I finially found time to finish my cross stitched pillow.....

 

 In November of '09 I found this store display at JoAnn's and fell in love with the color combination. That led me to Cross Stitch a pillow design.

 

I did use a small cross stitch chart that needed to be repeated around the square of the Ada cloth. Then I added separate flowers from the chart to create the 'all over' design.

 

A new trip to JoAnn's took me to the designer fabric where I found a great 1/2 yard of a complimenting fabric to sew around the Ada.. I used about 3 inches around....Then the same fabric for the back of the pillow cover. I then bought a contrasting solid blue to make the piping.

If you have priced the ready made piping you will surly enjoy making your own and save a bundle of money.

I bought a half yard of the blue fabric and 2 yards of the cotton piping.. then cut the blue fabric on the bias into 2 yards of 4 inch legnths.. then stitched them together to make the two yards needed. Using my zipper foot on the machine, stitched the piping into the blue fabric...It's so much easier than I may have said it.

 

After stitching the entire pillow, back to front I then popped it inside out by a small opening I left for the stuffing..

 

I'm what they call "Frugle" and do not like to pay the price for most things offered in the stores, so instead of buying the pillow forms they offer, for usually about $24.00, I bought a standard bed pillow at good ol Walmart for $8.00, cut it in half and now can stuff two pillows for a fraction of the price.

 

I then hand stitched the opening. It's sew easy!

 

The back is made from the same fabric used for the surround of the Ada cloth...

My home is made up of 'blue and greens' so this pillow will join the living room in grand style.

High School and Antiques....

 

My "Moments" this weekend were in an Antique store in Gainsville, Florida.

 

And the time my  sister and I took on a road trip to meet up with a High School friend from our years in Hialeah, Florida,  What a wonderful time

we had just talking about people and places, and of course we had to look into the old "Year Book"

 

The photo is blurry but don't tell anyone,,, this is my first crush, "Jimmy"!  Have not seen him since leaving High School....might be nice to look him up... went into 'classmates.com' and did find him. Wonder if he would answer an e ? Wonder if he would remember me and our few dates? Wonder if he felt as I did? Hmmm, guess I'll never know.

 

 I need to thank "Dana" for this photo of her beautiful lamp. Her home was full of wonderful treasures. Thanks Dana for your hospitality and the good time you gave us.

  

 

Chocolate, sweet rich, tempting, Chocolate...

All of us have one problem or another and mine is "Chocolate"....
Just walking through the check out line of the grocery store leaves me weak when I see the chocolate. You know the ones I'm talking about, M&M's, Heath Bars, Snickers and many others that look at you and you can hear them crying, buy me, buy me!  Although I try to look the other way, one or more of those little goodies ends up in my cart and then into my purse. I am good though, not eating the little wonder until my late night snack...
Now, I must admit, being very picky about my chocolate, the one I do gravitate to is the 'Dark Chocolate'. 

Most countries serve chocolate on party tables during happy celebrations.

Welcoming all to visit the 'New Baby Girl'

 

I always have to laugh at 'Cordial Cherries'. It's been around every Christmas season, since I was a little girl... this is one variety of chocolate, we eather love, or hate.

 

 A beautifully decorated box of chocolates usually greets the guests entering a wedding reception.

Or you may find a simple plate of assorted chocolates on a buffet table.

 

No matter how these little sweet morsels are given, they are received with a smile and maybe a yuuuummmm.

This is the season for "Chocolate" No matter how it's given and received .....

Enjoy

But wait, were not finished yet.... Here comes Easter and yes, more chocolate... yummmm

Ways to show your love.

Now this spells love..... 

The time spent on special ideas to show your Valentine how much you love them

              
       We dress in something special for that 'Someone Special'                 

 

So many of us had a 'crush' on a  special Teacher 

  

I always loved the cards given by children

and the gifts they create, that say

"Happy Valentines Day"

The sun came out today here in Clearwater, with the temperature reaching 75'.

Was a wonderful day to check out the damage done to my yard... All the Northerners would laugh but it did reach 27' over a week ago. I'm afraid most of us here lost alot of vegitation in our yards and farms.

The above photo is the "Pony Tail Plant" that has been with me since it was a baby of only 4" tall... I have been treating it like one of my kids for 6 years, with a new pot every November. I'm happy to say, "It survived"!

This lovely sick looking plant is a "Jasmine".. a beautiful perfume came through my kitchen door all winter and summer and alas,, a bit sad looking now. It too survived, and only because it has been in a flower pot for several years. Not the ground.  Notice the leaves.. it's just not something a person would see here in my part of Florida.. our trees don't 'turn' and fall.... I spent the afternoon raking leaves. Something I have not done since Illinois.

The "Spider Plants" as you know are normally a 'hanging plant' in the northern states, but here, I have dozens in my yard.

This past Thursday I had the Lawn Care Guy chop down my banana trees.. how sad, they were my pride and joy... I really did make things like 'banana bread' and yummy desserts with the fruit. I left this one sad tree, with hope of it's recovery...

This one planter is what is left of my 'herb garden'. There were 5, all lush and green, with such plants as "Oregano, Basil, Parsley and Thyme"

Ho Hum!!!!

It may sound silly but my garden was and is very special to me... I love my entire yard, Alligators and all!

Help the children in Hatti.....

I have been following the most amazing family and would love if you all would find it in your heart to help if you can....
It's more than adoption to increase their family, it's to give the 'children' a home.
The plane loads of orphaned children are flying into the US every day now and these children "Need Homes"......

http://haitiadoptions.blogspot.com/ 

I learned of this family through my daughter. She has become friends with "Emma" and her husband...
Like me, a bit too old to adopt and not able to 'send much money' I just want all who can help, to simply "Say a Prayer" and send "Good Vibes" out into the Universe for the safety of all the children living in orphanages around the world. Or if you can send a few dollars... like me I'm weary of 'pay pal' and am sending to "Emma" via "Westrn Union".. if you ask, in the comment box, she can send to your 'e-mail' her address for such a 'gift'....
I think the most unsetteling thing to me is knowing these orphans in Hatti are sleeping in the street, due to the earthquake... this really hurts my heart....They have no shoes (she is buying flip-flops) or clothing and especially, no food!

Please look into the URL I have added and 'give from your heart'.....I know our minds tell us 'we have children right here in America' who need help.. but our orphins have a roof over their head and food in their bellies....and "Emma" is not taking 'money' to Hatte, she is buying supplies, and her husband is taking the supplies and sending on planes donated by wonderful people, to the orphanage director.
Bless you all!

My Jughead crochet hats....

My daughter sent a pattern of the cutest "Jughead Crown" and asked if I'd make one for her two year old son... So being the nice grandma that I am, I had to make the other two boys, 6 and 4, each one.. this will eliminate the squabbles...

The design was so simple and took me all of about 1 hour for each and using three colors of yarn, I simply changed the color coordination for each.

All I did was chain 34 stitches, and started a single crochet, then round and round I went... changing colors for the cap surround.

How cute these little hats are and I'm sure the boys will be runing around the house laughing from the moment they put them on their sweet little heads.

Don't laugh, but my not having a childs head to put the hats on, I used a cantaloupe for the photo....

Then for the finished product, I had to announce to all, the hats were

"Made by Grandma"

Valentines Day

Ever wonder when and how 'Valentines Day' began?  I do like this 'holiday'. It gives one the chance to show their 'love' for family, lovers and friends... but I am opposed to how very commercialized it has become...there are even 'ornaments' for your valentines tree... I find that funny really!  Read on and maybe you can decide 'how it began'?

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialised. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.

          It's time to think about 'roses and cards' for those you love. Halmark even has cards for those you don,t even like, (I really find those cards funny). However you choose to celebrate this loving holiday,,, I wish all my blogger friends a very happy "Valentines Day".

                 

Sheer window treatments for French Doors....

My French Doors were in desperate need of new "Sheer Curtains" and after searching the stores I found it would cost me about $35.00 for the pair. I also found I would need to put a bit of work into getting them to fit the size of my windows... Off to the Thrift Store I went and 'low and behold' there was one panel, double width, for all of $1.36. The good part of  'my find' was they were really in great shape, then to the washing machine they went.

The first thing to do was 'measure' the windows. I found the easy way was to hang the panel from the top rod.

 

I love the bright white on the doors, makes the room seem so open. My dining room looks out to a very private deck and yard so privacy is not needed.

The first step was to cut the entire double wide sheer in half, length wise. So it was folded in half and laid over my ironing board.. yes, using pins to secure it to the board helps it from sliding around...Then, using my sewing machine I stitched the side seams that were cut.

 

Then I hung the panels once again to get an accurate measurement for the lower 'rod pocket' then back to the machine to sew the lower hems.

Sheer fabric tends to 'slip and slide' as it's being sewn so my trick is to put a piece of 'two sided tape' on the machine, just to the left of the presser foot,  this keeps it in place while it's being sewn...

 

I'll have to admit.. "I was happy with myself for my thrift store find and the price of my new 'Sheers". 

Crochet Kitchen Dish Towels and Cloths.

I so enjoy crochet. Kitchen dish towels and wash clothes are so useful... my family uses them for a multitude of things, including the hot cups and dishes that come out of the microwave... they are very thirsty little things and I keep many around... Making them takes about 10 minutes.. Use the soft cotton you can find in any craft store.. my favorites are "Michaels and JoAnns".. each skein of cotton is around $1.99, depending on the weekly sales. I usually can get two 'dish clothes from one skein.

 

For the 'dish cloth' I found the perfect count to 'chain' is 23.

Using a simple 'single crochet' stitch makes it so simple.

I have these little charmers in many colors and shapes and so enjoy using them all around the kitchen. You may also enjoy making larger 'dish towels'.  Search on line for 'crochet dish cloths'. There are so many designs to make but I choose the simple, what I call, back and forth chain; its faster!

You will find this is a great useful craft and it's the kind of craft that is soothing to the soul.