::Gleaning and Cleaning::

I spent this past week off the computer, away from the hook, and digging through every single room, closet, cupboard, nook and cranny! My goal was a thorough de-junking of my abode--which I actually accomplished minus my studio space where my yarn stash resides. (That might take an entire week by itself.) 

Oddly, this process was a very emotional one for me. Not because I am particularly attached to my junk--most of it truly was just that, junk. But I came across so many things that had been tucked away and forgotten--journals from my youth, letters from my mother, cards exchanged with my sweetheart, my children's blessing clothing, and many little knick knacks that brought a flood of memories.

In the basement,I happened upon a bin full of linens and blankets, one of which was this one.

It's a bow-tie quilt that my mother got from my Great-Aunt Radie. I remember Aunt Radie's little yellow clapboard house that smelled a bit funny to a me as a child. I remember how she welcomed us with such delight every time we arrived, and how she covered her mouth when she smiled as she was missing several front teeth. This quilt was made from pieces of her own dresses. 

And it is perfect. Perfect because it shows off her vibrant and colorful personality. Perfect because it reminds me of my heritage. Perfect because it is imperfect--just like us. 

::Father!::

Happy Father's Day to all fathers today! May they know, understand, and remember the value of their responsibility and role in raising valiant and strong families!

Take a moment to watch this wonderful video on this special day and share it with the fathers in your life and remind them of who they truly are--for those of us blessed by their lives--and from their Heavenly Father's perspective.

{On the Board} --
Of all the titles of respect and honor and admiration that are given to deity, He has asked us to address Him as FATHER.  
                                       --Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

::Just Being There::

Just popping in to say hello and show you a glimpse of what is on my hook lately. This is bound to be a pillow cover. I think the pattern is all too terrific. Now I want to play with the colors a bit--

::Happy Thanksgiving Back::

Today is one of my favorite holidays of the year--being with family and friends, and enjoying the warmth of hearth and home. 

I have family coming to my home again this year so lots of preparations and scurrying about to get things into place. Thank Heaven for my dear husband and children who work so hard to help me rearrange furniture and clean house. Wishing my Lizzie was joining us this year--sharing is always hard, as this is the year for her to attend her in-law's.

Table is still in preparation--but here is a little peek. Not so Martha Stewart, but coming together.

I hope you have a beautiful day.

I'll be hopping in shortly to share my latest hooky creations.

Hugs.

::Too Many Hats::

I wish I were popping in to tell you that this little baby was finished!

Or this one...

::Memories of a Chalkboard::

::Rolling Along::

My rolled swirls are coming along. After much struggling (and still some indecision), I've settled on a soft winter white.

But I can't have just white. I always need a little spot of color. So take note of the little felted leaves. They might make these little swirls just right. Now to put it all together--in my mind and with my hook! 

It is Fall break here and I'm enjoying the time with my family. My dear mother-in-law came to visit for a couple of days. We talked and laughed and ate too much food. We also made a trip to the thrift store. Yup. Bought stuff.

I "rescued" this needlepoint for $2. I always feel so bad when I see handmade items like this there--since I understand how much time goes into making them. But honestly, I bought it for the frame. I didn't love the picture as much as I do now. It is growing on me. I like that I can barely see the faint gray clouds in the blue sky. And the blossoms on the trees make me think of Maryland in the spring where I lived for a short time as a child. 

I'm thinking about painting or whitewashing the frame. Maybe something creamy white or soft pink. But nothing too dark or intense. I want the picture to be the focal point.

I also came across these old barnwood frames for $1 each. And my happiest find was this vintage laundry cart--probably from the local laundromat. It is currently on my front porch. Maybe it will become my spot for seasonal decorating. Any ideas, folks?

My boys have enjoyed the time off from school--particularly because the weather is HEAVENLY!!

Luke worked hard in the yard to rake some leaves...

But as is required with children, you must jump in them. (He is actually hidden in this pile!)

I love the autumn colors, the sound of the crunching leaves, the smell of the fallen leaves, the feel of the cooling air. I also thoroughly enjoy dressing in layers!

I think I'll go sit on my front porch and sew for a bit until it gets too cold.

{QUESTION}--What is your favorite season and why?

