Garden Of Daisies

Buttons

2012-01-31T22:14:00.000-06:00

Playing with buttons,

and trying to pick the prettiest one.

Sunrise

2012-01-28T17:12:00.000-06:00

Sunrise.

There are benefits to getting up before the birds.

Working On A Little Project

2012-01-26T23:06:00.000-06:00

I'm working on a little project.

Be sure to check back in a few days to find out what it is.

Little Daisies

2012-01-21T22:05:00.001-06:00

A collection of little daisies on one of my blue and white platters.

(Viking stoneware)

Oh no! I just saw that "Picnik" is going to close. That's were I frame, label and make mosaics for all the photos on my blog. So I will need to find a new photo play ground. Who do you use?

I Have A Dream...

2012-01-16T11:12:00.003-06:00

(International dolls by Queen Holden)

I hope that someday we will live in a world

where we can view each person as worthy of respect and love.

Where people of all skin colors, nationalities, religions,
and economic status can live side by side.
A world where we treat each other with kindness.

I have a dream...

Liberty Blue

2012-01-14T17:24:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago, one of my readers asked about the

blue dishes that show up in my blog photos from time to time.

(Thank you for asking! Your questions give me ideas for posts!)

Liberty Blue was ironstone dinnerware made in Staffordshire, England

and shipped to the USA to celebrate America's Bicentennial.

1776-1976.

(Oh, the irony in that.)

It was originally designed as an incentive for savings and loan customers

and then later as promotion-ware at grocery stores.

Pieces cost next to nothing.

A band of wildflowers surrounds the historic colonial scenes:

Independence Hall, Betsy Ross with the nations first flag,

Washington leaving Christ Church, Monticello, etc...

There are many other pieces that I do not have. Yet.

Backstamps are of an American Eagle.

I love the way Liberty Blue goes with almost any season of the year,

and mixes so nicely with the other blue pieces I own.

Do any of you collect Liberty Blue too? I'd love to learn more from you!

* * * * *

More information:

Pictures of old newspaper ads for LB can be found at Robin's Nest.

Liberty Blue dinnerware , book by Debbie and Randy Coe, 2006.

The 366 Challenge Continues

2012-01-11T14:50:00.002-06:00

Hey, how are you all doing with your 366 challenge?

More junk and unnecessary stuff is being cleaned out of my house today.

In my previous 366 Challenge post, I reached number 15. So I'll pick up where I left off counting.

16. Wall paper tray

17. 4 partial rolls of old wall paper

18-24. Lace doilies from the 80's (6)

25-26. Lace curtain panels (2)

27-33. Books (7)

34. Bag full of little kids party prizes

35. Bag full of drawer pulls

36. Picture frame

37. Chipped blue china saucer

38-40. Sachets (3)

41- 53. Christmas tree ornaments (13)

54. Magnet

55. Sweatshirt

56. Dish towel

57. Candle light lid

58. Spare vinyl blind pieces

59. Gift bag

60. Flameless Candle scent refills

61. whole bag full of dried out tubes of spackle, silicone, grout and joint compound (not pictured)

62. two yard sprinkler spikes (not pictured)

Yes, that is 62 items going, going, gone! YAY! Only 304 more to go!

Here are some helpful hints as you go through your house.

ASK YOURSELF these questions to help yourself decide if you will keep or let go of something:
Do I love it?
Do I use it?
Do I have space for it in my house?
Does it fit me right now?
Have I worn it in the last 12 months?
Will I read it again? Or need to refer back to it?
Is it a duplicate?
Is it damaged or broken? Are all the pieces there?

Start a 6 MONTH BOX for things you are unsure about. I don't want anyone to have purgers regret. So if you are not sure, put it away in a box for 6 months... if you need to get it out to use, or miss it a lot, maybe now is not the right time to get rid of it. If, on the other hand, you never even think about it in those 6 months, it's probably OK to go bye bye.

Please don't think that I am saying you should get rid of Grandma's heirloom china. Quite the opposite. Get rid of the icky, junky stuff you have, so that you have room to display the china you love in a way that will honor your Grandma.

Have FUN with the process. Turn on the radio and for two songs, go through your room picking out all the things you don't want anymore.

And be sure to let me know how you're doing!

(Anyone else want to join me in clearing the junk and unwanted stuff from your homes? See this post or this page for more info on the 366 Challenge.)

Hiding

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000-06:00

I was walking down the hallway when I heard it.

"Meow."

I followed the sound.

And there was Natasha,
hiding in the linen closet,

sleeping on all my clean towels.

Please Join Me For Tea At 2:00

2012-01-08T19:01:00.006-06:00

Please join me for tea at 2:00.

I'll pick up a freshly baked lemon cake from my favorite Italian restaurant.

And we'll sip China Oolong tea in pretty forget-me-not and primrose cups.

We can chat away the afternoon and catch up on all your news.

Hope to see you soon.

PS- Are you watching Downton Abbey tonight?

* * *

Teacups, saucers, bowls and plates:

Shelley- "Primrose Chintz"

Royal Albert "Memory Lane"

Royal Albert "Forget Me Not"

Pitcher:

Lord Nelson "Heather" chintz

Teapot:

Sadler

Linens:

Leacock Linens

Battenburg Lace

Today I'm joining:

Sandi at Tea Time Tuesday

Martha at Teacup Tuesday

Terri at Teacup Tuesday

Hope

2012-01-07T20:36:00.003-06:00

It's my word for 2012.

Do you have a word too?

Fabric Recycles

2012-01-04T09:52:00.003-06:00

We have a wonderful little fabric and craft resale shop here in town! It's called Fabric Recycles.

The store's "ever-changing inventory" is very unique, with everything coming from stashes that have been hidden away in closets for years. Some items are vintage. Others are newer. All the prices are fantastic.

It's so much fun to browse through the cubbies of well organized, color coordinated fabric, thread, floss and yarn, Piles of ufo's wait for a new owner. Walls are covered with oodles of buttons, sequins, ribbons, lace, piping, trims, knitting needles, darning eggs and gadgets galore. Seasonal craft books, magazines and patterns are stacked by the hundreds. You can easily while away an hour or two in here.

The owner, Page (pictured here), is as sweet as can be.

If you quilt, crochet, knit, sew, craft, embroider, hook rugs, or are creative in any way, you must stop in to see this shop!

Thank you to the staff at Fabric Recycles for allowing me to photograph your fun store! I just love your shop!

(PS- for bloggers who are joining in the 366 challenge, this is the place to drop off the sewing and craft items you no longer use. If you have a lot to donate, click on the store link above to learn about stash buyouts, etc...)

Your Sagging Cupboards And Overstuffed Closets Will Thank You!!

2012-01-03T00:45:00.007-06:00

Over the past year I heard a lot of people complain that they had too much junk at their house and they needed to sort through it and get rid of a bunch of it. That they had so much in their basements and in their closets that they didn't even know where to find things. Then a blogging friend mentioned that she had taken a 365 challenge last year. I thought that was a wonderful idea!

So Ladies.... here is your chance to clear things out. I'm starting the new year with a "366 Challenge" (it's leap year) and I invite you to join me.

