Tomorrow is my 20th anniversary...

.....Of my 29th birthday. I'm nearing the big 5-0 so I thought that I would try to snap a good photo of myself while I'm still in my 40's. I took the advice of one of the farmgirls and looked in the mirror while I was doing this and, well, they are passable. Especially since I rarely allow anyone to take my photo. So Farmgirls, this is me...today...February 16th, 2007 on the eve of my last year in my 40's. My hubby is 38 and says that I clean up pretty good and don't really look almost 50 or as he puts it: "old as dirt." Awww...he is so sweet! LOL

Well, Mom has been feeling pretty good the past few days, so we got out and went to a couple of thrift stores. She found a big basket today to organize all of her what nots on the table in her room. I washed it well and it is sitting out in the sunshine drying right now, otherwise I'd post a photo of it.

I received the most yummy plate of cookies from Becky in Pennsylvania yesterday. Mom and I had just sat down to have a cup of hot tea and watch a movie when the mailman arrived with the Valentine treat. We were thrilled and really enjoyed these lucious yummies with our tea and movie, but before we ate any, I snapped a photo for all to enjoy! Yum--yum. Oh, BTW there are none left!

I did do some pick up in my crafting space. Tasha inspired me to organize and clean up. So I hung up all of my vintage and floaty fabrics on a rack in the corner. You can see an apron in progress on my cutting/sewing table and another one draped on my comfy thrifted barrel chair. It is going to be winging its way to an unsuspecting Farmgirl friend, whom I think needs to be gifted with this one, so she can hang it in her kitchen! I've decided to RAOK friends with aprons. It is something that I like to make and hopefully they are pretty nice. And I hope the recipients think they are nice too.

I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into my creative space and mind.


I will be going out in a few minutes to select a new tube of lipstick for my birthday present! It is the only thing that I want for my birthday. I have my health, my mother is doing well for the time being, I have a loving and generous husband and three wonderful kids and lots of farmgirl friends....oh and chapped lips! *g*

So, thanks for blogging with me today.
G

Butterfly Apron

Well, it is raining and cold and yucky and I wasn't tired, so I decided to sew an apron tonight while the family is asleep. I've had this fabric for a long time. It is a heavy cotton almost a lightweight canvas in feel. Very stiff. It has butterflies all over it. Didn't use a pattern, but it is for a larger waisted person. The pockets are sewn into/under the waistband and they open from the side rather than from the front. I used vintage white cotton rickrack around the edges which made for a really nice turned finish because it is a large rick rack. Well it is after one in the morning, so I think I'll put clothes in the dryer, check on mom and the girls and go to bed. I hope you are all staying warm and getting lots of hugs!
Thanks for blogging with me tonight, or rather, this morning. Oh, Happy Valentine's Day!
G

For the Love of Chocolate Apron

Well, finally a new apron. It is a reproduction 50's hostess apron pattern. Simplicity 5961. It uses a yard of fabric, but many yards of trim. I added a battenberg lace trimmed heart to the bib area. It is 11:27pm on Sunday. I just stitched the last stitch and tied this apron onto Andrea so I could snap some photos before it goes out in the mail tomorrow. It is on it's way to Pennsylvania to a farmgirl! My oven is still broken, so I hope she doesn't mind a fresh baked apron in place of a dozen of chocolate chip cookies! I do bake the bestest chocolate chip cookies in the world though....well so say my husband and kids. Here is my recipe: Use the recipe on the bag of Nestle' Semi Sweet chocolate chips, but substitute Giradelli 60% cocoa chips, use real vanilla not imitation, use large eggs, use Domino light brown sugar, bake them on parchment paper and take them out one minute early. Do NOT overbake. Cookies continue baking for about 1 minute after taking them out of the oven. Cool them on a rack on parchment paper. Well, there you have it. The world's best chocolate chip cookie. Oh, don't forget to stir in the most important ingredient: LOVE!

Thanks for blogging with me!
G

Playing catch up

The hurryder I go the behinder I get.

