Sunday November 12th...

Participants:

• Rozzie
• Sadira
• Susan

Well...another fun Sunday. We started at the Raven Cafe' because after this week...we certainly deserved it! As we sat drinking our tea and coffee...we wished we could start every Sunday just like this (which may be a possibility) The food is delicious, and some is even organic (which is unusual up here) and, as I've said before, the atmosphere is wonderful!






Mama had this amazing summer berry salad with apples, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, and almonds on it...perfect for the raw food eater. I had the omelet special with, basil, tomato, portabello and just a bit of mozzarella...perfect (the cheese did not overpower anything) and a splash of potatoes and an english muffin. We really had a lovely time!

Mama's project:

Mama participated in a liver cleanse this week.
It almost killed her.
So, her project was not to be sick and nauseous...and she steamed some beets potatoes and onions for me! Now I have yummy beets for my salads this week, and I'm gonna' fry up those potatoes for a wonderful meal!

We also did quite a bit of walking...to the cafe' then back to her house for Rozzie's lunch (since she likes what she likes, and she was convinced we were trying to poison her with the peppermint and chamomile tea we gave her at the cafe') then back here to create!

Rozzie's Project:

Another piece of beautiful Rozzie art...we were thinking perhaps it's from the Hobbit...the book that she's reading right now.

My Project:

A special something for my father for his birthday which is on the 18Th. I ran to the post office this morning to send it off so it should arrive on Wednesday...plenty of time! I took pictures of the finished product but, will wait until I know he got it so I don't ruin the surprise...in the meantime...

Extreme closeups of said project:

...And later that evening

Because I just couldn't leave you with no pictures of my creativity...and since I notice I've been reading more...and since I promised myself and Meena...

Ta-dah...New down filled cushions for kitty lounging. I covered them with the sweet winter kitties sitting in bare trees on one side...with brown and white stripes on the edges...and a sweet little brown flower design on the other side. That way, they are reversible of sorts, for the summertime as well.




The furry cheetah thing is actually a little cover that has some space-aged material in it (probably tin foil) that radiates her heat back to her when she lays on it (fancy huh? I bought that at the pet store)

Plus, the mummy trilogy was on TV and this was the perfect project 'cause I could sew and watch at the same time.




...I also thought that I could use the trunk as extra seating with these yummy down cushions on it...which is a bit laughable as my feet don't come anywhere near reaching the floor when I sit on this thing, so I'm not sure how practical that idea is.

So...I put the girl up on the new spot...






...and she kind of daintily stepped around on it...and sat next to it (that's her dark little silhouette to the left of the cushions) She has a hard time with change sometimes...and looks at me a little sadly when I switch things up.






But, this was the picture when I left this morning, and again when I came home, so I guess it's a hit! She just kind of sinks down in the fluffiness...and she has the warmness on one cushion and the cooler no heat thing on the other (you know, just in case she gets too hot) She usually snuggles up on the top of the overstuffed chair, so I'm hoping to save that from more cat hair and fall stickers!

And luckily I have plenty of kitty material left over for something for me...perhaps matching pillow for the chairs for the winter? Oh, the possibilities are endless!

What'd You Got?

Here we are at the end of another week...closer to the holiday season and the end of the year (yay)...This is a picture of a wonderful framed quilt with vintage buttons and a rhinestone pin and old key, and a beautiful vintage picture of a lady. My mother gave it to me for Fall Equinox. Embroidered on the quilt is:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder.

May you never take one single breath for granted

and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.

I think it is quite beautiful with a true sentiment as well, and both of us had the thought that we would say we made it at a Creative Sunday...but neither thought that would be honest!

I had a great time at the local play last night...everyone was quite good, and the story was an updated version of the Ugly Duckling...very funny! I started out at My Pal Amy's house where the whole family gathered...including her uncle from out of town and her wonderful brother John (one of my favorite people) There was lots of laughs all around!

Well...I'm going to tackle the mountain of laundry that has um piled up around here, and a super secret birthday surprise for someone in my family, and if I get finished with that...maybe Meena's lounging pillows...Have a wonderful weekend!