Between now and Dec 31 2012, I'm going to try to donate, gift or toss at least 366 items from my home. One item for every day of the year. Yes, that is right... 366 items out of here this year. Think how much lighter the house will feel by next December!

I'm going to get rid of things I've outgrown, things I've already read, things that don't suit my taste anymore, duplicates, and things I must have been crazy to buy in the first place. :-)

I can give things away to friends who collect, donate to a charity, sell things in a garage sale, sell things on e-bay, or throw broken stuff in the trash. It just can't come back in the house. I can get rid of 7 things each week or 31 things each month. But one way or another, 366 are gonna be outa here by the end of the year. (If you don't make it to 366 that's OK. Just do the best you can.)

I've already got my first pile ready to go. Yay!!

1. Blue taper candles (4)

2. Snowman dinner plate

3. Stacked snowman decoration

4. Candycane pin

5. Rustic sheep decoration

6. Butter dish (with no lid)

7. Book- PS What I Didn't Say

8. Book- The Time Travelers Wife

9. Book-Brer Rabbit

10. Book- Jantsen's Gift

11. Book- Wonder Play

12. Lotion (unopened)

13. Hand gel (unopened)

14. White taper candles (6, not pictured)

15. Vintage Tavern angel candle.

Only 351 things to go.

C'mon and declutter with me!! It will make you feel good to let go of things you don't want or need. Your sagging cupboards and overstuffed closets will thank you! Remember, one woman's trash is another woman's treasure, and these things can all go to someone else who needs them or will appreciate them more.

(Let me know if you want to join in. I'll start a list, so we can all encourage one another.)

Another Year Comes To A Close

2011-12-29T14:37:00.000-06:00

2011 in review

Counting my many blessings as another year comes to a close.

And wishing all good things for you in 2012.

Cheese Reindeer

2011-12-27T11:50:00.000-06:00

I hope you all had a wonder-filled, joyful Christmas!

I sure did.

I made these cute little cheese reindeer

for our big Christmas gathering.

Everyone thought they were so fun!

The idea came from Cute Food For Kids.

Laughing Cow Cheese Reindeer:

Laughing Cow cheese wedges (any flavor)

pretzels (antlers),

red bell pepper circles (nose)

olive pieces (eyes)

Ta Da!

So easy to make!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T15:57:00.002-06:00

In sweet jubilation

now sing and be joyous!

Our heart's joy

lies in a manger

And shines like the sun

in his mother's lap.

-translation from old carol

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

(And happy Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanza and

whatever else people are celebrating this month.)

I Do Love Trees!

2011-12-18T20:38:00.003-06:00

Santa leaves a sparkly little tree brooch in my stocking each Christmas.

These cute, diminutive trees have turned into quite the collection.

I have them displayed in a hammered aluminum tray this year.

I wear a little jeweled tree on my lapel when I go out.

And on Christmas Eve I'll pin them to napkins at the dining table.

A couple of weeks ago, after reading one of my tree craft posts,

a fellow blogger called me the "Queen of sweet trees".

And looking back at my Christmas posts I realized she might be on to something.

I really do love trees! I have them all over the house.

I'm not the least bit regal. I'm just a Mommy from the Midwest.

But if one is going to be called Queen of something,

I can't think of a nicer subject than trees.

The Enchanted Forest

2011-12-15T21:29:00.003-06:00

Blue Smurf Tree, Gingerbread Tree, Rudolf Tree and Dazzling Pink Tree.

These were just some of the festive evergreens in the Enchanted Forest.

Creative trees in every color were auctioned off

to raise money for Marillac, a children's mental health program.

DH and I had oohed and ahhed over the trees for several years

and we believe that all children deserve a chance to grow up healthy,

so we decided to make a bid.

Imagine our excitement when we found out that we had won!

We were very happy to bring this little tree home with us!

It fits right in with all the gingerbread in our kitchen.

Forest Of Glass...

2011-12-14T23:05:00.003-06:00

A herd of tiny deer peek out from

their forest of glass, glittered wax and china trees.

* * * * *

Click here to visit me at Pinterest.

And if you like what you see, I hope you will follow me.

Sparkling Christmas Tree

2011-12-13T23:53:00.000-06:00

My sparkling Christmas tree,

branches heavily laden with baubles bright,

gifts from little hands,

symbols of the holy season,

memories and much joy!

The Flock

2011-12-12T14:40:00.001-06:00

The good shepherd watches over his flock.

Well.... at least he is supposed to.

A certain little troublemaker (Natasha)

has managed two sneak attacks already!

"No no kitty! Put that sheep down!"

I may have to hire a new shepherd!

(Some of the sheep in these pictures were made by

fellow blogger Spot On Cedar Pond.)

* * * *

I recently started making boards on Pinterest.

I hope you'll stop by and take a look. Let me know if you'd like an invite.

Triangle Trees

2011-12-08T14:06:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I stitched up a few simple little triangle trees

to share with the gals at book club.

So easy!

It's lots of fun working with all this vintage rick-rack.

Looking at this picture now, I realize I should have added

a star or some bling to the top.

Oh well... it's too late now.

I think they liked them anyway.

Make Room For Him

2011-12-06T20:43:00.003-06:00

Attending Advent services helps me to focus

on what is important during these weeks before Christmas.

These little church ornaments remind me that

I want to be willing to make changes on the inside,

to make room for Him in my life.

Wreath- Grab And Go

2011-12-04T16:36:00.005-06:00

Yesterday we drove out to a Christmas tree farm.

We wanted to make a fun day of it and bring home some
lovely smelling boughs or wreath to deck the halls.

Nothing like that fresh evergreen scent!

We planned to drink hot chocolate,
wander through the trees singing carols

and take lots of wonderful pictures.

....Ummmmm, didn't happen quite like that...

It rained.

A lot.

We ran from our car to their garage,
where they had moved the wreaths to keep them dry.

We found several we really liked and bought one.

There was no hot chocolate to be had in the garage.

We moved out to the covered porch

where I quickly clicked one picture of DH with the big snowman.

Neither of us wanted to wander in the trees and get soaking wet.

So we raced back to the car and jumped in.

We laughed! The whole thing took 10 minutes.
Grab and go!

Not quite the afternoon adventure we had imagined.

Anyway, we love our wreath. It does have a beautiful scent!

And we'll try the Christmas tree farm experience again next year.

Humble Creatures

2011-11-29T19:12:00.000-06:00

"Sing o the wild wood, the green holly

The silent river and barren tree

The humble creatures that no man sees

Sing O the wild wood."
- from The Wild Wood Carol, John Rutter

The Lights Are On!

2011-11-25T13:31:00.001-06:00

... 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Hurrah!

The lights are on!

Let the Christmas season begin!

(The Plaza lighting ceremony officially marks the beginning

of the Christmas Season in Kansas City.)

Grateful

2011-11-21T14:20:00.002-06:00

"Grateful for each hand we hold

Gathered 'round this table."

- Thanksgiving Song, Mary Chapin Carpenter

Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving.

A Trio Of Glittery Trees

2011-11-18T19:53:00.003-06:00

I finally finished up the little project I was working on!

A trio of glittery trees!

