Taking some time..

I will be away from the blog for a while; taking some time to enjoy a quiet winter.

Feel free to leave me comments, as I do get e-mail notification.

What's with the chickens!

Is it me or are there more chicken keepers out there? And what is the correct name for a chicken keeper/tender/protector? Strangest thing but I'm discovering chickens in the most unlikely places.

I spend a lot of time on Maryjane's Farmgirl Forum and of course there are lots of Farmgirls who keep chickens so I'm used to reading about chickens there. And many of my favorite blogs contain a little "chook" somewhere in the mix.

Yesterday I dropped off some clothing alterations and the lady had chickens and gifted me a dozen free range eggs in lovely colors. I have never seen a pale green egg that wasn't dyed! I stop by to visit my friend Bonnie and yep, she has chickens all busy scratching around and digging up grubs. Oh and then my friend Karen calls me the other day and we're just catching up and chatting and I'm "listening between the lines" and yep...she has chickens too!
I would love to have chickens but can only imagine the hard work taking care of poultry of which I know nothing about, but it must be very satisfing to discover eggs nestled in straw just waiting for you. So much more "homey" than grabbing a styrofoam tray off the grocery store shelf and I bet free range eggs from happy chickens taste better than "those other's"
But for now, I will just enjoy the random meetings of chickens & chooks in blogland and just around the corner

Pretty Crochet Find

Look at what I found for a quarter at the rummage sale! Isn't this pretty. It's a pot-holder and when I found it, it looked as if it had been used for it's intended purpose. But, with the magic of a few days soaking in Oxy-Clean (I love that stuff!) it came out clean and bright.
If you use Oxy Clean, I have found that the first soak is for maybe a couple of days, then dump out the discolored water and fill again with fresh and then again rinse after a couple more days. I have found this works every time.
I would love to figure out the pattern for this (I'll keep you posted)

Thr Fruits of my labor

Okay, Suzy Homemaker I am not when it comes to cooking etc but I have really wanted to learn how to can and preserve food. I love to see pictures of people's canning, all those lovely jars lined up. So, my friend Carla showed me Peaches and then I did Tomatoes also this week. The first night's attempt at the toms was a bit disastrous to say the least but I was not to be deterred and managed to get six quarts made up. I think I'm getting the hang of it.
Hm, what next? Maybe Apple pie filling or even Blueberry pie filling......

An English garden on a rainy day.

On the day I arrived in the UK I went to Knightshayes Court in Somerset. What a beautiful place and even more so I think on a rainy day. The house will be for another trip but I did have the opportunity to visit the walled kitchen garden which was fabulous. You go through the archway in the wall and enter into approx 1 acre of rows of vegetables, fruit trees and herb gardens. It was like stepping back into medieval times and was lovely to look all the plants and appreciate the hard work that goes into these gardens. These are just a few pictures I thought to share with you. Enjoy.

Dishes! Dishes! Who will do the dishes!!

Well, with the number of dishcloths I have right now, I guess it might be me. I'm in a swap on Maryjanes Farmgirl forum and am still making the cloths as gifts. I recently came back from the UK and it's really amazing how many rows one can do while crossing the Atlantic especially if you are diverted to Allentown PA to sit in the rain and re-fuel. Hey, seemed like a good time to whip out the knitting needles (wooden of course) and start a few rows. So, these are just a few new ones.

Faux Cable

Furrows

Flag

Cabbage Patch (Multi)

Basket Weave

Lord, I pray that through life's trials that I do not turn away, but turn to you. I pray that I do not look away, but look to you.
Thank-you Lord for your promise to never leave or forsake us.

Makes you smile.

Sewing old into new

This morning I had some quality sewing machine time. I have had an idea for a while to use this little vinatge piece I found at a rummage sale for a quarter. I thought it would be nice to match it up with some of the trims I have in my stash.

After selecting the pieces, I pinned them in place. I have decided to make a pillow, but to have the ends open and slip a pretty pillow insert inside that you will be able to see. The top and bottom will be closed.

After pinning, I sewed the strips into place, turning the edges on the sides as you will be able to see that part.Next I attached some lace to use as ties for the sides.

I used a pretty pink gingham to make the pillow insert.

Slipped it in and tied the lace at either and and ta-da. A nice little vintage pillow for "someone special accross the pond"

May Comfort Dolls

All the little ladies are happy with their new hair and are all bagged and ready to go to their new homes.

This is a lovely Comfort Doll that was sent to me by Noel who donates her gorgeous creations to the Comfort Doll project. I had sent Noel a note, just to let her know how sweet her dolls are and the next thing you know, I have one of my very own.

Cafe Chat May 16 2009

If Fear or Finances (or any other stumbling block) were not a problem, is there something you have always wanted to do or try that you have not done?
Do you think eventually you will do the thing you mentioned above? Explain your answer.

