Tolentreasures

Another tree up this evening,                     I had some amazing little elves helping me.   We decided that Kamden’s strong point was not putting lights on the tree,  so he was sent to the yard to do some winterizing tasks. Kendall ended up with two baby Jesus.    Apparently, she had two complete nativity sets set up as one.  We did a little editing and back to normal.  Jesus was not a twin.        Insomnia set in and I finished aprons  and hemmed a pair of pants for JWS.       

Back to the basics.   That is what this machine is.    I learned to sew on an old brown Singer in the late 60’s.  My mom’s was fancier than this one.  It actually made some fancy stitches  and  this is just a straight stitch.  I could not wait to get a new fancy sewing machine,  it was what I asked for when I graduated from high school.  I researched and chose a JC Penney machine.  It served me well for years, while my mom kept using the old brown Singer.  Eventually mom’s machine was retired.  Where it went is actually sketchy.   Mom moved on and has had several new machines.  I have had a couple of newer Singers,  a Brother that worked hard for many years,  but always on the lookout for an  Old Brown Singer.  I found this one and another at yard sales.  They are sisters.  The one sister needs a little help, but this one keeps plugging away....

Sometimes the best days are not epic!  They are ordinary days.  Magical, ordinary days. Days spent doing exactly what you like to do even if no one else understands!  I had one of those yesterday.    Lots of little projects and  not allowing myself  to see  "what really needs done"  and letting it spoil the day!    I spray painted this chandelier.  Ready to hang today... more on that in another post.    Sprayed this mirror and finished cleaning and decorating the hallway.      Almost have the kitchen finished.  Logan visited me to show me his  hunting attire for  turkey hunting today.     Dinner napkin valance on the front door. I scrubbed the front porch at the camp,  tidied, spruced, decorated, and it is ready for Jenn's party tonight, almost... JWS cooked that awesome meal above and  ...

Lots of winter projects in my world!  A nice, easy winter with time to rest and  create! How could you ask for more?      An amazing weekend spent  with these creative ladies, quilting, sewing, laughing, and of course,  eating!  And... still persevering on this afghan!  Setting deadlines to get it done and missing them!  

  Not a huge cold weather fan,  I am however, Embracing January.  After the chaos of the holidays, running and working and  not much rest,  January is starting to be a favorite month! A nice evening painting class Some time for creativity.      Another new workspace in progress.  And Wednesdays with this guy.  I tell him it is my favorite day of the week.  He translates that to, "It is your favorite day with me!" That works! 

Logan and I will be starting our fifth puzzle of the winter. Gracelyn made her first garment on her sewing machine, from a pattern!   These kiddos made s'mores and hot dogs in the fireplace.   This one has been visiting me every Thursday.   Persevering through a "not too bad" winter.

These little dresses. Found at yard sales and in boxes of aprons are adorable. But how to display them.    On a really cold winter day, what better place to hole up than this sunny, cheery sewing room.   I really don't spend enough time here.   Decorative hangers.   I have been told that they don't sell without cute hangers.   So, I raid the four year old grandson's closet, a quick peruse of Pinterest for ideas and away I go. This could easily be adapted to adult hangers though. Find a piece of material to fit the hanger, doubled. I have this awesome stash of drapery and upholstery sample books! Cut the fabric about an inch bigger than the hanger. Might as well make more than one. Press under the bottom edge and hem. Add some type of decoration on the fronts. Speaking of stashes.  There happens to be an awesome stash of lace, trims and ric rac in my sewing room. Sew the...

  These have been in the back of my mind for awhile. Pennants with a twist. So, after cleaning the sewing room, I messed it up again. I am always buying boxes of linens and hoarder than I am, I cannot stand to throw any of them away. Even the stained, ripped ones.   This is what I decided to do with them. Bits of fancy needlework...salvaged! Lots more to go!    The original pennant tutorial is here   http://tolentreasures.blogspot.com/2012/11/free-pennant-tutorialvery-easy.html   The only twist?   The serger on the edges.   I bought this serger from a friend this summer.   It has sat and sat and sat.   So after dusting and cleaning and Olympic gymnastic acts to get it threaded, it is working!     How fun are those machines?  

That is what I am choosing to call all this stuff.  UNFINISHED sounds so  "glass half empty" The quilt was started last weekend at  Ladies Sewing Retreat.  What fun!  The afghan is for  Shelby's class'  Linus Project.  Not needed until January-ish. Tons of doodles....in progress.  And this. The little quilt and pillow is finished.  Now to paint the cradle.  Cramming for the open house now! 

A little bit of this... painting for a customer and A little bit of that... work on the string quilt AFTER I managed to clean the sewing room  and make room  to  work again. Straightening the attic  and creating a space to  price items  for the  Open House.  It will be here before I know it.  And.. I found some t-shirts that made Some fun t-shirt yarn.  Last of all, work on all these "treasures" that I found at the flea market on Sunday!  Nothing  earth-shattering, just bits and pieces of  daily projects.