Wednesday, December 25, 2013

 



Monday, November 4, 2013

Do you ever wonder what your doodles REALLY say about you?

 
Some say your doodles can unlock great insight about who you are and what's on your mind, you just have to know how to read them.
 
 

Apparently I'm a cupcake lover and cupcakes are the ONLY thing on MY mind!
 
What do your doodles say about you? 

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Rain, rain go away....

 
Remember Friday's post when I said I was going to The Fancy Flea - rain or shine?
Our weatherman predicted rain.
 I had no intentions of letting a little rain stop me - I was going prepared.
 I loaded my backpack with rain ponchos, a couple of umbrellas and even changed into my sneakers.
I was ready!
When I opened the front door to leave, it was pouring rain.
I still wasn't worried.
 I've lived in Florida long enough to know it could be raining at my house and not a drop across the street - seriously.
Plant City is approximately 30 miles from my home - I wasn't worried.
We made a run for the car and we were on our way.
Yippee!
The Fancy Flea OR BUST!
When we pulled into the parking lot it was raining so hard we decided to sit it out a bit.
 
 
We waited for 30 minutes or more, but the rain didn't seem to let up, even a little.
In fact, it started raining harder.
The entire event was held OUTDOORS, so...
...now I am beginning to get a little worried.
Worried, but still determined.
How bad could it be?
After all, I'm armed with rain ponchos and umbrellas.
 
We could see some kind of shelter between us and the front gate.
 
 
Splashing through the muddy parking lot, we made a run for it!
We got soaked... umbrella and all.
Again, we waited under the shelter for quite a while for the rain to let up.
 
While waiting under the shelter we saw several brave souls going in...
 
 
...only to return empty handed 15 minutes later.
 
A couple of gals came out and made a run for the shelter we were under, so I asked...
Apparently, it was raining so hard the venders had everything covered with tarps to protect their wares and you were unable to see anything they had for sale.
 Looking like it was going to be an all day rain, we sadly made our way back to the car.
Even though I was disappointed (to say the least), I was even more disappointed for all the venders who put so much time and effort into this event.
 
 
Maybe next year....
 

Friday, November 1, 2013

~ The Fancy Flea ~

 
It's all I've talked about for weeks!
 
This popular outdoor market has gotten so huge it has outgrown its previous location.
The vintage home and garden market usually held in the spring and fall in the historic district of Lakeland, Florida has moved. The Fancy Flea will be held this year at Plant City's Strawberry Festival grounds.
 
 
Every year something always comes up and I have never been able to attend.
This year is different.
I've had this event marked on my calendar since April and I am bound and determined to not miss it this year - rain or shine.
I am so excited!
I am thinking about dressing tonight and sleeping in my clothes - running shoes and all.
 
If you are reading this post and have a booth at The Fancy Flea tomorrow, please let me know, I would love to meet you and introduce myself.
 
It's gonna be soooooo much fun!
 
 Anyone know what time U-Haul opens tomorrow???
 
26' truck
 


Thursday, October 31, 2013

Be afraid.........

be V-E-R-Y afraid....
 

 
Ya skeered yet?
 
Don't be...
 
It's just Betty Crocker and a few Wilton candy molds!
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

A shirt for Polly

 

The  * PEACE - ful *  little witch...


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

A "bite" of candy corn

 
Just a couple outfits and goodies for my grand babies.


Since my grand babies are still young, I don't do scary.

...YET
 

The candy corn design is from Planet Applique - one of my favorite sites.
I have purchased MANY designs from Planet Applique and they always stitch out perfect!
 
Hope everyone is having a great day!


Monday, October 28, 2013

Recycled sweatshirt


Here in Florida, October weather is usually fairly warm.
A few years ago our weatherman predicted colder weather on Halloween day.
Wanting something warm and festive for my daughter to wear to school the next day, I quickly got busy recycling an old sweatshirt.
I'm sure you've all seen this idea before, but I just thought I would share how quick and easy this was to make.
No need for buttons, zippers or even an embroidery machine!
 
 
All I did was simply cut the sweatshirt down the middle for the front opening and cut the ribbed neckline off.
I made a small amount of bias tape and attached it around the neckline and down the front opening.


 I used the same fabric as I did for the bias tape for my applique.
 I ironed fusible web to the back of my fabric and simply cut squares around a few of the designs to use as applique.
I then placed the squares onto the sweatshirt and ironed them on.
 
 
No need for an embroidery machine to sew these on.
I just satin stitched around each design and I was done!
Most sewing machines have a zigzag stitch and with just a few adjustments you can turn that zigzag into a nice satin stitch.
Once you master the satin stitch, there will be no stopping you!


Saturday, October 26, 2013

Love, honor and cherish...

My parents were married 63 years when my mother passed away.
~ They we inseparable ~
On my parents 40th anniversary my mother lovingly presented my father with her very first handmade quilt.  My mother passed away in 2007 and this quilt remained on their bed until my father passed away in 2011.
When my father passed away I inherited this wonderful memory of a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

 The colors of this quilt were perfect for my fall décor.



Blessed are the daughters of Piecemakers, for they shall inherit the quilts.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Fall mantel


A few years ago I decorated my mantel more Halloween-ish for Fall.
 I added my BOO swag, spiders and a few ravens.
 

This year I am going more with a warmer fall décor - no Halloween.
 
I like warmer better.
How 'bout you?
 
 
Linking today to:
 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

I'm lovin' milk paint !

 
I started changing my decor from summer to fall a few days ago and decided to incorporate a few pieces I inherited. One of which was this bookcase belonging to my grandmother.
 

I've never really liked this bookcase because the wood is dark mahogany and my house is mostly light or painted furniture.
So... Mr. Fisherman got to work.
After a lot of sanding and a couple of coats of Driftwood milk paint, here is the finished product.
 
 
 
Now, I love it!
 
 
 
Linking today to:


Thursday, October 3, 2013

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Meet Stanley, the scarecrow.

 
He's been around for longer than can I remember.
 

I made him many years ago using a pattern out of a Women's Day, Family Circle or maybe even a McCall's magazine - can't remember which.
 

He's made of felt, old blue jeans, a little raffia and... 

 
  buttons for his eyes.
 
 
 
 
Whatcha think?
Too cute to be scary?
 
 
Linking today to:

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes...


 

 
I'm doing a little fall sewing and redecorating today.
See ya soon!

Saturday, September 28, 2013

What says... "Smile and say cheese"?

 
My new camera strap!

For something so simple this thing became a bit of a "pain in my patootie".
 
 
I wanted to make a slipcover to fit tightly over my existing camera strap that would not slide out of place and could easily be removed for washing. The existing strap was pretty flimsy. I prefer a nice padded strap, so I added a couple layers of fleece in between.
 Sounds simple until you try to turn that thick, padded strap right-side out and slide it onto the existing strap. I wanted to make sure it fit snugly and I only gave myself about a quarter of an inch difference between the width of the existing strap and the new one. What was I thinking?
It was sooooo tight it took both me AND Mr. Fisherman to wrestle that baby on over the existing strap.
It's not going anywhere.
(Maybe not even in the wash).
 
 
I made the entire strap with the serger except for the top stitching.
Even though it was a bit of a wrestling match trying to slip it on,
 I am really happy with the end result.

Now, smile and say "cheese"!


Linking today to:
http://www.sewcanshe.com/blog/

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Can you guess?

 

Here's your clue.
 
Think "Cheeeeeese..."

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Bloglovin' and a few new tees for Polly


Finally added Bloglovin' to my sidebar for all of you who would like to follow via Bloglovin'.
 I am hoping I added it correctly and it works. If not, please let me know and I will try again.
Thanks guys.



See ya soon!


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

5 Easy Steps To Recycling Your Candle Jars

 


Have you ever thrown out those old candle jars because you thought you couldn't get the candle residue out? 
 I am going to show you an easy way to clean and recycle those jars and put them to good use.
 
Step one.
Just pop the jar in the freezer overnight.
(Yes, I know, don't judge me... that's a HUGH container of ice cream it's sitting next to.)
 
Step two.
Remove it from the freezer and use something to break the frozen candle into pieces.
 
Preferably not one of your good CUTCO knifes like I used here, but maybe an old knife or screwdriver.
 
Step 3.
Now that it's broken into pieces you should be able to remove the broken pieces easily.
 
 
Step 4.
This particular brand candle has an easy peel sticker which peels right off leaving no sticky residue.
 
 
If you happen to have a glass jar that does not have this easy peel sticker you can use a little dab of Goo Gone to remove it.
 
 
Step 5.
Wash, rinse and dry.
I use a nylon scrubbing pad on the inside just to get any tiny little bits left inside.
 
 
Could it be any easier?
 
What will you reuse yours for?
 
 
 
Or maybe...
 
Just another candle.
 
 
The examples above are all using the small jars, but you can do the same with the larger jars.
 
Hope this was helpful.
 
Have a great day!
 
 
Linking today to: