Old Carpet Bags~

The day I watched "Mary Poppins" carry that old carpet bag, I was hooked.
I hunt resale shoppes,yard sales for these old bags,

This carpet bag opens like a old Doctors bag,roomy,extra pockets inside,
This is old faithful, I drag it with me,for overnite stays, inside is a sewing kit,a Quilt to work on, a "Sampler" my needful things..

This "Rose carpet bag" I use for day trips,a lunch box with snacks,a book I record our day trips in,just a overall Bag~
Love the old vintage appeal of these old bags
Forever On the Hunt for for one ~~

A Day to be Thankful~

What a Summer,hot hot,I am ready for some cool weather, to sit back and rest.
This summer has been a busy one,the garden just about done me in,
I thought for a while,I would stop watering it..could not bring myself to do such a thing,

Hubby washed jars,and helped me can tomatoes today, we had such a good evening,sharing our week,he sure is a "Special man",think I will keep him.smile~
Our canned tomatoes, we love to hear the tops "POP" when they seal...I know it's silly~~

Evening~~~

LaMarr and I usually take a half day trip,have lunch, he can find the most interesting places to dine~
But instead we spent the day canning,cleaning the pool,sitting out in the evening,
LaMarr, built a fire in the firepit at dust,grilled a steak,we ate by the pool by candle light,beautiful evening..~

Shabby Chic Tote/Bag

Side view..

Close up of front of bag vintage trims
tote/bag front view created from a vintage cotton crochet table cloth fully lined, and trims,this tote is oversize,nice strong straps,buttons,vintage trims ,button closure.listed on etsy~

Shades Of Autumn~~

Autumn is showing her colors~ Working in my studio today~Drawing fall graphics,, listed a set of lineart houses, for painting.

Baking Buttermilk Pie..recipe can be found in my kitchen..here

Falling Leaves~The Old Walking Stick~

Feeding the birds this morning, the old oak tree was shedding her leaves,the mountain has a mist,the garden with orange pumkins on the vines,
the farmers almanac says it's going to be a cold winter.
If you watch nature it will surely tell you of the changing seasons.

From the past a memory flashes in my mind,of a day long ago when my grandmother and I were walking in the woods,(she loved to walk in the woods) "She said" the sound in woods rested her soul, I know what granny meant now~
As we walked she picked old branches up for her walking sticks.
She had a collection of the old snarled sticks on her porch,some worn with age.
My grandmother was a woman of her times.

After all "Time doesn't change too much," today I am much like my grandmother, as I take my walks in the woods I gather old walking sticks.

The mountain is changing,to shades of Autumn.

After the funeral, dividing up Grandmothers things.

We gathered at "grannys" house after the funeral, many of us had a long road home.
This would be our last time we would spend with granny,
The old house lingered with "Channel #5 perfume" her sewing basket sat by her rocking chair,
a teacup up-turned in a saucer,waiting for evening tea.
As I walked through grannys house, it surrounded me with love.
It also echoed a stillness, a hollow feeling, something was misiing.

I remembered so many happy times,I spent here.

I sat down in grannys rocker picked up her sewing basket, "What had she been sewing?"
A "Sampler" oh how dainty and pretty,"I thought".
Should I chose this from her treasures?
Maybe someone else will want it?

As I sat the basket down, I thought, "I will wait to see if anyone shows interest ".

As they spoke softly, I knew their hearts were broken,
The chain that held the family together was broken,
Where do we go for Sunday Dinner?
Who will have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.?

Who will teach Sunday school.'?
How do we walk up to her door and 'No one responds'?

How do we go on without Granny.?

As I sat on her porch, "I thought"the chain is broken, but her "Memories will last a Lifetime".
I picked up her old worn walking stick, opened the door, the sewing basket was still where I sat it.

I suppose granny wanted me to have it..smile~

Re- Purposing an Old Sweater~

Making a old cable knit sweater into a cute bag or tote~
rummaging through my closet I found this old out of date cable knit sweater,this old sweater kept me warm many winter nights,
Don't you just hate to throw an "Old Faithful" away?

This old sweater is so soft and worn,the sleeves fall over the hands embraces you.

1st. cut aw, that didn't hurt too bad.
Cut the sweater on the seams down the sides.
Cut around the neck line, then the sleeves.
Cut on the seam of the sleeves, we will use this on the front and back of the bag to give it a little support.

I hand stitched the pieces together,the bottom I sewed across..inverted and sewed the corners to make the bag effect.
you could add some support in the bottom.
such as extra batting or fabric-to make the bag sit nice and snug.

On the top I folded down the sweater, hand stitched the top.gathering a tad as I stitched,(sweaters tend to stretch.)
I added tea stained silk roses an old vintage dresser piece to the front, ( here again its all up to your preference.)
I wanted a vintage look.

The bow is vintage scraps,the tassle adds to the vintage appeal.I Think~smile~
The little green velvet bag peeking out is a hand stitched stork scissors holder
I made from a vintage out of date dress, hand stitched the design on front added a tiny seed pearl clasp.

I am really thinking of making these sweater bags in to totes..on the hunt for some autumn and winter sweaters at those resale shoppes and yard sales.

Imagination comes from within, we all learn from each other,sharing is one the best things in life..I hope you create your hearts desire~

Autumn is Peeking In~

The mountain is ,changing,leaves gently falling,the crows cawing, all around the season is saying "A change is coming".
Autumn seems to be the season of beauty, pumpkin patches lush with pumpkins, corn fields turning from green to dried stalks, fall colors in the shoppes.

It's time, for fall festivals, Praters and Ketner Mills, look forward to time spent at the Grist Mills.
Sit on the creek bank watching people all around.
Old Iron pots full of Chili,Sorghum Molasses,candy apples,wagon rides filled with sweet hay, the air full of wood smoke.
Yes Autumn you are peeking in the door~~

Tea Stained Vintage Rags Cap Sweater~~

Oh I just loved creating this sweet vintage rag sweater,the trims are hand stitched onto the sweater,tea stained to coordinate with the vintage appeal.

The side sweep of the sweater is adorned with cotten trims. Hand stitched vintage crochet pieced.

The front has a layered look with tea stained trims

The back is layered in vintage trims giving the sweater a trim look from behind..listed in My Etsy~

Raggedy Ann and Andy Tote~

I added this Raggedy Ann tote to my Etsy Store..just added the finishing touches. smile~~

Pearls Vintage Lace Crochet Bag~

Love this white eyelet
pearl lace bag,

created with vintage trims,pearls,buttons,hand and machine quilted

The shoulder strap is double stitched for a good strong feel,layered with trims

The top edging of the bag has vintage tea doliles,stitched in rose hue flowers,

Bag is listed on Etsy~
Etsy Shop click here

400 miles of yard sales "Cookie Cutters"

Friday began the 400 mile yard/flea sale,of course I do not go the complete 400 miles.
I do enjoy the miles we do get to "Flea".
The roads are lined with so many great finds..
so hard to stop,but have to call a halt!
One good thing about it..go up one side till you are give out..(hope you don't get to loaded down with :finds: then go up the other side.
Today was so much fun,we stopped mid way,had ice cold lemonade,
and sweet funnel cake,was a nice day overcast not to hot,just
a day to spend it browsing.
My great find was "Cookie Cutters" $3.00..
I needed a few autumn cutters

I decided to "share" this collection of cookie cutters with my daughters,

I wanted to give the girls a cute gift bag with the cutters,

they can hang the bags,(I added a ragged tie) or just sit around,I embriodered cookies on a patch,made a little bag with the girls favorite colors,added the cutters ..

Now to stuff this little goodie in (A Box)
The boxes I add to all year long..
Christmas is the day I see them open each tissue wrapped gift
and "Hug It" now that is my "Gift" I receive in return..
A Gift of "Love" from the given and the receiver..smile~

Rose Weave Duster~

I have been working on this duster,

the weave fabric is easy to sew,

I made a simple t strap dress (same fabric) lined the dress is a soft linen,a nice cool shift to wear with a lightweight cardigan or the pearl/crochet trimmed duster.

I wanted a vintage look to the bottom,added vintage trims.mother of pearl buttons,assorted pearls,

adding darts in the back (pinned) thinking about adding a crochet piece in the back with vintage trims..
a nice sweater duster to roll sleeves,

Wild Roses~Beauty in all Wild Things~~

While working in the garden this morning,felt the autumn breeze on the mountain, the squirrels were foraging for the walnuts,acorns,you can always tell the season is about to change if you watch the wildlife.
Mr. Sylar was stacking wood,a sure sign the summer is coming to and end.
Reminds me of my daddy,in old overalls,a hard working man,on that old John Deere tractor,always working,mending a fence,cutting hay,evening he sits on the porch in his old rocker,whittling.

Mrs.Cassen my next door neighbor is 86 years old still pushing a old push mower every week, as I sit on my front porch and watch these 2 neighbors I think to myself,"what a life these people have lived." To the fulliest,always a smile,a wave,

Times sure are changing..
Back to the garden,the seven sister roses (Wild Roses_ are in full bloom by the creek

The wild Blackberry rose scenting the air,

The meadows are full of wild flowers Daisies,
wild violets,queens annes lace,beautiful morning.

What more could you want in life..A simple life~~