a lovely break and pretty patchwork

Happy Monday and New Year! 
I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season! Thank you so much for your sweet Christmas wishes. I had a lovely and restful break, and I am so happy to be back and begin this new and creative year ahead of us! And may it be filled with many blessings and joyful days for you all!
After Christmas it was my mother-in-law's birthday, so I made her this pretty patchwork pillow.  

I embroidered her initial to give it a special touch with some red stitching around the border. 

And, it wouldn't be complete without a creamy scalloped edging. Simply sweet! I love how it came out, and so did my mother-in-law! 

My wintry throw is coming along sweetly...with only a few more rows to go, and then the border. I am also almost finished with my husbands crocheted blanket. I was hoping it would have been done for Christmas, but it is taking longer than expected. It might be because I get distracted by so many other projects. ;)  

Last week these pretty reproduction fabrics arrived in the mail. I can't wait to create with these pretties. I truly have such a weakness and addiction to these sweet prints! But, I know that I am not alone in this, right?

I was so blessed and lucky over the holidays to have won 5 giveaways with the sweetest treasures from these most lovely and talented ladies!

Vintage Shiny Brites from Jean of Ruby and Arthur

Vintage embroidery patterns, threads, sweet bookmark, a pretty bag, and the Dire Threads book from Kathy of Kluless

A pretty and adorable embroidered hoop art, along with some other sweet goodies from Gilly of Gilly Makes

The cutest and most adorable toadstool and gingerbread man from Emma of The Vanilla Squirrel

All these beautiful and sweet vintage Christmas treasures from Chris of Perfectly Printed

(Thank you Chris for the photo, as I forgot to take one of my own before I packed them away until next year.)

I was so spoiled by these ladies!! Thank you so much for having such wonderful giveaways! Make sure that you visit these sweeties! I know that you will love and be inspired by them and their beautiful blogs!

I am looking forward to catching up with you, and visiting your blogs! Wishing you a crafty and creative week!

christmas carols and the simple life

Happy Friday!

 Awhile back at an estate sale I bought this vintage Christmas carol booklet. I just fell in love with that adorable santa and that pretty holly font. There is something about 50's fonts and graphics that I adore!

It was published in 1953, and I am thinking these were maybe given out to customers at the Security-First National Banks? How neat would that have been!

 A few months ago I saw this tutorial from the Dutch Sisters on how to crochet pretty scallops around Christmas cards. I have been meaning to try it, so when getting all my Christmas decorations out, and some inspiration from my dear friend Gina who was going to make some with cards, I thought these sweet carols would be perfect. 

I intended to do a pretty garland with them, but have decided to make them as gifts for Christmas. I still need finish making a hanging loop for each them, and if I have any left over, I still might make a Christmas Carol garland. How lovely would that be!

 I copied the carols onto heavy card stock, and then followed the directions from the Dutch Sisters. If you would like to give a try, you can print this carol and just follow the tutorial. They are so pretty when finished, and would even look cute as ornaments, too! 

 A few months ago I was working on a couple of secret projects and I am so excited to share them with you today! In September, Tasha from A Little Sweetness came out with her adorable line of fabric called The Simple Life. She had sweetly emailed me asking if I would be interested in making a couple of items to be displayed at the fall quilt market using her new fabrics and embroidery patterns. It was definitely an easy, yes!! I was beyond thrilled and so honored to do it!! 

The first project I made was a mini quilt using her embroidery pattern called, "Laundry Day".  I did a little hand quilting and adorned it with soft pink crocheted scallops. I adore the redwork, and it was actually my first time doing a pattern all in red. I loved how it came out! 

The next project was a pretty apple pillow, like the one I made for fall from the Bustle and Sew e-magazine. Tasha's fabrics were the perfect match for those sweet apples!!

 I had such a fun time creating these two projects and it was so neat to see them being displayed at her beautiful booth, which you can see some photos here. Also, to see more of Tasha's sweet patterns and illustrations make sure you head over to her etsy shoppe and blog! Thank you Tasha for giving me this amazing opportunity! :)

Wishing you a most lovely and creative weekend!! 

a little christmas in july...

I am already on the hunt for sweet Christmas treasures, and have found some adorable ones this month! This honeycomb card just makes me smile! The little girl and her friends are precious!

The backside is just as sweet! I just love these honeycomb cards. 

 I went to my local flea market on Sunday, and found this Santa Claus paint book. It was empty, but the cover is so charming. Isn't that bunny the cutest!  

