Thread in a Vintage Milkglass Bowl

Organizing my sewing recently led me to my monstrous bag of crochet thread that I use for tatting. These are variegated colors that I will probably not use, only because the smaller spools have a longer distance until the color repeats itself. This would be perfect for those who tat or crochet larger bookmarks, dollies, and lace.

There are eleven spools of size 30 thread, all in various lengths, and most likely have been used at some point so I can not guarantee or estimate the yardage on these. If you're interested, I put them up in the shop last night!

Knot after Knot after Knot...

It has been a couple of years since I've gotten my tatting stuff out, but this week has been perfect for it as I lay around trying to ward off this cold that's been going around. Lots of rest, vitamin C, and other vitamins that are the equivalent to the size of horse pills are keeping it at bay.

 





This afternoon I listed three different collections of bookmarks in the shop today. I'm thinking next I'll work on a pink/red collection of hearts. Perfect for Valentines Day, don'tcha think? :)

 

 

When my friend first taught me how to do tatting, I learned on size 10 thread as it's fairly easy to take out a knot (literally!) and the more comfortable I got with tatting, I switched over to a smaller size. Now all I use is size 30 and 50. I'm purging out of a few odd sizes along with many that are size 70 (just a wee-bit to small!) and those are up in the shop as one big lot for anyone else who does tatting or crocheting with thread.

 

Well, I'm off to fix a pot of tea and get back to watching movie while keeping my hands busy. ;)

What to do When it Rains

 

My stash of scrap fabric is overwhelmingly full. It's overflowing and piling quite high that I'm surprised the fabrics haven't fallen over. But what does one do when quilting is practically a foreign word to this seamstress? I even found a bag of organic cotton batting in the closet.

 

Cutting a few strips of some fabrics near the top of the pile, I cut 8 uniform ones and sewed four together making two squares. I used these as a pattern to cut out square pieces from some of that batting. Using the old standby of "right sides together," a few stitches, turning it right side out all I had to do was some top stitching and some fake "quilting lines," and out came a pot holder. 

It's not perfect. But I'm not worried. I mean, when was the last time you looked at your neighbors potholder to see how perfect it was?

Exactly my point.

I may make up a few more of these to take with me this fall when I set up housekeeping with a few of my college friends. They're easy and simple to make on a rainy morning, and not to mention useful.

The rain is gone and the first few lines of William Wordsworth's "Resolution and Independence" befit the afternoon:

There was a roaring in the wind all night;
The rain came heavily and fell in floods;
But now the sun is rising calm and bright;
The birds are singing in the distant woods;
Over his own sweet voice the Stock-dove broods;
The Jay makes answer as the Magpie chatters;
And all the air is filled with pleasant noise of waters.


All things that love the sun are out of doors;
The sky rejoices in the morning's birth;
The grass is bright with rain-drops;--on the moors
The hare is running races in her mirth;
And with her feet she from the plashy earth
Raises a mist, that, glittering in the sun,
Runs with her all the way, wherever she doth run.

If I could knit...

...I would make this sweater. Isn't it beautiful?

The summer days are dwindling down, and some leaves are already floating in the air here in the south. Not that it is cold enough yet for them to turn, but apparently there is a type of tree here that looses its leaves around the last few days of August.

My sister said that back home that the nights have turned chilly, and that Pumpkin Spice Lattes will be available a day after Labor Day, which means the Pumpkin Spice Frappacinos will be available too. That makes me smile. :)

Mentioning "home," today while in conversation with a girl in a class of mine, she interrupts me in mid sentence and states rather than asks, "Wait. You're from the north, aren't you?" That made me smile too, and I like it. :)

Gifts for a Bridal Shower

Over the weekend I attended a friend's bridal shower at her home. I honestly never looked at her wedding registry's (didn't have money to buy anything, quite honestly!) but looked rather in my sewing room stashes to see what I could pull together for her home.

Drawing inspiration from this hip bag, and knowing that these are her favorite colors, I used some tan corduroy, a blue green stripe cotton, and some cording to make a pillow. Oh yes, and the assortment of buttons to decorate a corner.

