new designs

brooch with several buttons for center



brooch with vintage lace and tulle



this brooch is a new design, the center is just made up of linen strips

brooch with doily and button for center

i found this straw bag at my church in a pile of garage sale items, i decided to liven it up a bit so i made a brooch to match ( i do have another brooch just like the one above, but unfortunately this one is not for sale!)

I just wanted to share a few pictures of the brooches that I've been whipping up. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to write a post, I'm going out of town for the weekend, and I was excited about these brooches and couldn't wait to show y'all!!!

Oh! and please let me know what you think about the new blog changes in the comment box below.

                      Have a wonderful and fun weekend!!!

projects in progress

sander, wood stain, grinder, rag, and hooks....i'm ready to get to work!!!!

this is a simple project( or atleast i think it is....i haven't finished), i don't know what to call it because it kinda looks like a ladder, but let's just call it a scarf rack.

that's my hand, i'm sanding the scarf rack

these are decorative hooks ( the cool thing about these hooks is, i didn't have to pay for them, i found them in my mother's wardrobe). i'm going to put one on each side to hang my tote bags.

a window frame that i purchased out at Coughran Market Days from Suzanne, you can find her here



i found these pretty ( and inexpensive) knobs at World Market. i think they'll look cute screwed to the bottom part of the window frame to hang tote bags.

 I've been so neglectful the last few weeks, I apologize for not posting in awhile, but I'm back again to share a couple of projects that I have been working on.

I'm staining the scarf rack using white wash stain, once finished, I'll sand it to give it a shabby chic/weathered and worn look. The window frame will stay the way it is (why would i want to paint it!!!! it's lovely the way it is), and screw in the four decorative knobs for the bottom to hang tote bags.

flowers

 Just wanted to share some flower pictures. Spring is finally here and more pictures are to come. Hope you enjoy, may it inspire you and brighten your day.

Once it's gone it's gone!!!!

set of 4 coasters

they are also reversible, either the printed or solid side

satchel.....more elegant then the one shown below

satchel with thrifted vintage lace and wooden button

satchel with gold button

brooch with doily and button in center

patchwork tote bag

I'm back again to show more sewing pieces that I have been working on in the last couple of weeks. I am never bored with sewing.....I even sew in my sleep, well, more like in my head LOL! I found  more lace so that means more items to share with y'all. Oh! I also wanted to tell all of you out there reading my post, I make one of a kind pieces so that means what you're buying you can't buy anywhere else, once it's gone it's gone. I only buy my fabric at thrift stores, estate and garage sales, flea markets, and anywhere I can find items that has been gently used....my purpose is recycling. I only have small quantities of the same thing, if I have a yard of linen, then I will only be able to make one tote bag or one tablerunner. If you are interested in an item and it has already been sold, I can try to make something similar, but my purpose is to make and create items and pieces that you will never see anywhere else (maybe similar, but not exactly the same). I'll be back next week!!!!

Kale with Cannellini Beans

1 1/2 to 2 pounds kale or mixed greens, stems and ribs removed
salt and pepper
1 small onion, diced
1 1/2 Tbls. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
pinch of red pepper flakes
1 1/3 cups canned cannellini or white beans, rinsed well
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese


Simmer the kale in salted water until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain, reserving the cooking water, and chop the leaves. In a large skillet, saute the onion in the oil with the garlic and pepper flakes for about 3 minutes. Add the beans, kale, and enough cooking water to keep the mixture loose. Heat through, taste for salt and season with pepper, and serve with a dusting of Parmesan.

~ this recipe is from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison

Sewing and gardening away

Brooch with several buttons



Brooch with doily and button in center




Headband with doily





Lingerie bag....can also be used for just about anything



I've been sick again so I have'nt been sewing, which means that I've been really sick!!!!!! I never stop sewing, to me it's like eating and breathing, one can never have enough, or, that's how it is for me. I am trying to make a variety of stuff, but I'll admit, I'm addicted to brooches! They're so much fun.....I never stop with ideas for them. I really want to start making fancier ones, you know, like the ones for dressier occasions. I also, while I'm thinking about it, have to share a recipe with y'all for kale, it's soooo good!!! I made it yesterday, and the kale wasn't bitter.....sometimes you can taste the bitterness, but this dish was AWESOME!!!! I planted some carrots, beets, and peas....I will be showing y'all pictures so get ready to see them suckers grow. I am making compost tea using cow manure and water (yep! it's that simple), you just put the cow manure in a 5 gallon bucket ( or whatever bucket you have handy) and fill it half full, then fill it all the way up with water, leave it for 10 to 14 days, once ready strain it and dilute 1 part manure 4 part water ( it needs to look like sweet tea....yumm!!!) You can either put it in a pump up sprayer or just pour it directly out of the bucket. I will have more tote bags to show y'all, so come back to check' im out :). Oh! and I will also post that kale recipe.

Garlands

 Here are a few garlands that I've been making. I also have a garland that will say 'LIVE',  but I really need to finish it so I can show y'all. I've neglected to post last week, but I've been really busy trying to make more things to build up my inventory. I will have more pics later, especially with the beautiful weather we've been blessed with.

'PEACE'

'HOPE'