 Shiny Brite glass ornaments have been on my list of treasures to get for awhile, and I was so excited to find this sweet box full of such gorgeous ones.

 Aren't they so pretty! I could have a whole tree full of these beauties. Maybe one day!! 

 The one in the middle is my favorite. I love the font, and the pretty holly leaves and stars so beautifully painted on it. Do you have any favorite vintage ornaments?

And, some new Christmas fabric, Dear Mr. Claus by Cosmo Cricket. I love the vintage feel to this line. Hope these treasures brought you some Christmas cheer today! 

patriotic sweetness

 This week is going so fast, and I am in need of an extra day! Thank you for all your sweet comments on my strawberry enameled container! You all make my day!!

Well, I finished my patriotic wreath yesterday. I ordered some mini vintage American flags, but they still have not arrived, so maybe I will use them for something else. I am almost finished with the quilt block tutorial, and should be able to post it on Monday!

 I also decided to make some mini flag quilts using the pattern and will be putting a few in my shoppe next week. 

A pretty vintage patriotic tablecloth arrived yesterday in the mail! I just love the design, and the pop of colors! This will be made into vintagey tea towels for my shoppe, just in time for the 4th of July! I have been busy this week working on a new batch of tea towels and will hopefully have them all in the shoppe by Monday. My poor sweet sewing machine has had no rest this week! ;) 

 New grey bowls! My favorite! I bought these at Anthropologie and I am a little addicted to buying them. I have them in every color, and when I saw the pretty grey ones in the sale section, how could I pass them up!

Today in the mail I received these sweet vintage straws from Party Pizzaz! Aren't they so neat! Perfect for the summer!

 And, some new fabrics to play around with! I have been wanting the vintage typewriter and clock ones for awhile, so I decided to cave in and get them!  

 I also can't seem to get enough of the reproduction prints! Please tell me I am not the only one with this problem. :) Well, I am off to sew away..wishing you all a beautiful and crafty weekend! 

a vintage blue

 Last Friday, I received this vintage blue vase from my mother. It is one family heirloom that I have always loved! The color and the shape are just so beautiful!!

 It was my great grandparent's vase that was dearly loved by them. I am not sure the year of it, maybe 50's or 60's, and I am not even sure where they bought it from. I just love it!!

 There are vintage matchbooks inside from all the restaurants, and places they visited. Whenever they traveled or just went to dinner, they would add the matches to the vase!! The vase was pretty full, but half of the matches went to my sister. But, at least I got the pretty vase!! ;) 

 There are some pretty cool matchbooks in the vase!! Many are from California, Nevada, Utah, and even one from Alaska. 

 These are some of my favorites! Some of the buildings, such as Sheri's Restaurant and Coffee Shop, and Little Joe's Restaurant and Groceries are still there, but no longer in business. So fun!! 

 This is a very special one! Leona and Stewart were my great grandparents, and this matchbook was from their 50th Anniversary!! So sweet! I was only a year old when they celebrated 50 years!! I can't wait to reach such a wonderful milestone with my husband!! And, yes, now you know how old I am! I will be the big '30' in September!! Yay!! ;)

 So, now this beautiful vintage blue vase, is being cherished and loved in my home!! And waiting to be filled with more matchbooks!! 

 Two more grannie blocks done!! I didn't get time to crochet the other grannies, so hopefully this week I can catch up!! 

All my grannie blocks laid out!! I am getting close, only 11 more to go! I am also almost done hand quilting the baby quilt!! I will be posting the finished quilt soon! 

Happy Monday, and wishing you a lovely week!! 

pretty friday

I was in need of a new wreath for my door. I like simple wreaths, so I made some sweet felt flowers, and hung a vintage embroidered doily in the middle. So, now a pretty new wreath for my front door! 

I received some pretty calicos, and feedsack reproductions from The Calico Cottage Quilt Shop this week. 

They have such a great selection! Love all the vibrant and cheery colors!!

These first three pretties are from the sweet Kerri at Sew Deerly Loved, and the last three are from a wonderful Etsy shop called The Heyday Shop!! Both are such great places for pretty fabrics!! 

I am finally getting some time to quilt my vintage baby quilt top that I finished awhile back! Thank you to sweet Trish from Notes of Sincerity for helping and supporting me as I hand quilt for the first time!! It was quite intimidating!! I am hoping to finish the quilting this weekend. We'll see!!

Wishing you a beautiful and creative weekend!! 

I am linking up with the lovely Sherrie from A Ruffled Nest for Friday Pretties!! Make sure you head over to her sweet blog to see more prettiness!