SentimentallyMe

Holiday Greetings!

2011-12-03T10:41:00.000-05:00

Yikes! Time sure does fly! Can it be that I haven't checked in here on the ol' blog since AUGUST??! Good Gosh, that was a lifetime ago! We had a busy Autumn, most memorably with Brad & Kate's wedding on October 16 at The Harrington Farm in Massachusetts. Autumn in New England at it's very best and a beautiful day in every single way!

So I'll leave you with that bit of adorable-ness, and be back soon, much sooner than before. On a side note, can you believe The Holiday Season is actually in full swing?? YIKES! I better get busy! Talk Soon! xo P

A Break in the Action

2011-08-09T11:23:00.002-04:00

Taking a bloggie break for a bit. . . .

Brooklyn

2011-08-08T09:26:00.002-04:00

If you have a moment, take a quick trip to Brooklyn for some inspiration and eye candy. This new-to-me blog is just lovely.

Enjoy your day ~ talk soon!

xo P

Jumping on the Bandwagon with a Commercial Break

2011-08-04T05:54:00.000-04:00

Have you guys seen this new magazine??! I'm loving it so much and happily found Issue #3 at my local Barnes & Noble. Issue #2 is on it's way to me from eBay at this very moment, and my quest now is to locate Issue #1 at a reasonable (!!!) price.

Mollie Makes. Making * Collecting * Thrifting * Crafting

One of the things that I really love about it, the projects are do-able and mostly with little bits & bobs that you have on hand at home already. So. Fun.

For more information and subscribing to this lovely publication from across the pond, go to their website.

Vintage Lucite Purse circa 1960s

2011-08-01T17:57:00.000-04:00

I love this purse! Vintage faux Tortoise Shell Lucite, classic 60s and in great condition. My favorite part is the Jean Nate Towelette and emery board, tucked away for decades since the 1960s ~ love that! This beauty was made especially for Gimbel's Department Store. You can find it Here.

Have a great week ~ talk soon!

xo P

Chicken Feeders

2011-07-29T16:59:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you guys, but we've had a wickedly hot summer here in Connecticut! So many of my flowers did not survive, despite the watering daily. We've still got plenty of greenery 'round here though, and I often bring the plants outside during the warmer weather to make the back deck a bit more homey.So, with that in mind, I've got a thing for chicken feeders. This one is my fave, from Purina with it's classic red & white check pattern ~ on galvanized tin, no less, doesn't get much better than that! When we had Rachel's graduation party here back in May, my brother, who owns chickens, was cracking up at my chicken feeder planters! You've gotta think outside the box on these things, bro!This weekend is shaping up to be a hot one, too! We'll be close to home ~ Becca will be here for the weekend, Rach is off and Brad, Kaitlyn and Kadence will be here for some R & R on Sunday. Other than that, we've got a surprise 50th Birthday Party for a friend, and just some grillin', baseball & time with my knitting needles ~ pure heaven . . . . Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. . . Talk Soon, I can't wait to discuss PINTEREST with you guys ~ isn't it AWESOME!!??!xo P

Pillow Play

2011-07-26T09:49:00.000-04:00

With all the beastly hot weather we've had,I've been holed up inside, finishing up some small projects. I ALWAYS have several going at one time, and this little bluebird pillow has been on my list for some time.

I found this adorable little gem on Pinterest and just freehanded it onto a white wool felt heart. I surrounded it with vintage buttons that I stitched directly onto a piece of Cherry Red wool felt & then buttonhole stitched the two pieces together, stuffing it with fiber fil. Sweet, easy project.

I hope wherever you are, if you've been in a heatwave this summer, it's finally broken?? It has here, though I'm not complaining (much!). The house is nice & cool and I've gotten alot accomplished. Hope you're having a great week and making time for A Sentimental Journey of your own . . . . Talk Soon!xo

Summer Days

2011-07-15T07:11:00.010-04:00

Summer in New England does not last very long, so one has to slow down and enjoy, which is exactly what my plan is for the weekend.

and when I'm not doing this, DH and I have a date with our favorite 3 year old for the Winnie The Pooh movie and blueberry picking on Sunday. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Talk Soon! xo P

Monday Morning Crochet - The Knit Version!

2011-07-11T09:56:00.000-04:00

Becca is obsessed with all things nautical, so when I ran across this pattern on Ravelry
I knew I had to run out to pick up the yarn and whip it up. Well, I didn't quite whip it up, as my knitting skills were a little rusty. I started it towards the end of May, and finished it up yesterday afternoon. It did refresh my memory on how much I love knitting . . . . . . and she was home to model it for the photos. She loves it, and I'm very happy about that!

Something about that Frenchy Chic Nautical look that makes you think summer on the French Riviera!

Next up, two knitted sweaters for our little twin grand nephew and grand niece, Otis Kenji and Nina Adelaide. They're just a few days old, both, along with mommy are doing fine. Total-Twin-Adorablenes needs matching sweaters, right?? Thot so!

Stay tuned . . . .

Talk Soon! xo P

My Besty Best

2011-07-05T08:51:00.000-04:00

My muffin is 3 today!

"Mimi, I'm not two anymore, I'm FREEEEEE"

Yep, she's a big girl now. . . notsomuch, I want her to stay a little girl, okay??

We were off to The White Mountains of New Hampshire for Fourth of July Weekend. As you can see, our girl had a great time! More photos to follow once I get caught up 'round here.

(Photo Courtesy of Auntie Becca ~ Thanks, Bex!)

Talk Soon! xo P

Got Independence?

2011-06-30T19:13:00.001-04:00

We surely do . . . . and for that, I'm grateful.

From our home to yours, wherever you are in the world, in the spirit of Independence Day here in the U.S.A., I wish you all a wonderful weekend, and do take time for A Sentimental Journey of your own. . .

Talk Soon! xo P

Got Spices??

2011-06-28T08:21:00.000-04:00

Sure do!Last weekend at the Flea, I found this treasure! These Griffith's spice jar sets are plentiful at Estate Sales and Flea Markets, but never in this condition ~ this beauty is amazing!

Incredibly clean, tucked away for decades, all of the original spice decals and sifters intact. A fab find for sure!

You can read more about these sets from Griffith's Right Here, and you can find your very own Right Here!

Have a wonderful week ~ talk soon! xo P

Got Peas??

2011-06-22T07:53:00.004-04:00

Well it's "Officially" summer as of 1 pm-ish yesterday. Yay for summer!

When our kids were younger and home from school for the summer, it was a time for R & R and lots of down time . . . . sleeping in a bit, making a big breakfast at say, 11 am-ish. Ahhhh, summer!

. . . . now that all of them are grown ups, things are a bit different 'round these parts!

Rach graduated from UCONN last month, and we had a rip-roaring graduation party for her. Tons of fun - College Peeps meets Family - just a blast. Mr. Quiltdoggie had the yard looking mighty spiffy for the shindig, and the deck was decked out for the festivities, too. Becca is back in Boston, working for reals at her major-presidential-campaign-but-i'm-not-supposed-to-mention-him-by-name job, so we see her frequently, too as she's only a few hours away. YAY for that! She & Rach are busy as ever planning a bridal shower for Kaitlyn, my fabulous FDIL, who together with our son Brad, just bought a restaurant! They are super excited and super busy . . . . .and super happy! Lots of good things going on with them, and only 4 months til the wedding . . . .YIKES. More on The Three Musketeers Plus One later, but in the meantime, I thought you'd like to see some of my gardening (and I do use that word loosely!) efforts!

Peas?? Yeppers, I've got peas. Real. Actual. Green. Peas. Now mind you, I DO NOT have a green thumb, so we don't have a big ol' veggie garden, but I'm all about the containers, and my lettuce has been tres productive, and my peas are bloomin' . . . . and there are ACTUAL PEAS now. Woo hoo!

French Lavender??? Tres magnifique! I found these little French Lavender plants at my local tiny market.
We've also got some crusty pots of chamomile tucked in there, too.

Basil. Quite possibly my favorite herb. So versatile and delish. Mine is growing in an old colander.

. . . . . . and perhaps my fave, our beautiful deep purple clematis that just gets more spectacular every year!
It spills out onto the deck and up the post and blooms a thousand deep purple jewel toned blooms!

So it's just the beginning of summer, and I'm thrilled to pieces that we can pick our "daily crop" and enjoy all that nature has to offer here in our little corner of Connecticut, New England, The U. S. of A. . .

As for me, I'm getting ready for a few summer shows, Brimfield and beyond, so that's all good.

I'll be back soon with more, but in the meantime, I hope you're all off to a wonderful start of summer and enjoying all that this warm and wonderful season brings.

Talk Soon! xo P

Red Burlap

2011-06-13T18:43:00.000-04:00

After a long, cold, icy, broken-bone-filled winter, A few months ago I finally got my groove back and headed out on the treasure hunting trail! Every week I check the local papers (online) and Craig's List for a list of Estate Sales in my area. I've been known to drive quite a distance if it sounds good, but sometimes, well, that doesn't work out the way I hope!

So last month when I found an ad for a "too good to be true" sale, I set off with my list of stops and gps in my Iphone, with no expectations. . . . .

WRONG! Not only did I find this chair, I found an absolute plethera of vintage treasure that I've slowly been sifting through. In fact, I was so enthralled in the other treasures that I seriously could not focus on the red burlap chair of my dreams. The woman running the sale knew that I was interested, so we exchanged numbers, as I (stupidly!) just didn't wanna deal with a chair. WHAT WAS I THINKING???! ($25.00 - a steal!)

I got home and immediately called her, and she marked it sold and I returned the next day. Best part of the day though, when I got there, there were several boxes of vintage linens that had not been put out the first day of the sale for some reason. . . . . yippeeeeeeee!!!

The red burlap chair was in the master bedroom of this sweet old bungalow. It's actually a rocker, and in MINTY MINT condition. I'm envisioning the original owner reading or stitching before heading off to bed.

