Thrifty Thursday---Old Sterling and Tortoise shell knitting needles

These were dull and I shined them with a silver polishing cloth. They have an F monogram. I really like them. I do not know what size exactly they are but probably a 5-7. The ends also are silver.

They are 13 inches long. Marked STERLING on the back of the holder. This dates them to be quite old as most sterling is marked .925 in the past years.

The tips are still good and functional.

seen anything like these?  any guess at what year?

And to add to something I started this morning, I have another silvery bling scarf started.

 

This is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in the colorway Constellation

 

Using my number 13 glass straights for this one.

I like my circular needles but didn't have a number 13 in my stash except these glass ones.

So all is bling and bright here on the homestead!

 

So many chores to do today, but later this evening methinks I will be knitting by the woodstove watching a Christmas movie.

 

It's nice and sunny here in the mountains today but quite cold.

Sipping my second cuppa,

Jennifer

Finishing Knitting Projects and My Finished Stitching Journal

 

I finished my Kindle Cozy today!

 

 

 

By whip stitching in the calico lining and making a flower button on the corner, I then tucked in my reading glasses, small Kindle light, and Kindle and it's ready to go now.

 Abbie was really not into my crafting today. It takes away from her snuggle time.

 

NEXT, I finished with this in mind:

 

My Stitching Motif Journal

made with love by Feathers in the Nest
2013


I knitted in garter stitch the journal color in Lion's Brand tweed yarn in Mixed Berries with #9 Bates knitting needles.

After binding off, I decided instead of inserting rough paper, that I would cut some Antique White 28 ct linen into  slightly larger pieces than the binder cover. 9 pages.
I used some white DMC  to "bind" the pages of linen together.

I sewed on a vintage red button from my stash and the white thread wrapped around it for closure. Then tied on some white ribbon.
I'm sure othe ribbons, laces, buttons and ideas are endless on securing this journal..............

 The girl is silly.

When you have sewn the 3 part binder and secured it, you can see the pieces of linen of which you can stitch 1 over 1 on this 28 count for small motifs and have a nice journal.
This pic is when you roll back the knit cover.
 

Other ideas include:

redwork motifs
heart motifs
crown motifs
initials
Christmas motifs
monograms
small verses or words
or
whatever your HEART desires!

You may want to cut your linen pieces smaller, make a bigger knitted binder (i/e for 5 x7 pieces), or a variation of things.
I just thought this size would be neat.

I'm knitting a second one to put rough paper in for a paper journal in progress now.

Well, today went by in a flash and soon to head to sleepy time.

I did make some really good Banana Bread from a different recipe.
I thought it would be perfect for one large loaf pan but.......it floweth over in the oven......;)

Seriously. It did. Made a mess to clean up. I'll post the recipe tomorrow.....methinks it's time for getting ready for bed.

This picture reminds me of Mr. Darcy and me.
Time to snuggle, be silly and tell bedtime stories. :p

With love in my heart and home,
Jennifer
 

Junkin' and Jumpin'

First I went junkin'.

 

Then I went jumpin'.

 

 

I know it's that time of year for all kinds of things with many legs to appear out here but I literally got wrapped in a HUGE spider web and the spider ran across to the flowers but the web was stretched from the roof, to the table, to the birdfeeder and back to the front of the porch.

 

 

I had my camera outside to take a picture of the sweet sunset this evening but ran into this one that has definitely taken up the porch.

 

 

Oh yeah! Rounding the corner of the porch was "entangling".

 

 

I'm sorry to say it but he is not boarding here at the homestead any longer........

 

 

The day otherwise has been awesome! The sun is out for one!!  And I feel some change ever so slight back to the drier air and hopefully much cooler this weekend I hear.

 

I went junkin' today. I think I've adopted Thursday for junkin' day. I had something in mind I needed in the kitchen but instead found a gallon bag of  38 forks and 40 spoons for 8 bucks. Stainless steel.

 

 

Now I think I have enough for guests!

 

 

I even found a stitching frame for a large project still new in bag and all the hardware looks great......5 bucks.