Arizona...The Endless Summer...

I am having difficulty finding my rhythm right now...

I know, looking at these pictures is evidence that we're in the throws of fall...but the daily temperature begs to differ (I can't believe I'm actually talking about the weather...complaining even, the one thing I hate people to do when they come into the shop...well, that and leave clothes all over the place) It has been in the high 70's for several days now. It is November. I'm thinking that the only reason the leaves are actually turning is out of habit. (OK...it's in the 30's at night too...that may have something to do with it) Really...perfect cold/flu weather...hot during the day and freezing at night. I know there are a lot of you guys out there that are living where it's cold...but you don't understand...it's supposed to be cold!

(right?)

I sit huddled in my house in the morning with the heat on and the cat in my lap for extra warmth...step outside to walk to work...and I have to take my sweater off (I'm desperately trying to dress for the fall) (and don't worry...I have a tee on under it...usually) and then have to take my socks off halfway to work because my feet are so hot. And no water falls from the sky here. We're in a draught and this state is known for it's wonderful golf. You figure it out. Every time I open my water bill, someone is trying to tell me how to conserve water...and I see some very green golf courses in this state. Which is why my family has been tossing around the idea of finding a place to live that still has seasons. I long for the winters of my youth...I grew up here in the North land...when the snow was piled up so high in the middle of the street you couldn't see over it to the other side, and we'd miss multiple days of school...sigh.

Until then, I'm going to have to come to terms with the temperature here aren't I? And find some way to feel like it's fall...Oh, I think I'm going to have to get out among the trees more, and have a late night shopping and pie excursion with my friend Dina (when I know it will be cold...next Thurs. it is baby!) and a little bit of local entertainment tonight seeing the play Honk with My Pal Amy. Mom and Rozzie saw it and loved it...they had a special day when homeschoolers could see it for a wonderfully discounted price! But, right now I'm off to the fall sale at JoAnn's to pick up some severely discounted things to create with...

maybe they'll have the air conditioning on...

I Ran All Night...

Whoa boy, it was one of those nights...up, down, water, bathroom, you name it...I was up and down all night. It was like going to bed and then fighting a battle all night...Yet it's too early to figure out which side won...Let's just put it this way, I just went into the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee and thought my Harry Potter mug said "Hogwash" Maybe it was the excitement of the election results? Methinks it should be an interesting day...All this late night wandering made me a bit late for getting up this morning (I'd like to think that's the reason for no pictures in this post) And...upon waking up lately, I've noticed I've been sharing the pillow with the kitty...which means, she's using the pillow as a bed...I'm on the mattress using it as a pillow.

I also spent the evening at my mother's and although we haven't officially started knitting again (you know, now that it's cold we're feeling it more!) I did run an impromptu hair styling shop for all the Barbies and their friends and family. And let me tell you...the hair was flying (no really, it's hard to brush their hair, it comes out quite a bit) and it led me to believe that maybe I'd missed my calling?

Well all...have an amazing day, and I'll be back tomorrow with some more pictures and fun!

A Lovely Couple of Days...

I've enjoyed my last 2 days off immensely, crafting, thrifting, a little regular shopping, some relaxing and a lot of time with a friend who's in from out of town. The weather, as I said before, has been mild...in fact it's supposed to be 74 today (where is our winter?!?)

Last night, Jen and I spent the evening at The Raven Cafe in town. One of the owners was having a birthday, and on Monday's they do a fixed menu...so Jen and I shared both dinner and dessert, and had a lovely time, as the DJ was spinning some great tunes. The thing about the cafe, is that it doesn't quite feel like you're in Prescott...but somewhere more cosmopolitan...always a plus! The cafe is also the home of Coyote Radio Theatre...a local wonderful amazing and creative bunch of talent, up here on the radio! They've stumbled upon my humble blog and put a link on their blog site as well...so big smooches to them! Please head over to their site and listen to their podcasts!