I didn't know her, but I'll bet she'd be happy that this beauty found a good home!

Talk Soon!

xo P

Little Feet

2011-06-12T12:40:00.000-04:00

While taking photos of pretty fabrics, My Little Miss was having none of it. Much more fun to jump, don'tcha think??! Who can resist little almost-three-year-old-tootsies??Love. This. Little. Muffin.xo Talk Soon! xo P

Just Hangin' Around . . . . on a Hanger

2011-06-10T16:25:00.000-04:00

Aren't these cute?? Vintage wood hangers covered with crocheted cotton, embellished with vintage cotton doilies! Little works of art to hang by themselves, or for something very special. . . . yes, I do hang laundry on my walls :)Have a wonderful weekend. . . . talk soon!xo P

Weathered Worn & Wonderful!

2011-06-06T16:47:00.000-04:00

I love the summer months here in New England ~ especially now that it's outdoor flea market season! We're crazy busy around here with lots of family events, but I make time for a little junkin' each week, and last weekend I found this little gem. Old Paint * Red * Rusty * Worn * Beautiful!

You can find it Right Here in my Etsy Shop.

Talk Soon . . . . . xo P

Bicentennial Decor Circa 1976

2011-05-23T13:34:00.001-04:00

Don't get me wrong, peeps, I totally LOVED America's Bicentennial year. I actually graduated from High School in 1976 and I was all about the patriotic look back then, yes, I embraced it. So did my mom. We had brass eagles everywhere you turned, and a little stool in the den with our black naugahide furniture that looked alot like this little gem.

I know, I know . . . . . but last week it found me at The Salvation Army and I had to take it home with me as it needed a makeover . . . badly.Ta Da!

I am totally digging how it turned out! It's now in my office/sewing room with another new treasure from an Estate Sale this weekend that I'll show you later in the week. Lets just say, it involves RED VINTAGE BURLAP. Yup. I know . . . .

I'm also totally embracing the rusty, crusty look outside on the deck and in our yard this summer. If you are too, Take a jaunt over to My Etsy Shop to check out the stash of crusty old garden center clay pots that I found. I love me some Rusty Crusty Junk . . . . . . . Talk Soon!

xo P

Bag it up and Take it to Go . . . .

2011-05-06T11:32:00.000-04:00

Pheew! What a whirlwind around here these past few weeks!

I've been trying to get ready for Brimfield, and it's taking me so much longer than usual, hobbling around sometimes with cane, sometimes sans cane. My GD ankle swelling will not subside, but I won't let it get me down! I've gotta take alot of breaks, and I sometimes feel like I'm 83 not 53, but this too shall pass, and I'm thankful that I can even GET to Brimfield! I usually take a day to go up and shop the fields on my own, before I set up at J & J, but this year, I just don't think I can handle it. Amazing what a broken leg & ankle full of metal plates & screwed-up screws can do to mess up your plan! I always love doing Brimfield, especially in May, and Sistadoggie will be my official assistant for this show and we always have fun together :)

If you plan on being at Brimfield, come by our booth (D29) at J & J Promotions next Friday and Saturday, May 13 & 14. Look for the triple flag bunting and that's where we'll be! Always fun to meet some cyber-peeps in person!

In other news, our Rachel is graduating from The University of Connecticut on Sunday (Happy Mother's Day to me!) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English & History. It's going to be a beautiful day! She is very excited to be closing one chapter and onto another in her life. She's been accepted into an internship program for secondary education at Sacred Heart University and will be moving back home in a few short weeks. The internship program is very labor intensive, she'll be working in a school system all day Monday through Friday and then attending classes in the evenings. She's starting classes next month and if all goes according to plan, will graduate with her Master's Degree in a little less than a year and a half. It will be strange having her home again, but she's gonna be busy . . . it's all good ~ so proud of her!

I'll be MIA for a bit with Brimfield coming up next week, so I thought I'd post a little MONDAY MORNING CROCHET today, rather than Monday. I love love LOVE this bit of adorable-ness!

Super-de-duper easy and works up quickly. I lined mine with a pre quilted red fabric and gave it a dotty pocket pair & a vintage red button!

I got the red leather handles at a quilt show last year, but you can find more right here at Late Bloomer Quilts. I just ordered a few pair as I see more of this in my future ~ some with little calico flowers and polka dots. . . . too cute!

Wishing all of you Moms a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday. Take a moment to put your feet up and rest your eyes. It's the BEST medicine.

Talk Soon! xo P

Spring Color

2011-04-22T08:03:00.002-04:00

The birds woke me up bright and early this morning, and it's a beautiful Good Friday. I love Easter Weekend! I wish I could find the photo of me back in 1974. I got a new pair of clogs (yes, I had the clog thing going on back then, too!), and had the cutest green double-knit mini dress, along with my 70s center-part-long-stringy-hair . . . . what a classic. In the photo I'm holding a bunny, and it's right outside of the breezeway in the house that I grew up in. I've got to find that photo, for some reason I think of it every year at Easter Time!

Easter was a big deal in our family growing up. We always went to 10:00 am Mass, and it was the one holiday that we celebrated out in a restaurant most years. When we were very young, my mother always made my sister and I matching outfits. We're two years apart and always looked adorable at Easter with our little straw hats and white plastic purses. After brunch we'd head to Fields Park to feed the ducks. One year Sistadoggie threw my little white purse in the pond. I was devastated, and vaguely remember someone trying to retrieve it for me. Both of my parents had lots of siblings, and Easter meant visiting all the cousins. . . . all 40+ of them! My happiest childhood memories seem to revolve around Easter.

Whatever you celebrate ~ Easter, Passover or the arrival of spring, make it a wonderful weekend! We're headed to Stations of the Cross tonite, Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday evening, and then brunch on Sunday morning at The Ethan Allen Inn with friends & family. Thank goodness The Easter Bunny has been busy filling eggs with goodies. . . . . No doubt Miss Kadence will be in rare form on Sunday with all of her best peeps in town!

Talk Soon! xox P

What Is It??

2011-04-15T05:41:00.000-04:00

Any Ideas out there?? DH and I disagree on what it is, but we both had a good guess!Would love to know what any of you bloggie peeps think it is??Have a wonderful weekend!Talk Soon! xix P

One for Good Measure . . .

2011-04-12T08:16:00.000-04:00

Yep, I've still got shoes on the brain, people. How fabulous are these??? IN MY DREAMS I strut the runway on them, but in reality, the only thing that can fit on my swollen foot/ankle/leg are my cool crocs. . . . Want a pair of these tapemeasure beauties?? I first found them Here. and she found them Here. Maybe you wanna find them on your own tootsies, they're only $795. I mean, they're not RED CLOGS, but they're pretty darn cute :) {wink}

Have a happy day, Peeps. Talk soon!

xo P

Thelma or Louise????

2011-04-04T14:48:00.000-04:00

My Gurl loves her some sunglasses!

Monday Morning Crochet * Wedding Blossoms??

2011-03-28T07:53:00.001-04:00

I'm loving these flowers, halfway done * I need to make a total of 46 for a wrap that I'm considering as part of my wedding attire for Brad and Kaitlyn's wedding in October. The ceremony is outside, weather permitting so I want to have a wrap, and I'm loving this Noro yarn. We'll see. If I love it, I'll make or find my dress to work with it. The girls are wearing Navy Blue dresses and I've been COMMISSIONED by my FDIL to make a dress for Kadence. She asks me every time she sees me if I made her dress yet :) love that little muffin . . . . Anyhoo, I thought a deep or heathery purple would be a good color for me, and once I found the yarn, the rest was Kismet!

On Friday, I'm headed up to Massachusetts to attend "the tasting" for the wedding with Brad, Kaitlyn, Becca and Kaitlyn's Dad. Very excited as this is the first time I'll be seeing The Wedding Venue in the flesh. Can't wait! I'm going to spend the night with Becca in her new digs, too! I haven't been there yet, since the weekend she moved back to Boston from DC was the weekend that I broke my leg. . . . . but guess what peeps??? NO MORE BOOT! I'm super psyched! Still using my crutches and/or walking stick as my ankle area is still swollen, but my super-de-duper orthopedic surgeon said that I can DRIVE and WALK as I see fit now * yeehah!! Amazing what a bunch of screws and metal plates in your leg can do for you. My Doc refers to himself as a glorified carpenter. . . . . .

In other news, GO HUSKIES! Our UCONN boys are headed to The Final Four and we're psyched! They're playing Kentucky next Saturday night in hopes of winning it all. So proud of them! What a senior year Rach is having! Back in January the UCONN HUSKIES FOOTBALL TEAM played in the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona, and she and her sibs, along with her FSIL made a long weekend of it. The UCONN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM is as amazing as ever, and now this. She's had a great run at UCONN, loving just about every minute of it, and is waiting to hear on some graduate schools for September. For now, we're all wrapped up in Huskymania with her!

Talk Soon . . . . xo P

Monday Morning Crochet & Some Yumminess

2011-03-21T10:10:00.002-04:00

Since I can't get through a week without posting something about clogs, I thought I'd show you these! Now you know I love me some crochet and some clogs, but with 5+ inch heels, even sans broken leg & ankle, I don't think I could handle these beauties!If you want your own pair you can find them and other fashionista crocheted goodies right here.

Not much else going on 'round these parts except for the BIG UCONN WINN in the NCAA Tourney ~ oh yeah! Another late one coming up on Thursday night. Can't wait!

So while everyone else was wrapped up in the basketball tournament, Kadence and I made donuts!

She is an excellent taste-tester and I was happy to try out my new Donut Pan that I bought at Homegoods months ago. These are yummy, cake donuts so there's no deep frying. After we frosted & sprinkled them, I was wishing I had left some plain with just a dusting of powdered sugar. They're super sweet, just like My Little Miss, so it's all good! That and a dinner of comfort food that included gravy, and time spent with {most of} my favorite peeps made for a really nice weekend.

Have a great week you guys, talk soon!xo P

March Muffin Madness

2011-03-19T09:13:00.002-04:00

Not much going on 'round these parts except the NCAA tournament. UCONN plays in the second round tonite at 9:45. Dear. Gawd. I hope I can stay awake. May need a nappy nap to help out. Kemba is THE MAN.

Both the mens AND womens teams have already won The Big East and now we're on to bigger and better things with the NCAA Tourney. Rach is graduating from UCONN in a few short months so she's staying up at school to watch and celebrate with her peeps, who are now my Facebook Peeps, too ~ but more on that later!Made muffins for Saturday Morning Breakfast today. Becca home for the weekend and MY LITTLE MUFFIN will be over later . . . .can't wait.Have a great weekend everyone * talk soon!xo P

Monday Morning Crochet Interruptus ~ KNITTING for JAPAN

2011-03-14T14:38:00.001-04:00

I've been a seller on ebay for many years, and when I first started out, I sold only vintage textiles, mostly fabrics, quilts, quilt blocks and tops. Way back then, in 1999, I started selling to quite a few Japanese Quilters, and many of them have remained my loyal customers throughout the years.

The devastation in Japan is gutwrenching to watch. I don't know the whereabouts of many of these communities where my Japanese quilting friends live, but I'm surely keeping them, and all of Japan in my thoughts and prayers. My nephew is also married to the most beautiful Japanese girl, with many relatives still living in Japan. Thankfully, her relatives are safe, unlike so many . . .

Like many of you, I've made my donation to The Red Cross, and today I came across this Incredible Scarf auction on eBay, with 90% of the proceeds going to Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami Relief. Stitched up with the most beautiful Japanese Yarn . If you've never tried knitting or crocheting with Noro, now would be a good time to do so.

This is a wonderful way to wrap yourself in something lovely and also help those in need, suffering far, far away from us here in the USA.

Hop Like A Bunny!

2011-03-12T09:21:00.004-05:00

Spring is FINALLY in the air here, so hop like a bunny over to our etsy shop for these springtime pretties! Click on the link over on the sidebar for a quick trip to etsyland, and do take a look around at all of the wonderful vintage and handcrafted treasures available etsy-wide. They've got the greatest goods over there. My son and FDIL ordered their Save-The-Date wedding cards from etsy and plan on ordering their wedding invites from the same shop.

The Little Cottage Picnic Tin is on ebay and you can find it RIGHT HERE

Have a great weekend everyone ~ Talk Soon!

xo P

Crystal Knits

2011-03-11T08:06:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Song . . . . so moving, please watch.

Love how Crystal incorporated knitting into this incredible video.

ENJOY * Happy Weekend!

Talk Soon! XO P

Seeing Red

2011-03-10T09:37:00.000-05:00

What is it with me and Red Clogs??! I mean, seriously, I've always loved RED and considered it my SIGNATURE COLOR, but lately, all I want is red clogs. Maybe because I haven't had a shoe on my right foot for almost 6 weeks. I dunno, but I do know that I've got those little red polka dot clogs, sitting under my desk, and I try on the left one every day, just to be sure it still fits, right??! {wink}

So Yesterday, I posted my my un-ending desire for these on Twitter, and my TWITTER PAL & NEIGHBOR told me to Make it Happen.

So I did. Thanks, Jennifer! xox

You can find my latest Red Clog Obsession Here!

xox Talk Soon! P

Monday Morning Crochet - Flowerology Scarf

2011-03-07T10:17:00.000-05:00

Amazing how much hookie time there is with a leg and ankle full of broken bones!

If you want to jump on the crocheted flower bandwagon, check out The Flower Bed for tons of colorful inspiration!

Have a happy Monday . . . . . . talk soon!

xo P

My Girl

2011-03-01T15:06:00.000-05:00

This little muffin makes her Mimi so happy!

Lovin' These ~

2011-02-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

Aren't these FUN???

I've got a thing for clogs these days, and I'm calling these my official I-Can't-Walk-For-Another-Six-To-Eight-Weeks Clogs! I'm going to put one right by my computer monitor to remind myself every day that once I'm all healed up and off these crutches, they'll be waiting for me.

Want a pair?? You can find them Right Here

Have a happy Tuesday!

Talk Soon! xo P

Monday Morning Crochet - Colors for Kadence

2011-02-21T07:54:00.000-05:00

Finished project - a blankie for my gurl . . . .

This is my second Granny Stripe blanket, inspired by Lucy of Attic 24, one of my favorite blogs - check it out if you haven't already, so much colorful inspiration from across the pond.

This one is for Kadence! She still asks me every single time she sees me if I'm feeling better, and when she is here, I surely am! Her bedding at home is from Pottery Barn Kids - bright colors and tons of fun, so this coordinates nicely. All cotton, durable yarn from Sugar n' Cream with a mixed bag of fibers for the flowers on each of the four corners.

In other news, it's snowing here ~ only expecting 3 to 5 inches today, so hopefully it'll be in and out quick.

Talk soon ~ have a great Monday!

xo P

Thank You

2011-02-15T13:13:00.000-05:00

A quick note of thanks to those of you that called and emailed with prayers, good thoughts and wishes. It's times like this when one knows who they can count on, and I sincerely thank you. I'm back home now, getting better and better with my crutches and learning how to navigate my own home with one leg! I'll continue to rehabilitate it with at home Physical Therapy and thankfully, I've learned how to do the stairs, so I can sleep in my own bed * YAY!

So Mr. Quiltdoggie has been quite a trooper and the best nurse I could ask for. He's back to work, and since I can't drive I'm going to be working on alot of listings on etsy and ebay. Mr. Quiltdoggie has also taken on the role of my personal shipper and will be dropping my parcels off weekly. I miss my weekly visit to our little local post office. It's about the size of my laundry room and has one employee, Delores, who is just the nicest gal around. Hoping these few months go by quickly, but until then ~ no treasure hunting for me. Heck, I can't even get my own Dunkin Donuts Coffee . . . . . . .UGH! One of my nurses in the hospital told me "you can embrace it or fight it, but if you fight it, your recovery will take so much longer".

I Think I'll embrace it.

Wishing you all a lovely week ~ talk soon!

xo P

Down and Out . . .

2011-02-10T08:23:00.002-05:00

Hello Everyone. I've taken a fall on the Ice here in New England and shattered my leg. Quite a serious injury but I'm home from the hospital now and will be needing lots of rehab to get on my feet again. If you're waiting for an order, that you placed please be patient. My family is going to help me get them out. Sincere apologies for the delay and they will try and get anything sent out asap so please be patient, they're doing the best they can while I'm out of commission. I hope to be back on my feet hobbling around in a month or so, but we'll see. Thanks for your understanding!

Monday Morning Crochet Interruptus . . . Keep Calm, Gurly!

2011-01-31T16:44:00.001-05:00

Keep Calm??? No Problem!
Carry On??? Not Right Now . . .

Becca is moving back to Boston, and she's making a pit stop here in Connecticut along the way while her stuff travels with the moving dudes from DC to MA. So this morning, I opened the door to her room here and Jenny Lou felt it was a good opportunity for a nap. The gurl loves her naps ~ especially after her snowtime frolics. . . . . hilarious puppers!

Speaking of snowtime frolics, more coming tomorrow/wednesday, so in honor of the snowy winter here in New England, here's my Winter Icicles scarf. Super-de-duper easy, it's actually a Queen Anne's Lace pattern. You can find them all over Ravelry , which you should join immediately if you've ever felt the desire to pick up a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook. If you're already a hard core knitter or crocheter and not a member GO THERE NOW, you won't be disappointed! Love love LOVE the Cascade cotton yarns, beautiful colors!

Okay, fingers crossed that this next storm won't be a messy one. . . . ugh.

Talk Soon!

xo P

Good Nums

2011-01-25T17:34:00.000-05:00

So when my granddaughter Kadence was just starting to talk, everything and anything that WAS food or RESEMBLED food, she referred to as "NUMS". She's now 2 1/2, and calls almost all foods by their proper name, but the rest of us?? It's all NUMS. Yeppers. For Example:

Mr. QD: What's for dinner?
Me: Chicken Parm
Mr. QD: Good Nums

OR:

Me: Rach, be sure you bring all that food back to your apartment for you and Vicki (her roomie)
Rach: Okay, good nums!

Or this recent conversation overheard:

Becca: So what's Mom making for the Jets/Steelers game food??
Rach: OMG I'm going to gain 5 pounds tonite. Good Nums.
Becca: Damn! I'm missing the Good Nums!

. . . . and in keeping with good nums, January has been quite a nesting month for me! I spent many days cleaning out and organizing my office, sewing room, storage area and for the first time in decades I feel completely (well, just about completely!) organized. It's been great, I've been home, which has been a good thing since Jenny Lou came home, she's been able to adapt easily to our routine.

So today, in keeping with my winter nesting theme, I made good nums.

We woke up to more snow and another huge storm coming tomorrow. Around mid day I was working on some photos and listings and I heard the faint murmur of a FLIPPIN' BULLDOZER that we had to hire to MOVE SNOW in our driveway because there's more coming and there's no place for it to go!!!!

Anyway, Beef Barley Soup, Bread (dough in the bread machine, rising and baking in loaf pans), and Banana Bread with some mushy leftover BO-nanas (Kadence talk!) I really do love being able to work at home and do what I love, and take a break to go stir the soup when it needs it! Awesome. No worrying about traffic (for myself anyway!) or warming up the car on these frigid New England winter mornings . . . . . none of it.

One of my New Years Resolutions is to get back to listing on Etsy, and now is the time to do it, since I rarely do a live show in the winter. Tried it last year but frankly, it's too much trouble with the weather here in New England being what it is. So my first time out of the box will be Brimfield in May, and I'm really looking forward to the show season this year! I uncovered a treasure trove of good stuff in my own storage area, and I'm looking forward to sharing!