::Success at the Thrift Store::

It is quite cold here--turn on the furnace kind of cold. But what a wonderful weekend! My daughter, Lizzie Love, came to visit. We talked, laughed, thrift store shopped, watched General Conference (my favorite weekend of the year!) and thoroughly enjoyed being together. She only lives 30 minutes away, but with our crazy busy lives we still don't get together nearly enough. While she was here, I had her model my Rainbow Stripe Cowl. 

I must say, I am thoroughly thrilled with it! She liked it so much she wanted one, too. But as she is a Tim Burton Black/White stripe fan, I made hers a bit different.



In fact, I pretty much redesigned the entire thing. The only thing the same is that it is striped. In other words--a NEW design by SUE! But that is for another post! Very soon, I hope!

Now here are just two of the vintage thrift store finds... 

Oh, dear, I can hardly breathe I am so excited! The colors! The beaded and ruffled trim! And I got eight dinner plates and eight salad plates for only $8! Only a few little chips. Very good vintage condition! SO. VERY. EXCITED.

Would it be all too strange to use these for Thanksgiving? I don't typically limit myself by colors--so I think I'll make it a pink Thanksgiving this year! Maybe pink and green...remember these fabulous Pyrex dishes I found?

Next big find...

I did an embarrassing little happy dance and squeal when I came across this baby. $4! Anyone know anything about the age or name of this lamp? The shade balances on a milk glass diffuser. And this lamp is crazy heavy! As I typically do in the thrift store, I walk in thinking I am just going to look--not buy. And so I never get a shopping cart. I needed one with this lamp! Very heavy, indeed!

Other purchases:
  -Teacup and Saucer--Anchor Hocking
  -Shoes for my boy--Converse All-Stars, Keens, and Adidas
  -Old Navy white blouse--NWT
  -Antonio Melani peep-toe flats in ballerina slipper pink
  -Vintage shutter
  -2 white Crate & Barrel bowls
  -Ugly Christmas Vest and Tie--That is a story for another day and one that made everyone in the store stare as Lizzie and I laughed until we cried!

Total Cost: $40  SUCCESS, I TELL YA!

{QUESTION} - If you looked at the clothes in your closet, which color(s) would you find the most?

::Family Photos--Almost::

My sweet daughter, Lizzie, spent the day with me a few weeks ago.
This is a big deal since she married last year. She is very busy with school, work, married life, and her photography. One thing we did between a trip to the thrift store, boutique shopping and eating our favorite food was to take a few shots for my shop. 

Here are some of the "fruits" of her work.

She's so good with light. I really need her to teach me how to do it on my camera--if it will.

I love her hands. They are long and lean, just like she is. And so like her father's were.

These little bracelets are so much fun to make. I love adding the little details, like buttons and bows.

More buttons. Always a good thing in my opinion.

One of my first knitting endeavors. Love the elbow cut-outs on these gauntlets, but love the beautiful little arms much more! Sold.

Thank you, Lizzie Love, for making my things look their best. But thank you, especially, for being my baby girl. Check out her facebook pages here and here. She is on vacation, but has a load of amazing pictures from a shoot she did called "Blast from the Past". Keep checking back to her pages to see the vintage swimwear, hair and make-up! Very cool!

The final thing she did for me was take a few pictures of our family. I'm bummed that she wasn't in them with her sweetie, Nick, but we'll have to find another photographer for that, now won't we?

My little pill, Luke. One word to describe him...exuberant!

And Power Ranger OBSESSED!

Eric--my 13 year old who looks like he is 16 and loves bow-ties--but only the self-tied kind. (Thank you Dr. Who!) I love that he is so comfortable in his own skin and knows who he is.

And finally--the love of my life! My sweet, smart, steady man!

You can't tell from the look on my face, but I'm officially grossed out. We took these photos at the Great Salt Lake--A very smelly, not-so-pleasant place. Fascinating for a biologist like me, but still stinky.

His eyes make me happy. Just like his daddy's. I'm going to go kiss on him now.

Toodles!

Oh, one more little thing...

I have also finished up my Melmac bowl-Barnacle Fiber Art. I have it in the shop--and it seems quite popular, but I am having a hard time parting with it. The colors--the texture--the BOWL!! In fact, for this reason I didn't take it to the craft fair this weekend. 

xoxox

::Conquered::

It's official--Luke is a bike rider. And he really seems to enjoy it. 

