Project In Process

Actually, I have MANY projects in process! But this is the most recent NEW project....

This is a Crazy Quilt Kit that I purchased some time ago from Shannon at Sweet Inspirations Etsy Shop 
She has beautiful fabrics and hand dyed trims that she sells from her shop. She is a sweetheart and is very helpful and kind. Do you remember my post about the heart I had made for our Anniversary? Shannon was the one who created that gorgeous heart for me. She has many beautiful handmade tags and items in her shop. She is a very talented gal.

I began working on this purse the beginning of this week as I travelled with Hubby to deliver sparkling cider to a business in Seattle which will be carrying it. Since I did not plan my time well, I seldom do.... **rolling eyes at self**, I ended up handstitching these pieces together in the car!

You can see where I tried to stitch a piece of fabric on and I messed up the picture of that sweet girl! The fabric was not pinned and I ended up removing the stitching and repositioning it. I decided to NOT start over and place some embellishments over the stitches, we will see what I come up with! This second picture is after the majority of the fabrics are stitched down, it's a different color..."Don't start THAT again!" because of the afternoon sun shining through the car window, as we sat and waited for a semi truck to be cleared from a rollover accident on Snoqualmie Pass, over the Cascade Mountains.

All of the fabrics that I have chosen to use are sewn in place in the shape of the purse I am making.

Now, to decide what embellishments to place where! I am not good at these kinds of decisions, that perfectionism stuff again, so I am just going to be brave and CHOOSE! 

Here are a few of the things I will be choosing from! The picture at the left has laces and trim that will be stitched with fancy stitches to the area they are shown right now.

These are some velvet hand dyed ribbon leaves I made quite a few years ago and I have not

been able to find the right item to use them on until now! They have the same 

dark pink in them that the flowers the little girl is holding have.

I am so happy to be able to use these. I think a velvet ribbon rose might be

a great addition to this purse as well.

Pat Winter, who made my crazy quilt purse for me,  likes to use beautifully embellished insects or butterflies on her purses. She and Shannon happen to be good friends! 

I came across Pat's Blog, Pat Winter Gatherings,

after having seen and purchased a few pieces from Shannon's 

Etsy Shop. Then later realized they knew each other well!

I decided that I could try to make my own dragon fly... so here is my original attempt. 

I accidentally cut off that left wing... but I am trying to just work

with what I've got, not be a perfectionist about this! 

Not finished with him yet, the dragon fly, but I do plan to place him on the purse.

Look at some of the gorgeous beads and sequins that Shannon included in the kit. 

There are so many things to choose from, and enough fabrics to make three of the same purse! 

I am sure I will use these fabrics in other projects as well. 

I will be working on this awhile, but I will show you when it is finished!

I am using Pat Winter's DVDs teaching me how to do this and make these purses. 

She has amazing directions and suggestions and is a HUGE inspiration to me.

After 22 years, I am finally trying the crazy quilting I've been planning to do!

YAY, HOORAY!

Hugs and Easter Love to you all! 

Betsy

My Favorite Soup and Dishes!

Today, as well as the two previous Monday afternoons, I have made

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.

Yes, we haven't been feeling all that great and the soup just hits the spot when we are feelin' rough.

Neither MominLaw nor I were feeling good the first Monday and so I made 

soup for us all. I have loved my pheasant soup bowls, but the table isn't set fancy because I only had 

enough energy for what you see! We even used paper napkins. 

This recipe is full of onions, and celery and small carrots, I use chicken broth as the base and add salt and pepper to taste as we'll as Rosemary and Thyme. The chicken soup tastes best when I use a whole chicken with the skin and any large pieces of fat removed. I cook the chicken in the broth, vegetables, herbs, salt and pepper until the chicken is ready to shred off the bones. Then I add the 

gluten free Fettucini noodles and let them cook while I shred the chicken. 

When I feel lousy, though, I settle for chicken breasts cut into large bite sized pieces and add them just before the noodles. It is less time intensive and takes less energy, but that earthy flavor element the bones give it isn't there. 

It is still very good, just not exactly the same flavor. 

The next Monday, I was still under the weather, and hubby had contracted the germs from me! 

