Show & Tell Friday--I'm Babysitting!

This week I thought I'd share what I'm babysitting--it's a rocking chair! Isn't it gorgeous! This is a family piece that now belongs to my brother, however he didn't have room for it and so he asked me if I would babysit it. You bet!

He only had 3 rules for it--1. That only those who will respect it can sit in it. It has a caned seat, so it's delicate and I knew that a few of my Raggedy Ann's & Andy's would take great care with it. 2. That it doesn't leave my house. I don't usually travel with my furniture. 3. That I don't throw a fit and cry when he finally takes it back home. Well we'll see about that one! LOL!

This picture shows a bit of the wreath detailing that is has on it. He has the other brass wreath, so it can be repaired. I'm not really sure how old this piece is, but I would easily say 100 yrs plus. This is the best babysitting job I've ever had!

Don't forget to visit our hostess Kelli and see all of the other Show & Tell Friday blogs too.

Some Fun Little Things To Do

While the decorating team and I are busily readying the house for Christmas I thought I’d share a few little fun things to do.......


The first one is the most important--to see if you are on Santa’s Naughty or Nice List. Click HERE to see where you stand.

Have you always wondered what you or someone else would look like as an elf. Well now you can see for yourself. You'll be elfing everyone you know. Click HERE to start elfing.

Are you in need of a little snow? Remember making paper snowflakes as a kid. Now we can create beautiful snowflakes via the computer and then leave messages on them for all to see and we can also see what others around the world have created. Give it a try. Click HERE to make your own one of a kind snowflake.

The elves and I are off to work on getting the house all decorated for Christmas and later I'll have some pictures of the awesome ornies I've been receiving in the mail. Don't forget--Santa is watching, so be good!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Tomorrow is the big day of cooking for me. We'll have 14 people this year to share our table with and many, many things to be thankful for. May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends and I hope you don't eat too much! Travel safely if you're traveling and remember to count your blessings!

New Pattern---Vintage Santa Stocking

Vintage Santa Stocking E Pattern

I just completed the pattern for my Vintage Santa Stocking a No Sew project that is really fun to do! It's made using wool felt and vintage style Dresden trim and comes with 6 different Santa images to choose from. Great for a group project or some fun crafting time all to yourself and not only does it look pretty on the Christmas tree, but it makes a fun package tie on as well. This is an E Pattern which is an Instant Download delivered right to your email and it's only $3.00. It can be purchased thru my patterns at Patternmart All my other patterns are also on sale thru this coming Monday. Happy Stitching--or non-stitching with this one!

Show & Tell Friday--My Shiny Box

This week I thought I'd share what my son calls my shiny box. It's my collection of Elizabeth's Vintage Silver Sewing Notions. When I first discovered these I knew I needed the entire set and I think I have pretty close to all of it. The set would normally cost well over $200, but I gathered it piece by piece from Ebay for well under $100, so I think I got a bargain. I wasn't sure just what to do with it all until it hit me one day to mount them in a picture frame, so I found a nice thrift store frame, removed the glass, added some padding and covered that with a dark burgandy velvet and then pinned on each piece.


The pieces in the set above are at the very top on the long chain a magnetic needle case that opens up like a little book. The chatelaine with thimble holder (thimble inside), silver needlecase, tape measure, seam ripper and round pincushion that has blue velvet sandwiched between the two silver rounds. Then scissors in holder, magnifying glass, 3 bodkins used for lacing, tatting shuttle and spool knave. There is also a needle threader that I see has escaped it's spot.
In case you're wondering, yes I do on occasion use some of these tools. I especially love the seam ripper--not that I enjoy ripping out stitches, but it's a great one to use. I keep an eye out and add to my collection whether it be new or old whenever I can and I hope to have a huge poster size shiny box collection someday.

Thanks for stopping by my Show & Tell Friday and don't forget to stop by Kellis' our hostess of Show & Tell Friday and see what everyone else has to share. Enjoy the weekend!

Pattern Sale!

Now thru Monday 11-19 I am having a sale on all of my E Patterns at Pattern Mart All E Patterns are 3.50. These are Instant Downloads so as soon as you make your payment via Paypal they are available to you to download to your computer and then you can print them out and they print just like a regular pattern with a cover, color photo, full size pattern pieces and instructions. You can see my patterns posted in the right hand column or click HERE

Best Ever Thanksgiving Dressing

One week from today and I start my Thanksgiving cooking and one of my favorite recipes is this one for the absolute best ever dressing. It is the recipe of Amy Main and I've made it for the past several years ever since she first shared it with me.
It's a very moist dressing that's made in the crockpot, which I love because it frees up oven space and once you start it you don't have to worry about it. It's simple, easy and delicious! Enjoy!

