snow days

Yesterday it snowed allllll day long.  Best part is that I didn't have anywhere I needed to be so I got to have a real snow day!  Cozy and snug in the house while it snowed as much as it liked outdoors.

I received a much anticipated parcel yesterday in the mail!  I actually won something!!!  This is from Leigh, which she has the blog Louleigh.  Click on the link to her blog and she also has a podcast and etsy shop which are all linked on her blog.  But anyway, I found her from the Bakery Bears Ravelry forum.  Her comments were clever and funny so I checked out her profile, which had a link....and you know how that rabbit hole goes! ha!  On one of her recent podcasts she was talking about Shetland Wool Week and said she'd like to offer a giveaway of a tote and pattern booklet.  And I won!

Look at that cute sheepie tote!!!  It's pretty huge!  Also she put some little extra goodies which was very nice.  I just have to say how special it is to connect with others over this crazy internet.  To find people who share this fibery hobby, that are in so many ways kindred spirits.  When I started my blog I was totally copying my friend Jennifer, Rosey Little Things.  I saw her blog, sharing her crafts and thrifts and such and I felt a pull of "I could do that". Not so much in a competitive way but more like I wanted to be a part of it.  

I haven't ever sought followers, or tried to be hugely "out there" if you know what I mean.  Because my blog has also been very personal and a journal.  But!  The connections to others that get what I do is priceless to me.  All that to say I'm so glad to have "met" Leigh :)

This morning I was shoveling a little path from the back door out to the craft house and I heard a cracking sound.  But didn't see anything.  Back in the house I saw out the window that branch had fallen in the park across the street!  Yikes!  Good thing it wasn't on a car or house.

Rocky does appreciate the little path I made.  He could almost blend into the background!

So yesterday I finished the quilting on these pillows.  The top one is a gift for Jan and I had actually gotten it all finished last weekend.  The bottom one I am keeping because it came out pretty wonky in the center.  Sometimes quilting can sort of camouflage imperfections and I think it did help but still pretty noticeable.

 I do really love it still!

In knitting news I started a new project.  Because Christmas.  It's a bankhead hat.  I started it Tuesday and haven't really given it as much time as I should.  The yarn is Madelinetosh sport in the colorway Aura.

This morning I clipped Rocky's nails, which he HATES! and fights me horribly.  Well, repeatedly pulls his paws away just as I'm trying to line up the clippers.  Here he is trying to avoid looking at me.  But, we got it done and now I can tell his feet do feel, in fact, better!  He acts like I abuse him while I'm trying to clip!  Maybe he had a traumatic puppy experience before we had him? idk.

While I've been writing the sun has come out!  And there are strips of blue sky peeking out.  I do have to go out today, stock up on food for the week.  And I'm going to meet Jan to watch Mockingjay 2, which I've already seen but wanted to see again.  That will be a nice wrap up to the weekend!  I hope you're all keeping cozy and well.

festivity

I made this pillow cover yesterday.  About this time every year it dawns on me that it's almost Christmas and some people might expect gifts.  And I don't really want to be embarrassed by not having anything to give.  But anyway, I came across this tutorial for this fair isle pillow which is kind of based on a fair isle Christmas quilt.  I had seen the quilt before but thought it was just too many small pieces for me to enjoy doing an entire quilt.  But a pillow?  yes!  

I changed the middle spires to green instead of red, I thought it may look a little Christmasy with more green.  And!  I finally got to use the striped fabric I bought at Hobby Lobby for binding.  I love it.

So today, I thought I'd make a couple more.  One for myself and one possibly for (maybe!) a craft fair box.  They both turned out a bit wonky in the centers.  The one on the right is super wonky.  I realized too late that I wasn't using my 1/4 inch foot.  Which really is a bigger than 1/4 inch seam but at least my points match up when I use it.  So! lesson learned.  Maybe once I quilt them it won't be as noticeable?

I do like the pattern.  It's festive without being tied down to only Christmas.  I think these can be used longer than just December.  I'm almost ready to quilt up the two I sewed today, then buy a couple pillow forms and be good to go.

I don't know if I mentioned that I put up my Christmas decorations last weekend.  I decided to just do it right at the beginning of December so the time wouldn't get away from me.  I've been enjoying the multicolored lights.  And I have my light up village set up and my nutcracker collection too.  I didn't get pics of those.

