Needle work Day

Well, here is what I have been wanting to do for so long, but since being down with the flu, haven’t been able to finish. However this Sunday I felt great and here is what I did!

First is a cutter’s quilt bird.

Then a couple of cats to go with Bob the cat I made at Miss Wilma’s.

I found an amazing idea for using crayons to shade embroidery so I did this scene that I’ll put into a pillow.

Then the following Christmas ornaments followed.

I had such fun! I also have a picture of the pillowcases I did for a swap, but I haven’t mailed them out yet, so I’ll wait until later this week to post that picture. I am going to go through my children’s book collection from the 30’s – 60’s and recreate some images to frame. I love old children’s illustrations. The innocents and sweetness is so missing from our lives these days. If I have to look at one more Bratz doll, I’ll puke! That’s the bar we set for our little girls now? Not at this house! My girls didn’t have Barbie dolls! I made Waldorf inspired dolls and Jenny dolls to dress up. Ok, didn’t mean to get on an old soapbox! 

Cheers!

I love November!

How lame am I? I have such great intentions to regularly write and you know what they say about good intentions! Anyhoo, I do intend to write more. So, I love impending winter! The dark hours and cold temps! That is probably why my house stays ice cold even in the summer! Oh, wait, that’s my age!

I have dreaded the holidays in the past… too much cleaning, cooking, money we don’t have being spent on food. I felt like the Martha Stewart of the family. I loved it once upon a time, but then it became routine. We changed it up several years ago by doing a picnic and then going to a neighbors house. We have gone to a great family style restaurant out of town. And then last year when I was mooing about not wanting to cater Thanksgiving again, I ended up in the hospital Wed. before and stayed there 5 days. No one had Thanksgiving. To be fair, my older 2 kids went off to boyfriend and girlfriends homes for turkey. Poor youngest DD. Nothing. SO, this year I am excited to put on my apron and pull out the cookbooks and cook up a feast! I’m thinking of using apples as table decor with some whittled out for candles. I am thinking nut cups to dessert wine! All on a tightwad budget. There in lies the challenge. But I do it everyday! Therefore, watch out Martha! Miss Dana’s back!

Cheers!

Miss Wilma’s!

My, oh my what an incredible weekend I just had! I spent the weekend in Knob Lick, Kentucky with a bunch of Farmgirls and my DD#1. The drive was beautiful and we picked up some new friends in Chattanooga to make the trip complete! Once at Miss Wilma’s it was food, laughter and crafts! I don’t believe DD#1 and I went to bed before 3am each night and were up early each day. 

Here is the birdhouse I made

I also have a number of other creations to show when I take more pictures!

Now I’m getting the house back in order and cooking for the week. I make Apple buckle using fresh picked apples tonight. Just needed vanilla ice cream – not the chocolate we have in the freezer!

Just need to catch my breath from the whirlwind of Kentucky!

More to come!

Cheers!

Ready for Fall!

Oh, how I love fall! I am outside from early morning until the light is gone for the day! I have been working on acorn fairies for our nature tree and will take some pictures tomorrow to show. We put a branch over the kitchen table and will keep it up for the year. We used to have a small nature tree when the kids were small complete with a Mother Earth doll. I wanted to bring back the  feel of those days but in a larger way. You’ll see tomorrow!

I’m also going to begin a monthly Bake a Cake Day along with a farmgirl sister from MaryJane’s Farm Connection. More on MJF later. I am also planning on a weekly entry on Tea, Making Ends Meet, and Cleaning from Scratch. I’ll have recipes and patterns for all of the above.

Why you ask? I have 2 friends that have challenged me to share how I have run a house, raised 3 kids, home schooled them and all on one income in an affluent suburb. We were eating “slow food”, using “green” cleaners and practicing “simple living” for 26 years. Who knew? I just thought we were living on the edge and had to find a way to make ends meet. So, now I’m part of a “movement”! How funny!

Well, off to finish a mop cover. Pattern to come. 

Cheers!

A lovely day!

It is a moist day here in Atlanta today. I love rainy days! It’s the Irish in me I guess. 

I’ve been talking to a friend quite a bit about treadle sewing machines. They are THE BEST for using on quilts! She has been searching and just this week a lovely old gal came into her life! Someone’s grandmother or aunt sat at that lovely machine and treadled away sewing for her family. I love the idea of sitting down and working on history. And that it still gives what it was made  to do. I would love a treadle machine for my quilting! 

It has made me realize I am grateful for being able to “do what I was made to do”! Raising my children myself, cooking, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, tatting, baking bread every week… all old-fashioned things like the treadle machine. Yet, just as important today as it was 100 years ago! 

Speaking of baking – must dash! A loaf of italian bread is done!!

Cheers!

August Work!

