She's Sew Pretty

Pink Saturday Hats

I don't know about you but I wish the most pressing thing on my mind was, "what hat should I wear today?".  The sadness and stress of this week has made it hard for me to find something pink to share.  Yesterday's events in Texas, today's events in Orlando, the every day stress of being a parent in this society has all added up to making me wish that I had a hat I could just hide under.  Maybe a big sun hat on the beach somewhere.  Maybe a baseball hat on my head as I take a long, long walk.  Bring back hats. Bring back peace.  Our children and their children and even their children's children deserve a peaceful place to hang their hat.  Isn't it way past time? Have a  Pink and Peaceful Saturday.  I'm hoping we all will.

My apologies to Beverly for standing on my pink soap box. 

What is Treasure?

Did you read comic books when you were young?  Do you remember that in the back of the comic books there was always an ad for a "surprise package" in the mail?  You could send in a dollar and you would receive a package of little treasures.  I always wanted to buy a package but never did.  So, when my friend Vintage Sue on Flickr talked about her vintage box treasures, I was so excited.  I ordered a small box from Sue and she filled it with lots of vintage treasure for me. 

There is linens, buttons, lace, ephemera, fabric strawberries, the cutest little china doll and lots more. I will have so much fun with my box of treasure.  I'm planning on ordering a bigger box soon.

Speaking of treasure though, there is nothing that I treasure more than my family.   Today's my oldest son's birthday! We took these pictures at the court house when he married my sweet new daughter-in-law last month.  Happy Birthday Matt!

Happy Halloween!

Are you a black and orange, witches and jack-o-lanterns decorator at Halloween?

Or do you go for the pastel, shabby chic look?

Me?  I'm a traditionalist.  The colorful pumpkin is for me.  The shabby chic beauty is for an art swap.  I'm seriously loving it though.  I think I will have to make myself one too.

I don't usually use patterns for my pincushions. When I saw this Sugar Pumpkin pincushion pattern at the quilt shop, I knew I had to make one.  The pattern is by Fig Tree  & Company. I made a mistake with my pumpkin and turned the pattern pieces upside down but I kinda like the way it turned out.  I added the stem and a little orange and white polka dot yo yo for the stem to sit on.  I followed the pattern the right way for the "pretty" pumpkin except that it is supposed to have a covered button on top.  I thought some of my handmade roses were just the right touch.  A little bit of hot glue, some grandma bling and I called it done. 

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.  Don't eat too much candy! 

Halloween Tag Swap

I love paper art.  The best way to collect paper art is to participate in a tag swap. I participated in the Sweet and Sinister Tag Swap on Flickr.  We made 18 two sided tags for Halloween.  One side sinister-the other side sweet. Look at what came in the mail.  A cute tag book that I can look at over and over again. 

Sweet Tags

Sinister Tags

Every one a work of art!

Click on the pictures for a closer view.  My tag is the "cutie' and the "wicked witch silhouette".

Pink Ballet Slippers

The best thing about Pink Saturday is the wonderful women I meet.  One of those women is Karen Harvey Cox from A Scrapbook of Inspiration.  Karen paints watercolors and she painted the pretty pink ballerina in my collage. The print is available in her shop.  Karen left a comment on my blog a few weeks ago.  She had read a story about a mother sewing the ribbons to her daughter's first toe shoes. She suggested I make a ballet slipper pincushion.  As soon as I read it, I was so excited. I love ballet.  I used to dream of being a ballerina when I was young.  My mother had given me a tiny porcelain ballerina that I treasured.  I would spin on tip toe around my room for hours. I have never had the grace or the shape of a ballerina, but, I have never stopped loving to dance. So this is my homage to those graceful ballerinas. The slippers had to be pink, of course, for Pink Saturday.

It's All About Me

Natasha Burns had the great idea to have a blog party that celebrates "us".  You know the ones who do everything for everyone else and always forget about ourselves.  I thought it was a great idea and a perfect reason to finish decorating my studio.  This is the first time in 25 years that I have had a place of my own.  A refuge.  A place to sit and dream.  A place to sew without distractions.  A place to study and get a college education.  This is my studio, my office, my sewing room and my refuge.  Now I'm surrounded by the things that make me happy and every time I walk in the door, my spirit lifts.

