Happy Friday!

What's up? 

Happy Friday! 

Long time no type! I mean, see! 

Lots goin on 'round here. 

Not exactly exciting in the grand scheme of things but some new stuff happenin and whirling in my head.

Please permit me a moment of whining and 

then I'll move on.

I have decided to give up Craft Shows. 

(Did I tell y'all this already?) Anyways, the last one was last 4th of July. I sold NOTHING. Zero, zip, zilch. 

On top of the disappointment it poured rain several times that day - along with thunder and lightening. 

We only had the shelter of our pop-top canvas roof. 

 I was scared to pieces. North Carolina is #2 in the nation behind Florida in deaths by lightening.

All my merch was soaked - good thing it's all 100% cotton, right?

BillHubby and I broke down early cause all was wet - no way to sell that - and took turns toking stuff 2 1/2 city blocks to our truck. arrgghh.

My inventory was gifted, sold to neighbors and some of it is in a cute shop in Wake Forest, NC -  

Nereidas Nifty Threads  

Nereida is gathering all sorts of cool craft creations for her shop, which is adorable!

Then came the Fall and my brilliant idea to teach folks how to sew.

Ha! 

I put out flyers all over the place. 

No one called. 

So I'm taking a new approach. 

I've been sewing, stitching and knitting for my family and myself. I'm gonna be selfish for a while.

I'm planning some bloggie fun too. 

 Try It Tuesdays with recipes I tried over the weekend.

What's On Your Needles Wednesdays? to share 

(show off) what I'm knitting or stitching.

Thrifty Thursdays for recent Thrifting finds.

Fabulous Friday featuring free vintage embroidery patterns and other fabulous stuff.

Folks - keep me honest on this. If I miss a week of blogging please holler at me!

Stay tuned.   

Stay tuned. 

 

 

 

VTT in my corner of Our Workroom/Den

Testing a new background and layout! All those little techie thingys make my brain hurt!!!

Happy VTT to you all!!!!

Last week I overwhelmed you with a whole room. I do get carried away sometimes!

This week I'll just show y'all the corner of our workroom/den that is mine.  More specifically - the stuff on my wall over my ginormous cutting table. (Yeah, go ahead and be jealous of my cutting table - heehee)

From left to right...........

Peaking from those 3 wide shelves of de-stash fabric - box that now contains only one of the original 45's of the  "Show Boat" soundtrack.

Lucky me, the remaining record is Ava Gardner singing "Bill."  The producers didn't want to use her voice even though they all agreed she sang beautifully.

A really, really old Ouija board from my great Grandparents House.  The pointer is missing so we can't conjure spirits or answers to our innermost questions ;-)

A closer view of my thimble collection and some old wooden spools, some with thread.

The lower half with more threads, a trinket from Washington, DC, tatting shuttles and a cute old bottle that held Violet perfume.

I love my "Ladies who Shop and Lunch" Coca-Cola ad.  The old magazine ad also mentions that the ladies outfits were made with Vogue sewing patterns!  Cool Clemson poster above.

 Just the other side of my cool scrap organizer I have another old magazine ad with Gene Tierney selling us Lux with Color Freshener! James Cagney pic from a now closed Applebee's restaurant, pennants from fav teams.  (My 1960's Wake Forest pennant is on another wall.)

My first Barbie clothing pattern. 

I have other patterns framed but those pics are far worse than this one!

Here we have my teachers, my Grand Mothers.

To the left there I am with Grandma Porter.  She was evidently the giver of the tools, hat and apron.

To the right is [Grand]Mama Holbrook and my Mom at the oft mentioned Great Grand Parents house.

Both Grands taught me about cooking and sewing and gardening and so much more.

I miss them, but the pictures (which I just slapped up on the wall behind a glass with thumbtacks)

remind me of their unconditional love and guidance.

Be sure to visit Suzanne's blog, ColoradoLady to find links to all the other VTT  posts.

Before you go, I added one thing to my De-stash along 2010 list!  I've been sewing others folks' stuff and haven't taken much time to do stuff for us.

AND

Here are our two new additions - I've adopted 2 feral neighborhood cats.

Kitteh Kitteh Lovey

She's a teeny (7 lbs) talker!  Skittish but comes when called and loves her catnip toys.

and

Stanley

He roams but we did manage to get him fixed last week.  Stanley likes to come in for short visits and loves to be rubbed and to purrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

No Grand daughter Aubree yet!!!  But soon!

Vintage thingies Thursday - more violets!

Gads! where does time go!?!

Been busy busy so I'll be quick here.

More violets -  

Hanging in the bathroom.  No clue what pattern or company.  Just bought 'em cause I like 'em.

I cross-stitched this back in 1980. Finally put the pillow together with some vintage damask like cotton about 10 years ago.
















This last violet isn't vintage  - yet!
It's a tattoo on my Katharine's foot.  In honor of my fav flower!  That's love!










Quick peek at what I've been doing this week -

Pulled out my Trusty Sunbeam ($10 at a yardsale!!) and GrandMa Porter's cake pan

and baked a Molasses cake!

And I've been playing with fabric and applique

 

Do you see a turkey?

2 or 5 acorns? Which do you like better?

