Vintage Finds

So.  This past weekend ~ I went-a-shoppin'  ~ at the Barn Sale ~ with my Kindred.  

As usual we enabled, no, encouraged, no, that's not right either.  . . . enjoyed, that's it, enjoyed! each other's company.  I didn't have a plan.  Nope.  Just flyin' by the seat of my pants, I was. "Cause that's the way I roll most times.  Having a plan = disappointment.  Disappointment as in not finding what you want.  I'm more apt to let my treasures find me.  So. . . .  as I was fltittin' along that's exactly what happened.  Some treasures found me!   Little, ol' me. 

But since this is the home of cotton and her kin, I shall tell of the finds I found concerning that beautiful mess.

I'm (as most know) a sucker for cotton.  Old, new, vintage, retro, you name it, I could love it.  But you know what they say about love ~ it.  is.  blind.  I became blind.  Blinded by the red and white goodness that was spread on a table before me.  As a feast for the cotton deprived eye, it was there,  tantalizingly beautiful.  Her flaws hidden from the naked eye.   Beckoning without saying a word.
Her beauty speaking for her, calling to me.  I was smitten.  I was snagged.  Hook.  Line.  Sinker. 

I told myself I was strong.  I was only buying ONE thing.  One.  And I did. 



And I walked away.  And I pondered.  I longed for.  I coveted those that I left behind.  I caved.
I returned.  I bought. 

I was assured the linens would wash up nicely.

Um.. . . . not quite so.

The "stains" were of the devil.

I was told the quilt blocks were made from old grain sacks.

I washed them when I got home.  I wouldn't normally do that, but the words:  mouse and pee, used together in the same sentence don't sit well with me. 

 Now they are wonky.

 

 

 

I discovered I like the grungy look they have.  Some of them are grungier than others, as you can see.

I am making a runner with them. I had some  homespun that will work nicely for the backing.  I will quilt it up with some of that vintage thread I got at the last barn sale.

 

I have plans for the other goodies as well, but I shall share them as they land on the drawing board.

Sew until we meet again,
Lovely Daydreams from the Land of  Cotton

Strawberry Fields

Spring is coming.  I can feel it.  It sets my mind to daydreaming. 

In my family I am the jam maker.  I get "orders" annually from the kidlings and my neighbor.
Strawberry Jam is the jam of choice.  Everyone here could eat their weight in strawberries.  Everyone, that is, except for Itty Bitty.  She isn't as smitten with them as the rest of us are.  What a  strange little bird she is!

So, with May and Strawberries just around the corner, I decided I should honor this glorious occasion that bestows itself upon us during this time of year in the form of a quilt.

The stage was set.  Only two characters, with the Strawberry being the main character and the Jam Jar her side kick.   All I had to do was get the costume/wardrobe department on board and we would be set.  I spent the afternoon a week or so ago perusing the boulevard in search of just the right threads.  It wasn't hard, with only two characters to don.  And the colors would be easy peasy, lemon squeezy.  I already had some vintage lovelies to jump start the wardrobe department.  Adding a little freshness never hurts.

Strawberries are predictably unique unto themselves.  Their varying shades of pinks and reds with touches of green are pleasing to the color palate.  Even if one doesn't enjoy the taste of them, they certainly can't deny their beauty.  Take it from a family of Strawberry Swooners!

Alas, the script was written and some fabrics were chosen:

 I'm not totally sold on the "Zebra" print.  Not totally.  We'll see how she interacts with the other costume selections. 
 

Here is Ms. Strawberry showcasing a light pink cotton, paired with a pale, green, vintage, bonnet, anchored by a dark green stem.  This costume definitely made the cut!  So much so that four of them have been produced!

I am excited to play with more color choices for the leading lady and to get her side kick all decked out and ready to make her debut.  

Sew, until we meet again ~
Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton

We're Coming Along . . . . .

. . . . . . quite nicely.  I've finished crocheting the white borders on Ms. Vintage Granny's squares.  I bet she was thinking her parts and pieces would be forever stored in some dark crevice.

I think Ms. Gran is holding up quite nicely for a gal her age. She is, however, a little wonky ~ bless her soul ~ given I've had to use different yarns for the borders, with different size hooks just to make her squares even close to the same size.

