Memories on the Dresser~

My Grandmother,a lady of her time,her home was a reflection of her love of the victorian era,
A dainty little woman that always smelled like channel no.5, her scent still lingers on her hankies,I keep her treasures in trunks,so it will preserve her scent,many years have passed,I can see her smile like it was yesterday.
Grannys brush,rests on my dresser,her hair still entwined,

Her pearls adorn my dressers,vintage hair clips,baby shoes that once were worn by her grandchildren,
Walking through my home,granny's treasures surround me..her presence always by my side~

WildFlowers and Old Barns~~

Rain and storms this morning,sat on the porch watching the smokey haze drift up as the sun peeked out~
Gathering my old walking stick,I wander in the meadow of wildflowers to and old barn,just what the soul needs,
the chickory is in full bloom,

the queen anne's lace gently swaying in the breeze, surrounding the old barn the wild violets are abundent,the barn owls on watch,as I walked up the owls were hooting,living in owl hollow we hear the owls all day, the cats trailing behind on the hunt for new adventures,here in the old barn,I remember my childhood,the barn my sister and brothers played in.
Those days will last forever in the memory.I hope everyone has a wonderful memory of their childhood~

Garden Delights~

Morning dew drops on the gardens bounty,

Rabbits love to visit my garden,they must know I will share with them at Summers End, oh,but they must wait till the garden is ready.

Until the cantalopes are ready we added a little bit of protection.

Todays lunch,fresh cucumber, tomato salad with wild onions,drizzled with homemade ranch dressing.
Blessings for a Beautiful Sun Filled Day~

~Unique Vintage Victorian Artwork~

Visit my.. studio for hand drawn pixel artwork.
I have CD's crammed full of unique artwork to create your own designs,the CD's are in psp format.

You will find Hopelessly Romantic designs,vintage, victorian,and a little bit country and prim~

BlueBerry Hills Farm~

LaMarr and I took a day trip to Norris Tennessee to Blueberry Hill Farms,
beautiful ride through the mountains,the corn fields lush with this years crops.
The farm has pick your own,the blueberries are plumb and juicy,Beautiful countryside Tennessee..We had brunch at the Copper Pot.a quaint restaurant snuggled in the mountains,chicken salad with baby tomatoes,blueberries,southern peach tea.

~The Swing~

~The Swing~


How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside-

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown-
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Madame Alexander Margaret Rose~

Madame Alexander Dolls has always been my cherished dolls to collect,
The Story of Madame Alexander Creator of Dolls Treasured By Collectors....

< Madame Alexander Dolls have been treasured by collectors and loved by children for as long as we all can remember. The story goes, by the turn of the century, when a little girl named Beatrice Alexander who, lived over her fathers doll hospital. It was the first doll hospital in the country. Dolls in those days were mostly made of porcelain and a doll hospital was in great demand. Many a child's heart was broken when her dear dolly's head was cracked. Very early in life, Beatrice understood the special bond between a little girl and her dolls. When World War I cut off the supply of Imported dolls, Beatrice Alexander began to create her own. In 1923, her husband, Phillip Behrman, encouraged her to go into business and the Madame Alexander Doll Company became an immediate success. From the beginning until now, more than 75 years, the dolls are under constant supervision entirely assembled, dressed, and finished by hand in the New York City factory and are considered the worlds most beautiful dolls. Mrs. Behrman was always known in the doll world as "Madame," for her old-world graciousness and her insistence on high standards of elegance and workmanship. Throughout the years Madame Alexander and her design staff always strived to achieve a standard of excellence that became an American tradition.Today my collection of Madame's dolls are over 500..I starting collecting in the 50's,today I cherish each little face.

Attic Treasures, "Grannys Life in a Trunk".

A trip to the attic,brings back memories of years past. Several old trunks I need to go through, memories abound,slips with ruffled flounces,aprons with trinkets still in the pockets,tissue wrapped hankies,old pearls,and rhinestones.
What a treasure, I am going to spend time here.
Think I will journal "Grannys Life in a trunk".
This beautiful vintage dress has such nice needle work,with tiny rhinestone buttons. I can remember my mother would never let her slip show,today a bit of flounces and lace adds a feminine touch,not to say it is a bit risque,smile~
Add a touch of Vintage Rags~smile~

What's for Supper~~ Homemade

Whew, it has been a dilly of a day, the storm last night washed the world, it was sparkling clean this morning..White Oak Mountain is lush and green.
Opened the upstairs windows, the breeze cooled the house.
What's for supper, well lets see, I have a fresh hen,speckled butter beans,cornbread would be nice.
I think I will make" Grannys chicken pot pie", with a carrot,1 sweet potato, potatoes,an onion,yum makes me hungry,
Remember to always bake that fat hen in a "iron skillet"...makes the best chicken gravy to add to that pie.


Sides will be sliced tomatoes,cucumber wedges,I think that will just be what LaMarr needs to come home too..well lets not forget the woman who made him this meal smile ~

Vintage Beaded Purse

I love vintage,this hand bag is a vintage treasure, beaded cabbage roses adorn both sides,rose silk lined,the clasp is a delicate brass rose, a beautiful treasure.

