A Frigid and Powerless Texas

 

 I am in the middle of a project not quite finished to post here,

and as some of you know, I have a farm blog

Eggs In My Pocket........you can visit at this link  

  

https://eggsinmypocket.blogspot.com

 I am beyond weary after the power outage that our power company put 

us through this past few days along with all of the hardships it has 

brought to us. You can read my post at the link above.

I hope to finish my latest project and will post it here soon.

Hope this finds you safe, warm and content.

******UPDATE 2/19/2021**********

Thank you Merry Old Dame Holly and Lady Locust for your offer

to come within the comfort and warmth of your home.........that is very sweet!

And thank you all for your words of encouragement and prayers.

Today was very sunny and almost all of the snow has melted.

Our well house may be thawed and running by this weekend.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!

 

The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of.

 Blaise Pascal

The old year left and the new year came.......

 

.both in flakes of snow.  By New Year's day, we had 10 1/2 inches

of snow on the ground.  My little vintage shop is waiting...........

waiting for warmer days..........

waiting for the virus to end.............

waiting for me to open the doors...........

With weather being too cold and wet to work outside, 

I have spent my time going through boxes of linens to 

place in my shop.  Some of these linens are too damaged to sell

so I salvage the embroidery and crochet.........along with vintage tart pans

and I made some small pretty things from them.

Using the little tart pans and pieces of embroidered and crocheted linens,

I made some pretty pincushions.

The tiniest pieces of embroidery make pretty buttons.

With just a little bit of quilting and a small snippet of embroidery,

a plain pot holder becomes a lovely one.

There are so many things that old worn linens can become.

I hope this finds that you have had a happy beginning of the new year

and that you are filled with hope......and peace as you move forward in the days to come.

Are there any new projects you have started with this new year?

I would love to hear!

 

 

The end of the year....... looking forward and ahead

Here it is.....already the end of the year.  I have kept my hands busy

stitching the hours away throughout 2020.  As I look forward to this new "uncertain"

beginning of the year............I have more than a year's full of days

to keep my hands busy.  The above photo is of a 

lovey vintage dresser runner......

 with much of  the embroidery worn and missing.

I have many old pieces like this......they are still in good shape.......

and only need some new embroidery stitching added

and they are ready for another life of being used and loved

I also have a love for empty boxes.......

and have started making "scenes" out of 

each one......making "room boxes"

most of them I make to go with vintage dolls 

so that I can sell them in my shop

some doll boxes are just for collectors

and some of my scene boxes are for collectors only

but some boxes will be play boxes for little girls

as I have many little pretty vintage dolls waiting to be sold in my shop

I have many ideas for many different boxes 

and some will be made for special uses........

as in the case of this lovely vintage wood box. 

I have decorated the outside with vintage needlepoint and lace

when it is opened, the lid has sewing accessories 

accented with vintage lace, doilies, and buttons. There is enough

room in the bottom of the box to hold the project that is being stitched on.

There will also be a handmade needle book

to hold special needles during a stitching project. 

When the cold winds of January start to blow........

and the "wolf of uncertainty" comes howling at the door

I will be inside.....with warmth and a sense of peace

stitching away the worries and hours.

My prayer for you as this year ends, 

is that you will not look back, but that 

you will have much good and happy times to look 

forward to in the new year to come.

Seasons Greetings

Mistletoe and gleaming holly,

Symbols of a blessed day...

Louisa May Alcott, "Merry Christmas," in The Horn of Plenty, 1876

 

It's that time of year................

 

to bring home the perfect tree for Christmas!

I cross stitched this in early September as an  early finish before the holidays. 

 Not from a vintage book, which I usually love to stitch, but this pretty design was very easy and quick to cross stitch and can be found in last year's Dec. 2019 issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine.

  14 count Lt. blue aida was used for this piece. 

Instead of framing this piece, I decided to use it for 

a wood serving tray. 

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving!

 

O Infinite Father, I'm grateful to Thee

      For the moon and the stars and deep rolling sea;

      For beauties of nature, where e'er they may be...

For the handclasp of friends, so firm and so true;

      For sunrise and sunset and glistening dew;

      The fleecy white clouds and the Heavens, so blue;

      For these wonderful gifts, dear Lord, I thank you!

~Gertrude T. Buckingham, "My Song of Thanksgiving"