The color combination of black and white

caught my attention these past few days.

As most of you know, from reading my farm blog.............I love chickens.

This design was actually meant for cross stitch and done in red and white in a magazine,

however, I decided I would use black and white. But I just had to stitch the comb in red.

He's a handsome fellow..........don't you think?

The hen is just as precious. I have found many good rooster designs in both cross stitch and regular embroidery............but it is very hard to find ones with hens.

They make a pretty pair in black and white.

So with the black and white color  still floating around in my head.............

I turned my attention to the front porch. This is a wonderful spot to sit and to watch the snow or the rain falling. It is also wonderful to sit out in the late afternoon and to listen to the coo of the doves and the late night serenade of the coyote across the prairie.  As you can see, the furniture has gotten quite weathered.

I have had this rocking chair for a long time. It has spent many hours rocking three babies to sleep and in the later years being rocked to  a bed time story with one or two toddlers in my lap.

So I took a paint brush with the color combination of black and white and gave it a new look.

The old porch swing was here years before we moved in  and it was just as weathered looking when we first saw it. Now it too, has a new look with black and white.

The chairs are not the focus I want you to see in this photo. Look to your right and you will see a small square table sitting beside them. This is a portion of a trailer load of furniture I bought at a yard sale ........with the intention of re-working and re-doing them. The table was actually in great condition with a good surface on it.............

but with a little splash of black and white........it serves as a great porch table.

So it all came together in a pretty way and the porch is even more inviting.

Don't you think?

The chair and table look great together ................but I have always loved to play checkers on the porch...............

so I hand painted a colorful and whimsical checker board onto the table. When I first saw the table for sale out in that yard, I already knew that I would make a checker board on top of it for the porch. I just did not know in which colors at that time. I painted dot flowers on the end corners of each checker space and in the corners of the board.

Now it's ready for a good game and some lemonade............

come visit me!

I need to sew up some pillows and cushions to make it a little more comfortable.

How about you?

Do you like to decorate your porch?

Do you like to sit out in the morning?............or do you like the evening better?

What are your favorite color combinations?

I would love to hear!

** Don't forget.............I have a cooking blog..........

My Country Kitchen

just click onto link............

and I have just added a wonderful, hearty soup recipe!

 

When our two sons were very small, they shared the same room.

To help on space issues, we found this blue and white, 9 drawer dresser, that both could use for their clothing. The years flew by, the boys grew to their own rooms.  By that time, the dresser had suffered a lot of knicks, scratches and stains and then remained unused for many years. I decided that this would be perfect for my embroidery studio...............

minus the blue and white paint.

This past week, I removed the paint and sanded.............

 

and chose the perfect colors. Now I love this dresser!

I love the color depression era green and I wanted a darker color for the top.

A while back I had found these vintage embroidered doilies and purchased them with the dresser in mind.

I love the intricate design of the embroidery and the crochet. Each doily was perfect to drape over each of the top drawers.

 

My idea for them worked perfectly...........

don't you think?

 

I also lined each drawer with paper and added things here and there.

I think this is my favorite...........

I think roses are the perfect design for any thing!

It did  not take me long to fill each drawer with the supplies and products of my studio.

 

Here is one wall of my studio. The dresser just makes the room look nostalgic..........I think.

The top also serves as a great place to cut fabric.

I also have the  area set up where I can easily move from one work station to another.

On the right hand side is the sofa bed where friends have a place to rest when they come to see me.

My sweet husband created for me a table where I can work my stitching on when I am using a frame. He simply cut a square out of the table where I can easily stitch underneath the frame, while the frame stays securely in place on top.

Now I can hopefully get some UFOs finished and create some new designs .............for that book that I am still hoping to get published.

How about you?

I found choosing the color for the dresser the hardest part when re-doing.

What are your favorite colors in dressers or other furniture?

Do you like just a wood stain...............or do you like bright or bold colors?

I would love to hear!

Just off of the beaten path, there is a quaint and welcoming place that I want to show you.............

 While out picking one day, my husband and I stepped  off of the hot growling street................

walked up the front sidewalk.............

stopped..........took in the wonderful front porch.........

then opened the door to

Made From Scratch

on 613 Hickory

in Abilene TX.

Here, we were greeted by the most gracious lady Kathleen,

in the photo above..............

 her sister Nancy, who we missed the opportunity to meet  that day,

also helps run the store.

 

Closing the door and leaving the hurried pace of life outside,

we were drawn to each room of this quaint old house , filled with every kind of

vintage treasure you can imagine!

The old bathroom has been titled " The Linen Closet"

and there are so many beautiful embroidered linens there  that one could spend a good bit of time in that one area.

When Kathleen or Nancy or not busy with visitors, they keep their hands busy creating beautiful items for the shop.

Here is Kathleen behind her sewing machine, but taking time to chat with us.

The floor space is spread with wonderful and unique items from the past and the walls are covered with so many sweet trinkets.

I now want to come back to Abilene,

to take a break from it all and visit

Made From Scratch once again!

There are so many things keeping my hands occupied at this time. The gardens are needing my attention.............I still have zinnia to plant.............

I have just started restoring an old dresser.............

but in the late hours of evening............my hands work on what I love and do the best..........

embroidery...........I just love the word itself!

 

I stitched this small design in shades of pink. I love the soft nostalgic look it has with the brown of the basket.

Now tell me about your favorite place to visit.

Is it filled with vintage items............or is it a garden center?

Could it be a tea room with all kinds of delicious treats?

I would love to hear!



I decided to mix quilting with another element that I have been working with..................

cement!

If you look...........you can see the patch work squares and border?

Can't you?

I started working with cement a few weeks ago and have completely fallen in love with it. There are so many wonderful things I have been able to create.

from mosaic garden paths.............

assorted containers for plants...................

 

and now this. It all started when I accidentally broke one of my  favorite Homer Laughlin dishes.

I could not bear to throw the pieces away............so along with other broken china, I placed it away in a box.

And the idea of making it look like a square piece of calico fabric , in cement, came to my imagination!

This was one of my favorite cups, given to me by a friend. I was able to incorporate the words

"love makes a house a home" from it!

(click on photo for a better view) 

I  also used assorted tiles and quarters of slate I have found in hardware stores. I tried to make a prairie point edge.............and if you quilters are looking.......you can see I did not get my points to match up..........it's even harder in cement...............sigh.

So it worked out to be a pretty stepping stone for my garden..........

and I can enjoy my china outside!

How about you?

I know how terrible it feels to break a cherished dish.............

what do you do with the pieces?

I would love to hear!

 

Let freedom never perish in your hands. ~Joseph Addison