Amy Main's Best Ever Moistest Ever Dressing

1 cup butter
2 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped celery
1/4 cup parsley sprigs, chopped
2-4 oz cans sliced mushrooms, drained
12-13 cups slightly dry bread cubes
1 t. poultry seasoning
1/2 t. salt and pepper
1 1/2 t. sage
2-2 1/2 cups chicken broth (I use the boullion to make this)
2 eggs, beaten

Melt butter in skillet and saute onion, celery, parsley and mushrooms. Pour over bread cubes in a very large mixing bowl. Add all other seasonings and toss well. Pour enough broth to moisten; add beaten eggs and mix well. Pack lightly into crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 45 minutes; reduce to low for 4-8 hours. 6 servings

Thanksgiving Postcards

Where is the time going! Thanksgiving is almost here, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite vintage Thanksgiving postcards with you. Please feel free to save them and use them. Just right click on the image and save it to your hard drive. Please do not link directly to them. Also if you left click on the images they will enlarge.

These would be great to use for invitations, place cards or print and set about your Thanksgiving decorations. Anyway you choose them--enjoy!

Show & Tell Friday--Ironing Board Cupboard & Knott's Berry Farm

For this weeks Show & Tell Friday I have 2 things to share.

First, what's inside this long skinny cupboard in my kitchen? (the doll was made for me by an online friend Sandra Kazmierski)


Why it's an ironing board! And believe it or not I do use it and it is quite handy. I just open the cupboard and pull down the ironing board and iron away. However I haven't found a good spot to keep my iron nearby yet. The iron is wider that the cupboard and the little cabinet next to it holds baking dishes. I wonder where the other women stored their irons? Isn't the little Scotty dog print on the cover cute. The house was built in the early 1900's, but I don't think this little cupboard came til later--maybe the 1930's or 40's. I'm sure it must have been a very modern thing to have at the time and now it's become something cute to have--but still very functional. How times change.


Here's the stamp that is inside the back wall of the ironing cuboboard. Even it's cute!


Ok, now for my 2nd thing to share. Check out the Show & Tell of Ellen B of the Happy Wanderer . She has a similar photo of her parents taken at Knott's Berry Farm in the 1950's. This one is of me (in the center) and my cousins Cheri and Merry Jo taken in 1964 when I was 3 yrs old. I thought it was pretty neat to see that we both had similar photos. Ellen do you think anyone else out there has one to add to ours? If so please share it with us. I know I'd love to see it.

Don't forget to see all the other Show & Tells by visiting our hostess Kelli's blog. Happy Friday!

Thanksgiving Decor and the Ugly Turkey Collection

I may not be totally unpacked everywhere, but I do have my Thanksgiving decor up and ready. I also thought I'd share my ugly turkey collection that I started about 3 years ago.

The sun is streaming in thru the dining room windows warming the turkeys and pumpkins that sit upon the window seat...................


Center of the window seat...........


The other end of the window seat where Ella the punkin' head doll sits to keep an eye all the pumpkins and turkey with her great big grin..........

The mantle shelf my brother gave me a few years back---one of my very favorite things, because I can decorate it with so much year round. (gotta fix that one stray cord!)


A few close-ups of what's on the mantle shelf...........





The ugly turkey on the very end is what started my collection of ugly turkeys a few years back. Whatever the glaze/coloring that is on him reminded of some pottery my grandmother had when I was growing up that I wasn't particulary fond of and for some reason he said take me home and since then I've found a few other turkeys with that same glaze and in different colors, so I nab them up and take them home--along with any other ugly little turkey I find.............


More turkeys with the same glaze only in different colors and sizes.....




The little squirrel nutcracker with his winters store...........


The fireplace mantle in the living room with the lovely gold wallpaper--which really isn't too bad since there is so much wood in there, so it'll stay until I figure out what to do in there.


This darling turkey and cornstalk ornie is from the Fall Ornie Swap I did with my friends at the P&R. It's is by Robin Leuschen of Bird in Hand Primitives Be sure to check out her website too--she offers the E Pattern for this little guy...........


Fall leaves by Christy Masters.....


Indian corn by Mags Benson................


More of the ugly turkey collection...........






More ornies........ autumn bag is by Kathi Rode..........


Acorn by me................

Pilgrim couple in pumpkin is by Sandy Schutt....


Gourd by Phyllis Shows............


Cornucopia by Christine Shepard.......

Punchneedle turkey by Paula Eaches.......


I hope to find a turkey or two this year to add to my collection. There's still lots of space to fill! Gobble Gobble!