What a busy time August is here at the old homestead! DD#1 went back to school and DD#2 had her 14th birthday! DD#1 moved into an apartment on campus so it was so much more to move. But she is settled and classes have started.

 

DD#2 had a Japanese anime party where the girls came dressed as their favorite character OR favorite character from a computer game. What a great bunch of girls! Anyway, here are a couple of pictures.

I must add that we have birthday cake in bed each year. It is made of Krispy Kreme donuts. Sugar rush indeed!

Birthday girl in Rena costume. Note the bloody knife. Don’t ask.

Both girls.

Can’t believe my kids are so grown up! I now have a 26 year old, a 20 year old and now a 14 year old. That must mean I’m also getting old. Nah, I’ll just stay in denial about that issue!

 

Cheers!

Tea Kit

DD#1 brought me two tea kits from the train trip in India. How cute it that? How lovely would it be to have tea kits given out while traveling? 

I

I’m going to make myself a “tea kit” to carry in my purse and one for my knitting bag! Maybe I’ll get creative and alter an Altoid tin and use it. I do like stevia in my tea, but I think I can fit my stevia tablets in a tin. Oh, I’m so excited at the idea of a new project!

I have been stewing over making handkerchiefs and having a difficult time hemming the edges. Hate the quarter inch turned edge sewn by hand or machine. I am working on hand rolling the edge of the last one. I like the look, but what a pain. I must not be doing something right. I’ll either search the web for directions or go through the books I have….. I think the web is quicker!

I did want to get a picture of my great Aunt Mary’s gypsy girl napkin holder. I am feeling very nostalgic these days and pulled her out. I remember her on my Aunt Mary’s table. Ah, life goes by at the speed of light!

Next on my list is to find some aprons. I wish I had some of my mother-in-laws aprons. She would pack one when ever she visited us. I was puzzled at first thinking my house must not be as clean as she liked! Then I found that she always liked to be busy and after raising 4 boys (my DH is the baby) she liked to just jump in and help. I had 2 kids while she was alive and it was always wonderful to have an extra pair of hands. She was planning on coming to help when our third baby came but sadly she passed before my DD#2 was born. I will always pack an apron when visiting my kids!

cheers!

Tea in India

Well, DD#1 is back from her trip to India. Lot’s of scary tales of cars running over her foot, to an incident concerning her head, a rock and a rock slide. However, not counting the bronchitis she came home with, she did bring back wonderful stories of people and places and “eatables”.

She took me via my “Flat self” along. Here I am in the Himalayas.

Here is an interesting advertisement for Lipton.

Yeah, and there are way too many monkeys in the northern part of India!

My card reader is missing in action or I would post a picture of the Tea Kit they give out on the trains. How lovely is that? 

Anyhoo, the house is still in post travel chaos, but slowly laundry is being washed and put away. There is only 4 weeks until moving back to college. Wow, the summer is flying past!

Cheers!

Knitted Pot Sock

Here is my pattern for a Pot Sock. I use cast iron pans so this is a useful item in my kitchen! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POT SOCK

 

Small amounts of cotton kitchen yarn

With 2 strands held together –

Chain 17,

Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across – 16 sc, chain 1, turn

Next 14 rows ; sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn, fasten off.

Sc along one narrow edge.

Fold piece in half lengthwise, and working through both thicknesses, sc along side edge, other narrow edge, and other side edge, working 3 sc in corners. Fasten off. I turn the top down as a cuff. If you want a loop to hang it with - 

Chain 14, fasten off. Sew to lower edge for a hanging loop.

 Enjoy!

 

Hello old friends!

Yes, it’s been awhile. Computers! Arg!

Anyhoo, I have pictures to share. Let’s start with the oldest.

Our tea with neighbors.

It was a lovely Blue Willow day.

Next are two of my dollar store finds! I need a bag for every project or they get lost. I found these in several “Bikini Bottom” prints and solids. Now, almost all summer projects have a bag!

I’ll insert a cool flower that bloomed. DD#1 received these flowers from the “best boyfriend in the world” before heading off to India. This one “artichoke” looking thing didn’t open until 2 weeks after she left. Very Star Trek looking.

Now for the Pot Sock I did. I have several cast iron pans and needed a hot pad for the handles. I made these and will post the pattern for it in a day or two. Very quick with double stranded kitchen cotton. 

And lastly, I made a felted wine bag. What a fun project. I think I’ll sell these around town. I used Patons SWS yarn which is wool and soy. One ball. 

Here it is before felting.

And after the washing machine magic!

 

 

I loved the stripes! I blocked it with a 1-liter soda bottle. Boy, felt is fun!

Ok, that’s it for now. I have more tea menus to post as well as some knit patterns. I’ll get to work on those now!

Cheers!