turkey feathers

Dollar Daze Scavenger Hunt

  I wanted to have a little fun this time with the dollar days give-away and was trying to figure out a way to play a game, like an old-fashioned scavenger hunt here on the blog, and came up with this idea about 4 o'clock this morning.  For some reason that's the time my brain boots-up and spits out answers to things I've been pondering.  The only downside is, [yawn] I have to drag myself out of bed right away and act quickly before I forget what it was I intended to do before it all goes *poof* like an elusive dream.  So after my fourth cup of coffee I have the following challenge for you. . .*How to play::  12 picture clues are given below.  Find the post in which each picture appears and run your mouse over that picture to get a word clue.  (See how this works in the example above.  Read: Dollar Daze Santa).  See? That's easy, right?  OK.  Now you're ready to go scavenge.  Write down all the found words in numerical order (1-12) to decipher the question.  *Then email me your answer with "Scavenger Hunt" in the subject line so I can sort thru your entries more quickly.  *If you have the correct answer to the question, I'll give you a number.  Then, one lucky number will be drawn from the super shuffler and announced next week.  Check back to see if your number comes up. The prize will be your choice of one of  these  three  books for just $1 plus s/h ($2.50) or no shipping if you're in my "neighborhood".  Contest is open to U.S. residents only for reasons I've already mentioned here.  *Alright, that's it....Ready, Set, GO!

Good Luck Everyone!

(Comments are closed on this post so no one accidently spills the beans.)   

Like a Kid in a Candy Shop

Well, I'm back with good news...our amazing Miss Grace is all moved into her new space and Dollhouse Sweets & Petite Treats  is back open for business.   I think she's done a terrific job crafting up some darling little goodies again, so go take a peek if you're in the neighborhood. The treat-charms make especially sweet gifts.  She's also taking special orders from her online catalog here, the sight of which may send you into a sugar-coma or running for the nearest real sweet shop.   I was drooling myself when I put it together and was surprised by how many things she's made over the past year or so.  Shown there are the things that have already been sold.  She doesn't stock an inventory, but if you see something you like, she's happy to make something similar for you.  (Please keep in mind that since each little item is handmade individually, there may be some slight variations and a lead time. ) 

Back home...our own "le Petite Patisserie" got a sprucing up with a new bakery case.    It's wood with plexiglass windows, and the doors slide open in the back just like real ones.  So dang cute!  Bought it here.   (Same site I found the little Sailor doll above.) 

New table and chairs found here.  Soon it will be time to put up the miniature Christmas tree and decorations again.  Oh the dolls can hardly wait!

More eye candy from the bakery shop window. We've also been spending some time crafting together, and recently Grace made some of her amazing teeny-tiny paper roses.  They look almost real because she tints them with watercolors.  I decided to make a vase for them to dress up our table and it turned out so adorable that we made a few more to sell in the shop.  Can you believe this is just an inch tall?  It comes in pink too.  Although I'm partial to the blue one in this setting.  Time for a coffee break!

Redwork Winners & Dollar Days

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend.   We had sunshine but it's also been icy cold here, down in the teens some nights.  Stayed in with family and kicked back, ate left-overs, watched movies, took walks up and down the road, (snapping these pix along the way) and just relaxed around the house.  We still have a birthday to go, and a double chocolate cake (by request) baking in the oven right now, courtesy of Miss Grace.  Yum!  Our little Ginger is turning ten, and when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she thought for a second and said without hesitation,  "glo-in-the-dark silly putty...marbles...and macaroni and cheese for dinner."  This made me laugh!  And here I was worried she was growing up too fast.  She rocked at helping me make those pies though.

Well I won't ramble too long here because I know you're probably anxious to find out who won the pattern give-away.  So....*Congratulations* to these 5 winners of ~Redwork Christmas~ 

FREE Patterns will be going out to::

1. The adorable Cece Marie, a vintage gal at heart with a charming blog, who makes the most fabulous aprons and baby dresses.  If you don't sew (and even if you do) but love handmade things, I urge you to visit her website of pretties.

2. My talented blog friend Cassi, of Bella Dia fame, collector and maker of so many wonderful things, not to mention a fellow homeschooling mom, whom I've had the pleasure of knowing since almost the beginning of this turkey feathers adventure, also scored a pattern!  yay!

