some more hanky photos

Just a few more pictures to go along with the post below.

Vintage Hanky

Hello everyone. Hope you all had a wonderful week. Thank you all for sharing your comments on some of your collections. I finally bought a nice box to store all of my vintage handkerchiefs in. As you can tell from the photos, they need to be pressed, as they got pretty wrinkled from being crammed up together. I love these old pieces....some were grandmother's, some were my aunts'. I still have the clear memory of one of these ladies, unsnapping their purse to pull out one of these pretty pieces. Of course, I was drawn to the embroidery work on them. The very first thing I embroidered was for my mother. It was a plain white hanky with her initials on it. I was 10. The terrible stitching I had done on that piece is what prompted her to show me the first stitches in embroidery. I hope I have improved just a little over the years{:

Collecting

Hello everyone! Hope your Easter holiday was wonderful. Do you all have one special collection or do you have several? I would love to know! I think I have already said that I would love to own an antique shop and to be able to sell antiques as well as my quilts and embroidery. If I could just let go of every thing I collect, I would already have quite a bit of things for my shop! However, I am not at the point of life yet where these things seem to be too much to get rid of . I still enjoy, dusting them, washing them and looking at them. I can't explain it except to say, they give me comfort of " home" feelings. One of my collections are teapots and vintage china. I am fortunate to have a few pieces of my grandmother's "Virginia rose pattern" from Homer Laughlin. And I have beautiful blue mason jars from my mother's antique travels. One thing I have found out about teapots.. for me, at least. They are just like kittens! I found my first teapot at a garage sell, bought it, rushed it home and showed it off to all of my friends and family. All at once, I was getting orphaned teapots friends found in closets and family had stacked away in boxes. All were so excited that I had a love for them and glad to leave them even at my doorstep.{: So that is how my collection was born. I have several other collections like vintage hankies, sea shells from our beach trips and rocks. I can spend hours on my walks finding pretty rocks. Of course, who can do without a button collection? And as you all know, vintage linens are my hearts desire. So now, girlfriends, show me what makes you smile when you see it. I can't wait!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all of my blogging friends. I have been so blessed to have you come and visit and to be able to visit with you! My Easter picture here is of my new baby rabbit Hercules. I could not resist picking him up and bringing him home from the feed store. Blessings to all of you!

my retreat

There are several places I love to go and sit outside..... either to sew, to read, to pray, or just to do nothing but listen to the quietness around me. The front porch is a welcoming place during this time of year when the mesquitos have not yet started their war and it's still chilly enough that flies don't "fly" around so much. The view from this spot is wonderful, for if I sit still enough, a bobcat, turkey or coyote will come into the yard and stay just long enough for me to get a good look. It's a wonderful place for lemonade, ice tea, and long conversations.

done and ready for sale!

I have spent this past week stitching at night and working out in the grounds during the day. I just finished this set of pillowcases for one day to hopefully sell either of Etsy.com or local sells. I am not sure which I am going to do. I have several other sets to do in different kinds of material and styles before I actually sell. By that time I may have different kinds of plants to sell also. Either way, I am anxious and excited to get started.

linens

Linens

Years ago, my parents worked in the summer together mowing lawns, painting houses and doing carpentry work. Being out of school, I would tag along. Sometimes the customers would invite me in to play with their children while my parents worked. It was on one of these occasions, that I saw and felt what would leave an impression on me for the rest of my life. Going through one bedroom to the play room of a beautiful house, my sight fell upon beautiful embroidered bed linens. As I walked along, my eyes commanded my hand to touch those beautiful threads and colors. I remember thinking to myself, I want my bed to look and feel like this! I thought about this throughout my growing up years and when I learned how to embroidery at the age of 10, I was always trying to embroidery things the way those linens looked. Just a short time ago, I came upon a box at a flea market, stuffed full of old embroidered linens. Among the bits and pieces of dresser scarfs and such, was one pillow case with the most beautiful border and embroidery, almost like the one I had seen so many years ago. So using that border as somewhat of a model, I came up with this border for some of the linens I want to sell. I love gingham's and florals put together. The blues in this seem to work perfectly. I am also in the process of crocheting a gingham afghan to accompany this set. I am in the process of deciding on what kind of embroidery I want to put on these cases. I think this is what takes me the longest in my decision making. Do any of you remember your mother's or grandmothers linens? Are you lucky enough to have had any passed down to you? I think what is even more lovely than the linens are the stories that go along with them, don't you think?

Country Roads

This is my favorite road. This road leads to our home and stretches for miles with only fields and ranch land on either side. Although it is paved, not many travel on it. This is where I walk with Sophie, talk with God, and marvel at what Mother Nature has to show. This is where my dreams are born and planned out and my worries walked off. It also has become a road that takes our children away to a busier, more exciting life and I hope one day will bring them back safely to us. It is filled with the sounds of distant cattle calling out, the coos of the morning dove and other wild birds gathering seed or supplies for their nests, and the late night serenade of the coyote. The peace that settles over this road and our home is priceless and I feel truly blessed and grateful.