I saw these sampler trees at Amy Powers- Inspired Ideas Christmas 2010,

and wanted to give her pattern a try.

So I gathered up all sorts of colorful beads, shiny sequins, rickrack trim

and embroidery floss and got to work.

When I posted the sneak peek photo a couple of weeks ago,

a few of you thought I was making a tree skirt.

That would be a great idea too!

Just for fun, I laid all three of the flat panels together

to see what a tree skirt might look like.

Anyway, I just love how these little trees turned out.

And can't wait to start decorating for Christmas next Friday!

Be sure to take a look at all the wonderfully creative

ideas in all of Amy's magazines here.

Hope you have a fun and creative weekend!

I'm joining Terri's "Deck the Halls", Christmas Project Blog Hop at Artful Affirmations.

Poppies

2011-11-11T09:22:00.000-06:00

In honor of all those who served.

Andre's

2011-11-09T19:39:00.005-06:00

Oh, deary me.

Look at all that sugary goodness!!

The diet went right out the window the second I stepped foot in this place.

YUM, YUM!!! And YUM again!!!

Andre's Confiserie Suisse (aka dessert heaven)

has been a favorite among locals since the 1950's.

We stopped for lunch in their little chalet tearoom, where

cowbells, milking buckets and flags added color and interest to the walls.

I had their incredible quiche lorraine, broiled parmesan tomato,
sweet beet-carrot salad and whole wheat rolls. DELICIOUS!

And of course we took some treats home too.

If you're ever in town, I highly recommend it!
(Or just order a box of chocolates online.)

(I was not able to get a good photo of the seating area while I was there, so that one pic is from the web.)

Royal Raiment

2011-11-07T11:07:00.001-06:00

Autumn's royal raiment.

Earthquake Warning System

2011-11-06T11:14:00.008-06:00

Who woulda thought that people living in Kansas would need
an earthquake warning system?

But when Oklahoma starts shaking, apparently we do.

Here is all one needs:

A toy on wheels (in my case, a little wooden pig).

Place it prominently on a shelf in your craft room.

When the whole shelf starts shaking and the pig starts rolling around

you know the earth is moving under your feet.
(like it did yesterday)

Seriously, I hope that all the folks down in Oklahoma are OK.

Sneak Peek

2011-11-01T14:26:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick peek at a little project I'm working on.

I hope to have more to show you in a few days.

Pumpkin Day!

2011-10-31T07:28:00.001-05:00

I sincerely hope the Great Pumpkin visits your patch!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Betsy

2011-10-26T12:43:00.003-05:00

Betsy McCall is ready for the Halloween fun to begin!

This paperdoll magnet "lives" on my refrigerator door.

Visitors to my kitchen have fun dressing her for the weather and changing seasons.

Reading Reptile

2011-10-23T18:29:00.002-05:00

We have the most amazing children's bookstore here in town:

Reading Reptile, Books and Tapes For Young Mammals.

It's a magical place, where all your child's favorite characters come to life!

Every inch, every nook and cranny, is filled with the wonder of picture books.

Even the ceiling is covered!

"Caps For Sale" is a classic.

Chairs in cozy reading areas invite you to sit and peruse books with your child.

The store hosts a storytime, book club, movie night, authors visits,

wonderful birthday parties and many other special events.

Do you recognize all these fun story critters?

My children loved "My Father's Dragon".

When the kids were little, we followed the dinosaur tracks to the store in Westport.

The Reading Reptile relocated a few years ago

to a wonderful new space in Brookside, and my children have grown up,

but I still stop by to purchase books for the other little people in my life.

I hope you will visit soon too!

Celebrate with books! Read to your children!

Pineapple Sage

2011-10-21T16:18:00.001-05:00

Pineapple Sage

Brilliant scarlet blooms and sweet pineapple scented leaves

make this one of my favorite herbs.

* * * *

PS- I found some recipes for use here.

Trick Or Treat!

2011-10-20T08:09:00.003-05:00

(Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Hansel and Gretel

Here is a peek at my two favorite little Trick or Treaters.

(They didn't always appreciate having their picture taken.)

(Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Can you find them all?

Two Kitty Cats
Little Bo Peep and Little Lamb
Little Red Riding Hood
Peter Pan

Goldilocks and Baby Bear
Hansel and Gretel
Cowboy

The Scarecrow and Dorothy (Oz)

Do you have children/grandchildren who will dress up for Halloween this year?

* * *
PS- Yes, I made most of the costumes.
(My sister made the Dorothy costume.)

Sunflower Tea Cozy and Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

2011-10-16T21:21:00.000-05:00

I invited my best friend over for tea this afternoon

so I could use my lovely new sunflower tea cozy from Claire at Sweet Birdy Love.

Isn't it pretty? I love all the cute things she creates for her craft booth!

I brewed one pot with Earl Gray and a second pot with China Oolong

and we sipped tea and chatted away the afternoon.

We also tested out a new cake recipe from Picky Palate.com.
Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cake With Pumpkin Spice Buttercream.
(I hope you will visit her website for this cake recipe and many others.)

Let me tell you, it passed with flying colors.
Yummy! Super moist! And ultra chocolatey!
The pumpkin flavor is very subtle. And I think next time I will add a
tiny bit of cloves and/or nutmeg for additional spice in the frosting.
It made two BIG loaves with enough icing to spread on very thickly.
We ate part of the first one with our tea,
and I shared the second loaf with my new neighbors down the block.

Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cake with Pumpkin Spice Buttercream

Cake:

1 box devils food cake mix

1 small box instant chocolate pudding

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

1/2 cup buttermilk or milk

4 large eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

15 ounce can pumpkin (reserving 2 Tablespoons for buttercream)

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 tablespoons reserved pumpkin

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 to 5 cups powdered sugar

2 to 4 tablespoons milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray two 9×5 inch bread pans with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a stand or electric mixer, place cake mix, pudding mix, oil, buttermilk, eggs, sour cream and can of pumpkin, and chocolate chips–mix all ingredients until well combined, about 1 to 2 minutes. Divide cake batter evenly into prepared bread pans. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until cooked through.

3. While cakes are baking prepare the buttercream. Place butter, reserved 2 tablespoons pumpkin and cinnamon into stand or electric mixer. Mix on high until well combined. Slowly add the powdered sugar until thick and creamy. Slowly add the milk until buttercream is a nice consistency. Frost over cooled cakes, slice and serve.

Makes 16 servings

Notes: This recipe can be used to make 24 cupcakes. Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes, until baked through. This recipe can also be used to make two 9 inch cakes for layered cakes. I’d start the bake time at 30 minutes at 350 and check often from there

Scary!

2011-10-15T23:44:00.002-05:00

Warning!

Some viewers may find this post scary!

So......

I've decided that I don't need to "dress up" for Halloween.

All I need to do is shine a bright blue light on my face.........

OOOoooooOOOooooo!

I'll look like a frightful, blue, ghost.

Or maybe a glow-in-the-dark, alien being that just crawled out of a flying saucer.

Or a frozen, zombie, ice-woman.

Whatever.

This look is sure to send the neighborhood kids screaming for their Mamas.

And I'll get to keep all the halloween candy for myself.

