Friday, February 26, 2010

Scotty Annie

I finished up this one yesterday, she is really small, about 12 inches or so, and I tried to make her look like the pattern. I have to say that it wouldn't have been such a big job if I hadn't kept losing that bone.
This is about Liam who is 61 and has lost his job as a teacher. He moves to a cheaper apartment where the first night, someone breaks in and attacks him. He wakes up in a hospital unable to remember the attack. He is obsessed with remembering the event, as he feels something important is missing. I am about half-way through it and I am obsessed with it too. It's Anne Tyler.
P. S. Only two more months and we will have these in Michigan. Have a nice Friday y'all.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Chestnut Junction Bunny

not quite like the pattern, but in general. I should have made some copies of the scrap of music. As it is, this will be the only one warning us that rabbits will be coming to our gardens. I wouldn't even mind if they did right now.

The sun is shining this morning in Michigan. I think my weather pixie must have gone to Florida, she is no longer doing her job. Happy Thursday.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Town Peddler on Wednesday


Town Peddler has two sections, one for antiques plus some adjacent rooms and one for crafts. There is an area with art work , some pretty good coffee and great cookies. This is a good place to sit a spell.

I always talk to customers who come by. This morning a couple were there for their first time, the husband says "this place is really big". Somehow, the husbands always think that.

I made the tags this week to have something little for the tree and for something different. The bears said they liked it there, but thought they should have their own tag.

If you have a craft and antique mall in your area, I would love to hear about it. I hope you have a good Wednesday.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Today's Bear

He doesn't have a name yet, I made him from wool I felted from a jacket and his drum was contributed by my friend Barb. I used a pattern I just received from Sweet Meadows Farm, of course it doesn't resemble hers in the least but if you need a bear pattern, it's easy to make and maybe you can find some Kunin felt to use.

My next door neighbors have ruined my day, a For-Sale sign just went up in their yard. They have been good neighbors and they have a darling little girl, born since they moved here about three years or so. I have seen a lot of people come and go in my neighborhood, some I miss, some not so much. Lots of places are for sale and even a few are empty, it is the same everywhere. I guess we have to be patient.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Dolls with TipNut flowers


These are made from a Sweet Meadows Farm pattern (of course) but the flowers I learned to make on the TipNut site. Maybe if I make flowers, the weather will get the idea.

Big flakes today with probably four inches already down, but it reminds me that I have the best neighbors (who snowblow my drive and sidewalk) and it keeps the cat (Walker) entertained and covers up the yucky stuff in the yard. And I'm making turkey in the crockpot, how lucky can ya get.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Reading


Inside the cover describes this book as Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults. I liked reading it, written in first person, it's a novel based on the real life of Jeannette Walls' grandmother, Lily Casey Smith.

The jacket photograph is by Dorothea Lange, Farm Security Administration/Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. I had hoped it was Rosemary, Helen and Buster but not.

I think now I want to re-read The Glass Castle. Library day for me, Happy Saturday everyone, the sun is shining in Michigan.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Bunny Love


At the Town Peddler, these girls are made by Ms. Jackie. They are wearing their best spring finery. Aren't they cute!!!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Making Meatloaf

Watching the oven...making meat loaf for fifty for our Living Water monthly dinner at Blessed Hope Church. He should be called Pete Loaf.
I've been cooking instead of working, just this one guy this week. He is cuter than his picture. He has watched me cook and we are sharing my recipe. It's better than Ann Lander's recipe, which Mammy sometimes used. This is my mother's recipe.
(Emma's)

Recipe for My Meat Loaf

In a large bowl put four slices of white bread, cover these with milk, enough to absorb and make soft. Add salt, pepper, a medium to large chopped onion, a dash or so of catsup and three large eggs.

I use a half pound of sausage (like house brand or Jimmy Dean) and near three pounds of ground chuck. Mix this all together and make a long loaf. Bake it at 400 until it browns well. Usually takes about 40 minutes.

After it is done, I make a glaze of tomato catsup and brown sugar enough to cover the loaf and put it back in the oven for just a few minutes. I know this is not an exact measurement recipe, but it works, just have faith.

Everyone really liked it, even those who don't like meat loaf.

If you are in the Detroit area, pick up a Free Press this morning. It's worth the buck, to read Mitch Albom's article about Haiti. Happy Thursday everyone.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Cats



These are made from patterns by Pat Beam (Off-the-Beam) only I added the hearts to add a little something to the plain dresses. I redid the noses twice, cats just have to be contrary, even fabric ones..

Monday, February 15, 2010

From my attic.....

My attic is in my basement, some big tubs marked "attic" which is where they would be put by most folks..however they are handy and when I open one I always find something I had forgotten about so it's like getting something new.

This is what my grandmother (Mammy to us) called a "motto" and she always had them in her home. This one has to be from the early 40's. It's some kind of thin cardboard and the writing is probably stamped on with some kind of hard glitter. No one had wooden signs in those days like we do today. I think I have a place to hang this so it doesn't have to go back in the "attic" box.