Anyhoo, just wanted to share some Good Nums with you guys. Photos coming of our yard & driveway soon. You will not believe the mountains of snow we have. un-flipping-believable!

Talk Soon!

xo P

Monday Morning Crochet Vintage Style!

2011-01-24T06:10:00.002-05:00

Apparently my love of all-things-crochet runs purty darn deep. I honestly have never met a vintage crocheted doily or potholder that I didn't love, and when I come across them at the flea or in my Estate Sale travels, I can't seem to leave them behind.

Check out this red & white square beauty! THOUSANDS of teeny tiny stitches. Seriously, can you imagine putting that many hours into a 14" square??? I can . . . .

Blue is your color?? No problemo, French Blue & Cream was a popular combination back in the day, and who wouldn't absolutely adore a tiny crocheted dress potholder? Or perhaps a crocheted cotton dishtowel with a handy hanging loop?? L*O*V*E for sure.

Love love love the varying shades of red here ~ two simple but complicated squares and a pair of Irish Crochet rose potholders * YUM!

Sometimes I really think I was born in the wrong decade, as my love for all vintage homegoods is such a huge part of my life. I seriously find myself daydreaming of the days when sitting down to finish up a crocheted potholder was something you did for pleasure and priority. It's not all lost though, I've got my FDIL hooked on Ravelry. She just finished up her own version of the Winter Icicles scarf and picked some yarn out of my stash to make a Slouchy Hat for Brad.

I've spent the last month organizing my stock and I keep uncovering more treasure ~ like shopping in my own home! Tons of little cutie-pies like those above are being listed on Etsy so go take a peek if you're so inclined, and if you're not, stay right here for more crochet eye candy coming soon, including my own Winter Icicles scarf that I'm almost done with!

Talk Soon!

xo P

Cherries in Winter

2011-01-23T09:34:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a great read with a vintage vibe, check out Cherries in Winter I absolutely loved it. A quick read, thought provoking for any vintage loving gal, maybe you??

Happy Sunday!

We Speak in FEET not INCHES {in SNOW terms}

2011-01-19T18:25:00.000-05:00

Seriously, Who's ticked off Mother Nature??!! We currently have at least 2 1/2 feet of snow on the ground, a snow mountain the size of Rhode Island at the top of the driveway, and more coming on Friday night into the weekend. Not to mention the icicles hanging from the roof that could pierce a hole in a slab of metal.

My poor hounds . . . . they're running out of places for a bit of business. Not to worry though, Miss Jenny Lou is burrowing through the snow and making trails, bunny hopping all the way. She. Is. Hilarious.

Thought I'd leave you with one of my favorite photos that gets me dreaming of Spring!

Hope it's warming up where you are!

Talk Soon! xo P

Cozy Up with Monday Morning Crochet

2011-01-17T08:07:00.003-05:00

Carrying on my love affair with all things Granny Square into the new year, I made my very first Tea Cozy! Not a big deal, you say??!! Oh yes, it is my friends! You see, Sistadoggie is the QUEEN OF THE TEA COZY! She's made tons of them, beautiful victorian crazy quilt style, even one that looks like an English Cottage for her niece's college graduation that is SPECTACULAR. {NOTE TO SELF: I need to get Sistadoggie to send me some photos of her many masterpieces so you can see what I'm talkin' about!} So my humble granny cozy pales in comparison, but I do love her! She's keeping the tea leaves warm in my New-To-Me Cobalt Blue Vintage Pottery Teapot straight from Goodwill. . . .

Check out Crochet with Raymond for the original pattern, along with lots of other uniquely fabulous crochet projects!

Happy Monday Morning Crochet!

Oh, and in other news . . . . GO JETS!!

xo P

There's A New Gurl in Town!

2011-01-14T12:44:00.003-05:00

Ta Da!!!

Meet the lovely Miss Jenny Lou!

Jenny hails from New Orleans, she's a rescue from The Looziana Basset Rescue the same shelter that our Chuckie came from four years ago. Our Little Miss is one and a half, and very much still a puppy! She's absolutely hilarious and is keeping Otis and Grizzy on their toes for sure. She has merged into our lifestyle with incredible ease ~ even with all of the traveling that took place during the holidays, she was a real trooper. The sweetest disposition, but don't let that SOUTHERN BELLE thing fool ya' ~ she's a Tom Boy all the way!

You may have heard that we here in the Northeast have been whalloped with snow the past month. Currently we've got a mountain at the top of our driveway almost as high as the basket on the basketball hoop. We thought that Jenny Lou would have a hard time adjusting to the cold and snow . . . . notsomuch! Fortunately, all my kids were home for the holidays and Becca set me up with my very own You Tube Channel, so now, may I present, Miss Jenny Lou in the Snow:

If you're thinking of getting a dog, please seriously consider adopting. Leslie runs a fabulous program at LBR and Petfinder is filled with tons of beautiful dogs and cats available for adoption through reputable shelters and rescues. Our girl came up to Connecticut from Louisiana via Rescue Road Trips, another organization full of caring people helping to find homes for all of these furry friends of ours. The cost is minimal and it's a great way to hook up with your hound if you happen to find him or her online.

So now that the holidays are over and my January purge of clothing and goods has been sent off to Goodwill, I plan to get back to some sort of normalcy here, whatever that is!

Coming up Monday, a brand new Monday Morning Crochet post, so stop by if you can to see what I've been up to.

Have a great weekend ~ talk soon (for reals!)

xo P

Puppy Love

2010-12-17T11:06:00.000-05:00

One quickie post for you. Becca just sent this to me and I wanted to share.

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~Ben Williams

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

From the dog's point of view, his master is an elongated and abnormally cunning dog. ~Mabel Louise Robinson

Dogs are miracles with paws. ~Attributed to Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy

Man is a dog's idea of what God should be. ~Holbrook Jackson

The dog is the only animal that has seen his god. ~Author Unknown

Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really. ~Agnes Sligh Turnbull

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. ~Edith Wharton

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner

I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying. ~George Bird Evans, Troubles with Bird Dogs

Our dogs will love and admire the meanest of us, and feed our colossal vanity with their uncritical homage. ~Agnes Repplier

One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why. ~Author Unknown

Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job. ~Franklin P. Jones

I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that. ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth

When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism! ~David Starr Jordan

Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend. ~Corey Ford

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. ~Phil Pastoret

With the exception of women, there is nothing on earth so agreeable or necessary to the comfort of man as the dog. ~Edward Jesse, Anecdote of Dogs

The dog is a yes-animal, very popular with people who can't afford to keep a yes-man. ~Robertson Davies

Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails. ~Max Eastman, Enjoyment of Laughter

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown

WOOF = MERRY CHRISTMAS!

xo P

I Got Nothin' . . . . . and a BIG SURPRISE COMING!

2010-12-16T07:28:00.003-05:00

DECEMBER 16th???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!

Good Lord, it sure has crept up on me! We've been wrapped up in holiday preparation and home improvement projects since Thanksgiving, leaving little time or energy to post pretty photos and projects here on the ol' bloggie. . . . . but stay tuned!

Taking an "official" break until after the new year. There are more cookies to be baked, presents to wrap, family to visit, games to be played, foods to be savored, hounds to hug, Christmas movies to watch (don't shoot yer eye out!), people to remember and babies to ooooooh and aaahhhhhh over!

Wishing you all a blessed and merry holiday, whichever you celebrate. For us, it's CHRISTMAS, and it's 9 days away. . . . . . better get crackin' ~ we're off to visit sistadoggie (that white-flag-waving-gal over on the sidebar!) and her family!

I'll be back in January for a big ol' whoop-de-doo surprise!

xo Talk Soon!

P

Monday Morning Crochet * Colorful WIP

2010-11-29T09:48:00.001-05:00

Good Monday Morning!

Throughout the Thanksgiving weekend I managed to fit in some hooky time. I used my stash of Tahki Cotton Classic and Cascade Cottons for this little cutie-pie. Still a work-in-progress. Thinking of some sort of embellishment around the edge, but not sure on that yet. I bought the red leather handles at a quilt show quite a while ago.

Have a wonderful week, and if you're decorating and getting into the Holiday Spirit, pick up or download the GLEE Soundtrack

You'll be dancing around the house in no time while you fluff & frill ~ talk soon!

xo P

The Food Coma

2010-11-26T15:31:00.003-05:00

Good Lord.

The day after Thanksgiving. I've had a 2 hour nap, only to awaken craving a turkey sandwich, slice of butter-filled pound cake and a popcorn ball, followed up with a Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti dipped in white chocolate.

Yep, the house of gluttons, that's us this week.

In other news, we've been flippin' busy 'round these parts! Last weekend we made a trip to Philly where Becca ran in the half-marathon. F*A*B*U*L*O*U*S!!

Here she is crossing the finish line. I Phone video courtesy of me, because I'm kewl and all high tech like that.

We had so much fun! If you want to read more of our adventures in Philly, head on over to Becca's Blog for more details. I've lived on the East Coast all of my life, with the exception of 5 years in California many moons ago, and this was my FIRST TRIP to Philadelphia. So Thank you Philly, Pat's is way better than Geno's and Thank you Betsy Ross . Aside from seeing my gurl Becca achieve an amazing goal, you were my favorite site in Philly.

In other news, check out my new Granny Clogs!

Seriously, are they not the cutest things ever???! Loosely based on my beloved Granny Square. Rach was with me when I found them at DSW, She thinks they're hidious, I think they're fabulous, Becca, my shoe consultant thinks they'd be great with the right pair of jeans. . . . she's my favorite child at the moment. {wink}

Alrighty, hope you all had a bursting-at-the-seams-stuffed-turkey-day! I was feeling pretty full until I got an email from sistadoggie, letting me know that she just polished off her second turkey dinner with a shrimp cocktail chaser and some Lindt chocolates . . . . YUMMY (til she told me she kept eating even though she felt like she was gonna puke. . . . ) {wink again}

Talk Soon!

xo P

Monday Morning Crochet ~ Granny Bling

2010-11-08T06:12:00.004-05:00

How Cute is this??!

