Sew Whats New

FLEAMARKET FINDS

2012-01-27T08:09:00.000-08:00

The white cloth I mentioned below is in this group.

MORE FLEA MARKET

2012-01-27T07:49:00.000-08:00

Here are pics of more of the 3 bags from the flea market. I have spent all week washing all of this and am glad that it is all done. I don't think I even have pics of all of it. The white work cloth is a beauty and came out clean after soaking. I am envious of all the work on it. It is done on a fabric that is almost a fine weave mesh type cloth that I am unfamiliar with. The tablecloth is a beauty but has one or two very tiny holes in it. The white cloth I have showed the corner of and then the whole cloth laid out on the table is gorgeous. these pieces are almost too good to cut up but then what would I do with them. At least they are not rotting in an old bin anymore. They are being lovingly handled.

FLEA MARKET FINDS

2012-01-25T16:26:00.000-08:00

Saturday I went to Renningers flea market and hit the mother lode of bargains. When I first arrived I walked down one of the rows and they were selling all kinds of stuff but not my kind and then I looked down and there was this huge container full of linens, fabrics, etc. It said $20.00 Lot. I started to look thru it and started to think this is going to be great. I casually asked her if she would take $15.00 and she said sure right off. I asked her to hold it for me and I would come back.
Well I went on looking and then saw a Lloyd Flanders indoor/outdoor white wicker chair. I stopped and looked and thought that is LF and I think matches my 2 rocking chairs which I paid a horrible price for but 12 years or so later they still look great. The man said I think she wants to get rid of it and only wants 10-20$. Well "she" came out of the van and said 10.00. I grabbed it and took it right back to my van. Sunday I took a spray bottle of 2/3 water and 1/3 bleach and took it outside and sprayed it. The dirt just rolled off and then I hosed it down. Today Harv gave the legs a coat of paint and it looks like new. It is part of the same set my rockers came from.

Back to the bin - when it was time to leave I went to where I thought I had bought the stuff and couldn't find it. I was in a panic and then thought just go aisle by aisle until you see something familiar. Well I did recognize another large bin like the other with padlocks on the end and asked the older man if I had left something there with a lady. He yelled down to Deborah a couple of tents down and she said yes it is here. I told her I did not want the bin and she said well you don't get that anyway. She had stuffed it all into 3 large white plastic bags. I went home, made lunch then took over the table in the sunroom. I started pulling stuff out and laying it in piles, lace doiles, scarves, fabric (3 yards of gold dupioni) and a wedding dress. It as very pale yellow (not yellowed) and covered in a gorgeous lace over the skirt and front and back. 50 covered buttons going down the back of the dress. It was the fabric, and interlining and lining. I could not believe this.

Since Sat. I have been washing, bleaching, bizing, ironing, etc and picking lace from the dress. It looked easy until I started and then I found it had been machined on all over the top of the lace pieces so it is slow going. Will show you the lace when I get it all off. Also all the other stuff in the next post.

WEEK TWO AND A HALF

2012-01-22T16:08:00.000-08:00

I have never enjoyed anything as much as I am now enjoying Karen Ruane's class on contemporary embroidery. Her videos are very good and directions very clear plus you get the delightful English accent that reminds me of growing up in Toronto with all my English relatives - Mom included.

I have worked on it a little more and after tonight I am going to damp stretch it as Karen advises. I have to buy a small cork board. She uses a cork bathmat but WalMart did not have any either did Bed, B & B. A small cork board will do the trick I think.

Just a few pictures so you can see the progress. I did decide to not go all white but to add cream, blue and possibly pink to my squares. I have so much antique stuff I would be crazy not to include it. See what you think up to now. I am so happy to be using my hankie collection. I should have added that both the hankie and the tatting circle are just sitting on there. I had not sewn down the tatting and the hankieI will sew down as the very last thing done on here to keep it looking nice and crisp.

I had a really big day at the flea market yesterday and will post pics in the next couple of days.

CONTEMPORARY EMBROIDERY WEEK ONE AND A HALF

2012-01-18T16:41:00.000-08:00

I started in to this class one week late but have managed to get caught up to a point where I can relax and just enjoy.

I put together my first piece from old hankies, old linens, pieces of fabric, etc. I made it 10 x 12 so would have enought space to practice all the first lessons on it. My plan is to make a journal when I am finished so this is a good size folded in half for that. We were to make prairie points and rouleau tubes and incorporate them into our piece. The points were easy and the rouleau were also once you got that end tucked in and started coming through. Bit of cursing going on there.

I should have said that we hand basted all our seams and the outside edge before we started. Next was to embellish our seams and I have only one done so far. I used a large cross stitch around the old linen piece and over the points.

We also made puffs to embellish on our squares. They are fun. I am having a very good time with this course and am so glad that I joined in.

WEEK TWO

2012-01-15T16:17:00.000-08:00

I am re-posting here what I have just put on Deb Spincic's blog.

"have not gotten very far in my first couple of weeks. I did put 2 squares together and last night started stitching on one of them. I did not take a picture of the stitching because I was not too happy with it. I will probably take it out. I find that with cq I have to be in the mood in order for the ideas to flow. I think it is in my head that I have to work to a schedule that is stopping me. There are times in the past when I have put my work away for a month or more then take another look at it and something will come to me and off I go. Also I will put one square away and start another which will probably happen this time also.

I have 10 more blocks to make up and that will probably not happen for a few weeks but I do have 2 to work on. I am not sure if I am going too light in the colors but I did not want this one to be too dark but at the same time I did not want the pink & turquoise like I used in my pink fan based one.

I hate the way the blocks look when I photo them. They always look lopsided. I cut a pice of hard plastic 10" square then cut out a frame inside of it 8" that I can lay over any block and just make sure I am on track and not too close to the edges with embellishment. I also always sew around the edges and have not done that yet. I did baste around the 8" block edges so I can see that also.
I threw in the centre with the queens so you could compare for colors. Too light?
Let me know what you think."

This past week I signed up for an online class with Karen Ruane of Contemporary Embroidery in England. If you are a fan of Karens you will know about her gorgeous whitework. She is offering a 6 week class and it is very different from our regular cq. The piecing is simpler with more emphasis on using lace edged hankies, old pieces of linen, etc. and very simply pieced. I had brought down my bag of lace hankies that I had washed and prepared last summer not even knowing if I would be using them. This is a perfect class for them. She does not make her blocks even sizes. You would really have to go to her blog and look at her work to understand how she does it and how incredibly beautiful it is. She is a very talented lady plus has had many wonderful classes they have in embroidery in England. Her blog is: http;//www.karenruane.blogspot.com or www.contemporary embroidery.com. See for yourself. I will post pics once I get a couple of squares pieced and do some actual work on one. Marianne R. of Magpies Mumblings.com is also doing this class. She has all 8 blocks pieced already.

WEEK TWO

2012-01-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

CQP2012

2012-01-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

I decided I would join the CQP2012 challenge and also joined in a small group of 15 women set up by Debra Spincic. We are posting our work weekly and have assigned hours on Sat. & sun. when we each post our work in pogress. I will also post with the challenge group at the end of each month. For anyone reading this who does not know about it we are to make 12 blocks at least measuring 6x6". what you do with the individual blocks is up to you. A quilt, wallhanging, journal, etc. From what I have read there are a lot of people doing all kinds of projects.One block hopefully finished each month until the end of the year.

I am going to make a wallhanging and am posting below what I posted on Sun.

"Miss Undecided has finally decided. I am going to make a wall hanging trying to use
up my collection of cigarette silks. I am doing a centre of various queens of the world to be surrounded by cq squares. The centre will be 16" square and it will be 12 - 8" squares around. It should finish approx 35-36" square with sashing. Similar to what I did on my silk tie quilt. I have quite a few flower and butterfly ones that will be used in the squares.

I went through my doilies and found 5 the same and I am going to mount a queen on each one and use a different one for the centre which is Queen Victoria. The pic I am showing just has them laid down. Nothing sewn yet as I am still deciding on the background color. There are 2 or 3 I like but want to keep this hanging to light colors only. There will be no cq on the centre. Just embroidering the silks to the doilies. I hope this makes sense.

I haven't sewn the blocks yet. I normally only do one at a time as I work and so may stick to that except for having to haul the fabric out every month so may do more at a time. Will see. Working to a schedule like this will all be new for me as it probably is for the rest of you.'

Hopefully I will post more often now I will have something to show. I cut up the muslin today and drew out 4 squares which I hope to piece in the next couple of days.
I will post them when I am done.

GIFTS RECEIVED

2011-12-31T12:15:00.000-08:00

I received my gift package around early Dec. and put it away or should say gave it to Harv to hide from me. I finally talked him into letting me open this one Christmas Eve when we were putting our gifts around our little tree for the morning.

I found many nice things inside including a beautiful silver grey silky shawl/scarf.
It is my color exactly and I can't wait to wear it. right now it isdraped over a corner of my wicker armoire in our bathroom so I can see it when I go by.

The rest of the gifts (as if I needed any after that) were 3 beaded ornaments each wrapped in a vintage hanky, a handmade pot holder (which I can use as I am short of them right now) some chocolate candies and something new to me - Chocolate covered sunflower seeds . I just opened the container and they are delicious.
also included was a home made bag containing 3 balls of yarn co-ordinating in shades of gold yellow and blues. I will make use of these one day.

I should say that this all came from a nice lady named Ellen who I believe lives in
The Carolinas. I did not keep the envelope it all came in and I went back through her blog and she mentioned driving to Greensboro to catch plane so hence my guess.

She also included a Haiko for me:

Across the country
Ho Ho Ho, Secret Santa
Merry Christmas Pal

I love her blog name: www.babeswithballsofyarn.blogspot.com Go visit her and see what a nice group of friends she has with the same interests as her. I miss that as mine are spread all over the country. Nothing like old friends.

GIFTS SENT

2011-12-31T06:41:00.001-08:00

For some reason blogger accepted my pics then would not print them. I will try again here.
I also sent one of the round frilly ornaments I made for the other swap but forget to take a pic of it.

SECRET SANTA SWAP GIFTS SENT

2011-12-30T06:01:00.000-08:00

This year I signed up for the SSS with ColoradoLady blog run by Suzanne. We filled out a form with likes and dislikes and Suzanne sent us our partner. The cost was to be limited to 20.00 excluding postage. You could buy one big gift or numerous small ones. I went for the small idea - more fun to open.

First I started with a Christmas Box to put everything in. Then I added the above items. I hope she liked them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

2011-12-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

It is Christmas Eve here in central FL. and has been another beautiful day. It broke a record for Dec. 23 with 85 degrees and was at least 80 today. We drove down to downtown Mount Dora last night to look at the lights and it was magnificent. The town itself really goes all out but the really spectacular site was the Mount Dora Yacht Club.
It is probably the best display of lights I have ever seen with various themes circling all around the buildings and the lake. I am so glad we drove down as last year we missed it.

Tomorrow is our 3rd. Christmas here and we are having the usual open house dinner. I am cooking a ham and having ice cream nd cookies for a light dessert and all the balance of the meal will be brought by the people coming. It is always a lot of fun.

I am showing pics now of the domino books I made for the girls and for a friend. The girls have received theirs by now and the friend doesn't know one is coming. I had fun making them but they are fiddly things to do. I also made one for myself.

The first is the front cover, the second is the back. The 3rd is the little book opened up with various pics and the 4th. is just the paper I used for the back that matched well. I cannot take credit for this as I saw it on a blog or two and just copied as I went. Having taken the previous domino course with Roses On My Table sure helped though. I will make a couple more when things settle down and use different photos, etc.

Hope Santa is good to you all.

Hugs FredaB

MORE SWAP ITEMS

2011-12-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

If you remember from a couple of posts back, Michelle who was oe of the three ladies I swapped with, misunderstood and thought we were swapping just one item, not three.

When she discovered her error she wrote to us and I wrote back and told her to just foget it this year and enjoy her Christmas. Well a parcel arrived from Michelle and when I opened it there were 2 more really cute ornaments.

One is an ornament made from a dominoe and the other is a glistening snowflake with 25 on it. Thank you Michelle - they are both wonderful.

I will post tonight or tomorrow and show you some little things I made with the dominoes also.

BEADED SCARF

2011-12-18T17:56:00.000-08:00

The first weekend in Dec. The Weavers of Orlando have their Christmas sale in Mt. Dora. I try and get there every year because there are always lovely things to buy either for myself or as gifts. this year was no different. I bought a beautiful beaded knit scarf and a cotton vest that were made by the members. They do beading, tating, knitting, etc. along with the weaving.

As a coincidence last winter my good friends Joyce and Pierre were staying at the Villages about an hour north of us. They came down to lunch and Joyce bought a beautiful off white scarf with a pearl knit fringe on either end. It was gorgeous.
She sent me the pattern which turned out to be the same as the one I purchased this Dec. I wanted to knit one but before you do you have to find a thread thin enough that you can thread about 950 beads onto it. I bought some I thought might work but it didn't so it went back last week to JoAnnes. I am going to have to get to a good knitting store and get them to help me. In the meantime I have the one I bought. You just sling it over your shoulders and the weight of the beads holds it down. Very neat.

I forgot to take a pic of the vest but will and will show it next time.

PAPER CHRISTMAS TREES

2011-12-16T13:07:00.001-08:00

I had seen pictures last year on line and directions to make these paper trees out of paper back books. This year I bought the Family circle magazine and there was a tree and the directions. I made one with the tallest paperback I had and it becomes addictive. I looked through my books and found an old Agatha Christie mystery and made another. I did it while watching tv last night and it only took one hour. They are really pretty if the paper is slightly tinted as these old ones were. I put rhinestone pins on top and have put them out in my sunroom.

Also I had bought a Christmas cactus basket at the flea market for only $5.00 and it was just bursting with buds ready to bloom but you couldn't tell the color. The man said he thought it was white so I bought it. surprise it turned out to be a pink one but is very pretty. I took this pic yesterday and good job I did because today it started falling and I picked up a bunch of blooms off the floor. It bloomed about 1 week too early but maybe some more will bloom.

I have been very busy making things, mailing parcels and I don't know what all. A couple of Christmas parties in there like the Garden Club and another ladies lunch.

I have finally finished and the rest of the time is to myself until Christmas. We are having open house again this year for anyone not leaving or having company. So far we have 12 and that is just perfect. 6 around the sunroom table and 6 at the dinette table. I have bought a ham and a couple of gallons of ice cream for dessert along with cookies for dessert. All the rest will be brought by the other guest so it makes it really easy. I like this kind of entertaining. Pictures to follow after christmas.

Also I can't show what I have been making because family members read my blog so until they receive them I can't show them. Will next week. draft 12

CHRISTMAS SWAP RECEIVED

2011-12-06T13:23:00.000-08:00

As mentioned below I was in a 3 person swap and each person was to send 3 items to each - or a total of 9 items sent and 9 received.

The first to come in was from Kate Hess in CA. They are in the first picture. She took an empty spool and wrapped it with rayon seam binding with a flower on top and beads and a charm on the bottom. Very cute idea. Next was a white star with tiny silver tinsel around the middle and 3 tiny jingle bells inside. Also a cute idea.
Third was a metal mold lined with netting and a christmas sticker in the middle. She used a black rose trim all around the outside and a silver tinsel edging inside.
Thank you very much Kate.

Next was acarton from Terri Lavelle of Dover, DE. She did a errific idea. She made a gift carton for her items. She covered a file box lid with stuffing to make it slightly padded then covered it with a gorgeous red and white Christmas toile. Around the outside she covered the edge with a red trim. This is going to be a keeper for future Christmases and a good idea for all of us to use. Inside she had
a snowman decorated cone, a pair of white gloves that she hand painted a snowman's face on the fronts (another idea to remember) a glass heart decorated with lace and filled with pearl beads. She also included a wooden manger scene of Joseph, Mary and child. Thank you Terri for these gifts and for all your great ideas.

