Note to self..a must read.

An author that comes highly recommended by my dad. Yep. My dad. So, although I have very little time for any endeavours that do not include runny noses or the vacuum, I think I'll

give it a try. Has anyone read any of Bill Bryson's books? He lives (or lived) in Hanover, NH, not too far from us.

Inspired Clothing...

This Gap jean skirt needed a new life. As I am entering my mid-thirties, the highcut slit, ( in the middle of the front) is just not the look I'm going for with a baby on my hip and two other young children. So.. much to my husband's dismay, I decided to close the 'gap'. (uuggh.. excuse the pun) Above, my daughter helped me decide which cotton fabric to use.

Having settled on the small floral pattern, I pleated it twice at the top, and sewed it on both sides and the top using a pale blue thread. (Mind you, without the pleat, it folded and stuck straight out!!) It wasn't enough.. I cut out a little chickadee from the same fabric (template below) and fused it the bottom corner of the skirt. It still wasn't enough!

On to the fun stuff!! I have been quite taken by Amanda Soule's work and book, The Creative Family. I love her embroidery! So.. I made my own. The little birdie needed a branch to perch on! Using doubled plain brown thread, I stitched (very simply) a perch.

Now that's a skirt I'll wear! Thank you Amanda for the inspiration!



Here is the template for you.. just left click to enlarge, then right click to save it to your PC. You can adjust it's size, use it for paper cutouts, whatever you like!

Enjoy!

xoxo~

Abbie

A quiet moment...

Come and sit a spell.. we are lounging in front of the fireplace today, as it cold and drizzly outside. (actually this is where I spent my Sunday..) flipping through the pages of my new Somerset Life and enjoying the eye candy. Corey Amaro just has a fabulous way of weaving stories of her life in France.

And I really enjoyed Sandra Evertson's Article, Les Modes Francaises. I tried to download the elements she used to make the bark clothe bag tags, but the links did not work..

Ah, well.. at least the fire kept my tootsies warm..

Above is a little glimpse at a Floating Journal project Anke Martin and I are doing together. We each have a journal, and once our entry for the month of April is completed, we will 'swap' them. Float them across the ocean that separates us, and work in the other journal the next month. Once the books are full, we will each have one to keep. They are spiral bound, and to start I just couldn't keep the metal rings bare.. I'm sure as the year progresses, the journals will have much added, and i can't wait to see the final results! Anke is one of those talented artists who has inspired me for years now. (It's been years Anke, can you believe it?!) We 'met' on ATCards.com - she traded my first Artist Trading Card with me, and we have been friends ever since. If we were closer I know we would be fantastic friends, but, alas, we have an enormous body of water between us. Someday, perhaps we will meet, until then, we write back and forth.. As the journals progress, I 'll post about them.

A little bird helped me pass the time..

Our weather here in NH has been absolutely crazy! After every snowstorm we get inches of rain.. homes and buildings are buckling under the weight and most spirits are starting to buckle from being housebound. It is even hard to take the children out to play. Everything is covered in ice, and the snow (almost 4 feet in spots) is so hard we can walk on top. The dogs can now peek in the kitchen window when they go out. Very strange to see... Yesterday it poured all day. So I crocheted; brought out my book and found a cute little birdie pattern.

Just like when I cook, (I tend to make recipes my own by changing and adding) I mixed up this pattern some as well. I am very happy with the way it turned out! It has a contrasting beak, and the silver bead is more like an eye than the buttons. I just need to attach a pin back to it and I can have a little birdie to wear! (mine is chubbier too!) It only took about an hour or so.. a cute little project for a rainy day..

Getting Lost..

My cousin and I used to get lost in the collection of books in my grandfather's library. We used to try and find hidden treasures; those bits and pieces of lives gone by that were forgotten between the pages. Old letters, notes, photographs. We found a few things that got our hearts racing, but I don't remember them now. All I remember is the endless fascination I had with this room. You know, all those times I spent in there, I don't ever remember opening one of the cupboards below. It's as if, the books were 'allowed' because they weren't hidden away but the closed doors, well those were 'private', the spaces of his home that held his things, not the families. Inside the shelves is now painted a wonderful robin's egg blue, making the books just scream to be held..

His enormous dictionary is still there, along with some walking sticks. We hiked alot as a family when we were together during the summers, but I don't think my grandfather ever used one, perhaps they are my aunt's. She has an amazing way of making 'the farm' feel like it always has, even though so many of it's treasures were spread to 'the four corners' after he passed away. She has filled it with her own and mixed in those that were left behind. I love to visit, and peek at the changes she has made, and enjoy the unchanging warmth the home holds.

The spot below has been transformed for the winter months. A bright spot from the winter sun, it is the perfect place to sit and work on the ever uncompleted jigsaw puzzle and gaze out at the endless snow.

