mama's eve

My birthday was a real headache to my mama.
I believe she had SAD (seasonal affective disorder) in the 50's, an unhappy woman was looked upon as disruptive and irritating. She was labeled as difficult and high maintenance.
OK. Maybe she was high maintenance.
But she couldn't help it if autumn made her sad.
Guess I didn't help much.
I always felt a bit guilty for making her celebrate when she'd rather curl up in a ball and read.
Then I met this amazing man at the grand age of 16 that changed my apologetic approach to my birthday.
He actually LIKED/LOVED fall! Imagine that!
And in the nearly 40 years that we've shared earth, he's made me a royal fan of the golden season.
Dare I say that I now embrace my birthday, yes, even catching up on all those sad birthdays.
And my friends know this.
They entertain me with great fanfare and fun.

Today, the 2G's mama snuck on my porch, flying a birthday banner and balloons for all the passers by (in case they want to go do some birthday shopping for me:D)
And then Sweet Sharon brought by her stash.
Sweet Sharon has been my neighbor for 10 years and I think my friend forever since we are kindred spirits.
She was the one that introduced me around when we first moved here and helped me celebrate my first birthday in Mitchell with great cheer.

Then she went an outdid herself.
She came to my door bearing a great blue bag.
FULL of the most lovely fabrics.
For my bags.
Hand selected for me and my new business.
What a lovely and amazing gift.
What a lovely and amazing friend...
Happy Birthday Eve to me.....

Can you believe how grand these wonderful pieces will make up into functional, fashionable bags for this season?

(and below is Most Interesting/loving Friends fetching new birthday bag....
She's still in China and I presume too busy to look at little ol' me's blog, so I feel safe showing you...)

Hmmmmmm......
New fabric, new bags, new year...
Makes a person want to celebrate and share......

Better stay tuned.....:D

Vivien's Winter Coat!

Appropriate on a cold rainy October night that Grammy should be working on Vivie's winter jacket!
The 2G's mama picked out the right shade of purple fleece while we fabric shopped today.
Grant thought it comfy as he lie on the fleece in the fabric store's cart.
Pre approved; that's what I look for in baby fabric!
So here we go...
I made her quilt for the cool spring for her babyness and now it's time for a proper coat for her sitting up big girl in her second half of her first year-ness!
Mama's knitting her a matching hat and scarf...
She will be prepared, yes?

Good Busy

Today was the day that I begin to winterize the house.
That involves finding places for all the furniture taken outside for the summer and rearranging the living room furniture for good fireplace views.
I also had to find a new home for Auction Score of yesterday.
Couldn't put it too near the fireplace and risk drying out the wicker so it found a happy spot at the foot of the stairs. A convenient spot for putting on/off shoes and parking purses and a convenient pull in an extra chair location when the room gets needy for seats. It's happy there, don't you think?
Crazy Dee's expecting her Seventh Grandchild soon. There will be a baby shower this weekend and the 2G's Mama and I are working on a good group gift; a little registry and a little homemade makes a good balance. Homemade spit up cloths are fun and personal to the baby of the day. Little Jonathan Blair will be quite proud of his initials on his very own spit up cloths!
Fun, fun stuff!

Sunny Bag!

Another Birdie Sling from Amy Butler.....!
(I should be able to do these in my sleep soon!)

It's really impossible to be in a bad mood sewing on this fabric!

It's really possible that I could use an inordinate amount of exclamation points just talking about this bag whose owner is Baby Girl! Should it be named Baby Girl's Sunshiny Bag?!

Sewing on this grand material made me even pull out The Rick Rack! It just needed a little complementary blue to really offset it's yellow yumminess.....!

It has been delivered to Baby Girl and pronounced 'Fab- u - Lussssssss'.......

