Gathering Dust

Dottie's Sampler: Her Life in Stitches

Last spring at Bird Song, one of our guests, Dottie, spotted the sampler I'd made for Karla a few years back.

Dottie liked the sampler and asked it I'd make one for her, to represent her life.  I was really hesitant to take on a "commission", especially for something so personal, and for someone I'd just met.

I told Dottie that I love stitching, and I'd love to make a sampler, but I was so afraid it might not be what she wanted.  Dottie could not have been sweeter about reassuring me that she would be happy with it.  She said something like "if it's stitched with love, it can't help but be perfect."

We've been working back and forth since then, me stitching a little, emailing pictures and getting feedback and ideas from Dottie.  Dottie wanted her pictures of her sons when they were younger...today, they are two handsome grown men.

Dottie and I became Facebook friends, and I tried to pay attention for little clues about what I could add to the sampler.  One day, she posted a picture of the 101 Coast Hwy sign and made a comment about how much a part of her life the sign was.

I thought "perfect"- that's going on the sampler...it's on the left side under the flowers.

Dottie's lived in California near the ocean for her whole life, so the shells seemed like a good fit.  Her middle name is Ann, and she wished her name was Annie, so I made a square for that- but since her name IS Dottie, Annie is surrounded by polka dots.

Dottie's been a nurse, nursing instructor and health care provider for a long time, so I added a Red Cross pin and a caduceus- the symbol for medical providers.

I still have a few squares left to fill, and a few finishing touches like charms and beading to add, but I'm almost done. 

This has really been a fun adventure/learning experience for me.  Can you get to know some one well enough from emails and Facebook that you can capture their "life in stitches"? 

Of course, it helps that Dottie has been so easy and fun to work with...full of ideas, and so encouraging and enthusiastic.

Note to Dottie:  You said this was going to be a Christmas present for yourself, and I'll have it to you in plenty of time to put it in your stocking, or under your tree.  It's been a joy to work with you...and if you have any new ideas, just email me!

Ah, the Possibilities...

BEFORE.

AFTER.

Brought to you by the "I couldn't resist the 30% off your entire purchase Thanksgiving offer at Michaels"

Little Visitors and The Big Ugly

Remember when my blog used to be fun and I'd show you pictures of stuff I had made because I thought you might like to make something like it, too?

This post has something I made, but I'm not sure you'll want to make something JUST like it.

If you've read my blog for awhile, you know that I've been trying to learn how to crochet for about five years.  I finally did learn, but then I realized I couldn't read a pattern.  I put away the crochet hooks for about a year. Then I saw a pattern for a crochet scarf I really liked, and decided to try again.

I started with a skein of a yarn and a crochet hook.  My only goal was to crochet a piece that was the same width at the top as the bottom.   One of my problems with my previous crocheting was I'd start with 25 chains, and end with 40.  Where did those extra chains come from?

So I carefully counted and hooked, and ended up with the blue piece on the right.

Then I realized that I didn't really want a blue crochet scarf... but, one of the great things about crochet is that you can add on...

...anywhere...so that's what I've been doing, without a lot of regard to color, stitch or size of the block.

I've been calling it "the big ugly". 

My sister in law is a grade school teacher in North Dakota, and has recess duty in the winter.  She usually is very fashionable and chic, but for recess she wears one of those big round Michelan Man type parkas that she calls "the big ugly", but it keeps her warm.  This afghan is kind of ugly, but it will keep me warm, so it's my own "big ugly"

With a little bit of planning, I think this style of afghan could be fun-imagine a mix of  pastel or different shades of white and ivory.

Dorothy and Albie, Karla's 3 mos old Yorkie's have been staying with the past few days and they seem to like it. 

All those hours spent crocheting were well spent if I can make dogs happy.

Those dogs are so darn cute and happy.  All you have to do is look at them and they wag their tails and start dancing.

When they stop playing, they curl up together on top of each other and fall asleep, and they seemed to think The Big Ugly was just fine.

In other crafting news, I was lucky enough to have two articles in the next issue of Sew Somerset.  I got my preview copy last week, and I think the issue will be at the stores on Dec 1.

I'm honored to have pieces published, and love to get the newest magazine early--- but once I start reading it, I get all sorts of ideas and inspiration, and works in progress get set aside so I can try something new.

In between playing with puppies, keeping puppies warm and cleaning up after puppies, I've listed a bunch of vintage jewelry in my Etsy Shop-including lots of pretties for Christmas.

Remember Estate Sale Friday?

Remember back when my blog was fun, and I'd go to estate sales on Fridays, and come home and play with my stuff, and take pictures, and tell you all about it?