Next was from Michelle Cox of CA. Michelle sent me an email when she received her parcels explaining that she had not understood she was to send 3 ornaments to 3 people. I told her I could easily understand that as it was a bit unusual and she is certainly not to worry about it. She said she would make more and send them and I told her to forget it and just have a wonderful Christmas. We need no extra worries at this time of year. Michelle made a candy cane wrapped in fabric and a chenille type yarn with a cute christmas yoyo on it and a gift box on the bottom. It hangs with a yellow Christmas fabric. thank you Michelle.

I may not have done justice to my gifts as my photography is not always the best and I have been so busy that I have rushng to get things done and on the blog.

I wish all 3 of you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy Crafting New year.

Hugs

FredaB

CHRISTMAS SWAP

2011-12-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

This year I entered a swap online where 3 gals would swap making 3 christmas items for each other. I can now show a pic of what I made as they have been mailed out and received.

I made fabric collages similar to what I made for Jillayne's swap last year. People seemed to like them so I stayed with a proven thing. The second pic is a closeup of one of them. They all have the same angel pic as last year but otherwise different lace, color, buttons, etc.

Second were the birds I had also made previously and they have the tiny crystal at the botom with the word "fly".

The third was a paper rosette and I actually made 4. I was going to use a package of really pretty things for the middle. Well have you ever tore the house apart looking for something that you know is here but can't find. I finally gave up and used silver stars that I had and made 3 so they would all be the same. The day I mailed these out to the other gals I pulled a plastic box out from under a living room chair and they were in there. I could have screamed.

I did not put glitter around the rosettes as I have done in the past as people have been saying a lot on line about not wanting all the glitter getting all over everything and being an actual health issue in some homes. therefore I went glitter less and ho[pe they will add there own if they so please. I will add some to the 4th. one I made and it will be for me.

Tomorrow I will show you what I have received from my 3 gals.

ADDITION

2011-11-27T06:57:00.001-08:00

I tried to edit the post below but blogger would only bring up posts from last Sept. back. I give up.

Just wanted to say that the collar on Marie my Mannequin and the collar on the 3rd. pic were only 5.00 for both. All the other lace pieces were 2 or 3 for 5.00 and the trims similar. I really have to cut down as I will never use all of this in my lifetime. It is still the cheapest therapy around.

I have a piece of pink and cream toile fabric that will go great with the pink and cream ribbon trim. Will make a great summer boho bag. I also bought a lot more bits and pieces but didn't take pics of all.

BUSY BEE

2011-11-27T06:21:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been over 3 weeks since I last blogged. Life has been pretty hectic around here but all by my own making. I entered a Christmas swap where you swap with 3 other women and you make 3 different Christmas ornaments or items for each. I also signed up for a Secret Santa with one gal and you just fill a box with items you think she would like from the info you are given with a $20.00
limit. It can all be spent on one item or a bunch of smaller gifts - which is what I have done.

I cannot show you the swap items until I have sent them but they are being mailed tomorrow or Tues. and then next week I can show them.

I have also been looking for small bits and pieces for the kids and grandkids. At this point we are usually sending money for the parents to either buy what the kids want or to put the money towards a larger priced item they want like IPods, etc. but I still like to send a box of small items up to each family just from Mom. I do enjoy doing this but it takes a little time.

Our weather down here in Florida has been beautiful. Mainly high 70's - low 80's. I know that will not continue all through our stay but Nov. is certainly one of the nicest months all winter. We are staying down for Christmas again and I am having our usual open house potluck dinner for anyone who is not leaving or having family. So far there are 8 of us but a lot of folks I haven't talked to yet. I started decorating yesterday and have the living room area done but will do the sun room today.

Last weekend was the Renninger's Antique Extravaganza weekend. They have 3 a year. Nov. Jan. and Feb. It is the only time you pay to get in and then only at the antique end where you get hundreds of dealers. I did not go to that end but just to the flea market end which also attracts many dealers you would not normally see. I manage to buy enough stuff at this end that I don't feel I need to go to the other. I am scared of what I would see and want to buy at the other and have no will power when I see something I really like. I will post some pics of what I found.

I am starting a new venture tomorrow afternoon. I am going to learn how to play Mah Jong with a few neighbour ladies. 2 play already and they are going to try and teach a few more of us. I said I would play for 3 weeks or so and that should give me an idea if I like it or not. I don't play bridge so other then bunco which I sub for occasionally this is a game they say they have fun at. We will see. Will let you know how I make out.

GOOD IDEA MADE BETTER WITH RIGHT PICTURE

2011-11-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the picture of the book that should have been included below. I apparently hit the same pic twice.

GOOD IDEA

2011-11-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

I saw this book made into a holder on line somewhere and I wish I could give the gal credit but cannot remember where I saw it.

It is very easy to do and just great for holding tags, atc's, etc. that we receive from our talented blogger friends.

I used an old Reader's Digest book - the kind with 3-4 different stories in it.
You just sit watching tv and fold each page in half all in the one direction. When you are finished the weight of it holds the book flat.

Took maybe an hour or so. I actually made one and then thought that was dumb as now I have to carry this larger item to Florida so gave it to Sue my daughter and made another one when I got down here. I had these books in the basement but they should be available at library sales, house sales, flea markets, etc.

BEARS IN FLORIDA

2011-11-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

Before we moved down here I would not have believed there would be bears in our area of Florida. At least not until 2 years ago when the Florida black bear started leaving their usual home grounds near the Wekiva River area in search of food. We had multiple sitings last year here in the Country Club and had the pictures posted in our local newsletter to prove it. One pic had a large bear sitting on the ground atop a bird feeder he had pulled down to the ground looking for bird seed. This was a large metal pole in cement and he pulled it down flat to the ground as if it was a twig.

Last winter Harv went outside one day in the front and a man was walking his dog. He mentioned the large prints on the driveway and they both looked and they were huge bear prints. There is a conservation area with a pond and that is where they think they are living. It must have been muddy becase the prints started at the grass and came right up the driveway then swerved at the side of our house and went between ours and the house next door. We have a large pond on the golf course at the end of our lot and we assume that is where he was going. We had a lot of visitors coming around bringing friends and/or grandkids to see the paw prints which stayed until the next big rain. We were all advised that to get rid of them we had to get rid of any food. No dog food, bird food, garbage cans out at night, etc.

Well we thought that when we came down this year they wold be gone. Think again. My next door neighbour sold her house and people we know who used to live here and moved to Georgia moved back and bought her house. Sandie is an early riser as was my old neighbor Monica and she always threw our paper up to the front door for us.
Sandie has continued the tradition as she gets up at 5 when I am just rolling over for the first time. Last week at 5 she stooped to pick up our paper and heard a large growl and looked over and there was a bear. She dropped the paper and ran home. He also took off apparently when she ran. According to the local wildlife people that unless the bears attack either a pet or a human they will not try and catch them. Last winter they said a mother with cubs was here and now I believe it.
Bear sightings this summer have been for both small and 1 very large bear.

I think I will stay in after dark and stay in bed until it is light out. No problem there.

BEARS IN FLORIDA

2011-11-02T07:54:00.001-07:00

HALLOWEEN IN FLORIDA

2011-10-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

We arrived safely in Florida. Good driving weather and not too heavy traffic. It takes 2 days driving with the first day driving about 11 hours then the second day around 8 or so. I am always thankful that when we hit the Florida border we are going all the way down to Naples or the Keys. Then we would have to add another day.

We were out this afternoon and I came home to a parcel from my daughter. Of course I looked at it and thought what is she sending when we just left last week. Always have to play the guessing game first before opening a parcel. Well I opened it and there were these 3 guys inside. She said she saw them and they reminded her of me and thought I would like them. I put them on the kitchen bar end and then looked at what was in the little glass stand and it was Easter cookies (artificial) left from Easter. We left for Chicago shortly after so I never changed them. I have seasonal ones I keep in there. I had just bought fruit so grabbed a pear and put one in there. Thanks Sue I really do like them. They are me. You can see from the pics I have the book Sue & I made on display along with some other stuff. The guy with the hat on the end of the table is actually a lamp. He has an orange bulb inside. On the outside the ribbon around the pedestal is actually purple not blue.

I have been slowly working on my sewing room trying to unpack all my stuff and make some sense of all I bought down. I am working in my mind another quilt about Queen Victoria in all light colors and am anxious to get started but won't let myself even think of it until the house is in order. Somehow I did something and pulled a muscle in my side back and have been hobbling around half dopey and smelling of liniment. I am on some heavy muscle relaxents and I know they are working as it is gradually feeling better. This has made me slow down as it is too painful not to.
Hopefully by the weekend this should get better.

FLORIDA

2011-10-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hi

Just a quick note to let you know we arrived safely in Florida. Left Chicago early Sat. am and was at our home in Mt. Dora Sunday around 6. Perfect sunny weather all the way and it was a good drive.

Before I left I counted the scarves I had finished for the Special Olympics winter Olympics.I had made 16 and was working on 17. Each one had to be packed in it's own zip lock bag which made them a little hard to pack down in the carton. I ended up with a large carton with 15 in and shipped it off to the address given. Hopefully they arrived safely. Who else would want 15 red and navy scarves.

I packed #16 along with us and have now finished 17. I will knit until the end of Dec. and then pack them off. I have really enjoyed knitting them. I took a pic to show you.

BACK OF HOUSES

2011-10-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Here are the back sides of each page. They look better in person because of all the glitter, etc. that doesn't show up in the camera.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANADA

2011-10-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian family and my blogging friends. I hope you are having as beautiful a long weekend as we are today. It is Columbus weekend here but mainly schools, government, etc. get the day off. Otherwise it is just another workday.

I went to my daughters on Friday and we did more on our houses. I came home and worked about 6 hours Sat. and 2 or 3 yesterday and finally finshed my two. I won't say who the other one is for as it is a surprise.

I have taken pictures of first the fronts and second the backs of the house. The girls and I went downtown about 3 Christmases ago and had dinner and saw the play Wicked. It was wonderful. I had a pic of us outside the theatre and used it on mine. The gal to my left is my DIL Kim from MN and the blond is my other DIL from here and then my daughter Sue. It was a great night.

We had such a fun time doing this and it was so nice to be doing something with my daughter. Love you Sue.

MORE HALLOWEEN HOUSE PLUS

2011-10-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

Friday my daughter and I had a "play date" to work on our houses. It was fun and she has all the right tools for cutting out shapes, glueing, making stickers, etc. for her scrapbooking. This is what we have done. I think the outside is almost finished now ready to start on the inside. We are getting together (we hope) this Wed. and will try and finish them.

Sue asked me to be on the lookout for a small crystal and gold clock for her bedroom and I told her I had one in my hand about a week ago at the Clearbrook Centre where I buy my ties. I put it back thinking you don't need another clock. Well after water aerobics yesterday morning I went in on my way home and it was gone. He who hesitates -----. I did pick up a few things that I was pleased with. All the following 4 pics for $20.00. The crown I will take to Florida and the silver and glass coasters will go probably to Sue. I had just ordered 2 silver ones from Rhonda with French pictures in the bottom of them. They just arrived Friday and I bought these Sat.

The 2 little boxes had petit point flowers on the tops that were done on silk gauze.
I spent about 1/2 hour last night trying to remove one from the box and I finally got it off with room to sew around it. I can re-cover the boxes if I want to with other fabric or paper. These two needlepoint will go on my next quilt.

The black rhinestone and silver chain were together and I thought they were 2 seperate chains in the bag. I bought them to cut and use but when I opened them I found they were attached and to be worn as one. I will probably not wear them but use them. Unexpected good hunting day and the money goes to the charity.

2011-09-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I are working together to make a Halloween House. I had seen one done on one of the online stamp suppliers and thought it would be fun to do. I ordered a couple of sets. They are cut out of wood and actually were made in Australia. We have only been able to get together once and in that session we did cover all sides with papers and then sanded down the paper edges.

Tomorrow we are getting together and hope to get a lot accomplished. I only have 2 weeks left before we leave for Fand it will probably take another 2 sessions to get it finished. They end up as a book that opens and you can then display it. I will show the couple of pics I took of just the paper covered pieces. will post on the weekend what we get done tomorrow. It is fun doing something with my daughter. She is more into the stamping and creative memory albums. She has been keeping them since the 3 boys were little. They will be nice for them someday or at least for their wives to look at.

PURSE AND POTS

2011-09-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a funny title but it is what it is. I am making a bag as a donation for our Questers auction in Nov. I made a beaded cq one a few years ago and apparently it was a hit. I am never at the auction now as it is held an evening in Nov. when we are gone and the husbands are invited. One reason is they will bid more if they think it is something their wife wants. Method in our madness. I have to find a nice lining for this if I can't I have black dupioni silk I can use. I am also looking for a longer black fringe to go under the cream lace. I am not going to gussy it up too much as some would not like that. I will show you this again when I finally finish. What do you think about putting the doily on the back? Can't quite decide even though it is a particularly pretty one.

The pot part are two "down under" pots from Australia. I found the first clay one quite a few years ago and the blue one just this year. Brand new with a ticket still on it and I wonder if the person did not know what to do with it. You turn them upside down and fill with potting soil. Then you plant the impatiences or small begonias and let them sit for about a week or so until they have a chance to root in the soil. Then turn them over and water from the top and the flowers bloom from the bottom. I think they are nice to have something a little different.

BOOK FINISHED

2011-09-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

I finished the book I was working on last week and it was a lot of fun for me. Change of pace. The ribbons are a little long but need trimming after I see how much they will curl with the heat gun which is at my daughters. Apparently the ribbon will curl
when you apply heat.

I based it on birds and butterflies. It is 7 pages joined together accordion style so there are actually 14 pages to decorate. I will show a few on here.

Yesterday we had a birthday party for Grandma (me) my 9 year old grandson and his cousin who also turned 9. It was our usual large family group and a couple of the older kids friends. Good time was had by all as usual.

GARAGE SALE

2011-09-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of saturdays ago I stopped at a garage sale on the way home from water aerobics.I don't go out looking for them but if there is one on the streets I pass then I will sometime stop. This time I did and it was a young man who was clearing out his Mother and father's home that he is now living in. He had no idea on prices and every time I would pick something up and ask he would say just take it. Well I began to feel bad and told him he wasn't going to make any money if he kept giving everything away. Well we settled on me taking a carton and putting in all I wanted and then he said give me what you think it is worth. Well I did spy an old Royal typewriter like the one I had just found for my daughter and he had $5.00 on it. I grabbed it for myself but it needs a new ribbon and I have to order one or find one somewhere. They sell generic ones so may try one of those. Back to the box - the bottom was filled with new spools of 3" wide very nice Christmas ribbon and I proceeded to add a bunch to it. His Mother had dabbled in a lot of things and I bought 3-4 pair of good scissors including 2 pair of pinking shears. I have to go back and look at my pics because I can't remember what all I got. All the ribbon went to my daughter who can use it to decorate her home.
Well sorry folks I thought I had taken pics but I cannot seem to find them.

I did give him 25.00 for what was in the box and 5.00 for the typewriter. Maybe he made out better that way.

DOMINOES

2011-09-11T12:54:00.000-07:00

I tried to take pictures of the dominoe necklaces I have been making but the finishing glaze makes it hard to photograph. This class was taken from Zinnia also. They were fun to do. Dominoes were found at the flea market and a house sale. One set has coca cola on the back and not sure if I took a pic of that. If not, will show more later.

The photos I used on this bunch were of Alice in Wonderland which we all had so much fun with in swaps and the gorgeous scene that Susan Elliott embroidered for DMC. I intend to make some with angels, Christmas, etc. I also have some mermaids, roses and old fashioned ladies to use. I bought the collage sheets that are made for domino size from a gal in NZ. What a wonderful world when we can place an order and pronto it is appearing on your computer from another country. There are also plenty on etsy.

MAKING A BOOK

2011-09-09T17:28:00.001-07:00

I have been intrigued with doing some paper books, journals, etc. I do want to make a nice lace one with antique pictures of children but this time I started a paper book from a class with Zinnia of www.roses on my table.ning.com. This is the second class I have taken on line from her and am so pleased. She gives all the information you could possibly need via videos and verbal text and her classes are so inexpensive.