Yes indeedy, it's a bit over the top, but hey, my new motto is EMBRACE THE GRANNY SQUARE!

Who wouldn't love a bit of Granny Bling???! I'm Going to make one this week, hopefully. In the meantime, you can make your own with a pattern found Right Here , along with a few other adorable crocheted bracelets.

Happy Monday to you!

xo P

Do Re Mi * The Happiest Flash Mob

2010-11-03T07:43:00.002-04:00

Monday Morning Crochet * 1972

2010-11-01T04:20:00.002-04:00

Back in 1972 I was all about the granny square. LOVED. IT. I come from a long line of crafters. My mother was an excellent seamstress back in the day, as was my paternal grandmother, Memere, and thankfully, those genes did not skip my generation! My mother was a knitter, and for the love of God, she could not understand my desire to learn to crochet! Since she couldn't teach me, for Christmas, 1972 she bought me this book. I was so psyched and immediately went to work making granny-everythings and bun snoods. I was 14 and a mad hooker and with my yarn from Woolworth's and my trusty Family Crochet Book, I set out to make every colorful Granny Square item I could, loving every minute of it.

Somewhere along the way, my love of Crochet fell by the wayside, until 2008, when I rediscovered The Granny Square and a great big colorful crochet world out there!

Seems I wasn't the only one. Everywhere I turned, creative stitchers were dreaming up new styles of my beloved granny square, turning them into circles, hexagons and stripey blankets!

My love for The Granny Square apparently really never left me, because for the past 10 years or so, everytime I spy I vintage Granny at the flea or the thrift it must come home with me. Sometimes I'm happy to find them new homes, but I've amassed quite a nice ~~little~~ collection here at home!

My own two little gems Becca and Rachel somehow did NOT inherit the crafty gene. Don't get me wrong, they're both fabulously brilliant with tons of amazing talent, but crafty not-so-much. So can you imagine how excited I was a few weeks ago when my Future Daughter-in-Law was sitting next to me on the couch, as I worked on my crocheted flower scarf, and she picked up a hook and a little ball of yarn and asked me how to make a flower??!??!!! Oh yes indeedy, I was PSYCHED!!

If you were a child of the 70s (and even if you weren't!) and you're thinking about learning, or rediscovering The Granny Square There are some incredibly talented people out in bloggieland that are sure to inspire you.

The best part is, you just go with it! No rules, just lots of color and your imagination!

In the meantime, check out Lucy over at Attic 24 and the absolutely delightful Le monde de Sucrette for lots of colorful inspiration! There's even a Flickr Group devoted to projects inspired by Lucy.

Happy Hooking!

Talk Soon! xo P

COLOR

2010-10-29T07:53:00.001-04:00

Hope you have a colorful weekend and a safe & happy Halloween! A certain little ladybug will have our house as her Trick or Treat home base! Lots of little ghosts and goblins always come by for a treat. Here's to lots of treats and no tricks :)

Talk Soon!
xo P

Monday Morning Crochet

2010-10-25T08:11:00.000-04:00

This morning begins a weekly feature for Monday Morning Crochet. Sometimes my own projects, sometimes other projects that inspire me, always on Monday Morning.

This morning, my own project. These flowers make me happy, they're easy to whip up and eventually will become a colorful scarf.

Here's hoping these colors brighten your day just a little!

Talk Soon!

xo P

The Children's Choir Makes Me Happy!

2010-10-20T18:06:00.001-04:00

Don't these little cutie-pies just make you smile??! An interested buyer emailed me and lovingly said "they need their faces washed!" Yes indeedy, the little cherubs need a good bath, but I'll leave that to the winner ~ these are currently on eBay, hoping to find a good home. Head on over to our eBay site to find these treasures and more.

. . . .and check these out!! The teeny tiniest little vintage glass ornies that I've ever seen! The little balls are only 1/2", the bells and pinecones under an inch! Perfect for your feather tree ~ another ebay listing.

. . . . and if that's not enough pre-Christmas cuteness, look at these little gems! Vintage felt stockings that measure only 7" tall.

The Holiday Season will be here before long, are you ready???!!

Talk Soon!

xoxo P

Apple Picking with My Little Muffin

2010-09-25T09:44:00.002-04:00

Last Sunday was my birthday, and off we went with our Little Miss Muffin to Blue Jay Orchards ~ What a beautiful day!! Rach came home from school for the night to help celebrate. So. Much. Fun. Somehow EVERYTHING seems more fun with a two year old by your side, or on your shoulders, don'tcha think??

Kadence's theme for the day: LET NO APPLE GO UNPICKED! She soon figured out that she couldn't pick every single one, so she went for the shiny ones!

"MY DO IT MYSELF"

. . . . . but eventually, that bag got purty darn heavy for My Miss!

. . . . and all of her apples spilled out of the bag!

No problem though. She & Auntie Rach picked them all up again, but not before Little Miss took a bite out of each one!

Two monkeys high up in the apple tree. Some things never change! I remember taking B to this apple orchard when he was in kindergarten. I think he climbed every tree back then :)

OKAY, stop right there.

Can I just say how much I adore those striped tights and pink Converse All Star Sneakers??!

It surely is convenient when you fit under the apple tree!

From here we headed to the farm stand for deliciously warm apple cider donuts, of which there are no pictures because we gobbled them up too quickly!

Such a beautiful early Autumn day in New England with some of my favorite people on the planet!

Autumnal

2010-09-20T14:30:00.001-04:00

Autumnal.

My favorite word.

Last week, my sister said "that really IS your favorite word, isn't it??"

Yes, indeedy it is Sistadoggie!

Good gosh, it's been a few weeks, where does the time go??!

Have you tried this very complicated recipe???

1. Take one bag of Candy Corn and pour in a bowl
2. Take one jar of dry roasted peanuts and pour in a bowl
3. Mix it up
4. Enjoy!

Honestly, it tastes just like a yummalicious candy bar * sooooo good!

More to come later this week, including photos of My Little Miss on our apple picking adventure!

Hope your week is starting off fabulously!

talk soon! xo P

uh huh . . . .

2010-08-31T16:03:00.000-04:00

I got nothin' . . . . . You've just gotta watch this show. . . . . .

Heavy. Sigh.

Summer Colors

2010-08-25T01:07:00.001-04:00

Summer is winding down here in our part of the world. Rach is back at school, dusk is coming just a bit earlier each day, and the past few mornings we've had a bit of a nip in the air, I'm lovin' that!

I've been working on photos this week, getting a ton of items ready for eBay and etsy, and these beautiful vintage fabrics reminded me of that last breath of summer. . . . . . . Soon to be listed in my Etsy Shop. I love the change of seasons, and autumn is most definitely my favorite time of year.

Lots going on here. So excited to be headed into N.Y.C. with my future daughter in law, her mom, the maid of honor and my sister this weekend. With Rach being back at school and Becca down in D.C., I'm a little bummed that they can't join us, but we'll have our phones/cameras at the ready so they'll still be in the loop!

Seems I'm the last to know, there's a show on TLC called Say Yes To The Dress that's taped at Kleinfeld's in Manhattan, and that's where we're headed on Friday. My F.D.I.L. is not going to be part of the show, apparently if you wanna do that, you've gotta wait about a year and a half, and no way no how is THAT gonna happen :) . . . . but she was able to get an appointment, as she found a dress that she fell madly in love with on their website. Honestly, I'm totally out of the loop on ALL OF THE BRIDAL MADNESS, but since my niece is getting married in a few short months, my sister informed me that Kleinfeld's is indeed, the MECCA OF ALL BRIDAL SALONS . . . . . Holy Smokes! I didn't even know there WAS a MECCA OF ALL BRIDAL SALONS! TG I have her to get me up to speed on these things! Next day, Kaitlyn and Brad are going to scope out a venue for the big day, that's planned for next Fall. They did invite me to tag along, but Sistadoggie and I are making a weekend of our time in the city and hitting up Purl, Fishs Eddy and Kinokuniya, my favorite Japanese Book Store.

Meet Brad and Kaitlyn, and of course, their little sidekick! I cannot tell you how happy I am that my son found these two beautiful girls, and brought them into into our lives. We are bursting with pride and happiness, and it just feels right. Little Miss has already brought so much sunshine and happiness into our lives, we are so happy and grateful that these two found their way into our family.

Well done, Brad!

Anyhoo, I'll keep you posted on the search for the dress, the venue, the date, and our adventures this weekend. Should be fun!

Thanks, Lucy!

2010-08-23T09:03:00.001-04:00

Well lookie-lu, Elizabeth won the wristlet giveaway! Otie and I printed the comments out and cut them into individual pieces, placed them in a big ol ' pitcher and drew out a name on Saturday. Seems the ol' random number generator was acting up so we did it the old fashioned way :) Thanks gals, and Elizabeth, please email me at asentimentljourney@gmail.com with your address and which wristlet you'd like and I'll send it off via Pony Express, er, the USPS, straight away!

Color Burst!

2010-08-18T10:30:00.002-04:00

This past weekend, DH and I moved Rachel back to campus for her senior year at The University of Connecticut. She and her Bestie/Roomie are living in an off campus apartment this year, so off we went with a U Haul filled with furniture and other essentials, to a darling little apartment in the backwoods of our quaint little state! A few minor glitches, but all is well and Rach and Vicki are settling in for a fabulous final year at UCONN. She was ready to get back to school after a summer of working and living at home, and frankly, we were ready, too! I love my girl, but she and I both thrive on ROUTINE, and it's good to get back to one. The summer mode is slowly dwindling. Dusk is here a bit earlier every day and I find myself longing to put on a wool sweater and take a walk with Otie!