So come, enjoy the fire roaring at your back, sit, and piece by piece, slowly put together a picture of spring..

Something to do..

As I was browsing my fav blogs this AM I ran across Suzanne's, At Home With the Farmer's Wife. she had taken up Mary's book tag so I thought I would too. I have just finished The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. Wow. all I have to say is "Wow." You must read. Anyway.. the tag goes like this..

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

Sentence #5: "That night, when the darkness was weighed down with singing crickets and Rosaleen was snoring right along with them, I had myself a good cry."

The next three: "I couldn't even say why. Just everything, I guess. Because I hated lying to August when she was so good to me."

OK, two more, just to tease you.. "Because Rosaleen was probably right about dream worlds. Because I was pretty sure the Virgin Mary was not back there on the peach farm standing in for me the way she'd stood in for Beatrix."

The last request, to tag five people, well, consider yourself tagged if you wish!

Now, as for the above pic, Martha went and cancelled her newest Magazine, Blueprint! WTF? I love this Magazine!! It is so fresh, young, and chic! It helps me remember that there is an elegant, suave world out there! Oh, well.. they are adding to my Living subscription instead.. nothin' good lasts forever I suppose. I am very disappointed.. my journal/sketchbook lays on top of it.. atleast that won't be cancelled anytime soon, although if my creative fire doesn't start burnin' again it might well be!

Note to self..

Note to self: OK, When looking for blog comments do not post about pea soup. I know, it is not the most appealing of soups. Or the nicest looking, but really, it needs it's time to shine too! :) How about lobster? Anyone like lobster? Dinner rolls? Those are usually a hit.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

On to brighter things! I started showing you 'a few of my favorite things' the other day, so I though we'd continue on our journey. First off, its cold here. -1.8 at 7:45 this morning. Ughh. I feel like a frozen alligator.

Above is an antique ginger jar my in laws gave me. I just love the drawing on it.. Beside it is just a colorful stack of old books. (I just adore old books, the more worn the better!) Below, an image of the lake we live next to in NH and the jar is a piece of pottery my grandfather had commissioned to sell his maple syrup in. The decoy was a gift for my husband a few years ago.

Some dish towels that hang form my stove. I just love the hand appliqued birdie!

The top image is of the seat to an antique chair my hubby got from his grandfather, and the bottom, is one of a pair of lanterns we have flanking the french doors in our great room.

I also would like to wish Dear Mary a very Happy, Healthy Birthday! Enjoy your day!

Busy Little Hands.. Turned On!

Well, let's see, the past few days I have been crocheting my heart out.. single crochet, half double, double, triple, half double triple trouble, you get the point. I have been able to single crochet for several years but never continued in the lessons. My mother tried on several occasions to show me more but after 40+ years of practice, I couldn't even see her fingers. they were a blur and well, the lessons, never went too well. Until I came across The Happy Hooker. Debbie Stoller does an amazing job of cutting through the crap, and with fabulous illustrations, it worked miracles. As shown in my pic, I have almost completed my first granny square.

Yay! My true inspiration for actually learning how to crochet came from Alicia of Posie Gets Cozy. Oh good gracious! I just adore her photos, and her studio is to die for!! Dee-lish colors, fabulous finds, crafty goodness and terrific storage ideas just float on the bright blue walls! If you haven't peeked, you really must.

Here are some other busy hands.. I caught miss T poking her fingers in an apple pie that my sister in law had made. While licking them clean she kept saying, "Uuumm.. that really good." Uuumm.. really good chicken pie." She got that from Chicken Run. "Chickens go in, pies come out.." Yep, I'd say it was the tastiest and sweetest chicken pie I've ever had..

OK, OK... due to an overwhelming response that I am getting in emails, I will turn my comments back on. :) Thank you for all the love, I have missed seeing who has stopped by. As always, leave a comment if you wish, but I won't be devastated if you just stop and peek either!

Whose woods these are..

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

When I was child, my father used to read Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost to me at Christmas. I adored it. The pictures, drawn by Susan Jeffers, are spectacular, and it holds many dear memories for me. Needless to say, I have the poem memorized, and as I was out stomping around our home yesterday in the snow, I remembered the poem and thought I'd share both my home and the poetry with you. The squirrel was dashing in and around the base of our bird feeder during the storm. He has a network of tunnels dug and was popping out occasionally to dine on sunflower seeds. The moose weathervane was a gift from my husband a few Christmas's ago.

A Piece of Presidential History and Smile Awards...

Well, blogger is still on the fritz and I am truly considering moving my blog.. but ANYWAY.. I did manage to get several images uploaded.. the ledger finally arrived!! An 1853-1858 Accounting Ledger Book from a store in Camden, NY. I nearly cried when I shuffled through the 627 pages of flourished calligraphy and numbers. Nearly every page is filled. The hours, months somebody spent hunched over this ledger are staggering!


