Thursday, January 31, 2013

Crocheting Projects

The crochet bug hit me this week.


I'm making small felt valentines with crocheted edging.



And a baby sized giant-granny.
 (For my great niece, born just a few days ago.)
I'm using Baby Bee yarn  and a size 6 (G) hook. 
The baby shower is next week, so I've got to get crackin'!

Are you working on any projects?


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Snow Flurries And A Winner


We woke this morning to itty bitty snow flurries
and wind gusts that blew everything sideways.
There is not enough snow there to even cover the grass, but it still looks pretty.

* * *

Thank you to everyone who entered my little valentine giveaway.
I asked Mr. Garden to pick the winning number.
#12.
Congratulations Kim K. !
Please send a mailing address.




Sunday, January 27, 2013

Valentine Giveaway!!


I want to say thank you for reading my blog, so I'm having a quick little 
Valentine Giveaway!!

This giveaway includes:
Vintage Hallmark valentine cards and seals
Russell Stover assorted chocolates in a heart shaped box
Red and pink trims/buttons for your crafting projects 

To enter:   Leave a comment on this post.
(Please make sure there is a direct link from your comment to your blog. 
Or leave your e-mail address in your comment.)  

Giveaway ends at midnight on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013.
One winner will be pulled out of a hat and announced on Wednesday, Jan 30. 
Good luck to you all!


Thursday, January 24, 2013

100 Spaces- The Decluttering Continues

Last year I made some pretty good progress towards making my home less cluttered.  I participated in the 366 challenge, and sent unwanted things packing. (One item for each day of the year.)  But the job is not done.  (Is it ever?)  I need to keep plugging away at it, so that eventually I will be where I want to be; living a simpler, less cluttered life.  With less "stuff",  I will spend less time searching for things, less time dusting, and more time focusing on my family and friends and the things that I want to enjoy.

This year, instead of counting items that I'm getting rid of,  I'm going to count the spaces that I sort through, clean up, clear out and organize;  each shelf, each drawer, each cupboard, each pile of paper,  counts as one space.  And for the most part I will try to concentrate my efforts in one area at a time (instead of just going willy-nilly all over the house) so that I feel like I have accomplished something. 

My goal is to tackle at least 2 spaces each week (8-10 spaces each month), with a final goal of 100 spaces by Thanksgiving. 

I made the decision to break this de-cluttering job into small spaces, rather than whole rooms, because I just don't have time (or energy) to do a big area all at once.  So instead of getting frustrated, I'm breaking the work down into small pieces that I can manage.   I can do this!  

So far I have:

1. Sorted through Christmas tree ornaments.  (I did this on Jan 1 as I packed everything up to put away.)
2. Looked through a big stack of magazines and pulled out just a few pages that I will file away for inspiration later. (I save very little now, because so much can be found online and saved on Pinterest.)
3. Organized the kitchen junk drawer.
4. Sorted through the kitchen-linens drawer. (It's so nice to have empty space in the drawers now.  Room to breathe.)


Things going bye-bye include  several decorations,  many magazines, Scentsy wax (a scent I don't care for), old thermometers, plant food packets,  old tea towels,  old dishrags (I got pretty new ones for Christmas!  So get rid of those ugly old stained ones!) and an  old wrap-around apron that I made when I was 20-something.  (Guess what, friends? At 50-something that apron does not fit me anymore.  Imagine that.  I honestly don't know why I still have it!)  

Anyway, this is just the start.  I'll probably post once a month to let you know how close I am to  reaching my 100 spaces goal.  If any of you want to join me, you are welcome.

*  *  *  *  *
When I sort, I ask myself these questions to help decide what to keep and what to get rid of:
Do I love it?
Do I use it?
Do I have space for it?
Does it reflect who I am and the life I want for myself?
Does it fit me right now? Have I worn it in the last year?
Will I read it again?
Is it a duplicate?
Is it broken? Does it have missing pieces?
Who gave it to me?

Items can be thrown away, recycled, donated to a charity of your choice, put in a garage sale, sold on e-bay, given to a friend, tossed over the fence into your neighbors yard (Ok, maybe not that) ...whatever... as long as they leave your house.

If I'm not sure, I can put it away in a six-month-box.   If I need to get it out to use it during those 6 months,  now is probably not the right time to get rid of it.  On the other hand if I never even think about it,  it's probably safe to toss it.

No, I will not be chucking family heirlooms or all of my collections or my crafting stash.  But I will be getting rid of the useless junk that fills my house, things that don't fit me, things I never should have bought to begin with.  And by doing that,  I will create space to display the sentimental family items and collections I love.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Little Girls With Kitty Cats

 Here are three Valentine paperdolls from my collection.
Each one of these cards features a sweet little girl with a kitten.

 (Garris, Buzza/Gibson Greeting Cards Inc.)

(Eileen, DaySpring Cards)

(Sondra, Gibson Greeting Cards Inc.)

I'll have a few more valentines to share with you next week
so be sure to check back.

(See my paperdoll page, under the header, for more paperdolls.)


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Keep Me Safely


A few months ago, while poking around in a junk shop,
I discovered this old needlepoint bedtime prayer in a frame.
It was on the floor, covered in dust and it's paper backing was torn,
but I could still see faintly written in pencil:

"This needlepoint was made for Susan by her Grandmother Harrington 
when she was 6 years old".

I don't know Susan or her Grandmother.
And I have no idea how this came to be separated from them.
I wish they knew that their beautifully stitched prayer was safe with me.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Keep me safely through the night
And wake me with the morning light.

* * *

I'm linking to
Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Colorado Lady

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Pretty Crocheted Hearts



 Some of my readers asked about the basket full of crocheted hearts 
in the background of my last post photos.
(I did a post about these a couple of years ago, but it's time to do another.)


These pretty hearts were originally used as pincushions or drawer sachets. 
The largest was probably a decorative pillow on a bed.
Some are in good condition and still have their satin ribbon.
 Others are rather old and tattered looking.
But I love them all.


A few were found at estate sales stuck full of hundreds of  pins and needles.
 And I pulled every single one out. 
Let's just say it was a good thing I was up to date on my tetanus shot.


* * *
I'm linking to:
A Favorite Thing at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

* * *
Update:
I did not make the hearts in my collection.  However, I do have a pattern for 
crocheted pineapple hearts from an old issue of Annie's Crochet Newsletter.


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Cup Of Tea


Enjoying one of life's simple pleasures;
A cup of afternoon tea.



teacup- Royal Stafford, Carnation
teapot-  Staffordshire Brown Betty



*  *  *
Linking to:
Teacup Tuesday  with Terri and Martha
Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi
Tuesday Cuppa Tea with Ruth

Friday, January 4, 2013

Dala Horses

Bright little Dala Horses.



Dalas are whittled from pine and handpainted with a kurbit saddle design 
in Nusnas, Sweden (Dalarna province),  just as they were 200+ years ago.
Today these traditional folk-art ponies are considered a symbol of Sweden.



Here is my little herd.
(The kids have Dala horsies too, but I didn't try to round those up for the photo shoot.) 


*  *  *
Linking to A Favorite Thing at Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Georges Briard Strawberry


Hope everyone is enjoying a very happy start to the new year!

Today I'm taking down the Christmas tree,
putting my house back in order,
and finding space for the beautiful gifts I received.

I have to show you what my Mom sent to me;
A vintage Georges Briard bent glass platter in the strawberry pattern.
Isn't it pretty?

Georges Briard  (Jascha Brojdo) was an artist/designer 
known for his barware/kitchenware during the 50's, 60s and 70's.  
I love his fabulous, fruity graphics.

Any Briard collectors out there?