Digging in the archives...

"Grandma, I found a princess dress!!" 

"You found a princess dress?"

"YES, can I wear it?"

"I really like this princess dress"...

pretty shoes and toenails for a pretty little princess 

even pretty fingernails... 

"Look what else I found!! "

{there are many treasures to be find at gmas house!! } 

"this is so pretty Grandma"... 

"I can do it myself"... 

YAY...success...with just a little help. :) 

" Can I wear some of these too?"

"No , sweetie "

"WHY NOT??"

"because you don't have holes in your ears"...lol 

"okay, I will wear this pretty necklace"... 

Thus went the conversation a few years ago when a younger Annika was visiting me for awhile. I remember it like it was yesterday, but I had no clue what she was talking about...a princess dress???
When I went upstairs with her and saw the dress , I said ,

"YES, and we MUST take some pictures!"

You see this was MY DRESS when I was a wee lass 50 + years ago. I was probably about Annika's age when I wore it.  My sweet Annika is now six years old so she no longer fits in the dress, but I must try it on her little sister Ainsley and get photos also.

How fun to travel back to years ago all because of a dress and my sweet little granddaughter.

{These photos were taken a few years ago also and as such aren't the best quality, but I still wanted to share them with you}

Happy Monday!!

I've been kinda snappy today!

...no, not that kind of snappy...snappy with my camera! lol

{sorry for the yellowish glow. lighting is terrible here today and I had to
have the overhead light on}

I will confess that I am still in my pj's today and it is after 11am here. I RARELY do this,
but today I have no obligations and I am just being lazy with not a care in the world. :)

I purchased this basket at TJ Maxx to use at a show that never happened,  so I use it around my home.
This setting on my camera is color accent or color swap ...I don't remember which. ha!

This is the regular setting on the camera so you can see that the note cards are
really this color instead of white. Cameras sure have come a long way from what
 they used to be. I have had mine for a few years now and still haven't figured
 it all out.

This is a gray linen blouse that I fell in love with at TJ Maxx and purchased it over a year
ago. Then I went and lost weight and it does not fit me! I didn't even have a chance to
wear it once.  :(

I purchased this vintage pink dress at an antique store years ago. It is so sweet with
an underskirt of tulle.

I have had my fun for the day so I better get cracking and actually do something.
Any suggestions?? ha!! Happy Saturday!!

Dusted off my sewing machine!

I have been busy this week sewing up Christmas stockings. I decided it was high time I dusted off the sewing machine and got to work. My kitchen looked like disaster central for a few days, but I was having fun! Isn't that is what is most important?? :) I made up my mind before I started that I was going to use fabric I already had and not go out and purchase any.  My birthday gift this year from my bff was wrapped in a huge piece of  fabric so I made a few from that and then I also used some old feedsacks and had fun sewing up a storm!

A few stockings in progress...

This is one I made out of feedsack fabric stains and all...just like I purchased it.  I just put the ruffle and decoration on the front of the feedsack stockings and then realized that the ruffle should have gone all the way around ! I don't know what I was thinking!! Oh well...who sees the back anyways right?? :)

I have a zillion or so old buttons so I added a few to pretty it up.

I really like the double ruffle and fabric rose on this one.

I cup up a vintage runner with a crocheted edging to add as a *cuff* for this stocking and then added two vintage buttons that I love.

This stocking has a story...roses are pinned on...still trying to decide placement etc. See photo below! ha!

Here ya go...King Kongs stocking!!! lol.
(same stocking as  photo above)  I actually had a pattern for this stocking and did not realize how large it would be when finished. 24 inches long!! That is one large stocking. I also lined it and quickly gave that up on the other stockings. I think it made it too bulky.

Believe it or not this is what I started out the week doing and quickly set this project aside...unfinished...to sew!

All in all I feel pretty good about what I got accomplished in a couple days. Not working solid, but the kitchen was sure a mess all that time. grrr...my messes seem to follow me into whatever room I am in at the time. I can't seem to keep it all confined to my studio so I gave up trying. :)
Happy Friday and happy weekend. Not sure what is planned for our weekend, but I intend to make some memories. Hopefully the good kind! ha! 



Recycled Skirts

I don't know about you , but I love to find wonderful fabrics when looking in unexpected places. These are pictures of two skirts that I purchased at a Goodwill store for $2.50 each because I absolutely love the fabric.

I thought the linen skirt that has the torn edge look to it and ruffles would make a gorgeous lampshade cover. I am not sure what I will do with the other one, but taken apart it would be a lovely drape for a shelf or put over a cushion on a chair and tucked in and let drape down. I encourage you to think outside the box and look for fabric in unexpected places and you will be surprised what you find.