The first class was using dominoes to make necklaces, etc. and I will show you them in the next day or two when I get more finished.

This book is assembled so it will unfold like an accordion and will look nice on a mantle or table, etc.It is only 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 but looks larger when finished.

I have a few more pages I am working on and other then the cover these are not all fully embellished yet.

I have added a flower and corners to the front page and then various things inside. Basically the theme of this book is butterflies and pictures of children and gals with butterflies. I will show you more as I go along and then the finished book. I have enjoyed this so much. I think I just needed a break from CQ.

I added corners to the front page as you can see in the top (sideways) pic and on all the pages I used Tim Holtz's tape with sayings. The golden butterfly page I just added tape and I will add some ribbon but not too much as it is very busy as is. The other pic of the cover is before I added the gold corners. I am going to put them on the corners of the front and back covers only.

I will keep you posted as I go along.

KNITTING TIME AGAIN

2011-09-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

I am back to knitting scarves again for the Special Olympic Game participants in 2012.
This year the color is a cherry red and bright navy. I only watch tv for 2 hours or so a night and this is when I knit or if I was travelling in the car like when we go to Florida I will knit. Last year I did not hear about this project until early Jan. and I knit until it was time to send them. IL had fulfilled their quota but MN needed many more so I packed them up and sent them to MN.

I am on #10 now and hope to use up all the wool I bought before Florida and will pack up what I have done and mail them off. When in Florida I will buy more yarn and knit again until the end of Jan.

If anyone who reads this likes to knit you can just go to Google and put in special Olympic scarf and it will give you all the info plus patterns. I really liked the rib pattern I did last year for some of the older guys and am doing it again this year. You can also crochet any pattern you like as long as you use the 2 colors specified and the size should be approx. 6" wide and 54 - 60" in length. It is for a wonderful cause.

CRAZY QUILT

2011-08-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

Today's post is about a wonderful stitcher named Addie Mangoian Davis. About a month ago I was contacted by a friend from my smocking days who knew I did crazy quilting and she asked if I would join her demonstrating cq stitches at the Highland Park Historical Society in Highland Park, IL. HP is on the north shore of Chicago and home to the famed Ravinia outdoor concert venue.

I said I would and when I arrived and saw the wonderful exhibit of Addie's work I was so glad I had been asked. Otherwise I would not have known about her and/or the exhibit.

I have copied 2 pics from the brochure they were giving out and hopefully you will be able to read about this lady. Click on the pics to enlarge enough to read.

The funny thing that happened was it got my interest raging to make a copy of an old
cq with just fancy stitching and embroidery but not a lot of embellishments like we are currently using. The beauty of Addie's quilts is that they were made from 1980 when she started until the present and yet when I looked at them I would have sworn they were dated from the late 1800's to early 1900's.

Yesterday I pulled out a couple of cq books for ideas to get me going and I had the Penny McMorris book and was looking through it. I got near the end and what did I see but 4 pages about Addie and her quilts. They showed 2 different ones. I did not remember ever seeing them in the book before but of course the name would not have meant anything to me. Apparently she and Ms. McMorris corresponded and she must have been asked to contribute to her "now famous" book.

It is going to be hard 1) piecing by hand which I have never done before and 2) hold myself to very little embellishment except stitching. I remember when I did 2 blocks for Cindy Thury Smith to replicate an old quilt for her Historical Society that it was hard to stick to strictly stitching. Well we will see after I have pieced the first block whether I will continue or give up the idea. Watch for future announcements - haha.

KANE CTY. FLEA MARKET

2011-08-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

The first weekend of the month there is a gigantic flea market held at the cty. fairgrounds in St. Charles, IL. It is open Sat. afternoons and all day Sunday. We usually go out on Sat. afternoons. St. Charles is a lovely town on the Fox River and Harv loads up his fishing gear plus a new magazine to read in the shade and first he drops me off at the flea market then he goes over to the river about a mile away. We both have our phones on so after about 3 hrs. we connect and I tell him if I am ready to leave or when I want to leave.

The first weekend in August we went for the first time this year and I had a wonderful time plus found some things I really liked. There are people from all adjoining states who come in to sell their goods. They even have nurseries there selling bushes, etc. I bought a gorgeous pink rosebush to replace one in front that did not survive the winter and also he had a couple of miniature hostas which I have been in love with the last couple of years. One came home with me but I haven't planted it yet. Still in the pot but doing well.

I found a women's high top lace up shoe. It needed cleaning and white shoe polish which I will do when I take it to Florida. I tried cleaning it and the leather was so soft it was almost taking the leather off. Like doeskin gloves. I also found a shelf with an old mirror on the front of it. She had a pair of them and I was going to buy the pair but a lady had come up just as I was looking and asking the price
of the pair. This lady said she wanted only one and the women would only sell them as a pair. The other gal said would I buy the pair and she would buy one from me. I felt bad for her so did that. I hope when I get to Florida I won't be regretting my decision but it was my good deed for the weekend.
I can't remember now all what I bought but will post the pics from that day and see what comes up. I had forgotten about the beautiful piece of tatting that I found. It deserves to be put in a frame also like the fan from Florida. I will see if my daughter would like it for that.
I also found a couple of great old pics, a pretty cup & saucer, a large green canning jar (I have a lot of the green pint ones but this is the big quart size) and some doilys, etc. The terrarium is going to be painted white and a plant put inside it. It came with its own tin liner so no problem about watering. Well I think that is about all except for little bits and things. All in all it was a great day.

CELEBRATIONS

2011-08-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

52 years ago today my guy and I were married. The years have flown so fast it is hard to believe. They have been 52 wonderful years. We are very lucky to be so happy. We have 3 children and 6 grandchildren and I would not change a moment of it.

Saturday was also Harv's 80th. birthday. We did not have a family celebration because we just had one 2 weeks ago plus our middle son and his wife were in Las Vegas this weekend celebrating their 25th. anniversery and my daughter and family are on vacation down in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Our youngest grandson was worried that Grandpa wasn't going to have a birthday cake so I took a pic of Harv with a piece of Banana Cream pie with a candle and sent Tommy a picture.

A bunch of Harv's buddies that he lunches with in Chicago in the summer invited us to lunch to celebrate his 80th. A few of the wives came along and we had a great time. They bought him a new Bears hat, a Soduku book (to keep his brain from rusting) and a nice bottle of wine. They have all been friends for many years - they played handball, golf, tennis together for years until Harv could no longer play. Now they lunch once a week. We are very blessed to have such good friends and family. Here is a pic of part of the group with Harv at the head of the table and me beside him in a black t-shirt.

BEAUTIFUL DAY

2011-08-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

The weather here today is just beautiful. Sunny and 75 degrees inside and out. I went down to WalMart and bought the last 5 of their bags of mulch. I bought 8 bags last week and pulled weeds in a front bed where I planted new hydranges this year. I used mushroom compost and the weeds just thrived. I spent an hour or two pulling weeds then filled it with mulch plus around the roses in front. Hopefully this will keep down the weeds. Thank goodness I enjoy gardening. Today I spread the 5 bags around the side of the house and it just disappears. I could use another 10 bags or more so will have to hit Lowes or Home Depot and get more.

On my way home from water aerobics on Sat. mornings I pass so many garage sales. I have stopped at a few and had fun making some purchases. I took a few pics of some doilies and especially the heart shaped pansy one. I have seen so many in the round shape and have cut many apart for the pansies but have never seen one heart shaped before. I don't think I could cut this apart so will have to use it in something where the whole piece will go.

I have a collection of M.A. Hadley pottery from Louisville, Ky. I started it many years ago and always stopped at the pottery on our way to Florida and back in the old days. I have the collection down in Florida now - it was bought for our cottage in Wisconsin and I saved it. Glad I did. Well I stopped at one garage sale and nothing there for me until I spied a quart Hadley jug. $3.00. Probably 25-30$ even at the factory store. I couldn't believe it. The pattern is different from mine but the colors are always the same. Mine is the farmer and his wife plus all the animals. This one will fit right in.

Also found a little cheese set that I can use for a small cloche display. I can picture a little bird nest and bird, etc. under the glass.

HYDRANGEAS

2011-08-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

We have had a lot of rain this year and then along came July with temps in the high 90's hitting 100 one day. The one good thing about all the rain is that it is wonderful for all the trees, shrubs,grass which are all looking good. Also a bumper crop of weeds. I mentioned earlier that I had 2 hydrangea bushes around the side of my house each side of the air conditioner unit. They had never had a flower on them since we moved in 15 years ago. This year they both had flowers. They started out blue and are gradually changing. My bush in the front of the house just exploded with flowers this year. It is one of the Endless Summer ones that bloom on both old and new wood. I have had a few blooms each year but this year is unbelievable to me.
It is about 5-6 years old so maybe it just took its time.

I took my camera out the other morning and took a few pics. Every year I buy a hibiscus tree and they bloom wonderfully all summer long. Around about the 4th. of July this poor tree had hardly a leaf left on it. I think it was just too much water. I almost threw it out but then thought I would just let it stay there and see what happens. Well one month later it is covered in both leaves and blooms. The rains slowed down and the heat came on and so did the tree.

The impatients in the flower boxes and in baskets are doing well but the ones in the ground are just sitting there not looking any bigger then when I planted them back in May & June. Guess you win some and lose some.

RE-WORKED BAG

2011-08-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

I posted pictures of my version of a boho bag then kept looking at it and thinking it just didn't have enough pizazz.

I added 3 more trims and changed the lace piece. I added a very small one around the bottom and sides of the bag. Then I added the bright color fuschia and the long blue trim. The lace piece was from a lace cravat I have had for years. I used to wear this under a suit jacket to dress it up a bit. I changed the flower to a pearl pin and put the flower on the back.

See what you think. I used it today but it felt very floppy to me. I probably should have used some pellon but thought it would be too stiff. You can't win. This was my first one so hopefully I will get better. I will call this my practice piece. I really don't know if I like it any better then before.

The lace looks in the picture like it hangs below the bag but it doesn't. It was just the way I was holding it. It stops before the trim around the bottom.

SHADOW BOX

2011-08-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

Last winter in Florida I found this old fan at the flea market. There was a tag pinned to the back that read "To Emma love Mother". It was so faded you could hardly read it. If I remember right I paid 16.00 for it and it is worth every penny. I wasn't sure what I would do with it but didn't want to just put it in a box
with other pieces so left it out where I could keep seeing it. I thought I would take it and have it framed but knew it would cost a small fortune. I was at Michaels a couple of weeks ago and saw shadow boxes on sale and found one 20 x 16. I called Harv and asked him to get the yardstick and give me rough measurements. He did and I thought it would fit. Well I bought it home and the other day took it apart and fitted the fan on it. The fabric backing of the box is made so the velcro prickly side sticks to it. I used what they gave me down one side and raided my stock and used more in the middle and up the other side. I am very pleased with the way it turned out except when hung the lace flipped down a bit. I think I will have to put a couple of little touches of glue on the lace to hold it. Any other suggestions? I did have to take the picture sideways as both myself and the sheers kept reflecting in the glass but this one isn't too bad. Just the one spot of light to the side.

It is hanging in my living room and now I am trying to find a place for the picture I took down which is one I have always loved. I am sure it will go somewhere.

I remember being out at Judith Baker Montano's home in Colorado and being intrigued by the art in her house. Every kind and everywhere. I have to loosen up and take her idea and hang more.

BIRDS & BIRTHDAY PARTIES

2011-08-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

We had another family get together at my daughter's home on Sat. to celebrate her oldest son Kyle's 16th. birthday. There were 15 of us there - missing a few usual friends and relatives. Kids coming and going to camp, etc. It was a great time except very hot so we did the whole party inside except the younger kids wanted to eat out by themselves so we were happy to let them. 2 8 year olds sitting at one table on the lower deck chattering away about who knows what and the 4 older cousins sitting at the upper patio. Finished off with cake and ice cream. Can't beat that.

When we arrived home I picked up the mail from the box and there was my packet of tags from Karla Nathan and the birdsong swap. Karla does a wonderfl job on these swaps and it must be a ton of work for her. I opened mine and Karlas was right on top of the bunch followed by 7 others. Each one so different from the others and all gorgeous. So many good ideas to learn from. I took pictures you have seen above. Hope you enjoy them also.

I threw in a picture of my hydrangeas with some variegated hosta leaves.

GOULIES AND GHOSTS

2011-07-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

Last Cct. when I went to the CQI retreat in Colorado a couple of the gals were making Crazy Quilted Halloween hats and I thought they were great. I decided to start one when I returned but only got it pieced before we took off for Florida.
I got it out this week and finished the embellishments and then yesterday I sewed it together. The sewing is finished and here is the hat. It is going to my daughter to use as part of her Halloween decorations.

I am thinking of maybe making myself one but will see what else I have to finish before I start something else. You know all those UFO's that we all have. If I am not interested in finishing something I will just toss it or give it away to one of the charity groups. I am finally at the point where I don't feel I have to finish everything. The journey of just learning something new that I became interested in is enough without the finished item. No more guilt feelings either.

FINALLY FINISHED

2011-07-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

With all the heat I have been staying in the house and it has let me get some things finished. I had trouble trying to decide what I would put in the corners of the fairy lady from my butterfly quilt. I finally decided on beaded and sequined fans.
I put 2 large ones on the sides and 2 smaller ones on the top and bottom. I ripped the one large one out about 3 times trying to make the beads straighter but it was impossible. I finally said thats it and it is finished. I went to Hobby Lobby to buy 2 sets of stretcher bars and found a finished 20" square artist canvas stretched over the bars. Perfect. Yesterday with Harv's help I sewed 3" strips of black fabric all around the square and then stretched it over the frame. First I used the little pins we use on the poster board and hammered them in to hold it. Then with me pulling and Harv stapling we stapled the fabric to the back.(then I removed the poster pins). The hard part was keeping it to the 20" square so hopefully the black would only show on the sides. I think we did a decent job of it. The hard parts to get perfect were the areas where a lot of fabrics came together and you can see one or two a little higher but I decided again that it was as good as we could get it and just live with it.

I have it hung up in my sewing /studio room where the other 3 panels are hanging. I took down a small miniature quilt and just hung the pic up on those nails for now.
I took a closeup pic of one of the fans but beads and sequins are hard to photograph. Hope you like her.

BOHO BAG

2011-07-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

I spent this hot weekend putting together and sewing my version of a boho bag. The outer fabric is a blue and cream flowered chintz that I found in my stash and of course I have lots of lace and doilies from my flea market jaunts. I did buy the blue and cream loop fringe at JoAnnes last week. When it came time to cut out the lining I went on the hunt and could not find anything suitable. I had some heavy weight muslin but thought the light color wasn't too good for a lining. Friday I had played around mixing up some dyes using 1 koolaid and the others Easter egg dyes. I put them in jars after mixing and dipped a little piece of cotton or lace in each color to see what they actually looked like. Well it hit me last night why not use the muslin and dye it after I cut out the pieces. They came out a blue grey shade that is just fine for the lining. I just did not want to go out in this heat.

Here are a few pics of the bag. It is quite large but hard to tell in the pics. The next one I make will be smaller. I just cut out my own pattern from newspaper.

HOT HOT HOT

2011-07-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

and I don't mean me except weatherwise. We had a storm go through here early Mon. morning and by the time it was through, in just about an hour or so, over 800,000 places had lost their electricity. Well it is now Friday afternoon and they hope to have all back on by tonight. Can you imagine how much food was wasted in this week.
All I could think of were the food pantries who are crying for food and all the food thrown out in the garbage due to no electricity. We were very fortunate in that ours didn't even flicker. We had a lot of branches and leaves down but I just raked most of it into piles on the lawns and decks and our landscaper will take it when they come today. Thank goodness for the air conditioning being back as our weather forecast starts heating up around Sat. and goes from low 90's to high 90's by the end of the week. How did we ever survive before air conditioning? We will just stay in and stay cool. We both have enough hobbies to keep us busy so no problem.

