My new Brother

I have been hinting to hubby that I "need" a new sewing machine.  I keep my heavy vintage machine at his home away from home... I guess it's OUR home away from home.  I really wanted to have one at both homes. I also wanted a lightweight machine to be able to carry with me to a local quilt shop for classes.                                                                                           

  Well, while I was at work Friday night, hubby went shopping.  When I got home from work, there was my new machine sitting on the kitchen bar!  I am so excited.  I haven't even opened the box yet, as I am waiting until Monday, when the house is empty and I can sit down and study every little detail.  I am so happy... I promised him ten new quilts by the end of the week. LOL 

Testing

*testing one, two, three*  I am trying to see if my blog shows up in your blog lists.  My last post did not,  until I reposted it.  :o(

Vintage Diaper Shirts

Do you remember these sweet little diaper shirts? I found these two while thrifting this week and had to have them. I don't know why I buy some of this stuff, but I sure do love it! These little shirts are so lightweight and must have been so comfy for the baby in warm weather... just this and a diaper. How precious. Is it just me? or do you think young mothers now days are trying to dress their babies like miniature adults? Especially little girls! Now don't get me wrong.... they are adorable in their miniature grown up clothes, but I sure do miss the sweet innocence of dainty baby clothing. I guess I'm getting old, huh? My mother in law hand stitched a few of these little shirts for my babies before they were born. I have them packed away somewhere. When I was a little girl, playing with my baby dolls (I loved baby dolls), my mama would let me buy a new diaper shirt or a pacifier or a baby bottle, or something "real" for my babies when we would go out shopping. I loved shopping for my baby things! :o) I don't remember the cost of them, but I would like to think they were less than $1. Mom, you might remember.... or you may have no recollection of this at all.... but it was a special memory for me. :o) :o)

Vintage Child's Sewing Machine

Okay, first question: Mom, didn't I have one of these when I was growing up? If not, it may have been Gayle, because I distinctly remember using this machine. And the noise it makes... haha... unforgettable. Each stitch.... clank, clank, clank. I found this for $5 yesterday at Goodwill while waiting to pick up my daughter's car for her. (they didn't have it ready when promised.... imagine that! so I went to Goodwill to kill time)

I could NOT... it just wasn't in my heart... leave it sitting at the Goodwill. I decided that even if it didn't work, it would be fun to look at in my sewing room. But guess what? It works! beautifully! All pieces are there... the owner's manual, the bobbins, the needle threader, the electrical adaptor... I was so excited!!

Just LOOK at this cute little baby.... $5 dollars! I also found a book on organization by Donna Otto; I have almost finished reading it. I put together a binder last night as my organizer and I am now setting off to organize my world! I have a LOT of work to do, but it's worth a try. Already this morning, I can see a difference....I got my prayer time and my Bible study in first thing! (a big change)

I also *finally* visited a local quilt shop that I had never visited. I cannot BELIEVE it took me so long to get in there. The owners are so sweet and the fabric prices were not nearly as pricey as most quilt shops! I am signing up for some of their classes... my first being a redwork embroidery class. Yes, I know how to do that already, but for $10, I might learn something new and meet some new friends! Yay! Yesterday was a good day! :o)

Hot Flashes and Cold Cream

I love to read, but unfortunately, I don't recognize and remember authors' names. So I usually don't really have an answer when people ask me "who do you read?" :o) I guess I judge books by their covers, because I picked this one up as a "fun read" while I was at the beach. (thrift store, of course!) I had no idea that Diann Hunt was a Christian author and was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this hilarious fiction by her. When she mentioned church and the Lord, I remember yelling out to my husband, "hey this is a christian book"... LOL. If you are "my age" and going through "midlife issues"... this is a MUST READ! I laughed my way through it, yet, it made me realize that a lot of my crazy thoughts are entirely "normal" for my age. hee hee

*Mom, I'll bring this one to you soon! :o)

Happy Birthday to ME!

I usually receive a little money for my birthday and it's always fun to shop for myself with my birthday money. Since we were at the beach this year, I had decided to spend my money in a local quilt shop. Imagine my disappointment when I visited the shop and found NOTHING I wanted there. The shop didn't seem as "up to date" as it had in the past and I didn't spend a lot of time in there. However, there was an adorable little consignment shop just a couple doors down (The Seahorse) and I found this precious vintage pillowcase there! (and I had birthday money left over!!) I love, love, love this pillow case and can't stop looking at the beautiful embroidery and crochet that was put into it many years ago. Don't you wish that women had never felt the need to enter the work force and that we still had time to make these beautiful creations?? so that our kids can put them in consignment stores when we are gone?

**And thank you to TRISH for the beautiful birthday card that you sent to me. I know you made it and I love the colors (matches my pillowcase, huh?)! I hope you are feeling well and enjoying that beautiful new granddaughter of yours! **

Vacation

We've been on vacation all week. This is our view from the front porch. It has been heavenly! We all have sun tans and we are going to head back home tonight. I've spent a lot of time reading blogs this week; making for a great vacation. I'm totally refreshed and ready to sew again. I've received a lot of inspiration this week!

This is me and my cutie! He loves the beach. He has been Grandma's shadow this week and Grandma loves him more and more and more! He calls me "ma ma"(two distinct syllables) ... he can't get the grandma part out yet.

Avery loves the beach and Avery loves his Grandma.... what a great week!

