Giveaway Link

Here is a link to a give-a-way over at a Quilting Life - the give-a-way is from Green Fairy Quilts.

So while you are here what do you think of using your blog to link to other blogs so you can get entries to give-a-ways? Do you do it? Do you NOT do it? Why (either way).

Do you want to see only an entry for the give-a-way or do you like to see it as part of a "regular" post?

I look forward to reading your thoughts!

Hugs - Sharon

Musings

Musing
Noun: Meditation - first known use - 14th Century.
Adjective: thoughtfully abstracted
Muse: intransitive verb

1: to become absorbed in thought; especially : to turn something over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively

2archaic : wonder, marvel

transitive verb :: to think or say reflectively

Well I don’t know if I could call my “musings” meditations or even thoughtful (although maybe I should look at that definition too :))

Mostly my musings are just turning things over in my mind (which I do a lot). Right now I am wondering 1) why I am watching a infomercial from Courtesy on Wheels (nothing else on and I want noise), and 2) why ANYONE would be in an infomercial in SPEEDO’s, even if he is young and buff J UCK!!!

Anyhow, back to what I was saying. My musing’s usually run to thinking about abstract things. I will sometimes sit with my “vintage” pattern collection, or buttons, or antique lace and think about the people who made and used these items. I am not the most patient person in the world so I wonder about the beautiful crocheted laces I have and wonder what the women who made them were “musing” about when they made them, and how long it took!

Who ever sat with a button box their mother or grandmother had? I would set for hours when I was little, sorting buttons into colors or sizes thinking of nothing else but what was at hand. Now when I look at them, I am usually looking to find some for a particular project, and wonder  – who wore them, what item of clothing did they come from? The one’s I have on cards, I wonder about what they were supposed to be used for, or where they just bought because they were beautiful, or did the item just never get made?

My vintage patterns are mostly from the 50’s but I do have a few older ones. I haven’t bought any in quite a while (years in fact). When I lived in Peoria, IL, there were A LOT of “Estate Sales” and on the second day, I could buy a huge box of patterns for little of nothing. I would take them home and go through them, wondering at the amount of detail. I should have been born about 20 years earlier – I would have loved making these!

There are two blogs that I follow that I just love - This Old Life - “Nabby” loves the 1930’s and dresses and makes items from that decade. Go take a look!The other is - Eva Dress- so many cute things – that she actually makes and wears!

Can I add another? What-I-Found - I don’t know where Tina finds these things but I love them! She looks at all types of things – clothes, home décor.

I have only made up one of the patterns, quite a while ago. It was an Easter suit, from a wonderful waffled silk. I still have the coat, but don’t know where the skirt ever went. I don’t have the patience to alter patterns, so I haven’t attempted any others.

Lately I have been “musing” about making up some of these patterns for Art Dolls. I think that I could get through making “small patterns.” I have several “vintage” books for pattern design and think that it might be fun. I only wonder what type of fabric to use – I would have to be careful about scale. Maybe I should start looking for vintage clothing that is not in good shape and use them – what do you think? I can’t decide if I should make them for my Vintage 1940's Fashiondol Sewing Mannequin or use a cloth doll pattern. Guess that is up for my musing now.

Well, got to get moving today. I am at the camper with my Grandson, and need to get the “Pannycakes” made. Hugs to all. 

New Doll

She is done! The doll for my "Birthday" friend. I posted the link for the pattern last time - it makes up quickly and is a great pattern.

This is the picture of the "baby" that Angie wanted a doll to match. I really hoped to find a tub and little washboard too but none of the craft stores had any.

And here she is

 

 This is her little face - Hubby asked why her eyes were not the same size - I said - she is primitive :). What do you think? I kind of like her expression.   

I wanted to be sure that she had the little apron tied around her neck.


She has "knickers" too! My grandson and I were working in my sewing room (he likes to be crafty), he saw the pattern and asked me what knickers were. I told him that is what they used to call girls undies - well - he went home and asked Mommy if she had knickers! She called me to see what I had been teaching her son :)

GS doesn't want to "learn" how to sew - but he loves to watch me and push buttons on the machine - maybe some day - out of 5 kids none of them sew - guess it is up to the next generation.

So back to the doll - I used vintage lace for her dress and the bottom of the knickers and some vintage buttons for her earrings and up the back of the dress.

I got some "nubby" yarn for her hair, but it was too soft and I could not get it to work - so I went and got a cheap black yarn and wrapped them both. Lastly, she got the bows in her hair.
I think that she turned out really nice. I showed one of the girls at work and she fell in love - she retires the end of the month - so I am going to make her a "baby" for her retirement and make her look like Kim.

I got the fabric from my great quilt shop - Q First in Quilting  - also where I go for my liberated quilt class -   the dress fabric is "French General. Don't remember the other - but I really liked the combination

Hugs to ALL. Sharon B

Too Long

Boy time sure fly's! Just realized it has been a month since I blogged :(  Busy, Busy!

Work has been busy - lots of meetings with the public and such, so I am just worn out by the time I get home. And if not then I have been busy working on my Liberated quilt. I had class today and made Shoo Fly Blocks, they were alot like the stars that gave me such a fit last month - but they are turning out well.

Started a "Prim" doll today (my first) for a friend at our Campground who shares July as my birthday month. I was going to make her a purse, but went to her house today and she showed me the cutest picture of a little knot head baby with a washtub. I found this great free rag doll pattern at "Soggibottom" blog - its not a "Prim" but is just what I needed for the baby" - So you can guess what she is getting. :)

I will add an entry in a few days to talk about some of my "musings"

Hugs! Sharon