Red, White and Blue

I've been decorating for the Fourth as you can see.
I finally repainted my vintage chalk board with Martha Stewart chalkboard paint. The old surface was messed up and you couldn't write on it. So happy I took the time to do this.
The little banner is a freebie from Jenny Harris at her wonderful blog- Allsorts. You can download these freebies and cut them out then string them on bakers twine.
It's hard to take pic's through glass, but my dear friend Donna gave this to me and I used my vintage Uncle Sam and a cute Liberty tag I picked up. Can't remember where-sorry.
On the new mantle- a flag bouquet.
A little bit of Texas. I made the little Tx flag at a rug hooking workshop years ago.
Close-up of the embroidery-primitive style is always fun to do-no straight lines.
My big clock and patriotic horns in my entryway. I'm getting into the patriotic spirit! How about you? Dropping son off at the airport this afternoon-he's going backpacking in Europe for a few weeks. Lucky him! Wish I could do that. Have a great day!!

Leslie

Loose Ends

I've been trying to tie up some loose ends. Here are the promised pic's of the tea towels I showed you last week. Here's one hanging on my new hutch.The patterns were from My Vintage Mending, Thanks Renee!
I love to work in a single color-no changing threads-super easy and quick!
The cabinet I showed in progress from last week. I repainted, sanded and finished this, I still want to paint the knobs a darker green that will contrast more against the white.
I put in my Mom's set of nodders. I showed you some of them HERE, when they were back at my parents house. After my Dad died, I wanted a special place for them.
So I put the cabinet in my bedroom, because the bases are almost always pink and green(my bedroom colors) They were usually tourist souvenirs.
Each piece comes out and is a salt and pepper shaker. They balance in the base and can swing or nod back and forth. They are very kitchy and I am reminded of my Mom every time I look at them.
One last thing. I found this cute wire basket cloche thrifting with my son last week. But he did me proud. He found a practically new pair of Doc Martins-just his size! Awesome find, Son!
I loved, loved your comments from my last post! The different ice cream men in your different neighborhoods-wow! I think I'll go get a drum stick right now. Have a good week!

Back in One Piece

We made it back from the road trip to Chicago in one piece. It's a long drive from Texas! I worked on these 2 stitcherys from a pattern from Renees wonderful blog, My Vintage Mending.I had the tea towels from a garage sale-they still have the original price tag pinned on. Woolworths-6 for 49 cents. Don't you wish we could still get them at that price?
I've also been painting again. It seems like I always have a brush in my hand. I'll show the finished little cabinet soon.
We didn't have much time in Chicago and we took the dog, so couldn't do much. One thing I wanted to do was to find some of the places my parents lived and went to school in Chicago. I had this wedding picture and did a little detective work and was able to locate the church they were married in. They would have been married 62 years in August.
I found it- and it has been turned into a school. The door is the same. Even though I grew up outside the city I had never been by this church.
Took this out the car window. I remember waiting for the Good Humor Man in the summer every night and when I heard the song, I'd run in to ask for money to get an ice cream bar.
I was surprised that Good Humor is still going. It's kinda comforting that some things never change! Do any any of you have a fond memory of the ice cream man?

Thanks for all the comments on my kitchen hutch. I loved reading every single one! Have a happy day!

Leslie

Red Polka Dots

Here's what I did with my polka dot oilcloth. Instead of sewing, I just made a seat cushion.
Cut out plywood with a jigsaw, to fit chair seat. Trace 1" foam and cut out with scissors. Glue to wood circle.
Make a sandwich with oilcloth(right side facing down, batting, foam, wood circle.
Staple 4 sides,North, South, East, West, than staple half of each section, then half again, until it's stapled all around.
Repeat 4 times. Screw into antique ice cream chairs from underneath. Here's the before.
And Ta Da-the after. Much better.
I couldn't resist making another mouse-this time turquoise. I decided to gave him a striped tail.
Don't all fashionable mice wear stripes?
I'm joining It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday. Please check out other wonderful reds.

Leslie

Take a Moment

I haven't done as much thrifting as I used to. I had to get rid of so much stuff when we downsized, I couldn't justify bringing in more stuff. But you know a girl can't stay away too long.I found this tall thermos at GW and put it next to one I already had. Love the combination.
I didn't get this at the thrift store, but at Half Price Books. I was selling back a bunch of books and walked out with this little treasure. As you know I collect Childs Garden of Verses, but I'd never seen or heard of these. When I got home I googled it, and there was a whole series of Bubble Books.
It has 3 tiny records-that are only grooved on 1 side. My book has all 3 in perfect shape. I guess someone read the poems so the kids could look at the page and hear it too.
Pretty amazing technology, especially for 1922! I love the illustrations and was so happy to add this to my collection.
Also found this lot of ribbon, but why I'm mentioning this is the previous owner had little double stick tape squares to hold the ends. So neat and tidy. There are lots of velvet ribbons and cute plaids and stripes. For the price of 1spool, you get 2 whole stacks-not bad.
Last I had to show the mini apple pies I made to take to a party. They came out kinda cute , but tasted really good,
It's the simple things,isn't it? Do take a moment to enjoy little things.
By the way, I love your comments-they brighten my day! Have a great day!

Leslie

Of Mice and Cashmere

This is what I should be doing. I ordered some oilcloth and it came yesterday. So excited. It looks even better in person. I want to make little chair covers for my outside ice cream parlor chairs. Any hints from you guys on sewing oilcloth would be appreciated,
But here's what I've been doing. If you follow my blog , you know I have all this wool laying around. After looking at it , I thought it would be cute to make some little softies.

Then I had to photograph them all over the house.

Because they are cute.
Anyway, back to errands and sewing stuff for real today!
p.s. my nickname when I was a Girl Scout Camp Counselor was Mouse! Have a great weekend! It's starting to get hot here already. Summer's almost here.

Leslie

This and That

I found these thrifting awhile back and want to do something with them. Maybe a shadow box. They remind me of the images on vintage cards. I keep getting off on tangents, like working on geneology, when I should be sewing away on wool. Do you ever do that?
This is a photo of my Grandma and my beloved Aunt Ruth. They were 2 years apart and inseparable. I could move into that kitchen right now. I think that roasting pan went to my Mom , because I faintly remember it. Look at their cute dresses!
Aunt Ruth is the one who taught me to love crafts and later I taught her to sew with a pattern. I have alot of her ceramics that she made(always with long human eyelashes) I'm so in love with that sink!!! I am going to try to get back on track today. Just thought I'd pop in. My computer was down over the weekend so I didn't get to do my Mothers Day post. I hope you all had a great day and weekend!