Favorite line from a movie this weekend:

"you can't leave...all the plants will die!"
-Bill Murray, Stripes

OK...I'm taking advantage of said weather and getting out early to vote before work...

Sunday November 4th...

Participants:

• Mama
• Me
• Rozzilyn

Such a lovely Creative Sunday...on a beautiful fall weekend. Yes, we're still having mild fall weather (71 today...darn!) Most of the leaves are on the trees...and I'm looking forward to the day when I wake up and my ornamental cherry has at once, dropped all of it's leaves...then...snow on the ground! (hopefully lot's of snow)


Mama worked on this fun little rag garland. We were at a yard sale this weekend and saw a garland just like this one, and exclaims our usual, "I could make that!"

She then found some heavy weight plaid material at a sale from someones sister who'd been a decorator (I got many yards of Ralph Lauren ticking) and snapped it up...and proceeded most of the day to rip the material into strips and knot it onto twine...very stinky twine, that has lived in her garage for quite some time...







...stinky twine and lots of string and fraying aside (mostly on my mother) I think it turned out wonderful! She's not sure how long to make it, and wanted to end it as soon as it was long enough to tie around her neck...but, she pressed on, and was going to finish up later that evening.

I worked on taking down and putting away, all the Halloween decorations for another year. I wasn't looking forward to doing this because I absolutely loved the way everything looked this year. But...I had to press on (mostly because I love the little vintage Thanksgiving candles I have too!)

And...I started and finished my little bird garland! I had the idea in my head for quite some time after I received the little apron from my mother...I absolutely love these little birds and at once thought how cute they would be if they were in three dimensions...


So, I made a little round stencil and proceeded to cut them out of felt...then made the little beaks and feets and funny little tail feathers by individual design. I also embroidered the black part of the eye over some white felt...and attatched it to the bird body...









I then sewed them mostly closed and to the binding...and stuffed them so they are a little fat!

I absolutely love them...they just fly and jump all around the mantle now. It's like a little bird party over here!

Rozzie worked on several illustrations in her sketch book...one of a blue house against a blue background...kind of a camouflage thing I would think...and then rested with Meena after our long rousing walk around the neighborhood!

It was a wonderful day...and it feels great to be creating again as I have been taking a little break, and catching up on all of my reading (and other life stuff)

A View From My Lap...

How much do I love my kitty?

Well, quite a bit actually...She loves to sit in my lap whenever I sit down (well, unless someone else walks into the room, then she runs to them...sigh)

But...sometimes I look down at her sweet little face and just melt. She's such a good little friend...well, when she's not too excited and biting me. OK...that's enough of that!



At least in these pictures she looks like she's in heaven! Spacing out while laying on the patchwork monkey quilt (yes...I know it was supposed to be a picnic quilt, but it's our snuggle quilt...or um, "I can't afford to keep my house warm because the gas prices are so high and I'm saving to buy a car quilt") her little chin resting on my elbow...drooling a bit (not on the quilt mind you...but me...phew!)


I hope everyone has a lovely weekend...I am planning on finally seeing Marie Antoinette (yes, it's actually here!) and making some things that have been on my mind...hey, maybe I'll even put the laundry away, or do a few loads, or organize my sweaters (lord, the list grows doesn't it)...who knows?

A New Holiday Tradition...

Last night we started a new tradition, one that my mother discovered somewhere and we decided that we would try to add to all the other things we do around here. Sometimes we're on the regular English/American holiday/tradition calendar...but we've been happily sneaking in some pagan and Earth based traditions to the roster. Hey...more to celebrate right?

When we first started to try to participate in these new rituals and traditions, it was a lot of random collected ideas and reading...research really. Which left quite an awkwardness in the carrying out of such things. Mostly, standing around and clearing our throats and feeling uncomfortable (like, how do we do this and not feel silly?) But then, we realized that the more we read, and incorporate, and use the things we want to and then customize these new traditions to ceremonies and rituals that are important to us...give them our own meanings and use our own symbols...it's easy...and FUN!