It's been really cold so it feels nice and cozy inside.  Oh! I just remembered I have some hot chocolate :) that will be nice tonight after dinner.

build up let down

I'm not sure how or when it started, but I don't get excited about things.  I do and I don't.  Big things I don't until it's a concrete, for sure, actual thing.  I know it throws a lot of people off.  Things that other people get excited about I suppress until it is happening.

Recently I had something come up that I suppressed my excitement about in my usual manner.  But it wormed it's way into my mind.  I started planning for it.  Hoping for it.  Picturing things.  Then it didn't happen.

Which is why, precisely, that I don't get excited!  So then what do you do?  Can you dial it back down?  Sure, there are other things, opportunities....but then the comparison happens.  And nothing else quite satisfies.  Then I think why did I even ever think I could do/have that thing?  What if it wasn't meant to be anyway?

Constantly putting a damper on myself sometimes is tiresome.  But so is disappointment.  December is a hard month for me so I need to be gentle.  I am having more days that I don't want to get out of bed.  I have to drag myself.  I do it, I do what is necessary to survive, buy food and shelter.  Work is a good distraction, it is always busy - keeps my mind busy and the days go fast.  I am so thankful for my job and the people I work with.

I don't really have a point to this post.  I'm not ready to put it out there what has been going on.  It's nothing relationship related, there is no love life.  Just in case anyone may wonder in that direction.  Ha!  I can't even imagine....

thankful

 It's been a few weeks since I've checked in.  It's been busy.  Also, I didn't have much to say.  So there's that.  This past week I was in San Diego for Thanksgiving with Scott's family.  I'm not going to go into detail as to the whys and whatnots - but I was nervous to go.  His Dad's side of his family has continued to include me in their lives so I really should not have been nervous.  Hmmm.  I'll back up a little.  I come from a small, scattered family.  Holidays were my Mom, brother and I.  Sometimes we would do something with one of my Mom's friends but usually it was a very subdued small affair.  Scott was the oldest of 6 siblings from two separate sides of family and then each (mom or dad) had extended family included.  So, bare minimum would be at least 10 people.  But normally a lot more than that.  So, in consideration of just the size of the gathering it was overwhelming and strange to me at first.  And loud. ha!

Last year, I chickened out.  There was going to be about 25-30 people and things still seemed new and raw and I wasn't ready.  This year worked out really well.  There were still family that I had not seen in years but it was safe because I knew that they already knew.  So, no surprises.  Also, after getting used to the chaos when it wasn't around I missed it!

Before I went, as I was packing I decided I wanted a BIG project bag that could hold either a big project or a bunch of little ones.  So I made this giant bag and used snaps as a closure!  I love these snaps!  They are the Dritz Babyville snaps that you can find at Joann.  The snap setter tool is really easy to use and the snaps go on easily and snap well.  I had toyed around with the metal snaps but getting the prongs to line up and then set was a pain and didn't work well with thicker fabric.

As you can see the bag is really big!  I think George would actually fit inside, ha!  So I packed my cross stitching and a hat project as a back up to my shawl.  They did all fit in this one bag, in their own separate bags.

Good thing I knit!  For travelling I could see where if I wasn't knitting I would have been bored, bored, bored!

This was the bedroom that I stayed in at the Smith casa.  It was so tall!  I had to grab a chair to climb into, no joke.  Another side note, everyone and I mean everyone in Scott's family is tall! So tall.  Scott was 6'8".  I'm a pretty respectable 5'6" but comparatively I'm a Hobbit.  But anyway!  The bed, once I could get in it was so, SO comfy!!!  And the room was bright and beautiful.  The weather was beautiful the whole time.

Monday my sister in law and I spent the day at the beach. Tuesday we went and rode roller coasters at Knott's Berry Farm.  It was so fun!!!  I do love roller coasters even though I am terrified of heights.  And will sometimes get vertigo.  But roller coasters!  I love them so.  The last one we went on was at night and it was a full moon and it was thrilling and we laughed and laughed.  

So this picture I find amusing.  The weather was beautiful but for San Diego it was cold.  Anything under 70 is like freezing to them.  So this is Lacey, my sister in law and her son in front of the fire that my FIL made.  It was so, so cozy!  There's just something about a roaring fire.  I think this was Wednesday after a day of pie making and preparation.  

 I didn't get any pics at Thanksgiving.  It was such a good, bittersweet, lovely, touching, busy day. My Father in law has such a tender heart that he shared with us.  I was honored to be there.

Inevitably, there is a hole where Scott should have been.  Some moments where I know he would have made a joke, or told a story, were just empty.  But, really, it was the best it could be.  There was still plenty of laughter, lots of other's stories.  I even talked Lacey into playing piano earlier in the day so there was the music.  I am thankful for Scott, not only for his life, but because he brought me into his family.