I had even slept in the guest room so he wouldn't get sick! Oh well, the best laid plans...

When I feel good, I like to make Gluten Free French breadsticks to have with the soup. 

They are fairly easy to make, though they do take time to raise, but they taste great! 

I usually wish I had some in the freezer ready to heat and serve. 

But they are so yummy, they are all gone when I make them.

 Even the people who eat wheat love them! 

 I also have a Pheasant Soup Tureen that I usually serve the soup from. 

I looked for about five minutes in the usual place I have it and couldn't see it. 

So, that was that, and I ladled directly into the bowls, I was so tired! 

Today, I went to Daughter*2's house and made it for her and her hubby. 

She has been having migraines and I wanted to give her and her hubby a break from cooking. 

She also eats gluten free and they like this soup. 

I hope it turned out okay! I didn't hear from her after I left her house! 

Here are some pictures of how my dishes were in the cabinet this winter.
It was fun to have just the clear glass pieces and some blingy napkin rings as the accents,
along with the silverware and the other silver pieces I usually keep in there.

I love the vintage lidded mustard jars on the right that I got from LuluLiz.
I usually use them for jam at breakfast and each person has their own jar of jam and spoon
to serve themselves. On the top shelf, I have raw sugar and mini-marshmallows 

(Hubby LOVES mini-marshmallows in his hot chocolate!) 

in two of the jars, along with the Hot Chocolate Pot! 

When I showed my dishes cabinet here on my blog before, it had the American Atelier Athena 

dishes on display. This time, I have my American Atelier Baroque dishes out. 

They mix and match beautifully, but it's fun to have them out at different times. 

You can see my collection of little and large unique spoons in this picture. 

They have some funny stories to tell!

Daughter*2 and SoninLaw*1 had extra shelves cut for my Christmas gift this year! 

I was so happy!!! I can keep more of my glassware in here instead 

of climbing to the cupboard above the refrigerator!

I love my cabinet and I use my dishes much more often since they are 

easily accessible in the kitchen now. 

And look what that wonderful SoninLaw*1 did for me....

He climbed the ladder and placed the plate rack on the wall for me! Isn't he just awesome??? 

(Yes, he is!) Don't you love the wine bottle holder on the right? 

I think you can guess where I got that... Yep, from a brocante in France! (Thank You, Liz!)
It holds eight bottles, and I usually have two bottles of each of the four main varieties of our sparkling cider in it. We had guests and I shared a few with them and haven't refilled it yet.

Thanks for looking at my dishes cabinet, it's about time to change it all up for spring and summer.

 Now if I can just stay well! I am hoping this isn't a repeat year of last year!

Hugs and Happy Day to you!

Betsy

Posting on Foodie Friday

The Neckpurse Strap

I realized I hadn't posted pictures of the "strap" I made for the neck purse I was given by
Pat Winter, of Pat Winter Gatherings Blog.

It is really a used necklace chain we had, with some beads added.
It was harder than I hoped it would be.
The perfectionist in me is a real pain....

Above was my first try... And I was not particularly fond of it. Do you know how many times beads rolled off my counter???? I am sure it took an extra hour or two from climbing off my bar stool to pick up the crazy beads! Yes, I have beaded before, but I didn't want to go get a towel, I just wanted to bead!

Next time.... I will get a towel. *rolling eyes at self*

I looked at other beading projects and realized that I needed larger beads, which I thought I didn't have. But I looked around and remembered a few places I had things stashed and found the rest of the beads I needed.

This version is more pleasing to my eye, and this is how it has stayed. From the bottom of the strands up, I found the green teardrop beads in a bead set we have had for years. I was using the "E" beads at the time, from the set. Now, I have use for the seed beads as well!

The pink are Swarovski crystals I have had about as long. The oval pearls are from a stash of vintage beads I bought at a yard sale a few years ago. I am amazed at the beads and vintage jewelry I bought there that day. Two boxes... Some I won't use, but much I will!

The gold rose beads, large and small, are from that same purchase. The green glass beads came off one of those Jewelry Christmas trees that were so popular in the 60s. It was my mother's tree in a frame, but she didn't make it. So I had no qualms about taking it apart to use the jewelry! I am using the frame for something else.

The pink beads I stole from Daughter*4's earring drawer! I didn't realize they were given to her as a birthday gift when she was 12. She doesn't wear them so I thought they were fair game...Oops! She can inherit the purse! I don't have any pink large beads, so I was scrounging! I did send her pictures and asked if I could use them... She told me they were a gift, and forgave me. 

The glass beads above the pink were from a collection of vintage aurora borealis glass beads I purchased from my favorite local Vintage shop, Patina. 

I used necklace clasps to attach the bead strings to the purse and to an old metal necklace chain I did get permission to use from Daughter*4! She gave me that some time ago. I like how the

clasps accent the beads much better on this version. instead of at one end, they are on either end of the bead strand.

Above the aurora borealis beads are a smaller gold rose bead. I thought their vintage look was just right for this purse. I wanted to add some "Glam" to the purse back so I spent a gazillion hours making this collection of "baubles". This was what I was making when I kept having to get off my bar stool! I realized that I needed more of the correct jewelry findings, so I made a trip to JoAnn's Fabric and bought a collection that matched what I was already using, a combination of gold and antique golds colored metals. It made it so much easier when I had enough of what I needed to attach each item so it could hang just right at the right length and spacing. The pink aurora borealis was a vintage necklace on a gold chain, also from Patina. It was a wonderful color accent to the "baubles". I had a clear glass teardrop pendant , but you can see below, it was too large for this size of bag. Pretty, but larger than I wanted.

This was my first attempt at the "baubles". It needed more color as well as additional items. Here is 

a close up shot of the final "baubles".

I love the gold heart locket, I think it's Black Hills Gold, also from the yard sale find! I think I will put pictures or my initials inside of the locket. And there has to be a heart somewhere on this! I just love hearts!

Daughter*2 says the baubles should be on the front, they are also very beautiful there. I need to tack them down, however. They swing very well when I walk or lean over. 

I wear this purse whenever I go shopping lately. I am going to have to make a few more so I don't wear this gorgeous one out! It's already looking a bit soiled... Can't have that! I may just have to keep it hanging on the towel bar in my bathroom... It looks so beautiful there as well!

I am so excited to make a purse myself! 

And I have been doing more house cleaning and organization, so now I can give myself a little time to work on one. In the evenings, I have also been sorting seed beads... A bag of various kinds and colors of vintage beads from Patina. I need to call Judy at Patina and have her set aside the other two mixed bags for me! They will be great for Crazy Quilt Projects!!! And the sorting really appeals to my OCD!!!!! I have been sick a few days, and hope to stop sneezing and sniffing soon! But I can still sort beads! 

Have a beautiful Monday!

Hugs and thanks for coming by!

BETSY

P.S. I am not sure why the text changes during my posting when I post from my phone....I think that is odd...and I don't really like to post from my phone. But it's to keep me from spending so much time on the computer!!!! I AM trying to organize around here and the computer is SUCH a magnet to me!

And, I am not sure why only one picture didn't have the white behind it. That would be from the Be Funky App I used on the phone. I'd rather the white background was not there...I will remember that for another time I try it...

Hearts Around Our Home

We have been very busy over the Valentine weekend. Hubby and I drove 650 miles to visit our unmarried children over the 3 day weekend. 

Such a good time we have had seeing family, visiting, hugging, and kissing and celebrating our love for each other over Valentine's Day. We were able to attend our son's Choir class. He is a part of the BYU audition Men's Choir. I thought I had died and gone to Choir Heaven!!! I just listened and cried, they sound so beautiful!!!

Before coming, I was so busy with organizing and trying to get the strap made and attached to my neckpurse from Pat, that I didn't decorate or do a lot for Valentine's Day at our home. But, I started noticing the hearts all around our home that are part of our everyday decor. As you know, I love hearts! And so I decided to share with you some of the hearts you may or may not have seen in our home.

Do you remember the late 80's when the white washed County style was in? Well, country style I could make, but I always wanted to decorate with a more detailed look than that. So, I designed this shelf and purchased the wood, and my sweet hubby was kind enough to make it for me! Isn't it still  beautiful after all these years? This is on the wall in our main floor bathroom. I still love to change the items on the shelf for the different seasons. I also have a heart shelf that matches it, but it isn't up anywhere right now.