So, in the tradition of Halloween/Samhain we celebrated the end of the year by lighting up my jack-o-lantern and throwing pumpkin seeds into a fire. Today, on Samhain (Nov. 1st) even though I think we were supposed to do this last night...but chocolate has a way of taking over...and trick-or-treating...we built a fire in my fire pit and each took handfuls of pumpkin seeds and then assigned a trait, or thought, or idea...something that we wanted to leave in the old year, to one seed...and then threw that seed into the fire....where the seed would heat up and pop and explode! We weren't quite sure if we were supposed to use raw seeds or cooked seeds, so we improvised (again...quite important when you start these things) and decided to use both. I ran out of ideas pretty quick, my mom said she could go all night, and Rozzilyn entertained us with her dancing and singing.

This ceremony reminds me of the burning ceremony I do every Dec. 31st. where I write a letter of things I want to leave in the old year, then burn it before midnight...then write a letter listing the things I want to bring in to the new year and burn it after midnight. I really enjoy the idea of using the pumpkin seeds in honor of the harvest...the ones that came from my carved jack-o-lantern (something that is so seasonally important) and I think I will be adding this new tradition to the list of yearly ritual celebrations!

Trick - OR - Treat...

Why was it that at 8:00 pm I felt like I'd been run over by a truck? Was it all the fun in the neighborhood collecting candy with Olive Oyle? Was it all the walking around trying not to trip on the uneven sidewalk in the dark? Was it the fact I ate more candy before I'd had my dinner than I've eaten all year? Oh...yeah, the last one!

It's easy to do you know, Rozzie does not eat candy. It's not that she's not allowed to eat it, she just won't. She looks at you like you're trying to poison her...honestly, it was years before she trusted anyone enough to even try icing on a cake. So, it's that easy to just dip into the little black cauldron and pick what you want (except for the Snickers...those are only for my mom) She collects Smarties, since she won't eat the stuff, she's reduced to collecting it, and actually tried one this year...



The result? Dancing around the room saying, "eeewww...ick! It burns, it burns!" hmmmm...thank goodness she didn't try the Reeces Peanut Butter Cups!

As you can see, I pulled it together long enough to wear my black velvet cape and go as a witch. My sister dressed up as a cell phone and is in the picture too...but I think she blinked! (hahaha...she's on the phone, and we wanted to include her...she was actually a sea hag, and sent me a picture via the phone, and I wish I could get it onto the blog...she looks fantastic!)

The way trick-or-treating works in Prescott is that most of the people in town (including the people they bus up from Phoenix...don't get me started...they bus people up from Phoenix for everything now) go to Mt.Vernon...the Victorian house street in town...it is a mad house! So, we've been going to a totally different area...still a lot of houses participate without the crowds...being in a retirement town does not usually pay off in the Halloween realm...But...it's still fun and safe...especially since we don't need tons of candy!

Happy Halloween...

The Sock Monkeys and I wish all our little Pumpkins Happy Halloween, Happy Samhain, Happy New Year, and Happy Haunting!

Sunday October 29th...

Participants:

• Alberta
• Megan
• Rozzilyn
• Sadira
• Susan

Well, can you say Full House? My goodness...we were certainly having a wonderful Creative Sunday! This week, we were joined by Alberta (her first time) and by Megan...Per. first time Creative Sunday, Alberta came and joined in on all the good conversation...and fabulous food eating, with a promise to create next time (sometimes, you just have to ease into these things) We ate yummy guacamole chips, and veggies...a salad with seed cheese (courtesy of the raw food eater, my mother) and greens and cornbread (courtesy of Megan...who made the cornbread perfectly...without sugar...and the greens were delicious too!)




I started my Creative Sunday by waking up late (9:00 thank you!) which I hardly ever do...and running around like a banshee getting the house ready for everyone. I made 2 loaves of banana bread to eat with soy whipped cream and raspberries, and a batch of pumpkin muffins.