Well, we're going to do that again...but please, keep your anticipiation to a reasonable level.  Even though I went to four sales, everything I bought fits in one Longhorn Steakhouse biodegradable plastic bag- with room leftover for a doggy bag of KC strip if I could have found it.

Here's what I got:

A vintage "automatic" address book. Slide the lever to the right letter, press down, and like magic, the address book opens to the correct page.

See, nothing to get too excited about, but kind of fun, since no one I  know uses one anymore.

This is a little more interesting- glittery, party, "take me dancing" shoes with a Hartzfield Department Store label.  You know that next to original boxes, one of the things I most like to find at estate sales is anything with a label or price tag from a long ago local store.

Speaking of local, the shoes are sitting on a very tarnished, but very heavy platter from the long ago Hotel Baltimore.

At one time, hotel silver was a very hot collectible.  Is it still?

Doesn't matter, I needed a place to put my party shoes, and it's perfect for that.

>Old dress patterns.  I have no good reason for buying them other than they were only a quarter a piece and they reminded me of a time when you'd put on your hat and gloves before heading out to Hartzfield's Dept store.

(I didn't even put socks on to go out this morning.) Cute flashcards with pictures.  M is for Moon and X is for Xylophone.

Two pieces of jewelry- a mosaic pin from Italy and a brown swirly pendant hanging from a bow.  I'm not sure why I bought the brown piece, I think maybe I liked the back more than the front.

Good reason for buying jewelry....not.

The pin that I bought today is a newer pin.  I took a picture of it next to an older pin just to compare them, and you can tell the older pin is nicer and has a lot more detail.

So, that's this week's edition of Estate Sale Friday.  It's probably not going to be the most highly rated show, but sometimes you've just got to take what you get and remember, there's always next Friday.

(Unless it's Thanksgiving week...)

The Fiscal Cliff- You Can Do Something

I've never planned or intended to bring politics to my blog, but I'm guessing some of you share the feelings of powerlessness I sometimes have.  This is just a reminder that you can take action.

If you've watched or read the news at all lately you've heard the term "fiscal cliff".  I'm not going to be presumptuous and pretend I know exactly what this means.  Wikipedia gives this explanation.

My understanding of this "cliff" is that it can be avoided if the President and Congress will work together to reach a compromise.  The media has reported that our current Congress has been one of the least willing to "reach across the aisle" and work beyond party lines to find solutions.

Even though I like to consider myself a fairly well informed person, I admit that I've become disillusioned with the political system in the United States, feeling like it was too big and too complicated for a girl from Kansas to have any influence.

Yesterday a friend told me she was going to call her representative's office and tell him that, as her represenative, she expected him to represent her interests and work for a solution, even if that solution did involved compromise.

I realized, I can do that.

You can, too.

(and if you don't believe in compromise, you can tell your representative that, too)

Here's where you can find out who your elected officials are and how to contact them.

I know, you may feel like "What difference is my email, call or letter going to make?".

When I feel that way I remember something Margaret Mead said:

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

 

 

It's Not Too Early for Christmas (Is it?)

The antique mall where I have my booth is having their annual holiday open house on Saturday, so I've been pulling together the stuff I've been collecting all year, and getting it ready to sell.

Without a doubt, my favorite items are things still in their original boxes.  They're getting harder and harder to find. I also love the gift wrapped boxes from department stores.  Does anyone else remember Dayton's in Minneapolis?  Their logo is on one of the boxes in the top picture.

These Santa candle rings are still in their original poinsetta covered container- their friends "E" and "L" are still in the box.

A more mod grouping of ornaments- bubble lights and plastic mirrored ornaments.

And still pretty....the little bits and pieces I found at the bottom of the box.

What a Great Idea- Fun Displays from Bottom's Up

A trip to the Bottom's Up monthly antique show always inspires me.  The displays and merchandise are just incredible.

These pictures are just a tiny peek- I was so busy ohhing and ahhing that I forgot to get my camera out.  Karla and I made it a quick trip- we were probably only there a couple hours, but you could easily spend the whole day.

Love this rustic display.

But what really caught my eye was how they used newspaper as a tablecloth.

(I think it's vintage newspaper- Two snow tires for $30 would be a really good price, right?)

Sheet music rolls as Christmas tree garland.

One dealer was even showing old movies in their booth.  I've never seen THAT before. 

French by Design  always has wonderful stuff and wonderful displays...Christmas by the seashore.

French powder boxes.

Display rule:  Everything looks better under glass.

My favorite find at Bottom's Up- these Victorian sailors' hearts.

I didn't buy them, but I'd like to try and make one. 

It's always been my dream to sew like a sailor.