autumn is here

Happy Autumn!
So happy that fall is here! Our weather is still a little warm, but hopefully soon those crisp, cool days will be here! I have been super busy with getting my fall items for the shoppe made and ready for my reopening in early October.

I celebrated my "32" birthday a couple weeks ago and spent a nice quite day just relaxing. My mom sent me a birthday box full of family treasures. These sweet Pyrex bowls were a wedding gift when my parents got married. So, I am excited to have them now and they are perfect for fall!

I went to a antique shop and treated myself to these sweet peach vintage canisters. I'll have to keep my eye out for the other sizes to complete the set!

 I finished my mini apple wall quilt! I hand quilted it, so it took a little longer, but love how it turned out!

 And, to finish it off I used a sweet apple print for the binding. I am thinking of starting a little mini quilt for each season, so maple leaves are up next!

A few peaks at what will be in my shoppe coming early October for fall!! Pretty vintage tablecloth floral appliqué tea towels,

pretty maple leaf coasters,

fall pillow covers, and lots more! I will be posting once it gets closer to my shoppe reopening!

I hope that you are all doing wonderfully!! I have lots of catching up to do! I am on Instagram daily, so you can pop on over and visit with me there, too!

Wishing you all a beautiful first week of autumn!! xo

                                        

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!! 

fall pillows and a winner...

Fall is in the air, and we even had a cool, overcast day yesterday. Today the sun is brightly shining, with the feel of fall getting closer. Do you ever have a long list of things or projects to do, but start another project that you really shouldn't be doing? Well, that was me yesterday! 

Sweet Renee of My Vintage Mending introduced me to an adorable e-magazine called Bustle and Sew! Oh my, it is the cutest magazine full of wonderful projects, embroidery patterns, and more! Renee mentioned this sweet fall apple appliqué pillow project in the September issue that she thought I would like, and she sure knows me!

I subscribed right away, so that I could make the pillow! Yes, should I be working on the 20 tea towels, and more for my boutique? Of course I should, but how could I resist making this cute pillow! 

So, I chose some of my favorite red fabrics, and starting cutting away these sweet apples with their pretty green leaves, and black felt stems! A little black stitching around the edges of the apples and leaves.

And, a pretty red scalloped edging for the finishing touch! I love how it came out, and  it was just the perfect addition to my fall decor, which I will have to show you next week! Thank you so much Renee for introducing me to the most darling magazine! 

Last year, I made a couple fall tumbler pillows from one of my favorite lines, Little Apples by Aneela Hoey! I love quilting free-motion on smaller things!

The pretty grey with the pretty aqua, red, and olive green are so lovely together! There is something about all her fabric lines that I just adore!

And here they are sweetly waiting for the first day of fall!! Aren't you ready?

Congratulations Carla! Yay! I will email you and get you contacted with Miss Natalie! Thank you all for entering into the giveaway!! Wishing you a beautiful day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

vintage red apples

Oh, how I am so ready for summer to be over, and the crisp fall to be here! How about you? I stopped off at a little thrift store and found this beautiful vintage red apple bread box. 

 It was hiding underneath a shelf, just waiting for me to bring it home! The patina is just gorgeous! I just love rusty goodness!

 This is my first bread box, and I know it won't be my last. I am not sure of the era, but I would assume from 30's-50's. What do you think? 

 Awhile back I bought this pretty vintage apple flour sifter. The apples on this are so bright, and it is in such great condition. 

I have always wanted to use one of these to make a pie or some sweet treat. Maybe one day I will find one with less rust inside! They sure don't make sifters like this anymore! Do you have any neat vintage sifters?

                                                Wishing you all a lovely and cheery day! 

I am linking up with sweet Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday!! Head on over to check out some more lovely reds!!