A Fast Two Weeks (Lots of Pics)

My head has finally stopped spinning.  It's been a crazy two weeks!!!  Thanks for all the comments on my last post about the antics with my son.  Nothing ever came of it for which I'm happy (and so is he), but he learned a great lesson and there's been a lot of egg jokes flying around here.   Actually, he's pretty embarrassed about the whole thing.  I hope that's the worst that we'll ever face.

My sister was here for eleven days and left yesterday.  We had a great time, although maybe not as crazy as in prior years given the fact that my son's foot was really in poor shape after his soccer field collision, so it was hard for him to hobble around.  But we had a lot of fun and I'm always sorry when she leaves!!  We did our annual Chicken Dinner thing at Frankenmuth, went through all the stores except Bronners (I think it's been too hot around here for me to envision Christmas right now), visited antique shops, etc.  She also got me into a lot of trouble buying things (gotta blame someone, right Sis?).

Stitching took kind of a back seat and quilting was nil, but later in the evenings when we were resting, I did get a little more done on Susanna - not much, but a little:

She coming along slowly but surely, and I do like the colors in it quite a bit.

We found some great new antique shops, although one reminded us of a place out of a Stephen King novel (definitely not a place I want to go to again), but we found some really great new antique shops, consignment shops and barns, and, of course, I can't come out without anything, can I?  I think I would have done more damage if my son's foot was feeling better, but I didn't want him walking on it more than he had to, and crutches are definitely not something you want to take into an antique store.

First find was a chippy table for my craft room!  Just what I was looking for!  And the woman at this shop was practically giving things away.  In fact, when I looked at her in stunned surprise when she gave me the final price, she said that she wanted me to come back so therefore the great prices!  Like Arnold says, "I'll be back!!!"

Some of the things on the table were from a few other places we came across:

This child's lunch pail - just had to have it - it's RED!!  And for some reason, I've really developed a love of these things.

Lots of little things - three pincushions.  The silver slipper is stamped with "Bruno" although I don't know if that means anything; three pairs of antique scissors, molds, rulers, a glass jar and another Anchor Hocking piece.  I think it's just a candy dish, but a frog fits on it perfectly.  I think there are a few other things, but I'll post those another time.  They were all for great prices and I think I've found the secret to cheap antiquing - get a long distance from the big cities.

Then I came across this cabinet - I've got this thing for little drawers, so I just had to have this as well:

Then a baby's antique gown to hang under the shelves in my craft room or I may frame it - not sure yet:

We also made it to the quilt store - a couple of them - and a yarn store.  Not a good move because I didn't come out of those places unscathed either, but I won't post those things now.  My sister did see a quilt that she liked and since she lives on the coast, it's perfect.  She doesn't quilt, so I've been recruited to make it.

Luckily the center is a cheater panel otherwise she'd be waiting for years until I got my applique skills honed, but since I also put her to work while she was here, I think that she deserves a quilt.

Her vacation wasn't quite as leisurely as she probably hoped.  I put her to work helping me put up shelves in my craft room.  I've wanted new shelves for ages, but it's a two person job, and DH has been working on his own shelving adventures in the garage, so I recruited Sis for the job, and this is what we did!

The closet!!!  Oh happy day!  There were some of these funky wire shelving things in there and they weren't worth the power to blow them to Minnesota, so we ripped those out and installed these.  I've got a little spackling and touch up work to do from the other holes, but TA DA!!

Then we put some over where my sewing machine goes:

TA DA again!!!  And we also put one up over my cutting table (no pic).  The reason the level is on the shelf is that my husband didn't seem to think that two women could put up shelves and make them level. Typical male, right?  Well, all were level except that bottom one.  He snuck down when we weren't looking and said it was off 1/16 of an inch.  Okay, now 1/16 of an inch is no big deal to me, but......we hightailed it up to the local hardware store, bought some washers, inserted them above the brackets and screwed those babies down!  Perfect!  We'll show him!  HA!

Now my room is really a disaster and I won't be able to get in there for a couple more weeks as I'm in for a couple more busy ones.  Today is one of rest, but tomorrow, I've got to start packing for our trip up north.  It's been such a full summer that I'll almost be glad when the kids get back into school so I can relax........and stitch.......and quilt!  Well, in fact, I will be glad when they go back to school, just don't tell them!!

Well, that's it for me for now.  I'm really sorry that I haven't been able to visit blogs over the past couple of weeks, but I'm going to try to catch up at some point.  I know that I've missed reading everything and seeing what all of you have done.  I'll try to catch up soon and thanks again for all the wonderful comments on my last post.

Oh, and I may have to start up Comment Moderation soon.  Seems that I've been getting too many Viagra and weird comments, so I may do that.  I know it's a pain, but I'm tired of seeing comments about how I can improve my sex life or requests for money because someone is a prisoner in some jail in some country I've never heard of before.

Stitch lots and I'll try to catch up on everyone's blogs soon!

Good Morning Sunshine!!