Back Porch Welcome

The meadows are abundent with Wildflowers,chichory,bacherlor buttons,wild daisies,queen annes lace,yarrow,it is also time to cut the hay,I will enjoy the wildflowers for a little while~ .smile~

Elijay Ga.

Saturday, LaMarr and I went on a day trip to Elijay Ga, Nestled in the foothills of the legendary Appalachian Mountains,beautiful scenery,dropped off into the valley, Elijay- Apple country,every year they have a apple festival,the apple orchards are in full bloom,the country side is beautiful.
In Town,We were greeted by a hand carved bear.

The Cherokee Indian Nation, and the Trail of Tears all have left their marks on Elijay.
The mountains and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains, is a paradise of forests,and rivers,beautiful, lushly forested mountains; crisp, fresh apples; meadows blanketed in wildflowers the fresh air so good for the soul.
The trip into town-to the apple quilt guild,the quaint shoppes were devine.

Our lives are like quilts, bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love..

Lemon Bars

Needed a Sugar fix...smile~Lemon Bars

Grandmothers Flower Garden Quilt

Working in my sewing room today, piecing together a .jellyroll quilt

A Winter project~
My grandmother and mother taught me to quilt many years ago,my granny made rag quilts,she used any materials to be found.
Granny passed on her vintage quilts, those I treasure,she had a stitch that was perfect 7 stitches to the inch,~
She always counted mine to make sure I would follow her footsteps.
A quilt is a treasure to last a lifetime,keeps you warm on cold winter nights,to be handed down to family.
An Heirloom from the Heart~

"Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt"
An Heirloom in the makings~
Many years would pass-before the quilt was finished~
History of quilt:
This quilt was started by my son in law's granny (Granny Painter)-(Granny Webb) and his mother (Katherine).

Granny Painter started quilting the quilt in the 50's, she was unable to finish the quilt because of health problems,
The domestic edges were unfinished,the top was set,-Granny Painter passed away leaving the quilt for years in a cedar chest.

Granny Webb,started working on the quilt,not being really interested in quilting the quilt then went back into a chest forgotten for many more years,

Katherine my son in laws mother decided to finish the quilt,the quilt was then basted together, the edges missing pieces.

Another death,Katherine died from cancer, The quilt once again was put away.

After Katherine's death my son in law was given the quilt,in sad condition,just waiting for someone to love it~
Then my daughter asked me if I could do something with the quilt.
If it could be saved? If it was worth it?
Needless to say,the quilt was in bad shape,
It was musty,ragged,needed lots of love and hours of quilting.
And in a need to be washed,being unfinished that was impossible.

I dragged that quilt everywhere I went for 7 months, to hospitals,while spending time with my mother,to visits to my sisters,

It really was a attention getter~,the old vintage fabrics were just beautiful,
and everyone wanted this quilt finished after hearing the story of this old quilt.

I finished the quilt the year 2005!
After many headaches and wondering if I could actually finish this quilt..

(before my time was up here on this earth) smile~

I gave the quilt to my son in law Christmas 2006,
he did not know,
I was working on the quilt,we kept it a guarded secret,
I will forever remember his face,when we gave him the package,he looked at me and started crying, while hugging his quilt,

He hugged his precious quilt and walked out the door,went and sat by the creek for hours,we all were upset with him.

A gift of love from the women in his life, Now he can cover up with it and think of his Mama, and grannys
A gift from the heart is the very best.

The quilt was created from scraps of clothing from all 6 children,mother/father/granny- of the Painter/Webb family.

Many years ago quilts were made from the family
cast offs-nothing was wasted,old clothing swatches made the most cherished quilts.

Heirlooms to be handed down from family to family.
Memories stitched with loving hands,while quietly sitting in an old rocker lap quilting or set in wooden quilt frames.

Picking the fabric swatches from a childs worn night gowns,dads old work shirt,that had seen its days.
grannies old house dress worn too thin in places,but all still had good usable fabrics to make an old quilt.

Quiet days spent by one's self,where your mind goes wondering to days gone by.
A scrap from a dress, A skinned knee,when one came running in wanting mama to kiss,and make well.
Grannies "old apron swatch," that held her treasures.
A folded up note grimy with dirt,but loving given to granny.Still rested in the pocket.
All fabrics still usable for an old quilt,
Mama's cotton skirts,I remember snuggling up to.Oh, the sweetness of mama.
A place one could always find comfort and love.

unfinished Basted corner-needed quilted.needed a gentle wash

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Missing pieces on the quilt

Iris Quilt

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I quilted this quilt in 1998,Last Year I handed it down to my daughter Ben~

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Rose Petal Bath Soaps~

A must for the ladies bath,rose petal soaps are so creamy,scented with rose,vanilla,sweet pea~
~ What a find~

Yard Sale Treasure~

On one of my trips to the market, I stopped off at a yard sale,
found this pretty wrought iron bench, it was a dark blue,but I could just picture it in white, my $ 20.00 treasure,now has a place by the pool

Vintage Treasures~

Vintage jewelry hanger,my love of thevictorian era
is displayed all through my home,

This watch necklace was a gift from my daughter "Kristy"
she always knows what I love~

Collection of leaded glass bottles

Blushing Rose~

Roses in bloom surround aged birdhouses

Rose tinted Colinbine,this year I planted a Midnight Blue Color~