Friday I left with a heart and mind full of new memories and love.  The trip home did not go as expected, which I think is actually pretty typical of holiday travel, yes?  But, again, I had my knitting!  So I wasn't upset because it was still better than driving 14+ hours by myself.

 It was an icy snowy drive home, and this was my street this morning.  The snow is sticking which might mean we have a real winter this year!  yikes.  Rocky and George were so excited to see me, and I them.  Today I have not gone out, and may not.

I hope you all had nice Thanksgivings if you celebrate.  One tradition that we've done is to go around the room and say something we're thankful for.  I think it's nice to reflect on all the blessings we all have and share that.  Each day I can find an abundance of things to be thankful for.  I hope you can too.

fiber mania

So yesterday!  My friend Charese (who is a fairy princess) and I thought it would be fun to go to a fiber festival over in Grants Pass.  It's about a 2 hour drive from here, it rained almost the whole time!  But, sometimes it's just fun to get out of town for a little bit, you know?

A lot of times I see people in other areas of the States going to these fabulous fiber things that have lots of indie dyers, spinners, cool stuff.  There are a couple that I know of in Northern Oregon, but that's like 6 hours away.....or California, but again hours away.  So I did some googling and found this website: knitter's review. It has like every fiber festival for the year listed in month order and with a link to the festival.  I found one called Fiber Mania that is close to me.

It was at the fairgrounds in Grants Pass.  It was so fun!  The great thing about fibery folks is they are mostly all friendly.  Also inspiring!  Like seeing all the interesting things people are making.  There was a LOT of felting going on - felted animals, felted shapes onto knitwear, felted soaps.

There was one stall in particular that I wanted to literally buy everything in it!  It was Stitched Bliss.  In that stall was a feature wall of this indie dyer Wee chickadee woolery.  OMG.  The saturation of color was like overwhelming!  So beautiful!  I had a hard time deciding which color to choose.  I picked a turquoise speckled called Fox's Wedding.  I also picked a mini skein of another speckled, it didn't have a color name on it.  I thought it would be fun to do as a contrast heel or toe for socks.  Also!  So clever.  Her business card has a little teensy skein attached, she said enough to make a hexi-puff or square for a blanket.

The brown is an alpaca that I picked up to make a gift.  One thing: this yarn is like perfumed!!!  I soaked it in cold water last night to try and rinse out the scent but it still smells.  Any advice there on how to get the perfume out of the fiber would be very welcome!

At one of the first stalls we stopped at there were these little sheepies!  So cute!  There were various colors and some that had felted sweaters on.  I really liked the ones with sweaters but the price difference was huge: $48 for sweatered and $10 for not sweatered.   

We had a great time, Charese doesn't knit but did find some little gift items.  We had a late lunch and then hit the road back home.  It was snowing over the pass!!!  aye.  But, a wet rainy snow.  It looks from the weather cams that it did stick a bit by Lake of the Woods.  A reminder that winter is just around the corner!

a bit of blah

I have a bit of a rant I need to get out this morning.  Sorry about it.  But, also, not sorry.  I am only sorry because if maybe you expect to only read knitty/quilty/stitchy stuff you may be disappointed by my blog.

But anyway!  A comment a friend made to me last night that was made totally in love has gotten under my skin.  I'm not upset at her one bit, truly.  I'm trying to make a hard decision and did ask for her opinion and she gave it.  The beginning of the statement came out like: I can see as a single woman how.....

The truth of the damn thing is what's got me.  I am a single woman.  I never wanted to be that.  I know that people say women can do anything a man can.  Sure - but not me.  I don't know how to fix things.  I don't know how to spot problems.  I am not strong enough to move items.  So what does a single lady do?  They call people to fix it for them.  They pay.  They feel like they've asked too much of their friends.  Well, this lady feels that way anyway.

The thing is, Scott could fix anything.  Anything.  Something broke and he'd know what was wrong and he'd fix it.  Cars, washing machines, dishwashers, lawnmowers, sewing machines, you name it and he could figure it out.  He could build things.  He also had a way of explaining things and just being that calming force that I need.  I miss him all the time.  Every day.  But times like these it is glaring how alone I am and how much awesomeness I'm missing.

I have great friends.  People who do look out for me.  I am so thankful for that.  I just don't want to be a burden, you know?

