turkey feathers

Get Back Jack

 

These two pulled a fast one and they're still laughing about it. 

One of them was rotten and stunk up the whole house.  

Definitely a trickster.

 

Puffed Sleeves & A Winner

 

We are making progress on the baby-doll dress, one loving stitch at a time.  I love puffed sleeves.  Whenever I make them though, I start thinking about Anne (of Green Gables), begging Marilla for a gown with puffed sleeves.  I believe at the turn of the century those enormous puffed sleeves were referred to as "mutton sleeves", because they looked like 'legs of mutton'.  You know, the hind quarter of a lamb.  (Ew!) Sorry, my sincere apologies.  But it is true. 

Anyway, these puff sleeves are tiny and sweet and not a smidgen of mutton anywhere in the vicinity.  I'm edging them with lavender bias binding to match the piping on the bodice.  I couldn't believe that I found a scrap left-over from another project that was just exactly the right length and color for this.  I so *LOVE* when that happens.  

OK.  Before I duck back into my sewing corner and pick up my needle and thread, I need to announce the winner of the Blanket Statement give-away:  The winner is Rebecca, who authors not one, but two blogs.  (I'm amazed how some people can do this when I can barely keep up with one.)  Her food blog, Kitchen Riches is amazing and has me drooling.  I'm definitely going to have to try her recipe for Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Bread.  (Congratulations Rebecca!  Please email your address and I'll get a signed copy of my book in the mail to you pronto.)

Thank you everyone else for stopping by, and for your very lovely comments.  I so enjoyed reading them and visiting your blogs too! 

 

And now, we return to the puff sleeves...

 

 

 

Good Friday

 

And...we have a winner for the spring chicks tea towel!  Comment::  "I'm not exactly a Spring chicken, but I sure do love these Spring chicks! Definitely happy!"  Posted by: Shari

Congratulations Shari!  After visiting her blog, Big Yellow Farmhouse I can see that this little treasure will fit in quite nicely.  (And I ask you, just how cute is that farmhouse? And that chicken?)  I'll pop this little prize in the mailbox ASAP!  Thanks to everyone who stopped by and left a comment and joined the fun.  We've got a big yellow house of our own to whip into shape; family coming for dinner on Sunday, eggs to dye for a backyard Easter-egg hunt, pickle-potato salad to make, a carrot cake to bake and lots of other little details to attend to.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend celebrating in your own special way.  Happy Spring!

Spring Chicks Give-Away

I just wandered in from my sewing room after putting the last finishing detail on this;  a bit of vintage rick-rack as "grass"---it's interpretive, use your imagination here.  (smile)  Yesterday, after I found this cute old pattern among my boxes of orphan transfer sheets, I  literally dropped everything I was doing and took up my embroidery needle.  It's been awhile since I stitched anything and I could not resist such cuteness.  Spring chicks also seemed like the perfect "conclusion" to the newest*sweet surprises* towel designs too (don't ya think?),  so I made them part of this month's bonus collection which is up on the website now.  And...I'm giving away the dishtowel shown here!  No April foolin' either.  Leave a comment to enter the drawing and I'll announce a winner on Good Friday (4-10).  My sincere apologies to International readers, but due to sky-high postage rates this drawing is limited to U. S. residents.   OK, I think that's it...now I need to go make more of these. 

*Comments are closed--a winner will be chosen soon*

X-Stitch Holiday Give-Away

There's been a little Christmas decorating going down.  At the same time, I've been pulling out all the ornament boxes (that multiply over the years), and am going through them one by one, finding all sorts of things I'd forgotten about.  Seems there's enough here to decorate several trees.  Um, have those too.  It's true.  I have a fondness for small tabletop trees.  I like to choose different themes for decorating them each year, and then place them in various rooms throughout the house.  From year to year, no two trees are ever exactly alike.  This one became a "Toyland" tree over the weekend. 

It's adorned with vintage elves, plastic reindeer, and those painted wooden Scandinavian-type ornaments of birds, toys, and other sweet little figures.  I moved it into the library, where it is now nicely nestled on top of a small round table draped with sheets of sparkly cotton "snow", between matching wingback reading chairs.  Insert soft Christmas music playing in the background, and this cozy scene is complete.  More importantly though, I'm taking a little time for myself each day to sit down and enjoy!

That's what I was doing when I ran across these again.  I only save my *very favorite* magazines, and these are from my stockpile of vintage treasures dating from 1988-1990.  Purchased long before I had a home computer and scanner at my disposal---which I'm using now for archiving some of the patterns from my back issues---allowing me to pass these on to someone else and re-claim a little space on the bookshelves at the same time.  That actually sounds like a great idea for a vintage magazine swap doesn't it?  Don't look at me though, cuz I don't think I can fit anymore hats on my head at the moment.  But if YOU are interested in winning these 3 issues--with a total of 60+ projects in all--speak up & leave a comment here on the blog, and I'll enter you in my *holiday give-away* drawing.  To help you make up your mind...a few images of what's inside: over here.

FRIDAY UPDATE:  And the winner is . . . (insert drum roll) . . .I'm reaching into my hat . . .pulling out lucky #15!  Congratulations  Joni!  Her comment was:  "You're so sweet, I wish I could come over for some hot chocolate and sit right beside your "toyland tree"....it looks whimsical and adorable!" 

oh--me too!  But since we are many miles apart, please contact me with your shipping info and I'll get your vintage treasures on their way in two shakes of a turkey tail.  Or something like that!

Thanks everyone for playing...have a great weekend!