Aren't these cute?? My girl most definitely shares my love of COLOR! We moved their Purple Sectional Couch from Ikea into the apartment, and yesterday she called and asked if I could make them some coordinating pillows. Could I??? Well, of course I could! I whipped these up this morning, and Rach is on her way home to pick up the last of her clothes and a few other essentials from Costco. I know she's going to love them! Like a burst of sunshine, and if I know Rach, she'll be taking plenty of naps on that purple couch!

She's only an hour and a half from home, so you know, if any other PILLOW EMERGENCIES arise, I'm on it! :)

Hope you're having a wonderful week! Don't forget to post a comment on the giveaway that ends on Friday evening. Scroll down to find that post, and as always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Talk Soon! xo P

My B.F.F.

2010-08-15T15:08:00.002-04:00

* Don't Forget the Giveway for the Wristlet on the post Down Below *

No matter where I am in this house, Otie is right by my side. . . . . I love that about him. When my boy Chuckie was here, he would literally sleep ON MY FEET under my desk or sewing table, but Otie is Always ALWAYS somehow by my side.

Last night, I was settling in on the couch. DH and I were going to watch Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carell * HILARIOUS by the way! I had a little pile of treasure next to me * some of the wristlets that I had been working on, Country Living, Grocery Store flyer to make a list, and a sweet silver mirror that I'm not sure is silver plate or sterling. . . . . because you know I can't just SIT and watch TV, I've got to be DOING SOMETHING. Note that my basket of crochet was just to the left but out of the photo :) I went to find a magnifying glass so I could look for markings on the mirror, and when I came back, my little man had plunked himself right in my pile of schtuff!

He looks right at home, don'tcha think??

Love. This. Dog.

:) Talk Soon xox P & Otie

Wristlet Love Giveaway

2010-08-13T17:09:00.000-04:00

A couple of years ago, I made Becca and Rachel a purse with a matching make up bag for Christmas. I tucked the pattern away, knowing that EVENTUALLY I wanted to alter the little make up bag pattern for a wristlet. Just large enough for some cash, license, debit card and my Iphone * yay!

While moving my sewing room to a new, bigger and much improved space in our house, I sorted through all of the patterns that I've saved (for years!) and tucked this one aside, knowing that a wristlet was indeed, in my future. SO EASY and SO FUN! I just started cutting from scraps of fabrics, not much needed at all, and for the tab, I used ribbon.

From left to right: Glenna Hailey's Rise and Shine Feedsack Reproduction, a vintage pudgy bluebird feedsack fabric, My favorite SIS BOOM fabric from my sweet friend Jennifer Paganelli (we're neighbors, kinda!) and last, a favorite from Mary Engelbreit.

So much to do, but sometimes, you've just gotta recharge the ol' batteries and get the creative juices flowing. Especially on this beautiful August day in New England.

Leave a comment and I'll crank up the old random number generator. Comments open for a week (til next Friday, August 20th) and the winner gets to choose.

Have a wonderful weekend * Talk Soon!

xo P

Hamm & Buble

2010-08-08T16:53:00.001-04:00

If you know me at all, you know that Jon Hamm, aka Don Draper from Mad Men and the fabulous Michael Buble are my main squeeze(s) * L.O.V.E. Them . . . . This weekend my girls were home and my nieces were in the house for a shower that I hosted for my darlin' niece Adrienne who is getting married (!!!) in October. Knowing all about my double main squeeze with these two, they showed me this from SNL . . . . . . HILARIOUS! I missed DDs stint on Saturday Night Live back in January somehow. Please Watch, you won't be disappointed! Oh, and turn down the tunes over there on the side bar for full viewing pleasure. . . . Enjoy!

The Home Garden

2010-07-29T16:17:00.001-04:00

Over the past few weeks I've been clearing out alot of merchandise, making room for my new & improved storage area, and to streamline the process, I've been selling LOTS and LOTS of vintage treasures at the flea, ebay and etsy, and while I thought the whole process would be quite daunting, I've actually really enjoyed it! I've come across so many treasures that I purchased so long ago. They've been tucked away for a good long time, only to be rediscovered again, by me, AGAIN!

One such item is this wonderfully charming set of magazines called The Home Garden, from 1943 and '44. The original owners must have really treasured these, as each set of six monthly issues is tucked inside it's own green linen binder. Yesterday as I was cleaning and organized, I found myself lost in these old gardens ~ lots of talk of one's Victory Garden and how the month of July brings bounty to the table. Those really were challenging times for our country, but somehow, someway, people made do, and they took all of the blessings of their lives into account, and made it through. They relied on each other and in their faith. Somehow, over these past 50 years or so, and especially in recent times, I feel like the country is just spiraling out of control. We need something to happen, to pull us all back, so that we all say "whoa! Lets just get back to our roots again and be thankful. . . . . . .

I really love these books, and though I'm sure that I originally bought them for resale, they're staying right here with me. I had a particularly trying day today and when I got home and saw these books lying on the kitchen counter, I poured myself a glass of Iced Tea, and sat down to read up on "Garden Friends and Foes", and then "What About Flower Shows in Wartime"???

I'll share more of these with you soon. The front cover illustrations are just beautiful and I'm so happy that someone, years ago, preserved these just for me :)

Talk Soon! xo P

Saving Granny

2010-07-27T17:39:00.001-04:00

I need a serious 12 step program for people obsessed with granny afghans. Seriously, I CANNOT leave them behind at the thrift stores, estate sales & flea markets on my weekly jaunts! Last count I think I had nine of them, and that's not including the ones that I just put in my ETSY SHOP!

This one was all photographed and ready to be next in the line up for Etsy, but I couldn't do it, had to keep it. Love the edge on this one, don't you?? Mamaquiltdoggie was telling me a few weeks ago how much she DESPISED these back in the 50s & 60s when they first became all the rage * guess what???! Now she loves 'em, so I need to keep counting the ones I have and make sure she hasn't snagged any of mine while I'm not looking :)

Hope you're having a great week! Talk Soon!

xo P

Channeling Betty Draper

2010-07-15T17:12:00.001-04:00

Earlier this week I was channeling my inner Betty Draper for sure. I don't sell vintage clothing much, but everywhere I turned at Brimfield there were the most fabulous vintage 60s dresses and retro styled tablecloths & linens that would surely do Betty Draper proud!

Betty's never far from her glass of wine and almost always has a cigarette, too.

This is Pete Campbell & Don * Pete's a bit of a tool, but Don Draper is too kewl for words.

Here's the whole gang. Looks like Peggy's got a new Jackie O hairstyle this season!

Oh Betty!

Here's Joan * what a vixen, right??? Always wears the most fabulous COLOR!

If you're new to Mad Men, you're in for a real treat!

If you've been a fan from the get-go, as I have, then you're totally over-the-moon excited waiting for Sunday, July 25th!

In the meantime, while you're waiting you can Take The Quiz to see which character YOU should be channeling! If that's not enough, you can also Mad Men Yourself for even more fun. How kewl is Joan, anyway?? I think I'll channel my inner Joan just because I Love her, her bullet bra and her red hair! Don't know what I'm talkin' about?? Then you've gotta watch Mad Men, returning to AMC on Sunday, July 25th at 10 p.m.

Just Red Rubbers

2010-07-09T07:47:00.000-04:00

Cute, right?? Fresh out of an Estate Sale here in Connecticut. Vintage 1950s Red Rubbers.

I had a pair of these back in the early 60s. Hated them then, love them now!

So adorable. I might fill them with daisies this weekend.

Speaking of . . . . . have a good one!

Talk Soon! xo P

Look Who's Two (!!!) and a Brimfield Update

2010-07-07T08:01:00.003-04:00

What a whirlwind weekend! Our Little Miss turned TWO on Monday, and lookie look how adorable she is!!!! She was such a trooper on our weekend in DC. Do you LOVE those braids??! Seriously. Adorable. In this photo she's showing me all her teeth while opening up her birthday goodies from Auntie Becca. I'm still exhausted as those kids of ours ran Mr. Quiltdoggie and I ragged ~ but what a blast! Check out Becca's Blog for some awesome photos and a recap of the festivities. She's got a fabulous camera and since I forgot mine and was taking photos with my iphone, hers are much better!

This week I'm getting ready for Brimfield. Changing it up a bit and setting up at Dealer's Choice on Tuesday (July 13th) rather than our usual spot at J & J on Friday & Saturday. We've got a very busy summer this year and preparing for Brimfield is a big undertaking, and frankly, I just don't have the time to get ready! Soooooo, not wanting to miss it completely, I decided to go for a one day show, stay over and shop the fields on Wednesday. July is the quietest of all three Brimfield shows, so if you're a rookie and a little nervous about the crowds, etc., summer is the time to break yourself in! There's something for everyone ~ tons of bargains to be had and plenty of fine antiques, too!

If you're a linen lover, stop by and see us at Dealer's Choice on Tuesday as I'll be bringing tons of linens and selling them at excellent prices ~ Gotta make room for all of my latest acquisitions!

If you're in The Northeast of the USA or along the Eastern Seaboard where it's beastly hot ~ hang in there! If you're not ~ lucky you! I love me a a good old fashioned New England summer day, but dang! The mercury hit over 100 degrees yesterday and the humidity felt like 100%. One more day of it, then some nice summer weather is coming our way.

Talk Soon! xo P

Family Fourth, Fenway and Bring on The Nationals!

2010-06-29T17:41:00.003-04:00

Summer means so many things, doesn't it??! Have you ever been to Fenway Park?? What??? No??? You're not a Red Sox Fan??? Well we are, and I remember going to my very first Red Sox game at Fenway with Mr. Quiltdoggie back in The 70s before he was Mr. Quiltdoggie, way back when Carlton Fisk was totally McDreamy and Dennis Eckersley was uber-McSteamy (still IS!). I actually MET Dennis Eckersley when he came into the hospital that I was working at in Boston back in the 70s. Good Lord, we literally swooned and had to call it a day after he left, but that's another story for another time. . . . . Anyhoo, we'd drive in with all our pals and at the time I didn't know A THING about baseball. Now I can Hold-My-Own in any baseball themed conversation any day of the week, kinda proud of that! :)

One of the B*E*S*T things about spending time at Fenway Park is getting yourself some Sausage and Peppers from a Street Vendor out on Yawkey Way or Landsdowne Street. Usually around this time of year, I get a hankering for a big ol' sausage & pepper sandwich a'la Fenway, and somehow, I manage to get it right on the grill at home.

