My Birthday Giveaway!

Another birthday.....how can this be? Time goes by so fast and now I'm another whole year older. Seems like my last birthday was 'just yesterday.' Well, let's make the best of it...how about a present? I learned from my friend, Jim, that it's quite fun to give someone else a present on your own birthday....so guess what....since I can't give you all one...I'll give one of you something and you'll just have to enjoy it enough for everyone!

I was born on October 18, 1944.....so on October 18, 2011, my 67th birthday, one of you will win this pincushion.....hope you like pink/lavender/blue! I made this using a glass candlestick, some dyed lace and a few embroidery stitches. Click on the photos to see close-ups. On the top is a covered button with a beaded flower and beaded edges. And, at the base is a bow with a beaded flower and leaves. Oh...and it's wool. It was fun to make and I hope the winner enjoys it.

Also in the Giveaway is a vintage cross-stitch tea towel. I think it looks pretty good with the pincushion....some industrious person could make a little sewing kit out of it...or just enjoy it as it is. There's a bead bracelet....in matching colors and a nice card. Well, I had that box of cards, none of them looked 'birthday' to me....but I love stamps and the colors looked good with the rest of the giveaway items. I think it says 'thinking of you.' Which, of course, I am!

What do you think? You want to win it? Well, around 10:00 p.m. on my birthday, next Tuesday, I'll have the old navy man choose the winner and I'll notify you then. So....go ahead....leave a comment on this post. No matter where you live on this planet...I'll get it to you should you win it! Be sure to give me a way to get in touch with you.

When I announce the winner on Tuesday night, I will also be showing you a present I received 'way back there' when I was fifty-five. It might even make you laugh...which would be a really, really GOOD thing.....so comment away...and I'll be back with you then!!! take care, pat

Another Fine Hanky

Today I wanted to show you 'another fine hanky.' But, I also wanted to show you a framed piece given to me by my friend, Susan. It's very similar to the hanky....so first, the background of my story.

In 2008, Susan made a visit to Chicago. While there she did some shopping and in the midst of the shopping, she found a piece of Drawn Thread Embroidery in a frame. Thinking I would love it, she purchased it as a gift to me and at our monthly meeting, she presented it to me. Of course, I loved it, however, it was framed over top of a piece of yellow fabric and I thought it should be changed, so I decided to reframe it over a piece of green fabric...green, you'll remember, being one of my most favorite colors. When I took the fabric from the frame, a piece of paper fell out. It is shown here. A note written by the owner of the piece (born in 1903), telling how her mother had embroidered it at age SIXTEEN in 1898 had been placed in the frame...and had I never wanted to change the color of the fabric, we would have never seen the note. What luck!

So, I've loved this embroidery since Susan gave it to me. Imagine my surprise to find a hanky at our new flea market made with exactly the same Drawn Thread Embroidery stitches. I was very thrilled to find it.....and without even taking a breath, I purchased it. The asking price for such gorgeousness.....$1.00. Do you believe it? I get kind of irked that people who have never worked an embroidery pattern, or stitched a quilt, or knitted a sweater, often devalue the work as something their great-grandmothers or grandmothers did 'to keep their hands busy', so consequently, not worth all that much. Often they hold these pieces in very low regard. (I mean, really...$1.00???) That is changing, I think because there seem to be people like me, who never had a grandmother or anyone else who embroidered, or quilted, or knitted, but nevertheless, became fascinated by it at an early age. So, because I highly value the work, I'm proud to own the framed piece and to be able to hold this wonderful hanky in my hands and marvel at the time, effort and LOVE that went into making both of these beautiful pieces of embroidery.

And, so, it is up to me to preserve it for as long as I can....and enjoy it too. And, show it to YOU, so you can enjoy it also. Maybe the precious ladies that stitched these two pieces KNOW that I have these pieces they created and that I love them. Now, that is something I'd like to imagine is true! What about you? Do you have such pieces in your collection? If so....do you feel the same way about them that I do? take care out there, pat

PS. I've no idea why the framed piece looks so bluish...it's white. Funny thing how these photos turn out sometimes!