A dried rose bud wreath I made from that same the time period. This hangs in my bathroom.

A lace brooch I made in the late 90's with a metal heart charm, French wired ribbon roses, leaves made from fabric, and a few beads in the pink ribbon flowers.

This heart key charm I have had for years and it's having on the same chatelaine as the brooch. My Mother made the chatelaine, it has pockets on each end, for thread spools and anything else that I may need to have at hand while embroidering or mending, and to hold a pair of scissors. One end also has a little pin cushion attached where I can put my needles and pins that I am using at the time. 

Heart frame with pictures of Hubby and I, we had these taken on our honeymoon in San Fransico. The picture behind is Hubby's Mother at about 5 years of age. Daughter*3, who is named after her, looked just like her, only with blonde hair, at this same age. That picture will belong to our daughter eventually. 

This Mountain Dulcimer was made for us by Hubby's Father. He made one for each family in the family. He did amazing woodwork and made many wonderful things for the families. We are all musical, so we love using it when we all get out our instruments. And it hangs on the wall in our "Quiet Room" where we also have the piano and all the other instruments.

This small gorgeous wall quilt was made for me by Sister*3. It hangs in our guest room. She even picked the same fabric, but in a different color, as my Mother did for the chatelaine. I love and adore this quilt!

My oldest sister created this for me years ago, when we were both looking at doing crazy quilting. I love this so much ! I see it everyday in my bathroom. It reminds me so much of her because it is just her style. She is 20 years older than me and I have loved watching her create since I was a little girl! She has always encouraged me and "Oo'd and Ah'd" about things I've made. These two sisters and my Mother also helped me tie the quilt that is in our guest room, 20 years ago... How can it be that many years? How does time go so fast? I am sure it has sped up as I have aged!

This is a close up on the embroidery... To remind me that we are wonderful women!!! I think she intended for me to add whatever stitches I might like to to this wall hanging. I will have to ask her about it!!

Thanks for looking at my hearts, these are really just a few of the hearts around our home. Of course the one I love best in my Hubby's Heart... Speaking of time passing so swiftly... we just celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary! 

He is kind, patient, forgetful, silly, fun, calming, encouraging and sees the positive in life. Sometimes he gets mad, but only when I've had it a long time coming! I am so grateful for him and love him so much, even if he acts like a little boy or a "pill" sometimes!

Thanks for all your warm Bloggy hearts!

Hugs, 

Betsy

One more heart and a sneak preview of my next post! I have had this lace heart filled with dried roses for 25 years... I love it! It sits right here on top of the beautiful cedar chest Hubby made for me for Christmas, when we were engaged! It's in our bedroom, and the heart sits right on the top. 

And the beautiful purse and strap, look at my next post!

"Just the facts, Ma'am" ~ just the facts...

Welcome to all of my new followers!
and to those of you who have been here awhile, thanks for hanging in here with me...
while I find... Umm....What was that I was looking for these last years???...

....OH...YES.....Balance!!!!

I found this quote on Facebook and made a pretty version to post here because... it's the truth ...

One of the  reasons I started this blog was to see if posting what I DO would motivate me to take care of my... life....I have been so unmotivated for a few years. I found out I had hypothyroidism in March of 2012 and was put on Synthroid for it. It has helped, but I still have a lingering lack of motivation.
(It's probably just my computer addiction that is getting to me! THAT addiction began while looking at all your lovely blogs when I was feeling like I could hardly move!)  Add to the addiction thing, my procrastination AND perfectionism issues, which I talk about in First Post! (in the first two paragraphs), that seem to have gotten worse over time.
I am one of those All or Nothing People whose mind says,
"I feel overwhelmed by it ALL now, so I will do NOTHING, until I feel motivated to do it ALL."
You toss perfectionism into that and in my mind turns it into:
"I CANNOT do it ALL PERFECTLY now, because I am so overwhelmed by EVERYTHING  I want to do PERFECTLY. So, I will do NOTHING now, and then do it PERFECTLY later!" And, when I do clean, you can eat off of it, whatever IT is. Yeah...crazy, I know!....
"So, how's that workin' out for you, Betsy?" you may ask...
Not working well enough, let me tell you!
But, I keep working at it!!!

