because the real ones refuse to come in the house & pose for me

{have a great weekend!}

thursday = embroidery

currently I'm working on a series of new hoop hangings:


PLEASE NOTE: thanks to a concerned stitchy friend it has been brought to my attention that the patterns I posted here & on flickr are currently available from aunt martha. I didn't realize this so I've taken them down. if you'd like to purchase them they're available here online or check your local craft store for colonial pattern #3733 Kitten Motifs for Tea Towels. sorry!

McCall's Needlework magazine fall/winter 1950-51

in other weekend news

I thrifted these:


the woman who checked me out mentioned what a lovely frame I'd gotten...when I explained that I also liked the needlework she looked at me like I had two heads, both with bad taste.


the painting is signed and dated '32

p.s. thank you so much for all your nice comments about the photos from yesterday & for making me feel a little less weird :)

I like to think it's not weird...

that I got excited to find a box of barbie shoes at an estate sale this past weekend that I could use for photos:





or that the fact that there was also a little phone & piano in the box put me over the moon. I couldn't get my $1.00 out fast enough...



who am I kidding...its totally weird.

a week of photos {friday}

{have a great weekend!}

a week of photos {thursday}

a week of photos {wednesday}

a week of photos {tuesday}

a week of photos {monday}

a sweet surprise

thank you so much jessie :)

p.s. starting tomorrow I'm going to be sharing a week of photos taken during a day trip to arkansas city back in jan. - hope you like them!

for my valentine

{there's a secret message in there for a certain special someone...which is why its not very traditionally valentines-y}

here's a close up of the cross stitched letters:


that's 8,843 x's of love.

they will ultimately hang above the bed - which I think will look very cool.

happy valentine's day!

it happens every spring*...

I think about buying an old pick-up truck.

then I daydream about going to auctions at farm houses out in the countryside & filling it up with vintage treasures. and getting a little airstream to hook up to it for weekend camping trips to quaint small towns. stopping at diners & thrifts stores {& flea markets & estate sales & rummage sales} along the way, while wearing cute skirts...

{links: truck, auction, airstream, diner, small town, skirt}

I took a very {very} small step towards realizing that dream last weekend when I bought a truck:


yeah, its just a little die-cast toy but its a start...

and because I seldom just have one of anything, here are the other toy cars I got:




have a great weekend!

*I know its not technically spring...I'm just getting a head start :)

thursday = embroidery

I was really surprised and honored to be invited to submit a photo to be included in this month's Craft Magazine curio section:


their sweet write up makes me feel a little like a historian!

{and a quick thank you to the people who have already left comments & sent emails congratulating me - you were so sweet to take the time to let me know you saw it!}

and, even though these are a little late for valentine's day, I had to share these little couples I bought in a stack of loose transfers at the flea market last weekend:



happy stitching!

1976 mccall's handcraft patchwork & calico

okay don't laugh - but I actually really like that crazy quilt shrug thingy & would wear it over a shirt if I was less, um...hilly, if you know what I mean.

oh la la!

adorably happy aprons from marie claire idees:

a full house {of stuff}

last week I got the urge to go to the thrift store after work {I usually only go on the weekend} & boy am I glad I did:




I'm not usually a big sparkle person but I am just loving how sparkly these are!

its amazing that with all the stuff attached to these that the only thing missing is two of the crescent moon sequins on the king. I'll have to keep a look-out for some now so I can fix him up...I get the impression he is deflated by their absence.

and the winner is...

congratulations bookwormbethie!

{please email me your mailing address}

I'll be back later today to share a thrifting find from last week - off to work now...have a great day!

big jewelry shop update

its taken me just about all day but I've managed to add a big bunch of rings & necklaces to the shop:






now I'm going to go sit on the couch & cross-stitch away what little there is left of the weekend - good night!