The Turning Of The Leaves

2011-10-12T00:37:00.003-05:00

(The view down my street.)
Autumn casts it's magic spell and nature adorns herself in fiery hues.

Moooooo

2011-10-11T00:24:00.001-05:00

We happened upon these bovine beauties last weekend!

Don't you love farm folk art?

Moooooo!

PS- Are these spotty or dotty?
Can I join Dotty Hop Day??

Celebrate With Apple Pie!

2011-10-09T19:02:00.003-05:00

Special occasions call for pie.

So I peeled, chopped, sprinkled, mixed, piled high and crimped.

Then I cut initials J and B.

Not too bad!

It was yummylicious!

(Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Congratulations to J and B!

Over the years I have modified the Betty Crocker Cookbook apple pie recipe to suit me. I use more apples than the recipe calls for, because I like full pies, not flat ones. I increase the measurements for the sugar and spices too. Then I toss some ground cloves in there, which is not in the recipe at all. I use a mix of apples, Jonagolds, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious, because those hold their apple shape pretty well when cooked (they are juicy but don't turn to mush) and produce the sweet and tart taste I am after.

* * * * *
PS- I have been asked for the pie recipe, so I am adding the recipe as printed in the Betty Crocker Cookbook.

Fresh Apple Pie (9 inch)

Pastry for 9 inch, two crust pie
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash of salt
6 cups thinly sliced pared tart apples (about 6 medium)
2 tablespoons butter

Heat oven to 425. Prepare pastry. Mix sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Stir in apples. Turn into pastry lined pie plate; dot with butter. Cover with top crust that has slits cut in it; seal and flute. Cover edge with 3 inch strip of aluminum foil; remove foil during the last 15 minutes of baking. Bake until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust, 40-50 minutes.
(See my notes above if you are interested in the changes I make to the recipe.)

Standard Pastry (for 9 inch pie)
2/3 cups lard (or 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons shortening)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
4-5 tablespoons cold water

Cut lard/shortening into flour and salt until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl.
Gather pastry into ball; divide in half; shape into flattened round on lightly floured surface. Roll pastry 2 inches larger than pie plate with flour covered rolling pin. Fold pastry into quarters; ease into plate and unfold, pressing firmly against sides and bottom. Fill with pie filling and then repeat with top pastry. Seal and fold under edges. Flute edge. Bake as directed.

Halloween "Decorating"

2011-10-07T10:12:00.003-05:00

This is the only halloween "decorating" I have done so far.

And it was a lot of work.

Do you know how hard it is to get cats to cooperate during a photo session?

Katerina

Natasha

How To Organize A Big Pile Of Floss ?

2011-10-04T17:44:00.004-05:00

I know. I know.

After seeing my recent post about organized quilt fabric, you would THINK

that my embroidery floss would be neatly color coded and wrapped on bobbins.

Well.... no.

The skeins just get stuffed into a wooden sewing box

and I have to dump them all out and sort them to find the color I want to use.

Some folks buy little plastic bobbins from the store.
(But I'm trying to use less plastic.)

Others said they cut their own bobbins from scrap cardboard.
(recycled cereal boxes, etc...)

One friend told me she used a deck of cards.
How do you organize your floss?

Look at THESE cute bobbins from "sugarcookie" on Etsy!

Until I figure out what I want to do,

I will just have to dive into my big pile of floss and hope I don't get too tangled.

Little Red Riding Hood Tea

2011-10-03T15:02:00.010-05:00

Please join me for tea at the kid's table today.

This is the cutest Little Red Riding Hood Storytime tea set.

I like the red and white flower at the bottom of the cup.

Mr. Wolf looks quite dapper in his purple overalls.

And Little Red is adorable in polkadots.

Do any of you toy collectors know the year?

It was made by Ohio Arts, and looks like it may have been in the 70's.

Linking to:

Tea TimeTuesday

Dotty Hop Day

Teacup Tuesday with Terri and Martha

A Day In Parkville

2011-10-01T23:28:00.001-05:00

We decided to spend our day in Parkville.

(McCay Hall, Park University)

We scouted around for unique treasures at the antique mall.

(Do you see anything YOU would have brought home?)

(Parkville Antique Mall, English Landing)

We meandered through all the wonderful little shops up and down Main Street.
They were celebrating Oktoberfest down by the river.

(Shops pictured here include: Peddler's Wagon Quilt Shop, Shabby Hattie's Tea Room,
Christmas On Main Street, Now You're Cookin', Parkville Coffeehouse, Stone Canyon Pizza and more.)

Before heading home, we paused for a few moments in the chapel,
to view the stained glass windows and whisper a prayer for a loved one.

(Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel)

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy

2011-09-26T21:44:00.003-05:00

When I was about 12 years old I read a wonderful book about four sisters.

There were four girls in my family too, and so

one of America's best loved coming of age tales quickly joined my list of favorites.

Little Women

VIV (Vivian Trillow Smith), illustrator at Hallmark cards
designed these doll greeting cards when the 1949 version of the movie came out.

Meg

Beth

Amy

And this is a 1963 Saalfield paperdoll version of Little Women.

Did you have a favorite sister? (from the book.)

(book cover)

Which was your favorite movie version? 1933 with Katherine Hepburn as Jo,
1949 with June Allyson or 1994 with Wynona Rider?

(Movie images found online)

My sisters all live far away,

and this post is making me miss them.

Glass Art

2011-09-25T13:01:00.004-05:00

(Artist: Sam Stang, Missouri)

What do you get when you mix gorgeous art, yummy food, great music,

a picturesque neighborhood and a perfect day?

The Plaza Art Fair!

(Artists: Jim and Renee Engebretson, Wisconsin)

WOW!

I was smitten by the glass pieces this year.

As much as I may have wanted to plunk down $2000 to buy that bowl,

the ol' pocket book said "nope".

(Engebretson)

But these tweet birdies made it back to my house.

(See previous posts about the Plaza here and here.)

Tea Break

2011-09-21T14:23:00.004-05:00

Take a break.

Leave all your stress and worry behind.

Enjoy a nice, hot, cup of tea with me.

(Teacups- Memory Lane, Royal Albert)

Linked to Teacup Thursday.

Fabric Stash

2011-09-20T01:04:00.006-05:00

My quilt fabric stash:

Yes, I am one of those quilters with a drawer for every color.

Pinks

Purples

Reds

Yellows/Oranges

Blacks/Browns

Light Greens

Medium/Dark Greens

Aqua Blue-Greens

Light Blues

Dark Blues

One other drawer (not pictured) for Whites/Creams.

I have two small bins of scraps. (top right)

And a pile of current projects. (top left)

And a drawer full of UFO's. (I did a post a while back on that.)

No, I am not the type of quilter who hides her fabric in every nook

and cranny, under the bed, and between the sofa cushions,

and in the trunk of the car, so her husband will not know how much she has.

And I am not competing in the "she who has the most fabric when she

dies, wins" contest. I have enough stored for now and only

buy more when a project calls for it.

What's your fabric stash like?

C,mon! I showed you mine, now I hope you'll show me yours!

(If you do a post about your stash, be sure to let me know and I'll add a link here.)

Lil Red Hen

Downtown

2011-09-18T22:49:00.001-05:00

We took a trip into downtown today.

