New to me and Come to the Party.

When at my favorite 2nd hand store today I found this hand made doily in the shape of a carrot. Do you love it?? It matches nothing, I have no pink, but it is great for the Peter Rabbit planter.

Come to the party.
http://notesongs.blogspot.com/

We were invited  to share our favorite cupboard. I have more than one favorite so this is a long post.
We have lived in our home for 39 years. It has had make overs and many remodels. The last kitchen redo has made it my most favorite room. Taking out a wall and adding a breakfast bar allows me to visit when I am cooking and others are in the dining area. If you care to see I have redo pictures in my web shots albums.
http://community.webshots.com/user/nana5111
While looking at the blogs that are listed on Note songs--- It's time for the heart of the home party--- I saw some that listed a Welsh cupboard. I had no idea I had one of those! When we redid I married 2 pieces together and ended up with a cupboard that looks like a Welsh cupboard. So that is what I will call it. It is where I decorate for the season. I can now see it from my sink.

Over the years I have found wonderful old cupboards. I will share a few.There are 8 in the house. There was one more that now is in our daughters home.
As you come in the front door there is a corner cupboard that belonged to Mr. T's parents. I have had it for over 40 years. It holds the candles in its base. Makes the entry smell really nice.














In the living room is the oak post office cupboard.It is a very tall piece.It holds all my Manhattan depression glass. I bought it for $100 at an auction many years ago. It  fits this house really well. If I didn't say so before the house is over 110 years. 

The next cupboard I found in the local funeral home garage.It was painted and full of garage stuff.I stripped it and found birdseye maple.It is the first cupboard I bought. It is in the computer room. Holds my pin cushion collection and stores lots.

The last is the china cupboard I bought for $7.00.Again it holds lots of stuff from my tiny dolls to the Wexford dishes Mother bought me in 1964.

Be sure  visit all the others that are sharing their favorite cupboard on Shelia's page.
.j

RV remodel

We are finished with the remake of the back bedroom in the RV.
It is so perfect!

We have been working on it for a few weekends.When we bought this RV we thought the separate bedroom would be perfect for my sewing and sleeping needs.It was not. The bunks were to small and the table was made for kids to fit not a full size woman.

The front bed area is perfect for Mr. T.

So we went to work and changed things around. Good thing Mr. T is so handy. We cut down a headboard from my favorite 2nd hand store.Carol Ann's.
Mr.T. then mounted the light under the shelf of the headboard. So much handier than where it was before.

We took out the closet and moved it to the side wall from the back wall.
Put in a bigger bed platform with a bigger mattress.There is so much more floor space and storage.
Mr.T made sliding doors under the bed how cool is that???

All the little repair things are also done. I have to admit I got a little picky. Things just had to be done the right way or not at all.
So I filled all the nail holes. Did I ever tell you Paper Clay works really well for that? I worked on one piece of trim for over an hour to get it to fit just right.

The ugly green carpet is gone.
 The walls and everything are clean and we are ready to go!

I still need to make the new curtains this week.You can see the before and after pictures ,of the remake,on my web shots pages.
http://community.webshots.com/user/nana5111

I will be hanging this wall quilt  in the bedroom.
Hope the weather is nice next weekend.
Have a great week.j

Finished little quilts

This week I finished the 2 UFO's I posted earlier.Nice feeling to get them done.

I hand quilted the yellow and blue.I found that using a hoop for the lap quilting did not work for me so I did it without. It was just right when I took it out of the dryer. Looking kind of wrinkled and old.
  I machine quilted the other with grass, stars and moon with a single stitch around the border.
The weeks are going by so fast. Much to do. Have a great week.j

Class

Yesterday was a very good day for ducks!
drizzle and more drizzle.
Better than snow but it was really ,one of those stay in bed kinda days.
Well I did not stay in bed as I was signed up for a class at the local library.8-5

It was a great class!!Free motion quilting.

