"The Nest, Part Two"

Well, the last few days just flew by and it's time for "The Nest, Part Two."  I've had some lovely responses from some of you....most who have visited here before many times and have become my special 'blog friends.'  I appreciate every one of you!  This is where we left off last time....and one friend asked about the bottles because she couldn't see them very well.  We will take care of that!  This is an old computer table, covered with a sheet I appliqued for that applique book for Leisure Arts those ancient years ago.  I dare not show you what is stored UNDER the table...a theme carried out all through this little house!  One of the my favorite things in here is that A/C you see there on the wall.  A heat pump...responsible for cooling this place down and boy, do I love it!  That old tin ceiling tile came from my son-in-law's family store, now closed and the building sold.  It's way over a hundred years old and the ceiling in the building is all still there, has been rejuvenated and is GORGEOUS!  I love the blue bench with the floral seat cover.  I don't know how many times I've said this...but I LOVE floral fabrics and have to really stop myself from buying them!  (However, you have no idea how many are 'hidden' away in this place.)

On that old computer table is lots of 'stuff.'  An old plate with a little blue bird book and buttons, some old-fashioned fans....used to be the only A/C around! A little silk doll bonnet.  And a wooden drawer I have made into a tray of sorts.  I love the little girl and boy vase the fans are standing in.  It's just cute!

 In the tray, are old spools of thread...still 'good,' a glass box with that little white beaded purse I showed you before....and some bird decorative squares from Hobby Lobby.  That vintage pink dish is going to turn into a pincushion some day...and the lids in it are from long lost somethings...I have three alike...now why did I buy those?  Don't know, they just said something to me!

And, now the bottles.  My friend, Deb, got me started on these little salt/pepper shakers.......and now there are more.  Full of beautiful glitter.  That old wooden tray is a Lazy Susan....the shakers are just great!!! Some are vintage, some are new....all are 'glittery!' ( Deb....THINKING OF YOU...GET WELL SOON!)  (You know by now that you can click on the photos and see them larger should you want to.)

This cute bird house was a gift from Sherry...I wouldn't dare put it outdoors.  The little mannequin came from Hobby Lobby too.  That bird tin came from the flea market and is quite old, I think, English and ADORABLE!!!  My friend, the "Mudman" made those little clay bowls for me.  I gave quite a few away, as he wanted me to do.  They are dear.

Here is my antique doll bed.  I almost got rid of it.....but just couldn't do it.  It makes a great home for quite a bit of ecru fabric, lace and stuff.  I do not have enough storage for all this stuff...the bed makes a great storage piece and I can still see what I have! 

 I've moved the mannequin wearing Kelly's dress and the clothing rack, too, so you could see the shelves behind them.  The drawers are full of buttons, old jewelry, stamps, clothes pins, silk flowers, blah, blah, blah as the old navy man would say.  And, there is a bunch of fabric stacked here.  Not neatly, I notice.  Those plastic tubs are full of fabric too.......some of it will have to go to someone else pretty soon....well, if I can make myself go through it.

 This tub of fabric is some of my favorite...most of it given to me by friends.  Bibi made that pink rose.  All of it pink/green and an occasional red.  My favorite color combination. 

I've been saving all this fabric...for what?  Seems to me that I need to be making something, or sharing it.  Will have to figure all that out soon.  My favorite fabrics are not out to be seen, but carefully hidden from the light so as not to fade.

 

Some clothing from the rack........all old...all so SWEET....could show much more of it...but there must be a limit to how many photos you are willing to look at.

 One of my all-time favorite collections: the baby shoes.  Some of these are REALLY old and some not so old, but I love each and every one.  I like to imagine the precious babies walking around in these....See that pair in the upper right....bought them recently from our animal shelter bargain barn.  I tell you...they just spoke to me right there on the spot! 

Here's the rest of them.........so precious.  I started collecting them to make pincushions, but as you see, I have not been able to do that yet........and may not ever.  We'll see.

