Gratitude

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A New Wardrobe in the Making

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My friend, and knitting partner, Adele came for a quick visit not too long ago. She brought P and me some goodies. P got a doll that she LOVES and we also got a dressmaking book for dolls.

P and I looked through the many designs in the book and decided on our first project, a pretty simple dress with bodice. I wanted to make sure the pattern size that we had chosen would fit the doll.

Then we made a pinafore to go with the dress.

I have to say that this book, The Doll's Dressmaker: The Complete Pattern Book  by Venus A Dodge, is pretty spectacular. It has basic pattern pieces for all of the dresses in five different sizes. It gives good directions for choosing the right pattern size and how to make adjustments. There are also directions for making MANY different styles of dresses from the basic pattern pieces and lots of ideas for dressing them up for more grown up dolls and making them simpler for baby dolls. The possibilities are endless. There are a few simple styles that I'll let P try too.

The book also has shoe patterns, hat patterns, and directions for other doll accessories.

I think we'll be using this book a lot. P has marked a lot for dresses that she likes.

Next up, panties - because every doll needs some panties. And then a slip, and a bonnet, and a dress with some lace....Thanks Adele. We have been enjoying our time together in the sewing room!

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Happiness

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Things that are making me happy this week:
a warm sunny day,

daffodils finally opening and other signs of spring, family at home,

onions in the ground, pea sprouts, and other garden growings, family fun with eggs,

drawings by P,

grocery lists with items like "emenems", "londry sope", "toylet papr", and "joose".

What is making you happy?  

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Think Spring

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After a busy week of sewing I took some time yesterday to do some cleaning, and sorting, and putting things in order in my sewing room. I even found the top of my desk again!

One of the things I went through was a bag of thread that a friend recently gave me. Just look at all that pretty thread!

It sort of makes me want to drop everthing else and find a tiny crochet hook or tatting shuttle and make yards and yards of fine lace like this.

For now, the thread is piled high in a basket in the living room and called spring decorating.

That will keep it out of the sewing room for a little while longer.

Seriously.

I think I could happily work on projects the rest of my life with materials I already have in the house.

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Happy Holiday Happenings

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Whew, that was a busy weekend. Thanks to all of you who came to the show. It was fun to meet so many new people.Yesterday was a day for changing gears and getting caught up a little. P and I spent a long time putting ornaments on the tree.  This tree is different from any we have had before. It is one that we grew and has never been trimmed (except maybe nibbled a little by deer). It is very open which is great for allowing the ornaments to dangle but there are also fewer branches for the ornaments so each branch is loaded with a number of decorations. This is one of those times that I can let go of my "less is more" mantra. I think with the tree "more is more" is the way to go!!

More sparkle.

More light.

More memories!

I never used to be a fan of glass ball ornaments but I really love them now. We have collected quite a few vintage shiny brites in the last few years. I love the way they make the tree sparkle even more by reflecting the lights.

This tree makes me very happy. I love the  mix of handmade, vintage, and other new ornaments. There are so many memories hanging from the branches of our tree.

I do wish my mother were here to see it. I think she would appreciate its overloaded branches in all their glory.

We still have the icicles to add but P has requested that I wait until she is home from school to do that.

What is making you happy today?

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Thankful

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I am thankful:

*  for my family and the time that we are together.  With D at U of M and M making his own college plans our family time seems much more precious. Any time we are all together is a time of thanks.

*  that so many people are willing to give of themselves to make our community a wonderful place to live with many great opportunities for our children.

*  that I have a home to keep out (most of) the wind and weather. Although our home is old, drafty and needs much work it is more than many people have.

*  that we have a pantry and cellar full of food to help get us through the winter months. However, I do wish those hens would start laying again.

*  for the friends and inspiration I have found in this online community.  This really is a special place. Thank you to all who leave a comment or send an email and let me know you are out there.  I enjoyed a recent email conversation with someone who moved to my hometown years after I left.

* for my health, eyesight, and ability to work with my hands.

* for the unending support of family and friends -especially my sisters who are always there for me no matter what, even when I am sure they would rather be doing something else.

Wherever you are, I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends.

Instagram Photos

I started this sweater on our car trip last week. I had chosen a different yarn for the horses but it was thinner and didn’t work well with the blue. I frogged the few rows I had knit and subbed in some yarn from my stash when I got home. The y
Narrow hand appliquéd bias strips. 1/16” quilting lines not going over the appliqué. I’m about a month in on the quilting and ALMOST finished. Whoop! Quilted with Invisalign on top and Decobob in the bobbin. Threads by @wo
This summer we watched my two oldest grand kids one day a week. Towards the end of the summer they started making projects on their own in the sewing room. They made lots of little projects from my scrap basket including pillow cases and tiny quilts
Here’s the layout with all but one block done. I’ll finish that last block when I get more of the baby poop green/mustard fabric. I put out the call and the internet provided! This top will be finished soon! This is a remake of an 1870s