to you and to Jillian. To finish when it was that difficult and to “just keep running” says so much about your tenacity. You have inspired me! 🙂
As for your request about a challenge that I have had, I did recently complete a big project at work which entailed updating our crash carts at the hospital. I was very daunted by it because of the work involved, but; I completed it and kept my good humor.
I love your blogs also; keep them coming please.
I absolutely love your posts! Your project style is perfect for me. I have just moved into a new house my husband built and can’t wait to craft some of your projects. We are way Downeast on the coast of Maine. We grew up here. We love it! We were lucky enough to spend a winter in New Mexico and would love to visit again. Enjoy the New Year.
Hi Joanne! How special to be moving into a house your husband built! My husband and I built our home too and it is such a special home because I know every single nail that went into it! (As well as the blood, sweat and tears… literally!). Congratulations!
~ Dori ~