What I got on the list and off the list...

 How I did with my list...

1. High thread count white cotton sheets.. I use them as foundation for crazy quilt blocks   and for practice blocks for students.  Don't often find them but always look.
Found one equivalent to approximate 6 yds of material...cost $2

2. Tall clear glass containers to keep my supply of MOP buttons for painting. 
Found 3. These are 1/2 gallon size  cost... $1-2 apiece

3. Clear glass coffee mugs.  One of our favorite restaurants uses clear glass mugs and I think they're really unique.  Besides I'm pretty tired of the mugs we've been using. Only found two but both lovely....  $2 apiece.

4. An electric knife sharpener.  I've never had one and have used a sharpening stone all these years.  If I run across one I'd like to try it.
Only $2




5. High end slow cooker.  I have a dear friend who has never used a slow cooker and I've convinced her she needs to try one.. It may take a few trips out but I'll eventually find one for her.. Small appliances of all kinds are an easy find but if you want a certain brand or special features, it takes a little longer  I want to get her one with a "keep warm" feature and a timer. Saw a lot of them but will not buy one until I know for sure she will use it.  She borrowed one of mine to try it.

6. Big planters.  I have a couple places in the garden I could use them.  Big enough to be showy but not too heavy to move about.  Now is the time look as once the snow is gone comes every single one will disappear.  Did not see a single one...Maybe too late now.

7.  Trim/fabric for stool cover.  I want to cover my work stool and have a piece of lovely tapestry but it is not quite big enough.  I will check the pillow shams and valances at all the thrift stores for something that would coordinate with  the tapestry..  Found this valance which will work and will even use the tassel trim.... cost $1.50


8.  Panettone pan.  Had it at a friend's house last weekend and want to try to bake it.  Found a recipe and don't want to pay retail for a pan I'll only use occasionally.  This also may a little difficult to find but if I keep looking I can find most anything.
Did not see any this trip...this one may take a while.

9. Tablecloths.  I have a lot of tablecloths but I get tired of them so I'm always watching for large ones.. When I get a new one I donate one of my old ones.  Same with napkins, placemats, and aprons.

I found two very large that would fit my table with all the leaves in.  The floral one is not very spring like but is a gorgeous print and quality fabric. $4

 The second one is a very large vintage embroidered one...a real find and it came with 8 napkins... After I tire of this one I'll put it on e-bay... $6






10.  Dessert dishes.  This again something that I have but like a change now and again and when I get new ones some older ones get donated.  I've liked the look of clear glass lately so will watch those shelves.  The Arc and VOA always have the nicest pressed glass and cut crystal. Nothing that had a WOW factor

And now what was NOT on the list!

A new quilted apron... I start the day with an apron and having a new one is a treat.  I will retire an older stained one.

New leather insulated gloves...now is the time to find them for next winter...  And two coin purses which I needed.

A nice wicker tray which is always useful and some new dishcloths.

The two sets of earrings I will use in crazy quilting and I'm not sure what will happen to the green glass beads..

Four new napkins which will easily coordinate with linens and dishes I already have.






 
 
Two organic looking necklaces that will eventually be made into one.... an upcoming project.

 

 

 

AND NOW FOR THE BEST  STUFF NOT ON THE LIST!!

 

I'm always  looking for high quality frames for glasses.   I need ones with a large enough lens to accommodate my trifocals.  I love vintage designer frames.  These have a tortoise pattern and were made in Italy and have sferoflex hinges.  These were only $2 and I can hardly wait to use them...

 

 

 

When I was shopping I realized it is only a month before we leave for our 40th anniversary river cruise. For the trip I wanted a light weight durable handbag with lots of pockets and zippers.  This quilted nylon bag will be perfect and has exactly the right length of straps for a short person like me.  This had a yellow tag thus was not discounted... I had to pay the full $5

 

Now for the pièce de résistance.  Since I will not have to be handling luggage this trip I wanted a larger bag than I usually travel with...and I wanted one easy to recognize on the luggage carousel.  This is a vintage Pierre Cardin suitcase and there is not a single sign of wear on it.  It is beautifully made... expandable with heavy sturdy zippers and lots of pockets.

 

This also was a yellow tag so I had to pay the full $9.99 for it but I'm so lucky to have found it.

 

We had lunch at a Thai restaurant which was a new experience for me... I loved it.  All in all a very good day... and not only did my friend arrive to pick me up with a white chocolate mocha, she had the passenger seat heated!!!!..... which was really nice as it was only 19 degrees Fahrenheit. What a great friend...