 I love this little teddy bear.  he's only about eight inches tall and the baby one is only two or three inches...or so.  I think they are guys.  Just guessing.  I think it's their 'attitude.'

 And, I've mentioned this blackboard before.  Yes, I know it is green, but old habits die hard!  When I was a kid, they were always black.  I LOVE this wonderful thing!  (Thank you, Laverne for letting me buy it from your Dad's collection of stuff!)

I smile every time I pick up a piece of chalk.  Post after next, I will talk about what is written here and why, so don't try to strain and read it right now.  Above the blackboard is a sign I bought last year....the instant I saw it I knew it was meant for my little house....and I mean what it says....YOU do have my whole heart!  When I walk into this little house, my eye goes right to that sign!  Notice I leave the ironing board up all the time......well, I use a lot of fabric...must press!!  That brown stool in front of the drawers is a necessity.  I can't write on the whole blackboard without standing on something...It's so very sturdy, I never worry about climbing on it to write....and it's bigger and heavier than it looks, which helps.

 Paint brushes......they have to go somewhere....a frame to use for something....and two metal pieces I purchased to make pincushions from.  One of these days.  I've lots of things to make into pincushions....for instance,

all of these!  I have several drawers of this kind of stuff........and hope to begin on some of those in the Fall.  Oh, no way I can sell that turquoise basket....or the girl....at least that is what I am thinking right now.  And, some odd baby shoes, no mates.  Those I actually might use for pincushions.

Remember, we are walking around the room.....so this is continuing on in that 'circle.'  So to speak.

more shelves of stuff....lots of things stored on top two shelves....decorative papers, buttons to cover and such.  There are three or four buckets full of needlepoint canvas...it was a gift from Brenda and I am determined to find alternate uses for it...but, as of yet...haven't done it.  Wallpapers, canvas,some screening, all kinds of papers, etc.    This spot is where I work at my standing work table...more on that in the next post.

My other mannequin.  This came from friend Jim...I bought it at one of his sales a few years ago.  She's taller than me, but the dress I made to get married in (1966) fits her perfectly!  Too bad I 'bloomed.'  She is now wearing a vintage dress, a long apron with a short apron over it.  Love them both....and well, you'll see more about that too.  More drawers....there are always more drawers in here! 

 I made this doll a long time ago..........love her!  These decorative boxes came from Hobby Lobby, some I bought and some were gifts.  They are divine and hold a multitude of goodies.  We will dive into one or two on another day!

 Being a Texas girl, I am nuts over Bluebonnets!  The middle picture is a painting, the others copies of photos. The one on the bottom left is fabric, not bluebonnets, but special to me as one of my blog friends sent it to me....Barbara, across the sea in the Netherlands, I think of you every time my eye lands on this beautiful embroidered picture!!!!!

Love the vintage Whitman's Sampler box.........and of course, I have to have paints to use in my collages.

And all kinds of other things too.  Lots of it, evidently!

 Frames, papers, and that big bunch on the bottom....a hundred year old ledger from the old family store I was mentioning earlier.  Not to worry, this one was falling apart.  Literally.  The 'good' ones are still in a place of safekeeping....but I appreciate my son-in-law giving me the two I have.

There are birds all over the place!  A couple hiding out high up on the shelves.  

 Here is a closer look at the mannequin.  Love the crocheted skirt trim and embroidered girl and flowers on this apron.  

And, here we are....the end of this post.  Mostly because I'm tired now!  And, it's late.  But, here is a close up of the neckware of this mannequin....that beaded purse I bought at Biltmore in N.C. the time I went with Jim, Sharon, and Deon.  Have never laughed so much in my life!  So, that is what I remember when I see it. 

Hope you will be visiting again on Monday...where I will show you The Nest, Part Three, the Finale!