I dunno how I do it, but I do, and it's DELISH! Get yourself some big ol' Portuguese Rolls to stuff and you're good to go ~ that's our dinner tonite along with corn on the cob * yum! This guy out on Landsdowne Street calls himself The Sausage King serving up 9" of pure pleasure(@(!*!*(!)!)!)??????)

Minds out of the gutter now, c'mon!!

So this Fourth of July, we won't be going to Fenway to see our Sox, but we ARE going to be in DC, so we're headed to Nationals Park and I'm really excited to see it! Frankly, I'm not a Washington Nationals Fan, but I AM a baseball fan, and one of the things on my Bucket List is to visit every baseball park in the USA. A few years ago Mr. Quiltdoggie and I saw The Sox play The Orioles at Camden Yards and it was awesome. We were there when Manny hit his 500th homerun * just awesome!

I'm seriously hoping we get to Fenway for a game some time this summer, but I'm seriously looking forward to our weekend in DC, spending time with our kids and our Little Miss (who's turning TWO on July 5th!) and spending some time in a brand spankin' new ballpark! The Nationals are hosting The Mets and we live in The Tri State Area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) with fans divided between The Red Sox, The Yankees and The Mets so we're familiar with the team ~ it should be a nifty day at the ballpark and the weather forecast is sheer perfection!

Hope you & yours have some plans to live it up in this great country of ours, or kick back and relax and just enjoy the day!

Hot Fun in the Summer Time!

2010-06-28T14:21:00.001-04:00

Oh Man, it's H*O*T here in Connecticut today! Temp is only (!!!) 92 but the humidity is at about a zillion percent, so we're sweatin' big time today!

BUT . . . . . it's OKAY, cuz it's SUMMER TIME and all is well during the lazy crazy hazy days of summer, right??

We're headed off to DC for a visit with Becca over Fourth of July weekend. Little Miss and her parents are coming with us and hopefully Rach is coming, too! Lots of fun to be had by all * Fireworks on The Mall, DC Zoo and more . . . . . I'm packing and baking up a storm this week in anticipation of a fab fun weekend. DH and I are hoping to do a little junkin' on the way down, but we'll see (wink!)

First off, apologies to whomever out in cyberville made these fab fruit kebobs, I can't find the owner of the photo on flickr, so if it's yours, please email me and I'll give credit where it's due, cuz I LOVE IT and I'm gonna make it this weekend!

Next up, my sweet ride! Isn't it fabulous?? It's not RED like my fantasized-about sweet ride below, but it IS fabulous and it IS mine and it's out in my yard with a basketful of geraniums. We've got a few family events coming up at our house in the next month or so. Little Miss is turning two (Yep, 2!!) and we're having her party here in a few weeks, then a few after that, a bridal shower for my niece Adrienne so we've got big doings here and we're working on prettying up the yard for the festivities.

Here's hoping you all have a safe & happy Fourth of July Weekend * Talk Soon!

xo P

Summer Sights

2010-06-27T08:57:00.001-04:00

Oilcloth Bunting * Sweet Summer Colors Available Here

My favorite Red Chair

A Happy Fourth of July outfit for my Little Miss! Guess who's going to be 2 on July 5th???

Vroom Vroom . . . . said the lawnmower

2010-04-09T17:17:00.001-04:00

Happy Girl & I wishing you a lovely weekend!
Vroom Vroom . . . . .

The Funniest Dog in the World!

2010-04-08T14:46:00.001-04:00

Last September, our silly Basset Hound, Chuck, died of cancer. It's taken me this long to tell you about him. You may have noticed his beautiful mug shot over there on the side bar, that's all I could manage, but today, I want to tell you a little more about him.

I picked up the mail a few days ago, and there was something from The Connecticut Humane Society. Thinking it was a solicitation, I set it aside, and figured I'd get to it when I get to it. Today, I'm cleaning up my desk, I opened it up and this was tucked inside.

Our vet had made a contribution in Chuckie's name, and now that I'm all done crying, I want to tell you a little bit about my boy, Chuck. I've left her name/address for you to see, just in case you're ever swinging through our little town of Redding here in Connecticut, and need a good old fashioned country vet who cares for your pet like no other.

Chuck found his way to us here in Connecticut, after being abandoned in Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. After the hurricane, he was adopted by a family in Louisiana, but left outside, abandoned for weeks on end. He was rescued by the LOOZIANA BASSET RESCUE, which is no longer operational, due to a lack of funding, but a finer group of people you'd never meet. Without all the gory details, I'll tell you that my husband and son flew down to New Orleans, picked him up, rented a car, and drove him to his new home, here in Connecticut. He was, without a doubt, the funniest, silliest dog I have ever, ever known! His paws were webbed, yes WEBBED, like a duck, and his ears were bigger than any I've ever seen. We've had a few dogs in our married life, but my Chuckles was the only one who came into my office and slept on my feet for hours at a time, until my toes were numb. . . . . I loved it and never asked him to move. He did alot of SHENANIGANS, bucking like a bronco, howling like a hound, and smelling like Fritos, even after a good roll in the mud. He loved to sleep on the couch, and most nights, when I'd settled in for the night to watch tv while knitting, crocheting or crafting something, he'd snuggle right by my side . . . . and then he'd purr. Like a cat. I loved it.

Late last summer, he started having some back trouble, and after lots and lots of meds & bedrest, we took him to the super-vet-clinic for an MRI at the request of our vet. We thought he had some disc trouble with his back/spine, typical for Bassets, but it was cancer. In his spine. He came home, and after 4 days, I put him in the back of my Highlander, drove to the vet, climbed in the back and laid down with him and rubbed his ears and hugged him, while the greatest Vet in the world came outside and eased his pain. I lost my father 11 years ago, my Sammy-Dog 10 years ago and my Sweet Miss Junie Beagle 3 years ago, and I can honestly say, I've never ever felt such pain as this in losing someone. I loved them all, but Chazzy was special. He was my boy and 7 months later, I still miss him terribly. I don't cry about it every single day, not even every single week, but every time I head to the vet with our other two crazy hounds, Sally & I talk about him, and what a one-of-a-kinder he was. Now, I can listen when my husband and kids tell stories of "remember when . . . ." with Chuckles. I even tell my own remember when stories . . . . . and laugh, so grateful for the privledge of rescuing him, and keeping him safe for a few years.

So now he spends his days in heaven, probably driving my Dad crazy, and trying to keep up with Sam & Junie! I know they've embraced him wholeheartedly, and I know they're keeping an eye on him, too ~ cuz he needs it, silly boy!

I've sent this poem to so many people after they've lost a pet. I haven't been able to read it since September, even though it's hanging on the bulletin board just to the right of my monitor, and I can spot it out of the corner of my eye every day. Today I read it, and I want to share it with you.

Cheers to you My Mr Chuckles! You'll always be my boy.
xox Mom

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

By the edge of a woods at the foot of a hill
is a lush green meadow where time stands still
where the friends of man and woman do run
when their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next
is a place where each beloved creature finds rest
On this golden land, they wait and they plan
til the Rainbow Bridge, they cross one day.

No more do they suffer in pain or in sadness
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness
Their limbs are restored their health renewed
Their bodies have healed, with strength inbued.

They romp through the grass without even a care
until one day they start and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met
Together again both person and pet
So they run to each other these friends from long past
The time of their parting is over at last

The sadness they felt while they were apart
has turned into joy once more in each heart
They embrace with a love that will last forever
and then, side by side, they cross over . . . . . together.

A Couple of Muffins

2010-04-07T08:53:00.001-04:00

Two of my favorite little muffins, right here. Cute aren't they??

Check out what My Other Muffin has been up to lately :) Missing her today :(

Hope you're having a fabulous week!

These Keep Me Sane

2010-03-26T13:23:00.000-04:00

Have a nice Weekend! We're having a sleepover with The Tater Tot * Should be fun* Photos next week!

Talk Soon! xo P

Real People . . . . We Are The World

2010-03-20T18:01:00.002-04:00

Please scroll down to the bottom of the sidebar and click the big circle button to pause the music, then take seven minutes to listen, watch and learn. . . . .

Selma's Stuff, and That Gosh Darn Margaret

2010-03-19T18:04:00.002-04:00

My Wednesday/Thurdsday ritual is to scour All of the Newspapers in Connecticut & Neighboring New York with high hopes of finding some fabulous Estate Sales in my area (and beyond!) I could hardly wait for this morning to arrive, as I set off to Bristol, Connecticut, a good 45 minutes to an hour from home, and THE HOME of, ESPN * probably our state's biggest claim to fame barring of course, The WWE , but that's another story for another time. Something told me to just go, and I'm so glad that I did.

Sometimes the Estate Sale ads get wordy, and sometimes they're not wordy enough, but this one just spoke to me. Here's what it said, short & sweet:

"BRISTOL ESTATE: Full contents of house & barn!! Furn, antiques, vintage items, kitchenware, dcor, power equip, tools - MUCH more!"

I got there a bit before 9, and unlike the Estate Sales near home, no numbers were given out. Just ""Hi! Come on in! Be Careful in the Basement. . . . Careful climbing up the ladder in the barn. . . . " Just the nicest guys hosting this sale! The house belonged to a 97 year old woman who had just recently moved to a nursing home. I DO NOT THINK THIS WOMAN EVER THREW A SINGLE THING AWAY. Every peanut butter jar from the past 50 years was washed out and sparkling clean in a cupboard in the basement. . . . you get the idea. I continued to remind myself to breathe, and scooted upstairs first. I always find good stuff in the bedrooms, and frequently, linens are laid out on the beds. UPSTAIRS WAS a full apartment with a second kitchen, parlor and 2 bedrooms. Tons of linens, tons of fabrics, tons of kitchenware . . . . .breathing still. . . . .