She has faced alot of health issues over the last year or so, and while she continues to prepare for her August wedding through her physical suffering, I knew that the devotional book, "The Tender Words of God" would minister to her heart. A cream tatted bookmark was included too.

All packaged up in brown paper tied up with string with some wildflower seeds to share.

The bridal shower was a lovely event with a house full of friends, guests, and gifts. The table was spread with many delights.

A fruit tower a friend made for the bride-to-be.

'Tis the season for budding relationships, engagements, and weddings around here, and I'm loving it!

A Gift for Mother on a Budget

Arriving home as a very poor college student left me with very few options in wanting to give my mother a gift for Mother's Day. Earlier this week as I was browsing a local thrift store, I spotted three lovely machine-embroidered squares. One especially looked as though it would fit in with the colors of home, and the price tag of 50 cents made it even more attractable.

I pulled out a square piece of dotted pink and cream home-decor fabric from my scrap bin, and some cream piping from my stash of notions to sew up a pillow in no time. My sister let me use some of her polyester filling to fill it with, since the pillow forms I have were to large.

Using these things made this gift less than $1 to make, and most importantly, Mom says she loves it!

In Knots

Yesterday while watching the new version of Emma (which I really like!) I pulled out my shuttles and crochet thread and started having fun with knots.

That is, tatting. =) It has been several months now since I've done anything with hand work, and nearly forgot how pleasant it is. I finished a few bookmarks yesterday, and am wanting to finish a few more this weekend to add to my online shop of bookmarks.

The Tatter is Back, too!

Last weekend I finally pulled out my tatting after it being put away since Christmas. I discovered also that there were a few bookmarks left from the craft fair that I was at with Grandma.

They are all in my tatting shop this morning, which is back up and running. Take a look!

Anthropologie Inspired

Okay, so never mind about what I mentioned last week about taking a break from sewing. This week I am forcing myself to find time to sew.

It's been fun too. =)
Just before my chicken noodle soup for lunch, I finished this Anthropologie inspired peasant blouse. By no means to I care for some of their items, but they usually have some aMAZing blouses that are unfortunately way beyond my buget!

I did some free-hand embroidery on the sleeves, there is vintage rick rack in the front and back, and remember those vintage mother of pearl buttons? I sewed them on in front. You know, just for that finishing touch.

The blouse is in my SHOP, as is a more simpler one with lace peeking out at the hem.

Family Heirlooms

Grandma is doing her spring cleaning, and the other night she handed down two treasures to one very grateful recipient. The pair of scissors were her mother's sewing "shears" as Grandma fondly calls them. They've been back in a storage container, and rather than it still being stored away, Grandma asked if I'd like them.

The other lovely piece is my Great-Great-Great Grandmother's hanky with hand-tatted lace. It was pulled out a number of years ago, and when visiting us several years ago, Grandma had given it to me because of knowing that I did tatting. Somehow it found its way back here, and went missing for several months. Upon cleaning out drawers, it was found and once again placed in my possession.

Isn't it lovely? The fabric itself I think must be that long-desired-for cotton muslin that they used to make decades ago, (oh to have a Regency dress in this gorgeous material!!) unless someone more knowledgeable than I says that it is something else. The embroidery is definitely done by hand, and for years it has baffled me as to how they could getting tatting onto a hankie. "It must be needle tatting" I have thought, but this looks like shuttle tatting to me, and upon close observation, it looks like it was sewn on because of the uneven spacing of the lace. How it was done, I still haven't figured it out. Any ideas?

Though not in the sewing/hand crafts department, Grandma asked if if I would like these juice glasses that she has had in her closed hutch. They were to pretty to pass up!

Another picture looking down into the glass. I like the wheat pattern. Grandma didn't mention how she got them, or how old they are, so I need to ask.

Of course, by the time I get married and will put them to use, they probably will be antique!

Warming the Heart

When snow is swirling around outside, covering everything in sight, a sight for sore eyes, and a smell for a hungry stomach in the morning are these sticky buns that Grandma made for breakfast this morning.