Bright and Shiny Day

Nature inspired art.
Vibrant colors and flowing design.
Almost overwhelms in it's beauty.
So you take a break. Go outside and take in the glorious September day.
There the colors, design and creation of it all, does you in again.
How can such amazing unique design from a simple, ugly seed, planted long ago in May, bring about such vibrant flowers in September?
Again, overwhelming at the Master Creator's artistry....

And if one cherry nasturtium isn't enough...

He gives me ABUNDANCE!

Thank you Lord!

The Bohemian

Another creation.

This one really spoke to me.

I could almost hear it's voice; it said, 'Man' a lot.....

It said, 'I think I want to go to Lafayette and hang out in a dorm at Purdue..Give me lots of pockets and some wild lining...I want to stand out for real....'

So The Bohemian Bag came to be on a productive, September day in my sewing room....delightfully off center and off beat and unique...Even the weight in the flap is a small ceramic incense burner....indeed...

I think it will go on grand adventures.......

Sabbath Auction

Had a wonderful time of worship Sunday morning.
Had a nice diet-type lunch.
Then, we went on to different type of 'religious' experience....
A SUNDAY auction! Unheard of around here. This means, Hubby gets to come with. With his wallet....and truck and back.......
What an amazing, amazing auction.....
Four hours of standing and being out bid and out bidding some pretty rabid Lawrence County crafters.....
Some things went goodly priced.
Other things went surprisingly high. One jewelry box full of costume jewelry sold for 245.00. Nearby attendees verbalized what I was thinking; What did I miss in that box? One small box of hankies went for 65.00. And on it went.
Pleasant weather. Fun auctioneer. Grand company with the hubby.
A good day... This sweet little guy was in a whole pail of similiar creatures. All magnets of some kind.

This sweet set sold for a good price of 22.50....

I truly loved this.....I could hear my girls and girly-in-law having a royal hoot about this....Then watching who was going to bid on it! A few other things were noteworthy as well: A milking pail with the words, CALF-A-Teria....Laughed hard to myself.....then a large book of crafts called: Safety Pins in 3-D.........

According to the auctioneer, Mrs. Hill, the owner of this abundant collection, was in her 90's when she passed from this world and by the looks of it, she was probably a bit peeved not being able to take it all with her........It certainly appears that she was planning on crafting into eternity....

Do you think local stores in the 60's had any crochet thread left? And yarn....Was there indeed a shortaged caused by Mrs. Hill??

This wide, vast assortment went on the whole length of her property.

The poor auctioneer was overwhelmed by all the teeny little thingys that were boxed up and he had no idea what they were......Standing back a bit, I got terribly giggled watching this sewing gaggle of women, bobbing and bending over allllllllll these boxes, searching for gold......We all looked liked a bunch of chickens and hens pecking at our finds.....

A fun, fun truck full day...

Rest in peace, Pauline Hill....Your things are in good hands.....

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

Spoofin' or Ways to Make a Doctor Appointment Fun

Okay. So you have to go to a doctor appointment to meet a new doctor that you'll be going to in Indy....
All is not lost!
When you live in a small town, you make the most of every Big City opportunity...
Here are a few things Hubby and I did after my early, early appointment.....


Fabric Shopping!! Found a wonderful fabric/upholstery shop in Danville Indiana called Rader's Fabrics....TONS of fabrics and a grand end of bolt bin....Many yards of purse-bound fabrics

All that fabric shopping and doctor visiting can wear a person out! You need sustenance, by golly! Why not go to the Mayberry Cafe where there is everything Sheriff Andy Taylor and his buds? Why, you can even buy Mayberry0poly and watch non stop Mayberry episodes! Too funny! We indulged in the Aunt Bee Meatloaf special and who could pass up the hot blackberry cobbler with real ice cream (NOT frozen yogurt!) Diet another day!

Did we not laugh like crazy when we saw Mayberry's finest parked along side the cafe??

On we went to other more mundane destinations only to finish up a day of spoofin to the 2G's and their parental units to a lovely supper of Shrimp Caribbean with a side corn salad that was pretty amazing....We were fed very well, thank you, from Aunt Bea to our favorite little family.....