I made my way through the upstairs apartment, then the two lower levels, and filled to the brim checked out. I'll be sharing lots of these treasures with you soon, once I stop petting them.

I took my loot out to the car and figured I'd take a look around the barn. THE BARN WAS AMAZING!! Tons of old galvanized tin farm-y things, but up in the loft, up those wobbly stairs, Selma had stored EVERY SINGLE GREETING CARD, ROLL OF WALLPAPER, WRAPPING PAPER and brochure that had ever been part of her life. EVERY BIT OF PAPER from DECADES of her life. I sat, in the dirt, in the loft, in the barn and sifted through these boxes for TWO HOURS, I actually could have stayed longer, it was just plain fun, and now I feel that I know Selma.

Her children, Kenneth & Donna, sent their Mom a card for every occasion for decades ~ she saved them all, every Easter card, every Valentine, every Christmas Card, every everything card. Oh, Donna even sent notes & cards to her brother Kenneth, reminding him to be a good boy. Gotta love that Donna! More to share with you soon . . . .

Here are some of the most adorable vintage greeting cards ever ~ thank you, Kenneth & Donna! Even her husband was a faithful card giver, but I have yet to be able to decipher his handwriting, so I can't tell you his name (yet!)

There was a huge box of handwritten letters, that I passed on, but one such letter was tucked in with the cards. It was to Selma, and it was from her friend, Margaret. Margaret chose the sweetest stationery with a bouquet of pansies & lily of the valley.

Here's what Margaret's note said:

Dear Selma,

Thank you for your card. So nice of you to remember our anniversary. We didn't celebrate - I was ill - flu and ???? too. Our winter has been so changeable, once so cold, then too warm. Have had alot of sickness, now a flue epidemic. We don't get out often - it's hard to get a reliable sitter - our sitter started dating so have to look for another.

No, I haven't written you, because you ignored my letter. Don't know why. Know as far as I know, I haven't done anything to offend you and if you don't want to write me that's your priviledge. However, I was glad to hear from you and hope this finds you all well. Thanks again for the card.

As Ever,
Margaret

Whatup with that Margaret??? Being all nicey nice, then BAM, she's pissed at Selma because she ignored her letter???? What??? Methinks Margaret was just having a rough day and took it out on Selma. Not sure I would have liked Margaret much, and there must be a reason why this was the only letter in with the cards??? Wish I could talk to Selma and get to the bottom of it. As I uncover more info I'll be sure & keep you posted. . . . These cards. . . . they are FABULOUS! Can't wait to share more with you.

In other news, Spring has Sprung here in Connecticut, and this weekend One of our Local Flea Markets is reopening. Good thing, coz it's going to hit 70 tomorrow * woohoo! Our BIG KAHUNA FLEA MARKET doesn't open for a few more weeks, so it's good to break into the routine again gently. It's been a looooong winter here in New England and we're ready for some warm weather & flea fun ~ bring it on!

Hope you all have a great weekend. I'll be pawing through my new old stuff, while everyone else is wrapped up in March Madness. Is it BASEBALL SEASON Yet??

Talk Soon!

xo P

Happy Saint Patricks Day

2010-03-17T08:38:00.000-04:00

I hope that little leprechauns, ladybugs and red polka dotted mushrooms make you happy today!

In Other News, these are making me crazy!

Sure glad the Easter Bunny picked them up early . . . . . . . .

I Had Me Some FUN

2010-03-14T07:36:00.001-04:00

Well it's taken me a solid week to purge myself back into life after my most recent trip and show at
The DC Big Flea . Seems the people of the DC area have had some cabin fever this winter, being absolutely rocked by some big ol' snowstorms, so the antique shoppers were out in groves, for two wild & crazy days!

Such a great time! Rachel drove down with me, we met up with Becca and a coworker on Friday night after set up. Dinner at Thai Basil was sooooo good. DH & I had been there during a show last year and the food was outrageously good. We had seen it featured on Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network and it lived up to every expectation. Got to spend some quality time with the gurlies and listen to what Becca and Rach have been up to ~ always fun.

Thanks to the very nice DC FLEA people, our booth was directly across from our good pals Doug & Diane of Sport & Spool Antiques, so I spent the weekend salivating over the most amazing antique thread & spool cabinets.

The highlight of my weekend was meeting my new BFF Sue of Vintage Rescue Squad . Her stuff is amazing, and frankly, so is she! She's kewl, she's hip, she's everything I'm not. I mean, come on, she PLAYS POOL with a BUNCH OF DUDES on a regular basis! She WORKS FOR A NEWSPAPER and she's been a happy sassy bachelorette for decades! She and her ultra-kewl-fashionista sister Michelle were just delightful! We shared antique/vintage horror stories, and some fun stories, too! I told her what I did for my 50th birthday almost 2 years ago ~ I bought a dollhouse and I'm slowly renovating it, and she told me what she's gonna do for hers. I had to pinky-swear that I wouldn't tell, but it's way kewler than mine and I can't wait to see it! I see a meet & greet at a big honkin' antique venue somewhere in our future together . . . . . . .

On the way home I stopped HERE and it was tons of fun! A great mix of vintage goodies and new treasures, could have spent the day there but after 3 days of vintage lovin' fun, I was ready to beat the traffic and head for home.

The best part of traveling up & down the Eastern Seaboard and doing antique shows is meeting people, and watching people. It really was a fabulous weekend, but now I'm back to real life and getting ready for my local shows, including Brimfield which will be here before long. It's a huge undertaking and I've gotta get busy.

Talk Soon!

So Much To Tell You . . . . But

2010-03-11T13:31:00.002-05:00

This Comes First!

I'm crazy about these new Barbies! If you followed my old blog, you know how much I love Mad Men * Seriously, how could you NOT?? Check out Joan on the left. They've captured her eyes perfectly! Can't wait for Season Four to start this summer, dying to find out what Don & Betty have been up to. In case you've missed it, Season 3 comes out on DVD on March 23rd. . . . woohoo!

Until then, must go finish unpacking from The DC BIG FLEA

Talk Soon!

Bitty Bluebirds

2010-03-03T16:56:00.002-05:00

WooHoo! I made a little penny rug! Here at Casa Quiltdoggie, I was very happy to send 2009 out the door and welcome in 2010. One of my new years resolutions was to get my crafty groove on a bit more frequently. I carve out the time to do something crafty every day, usually in the evening as I wind down from the day. Even if it's for 15 minutes, and I'm getting all sorts of things accomplished!

Thanks to Elizabeth over at Creative Breathing who shared the pattern! I really love her blog, it's tops on my list every morning to check in with. I tweaked it a bit, but for my first attempt at a little penny rug, I'm very happy! Instead of using craft felt, I used felted wool that sistadoggie, a former hooker, ummm. . . . .RUG HOOKER (oh, come on!) shared with me. Nice, colors, dont'cha think??? I'm contemplating embroidering little red hearts or the word BLUEBIRDS in between each little chubster, or do you think that would be too much? Not sure myself so if you've got an opinion on it, LMK, K?

Chubby bluebirds ~ they make me think of Spring, that will get here someday, right??? RIGHT???? RIGHT??!

Yeah, right. . . .

I'm headed off to Washington, selling at the DC BIG FLEA this weekend. Rachel is on spring break next week, so she's coming with me and we'll stay at Becca's place for the weekend. I'll be home Monday and Rach is going to stay a few extra days, then take the train home. . . . . . yay for mini vacations & good times at the flea :)

Talk Soon xoxo P

A Mellow Yellow Monday Morning

2010-03-01T08:13:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh, Monday! Oh wait, what's that thing out there?? It's big and bright and yellow-sih and it's the S*U*N !!! Why, Hello Mr. Sun! It's been awhile since we've seen you! Thanks for making an appearance today! Please stay out for awhile today, you make me happy!

It May Be Snowing Outside

2010-02-26T09:23:00.001-05:00

But it sure is Spring time inside!

Aren't these fabrics fabulous??! I've got an obsession with vintage sheets going on. I've been collecting them for a year or so now, and I'm finally getting around to cutting them up. I have big quilt plans for these, but I've got about a gazillion of them, so to spread the love a bit, I'm going to be listing some fat quarters and 10" square packs on etsy . . . . . . soon. I'll keep you posted here.

Oh, and just FYI, it's still really winter here.

NOTE the dog, it's not my real dog, it's a rusty metal garden ornament dog that I got at Brimfield several years ago and I LOVE, almost as much as I love my real dawgies!

Have a great weekend, everyone ~ stay warm and snug wherever you are. Lucky us, we get to babysit this little muffin tonite. Gonnna get her all snugged up in her winter woolies and play outside in the snow with the ruff ruffs!

The Ruff Ruffs don't know it yet ~ they think they'll be doing this all weekend.

Is It Spring Yet??

2010-02-24T11:27:00.002-05:00

Oh my friends, we are getting pounded with yet ANOTHER winter storm. Freezing rain, sleet, snowflakes the size of Utah and more Just. Plain. Yuck.

So I'm hoping that the Gosh Darn Groundhog is WRONG and I'm thinking of SPRING!

I've spent my bloggie break becoming the self proclaimed Queen of Colorful Crochet! I love the way this pillow turned out, and it surely is brightening my day here in dreary Connecticut. Hope it brightens your day, too!

We're Back!

2010-02-23T19:31:00.000-05:00

Well geeeeeez, I've been on an extended bloggie break, and I'm back with a new name, and I'm ready to share more crafty projects and vintage inspiration with you. If you had me on your blogroll, I'd love to have you follow me once again. The old bloggie is gone, but change is good, RIGHT??

Stay tuned, I've got lots to say and even more to show you ~

Back Soon . . . . . . . Girl Scout's Honor! xo