Gorgeous Vintage French Tin that looks like a book!

Procrastination and Perfectionism issues make it so that I am generally doing the right things
at the wrong times...and many times just procrastinating taking care of organization in my home.
..**rolling eyes at self**, WHY I do that to me, I DO NOT KNOW!!!
....I don't like it...but I do it...(russerfrusser...humph!!)

The Tin Book Spine

AND... I have .A.D.D. ... Attention Deficit Disorder ... I tell my hubby that I have
a defecit of attention from him, and if he gave me more attention,
I am SURE there would be less disorder in our house!

But I don't think I can really blame him for all MY stuff...
So, I am trying something different this year. I have tried something every year,
but I get overwhelmed and give up and go back to my old ways,
which are filling the house! My children and hubby might sign me up for an
"Intervention", and you might see me on an episode of Hoarders!
(Thank Goodness they don't do that show anymore...at least, I HOPE they don't!)

A Tin Book full of Treasures!

But I still have to slow down enough to finish the plan...
There is hope for me somewhere, I just have to find it!
"It's Here...Somewhere!"
So, that is what I will be blogging about. I need to take care of an area and post and
reward myself with making something fun. I know, I know, I am an old woman
and should have gotten a handle on this when I was younger,
but can't go back now,  just have to move forward.

I loved this little silver tray and had to do some talking to get Liz to sell
it to me before she had cleaned it. She even sent this very fine
 steel wool so I could clean it up as well as possible.

These are some pictures of some beautiful things I bought from LuluLiz last spring...

The silver tray, all clean and vintage looking... I just adore it. These vintage glass apothecary bottles
 are lovely, with their glass stoppers in them. I store the buttons in the bottle and place
them where I can see them in my Workroom.

Such fun treasures... I wonder how I will use those laces??!!!

These will inspire me to ... move and get organized....I am sure..... I think!

 (Hmmm... I think I see the problem there...   ;) )

Hugs from my heart and 

Bloggy Valentine Love!

BETSY

Look What Came in My Mail!!!

Don't you just LOVE it when you are expecting a package in the mail???

I was so excited about this package, I walked to the mailbox, a ten minute walk,

twice this last week, even though I was sick, because I hoped this package 

would be in the mailbox... but it wasn't there yet. Bummer. 

But it did arrive a few days later!!!!! YAY!

In October, Pat, of Pat Winter Gatherings Blog, had a birthday giveaway, 

celebrating her very own birthday. She is very generous to give a gift to a blog friend for her birthday! 

If you are familiar with her blog, you know she makes the most amazing 

Crazy Quilt ... everything! Quilts, and purses and wall hangings

and every one of them is unique and beautiful,

just like Pat herself.

        This is the beautiful neck purse she custom made for me as my gift! Isn't it gorgeous??!! She asked that I send her my color selections and I asked if I could send her some fabrics and laces and ribbon to include in my purse. I thought that might give her an idea of what colors I would like and she could add whatever she felt would look best. I was so excited, I cried! I had purchased a kit from her last spring, when hubby and I were so ill, and really enjoyed watching the DVDs while in bed getting better. I still hadn't the courage to actually make something. I have been going to, but I chicken out...And when I saw her offer to custom make a purse, I was thrilled that I might have a chance to win!  To Pat I mailed the small key, top left, the cream lace on the top right, the olive green and gold vintage ribbon just below the cream lace, the antique gold cording she used as the vine for the roses, the vintage gold loopy trim on the lower left (Trim I purchased from LuluLiz Etsy Store!), the fabric in the center on the bottom and the antique gold and gold loopy trim just above it.  There were a few more pieces I mailed her but they were for her to choose from and to use however she liked, in other items if she wanted to. Pat does such detailed work. She sent me an email when it was sewn but not yet embellished and I received it while we were in Germany.  I was so happy I could hardly sleep that night! It would be Christmas again when we arrived home in January! 

Even the back of this purse is beautiful. She used a gorgeous green and gold fabric that is quilted for the back of the purse.  The quilting is textured and some of the most beautiful fabric, I just love it! 