A Few New Flea Market Finds

This past Friday, I drove out to the edge of town...right off the Freeway, where a new flea market has opened. I heard about it 'through the grapevine" and it was open, but not all the vendors were set up yet. If you read my blog often, then you know I love going to flea markets on a regular basis. In my opinion...here's what makes a habitual flea market shopper: #1, you must love other people's old stuff. #2, you must love to collect that stuff. #3, you must love a mystery, because you never know what you will find. #4, you must also like to talk about the stuff you collect with other people who are in the flea market shopping with you. People you don't even know. It's great fun! So, Friday afternoon....I went to size up the newest flea market in town.

It's huge! There are spaces for a LOT of booths. I've no idea how many....a hundred at least is my guess. Less than twenty, or so, were occupied, but like I said, it was really just beginning to open. So, I went to every single space with anything in it and looked around. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to attract my curiosity...and I tried! So, I'm hoping if I go back in a week or so there will be more vendors in there. IF not, well, I have my favorite places here in town and wouldn't think of much time going by without them having a visit from me!

So, here's what I found: a lovely pair of crocheted gloves with embroidered flowers on them...really cute, as you can see. I have several vintage gloves and can remember when people actually WORE them. Look at this green hanky....it weighs practically nothing. I have never seen one like it. There is a row of white stitching around each bow motif. I'm thinking it would be really neat with something embroidered in the center and framed or something.

Then, there is the bowl. Well, ok, the color green...and beautiful flowers....all soft looking and vintage-y. Of course, I had to have it. It has such a pretty shape. I've photographed the markings on the back so you could see it. See, I like it because I just like it....but I know some of you are 'into' finding certain types of dishes. This one is so dainty and just 'suits' me.

I'm not going to tell you about the white hanky yet. I'll save that for my next post, as I have something similar I'll be wanting to show you at the same time. So, expect that in the next few days. And, of course, if I return to this new flea market....well, then I'll have to give you an update...especially if I manage to FIND something neat! Take care out there. pat

PS. As I always do....I will be having a birthday giveaway before long. Please stay tuned to see if you'd like to have it....giving something away for my own birthday is something I learned from Mr. G, and it really IS fun!

Paintings by Sandra Kraft

In my last post, I mentioned that I would show you some of the artwork of my sister-in-law. Her name is Sandra Kraft. I think she is very talented, so I'm proud to show some of what she does. We currently have several of Sandy's paintings at the downtown studio. I've chosen just a handful to give you a little peek at her art.

I first met Sandy when she was still in high school. More years ago than she and I want to say. I was much older than she, of course, and at the time was getting ready to marry her middle brother. It was obvious to me, even then, that she had lots of talent, but it's taken until just recently for HER to really take up painting and go with it. I'm so glad she has. The whole family is really proud of her and we never cease to wonder at what she does....it's great fun to see what she will bring into the studio next.

The paintings shown here are just a sample....anywhere from 12" x 12" paintings such as the rooster and the Fall scene, to 24" x 24" as in the abstract, to many other sizes...just about any subject matter....oils or acrylics, we can't wait to see her latest work.

It's fun to have her for a sister-in-law......she is dear and has been a lot of help to me. Hope you enjoy seeing her paintings and 'meeting' her through her artwork. Take care out there. pat

And Now, For Something Beautiful!

So, I've been promising you something beautiful and here it is. I believe this is a vintage hankie, but don't know for sure. I do know it is absolutely gorgeous! I also know you will think so too. Recently, this was a gift to me from my sister-in-law, Sandy. She said she has had it for a long time, but could not remember how or where she got it. Of late, she has been 'cleaning out' things (something I should be doing), found this hanky and decided I should have it. How nice is that?

Sandy is the youngest of four children....the old navy man's only sister. There is Don, then the old navy man, then Bill, then Sandy. Considering that she was picked on as a child by those three boys, she turned out to be a very nice person and a generous one too. She is also a wonderful artist. I'll show you some of her work before the week is over.

This hanky is so delicate and finely made....I wasn't home when she brought it....she simply laid it on my kitchen table when she was visiting her brother and I found it when I came home. It should be said that I practically swooned when I saw it. Yes, swooned! Click to enlarge the photos and I bet you nearly do that too! What a gift....I am a very lucky person! Thank you, dear sister-in-law, for gifting me such a beautiful piece of embroidery!!!