3. Next is Shannon of If Sew, whom I haven't met yet, but I visited her blog and found out she's a pretty cool crafty lady.   I absolutely love the quilty things she's doing and all the gorgeous photos.  Her one-line bio says:  "Web Developer becomes a Nurse has a baby and gets crafty."   Yep, that sums it up alright.  It seems babies have a way of sending some of us down that creative path don't they?

4. The Spiritual Knitter, Heidi, who is "a writer and editor by day, and a knitter, thrifter and crafter on nights and weekends", says in her bio that she loves creating beautiful items out of recycled materials and sells them in her etsy shop, which I think is pretty neat.  She mentioned in comments that she's fairly new to embroidery, so I hope she finds Redwork a fun new past time.

5. And last but not least, Lynn from Little Red Hen (who already happens to be a pretty nifty Redwork stitcher), is our final winner!  You really MUST see her unique redwork turkey quilt made from having each family member trace their hand on a piece of paper to design a turkey, then she embroidered them.   It really turned out sooo cute!

OK winners. . .please contact me with your shipping info and I'll get your patterns on their way "in two shakes of a lamb's tail"!  I've also updated the website and ~Redwork Christmas~ is now available for purchase here.   I think you'll really like the designs.  (I'll share my "Pleasant Dreams" project soon.)

But wait...there's more!   In fact, my *Holiday Dollar Days* party is just getting started!  From now until the end of the year, I'll be randomly offering things on my blog and in my etsy shop for $1, plus the price of shipping.   (Doll quilts have already been reduced 50%---go take a gander!) Dollar items will be mixed in with the regular priced stuff  but I'll combine everything into one shipment to save $ on postage if you find other things you want.  The only requirement is that you pay for everything with a single Paypal transaction.  For things offered on the blog, a winner will be chosen from comments.  So if you didn't win anything this time, there are more opportunities coming!

Remember, you'll be helping me clear a path around here (hee hee) and at the same time I can pass along a few things you might be able to use.  Some of it will be old, some will be new, some will be handmade.  So if you like surprises, keep your eyes peeled to see what treasures appear.

Side Note::  Unfortunately, offers are only for U.S. residents.  Mailing this type of stuff just isn't feasible nor is it the best time of year to visit the post office with lines out the door due to the holidays.  So, please no offense, it's just logistics folks.  :o) 

Also, I'll be bringing you a *Dollhouse Sweets & Petite Treats* bakery shop update on Wednesday!

Redwork Round-Up

"The heritage of the past is the seed that brings forth the harvest of the future."

Archives Building, Washington

Hello!  I'm still here!  I've been reading my email fairly regularly, but haven't had a moment to reply to comments and questions because things are always crazy-busy this time of year.  I'm throwing out hugs and kisses to you guys though, for all the giggles and happy thoughts you keep sending us in support of all we do here, and just for stopping in to visit us during your day.  I plan to go knocking on a few new blog doors myself,  just as soon as things let up around here.  The preparations for Thanksgiving are underway and the house is bustling with activity; we'll be baking our pies later today too.   But before I slip on my apron and start throwing flour around,  I wanted to pop in and tell you about something I'm pretty excited about.  Something I've been working on for quite awhile actually, and now that it's done I can't wait to share it.   In fact, I want to share it in a BIG way to kick off the holiday season. 

Introducing . . .

~Redwork Christmas~ 

I'm really so happy with this!  It's a new set of embroidery designs of all the things I love most :: nature, animals, children.  Mostly inspired from the Ingall's catalogs (that a stitching friend shared with me) that dates back to the late 1800's.   I've never seen any of the transfer sheets, doubtful whether many still exsist as each design was sold individually.  Anyway, I worked from the thumbnail sketches in the catalogs.  I've also sprinkled in a few of my own motifs making a total of 10 iron-on transfer sheets in all.  I'm telling ya, I just couldn't stop once I got started---I had so much fun with this.  Usually, traditional Redwork has a lot of detail, but I've pared these down with simpler lines for a fresher look, without losing the nostalgia.  I want to stitch every one of these myself and chose them with that in mind.  My grand plan is, to make a few things to share on the blog.  I always love to see what others do with them too, so if you make something don't forget to let me know if you want me to link to it.  Hope you love these as much as I do!  They'll be available on my website after Thanksgiving weekend, but in the meantime I'm offering *free patterns* here on the blog.  I know not everyone reading this is into embroidery, so I'm going to be doing several "give-aways" in the coming weeks, but for those who are...you know the drill; leave a comment on this post and I'll choose 5 lucky stitching peeps.  Comments will be closed around noon on Sunday, so I can get everyone's names into our super sonic spinnning bonnet aka the Super Shuffler.  Check back here Monday to find out who the winners are.   (Better run now.)  Good Luck everyone!