 

 

and I couldn't resist this little Colonial Williamsburg piece for 3 bucks.

 

 

 

 

saw a sweet, heavy pewter angel frame in a pile for 2.00. I can't wait to stitch a small in this.

 

 

and finally a small bit of progress this morning, early with my coffee before I started the day.....

Battle Hymn of the Republic, by LHN, Lakeside Linen, DMC floss

 

 

I even played with a scrap piece of this Gingham linen I got a very long time ago to do one over one on a freebie by Liberty House Primitives "With God All Things Are Possible".

 

And for a nice evening it is, even with spiders.......I can't wait for the weather to change up this weekend!

 

Till later after I watch the show Hoarders,

 

Jennifer

 

Christmas ornie--O Holy Night

O Holy Night ornie

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2012

There are so many ornies out for Christmas but I designed this one just this morning to share if you would like add one or start on Christmas ornies early. Patriotic colors give it an Americana flair.

Colors of choice

linen of choice

This is Mr. Darcy's favorite Christmas carol as so the inspiration this morning. :)

Take care and enjoy what's left of Thursday.

I slept WAY too late and fixing to go junkin' for the afternoon.

Hopefully later tonight I can stitch some, and definitely for the weekend at some point.

If you would like to share you finish, email me at jennifer.dalenberg@yahoo.com and I will share your interpretation and finish here on the blog!

With love,

Jennifer

Strawberry pin cushions, fat quarters, and matching totes

Today's adventures rambling about with some finds. One I needed, the rest, well.....you know the stash has to grow......

this lighted tree has been in my kitchen since Christmas. I saw these Strawberry pin cushions with the black ball pins  (the seeds) and for 50 cents, they add a little Summer to the kitchen.

and they made my skirt fly up............

I've enjoyed this little tree but sadly when the lights go out, they are OUT~so enjoying them while I can.

Mark down on the record I haven't dreamed, smelled or perused through a quilt store in over a year.

So I spent some quality time in an old Victorian quilting store with rooooooooooooooms of colors and picked up these fat quarters to live with my other stash members.

This one I just loved the colors. It's flannel.

Then met with a friend who owns her own business for the past 25 years and knows I'm blogging about this adventure. I went in there to get a duffel bag because this girl has been "on travel" alot these days. My other ones broke the zipper.....soooooo.............she engraved my name Jennifer Ann for free.

The Black thread didn't contrast well but I didn't want anything that screamed at me.

So the duffel, good for an overnight adventure with a little bag to match.

And you KNOW I had to get this bag. It even would be a great cross stitching tote and the engraving is FREE. Takes her about 10 minutes.

She has great prices. This bag has room for a waterbottle, a zipped top and even a little zipped pocket for scissors or other notions.

So, the much-needed day out of the house was well worth the adventure.

By the way, these backs and free monogramming are at Vickies on the square in Dahlonega, Ga.

She amazes me with her machine how straight, how fast, and adept she is with them.

And, if you really are into monogramming, i.e, sheets, pillowcases, shirts, even panties........this lady will fix you up. She has all colors.

So now when I travel, I will not look mismatched together and another plus is these are not too heavy by themselves, a must for ole timers like me. :P

I hope your day was with some peak of fun, a dash of a friend's stories, a Taco Bell, and a good

Cherry Lime Spritzer in this heat!

Till later,

Jennifer

Summertime Blues

Summertime Blues

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2012

Red, white and blue is all around us as we get ready for Independence Day next week!

There are so many blue colors in overdyed threads we have to choose from! I thought how cool it would be to scramble a few of those threads just as in the olden days when the same color consistently was not stitched, but whatever was available at the time, lending to a very simple sampler with interesting effects with color.

The Butterfly bushes are in full bloom right now here but this year I haven't seen near as many.

I saw a few the other day and always pretty as can be, but an unusual color mixture.