Read that somewhere a long time ago and I now understand what it means. I always feel I am hurrying and never getting anything done. I pick up after my two little girls, pick up aftermyself, pick up after the dogs...my hubby and mom pick up after themselves! Bless them. I feel like I am spinning like a top. Don't need to be, just am. How does one slow down and smell the roses? My mom used to say that I always put too many irons in the fire...yes taht is true. I feel like I have such a short time on this earth, so I want to get as much done as humanly possible. But I want to smell the roses, hug my children, kiss my husband, throw the ball with my pups and snuggle with my mom under an electric blanket and watch a great movie. So that is what I am going to do today...oh, along with sew, cook, clean, play, computerize, and the 100 other things on my list today.

This is me....well one of my favorite photos of myself

So let's just say this is still me......yeah right....but yes, it really is me, at least this is how I would like my girls to remember me, even though they never saw me this way....LOL

They say women are most beautiful in their 30's, well, this photo was taken when I was 36. I look at that photo and goodness that was 13 years ago. Why can't we turn back the hands of time.

Now for what I look like now after being ridden hard and put up wet too many times. Two more births, six more surgeries a major back injury and years of chronic pain. Little did the "girl" in the photo know what was ahead, Ready?............
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>This is me now!

Thanks for blogging with me!
G

I have the flu

I have the flu and feel horrible. So all of my projects have come to a screaching halt! Give me a few days to get better and then I'll be back on track.

If I owe you something....a package, please bear with me. I feel horrible and want to get well before touching and sending anything. Don't want to give anyone my sickies!

Thanks for stopping by.
G

Crochet for little girls

I loved to crochet before my carpal tunnel set in. I made these two little items for my girls and they wore them until they outgrew them. I've been looking for little girls who like mommy made clothing, and Tasha, I think your girls do. I'd love to send them to you if your girls like them. If they don't like them, then you won't offend me in the least by not taking them. Just email me to let me know!


Here is the cotton poncho.

Sorry, my camera batteries are low, so the clarity is a bit poor this evening. They are both soft and comfy. I hope your little girls like them. (I know the baby is too small, but Grace should fit in them well.

Oh, and the flannel baby diapers: do you need plain flannel or is print flannel ok?

Georgann

Tea Time and Fabulous Finds!

I swear my older daughter (9 yrs old) is going to be a chemist or herbalist someday. She loves going to the herb shop with her little list and picking out tea making herbs. She mixed one up the other day with her own mortar and pestle (bought it with her own money) that was absolutely delicious! I told her it would be a perfect Imbolc or Valentine's day decoction! It was pale pink and tasted like sweet spring rain. She combined spearment, hibiscus flowers and orange peel. I added a packet of "Splenda" and oh, my oh my...delicious! This is what her work counter looked like the other day. She arranged the clear crystals while she was working on her tea. Oh, see the little tea brewer called "ingenuitea?" We saw it on HGTV about a year ago, and LOVE this little gadget. You steep your tea in it, then place it directly on your teacup and it empties right in to the cup. No fuss, no muss!!

Went to "The Thrifty Quaker" the other day and found some beautiful retro floor length dresses. I'll see if I can post some photos of them. Got them for 50% off of $8 each. I was going to buy them for the fabric and cut them up and use the velvet and interesting rhinestones fabric, but decided they are far too pretty to cut, so I shall save them for the girls. Retro should be chic' when they are in highschool! LOL...I may cut them yet! *g*

I found this great little number at a junk shop I browse frequently. Sorry the photo is a little blurry, but I am too tired to take another one right now. I slipped the finished blue skirt on it just so you can see how it stands. I am taking this to the shop to display a skirt on. Hopefully it will look great for a sales tool for my skirts. I do love it. It is a silver metal frame. I can slip a shirt, purse, tote, hat, skirt over this and display it beautifully. The base has three little swirly feet to keep it stable. Well, getting sleepy, talk to ya tomorrow!

Thanks so much for blogging with me and leaving me a comment or two! More in the morning!!

G

Remnants and Thrift store Farmgirl Chic'

My daughters say they are magical because they spin well and look pretty when spinning!