I've shown peeks of my studio previously, but, I think it is finally done. (except for my chair-I need to make a slipcover) I bought a vintage spoon holder and finally painted it.  It makes a great way to display your favorite hankies.  I covered a piece of foam core with red polka dot fabric and bias tape to make a memory board.  I used my old curtains to make a skirt for my table.  I found a Mary Engelbreit sign to inspire me.  I love my space.  It is all about me!

I'm posting early.  Today may be all about me but tomorrow is all about my son and his fiancee. Their wedding ceremony is set for January 2011 but tomorrow they're getting married at the court house and we're hosting a party for them after they've tied the knot!

A Fancifully Twisted Halloween Party

I'm all in a dither.  I can't figure out what to wear!  Vanessa's having a party!  A Fanciful Twist Halloween Party.  I need a costume.

A cute little old witch?! 

 

A Cowgirl?

 

Woo Hoo! (Down boy!)

 What about a harem girl?

Can Can girl?

 

A Gold Miner (on the way to work and after a bath) or maybe she's a rock climber.

 

The Tattooed Lady? (And to think this was a circus act way back when)

 

Hmmmm.  I think I'll go as myself. 

  Woof!

Go visit Vanessa.  I'm sure she's up to no good. ;o)

Saturday's Pink Plate Special

It's Pink Saturday again.  I keep telling Beverly that one of these days I will run out of pink to post about.  Luckily I have estate sales to go to and I am not the only one who likes pink.  I can always find at least one pink thing at most estate sales.  Last weekends estate sale was in a little old house.  Inside was a plethora of treasures and it was all half price.  I found the pretty plate in the top right corner to add to my rose plate collection.  I picked out three more from my collection to show you today.

I didn't forget about the drawing for my pincushion.  My daughter came over today.  I asked her to pick a number between 1 and 29.  Jenny at The Red Bulletin Board had the winning number.  I was thrilled because Jenny's blog is a favorite of mine. So, Jenny-send me your snail mail and I'll send you my fat free cupcake!!

Speaking of favorite blogs...Paintin-Patti is one that I have to check every pink Saturday!  I love her style.  I love the colors she creates with and she is just so darn sweet! Why don't you visit her today and tell her I sent you?!

I've Pedaled to New Jersey and Back

Thanks for all of the advice, tips and well wishes about my last post.  I am determined to be smaller than last year when I have my next birthday.  I really hope you don't think that I am one depressed individual.  Sometimes I sit down here and write and it comes out whiny.  I really don't whine that much in real life.  Earlier this year, my daughter talked me into watching The Sopranos.  They had the whole six seasons on disc and I made a vow that I could not watch it unless I was riding my stationary bike.  I've made it to the very last episode.  Tonight will be the last night to watch The Sopranos and find out what happens to Tony and his made men.  I've had a love-hate relationship with Tony Soprano and am almost glad that it has finally come to an end. I figure that I have probably pedaled all the way to New Jersey, where the Sopranos is set, by now!

So, I'll be looking for something new to watch.  Maybe something more light hearted.  I've parked my exercise bike in my office/studio and there is lots of eye candy to look at.  Gifts from friends and etsy buys.  My own creations.  Maybe I'll just stare out the window and let inspiration come to me or I could listen to a book on tape. Though, I still like turning pages best.

Speaking of great books, I read a fantastic book, The Guernsey Library and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer.  I confess that I checked it out from the library months ago and then took it back after reading only a few pages.  Well, then I met two ladies at an estate sale and they convinced me to try reading it again.  I've now put it on my personal top 100 books list.  It was more than I expected and it really has me thinking days after reading it. I hope that you'll give it a read.  It's that good!

As far as the drawing goes, I'll draw a winner on Friday night.  If you haven't left a comment on my previous post, you still have time.  See you on Pink Saturday!

PInk Saturday Dessert

I'm calling this Pink Saturday dessert.  I can't have sugar so I will have to content myself with eye candy. But, I really want dessert!  Got recipes? Leave me a recipe that is low carb, no sugar, and diabetic friendly in the comments and I'll draw a winner for one of my cupcake pincushions.  If you don't have a recipe, tell me your best weight loss tip.  Or just wish me good luck.  I won't send you this exact pincushion because it's in my Etsy shop. But,  I'll make another one just for you and if the recipe really, really rocks....I'll throw in a cup of eye candy too.