I am in the midst of making a boho purse for myself and will show you when I get a little further along. My only qestion is do they interface them or not due to the fact they should be sort of slouchy. I may just put a light one on the lining. The actual fabric is a drapery weight chintz print that has a good weight to it plus the flap and all the weight on it. I am not putting too much trim on mine - just lace and one loopy fringe as befits a lady of my age group - ha ha. I did put a large doily on the back and folded it over and sewed around it so that it looks like a pocket. Sorta neat to look at. I am trying to decide if I want an over the shoulder strap or a longer one to go around the neck and hang. Will wait until it is done then decide.

I mentioned that my BIL was down from Toronto. After the ballgame between the Cubs and the Sox they were on their way back to the van when they came across a street party sponsored by BP and Pepsi to do with the Crossover game. My friends are always asking after Harv so here is a current pic of both of them. My Hubby is the one in the wheelchair. BIL looks great for a 81 year old guy.

KARLA'S BIRD TAG SWAP

2011-07-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

This will be the 3rd. swap I have done with Karla Nathan of Karlas Cottage and I really enjoy them. I was not into paper type arts until this last year or so and it is a whole new ballgame. I have taken a couple of online classes and am really enjoying it. You know the old saying "a change is as good as a rest" well it is true for me.

This swap had to have a bird on the tag somewhere. Small - large no matter as long as it is somewhere. I had downloaded a couple of sheets from the web and one of them happened to be for birds. I found it among my stash and I used them. I ordered bird nest charms and was off. Here is the result.

The swap is only for 8 tags but I made a couple of extras in case plus I can add one to my little booklet of tags so I have a record of what I sent. I missed this on swap 1 but did add one on swap 2 and I like having it there.

Karla sorts them out and makes a cover tag of whatever the story of the swap is. Can you image Karla making 70-100 covers and they are always beatifully done. She is a wonderful artist and a great gal. Will show you what I receive when I receive them.

I should have added how I made them. I bought a Cuttlebug machine when in Florida and have had a lot of fun with it. I love the embellishing cards to use with it.
I used purchased tags but ran them through with a leafy-bird embellisher card then used a torn piece of corrugated cardboard and then the bird pic. I edged them with brown colors and added the little twigs found on my deck. There are always twigs and sometimes large branches on my deck from all the trees. I then added the bird nest charm and some of my seam binding ribbon as a tie. I also stamped a birdcage on the back of each card and signed and dated them.

THROW MY SHOE IN

2011-07-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

After not blogging for 1 month (the longest time yet) I should throw my shoe in and see if anyone throws it back at me. Life has been very hectic and I really don't know why. I re-joined my water aerobics over at the fitness centre and going to it 2 days a week plus getting organized inside and out has kept me very busy. After all the rain this year the weeds have been a nightmare. I just can't seem to keep all the beds and walkways clear at one time. The one good thing is there were 2 hydrangea bushes at the side of my house when we moved in 15 years ago. They have never had a flower on them until this summer. I couldn't believe it when I saw the first bunch of bloom opening up. I believe it must have something to do with all the rain so some good has come out of this.

My BIL from Toronto came down last Thurs. and stayed with us until this morning. Still waiting for his phone call to say he arrived safely. He drove down alone. He was married to my sister who passed away 5 years ago Sept. and he has done so well. They were married 52 years when she passed away. He has kept the home and loves to entertain. Does more of it then we do and does all his own cooking. He is a great guy and a great gardener. They have a beautiful yard with an inground pool that he still uses.

I decided a couple of weeks ago that I was going to change one of my bedrooms into a work room for Harv. and I. He has our upstairs loft (which is large) for his office and has his big screen tv up there where he watches all the sports stuff. We had put a table into one of the bedrooms for his art work and I compained that I wasn't going down to my sewing room because it was too cold down there with our air going 24/7. He said get rid of the bedroom furniture and use that room. We had a pretty high headboard old oak bed I had bought at auction. My son and DIL have a 5 bedroom house and didn't have much in their empty 5th. bedroom so I asked if they wanted it and they came and took it all. I bought a table at Costco plus 2 large bulletin boards and my BIL helped me put them up yesterday. I am gradually moving things up there. For my readers who know that I crazy quilt I put up 2 large cork boards and hung the 3 panels of the "butterfly quilt" and they just fit. The other board is for cards, tags, etc. that I receive from friends and to be able to hang things to look at for ideas. I am almost ready to finish the middle square then she is going to be hung around a frame and I will try to put her in the middle above the three panels. We left enough room for that. If it doesn't look good there I have another smaller space next to the closet where she can go. Will decide once she is done.

It is good to be back and will try and post more often.

GRADUATION

2011-06-07T16:29:00.001-07:00

Sunday afternoon we had the pleasure of seeing our oldest grandson graduate from high school. He is a very nice young man and did very well in school. He is our redheaded guy who isn't too happy having red hair but it is darkening down and will probably be an auburn color eventually.

My son and his wife had a party for family back at the house after it was over. We also celebrated his 8 year old brother's birthday. Tommy was 8 May 21 so he had his usual kid's party and then the family celebrated with him yesterday. Tommy is going to miss Nick when he goes off in August to school but still has his 16 year old sister at home.

I have shot a pic of our huge rhododendrum bush in the back and I bought a flower basket with the most unusual coloring. They were double impatience flowers with white and a deep hot pink - almost red. The gal said it was the only one of that color to come in and of course it had to go home with me. On the trip a couple of hunks fell off in the trunk and I put them in a little bud vase. The true color doesn't show up like the actual color. They are like perfect little miniature roses.
Speaking of miniatures mine are doing very well and flowering well. I put the little bud vase in the middle of them as you will see.

Tomorrow I am going with Sue and the Inverness garden club that she belongs to for a garden walk of the gardens of 2 members of the Hosta Society. I have a laot of them in my yard and have a lot of miniatures among them. I will enjoy seeing what they have and how they use them. May give me some ideas as I am trying to make the garden as easy to manage as I can. I can fill pots on the deck with annuals but trying to manage the rest is getting harder every year. This year a creeping vine weed was all over. I have weeded some parts but have still a lot to do. The gardners come do the mowing, blowing, edging, etc. but that is all. I usually hire one of them to help me out and will do that again this year to divide and move stuff around. Will take pics of the hosta gardens.

ESTATE SALE FINDS

2011-06-03T17:41:00.001-07:00

Yesterday my daughter and I went to an estate sale nearby. This one was weird in a way that I couldn't quite figure out. It looked like the owners had just walked out to go to work or out for the day. Everything you would expect in a modern day home was there including all the usual yard tools, furniture, clothes, dishes, pictures on the wall, art in process in the den. We asked the gal on the way out why the sale and she said she didn't know as she had just come that day to help out. Wasn't there for the pricing, etc.

Sue picked up a couple of canvases for her artwork and 5 small size canning jars. The type with the wire rim and glass lids that lock with the wire. there were boxes of canning jars and they were only 50c. I found one green one and bought it. Medium size. It also had the glass lid and wire locking. What really got me excited was I picked up a box of dominoes and opened it. Brand new never out of the plastic. They were 8.00 but I felt very worthwhile as I have been watching with fascination the gals who have been making the little domino books. I had some dominoes but they were just too small. These are 1" wide by 2" tall - just perfect. I see some little books in my future. The other thing was a white rabbit fur collar. I could just picture it on my mannequin at Christmas time down in Florida. Closed with a large rhinestone or other brooch. Harv says "Marie" will be better dressed then him. The name comes from the fmbutler - freda marie. My alter ego. I wish I had one here too but probably better I don't. I also picked up some odds and ends. Two packs of very old playing cards good for collage.

We went up to Barrington, IL for lunch and Sue has a nasty virus/cold and had taken some cold medicine that hit her and she felt sick and very tired. We didn't stay too long but went home so she could lay down before the kids came home from school. They are from 8 to 15 so they would be fine. Her hubby was in New Orleans for the day on business. Flew out in the morning and back at night. He had to do a presentation. He says he would rather do that then have to stay overnight. No luggage to worry about and you sleep in your own bed. Today she still felt blah so I told her you just have to go with it and let it run its course.

MEMORIAL DAY

2011-05-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Canada we celebrated the Queen's birthday on the Monday closest to the 24th. of May. It was also firecracker day. November 11th is Rememberance Day and they sell cloth poppies on the street corners that people pin onto their coats or jackets in remembrance of the poppies that grow in Flanders Field. My Father served in both WW1 and WW2. He was too young in WW1 and lied about his age. He was from Northern Ireland and joined the Irish Fusilliers. He was taken prisoner of war and escaped back to the British. He was excused from service and inmmediately joined up with the Black Watch and served with them until 1919. Along came WW2 and living in Canada we followed England and when war was declared in 1939 he immediately joined up
and was too old for active overseas duty so was sent up to blind River in Northern Ontario to a POW camp to guard the German pows. Too young for one war and too old for the other but he still found a way to serve. He spent 6 miserable years up there where there was nothing to do but play cards, drink and smoke. He did all 3like all the rest of them and came out a changed man. Needless to say our family was never the same and they split when I was young. I often wonder what our life would have been like if there was no war and our father had stayed with us. My Mom raised 3 girls on her own and worked very hard. Later in my latter teen years I re-united with him and would see him on occasion. I think of him on St. Patricks Day when they play Danny Boy and on this holiday when we honour our soldiers. He passed away many years ago and may he rest in peace.

I bought 3 orchids home from Florida to see if I could get them to bloom. The one had some buds on it but the other 2 did not. This week the one with the blooms started to open but nothing on the others yet. I decided the perfect place for them would be in our bathroom as it has a window and a large skylight over the jacuzzi tub. Perfect light but no direct sunlight on them.

I took some pics of our bathroom and one of my favorite things - a valet stand that I picked up at a garage sale many years ago. I believe I paid $15.00 for it. He told me he had paid well over 150.00 for it but was getting thrown out of his apt. and was living with his Dad. He wanted more but that was all I had in cash and he wouldn't take a check. Hence I got it for the 15. On it is a beautiful irish crochet top that my MIL made for herself. She wore it for a few years then put weight on and I was the only one who it fit. I did wear it a few times and now it resides on the valet along with some little angel soap, dried roses and hand towels decorated with angels.

Hopefully I will be blogging more regularly then the last month. I also must say that blogger will not let me post comments on any blog where you have to hit google as my account and then put in the letters. It immediately takes me to blogger who wants my email and password. I give it and then go back and it starts all over. I have done it round and round 3-4 times and it still just rolls around. So if some of you haven't heard from me that is the reason. I must start keeping a note of the blogs where this happens and let them know.

GARDEN EXPLODES

2011-05-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

It has been almost a week since I posted and my ribs are feeling better. In fact I spent some time outside yesterday digging weeds and dandelions out between the flagstone walks and the brick walks. We have brick around the front and around the side to the shed and they connect up to the deck so Harv. can just easily roll on the deck. The flagstone goes from the stone steps off the deck around the side flower bed and then up the side yard to the front lawn. That one is a walk to nowhere but you need something there. I wasn't sure how I would feel today but felt fine.

I bought 4 baskets last week at Aldis. They were a bargain. Large size baskets for 5.99 each except not too much choice. The ones I did get are great for our partly sunny/mostly shade backyard. I did not empty the baskets that line the fence before we left last year like I usually do but because of the surgery I did not and there they were. They had survived the winter in good shape and the earth still in them. I went to our local store and bought a flat of various flowers, 1 large begonia because I liked the color and some hanging vines. I bought a large bag of Miracle Gro potting soil and today I went out and filled the baskets with a variety of flowers. The nice thing is I could mix the flowers and add the trailing vines like you only get in the very expensive baskets. They are lined up like soldiers along the sunny end of the deck and I will leave them there for a week or two until they start to take off. We have 8 hangers along the fence where I hang baskets to add color to all the green. I also filled an old shoe and 2 of the Down Under Pots where you plant the flowers in the bottom and they fill out and climb up the pots. I have had one for quite a few years when they first came out and then at a house sale I found a beautiful blue glased one for 5.00. It had never been used. I believe I paid 25.00 for the plain clay one at the botanic Gardens when they were first out.

I took some pics of the deck garden, the side yard and my rhubarb. We love rhubarb Harv and I and it is so expensive to buy the stalks - like gold. the only place I can buy it frozen is in Florida. Stores here do not have it. Last year my daughter was driving along and saw a sign "free rhubarb". It was in cartons to just take. She bought it home and planted some in her sunny garden area and I tried some here in the little garden off the stone steps. We had to remove a large tree last year that had roots pushing up the large stone slab steps and the deck. They drilled it right down but I kept removing sawdust and putting in new soil but wasn't sure what would happen. Well it is growing. I am so proud of my little garden and hope I get enough to make a strawberry rhubarb pie this year. If I get enough I will freeze it.

I also showed pics of my shade garden with all my ferns, including maidenhair fern which is one of my favorites. I have a large pink bleeding heart down there and a birdbath that needs the top put back on. It is cement and too heavy for me. I also took a pic of two evergreen trees that I just love. don't know what kind they are but very airy and pretty. I buy a hibiscus tree every year and picked up that yesterday also. The two pieces of cement do not look very pretty but saves me having to pick up the tree every day out of the garden and haul it back onto the deck. You do what you gotta do.

VINTAGE BROOCH RECEIVED

2011-05-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

The pics above show the beautiful box and the brooch that was inside wrapped in very pretty tissue paper. It looks to me as if Sandi painted the tile to match the rose tissue. Even the tissue paper is a keeper.

I am still unpacking. We arrived home on Sun. late afternoon and the 2 suitcases made it upstairs but still not unpacked. I had all the rest of my junk (sewing stuff) loaded in the trunk also so took time getting that out. Piled on the dining room table. I have been shopping for food as the pantry is bare. Went to see my daughter on Mon. and stopped and spent $132.00 on the way home at the food store. Went out again today with a better list and spent another 110.00. Holy cow. What are young families doing with growing kids to feed. Hopefully I have us stocked up for a couple of weeks with just fresh milk, fruit, etc. needed. I have never kept track of what I spend on food but it might surprise me if I did for a couple of months. Maybe I will try that just out of curiosity.

Actually the main reason that I am trying to take it easy unpacking is that I hurt my ribs on the right side just before we left. I was on the ladder in the garage that pulls down to the attic and I couldn't reach the suitcases. I reached too far and a piece of wood caught me between the ribs. I am sure it is just bruised but I tell you I never want anymore bruised or broken. You can't laugh, get the hiccups, turn over in bed or reach down to get things without it hurting. I have been taking advil to dull it. I am sure in another week or so it will feel better. I hope.

VINTAGE BROOCH SWAP

2011-05-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note tonight as we are leaving in the morning and I still have things to finish. I was in one of Linda's swaps and it was to be a vintage brooch that could be worn on Mother's Day. I posted it off Tues. and they said it would arrive no later then Fri. so it is safe for me to show you now. Linda said you could send the brooch any way you wanted - in a corsage, in a hankie, etc. I had a bunch of baby shoes and chose that way. I wrapped around the top of the boot with some pretty old Irish crochet lace and glued it down. In the shoe I stuffed pink tissue and then pushed a pretty doily over the paper and had a small rhinestone on the top. I added pink ribbon to match the tissue and then added this rhinestone brooch from the flea market. After all it is going to a girl or lady so pink was appropriate.

I made a little tag to go with it and put this picture which I have used before and love. It was just the right size when just the face was needed. I hope my swap partner likes it. I sent her a note and said she doesn't have to wear the whole thing on Mother's Day - just remove the brooch. Little humor here.

I will receive mine on Mon. because I gave her my Il address and they are holding our mail up there all this past week and will deliver it on Monday.