I also cut and hung all the little tassel trim on my curtains. I originally wanted to use dark brown tassels but kind of backed off at the $7.99/yard price tag at the fabric store. The next weekend, I found a large quantity of this tassel trim in a green color that actually matches for only $3 for the entire roll (I did all the curtain tops and have quite a bit left over...pillow trim perhaps?) I just ran it along the top and used the curtain clips to hold it in place. I like the way it drapes loosely with the curtains (I'm also not wanting to take the curtains down again and sew these on)








Megan brought some mending with her...I helped sew up some seams on a wonderful vintage dress and bolero jacket that I was coveting, so that she can wear them again...and we decided to do some freezer paper stenciling on tote bags! This was her first time, and she's been following along in the blog, and has been fascinated with the process.














Megan is taking a print making class at the college, and we got to talking about that process as well...and carrying that onto bags and t-shirts. Megan's bag is the bag on the left...the one I made is on the right...and will be for sale in the shop sometime this week. I am down to only 1 bag like that in the shop.







Rozzilyn set up the Polly's and played quite a bit...this is Pollyland...Pollywood...a herd of Polly's. I'm not sure what you call them....but there were a lot!
















And...Mama worked on Rozzie's Halloween costume! Rozzilyn is going to be Olive Oyle this year, and can you believe that we've waited this long? Usually we go all out and try to all dress up together as a theme. I don't even have a costume, and may just wear one of my velvet cloaks to go with Rozzie trick-or-treating tomorrow night.

From what I've been hearing from all of my friends, there's a lot of us doing this, and feeling a little un-Halloween-ie. I mean, I know that my house is decorated, but I just picked up my pumpkin on Saturday night...from the Health food store. No pumpkin patches here. This is the last year for Young's Farm and Colliers Family Farm is no longer doing it. I am so sad that we don't have this option anymore. I mean, we have such a fertile valley in Chino, and as far as I know, no one is doing pumpkins anymore...Phoenix, the hottest place on earth has pumpkin farms. Going to a farm to choose our own pumpkins has become a part of our lives for many many years now. Perhaps someone up here will decide to do this for next year...If not, I guess it's the Health food store again. I guess it's progress that is making the land worth more as a neighborhood development rather than a small town farm. At least I did get my pumpkin so I can enjoy the seeds...I'll be back tomorrow with a new custom and some pictures of our trick-or-treating!

Pizza Night...

In the spirit of wonderful friends, and being a bit broke...I mean, in a creative dinner mood, Dina and her sweet son Niko came over last night for make your own flat bread pizza. Niko is a master pizza designer enjoying making both his own pizza and helping me with the design of mine as well (creative? I think so!) plus eating a couple of raw mushrooms, surprising both Dina and I. We also made some wonderful dessert...we were at the grocery picking up those last minute pizza toppings and spied some raspberries for 99 cents, and grabbed them...thinking they would go great on pound cake. I remembered that I had some banana bread at home...so the banana bread was topped with soy whipped cream and raspberries, and enjoyed very much! (plus a bit of eggnog we also couldn't resist...while opening it, Dina was shaking it and singing the milk shake song...although, her milk-shake didn't bring any boys to the yard...darn)

Niko also brought over his little train puzzle...carefully put together by 2 adults (seriously, they need to number the puzzle pieces) and run by the boy. It's a great toy! The train runs on the track all by itself, as long as you put all the pieces together right that is, and is rather maniacal as it runs quite fast and hits most of the signs they give you to set up on top of the puzzle...scattering them about. While showing me exactly how it worked he realized that he'd gotten scratched by my cat and felt over the top sad about it, not even a Care Bear band-aid would help! After time, he felt a little calmer, and we were able to make him feel 100% better with a bite from one of those snack sized Snickers that are laying around for Halloween (who knew...Sinckers actually does satisfy...) He also enjoyed playing with the toys I have special in the house for whatever little person comes over. He loved the View Master...and talked about playing with it the next time he came over. I realized I have a lot of view Master reels that depict places all over the US, and was thinking the next time I really need to take a vacation, one is right at my fingertips (so to speak) Dina and I were also wondering if they ever made any View Master porn? Which, after all seriousness of thinking what a cool idea that was, put us in a fit of giggles...we actually googled it, you know, just to make sure (no luck...sigh)

Niko also informed me that one of the main purposes of spiders was to lick your kitchen floor. So, if anyone knows a herd of spiders for rent, I could certainly use one...the kitchen floor is in need of a good spider licking...