There is nothing like home-made, from scratch, fresh and warm from the oven . . . oh dear, I'm teasing you all aren't I?


Look what I came upon this morning? Somehow it lends to a familiar scene. Perhaps I ought to don a sweater or two, and adventure out... There is something cozy about lamps lit during a snowfall, wouldn't you agree?

Something else adds a cozy, heart-warming touch too, ie, if you like a certain color combination. Have you seen the three yet?

Morning Sunlight

I love morning sunlight on bitterly cold winter days. The warm sunrays make everything beautiful: to having quiet time and coffee, or brightening Grandma's Christmas catus' that is loaded down with buds on the verge of blossoming. Once again, the words of "morning sunlight" inspired a new-something in the shop. =)

And now that morning is quickly fleeting, I have some handwork and sewing that I'd like to work on before lunch, so I'll wish you all a very happy Monday!

Lap Full

If my lap isn't full with either one (or sometimes both!) of these sweet little feline friends, my lap is probably full of yarn on these cold winter days.

The other day I picked up some 100% cotton yarn to make a few dishcloths for "someday." Grandma made several last fall, and she inspired me to make some. Underneath the blue are the ones she has done. Aren't they pretty?

She's wondering if I could sell some on etsy, and I told her I could try. What do you think?

"No lace, Mrs. Bennet! I beg you!"

Still in town, I am doing some more de-stashing in the sewing room, and came across a never-opened package of 22 1/5 meters of lace. I already have well over 10 meters for myself. Not to mention many more yards of other laces like antique pieces, cluny, eyelet, etc, etc. Needless to say, I don't need any more lace at present!
The enormous amount is in the SHOP!

The Lost Art of Tatting

Over the weekend I ransacked an antique store while on a historical home tour. I picked up several yards of some gorgeous Victorian/Edwardian lace, a darling 1920's/30's girls dress pattern, and was only going to spend $3. Buuut, I came across this pristine 1920's baby gown with tatting around the neckline and sleeves, and then some embroidery on the front yoke. It was severly marked down, and yes ... I grabbed it for "someday." =)

This morning I pulled out my tatting box, and laid out my bookmarks on the new baby gown, and now have them listed in my shop! Take a look to see if anything catches your fancy!

The Dotted Pink Tote

This was the last thing I sewed before I left home. It never sold at the craft show, and now I've finally had time to get is listed in the shop.

My next project is to start taking pictures of the new tatted bookmarks that I've done in my limted spare time, so I can add those to my currently empty shop.

It's Baaaacccckkk.

The craft show last weekend was a success, but to my horror, I forgot to bring the camera. So no pictures. My apologies if you were counting on them.

So, my etsy shop is back with three aprons left.

Busy Hands

Some of you may remember that last year Grandma and I were apart of a craft fair. We are going again this year, and it is just a couple weeks away. There were just a couple shop items left, and so I have those with me, but I am working on upping my supply of tatted bookmarks.

Above is one in the making. So far I've finished four different designs, and would like to get more done. I'll share pictures and an account of how the fair went. Perhaps if you live in MI, you'd like to stop by?

A New Shop!

I have a new shop for my tatted bookmarks! Visit it, if you please!

A craft fair and a 1930s childs smock

Last weekend the churches school hosted a craft fair (remember me mentioning it?) and here is our table there. I shared it with Grandma and a lady from church. Can you see some of my items there on the left? I brought aprons, tote bags, and tatted bookmarks. Because of the heavy snow we had that day, "people traffic" was very slow and I only sold 2 aprons.
Today we are putting up the Christmas tree and putting out some more festive decorations, and as Grandma was going through the cedar chest in the spare room (my room at present, but oh how I love to sleep in spare rooms!) she came across an apron/smock that she would have worn around 2-3 years old.

The fabric is still clean and crisp, although there is a nickel sized tear/hole in the front. The sweet rick rack, and the small pocket for little fingers just wins my heart. Not to mention that it is a precious gift to me from Grandma.

Do you smell a new vintage design for the shop? I do too...