3 Kitties and a Mad Lamb :D

Recently, I found a set of five embroidered blocks at a flea market (the fifth is the same kitty close up but in the wash).  I thought it would be fun to scan the blocks and use the photos to make some home made cards.  Don't you think that Nurse Kitty would make an adorable "Get Well" card?  So there were 4 kitties in this bunch and one lamb that is looking really annoyed.  Maybe because it was clumped with the cats? 

Ah the things that amuse me...

my smallest quilt

I stopped buying quilts some time ago--when you live in a teeny tiny cottage, there is only so much space to store things properly.  So it is surprising that I found something I just had to have yesterday.  I was at a regular sewing store and just stopped across the way for a brief moment to say hello to an old friend and there it was---weighing in at 8.5 inches square.  I'm not sure why the quilted shoe prints in the corner but they sorta remind me of Charlie Chaplin or Laurel and Hardy.  Anyway, I can always find room for such a sweet thing:

Victory Dogs

Thanks everyone for all your kind words, emails and comments.  It's been a tough time but we are back in caretaker mode with Paddie in doggie hospice here.  She is stable and on medications that are keeping her comfortable.  She seems always near me and I am giving her a lot of petting and kisses.  I am hoping that she will pass quietly at home but we are prepared to do whatever we have to so that she doesn't have to feel pain.

I'm posting this picture of some Victory Dogs that I found while reorganizing some of my linens.  I've also been reading Sue Reich's book, World War II Quilts, which I highly recommend.  I received the book while working on Nana Betty's birthday-turned-memory quilt and found it so inspiring. 

If you are interested in this era, you may want to check out Dawn's post last week which I found fascinating:  http://cottagestateofmind.blogspot.com/2010/07/from-attic-wwii-letters.html

Stay cool and have a great day...
Hugs to all!

Rain at last!

If you hear a great big "Aaaaah" from the Northeast, it's the fact that we finally have rain...and a good soaking rain at that.  It's the first morning I haven't had to rush outside to water first thing in the morning and I'm delighted!  Been catching up with blogs.

The Nana Memory quilt is coming along well and I'll blog about that later today or tomorrow.  In the meantime, have a great day!

Linens from Estate Sale...

Love this little tablecloth and napkins! The tablecloth fits our cafe table on our patio. The lady who made them did lovely work but the edges (although surged) are unfinished. I am looking at my notions to see what I can add. I want to keep it simple though to frame her work... Many of them are for the back and arms of a chair....

And some are just tablerunners. She did beautiful work and I am hoping to do something with the ones that have small wear marks or stains in them. Maybe cut the embroidery out and make small pillows?

Lots and lots of crocheted linens!!! I am going to put together a stack for Katie's room. I think some white ones will look nice in her pink room.

A pillow cover (embroidered) and some other doilies, probably store bought (not the pillow cover).

I also got a box of buttons and lace edgings but I'm already using them so they are off in the sewing room. Have a happy Sunday!

luncheon cloth

Last week I went to an estate sale and purchased a box of linens for a very VERY low price. This was why I bought the box: My photo doesn't do it justice (the yellow is the camera lighting, not the cloth).

The workmanship is excellent. I particularly like the way she made the intersections darker than the lines. Not sure what I am going to do with it--right now I'm just holding on to it until I decide what shape dining room table I will get...

Washing up goodies...

I went to an estate yard sale on Saturday and picked up wonderful goodies! So grateful right now for : a) the wash line DH put up--and b) breezy sunny days. Just love not running the dryer! More on these finds later!

IT'S HOT!

8:17 and 70 degrees already: It feels as hot as the tropics, but more humid and full of spring tree pollen which means: AIR CONDITIONING! Oh how I hate to put the a/c on this early but I just can't breathe outside with the maple pollen falling. The humidity seems to make the pollen linger in the air. Tomorrow I think we are going to have rain (please) which should help and the temps are going to go lower, which also should help. In the meantime, I'll be hanging with little Miles and putting off laundry until tomorrow when it is cooler... Today it is supposed to go up to 88 degrees!

Spring cleaning...

Packing up the winter things, pulling out the spring things, it is always a process. I can't wait to get past Easter and on to the gardening, how about you?

Fever

"It's spring fever. That's what the name of it is. And when you got it, you want--oh you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
------Mark Twain

Did it again: every year I go work in the garden and overdo it. This year is no different. It's a "take it easy on my back" day here. Couldn't find a decent position to sleep in. Hope your day is bright and relaxing!

Happy St. Pat's Day!

Be happy, Greetings a day late :) Hope you had a wonderful day!ings a day Gand well!

Spring Forward!

Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead!

Been busy!

Haven't been posting because I have been soooo busy these days. Wish I had accomplished more but I seem to be rushing from one place to another these days. Tomorrow we are expecting a wintry mix and I think I might need to take a day off and stay home!

Isn't this lovely? My great grandmother made it and the grapes are comprised of multiple french knots.

It's Fastnachts Day!

Ahhh, anyway you say it--Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Fastnacht Day (pronounced fost-nokts) is here! The Pennsylvania Dutch in my region celebrate Fastnacht Day (I think the translation of this is 'fast night') with powdered donuts. Don't know about you, but I will always accept a donut. So eat up troops, fasting starts tomorrow! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

china dog

China dog, china dog what do you see?

A boat full of china in a dishwater sea?

Oh no, no, no, said the young puppy lad

There's more snow a-coming and fun to be had!

How many days til Spring?

We've got about 7 inches of snow so far and it is still falling. It is a fine snow so drifting will be an issue as well. Last night I got the Maggie Report from Maryland (Maggie is my niece) and she said they had about 6 inches at 9:30 p.m. already.

Actually I love being snowed in! I love good sewing days when no one expects anything from me. I have three more blocks to finish for a spring project and want to make some placemats. Should be a good day to get some things done!

It's a circus in my sewing room these days........

This is the first year I can remember actually enjoying Autumn. I like just slashing things in my garden and purging excess there and in my house. I love sewing on these cool and grey days and I am getting close to finishing things. All this and I am going on a mini holiday to the sea shore next week and will take along some handsewing for after sundown. Life is good :)

So busy.........

Working, working , working! So I thought I would just share these old bunnies from a vintage child's quilt for you :) I love the umbrella fabric too! I think it must have been made before the baby was born, one side has a blue bunny, the other has the two pink! Enjoy and have a great day!

Samplers

I'm just about done with the garden redesign and am just taking a moment to remember other things I love.

Yesterday my friend Patty posted a pic of embroidery work she just finished and I was reminded of these wee samplers I picked up for a buck or two last fall. I don't know who RS is but I remember using these same bright and cheerful colors when I learned to embroider. The transfers she used struck a memory. My transfers were given to me by my grandmothers and I have a weakness for old transfers. I'm obviously not alone in this love and some of my favorite blogs feature vintage transfers: q is for quilter, turkey feathers and stichado.

Have a wonderful Sunday!