Adeline Throws a Wingding!

 (Excuse while I get my bearings...As I started to write under this little sweetheart's photo, I just had to stop and sigh deeply.  This diminutive little dolly does this to me every time.  Her mama or pretend auntie will shoot me a photo text and each time I say ,'Oh Adeline...'  Truly, she is as adorable as they come...)

 Okay.  I think I'm okay now.  But I am smiling as I write this,  Just so you know.

A summer birthday.  In our immediate family, we had not one.  Lot's of springs.  A smattering of winter.  A couple of autumns.  But nary a summer baby.
Then last year happened.
Sweet Adeline made her appearance on the cusp of August and very tail end of July.  And the world rejoiced.
The past year has been exciting watching this little sprite grow and learn.  All of us just tend to sit and watch her explore and experiment and forget about other forms of entertainment.  She truly is a hoot to observe.  Her on schedule activities sometime look so cute on such a tiny frame.  We know that when she starts walking (is now standing up by herself; can it be that far away?) she will crack us up once more to see the little munchkin take off in a year old hurry.

 So it was with great fanfare and planning on her darlin' mama's part, that this, the first summer birthday party of our family, commenced.

Since most of us in central southern Indiana haven't seen much rain this summer, it was a good bet that an outdoor venue was pretty safe.  Lovely Wife/ Mama selected her theme, Lemonade and Fun, with pink and yellow as the colors for the summer afternoon soiree.

It needs to be said that Sweet Adeline has more than her fair share of fans.  Both mama and daddy are the kind of people that people just like to hang out with.  They are fun and gracious with their home and most certainly, they have friends stopping by on a regular basis. So when invites starting going out, LWM began to be glad for their quarter acre backyard.  It appears that most people don't mind taking a part of their summer Saturday afternoon to help an adorable little girl and her proud parents celebrate.


Invites were designed, mailed out and the quest for the perfect table settings and menu began. LWM knows what she likes and my thought is that she had been planning this party in her grateful mama mind, during the dark months of winter.

 Helpers were gathered in the guise of LWM's mama, sister, sisters in laws,a brother, brothers in laws and two obedient puppies. Neighbors hauled their extra patio furniture and a convenient rental place gave good deals on chairs and tablecloths.

 With everyone utilizing their talents and gifts,' many hands made light work'...

 The smallest guest was taken care of; crayons, stickers and play dough and lots of paper ....

 And for those of you that are so inclined to eat well...Well, that was certainly more than taken care of.....:D

 Tents and canopies were gathered for the 90 degree temps that have been normal these days.  However, we seriously know that Sweet Adeline must have powerful Friends in high places as the day was temperate, breezy and downright enjoyable.

And let it be known that nary a guest came empty handed.  The. little. girl is.set.

 Even the cousins from Cincinnati were able to join us in the festivities!

 Both sides of Sweet Adeline's family, mama and daddy's, were able to be there, at nearly the same time! Rare, indeed!

Mimi added a proper 'Celebrate' banner made of Addie's baby quilt scraps from last year

 Mimi's dolly pattern from Wee Wonderful http://www.weewonderfuls.com/store/put-together-5.html was completed  and a stuffed Boston Terrier was ordered from etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/supersockmonkeys.

 Her mama's collection birthday crown was personalized and popped onto her pig tailed noggin and the party could begin...

Sweet Adeline, Mimi is more than excited to watch you bring in each of your years with equal or surpassing gaiety and fun!

For you see, you are much to celebrate!

Love you, Addie!

Rootin Tootin Teething Bibs!

Kool Kortni has two little O's.  Owen is a Big Brother who recently started PreSchool for the first time.  Little Bro Oaklee is still the teeny baby brother that just stays near mama and these days, it appears, he is gearing up for some brand new toofies.

This event sent KK looking for some 'manly' bibs for her baby boy.  Stumbling upon etsy's treasure trove (today, 945) of very macho bandanna bibs, she queried my Facebook page to see if I was up to trying this very easy and practical AND fashionable baby item.  Always one to add another baby item to my repertoire, I gladly took this challenge on.

Eldest/Admin and I had loads of fun in JoAnne's in Cincinnati trying to find just the right shwanky fabric for the very stylish Little O.

Cowboys, robots, dinosaurs and cars and trucks........Does it get more guy-like?

Back this fun fabrics with some vintage gingham, add some elastic to make sure the bandany is snug around the widdo neck, slap some Velcro on the tabs.....
And you got a pretty cool way to collect all the droolys that occur when first teethies are a comin in!


Thanks KK for the opportunity to try out this new accessory for babies!!.

Tea Time!