**ps** My daughter is home from Hawaii!! It's been a truly great week! :O)

Rag Dolls and Grandma

There's just something about a rag doll that I love. Some people collect porcelain dolls that are absolutely beautiful. But to me, they have no heart inside. A rag doll is full of love, put together by her maker, with very unique traits that belong only to her. Rag dolls remind me of my daddy's mother: my grandmother. She enjoyed sewing, making quilts, and lots of other crafts. The older I get, the more like her I think I have become. I wish she were still living, so that I could have known her better and could have shared the joys of creating with her.

I remember her, but I don't think I ever really knew her. I did not have the same relationship with my grandparents that my children have with theirs. I am so thankful that my children's grandparents were able to give them so much time and love when they were growing up. I do think my children truly "know" their grandparents well.

I can only remember making just one rag doll when I was in high school. I think I still have her somewhere up in the attic??? Maybe she is at my mom's house, I'm not sure. I did make some Raggedy Ann and Andy's when the kids were small, but for some reason, they don't count. I like unique rag dolls, each with a personality of its own. My best friend bought me a beautiful rag doll for my 30th birthday. I remember thinking to myself that the rag doll was the best gift I received on that birthday!!

I have another birthday coming up soon. I think I may treat myself to a new rag doll... one that I make myself. I'll let you know....

*disclaimer: photo's stolen... I mean, borrowed from the internet.

The pretty cheap ones

It has been hot and dry in NC this year. I planted a few plants here and there, but they didn't do very well. The prettiest flowers I have this year are the cheap ones that came out of a seed package. These were supposed to be multicolored zinnias. They are zinnias, but they are all pink! I was amazed at how fast they sprouted and how quickly they bloomed this year. I have more "from seed" zinnias on one end of the house that barely came up and barely bloomed. (I think I've seen three orange flowers ) These are right beside my driveway where I park my car; and they make me smile everytime I see them. :o)

Thrift Quilt Top

Look what $5 will buy you at Goodwill!! As hubby and I were leaving the store last week, I saw a clear plastic bag sitting near the register, with this quilt top inside, along with lots of fabric scraps. After washing it and battling a few (lots) of cat hairs, I'm ready to work on this thing! Someone has folded and sewn the navy borders to the back of the quilt, as if they turned over the edge to hide the raw edges, without finishing the quilt. I am going to clip the stitches and pull out the edges, which should give another 5-7 inches of navy border around the entire quilt. Someone did a great job piecing this top together and I am thrilled to have rescued it!!

Quilts: reading and doing

I am not one who keeps up with the latest in literature and usually find good books "by chance" in thrift stores. Recently, I ran across a book from this series: Elm Creek Quilts. It was the third book written in this series and I am now hooked and want to read all of them, in the order they were written! Yesterday I went to the library and brought this book with me to read while staying at hubby's work place this week. I was excited when I saw there are quite a few books in this series and should keep me busy reading for awhile. The stories are great and there is a lot of "quilty" stuff involved, which serves as an inspiration for me to get busy and quilt! I also brought my unfinished, work in progress quilt with me that I need to finish up. I have my sewing machine set up here at the "lily pad" and I hope to machine quilt and get it ready for binding this week. My daughter will be home soon from Hawaii. (July 19th... yay) I made this quilt for her and need to get it finished. She will be arriving home just in time for the family beach vacation. She will fly home on Tuesday and we leave for our beach trip on Saturday. Is that great planning or what?? Maybe she'll be close to having her time zone readjustment by the time we get to the beach. If not, maybe the family can help her to readjust to NC time before our vacation is over. And then..... it will be job hunting time for her! Great things ahead!!! Looking forward to a great July, 2011!

Random Thoughts

I promised June would be a better blogging month, but so far, I haven't done too well. Sorry. I'm still going back and forth with my hubby to his work place and I don't get as much computer time at his place. :( Actually.... no frown! I've been able to "pull" myself away from the computer a little more and I am finding that I can actually get things done! :) I sewed some pillow covers for my outdoor patio set. We bought the set from Wal Mart and I just hated the pillows that came with the set. I now have some bright green, summer appropriate pillows on the orange chairs... made from thrift store curtains. (and was able to save enough of the curtain to make CUTE valances for my "one day" coastal home... LOL)

I've gone "hi tech" recently... I purchased an Ipod Touch for myself, having really no idea what this thing can really do. I am now learning to use it and I love it!!! What a cool toy! I love the fact that I can keep my music with me wherever I go. The young girls at work are helping me to learn my new gadget and I ordered the adapter to use with my car radio yesterday. It's so much fun to be hip and cool. LOL

Yesterday was hubby and mine's 27th wedding anniversary! Where has the time gone? 27 years of total dysfuntion.... ha ha! But still... 27 years. :o) We were both off work yesterday and spent the day together. We shopped at the new Tanger Outlets and had lunch at Mellow Mushroom... yummo... one of my new favorite places to eat. We stopped by our sweet Avery's house (and his mom and dad's) to see his new swimming pool and his new swing set that his Daddy has built for him. (sorry, mom, I forgot to get pic's for you) When we got there, he was swinging in his new swing and was such a "big boy". Grandma had some fun play time and then he wanted to go home with me..... WHAT A FEELING! Now I know how my mom used to feel when my kids didn't want to leave her house to come home with me... ha ha!!

The pic's above are of our little guy when he was at our house a couple weeks ago. He is 16 months old now and is turning into such a big boy. I'm amazed each time I see him... all the new words and how smart is has become! He has finally said "grandma" a few times and I think that's the sweetest word ever. :) With kids, you never have to wonder... you just KNOW that they love you! And Avery loves me. He's truly one of the best things that has happened in our 27 years of marriage. And I'm looking forward to the next one... and the next one... and the next one....

You will never know how much joy you bring..... I love you, Sweet Avery!