 

 

My thrift store shopping list!!!

My "thriftin'" friend and I try to get out once a month at least... By far our favorite day is Tuesday.  She always drives and arrives with a white chocolate mocha for me.  I love being pampered like that.  We are lucky to have many very nice thrift stores in our town. I head first to the kitchenware area and then linens and jewelry. Then I do  a general wander around the store.

 

 

We usually go to four stores.  On Tuesdays our favorite thrift store (The Arc) has the entire store (except for one tag color) at 50% off..  We always go there as our first stop... Spokane has two Value Village stores (I thing they are Savemore  elsewhere in the country.) and we hit both of them and Tuesday is their day for  30% off for seniors. 

In between the two VV stores we always stop at Volunteers of America because it is midway between.  Tuesdays their only discount is on their jewelry and it is 30% off.  They have a huge selection of really nice jewelry.  That alone makes it worth stopping there.  But they also seem to have the oddest and least expected items in their store.  It's always the best place for vintage lace and linens and unusual treasures. They also have a great selection of needlework magazines and nonfiction books.   Our favorite stores are super clean and organized beautifully.

After four stores the car is usually  full and we are hungry so we have lunch before heading home.

I usually keep an open mind for the unexpected but I also find it helpful to have a list of things I would like to find but might overlook.... So for this trip I have this list:

1. High thread count while cotton sheets.. I use them as foundation for crazy quilt blocks   and for practice blocks for students.  Don't often find them but always look.

2. Tall clear glass containers to keep my supply of MOP buttons for painting.  I need a couple more.

3. Clear glass coffee mugs.  One of our favorite restaurants uses clear glass mugs and I think they're really unique.  Besides I'm pretty tired of the mugs we've been using.

4. An electric knife sharpener.  I've never had one and have used a sharpening stone all these years.  If I run across one I'd like to try it.

5. High end slow cooker.  I have a dear friend who has never used a slow cooker and I've convinced her she needs to try one.. It may take a few trips out but I'll eventually find one for her.. Small appliances of all kinds are an easy find but if you want a certain brand or special features, it takes a little longer  I want to get her one with a "keep warm" feature and a timer.

6. Big planters.  I have a couple places in the garden I could use them.  Big enough to be showy but not too heavy to move about.  Now is the time look as once the snow is gone comes every single one will disappear.

7.  Trim/fabric for stool cover.  I want to cover my work stool and have a piece of lovely tapestry but it is not quite big enough.  I will check the pillow shams and valances at all the thrift stores for something that would coordinate with  the tapestry..  Would like velvet if possible.

8.  Panettone pan.  Had it at a friend's house last weekend and want to try to bake it.  Found a recipe and don't want to pay retail for a pan I'll only use occasionally.  This also may a little difficult to find but if I keep looking I can find most anything. 

An example:  A few years ago Allie told me her husband bakes his bread in a Romertopf clay baker.  Their price range is about $50-$95 depending on the size.  It took a while but to find one at a thrift store   but I did.  Not only that.. since then I have found three more in other sizes.

9. Tablecloths.  I have a lot of tablecloths but I get tired of them so I'm always watching for large ones.. When I get a new one I donate one of my old ones.  Same with napkins, placemats, and aprons.

10.  Dessert dishes.  This again something that I have but like a change now and again and when I get new ones some older ones get donated.  I've liked the look of clear glass lately so will watch those shelves.  The Arc and VOA always have the nicest pressed glass and cut crystal.

I think this long winter and all the snow has me eager to have something  different and a change.  What I would really love is  to have new carpet and quartz counters in the kitchen but will settle for a new tablecloth and pretty glass mugs.  I'll let you know how I fared on this shopping trip.

Turkey Melodrama

Only   rarely do we  see a wild turkey at the house during the summer as they pretty much stay in my forest nesting and raising young.  At that time there's ample food in the surrounding wheat fields. 






But at this time of year they are regulars at cleaning up under the bird feeders.  Not only does some seed fall from the feeders, we spread some on the ground for the quail.
The turkeys  are usually in groups of about a dozen and leisurely wander in from the forest as was the case on this particular snowy day.

They are greatly tempted by the feed on this  platform feeder.  We keep it well supplied for the smaller song birds. 

Over and over I look out the window and see a turkey on top of the feeder trying to figure out how to get to that seed.

They get as near as they can to the edge and lean over and can't quite reach it.  Turkeys are a very large bird and it take some daring to get in this tenuous position.















They will change position several times to lean farther over the edge and they can sometimes get within an inch of the seed and then lose their balance and fall  off.