Well, first off, I've been a bad blogger.  I don't think that I've read more than a few blogs over  the past couple of weeks.  Bad, bad!!!  Okay, busy, busy would be more like it and it's going to be this way for the next couple of weeks!  UGH!  I don't know if it's due to all the craziness around here, but I've been in the biggest crafty slump imaginable.  Not enough time, too many things I want to do (did you see Margaret's new start with SL's Jane Atkinson? - OMG be.......still..........my.........heart - BIG SIGH HERE) and I can't get there.  I think of all the things I can do and then go through stash, look at my WIPs (boring), but can't settle on anything or find the time.  But I finally settled on something - actually went down the path of least resistance.  Remember this monster:

Yes, Ann Medd shown here lying on the floor have an absolute fit from lack of attention.  Well, her screams were just getting too loud, so I gave her some stitching love.  First I stitched Mr. Sunshine:

Then I stitched a little more:

Very odd things going on in this section.  That bird-like thing looks like a oddly colored, nose-diving penguin.

The whole reason that I've resisted picking up this sampler again is the fact that most of the stitching in this section and the section below is ONE OVER ONE ON 35 CT FABRIC!!!  UGH!  Now there is no way on God's green earth that I could live through that - I'd be pulling my hair out, so this is my rendition of Ann - stitched two over two on 35 ct. fabric, and I will be a much happier, full haired and saner person for it.  It can work because the nutso penguin and the other things near the sun are done two over two on the chart, so this is going to work!  Yahoo!!.  Do you think that Ann will be mortified at what I'm doing - will she roll over in her grave?  Hopefully not because this is how it's going to be!!  BTW, this is two weeks of stitching so you can definitely see that I haven't had much time.  All the fill in is perfect for life right now - not much thinking - just stitch!!!  That is if my eyes are still open when I hit the stitching chair.

I've managed to do a little bit of quilting too when I could find an hour or so.  A couple weeks ago I spent some time cutting out blocks just so that something would be ready for piecing if I could find time (this is the time of year of school plays - yes I raise my hand to help - I've got to stop doing that;  track meets - did I raise my hand to be a timer or did someone lift my hand for me?;  dance rehearsals and recitals - oh dear, someone raised my hand again and now I'm a backstage mom; confirmations, etc., so it's hectic).  Anyway, I got those blocks sewn together that were sleeping on the cutting table:

And then a couple more - these four blocks are for the Women's Voices Civil War Quilt:

Then because you know that I just can't stay away from anything that resembles a Big A$$ed Project, I started this quilt:

The Farmer's Wife Quilt.  I know, I know, I must be nuts!!!  I really wanted to start the Dear Jane Quilt which would definitely make me certifiable, but I thought this one would be the lesser of two evils for the time being.  Dear Jane is still on the radar screen for a start soon.  Anyway, The Farmer's Wife is a Block of the Month that I'll be getting over the next 18 months - each month has 6 or 7 blocks to complete.  I got the first set cut out and the first block finished:

Autumn Tints

Block #2 - The Farmer's Wife Quilt

I can't wait to get to the rest of them.  They're so much fun to make.

Before everything got crazy and when I was able to get out and make some road trips, I managed to find some thrifty and fun things:

Okay, nothing spectacular here, but I just could not resist little Adam!  There was no Eve with him, but he looked so cute and was all by his lonesome, so I just had to bring him home.  The tins I use to store all my different sewing pins in.

Then behind the counter where I don't normally look, I found this doll!  Isn't she sweet?  She's signed and dated on the back and all of $12.00 at the good old Salvation Army!!!  $12.00 is usually way over my limit on the the SA, but I could not resist her.  She's slightly stained on her backside, but otherwise in perfect condition.  Now I need to make her some clothing!

Then at one of the antique shops I came across:

A bag of strawberry emery's, an old tin pincushion and a jar of buttons - all for $7.00.  

Then this sweet lady.  I had seen one identical to this in another antique shop, but in really tattered condition.  They wanted $60.00 for her.  This one in much better condition (although I think I need to add a little blue paint to one of her eyes), was $10.00.  Again, usually more than I would pay, but considering what I had seen the other one go for, I thought this was a great deal.

Then what would be a trip to the antique store be if I didn't find at least one of these?:

But I found two!!  The white milk glass frog is a good sized one, about seven inches wide.   The other one is quite a bit smaller.  I think that I have to stop buying these things - I'm running out of room and pairs of scissors to put in them.  But I suppose I could use them for what they're intended for - flowers!  Novel thought, right?

Well, that is it for me.  Have to get moving again.  If I haven't visited your blog, I'll get there.  I think I have today and tomorrow for some fun reading (and being enabled), so I'll catch up.  Thank you again for all your wonderful comments - I really love reading them.  Hope you have a wonderful week and stitch something fun.  

Tooth Aches, A Finish and a Road Trip

Happy Friday everyone! I'm glad it's Friday. It's been a good week and a bad week!

First off, I have to thank Karen for posting her finish of the La-D-Da Tiny Sampler a week or so ago. She made it into a little tin pin finish. She was gracious to offer the pattern to people who wanted it. Well, any freebie is my freebie and I printed it off and worked on it this week. It's in a 1-1/2 inch tin pin.

