Thursday, March 5, 2020

Keeping Busy...

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I have been keeping myself busy as I wait for Summer to shine over us..
I get into crafting and sewing mischief... I bake scones to snack on and I go Junktiquing  when ever I can..
 a little machine embroidery.. and KIKI kitty checking out my work...
stitch up some YOYOs...
notice the cup of tea,, I like to enjoy tea when I am in my crafting room...
 found  some Koolieo magazines (1961  and 1970) and a 1953 SEARS sales catalogue..
 I had no idea back in the day,, you could send your gloves out to be laundered..
 I also joined in some Farm Girl Swaps.. This one is a State Post Card and magnet swap.. I like to include a few goodies too. Notice how the magnet matches the crocheted dish cloth..
 Some goodies I made for a friend..
and this is a Mug Rug swap.. I made using my embroidery machine. I also am including a lavender sachet and some tea (not pictured)
 I scored a box of 'stuff' for $7.00.. which included a stack of pre-stamped 100% linen and cotton stitchables.., like a mixer cover and coffee perculator  cover, also a cigar box full of embroidery floss.. notice the orange tropical fabric??? I can hardly wait to make something with it.. It is only 36" wide,, but I have 4 yards so I am certain I can get into some mischief with it!  
 I have tons of floss,, but finding an old Cigar boxes is a real treat!
 This 45x45" table cover with 2 matching napkins is pre-stamped with a cute Rooster design.
 
but the best find was these 2 package apron kits.. the pink fabric is also a kit but it was not packaged.
 here is what you got for .29cents.. pre-cut fabric, flat bias tape and simplistic instructions.
also in the box of stuff was a tapestry knitting needle case, full of knitting needles, crochet hooks and embroidery hopes..
I love rescuing stuff...  and since I do not knit, I have several gal~pals who do,, so they will get the knitting needles.. as for the hoops I have some avid cross stitching friends that the hoops will go to.
Love to share the wealth..  So, not bad for $7.00  :>)

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Hanky Swap...

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Recently, over in the Maryjane Farm forum... I signed up for a vintage hanky swap... which prompted me to spend some time with my hankies.
 
I have 2 boxes full of hankies... and each one I cherish.....
I have been collecting hankies for  about a good 14  years,, when I found my first one in a little basket of hankies (in a Antique shop)...
 From there, I just couldn't resist and continued to add more to my stash..
 
I always keep a hanky in my purse... you never know when you will need one....
At a funeral several years ago, I gave the hanky from my purse to a grieving widow....who commented, that she hadn't carried a hanky in over 50 years,, and what sweet memories it brought.
 
If you love hankies, I encourage to rescue them when ever you spot one.
 This is a great book on the history of hankies,,,, I need to find Volume #1...
 I found one hanky designer, Tom Lamb,,, and was excited to find I had one of his designs..
Tom Lamb's hankies value between $30-35.00
 
I also have a Shirley Temple-Black hanky, called "The little Colonel" (for those of us who remember Shirley Temple)
 Here is a sweet set of 6  'Days of the Week' hankies... minus Saturday... all hand stitched.
I can only guess it wore out from being used a lot or.. misplaced or given away...
 
I have hundreds of hankies... and would love to show them to you.. but.. maybe another time :>) 

I hand wash most, but not all of my hankies in mild soap and rinse in vinegar water and then when ironing I use lavender water spritz...
The flocked ones, or ones never used, I wrap in tissue paper with lavender buds for a week to freshen them up a bit.
It goes with out saying,, I keep lavender sachets in the boxes where I store my hankies. 

I think each hankie has a story to share... A child's 1st hanky,, a gift for grandma, a brides special gift to her brides maids... a teacher's gift, a Christmas or Birthday gift... or just a special pretty hanky bought for ones self...
 
Did you know, shops sold fabric padded hanky holders,,,,
I still have my grandmothers holder and a boxed set of hankies...
 
 Here are the padded hankie holders.... the bottom one with the pink ribbon ties,, is from my grandmother.
 I love finding 'Boxed'  hankies.. the one below is from my grandmother and was never used...
 The other ones have assorted hankies in them. and when I find hankies with their Labels on,, I get giddy...as the labels were either pinned on or glued on.. which would fall off from handling.
 Even the boxes were sweetly decorated.....
 while some had clear lids to make viewing easier.... I suspect the clear labeled boxes were from the " 5 & Dime stores " (Woolworths, Sprouse Ritz, JJ Newberry, etc) so they could be seen with out handling, while closed lid boxed hankies probably came from high end shops like Bloomingdales, Macys etc, where a clerk would pull the box of hankies from behind the glass display case and open the lid for the customers viewing..
 the box below had assorted never used hankies...
 and the best part,, I found this box of hankies at the Goodwill store in Spokane, WA... the Goodwill price tag is still on the back side... $1.99.. (above)
 Hankies were made from various fabrics, from silk to cotton and even Viscose...
The Pink one with "Mother" on it,, is a flocked hanky. Christmas and Valentine hankies were popular flocked hankies.
 Hankies were also a great souvenir purchase...inexpensive, and easy to tuck in a suitcase. The one on the right, with Gold printing was a Pendleton Oregon flocked hanky, but looks to have been laundered so the picture is slightly faded.. Flocked hankies did not wash well and so the flocking would come off often after the 2nd washing.. trust me,,, done that! oops!
Yep, I do love my hankies.. so,,,
What is your hanky's story?

Sunday, December 29, 2019

OH Dear!!!

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OH Dear!  I have more machines then I have work space!!
 and these are just the ones out,, I also have 3 in the closet, and 2 more out in another closet,, and then there are some more out in the Barn covered in moving blankets..
I have 2 Singer 301 machines, a black one and a tan one in the closet..
Well, you just never know when you are going to need several machines to work on a projects,, or 'sew' I keep telling myself!
 
On that note,, I probably should clean and organize my sewing room,, I can't use,," I am working on Christmas gifts" as an excuse now... hahaha!

Almost 2020

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Well,,, we are at the point of no return,,, just a matter of a couple of days and then it will be  a New Year, 2020..
 
OH,,What mischief shall we get into?
 
I don't make New Years Resolutions,, but I do think and day dream of the fun that awaits us.
Sewing, Camping, Kayaking, spending time with the grand kiddos and maybe even get in a little bit of gardening...
 
But until January 1st,, I need to get back to taking down the Christmas decorations,, chase some dust bunnies out from under the sofa, might even find the cat toys under there too!
Time to pack all the sweet decorations away for next year.
Hope you all had a most Blessed Christmas and looking forward to a Joyous New Year.
 
 
 

Monday, December 23, 2019

Merry Christmas 2019

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2019 is almost over... and I have not spent much time on the computer. to busy with Holiday crafting and baking...
 
Treated myself to a new Embroidery machine... LUV IT!
 
 have been sewing and crafting...
 and scored 2 fabulous sewing machines from the 2nd Hand store..
A Singer 401A  and a 2011 Husquvarna  Emerald 183 machine.. Both works Fabulous!
'Sew' hopefully I will find lots of spare time to sew this January...
In the mean time...
 
May you have a Blessed Christmas and may the coming New Year bring you Joy , Love and Peace...
 Merry Christmas 2019