Spoofin Days.....

Bags and a Bonus!

The promised sauce recipe!
The Too Many Tomatoes Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

3 lbs of tomatoes, chopped
1 onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small can tomato paste
2 paste cans of water
3 leaves of fresh basil, chopped finely
1 tbls oregano
3 leaves of fresh parsley
1 tbls italian seasoning
3 tbls sugar
3 tbls kosher salt
1 tsp course ground pepper
1 oz can tomato sauce
1 tbl olive oil
1 tsp butter

Heat the oil and butter and add chopped onions and garlic till onions are clear. Add the chopped tomatoes slowly (puree if you have a food mill but I like the chunkiness of the fresh tomatoes) and add spices. Stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer about an hour. Yum.

For last night's dinner, I added low calorie meatballs:

1/2 lb. Italian sausage
1 lb. ground chicken
1 egg
1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
2 leaves of fresh parsley, finely chopped

Mix all with your hands and form into balls about an inch and a half in diameter. Place on a pie plate in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour....



And the newest bags completed!

The wonderfully HUGE Birdie Sling from Amy Butler! The fabric from Craft Town in Salem Indiana, a wonderful store with ever so friendly, helpful staff......

My turn, my turn!! A bag for myself!

Used fabric from First Class Clutter and an embellishment, courtesy of the attic in my home in Moline, many years ago....The purse is comfy and easy to get into and is lined with an amazing silk from Jan at FCC as well.....

Ah, sweet indulgence....

And the Weekend...

Ryne's wondering why oh why would I just want a photo of the new patio??

McAlisters -be it Indy or Cincy......

Of course, the Vintage/New apron made on the last visit....~

Always grateful for the lazy weekends.

Usually, they are packed and busy.

Not so, this past weekend.

A rather planned/spontaneous trip to Indy to visit Eldest Son and Lovely Wife.

We absolutely love our time there. There is usually lots of talking, planning, sharing and sometimes projects worked on. With the help of our granddog, Ryne, we have a relaxing, fun time with them.

This weekend, we outdid ourselves on relaxing....

Cooking out on the grand new patio that they recently completed, enjoying the last day of summer vacation for the third grade teacher that is Lovely Wife, and watching a movie when the skeeters sent us packing, completed the Lazy Agenda....

Wrapping up the weekend with worship at their church, fabric shopping, Eldest Son entertaining us at Old Tyme Pottery and lunch at McAlisters, ended the well anticipated Lazy Weekend.....

As we backed out of their driveway, waving to them as they stand together on the back porch of their cozy, window boxed home, we sigh a sigh of contentment..

Thank you God.....

Catch up

Baby Girl has a friend in Lafayette that owns a wonderful shop called, First Class Clutter. It's an amazing display of everything wonderful from the past. It's a small shop with each nook and cranny filled to the brim. My kind of clutter. Last winter I found a fab piece of fabric in one of the corners of her shop. Beautiful stuff. I waited for just the right opportunity and pattern to make it up, and, of course, Amy Butler provided...The Madison Bag looked wonderful with the fabric. I packaged the purse and shipped it off to Baby Girl's friend. I visited her yesterday and she had many thanks for the bag AND another donation to the cause; MORE fabric for more bags! Lurking in another vintage container, was GRAND buttons! Be still my heart....My thoughts could not turn off last night what with making plans for the new fabric to be made into bags, totes and purses for the First Class Clutter store! One particular fabric calls to me and maybe want to stay with me.... A dangerous habit to get into! After looking at it, you're thinking so too, aren't you??!

Lily came over today as well. More on that later, but suffice to say, WE completed a nifty little shoulder bag for her first day of first grade on Monday! It's incomplete stage is pictured above....

Another order for a hobo bag came in last week and it's makings is the other photo..

Off to work on that one now.....