Now scoot over to Suzanne's ColoradoLady blog and see all the Vintage Thingys!

Vintage Thingies Thursday and a Give Away

As I said earlier - I love September for many reasons!

It's National Sewing Month!
It's my Birthday month - I'll be 50!
It's my daughter Katharine's Birthday month - she'll be 22!
It's College Football kick-Off Month! Go Tigers! Go Demon Deacons!
It's cooler!
It's Fall!
It's time for another GiveAway! Check it out!

Now for somethingys Vintage.

I've shown you things from my Mom's Dad's family and home place. So here's a bit from Mom's Mother's history. We all called her "Mama."



This is the Church her family attended. It was a "Circuit Church" meaning one Pastor was assigned to Moss Chapel and at least 2 other congregations. He would have services at each place on a rotating basis. Believe it or not there are still several Methodist Churches on circuits, including Mama's church.










Isn't it sweet?



















I remember attending a Christmas service there with my family and Mama and her sisters and all the uncles and cousins who were nearby. Twas COLD!! with one wood stove up front. The Pastor asked for all the children to come forward to sing "Away in a Manger." Mama shoved me out in the aisle. Couldn't hide - wished I could be invisible - didn't know a soul there but family - managed to sing and not die. Mama was so proud! I didn't understand til I had my own children :)


The building and grounds have been updated since I was a little girl. They have heat and air conditioning now! Anyone else remember those fans on a stick that we used way back when? And other modern conveniences have been added too....




His AND Hers! Mama didn't get to see these being added but I am sure she would have had more than a few jokes and "true" stories to tell about such places.


It's Homecoming this week at Moss Chapel. Mom is going and we are wishing we could join her and Mama's one remaining sister and all the cousins. The food is always wonderful!!!!


And there's always a stroll through the cemetery where I learn more about our ancestors.

Have I mentioned we are pack rats? Yeah, I know, I have. Here are the Barbie cloths that Mama helped me sew. She taught me how to sew by hand way before I was allowed to think about even looking at a sewing machine!



Poor Barbie would look like a sad bag lady if I were to dress her in these now.

Thanks for stopping by. I know I was late posting VTT today but just in case you haven't looked yet - go over to our dear hostess, Suzanne's site, Coloradolady, and check out all the other Vintage Thingys!



And don't forget to check out my Give Away!

Vintage Thingie Thursday - My Sewing Machines

What brand and model do you have?

I have 3 machines:

1960 Kenmore














1972 Kenmore














and a brand new Singer Futura















How long have you had it?

'72 was a gift 10 years ago, '60 I bought at the Habitat for Humanity Home Store about a year ago, Futie joined us last October


How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

'72 - free in the cabinet with the matching and very uncomfortable chair
'60 - $40 in the cabinet with the adorable matching chair
Futie - Big Bucks but I split it with a decorator friend. I do her sewing and monogramming.


What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?

I sew home decor items (pillows, bed skirts, pillow shams, window treatments,) alter clothes (hate it,) make aprons, tote bags but my fave thing to do is make clothing.


How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I try to sew every day, mostly on '60, but she has been misbehaving lately so I'm glad to have '72 as back up. Futie is strictly for embroidery.


Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?

I love '60 and '72. They are sturdy workhorses. Futie is seriously light (in my opinion) but she is good for embroidering. She has way too many bells and whistles and beepy noises for me to put up with in daily use.

They are named '60, '72 and Futie - couldn't you tell?


What features does your machine have that work well for you?

The basicness of '60 and '72 are perfect for what I love to do. I have always said that if my Great Grandma didn't have nor need it then why do I? (I was one of the last people on earth to get a microwave.)


Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

Futie's beeping at me and having to haul '60 and '72 an hour away to get service.


Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!

My [Grand]Mama lived "with" us in her own apartment that she built on to our ranch style house. She taught me to sew, embroider and knit. (She tried to teach me crochet but it didn't stick.) I was under 10 years old when I started learning.

Mama made me learn by hand before I could even look at a machine. I remember my Mom being very particular about her machine so I was very excited to get my own when I was 15. Straight from Santa's workshop. Who knew he and the elves made Brother machines?!

I sewed that baby to pieces for 20 years!


Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

I highly recommend getting a used machine if one is thinking about learning to sew. In the beginning you don't need (nor want) a beeping computerized monstrosity. It'll drive you nutty.


What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

Again, basics! Ask friends who sew what they want in a machine too. I prefer simple with back stitch and zigzag and buttonholers.

Do not bow to the pressure of those vipers in some fabric/sewing machine stores who will tell you you MUST have the hottest/latest high-end machine. Some cost as much as a car!!! Not many people really need all the bells and whistles. and nobody needs the ridiculous pressure some of those people use.

Do you have a dream machine?

I have always "coveted" my Great Aunt Sally's treadle machine. Mom used to sew on it til the belt broke way back in the early 70's. I don't even remember what brand it is. Welp, Mom informed me a few weeks ago that I can now have Aunt Sally's Treadle AND my Great Grandmother's too!!!

No clue where I'll put 'em yet. But I can not wait! Should have both of them home by July. They shall be named Sally and Eudra!


Be sure to stop over at Colorado Lady's blog for more Vintage Thingy Thursday fun!