If you are a butterfly lover like myself, this motif and blue shadey verse might brighten your day..........................especially if you love the color blue and give you something to stitch to add to your Summertime ornie basket. I'm thinking of stitching this one up 1 over 1 on 36 count and putting in a tiny navy blue wood frame I got at a local thrift store.

Variated threads suggested are:

Gentle Art

Liberty

Freedom

Cornflower

Midnight

Huckleberry

Presidential Blue

Morning Glory

DMC Black

DMC 645 Grey

And yes, the song Summertime Blues is playing through my mind tonight for some reason....:)

Color Me Happy,

Jennifer

Thrifty Thursday~~a random thought

This keychain was in a really pretty box at a thrift store a couple of weeks ago and for 1.00 marked.

At first glance, it looked like a Brighton keychain but I know it's not, but does it ever look like it!

I had no clue what I was going to do as I have alot of keychains but then I remembered a special friend and my hands went to stitching :)

"We were given: Two hands to hold. Two legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else for us to find."

author unknown

Sampler Prints---early 1900's

Do you like interesting paper sampler prints?

While I was rambling through a community thrift shop (again) for a couple of kitchen utensils that were quite nice for a quarter a piece, I saw this print of a sampler. 

For $1.75, I thought I could afford it, so I carried it with me for a grand total of 2.25, including a book, 2 wooden handled kitchen utensils, and this.

I just thought it was quite interesting and read about these particular paper prints of samplers online a bit after looking closely at some clues.

The verse it seems is Scottish and quite cute I think~

In the early 1900's, the prints were popular.

The company is actually out of Chicago, Ill.--P. F Volland Co

Please excuse the upper half that looks cut off or weird. My computer has PMS this week.

Anyways, another marker.

and a nice flash of light there :)

the little doggie reminded me of Abbie's tail.

The verse is quite humorous and jolly just like the characters in it.

Well, bye for now.

Another log needs to be put in the fireplace.

 Good night John Boy. ;)

Confessions on Thrifty Thursday

I don't know if you agree, but WHERE did this year fly by to????  July 1st is tomorrow??? OMG!

When I walk out, I realize as my glasses fog up that it's hot, Georgia weather, but it seems time is flying by faster than usual.  I confess, sometimes, time is flying here. 

I haven't gotten alot of stitching done this week at all but did finally put together a simple, large panel I got for 99cents---yes, a thrifty find on the Bay of Good and Evil, from the Williamsburg collection. I think someone was cleaning out their fabbies. They also sent a stained muslin to back it but I used some fabbie I had from another trip last year (Boston) to back it. Stuffed it with an entire bag of stuffing and makes a good blend in the family room/ keeping room.

It's Abbie Approved.

And the few stitches I put in Ann Hill, are shameful but maybe a few.....I confess the Anthony trial has taken my eyes too much instead of staying on the linen.......{{{eyes down}}}

there are too many WOW factors in this trial. And as a women's advocate/child advocate, I'm watching this trial hoping that justice for Caylee will be served.

Thank goodness it's almost over, so stitching can get on track.  Whew! What a case.

But I think I'm officially ready for the 4th events on Monday with this new red pedi. I confess.......it was a real treat!  A splurge but not a thrifty thing to do on Thursday.

I also confess that I finally broke down and got a "wooden tool" from the Amy's website. It looked perfect for helping me tuck in those extra hanging fibers behind my work. I have another one that I keep losing and it's smaller but I think this bigger one I can keep up with better. When I get it, I will post a pic. ;)

The afternoon will be filled with people who are doing some work on our house so you know how that goes.

Yesterday, princess, sweet Abbie chased a guy up the stairs at his heels, hubbie said.

I had errands after work and was late. He fed her pizza.....ALOT of pizza and this morning she greeting me wagging her tail, jumping in my lap and smelling of GROSS.

Yes, she had PooPants Syndrome. This happens with dogs that have "pants" occasionally and it's gross.

So she and I headed straight downstairs to give her  a bath of which she really does love.

So all is happy at the homestead on this Thursday.

Hope your day is filled with sweet things instead of  bits of poo. :o

Till later,

Jennifer