I already feel better just typing this out.  So, thanks for listening (or reading).  It really does help to journal thoughts and feelings and I can type faster than I can write :)

cozy days

When I was younger and the older folk would say things about how quickly time passes, I thought they were nutso.  ha.  My how age and perspective changes those thoughts!  This week flew by.  The summer flew by.  I understand phrases like "trying to stay in the moment".  But, dang, how easy it is to get caught up in the rush of the day to day.

So!  Last weekend I made the quilt top for my giant vintage sheet star quilt.  Yesterday I quilted that bad boy up!!  I did larger free motion than I usually do because I just wanted this done.  Originally I was going to do some sort of straight lines but then that sounded like I would have to use to much brain power and the meandering squiggles of stippling just felt easy.

So I'm sharing this picture because I think it's important to see the mistakes and learn from them!  I got the whole thing done, flipped it over and found this mess.  Now, it's not terrible, no.  Compared to my early quilting is is nothing.  But, I was out of spray basting and just used safety pins.  And I used a vintage sheet for the backing and those cotton/poly blends can be squirrelly! Basically I didn't pay as much attention as I could have.

But guess who cares?  NO ONE!  ha!  Cuz this is a couch quilt to (try) keep Rocky furs off the cushions.

I used another sheet for the binding, a fun hot pink.

And, here it is in use: 

Rocky's rumpus just kills me, he's so cute!  I like to tell him that I wish he could just relax sometimes.  Like, take a chill pill or something!  

Ok.  In other news and happenings this week.  I finally ordered this book and got it Thursday: 

I've been reading the author's blog for awhile now, Can you stay for dinner?, and I really like her writing.  She's super descriptive and conversational.  Basically she was very overweight growing up, alcoholic father, absent overworking mother, brother escaping, explosive at times family dynamic.  I forget what age, maybe 20, she lost 135lbs and so far has kept it off.  So, she's very honest about her family life - puts it out there.  It's also clear she loves her family.  She's just telling it like it was from her perspective and how that affected her.

  

 I also finally finished the July (!!!) frame for my Storytime Sampler.  Oh man I'm so behind!  This one is the Lady of Shalott.  So the only reason I even know about this poem is because in Anne of Green Gables she recites the poem and gets in a boat to float down the river to act it out.  I only made two modifications from the pattern.  One is that I gave her a somber expression instead of a smile.  The other is that after reading the poem it says she is wearing a pearl crown, so I added little french knots to look like pearls.

Also, I've been knitting away on my Duchess shawl.  I am just about to start the last eyelet section, then there is one last garter section and the border to go.  I moved it up to my longer circular needles.  This yarn is so squishy and pretty.  I think once it's blocked, it will suit the pattern better as you'll be able to see the eyelet sections more clearly.

Today is overcast and was rainy this morning so I'm being lazy and cozy.  I have a chili in the crock pot.  I soaked the beans last night thinking it sounded good and then when I woke up to rain I was like perfect!  

vintage sheet star quilt

So Saturday I made this quilt top!  It is entirely vintage sheets.  I had gotten a few last month at that rummage sale and there were two flat sheets exactly the same.  Initially I thought I'd sew them together with batting and use that as a couch quilt.  But! Then I remembered a tutorial I saw years (?) ago from Jeni at In Color Order blog that was a giant vintage sheet star quilt.  I have included the link, just click on those words and check out the tute or the blog as there are lots of great ideas.

But anyway! Saturday I intended to organize the craft house since that is a never ending project. Uggggggg.  I started to fold my vintage sheets and put them on the one shelf and pulled aside some bigger pieces.  And chopped them up.  And sewed them together and then there you go, a quilt top!  That's technically organizing, right?  ha! 

Yesterday I got the basting done and realized that I wouldn't have time to quilt it so will finish that up next weekend most likely.  Basting is not fun.  Mostly because it hurts my back to do it.  But!  It is so necessary so I do, but have to take a break afterwards.  For the back of this I actually didn't end up using the sheet I had set out to use because the top got to be bigger than that twin size, it's more like full size.  There were all sizes that I got at the rummage sale so it worked out fine.

the baskets are the goodies

Rocky and I were quite early birds today, up before 6 am!  Usually I will try and snooze a bit more but decided to get up and get started.  I found this delicious holiday starbucks coffee last night at the store and could not wait to try it.  The last time I bought coffee I thought I'd try something new and less expensive and it has been soooooo grody.  Almost bad enough for me to drink the office coffee!!  You know that's bad.  Anyway.

This was like the complete opposite.  I added cinnamon to the grounds per usual and it was perfect.

