One Just Isn't Enough!

Is it possible to have too many crocheted potholders?

 Pink and Green -- Watermelon

I love variegated crochet threads.  This purple

speaks to me.

See the center of this pretty posey?

Variegated yellow always wins a smile.

 

I've used clear removeable Command Strips

for this quick and easy

vintage display

in my kitchen.

 

 

Heather from the Vintage Grey

crochets beautiful potholders.

(I also love her tea towels and table runners.)

 

Here's one of the pretties in her shop!

Vintage Grey Shoppe

 How lovely!

Freebie Printable Just For You!
 Printable Tags with Crochet Image

  

I made these tag art images last year from
photographs of the vintage crochet featured in this post.

Enjoy!


Amy

 

Filet Crochet

 Every once in a while,

I'll find a piece of filet crochet.

 

This blue filet crochet graces both

ends of a runner I purchased recently.

 

Can you see the leaves in the design?

 

Filet crochet only uses two stitches --

 the chain stitch and the double crochet stitch.

 

The patterns for beautiful filet crochet designs

feature a graph with "open" blocks

and "colored" blocks.

 The colored blocks or squares

 signify when to fill in a stitch with

a double crochet on that row.

These double crocheted blocks create splendid designs

once all of the rows are finished.

 

 This runner's creator used a less than stellar

handpainted muslin for the center.

 

I'm considering using the filet crocheted ends

to decorate a blue pieced and quilted runner,

but I dislike cutting linens that are in good condition.

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

Click on the link below to find

beginner instructions for filet crochet.

Simply scroll down toward the lower portion

of this link's page.

Filet Crochet Instructions

  

 If, like me, you prefer to buy the finished product,

there are many Etsy sellers who offer these

handmade treasures.

  

 Snowy Creek Designs

What a gorgeous coverlet! Dated 1927.

 

Vintage Pleasures

Pretty for spring!

Patterns ala Carte
An elegant and affordable pattern.

Red Hen Studios
This runner is similar in construction to mine!

While I'm deciding whether or not to recreate

this vintage piece, I sometimes display it here --

in my window seat.

 

Do you have a piece of filet crochet?

 

Amy

 

 

 

 

 



Little Shoes

 

 

 Don't you wish

these little shoes

could tell you where

they've been?

 

A first step?

A puddle jumped?

Little games played

Back then.

 

 

 

Their story's

been forgotten.

No one's here to

explain,

 

Why little

shoes from time past

survived and

remain.

 



 

I've adopted some mother's keepsake from long, long ago.  These very small button-shoes

are probably sized for a little one's first steps.  They do show

minimal wear on the soles.

 

All the buttons are still in place.

 

And tucked in a tissue down deep in one shoe

was an extra little button.

 

Where do you think these little shoes have been?

 

Do tell.

 

 

Amy

 

 

 

Love

 

Shakespeare said, 

"Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds," 

 

 

 Tennyson said,

"Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.”

Jane Austen said,

"There is nothing I would not do for those

who are really my friends.

 I have no notion of loving people by halves,

 it is not my nature."

 



 

Robert Frost said,

“We love the things we love for what they are.”

 

 

Sophocles said,

"One word frees us of all the weight

 and pain of life:that word is love."

 

 

 Charlotte Bronte said,

"“All my heart is yours, sir: it belongs to you;

 and with you it would remain,

 were fate to exile the rest of me

 from your presence forever.”

 

 

God said,

"Yeah, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:"

(Jeremiah 31: 3)

 

The world's writers

can use all the words our language offers:

I still prefer this centuries-old sentence -- amazed and humbled.

It still applies to me.

 

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Amy

 

 

 

Birds of a Feather

 

 

My son's fourth grade science curriculum

introduces different state birds with every chapter.

 

The intent of the publisher is that the student 

learns to identify the twenty-five different state birds.

 

 

I put out a feeder this past fall so that

we could observe the birds we were studying.

 

I didn't realize how much joy this act would bring to us.

 

In addition to the saucy blue jay above,

 we've had visits from

this lovely cardinal and his friend.

(I haven't yet identified this yellow visitor.)

 

The cardinal is West Virginia's state bird.

I've loved these pretties for a long time.

 

 

This female cardinal definitely rules the feeder. 

 Look how much bigger she is

 than the little chickadee and purple finch.

 

I'm not too sure about this yellow cutie. 

Is it a female goldfinch?

 

 

Now that winter has settled over my backyard,

we don't see these welcome guests.

 

For the most part, our feeder only has one

daily visitor -- a tiny sparrow.

 

I love to watch her as she visits.

Sometimes, she sits in the feeder 

and hides behind the rim.

The only evidence of her presence is

the bobbing up and down of a little feathered head

and the flying seeds that she's flicking about

as she searches for the perfect one.

 

 

Her visits remind me every day

of the words of my Saviour in Matthew 10. 

Jesus is giving encouragement

to his disciples before they go out

 into the world to share the gospel.

He tells them that a sparrow doesn't fall to the ground

without His knowledge.  If He cares this much for the

little sparrow, imagine how much He cares for you.

 

"Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value

than many sparrows."

Matthew 10:31 

 

 

The cardinal is also the state bird for six other states.

Can you name one?

 

 

 Amy

 

 

 

 

Vintage Sewing Box

 

 

This once-loved sewing box called out to me

while I was shopping in a wonderful

Ohio antique store.

 

"Pick me!  Pick me!" it said.

(Really! Things like this talk to me.)

 

 

 

All this small beauty needed

was some creative TLC.

 

 

 

Sewing boxes like this one are  easy to find

 and even easier to upcycle.

 

Supplies:

enamel spray paints in white primer, black, and clear gloss,

paint brush, Mod Podge, scissors,

about 7 to 8 coordinating scrapbooking papers (12"x12" cardstock),

two small drawer knobs, E-6000 glue.

 

 

1. Clean your vintage box of any dirt or dust with a cleaner like Murphy Oil Soap.  Sanding is only necessary if your piece is heavily varnished.  Dry thoroughly.

 

2.  Remove the lid handles/hardware.

 

3. Coat the box with an enamel spray paint primer (white).  Let dry thoroughly.

 

4.  Coat the box with an enamel spray paint color that coordinates with your scrapbooking paper selections.  Let dry.

 

4. Measure each lid.  Using Mod Podge, adhere the measured and cut cardstock to each lid.  After the Mod Podge dries, measure the bottom of the round box.  Adhere the measured and cut cardstock to the box bottom with Mod Podge.  (I used two different pieces of cardstock and had them meet at the middle of the bottom.  The paper seam can't be seen unless the box is picked up.)

 

The shape of the flat box sides were easy to trace onto cardstock.  Cut out the traced shapes and adhere with Mod Podge.

 

 

 

5. Apply a layer of Mod Podge over the top of all decoupaged cardstock.

 

6. Finish the box with a coating of clear gloss spray.

 

7. Adhere two small drawer knobs with E-6000 industrial glue. (The knobs pictured were Tim Holtz.)

 

 

I like using the enamel spray paints rather than brush painting.

The spray paints provide an even and durable finish.

The small knobs are mostly for decoration. 

 The E-6000 industrial strength glue adheres these knobs quite well. 

 I'm not a power-tool sort of gal,

but you could screw the drawer knobs in with a drill.

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by the Nest!

Amy

 

 

 

 

Linking Up With

 

Knick of Time Tuesday



Rosettes

A couple of months ago,

I had the privilege

of teaching classes

at six different public libraries

in my county.

Together, ladies of all ages,

with a range of beginning to experienced sewing skills,

stitched some rosette brooches.

What a wonderful experience it was to see

 the range of personalities shown through fabric choices.

Some are shabby chic. 

 Some a "little bit country."  

Others were Christmas-themed.

(One of the pretty library displays for the program.)

Here are few of the pretty rosettes. 

(Photographs show rosettes only

 to protect the privacy of these exceptionally

 creative and craft lovin' patrons!)

If you were to make a rosette, 

which fabric would you choose?

Amy