I had originally acquired it to break it down and sell the pages in my shop . (It is damaged, as some pages have been torn from it) But I'm not sure if I can anymore. I need to enjoy it as it is. The cover is a lovely brown suede with stamped tool work. It is enormous as well. 11" x 16" with cover.


The most delightful surprise was the list of charging customers. 300+ pages of names and all their debits and credits. Among the list is Martin Van Buren, 8th president of the United States. How is that for a shocker!? The ledger is a piece of presidential memorabilia! The dates work, and even the location is in very close proximity to his homestead as the boat floats. So I now I have a difficult decision to make.. and more research to do.

On another note, Mary, at the Little Red House, nominated me for the 'You Make Me Smile Award'! Thank you Mary!! She is such a sweetheart! I absolutely love her profile description, I feel the same way most of the time. (my list of nominees will be forth coming in my next few posts..)

Cheers!

Journeys and workloads..

(Free clipart for you.. just right click and copy the image above to use however you desire!)

I'm sorry for disappearing for so long! things have been hectic and wonderful.. :) I spent most of Friday on a car trip with T. I went to visit and deliver some items to a shop on the other side of the state. I met a new friend through Etsy. Rita had the most fabulous little shop just filled to brim with eye candy!! It might have been a nicer visit had I not been chasing my two year old all over the place. She had been sitting in the car for an hour and half and was in a most crazy mood. It rained and poured the entire drive, both ways, but it was still gorgeous. When it rains in Autumn all the colors glow. The tree trunks go to a dark matte black and the leaves and moss just pop. I drove past three of NH's most lovely lakes to get to her and it was worth every minute. :)

The rest of my weekend was spent in quite caios trying get house work and shop duties caught up. The Red Sox lost, the Patriots won. I am also in the process of working on a large mailer for my shop. (can't tell.. its a secret!) I hope everyone else is a having a lovely autumn.. time to start making costumes!

Have I mentioned that I love paper? Above is an image of the rolls of 100+ year old wallpaper from my grandfathers. I didn't get to keep all of it, although I was able to get a long strip off each roll. The color of aged paper.. a delicate golden cream. I just can't resist. I have been pasing the floor awaiting the arrival of a new aquistion. An 1850 Ledger Book and every page is filled with calligraphy. I'm tellin' ya, if it doesn't arrive tomorrow I'm gonna freak out at the mail box. It's not gonna be pretty!

Spook-a-licious!

I've had so much fun playing with some images I found in an 1890 Medical Reference Book. I picked up the book at a town wide yard sale this past weekend. Some of the thoughts and cures are unbelievable! (and VERY spooky!) This delightful creepy dude is for sale in my shop.. I know, I know, Halloween is still a month and a half away, but with much persuasion from my eight year old, I have started to decorate the house. Below, my spooky man hangs from a black, scraggy tree on my kitchen counter (sans vintage seam binding). Have a spook-tacular-day!
ughh. that was just not right.
;) Abbie

Art and Old Lace...

J-birds room is an eclectic mish mash of old and new. An 'old' piece that was just added is an antique Christianing gown that dates from probably the mid 1800's. The last person to actaully wear the gown was my father. My grandmother gave it to me about 2 years ago, it needs to be reframed, but I love it dearly. If I had my choice it would hang in the master bedroom, but the gown creeps out my husband. It reminds him of a ghost. I'm sure it does have ghosts. Something that old couldn't be without them. Every stitch, seam and bit of lace are hand done. Tiny, microscopic stitches. It was hard to photograph behind the glass; it kept reflecting the room contents, but I wanted to share. As far as the 'new' goes.. a print J choose by Emily at The Black Apple and an art book clash most definitely. But if you fill your space with things you love, then they will all coordinate in the end. Someday the walls in her room will get painted, the shade of sage/teal green behind the gown and also in the background of Emily's painting is my most favorite color choice so far.

Well.. I joined the masses...

I have joined the hard core Harry Potter masses and I finished my book in two days. It arrived Saturday around 2 pm (there was a much fumming at the USPS and Amazon.com because I was sure that it wasn't gonna be delivered on time!) It did arrive and with two wee ones and two doggies, and a hubby to cook for, and the British Open on TV (golf) I managed to get through it by Sunday evening. Wow. Loved it!! Ms JK Rowling out did herself and tied everything together in such a neat and fabulous bundle that I was most impressed. And, yes I saw the 5th movie and wanted to fly away with them as they soared through London at night. Ah. Just to sit and imagine it brings a smile to my face. To know that beyond diapers, bottles, late nights, and tantrums there is another world out there is most refreshing and comforting.