(We = Me, my DH, my best friend and her DH.)

It was a good thing we brought our umbrellas.

We waited in a very, very, very, long line (2 hours) to see this:

The brand new Center For Performance Arts!

We heard two groups play. They were amazing!

It was worth the wait.

Then we walked to the Entertainment District for dinner.

Cheers!

Fun day!

Girl Scout

2011-09-15T22:27:00.003-05:00

Were you a Girl Scout?

I was a Junior and a Cadette Scout.

Years later my daughter was a Brownie and a Junior Scout.

(And my son was a Boy Scout, but that's a separate post for another day.)

The dark blue sash was mine.

(We wore blue uniforms, not green like they do here in the US.)

The brown and green sashes belonged to my daughter.

Recognize any of those badges?

Did you have a favorite that you earned?

I had so much fun learning to sew, making centerpieces,

cooking over a campfire and managing my collections!
Remember s'mores?

What fun times those were!

The books and badges and uniforms might look different today,

but the promise to be honest and helpful

and to do good is still the same.

All The Way From France

2011-09-14T14:46:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, my blogging friend, Baukje at Busy Bee Free,

sent me some sweet gifts all the way from France!

A little stocking keychain she knit herself, and

some pretty vintage linens from a vintage and craft festival she attended.

Thank you so much Baukje!! I love it all!

As you can see the pretty flowered apron, battenburg lace napkins and

tiny knit stocking keychain are making themselves right at home among my things.

If you all have not met her yet,

you can visit her blog, Busy Bee Free, here.

She is a talented needlewoman, an amazing gardener and a lovely friend.

Sipping On Green Tea With Lemon

2011-09-13T14:19:00.005-05:00

I'm sipping on green tea with lemon this afternoon.

No pattern name is marked on this Royal Albert teacup.

Do any of you teacup collectors recognize this one?

Small brown lidded dish with lemons- T. G. Green & Co.

Brown Betty teapot covered in a teacozy from my best friend.

Doily- crocheted by Creative Carmelina

Joining:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday with Martha and Terri
A Return To Loveliness

Eat Your Veggies!

2011-09-12T22:33:00.001-05:00

Rosemary Chicken and Roasted Vegetables

Did you eat your veggies today?

I did!

We had Rosemary Chicken and Roasted Vegetables for dinner tonight.

It's so easy to make.

Put skinless, boneless chicken in a baking pan.

Rough chop red peppers, carrots and broccoli.

Lay them out in one layer in a separate baking pan.

Drizzle both the chicken and the veggies with a small amount of olive oil.

Sprinkle both pans with black pepper, rosemary, sage, onion and oregano.

Add a few red pepper flakes to the veggies if you like some heat.

Pour a small amount of low sodium chicken broth into each pan

(just enough to barely cover the bottom) to help keep things moist while cooking.

It also adds a bit more flavor, since I did not add any salt.

Roast in a 350 oven for about an hour, til the meat is cooked through and has a nice light brown tinge.

The vegetables taste so sweet when they are roasted!

Simple and healthy!

(Feel free to substitute any of your favorite veggies and herbs.)

Flying My Flag

2011-09-11T12:26:00.000-05:00

Green Reamers and Nutcracker Sweet Antiques

2011-09-09T23:24:00.005-05:00

It's official. I now have three green glass reamers, so it's a collection.

I can't believe I found the one in the upper right corner for $3 a few days ago.

That's a steal of a deal!

I've had the others for several years and have shown them in past posts.

Two reamers

Making lemonade

Speaking of pretty green glass,

I saw these gorgeous pieces for sale last month

at a little antique shop in Paola:

Nutcracker Sweet Antiques.

Look! They had a reamer just like one of mine!

I really liked the Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls,

the awesome red scale, turquoise coin bank

and little toy iron.

The owner was just as nice as could be.

And there was a cute resident puppy-dog and bird.

Plus there was a great little restaurant next door called Beethoven's No. 9.

It was such a wonderful little shop and I hope to make a return visit soon!

I've Got The Cups Out

2011-09-08T09:11:00.002-05:00

Come on over!

I've got the cups out and am brewing a pot of Earl Grey.

Linking to Teacup Thursday @ Miss Spenser's Tea

Squirrel Chaser

2011-09-07T11:17:00.002-05:00

"Quick! Catch that squirrel!!

Where'd he go?

I don't see him!"

"Wait a minute... how did I get so high up here?

Maybe if I go out on this limb... no that is not working.

Maybe I should try to back down.

Or maybe I'll try to come down head first.

Maybe I won't climb down at all!!

Meow!

Meeeeeooooooow!

Come and get me out of this tree!"

Katerina and the rescuer.

Arboretum

2011-09-05T15:50:00.003-05:00

Follow me to the pond and over the bridge,

Into the garden and under the trees.

Butterflies flit, turtles sun, bees buzz and children run.

A perfect day at the Arboretum.

Joining Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

Blue Plaid

2011-09-04T15:41:00.001-05:00

I seem to have collected quite a number

of blue checked/plaid tablecloths over the years.

And ya'll are not one bit surprised by this statement, are you?

Crazy Daisies

2011-09-01T22:12:00.003-05:00

I'm having so much fun makin' crazy daisies on this little flower loom!
Yarn, ribbon, or raffia wrapped 'round and 'round.

Add a wee bit of sparkle.
One package ready to go.

PS- I think I need to find one of these.

(straw bags, pics from the web.)

And The Winner Is.....

2011-08-31T13:48:00.000-05:00

There were 82 entries.

And the winner is.....

Jemm In The Flint Hills.

Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Vineyard

2011-08-29T13:52:00.005-05:00

We took a day trip to a vineyard and winery.

DH enjoyed the wine tasting and brought a few bottles home.

I just oohed and aahhed over the scenery.

Have you ever done this?

* * * * * * *

My giveaway ends tomorrow!

So be sure to follow my blog and go here to leave a comment so

you can be entered in the drawing.

Good Luck!!

Wild Sunflowers

2011-08-28T00:04:00.002-05:00

You know you're in Kansas when...

...you see these blooming everywhere.

I love our wild sunflowers!

(I wish I could share my blue sky and sunshine
with you folks on the east coast getting battered by Irene.)

* * * * *

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway!

Good luck!

Raggedy Andy

2011-08-27T02:49:00.006-05:00

You all know who this guy is!

Raggedy Andy!

This Andy sits on a shelf in my son's room.

A picture of my two little munchkins, playing outside on their tricycles

with their Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls.

(The photo was taken several years ago. My kids are both in their 20's now.)

When I was a little girl, I had a Raggedy Andy.

I was very attached to him.

This is a sketch my mom made of me when I was young.

See who is in the picture with me?

I loved that doll to pieces.

Literally.

After years of wear and tear, repeated washings and humid conditions, he wore out.

My Mom stitched him back together, numerous times.

And completely replaced a few limbs.

But eventually the fabric was completely broken down.

I still have this one tiny piece of him

tucked away in a little tin of childhood treasures.

I know he loved me as much as I loved him.

Did you have a favorite doll?

* * * * *

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway!

