Oops, didn't give this a title... My bad!

     Good Morning, Dear Friends! I am up and awake, although some furry children are having a harder time of it!  Actually, they are both WIDE awake now.  They are chasing each other and wrestling.  And, they are using me as base.  Yea.  So, I may have to pause from time to time and use my best teacher voice to say, "Knock it off!" (I would never say that to a student.  But, boy, does it work wonders with my "children"...)

     I won a give away from Timewashed!  Becky is such a sweet, lovely woman of God with just a soothing and peaceful style.  Now, I am a prim girl, no doubt, but I love to add some whites from ironstone and such to give a contrast to the darker tones.  When I opened this, the heavenly smell of lavender rose from within this beautiful vintage box.  And inside, oh, I just "Ooooo'ed" and "Ahhhhh'ed".  It was like opening a treasure chest- doilies, ribbon, little tags, wooden numbers, paper birds...  I have put some of the things around, I will show you later (I have crafting stuff everywhere- no pictures for you! ).  Plus, the most adorable velvet pumpkin... You will see more of him later. *sigh*.  Such loveliness.  Now, the creative juices are flowing in how to use all of this loveliness.  Becky has a beautiful Etsy shop in which she sells these pumpkins and these crafting kits.  The kits have all of the needfuls to create this white vintage looks!  So fun!

     Well, I am puttering around (in between cleaning and starting school "thinkin'") and moving things.  Trying to get a little less cluttered but authentic look.  Authentic meaning- where would these items be kept in a real home from the 1800's?  Now, I am not fooling myself that my house looks at all like that.  I look through prim magazines and sigh.  Those are award winners.  My award would look like, "Well, she tried". I try to imagine these things so to bring order and balance for the eye rather than having items scattered all over.  So, just a heads-up, I will be asking for your opinion in the next post.  Get your thinking caps on!  

     I just got this old cheese strainer from a local thrift shop for $2.  I love cheese strainers.  Well, let's be honest, my Irish heritage is all about cheese.  And bread.  OKAY, and my students think my jokes are cheesy (Don't ya'll chime in either!). Really, should they be commenting on that? Have you seen Saturday morning cartoons lately??? Anyway, back on the correct trail. SO, well, I like this grouping by my sink.  I think it needs one more thing.  Or does it?  I am all about groupings of odd numbers, but maybe less is more?  What do ya'll think?

     ANYWHOOO, here are some of the starts of the laundry bag for clothes pins.  I stitched and primmed the label.  But, it needs a little somethin' behind it.  I have the lace, but I don't want to use it.  I like it too much.  I do think it needs something behind the label.  Ticking? Ideas?

Finished my stitchery.  My husband and I have been on a Rockford Files kick on Netflix.  Good for stitchin'!These are my "Stitchin' Tins".  They are perfect and portable to take my stuff wherever and well, protect them from my curious chewer, Charlie.

I put it next to my egg holder find.  I put some of my prim eggs on it.  This is on my hutch.  I am going to make my hutch a buttery of sorts.  That is another thing I will need your opinion on for another day!

      Here is the pumpkin I got with the giveaway.  I placed it next to my velvet pear.  Lookin' kind of Fallish... Oh, and I got some little gourds.  Gonna make a garland.  Sometime.  When I am allowed to use my husband's drill...

      Did this little stitchery for a frame that I had.  He's drying.  He's been drinking up more coffee than I have this morning.  Do you know that I love you all sooooo much that I haven't had coffee yet?  Been too busy reading blogs!  I have been reading them on my Feedly app on my Itouch.  Problem is, it won't let me comment!  I am enjoying your posts, although a lot of prayer is needed out there... Be on the look out!

     One could not ask for a better mom (I still refer to her as "Mommy"...).  She allows me a certain allotment to purchase things for the classroom.  We don't get anything from the school to purchase things, so it comes out of our pocket, so she helps with that.  What a blessing!

      Well, this year, I am being moved into a different building.  I have been in my current room for 9 years, so I was a little sad.  But my new room (a WHOLE modular for my own!) has lots of windows (LOVE IT!).  Windows must have cute curtains.  Must.  I was going to hand sew them since my vintage pistachio green machine Singer needed some repairs.  We were walking around Target getting lights and things for my new decor, and I turn around and my mom is gone.  

