Hat and Mittens

(Raggedy Anne and Andy,  Bobbs-Merrill Co 1974)

Be sure to put on your hat and mittens before you go outside to play!

(Mr. Garden, clearing some of the snow off the deck to put down food for the birds.)


* * * *

Speaking of cold things...
this looks like a really good book about climbing Mt Everest.
I can't wait to start reading it!

 the Eccentric Lady had this in a giveaway on her blog and I won.
Thank you, Sherri!
(She reviews book proofs and then shares the books with friends.)

Update:  I finished this book and really really liked it!
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure and history like I do.
It's a novel, but based on the life of real people and real happenings.

Crocheted Bowl

Today I made a little crocheted bowl.

I found a picture online, but it didn't include a pattern.

I searched online for other crocheted basket instructions, for help with the bottom.

From there I was able to do it on my own.

I knew I wanted it big enough to hold sunglasses and cell phones.

 I made a circle with single crochet,  increasing stitches till it was 5-6 inches across.

When it was wide enough, I just single crocheted around and around 

until I had sides high enough to fold over.  (I used up the entire skein.)

Then I added a scalloped edge.  

I used Lily "Sugar and Cream" cotton yarn in Green Twist and White

and a size G/6/4.25mm hook

I'd like to try to make another one. A really BIG one!

With stripes!

:-)

* * * * *

It's snowing again.

We were warned that starting about midnight, we would be hit by a blizzard.

So far it's just little stuff, but by morning we may be snowed under.

Several Shades Of Pink

Off to a good start with my latest crocheted baby afghan.

I'm using several shades of pink in this one, as it's the new Mommy's favorite color.

(I'll show a picture of the whole thing after I finish.)

Snow Storm

This is what it looked like out our front door yesterday.

Mother Nature dropped about a foot of snow on us.

We could still see (barely) that there was a house across the road,

so it wasn't a complete whiteout.

But today our road got plowed, we shoveled out the driveway

and the sun in shining, so life is pretty much back to normal.

And I am a very happy Mama, because our son is coming home this weekend!

Hope you all have a very happy weekend, too!

Thomas Hart Benton Studio

(Light from the north window in the studio.)

Last weekend we visited the Thomas Hart Benton 

art studio and home. (State historic site)

(Studio located in what used to be the horse stables.)

(Paint brushes in coffee cans.)

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) was an American painter,
sculptor, teacher and muralist from Missouri.

He was part of what became known as the Regionalist art movement.

Although he lived in New York and Paris for a while, he did return home to Missouri, 

and is probably best known for the murals that depicted 

the life of working class people in the small towns and farms of the midwest.

It was very interesting to hear about the painstaking process he went through
before paint ever touched a canvas.
Pencil and then ink drawings were followed by sculptures of figures
so he could get the light and shadows just right.

(A piece of a mural being planned out on a graph.)

His amazing murals are found at the Missouri State Capitol,

the Truman Presidential Library, University campuses, etc..

(I borrowed this pic from the web to show you an example of his work.)

If you are an art enthusiast, I really recommend a visit.

Crocheted Baby-Sized Giant Granny

I never showed you the finished version of the baby blanket

that I crocheted for my great niece.

(the one I had the baby shower for a week ago.)

So here it is.

A (baby sized) giant granny in purples and blues.

I used Baby Bee - Sweet Delight Baby yarn 

in Sugar Plum, Meema's Blue, Angel, Surf Baby and Mint Charm.  

I crocheted 40 rounds with a size G/6/4.25mm hook 

and then added a picot border. 

I'm still very much a beginner when it comes to crochet. 

It took me two days to figure out how to do the border. 

I turned it back to front between each row 

and didn't have any issues with twisted, gnarly corners this time.

Yay!  So glad I got that figured out. 

And now I am getting started on a pink baby blanket for yet another great niece.

I tell you, it's raining babies in this family!

I'll share pictures of that one in another post.

Things That Make Me Smile

What puts a smile on your face?

Whatever it is, I hope your weekend is filled with

big smiles, belly laughs and lots of love.