These pretty embroidered pillowcases, vintage linen notecards, and lavender sachet

will be given away to one of my followers.

Go here to leave a comment to enter the drawing.

Ends at midnight on Tuesday, Aug 30.

Good Luck!

Embroidered Pretties For You!

2011-08-25T14:38:00.020-05:00

Thank you so much for reading my blog!!

Garden of Daisies passed another blogging milestone a few days ago.

(Two actually. 200 posts and 400 followers. Made me happy.)

So it's giveaway time!!

I rounded up a few pretty embroidered pieces from

some of my favorite etsy and ebay sellers.

(andie52rose @ ebay, bugsie @ etsy, and dreamcottageboutique @ etsy)

A set of embroidered pillowcases.

Notecards made from vintage linens.

And a lavender scented sachet made from old linens and lace.

For a chance to win:

be a follower of my blog (old or new) and

leave a comment on this post letting me know you are

interested in entering this giveaway.

ALL followers may enter, old or new. And I will ship to wherever you live.

Giveaway ends at midnight on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011.

One winner will be announced on Wednesday, Aug 31.

Good luck to you!

I appreciate you and all the kind and thoughtful comments you leave for me.

Thank you for following my blog!

(PS- You may borrow the pictures in this post if you want to share my giveaway with your friends.)

(PPS- I should have used the term "long time", not "old".
Thank you for having a good sense of humor.)

Trim

2011-08-23T22:49:00.001-05:00

Trying to forget how quiet the house is.

Playing in my box of trim.

I love the daisy lace.

First Day Dresses

2011-08-17T23:40:00.004-05:00

School started this week for the kids in our town.

Brought back memories of my own first days at school.

Two little girls getting ready to walk to school.

I'm on the left. It was my first day of grade one.

My big sister was two years older.

My Mom always dressed my sisters and I up in the cutest outfits.

She sewed all our clothes.

I loved this green corduroy jumper and the floral underdress.

(It's not just a blouse. See some of it is peeking out at the hem?)

(Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

You can see a close up on the fabric of the underdress, because

Mom made me a little apron with the remnants, and I still have that.

The next year there were three little girls heading off for school.

I'm on the far right and starting grade two.

Matching plaid dresses with green velvet ties, made by our Mom.

Even our lunch boxes matched.

(Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

This one was taken several years later.
My much younger baby sister was headed for grade three.

Styles had changed a bit by the 70's.

Look at her Holly Hobbie lunch box!

(Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Do you remember what you wore on your first days of school?

(All pictures in this post were taken by my Mom or Dad.)

I'm joining the Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday.

All The Little Birds Are Flying The Coop

2011-08-15T23:25:00.002-05:00

It's almost empty nest time (again) at our house.

Our son moved back to college for the year.

He moved into a cute little off-campus house with some good friends.

He is really excited about this new experience.

I'm thrilled for him!

And I miss him, already.

Our daughter is moving half way across the country in a couple of days.

She is so excited to be starting on a new adventure.

I'm thrilled she is growing up.

But, I'm going to miss her.

All the little birds are flying the coop.

Being a mommy is really hard.

I know I'll be fine in a few days, after I get used to the changes.

I need a good book or a project to take my mind off of what's happening here.

Any suggestions?

(Embroidered bluebird dresser scarves from my collection of embroidered linens.)

Hostas

2011-08-13T21:59:00.002-05:00

The hostas are in bloom.

Can you imagine this blossom

as a beautiful wedding dress for a garden fairy?

Bluework

2011-08-11T19:51:00.002-05:00

I'm still in the process of washing and taking photos of my linens.

I know some of you love redwork. Well, I love bluework.

Here are some of my blue embroidered tablecloths.

Some are vintage, but the last one is newer.

I love the little flower bouquets in each corner.

Isn't she a cute little Dutch girl?

The art nouveau tulip design would look right at home in a craftsman bungalow.

(No, I don't have one of those.)

I love the blue daisy design that fills the center as well as the edges on this one.

Polkadots are always perfect.

This one is bigger and it was impossible to get a pic of the entire thing.

Vintage Picaninny Towels

2011-08-10T14:26:00.002-05:00

Picaninny dish towels,

appliqued and embroidered by my Grandma,

many years ago.

I think they are cute little girls.

But in today's world would they be considered offensive? Racially insensitive?

What do you think?

These towels have seen better days.

There are several holes, stains and some missing stitches.

But I treasure them just the same.

Linking to Vintage Thingie Thursday @ The Colorado Lady

What's For Dinner?

2011-08-09T00:55:00.000-05:00

What did you have for dinner tonight?

We enjoy eating vegetarian meals fairly often,

especially during the summer months when so much fresh produce is available.

Sauteed Summer Squash, Red Peppers and Herbs over Chipotle Pepper Pasta
Topped with Heirloom Tomatoes and Basil

I sauteed a bit of onion and garlic in olive oil. Then added sliced yellow summer squash, some chopped red pepper, sliced basil and sage leaves, and fresh ground pepper. I cooked it just a few minutes, until the squash softened and browned just slightly. I filled a pretty Williams Sonoma bowl with chipotle pepper pasta (cooked al dente) and spooned the squash over it. Then I added a few fresh heirloom tomatoes and more fresh basil to the top. (You could add some freshly grated parmesan cheese if you wanted to.)

A healthy and flavorful summer dinner in about 15 minutes.

All the ingredients came from the farmers market or my own backyard.

Too much...

2011-08-06T10:45:00.001-05:00

Ever feel like there needs to be this many of you

to do what needs to be done?

Pink Mayfair

2011-08-05T09:44:00.003-05:00

My best friend gave this to me yesterday.

Mayfair (Open Rose) made by Hocking Glass Company between 1931 and 1936.

It's so gray and rainy outside the photo makes it looks purple, but it really is pink.

A few years ago, my friend gave me a cookie jar in this same pattern. It had been handed down to her from her grandmother. Never crazy about depression era glassware herself, she gave it to me. This week she was cleaning out her china cabinet and found another piece, this plate, that matched. So she marched it right over to my house. I love it! You know how much I adore pink roses. Thank you, Miss A.

Speaking of gray and rainy, while it does not make such a pretty picture, we are very grateful to have some cooler temps and a good heavy rain. Our grass, trees and shrubs were desperate for moisture. I hope the weather is cooperating for you too. Blue skies or rain, whichever one you need.

I want to take this chance to say welcome to my newest followers and thank you to those who have been with me for a while. It looks like I recently reached another blogging milestone, so I need to put on my thinking cap for a giveaway idea. Look for that announcement soon. Happy Friday to you all!

Linking to Pink Saturday @ How Sweet The Sound

Embroidered Tablecloths

2011-08-03T14:57:00.005-05:00

I love embroidered tablecloths.

I use them when I invite a friend over for a cup of tea and a chat,

or any ol' time I want to add sweetness to an ordinary lunch in my kitchen.

Teapots, birds and flowers are among my favorite motifs.

These make me smile.

Please pardon the wrinkles.

All four were just washed this morning.

(I did not make these. Somebody, somewhere, spent hours with a needle in their

hand to create these beauties. And I thank them for all their hard work.)

Is there something simple you do to make ordinary days special?

