Buttons!

I confessed to my cousin recently that I "may" have a slight obsession with buttons. I really love vintage buttons....but...I am also drawn to new buttons. I blame it all on my sewing work, which technically makes them a business expense....right?? It turns out this may be a genetic trait on my Mom's side of the family. We have identified 5 women that are attracted to buttons and there may be more.. Here is some evidence of my issues:

Vintage buttons from estate sales in jars on the mantle...

and in teacups...

Old and new buttons from thrift stores in jars in the sewing room...

Newer buttons from an estate sale in a canning jar lamp in the kitchen...

Tins of buttons in the sewing room...

Buttons in an old salt shaker that I made into a pin cushion...

Vintage buttons from an estate sale framed on the wall of the bedroom... (These buttons belonged to a woman that married a man who grew up in this house!)

More newer buttons around the base of a candle in the parlor....

Do you think I need an intervention?

Goodbye January !

I hardly left the house last week! I just stayed up in the sewing room and worked- really made a dent in the stuff that had built up! This weekend I packed up January and opened the Valentine's boxes. It was nice to see the bright pink and red - fun stuff!

That's my Ginny doll and my Lolly- I think they are wondering why I have them standing next to a bowl of vintage baby shoes!!???!!

I sprinkled some vintage Valentines around the room- Love the sweet little pictures on them!

Meanwhile in the Dining Room....work has resumed at a fast pace.... after a long break!! Once Spring gets here I will lose my worker until next January- so we are determined to get this room done! One of the main problems was the huge old piano that was stuck in the room- Look it is gone!

Monday some wonderful men came from a salvage/rehab store came and took it away. Now there is room to work in the room! Windows and doors are stripped and being painted and stained. I got out the fireplace tiles to play with again because I have totally forgotten what my plan was!! But, the best news is that the corner cabinets are done....and oh, how. I. love. them...!!!!

V

Baby Shower

The first baby shower for The Princess or Lambie (youngest son does not like that nickname) was last week. It was a "Diaper, Onesie and Bib" shower. She got all kinds of cute things but, I forgot to take my camera so the only pictures I have are of the things I made. I kind of had my own interpretation of the theme. Instead of bibs - I made burp cloths out of diapers to match her onesies. And more cloth baby shoes.... This is the Kimono pattern
To match this appliqued onesie, burp cloth, sweat pants and headband.

I love these little headbands- hope she will leave it on! The little flowers are crocheted out of embroidery floss.

Next is a taggie blanket to match her bedding. Her name is monogrammed on the folded corner.

It also matches this onesie outfit. Her name is on also on the onesie. There was an unexpected middle name change after I finished this burp cloth...oh well...she will only spit up on it anyway so I am not going to redo it!

Baby Projects

Santa brought me the smocking pleater I have wanted since I took a class this fall. I have not used it yet because I need a lesson. These are the projects I worked on in the class. First is a little sundress for the summer with bunnies.
Close up of the front-

The back has the backside of the bunnies with little button tails-

Project #2 was a collar. It is whip stitched on this ivory short sleeve dress. I have some panties cut out to match. It should fit this summer.

Next summer I can move the collar to a larger dress. I made a printed sleeveless dress so they would look different-

My next project is a white bishop dress- newborn size. The smocking is done -I just need to put it together. I might need to put that at the top of my to do list...6 weeks to the due date!

Thrifty Thursday

I was looking for a New Year's Day craft and I remembered seeing this while blog hopping! I had all of the things I needed on hand -so-thrifty....and it took about 10 minutes. I had these flat empty ornaments (I think they came from Micheal's) and the glitter.

I printed the clock from here on card stock. I rolled it up to stick it in the ornament. Then I used a paint brush handle to uncurl it. Since it kept shifting around I put a dot of tacky glue on the back edge and maneuvered to the right position with the paint brush.
Poured in a little glitter and replaced the cap! I wish I could remember which blog I saw this on so I could give her credit for the idea!

My Thrifty baby project for the week is this sweet pair of baby shoes. They are based on a pattern I found here. I used a suede fabric with fur on the back so I did not make a lining the way the directions show. I bought 1/4 yard of the fabric and used my 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby. This made 3 pairs of shoes! I figure that is about $1 a pair!

They are size 0-6 months...but they look like they are more about the 6 month range to me.

I am linking to my friend, Leigh's party- Thrifty Thursday- where I am now going to spend some reading time!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Ice Day

Our ice day was not as bad as predicted. We have not lost power and the roads are getting better. The animals are all snuggled in front of the heaters!

We will be in frozen Alabama tonight but, our hearts will be in warm Arizona! War Eagle!