And, after that, on to other things.  Hope you enjoyed this tour....and will visit to see the rest.  Stay cool and have FUN!  pat

"The Nest: Part One"

 Hello out there!  Hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July!  We had the quiet one we wanted and it was just great...we even got to sit on the front porch and watch a short, but sweet fireworks display put on by neighbors down the street.  A very good night!!  I've said I would give you a tour of my backyard studio on Monday...and before Monday is over...I'm determined to do it.  I will apologize in advance for it's length and the number of photos.  I've had to decide to do it in parts because as I took photos this evening...I managed to line up over fifty of them and I wasn't even half way through the place.  So...this will be Part One and if I don't bore you, there will be more to follow.  This photo shows my door....and I will start the tour by looking to the left as you enter my little Nest.

As you look left upon entering...there is a bank of drawers loaded with all kinds of stuff, including UFO's.  Yeah, I have them too!  There are many drawers here, as you will notice as we go along.  As I mentioned, I am a 'hoarder' - I just try to be neat about it.  There are many things on display here and between all the displayed items are places to work.  This particular area is where I would sew by machine.  Yes....you know I don't like to sew on the machine, preferring hand work whenever possible, but I do have to use a machine on occasion...so here we are.  As you can see, there are button collections, thread spools, and at least three sewing machines.  I have one more, not shown, my little red Featherweight.  More on that some other time.  If you see anything you want to know more about....either comment, or send me an email.

Then, there is THAT bed!!!!  I love this bed....a gift from friend, Sherry.  I am toying with the idea of moving it back into my house....mainly because I could use more room out here....but, who knows what I will do.  As I said, I am 'toying' with the idea.  Of course, what will I do with all the stuff UNDER the bed and it makes a great place to show quilts!  I've moved in my little garden bench and loaded it down with quilts, wire bins of lace and other things....I like things that have storage on top and underneath too.  That must be another sign of a hoarder.  And, I know you see the light fixtures.  Well, they are not the most desirable lights for photographs, but when you have the vision issues I have...well eight fixtures with four tubes each are NOT too much light!  About a month ago, I decided to hang some of my numerous baskets from the light fixtures.  Probably not the best thing to do, but I like them hanging anyway. (However, I do NOT like climbing ladders.)  You know...you only have to make yourself happy if the little house is YOURS!

 Just last week, I put this clothes rack together and hung up lots of vintage garments...mostly children's clothes, a couple of my mother-in-law's garments, some of daughter Kelly's, some doll clothes, etc.

I have more packed away.  One of my goals as the year progresses, is to go through all the drawers in this place and clean them out.....no telling what I will find.  On the bottom of this rack rests my vintage baby shoe collection...one of the things you will see next time.

Here are some of the 'goodies' displayed around the room.......a tray full of laces, darning eggs, threads, buttons, etc.  I change this out every once in a while.  Some vintage books I have in the back along with our passports to go to Germany and Japan when I was a child.    Remember, Dad was in the army.  That wooden egg came from our couple of years in Germany.

I have a small collection of vintage calling cards.  Just love them and rarely find any here.  The dolls, one under glass and two others, gifts from Jim.  There is some vintage French ribbon back there too. And, then, there is that green chest....I found it at the flea market...and it's full of my best buttons.  Well, some of my best buttons.  Our flea market finds can really come in handy sometimes!

I bought this little hutch quite a while back and just love the primitive little thing.  Lots of my little goodies on it's shelves.  Don't you just love that little pickup truck?  I always look for more, but haven't found any to date.  But, I'm still looking!  Love all the little dolls.  Got a few from my friend, Cherie, and found the rest....that little chair came from Hobby Lobby several years ago.

One of the commission quilts I made was for the 50th Anniversary of the UAMS School of Nursing in Little Rock, 2003.  This is a photo of it......it was about 76 inches square......and quite a pain to make (all by hand)....but I got it done and was thankful everyone loved it.  It is on display there in a lovely wood and glass display area along with other memorabilia from their fifty years.  Beside the photo is a cardboard 'pancake' doll I made.  Her bag is a a little nut basket from the Forties or Fifties.   I paid ten cents for it.

 Found the frame last year...it's very old...have no idea what to do with it, but something will come to me eventually.  I made that vintage 'looking' photo album in a class from Micah.  That is a very old newspaper page in the other frame. 

