Monday, September 30, 2013

Sew and Sew



I showed you the little bluebird embroidery I did  during my last trip to the coast.
It was super easy and fast. I couldn't wait to get out my precious Pam Kitty Morning fabric and make a pillow.

I haven't been doing ruffles on pillows for a while, but decided this one just needed the softness of a small ruffle. I love piping on a pillow too. That and the little inserted strips frame the embroidery.
On the back I put buttons on a band. I love this method of closure and the pillow looks cute turned over too.

I found 6 of the cutest vintage buttons at a thrift store. I never find good sewing stuff at thrift stores anymore so you can imagine how I squealed when I saw these. So much for talking down the price. The clerk had a good idea that I would pay just about anything for these little gems.
Aren't they just perfect for my PKM bird pillow?

I love traditional quilting patterns and decided the flying geese would be perfect for finishing out my border.

I showed you this little tray awhile back. I found it a Joann's in need of some TLC.
Mr. SS gave it a good sanding and a coat of white glossy paint.
I sat and looked through my PKM fabric for a whole evening before this one just spoke to me.
I pulled out an old jar of Mod Podge and a few minutes later it was done.
I just love it!! 
The pillow and the tray are going in my little blue trailer. We are taking it to the coast on Friday for a few days.  I have quite a little stack of treasures that are going to go in the trailer. It is small and I don't have a lot of room...but I must have my treasures around me.

Besides the fun sewing for me, I have done quite a bit of sewing for others too.
I did some lace "curtains" for a tri-fold screen.
Of course I have still been doing things for Four Tiny Cousins.

But one of my favorite project has been this.
My friend Ruth's son is getting married and she asked me to make something to go on her DIL to be's dress.
It is a pretty lace dress, but she thought it needed a little something.
This is a peplum.(I've discovered I'm never to old to learn something new) The flowers and lace are off center in the front.

The lace is vintage and the buttons (which you can't see too well) are vintage as well.
Ruth saw some wedding sashes on Pinterest (where else?).

 After adding the sheer skirt and the vintage lace, I came up with my own version.

My eleven year old granddaughter Lexi wanted a poodle skirt for Halloween. A trip to Joann's and three bags of felt etc. and she and I are making 4 (yes, that's right) 4 poodle skirts.
They are easy and she is a hard worker. We are using my new scallop scissors for cutting the bottom. 
The zippers might be a challenge for her, but hey...what's better than a Halloween costume to learn on.
There will be pictures to come of four little 50's cutie pies in poodle skirts.



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Treasures By the Sea


Besides the Farmers Market and Fruit stands, I did manage to squeeze in a little more shopping during our stay at the coast.

There are still a few Antique stores in Arroyo Grande where the Farmers Market was, and we visited a couple. I've noticed in the last few years, many antique dealers include new or gently used items to their booths...the economy, you know.

I found this book.
It is not only a beautiful book with lovely pictures, but it just happens to be in my favorite colors and the vintage look will fit perfectly in my little blue trailer.

These measuring spoons were found at the same place and will also find a home in the trailer.
Aren't they cute?
And Red!!

I got my friend to run me over to the little quilt store in Pismo. Country Cousins, I think.
I found this pattern for some different little zip bags.
Even though I haven't had time to piece a quilt in some time, I still like anything with 
quilt patches. Great for using up those scraps I just always have so many of.

In the same store, I found this. This is the box and it is as cute as what was inside.
Again...perfect for my little blue trailer...do you see a theme going here...We are planning a trip back to the coast  in October and will be taking the trailer.

Inside the box was a vintage reproduction tablecloth with a checker board in the center.
Camping and Checkers tournaments just go together in our family.

Maybe you can see a little more of the border around the checkerboard here.
I just adore it and can see it on my vintage drop leaf table in the trailer.

My friend Carol, who we stayed with, gave me this tea towel.
She knows my love for blue and yellow.
Yep...going to the little blue trailer too.

This is a little embroidery I took with me and finished it while there. I will show you in my next post what I made with it. (Now, you haven't guessed it is something for the trailer, have you?)

I have had this for a long time. It was in the playroom in our house. I found it at a garage sale and the kids would pack it with treasures and carry it all around.
I confiscated it for our trip to the coast. It is just the right size for my handwork projects and supplies.
I am going to redo the inside in Pam Kitty fabric (of course) and won't it look cute in my little trailer?

Something I found at the Marshall's over at the coast. The Marshall there is a lot larger than ours in Bakersfield, and I usually can find a treasure there, so Carol always takes me as it is really close to her house.

Found these yellow and orange paper straws at the Avila Barn, just before we had to make our quick exit due to my little "problem". Those and some peanut brittle for Mr. SS are all we had time to get there.
I thought the straws would fit with my Fall decorating when I get a chance to start that.

For now they look cute with my new cup and the mug rug I made to go with it.
A cup often inspires the design of the mug rug as this one did.



The weather has taken a little turn here.  Today was warm, but the nights and mornings definitely have a fall crispness to them....loving it.
I'm getting in the mood for some fall decorating and even had soup on my mind today.
Have you started decorating for fall yet? I'm going to have to do some blog visiting for inspiration.
See ya soon!!



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea

A few days before Labor Day, we got a call from our friends that have a home in Grover Beach. They wanted us to come for a visit over the holiday.
How fast can I pack?? Very fast. We cleared our schedule and left early very early Friday morning and came home Tuesday after Labor Day late very late.