I wonder if they lick dishes too?

Fridge meme...

I just popped over to (4:53 am) ...which I actually haven't done in a while, since the last Rhonna Farrar challenge, which is silly because I really enjoy her posts! Anywho...she had this great refrigerator meme...

Take a picture of your fridge right now...
no rearranging.

And, I did a close-up, because I realized how personal and fun people's refrigerators are (well that, and I'm a total dork) So, the little brown piece of paper is a thank you note from Rozzie for a Halloween costume I bought her last year, and on the bottom left, is a little Curious George picture she drew me a long time ago...and then the Little Drummer Boy to the left of that. I love kid's art...and since I've forgotten to have children of my own, I love to display anyone's children's art on my fridge. The card above them all to the left portrays a woman and says, "She spoke in exclamations, now that she found her voice" (I'm trying!)

OK...on the little black cork board is the picture of my father and I a looong time ago...Zora's first baby picture, a Hanunan the monkey god postcard...a Bushism that says "You teach a child to read, he or her will be able to pass a literacy test" the "Have you seen this wizard" from the last Harry Potter movie...a ticket stub from Steven Wright (both of those were gifts from my ex-husband...sigh) and a card with a little girl on the moon that says "Tell me what it is that you plan to do with your one wild precious life?" and to the left of that is a birthday card with the lady in the gas mask that my sister sent me that says "Birthday Greetings from Hong Kong" (whatever...I love it though!)









I love these 3 magnets...2 from the screaming man. The skeleton one says "what was I saving my money for?" and the angels are singing "get off your ass!!" and I certainly think that you can read the one on the bottom!












And, I decided to do the side too...because the fridge is in such and odd place (welcome to everything in the house is long the wrong way...ie. rectangular rooms) so you see this side when you walk into the room. 2 pictures at the top of Ms. Rozz when she was really little at the pumpkin patch...a Kitchen Aid magnetic clip and red timer. And a little paper doll from Wee Wonderfuls that I made into magnets. And a chart for what's in season in what months!







So, there you go...run into the kitchen right now and take a picture of your fridge...no rearranging...and leave a comment for me so I can check it out!

Vintage Thrifty...

I was at the thrift on Monday, my normal thrifting day for the thrift that is on the other side of town (because with the gas prices being what they are...I try to only drive twice a week, and walk all the rest of the time...so the far away errands are sometimes all lumped together) and spied this lovely vintage dress. I am enjoying the striped fabric and all the floral goodness. And, the best part is:

It's new, brand new...new to me, and new with tags! It's Styled by Miss Smith The American Look, and was $6.98 new (less than the $7.99 I paid...this thrift is a rip-off) And is made with A Fabric You Can Lean On By Kopman...This consists of 65% "Dacron"Polyester/35% Combed Cotton and is a Du Pont fabric. I know what you're thinking...all of my problems are solved!


Now, I can wash by hand or machine...when washing, use warm (not hot) water and tumble dry at low or medium heat. If necessary to press (with that fabric content?!?) use warm (not hot) iron. Tee-Hee...I just giggled to myself when I read this and wondered if the reason this wasn't worn is because we're in Arizona, and it's darned hot here...I mean, I'm a little worried about the Du Pont-ness and the heat issues...perhaps it's safer for me to only use this as a winter dress? I think that with the Poly blend, perhaps it will keep me warmer this winter...and, as long as I don't stand too close to any heating elements, I should be safe right?

What's Your Rating?