Until we meet again, have a great Thanksgiving and . . .

Splash & Dash

I hate to mention the C word, but ya know, it is getting close.  Christmas bazaars and holiday fairs are popping up all over the place and it's impossible not to get caught up in the spirit of it when you see all the crafting that's been going on.   I really get inspired by that.  Plus, I've been working on the free-with-purchase transfer designs with a holiday theme (up on the website now here), so my thoughts have already been drifting there for awhile.   I was out yesterday, at one of the local traveling craft shows, and found some beautiful things, including this [old] redwork splasher.  In case you don't know what a splasher is, don't worry, I didn't either until a customer recently told me about them.  And like most things that are brought to your attention, you start to see them and realize what they are.  Apparently, these little lovelies were used before modern plumbing, when pretty cloths were hung behind the "sink" to keep water from splashing up onto the wall.  Hence the term splashers.   They usually depicted a water scene of some kind, but maybe this was for a child's room outfitted with a wash basin & pitcher.  What a happy scene to wake up to each morning. Well, it's Friday already.  The week sure flew by fast here.  Thanksgiving's next week too, followed by a birthday milestone.  My "baby" turns ten!  It's hard to fathom, but we'll be celebrating that, and hosting turkey dinner with all the trimmings here for our families this year too.  (There are so many of us that we need to take turns.)  Needless to say, I'm going to be pretty busy and the blog may not get updated 'til it's all over.   I'll try to pop in and say 'hello' if I can manage to get out of the kitchen! 

Rise & Shine

Most of the golden autumn leaves outside the bedroom window have fallen away, revealing the dawn's early light.  As the sun inched up over the horizon this morning, the entire room lit up with a rosy glow.  A supremely peaceful moment I will try and carry around with me today.   I'm sharing it here should anyone else need a bit of respite amid the chaos of global reality, in whatever form that may be. 

I come bearing gifts today!  I've been really busy these past few weeks, re-drawing vintage patterns to add to the website.  Yes, I do use computer programs for some of them, but most are done the old-fashioned way, with pen in hand.   I was up all hours last night, loading a bunch of these to the website as free print-outs and while I was at it,  I decided to give the Christmas category a make-over.  Most of the old designs that were up there have now been replaced with new ones.  The previous designs are being combined and printed as iron-on transfers, so they'll still be available and easier to use, if you missed them.  Above is a sneak-peek at the new free-with-purchase pattern sheet that will be available starting Friday (November 16th).   

Hmmm. . .deer seem to be a recurring theme in my life.  Real and otherwise. 

Speaking of that, here's a piece I've been working on.  I enlarged and modified the design slightly, and added feather-stitching around the border which I think frames it nicely.   It's also a PatternBee freebie, you can print it out here.  This was done using different shades of browns on hemp cloth.  I love hemp cloth.  Not only is it a natural sustainable fiber, but it handles beautifully, similar to linen.   I bought mine from a small indie-shop a few years ago,  at a whopping $22 py, but I just did a search and found it here  for about half that price, or less if you want to buy bulk.  (Great for summer clothing.)  This site seems to have a lot to offer as well.  (Visions of zakka just flashed through my head---and I'm also thinking while it's true that "the best gifts are tied with heartstrings", I may have to give hemp string a whirl too.)

Here today, Gone tomorrow

We made it through the storm just fine, but this tree lost all it's leaves.  We're down to the bare branches now.  The weather really wasn't all that bad here compared to other places.  In fact, we awoke to sunshine and fog this morning.  An illuminating combination.

Must turn elsewhere for a shot of color today.  These moda fabrics are going into another patchwork pillow.   I've had them awhile.  Finally decided to do something with them.   Better get started, the days are getting shorter and there's much to do! 

Quiet Work

I took this picture from my back door last week just as the autumn colors started to peak out.  Love the Japanese maple.   It's all over for another year now, as it looks like we're in for a doozie of a storm today.  The first big one that we've had in a while actually.  It's blowing pretty blustery and wet right now; expecting buckets of rain to come pouring down any minute.  There's no place I need to be though, just hope the power holds out so I can get some work done.  Lots of pattern orders to fill.  Most will ship out tomorrow, due to the postal holiday today, so not to worry, they're coming.  I also need to draft up a new free-with-purchase transfer design; look for it on the PatternBee website Friday.  I'm thinking something for the holidays this time.  If your new here, or missed any of the monthly offerings,  the whole set of designs for 2007 will be available in January sometime.   Still need to pull this together too.

I have other exciting things to share, including shop news about a big switcheroo over here.  It will all have to wait for another post though.  Sorry to be so mysterious.  It does involve this gift-bearing fellow, old things, new things, and other "little" things.  There's still so much I need to do in order to make it all happen. I'm dancing clicking as fast as I can.  Whew!  And the girls over at Crazy Doll Productions (aka KnittyKittie), have been at it again.  Mucho gracious for the feedback on their latest movie, btw.  They were quite appreciative and giddy from it all, and from the crashing sounds and hysterical laughter coming from upstairs, I'm guessing there will be more zany antics yet to come. Last I checked, they'd rigged up a green-screen and were creating special effects with it.  What will they think of next, I wonder. My day is looking pretty full here, but I'm hoping to find a little time to sit quietly and work on a sewing project, and find my center.  Not only figuratively speaking, but quite literally as you can see.  (I'll share more about that too later this week.)

Make Mine With Sprinkles

Our obsession with donuts, real, small, and otherwise continues.  I'll explain the otherwise later.  Yes, our own Miss Grace has been busy in the dollhouse bakery again, sculpting more diminutive delights (*shop update coming soon*), as well as in the REAL-LIFE kitchen, much to our delight.  This latest donut-making mania is the result of a magazine article from the February 2004 Country Living issue ("ode to the doughnut"), that I ran across while rummaging through a stack of old magazines.  The pictures looked so inviting that we just about dropped everything we were doing to try the recipes out, which I was happy to see are still available online here,  so you're in luck if you also need a donut fix and have a little time on your hands.  None of them were rated on the website,  however I can tell you that the Double-Chocolate ones we made were really REALLY good.  These cake-like donuts were pretty quick to throw together, unlike the yeast ones that need time to rise, but they still need to chill for at least an hour before you roll and cut them.  We measured and prepared the ingredients ahead of time so all the different steps went pretty smoothly in assembly-line fashion.  I stepped in to do the deep frying, but the girls were only too happy to do everything else, nibbling away as they went along.  It took about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting the clean-up, which wasn't too bad.  It makes for a fun afternoon on a rainy day anyway, even if you only make donut holes.  (Click on any of the images to see them larger.)

And speaking of rainy day play, there's been more movie-making around here too.  If you have time, check out this donut story on daughter Amber's blog, "produced" by Grace and her friend Michelle, with a supporting cast of dolls and little sister, Ginger, too.  Just a sample of some of the wacky things they do to entertain us around here.  Kick back with a donut and a cuppa and enjoy the sho-0-0-0! 

Kitty Quilt

Miss Lily got a new blankie. 

And she likes it just fine.  Although I think she'd prefer I wasn't in her face with the camera.  Oh, the price of beauty and the endurance one must have with the paparazzi around here. 

Maybe if she ignores me I'll go away and let her be.

I was on a cleaning tear last week, vacuuming and steaming carpets and upholstery and decided the ratty-tatty blanket that was covering this chair had to go.  Yes, it made a comfy little nest for Miss Lily but eegads the hair and dander that collected on it made me wheeze just looking at it.  I was thinking something smaller and easier to whisk into the washing machine was in order.  And, something a bit more pleasant to look at.   So with that in mind, I whipped up a kitty quilt. Just used fabric scraps and batting remnants so the cost was minimal.  I'll probably make a few more for her other favorite napping places.  The days are getting cold and she's always searching for a warm spot.  Lay a quilt down and a cat will find it.  Even though this was all about keeping things neat and tidy around here, as far as she knows, it's just a wonderful (warm) gift!