Vintage Sewing Basket Collection.

I had a visit with my Aunt [Ann] this weekend.  She had a few old crafty items [and supplies] to gift to me.  [Thanks again woman!!]

 

This one reminds me of a picnic basket.  My Aunt said this one is really old. 

 

 

 This one reminds me of a tackle box; sewing style.  I just love the construction of this one.

 

 

As I was cleaning them out and sorting through the contents, I found two zip lock bags [sandwhich size] full of wood spools.  I'm working on getting a couple of old mason jars from my Mims to display them in.  I may have jumped and squealed when I discovered them.

 

 

My entire sewing collection.  The basket with green hearts was a christmas gift from my Mims.

 

 

As always, cats will be curious.

 

 

Sometimes you don't even mean to start a collection; the collection just finds you. My sewing baskets went from one to three very quickly.  The husband just shakes his head at my many collections!  However, I believe a sewing basket collection is very fitting for someone like me.

Shower Curtain Refashion; Ruffles!

Another project finished; my compulsive crafting is out of control lately.  I tried my hardest this weekend to focus on things less crafty.  My arms, wrists and hands have been really sore and achy lately, so I was trying to give them a break.  I weeded and watered flowers, cleaned [and I mean cleaned] the kitchen and the bathroom.  Alas, I still had an entire afternoon ahead of me.  So I thought, might as well finish making the ruffles for the shower curtain.  In no time they were finished so I decided to start pinning the remaining ruffles to the curtains.  Then that was finished so I decided to start sewing them on.  I get all but two ruffles sewed on.  This process maybe took 2 hours.  I then spent most of the evening reading and watching TV.  The next morning the husband does the weekly grocery shopping.  I do a few chores, the whole while my brain is nagging at me to finish sewing on those two ruffles.  I run upstairs and within 20 minutes it is finished.  I hang it and as I’m admiring my work, the husband is back with groceries. [Isn’t my life exciting?!]

 

I am in love with how this project turned out.  My Mims had given me some old eyelet curtains she was no longer using to cut up for fabric scraps to make rag rugs, which I never got around to cutting up.  I was searching through my stash[es] for some white sheet fabric when I ran across these curtains.  They were way too long, so I did have to shorten them.  I was so excited when I came across the curtains.  It saved a quite a few steps when it comes to just making the curtain parts.  I then added rows and rows of ruffles. And Tada!

 

However, now that I made 3 separate ruffles projects, I never want to make another ruffle again.  Although, on a side note, I do have a few ruffles left over, or parts of ruffles.  I'm thinking some pillow shams are in order.  [I just can't waste the ruffles!]

 

 I was also able to make 4 more crocheted washcloths and made more progress on my spring sampler from Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery [I’ve been meaning to show my progress…getting cute!!!].  All of this was completed and I was seriously trying to craft less!!!  I feel like I am compulsively crafting everything.  I don’t mean too, then I look up and I have another finished something or another.  My love from crafting is starting to turn into a sickness! 

 

It also seems like when I craft, I craft big.  I don’t seem to make a lot of smalls.  My goal for the summer is to work on some smaller sewing projects.  I have plenty of quilts and bedding items [although, I have plans for some Velcro bedskirts…the projects literally never stop!] for the moment.  I have a few ideas for some small projects so hopefully I can meet my goal.

 

Bestie Book Club; City of Bones Review!

Ok, I'm a little slow at getting my review written and posted. I was on vacation when I finished it and had no desire to blog, not to mention, it took me over 3 weeks to finish the series. The bestie, Heather, picked the City of Bones series for the month of May. She had read some of them before and really liked them.  I've had them on my "to read" list for like forever.  I was super excited she picked this series.

 

I fell in love with this series very quickly after I picked up book 1.  They were so action packed and full of fantasy.  I mean every time you turn around something crazy is happening.  I immediately loved the shadow hunter world.  With that being said, I was ready for the series to be over at book 3.  I loved how everything was pretty much tied up at the end; it was a happy ending.  I don't think book 4 and 5 were as good.  I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary drama between Clary and Jace.  But again, I still thought they were pretty good too.  I think I just felt like there was so much closure in book 3, it makes me wonder if this series was originally a trilogy, and someone told Cassandra Clare there needed to be more. 

 

I very much liked the character of Simon.  I literally almost cried when they turned when they thought he was dead, but turned out he was a vampire.  Then again when Valentine sacrificed him.  It has been a while since I've felt so invested in a character.  I very much hated Sebastian [but really, how could you like him?].

 

Overall, this series is getting a 4.5.  If it ended as a trilogy it would get all 5 stars.  Now I'm very curious to read her "Infernal Devices" series...

Bestie Book Club; June!