For the next few days, I will be very busy....something has to be accomplished around here, but toward the end of the week, I'll post again....perhaps that artwork? Meantime, take care, pat

The Mystery is Solved!!!

Through the miracle that is the Internet.....all through Cyberspace.....has come the answer to the mystery of the "S" hooks. I have received an email from a long time reader of my blog and she has solved the mystery. She saw immediately what I have failed to see all these years.....and ME the lover of all things heart! Thank you, Caron, for showing me what I should have already seen....I am so grateful to finally KNOW why I found so many of those "S" hooks - they were more hearts from out in the universe! It's so obvious....now that I know!

Here is what Caron said, "My friend, you are missing the main point of finding these "S" hooks everywhere!!! What happens when you lay two of the same size hooks together....they make a heart." I can't believe I could not see this.....but a friend did! Another of the reasons we love blogging (and it's no mystery)....FRIENDS!

Y'all come back late tonight.....I will be showing you that 'something pretty' made from fabric I promised you last night. Meantime, take care.

That "S" Hook Story and Another Heart

After a weekend of trouble with the computer....thanks to it's inept operator...here I am to tell you the story of the 'S' hooks. As my friend, Brenda, wondered....should I really bring this up to you out there? As she reminds me, I got in enough trouble with it when it actually happened. Well, I've had requests for me to tell you as I DID bring it up and once that is done....some of you won't rest until you know what I am talking about....so, here it is:

Several years ago, I experienced something that can't be explained. Well, NOT by ME anyway and probably not by you either. It all started one day as I got out of my car in the WalMart parking lot. As I walked around my car, I saw an "S" hook laying on the ground. (I tend to look down a lot...you know...I'm always looking for those heart rocks and such.) This time, I saw that "S" hook, so I picked it up and put it in my purse. Never thought a thing about it other than I might need one of those 'sometime.' A few days later, I went to Hastings, the book/video store. I got out of my car, walked around it, went about fifteen feet and saw an "S" hook laying on the ground. I picked it up, put it in my purse and didn't think too much about it.

The next week, I was back at WalMart. Like I said, this was several years ago....at a time when our WalMart still sold DMC floss. That was what I was doing there that day....buying floss.
At that time, they displayed the DMC in little cabinets with drawers showing the numbers of the floss. So, I went there to make my selections, and THERE, on top of the cabinet, was a little "S" hook. The funny thing was there was not one place on that whole aisle where you could have used an "S" hook. Nowhere. No wire to hang it from, no loops, no pegboard, no nothing. So, I picked it up, put it in my purse, got my DMC and walked away.

By this time, I was beginning to think I was seeing way too many of these hooks. What did it mean? Why me? This happened to me over a period of several weeks. Every time I went somewhere, I'd find an "S" hook...in the parking lots, on the sidewalk...all kinds of places. I'd pick them up and take them home. I still have most of them, but not all. I found all sizes. They turn out to be rather useful and over time, I've used them here and there. It's weird...I supposed that someone, somewhere "out there" was sending me some kind of message. I have no idea what. Then, after those several weeks, I never found another one. (This photo is of the ones I have left...I keep them in a little drawer in the Nest.)

The trouble I had, as Brenda mentioned, was that my friends made fun of me for quite a while. Well, who wouldn't, if you think about it? It became known as my "S" Hook Saga. I've never heard of it happening to anyone else. So it hasn't....or else, they were smarter than I and kept it to themselves.

One of my readers suggested it was a wonder I wasn't arrested...I guess especially in WalMart for making off with one of their "S" hooks. I never even gave that a thought at the time. (Well, honestly, I thought it was put there for me....after all, there was nowhere it was needed on that whole aisle...and I did go there specifically for that DMC floss....why else would it have been there?) Of course, I'm not serious....I don't know why it was there, but, you have to admit it really was a WEIRD coincidence! What do YOU think?

Now, about the heart....as you know, I went to the Bee's Knees the other day and found that wonderful sign you saw in my last post. When I got out of my car, I looked down and THERE was this Heart Rock!!! I'm telling you....life is never boring!!! So, there you are....my "S" hook and heart stories. Who knew??? take care out there, pat

PS. Next time, oh, tomorrow or the next day....you'll get to see something really quite beautiful and made of fabric!