(photo taken in a field near my house this past fall.)
* * *
Linking to Green Day

Queen Of His Heart

(Hallmark)

 (?  I haven't ID'd this one, yet.)

I hope your someone special treats you like the Queen of his heart,
not just on Valentines Day, but all through the year.

(Hallmark, Viv Smith, 1947)

Have a happy Valentines Day!

French Toast Hearts

 Start your morning with a little love:

French toast hearts, served with sweet maple syrup and tart cranberry preserves,

 a bowl of fruit and raspberry tea.

It's easy-  Cut the bread with a heart shaped cookie cutter before you dip in egg.

And remember, everything tastes better when the table is spread

with your Grandma's old, red, checked tablecloth.

How did you start your day?

* * * *

Teacup and dishes- Franciscan Desert Rose

Tea- Stash Wild Raspberry

Linking to 

Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi

Teacup Tuesday with Terri and Martha

Tuesday Cuppa Tea with Ruth

Friends Sharing Tea with Bernideen

* * * *

Thank you, Lady Linda, for the lovely cameo Valentine, tea and treats.

You are so sweet to think of me.

Baby Shower Bunting

Some of you asked who the baby shower is for.

I have a niece who lives fairly close.  In a neighboring state.

Since we are smack dab in the middle of the country, 

and most of our family lives on one coast or the other,

only one state away seems "close".  Relatively speaking.

Because of distance, most of the family gifts are being sent by mail.

But technology will allow everyone to "be here" the day of the shower.

I made a little bunting (actually two) for shower decor.

They are super easy to make.

Here's what you need:

Coordinating fabrics of your choice  (I used six fabrics)

thread

 bias tape

quilters ruler

cutting mat

rotary cuter

pins

iron 

(If you don't have a quilting ruler or rotary cutters you can cut your

triangles the old fashioned way, with a paper pattern and scissors.

My gadgets just help speed up the process.)

This is a close up of the 60 degree line on the quilters ruler
that will assist you in making the angled cuts.

Cut a 7 inch strip of fabric from each fabric you want to use.

(Pretend this is one strip of fabric.  I used different fabrics to
make it easier to show you the cuts.)

Line up your quilters ruler with the 60 degree line along the bottom edge

and then use your rotary cutter to cut along the right side of the ruler.

(Toss that first odd shaped piece into your scrap bag.)

Next, lay the 60 degree line along the last cut you made.

Rotary cut your fabric on the right side of the ruler. 

Just keep repeating: line 60 up along the bottom edge,  then line 60 up along the last cut.

I tried to get some good pictures.

 Taking a closer look on how to make that 60 degree cut.

First one way.  And then the other.

Now for the sewing part.

Lay two fabrics together, right sides facing in.

Sew along two sides, using a 1/4 inch seam.

Leave the third side open.

Snip the bottom corner off to make turning easier.

Turn the triangle right sides out and iron flat.

Iron your bias tape in half, if it's not already done. (mine wasn't.) 

Insert the open end of each triangle into the fold of the bias tape, and pin in place.

Then zig-zag it all together.   

Note- Start pinning your triangles in the middle of the bias tape and work your way out. 

I was able to fit 12 completed triangles on one package (3 yards) of bias tape 

with about 7-8 inches left at each end for tying.

These were really easy to make.

I hope you'll give it a try for your next celebration.

Go to my previous post to see how I made the paper luminaries .

Baby Shower Paper Luminarias

The baby shower is coming up in just a couple of days.

Here are the super-easy paper luminarias I made for the table.

Scrapbook paper trimmed down to size, and rolled into a cylinder.

Beatrix Potter illustrations printed out and glued on.

Add a bit of ric-rac trim to pretty it up.   It really is that simple.

(Battery operated tealight candles will go inside and make them glow.)

Did you catch that sneak peak of the fabrics I used for the bunting? 

I'll show you how easy they are to make in my next post.   

More Valentine Paperdolls

Oops, I meant to post these last week.
More Valentine paperdolls, as promised.

(Lucy Rigg, 1982 Lucy and Me Inc)

(Hallmark)

(Ann Eshner,  Feb 1956 Jack and Jill Magazine)