Button It Up!





Daisey Sweater going to
 Outreach Appalachia

I am starting to make a dent in the mess of unfinished stuff that I have accumulated over the years and it feels good. I still have tons of stuff to complete but I am making progress. Wouldn't you know that while I was trying to locate some loose matching buttons for the baby sweaters I came across a long ago lost earring. For a second I was giddy with excitement because I loved those earrings until I remembered that I sold the orphaned one at a  "gold party" a  few years ago. I'll get over it I guess but it is a "bummer".

Peach Infant Sweater
for my friend's baby!

I'm beginning to understand the "slippery slope" between collector and hoarder. Sometimes when I watch the hoarder shows I get the urge to go through their stuff.....I don't know if this is normal thinking or not.....hmmmm maybe not.

Peace and Love, thanks for following and encouraging me!

Button, button who's got the button?

 Today we are going to talk about buttons. No not "Red Buttons" the dapper gentleman and 40s movie star to the right, and no not belly buttons either (I'll spare you the photos) but buttons for sweaters and clothing. I love buttons and I have been known to buy them even when I don't know what I will use them for.(such as little green frogs) Buttons are usually the final touch for a project and seeing that I can never get that far I finally made the effort to match the buttons with the project



  and

sure enough I found a few more baby sweaters just waiting for the perfect buttons.  Stay tuned for the finished products. One tiny little peach colored sweater will go to a new baby due this fall, the other one I will donate to  the Appalachian Outreach Project!

  Peace and Love....Have a great week.







 

AHOY!!!!

Ahoy!

  This is a picture of me, my mom Lucille, my sister (in-law) Tamara and her mother Peg. We went on a mother/daughter cruise together a few years ago and had a blast! From the moment we boarded the ship to the minute we got home we laughed ourselves stupid.(mostly Peg's antics with the crewmen, but that's another blog altogether.)

 

 

We spent 7 days eating,drinking shopping, sight seeing and gambling, (O.K. maybe I was the only one gambling and drinking). We spent hours talking, sharing and bonding but it was bitter sweet. You can't tell by the picture but Peg's health was not good. She was seriously ill and we all knew this would probably be the last time she would be able to travel like this.

  I knew I was experiencing something very special.

   Not long after we got home and as Peg's health declined she began clearing out her sewing room and gave me some of her fabric. Among it was several yards of gorgeous vintage upholstery fabric; black and red with an Asian theme.  Of all of the projects that I have "put off" this one has bothered me most. I vowed that day that I would make something special for my sister-in law with the fabric. She loves pocketbooks and purses and has an eclectic collection. I decided I would make her one as a tribute to her mother and a memorial of our cruise.

Of course I never finished it. I did everything but put the shoulder strap on and it has sat in my "closet" since 2009

Here it is Tamara! I finally finished it!

I'll get it to you soon!

Enjoy!

 xoxo

American Girl

Well here she is,

 American Girl  Doll 

modeling the

 Finally Finished dresses that were started last summer. Thanks to my niece (and namesake) Jackie for loaning  me her kid's doll.  I promise to return it soon. (I still have a few more half done outfits to complete) 

McKenna and Nina

These outfits will go to my great nieces McKenna and Nina. They were supposed to get them last Christmas but I guess I'll give them to them now . As the old saying goes, "better late than never" right?"Let’s face it kids get too much for Christmas anyway. 

      I have to say this project was actually fun for me.  Dressing the doll brought back memories of my own doll playing days. I must admit though while brushing American Girl's hair I had to resist the overwhelming urge to cut it. You know give her bangs or even put her hair in a ponytail and then cut it off.  What little girl doesn’t eventually do that? I managed to resist that temptation. 

      As a  youngster I played with dolls alot longer than most kids I think. I’m sorry to say those days didn’t end well. It all started when Barbie was having a party with her friends. Before she knew it Ken and some of his friends arrived. Then  G-I Joe ( who is short but  mighty ) showed up  uninvited  with a group of his buddies.  Well pretty soon the party took a bad turn. Nurse Barbie turned into Dirty Barbie and well, you know how the rest of that story.

Have a great day.

 Peace and Love,

Enjoy the final days of Summer



     

Cheers! (or should I say Chairs)

 If being a procrastinator isn't bad enough I am also a obsessive "thriftor". I like nothing better than to spend my spare time (and money) scouring second hand stores, consignment stores and thrift shops. This of course only adds to my procrastination tendencies for the obvious reasons. (no time)  Many of the items I buy need work. i.e painting, stitching or cleaning. Those things, to Bob's delight are stored in my cellar waiting their "refurbishing". Bob by the way has expressed concerns about me becoming a hoarder.....I say peshaw! Don't worry you will see them all in time as they are part of my commitment here. Other things thankfully are ready to wear or use. Here is the chair I bought at the Second Glance yesterday. I love it. It was a steal at only $15.00. It is sturdy, clean and matches my living room. 
    Second Glance thrift shop is my daily stop on the way home. they are on facebook too.
     Last month I entered a chair re-conditioning contest there. All proceed went to the local food pantry. Check out my entry on my finally finishing facebook page to see the results.(link located above this page on right.  Don't forget to "like me")  SPOILER ALERT.....NO I DIDN'T WIN although my mother thinks I should have.

Burning the Midnight Oil



Then



I have come to accept that I do indeed need accountability in some shape or form to get anything done. Why I can't finish anything remains a mystery. Sunday night I dragged my sorry butt  into bed; remote control in one hand and an Oreo Klondike Bar in the other. I clicked through the stations but before I could settle on anything this Blog and the unfinished potholder surfaced. I tried my best to put it out of my mind but NO CAN DO. I wiped the chocolate from my hands and FINALLY FINISHED the potholder from 1981.

 

Now

Where did the time go? 

Stay tuned for the American Girl Doll dresses. I am waiting to borrow a doll to model them. If that doesn't happen soon I'll put them up anyway. See you soon, Peace and Love!

 And as they used to say on one of my favorites T.V. shows way back when:

 Be safe,

Sgt. Stan Jablonski of

 "Hill Street Blues"

 It's a jungle out there. Let's do it to them before they do it to us.

"ONE" is the Lonliest Number

Surprise! Look what we have here! A half finished potholder with my son John's hand print from 1981. I found  this relic while I was searching in the bowels of my basement for the black fabric I will need to complete yet another project. The surprise wasn't really that I found this potholder but that I would make one. I don't cook so I have little need for it and this was years before I "groomed" Bob for such tasks. It must have been a gift for my mother. Who else would give a hoot about how cute my kid's chubby little hand is? This project will present many challenges. First off it is discolored, stained and very dirty, not to mention trying to camouflage the popular 70's early 80's orange and gold palate.  Martha Stewart will have to advise me. In the meantime as not to show favorites or hurt feelings  I  invite you both, Meagan and Justin to stop by anytime and let me trace your hand print too. Of course that will make for two big-ass potholders.



Probably around 1981 when the said handprint was taken.
Once again stay tuned for the finished project.
Peace and Love