Nature is my inspiration in much of my embroidery work

A little while back..........in  a summer that was very dry and hot......this whimsical creature caught my eye

and inspired me to one day remember it is stitches.

How about you?

What inspires you to stitch......paint........or create?

$10 OFF coupon offer......see photo on right sidebar

All my scattering moments

 are taken up with my needle. 

Ellen Birdseye Wheaton, 1851

I came across this quote a few days ago.............and it made me realize........

how true that is for me.........

There are so many different things thatI have kept my needle busy stitching ..........

from old fashioned charm..........

when  I wanted to experiment with only a little bit of color..........

when I added more to the stitched picture than the design called for......

when I rescued old linens that were only partially and crudely embroidered...........

and re-worked my own embroidery on them

and restored them to a new life.  

When I put my  embroidery aside..........I would spend time making small quilts

and even cross stitched on old screen wire.

I have not counted all of the things I have stitched through the journey of my life........

but I honestly can say that almost every moment of my spare time has had a needle and thread in it.

How about you?? Have you stitched for endless hours while you are watching a movie......or.waiting for an appointment?.......

Have you used yards and yards of yarn, crocheting everything from dishcloths to baby blankets?

Or maybe you have another medium that has filled your scattering moments........

I would love to hear!

To my surprise........the little crazy quilt I made

is getting published!

I had published a  post about this little quilt I had made back in  November 2011. You can read it here at this link

My Life A Little Less Crazy

I have had it hanging in my vintage shop as decoration........and have had customers wanting to purchase it......but I never wanted to let it go.  

I haven't given it much thought and was thrilled when a the publisher of  Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine contacted me to ask if I would be interested for it be published.

So now, the photos and article have been accepted and it will be featured in the fall addition coming out August 1, 2015!

It's funny.........even though I get to look at it any day I want.............

I can't wait to see it in print!

A Vintage Crochet Pattern, A $10 coupon,

and an interesting and somewhat sad story with a recipe!  

I love vintage crochet potholders..........don't  you?

Especially those worked with thread crochet.

Some of these I sell...........if I have a match for myself........and most of them I collect.

These all are such works of art...........I feel. 

I am always in search of these wonderful vintage patterns.

Today, I have a vintage pattern to share with you for these potholders in the photo above. 

(PLEASE NOTE) this is not my crochet pattern or potholders. I was sent a copy of this through email. I can't find who the original designer is. 

The pattern will be posted at the end of this post. 

Also, I was reading through my vintage cookbooks and found a recipe from an restaurant named Yesteryear in the late 50s. As you know, this is the name of my vintage shop. This book has recipes from many restaurants and inns during that time. I was curious to know if any of these places still exist. I started researching Yesteryear first. I found and interesting and somewhat sad story that goes with this. You can read this and also get the recipe on my cooking blog

My Country Kitchen

And just for you readers..........since you live too far away to visit my shop, I have created a coupon for you to visit my online Etsy shop

Just click onto the link to browse 

Yesteryear Embroideries

 when you find something that you just have to have, type in this code when purchasing YYEEH15 For purchase of $30 or more.......offer ends 4/6/15

And now.........here is the pattern for the crochet potholder

Crochet Hook: 7 or 1.65 mm hook (steel)

Yarn Weight: (0) Lace (33-40 stitches to 4 inches). Includes crochet thread.

The potholder is made of two identical pieces (though the color patterns need not be the same) that are joined by one more round that is worked through both pieces.  Use a size 7 steel crochet hook with regular (size 10) cotton crochet thread.

Chain 7  and join to form a loop.

Join each round by pulling a loop through and then chaining two.

Round 1 - work 10 single crochet (sc) in the loop and join.

Round 2 - work 2 double crochet (dc) in each sc (20 dc total) and join.

Round 3 - work 2 dc in each dc (actually it's really in the spaces between the dc) (40 dc total) and join.

Round 4 - in this round you establish the "corners" of the potholder where all the remaining increases will occur. Work 4 dc in the space between the first two pairs of dc and then 2 dc in each of the next 3 spaces. Repeat this four more times and join.

Rounds 5 - 14 (you can do more or less depending on the size potholder you want) - continue in the same way as round 4, always working 4 dc at each corner and 2 dc in the spaces.

When done, join, cut the thread and pull it through. Weave cut thread ends into the wrong side of the potholder to secure them and hide them. Work the other piece of the potholder in the same way, but don't cut the thread.

To join the two pieces, put the wrong sides together and work one more round in the established pattern. For this round you'll need to work through both sides, being careful that they are lined up correctly. When done, join, pull the thread through and weave in the end.