Thursday, January 31, 2013

vintage patchwork

 Last year at an estate sale I came across a lovely floral cross-stitch tablecloth that was quite damaged, but I knew that it could be rescued and make it into something pretty. It has been sitting around waiting for that perfect project, and last week I was inspired to make a patchwork quilt using it.
Being mixed in are some of my favorite vintage fabrics and feed sacks that I just love. All the colors are so pretty together!
The cross-stitching is quite beautiful, and I can only imagine how long it must have taken someone to stitch all those gorgeous flowers. So, hopefully this will bring it back to life to be treasured in a new way! 
I have a few more rows to go, and then it will be ready to quilt. I think this might be one of my favorite quilts that I have made. I am eager for it to be finished! 
My little crocheted hearts are resting sweetly on my vintage coat rack. I was going to hang them with some pretty lace, but thought they looked cute nestled in the rack. 
There will be some new pretties in my shoppe early next week, so I am off to work away! Thank you for all your sweet comments on my heart doily and wintry blanket! 
Wishing you a lovely day and a fabulous weekend!! ♥

Monday, January 28, 2013

sweet♥hearts

A very happy Monday to you! Last week just flew by! I have been busy crocheting, working on some vintage tea towels and hankies for my shoppe, started a patchwork quilt, which I can't wait to show you, and hunting for vintage pot holder and doily pattern books.
I found this sweet pattern for this heart doily yesterday, and had to make one. This was my first time crocheting a doily, and I love how sweet it came out.  
I plan on making a few more, as they are a cute touch around the house for Valentine's Day. 
I finally finished my wintry throw! I was planning on making a larger border, but because of the more circular shape of the squares, it didn't really work out. So, it is now ready to bring some winter prettiness to my living room! 
I do love all the pretty blues together!
Last week in the mail, these adorable vintage knitted squares arrived from Miss Andrea of The Cottage Market! I love the cute scallops around the border and the color, is so pretty. I can't wait to create with them. I am thinking a garland with some crocheted pretties in the middle of the squares? We'll see! Thank you so much Andrea for being so generous and sending me these pretty treasures!   
It was definitely a happy mail week, as these gorgeous Valentine hearts also arrived in the mail from Chris of Perfectly Printed and Patti of Paintin Patti. They both were most lovely hostess' of a Valentine swap that I joined, and was so excited to get their beautiful Valentines in the mail! Such talent these two dear friends have!
Patti's Valentine is absolutely beautiful and darling! Those flowers are so cute and pretty! And, it makes me want to be out in the country with my sweetie! 
Chris' Valentine is so pretty and adorable! I love the added crochet embellishment and buttons!!  They both are so inspiring!! Thank you so much Patti and Chris! 
And, these are the two Valentines that I made for them! It was my first time doing a swap, so it was fun getting my pretty paper out and creating. Of course, my hook and thread were not far away! Thank you to Meri of ImagiMeri's Creations for the cute vintage Valentine images!

Wishing you all a wonderful and creative week! 

Monday, January 21, 2013

a vintage baby book

I truly adore the 40's and 50's for so many reasons, but the children's books during those eras bring such a happiness and warmth to my heart. Well, last week at a thrift store I came across this adorable 1946 Our Baby, The First Five Years book by The Whitman Publishing Company. 
The graphics and colors are the sweetest! I love all the pretty flowers, especially the pink roses. How precious is that baby's face with those rosy cheeks and those cute baby fairies! 
The book is in really good condition with only a few pages filled out. 
A sweet baby born on February 13, 1952 with...
the most adorable little footprints.
So many cute pages are left to be filled with memories, first words, birthdays, holidays, and more.
These graphics would be sweet made into cards or other crafty goodness, too.
I have a dear friend who is expecting a baby in May, so I will have to see what I can create using some of these pages! 
Do you have a special baby book that you have found treasure hunting or one of your own from childhood?
The pretty pink rose pot holder is finished! I love how it came out and can't wait to hang it up in my kitchen. I actually even have some hanging in my living room, because they are so pretty.
The next one I am set out to make is a yellow rose one, and I even bought some variegated yarn in pink, green, and yellow that I look forward to trying. I was thinking of having samples of different colors in my shoppe,(and eventually different patterns), and making them as custom orders, so that they could be customized to the colors in your kitchen or as a gift. So, I'll let you know once I get that up and figured out. ;)
Over the weekend I crocheted some mint and cream coasters using this lovely pattern. I had made some for gifts this Christmas, and wanted to make some for myself. They are simple and quick to make, and look adorable on the table.
Wishing you all a lovely and creative week!! 

Friday, January 18, 2013

pink sweetness

Happy Friday!
Where did this week go? Well, I hope it has been a great one for you!
I have been keeping my hands very busy this week, and even did a little thrift store shopping yesterday. I came home with some sweet treasures that I will show you on Monday.
The front of the pink rose pot holder is finished, and I am working on the back. I might try some scallops as the edging for this one. I do love that sweet pink and bright green together! 
Some pretty vintage tea towels are waiting to get their crocheted edges and dresden flowers, and will be making their way into my shoppe next week to bring some sweetness to those wintry days! And, just in time to bring a little Valentine touch to your kitchen!
A new year means some new business tags for orders in my shoppe. A sweet way to use those lovely scraps!
The felt heart ornaments are almost done. I have some smaller ones that I have hanging from branches in an enameled vase, that these will be added to.  
 I finished cross-stitching roses on these crocheted hearts. I love how the rose came out on the pink and white one better, but the red is still pretty. I followed a pattern from a vintage table runner that I have with roses, and really adore how cross-stitching looks on crochet.
Now I will add a little vintage lace to the back and hang these on my vintage coat rack. What sweetness are you working on? Well, I am off to create away and enjoy the beautiful, sunny weather today!

Wishing you all a most lovely and crafty weekend, and hope the sun is shining where you are!!


Monday, January 14, 2013

a pretty rose

Happy Monday! 
Hope that you had a wonderful weekend and thank you so much for the lovely comments on the vintage pot holders and book.
Well, I finished the rose pot holder and I am lovin' how it turned out!! The pretty red and mint green were the perfect match.
It took me a couple days to finish, as I worked on it in the evenings, and the end result was worth every little stitch. I have truly gained such an appreciation for the amazing ladies who made all the vintage ones I have collected.
I think the back took longer then the front, and I had to change the pattern a little to make the edging cleaner. I am even thinking scallops would look so pretty, too!
I am already working on a pink one, and plan to do a few more colors. I also want to try some of other patterns from the book, too. And, you may even see some of these pot holders soon in my shoppe, so stay tuned! 
 Now it is hung in a vintage green frame and bringing some handmade prettiness to my home. 
 With Valentine's Day approaching, I have been working on some pretty hearts. I crocheted these using this lovely pattern, and I am adding some cross stitching to them. 
And, some pretty felt hearts with some sweet fabrics that need a little hand stitching and will be made into ornaments. Are you working on any pretties for Valentine's Day?

Wishing you all a most lovely and creative week! 

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

vintage pot holders

One of my favorite vintage treasures to collect are crocheted pot holders. Oh, how these lovelies make me smile and warm up inside! I love how they bring such handmade prettiness and color to my home. I adore the rose ones most, and have been wanting to try to make them ever since I started crocheting. 
So, I started collecting vintage pot holder pattern books to learn how all those sweet ladies made them. This one was my latest find, and I just love the graphics. Wish I could have bought it for 10 cents! 
All these pot holders are so delicately crocheted with the smallest of colorful threads and hooks. 
Are you the Queen of the Kitchen? I love this window scene pot holder. Too cute! 
The rose ones are always so beautiful! 
I made it my goal this year to try my hand at making some, and I can tell you that I have been so intimidated by that No. 7 size hook and size 10 thread, but...
I finally started one, and I am actually loving it! It took a little bit to get used of the hook and thread, but so far so good. I had to learn how to make a cluster for the leaves, which was confusing at first, but I finally got it. So, I am off to add the creamy white stitches. I have a feeling that these might become a little addicting to make. I can already imagine all the pretty different colors to make them in!

Wishing you a day full of sweetness!!