The Magnificent Vintage Wire Basket

I adore all things vintage but have a real love of the vintage wire basket. These wonderful treasures seem to have endless uses and fit into all types of decor. They are used in living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, offices, craft rooms, garages, and I've even seen an old gym basket used in the trunk of a car. In fact, I'm thinking of getting one for the trunk of my car to hold the water bottles when I refill them. (In Nevada water bottles hold a sacred place in our lives. LOL)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65880193/wire-basket

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50474738/rustic-wire-baskethttp

 

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2809754

 

 

 

A few years ago my father gave me a wonderful old white chippy paint egg basket that I use in my living room. I've also used it several times as a prop for my photographs of product on Etsy.

 

Happy collecting. Pepper/Helmet Head

Reporting on Quilt Status...

Last November I shared the start of a quilt for my Granddaughter.....

So My Teenage Granddaughter has decided.....  

I was hoping to finish the quilt for her Christmas gift...well...life sometimes interferes with our best intentions and the quilt is not yet finished, although I was able to show her the completed quilt top :)

I thought I would show you the continuing process of creating this quilt.

After completing the blocks I needed to lay them out, determine the pattern I wanted, then start sewing them together into strips..

The strips then were sewn together creating  the quilt top....

The next step was to make a sandwich of the quilt top, the batting (or padding) in the middle and the quilt backing..
The fabric for the backing was not quite big enough so I added striped fabric strips to each side, this required mitering the corners :( which is not easy for me!

Once the 3 layers were pinned and basted together I tied 5 of the blocks in the 9 block set with black embroidery yarn through all 3 layers to help stabilize the quilt....

This is really a black and white fabric, I think the brown is shadows from poor lighting!

Now the part I love the most can start...the hand quilting  :)  I am quilting around each of the large plain white blocks and each of the black musical appliques...

I am also quilting an outline design of the music symbols in each of the large plain white squares..

I have about a third of the quilting done.....after that I will need to bind the edges of the quilt and sign and date the back....I will show you that in my next and final installment of the story of the quilt!

VE

Felted Items on Etsy

While searching around Etsy one evening, I found this:

by yarnmantra (click on photo to go to shop)

Second item was the cutest pig ever.  I knew what I had to do!  I made a treasury of felted items (I would have had way too many links and photos in this post!).  You can click on the title of the treasury to be taken to the treasury or click on each item to be taken directly to their shops.

Stop by and visit all the talented people! I really wish I could do this and I envy those who can!

These are bowls I purchased from Valerie's Gallery filled with dryer felted orbs!

Stop by her shop:  Valerie's Gallery

RWS

Post and Run ~~~~ Literally!

Howdy and Happy Friday.  Some of you may remember a while back I shared about the chore of "de-cluttering"  Well, it was done to this end:  today is a big day.  I'm doing a drive by and will come back on Sunday to share what the weekend has been about and share some photos of my estate sale.

Have a wonderful Friday 

and I'll see you again real soon.  :)

Duuuude

Got Snow?

Part of living in the North is dealing with snow. Some times a lot of it.

You know it's not going to be good when you walk into the garage and the snow has made it IN your garage.

The shoveling begins.

One thing I've learned? Do not buy your snow blower from a yard sale. Suck it up and fork it over for a reliable big one that handles more than 2 inches of snow and doesn't conk out every time you turn.  You know why? 

Because as you get older your back and forearms aren't the same as what they used to be and you end up collapsed on the ground when you're done looking at the sky wondering if you'll be able to get back up.

Like this:

Make the best of where you're at.

Peggy ~ Goodgosh ~ GG ~ MSS

Feedsacks Recycled

In the late 1800’s manufacturers started printing their feedsacks in colorful prints and patterns.

VintageCottageHome

Part of this was in the hopes that people would buy more of their product in order to get enough fabric to make a dress. The other part was that they saw this as a great marketing tool.

Feedsacks are in a class of their own. They have been repurposed and used for many household linens. Some of the feedsacks like the sugar sacks were much finer and able to be used for handkerchiefs, and baby clothes. While some of the other feedsacks were used for dresses and towels and other items. 

poshpigvintage

Then of course pattern companies and magazines got in on the action and started supplying patterns for use of the feedsacks.

(This site gives a quick history of the feedsacks)

http://alanasvintage.com/Articles/vintage-linens/history-of-feedsacks/

               

vintagetouch

There are still plenty of these feedsacks available. Some you can purchase the whole feedsack, while others sell sections, fat quarters or squares of the fabric

I have seen whole quilts made out of feedsacks . They are delightful and have a charm all their own.

stellaranae

                               

Here are a couple of online shops;

(even if you don’t want to buy any of these feedsacks, take a look at the different patterns)

  Sharon’s Antiques Vintage Fabrics

 

 Blushing Rose Boutique

There is a huge variety of prints. They came in just about any design, from fruits, to flowers, simple patterns, solids, to playful designs. They also come in a wide variety of colors.

leonasoldelinens

 

NauvooQuiltCo

                           

                    (jj)

                           

What's With the Cupcakes?

No, not those cupcakes! Real, edible cupcakes.

Have you noticed the latest obsession with cupcakes? The simple cupcake that took 1 minute to decorate is gone and has been replaced by an elaborate work of art that will take you at least 15 minutes. So, if you need 30 cupcakes for your child's school or party, make plans to begin two days before they are needed. Also available are "cupcake stands" that will help you present them in all their glory and some that will help you create a masterpiece. However, if a masterpiece is your intended goal, I might suggest beginning a week ahead.

However, if these little wonders don't turn out as magnificently as you pictured them to be, all is not lost. Almost every town now has a bakery that for the price of your entire month's grocery budget will make them for you!

Here is the Wilton website that offers ideas, supplies, and recipes.  http://www.wilton.com/ideas/browse.cfm?cat=Cupcakes

Enjoy yourself, pour a cup of coffee and have a cupcake.

pepper/Helmet Head