This is the first of the skirts. I have a blue one that is almost done. It just needs beads and a hem. I have pink and green skirts with the preliminary sewing completed. I need to french seam them, hem and fix the waist in each one.


The next one is a blue version coupled with a thrift store jacket that I found for $5. It is beautiful up close. It has beads on it and lots of beautiful fabric sewn on. It is actually a women's sweatshirt, opened up the front and made into a jacket. I am going to have to try this craft very soon. I have since then seen some beautiful sweatshirts done like this. And I thought $5 was a bargain for this beauty!! Oh, and it fits me perfectly and is so soft, comfy and warm.

Well that is it for me tonight! Thanks for blogging with me. Hope you enjoy my adventure into draw string skirts! Oh, I have a real treat coming soon. A gorgeous little black triple layer number!! Velvet, burn out fabric and black lace! Truly bewitching! (well, I hope at least!) Winds are picking up tonight. Must be the full moon coming soon.
G

Hope you like these.

The Betty Sue Apron

Finally another apron to post. I did this one up in about an hour today. I do think that I will shorten the length by cutting away the top part, and resewing the top. I modified a really simple apron pattern that I found online. I devised an easier pocket application that gives you huge pockets and is a snap to sew on...very easy for a beginner. I also did a very subtle scalloped hemline. The best part about this apron is that it will fit anyone. It is fully adjustable to give front and side coverage for the thin and/or fluffy farmgirl! The fabric and the bias tape are both vintage. I love this fabric. Has that crisp 50's feel to it. Ya'll know I love long aprons, but this one turned out too long. I'm going to shorten it a bit so that I can fully reach the pockets too. Or I'll need to grow longer arms. This is what happens when I don't use patterns! LOL.

My goal when starting this apron was to sew an apron with no waste, that was adjustable and that could be done by anyone from beginner to advanced. I utilized the width of the fabric and the factory selvages as finished sides...just covered them with bias tape, therefore I ended up with a full width apron, then simply cut off strips (actually tore them along the grain) to use for the ties and the pocket. Voila...no pattern, no waste, simplified pocket application, adjustable size ties in front or back.

Hope you like this one.

A pile of fabric!

Here is the pile. I will post more photos of the fabrics as I sort through them. This was unbelievable. There are hundreds of dollars worth of fabric here!!

This is just sitting in my front hallway for the moment. The girls each grabbed a piece for projects for me to work on tonight. My older daughter wants bellbottom pants out of butterfly fabric and my younger daughter wants a jumper out of this bright green cotton with little fun things printed on it.

I had a little time to go through some of this before the girls got home today, there are velvets in brown and a lush rosy brown, lots and lots of floral prints, nice solid color and solids with colored slubs through them. Plaids, checks, some double knits that look like what my grandmother wore...very retro. About 8 different baby rosebud prints in woven and stretch both...perfect for little girls nightgowns. This will be fun!

Thanks for blogging with me tonight. More later, I'll just add photos to this entry as I take them.
G

Ah...the fun is in the hunt!

Went to "The Thrifty Quaker" today and found three nice items. One is a blue velvet dress that should fit one of my girls. The other is a silver plated chalice and the third is a small pewter candleholder. As I was going out the door of the shop, they were hauling in 3 grocery basket loads of donations. Well....another trip tomorrow or the next day!! Gotta see what came in. LOL


Here is a close up of the chalice and candle holder:







The chalice was $1.00 the candle holder was $1.00 and the dress was $1.50. The chalice was originally priced at $32.00. Cool Deal!!

Thanks for blogging with me tonight!
G

My first wool sweater purse

Here it is. This is my first attempt. I made the lining inside with little sweater pockets made from the ribbed sleeves. One for keys, one for lipstick and one for a cell phone. I put a pocket on the outside. Little bit off, but passable. I can't do much hand sewing...hard for me to grip a needle. I did hand sew the lining in though. What do you think? I used a tuscan, olive themed lining for this one. It did take its own shape in the making of it. Since it is not perfect, I will carry this one to test its durability.





