My new to me sewing box

My grandfather knows how much I enjoy sewing.  He called me the other day to let me know he had found a sewing box in his antique shop.  He no longer runs the shop (he's 93 years old).  His shop is still full of odds and ends.  I always spy new things.  Maybe sometime I should bring my camera!  O.k. back to this sewing box.  Not only is it beautiful, it was full of goodies.  I love finding vintage sewing notions.  On the bottom of the box it is stamped made in Romania 1987.  Not that old, but Romania?  How cool is that! Now, I just need to reorganize it....

Childhood Treasures

I  received this book Gnomes by Rien Poortvliet and Wit Huygen as a gift when I was about 8 years old.  I read it from cover to cover.  I was convinced that gnomes existed and that if I was careful I could actually find one!  Looking back, this book is a very comical and the pictures are a little too revealing!  I don't think I'll be sharing it with the girls anytime soon! 

Easter bunnies

Every Easter I sew the girls animals for Easter.  This year I waited until the last minute, as in I just made them this morning.  I found them over on Allisa's blog http://www.quiltish.blogspot.com/.  The tutorial is by http://www.betzwhite.com/.  I can hardly wait to give them these Easter morning. 

Wish

The girls went into the woods with their dad to gather wood this afternoon.  I looked out to see Hunter dragging a giant piece of wood behind her.  She wanted to show me what she found and repair it a bit.  I gave her the masking tape and she went to work piecing it together.  It looked like a giant wishbone.  I LOVE it!!!  I offered to pull one side while she pulled the other to make a wish.  She didn't like that idea.  Who needs a wish to come true when it's already standing in front of me.  I love that girl.

Childhood Treasures

Let me introduce to you Egbert the Easter egg.  He's stuck with me since kindergarten.  I made him 31 years ago.  I LOVED this project.  There were lots of steps to making him, paper mache, painting, gluing, oh that poor teacher!  He's moved with us along the way and each Easter we take him out.  Now, if I could only remember the words to the song....

Burlap Pillows

As you might have noticed, I LOVE sewing with burlap.  I almost feel like it is a canvas for my designs.  I can't get enough of the texture that it creates.  Most of my pillows have lots of different materials such as: burlap, cotton, bias tape, chalkcloth, and vinyl.  This week I introduced the chalkcloth pillow.  This way you can create your own message. Simply write with the chalk included and wipe with a damp cloth.  I thought I would take a moment to show a few of my favorites:

CHALKCLOTH BURLAP PILLOW

BURLAP PILLOWS

                                                                                                                                                

Thrift Store Finds

Yesterday, I escaped the house by myself.  I needed to get groceries so I decided to stop at a couple of thrift stores along the way.  I found this black tiered bowl for only $1.00.  I thought  it would be perfect for Easter eggs. Our collection is growing and I needed extra room.  I love how this looks with the other items on the table.  Too bad Easter will be here before we know it!

Shipping Basket

A couple nights ago, I sat on the floor packaging up some orders for my sweet customers.  I kept having to get up and look for packing supplies.  I could have saved some time if only I had everything that I use to ship items together.  I thought I was organized before.  Ummm...I was not!   My mom gave me a picnic basket that belonged to my grandma the other day.  She wanted to know if I wanted it.  I treasure anything that belonged to my grandma (remember the blue sewing machine I use everyday was hers as well).  I had seen a post on http://www.gussysews.com/ about having shipping supplies in one area.  Gussy was right (not that I would ever doubt her)!  Now, all my supplies sit in the most perfect basket waiting for the next order. 

Campfires

Tonight was our first campfire of the year!   It really is starting to feel like Spring around here!  We didn't stay out too long because it was quite damp.  I'm looking forward to many more nights under the stars with my little family. 

Childhood Treasures

This week I thought I'd share some handknit animals my great-aunt made me when I was born.  They look so springy sitting on the chair.  I love all the detail she put into them.  The rabbits clothes come off too!

Spring Picnic

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Yesterday was such a warm sunny day!  I asked the girls what the wanted to do.  Hunter exclaimed "Let's have a picnic"!  Last time we did that we had snow on the ground and hot chocolate cooling in the snow!  We packed a smorgasbord (as Hunter likes to call it).  The chickens even came!

Vintage fabric divider

My oldest Karlee has the best decorating ideas.  She's only twelve, but she comes up with great stuff.  She wanted to know if she could have some fabric for a project for her room.  She has always been interested in decorating, organizing, and moving furniture around.  I know, I'm lucky!  For this project she ripped strips of fabric and hung them in the doorway of her room.  I love how this turned out! 

My new workout

I've been reluctant about sharing my new workout here.  I first read about it on www.littlebitfunky.com. Crystal is one of my favorite bloggers.  She has been doing The 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels.  Let me just say that Crystal looks amazing!  A couple weeks ago, I got to day 3 on The Shred.  Then I got the stomach bug, then strep throat!  Now, I've started up again.  It's an intense 20 minutes.  My body was so sore the first two days.  I really feel bad that I had to stop before.  It was so hard to start again.  Today is day 2 for me.  I think that it will be a bit better tomorrow.  I know that I WILL NOT quit any time soon.  This time I'm in.  I don't need to loose weight.  I'm doing this to tone up all  those spots that my 3 children so lovingly stretched out.  Hey, and I might even have to reward myself with a new bathing suit.  Are you with me?  Let's shred together!

Childhood Treasures

Here are a few board games that I kept from my childhood.  I'm so glad I did!  We enjoy playing board games as a family.  Even though these are old, the girls really like playing with them.  Do you have any old favorites?

I'm back

Wow, I feel like I can breath again!  I'm back from the craft fair.  I reopened my etsy shop just a bit ago.  I'll be adding a few new items once I get better pictures.  The ones I took the other day are not etsy worthy!  Glad to be back home with the family.  Looking forward to snuggling up with them tonight.

Sneak Peak

This weekend I'm going to the craft fair with all the little pieces I've been working on.  I made a few vintage button rings, a wreath with vintage buttons, a chalk cloth pillow, a couple chalk cloth buntings, and many more goodies.  I haven't posted lately because I've been squeezing any available moment!  Believe me, I would LOVE to take an hour right now and read the blog posts that have been gathering up in my google reader.  They will have to wait another day or two.  Right now my sewing machine is calling my name.  Oh, and please disregard the awful dead grass in the backgound!