Undeterred they fly back up and try again to no avail...  What they have done is make the feeder quite unstable with all that activity.  I'll have to build a stronger feeder this spring and extend the roof out just a bit more.

Also there is another ongoing drama.  The tallest pine tree on the farm is right outside my bedroom window.  Year round it's the favorite perch of our great horned owl and I hear it almost nightly.  But of late it has been louder and more repetitive apparently trying to attract a sweetheart.  I'm pleased to report that  it has been successful as all week I have heard another owl responding....a whole lot of hootin' going on is a sure sign that maybe spring is really coming....although it has snowed all day.

"Ladies Who Lunch" blocks

Well they are all ready for the finishing... maybe Pearl needs her hair filled out a bit but they are all gorgeous.  This was a really fun round robin in 2009..  I'm really attached to every single lady... Each stitcher gave their lady a definite personality.

 

I started by mounting Bertha on a striped damask and it will be backed with a heavy burgundy velvet.  I want this whole book to feel very elegant and  posh...  Unfortunately the camera could not capture the wonderful metallic lace on this block.  It is magnificent.  I bought it in London in a tiny shop in the basement of  an antique mall.  I wanted to buy just a yard because it was quite pricey but the dealer would only sell it in one piece.. So what is one to do....buy it all of course. 

 

I immediately developed amnesia about the cost of it but am definitely committed  to using it. This is the perfect project...  I can justify splurging on the metallic lace because the velvet is from a pillow sham and the damask is from a valance...both from a thrift store..  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!

 
 
 
 

I did receive some good news yesterday.  I have only minimal blurry vision in my right eye.(similar to photo)  Some of the loss is due to the wet macular but some of the loss is due to a retinal occlusion (blood clot) last summer.   There is a chance that this will heal within a couple years and I might regain some sight in that eye...  It's all maybe and iffy but I can certainly hope.

She who saves everything!!!

Gertrude has her new hat with lovely feathers....Now I can put borders on these blocks and finally make a book of my "Ladies Who Lunch"

It has been at least 12 years since I made a doll but I still have all the stuff... I knew if I saved everything I might need one little thing.. On a top shelf was a bin labeled "feathers, hearts and lady bugs." And in it were feathers of many colors....black, white, shades of pink,  and red, blue, green, and even purple.  I used to buy fancy feathers in the fly tying section of sporting goods stores.

Right next to it are two other important bins.. The most precious is the hankies, stockings and gloves.  I used fine hankies to make undies for my dolls.  I also was always looking for infant or toddlers lacey or fancy tights.  They were  the best for making stockings for my dolls.. And a real find were fine leather dress gloves to make doll shoes.. especially white ones I could dye.  These were especially difficult to find..

It is so validating to be able to use something I couldn't bear to get rid of...

My kitchen island... not suitable for HGTV

My work space in my kitchen is small.  The floor area is only 6'x7'...  Two people can work in there but they can't move... When I'm having a big dinner I set up a tiny folding table for my "kitchen island."  The pork loin is in the slow cooker, the apples and onions are on the stove caramelizing  and I'm cleaning the beans.  From my folding stool I can reach the stove and the sink...

When I watch HGTV and listen to people complain about a beautiful kitchen and how it has to be a "gut job" I just roll my eyes and think..."Give me a break please" It was a good prep time for Morris.. He had apple, celery, squash and green beans for treats.. Green beans not being his favorite.


The table had a valentine theme and the meal was a success.  I love cooking for friends and treasure a day of "breaking bread."

I'm taking a little break from the peacock block and decided to finish my block in the "Ladies Go to Lunch" RR from 2009.  My lady is Gertrude and last night I "dressed" her and tonight I'll create an outrageous hat for her while we watch an old movie from the 40s...  Her hat really need a feather...where can I find one the right size... hmmmmmmmmmmm! I think somewhere I have a container marked leather and feathers left over from my doll making days.  Will have to search.  She also needs some jewelry...

I love cork bulletin boards...

I love cork bulletin  boards...especially two-sided ones.  Some things just warrant repeating and cork boards are one of those things.  As mentioned many times before I have them in small and large sizes which I buy at thrift stores and I find them invaluable. I'll probably get to this spider block late spring or early summer but for now it is propped up in the living room where I pass it often.

 Any project in the progress or being stretched goes on a cork board for a rest... Meanwhile as I'm cleaning, sorting , or moving things about, any thing that just might work on that particular project is pinned to the board.  By the time I get to it I have a wealth of embellishments to choose from...Of course I don't use them all but it's convenient to have an assortment to choose from to start with.

