I found out about a fabric/quilt/pattern estate sale 2 hours after it started, but I raced over anyway. After talking with the owners, I found that I missed all the embroidery patterns, they sold before I got there. I don’t even want to think about the fabric that I missed out on.

I did manage to snag a few vintage patterns from the 50’s & 60’s before a woman came by and bought ALL the patterns (three pattern drawers full worth). It was everything you could fit in a trash bag for $1 (you’re dying aren’t you? I would be if I read it on someone else’s blog). There were trunks and trunks, and boxes just full of fabric. I dug and dug and pulled out what I could that appealed to me. I also found an amazing needle point brown linen tote bag.

My husband if off with the camera so pictures of my finds will have to wait (like the cool nine patch quilt blocks). I did snag an old (and stained) embroidered kitchen towel, I bought it for the pattern. Since I can’t show you my finds I thought I would share the pattern from the towel with you.

Wouldn’t it be fun to do charity set of DOW towels?  If everyone chose a day and stitched a towel, then the set could be donated or sold for charity?

I heard/saw this game in one of my contacts albums, I have no idea who started it or how long it has been going on, but I do know it was kinda fun!

You answer a series of questions about your self into the search feature of flickr and choose a photo you like (no going past the first page).  Click on the photo above to see all the rules.  Can you tell who my celebrity crush is?

Please post the link if you do this, I totally want to see it!!

My sister in law asked me to make this for her (to give as a gift) ages ago and I finally finished it last night. I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I had to use med. ric rac because I couldn’t find it any larger in this color.

Well, I don’t suspect there is going to be much crafting out of anything other than Popsicle sticks going on over here this summer. The little monkey’s are keeping me pretty busy, and swim lessons start next week. Despite the lack of crafts, I am still anxious to get my hands on so many of the new fabrics that debuted at Quilt Market a few weeks ago. I’ve been flitting around the blogosphere just admiring fabrics here and there and now I am waiting for them to arrive at Zoe’s.

On an unrelated note, I have 98 sales in my etsy shop, just want to let you all know 100th sale gets FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental USA.  Just use code 08-100 at checkout and I’ll revise the invoice.

What about you?  What do you have planned this summer?

Home Again, Jiggity Jig!

Suffering from post vacation crash (am I the only one who comes home and wants to hide in my closet ALONE for a few days?) . I promise to be back to the regularly scheduled crafting program soon (which would include me drooling over my monitor and I anxiously await the arrival of Farmers Market at my local quilt shop).

It has been a beautiful rainy afternoon here in the desert. I simply LOVE rain, and it was the perfect afternoon for hanging out in my craft room! I was able to finish a little something extra to send to Christina for the may give-away.

The package is in the mail and off on its way to the PNW (seems only fitting it should go out on a rainy day).  And now I am off…sneaking away with my kids to CA for the weekend!

(thank you to everyone who left dinner suggestions, they were SO helpful and have given me lots of ideas!)

As I have said before, most of the time cooking is a chore.  On long Sunday afternoon’s however I love to get dirty in the kitchen.    Somewhat reluctantly I cook dinner every night, chore or not we have to eat.  My husband is always telling me I make “fancy food” and he wants more “normal” food, whatever the heck that is.

I’m simply at a loss on what sorts of “normal” meals I should cook.  What is it that the average amercian family eats these days (especially while battling rising food costs)?  I have tried those recipe chain letters and no one ever sends recipes back (I don’t blame them, I hate chain letters too).  So, I am begging you to comment and tell me some of the meals that are in your regular rotation.

To play fair, here is what we have eaten the last few days (which I don’t think is fancy at all!).

• Tonkatsu & Rice (a Japaneses dish that my husband cooks)
•  chicken enchiladas & beans
• Salmon, veggies & rice
• Mc Donalds
• Rositas (local mexican place)
• Irish-Italian Spaghetti
• Fish Sticks (oh, yes, we ate these with the kids-blech!)

Congratulations to Christina, she is the winner of a fruit stamped towel. I hope you post pictures when it’s complete so we can all see it!

Thanks to everyone for entering!!

(a work in progress shot of a pillow I’m working on)

I drug my children thrifting today with the promise that if they were good they could pick out a book at the thrift stores.

Most of the thrifted treasures have been added to my etsy shop, red square Pyrex, Cinderella Pyrex mixing bowl, vintage fabric and linen/cotton dishtowels!! I also got a vintage cookie gun, squirter or whatever they heck they are called. I told the kids we could test it out and see what kind of fun cookies we can make!

Best find of all?  An old metal typewriter stand with fold down sides, for $2.  I’ll photograph it after I paint it, I’m thinking aqua.

Pink, at least it is my new black. I thrifted my daughter some pink chucks for a mere $7.50 today!

On another note (my head is just spinning with things today) Did anyone catch last night’s Lost? Wow, it gave me lots of answers, but even more questions. Like, now that Jack knows that Aaron is his nephew, what is it that keeps him and Kate apart? I think I have it figured out how the 6 survive, but I’m really thrown on how Ben ends up in Liberia (or where ever it is he ends up). I dreamed about the show last night, people I knew became characters and Ben was able to let people temporarily leave the island to visit the grand canyon, but they weren’t really off the island, and children that turned into bears and back again.

One more tangent for you. I love embroidered buttons, I think they look so cool. I thrifted some buttons a few weeks back and decided to give it a try. The embroidery was easy (if tiny) and I used the pattern provided on the button pack for how big of a circle to cut of your fabric. Then I attempted to assemble them. Linen is heavy and thick and I could not get the back on (ok after MUCH effort I got one on). So the next one I cut a little smaller- hoping it would cause the back to go on easier-nope, the fabric wasn’t enough to stretch.

Has anyone else ever tried these with linen?  What is your secret for getting the backs on?  Do I really need to go buy one of those machines?

This month’s give away is for a “tea towel embroidery kit”. The kit includes 1-pre stamped flour sack towel (with the design of your choice), 1-gold eye needle (my fav.’s), and enough skeins of floss to complete the project (and if I’m feeling crafty this weekend, I might make a needle case).

I’ve rummaged through my stash of patterns to pull out three options for you. I’ve hunted through flickr and I don’t believe these workbasket patterns have been posted before. However, if you’ve seen me use a pattern before that you simply adore more than these…I’m willing to stamp the towel with another pattern for you.

#1

#2

#3

each image is slightly incomplete on purpose to prevent theft. If you are looking for a summer project leave me a comment and tell me which pattern is your favorite! Extra entries (as always) for sharing the link on your blog. Comments will be open until I go to bed on Saturday (17th) night!