I will probably be off for a little while while I unload the van, grocery shop, visit the dentist, both of us on different days for cleaning plus Harv has to go downtown to the Rehab. Institute for his annual checkup. On top of that Mon. I am heading over to my daughters and she is taking me to see their new house and they are moving May 20. They have had it for awhile so have been able to get new furniture delivered, take over tons of stuff so the movers will probably just have bare furniture to move. She is only moving about a mile or 2. Same schools for all 3 boys, same friends, same church and she is happy.

Take care and see you all next week.

FLOWER & CRAFT FAIR

2011-05-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

Last Sat. was the annual flower and craft sale in Apopka, FL. Apopka is about 20 miles west of us and is the home of the largest fern growers in the country. Apopka and surrounding areas are just full of greenhouses. The orchid and bromeliad one that I frequently go to to buy orchids is located there also. This was the 50th. anniversery of this fair. It is hosted every year by the Apopka Women's Club. They should be very proud. Growers are there selling their plants and they are so inexpensive compared to what we would pay for the same thing up north. They had huge tables with every type of fern you could think of for $1.00 a small pot. I always say I need a trailer to haul everything back and forth and good job I don't have one or you know what it would be loaded with. Half flowers and half CQ supplies. I did go with one thing in mind and that was the miniature violets. They had them last year and I bought a few and I was hoping they would be there and they were. A young man was selling just African violets - both the miniatures and the regular violets. Every color and flower shape imaginable. The miniatures are never seen for sale anywhere since I bought my first few from a women who sold them at the flea market years ago but hasn't been back there in years. I picked up 3 to take home. They are only about an inch and a half pots and he said to just keep them in that size and if they do grow too crowded then just into about a 2" pot (if you could find that size).

After getting the violets I strolled around the craft fair and almost got away without buying anything until I came to the booth of the lady from Tampa who does crazy quilting in purses, cuffs, etc. She just started making large bags or satchells as you calls them. I spyed the orange/brown one and it just grabbed me.
I had talked to her last year and probably before that as she does this show every year. We always talk about CQ. She doesn't know anyone who does it except me - does not own a computer and knows nothing about buying on the internet. Strictly self taught and all her own ideas. She picks up gorgeous fabrics everywhere she goes and does more with the fabrics, flowers, etc and not as much embellishing as we normally do now. She does beautiful work. Well Harv came along while we were talking and saw me holding the bag and said are you going to buy it and I said well I like it and he said go ahead Mothers Day is Sunday and that will be your present. The man loves getting out of buying presents. Of course I was happy to get it also and we will be spending Mothers Day in the car as we are leaving On Sat. morning early and hope to be in Chicago Sun. night if all goes well. If traffic is bad or construction we will stay an extra night and arrive early Mon.

Well I shot some pics of the purse. It is loaded with my stuff already and will be my summer hang around bag. Should take lots of wear. I should have told you that she also recycles everything she can and included a piece of a leather belt sewed to a Mexican serafe belt and a piece of leather on the front of the purse. She also used the front decoration piece that would have been worn as a front scarf and she added beads to it and attached to the purse. I have to start looking at belts in a new way. If you have seen Kathy Kizerian's purse with the beautiful pink strap and rhinestone buckle it was made from a re-cycled belt. We have to keep our eyes open ladies. I did question sewing on the leather but turns out she has a commercial machine she has had for years that sews thru everything. Sometimes I wish I had bought one years ago. So many things you can do with one. Too late now.

LAST TWO WEEKS

2011-05-01T12:49:00.003-07:00

I cannot believe it has been two weeks since I last posted. I have been either very busy or very lazy. I did sit all Fri. afternoon and watched the Royal Wedding festivities that I tivod. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and especially at the beginning watching all the people coming into the Abby. The women were for the most part beautifuly dressed and some of the hats were gorgeous. Some a little too fanciful but I think even I who hates hats could wear one of these little tiny sideways ones. The bride was beautiful and so was her dress. Wouldn't we die for a piece of that lace to put on a crazy quilt. Well will just have to settle for the flea market stuff. Queen Elizabeth looked lovely in her outfit and really she looks great for 85.

Speaking of the flea market I did go over this morning with 3 watches in tow that needed batteries and had the 3 replaced for 9.50. You can tell that the snowbirds have gone or are going including the people themselves who sell there. It was very small outside but I did pick up a bunch of lace pieces, doilies, etc. I should have taken pics first but I just can't wait to get them into soaking first thing. I don't like bringing fabric home that can't go right into the soaking tub with some Biz. When they are soaked and dried I will snap some pics. I picked up 4 small glass candle holders for 1.50 for all 4. I use these to set my miniature violets in and place on the window ledge in the sunroom. More about these another day.

I am posting the pics of the almost finished infamous butterfly non-quilt. I made the 12 blocks into 3 long strips and just finished them with a 1/2" edging. The middle fairy I did add a lot of beading to the leaves, etc. Went around her outside wings with some silver lined glass ones and that added a lot. I picked up some black and white trim at the CQ Adventure and used this around the inside edge of the black. I dyed a couple of flowers pink and a couple violet to see what looked best and decided on the violet. When I started to go over the pink with violet I liked the look so that is what it ended up. Pink flowers with a little violet edging.
I showed it to my sewing group girls and they said they thought I needed something in the black sections also. Please see what you think and I will certainly appreciate any comments. I hope Gerry from Older Rose reads this because she is so good at that. I may send her an email and ask her to look and give me her thoughts.

We are winding down here and leaving for home next Sat. May 7. The weather is just beautiful the last few days in the 80's with a breeze and no humidity. This is what april should be not the 90's we were having. I have to start cleaning up the sewing room and see how much I can jam in the back of the van. What will not fit I will ship up home. I wonder what it would be like to not have any hobbies and just pack your clothes and take off. Even my hubby who doesn't take many clothes back and forth just leaves them in each house has his art supplies and large tackle box filled with painting stuff so I am not the only one. We take our laptops and leave our dell in the den and all other household stuff just stays. I have double in each place now.

If you click on the pics after opening them they will enlarge to see them better. Especially the long ones.

PICTURE THAT WAS OMITTED

2011-04-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

I entered one twice and this one was omitted. It is so pretty I wanted you to see the top. It is a pale, soft green velvet with purple on the sides and bottom.

SATURDAY 'S FLEA MARKET

2011-04-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend being the 3rd. weekend of the month, Renningers Flea Market held their larger than normal antique fair. This means that dealers who do not come to the flea market end every week do come to the antique market end on this 3rd. weekend.

I was having company for lunch (more about that tomorrow) and so set off about 9 and went to my usual flea market end first because there is a gal there who sells large bouquets of cut orchids for $5.00 a bunch. I wanted one so I could give my guest a couple of orchids to take home. I had bought a bunch more then 5 weeks ago and with changing the water and cutting the stems once a week I still have a few but they are falling fast. 5 weeks of orchid blooms for $5.00 - I call that a deal. Well wouldn't you know it she was there but had no cut flowers just potted orchids. The next disappointment was when I walked out to the field there were hardly any dealers there. The majority had headed north. Apparently a lot of them work their way up by attending flea markets all the way north. I do not remember them leaving so early in other years and I hope none of them got caught in the horrible weather all up through the south. The amount of people killed and the damage from the tornados is just horrifying. To think I talked about our episode just last week and then this.

Well I left there and drove down to the antique end. There were more dealers but still not as many as you would expect. I bought a bunch of old linens from a gal I buy from frequently and they were only 6 for $5.00 and she always gives me extra - told me to pick out 1 more. I immediately cut the lace off and through out the fabric when I got home. They were pretty bad. I bought 3 lovely vintage rhinestone pins from a gal and I also bought the pretty box you see above. Someone obviously hand made it and did an absolutely beautiful job of it. It was 12.00 and a great bargain at that for the workmanship that was in it.
When I first got there the first fella I stopped at had a set of 4 tray tables in a stand. They were the painted flower trays similar to what I collect for my walls up north and the couple I have down here. The set was 25.00 and I snapped it up for the sun room. When we have a crowd of people in it is good to have some tray tables for drinks, snacks, etc. They were also a great bargain. I have never seen a set like this before. All in all I had a fun morning then hurried home to get ready for my company.

HIDEKO IN JAPAN

2011-04-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

I have copied an email that came in from Hideko on April 12 on CQI for people who do not belong as follows:

"Thanks for your concern. Today we had another big quake in the afternoon. Almost everyday we are shaked. I replied to Laurie about Fukushima plant in Novice group. Here I would like to tell you the same. Yes, it's now raised level 7. But maybe we have felt it's not level 5 already. The most serious trouble or concern is the accident hasn't been settled yet, still in process for recovery, while big after quakes happen everyday. Especially the one of last evening and another of this afternoon gave us shocks, because those centers were very close to Fukushima plants. Each time we are scared by not only quake itself but also by some possiblity of new serious troubles happen at the plant. There was nothing new bad so we felt a bit relieved. The whole quantity of radiation is one tenth of Chernobyl somehow, though the level is same. Everyday we feel standing on the edge.We have got really tired. Thanks for your prayers. Hideko Ishida in Japan"

I cannot believe it has been over a month since the oiginal quake. My heart goes out to the children and think of the parents trying to console them and tell them all is well when the after shocks keep coming. we went through a tornado when we first came to Chicago that tore the roof right off the house where we were staying about 6am and you looked up to pitch black with rain pouring in. Luckily none of us were hurt. Susan was just a baby of 7-8 months old and I was terrified she was gone. Went into her room and she was awake and smiling with bricks laying all over her crib. to this day I remember that and am very wary of tornado like weather. My children spent many nights sleeping in the basements wherever we were so I can appreciate how the parents feel. Ours was nothing like Hideko's case because once hit ours was over for that time at least. They must live in a state of constant fear.

Hi Hideko - we are all thinking of you and yours every day.

Hugs

FredaB

ALLIE'S CQ BOOK & SIGNATURES

2011-04-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

When I first heard that Allie was doing a book on cq I did not know that it would go on Amazon as immediately as it did. Sometimes you have to buy through small publishers,etc. but not this one. It is a star in itself. I ordered it right away and am so happy I have it. I took it with me and thought well I will have Allie sign it and then I thought well there are 4 more gals here who have their quilts or other items in her book. I followed them around one night like a groupie (at my age yet)and did get signatures from all 5. I still have to run down Debra Spincic and Barbara Curiel and then it will be complete. Where are you girls?

Allie's book is a wonderful book for all levels of cqers. It has as much for the experienced stitcher to learn as the beginner. I have not done a curved edge block yet and will try one one of these days. When I get all my projects caught up and finish things I started at the retreat. Will this ever happen? When you see Susan Elliott's Queen make sure you read the caption with it and you will see just how much time Susan did researching this and how well she did all the decorations. I just wish she had brought it with her for us to see at the retreat.

I'M BACK

2011-04-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hi All My Friends & Family

I left for the Crazy Quilt Great Adventure Retreat in Hartford, CT. on Thurs. This was put on by Maureen Greeson and Susan Elliott. I flew with Carol Kramer who lives in clermont, FL and we connected up at the Orlando airport. We had roomed together before in Omaha plus do get together a couple of times a year when I am down in FL.

I have to tell you that the retreat was the most thought out, carefully planned and downright wonderful one that I have attended. Maureen was so wonderful to all of us attendees. Every morninbg as we would go into class there would be a different gift or goody bag from Maureen with some wonderful things in it. Actually on our first day the bag contained items that Maureen provided for us for each of the 3 day classes. Items that she thought might be hard for some of us to find and so she donated them. Kudoos to Maureen. Maureen and Susan Elliott are complete opposites so make a wonderful pair. Maureen likes to sit quietly in the background and Susan is a wonderful outgoing personality so she directed most of the evening activities. Maureen was probably all worn out by this time anyway from all her careful planning and making us things. We had talks from Betty on old quilts that she brought to share one night and then Shirlee Fassell gave a talk and showed the most wonderful work I have ever seen. Not all cq. I have been a fan of hers since Maureen had her original newsletter and Shirlee's work would appear on the pages. Always told Maureen that I wanted to come back as Shirlee in my next life.

The 3 days teachers were Allie Aller, Sharon Boggon (all the way from Australia) and wonderful Betty Pillsbury. There were only 60 attendees allowed and we were divided up into groups of 20 rotating teachers 20 to a class. We had Allie Fri., Sharon Sat. and Betty on Sun. Three wonderful teachers. I actually started a project in Allie and Betty's classes that I hope to finish. Sharon I just did a lot of stitches and new ideas on a piece of muslin. I did take a finished cq square to work on but it is hard to know just where to put things when you are working like this. Now I can spend time and think about where to put them.

All in all it was a wonderful 3-4 days. We left Sunday right after class and surprise - surprise - we were quoted 3 hour flying time home and arrived 41 minutes early. That has never happened as far as I can remember in the past on a short flight. Someone quipped he took a shortcut. Good job hubby checked the airline and was just about at the airport when we had our bags and I called him.

One of the things that was planned was a swap with others - optional - of course. You could swap with either, 10 people, 20 people or all 34 who entered. 26 chose not to. I started and could make about 1 or more a night so decided to do all 34.
I did either a flower motif or a dragonfly. I also ordered some of Vicky Clayton's hand dyed silk ribbon that comes on bobbins - I love that - and included one in each bag. In went a little spray of flowers and I have been interested in paper crafting lately so made little tags they can use and included them also. I did not want to show them before so people would not see them who read this blog and were swapping.

The first pic is the largest plastic bag you can buy and then the individual pics of the flowers and different winged dragonflys. I do not have a bead store around here so just used what I had until it was used up. Therefore there were many more flowers (about 3/4 to 1/4 dragonfly). I put them on about 5-6" pieces of dupioni silk so they would have a nice piece to be able to sew into a square.

When I get finally unpacked I will share with you all the wonderful ones I received.
Great time but always good to be home with my sweetie.

I will start putting on some of the pics I took eventually.

JAPAN

2011-04-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

Last Oct. I had the chance to go with the CQI gals on their retreat in Colorado.
At that time I had a chance to meet with a lot of gals who I knew from the lists and from Omaha retreats. One person I had never met and that is because she lives in Japan. Our good friend Hideko came all the way from Japan for this retreat.
We talked but I had no idea what part of Japan she came from. It turns out it she is from Sendai where the worst of the earthquake hit damaging the nuclear reactors.

Well Hideko and her immediate family are safe and they live about 100 km (60 miles) from that area. The gals in CQI have organized and are making crazy quilts that in future will be sent to Japan and auctioned off there and the money to go to funds where needed.

The following info I took from Leslie's blog. If you are interested in helping out the info is as follows:

I am coordinating a project to raise funds for the recovery of Japan. The quilting community as a whole is welcome to participate! Traditional and crazy quilt blocks will be accepted! I am posting the guidelines below for those that are interested in joining in. Please contact me with any questions you may have. I look forward to working with everyone! I know this will be a fabulous project upon completion! Stay tuned here or at the CQI blog for updates on blocks as they come in!! Please feel free to utilize this post on your own blog to help in spreading the word!!!

Hearts and Hands For Sendai

This project will be dedicated to helping those affected by the earthquake tsunami disaster in Japan. Per Hideko Ishida's request, all quilts will become a part of an exhibit in Japan where money will be raised by viewing the quilts. Ultimately, these quilts may be auctioned and the proceeds given to a charity designated by Hideko Ishida, our Japanese CQ Sister! We will keep everyone informed as time progresses. This project is open to the quilting community at large! You may track details on the Crazy Quilting International blog, http://crazyquiltinginternational.blogspot.com or the ICQA Facebook page http://tinyurl.com/4h3x28a .

Guidelines are as follows:

Theme: Friendship and re-building of a country

Finished block size: 8 inches

Colors: Jewel Tones

Style: traditional or crazy quilt blocks will be accepted

For traditional quilt blocks, there are no pattern restrictions. The only requirements are the size and the colors. Finished size is to be 8 inches (20.32 cm). Please allow a half inch seam allowance. Colors are jewel tones. No restrictions to the type of fabric used.

For crazy quilt blocks:

_ Cut foundation at 9 inches (22.86 cm), piece the entire foundation.