I spoke too soon on Tuesday about a pig reprieve as they were back yesterday but I ran them off.  I do see a strange truck and people at my neighbors this morning and hope that's a sign something is being done about the pig pen situation.....

Late in the day!!!

Late in the day but I wish everyone a lovely Valentine's Day belatedly.. We had breakfast out and then played duplicate bridge and came in second.  My husband even took a walk and gave me some time in a thrift store...Sunshine and no pigs...what more can one ask for... This is the large motif on  the Anniversary Hanky Quilt..

99% Complete

Yesterday I finished the beading on the tail... Usually I just trim close to the outline chain stitch to apply to block...  This time I chose to turn under and glue about 1/4" of fabric.  These little clips were perfect.  I use them for so many CQ tasks...

Then I let the glue dry for about an hour... This project has been ongoing so long and I really enjoyed working on the tail and but glad to finally see that there is an ending to this "tale of the tail"

I did the peacock body about 7 years ago and now I want to tweak it a little...  I really want it to have a smaller head and there are two ways I can do that. 
1.  I can actually compress it as I sew it on the block to make it a little smaller...which I will do.

2.  The second thing I can do is just an optical illusion.  If I make the body bigger the head automatically appears smaller.  So I'm doing that also by increasing the size of the wing and adding beads to the body...

I do not add the beak and eye until I actually sew it on the block.  Here's what it looks like so far...................


Today I'm adding more green patches to the bottom of the block and then I'm going to take a little break from it and work on something else..

Every cloud has a silver lining!

I love proverbs..... I have samplers all over and some date back to the sixties... I have them taped to refrigerator, walls etc.. and can find one to brighten every day and find a purpose to lift me up  when I'm down..
The other day the proverb most apt was:

and that is what I was thinking as I watched the pigs tearing up everything just outside the window where I work...  It was bad enough they were creating a horrible mess but did they have to do it right under my nose?

But the proverb for today is:

 

Magpies have always been my favorite bird.. even  living in Alaska. We had them here at the farm for years nesting everywhere and their antics brought me great joy.  Then about 4 years ago the ravens moved in and drove the magpies away.  But the pigs rooting through the snow and frozen ground must have unearthed lots of dead bugs, grubs and worms because the magpies were here en masse this morning working over the mess the pigs made....and they did it right under my nose!!!   What a treat for me.

Many trees in the garden still have the remains of magpie nests...they are very large with woody twigs and the entrance was on  the under side.  This one in an old apple tree was used by a squirrel for its stash of winter food after the magpies left.   One year the magpies built a nest in a hawthorn tree right  at my eye level near the sheep pen and I got to watch all the activity in and out.  I posted when the young fledged.

No pigs for several days now...

Major decisions today....what do you think???

For the last week or so I have been mulling over in the back of my mind options for finishing off this piece.  Remember I told you  about 7 years ago I sent out a round robin with fans of peacock colors to specifically use for this challenge block..

This is four of the block returned and they are spectacular and would be stunning just assembled as is.. But I really want to use them with the peacock...soooooooo!

.First problem the green I chose for the background for the fans is incompatible with the block... I hate it...it is hideous with the block and I could never use it as it chops off the sky and all the fan beading competes with the block.  There needs to be a buffer that defines the fans as part of a border and I want to use the sky color around the fans.

The only thing I had this shade of turquoise blue was a dress in my stash so it became part of the audition.  And I liked the color...so I started playing around with border options on my computer....

and I came up with this.... The original center block needs to be larger to balance out the fans.... the longer I looked at it I felt it needed more green foreground.


























And I like it.  But extending the block  with more patches and embellishing is going to add a LOT more work which seems to be the theme of this block... more work and more work.  What was going to be a week or two is now a month or two at least.


























But when you see them together you can see the difference an extra 6-8" of green adds to the block.  Adding more green foreground pushes both the tree and mountain back and a larger block is in better balance with the fans...Luckily I have a bag of the original fabrics with lots of greens.   I put an A an B on  these as I was going to give you a vote...but since I already decided on B that wouldn't be fair.  But if you do have an opinion on these changes, I'd love to hear it!!!

My sister is coming today to give me a ride to Walmart to pick up a lot of little items. Since JoAnn's is so close I'll have her take me there also to look for turquoise fabrics.

DH will take me shopping but he hovers and although he doesn't actually say "Are you done yet." I can see him fidgeting...  I miss being able to drive just for these kinds of errands where I just like to wander and think...