I am a total believer in "balance" bikes. Luke rode one around for several months and when it was time for the "big" bike, he immediately took off with almost no help--just a hand on his back for confidence.

I'm old. Granted, I was old when he was born. But, my baby is no longer a baby. He is a very capable, imaginative, confident, bike-riding, little boy!

Kindergarten, here we come! (Best wishes to his teacher!)

::Busy, Busy, Busy Brain::

I'm back from Hawaii!!  A truly amazing place--with lots of very warm waves, white sandy beaches, lush plant-life that I don't get the chance to see in Utah, abundant time with my sweet husband and family, and the world's largest hedge maze.  

Holy Hannah!  The maze at the Dole Plantation was an adventure!  As our family began searching for the eight stations found scattered throughout the maze, it began to trickle rain. Actually, more like mist.  And then it began . . . the torrential downpour.  Very much like taking a shower fully dressed.  The catch was we couldn't get out of the shower.  Lost.  Very lost.  In the world's largest maze.  I started laughing so hard as the rain began to puddle ankle deep and we were going in seemingly perpetual circles.  I couldn't help but sing the Phineas and Ferb song that goes, "It's so much fun not knowing where you're going!"

The other wonderful thing about the trip, was the long plane flight.  Yes.  I actually loved it.  I rarely get thirty minutes of undisturbed time to read, sew or even think. Especially since my brain jumps around from idea to idea and from random unrelated thought to tangential thought. Noisy, I tell ya, very noisy. 

Since my dear hubby was seated with my little ones, I crocheted like a crazy person. My brain was busy. So busy that my hands could hardly keep up. I came up with several patterns and actually wrote them down. Here is my favorite, I think. Yep. I think I might just love it.

What do you think?

Hmmmm.  And colors? Different rainbow-like colors? Or flowers of the same basic colorway in different tones? Suggestions greatly appreciated?!

I am picturing this as a warm and happy baby blanket. Cotton!  Yes. Cotton Oh, now I need more yarn! 

Look for a sneak peek of my monster "Posie" project next post.

::Geronimo::

Perched precariously on the arm of the sofa, my 5 year old boy in his tighty whities swings his arms above his head, leaps off the edge aiming for the adjacent sofa and yells, "Trabonabo!"  

It took me a minute to figure out what he was trying to say--yes, Geronimo is what he meant.  And then came the question to my mind . . . why do people jumping from the side of a pool, out of an airplane, or off the edge of anything yell that?  

Wiki research tells me it is an exclamation of "no fear" particularly related to folks leaping out of airplanes.

I have taken a fun little leap.  Not one that is dangerous or risky--one that I have been contemplating for some time now.  I have opened an Etsy shop to share my love of all things colorful and yarny and buttony and vintagey and kitschy with the world.  

feltedbutton.etsy.com

Additionally, my little family has taken another leap. This one 

 a bit more risky. I am still trying to show "no fear".  My hubby has said that, "Faith is the exact same as fear--just in the opposite direction."  So faith is the direction I am choosing! I am hopeful. I am excited. I am optimistic. I won't reveal all of the details, yet.  But one day, I will.  So for now . . .

GERONIMO!!!!

Halloween as a Flu-Bug

Both Eric and Luke were sick for Halloween this year.  Eric came down with a fever two days before and missed some interesting days of school. 


1st day missed:  Greek Culminating Activity--wearing togas, doing Olympic events and having a symposium. 
2nd day missed:  Character Day--wearing a costume from a character out of a book--Sherlock Holmes.


Eric is not a huge fan of school--understatement.  But he was actually a little melancholy that he did not get to attend these days.  I took over treats/food and sadly wished he were there.  


Then Luke came down with a hideous fever that left him, like Eric, sleeping on the sofa and saying, "Ouchy" every time we moved him.  Not happy campers.  

So by Halloween, Eric managed to get himself going enough to put on his Sherlock costume and head out with me to the trunk or treat at the church.  

At least he got to wear his costume for an hour.  Luke never even put on Buzz Lightyear. I'm not certain he realizes he missed the holiday, though. 


One good thing--I spent $6 on Eric's costume and pulled Luke's out of storage.   Hopefully next year the flu bug flies over our house, or at least doesn't show up until the day after!