Shabby Swap

One of the gals on my shabby cottage list knew I was interested in learning silk ribbon embroidery and suggested that we do a swap. It turns out that we are both crazy quilters and she wanted some fibers for her stash of stuff so we sent each other an envelope of goodies and I am so excited to have gotten lots of ribbons to play with and cute little buttons and yo yo's that she had made and well just a crazy quilter's delight. Here is a photo of the stuff she sent me. Thanks so much Melissa of the Cottage Rose.

Now I have to get busy and use some of the goodies she sent. I just ordered a beginners guide to silk ribbon embroidery from Amazon along with a book on left handed embroidery. I am getting a lot of money invested in this lastest hobby of mine but I don't really have a lot to show for my investment yet! Oh did I mention that I spent another $50 at joggles this week on silk threads and stuff I'm sure I'll need and I plan to enroll in the encrusted embroidery class that starts in October. I have a birthday coming up in September so I'll use some birthday money for that indulgence.

Favorite Things

Well Molly has been gone for a week, last year at this time she was checking in daily with a report. This year she has a boyfriend with whom she checks in with daily, I get no report. So, I have eaten everything in site during the past week as I adjust again to the empty nest. I really need to get a new plan for next week! I have been keeping myself busy up until tonight and now I am just really restless and bored. So I am entertaining myself reading blogs and thinking about stuff….

So how about a list of some of my favorite stuff: I love quilts, here is a stack of some of my favorite vintage quilts. Dishes…..I like to eat off pretty dishes and I have a few sets of them as well as some odd ones that make me feel good. I like my front porch. I like to sit on my front porch and enjoy watching people go by, I enjoy watching the kids practice soccer or baseball on the athletic fields across the street and I enjoy my gardens in the summer although as I am getting older they are becoming harder to take care of. My gardens may not make my “favorites” list in a few more years.

What are your favorite “things” that bring you enjoyment?

Back to College

Why does one kid need so much “stuff”? We moved Molly back to college on Sunday. Two vehicles were not enough to get all her “stuff” transported. Lucky for me, her boyfriend volunteered to bring a truck and help us out. He was a big help and did all the heavy lifting!

We had about 2 hours to start unpacking before Amy, her roommate got there with all her stuff….I think she brought as much as Molly did so between the two of them, they should have everything they will possibly need. We did need another $50 trip to Walmart and then I called it a day.

Meg wanted to come home and get ready for her move to her college tomorrow. Her dad will be here in the morning to help her. So, after she leaves I’ll be cleaning and then doing whatever I want for the next month until Al comes back from Alaska. I am looking forward to the time for just me!

I’ll post my projects and progress…

Needle Book

Last weekend I made this needle book out of a cutter quilt I had in the basement. I like the way it turned out and it sure is convenient to have my needles handy when I want to stitch.

Today I discovered that the out of the way somewhat local fabric store has a very good supply of pretty cotten fabrics and I even noticed some satins and a few other interesting fabrics in there as well.

I purchased a few more fabrics that I think will work with the new project I am working on.

Crazy Quilting

I needed a new hobby so that I can play with my crafty friends twice a month. We take the crafts we are working on and have an evening of fun working on our projects and enjoying each others artistic endeavors. I decided on crazy quilting. I got the idea when I accidently stumbled on a beautiful crazy quilt square on the internet and then I joined a yahoo group for newbie crazy quilters and the rest is history!

My first project was a cell phone case. I am attaching photos of the front and back of it.

Estate Sale

Today I decided to do something for me and I sat at an estate sale all day. I had a great time watching the wordly goods of one of the town's citizens being auctioned off and dispersed throughout the community.

I purchased a few things that completely delighted me....the first thing I purchased was a funeral basket and if I haddn't bought another thing the rest of the day I would have gone home happy. But I can't just sit there all day and not bid on a few things to keep me awake. So I came home with a lovely chenille bedspread, an ironstone pitcher, a shabby chic creamy colored tray and a pretty oval dish with roses on it. I got a few more things that came with the stuff I really wanted and then called it a day at about 3 p.m. I managed to only spend $32 and had at least that much fun. I thought I'd come home and be productive but I washed everything and then lost all ambition.

Here is a photo of todays treasures!

Memorial Day

Hi,
It's Memorial Day 2007 and the weather is perfect! Warm and breezy. Yesterday I spent the day hosing off the porch and getting it ready to enjoy on lazy afternoons while reading a book, etc.

Speaking of books, my book club is reading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice this month and I have barely begun to read! I need to take my book out on the porch and get reading!

This morning I went to the Memorial Day service at the MACC. It is nice that they have it there because they finally have a decent sound system and are able to have a better program because of it. This afternoon I caught up on my sleep! I'm feeling a bit guilty about that, but I have been up late the last two nights....till 3 a.m. with Molly Friday night and till 1 a.m. talking with Megan last night. So now I think I am rested and am ready to tackle the rest of the week!

Happy Easter

Today was Easter. Molly and I went to church and Sunday School. Megan came for lunch and since Al is in Alaska there were just three of us. We had ham and all of Molly’s favorites. One of my Easter favorites is pickeled eggs. After lunch today the girls turned a movie on and I watched with them and we all fell asleep….even the dogs. I guess that doesn’t say much for the movie we watched. So anyhow, we had a relaxing day!

The Easter bunny brought me a basket when she hopped home from school. This morning the Easter bunny had a basket for Molly. Tomorrow we are shopping since I suggested to Al that since he will be missing Easter and our anniversary he might want to just send cash! So we will spend the day playing!

Hyacinths

Yesterday was a beautiful day and I had a dentist appointment so instead of playing in the gardens I did some shopping after my appointment. One of the things I bought was a beautiful hyacinth. I love the fragrance of hyacinths. It reminds me of Easter since those are the Easter flowers I grew up with…and of course Easter reminds me of chocolate and that is a good thing too.

My plant is sitting on the table next to my chair and the fragrance fills the room. I love the promise of spring as everything becomes new again.

So for this week my favorite flower is a hyacinth. I am looking forward to going to church on Easter because the church will smell like hyacinths, tulips and lilies.

Here is a photo of my hyacinth. I will plant it outside after it dies and next year it will be part of the garden.

Dining Room Project

I have been working on upgrading my dining room for the last couple weeks. The photos are the "before" and "after" shots. I am having problems photographing the dark walls in natural sunlight and it isn't working with a flash either....so it actually looks better than the photograph. Anyhow, I painted the walls… it took about 4 coats of paint to go from white walls to dark rose. I also changed the curtains and had Al build me a couple cornices and then I took down the country look and put up sheers. I need a new tablecloth yet and a few more things to hang on the wall and perhaps some plates or some tall vases on top of the hutch. I’ll be looking for accessories come yard sale season!

I really like the new look and have learned from the project. The next time I paint a room I will take the following into consideration:

1. When painting a very dark color over a very light color…prime the walls first!

2. Don’t be afraid to try something daring…it’s only paint!!

3. Do not let a husband with no sense of design try to talk you out of what you are feeling!

4. Don’t panic or second guess yourself after only one wall is painted.

5. Nothing is ever inexpensive!... A painting project is never JUST a painting project. Remember you will need new curtains, prints for the walls, and other accessories. Ok, I think I knew that.