Thrift Stop

Today's mid-century treasure: a Westmoreland black glass basket, a 1972 chalkware "Bathometer",  and a 1962 smoked glass platter celebrating the history of thread and the Coats and Clark Company.

I got these a little while ago but in keeping with the black and gold theme: four TV trays with deer.

That's it.  Happy thrifting!

Builder's Grade

If you're one of those people (and I'm beginning to think that means EVERYONE) who hates honey-oak trim, beige carpet and white walls - well - you're not going to like it at my house.  But to me, it's a gallery space with warmth and a place where every color looks just right.

See more from my photo shoot over at the MMQG blog where I posted this week about hanging and displaying quilts.

If you're sticking around to admire that purse in the photo, however, welcome!  I got it in the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild's bag swap at our February meeting.  A talented gal named Rozina made it and I couldn't love it more.  I immediately dumped the contents of my purse into it, threw it over my shoulder and haven't looked back.

Here's the one I made:

It's from the Tohoku Tote pattern/tutorial by Cheri at her "I am Momma, Hear me Roar"blog.

I followed the pattern except for adding this internal zipper pocket.  I found this tutorial helpful.

The prints are from IKEA; the black is duck cloth from JoAnn Fabric but I didn't like the way it faded when I ironed it.  All in all a fun swap.  We're doing name tags next.  Stay tuned!

Clothespinterest

I noticed a March contest on facebook by JoAnn Fabric called "Create with Eight."  You take eight materials off the list they give you and using only those eight (as well as glue, wire, etc.) make a little something for the contest.

The eight materials I chose (because I already had them on hand) were:

1. Acrylic paint
2. Felt
3. Wooden beads
4. Chenille stems
5. Ribbon
6. Buttons
7. Unfinished wood shapes
8. Yarn

So of course I made a clothespin doll couple ready for Oktoberfest...

...Of course I did.

If you like them, please vote for them at the contest on facebook.  It would boost my creative ego.  The voting is now closed.

These took me several hours yesterday and another half hour this morning.  My process went like this: gather supplies, stare at supplies, make drawing, paint, varnish, tie tiny bows, braid yarn hair, glue, cut, stitch, fit, cut, glue, dry, admire.

Creative Process

Wunderbar!

If you've ever visited my Pinterest boards, you already know I love clothespins/clotheslines so these dolls are a natural extension of several of my fixations including extreme cuteness.

Auf Wiedersehen!