Mammy was a tiny little woman with a great big faith and her prayers will always follow us.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Handmade Valentines


My children who made these are grown and have grown children of their own. Guess you can see I am a keeper ...if you are too, put dates on everything. Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Friday, February 12, 2010

A Stack of.....

Bibles!!! These have not been abused, mostly they came to me this way, they are just old and well used. I'm doing some cleaning out, but these stay with me, and in between some of the pages are the neatest things. Do you sometimes see Bibles at garage sales? I can never understand that.
This is Becky, made yesterday, from my standby pattern by Alleycat Tales (Becky). Her apron is an old hankie. I hope everyone has a long and happy weekend.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Heads and Shoulders

Last Saturday, Willow Bend Prims had a post with some plain and simple prairie dolls, really prim and sweet. Back when we were doing shows, Dorothy always made the Amish dolls so I never had made a doll with no facial features. So wanting to try something new (but to not copy Willow) I did some shoulder dolls. I did digress, couldn't stand it if they didn't have some lace at the neck. Now that I have it out of my system, I won't make any more so if you like her, feel free to copy away.

I am really enjoying Willow Bend Prims, she is a very hard worker, sometimes all night, and she now has under construction a new selling blog. It's Willow Bend Prims Mercantile Peddler of Handids so give her a visit soon.
Another concoction of my very own. Maybe they should have had no face, but I like them, we don't all have to be beautiful. Happy Thursday, the sun is shining in Michigan.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Weather is the News

It is so quiet now on Fleming Street, all the snowblowers have done their jobs and been put away and the guys have finally gone off to work. Mike (son) was here overnight and shoveled for me, and throughout yesterday and last night many of my neighbors kept it from really piling up. My sole effort this morning was making some fried egg sandwiches.

We don't have the Snowmageddon that CNN talks about, but Jacob (grandson) does. He called yesterday asking how to make snow ice cream. They were on their way to the grocery so I know they will have more than snow cream.

Otherwise, there's an earthquake this morning in Illinois, what's that about? And we just passed the one- year- since mark for the Paducah ice storm.

I haven't posted any snow pictures because we have none to compare with the rest of the country. The picture today is my bamboo chair that I am planning to make into the best planter ever. I am letting it season, out in the weather. Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Monday, February 8, 2010

The color pink....

Someone on the blogs said that pink is an attitude not a color. Either way I like it altho the primitive dolls don't have a lot of call for it. This pattern is a Sweet Meadows Farm.
And this is one of the vintage valentines you can download from Tipnut.com. Lots of old fashioned ones like we remember.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

The Magazine Saver


This week I sorted through my stash of saved magazines, and am I glad I saved these which are no longer published.

I also have some Country Livings from way back that I wouldn't part with either. There are lots of new magazines now, but none have really won me over. That's why I am really looking forward to the new Flea Market Style, supposed to come out next week. I hope I can find it.

Our week has truly been a SUPER one. A new baby, Kyle, with lots of pictures to study, and all of us safely through another week (that's an old song). I wish that kind of week to all. Happy Saturday.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Zinnias


These were new last year and sold out early. This year I'm getting a note from Johnny's saying they are in short supply and limited and back-ordered until March 15. Kynda grew them last year because I got some seeds early on; they were beautiful. We may have to look at pictures this year.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

My Sweater

I'm not as good as some of you are at re-sale-ing but here's a sweater I picked up thinking it would make a nice bear. However it fits so I will wear it instead, as it is warm. I don't want anyone to think I paid the big bucks at the Disney store so maybe I should wear a badge that says something to that effect. Now I have to find one like it for PJ.

Speaking of Disney, CNN says that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released on this date in 1938. Gosh, Snow White is almost as old as I am...she looks good for her age.... can't say that for myself.

I do try to exercise my mind with crosswords and sudokus and once in a while try to name the Seven Dwarfs. Usually I can get six but today I found a way to help me. Two S's (Sleepy, Sneezy) 2 D's (Doc and Dopey) 3 emotions (Grumpy, Happy, Bashful). Now if I can remember the letters S and D. Happy Thursday.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

New Colors



I love blue and yellow but never made any dolls in these colors. These were special order--in Michigan colors. The larger one is a Sweet Meadows pattern, the smaller one (second) was a Raggedy Old Annies pattern.

Happy Wednesday, the sun just popped out!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Kyle Warren


Just born, 9 lbs. I have been sitting here with my coffee waiting to hear. I can't think of a better way to start my day.

Wishing each of you also a big blessing day! Happy Tuesday.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Saturday shopping

I found a new place to shop---Tractor Supply in Flat Rock.


This is PJ's find, I already had one like it ---when I was a baby, centuries ago.
It will be a planter, come Spring. Purchased from J and M Antiques, Newport, Michigan, and only $12.50!

Happy Monday.