 Another thing I always look for...and seldom find....is old coin purses.  Now, why?  I've no idea, but I do love them so....and the more beat up they are...well, the more I love them!  That little one in the front is about two inches tall.

 I bought this little candy dish at our local Emporium right after it opened.  Dropped it while trying to put it and some other things in my car.  Made me sick, really, but when I got it home, found it had broken cleanly in half, so I just glued it back together and when it is full like this, well, you just can't tell it was broken!  Those are really old scissors, wouldn't cut a thing, but I like looking at them.  And, more buttons, OF COURSE!

I got really excited when I bought this sewing machine....it sews quite nicely...although runs a bit faster than I can think.  And, I found it to be a reproduction.  Well, it works and it looks quite beautiful...what more can we ask of a machine?

  

 One of my very favorite things..ever....is an empty vintage thread spool.  Here is a collection for you.

I think of them as 'sculpture.'  Once these were put in my living room, but I had to move them as people found them just a bit much for the living room....actually, I have grown more mature now, so I may put them back in there one of these days and enjoy the heck out of them, without caring what others think.  As I do out here in the Nest!  That painting in the black frame there....a print of one done by friend, Jim.  And, can a quiltmaker have too many spools of thread?  I think not.  Notice my little black Singer featherweight  sewing machine.  A thrill to find!  Sews perfectly...as they nearly always do.

 It took the old navy man and I a whole month to work this jigzaw puzzle of buttons.  A month!  When we finished it, found it was missing ONE piece.  That can certainly tick a person off.  So, I glued it together and hung in the Nest.  Rarely does anyone see where the 'hole' is.  There is my Bernina....such a waste for a person like me....but when I do sew and need more than a straight stitch, I am proud to have it.  Of course, I was shamed into buying it by my son and friend, Kelley D.  She said I needed a machine that didn't come over on the Mayflower!  This after she was trying to sew on my old machine at a workshop.  Son thought I should join the 20th Century before it was over which is why I also have a computer!

 More buttons.....some of these are pretty nice collectible ones.   Guess those will go to friend, Jim, should I leave this world before him.   Well, maybe.  Tease.

 Yeah, I took a lot of photos, didn't I?  And, I didn't really want to sort through them, so there are probably repeats.  Well, this one is a close-up, more or less.  When my son-in-law's family closed their clothing store in town...open for a zillion years....he gave me about a hundred and fifty unused spools of silk buttonhole twist.  Heaven on earth!!!....and saved, for now,  in those plastic boxes.  I have shared a bunch of them with equally enthusiastic friends.

Have you named your sewing machine (s)????  I have not, but some people do. 

Well, it's after midnight on Monday, as I continue with this post....makes this bed look pretty good right now.  Those Teddy Bears came from my mother's collection...which went to my sister...but she gave me these two....I loved their faces and their white clothing!

There's that garden bench....with it's load of goodies.  Makes me want to just dive in and make something...

 All kinds of vintage fabrics, laces, trims, and things.  Oh, JOY!

And, these are just the things that there are no more drawers to hold!  I guess it's sinful to have all this, but I really do share.   Actually, I also like to think I am appreciating what others did not want...and saving such things from the landfill.  That may be a self-serving kind of attitude, but it IS what I think.

 One of my favorite books, one of two by my friend, Brian.  With fabrics below, just waiting for me to get busy!  If you like crazy quilting...you need these books! 

Some old quilt pieces, just awaiting some attention...The Dresden Plate and the Star are waiting for a special project I'd like to have already started, but they are patient and will not give up.  That red,white and blue diamond piece came from my home town...from a little flea market there.  One day I will show you just what it is.

Oh, baby shoes!  I love them so.  These particular ones were worn by my own children.  One born in 1967 and one in 1968.  Kelly loved those little Mary Janes and the white pair next to them.  Scott's are on the left.  Two pair of shoes each.  And, wonderful memories.  I love old photos too.  I'd say about two per cent of the ones I have are 'real' relatives...the other ninety-eight percent...I've adopted.