Bananas

2011-08-02T14:54:00.007-05:00

Do you like Bananas?

I found this fun recipe book the other day while vintage treasure hunting

and had to have it!

Yes, I do like to eat bananas,

and even have a few decorative ones around the house.

But
the real reason I love bananas is....

(photo courtesy of the web)

Miss Chiquita Banana!!

She was my music teacher at school for many years.

And I loved her!

Of course she taught us to sing the banana song.

"I'm Chiquita Banana and I've come to say,

Bananas like to ripen in a certain way..."

There were several Miss Chiquita's over the years.

They served as spokesperson's, made appearances and sang jingles.

Some were more famous than others. But this one was my favorite!

Now, while I go figure out how to make Banana Coconut Rolls,

I bet you have memories you could share about interesting people you knew.

Baby Heirloom Tomatoes

2011-07-31T22:18:00.003-05:00

I bought some of these at the farmers market yesterday.

(Doesn't this almost look like a quilt?)

Yum! These baby heirloom tomatoes were delicious!

I sliced them in half and put them over the top of my pasta tonight.

I'll use the rest to make a basil and fresh mozzarella salad tomorrow.

A couple of months ago somebody posted a recipe for a tomato and cheese tart.

Does anyone remember who that was?

Be Happy!

2011-07-30T10:34:00.002-05:00

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

- A. Lincoln

So...

Put a smile on your face.

Count your blessings.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Do something nice for someone else.

I promise, you'll have a great weekend.

Linking my pink zinnias and glads to Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound.

Happy Birthday, Miss Potter!

2011-07-28T20:58:00.002-05:00

Happy birthday to Miss Beatrix Potter.

One of my very favorite children's authors and illustrators.

Botanical artist, naturalist, preservationist, farmer and loving aunt.

Certainly a woman ahead of her time.

Several of her sweet little books are scattered around my house,

along with children's china from Royal Albert and Wedgewood.
(Four of the books were mine when I was a child, and
are looking quite tattered, from repeated readings.)

Which one of her tales is your favorite?

I have to call it a four-way tie between

Pigling Bland, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Tom Kitten and Samuel Whiskers.

PS- April, (Whatever Is Lovely), also did a post about Beatrix Potter today.
Hop on over to visit her at Happy Birthday To You, Miss Potter.

Bath Time For Soapy!

2011-07-25T23:40:00.005-05:00

It's bath time for wee Soapy!

(And it looks like it's laundry time for that dirty robe too!)

Soapy Siddle came with her very own gilded claw-foot tub, plush towel and talcum powder.

My sisters and I had other Liddle Kiddles, but Soapy is the only one I still have.

We had Kiddles that were in perfume bottles, lockets and soda-pop bottles.

They were so much fun to play with!!

(these 3 photos were borrowed off the web.)

If you were a child in the 60's, you probably remember playing with these too.

Did you have a favorite?

Look here- Google images Liddle Kiddles
(I also have some Liddle Kiddle paperdolls, on my paperdoll page.)

Happy Little Bluebirds

2011-07-22T14:45:00.000-05:00

Tweet! Tweet!

I think I have enough little bluebirds scattered around the house

to ensure happiness within these walls for a very long time.

I like that some of them still have their coldpaint faces.

(Paint applied over the glaze, after the firing process.)

At least two of my birds are genuine Shawnee. I'm unsure about the others.
(Any experts out there?)

Shawnee did not mark all of their pieces and there were reproductions made.

It doesn't really matter. I just love the way they look.

What's making you smile these days?

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

Golden Peach Crunch

2011-07-20T22:48:00.006-05:00

Golden Peach Crunch

One of my favorite "comfort food" desserts.

The whole house smells yummy when this is baking.

Golden Peach Crunch

2 cans (1 lb, 13 oz) cling peaches

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 cup oats

1/3 cup melted butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Drain peaches. Mix with cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice.

Put in 8 or 9 inch square baking pan.

Combine rest of ingredients. Mix. Sprinkle onto peaches.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

Serve warm with fresh whipped cream or a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream.

(Sometimes I double the topping for extra crunch.)

I made a double batch tonight.

One pan for my family.

The second pan for a family with a daughter in the hospital.

Please say a prayer for Miss N.

Crazy Crinkles And Wrinkles

2011-07-19T14:36:00.004-05:00

Oooh, I found some green Crinkle!

I love these wrinkled bowls!

"Crinkle" was made by Morgantown Glass Co in the 60s and early 70's.

(and Seneca Glass fulfilled the remaining orders after Morgantown closed their doors in 1971.)

This pattern was made in an amazing rainbow of 25 colors,

with great names like Pineapple, Amethyst, Topaz, Peacock and Gypsy Fire.

But plain ol' green is the one I like best.

At least I THINK these footed sherbet bowls are Crinkle!

There were other wrinkled glassware patterns that looked really similar

and it's kinda hard to tell them apart.

Take a look at ALL these other wrinkled patterns:

(These are not mine.)

"El Rancho" by Bryce,

"Milano" by Anchor Hocking

"Driftwood" by Seneca

and "Lido" by Anchor Hocking.

A person could go crazy trying to keep these sorted out!

Thank you to these websites for help in identifying:

Crinkled and Wrinkled Glass
Those Other Patterns

Amy, Magic Doll

2011-07-16T20:55:00.003-05:00

Do you all remember the paperdolls that had clothes with no tabs?

Their clothes just stuck to them. Like magic.

This is Amy. (Whitman 1968)

I do declare, I must have been out of my mind

when I dressed this poor doll in a thick sweater for the bloggy-fashion-shoot.

It's a roasting outside! She needs to be in a swim suit!

That's better!

Hope you are staying cool, too.

*****
Be sure to visit my paper doll page under the header.

Round-Up

2011-07-15T02:05:00.000-05:00

I have started to round up some creative storage containers that can be used to reorganize my sewing area. My space is neither messy nor disorganized, but it's not very appealing. I'm tired of supplies being stashed in humdrum cardboard boxes and boring plastic bins in the closet. It's time to make this a well-ordered, imaginative and cheery space.

I found a couple of fun pieces at a flea market last weekend and a few others were right here in my own house.

This little doll sized hutch only stands 17 inches high.

It has 2 nice sized drawers and shelves that could display small things.

Maybe I should paint it. What do you think?

I've had this Marjolein Bastin hat box for several years.
Time to put it to better use in the sewing room?

My daughter used this stair-step shelf while she was in college.
Now it might help my organization project go vertical.

Fabric pens would look nice in a bluebird planter.

This wooden filing box was once used for recipes
Hmmmmm... rickrack and trims would fit nicely.

I found a little powder tin with a tight fitting lid.

So many possible uses for it.

I already group vintage spools of thread in milk glass compotes
and display buttons in glass jars.

This is just the beginning. My eyes are peeled for interesting flowerpots, boxes, baskets, baking pans, and other items that can be repurposed. What are your favorite storage and organization solutions? I'm certain to find oodles of clever ideas and artistic inspiration when I browse "Where Bloggers Create 2011".

Dixie Dogwood

2011-07-13T01:09:00.008-05:00

Isn't this a pretty pattern?