I would love to have a women's fellowship center. Somewhere that women from all walks of life could come for fellowship, encouragement, perhaps life classes like cooking, needle arts, gardening and bible studies. I feel that women in today's society are pulled in so many directions and this would be a place of grounding.
Is this too big a dream? I guess not, as I have had it for some time. Maybe God has laid this on my heart and let it settle for a while. I have taken the first step and am teaching Creative Workshops at a women's shelter. Perhaps this is the first step...

Just click HERE to join the chat

Thrifting finds

In my usual blogging fashion I am playing catch up and no doubt breaking every blogging rule by mixing topics. Eh, whatever....It's either now or never!
So, 'tis the rummage sale season. I am so thrilled that so many of the churches start their sales at 8 instead of 9. That way I can sneak in before work on Fridays!So much fun. so little time but boy, I have been finding some great buys. Found tons of stuff for the Creative Workshops, I probably won't have to go to Joann's in quite some time! Fabrics, yarn, scrap-booking supplies and a candle making kit that was only a dollar! Oh, and check out this great big jar for my buttons! I wonder how mnay buttons it will hold? It is about 10-12 inches tall. (And it was also only a dollar!)
I don't usually look for purses, I am a one purse suits all kinda gal but this vintage Margaret Smith caught my eye. It appears to be unused and again, a buck. Isn't it pretty? This will go with the bird one that I have had for years.


While not rummaging, and not traveleing to Fl to take Adam back for the summer (sob) I am still putting together more Comfort Dolls. It's a bit like an assembly line as I will spend one evning making dresses, another evening making bodies and then hair.
Here are some "parts & pieces"

Oh, here is a picture of the decoupage candle jar that we made at the first Creative Workshop. The picture does not do it justice but all of the jars were very pretty and look lovely with a candle in them. I bought some battery candles from the dollar store that work great for these and of course are much safer than a real candle. Next workshop we will be making fabric covered photo albums. (I will post a picture later)

Pink blog candy

Oh boy, I spend so much time looking at so many lovely blogs. This one is very pretty and full of stamping inspiration. But mostly it's lots of yummy pink!
(Oh, and there's a give-away too!)

http://craftsbykim.blogspot.com/

Why I was late for work...

Words Of Comfort

Still busy putting together the Comfort Dolls. Thought I would share the tag that goes with each one. (This was on the Comfort Doll website)If you click on the Comfort Doll link to the right, you will see so many lovely dolls that are created by loving hands all over the world.

"I am a comfort doll. I was made especially for you by a woman's heart and hands who cares. When you need strength or just a smile, hold me and feel the love I send. Like me, you are unique, worthy, beautiful, and deserve all good things in life. You have the strength within yourself to be extraordinary. Find the strength and shine! Comfort Dolls.......Creating with our hands, Giving with our hearts"

Sew on and sew forth

I love to spend time at the sewing machine and have just finished a new apron. Isn't this fabric pretty! I made the apron to wear at my first Creative Workshop that I will be teaching at a local women's shelter.

I have also been making little Comfort Dolls too. I have a widget on the right side of my blog, if you click on it you will learn about Comfort Dolls. These I am making by hand, except the hair. As much as I enjoy my sewing machine, sewing small things by hand is very restful and sure beats eating in front of the TV! Here are the first two of many dolls I hope to make.

My Dream House

Button Frame

Ever wonder what to do with all those buttons? Here's a simple idea. Inexpensive picture frame, lots of glue sticks and a little patience.

Santa Matilde

This is my traveling angel. I made her for a dear friend who lives across the pond. The base is a small clip-board and I embelished it with papers, ribbon, buttons & lace. She took me about two weeks. I would lay all the pieces out and then go back to her every now & again and move pieces around until I was happy with the final design. (Now I know why I keep even the little scraps!)

Amazingly, I posted three times today! Please check out the other two posts below!

glitter-graphics.com

All this for $10!

Went to the church thrift shoppe this morning. Needed a little retail therapy! Came home with about 50 doll making magazines, many with patterns, a box of assorted craft supplies, another nice little tin and.....a George Foreman grill (that was only $2!)

I have been thinking about getting a GF grill but really didn't want to spend the money but how can I beat $2! The craft supplies were all jumbled up in a box but I could see the potential and found lots of stuff I can use.

glitter-graphics.com

Another Angel!

I've been busy crocheting again! Just participated in a crochet-a-long on MaryJane's Farm. We all made this sweet little angel afghan. I learned how to crochet following a chart which is new to me but I enjoyed it and this was a good project to learn on.
Here is the link to the pattern if you would like it.
http://www.countrywomanmagazine.com/2009/DJ09/afghan-craft.asp?RefURL=&KeyCode=&tdate=&PMCode=&OrgURL=

glitter-graphics.com