 

 

Description from goodreads.com

 

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

 

This month it was my turn to pick.  I was having issues finding a series the bestie hadn't read yet [she is a reading machine!!!!]  A person I follow on goodreads really liked this book so I thought why not try this one out this month.  Since my searching, I have found other series the Bestie has read, so I'm making a list so I won't forget next time!  Although, I am definately looking forward to this series.

 

As usual, feel free to read along and stay tuned for my review of May's series [I'm a little behind, I didn't feel like blogging on vacation, I just wanted to make and read]!

A Week of Vacation Goodness.

Last week was an amazing week.  I had the entire week of work which is always lovely.  I spent the entire week doing the things I love: hanging out with zee husband, playing with kitties, sewing, sewing, sewing, junking and reading. 

 

The junk:

 

The husband took me to my favorite junk store in Bourbon, MO.  I finally found a cheese plate [which I have been searching for] for $4.99 and mushroom goodies for $4.  I couldn't believe I found the vinegar and oil curets.

 

 

 

One day we took a walk to a new local junk store.  I hate living in town, but I do enjoy walking down mainstreet.  I snagged this awesome owl cookie jar for $9.00.  Yea for downtown walking and junking!

 

 

The crafts and cats:

 

I am combining this section simply because as soon as I get crafts out, the cats come out.

 

I made progress on my fall woodland quilt.  Isn't is looking lovely?  It still needs another border but it is coming along quickly. 

 

 

Remember the laundry hamper remodel?  It has become a popular place to sleep.

 

Yes, I decided to make more ruffles.  I am ruffle obsessed.  However, after making dozens of ruffles last week, I never want to make another ruffle again.

 

Ruffles attract kitties.

 

 

My arms hurt sooooo much after making ruffles for days.  My wrists are still sore.

 

 

 

 

 

But the hard work paid off!  Second ruffle blanket finished!!!

 

I had ruffles left over and plan on making a shower curtain out of them.  I have the curtain made and have added ruffles.  Sadly, I have 5 more ruffles to make....and I'm kind of procastinating.  Hopefully soon I can share that project with you.  I went through thousands of yards of thread.

 

I also worked on my cross stitch patterns from Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery and I crocheted several wash cloths.  I was on a crafting mission last week.

 

 

Reading:

 

 



 

The 2nd book of the Selection series was slightly better than the first, but not by much.  I'm not certain why, but I want to know if she becomes the princess or not.  And the covers are quite lovely.

 

The final book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.  I've read a lot of reviews and I know most people didn't like the book or the ending.  However, I was not one of those people.  I don't believe it was the best Sookie book; however, I really liked that she ended up with Sam.  I always thought they would make a good couple simply because he was part human.  You could tell she wanted a family one day and vampires don't make babies.

 

 

I really tried to read this.  Honestly, it was wayyy worse than Twilight.  I couldn't even finish it and I read far more than half the book.  I just wanted to delete it off my ereader.

 

I'm currently reading the Unearthly series.  I'm about to finish book 1.  For the most part I like it, but nothing exceptional has happened.  I'll definately pick up the second book and I will make up my mind then.  I'm pretty much in love with Tucker.

I also finished the City of Bones series, but I'll talk about that in a separate post.  I pretty much loved it though.

Basically, I was able to spend a week doing whatever I wanted, which doesn't happen very often.  Yea for vacations with zee husband!

The Gnome Garden...

...is back!!!!!  After a gnome theft a couple of summers ago, the gnomes went into hiding.  I decided it was time to coax them back out to their garden.  After a bribe of a new woodland themed bird bath, they decided it was safe to return to their garden.  Hopefully the hoodlums leave their garden ALONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The husband really wanted a bird bath to go with his bird feeders.  He has turned into quite the bird watcher; and naturally I got to pick out which bath would look the best in the gnome garden.  And I have already seen birds drinking from it!

 

Oh how I missed my gnome garden.  I didn't get all the gnomes out to frollic, but I got a majority of them out.  I love how they make the yard look super homey and I think another set of pink flamingos is in order!!!  And I love how this is also the view from kitty city!!!

 

Wouldn't this make a great background for some summer themed best friend pictures?!  [Whatcha think bestie?!  Should we do another bestie photo shoot while you're back?!] 

 

I hope you have a gnomey day!!!

The Kitties Enjoying Their City.

  It has been awhile since I did a kitty photo dump.  The kitties spent the entire weekend in the mudroom, enjoying their city.  I decided to dump these photos on to you, so you can see I’m not crazy; they really do love their city remodel.

 

 

 My view through the kitty door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Apparently, there was no room for Hooch on the city, so he chose the work bench, which is also a super sunny place to lay. 

 

 

 

Kitty pictures brighten my day; I hope your day has also been brightened.