The reason I can't thank her enough is that this little sampler saved my stitching self this week. Last weekend I started to get a toothache. Monday morning I woke up and it seemed like it was going away. NOT! By the late afternoon, my tooth was screaming (of course, too late to get to the dentist). If I walked it screamed, if I bent my head to stitch it screamed. It was awful. So I medicated myself with some high strength Motrin and got through until the next day. I was going to take some Vicodin left over from my son's wisdom teeth extractions, but he had told me he saw pink elephants in his sleep while taking that so I decided not to go that route! But I wanted to stitch! This little sampler saved the day because I put the fabric into some baby Q-Snaps and could hold my head up and stitch right in front of my face (putting my face down caused more throbbing even though the piercing pain had subsided). A trip to the dentist solved the problem (flushing and antibiotics) and I hope that's over with. Although the Dr. thinks I cracked a root. That will be seen next week! So thank you, thank you Karen for saving me this week!!

By Wednesday, my pity party was over. Toothache gone and normal stitching could begin. I finished up the Tiny Sampler that night and then I started Cape Cod Girls yesterday.

The colors are a little washed out in this pic, but it's such a fun stitch. I'm stitching this along with Siobhan. I think she's a bit further along than I am. I'll probably work on this for today and then put it aside to work on the City Stitcher A&E for the weekend.

Wednesday I was feeling so good I went on a road trip. We have a town near us called Holly and the town is full of antique and prim stores. I shouldn't have gone. I kind of went nuts. I probably felt I deserved a reward for battling all that tooth pain (any excuse is a good one, don't you think?). Plus I usually do some kind of road trip every month. Sometimes I come back with goodies. Sometimes I just have a good drive - looking at the scenery and singing to the songs on the radio. In the fall, I load up on donuts and cider and drive around and look at all the colors. With the weather the way it's been around here this winter though, I've pretty much just holed myself up in the house. So, yes I guess I went a little nuts, but I had to catch up.

This was my first find. A clock cabinet minus the clock. Someone had tacked a quilt square into the opening. Well, my first thought was to get that quilt block out of there and have a piece of glass inserted and then a piece of needlework. A sampler perhaps? Yes, a sampler and I think I have the perfect one in mind. Maybe Ellen Birdseye? May require some tweaking, but I think it would be perfect. The cabinet has two small shelves behind the door that will be perfect for smalls. But I'm going to use this as a side table in my family room. My FIL is very handy with woodworking and I'm going to have him extend the base and the top (as the depth of this is rather narrow) and VOILA, a decorative side table.

My second find was this key case. You can't see the key holders as they're hidden by the cross bar. I was going to hang this by the back door because DH is always losing his keys, but I think it would look better in my craft room. Besides, my DH is never known to put anything where it's suppose to go, so putting it by the back door for his use would be futile! LOL So it will probably end up in my craft room. I think I'm going to give the inside of this a paint job though.

Then I found this Angel plate. I love Angel stuff. I was originally looking around for Red Transferware (didn't find anything), but I fell in love with this.

And I just had to have this Angel! Isn't she sweet? I believe the owner of the shop - Dawn (who also has a blog - http://hollyhillsprimitives.blogspot.com/) makes these dolls. I just couldn't pass her up. By the way, Dawn's prices are very, very reasonable, otherwise I wouldn't have bought half this stuff. Check out her blog. She is happy to mail things!Then I found this punched tin bowl. I think it will look great with some candles in it lit up for the holidays (or anytime I think). I loved the hearts cut into the sides.

Then I found this picture frame. Couldn't pass it up. Don't know what I'll use it for, but I'm sure that I'll find some small sampler to put into it. That was another thing I wanted to look around for was old picture frames. Our community is having a picture framing classes and I think it's about time I learned how to do this. I don't frame half my stuff just because of the expense.


I also found this old carpenter's tool box. It's good sized - about 2 feet across. I was originally going to put this out on my porch with some potted plants, but I'm thinking that I've got better uses for it in my craft room. Time will tell after I do my craft room over!

And last but not least, I thought I'd take a picture of this door molding that I found on a previous roadtrip. I loved it when I saw this with the stars and glass door handles attached. A cute idea. Again, designated for my made-over craft room when I finally get my butt in gear and tackle that beast!
As I write this, Terri is probably on her way up to Holly Hill. There is a funny story behind this. She was going to call me to go up with her today, not knowing that I had already gone up there. We must have been on the same wavelength this week! When I got home that day and started going through the blogs I follow, I found out she was planning a visit to HHP on Friday! I called her and told her I felt like I was going through a Twilight Zone moment. It would have been fun to go up with her, but maybe the next time! I was tempted - Dawn said she was getting more stuff in last night, but I think I've done enough damage for this week. I'm anxious to see what finds Terri came across there!
Well, that's about it. My kids are off today and all of next week. Should be an interesting week. I'll be able to stitch in the mornings and listen to the two of them go at each other in the afternoons. You know how those teens and 'tweens are! Do love them to death though!
Thanks again for all your comments! I love reading them. I feel like I've made a lot of friends all over the world! I hope that each one of you has a safe, peaceful and happy Easter!