Vintage Embroidery #1 Give-Away

Well.  I must say, I've missed this kind of fun craft sewing and am thoroughly enjoying myself here in this quiet little corner.  Just stitching away the hours, stopping occasionally for a chocolate break and a coffee refill.  Don't want to stall the momentum.  I hope you can find a little time for yourself today -- doing what you love to do.  Soon, I'll show you how this little production (above) turned out.  But first, we have another winner to announce.  The random number generator thingy has spoken; and Judy is the lucky recipient of  the Childhood Dreams FolkWear pattern!  Woo-hoo...I see lots of beautiful nightgowns in your future my dear.  I know this because I just went to visit Judy's blog, daily yarns 'n more, and discovered she has eleven children and fourteen grandchildren.  It's a good thing the pattern is multi-sized from 2-12!  I really don't think it could've found a better home, do you?  Perhaps providence at work here.  (And thank you Judy for being a supporter of my blog--- your blog has been added to my new links list.)

OK, so for the next round, I'm offering not one, not two, but three vintage embroidery pattern reprints from my PatternBee shop.  These lovely things have been restored and reprinted from the original patterns as hot iron-on transfers.  As you can see, we have another childhood theme here--cute animals, kewpies, and an old-fashioned fairytale sequence, featuring Goldilocks & the 3 Bears.  Perfect for a sweet little quilt.  (The patterns are on my website--just click on the link if you want to see more images and details.)  Leave a comment (or just say "HI" if you're shy), to enter the drawing to win the lot. 

Time to settle back in with my sewing now...and maybe just one more homemade double-chocolate brownie, courtesy of daughter Grace, whose amazing baking skills only rivals these tiny treats of hers from the dollhouse bakery.  This peppermint fudge set is new to her shop this week.  Each of these miniature creations are thoughtfully crafted by hand.  You just would not believe how much attention to detail and time goes into making these little lovelies.  Which accounts for why there are only a few available at a time.  And like most sweets...they never last long.

UPDATE:  Comments are closed--thank you everyone that participated--I'm still reading through them and will announce the winner on the next post!

Childhood Dreams Give-Away

Much thanks to everyone who's stopped by to participate in my third annual holiday give-away.  It's nice knowing you're all out there.  Congrats to  Christy -- winner of the Japanese embroidery book!  (I know you'll love it.)  I'm using one of the designs in it for a special present I'm working on for a wee little someone.  Soon to be revealed. 

In the meantime, continuing on with more holiday goodwill; I offer this vintage FolkWear pattern CHILDHOOD DREAMS #225, for a girl's nightgown  (sizes 2-12).   This was part of a set I had from the 1980's, (oh, how I hate admitting that), but never got around to making.   I've got a couple of others I plan to offer down the road as well.  So, if you happen to be interested in sewing children's period clothing, and would like this, please leave a comment and I'll choose a winner at random.   

UPDATE:  Contest and comments are closed, and a winner has been selected--to be announced momentarily. . .

Holiday Surprise Give-Away

It's that time of year again...ready for some fun and games?  Last year I sent you all on a scavenger hunt for prizes, and the year before there was this holiday special.  As I was sitting and sipping my cocoa last night, I was thinking...how do I top that? 

Well, actually I don't think I can, in terms of spending lots of time pulling something elaborate together - given the craziness of the last few weeks and the usual mayhem ahead.  So instead, I'm just going to *surprise you* with freebies (at random) here at turkey feathers.com, starting now until the gift cupboard is empty.  You'll actually be helping me reduce my stash a little.   

OK.  Here's the scoop.  No restrictions apply.  This is open to every one where ever you are on the planet.  You can be the proud owner of a blog or blogless.  It matters not.  Regular readers, newbies, lurkers and peeps -- all welcome.  No strings attached.  Leave a comment (or just say hello), to get your name thrown in the hat for a chance to win.  I'll announce winners at random.  Maybe within a day or two.  Maybe even on the same day of the post--you just never know.  It's a *surprise give-away* remember? 

Today I am offering this beautiful Japanese embroidery book #2498.  I know.  Can you believe it?  These books are pricey and not always easy to get a hold of, but somehow or another, I managed to wind up with two of them.   And...'tis the season...so--I'm passing it on.  Sample pages are shown. 

Have at it.  But, please.  No pushing and shoving.

_________________________________________

UPDATE:  Thank you for stopping by.  Comments are now closed.  I'll announce a winner tomorrow, along with another give-away!

Without Further Ado

Thanks you guys for the chit-chat and chuckles on my Sentimental Journey. I kind of hated for it to end.  So many great memories and stories out there. I think I identified with all of them in one way or another.  Anyhoo, time to wrap it up. So, without further ado the winners are Gina, Betty, and Nina.  Congratulations Ladies!  Please send me your pattern choice (and address) when you have a minute.  There’s no cut-off date to claim your prize, so take your time browsing if you need to.

 

I wanted to offer a little something to everyone else too, so I gathered a few fancy florals that can be traced and embroidered.  The pdf download here. Use it on clothing, I'm thinking Redwork peasant blouse (yum), or pretty pillowcases, or table linens; actually anywhere you want to add a *fancy flourish*.  The designs are some I collected a long time ago,  from "The Wonder Package" c. 1933.  This big box, boasting over 800 different designs, was mailed through newspapers and contained quite a varied collection of these very VERY large pattern sheets.  The transfer method is interesting; requiring tamping the back of the paper with a damp cloth.  Similar to applying a fake tattoo.  I never tried it because I didn't want to cut any of these up, besides it seems like a messy affair.  Most of these are quite elaborate, but the few I chose for you should be easy enough to trace.  (However, if you absolutely hate tracing, Paypal me a couple of dollars and I'll mail you the design sheet as an iron-on transfer instead.) 

Just Passing Through

Me too!  The Senitmental Journey contest is officially closed.  I'll be tossing your names into my super sonic spinning bonnet numbers generator and will report back tomorrow with 3 winners AND a *surprise* for everyone!    Toodle-Loo. . .