Creepy Birds and Other Things

We went camping over this past weekend and I had to take this picture. These are buzzards sitting on the electrical tower. They were so creepy - you could hear them flapping their wings and smacking against each other and the metal on the tower. I could also hear the electricity buzzing along the lines - nice backdrop to camping in the great outdoors, huh? And a note to my sister - "NO, these are not eagles!"

It wasn't all buzzards, we made smoores over the campfire too - of course my picky kids only ate the chocolate. I haven't ever shared a picture of our doggy - I thought he looked so handsome here. He LOVED camping - he even did pretty well on the floor of the camper during the night. We're looking forward to more fun weekends - just campsites without buzzy buzzards and electricity - and o yeh, flush potties might be a nice addition too!!!!

I have gotten some sewing time in this past week. This is a Yo Yo pin I made for a customer - I just loved the pink and brown together. She is going to pin it to a chocolate brown hat for her little girl.

This is a custom order I did after a customer spotted my apron in these same fabrics. We got an early start on Trick Or Treating last night at church. Just had to share a picture of "Belle" and the "Lion". My boy basically drug his sister all around the parking lot and kept saying, "Tricky Treat, Roar!" all night. Too cute. (Yep, that a Jedi in the background)

My sister is doing a few craft shows for me and I've been trying desperately to get some products ready to send to her. The first one is November 15th - so it's really fast approaching. I'm cutting, glueing, like crazy.

Thank you for all of your comments on the Giveaway! I've had a great time reading all of your comments! I don't have a tally yet on the sweater - but I'll be sure to share once I do. Of course, my hubby thinks he's in the lead, but I'm not sure! I do think the sweater is destined for better things - whether that's a spot in the back of my closet or some more cutting and sewing.

You still have until midnight Friday to leave a comment and/or link me to your blog for an additional entry. We'll draw a name Saturday! Good luck!

Got to run.....my 2 year old has water blasting from the sink in the bathroom and I have no idea what the damage is!! Better go check it out - then run to the store for some cold medicine and tissues - we're all coughing and stuffed up this week.

GiveAway Time is Here!

and just in time for the holidays too! Lucky you.
I decided since this is my blog, I can change my mind, and I have. Instead of looking at this (like previously mentioned)
I'm just not a curtain person. I picked these cute little panels up in Round Top a few weeks ago and would like to use them, but I'm struggling. I've decided not to put you all through the pain, I'll just show you the results when it's done - probably another 6 months from now!Anyway, I'm having you look at this:I crafted it one day earlier in the month when I was feeling feisty with a pair of scissors and not so much love for a blue sweater I'd had forever. I decided to cut it up the front, add bias tape to the edges, add lace to the front, and a cool vintage button on top.

Problem is, my hubby thinks it's utterly hideous. I mean, he doesn't think it should be worn out of the house, it's so bad. I've already slung it on a few mornings when it's still dark outside to haul my girl to school in the wee hours.

Do you all think it's that bad????

You have to vote, that's the thing. That's it. You tell me, is it really that bad? If so, I promise never to wear it out again, period. If not, well, it may end up being my go to cardigan this winter. I will willfully accept the results.

So, here's what you have to do:

#1 Leave a comment, either Yay, or Nay on the sweater

#2 AND go to my Etsy Shop site check out what's for sale, and what's been sold and tell me your favorite.

Easy Peasy. If you post about the Giveaway and link me from your blog, I'll give you another entry.

What do you win???? That's really what you're after, I know!

You win a crocheted hat - either in child's size or baby's size - just let me know in your comments which you'd prefer. I'll pick the exact hat once the contest is over.

I'll accept entries starting today, Monday the 27th, thru Friday the 31st.....

Each entry will be place in a hat, and one winner will be drawn on Saturday morning.

You don't have to be a blogger to enter, just provide me with a valid e-mail address.

If the winner doesn't respond within 3 business days, another winner will be drawn.

Be sure to check out Bloggy Carnival for more Giveaways!

Good Luck!

Vintage Overalls for my Boy

I had to share a picture of my boy in this pair of overalls. I'm calling them "vintage" because I know they are at least 32 years old, maybe a little older. My husband wore them as a little boy and I believe my brother-in-law (my boy's uncle) wore them as well, so they are special.

