Vintage Hankies, And A Place To Keep Them

I think I started this last summer?! I found the pattern on hooplove, and thought it would be so pretty stitched up, and I thought I needed a place to keep all the hankies my Grandpa had given me. I don't know why it took me so long to finish, other things just got in the way, but I finished last night, and stitched it up into a pouch today.

Every year on my birthday, I'd get a card from my Grandma and Grandpa with a hankie in it, and quarters stuck in the front. Do you remember those cards? With a slot to stick a quarter or two in?

Red ones. . .

Two alike . . .

Cute as can be. . .

More cuties. . .

These were the last ones I ever got, they came boxed, but somehow the box was smashed in my drawer, the reason I wanted to make a place to keep them.

And these are just some pretty ones I've picked up here and there.

February Block

February kind of snuck up on me, one month into my "make a block a month" and I almost forgot already! No ribbon in this one to hang it yet, it's resting on the prettiest Hazel Atlas plate I picked up at Goodwill this morning. I think it will be perfect for some decorated Valentine cookies!

I found this vintage Valentine image over at Two Crazy Crafters, they've been sharing some adorable cards the last few weeks, there's many more over there (and some wonderful crafting tips too!), if you're planning to make some Valentines soon, head on over!

Baby It's Cold INSIDE!

This is the temperature upstairs at my house now, and really that's much better than it was a couple weeks ago when I made a mad dash up there. I think it was 12 degrees then! This is the room where my sewing machine and most of my craft supplies are. I so envy all the blogs I visit where people have these lovely craft/sewing rooms that they can stand to be in 12 months of the year. So, my sewing machine gets parked in the living room for most of the winter, and I decided it needed a new cover.

Ta da! It will look so pretty when it's in it's rest-of-year home, but for now it kind of sticks out like a sore thumb in my very neutral living room. I got a Clover bias tape maker, and tried it for the first time on this, fun and very easy to use! I think I had been scared of bias tape for years, all going back to an eighth grade sewing project. I could never get the hang of it then.

But at Christmas, I made this Santa apron, entirely edged in 1/4" bias tape, I think I've finally mastered it! And I have a new favorite apron pattern, only one yard of fabric, and super quick to stitch up. That's my Mom as the headless apron model. :)

National Pie Day (and another silly block)

Just in case any of you weren't aware, Saturday January 23rd is National Pie Day. Seriously, it was on a calendar of mine a few years ago, and my husband has never forgot! He'll use any excuse to get a pie. The winter is getting long here, and after so many days of not being able to go outside, I've got to do something to fill the time. So, I made another block to commerate the day. Now, I just have to decide what kind of pie to really make. Apple is my hubby's favorite, but I've got cherries, blackberries, and blueberries in the freezer from last summer, oh I can't wait for those days again!

And the day of antiquing I was supposed to have on my birthday? It didn't happen. We're in our sixth or seventh day of heavy fog, really, I can't see the end of my driveway. Throw in a little bit of freezing rain (daughter put her car in the ditch yesterday going to school), and it's just a better idea to stay home. Had I mentioned I'm ready for spring?? Give me much longer, and I'll be looking kind of wide eyed and crazy like the pie lady on my block!

A New Year

It's a new year, and after trying to decide if I wanted to continue with this blog (what do I really have to say??) I did decide to share a few things I've been making. Inspired by Elizabeth at Creative Breathing, I've decided to make a block for each month, and whatever else may strike me. Mine are 4x6 blocks, perfectly sized to put in a Martha Stewart recipe box when it's time to put them away (see my last pic). January comes first of course, and the snow and cold is all we've had here, so many days when the wind chill was WAY below zero, I'm so ready for Spring.
Elizabeth also gave us the idea to make a Betsy McCall paper doll tag/block from the year we were born. A Girl Scout was on my year! Should I let you go and look for the year, or tell? I'll tell, 1965, I guess that's not the end of the world, 45, yikes! And it's coming tomorrow! I was a Girl Scout leader for years, and always had so much fun with my girls, so glad I could make this!

And here's my so cute Martha box, and that's Milo, always my helper, I think he approves. :)

A Little More Christmas

Everyone about ready for the big day? I finished my shopping yesterday, yay! I feel at peace now, just kidding! Just seemed like a good thing to say leading up to show about the only thing I've made lately, a peace pillow. Sorry for the kind of fuzzy pic, just couldn't get a better one. You can see a little of what I call my Christmas quilt on my bed, it's needed a pillow of some kind for several years, glad to have that finally done too! Only problem is, my BLACK cat thinks I made it for him. I keep finding him laying his head on it, just like a person. I had to do some serious sticky roller-ing to be able to take this picture! You can find the pattern on my flickr photostream, if you feel the need of a little peace too. ;)

I recently participated in a tag swap over at Creative Breathing, and they came in the mail yesterday. So many talented people made such beautiful tags! I call these the pink ones.

Cute kids

Cute animals

Traditional Christmas colors (that's mine I made in the middle)

It was fun! I have them all hanging together right now in my dining room, such a pretty and fun to look at decoration!

My Halls are Decked

I've got my house all decorated with some of my favorite things, I just love how all the lights look at night, but it's better for taking pictures during the day. My Grandma made my stocking when I was little, and I still hang it every year.
My litttle kitchen Christmas tree (some of you probably know where that came from). And of course Santa mugs, I've seen so many on other peoples blogs recently, guess they're a Christmas requirement.

My uncle gave me this bank when I was tiny, from the real bank he worked at for years.

More fun little Santas.

An angel snuck in! She's new to me this year, and she's so pretty lit up at night.

And one more Santa, a gift from my cousin. I never really knew what he was for, I use him as a soapdish in my bathroom.

My house is ready, now I just wish I had all my shopping done, so I could sit back and enjoy it all!