This next photo is a snapshot of the inside of the purse.

This was fun, but I have to put off making another until next week. I'm going in to work the night shift tonight and tomorrow, so, until later...

Thanks for blogging with me today.

G

I've gone green...

For the time being. Just upgraded the blogger account and changed it to green for a little while. It is pretty loud in color, but....just trying to hurry Spring along I guess.

I hope you enjoy this little daisy from my garden last year.

Thanks for blogging with me,
G

Today's Thrift Store Fabric Finds!

This is the gorgeous Goddess dress.



Karin over at Mary Jane's Farmgirl site has inspired me to try her wool sweater handbags. So I went to the local thrift store...it happened to be Wacky Wednesday...and I found all of these 100% wool sweaters for less than $5 and I got the gorgeous vintage Goddess dress for fifty cents too!! I will look like Jackie O if I can ever lose the weight. Oh, well Andrea looks wonderful in it!! HEHEHEHEHE....Hey Nancy Jo, I bet you, you tiny thing, that you could wear it with style!!

I plan on shrinking the sweaters tonight and starting on the bags tomorrow. I'd like to have some to take in to work this weekend! You know, "Purses for Nurses!" *g*

Thanks for blogging with me today.

Oh, and here are the patterns for you Liz,

Oops, I think I got it in sideways....sorry!

My mother is here and settling in.

My mother is here and comfortable in her new home. It is wonderful to have her here living with us. My husband said the nicest thing to her tonight. She was coming in to the kitchen where we were talking...myhusband and I and she says, "knock,knock, knock" My husband said in response: "You don't have to knock, this is your home too!" I wanted to hug him and hold him and tell him how much I love him for being just who he is. I'm so blessed. More later,
Thank you for blogging with me.
G

Dreamcatcher Stones

I was asked by some friends to help them with a dreamcatcher. They are making a dreamcatcher for a little boy who experienced something emotionally traumatic. He is asking for a dreamcatcher because his paper one is helping stop his bad dreams. My friends picked out the beautiful gemstones, but after many attempts to wire wrap the gemstones to hang on the dreamcatcher, couldn't get the gemstones to stay wired. Kept slipping out. So here is my first attempt at wire wrapping gemstones. What do ya think?

Well gotta get some sleep, early day tomorrow.
Thanks for blogging with me.
G

Latest Creations

Been crocheting a bit as gifts and making some gemstone jewelry. Down with a cold right now so that isn't so great. Thank you for the Christmas cards, it is so good to hear from many of you!!

And here is some jewelry. Hope you like it. I didn't make the necklace with the clear quartz pendant. I bought this from a girl at the local metaphysical shop. She make them.





I made two aprons last week and didn't get photos of them. I used vintage fabric and made matching mother-daughter christmas aprons. I donated them to a charity auction. They brought in $50 for charity. Cool!!

Been a really rough November and early December, but trying to stay up and cheerful. Now if I can just shake this cold off!! Keep warm and thanks for blogging with me today!
Love and abundant blessings to all,
G

Some new creations. I'll be sewing aprons later this week!

My new short hair and GRAY hair! LOL
Here are two more of my projects this week. I am so a beginner, but practice is improving my technique!



Having some upload difficulties, I think I somehow messed up the file by changing the name of the file. I'll try again later!

It has been a really long week. One week ago tragedy hit my son and it has been a struggle for him, myself and his family on the other side. Please keep him in your thoughts dear friends and family.

More later, Thanks for blogging with me tonight.
Georgann

Hello, my dear friends and family

Here are the girls in their Halloween costumes this year. My younger daughter is on the left and she is the Moon Fairy. My older daughter on the right wanted to be the Harvest Fairy. They chose their own fabrics and Mom went to town sewing their costumes I thought they looked pretty cute. The tiaras were made by moia also.



This is a new love of mine: crocheted jewelry. Did this yesterday This is a photo of a work in progress...not the completed project. I hope to do a few more of these. Great fun. I just have to be creating something. Been denying this side of myself for such a long time. I feel totally out of sinc when not creating something beautiful.