_ Baste a line at 8 inches (20.32 cm) to stop embroidering

_ Do not add beads or charms past 7 ½ inches (19.05 cm)

_ Zig zag edges to prevent edges from fraying.

_ Add your name and address on the back of the block.

_ Mark the block with “UP” to show which side is the top

_ Prefer all fabrics used be “fancies” (ie: silk, satin, taffeta, velvet) but if you have

some kimono fabrics or other oriental themed fabrics in your stash you are

welcome to use them.

_ All beading MUST be double stitched and knotted with BEADING THREAD!!!

NO exceptions!!! These items will be handled a great deal and beads, buttons,

charms are among the first to begin to loosen. Embellishments – may be done

by machine or by hand.

_ Lace and other motifs are acceptable and must be securely attached

_ Trims are acceptable and must be securely attached

_ SRE is acceptable

_ Tatting and crocheted butterflies and dragonflys, etc are acceptable and must

be securely attached

_ Please sign the back of your block

Please refrain from using any reference to the rising sun as this has political connotations in Japan.

If you have any questions, at any time, please just email me or call me; Leslie pinyoncreekq@q.com . All completed projects will be mailed to me no later than June 30, 2011. Please contact me for mailing address information.

We are asking for an entry fee of $10.00 dollars for each block. This fee will be accrued and forwarded to either Hideko or a charity of her choosing. This is to generate funds to help Japan as much as possible.

Funds can be sent vis a vis check, money order (payable to ICQA) or Paypal, icqa4u@yahoo.com. Please check gift for the donation. I appreciate everyone’s participation and look forward to seeing all the fabulous creations!

BEDSPREAD ? OR CURTAIN ?

2011-04-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

I have been having a very bad time in Florida this year with my allergies and woke up last Sat. morning with a severe migraine that just would not stop. Go up and down depending on how many pills I had taken but would not leave. Today I finally started to feel a little better and was able to go to the store for groceries and more meds. I had not been out of the house since last Fri. Hopefully this is gradually going as I am leaving for CT. for the CQ adventure on thurs. If it starts again I will head to the Dr. Monday.

I am sorry I posted I was going to show you more from the antique market so I will post pics of the largest - priciest - item I bought now. At first I thought it was a curtain but when laying it out flat I see it has netting sides and a netting piece at the top that could be a pillow turn over. See what you think. I have no idea where I could use it but it was so beautiful I could not pass it by. I need one of those antique little nooks in a shop and I could drape it over it. Trouble is I probably wouldn't want to sell anything I have.

The bad part of being sick last weekend was I missed the entire Mt. Dora antique festival Sat. & Sun. Hubby's dear words "you must really feel bad if you can't go to that". first year I have missed it but hopefully there will be another year.

PAINTING

2011-03-25T05:50:00.001-07:00

I spent yesterday morning running around looking for paint samples and buying the small samples of paint colors. I ended up with 2 for our bathroom and when painted I knew I did not want the one but the other would do. Great idea to sell these small samples. Just tell them what color and they mix it just like they would a gallon. I wanted a smoky very light green but the one turned out more turquoise then I wanted but the other was a smokey gray/blue. That will do. I have to go back tody and buy the paint. Sherwin Williams have 30% off on all their paints until Sunday.

When we first bought our house we had it all painted one color called chenille. A very light beige and I have always liked it. I am going to repeat it in all the main part of the house including den, bedroom and other bathroom. Our bedroom I am doing one shade darker called china doll. Still very light but just a bit more color to go with the new fabric I bought a couple of weeks ago. Went out with one clor in mind and came home with 25 yards of something totally different. When I get it all finished I will take some pics. I have to buy a sample jar of the China doll and try it also today. We are only doing our bedroom and bathroom this year and will work on the rest next year. It has been 11 years but still looks good.

The gals on our street have a once a month lunch somewhere and we have done this for a few years. eEther the 3rd or 4th Thurs. of the month. Yesterday was it and the gal doing it this month picked lunch at our own club here at the golf course. they have a sunroom and they set up tables for us in there and it was very nice. Didn't have to worry about how much noise we made. There were just 12 of us because there are always a few that are away, dr. appts. or friends visiting. Next month is my turn to plan it and I know where it will be. A new restarant opened in Eustis the next town over. March 21 before Easter weekend. A few gals are leaving for up north mid april so may be a smaller crowd even yet. One has already gone and one just moved. If you are in the Mt. Dora area and want to visit just let me know. You would be welcome. We are leaving the weekend of May 7-8 for home in Chicago.

At the antique market last week I walked up to a table and he had a carton of the small Christmas houses - old and originals made in Japan. I have a collection of these and know I paid a pretty price for them. I haggled with him and he was selling them all in the box not just one or two. I ended up buying the whole box and next fall I will become a seller. If interested come back early Nov. I will do a giveaway of a few of them around that time. The rest I will do on ebay in groups of 4 or 5. Will see if I make any money or just break even. I just couldn't resist them.

This weekend is the Antique Fair in downtown Mt. Dora. They close off the downtown streets and people set up booths all over the street. It is always fun. I usualy try and get there around 9 when it opens and get finished before the crowds come. It is good we are leaving in May. I will be running out of money at this rate. Once home though it is the end for 6 months so I might as well enjoy it when I can.
Once home different things take over like family parties, etc.

PAINTING

2011-03-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

PICS

2011-03-23T17:23:00.001-07:00

MORE FLEA MARKET FINDS

2011-03-23T17:10:00.001-07:00

It seems like all I do is go to flea markets but only 2 really and sometimes I miss either one or the other. The main one is Renningers on Sat. or Sun. morning and the other is the Eustis flea market that is held in the Lake County Fairgrounds every Thurs. morning 8-1. They have a whole covered area of produce and that is where we go to mainly buy all our fruits and vegetables. Much cheaper then the supermarkets around here. Can you believe 1.00 or 1.25 for 1 grapefruit at the supermarket in Florida where they are falling off the trees. This includes the Super Wal-Mart. Not so super on some things - especially produce. I will say ours still has material and some sewing items but did discontinue embroidery thread.

I did post a pic of the other item from Cape Cod. It is similar to the runner but is square for posibly a small table and has beatiful fringe all the way around. I can't get on my knees these days so had a hard time positioning the fringe so draped it over a chair and took a pic of just the fringe.

Back tomorrow with more. I am still working on my panels. 1 completed and the other 2 sewn to the backing and pinned with one hand sewn partly down one side. I find it very hard to sew on black at night so will not do anymore until I can just sit in the sunroom where the light is wonderful. Will show you all 3 when completed.

BUSY DAY

2011-03-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Harv. is doing taxes today at the library and tomorrow so I try and get my housework, washing, etc. done when he is gone. I also managed to get another of my panels put together and just need to hand sew down the binding and I then only have 1 more to go. I am liking this idea better every day.

I have another buy from the flea market to show you. I bought two pieces from this lady and she said they came from an estate sale on Cape Cod and she had the accent to go with it. They are old and beautiful. Don't know what I will do with them but couldn't let them go. This one is about 8 ft. long and maybe 20" wide. I assume it was for a long hall table or dresser. It is made of silk and has a beautiful fringe on it. There are embroidered areas all over it. It was hard to take pics and I am not the best photographer as you probably all know by now.

The last piece is a piece of red and cream ticking type 100% linen. there was a yard and a half in the piece and it is 54" wide. Would recover a cushion type chair but I have no need of any. It was only 5.00.

I actually bought it to use playing around with journals, etc. I am getting the itch to get into the paper and cloth items. Will be a nice change from the cq. I have taken one on line class and have received some good ideas. After the Great Adventure maybe I will have time to start on this. Otherwise the summer is looming and on a very hot Chicago day it will be good to play inside with it.

ANTIQUE WEEKEND AT RENNINGER'S FLEA MARKET

2011-03-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

This being the 3rd. weekend of the month it was antique fair time. Every 3rd. weekend they have additional dealers at the Antique end of Renningers and extra people show up for the flea market end also.

I went Sat. am and only made it to the antique end and spent about 3 hrs. there. I did enough damage in 3 hrs. to help the economy. Actually by this time of the year a lot of the dealers are heading north and are trying to get rid of a lot of their stuff so I saw a lot of 50% of signs.

I did get a great deal on old lace pieces from a gal who I see there on the 3rd. weekends. She has a lot of really nice things but is usually very expensive. This time she had a table full of old linens from doilys to tablecloths and everything in between. 6 pcs. for 5.00. She saw I had quite a handful so when we counted them there were 13 so she called it a baker's dozen 10.00. I have taken a pic today after I had soaked them and washed them. A few pieces like the old black and the 2 identical white collars that look brand new I did not wash. Also a very pretty little tan lace piece. Also there is a tan collar, crocheted with the Irish crochet roses on it. I bought that from another gal for 2.00.

Also I found a very unusual shaped tole painted tray that is hand signed. Apparently people used to hand paint these for mfgrs. to sell. It will go on my wall tomorow. I needed to get another plate hanger large enough to fit it. It was 10.00 and I have paid a lot more for them in such good condition.

I finally had to take down my beautiful pink orchid that survived from Nov. until about 2 weeks ago. It had multiple stems on it and was lovely. I was lucky enough to find another one with multiple stems on it in white. I think there are 6 different stems with lots of bloom yet to open.

Hopefully this one will last until we return home in May. I put little silver balls around the plant in the bowl at Christmas and liked it so much I have left them in the bowl.

I have more to show you but have to figure out how best to photograph them to their best advantage. Some very beautiful old silk pieces and a large lace piece. See you later.

RE-DESIGNING QUILT

2011-03-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to work on my large quilt and one of the drawbacks for me is because I have no idea where I will put it when finished. I kept looking at it and took it out - put down the black fabric - and laid all the blocks the way they are shown on the calender. I just could not get excited about it. I thought maybe I should make them into seperate panels and use them wherever they would fit that way. Today our sewing group met and it was at my house. I was showing them the finished squares and the middle and voiced my doubts. 2 gals who quilt very well tradionally both said why don't you make them into panels. That did it. I finally trimmed all 12 blocks and laid them out in 3 rows of 4 blocks and started to pin them together. I am not going to put any black between them just around the edge and am not sure yet how much border to put around. Should I just bind them with say a 1/2" binding and nothing else? or should I do a 1" - 1 1/2" border around each and then bind? I would appeciate your ideas on this. I would end up with 3 panels and the approx. 24" middle square. the 3 panels could be hung side by side with the square above them or 1 panel on each side of the square and 1 panel going sideways across the top. The way the blocks are this would not be a prob lem as they can be viewed from any side. I believe about now you all are as sick of this as I am.

A little family fun here. The fist pic is of my Sweet Sixteen (in feb.) grandaughter going to a dance at her school. She is a sophamore. She is shown with her little brother Tommy who is 8.

I love her dress.

The next pic is of my two little 8 year old grandsons. The one on the left is my daughter's boy Luke and the guy on the right is my son's boy Tommy. They belong to an Indian guides program thru the YMCA which is for fathers and sons. It was Pinewood Derby on Sun. and Luke came in 2nd. and Tommy 3rd. so both won little trophys. They are great little friends who live right near each other, go to the same school and were in kindergarden and grade 1 together but in grade 2 they are now in different classrooms. They are all growing up too fast.

HEART HANGER

2011-03-08T16:54:00.000-08:00

I mentioned the great idea that Dorthe had when she made a cording of buttons. Well I did the same and it looks good. I am going to hang this heart and use it to put some of my pins on that others have sent me. Thank you Dorthe for the good idea.

Also I am showing 2 more pieces I picked up at the flea mrket for 1.00 each. They are old silk ribbon about 4" wide and have names on them. I would think they would have been worn in a club or somewhere. The one has a painted tree and flowers on it and the name Gordon on the back side and the other has a saying on it and the gentleman's name on the other side. The one is faded pink and the other cream. the cream one is in pretty bad shape but the pink one is still pretty good. They were left to fringe on the ends.

SURPRISE PACKAGE

2011-03-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

On sat. I received a package in the mail from Rebecca Ernseld of Illinois.

She had a giveaway and picked three winners and I was one of the lucky three. I know that I should always take a pic before but I never think of it until I have ripped open the package and oohed and awed over the contents then it is too late to wrap it back up. This package consisted of a beautiful heart edged in old lace, a vintage packet of buttons, a spool of pink grosgrain ribbon and an old silk flower that cold be worn as a pin and it was wrapped in some lovely wire edged ribbon that I can use.

I took the rose and pinned it into the center of the lace I had just sewn onto the 2 sofa pillows and it looked so pretty but would not be very practical for company trying to sit down near it. It will be used elsewhere or used as a pin on a summer outfit.

You must go to rebecca's blog like I did yesterday. She has done some remodelling of her office/workroom and she has some great ideas. Note the books and pictures on the walls held by wire. Also on her blog she showed a very pretty heart pillow she had received from Dorthe and Dorthe had made a hanging cord out of old pearl buttons. Well last night I grabbed a tube of old buttons and sat and made a hanging cord for mine. I will take a pic tomorrow and show you how cute it looks. I will get a little crystal knob from somewhere and hang it upon that.

Her blog is shown on the postcard that she enclosed with the gift and I have taken a pic with it. Please go visit her - you will be glad you did.

Also I have shown a piece of lace picked up at the market yesterday and 1 glove probably from a wedding. It is a longwrist length glove made out of a beautiful fabric. The other piece can be used for a Christmas stocking, cone, etc. I have more to show tomorrow.

BELLISIMA 42

2011-03-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

After I showed the dress form I bought at the flea market I had an email about a week ago and the gal asked me if I would share the directions that I had found on an auction site when they were selling one of the Acme forms.

I would be very happy to send her an attachment copy but when I tried to send it she had the "no reply to blogger" on there. I have no way to reach her unless she sees this. No web site shown either. So if you do see this please contact me with your email and I will be happy to give you what I found. It is not a lot but might help.

I do not think that I mentioned before that I am going to the CQ Great Adventure being put on in Ct. early April by Maureen Greeson assisted by Susan Elliott and I am sure many more of her friends.

Carol Kramer who lives about an hour away from me in Florida is going with me and we will be flying together and rooming together. We have roomed together in Omaha and we are both still here to tell the tale.

I have met Allie before but not Maureen, Susan and of course Sharon coming all the way from Australia. Betty Pillsbury will also be teaching and I have had classes with her before. She is an excellent teacher and if you ever get a chance to take her classes do.

We are leaving Thurs. and returning Sun. night so will just be away 3 nights.

I am also looking forward to meeting some old friends like Kathy K. and

she is coming with Gerry Krueger from Older Rose and I can't wait to meet Gerry. I just read that Helen Thorkelson will be there also. That is wonderful. I met Helen at my first Omaha retreat and she is a great gal.

Diane M. from Ontario I met in Colorado last year so it will be nice to see all these people again plus meeting new friends.

LACE FINDS

2011-02-26T18:26:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics of the lace pieces I found last week at the flea market. There are one or two doilies that are in very good condition but a lot of the other are not but for my use they are fine. I paid only 1.00 a piece or I did find two round about 8" doilies 2/1.00. They are not really fine lace but the heavier doily type. I also found one of the old crocheted tops that I assume they attached fabric to and wore as nighties. If anyone knows more about this I would be interested to know.

I should add that after a good soaking the really grungy ones now look a lot better. I have trouble putting them in my stash when they look like that.

TERRARIUM

2011-02-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

I mentioned the other day that I had purchased a terrarium from a young man at the flea market. He had them from little ones in vases or glass bowls to this large one that I bought. He only wanted 20.00 for it and I thought for the size and all the work that went into making it it was sure worth that. In the pics it doesn't look that large but I just measured it and it is 13" high and 24" in circumference. It has an aluminum lid that can be put on or left off. If you leave it off it will needed to be misted a bit more. There were at least 7 different plants that we counted in there and I think from the pics you can see how he layered it if anyone is interested in starting their own. The trouble I think would be in getting the miniature plants. There is a tiny ivy, a begonia, Irish moss, a stone and at least 3 different types of fern (including maidenhair which is one of my favorites) and a couple of others that I don't know what they are. My only problem is how to get it home or find someone down here who would keep it for 6 months. Will worry about that in May and enjoy it until then.