I likes me a good, hot cup o' tea.
I used to sugar it up real good in my younger years, but in my dotage, I've taken to drinking it straight. Like a big girl.
And I love it.
Always have.
Oolong, Earl Gray, Chai, Orange Pekoe, Rooibos (which some will say is a different plant from tea)Herbal of all kinds..(NOT jasmine however. To me, it's like drinking perfume. Guess I'm not totally grown up.)
I have many teapots collected over the years. I've given and I've taken them and I have a favorite.
It's a hand blown Swedish crystal pot, complete with infuser and warmer. Completely wonderful yet fragile. Pulled out for important occasions.
A lovely utilitarian one that is used daily is one given to me from Old Friend's mother. She knew my affection for the hot liquid and she generously gifted me one day long ago...
One problem.
I like it really hot.
And in the chill of winter, it cools off quickly.
I purchased a tea cozy in the 70's when I was young and still heavily sugaring my tea. The little cozy is rather primitive in an early crafting stage of someone on the east coast thirty years ago.
I recently stumbled (a good word for wading through my 'collections') across it and was convinced that by now, I could make a stab at creating a new grown up one for my new grown up taste.
And I'll share it with you....

A good grown up material.
Tapestry Upholstery.
Followed the design by making a sort of onion spire shape. Four of them.
Also repurposed an old mattress pad for my insulation.
Cut four of those as well. A little smaller than the tapestry.
.
Sew the insulation to the back of the pieces.
Right on the edge.

Found a sweet lining. Cut four of these as well.
Sew this wrong sides together.
Trim close to stitching.
Zig Zag edges and trim again.

Stitch through all layers to form a quilty look.
I followed the shape of the piece at progressive intervals, but you could outline a design on a print you use or just use a cross pattern. The goal is have it look quilted.

Placed a small bit of grosgrain ribbon for a nifty little pull. You know, so you can dramatically pull off the cozy and say, 'Ta Da'!! when you serve tea to some unfamiliar with the ways of a cozy. Guaranteed to impress.
You could use a variety of other ribbon like trims as well. More Wow power.
I pinned the ribbon in the seam allowance near the top of the cozy.
Sew each panel to another. Zig Zag edges here as well. If I was making this for someone other than unworthy me, I would bind these edges.
Being as this is a prototype, I skimped. My bad.

Was I ready for how fun this was and how these could be a good addition to my Phantom Etsy shop?
Pretty cute, huh?
And gift ideas for other old ladies that like their tea hot, hot.
Also, for you young yayhoots, coffee mugs/pots would like to keep warm in winter too, yes?
And platters of food? Veggie bowls waiting for others to finish?
Oh yeah...I hear your brains clicking....

Enjoy!
I'm off to make some tea!!

P.S. 'New' Things...

Yellow Yummy-ness!
My favorite color has been yellow since I can remember...
I am drawn to it like a magnet (except in cars; cars should really not be yellow. ed. note)
When I saw these dee-light-full tins of 40's usefulness at a garage sale, I practically ran to pay for them, lest anyone knock me over and take them from me...!
I know they are destined for my etsy shop, but I sure am enjoying looking at them for now.....

Organizer/Admin Daughter Gets Her Birdie Sling!!


She never asked for it but when I innocently purchased this fabric when in Cincy with her, I believe most of the people in JoAnn fabrics heard her gasp!! So I did what any sensitive mother would do to her child's subtle hints: I made her a bag with the fabric! Let's face it; she deserves it.....She is my most ardent fan! :D

Much ado about everything...

Multi tasking is the norm around my life. Always have at least three things going on. Three sewing projects, three books being read, three outdoor projects... Having ADD helps. I am able to get a lot accomplished by having this problem that got me into a lot of trouble as a child.

Today was one of those days....

Organizer Daughter left this weekend and had left me with assignments on my business. One of the tasks to be completed is to go through the spare room closet to make room for my abundance of vintage linens to be sold via a future etsy shop. Sorting through all of my collection was on the list today. And working on a new bag that needs to get finished this week. And picking produce from the garden. And all the errands that come after being out of the loop for two weeks.

So busy, busy was the day but what better time than pouring over wonderful fabrics from the past, wondering who is going to be the recipient of these grand finds, working with fabrics to be made into a useful, fun accessory for a friend and harvesting produce that was started months ago and ready to enjoy.

Good day.

Whew!

What does a first time grammy do on a visit?
Plenty!

1. Finished three bags and two pillows.
2. Babysat (of course!)
3. Entertained my little Vivien
4. Helped Mama
5. Cooked my new diet dinners for the little fam.
6. Planned my etsy shop and got help from daughter for this blog etc.
7. Drove back home with Vivien on her first long trip.
8. Prepared cottage for Vivie and her mama when we got home.
9. Introduced her to my home and town.
10. And all the normal things......

Today was bliss with my new little guest. She played with and on Grammy's toys, sat on my porch and under the pergola and got used to these things called domestic pets. Her first encounter with my ancient Miss Kitty was startling, but subsequent interactions with Dixie and Stella the fluffy cat went quite well. She might just like them. I got to make a blackberry chocolate cake for the nursing mama who needs all the carbs and calories she can get and the grilled pizza was just the thing for a summer night. We ended the evening with a parade like walk with Poppy, Vivien, Vivien's mama, Uncle Jordan, Dixie and Viv's swanky stroller that Poppy found for her online. I tried desperately to find some friends outside and about to show off my new grandbaby but alas, no one was out.

Just doing what I love......