He spotted the crows in the front yard in this picture.
I can't make out the brand very well on the front label, but the brass buttons say "FLY's". The label on the front looks like it has a butterfly and some other wording, but it's very worn.

Anyway, I love them and am so glad that my boy can wear them too. He looks like a little farm boy.

Craft Club Crafters at it Again!

We met last night at Shannon's house for our monthly Craft Club get together. Her husband said it looked like a sweat shop in their dining room when he returned home. We had fabric scattered all over, scissors flying, irons steaming and sewing machines humming along until about 11pm last night - but well worth it!
Here's what we did:

Here's the back.... cute, don't you think??Close up of the front.....I had trouble getting the color just right on my camera, the colors are actually more vibrant. Also, the other girls are supposed to e-mail me their photos - so when they do, I'll be sure to include them here.

What has your craft club been up to lately??

Top Ten Things I am Avoiding Lately (and it's NOT Dancing with the Stars)

1. the pile of laundry in the laundry room (as well as bits scattered thither and yon throughout the house)
2. unmade beds
3. dishes on my counter that need to be "handwashed" - don't you hate those??? (I've gotten in to the habit of taking my travel coffee mugs with me when I take my girl to school in the early, early morning, unfortunately, you can't put those things in the dish washer, it'll result in coffee spilled down your shirt, early, early, in the morning....which just leads to more laundry....)
4. creating a Family Budget. I've vowed to do this, but ugh, it's a pain. Got to do better about those spur of the moment purchases (like diet cokes in the afternoon between the hours of 2-4pm...it is Happy Hour afterall at Sonic! Half price drinks! - and more caffeine to get me through the afternoon)
5. cutting back on caffeine (who has the time?)
6. excercise (enough said.)
7. bills and receipts staring at me from my desk as I type this
8. dust "drapes" on my ceiling fans
9. putting curtains up in my kitchen
10. putting curtains up in my boy's room


Here's what I have been doing:

*Anticipating the Dancing with the Stars episode tonight!! WaHoo!!
*Sewing, cutting, crocheting, little hats and Yo Yo's
*Changing diapers
*grocery shopping
*Kindermusik this morning with my boy
*eating the crumbs left over from purchased bake sale goods this weekend.
*blowing my nose (I've got some sort of crud, allergies or a cold or something annoying)


What have you been up to????

Lookee

I've never been real happy with the hang tags that I've had on my products. So, yesterday amidst a clingy toddler, I was able to create these..............

I didn't even need to take a trip to the store for any supplies, just used what I had on hand. I'm hoping they give my items a more cohesive look at craft shows, etc. since 90% of my things are one of a kind and can look quite different.

what do you think?

Fall Fun

What a handsome boy, don't you think?! I took my boy to the Pumpkin Patch last week with a group of friends and their children. It was so much fun! I tried not to say too much in front of my girl, since she was sad that she wasn't able to go (kindergarten). It was nice though to have that outing with just my boy. I was able to do lots of things like that with my girl when she was little, but it seems like now I'm just hauling my boy around to all of his sister's activities.
I let him make the Snack Mix yesterday. He thought that was so neat, getting to mix everything together. This was actually a good activity for him, since he's just starting to get interested in helping me in the kitchen (once again, just like his big sister - Monkey See, Monkey Do). No real mess to clean up in the end.
Lacie gave me recipe last year - it's really just M&M's, cashews, raisins, and candy corn. Of course, my boy is eating only the "M ees", no big surprise there.
I may have to move the stash to the cupboard so he can't see it - just in a location so his mom can eat it all day.
Also, just so you know, this is the only picture I could get of him with a smile. He refused to open his eyes, little toot.

Yumm...................
I love fall!

How to Clean Vintage Linens

Several people have asked me how I launder my vintage linens. Most of the fabric that I buy is not in perfect condition, so I frequently have to spend a fair amount of time using various methods to get stains out.

So... here is my "Recipe". I mainly have white items - so please check the colorfastness on your items before deciding to wash them, you don't want to ruin your entire load of goodies - good luck rescuing your linens!

Here's what you need:

1 cup Clorox II (color safe bleach)
1 cup Biz

1 cup Cascade (dishwashing detergent)

Fill washing machine with very hot water.
Add all 3 ingredients to hot water.
Let washer agitate to mix thoroughly.
Let water cool down to room temperature.
Let washer agitate again to mix thoroughly.
Add all materials to be soaked and agitate only for a couple of minutes.
Every few hours agitate the wash for a few minutes.
Soak for 3-4 days (Yes, DAYS!) or as needed (or as tolerated, because I KNOW you have other things to wash!)

Hints for leftover stains:
Lay wet material in green grass in hot sun and mist with lemon juice.
Clorox bleach pens work great for small stains (just be sure to wash your items afterwards, bleach can eat holes in your linens)
Borax or Oxiclean are great for brightening items (just be sure not to breath in the dust!)
Using 1 cup of white vinegar in your wash, can also help brighten colors and remove smelly odors.
Drying linens on the clothes line if you have one will air them out beautifully
Dish Detergent is good for stains like grease


Check TipNut for more ideas on cleaning vintage linens:
http://tipnut.com/cleaning-vintage-linens-soak/

Giveaway coming soon.....

It's coming soon! I'm making you work for it a little though by asking for your ideas and opinions. Here is a hint.....I'm thinking should be in the next week or two - will keep you posted!!!

A Hook and Yarn

Several years ago, during a trip to Mississippi, my mother in law gave me a handful of these crochet hooks that her father had hand carved from a Bodock tree. On the drive back to Alabama, she taught me a simple chain stitch, and from then on, I've been hooked!

I bought a book on crochet and taught myself. I love having an excuse to sit down, do something relatively mindless and somewhat meditative, and still be productive. Of course, my husband is still scared to death that I'll crochet him a sleeveless vest or even a tie and expect him to wear it.

Please look past my unkept fingernails. I know you'll forgive me since I have been cleaning up after my 2 year old boy today - let's see.....cereal mixed with water dumped in my bathroom sink (then more water blasted on top, makes a great mushy mess), an entire box (not bag) of goldfish crackers dumped out in his lap, while strapped in his carseat while travelling down the highway - these crackers are now wedged in various locations inside my car since they were hurled at me while I was driving, one large glass of water poured onto the carpet in my bedroom - which had been sitting quietly on a bedside table, and last but not least - a bottle of massage oil from a decade ago (because, honestly, who has a two year old and a 6 year old and has a need for massage oil?!!) was poured out onto my tile (thankfully, not carpet) floor - this makes a great slippery surface for mom or dad when exiting the shower. Now then.........So, I've gotten my hooks out again and started working on these:

Don't the yo-yo's look pretty?? My sweet sister has volunteered to man several craft shows for me in Indiana this holiday season. So, these are hopefully headed that direction before too long -

do you crochet?

Boys

Just wanted to share a few photos of the boys' tag blanket and burp clothe sets I've completed for my dear customer.

hope you are all finding some creative time today!

Boys on the Brain

For some reason, I'm drawing a blank on blog posts this week. Maybe it's because last weekend was so much fun and I spent all last week getting excited about it. This week, I'm just going through the motions and crossing things off my to-do list.


I have been sewing however.
I have been invited to a baby shower for Saturday and I've been busy making these...A burp clothe/changing pad, taggie blanket, and a diapee/wipee case. So, the invitation asks that we each bring one 12x12 scrapbook page ready for pictures. Well, I'm not really a scrapbooker. I think I'd like it if I wasn't into sewing so much. I just don't feel like dragging everything out each time I want to work on it. So, with some trepidation, this is what I came up with............
It's a bad picture, I know. A bit hard to see, but I did machine zig zag stitch around the green rectangles and also sewed on the rick rack. I had to get a little sewing in there somewhere, or they'd never know it was from me. Nothing knock out, but I think it'll do.
I also received an order from a great customer of mine for 2 sets of boy burp clothe/taggie blankets. So, then she e-mailed me again for another one, possible two! What's up with everyone having boys lately? That's ok, it stretchs my brain a little creatively.