In one of the pics I threw a lace collar on top of it and then thought I should go through my doilys and find one that would look good over the top and it would get some air but would not dry out.

We are finally getting what you think of as Florida weather. 82 yesterday and predicting high 70's - 80's for the next week. Spring is here.

RENNINGERS EXTRAVAGANZA WEEKEND

2011-02-21T16:40:00.000-08:00

First I must say that I received a very nice email in reply to mine from my swap partner and she sent those lovely things just because she likes to do that. That was really nice of her and maybe in future I will do the same.

She has not received mine yet which surprises me because it was mailed either Tues. or Wed. am and should have been there by Sat. Hopefully tomorrow.

Well this past weekend was the Feb. Extravaganza at Renningers and I went over on Sat. I spent about 3 hours and found some nice things. I only went to my usual side and not to the antique end where you have to pay to get in. My end always has twice as many vendors on these special weekends and I can do quite well there and spend as mch money there as down the other end.

I found another silver tray for one of the walls - my daughter may use some for the same idea also - and it was in great shape. Barely needed cleaning and has a very pretty design on the ends. I also found a silver trivet set with cut glass/crystal? bottles and shakers in it. In our bathroom we have a wicker open cabinet with shelves that fit perfectly in the wall next to the shower. That is where I keep all my towels and decorations, etc. I think the trivet set will go in there with bath salts, etc. in the bottles. It was 5.00 for the tray and 10.00 for the trivet set which is a great price. I have a lovely one at home that I display on a 2 tier pie edge table in my living room. I also picked up a pair of long white kid gloves for 4.00. She had 4 gloves - 3 right hand and 1 left so I picked the best right hand and the left. She said the others were around somewhere but she didn't know where. Sonds familiar. She said they were stamped Paris inside them but I couldn't see that in either of mine. It was in one of the other right hand ones but it has brown spots on it so wasn't worth it.

I bought some pieces of lace that I have soaking in a solution right now. I will show them tomorrow night. Some of the gals said they like seeing the lace I pick up so will continue to show it.

Also bought a terrarium that I will show you one night this weekend.

Made by a young man and filled with miniature plants. I loved it.

SWAP PICS & DILEMA

2011-02-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

Linda who runs The Swaps for All Seasons ran another one for the winter. We were to make a 5 x 7 collage that was to be fabric and stitched. By either hand or machine and whatever you wanted to make for your partner. She sent me the name of the gal and I contacted her and learned a bit about her and then we made our collage.

She said she liked greens so I used a green background and sandwiched between I put a piece of burlap that I was able to unravel all the edges. I put tatting around the inside and did a picture that Pat winter had sent me to use in CQ. It was a French flower girl and I did silk embroidery on the flower in her hand and on the flowers in the basket. I added little extra bits to it and put an old lace piece and sewed it like a pocket. In the pocket I placed a small perfume bottle that I had bought awhile ago.

On the back I placed a little French saying.

The one she sent me also has a picture of a little girl on it. She has a beautiful flower on it along with lace and buttons. On the bottom she has a swag of pearl beads. She has a beautiful hanging chain on it. It is delightful and I will hang it up in my sewing room where I can look at it

and enjoy daily.

She also included in the box other gifts. One is a very pretty set with a journal, notepad and other matching things. She wrapped the journal up in a very nice scarf. She also included a candle in a tin and the scent is Vanilla Cupcake.

Now the dilema - I included nothing in mine except the collage. Linda had said at the very beginning in the rules that this time we would not include any other gifts but you could write a little note to your partner if you felt like it. She also said do not put any hanging ribbon, cord etc. on it as people would use it in different ways. Of course I followed suit. So mine went out without any hanging cord. This is only the second swap I have been in with Linda's group so I carefully followed the rules and yet I feel terrible because of all what she sent me. Okay guys what do I do now? Help?

ORCHIDS

2011-02-18T16:14:00.000-08:00

Last week our garden club went on a field trip to one of the largest orchid growers in Florida. Central Florida is the home of many types of flowers, ferns, etc. Largest growers in the country.

We went to Kerry's Bromeliads & Orchids. We spent almost 2 hours there and were given one of the best tours I have ever been on. We started with the small beginning plants all the way up to the final finished orchids ready to be shipped all over the country. It is an amazing site to see a greenhouse as large as a football field just filled with plants.

I fell in love with orchids when we started spending the winters in Florida. I used to go to the flea market and buy a bouquet of flowers every Sun. for $5.00 and they would last until maybe Fri. or if lucky Sat. then in the garbage. Well I discovered one day that an orchid once it starts to bloom can literally last for months. I bought a beautiful multi stem one with small pink flowers on it in mid Nov. and it is just about finished now. Daily I find the little dried up flowers stil hanging on to the stems. I believe I paid 5.00 for this one at one of the flea markets. I have them all over the house and out on the sun room. Many were only 3.00 or maybe 3 for 10.00.

I took a couple of pics of some of mine but did not have my camera with me that day. Another good part of the tour was they let us buy orchids and bromeliads from them that day at a very reasonable price. I don't think anyone went home empty handed.

I like to put the orchid in a larger bowl and fill in with the small bromeliads or other small plants - ferns, ivys, etc. Sometimes I will just fill around it with green moss. Looks pretty. I see from my bottom pic that I need to put some moss around this little one. I also like to buy them with only 1 or 2 flowers open as they will gradually open and give you that much more life. If giving as a gift I always buy one in almost full bloom because they look prettier.

It is very possible that the orchids that you now see in your grocery store or home store have come right from Kerry's. They deliver to all the big chains all around the country and Canada.

FAITHFUL FRED

2011-02-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

I know I am a few days late but was wondering around the house taking up any valentine items and remembered this one out on the sunroom shelf.

I picked this up at Renningers quite a while ago and the amazing thing was the man had a whole carton of them and they were birthday, valentine, easter, etc. Each one was in its own box and as I started to open them they were all from the same man - "Fred". I wish he had dated them but I have never seen these before. They were made by different companies and all the same size each in its own box 8 x 10".

The center portion is satin and they were in excellent condition. I can imagine Fred coming home with this and the Mrs. saying thank you and the next day it went into the carton with all the rest.

I only bought one as they were 5.00 each and I thought Valentine would be a good time to have one. Has any one seen these before? This one was made by Hallmark.

I received a kiss and a card from my sweetie. 51 years ago on Feb. 13th. I received my engagement ring and was married the next August. Still has happy as ever. I picked a good one.

VALENTINE GIFT

2011-02-12T16:25:00.000-08:00

I went to get the mail on Wed. and there was a parcel in the box. I hadn't ordered anything so was surprised. It was from Pam Kellogg of Kitty and Me and was just one of those nice things that we bloggers do for each other at times. When I opened it up it was one of her valentine pretties.

She and her Mom both do such beautiful work. This one is a metal heart painted in a pink/gold color and in front is a cherub face with glittered wings and a pink heart and little flowers in front. There are numerous embellishing threads hanging from it. All together enchanting.

Thank you again Pam - unexpected gifts are so special.

I have her hanging from a bottle on the shelves I put up above my computer desk. I took down a mirror that was there and put 3 shelves up this year so that I can display all the nice little things that make me happy plus I keep pens, dyes, bttons, etc. in glass containers up there also.

It makes me smile to look at all this stuff even though lately I have done more looking then using.

I must also comment for my son David that I did receive your valentine card and it was a surprise because of you going on vacation. His wife was working in London the past week so he went over to join her and they are now on a week's vacation. He is a sweet guy and never forgets.

Lace

2011-02-09T08:19:00.000-08:00

This is just a small post for my good friend Gina in Melbourne, Australia. In a note to her I said I wasn't posting all the lace I pick up because people are probably getting tired of seeing pieces of it. Unless I get something wonderful or a great stash of it I don't bother.

Well Gina said no she likes to see it all so this is what I picked up a couple of weeks ago Gina.

The crocheted top and white tatting were soaked and washed to get the grime out. The pink tatting is very pretty when not all tangled up. It needs a good wash then to be ironed but this pic just gives an idea.

Pillow Magic

2011-02-07T16:42:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I showed a few lace pieces I had picked up at the market. Two were the same and were not your usual lace pieces. I wasn't sure what I would do with them.

When I purchsed my off white couch and chair for the Florida home there were to be 2 matching pillows of the same fabric just plain. Well couch arrived wih 2 cushions that had no connection to the couch. they went back and 2 more arrived with the right fabric but a cording about 1" in size that looked like it belonged on a boat. Being really upset by this time they said don't return them just get rid of them and we will order 2 more. These arrived not in the same fabric but liveable. They had large initials in the fabric. They were pretty but by this time I had brought down some needlepoint from home and didn't need them so under the couch in plastic bags went 4 pillows. (In Florida we call under the couches, beds, etc. our Florida basements>) Well I was looking for something else I had under there and pulled out the bag with the 2 lettered cushions. I had been looking at the lace pieces and put one on and really liked it. I have one sewn down and one to go but I am still knitting scarfs that have to go in the mail this weekend and hope to get one more done this week. After that I will sew on the other one.

Here are 2 pics - one of the lace pieces and one with the lace sewed or tacked if you will onto the pillow. I like the pillows now.

BEST BARGAIN EVER

2011-02-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

Well today I almost did not go to the flea market and then around 11 I thought well I need grapefruit and bananas so will just take a quick run.

Off I go and of course I can't just buy fruit without going out to the field and walking around. They had a re-enactment going on this weekend in another part of Renningers - it is a huge property. The vendors that were there were different then the usual because they came because of that. Lots of fur pieces, rifles, old hats, etc. It is nice looking at the gals in the old hoop skirt dresses. One gal bought a beautiful fur muff for 10.00 while I was looking at things.

Well for a long time I have been wanting an old dress form just to play with. To put fancy laces on, etc. I saw this one and walked over and looked at it. It was made all in pieces that were adjustable and this had a label Acme Adjustable Dress Form, Brookly, NY size B. It is all worked by nuts and bolts inside and looked pretty old but in very good condition.

She had 35.00 on it and I told her I would think about it and I did and on the way back I stopped and we settled on 30.00. It has an iron base and it is adjustable so the body can come right down to the floor for carrying and then up to whatever size height you want it.

I put it out in the garage and took a couple of pics and then thought it would be really nice if I could find a booklet that tells you how to adjust it. I went to Google and it brought up other Acme ones for sale and I almost fainted. There were some on etsy and some on ebay and they ranged in price from 164.00 to 299.00 and they didn't look as good as this one. The label on mine is still there and there are no tears or rips.

To think that I almost didn't buy it. I see them on people's blogs all dressed up and you have no idea what condition they are in or what kind.

I did find out from Google that they were made by a co. named L&M and were from the early 1900's to when they ended in 1950. I was lucky enough to find one at an auction site that actually gave instructions for how to adjust it and what all the things were for - neck, bust, body length, etc. I printed it out and when we have a free day (Mr. and me) I will try and adjust it down to the first size so all pieces touch.

I did get the fruit and was home in an hour. Not the nicest weekend as we had rain yesterday afternoon and dark and gloomy this afternoon. It started to rain just as I was getting into the van. This weekend is the Arts Festival in Mt. Dora where they expect a crowd of between 250 and 300,000 people. I don't go anymore as it is just too jammed for me. I feel bad for the artists who come from all over the country for this and then to get bad weather.

Flea Market

2011-02-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of Feb. and also the first day to file your income taxes with the IRS/AARP volunteers at the library. Harv left at noon today and will be home when finished. the library is open until 8 Tues. but he should be home 6.30 or 7. Tomorrow is a regular day and he starts at 9 until 5 ish. depending on the crowd. This is a wonderful free service with very well trained volunteers who know what they are doing. It is available to seniors or low income persons.

I went on sunday to my regular Renningers flea market and had a good morning. It was sunny and nice and a pleasure just to walk around and talk to people. They are all so friendly at the markets. I picked up my usual few pieces of lace, doiles, etc. which I don't even photograph anymore. You are probably tired of seeing them unless it is something extraordinary. I did find a few things I was happy with and took some pics.

I believe I told you that I am starting to look for paint for our bedroom and bathroom and hae settled on a smoky - hazy very light turquoise. Don't think turqoise but it is not blue either. I found this picture on my last row and was almost out of there when I saw it. I knew the color would look great in eiher room and asked how much. She said I have 10. on it but you can have it for 8. She also had a white flower swag that I can use almost anywhere and she wanted 3. for it. Sometimes prices on things don't make sense. An oil painting that was professionally framed in a pretty frame 8. only and a few flowers 3. I bought both and was happy. Makes you wonder sometimes.

I also picked up a couple of pieces of silver. A small heart shaped dish for 1.00 that cleaned up beautifully and will have pink candy in it when I get to the store. Also a very small ladle for sauces, etc. It was in excellent condition and I did give it a wipe but did not even need cleaning. 3.00 for it. I have a larger one with my own silver but I liked the small size of this one.

I also bought a can about 1/4 full of keys. He said 3.00 for the tin or 1.00 each key. I was confused and meant you are selling the can without the keys and he said no the can with all the keys for 3.00. Keys alone 1.00. You would be crazy to just buy 1 or 2 keys. I bought it and I now have a nice old tin with 12 skeleton keys of various sizes and shapes, about 10 or so really small keys and a big handul of assorted keys. Some with really nice engraving on them. I am always seeing them used on the web whether I will use them is another story. Hopefully some of them.

Also a pice of sheer embroidered fabric that was in a basket marked tablecloths 2.00 each. It actually is yardage and about 3 yards long. Ends never finished so it came home with me also. You never know what is going to follow me home.

Looking again at the picture now posted the color I am going to paint is that very soft, hazy color at the top of the painting.

2011-01-31T16:05:00.000-08:00

Well the middle of the block with the fairy is now completed. Good, bad or whatever I am so glad to get it done and the triangles sewn on. I followed the advice of you gals and removed all the beads from the wings and then just let them stand on their own. I added a pretty cabochon at the top for some glow above the fairy. I took out some of the silk ribbon leaves that I felt were too dark and replaced them with a lighter med. green. I added more glass leaves of various colors and more silk ribbon.

I outlined her picture with tatting and then used a fine black velvet cord to set it off. The tatting was a little heavier then I would have used if I had been home where my tatting stash resides. I just couldn't wait until I got home or I would never get it done in the summer. The question now is what do I use to outline the triangle squares against the black fabric. Some type of cording is what I am thinking. I do not have a great choice around me here and probably have a bunch of different things at home that would work. It will be hand tacked down so could be added later. I will now start on cutting the sashing pieces and attaching the other 12 blocks. If I get the top completely put together here I will be happy.

I just noticed that the 2 bottom triangles each have a bare black square in them. I can't remember what I was putting in there but when I get it all put together I have a bag of goodies that I will be adding at that time to all the quilt squares where needed.

SILVER

2011-01-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

I have been working on the middle part of the wallhanging and am finally finished except for adding trim around the triangle block edging. I did make changes on the fairy as many suggested. I removed all the beads from the wings and with them being dark I just left them to stand on their own. I added more beads and a bit more silk ribbon. I framed it with tatting and then a very narrow black velvet edging over that and I am satisfied. I feel like a big load has been lifted off me just getting it all put together. The triangles went on well and when I press it today or tomorrow I will snap some pics.

Today I have some pics of silver trays I bought from the Thurs. flea market where we go for the food market. This wasn't the past Thurs. but the one before. This Thurs. was too cold. Low 50's in the morning plus I still had a lot of fruit, etc. There was a dealer who had boxes - literally boxes - all full of silver trays, and assorted pieces. All very badly in need of cleaning. I had seen in a magazine where they had used silver trays on the wall as decorations and I am wanting to re-decorate my bathroom here where I have one large wall. I had been looking for varios small to medium mirrors to make a wall of mirrors but have only found 2 in my scrounging. I then thought of mixing the mirrors with some silver trays plus I am giving some to my daughter if she wants them for decorating.