We stay up stairs where there is a deck that overlooks the neighborhood and has a distant view of the ocean. We have a little kitchen equipped with a coffeepot, so this is where I enjoyed every morning with my coffee, in my favorite Adirondack  chair and  a romance novel. (Beach reading, you know) I even got to cuddle under an afghan as the mornings were a little lot cooler than at home.

Every afternoon, I propped my feet up on the railing and read some more, usually my favorite blogs and a little facebook. I don't do much on facebook, but do read some of my favorites. I can read those on my new used Kindle Fire. Also learned that I can watch  Downton Abbey on the Kindle too. Since I have Amazon Prime, it is free, so I watched the first one from the 1st year. Now to find the time to keep it up...oh well.

I know...ugly feet...who wants to see that.
I really am showing off my new turquoise (Payless for 10 bucks) sandals.

Saturday, we went to the Farmers Market. I didn't get pictures there. It was very crowded and getting quite warm. Yes, I even sweated some.  Anyway, you have seen lots of Farmers Market pictures from my past trips.
I got the tiny zucinni I love so much, bags of spring mix lettuce, Tomatoes...oh those tomatoes, peaches, apples(my favorite Honey Crisp), corn on the cob, strawberries, avocados, grapes, 
and Kettlecorn (oops...that's not on WW) Oh, bought that for Mr. SS. Yeah, right!!

Also got these beautiful green beans, red potatoes and a red onion.
Mmmm...we had them for dinner that night.
There is something about snapping beans that I love. These really had a snap to them too.
Maybe it's the farm girl in me...you know sitting on the front porch snapping beans for dinner.

In the pan they go with chopped red onion and some ham. Add a little garlic salt and pepper.
Cook for about an hour. I like mine done and soft, not crispy.
Then add the potatoes for an hour and it's all so so yummy.
And yes,  so on Weight Watchers.

Saturday night, we went with our friends Charles and Carol to their Elks Club in Oceano for Monte Carlo night.

Right down Mr. SS's alley...you can see he is so serious even though it was all for fun.
We even brought home some silly little gifts from his winnings that the kids loved.

Sunday afternoon it was
"Concert in the Park"
Playing was a great band...all sixties music, so we really enjoyed it.

along with hundreds of others, it seems. We were kind of up front, when I turned around later on, I was surprised how many people there were.

Monday was the last day for strawberries from this little stand, which is Carols favorite and so we drove by there to get...yes, more strawberries, blueberries and peaches.

Tuesday, before going home, we arranged to meet our grandson, Kyle for a late breakfast at 
the Apple Farm. He had gone home for the holiday, but was back for school at Questa Jr. College on Tuesday.

While waiting for him, I snapped a couple of pictures of these cute bibs made from a towel.
Too bad the pictures are dark, but I am going to make some of these soon. I just need to find some towels.
I'm sure I might have some fabrics that will work.


Kyle and his Papaw ordered the works... pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage. Growing boys, you know...
I had quiche and fruit.

Yep!  They both ate the whole thing.

After saying goodbye to Kyle we headed home, stopping at Avila Barn.
I didn't get any pictures there as I think the quiche I ate didn't like me at all.
(That's what I get for trying to eat another non WW food)

We made a quick exit and headed home. We were going to go to Avila beach so I could wiggle my toes in the sand for a bit, but I just didn't feel like it..
If you have been reading my blog, you know how badly I must have felt if I turned down sand toe wiggling time.

Shopped a little over the weekend and found a couple of treasures, but will share them next time.
Enough for now.


God is Good!!
Life is Good!!




Friday, September 6, 2013

Morning Pleasures

I am an early riser. I love to get up when I see the slightest bit of light peeking through the window.  I don't want a minute of the day to slip by without getting in
 my morning pleasures.

You will think I'm crazy, but after starting morning coffee(1st on my list of morning pleasures), my second favorite pleasure is making  Mr. SS's lunch. I started out our marriage 45 yrs. ago making his lunch and have done it with pleasure ever since.  This man never changes what he wants for lunch, so whether he is off somewhere to work or is working in the shop here or just "here", I make his lunch in the morning.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sammie
Grapes
Cheetos(has to be the crunchy kind)
and Oreos
Not the most nutritious, but at least it's not fast food, right?
If I make him something else, or try to change it up a bit,
he will say, "Well, that was nice, but where was my........?"( whatever I changed out.)
Gotta love that man.

You see, since we live in an RV small cottage, I try to get outside as much as I can. I spend a lot of time cooped up in my small studio sewing and love my time outdoors.
By starting my day outside, I get to see my son and some of the grands as they do their morning chores too.

I start my morning with a morning devotional "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. This is my second year through it, but I'm amazed at how each entry, just fits my circumstances that day and gives me the inspiration I need to go through my day.
I have it on my "new" Kindle Fire. It's new to me, but belonged to my granddaughter Kobi. I bought it from her when she got an Ipad.

Next, I am still reading through the bible on the bible in a year plan...my second year for that too.

Then my bible study lesson from the our new Women's Bible Study on Wednesday nights.
It's a Beth Moore Study on Revelations.

Yesterday, when my "littlest" mail person brought back the mail, look what I found.
A newsletter from

She says it is the first mailed out in 6 years. There is always one on line, but I got pure pleasure
out of having it to read with my second third cup of coffee this morning.
It is beautifully written and full of the most fun classes and events. I just wish I could move into the store so I could take advantage of all the fun stuff going on.

Usually after my reading is finished, I have a little handwork to do before I head in to get dressed and start my day.



Of course today, I came in to post this while it was fresh on my heart.
I had intended to post some about our 5 day trip to the coast last week, but will save that for  next time.




God is Good!!
Life is Good!!