A Little Bit of Everything

 

Well, the "Williams Girls" (me, my sister Debbie, and our niece, Tessa) had a weird visit last week.  They arrived late afternoon last Sunday to a big, nasty, "Thunder Sleet" occurrence.  I don't think I've ever seen anything like it.  We were iced in until Thursday morning.  And, although we managed to enjoy our time together...well, it would have been even more fun if we could have gotten 'out and about.'  They left yesterday morning, undoubtedly happy to be going back home.  I sure did enjoy seeing them though!    Today I went to the Neighborhood market and brought home these beautiful tulips.  Pretty....and about as opposite "Thunder Sleet" as you could get.    I thought you might enjoy seeing them too!  (Thank you, sweet girls, for coming to visit!!)

 

Love this pretty pink color....and love the weeping tulips no matter what their color.   I wanted to say that I actually crocheted that tablecloth one summer when my kids were small...five and six.  It took me six weeks....and there has not been another.  I'm proud of it.  And, you know what, it seems like yesterday!

 

 A close-up of one of the tulips.  Don't you think pink and yellow look just great together?  I love roses sharing those colors also. 

Tessa just graduated from college recently...degrees in ceramics and photography.  She made this bottle and I treasure it.  Hoping she finds a job and gets to do what she loves....I wish that for everyone, don't you?    I found this 6" x 6" canvas at the flea market...recently.  It's parked here until I figure out where I really want it.  The greens in these items just made it really stand out.   And, the sentiment, given past history at my house, made this piece extra meaningful to me. 

 

This is a Kelly Rae Roberts print....I have shown my little collection on the blog before.  My daughter has given me several pieces of Kelly Rae's work.  (Funny that my daughter's name is Kelly also!)  I may show you those again pretty soon...and this one may join the others OR be placed somewhere else in my home or studio...who knows...as you know....my mind changes often.  However, I will love this piece where ever it lands here.  Remember to breathe deeply....and enjoy the little (and very big) things of life while you are doing it.  You never appreciate them until you don't have them any more.  By the way, you can visit Kelly Rae and read her blog if you click here. 

 

My daughter and her husband were eating chips with a sandwich week before last.  She reached in the bag and pulled this potato chip out.  Crazy, huh?  Rick said, "Call your mother!"  So, they saved it for me.  I guess you can find a heart shaped thing just about anywhere!

 

No kidding...I think it's pretty neat.

  

One more little thing.....bought this big old spoon at the flea with the intention of doing this very thing....using it as a 'dipper' for a bowl of buttons.   This bowl is ten or twelve inches across.  Lots of buttons.  One of my biggest pleasures...finding them any and everywhere.  Wanted some color in the bowl, so added the Christmas red Cardinal salt and pepper shakers I bought at WallyWorld for the holidays.  Pretty cute, I do believe.  The spoon is extra big...almost like a shovel!

 

So, there is what I call "a little bit of everything."  From flowers, to buttons, to artwork, to potato chips.  Never know what you might find at my place!  Y'all stay warm, safe, and have some fun.  See you soon.  Big hugs, pat

PS.  Are you as annoyed by the time change as I am?

Do You Know?

Do you know what these tools are for and how they are used?   These are items I have recently come across...beautifully made, I must say, but mysterious to me.  I  have tried to find out what exactly they are for...to no avail.  So, figuring someone out there is smarter than me about such things....I am asking...DO YOU KNOW?

Tool #1 is, I believe, some kind of needle.....it's big and I'm wondering if it is used for some kind of fish net weaving?  It is a beautiful piece of wood, smooth as can be and that definitely is a big eye, so what do you think?  I found this tool in a box of sewing 'stuff' at the flea market.

Tool #2, I do believe, has something to do with knitting....but I've searched and cannot find out a thing about it.  There was a bunch of sewing thread wrapped haphazardly around that spool looking thing, but I removed it as as to get a better look at it.  Any ideas about this one?

Here's a closer look.....ring any bells?  You can turn the 'spool' by that little 'handle' sticking up top there.  This tool belongs to my friend Jim.  I was sure I could find out what it was and would love to be able to tell him what it actually is.

 Tool #3 is the most mysterious of all.  I'm totally clueless.  My friend, Laverne, invited me some time back to see if I wanted anything from her parents estate sale...she had put this back for me thinking I would like it.  I sure did, even though, like I said, I was clueless as to what it is.  It is beautifully made and I believe just a part of some bigger apparatus.  As you can see, there is a slot at the top for thread of some kind, a bobbin for thread in the middle, and all those wooden gears to make it 'go.'  (By the way, in a post last year, if you saw my wonderful vintage green 'blackboard' now in my studio, it belonged to Laverne's Dad and has become one of my favorite possessions!!)

 The 'handle' moves back and forth very smoothly....it was fastened, evidently, to something else, as there are all those screw holes.

 Notice that little lever which seems to act as some kind of 'stop' when the thread on that long thin piece runs out.  There are also two little eyelets (blue) up at the inside top of the 'handle.'  I don't think it's a handle, but it is shaped like one.

Are you 'with' me?  Do you think they are beautiful?  Do you have any idea what they are?  Kindly leave a comment if you can...or go to my profile where you can send me an email.  I'm just wondering what wonderful uses these beautiful vintage pieces have.  Hope you are well out there....and STAY COOL!  pat

UPDATE!!!  HERE IS THE LATEST ON THESE VINTAGE TOOLS:  I am happy to report feedback about the use of these tools has come in and I thought you'd want to know the latest.
Seems #1, the needle,  was used to make fish nets and also HAMMOCKS.  How interesting...and pretty close to what we thought, isn't it?  #2, the thing that looks kind of like a fishing pole, has been revealed to be used as a 'holder' for kite string and can be reeled in an out as you need more line.  I loved that whole idea.  #3, the real 'mystery' item -  it turns out -  is a part of a specific loom apparatus that made hatbands, ribbons and labels in a factory.  I'm amazed to find that out.  So, there you are...information asked for and received.  Just how cool is this blogging thing?