The class included more than just the quilting. Laying out the quilt the proper way. Learning the right presser foot for the right sewing job and so much more.

As with all classes for me my brain was fuzzy by the end of the day with so much information.
There were 8 for the class Charleen(first picture) was the instructor. I had intended to take pictures while we were busy but forgot until we were packing.

I did not have good luck doing the stippling. It is going to take a lot of practice for me to master this if I decide it is something I really want to do. I do not like stippling much. It makes quilts stiff and heavy in my opinion.
I think a quilt should be soft and wrap around a person to keep them cozy. I know there are quilts that are only for display but they are not what I want to make.

 I did find a site on line that is just for me.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/machine-quilting-tips-and-tricks.html

There are many sites that help on line but a hands on class is always better.
I did practice today and will do so until I concur free motion quilting.Weather I ever quilt a quilt that way we will see.

I do enjoy hand quilting so much that machine quilting may not be for me.j

more spring

I brought a bit of spring inside.I cut forsythia branches  week ago and they are blooming. God's beauty is amazing.

Spring

My friend has been seeing robins for a week. I had seen not a one---- until today.
This little bird is my sign that spring will be here soon. I heard it before I saw it.
I love that cheep cheep sound they make. It is a fat little fellow and all fluffed up because today it is still only 27 degrees.

Weather this week will get into the 50's and 60's. Yipee!!!
Have a great week.j

Spring Cloche Party

I love reading others blogs and Marty over on A Stroll Thru Life is having a party.
I am joining with only one cloche this time.A touch of spring with bunnies.

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2011/03/welcome-to-spring-cloche-party.html

What is the original purpose of a cloche?
I looked it up and here is a quote from  the English Creek Gardens site
Garden Under Glass. The French developed the glass cloche, or bell jar, formed of a solid piece of glass shaped like a dome. The purpose was to protect an early garden plant from bleak cold and frost. This would hasten their crops to maturity. The Dutch and English expanded the idea with handlights, lantern style, faceted pyramidal covers made from glass panes and frames of cast iron. Today French cloches', Dutch and English handlights styles are much on the garden scene. As well as functional, they make a wonderful garden accent. Accent your garden table, or use as a food cover for your next gathering.

There are many blogs to visit so grab a cup of tea and take a look.j 

Spider Plants / 2nd hand Finds

I needed a bit of spring even if it is inside. I received fresh flowers in this sweet container a few years ago.I love it. Peter rabbit. It is so sweet with green spider plants I planted in it today. Just felt good to put my fingers in the soil.

This week I stopped at the local antique store and I found a scale. I have wanted one for a while to set on the shelf above the sink to put a plant or basket on. It was a good price but it needed tlc before I put it in my kitchen. I love Americana and have bits of it through out the house. A little paint and primed it up a bit. perfect!

I also found a chair with cushion for $3.99. It is perfect to use for my sewing chair. I do love a good bargain and really love re purposing things. The webbing in the chair is perfect. It is light enough to take with me to classes and retreats.
Have a great weekend.j

Ufo finished

One more finished. This wall hanging was one my mother in law made years ago but never finished.
It was not perfect the some of the carrots are a little off.I think that is the reason she never finished it.
I quilted around each carrot,put the batting and back.Today I did the binding.
I am glad to have something she made.

j

New Wheels

Mr. T. has wanted a new truck for a long time but had never found just the right one.
He found one a week ago that he thought might be the right one.
The color was right.
The size was right.
The wheels were right.(I didn't know there was a difference in tires and wheels.)
The Price was right.
He bought it yesterday.
He is a happy fellow.

His old truck sitting by his new truck in the 1st picture.
This man has worked hard for a long time and it is something he has earned.
To see that face smile so big as he tells me things about it and to see that grin when he says "that sure is a *perty* truck sitting in my garage." Brings me joy and makes me smile.

We will go to the home show to see what is new for spring and summer.
Good time to try out this new truck.
Have a great weekend.j