The inside of the purse is lined and has a pretty trim around the edge. 

That is such a sweet tag really personalizing the gift. 

I just love everything about it!

Here is an enlarged view of the work on the top. Can you see the beads sewn to 

the outside of the purse clasp that keep the fabric attached to the clasp? 

What a beautiful way to finish it securely! I love the beading across the key to keep it in place. 

Each of the pearls are beaded around, with many more beaded flowers on the front. 

The silk ribbon embroidery, sequins and beads are just so amazing. 

The fabrics she chose, the threads, the embroidery stitches,

and that beautiful victorian lady, it all just takes my breath away.

I love those silk ribbon roses....so pretty.

I love the many colors and variations of color there are in this purse. 

and now, I am excited to try to make a small CQ project myself. 

I am also working on a chain, with a few baubles, to use as a strap on this purse.

I will post about that when I get it finished. I have really enjoyed just working on the chain!

I am so happy to have won this amazing gift for Pat's birthday!

She is so generous with her blog followers. 

Happy Pat Winter's Birthday to ME!

And to Pat! 

Thank you so much, Pat! 

I  LOVE  THE  PURSE!!!!

HUGS,

Betsy

My Beautiful Gifts from LuluLiz!

I enjoy looking at Liz's Etsy store, LaCroixRosion, frequently. She has amazing vintage finds there for sale at very reasonable prices. This beautiful Battenburg Lace doily is handmade. You can see all the hand stitches on the back side of it, a machine could not have made those stitches, only a skilled artisan could have done so. This is one of the items she gave to me in my Christmas Basket!

Look at this sweet Frozen Charlotte doll she gave to me! I have a "tiny doll fetish"...

I don't even think Liz even knew that! I have wanted one of these, 

but hadn't been able to find one the size I wanted and this Charlotte is just the right size! 

Isn't she adorable? I do want to place some sheer lace about her so 

she doesn't look quite so cold, however!

Another thing I love is vintage buttons, and Liz has many kinds of vintage buttons! 

I think Liz has given me buttons in almost every order I have received. 

She always adds little adorable items wrapped so beautifully. 

I will add these to my button bottle when I get home.

A wonderful vintage wine tasting cup, we will use it for tasting sparkling cider,

which is no surprise to you, is it!

She gave me these very old curtain clips and they are serious clips!

They have SHARP teeth on them that will hold the curtain tightly in place, just as it should be.

 I purchased some 20 years ago for some curtains and I returned them to the store. 

The fabric just slipped out because there were NO teeth in them, such as these clips have.

I love this beautiful detailed pin cushion,
I have always liked making pin cushions since I was young.
I love the three strings of pearls, beads and embellishments hanging from the base of the pin cushion.
The top view of the pin cushion.

"J'adore" this all Eiffel Tower she gave to me!!! 

I have always wanted one of those too! 

I have just the place to put this!

The old French key is just fun!
I have a few key collections,
but I believe this one will go into our youngest Daughter's room that I am still redecorating.
The gorgeous vintage lace and trim... I can't have too much lace! The trim is a favorite of mine that Liz has for sale and I love the peach, pink and cream together, I plan to make a "bell pull" with this piece. 

That darling the little basket, just perfect to fill with dried flowers 

and leave on the table on a spring or summer day.

The trim with the clear beads on it I had purchased from her and she 

included it in the basket, hand delivering it to me as well!

Here you will find my post about us meeting Liz and her hubby in Brighton, and 

 Here you will find Liz's post about meeting us in Brighton with pictures 

of my gift to her, just in case you want to see her presentation of it.

She takes amazing photographs and it looks so nice on her blog post!

I have been working posting my blog posts from my cell phone while

I was in Germany and the UK and it is so difficult for me

to get them to look very good. I still have a few more things I wanted to show

from Liz, but I want to get this post up! I will do another short post 

another time! But I am looking forward to creating with

these items and decorating in a few rooms with them!

Thank you so much, Liz, for the beautiful gifts and time we were able to spend together!

Thank You, to all of you, for your wonderful Blog Friendships.

They mean so much to me!

January Hugs,

Betsy