Vtg, Apron

Wowzers! check out this sweet apron...  I have one in my collection,,, but it is one I made from a retro pattern....

 I need to do a little research,,, but I suspect that possibly some of these fabric squares are from flour/grain/mesh/sugar cloth sacks....

It has been well worn,,, and that is what I really love about it.

Car Jacking...

Could this possibly be a 'car jacking' by a couple of Jack Rabbits?

Sorry, I couldn't resist being a bit silly today! 

Women Supporting Women ...

For those of you who know me,,, know that I believe in the motto, "Women supporting Women"...
There are so many talented women (and men) out there,,, who are trying to make a go of their home business....  and I feel blessed to know some of them...
So when I come across a lady's art/craft skills that I think are wonderful... I just feel the need to share it with all my friends...

I believe the term used is  "Cottage Industry".... or "Home Based"... what ever the name...
I wish I had some of these lovely ladies creative skills and talents... be it Art, Crafting, Sewing, Writing or Music....

My latest find... well actually not latest,,, I discovered this lovely lady's artwork some time back and have purchased her cards in the past as well as recently.... they are truly a work of art.....

Do check out her ('Kimberly Shaw) site at:  http://www.kimberlyshawgraphics.com
Her cards are lovely, and each comes with a tea bag.... a sweet little tuck for the recipient of the card.

As for Kimberly, she is so very gracious... she takes pride in how she packages up your order and to my delight, enclosed was a little tea bag for me,, so I could sip tea will addressing the cards to be sent out.
Oh, and it's not to late to order Holiday cards....
Thank you Kimberly,,, you have brightened my day with your sweet note tucked in with my order.
Merry Christmas in the truest sense of the word...

Almost all gone...

Well waking up to snow a few days ago was a surprise... a Big surprise...

 kind of a post card picture...

But all to fleeting... here today. gone (in a few days) tomorrow....  

Then and Now..

THEN.....Nov. 23rd, 2013....

 NOW....Dec. 7th, 2013....

need I say more?

Walkie Talkie or Early Cell Phone?

So while putting away some stuff in my sewing room I came across this pattern... I had to stop and take a second look...

So what do you think? Walkie Talkie or Cell phone?   I do remember the early portable cell phones, and they looked like this.... just thought it cute... after all, how often did you wear a robe & PJ's while talking on a walkie talkie... on the flip side, yep, cell phones can be worn while in ones PJ's...  lol!

It Was NTOOD...

SO, for NTOOD,,, 'National Tie One On Day' hosted by EllynAnn Geisel (author of, The Apron Book);... I chose to 'Tie one on'... an apron silly goose, I didn't plan on getting verschnickered/snookered or a tad tipsy... instead I tied one on with an Apron.. yep, I pulled out one of my Christmas aprons...  let the Holidays begin!

I decided that this year I would deliver a casserole, a bottle of Vino and a plant...
I wrapped the wine bottle in a cute kitchen towel with a wine motif... how apropos  is that!?...

I have to thank my dear friend, EllynAnn, who reminds us to brighten up some one's Holiday season  with a little  home made or bought goodies, wrapped up in a piece of linen or towel or even an apron...  As they say, 'tis better to give, then receive'... and it is soooo true...

I hate receiving those 'wine tote sacks'... I feel guilty if I toss them,,, and I suspect they may have been re-gifted,,, as naturally I would do.... lol!
So wrapping the wine bottle in a dish towel was perfect,,, and finding a towel with a wine motif was perfect.

So what did you do for NTOOD?
 

Happy Turkey Fest...

To all my dear family and friends,,, may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving....

Work Day...

Today was Work Day here on our new property....
We had a huge Oak tree that was unhealthy and way to close to the house... so long story short... the Insurance company said we had 2 options,,, pay a uber high rate and leave the tree or cut the tree down and get a decent rate... so, it was Bye-Bye tree...
Now it's time to cut the pieces down and stack,,, this wood will cure and be usable by next Fall.

 Gary had to haul the big ones over...

 Set it up for splitting...

 and I operated the machine....

 then Gary flipped the splitter upside... and split the smaller stuff..

 Gary built the cord frames... looks like 2 frames will not be enough... so Gary will have to build 2 more...

One frame nearly stacked.... will this day ever come to and end?

sooo we can kick back have a glass of wine and relax...and think about all the other work projects we have lined up!  lol!

 

It's Here! Wahooo!

Look what came in the Post today...

I am sooo excited to open it...

from 'Sassy Apron' girl....   

 I particitpated in a Holiday Apron Swap hosted by Shawnee aka 'swapmama'....
WE are given a secrete swap partners name... we peek into their blog and create an apron that fits their personality, intrests etc... add a few goodies in the package and send it befor Thanxgiving so the recipient can wear their apron for the Holidays...

Is this cute or what!... I can hardly wait till next Thursday to wear mine!
Thank you Shawnee for hosting and Thank you Sassy Apron Girl....
I Luv it!
 oh and check out Sassy Aprons etsy shop at: www.sassyapron.etsy.com

Tired and Happy and a Barbie Game...

So, for some reason it is taking us (me) forever to get settled into this home....
We needed to get up into the attic and clean out all the boxes the previous owners left behind... and since it rained last night and the temp was only in the low 60's we decided today was the day to go up there... (hotter then blue blazes otherwise).... we dragged all the empty (or so we thought) boxes out,, and to our delight we came across a few surprise boxes left behind.... (elderly couple passed away).... We decided to finish cleaning before we opened the boxes... we swept, and vacuumed a ton of mice droppings and acorns (don't ask)... and yes we wore eye glasses, gloves and respirator.... not gonna take any chances.... so after we got it all cleaned up we opened up the boxes... and here is what we found...
1. in it's original box, a punch bowl set, complete with ladle, cups, hooks and bowl.
2. Two nice large heavy mirrors still in their box.
3.  two shoe boxes that had been turned into dolly trunks... filled with assorted dolly clothes including faux mink wrap, and 2 pairs of dolly Nylons! yes nylons! Omg!
4. a sweet Indian Maiden doll in real suede clothing.
5. assorted vtg. games from the late 1950's
but the best find of all.... drum roll please...
a "Barbie Game'... yes a near perfect 1960 Barbie Dream Date game!  have you any idea how I coveted that game?

 OMG! I am beyond Tickled Pink!

 sorry the photos didn't turn out better...

 Look! it's Ken and his buddies...

I remember so remember playing this game....

Daddy was career Army and we moved every two years... so we lived and traveled light....
All I was able to keep was my 2 Barbies and the clothes that fit in their vinyl carry case...
I wanted this game so very much but was never able to have one of my own..

As a Military Brat,,, making friends was not very easy for me,,, make a new friend and then either they moved or we did... so my Barbies were my one constant 'friend' in my life.... until daddy retired and we settled down   and then I no longer needed my Barbie friends...I gave them to my little sister and then I discovered Boys! 
One boy in particular caught my eye and now, here we are 41 years later... He is my 'Ken" and I am his 'Barbie'...  thou we have morphed into Lucy & Rickie! lol!
Oh and yep,,, I am going to make him play this game with me! he just doesn't know it yet! lol

North or South?

North bound...

 South bound...

 and home bound... Meet Dexter,,, a sweet pet pig we met on our journey...

Dexter thinks he is a dog... he didn't get the email that he is a piggy! lol!
Thanx Diane for sharing your sweet Dexter with when we visited.

Elna...

My mother, like so many moms of the 1950's & 1960's, sewed just about everything... and she did it all on a 'green machine'... her Elna...

 So when I saw this photo on pintrest,,, it brought back a flood of memories... memories of me watching mom sewing,, begging mom to let me sew on her machine...and (self taught) learning how to sew... my first major sewing project was a pleated skirt and matching vest (1968)...  wish I had kept that outfit... Years followed with me sewing most of my funky hip-hugger pants, Prom dresses, graduation outfit and then onto sewing clothes for my own daughter...
When I turned 17 mother bought me a raspberry pink 'Brother' sewing machine... the most basic beginner machine back then... and I used it for about 10+ years.... then I moved onto a more advanced machine..."Infinity" and continued to sew for the next 10 years on that machine...  I didn't like how the machine functioned,,, always had issues with it... so about 8 years ago I bought another good old dependable Brother,, nothing fancy,,, just a work horse... and it is still my 'go-to' machine! )and I have lots of sewing machines in my collection)!
We recently moved from Washington state back down to California and I just came across mom's old Elna... you know, I think it is time to clean and  oil the old 'green machine' and maybe sew an apron on it....