Now the real fun begins.  I get to lay out the colors  ~ so I don't a family of reds or blues or greens all huddled together.  Next, crochet them together.   Then once they are all attached at the hip, I will crochet a border around the whole afghan, corralling those cuties together so none can escape!   Give her a good washing and then, and only then, Ms. Vintage Granny will be done!

Sew until next time,
Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton

Doodling

Some days in the Land of Cotton all I want to do is doodle.  Today was a doodle day.  I found a cute heart quilt block on a cute quilt blog.  It is one of the simplest heart blocks I've seen.  It has fewer pieces to cut which means less piecing, which means less time consuming, resulting in more blocks.

Don't be afraid to try this block.  It is so easy and she has given very precise, yet simple, instructions for cutting and sewing.  I will say this, however, gingham is a funny little girl.  No matter how precise I cut my pieces and sew them together, we are almost always shy the 12.5 inches I need in an unfinished block.  It may be because I have to use a little steam since my iron won't play fair and give me hot enough dry heat.  (note to self:  invest in good heavy iron)  I'll just have to make adjustments in the border strips if I bite the bullet and make a little throw using gingham.  This particular block, luckily, will go into my sampler pile.  She will fit in well with all first time auditions.

To visit this cute little blog and to get the specifics for this block just mosey on over  here.
I bet she would love your visit.
Have fun!

Sew, until next time,
Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton

Vintage Granny Squares



I've started working on my granny squares ~ again.  I found them in a storage bin when I was cleaning out my cedar closet a while back.  You may remember them as this:

 

 

All skewered on two knitting needles, held in place, in limbo, for . . .  literally years.  

I'd say, 40 years or so. 

Pitiful. 

 

 I added a second row of black around them and then tucked them away ~ again.  

But fortunately for them it wasn't for countless years!  

I decided today to get them back out today since my favorite the most boring

 sport in the whole wide world will be playing.  

ALL.  AFTERNOON.   LONG. 

I am NOT thrilled.  I hate football. 

 Period.

 

 

I decided to add a row of white to offset the black and to pull the colors out in the centers.

I hope it adds just the right touch. 

I think I may add a add a cute little border around the whole thing

when it is finally put together.

I will be excited to get her done.  She has waited far too long. 

 

Procrastination.  My adversary.   

 

 

Sew Until Next Time,

Lovely Daydreams From the Land of Cotton

Rags and Smiles

I have my own personal lemon tree.  It has been most unkind to me this month.  But, unlike many other lemon bombardments, this one had a somewhat acceptable outcome.  I won't go into detail here, but my trip to the Land of Horses had to be made post haste.  Fortunately the three Rags I was working on were finished in time.  I didn't get to start anything new.  But that's quite all right for now.

I'm the type that frets over gifts.  Will the recipient like it?  Will it be just what they wanted?  Will I  be able to hide my disappointment if they are disappointed?  I beat myself up with those questions. Mainly because I hate to disappoint.

But I was pleased to see that my gals
 were pleased with their rag quilts!

 

 

 

 

 

The sun was setting and the lighting was poor, which doesn't help given that I am a mediocre horrible photographer.  But that's okay.  I'm not in a contest. 

 

Now that they are done and delivered I can concentrate on the countless others I have left!

 



 



Sew until next time,

Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton

Rags and Stockings

I've finished Rag #3.  She's adorable, if I say so myself!  Of course, I can't show Her or Rag #1 or Rag #2 until they have made their debuts in the land of horses at the end of this month.  But. . .
I can show you side profiles of them :). 

I so hope the girls like them.  I do have more to make for that part of the world, one for another Little Lady and one each for her two little Sugar Cubes.  I know Mama Cube will understand if I do Little Lady A and Little Boy Blue's first.  She's a good Mama like that.   I just have to start the auditioning of quilty pieces and the main characters for each.  They shouldn't take long to make, it's just the auditioning process that creates little detours along the way!  Those characters can be, well, characters!

In the meantime I've been putzing around with a Christmas Stocking block.  I have some tweaking to do to make it suit my fancy, but I think I like the overall appearance.  

What do you think girlies?  Is it a keeper?  Or should I go a different route?  I definitely have to work on the ribbon hanger.  It has a mind of it's own!

Well that about sums up my play time with cotton.

Sew, until next time,
Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton