One Little, Two Little, Three Little, Witches.......

Well, not three little witches, but one little witch that I love!

Three years ago, I started working on a project, a Halloween Quilt......

and now I'm finishing it!

Better late than never right???

The pattern calls out for 13 rows of Halloween images.......

I decided to do 8 rows of Halloween images and skip adding the word Halloween.

The spider legs are ric rac and the eyes are those little jiggling eyes. After I did that row I decided that any embellishments would be added after I had it quilted! Not sure how the eyes will handle a long arm running over and around them.....I was thinking about taking them off before quilting....we'll see.

The instructions said you could use Wonder-Under, or applique the pieces on the fabric strips......I, of course choose Wonder-Under.....I love Wonder-Under!

I also used different zig - zag stitches to make sure the pieces stayed on the quilt!

The finished top without the borders. I need to trim up the edges and pick out fabric for the borders and the backing.

Isn't that what the long weekend is for?

Not sure I like the wider pieces of fabric between the rows, the narrower pieces seem to appeal to me more.
I may have to rip it out and change it....I'll have to see how I feel about this weekend.



Have you started working on any Halloween projects?

chris

Wiser In My Old Age!!

I can't believe I'm actually using the phase "My Old Age"! Yikes when did that happen???

The only estate sales this weekend were hosted by companies whose prices are ALWAYS way to high!

So........

I decided not to even go!

Why bother.....I never come home with anything, and it upsets me that they actually have the nerve to ask such high prices.  These are these sales that when you go on the last day the prices are still too high.

You'd think they'd learn...the last day they always have lots of items left to choose from....

Wonder why???

Any who.......

I did visit one garage sale and come home with a few things that didn't give me buyers remorse.

Faux wood and geese for the men

And aqua and black for the ladies!

8 of the Coronet trays and 8 of the aqua and black trays.....

Just the best colors!!

This family must have loved to host cocktail parties or eat off trays!

I can always use another tea pot and you've gotta love the pansies!

Not vintage but I sure can use these as fill ins when making another vintage ornament wreath!

Yeap, no  buyers remorse when you spend $6.00!

Right up my alley!!!!

Happy Monday!!!

chris

Catching Up Part 2........

More thank you notes that need to be sent.....

Holly who blogs at Cutie Pie Cottage, put up a post a couple of months ago, saying that she was interested in trading one of her darling fabric ball garlands.

I have always admired Holly's fabric garlands, so I sent her an email and said I was interested in trading.

I wasn't sure what I was going to trade.....I really don't have a signature craft like Holly so I was a little worried about it.....

I sent Holly a wreath that I covered in burlap and added an embroidered piece of fabric to. I was in such a rush to get it in the mail before I left for Atlanta, I mailed it from work without anything indicating who it was from!

Holly had a mystery package on her hands!

And.......being in such a rush...

.....no pictures!

I was the lucky winner of a giveaway hosted by Janelle who blogs at Sweet Bee Cottage!

a vintage tray, a milk glass compote, a hankie and a lovely pink covered dish!

And then to top it off, I came home from work a couple of weeks ago and there was a package on the front porch....

Erica, after she had just sent me a wonderful box of Christmas goodies, Erica sent me another package!

A set of linen napkins by Vera, such great colors!

And a vintage scrapbook....with roses on the cover....Erica said she had read a post on my blog about how my Dad helped me plant pink roses at the Xavier Ct House when we first moved in, and when she saw the book she thought of me...so sweet!!

And she suggested that I use it for pictures like this........

A big thank you to Holly, Janelle and Erica for being such kind and generous blogpals!!

chris

Catching Up Part 1........

I am so very late in posting about my Christmas Swap with Erica! 

Erica please forgive me!

How sweet is this vintage Christmas tin?  Erica sent a note saying the house on the tin reminded her of a vintage Putz house!  

I think she's right!!

So nicely wrapped!!

Two different version of The Night Before Christmas......love this book!

And of course the graphics are to die for!

One of my favorite Christmas decorations.....a vintage Putz house, was included in the package!

A few Santa cake picks, I only have a few cake picks, and none of them are vintage Christmas!

Mercury beads, a Santa mug, ornaments, a vintage Christmas corsage and a few newer Christmas crafty items. 

How sweet are the little carolers??  Christmas cards with carolers melt my heart!

The Santas are pretty cute too!!

Erica was a busy lady, she put together such lovely package for me and she hosted the Christmas in July Swap too!!

Thank you Erica!!!

Catching Up Part 2.....coming the end of the week!

chris

Can You Ever Have Too Many.......

Linen napkins??

Linen napkins are one thing I just can't pass up at flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, or any other kind of sale!

I LOVE LINEN NAPKINS!

Red, White and Blue for the 4th of July, red for Valentine's Day, or Christmas

Golds, and Browns for Autumn events

Christmas of course!

Hors d'oeuvres napkins for the holidays

Solids for any occasion

The print napkins are some of my favorites!!  I use the Polka Dot ones a lot!! They seem to go with just about everything!

You've got to love the napkins from the 60's, designed by Vera!!

I buy any napkins in good condition, meaning little or no staining. I try not to spend more than .50 cents to a  $1.00 a piece, but.....you know how it goes....sometimes I spend a little bit more...if I just can't pass them by. Often the napkins are bundled together as a set and you can get a set for $2.00 or $3.00. The napkins by Vera are usually more.....I feel like I'm doing well to pick up a set of Vera's for $3.00!

Do you have a favorite item that you just can't pass up at the sales?

chris

Some Pig!!

Sunday I went to the Santa Clara County Fair to support a friend's daughter who participates in the local 4-H project. 

I'm sure many of you are familiar with 4-H projects....the kids raise an animal from birth and finish the project by showing their animal at the county fair. They learn to budget and plan for caring for their animals, as well as showmanship. 

How sweet is this little guy??? 

Yes, he was named after the royal baby!!

There were piglets born at the fair too.... a bakers dozen!

We finally found the pig we had come to see.....

Meet Philly!

The pigs are huge!! Philly weighed in at about 285 pounds!

I wonder if they have Weight Watchers for farm animals!  Philly might think about joining!!!

chris

One Of My Favorite Things........

Is watering the garden early in the morning.. Some mornings, and today is one of those mornings, I am able to smell the garlic that grows about 30 miles away in Gilroy California. Gilroy is home to the Garlic Festival held every July.

The mornings are cool and a little over cast.  It's quite outside, a few birds just starting to wake up.

roses waiting for the next bloom

late planted tomatoes, one Cherry, one Beefsteak

my leaky $2.00 bird bath...I  love it even though it leaks and have added another great find....a $1.00 Koi Fish garden statue

the front porch still proudly showing off for the 4th of July


I'm off to breakfast with friends, and then to the Santa Clara County Fair! We are going to watch the local 4-H group display their pigs!

Happy Sunday!!

chris