So, okay...are you tired of this tour yet?  You know how I can just go 'on and on.'  Please join me on Thursday or Friday for Part Two and I'll take up where I left off......as we go around the room in the Nest.  And, til then, stay cool, safe and happy.  pat

"HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!"

 No news here, but I did want to wish you a very HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!  And, many more to come, hopefully.  Since there is nothing going on here (and frankly, we are hoping for a QUIET long weekend), I thought I'd just show you some photos from our home on Pioneer Road as it is these days.  This is my Bird Nest on the Ground Studio.  If you've visited this blog before, then you recognize it. 

This little house will be ten years old in August...and beginning to look a little shabby, but it is still my sanctuary and as far as I'm concerned...a sacred place.  My grandson, Tyler, is keeping the outside neat as can be......although some work on the "Nest" and my home await attention.  We can all only do so much....and right now, it is one thing at a time.   I am very grateful to have this little house.  In case you wonder....it's 18 ft. x 26 ft.  The 26' is the side you see here.  I wanted a little porch on it to 'match' the porch on our home and this is what the contractor came up with from my little drawings.

 I often move this old furniture around....right now I have that 'kinda ugly' covered table right by the door...I can paint there if I want....canvases, collages, fabric and such, as I don't like to use paint inside with all the fabrics.  I sometimes DO that, but prefer not to.....I can hide a few things under this table, but right now, there is nothing under there.  Yes, I try to keep my hoarding tendencies on the inside of the building!

 Behind that little settee, you can see my neighbor's house.  I love that old pecan tree and Jimmy's flag pole is always there to see...love that.  They are 'somewhere' around eighty and keep their place neat as a pin, making me ashamed of myself sometimes!!!  

I have three or four old birdhouses on the porch.....and that nest is from my recent Robin tennant who gave birth in it on the upper drainpipe of this house.  I also decided to let my old wool embroidery out of storage for a while....it's been hidden in the garage for who knows how long.  I embroidered it in 1976....from a kit.  The land is appliqued and all the rest is embroidery.  I can still remember stitching it...so long ago.  My daughter, who is now 46, would have been nine then....where did that time go?

After looking at these photos a little more carefully, I see that maybe my hoarding tendencies are NOT all indoors.  Well, as Popeye would say "I am what I am."  Me too.

A closer view of that wool embroidery.   This is one of the things that convinced me to love French Knots...see that blooming fruit tree!!!!   It's made up of many French Knots.......

Yeah, that piece was fun to do.......and I'm very surprised it's still around considering where all it has been and what it has been through.  Some things go on in spite of us, it seems.

 

Oh, yes....LOVE that big old tree too.  Reminds me of Jimmy's pecan tree.  And, in my opinion, there is nothing much that is prettier than a big, old tree!

 

We moved into this house in 2001.  It's a small house, which is why I needed a studio in the back yard.  I actually think I chose it because of this porch!   My brother-in-law, Rick, build the front steps onto it just a few years ago.  It did have only two little steps...you could almost miss them, and these look much better.  We needed a hand rail, because, as we all know....I am quite clumsy and can fall easily...and without any reason.  I so appreciate having these steps!  (Yes, I walk into door facings quite regularly!)

It's fun to sit out here and watch the traffic go by....just like we used to do when I was a kid...only then it was in Texas and we had a tiny porch.   My grandson (twenty-eight this month) heard me say once that it was fun to sit on the porch and watch the traffic.  He laughed and thought that was 'crazy.'  Until he decided to sit there with me one day.  He sat for a while and eventually, after several people he knew drove by, he said, "Well, this IS kind of fun!"

So, a quiet Fourth of July weekend really does sound nice to me.  Maybe spending some of it on the front porch.  Wishing you a fun one too!

Take care, pat

PS.  It occurs to me that it's highly unlikely I will ever be able post anything on this blog containing just a few words.  Crazy, I know, but as I have said - "I am what I am" and there seems, to me anyway, to be a 'story' in just about everything.