Then!  It was still dark out so I decided to bring in my goodies from the car that I got last weekend in Chico.  Sunday Mom and I found this really cool pop up shop called Uptown Vintage and Shabby that she had found the day before.  I've been hearing all about pop up shops on instagram and blogs and whatnot but have not been to one myself.  So, after breakfast we checked it out.  It was super cool!  They had vintage and handmade items in booth set ups.  Every booth was festive for Fall and Halloween.  Very reasonable prices.

Now, when I first walked in the door I saw a wooden picnic basket.  But it wasn't priced.  So I did a loop around the store and as I was walking back to the front I spotted that wooden sewing basket! I have, of course, seen those all over the interwebs as well, but never in the "wild"!  I scooped it up and carried it around.

 I was telling Mom about the picnic basket and she said I think I have one of those at home!  Which she did!  Score!  So even though I was sort of on the fence about the sewing box, I knew that if I didn't buy it I'd be mad once I got home.  So I bought it.  It was very reasonably priced, $23!  I still don't know what I'm going to do with it.

The wire basket was another gem from Mom and it's already holding yarn out in the craft house.  She also found me some Vera napkins in purple crocuses and red poppies.  So, there are more zipper pouches in my future for those.  I also thought it would be cute to sew a few together to make a table runner.

So that's what's happening around here today.  I hope you're having a good Fall Saturday!

using the skills

Last weekend I had a bit of an adventure with my Mom.  It all started back in August at my high school reunion.  One of my good friends from school is a designer in a group called Chikoko.  I've known about the group but never been to one of their shows.  A couple weeks ago Michalyn contacted me to let me know that a show was Saturday and did I want to go?  

With life stress and all I just wasn't sure I wanted to make the drive.  But Friday, I called Mom and when I heard her voice I was like, okay I'll be there tomorrow!  Frankly, I was surprised Mom wanted to go with me, but I'm so glad she did! We had a blast!

I don't exactly know how to describe the show in a way that would do it justice.  It was cool.  Edgy, provocative, unabashed, sassy.  The models were all sizes.  They were unashamed of their bodies.  The clothes were wild!  It was like a couture show.  Some things, yes, were too wild.  But, there were also pieces that could be mixed into everyday wear.

I did not get good pictures at all, so disappointing.  But, check their website for a sampling.  There were elaborate headpieces that were so much fun.  The picture above you can see the lady in blue is wearing a ship on her head.  The lady next to her had wings.

In between each collection, there were 4, was a bit of entertainment.  In the section above the designers came out in the foil costume which lifted off by the balloons.  There was dancing, singing, performance art, circus performing.  Really so much going on!

This is a lady dressed as a badminton birdie.

There was an after party after the show.  I decided to go just until I got tired....which ended up being 3 am!  My friend Mikie, one of the designers, was dressed as a banana - an outfit she designed and made.  I wish I had gotten a picture of the whole outfit, the dress portion was like a banana peeled open.

We talked and talked for hours.  It's funny how even though we haven't been close all these years since school we're still the same basically.  The common ground - sewing, silliness - is still there.  We used to sew outfits together and we learned together and we both use our skills to this day albeit in differing ways.  

I will admit that I am NO spring chicken anymore!  I am still tired from staying up almost all night Saturday - ha!  

just gotta cast on

I started a new shawl.  I figured I should cast on now while I'm excited about my last finish.  I picked the pattern called Duchess of Devonshire by Kay F Jones of the Bakery Bears podcast.  So far, so good!

Yesterday, Jan, Mya and I drove up to Bend to go shopping.  I wanted to check out the new Hobby Lobby.  I've been to that store before in other states but it's new to Oregon so hasn't been here very long.  It was definitely everything I remembered it to be and I came out a happy camper!  I bought this Strawberry Shortcake fabric there with the intention of making a new project bag.  

I've had this zipper for awhile, waiting for the right project and this was it!  I tried out a boxy pouch that is lined and I like it!  It's pretty roomy and I remembered to add a handle for easy carrying.

I added some beads and a cute cupcake charm for a zipper pull.

Okay, so let's talk yarn for a few.  Since I couldn't wait to start a new shawl I picked yarn from my stash.  Which is a good thing!  The only issue is that I usually am buying sock yarn that I just buy one skein at a time because it's plenty for socks with leftovers.  But, the shawl is like 600 yards and most of the skeins I have top out at 490.  So I didn't let it stop me, I picked this Misti alpaca in the colorway Bird of Paradise.  I love it!  The colors are so interesting as it works up.  So, while at Hobby Lobby in the yarn section I found these two skeins of lace weight for clearance!  I figured one of them might look nice as the edged border.  The more I look at them I think the dark pink one will be good.  It looks really red in the picture but it matches really closely to the pink in the variegated yarn.

the shawl bug has bitten

So I know that I already talked about this shawl a bunch here.  But!  It finished drying yesterday and I wore it today........and all I can say is that I heart shawls so much!!!  Before, yeah, I thought they were pretty.  Intricate, intimidating, cool.  But didn't really get it.  I didn't really understand how you wear one, do you wrap it around your shoulders all day???  I've seen people wear it bandana style on blogs and podcasts and what not but didn't really get it.  But today?  Today I am hooked!!  I used sock yarn so it is light and airy and just the right amount of warm - but not heavy or hot at all.  In fact, I wore it most of the day at the office where the thermostat thinks if it gets above 60 outside the air conditioning needs to be on!

So now I'm plotting.  I've been collecting patterns the past year -it's like somehow I knew!  I have lots of stash yarn to choose from.  I might even make like a gray one which is sort of shocking for me since I usually gravitate towards bright colors. hmmmmm

Fall finishing

I have a few finishes to share.  First up: pickles!  Last weekend it dawned on me that Summer is officially over and I didn't make even one jar of pickles!  Last year I made a ton but I'm down to a couple pickles in the fridge and a jar of sliced pickles that I haven't opened.  So I thought, I guess I could buy pickles, no big deal.  Ugggggggg! but no homemade pickles for an entire year??? nope, it won't do! I found myself at farmer's market Saturday morning picking up any and all suitable cucumbers, which were very sparse.  So!  I have 3 jars that I will use sparingly this year.  

And then.  I'm back to cross stitching.  I got hung up on this frame for Peter Pan because the pattern did not have Tinkerbell in it!  What?  And there was a mermaid in the water next to Peter.  It just didn't feel right to me.  I know that there are mermaids in the story but to me the crocodile stood out more.  I saw a few people on Instagram also added a croc.  But Tink just wasn't as easy to figure out.  I finally just thought I'll add her even if she's tiny since she's a fairy anyways! So that's what I did.  And now I can move on :) I also changed Peter's hair to red and gave him blue eyes and a smirk.

 I'm not sure if I mentioned that I finished the Thunderstorm MKAL shawl?  I did!  And it is blocking right this minute!  I have it folded in half so it will be symmetrical and also so it would fit on the blocking mat.  It's pretty big, this thing!  I tried to stretch it as much as I could to open out the eyelets.

Here's a bit of a close up:

Oh yes!  Last weekend I rearranged my living room!  I'm really digging the set up now.  A small change, really, but a huge difference.  In this corner I used to have a plant stand.  I moved the plant stand into the kitchen and moved this bookshelf in it's place.  Now I have a little book nook corner.  It's so cozy I love it!

And, since I was rearranging I put out my Fall decorations.  I haven't really put up decorations for Fall since before my husband died.  But, the mood hit so I did it and I really like it.   

 Every year at the end of Summer there is a rummage sale that Jan and I always go to.  The second day of the sale, Saturday midday, they have a bag sale.  And we can usually split a bag and stuff a ton in there!!!  This year, this pile of sheets was my score.  I got all this for $2!!!  The bag was $4 and so we each paid half.  I must admit I came out better in the deal but I know Jan doesn't mind.

Now, I know you're wondering how many sheets does one person need?  ha!  So, vintage sheets have many uses.  The plain ones are going to be perfect to cover my couch so that Rocky can live there and shed his little short hairs and I don't lose my sanity :)  The others, I can use as quilt backs.  You get a ton of yardage for next to nothing.  I only buy sheets that don't have stains and are in very good shape.  The first thing I do is wash them all up and they are ready to use!  Also, I have found that they are great for making tote bags, reusable shopping bags, quilts.  That's just what I do.

The first thing I added to my bag was this little linen doily.  It is so sweet.  Not sure if you can tell but it's hand embroidered with little birds next to the flowers.

Oh my goodness!  Sorry for the photo overload!  But, I think I'm pretty caught up now.  Rocky and I are doing some serious chilling out this weekend.  Big plans today include painting my nails, cross stitching and maybe knitting on my socks.  Maybe if I get a wild hair I'll sew something!  I have to day I'm just really loving all the handmade things in my house right now.  It warms my heart.  Hopefully you're having a great, relaxing Fall weekend as well.