It's called "Dixie Dogwood" (Joni)

It's kinda like Blue Ridge pottery...... but it's different.

Sometimes it's hard to tell what's what. If I understand things correctly, some of the designers/artists from the Southern Pottery Inc (Tennessee) who created all the "Blue Ridge" designs, left and went to other potteries in the area, like Stetson. Once at their new jobs, they continued to handpaint the same type of patterns with just slight differences. Later, Erwin Pottery reproduced some of the Blue Ridge designs. To complicate things further, the various potteries marked some of their pieces, but not all. So, confusion ensued, and today people have trouble telling who made what and which one is which.

Look at these pictures and see how easy it might be to get the two mixed up.

(especially if you are not looking at the two side by side.)

One of these is "Dixie Dogwood" (Joni), Stetson.

And the other is "Southern Dogwood", Blue Ridge, Southern Potteries Inc.

My serving bowl is the Dixie Dogwood (Joni). I believe it was made in the mid 50's.

The backstamp is hard to read, but it says:

"The legend of the Dogwood dates back to the crucifixion.

Early lore likens the Dogwood petals,

shaped like a cross and stained with red,

to the Cross of Calvary."

If any of you are collectors and have more (or better) information on this, I'd love to hear from you.

Connecting to:

Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Colorado Lady

* * * * * * *

Look at these wonderful giveaways!!!

Gillyflower

Sweet Bee Cottage

The Kitchen Witch at The Mouth of the South

Embroidered Tea Napkins

2011-07-11T10:10:00.001-05:00

I found some sweet little napkins last weekend

and knew they would be perfect for tea parties with my friends.

I love the delicate embroidery work on these little beauties.

The crocheted and cross stitched hems add a nice finishing touch.

I wonder about the people who made them, and how they came to be in the store.

I wish the original makers knew how delighted I was to find them!

Chicken Scratch

2011-07-09T19:52:00.002-05:00

I went "treasure hunting" today

and here is one of the things I found and brought home.

A green Chicken Scratch apron.

Sometimes called Gingham Lace or Snowflake Embroidery,

Chicken Scratch is done on gingham fabric to create a lace-like design.

I think it's so pretty. And it uses very easy stitches.

Google chicken scratch to find all sorts of images and free patterns.

And this site teaches some of the basic stitches used.

Since I'm showing aprons, I should also share this little cutie.

The tiny apron my Mommy made for me when I was a wee girl.

PS- I see that this has become a popular post.

Please leave me a message so I'll know you were here.

I'd love to "meet" others who are interested in chicken scratch.

Picnic

2011-07-03T18:30:00.007-05:00

Look who came to our picnic!!

(My DH. I love his sense of humor!)

(family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

(Nieces)

Enjoy the time you get to spend with your family!

(SIL, nephews and niece.)

(family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Have a good splash in the water!

Stay cool!

Happy July 4th!!!

--PS--

There is a brownie giveaway going on

over at Mouth of The South!!

Happy Birthday, Canada!!

2011-07-01T15:32:00.012-05:00

(In the red dress picture, I'm the one on the right.)
(All photos by my Dad and/or Mom.)

Dear Canada,

Happy birthday!

Thank you for being such an amazing place

to spend my childhood years.

Love you forever,

Garden Of Daisies

(I'm in the brown jacket.)
Hiking above Lake Louise.

Pictured in this post:
Lake Louise, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Moraine Lake,
Banff, Kamloops, Vancouver, Cranbrook, Hope-Princeton Hwy, the Ogopogo (Kelowna)

Red, White and Blue

2011-06-27T18:41:00.006-05:00

Decking the halls

in red, white and blue!!

DH hung the flag buntings under the windows.

I love my little house, especially when she's dressed for the holidays.

Do you see my kitty cat at the door?

She meows when the flag waves in the breeze.

All this sunshine and rain is making the herbs happy!

Do you have big plans for Independence Day?

It's really hot here, so look for us near the water.

Bright Summer Bouquet

2011-06-25T15:01:00.002-05:00

A bright summer bouquet

from my favorite vendor at the Farmer's Market.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tea Cozy Winners!!

2011-06-22T15:38:00.002-05:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my tea cozy giveaway! I appreciated your help in spreading the word. And thank you for all your sweet comments. The compliments were more than these simple cozies deserved.

I wish I had enough tea cozies for everyone. But I only made 4. I recently learned that Marilyn Delights Of The Heart sells tea cozies that are similar to the ones I made. She also sells a pattern. So if you did not win one of my cozies today, I recommend visiting her tea shop, Marmalady's.

And now let's get on with announcing the 4 winners!

* * * * * *

#1 Gathering Mushrooms

Baukje of Busy Bee Free

* * * * * *

Tiffany Blue and Chocolate

Linda of Friendship Tea

* * * * * *

#3 Green Garden

Concetta of Concetta's Cafe

* * * * * *

#4 Rose In Bloom

Maura of Lilac Lane Cottage

Congratulations!!

Please send your addresses so that I can mail your cozies out.

Piglet Cutting Boards

2011-06-19T17:29:00.014-05:00

What has a curly tail and a cute little snout?

Why a little piglet cutting board, of course.

Did you grow up with one of these in your kitchen?

My first piggy board came from Mrs. E.,

the little old lady who lived next door to my grandparents.
(third one down in the collage)

The other three were found here and there.

Oink! Oink!

Each board is unique.

Look at the differences in the eyes, ears, snout and tail.

Some are fatter than others. Some are smiling.

One day I hope to have enough wooden piggy boards to make a border

on the wall above my kitchen table.

Me. The girl who loved little pigs.

* * * * *

I want to welcome all the new faces to Garden of Daisies,

And say thank you to everyone who has helped

to spread the word about my giveaway!!

The deadline to enter the drawing is Tueday, June 21.

Click here to enter.

* * * * *

I have just added a language translator to my sidebar.

That should make it easier for friends in other countries to read my blog.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-17T16:01:00.005-05:00

My Daddy

(Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

Best Dad in the whole world!

Happy Father's Day!

(Several of these pictures were taken by my Mom and my sisters.)

Don't forget to sign up for my tea cozy giveaway here.

Village Green

2011-06-14T15:09:00.004-05:00

Village Green

My own little global village.

This is one of my unfinished quilts. (I know, I need to get these things finished up.) Please pardon the wrinkles. I just pulled it out of a drawer. Three of the four main blocks in this quilt were from a block exchange.

Each of the little buildings/houses is unique.

I pieced the Kansas pioneer sod house. Each block of sod is a little rectangle of fabric. And the door opens.

My sister made the church. She was inspired by a beautiful Colonial church in Brazil, where she lived at the time. I love the palm tree and the leafy vegetation. It looks so real.

My Australian friend made the farmhouse with the front porch and flower garden. It is the house she grew up in. (This one was not part of that block swap, but was given to me at a different time.)

And the pink house with the yellow roof was made by another American participant in the swap.

I thought all the little houses should be gathered together, peacefully, in one village. And this is the result.

* * * * * *

Don't forget - I'm having a TEA COZY GIVEAWAY for my followers (old or new). There will be four winners. All you have to do is follow my blog and Leave a comment here, telling me which one(s) you would like to win. Good luck!