Yay!

Purses, purses, purses

I love to make purses. And lately, I've made a lot. Some have been specially requested, some are presents and surprises but all are fun for me. I love the way fabric 'speaks' to me when it knows that it's going to be made into a lovely accessory. I love the personal relationship a woman has with her purse. You just know when it's right. And when I get a chance to become a conduit of that relationship by interpreting fabric to bag, I LOVE it!!

In the midst of my grammying, my most ardent fan, my eldest, has spurred me on more and more into making a 'career' out of my love for creating handbags. The days we have spent together encouraging each other, has been golden. And I thank her for her faith in me that it will go well.....

Here are some of my current 'mama's collection".....

Vivien's Choice

Today, Vivien's mama, Vivien and I went to the fabric store. It seems I travel with my sewing machine these days, making London Shades, quilts or kitchen curtains at each of my progeny's homes. I cannot tell you how much I love to do it. It's grand to be allowed to be a part of their homemaking.

My daughter introduced me to the joys of Amy Butler's vibrant fabrics years ago. I made a sun dress for her for an thus began the love affair. It was only appropriate that when nursery material was needed for Vivien's room, that my daughter would look to Amy to supply the needed inspiration. And we got it in spades. The mentioned shades, the quilt, the matching bumper pads, the diaper bag and even her spit up cloths have all been adorned with lovely fabric.

And Vivien loves it.

My daughter will hear her 'talking' to the Mandarin Dots, the Morning Glory, and others of the Midwest Modern II and Lotus line. She is content to lie on her quilt made with a patchwork of all her fabrics. Her very large diaper bag, featured in Amy's book Little Stitches for Little Ones, is big enough to hold her and it catches her attention as well.

So today, when we were at the fabric store and while the clerk was measuring out several pieces of home decorating fabric for the bags that I make, her little eyes were scoping out the design and the colors. She could barely wait till her little hands could touch the appealing fabrics. Even though, this time, it was not Amy Butler, her trained eye discerned that, this indeed was good enough to give it attention. The clerk was entertained by her young interest so we explained how she has always( 4 months!) loved good design.

My daughters have been moderately interested in sewing. Vivien's mama is great with yarn, knitting things beyond my comprehension. My youngest daughter, enjoys utilizing sewing for her artistic bent. So my hope is that Miss Viv will be my apprentice in the years to come. I hope that she will follow me into my sewing room, expecting me to explain patterns and techniques every time she visits. Will she be the one to inherit my collection of vintage linens and make something very special with them? Could it be that she will out do me in every aspect of sewing?

I certainly hope so.

Contentment

My mother is law taught me how to sew in 1971, after I had lied to get a job in a fabric store. Who knew that in a mix of 100+ applicants and out of the three they selected, I would have been one of them? My dear MIL, busy with ten children, took time out of her busy week to teach her soon to be lying daughter in law, to at least be able to fake it, on my new job....



Therein began my love affair with fabric and all things sewn.....



The peace I feel when completing a project, the rush I get when finding just the right fabric, the victory that comes when overcoming a technical glitch, all these things add up to Sewing Nirvana...!



Yesterday was the perfect example...



Cool, rainy July...Too wet to be in the garden; the perfect excuse for an afternoon in my sewing room...Add a creme brulee candle, a large glass of tea, a great book on CD, Dixie, by faithful canine companion on her quilt by me, vintage buttons to add on to the wonderful bag I'm creating for Emily, and I couldn't be happier....Well,ok, if Vivien was sitting near me to absorb all of Grammy's instruction, THAT would be Sewing Nirvana!!!!



Emily's bag got completed, a new storage idea for the sewing room came to me, a summer bankie for a baby that will probably be born today and I was one content grammy....



There is something engaging in placing all the complexities of a sewing project and what it does to your brain, that straightens out your mind, clears the mechanism for better thinking all the way around....



Should we start a sewing circle for all our world leaders?