In a Corner..

Yikes! I unpacked myself into a corner... silly me!

 yep, found my sewing machines.. if only I could find my fabrics!!!

same goes for my sewing and crafting books... I found my bookcase... where oh where are my books and patterns!

Apron Swap...

Wheeeee! here we go again,,, another fab-u-lus "Shawnee's Apron Swap"...
For my secrete apron swap pal,,, here ya go:

Shawnee's Secret Santa Apron Swap Questionnaire

1. What are your hobbies?
2. "Crafting"
4. What are your favorite colors?
5. "Green and Purple"
7. Do you collect anything?
8. "Vintage 1950-60's memorabilia and anything "Glamping'. "
10. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals?
11. "No"
13. Do you have any pets?
14. Yes, 2 Himalayan kitties"
16. Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate?
17. "All 3"
19. What do you like to read?
20. "Victoria mag, Vtg. Cottage mag" etc.
22. Do you prefer Cookies or Candies as a sweet?
23. "both"
25. What is your favorite holiday treat?
26. "Marzipan"
28. Describe your favorite holiday tradition.
29. "Gluhwine.. I was born in Germany and tradition, we have warmed spiced wine in cold weather"
31. Did you believe in Santa as a child?
32. "Yes"
34. When do you open presents?
35. "Christmas Eve"
37. Do you put up a tree and when?  If not, how do you celebrate?
38. "Tree usually goes up after Thanksgiving".
40. Does your tree have a theme?
41. "I change my Tree each year"
43. What has been your favorite gift to give?  to receive?
44. "To give- hand stitched anything and to receive, hand stitched anything"
45. Ho Ho Ho!

Dear Andria

Dear Andria,
Thank you so very much....

 I received a surprise package in the mail and here is what was inside... this sweet wool owl... but wait!

 look what was on the other side...

 a photo of Andria and Don,  a photo of Gary, Larry the Llama and me, and

a photo of Doug and Candy...and memories of our home....
What wonderful memories....
Thank you Andria....

Monday Smiles...

Today after taking care of a bunch of errands.... we stopped off at our P.O. Box to pick up our mail... and Oh My! lookie lookie what was in the box...

a package from Seneca, NY....

and look what was inside....

 sweet little goodies just for me...

I love the spice scented kitty pin keeper....
How did I come about all these sweet goodies you ask?  why Dear Nancy~jo was having a blog drawing and I was the lucky name drawn... Whoot Whoot!
Thank you so very much Nancy~jo

Saturday....

Oh where do I begin?  
Well first thing Saturday, hubby dearest and I drove up the mountain to Oakhurst to the Hardware store to pick up a few items as well as to check out the  little community swap meet...and yes, even though I have a garage full of unpacked boxes,, I still managed to find a few must haves to bring home...

The wedding dress pattern is from 1960 and was used,, I can't even imagine making a dress like this... The little Conestoga Wagons is/are a salt & pepper shaker set from good old Knottsberry Farm. They have the little oval shaped paper stickers on the bottom that say, 'Made in  Japan'... so I am guessing pre 1970's....
I luv the tissue box and dusting powder holder...perfect for my vintage camp trailer.
The wooden knitting needles are Ginormous! ,, I don't know why I bought them,,, as I don't knit! lol!

So after we had fun at the swap meet we drove over to another vintage shop that was going out of business... and yep, more 'must haves'...

 Score! a sweet vintage apron pattern...

 I could not resist this sweet childs hand made underslip...

 hand stitched on netting... it is very fragile and very beautiful.

 I scored a total of 27 vtg sewing patterns...

 The child's  underslip, 2 pairs of leather  ladies gloves, a vtg. ladies floral hat...

 stitched linens and this lovely pillow cover...

and last but not least... this fun  1970's ladies day dress with applique trim.

Then hubby dearest and I headed back to our community were the annual Tarantula Fest was going on... and yep, both hubby and I took turns holding a tarantula...

 This is a 'big' hand carved wooden tarantula on top of a building... did I mention Big?

Gary holding his newest friend... yes, I held it to, but forgot to have Hubby take a photo.

I love a good Saturday play day... how about you?