And the hat goes on...

 Everyone that had an opinion about the hat told us, yes , ribbon!   So here is my dad in the final coat and hat with ribbon.  The coat has had some revisions since christmas- buttons, a snap in the back  to attach the hood to the coat and belt loops.  That's Honey de Belgian's big sweet face  taking up most of the picture. Focus on the hat- if you can. 

My family went out to TN to visit my dad for spring break. We took some pictures of him in his Father Christmas   outfit so we will have them for Christmas.  But it is only April, you say, why so early?? Well, I work slow. Dad knows that if we do it now, I will have them edited and ready for Christmas. And he hinted about some Christmas in July fun. 

These are the girls: Belle is on the left and Honey is on the right. 

  My daughter and I have renamed them: we are calling them  

Vanilla Cupcake and Caramel Custard Cup.   

These girls are  carriage and buggy horses. They pull a carriage around Lynchburg & Fayetteville . They are all muscle.  And sugar & spice and everything nice.

I wish you could smell them through the computer screen. Have you ever shoved your nose into a horses neck? They smell heavenly. Just stick to the neck end. That other end can be not so nice. 

  

I did not make their hats.  I had no idea there were special christmas hats for horses.  The things you learn when visiting a farm... 

I am going to try another version of the hat. It worked great for pictures and fits nicely, but the inside is a mess. It is lined but the top of the hat, I could not get smooth and it is just bugging me.  The coat is perfect and I want the hat to be perfect, inside and out.  

The back of the coat

Honey is off the hook- she is done with pictures and headed back to her pasture. She is very patient for pictures. 

Dad said he needed something to carry the coat in so I made a garment bag for the coat as well. I used clear vynil and bias tape.   Sewing on the clear vinyl isn't bad, it is just very slow going. 

Next year, I will make santa outfits for the horses. 

Naaaa, just kidding. Can you see fitting  a horse that big? 

If you would like to see more of Honey  & Belle  doing what they do  hop on over to

 C & R Buggy Tours

or 

     C & R Buggy Tours on Facebook

Blue and White

I finished up these cushions  this morning.  These are for Judy, a super good friend of my Mom-in-law. These cushions  will go in wicker chairs at Judy's beach cottage.   

I love the bright blue denim with the contrasting white trim.  The white duck cording makes a beautiful crisp  outline to the cushions.  Because they are made of a denim and cotton these cushion covers can be machine washed!    Practical as well as pretty!

These chairs are in  Rob & Judy's great room at the cottage.  Soon, I will be starting on  the drapery panels for the sliding doors  and valances  that will go in the room. The valances and panels will be the white duck edged in denim bands  or denim cording.  They are going to be gorgeous!

There are two seat cushions and two back square cushions.

I did a sort-of lapped zipper in the seam. The zipper is  hidden.  

Now that I have blogged about them, I guess I should go call Judy and  let her know they are done :) 

I'm too sexy for this hat

I am working on the hat to go with my dad's father christmas  suit.  The coat has a hood on  but he can't wear the hood all the time. 

He needs to choose:  ribbon on the hat  or no.  So I took pictures and we all can vote! :) 

The hat without the ribbon. 

The line of stitching near the top of the hat will go away-
that is just a line of basting stitches to keep the hat
in shape will I worked with the center. 

The hat with the ribbon 

It's the attack of the  Holly Jolly Hat!!!!EHHHHHHHH!

This is the top of the hat.  It will smooth out a bit more and not be so 'pointy'  when I am all done. 

I look like an elf taking a picture. 

Here  is my dad wearing the suit standing next to Honey, the prettiest girl in Lynchburg, TN.   :)  

You can look at this and get an idea of how the hat will go with the suit. 

So tell me ....

 Yes ribbon 

or 

No ribbon?