     Okay, side story, so we kept getting separated from each other, and my mom kept calling me on her cell phone to find out where I was.  Each time, she would really only be a row or two away.  When she saw me, she would continue to talk to me on her cell.  Boy, did we giggle!  So one call I get says, "Come over here..." She is in the sewing machine isle... 

     "What do you think about this?"  

     "It looks nice." 

     "Well, let's get it because you can't handsew all of those curtains." 

      I was so blown away!  It is light, portable, and doesn't weigh 50 pounds (My old one does).  I can even take it to school and make the curtains on the spot. You have all instilled in me the desire to sew and stitch, this really was just so exciting. God has blessed me with such a loving mom who continues to look out for my needs, listens, encourages, advises... Even though I am 39 years old.  She is a humble and compassionate woman of God.  Thank you, Lord, for my Mommy!

 

Proverbs 31:25-31

" Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.  

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

  Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:

  “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”

  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

  Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates."

Blessings and hugs to you all, friends old and new!  Thank you for stopping by!

Love,

Heather

Saturday... Well, I can't think of a different title!

 

     Good Evening, Friends!  3 posts this week!  Shocker, I know!  Started this pattern the other day. I played around with some blank cross stitch grid to create a pattern.  I still have quite a bit to go.  I had to go and buy the big count "aida" (Is that right?  I threw away the bag...).  I tried to do it on two different other fabrics, and well, let's not talk about it...

     Today was a fun day!  My mom and dad picked me up for breakfast and antiquing. I am so blessed to have such fun and loving parents.  God is so good, and I cherish the time I have with them. My dad, for all of his groaning about how long it was taking, sure had no problem finding treasures.  I found a few...

     But before that, let's break for a commercial- "Charlie: The Messmaker".  Our scene starts with two loving dog parents deciding to give their furry son a trial on staying out of his crate for a bit when they go out.  2 hours seemed to be fine.  I guess more than two, well, he snaps.  I don't even know where my Kindle case was (glad the Kindle wasn't IN IT!!!!). Well, now I know where it is.  IN A MILLION PIECES ALL OVER THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR! Do you think he is sorry?  I always point my finger and say, "No, Charlie, that is bad!"  He sits for a bit, looking ashamed.  Then he creeps up and licks the tip of my "No-no" finger.  Ugh.

Okay, back to the goodies...

This is my reusable bag I keep in my purse.  Just for treasures shopping!

     First... Old books!  6 dollars for all 4.  All of them are 100 years old or more.  Well, I am not sure about the King Arthur one.  And anyway, that is for my dear hubby.

     Look at this gorgeous handwriting!  Love it!  Not many take pride in their handwriting anymore.  It is sad to see it in kids, but they figure (and many parents agree) it isn't necessary to have good penmanship because they are going to type everything.  It is a lost art form. :(  Kids, when we do our check-writing unit, love to make signatures that are messy and unreadable, rather than a thing of beauty.  I think forgers these days would probably struggle more with a neat signature.  I love to write in cursive and neatly.  I love it when someone compliments my handwriting.  I got in trouble for just the opposite when I was in fifth grade, but that is a story for another day! ANYWAY, I wish I was taught to write in this beautiful, flowing style.  Maybe I will use this book from 1889 to teach myself! All righty, hopping OFF of the soapbox and trying not to trip...

      Old clothes pins- $.10 each!  Basket?  She said $8.  Then she found me looking around still and said, "Would you do $6?" And me, who watches too many American Pickers episodes tried to bundle and get the pins and basket for $6 and... She said yes...  I almost said, "You know, I am so sorry, let me give you the $7."  I felt guilty.  But, finally, I walked away.  I did feel good when I saw a similar, smaller basket going for triple the price.  But then I felt guilty again... I know- I am weird!

     I got this apron for $3 (after which my dad says he has a bunch of them in his workshop!) I am going to make it into a clothes pin bag.  I think...  But I am not sure, nor what I may do with the others. Any suggestions?

 

     And then, this! For $3!  I love it, although it may be best that Granny Trace' doesn't see this post... Shhhh...

Thank you all for your kind comments on my other posts.  It is good to reconnect again!  I missed you all!

Well, Bailey is scratching at her plate, trying to let me know that Charlie maybe ate hers, and she would like more.  The insistent scratching does not indicate a polite "please" with her demands... Ugh.

Have a pleasant evening and a blessed Sunday!

Love and Hugs,

Heather, Bailey, and Charlie