A Closer Look at Ottoman

Some New Things

I listed a few things in my shop over the weekend. The first two are vintage.

Millinery Flowers (yellow)

Red and White Potholders

I often find things that I love and then they just don't work for my home or I don't use them, which is the case with these flowers and potholders. I just love the scalloped edge on the latter.

And, in case you were wondering if my shop is going wholly vintage, here's a listing for something handmade (I just haven't had as much time to make things lately)....

Half Dozen Pompoms - 1

These pompoms are upcycled and here's the listing info explaining how I get the yarn:

"I know a little group of ladies that make prayer shawls in the event that someone we know becomes ill, injured, or is in crisis. The shawls are crocheted and knitted with love and prayers. One of these ladies recently mentioned to me that the group was overflowing with remnant yarn and they didn't know what to do with it all. I told her I had the perfect application.

If you aren't interested in the tedium of pompom-making (personally, I find it meditative), here's half a dozen made from the leftover yarn of sweet, caring women. This set ranges from 1 1/2" - 2 1/4" in diameter. The wee pompoms can be used in numerous ways including: made into a garland, piled in a bowl as a centerpiece, or clustered and pinned to the wall...do however take care, pompoms are rather fragile.

As I receive more yarn and run out of the yarn I am using now, the colorway of the pompoms will evolve with each listing."

I hope your week is going well....We've had some sun which is always a nice break with the gray this time of year in the western-half of Oregon.

 

Honeysuckle

A couple of days ago, it occured to me that I didn't know what Pantone's color of the year was for 2011 (maybe because of these cookies...mmmm...cookies...I digress). Last year, when I found out that it was turquoise, I wasn't surprised. But, this year...it's a pink...honeysuckle in fact...and I am surprised.

It's a pretty bold color and I feel like I haven't seen much of it around, but now that I know about it, you know I'll see it everywhere!

 

 

A Great Group

I found myself in a wonderful treasury just now...lots of favorites here and some new ones too.

You should be able to click on the image to make it larger if you'd like to look any of these up.

Also, I found this via this post yesterday....I've been seeing this shop's work here and there and I'm glad I now know where they came from.

Yipee...tomorrow's Friday!

Books on Natural Dyeing

I finally got a couple of books (Christmas gifts) to get going with some natural dyeing.

I cracked open this first one a few nights ago. I've just been reading a little at a time since I certainly don't have the sort of time I did in college to read. So far it's very informative. I'm starting slow with this process because I really need to be careful working with these materials since I have a 5-year-old in the house. Really, I'm only going to be working with the safest of the safe and this book was recommended to me as a good one for such.

This next book is very exciting because, for example, keeping powdered copper and iron around makes me nervous with a young child in the house...so it's nice to know that I can make the dyes in copper pots or cast iron pots instead...much safer! I haven't done anything but flip through this book so far, but I can't wait to sink my teeth into it.

If you have a favorite natural dyeing book, please let me know...I'd love to get some more books on my wish list. Now...back to thinking about cooking dinner...it's going to have to be something quick since it's already past 6:00....

 

Taking Down

Time to take down the Christmas decorations, including these glitter pine cones that Boo and I made a couple of years ago.

I sort of miss the holidays, maybe because we didn't get to spend it with the rest of the family. It just wasn't the same, but I am so grateful for my boys and we had a quiet, cozy day with just the three of us. I learned that keeping my expectations from going out of control really helps make the day enjoyable. The night before, we left out carrots for the reindeer, a cookie (from Starbucks...I was not about to brave the market and Boo and I got bit to drink too), milk, and celery for Santa (because Boo thought that Santa should have something healthy to eat with his cookie...yes, I do say that on a daily basis)...memories.

Oh, I've listed a couple of vintage items in the shop.... Graffco Map Tacks (red) and an Orange Plastic Creamer. I would keep that creamer if I already didn't have a couple of creamer/sugar sets...it's orange!

Also, I've been on the hunt for quick, inexpensive, healthy, vegetarian meals to make. I have some that I make quite a bit, but I don't want to get to the point of tiring of a particular recipe. I like to mix up the grains and legumes...black beans one night, then quinoa, then yellow lentils...that sort of thing. If you have a great recipe that fits the bill...please share the link!

Happy Saturday dear readers!

Pinterest

I forgot to tell you, I'm on Pinterest. What a fun and helpful site. I can now pin images to categorized boards to find them later....Found something inspirational for home - pin it....Found a book I want to get - pin it....Found a recipe I want to try - pin it.

Here's what my boards currently look like:

And click here to explore the boards.

Fresh Flocking

We went over the hills and through the woods yesterday. The fir and pine (and spruce, if there were any) were freshly flocked. The road was ice most of the time, but it was a beautiful, sunny day.

Happy New Year!