I've been watching movies seemingly non-stop during my weekend. It all started Saturday night with My Pal Amy and Prairie Home Companion (Garrison Keillor...yay/ending...boo) Curious George on Sunday with the group (yay all around, although it was a little touch and go towards the end...a lot of animated tension) and yesterday...Friends With Money (a little slice of life,ending...boo) The Break-up (funny, true to life, ending...boo) and Garfield, A Tale of 2 Kitties (good, like the original...and, Rozzie wanted to see it) All in all, looking at patterns, because, let's face it...that's what I do (incessantly much to my utter exhaustion) not many satisfying endings this weekend...a reflection of my life? Perhaps.

Then, during the rating screen of one of these fine movies up popped:

R- Bad Language, Some Sexual Content and Brief Drug Use.

Hmmm...sounds like my life. Of course, it's been a little PG lately, perhaps PG-13 as there is bad language, but quite a bit of comedy, or is it drama? Well, whatever has been happening, both have been making me cry...and the ending is a little cloudy as well...much like my recent movie watching experiences. What's your rating?


And, on another note...here's the water during the second soak of the ticking, and the third soak is still an interesting color (nicely putting it) it's like a Tootsie Pop ad.

How many soaks will it take to get the water clean?

Sunday October 22nd...

Participants:

• Rozzilyn
• Susan
• Sadira

We almost went on a little field trip to Sedona and Flagstaff...almost, and then realized we'd have to be travelling in the car to and from the place, and were so overwhelmed by that thought, we stayed in town (Another one of those weeks!)

I started out the day by making some Halloween cards...no real pictures though, because I will be sending these to some of my blog readers, and I don't want to ruin the surprise...so, just an extreme closeup for now!



And then finally bowing to peer pressure, I made the rest of the vintage dress that I made this skirt from...into a top. I absolutely love this pattern, and I was thinking of using all the left-over material to make a little holiday banner, but everyone who has actually seen this top was telling me that it must remain a top...so a top it remains.





As a two piece outfit, it is lovely...as an entire dress...not so much. For some strange reason, I cut it just perfect while cutting out the skirt with all the curves and the length of a top...so, all it needed was a little hemming (this does not explain, however, why it was laying around waiting so long to be finished!)...my mother especially loves it because the entire pattern shows up on the back...and on the front fastening it together, is little black glass buttons. It's really wonderful!




And, at a yard sale this weekend, I spotted this lovely material in a box someone was unpacking...I quickly put down the green tassels I was looking at (and later bought for the tops of my living room curtains) and ran over to the box...








I discovered that the floral material was the backing to this lovely velvet crazy quilt. The nice lady made sure that I knew that the velvet side was a bit worn in some places before she would sell it to me for $3. I was just really happy about the floral material...then I noticed that in the places where the velvet had entirely worn away, I could see ticking. I love ticking. Love it. The sideboard in the "who I am" section should be getting longer...





Now, I decided to get this floral material soaking today. As I snuggled down to the floor to get to work, I realized that this material was only tacked on to the back of this quilt and came off quite easily. Originally I thought that the ticking was sewn onto the floral stuff...so, imagine my surprise when I realized that the backing had been replaced (the other backing was sweet roses, but had completely deteriorated at some point, there were traces of it) and the velvet had been sewed to these scraps of material.


Well, I knew what I needed to do...save that ticking! (I need another duvet cover for the extra feather comforter I use for winter after all) First though, my mother had me document the back of the quilt before we ripped into it. There is the most wonderful blocks of blue denim looking material that my mother gets to take home...you can see the white worn lines in it where it was faded from whatever it was in it's previous life. There were long hand done stitches in it making us think that whatever it had been, a dress or a shirt, someone had hand made it rather than using a machine (which makes us both think that the material is quite old) and then worn it and worn it...I love this stuff. I loved digging into this quilt and taking the pieces apart so I can use them again...we were discussing the fact that the women who made this quilt were probably looking down and smiling (or laughing because we were covered in dust and velvet crumbs...all the while the thought, "you're going to get some horrible disease and die" the thing my grandmother used to say to my mother when she drug home stuff from the thrift in the 60's) We also thought that maybe we should try to put all the pieces together again but would probably end up with a shirt with one arm missing, a pair of pants without half a leg and a dress with no top. I also loved sitting on the floor with my mother and taking this apart...the time we spend together is really special, and the shared love of rescuing textiles (and anything old) makes for wonderful memories. Plus she got to go home with a bag of velvet pieces (lucky her)

And her continuing project for today (this deconstruction of a quilt took quite a while) and in keeping with the theme of, "boy we hate to throw anything away" was to take the mummy material that had all but disintegrated (look at the whitish stuff in the previous picture) shred it a bit more, and drape it over my new feather tree. Now the tree looks complete and a bit spooky as the mummy material flutters anytime anyone walks by...












For our afternoon tea um...coffee, after our walk (and to clear our lungs from the inhalation of 100 year old quilt dust) we had these lovely chocolate kitty scones made by Dina, while watching Curious George. Dina and Niko came by the shop on Saturday to drop off the chocolate scones and the egg, cheese and bacon muffins in the sweet little Halloween basket! Thank you so much you guys...they are wonderful treats! The muffins were fresh out of the oven on Saturday, and smelled divine.

Rozzilyn also made 2 little Halloween pins and a door hanger...and gosh darned it, she got out of the house without any pictures taken. I was so involved in the quilt...I forgot...Sorry, all my fault!

What'd You Got?

OK, here I am not planning on writing a long entry today (yeah, right) a real quick easy in and out kind of Friday thing...Behold when I got home yesterday, I found a long package from my father...more on that later...

First off, this adorable kitty and mouse apron found at a thrift! Good heavens, one of these days I'm just going to faint, and someone is going to step over my prone body, and pull whatever it was I found out of my hands and buy it.

This sweetie thing looks to me like a linen towel sewn onto a black apron (with rick-rack...quite a rick-rack week don't you think?) The person who made this sewed the top and bottom of the towel and most of the sides, but left 2 small openings at the top so the kitty, and mousie (one the left corner) are a pocket! Perfect for my cooking utensils?

$3





And from the world's greatest gift giver:
My father...a few words about the man first.

He loves to send fun stuff in the mail, and give in person, and always gives the most unusual gifts! I am actually quite lucky because both of my parents are natural generous people, who shop exclusively on the second hand market. What this affords them is the best and I mean, the best stuff...Wich results in a very lucky us!!

My father sent a lovely Keith Herring card and 3 Paul Frank buttons...my father and I share an almost unnatural love for anything Paul Frank, and have been known to both giggle and shout and point out things in the most loud ways at a little shop down in Seal Beach CA (and you should've seen us in the flagship store at South Coast Plaza...the t-shirts, the furniture, the accessories!) The Seal Beach store is where my father buys most of my Paul Frank goodies...yummm! And that is the greatest red crepe paper VINTAGE HALLOWEEN GOODY BAG !?! With a little devil on it?...Good God...have I mentioned that he's extremely intuitive? That was hard when I was little, because we would try to surprise him, but he usually guessed what was in packages...but it's wonderful when it comes to getting presents from the man...I was just remarking the other day to my mother that I should call him and tell him to pick up and send any vintage Halloween ephemera that he can find. It's getting harder and harder to find the old stuff...and I just drool when I look at the reproductions online. Since he lives in California-Mecca-Land...I would suppose he comes across the stuff more often than we might here.

And, out of the long square tube of a box slid this amazing black Halloween feather tree!

I love it !
I love it !
I love it !

Look at the goose feather blackness of the tree needles...and the wonderful orange wooden balls at the end of all the branches...The neat orange wood base...drool. It's OK, I can drool on it, I own it. Now what does one hang on a Halloween tree? I suppose I could mosey on downtown to the little general store and buy the sock monkey ornaments. But, most likely, I will dig out all the Harry Potter ornaments I have instead...or work on a little felt idea that I've had dancing around in my head for some time now!

Thank you dad...soooo much! It's just the pick-me-up I needed this week. I am feeling much better...as this divorce/healing process has often gone...up, down, and up again! Have a great weekend everyone!