needlecraft fyi

had to take a minute to quickly let you know that...

alicia paulson’s new book embroidery companion:


is now available for pre-order on amazon!

maybe this is old news, but I just discovered it when I went online to order this scandinavian needlecraft book I just found out about:


yeah, I'm pretty much beside myself excited about both of these :)

{hope you're having a great weekend!}

senior portrait

if you thought that was funny & you haven't seen the awkward family photo blog yet you must check it out. now!

have a great weekend :)

thursday = embroidery

I don't have any of my own embroidery work to show today, but instead I'd like to share a recent stitched purchase:


when I saw this beautiful necklace by septemberhouse on flickr I had to have it!


I made the holder using a xmas ornament I recently thrifted, here's what it use to look like:


a little paint, a wooden plaque from michael's & some scrapbooking paper...my kind of easy project.

and of course I haven't forgotten this week's vintage embroidery design, which is yet another of the stamped linen girls:

happy stitching :)

recently thrifted

title: major matt mason - moon mission
author: george s. elrick
copyright: 1968 mattel inc.
publisher: western publishing co., inc.

I haven't read it yet, but from the images I've gathered that there are huge rabbits involved:


and that jo ann is always freaking out about something:







until she finally faints on one of the giant sedated rabbits:


poor jo ann...I don't think she's cut out for space travel.

just a random photo

some things never change

1970-something:


yesterday:

my top 4 thrifting weaknesses

1- pretty fabric:


{I have no idea what this is used for, but how cute is that pattern?!}

2 - useless things that make me smile:


{especially if they are pink}

3 - men's shoes:


{if you have big feet like me there is a world of vintage footwear possibly untapped at your local thrift store}

4 - vintage coats:


{a couple are okay, but they become a weakness when you continue to buy them even though you've run out of closet space}

do you have any thrifting weaknesses?

p.s. have a wonderful weekend!

thursday = embroidery

one of the custom embroidery orders I did recently was for the very sweet melissa of melissa loves - I really adore what she had them say:


on top of being incredibly nice & easy to work with she also did a post about them - {blush} I was so flattered! I especially appreciate being able to see how they look in their new home...thank you so much melissa :)

and here's the next in the series of girlie stamped linen patterns:


the little lady in this series totally reminds me of myrna loy:


star of {among many other films} mr. blandings builds his dream house which is one of my favorite movies...this scene especially cracks me up every time!

sleeping beauty

little girl cat is now fully recovered & back to her rigorous daily schedule of sleeping all day :)

another necklace

I used the same principle as when I made the earring necklace but this time with fabric covered brads from the scrapbooking aisle at target.


for this version I used two pin-backs to connect the pieces {please excuse my messy use of glue...I tend to be less precise when I make things for myself as well as when I do a project for the first time & am excited to get it done}



**edit to add: based on a helpful comment {thanks olwen!}, I edited the original post on how I made the necklace I linked to in this post so I thought I better also add it here just in case: soldering the pin backs & jump rings onto the brads would be a more secure way to construct this but I don't know how yet. if you use glue, double check you've used enough on the jump rings especially & just keep in mind when you wear it that it is more delicate than soldered type jewelry.

sigh

finally rented bright star over the weekend. it's was so full of achingly beautiful imagery it left me lightheaded...







if you have a moment follow the link through & watch the trailer - I think it might be a good way to take the monday edge off.

p.s. if you haven't already read the post mr. x stitch did about the behind-the-scenes scoop on the role needlework has in the film check it out.

cold hearted

despite all the bad things I've had to say about old man winter, he went and made me a valentine!


I guess under that cold, icy facade he's just a big softie...

happy valentine's day everyone & have a wonderful weekend :)

thursday = embroidery

a silly idea I got the other day:




{free moustache patterns courtesy of jenny hart here}

and here's yet another of the girlie stamped linen designs:


baby got back!

happy stitching :)

at least a purse always fits {part 2}

here's the second dress that doesn't fit but that I had to own:


obviously those closures where a huge part of why I had to buy it:


and here's the purse I would pair it with:


this concludes the dresses I own but can't wear series...stayed tuned for my upcoming series on the joy of thrifting small men's shoes & cardigans, can you really have too many? {just kidding!}

this just in...

we interrupt normally scheduled blogging for an emergency weather report - it snowed again & winter sucks.

but in an effort to not let it get the best of me I'm going to make a list of things I like about snow:

- it makes hot chocolate & soup taste even better
- it makes the dog happy {he likes to roll around & make snow dog angels}
- when it falls from the tree limbs it looks like powdered sugar
- wearing cute long johns makes me smile
- it makes the house feel cozy
- it makes me even more happy than usual to feed the birds & squirrels
- it will eventually melt :)




p.s. little dog update...he's doing great! last week he had his 8 week follow-up & he is 95% healed. which means he's back to normal activity, including playing in the snow :)

at least a purse always fits {part 1}

I don't usually buy vintage clothing that doesn't fit on purpose, but I recently found two dresses that I had to get even if they were teeny tiny...here's the first one:


and here's a purse I recently also found that I would pair with it if I could: