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.

The Great Escape! Round Top/Warrenton

Round Top was great! We all just kept saying - "OMG - I can't believe how much stuff there is!" It literally kept going, and going, and going. Fun road trip, fun friends, good food, dirty feet, found treasures, close quarters = one great weekend! We could have shopped for a week and still not have seen everything.


"Clutter" - the mantra of my life it seems lately! One cute tent too....

The Coffee Bug - I just thought this was too cute for some reason. Who would have ever thought to put a Volkswagon Bug with a camper?
Some refreshment at Royer's Zapp Hall................. good chicken salad, ice cold tea, and great people watching.
The Mae Ola House - our home away from home!
Some of our fun finds! I just know you wish you had found them first! Hop over here at Forever Flamingo and ask Lacie about her 4 ft. plastic Santa!

Here's my stash......... (minus a really cute barn wood wall hanging with a star cut out for my boy's room). I'm really, really loving all of it. The recipe box is cedar lined, tongue and groove with a Bakelite handle. The ladies that sold it to me were so sweet and fun to chat with.

The train case is this great yellow color. I'm planning to store some of my fabric stash/sewing supplies in there.

The "Bird Barn" was just cute - not sure where to hang that yet. And, the wooden picture of the lady doesn't have a spot yet either. My hubby isn't too sure of her - one of those, "and, WHY did you buy that?" purchases. But I love her anyway.

All of my linens - awaiting a good, hot, sudsy wash............ Yes, that is a naughty Christmas apron laying there!

We stopped in Giddings at the Taco Bell - flush toilets and soap with a sink were definitely the high points. Then, at Health Camp in Waco for the best milkshake I think I've ever had!