A Bit of Vintage Stitching...

Good afternoon, everyone!

How's the weekend going so far?  We've been having fun here...very crazy, and there's been very little sleep involved....zzzzzzzzz...{{I wish!}}

Just a couple of things to share with you today...I've been having some fun with Crafty Secrets' new "Sew Nice" Creative Scraps...so many beautiful images!

Here's my first card...

Isn't this a sweet image?  I love the illustration, of course, and the fun colors, which I tried to echo in the cardstock, ribbon, etc. of the card...

This image was all about hand embroidery, so I tried a blanket stitch on a cardstock "flower"...definitely something I haven't tried before!   

These new Creative Scraps had me thinking about a collection of reproduction vintage books that I love...The Mary Frances collection...ever heard of them?

Written by Jane Eayre Fryer around 1913, these adorable books are filled with the sweetest hand-drawn illustrations and simple instructions for young stitchers to begin learning sewing skills.  There's also a book on Cooking, Knitting & Crochet, Gardening, etc...each is charming!  My mother purchased them for us about 10 years ago, and we really love them.

I realized as I found the book on our little shelf, that it's cover and the image I'd just used for my card were one and the same!  Coincidence, yes...but I'm sure it triggered my memory of the books in the first place!

Next, something with a bit of machine stitching...definitely a novice here!

Another sweet image from the same collection...I used the feather stitch on this...one of my favorites. 

The spools of thread and the saying are from Crafty Secrets' "Sew Special" stamp set...

I added some random polkadots of Dazzling Diamonds over the image for just a bit of sparkle...ribbon, gingham, Platinum Stickles and vintage buttons finish the job.

Before I go, I want to share with you the most lovely package I received yesterday from Elizabeth of Creative Breathing...this was for no reason at all, mind you...just the kindness of her heart, and her knowing how much I love her vintage creations!

(I'm using the photos from her post because it's very gloomy here today, and I couldn't get a decent photo of them all!)

She knows how much I love vintage-inspired items with personality--fun faces, feet & hands--I LOVE this sweet pink birthday cake...complete with vintage candles!

This adorable chenille '50's girl fresh from the Sock Hop, complete with her '45 and poodle skirt--and just look at those saddle shoes!

An adorable tag inspired by Twyla and Lindsey...

And this adorable little button holder, made from pieces from a vintage music box...

All this in one package along with some beautiful vintage greeting cards....Oh, Elizabeth...what joy!  Thank-you from the bottom of my heart, dear friend!

Also a thank-you to my friends at Splitcoast for giving me the opportunity to be included in the Dirty Dozen for the next six months--so exciting!  Looking forward to working with all those amazing women!

That's all for me today...I hope your weekend is wonderful in every way!

***I just found the loveliest blog with a very vintage giveaway...please go and say hello to Stephanie at Angelic Accents!

Womens' Work...

Good afternoon, everyone!

Sorry I've been a bit absent the last few days...our college girl surprised us with a visit for the weekend!  She arrived home about midnight on Thursday night, and left again early this morning...such a quick trip, but we packed every minute with fun!

I filled in a few moments here and there with some cardmaking, and here's what I came up with...

First, this fun image I got from Marie's Freebies--so many beautiful vintage photos here!  I loved this image of a woman happily ironing...I admit this is not MY favorite chore!  (Love Downy's Wrinkle Releaser, though!)   

Just typed up my own saying on the computer, used lots of German gold glass glitter--nothing sparkles like gorgeous, chunky glass glitter!--lace and ribbon...and a few black crystal rhinestones.

Next, this lovely image from Magic Moonlight...

The colors on this are just yummy!  Another simple one...some lace, ribbon, a little chunky clear glass glitter and silver shavings glitter...the saying and thimble image are from Crafty Secrets' "Sew Special" stamp set...

This image brought to mind my line of mothers behind me...my own mother, who is such a beautiful creator of oh, so many things...

Her mother, Velda, who I've spoken of many times, who really taught me what I know about needlework...

I remember so many times she bought me some kind of needlework project when I was young and staying with her for a visit.  She would sit with me patiently...teaching me stitches...how to use an even tension...not too tight, not too loose...when I did embroidery or crochet work.  Whenever I pick up a needle and thread, I think of her...

She told me many times of these years of joy she had sewing with her sisters...

...here they are when VERY young (along with a neighbor's baby)...my grandmother is the oldest one with the short blonde bob...

...here they are later in life as young women in a local newspaper article, all about what they were doing for the summer---isn't that wonderful?!  My grandmother, on the right, recently married and excited about her new life...

When they were older, with children of their own, those that lived near each other would gather as many days as they could and sew together, letting the young cousins play and be together...all day long...until it was time to return to their own homes and prepare supper. I so love all her stories of those days...doing "womens' work"...


I'm so grateful for all I've learned from my Mother, from Velda, and from all the mothers that came before who taught them what all they knew about these womanly arts...

Have a beautiful Sunday...I'll be back very soon with something new...

***Please go and say hello to Marie at Lost Bird Studio and sign up for her beautiful giveaway!***

Creative Time with Grandma

We were so lucky to have my parents here this week! I have 5 other siblings and we all want the folks to visit, so we don't get them very often! (Plus, though they live in Utah, Dad still commutes each week to L.A.--his boss won't let him quit! Pretty amazing at age 72!!!)

We had a wonderful time together, but the best part was time that my two younger daughters had to learn from Grandma. My Mom is famous for her cinnamon rolls, and she took an evening to teach my girls--they LOVED it!





My girls have also really been wanting to learn to sew--and again, Mom stepped up to the plate. This is not my strong point, so I would have been a terrible teacher! They made some adorable things, which I may post later, but they really caught on and enjoyed every minute!





While all this girl stuff is going on, my Dad just loves to sit out back and gaze at the mountains--he loves California, and really appreciates the beauty here. I just love walking by the windows & seeing him soaking it all in!




Thanks for enduring more about my family--I'll have more cards & things up later today. But since this week was all about family, just thought I'd share a few moments of it with you....thanks for checking in!