a quilt of learning

 Happy Friday! This week went by so fast! Thank you all for your sweet comments on my vintage brooches!! Your support is such a blessing to me! 

Well, I am almost finished with my granny square quilt top. Last summer I learned how to quilt, and this will be my fourth larger quilt that I have done. With every quilt I am always learning something new. 
When doing the strips for the borders of the blocks, I noticed I had four different whites in my stash, and couldn't tell which one I used. So, I chose one and of course after sewing it to the blocks, realized it really didn't match. I didn't want to waste or undo what I had already sewn, so I kept it. Then, I didn't have enough length for the border. So, I ordered more and it should be here next week for me to finish. Lesson learned, only keep one white fabric (and a lot of it) in your stash!  

One area that I need a lot of practice is patchwork. My squares never seem to line up, know matter what I do. So, all you quilters, I need your tips and advice!! ;) As you can probably see that the tips of the squares got cut off, too. Such a bummer, but it definitely is a learning experience of what not to do next time. After this quilt, I am going to try Lori Holt's  the Great Granny Square Quilt. I do enjoy making these grannies, so we'll see how those turn out for me.

This week has been such a wonderful week of beautiful vintage tablecloths!! The sweetest Gilly of Gilly Makes sent me this gorgeous embroidered tablecloth. It is unfinished, and I feel honored that Gilly thought of me to be able to complete the amazing work a sweet lady started.

 The colors are so pretty and vibrant!! I am even thinking of crocheting around the edge. I know it will take me awhile, but I think it will add the perfect touch.

 Thank you so much Gilly for sending me such a beautiful vintage treasure!! 

Wishing you all a beautiful summer weekend! And let's remember to keep all the families in Aurora, Colorado in our prayers for this tragic event and loss of lives! Blessings and hugs to you all!! 

sweet progress

 Hope your 4th of July was wonderful! I had time yesterday to work on some projects. The pretty blue birds are getting the finishing touch, and I am looking forward to seeing it all done! ;)

 My last granny squares are complete! I think this is one of my favorite quilt patterns that I have done. I just love all the colors together!

And here are all 20 pretty grannies! Now, I just need to figure out where they will all go, and start cutting strips to put in between them. I already bought a vintage sheet for the backing, and I am planning on hand quilting it. So, hopefully it will not take too long to finish. ;) 

Hope you are having a lovely day!!

those elegant shutters...

 Well, I finished the vintage shutters! What do you think? I was going to do vintage linens, but I wanted something a little brighter for the summer. So, I chose some of my favorite Heather Bailey fabrics. Just love them!!

 This is what they looked like before...

 And, now they are elegant shutters to brighten up my home. I love that I will be able to change the fabrics with the seasons. Already have ideas for the fall and Christmas! ;) 

I have been waiting for a few months for this line of fabric, Seaside, to come out from October Afternoon. I love all their craft papers, and had the papers of these prints. So, when I heard that they were making a fabric line of it, I was so excited! It just came out last week, and you can get some for your sweet fabric stash at the Fat Quarter Shop! 

 Here are a couple of grannie blocks using the sweet fabrics! I have two more to go, and I am finished!! Then, it will be time to put the quilt top together! 

 Some patriotic granny squares since I am into the red, white, and blue lately. 

And, here is my lovely piles of grannies! It looks like I have made great progress for a blanket, but when I lay them out on the floor, they would make a small rug. ;) Okay, maybe a little bigger. So, maybe by Christmas I will have enough to make a lap size blanket. We'll see! Wishing you a beautiful day sweet friends! 

a little red, white, and blue

 Happy Monday! 

Over the weekend I was into decorating for the 4th of July, and came up with a new little patriotic quilt block for my front door wreath. 

 I just love when ideas come to me in the middle of the night, and they actually work out! I am going to leave this block with the rough edges for my wreath, but was thinking how sweet it would look as a pillow or mini wall quilt. I will be putting together a little tutorial for the block later in the week if you would be interested in making one. So many possibilities, and easy to sew together!

 I adore roses, and I am always keeping my eye out for crocheted potholders, and aprons with pretty roses. I was happy to come home with these lovelies.

 Some of my favorite colors together, pink and green! 

 I have been wanting to make some of my own, and finally bought the yarn and a couple of vintage crochet books for the patterns. We'll see how well I do, the patterns are a little intimadating. Have you ever made these before? And, I know that it was well worn by some wonderful lady. 

 The shape is so elegant, and I can't wait to wear it in the kitchen or in my craft room! 

Two more grannie blocks, and only 4 more to go! If I get time I might finish them up this week, but knowing me I'll get distracted with something else. ;)

Wishing you a beautiful and crafty week! 

chocolate, cheese, and...

 Happy Monday!

Over the weekend I went to my local monthly flea market and got some fun treasures I will be showing later this week. Today, I bring you vintage boxes from that estate sale last weekend. I love wooden crates and boxes, and these pretties are so neat!

 There were about 50 or more of these boxes, and people were grabbing them like crazy. Once I got my two home, my husband looked into the company. These boxes had chocolate in them, filled to the brim. Yummy!! This couple must have loved chocolate, with so many of them. 

 The Walter Baker & CO. was established in 1780, in Dorchester, Massachusetts. 

 The company was sold to different people throughout the years, and in 1979 it was incorporated into Kraft Foods. Wish we still had these small companies around. 

 The couple had turned them all into drawers, that were kept in their garage. Now I have some sweet boxes for storing some of my goodies. 

With chocolate...comes the cheese. These were some fun cheese boxes they had in the garage, also turned into little drawers. I love the craftsmanship and creativity this sweet couple had! 

 Today in the mail I received a wonderful patriotic treasure that I bought from the most talented and lovely Laurie of Magpie Ethel. 

 I adore her beautiful, vintage creations and had to have one of her patriotic vintage foil candy container ornaments. I love the blue bell, the sparkly star, and red mercury glass picks. 

 It is so pretty and just full of special vintage goodies! Thank you so much Laurie! I love it!! Make sure you pop over to Laurie's Etsy shoppe to see her other wonderful vintage creations! 

 I was only able to get one grannie block, and a pair of granny squares done over the weekend. Thank you to the sweetest Renee of My Vintage Mending for introducing me to the cute birdie clips! I love them!!

And here is a little sneak peak of some new products I am working on for my shoppe!

Wishing you a creative, and sunny week! 

quilted star

Happy Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! 

On Saturday, I went to an estate sale, and came home with some lovely treasures. The lady who has the estate sales always has everything 1/2 off after 1, and I rarely go back, but this sale had so many neat things, I had to this time! I came home with two loads of goodies!! I will be showing them off throughout the next couple weeks. ;) 

 

This was one of the pretty treasures I came home with!! It is truly a piece of art! I thought it was a large quilted doily whenI bought it, but realized when I got home, it was a pillow cover. 

 The hand stitching is so perfect and tiny, and I am amazed at the skill this sweet lady had. Truly inspiring! Love the crocheted scalloped edging, with the pretty ric rac! Such a great idea! 

 The back was a hand drawn design that she hand stitched so beautifully. When you look up closely there are still the pen marks from her drawing this sweet design. Pretty neat, huh! 

 So after a good washing and stuffing with some cotton, I have a lovely new pillow for my chair. So bright and cherry! 

 In the mail today, I received a sweet little gift from the most lovely Velma of Down Our Country Road. I was lucky to win her adorable needle book from her giveaway last week!! So exciting!

 I love it!! Thank you so much Velma!! This is the sweetest needle book! I love the yo-yos adorned with cute buttons, and all the pretty fabrics. 

 Velma's hand stitching is beautiful, and all the sweet details are just perfect!!

 Pretty pink and white ribbon with all these needles, ready to be used! 

 Pink scissors, does it get any better! 

 I am so ready to start sewing! Thank you so much Velma for such an amazing and beautiful needle book!! You are quite the talent! Make sure you take a visit to her inspiring blog and say, 'Hi'!! 

 Some pretty granny squares!! 

 And, two more grannie blocks! I only have 7 more to go, and I am ready to put the quilt together. I just bought a pretty vintage rose sheet for the backing, so I am excited to get it done! 

Hope you have a blessed and lovely week!!