Diane Knotts of Dianes Musings was re-doing her bathroom and she showed where she used some silver pieces going down a wall and it looks great. So maybe my mixture will work.

I spent a good part of last week cleaning trays. I have the fingernails to show for it.
I cannot wear gloves to do stuff like that. Hard enough with bare hands. Most came up very good. The man told me all that silver came out of one house. They were of various makes and one was marked Birks which my Canadian friends will recognize as a leading Canadian jewellery store - at least in my day in Toronto. Another surprise were two identical trays - exact design but made by two different silver companies. One by Oneida
and the other by Wm.A. Rogers but the same pattern all around. One was not a tray but a hot pad for the table. It was marked made in England. I now have it sitting under a little cloche on the front door table with a bird and some dried orchid petals.

Tomorrow morning I will run over to Renningers because I need grapefruit, bananas, etc. so will see what else I unearth. One never knows.

Knitting

2011-01-25T16:48:00.000-08:00

I think my title just posted itself. This will be a short and maybe not sweet post about the scarfs I am making for the special Olympics.

Here are pics of the 2 different styles I have been making. One lacy looking for the females and a ribbed one for the fellas. It does not matter what pattern you either knit or crochet as long as they are of the 2 colors.

I just went and read today that Minnesota only has received 99 and they need 1000. I am hoping a lot of people are knitting but have not sent them in like myself. I am working on #6 now and hope to get about 10 or more done by Feb. 11th. which is when I have to send them in for the Feb. 18th. deadline.

I must inquire when they decide on the colors for next year and can get started early and really make a contribution. Also will advertise it on this blog and maybe more will want to contribute.

Knitting

2011-01-25T16:47:00.003-08:00

Knitting

2011-01-25T16:47:00.001-08:00

2011-01-24T18:32:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last week trying to sort out the space in this house. Even though we are only here 6 months of the year we (or Me) still manage to fill it to the brim. I have never thought of not having a basement or storage area of any kind until we moved to Florida. They do not put hall cupboards in because you don't have heavy clothes, coats, etc. at least until the weather has been so bad the last couple of years. We have 2 bedrooms and a den. The one bedroom is ours, the den is filled with Harv's desk and computer equipment plus a TV and a pullout sofa that I swear no one ever sits on. I have never in 10 years sat and watched TV on it. The other bedroom is the guest room and my sewing room where we installed the wall unit with the Murphy bed and cupboards on both sides. I have those cupboards filled with all my cq works, ribbons, beads, buttons, etc. Plus fabric I will probably never use. I still have a lot of fabric left from my heirlom sewing days.

I also love to decorate the house for holidays so have boxes of Valentine, Easter, Halloween and Christmas decorations that I have purchased or found at the flea markets down here. I actually had a man come in and add extra wire shelves to our walk-in closet because with the 9 foot plus ceilings there was room going to waste. I now use that for all the decorations, quilts, etc. things I don't use every day. I have been trying to weed out stuff and generally clean up to get the best use of the space we have.

We did go to the flea market last Thurs. over at Eustis and bought a bunch of silver trays from a fella and have spent part of the time cleaning them. They were all good quality, heavy silver. That is the difference in what you buy today and the old stuff. I can always tell by the weight. My daughter is going to use some of them as wall decoration in their new house. They bought another home in their same area with all the boys schools being the same. Just about a mile from her other one. They closed today and are now the proud owners of 2 houses. It has only been listed since early Jan. and they have had quite a few lookers already. Time will tell. Down here in Florida if you have to sell you will be lucky to get what you paid for it 10 years ago. One gal has had hers on the market for 6 months and not one looker. A beautiful home too. Very discouraging. Glad we are not going anywhere - at least we hope not. I have not seen this new home but it sounds beautiful and I will be anxious to see it in May. Hopefully with them all installed and the other sold.

Hopefully I will be back with some pics tomorrow. I will show some of the scarfs I have made.

BEST MOVIE & MORE MARKET

2011-01-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

Harv and I went to the movies today to see The King's Speech. Absolutely brilliant. The acting of Colin Firth and the Aussie Speech Teacher were brilliant. After seeing it I could not imagine anyone else in the role but Colin Firth and equal for his teacher. If you can get to see it don't miss it. We had stopped going to the theatre when Harv went into the chair due to the handicapped situation where they put you down front in the first row area. By the time you came out you had vertigo, ringing in the ears from the noise and a stiff neck. We gave up going. Well with the new theatres now they have moved you up about a dozen rows and is much better. I would also like to see The Rabbit Hole and the other Aussie picture about a gangster family and it is based in Melbourne. Can't think of the name. Melbourne is my favorite Aussie city and would be fun to look back and see what we might remember.

I have a few more things from the flea market to show you tonight. Nothing as exciting as the fan to me.

I picked up 5 pieces of lace for $1.00 each. The first round one has a beautiful lace edging that I can remove and use. The next was a pile of hankies and I paid 3/1.00 from a jumble box. Including the Belgian lace one still in the packet. A Valentine hankie was really cute and it was 2.00. I need to buy some biz and soak a couple of them.

The next one was the other 4 pieces of lace. 2 round ecru ones and then 2 white crocheted ones that are longer then the picture shows. The little doll head was made into a hanging piece with a hook at the back in her hair. I paid 3.50 for her but she was different. You usually see a whole head. Whether she was made this way or cut in half I have no idea. She just tickled my fancy. Probably would not wear her but great for a collage which I want to start playing around with once this quilt is done.

GREAT WEEKEND AT THE MARKET

2011-01-17T15:16:00.001-08:00

Between knitting scarfs at night and looking at what I will do with the fairy pic for the middle of the quilt I needed something to take my mind off it. This weekend was the Extravaganza weekend at Renningers flea market. This happens 3 times a year and draws both many vendors and many buyers. Except word from many of the vendors I know is that people are not spending money like they used to.

I went over Sat. morning and only stayed a couple of hours. I only did about 1/2 of the flea market side. I decided to come home for lunch and go back Sun. earlier. I only live 5 minutes away from there. The weather both days was not very good. I felt sorry for the ones who had to be there from very early setting up and then just standing around waiting for buyers. I had gloves on it was that cold.

I did buy some really nice things but the very first thing I bought is probably, to me, one of the best things ever. It was a crazy quilt fan finished with lace about 3" wide all around it and finished off with a 2 color bow on the bottom. It is all silk and in excellent condition. I don't think it was ever displayed. On the back was a little scrap of faded paper pinned to the lining that said "Emma from Mother". I wish she had dated it. Good thing for us all to remember to date and sign our items we make. I paid 16.00 for the fan.

I will show you today a few of the things I bought. First the fan I just talked about.
Next was a beautiful old bowl with a cranberry band around the top. I collect Fostoria American glass and the cutting on the balance of the bowl is identical. I don't know if they ever added color to any of their prodcts. I must get a book from the library and check it out. I really had to scrub it as it had a lot of dirt accumulated in each little diamond cut and I soaked it for a couple of hours then brushed it and scrubbed it. I thought I got it clean but when I took the pic today I could still see just a bit. Needs doing again. I put it up on the bakers rack in my dinette area as I have a few small pieces of cranberry glass I have collected over the years. I love the ones that are etched with names, dates, etc. One I have says Vernie and another says State Fair Tampa 1906 Daisy to Mother. I think they were a popular souvenier. I paid 12.00 for the bowl.

Next was a pair of large candle holders made to look like Mercury glass. There are 2 sizes and they were from Target. They were 24.99 and 14.99 - 40.00 for both. I paid 12.00 for both of these. They look like they have never been used.

I have much more to show but thats it for today. I have to get back to tv and knitting.
I see I posted one pic twice. Just skip on over it.

HELP

2011-01-13T12:11:00.000-08:00

I finally took some pics in the sunroom this afternoon and they turned out better then the ones taken in the house last night. I am not very happy with what I have done with the lady and am not sure why. The wings were dark so I outlined and filled in a bit with these which are a golden brown. Are they too dark? I cut the motif in half as I felt it was too large and repositioned the smaller half to the top. I did some embroidery on some of the stems and added silk ribbon leaves on a few in different colors following the colors of the pic. Down in the right bottom corner I did not know what to do with it so started in filling it with glass leaves in a brown tone because this area was very dark brown uner the leaves. I added some lighter ones and a little clump at the bottom to see some sparkle. I will say the pictures do not do justice to the beads. They do not show up as much as they do in person.

Please give me your honest opinions on this. I really do not know what to do with it. It is only pinned there as are the triangles. I will attach the pic with steam a seam and then will have to do some edging around it. Some suggestions for an edging? Also around the diamond shape of the triangle I have to do something or put something there. A small trim? Any suggestions on that and what color.

The top and bottom only pics I took last night inside so may not be as clear as outside in the good light.

I almost hate to show it that is how dissatisfied I am with it.

Please give me your honest answers and any suggestions from starting over to what would you do.

Blogger has again turned the fist 2 pics even though they showed upright on the desk top.
I need help with this also.

Bits and Pieces Day

2011-01-11T16:59:00.001-08:00

Not much doing around here today. Yesterday Harv went for his 1st day of review classes for his IRS/AARP volunteer tax duties at our local library. When he was there they presented him with his 10 year volunteer pin. Time flies when you are having fun. He had to go back this morning but was finished by noon. They have to review all the new laws every year and especially for 2010 with all the foreclosure type stuff and medical changes. He works 2 days a week and has a following. Apparently people come back year after year and ask for him but it doesn't work that way. They have to make appts. and whoever is available when their turn comes that is who they get. I am proud of my guy.

I was meandering through blogs and someone had pointed out a chandelier and I went to have a look. For $54,396.00 you too can order one of these. It consists of 30 hanging pendants of various hand blown glass. It looked beautiful but you would need a very large room for it. MaryAnne and my other Canadian friends will be happy to hear that they deliver to Canada. Go here to have a look: http://www.lightingdirect.com/fine-art-717340-transitional-thirty-light-pendant-from-the-scheherazade-collection/p410686?source=spg_410686&aid=138668848 if you would like to see it. You will need to copy and paste if interested. That price was more then our first home in Toronto many years ago.

I am still knitting at night but have started on the middle piece of my wall hanging. I will take a pic tomorrow and see what we think. I am not too excited about it but have run out of ideas. Maybe I "need a little help from my friends".

The pic today is from when I first started looking at it. Tomorrow you will see what I have done.

Diane Knott

2011-01-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

I ordered a beatiful little bag from Diane's etsy shop and it arrived a few days ago. When you order something from her Etsy it never comes alone. First it is wrapped very nicely. This one was wrapped in old pattern tissue and tied with raffia and a lovely button to top it off.

When I opened it there was the bag and along with that was a lovely tag that Diane had written a thank you note on the back of it. Along with this was a small pack of 3 neat little gift tags that I can use when I give a gift. There was also a pack of recipe cards that Diane had created. We can all use recipe cards for those new holiday items that we tasted and asked for the recipes. Come to think of it I must ask one gal again because she made us a really scrumptious sweet bread confection and said it was very easy. That is for me.

This is why I enjoy ordering from Etsy and am doing it more and more these days. Most of these gals put heir heart into what they do and it sure shows.

Also where are all those old patterns that we gave away or threw away thinking I will never make this again. Sure could have used that tissue for wrapping.

Thanks again Diane for the great bag and gifts.

FRINGE SCISSORS

2011-01-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas I saw advertised on line at Hobby Lobby a pair of what are called fringe scissors. They were 50% off and low shipping so I told Santa I would like a pair. If I remember right they were only around 7.99 on sale. I thought they would be interesting for paper crafting, etc. I did not even know such a thing existed. Maybe someone else doesn't know about these either so I have taken a couple of pics. They are made for paper and do not cut fabric.

I fringed both sides of a piece of a crepe paper roll and then just cut various lengths on an envelope to just give an idea. Cuts paper well.

UNEXPECTED GIFT

2011-01-05T16:59:00.000-08:00

I received this card last week from my dear friend Pat Winter. The Christmas card is so like Pat with her passion for walking the beach and picking up pieces of sea glass. Pat also included inside the card 2 of her lovely prints and 3 different packages of her hand dyed ribbons that would work with either card. When you look at the ribbon colors you see Pat. She always does stuff so nice like she has with the ribbon. Note they are tied to small tags that she has cut out by hand. Always that extra little touch.

Nothing much doing here today. Changed the bed and washed right down to the mattress pad and pillow covers. New year must have everything clean and nice. I am going to read a few blogs then plop down in front of the tv and get on with my knitting.

SCARFES FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS

2011-01-04T18:47:00.000-08:00

Not much new around here today. Everyone just getting over Christmas and slowing down.

Yesterday was our first garden club meeting of the month and we visited a grower named Agri Starts. I found out that there is a lot more to growing our plants before we see them in Home Depot, Lowes, garden centers, etc. This is the place that starts them from a single root and develops them until they are very tiny potted plants with around 100 to a tray. They are then shipped to growers who plant them in containers and let them grow for another year or two before they are ready to be sold to us. This company ships to all over the US. Canada and Bermuda. It was very interesting. It is only a couple of miles from us but I had never heard of it. Apopka and other parts of central Florida re the largest growers of ferns, orchids, bromeliads and many more in the whole US. Next month we are going to an orchid growers that I have been to before but it is also a good chance to buy orchids very reasonably.

After we went to a restaurant that is fairly new and usually closed on Mondays. She opened for us with a great menu and a total lunch including beverage, dessert and tip and taxes for $12.00. It was a great bargain. I had chicken salad on a croissant with a side of fruit salad, coffee and home made coconut cream pie that is baked by her Mother who was there helping her. The amazing thing was they went up to North Carolina for christmas and expected to be back early but couldn't get out and home until Sun. afternoon. They really must have worked extra hard to get us all fed.

I am showing the first scarf I have finished and I am now on the second one. The first was quite lacey so decided to do another pattern more masculine. I hope to get maybe 6 made before they have to go off in Feb. I haven't been knitting much and it feels good. I don't have to think which helps. I have a few ends to sew in but will do that when they are all finished.

JANUARY 2, 2011

2011-01-02T16:46:00.003-08:00

We had only one disappointment this past season and that is Harv's new wheelchair arrived
but was damaged. It came with the box top completely open and all the parts out of the bags and the bags and parts just stuffed down in the box. I happened to see it and ran out and caught the gal delivering and she said she didn't see it open. Well a blind man could see it open. I just wanted her to come back and look at it and she did. I wanted to make sure someone other then us knew how it arrived. They apparently dropped it and the box opened up and out flew the chair and parts. The right wheel was heading sideways plus scratched, etc. This doesn't sound like a big deal but when you are in a wheelchair all the time they are custom made to fit your body. Seat size, leg height, etc.

Harv started the process last spring when we arrived home. It takes weeks for the paperworks to go through Medicare and then our secondary insurance. After that he has to go down to the Rehab Inst. of Chicago to be measured, fitted, etc. Also he tells them how he wants the breaks to work, wheels removeable or not, etc. After this the chair is ordered through a medical supply house. Well he was told he would have it before we left in Oct. Well we didn't leave until Nov. and it still wasn't ready for him. They had not ordered right and some new parts had to be ordered in. So after about 7 months it arrived in that condition. This wheelchair runs in the 4500.00 range and it is not a power chair. We only have to pay a portion of that.

Well the story is they are starting over and have ordered him a new chair. It will probably not be done until we arrive home in May or later.

I don't understand that when this happened UPS at least should have taped the box up again and then marked it that it had been opened. I have had this happen before with a box of clothes that had conveyor belt marks all over them. Box split and they picked it all up grease and all and threw it back and retaped it. They did reimbrse me for what was damaged.

This is more for the family's info but it feels good to rant a bit about it. Is nothing done right anymore? I should have taken a pic of the chair and I could have shown you.
Didn't think about it at the time.