KEEPING BUSY IN MY RETIREMENT

A PRESENTATION FROM LADY BUG HOUSE, HERE IN WICHITA, KS SPARKED MY ENTHUSIAM AND I AM STARTING THE FOLLOWING "SEWING TIME AND CRAFTS TOO!" AFTERNOON HERE AT COUNTRY ACRES SENIOR RESIDENCE WHERE WE LIVE. OUR FIRST MEETING WILL BE MAY 20, 2014. I MOVED A MOUNTAIN OF SEWING SUPPLIES WHEN WE MOVED HERE AND NOW HAVE FOUND A GOOD OUTLET FOR A LOT OF THEM. IT WILL CLEAR OUT SOME OF OUR APARTMENT ALSO AS WE USE THEM UP AT SEWING TIME. HERE IS THE FLYER THAT WENT OUT THIS WEEK. I'LL POST MORE AFTER OUR MEETINGS! SEWING TIME and CRAFTS TOO! COME & JOIN US BRING ANY THING YOU MIGHT BE MAKING OR HAVE MADE!! 3RD TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH 2:00 pm in dining room We will be making some projects for the Lady Bug House, crocheted booties and other baby garments as well as baby quilts. So pressing fabric, cutting quilt blocks and bias for binding, pinning blocks together for machine sewing. Hand tying layers of batting and lining together and sewing binding on will be most steps to do. Bring yourself, scissors, pad & pencil, rotary cutter and mats and IDEAS. Most supplies will be furnished. But, any supplies, kits, even any work started that needs to be finished is welcome! (not that any of us have those!) Bring things you have made in the past to show us for more IDEAS. Learn to make beautiful Bows Learn to fold paper to make an envelope Help with simple quilt block cutting & sewing Croqueting & knitting is in mind also. Pin Cushions to make will be fun also, everything furnished! Let's get together for some fellowship & fun. We are interested in making things for ourselves or to give away. If you have a group in mind that would appreciate gifts, please let us know. We want this to be a fun project. Coffee & tea will be available. SEE YOU MAY 20, 2014 2:00 PM. Carol Lindberg, Carolyn Noddin, Kay Wright.

WELL, LIFE GOES ON AND CHANGES ONCE IN A WHILE TOO! READ ON......

MY HUSBAND TOM, AND I RETIRED FROM OUR CAROL'S COTTAGE PLACE AND LINDY'S LTD. BUSINESSES ON JULY 31, 2013. THE CAROL'S COTTAGE PLACE WAS SHABBY CHIC STYLE FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES IN AN ANTIQUE MALL HERE IN WICHITA, KS. LINDY'S LTD. WAS OUR BUSINESS OF SELLING ON EBAY FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS. WE HAVE RETIRED COMPLETELY. SOLD OUR HOME, AND MOVED TO A SENIOR RETIREMENT CENTER WHICH WE ARE LOVING MORE EACH DAY! PLENTY TO DO IF WE WANT TO, AND IF NOT, JUST REST AND ENJOY EACH OTHER AND OUR APARTMENT. I KEPT MOST ALL OF MY CRAZY QUILT SUPPLIES AND SEWING MACHINES. I INTEND TO ENJOY THAT ONCE AGAIN, BUT UP TO NOW I AM JUST STILL RESTING UP FROM A VERY BUSY 2 YEARS OF OUR LAST BUSINESS. I WILL STAY IN TOUCH. CAROL LINDBERG

SORRY I HAVEN'T POSTED LATELY

SINCE I AM NO SO INVOLVED IN CRAZYQUILT STITCHING IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE NOT BEEN POSTING ON THIS BLOG.  

I DO HAVE A BLOG OF MY BUSINESS INTEREST.   YOU CAN REACH IT -

CAROLSCOTTAGEPLACE.BLOGSPOT.COM 

I DO KEEP IT UP TO DATE WITH MY NEW ITEMS IN MY SHOP ALMOST WEEKLY AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU FOLLOW ME THERE.  

THANKS SO MUCH.

CAROL

RR Traditional RR All about sewing!

I have finished my work on the blocks in this RR. Here is Darlene's block showing my work on the lower left side of the block. It will be in the mail to her tomorrow a.m.

I enjoyed working in red on her block. You can hardly see in the black block but I filled in a tomato pin cushion that was in print in gold on the black fabric! Striking! Even had the strawberry needle sharpener hanging on it, so of course it is red also. Then a spool of thread on that same part of her block is now in red and the needle is threaded and ready to sew.

On the left side the print of that part of her block holds many sewing tools. Such a cute print and so perfect for this RR. I gave all the sewing tools a red handle, so now they are personally hers. Also I embellished the seams all around that part of the block that I had work on. Red of course. Guess I was thinking of Valentine's day coming up??? Anyway the block just called for more red. I hope she enjoys it. Now all her blocks are at home. I hope to receive mine very soon.

Carol

NEEDLE BOOK FOR ALL TO ENJOY

HERE ARE PICTURES OF A NEEDLEBOOK I FOUND THIS WEEK IN A COLLECTION OF DOLLS THAT I PURCHASED TO PUT ON EBAY. I AM LISTING IT ON EBAY ALSO ON MONDAY NIGHT 14TH AT 7 PM LINDYS*LTD IS OUR SELLER'S NAME. BUT I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU, AS IT IS SO DIFFERENT. THIS NEEDLE HOLDER OR AS WE SOMETIMES CALL THEM NEEDLE BOOK IS QUITE DIFFERENT. IT IS MADE IN THE SHAPE OF A PERSON HOLDING ALL YOUR SEWING TOOLS.

SHE IS 8" TALL. AS YOU CAN SEE SHE IS HOLDING LOTS OF PINS IN HER DRESS, (SHE IS COMPLETELY MADE OF FELT). HER POCKET COULD HOLD YOUR THIMBLE AND SHE CAN HOLD YOUR SCISSORS BY STICKING THEM DOWN THE NECK OF HER DRESS! ON ONE HAD SHE HAS LOTS OF BUTTONS SECURED ON A LARGE SAFETY PIN AND ON THE OTHER A LARGE SAFETY PIN WILL HOLD MORE SAFETY PINS! HER LEGS ARE HOLDING SMALL SPOOLS OF THREAD AND IT CAN BE EASILY USED FROM THEM FOR YOUR MENDING!

SHE HAS BLACK HAIR IN BRAIDS AND TIED UP ON TOP THAT MAKES A HANGER TO HANG HER NEAR YOUR SEWING AREA OF IN THE LID OF YOUR SEWING BOX!

THIS IS REALLY VINTAGE! NEVER SEEN ONE LIKE THIS AND SHE IS DO CUTE. HER FACIAL FEATURES ARE EMBROIDERED. ENJOY HER, I HAVE FOR A FEW DAYS! AFTER ALL SHE IS A DOLL AS WELL AS A NEEDLE BOOK!

THIS WOULD MAKE SOMEONE VERY HAPPY FOR DISPLAY AMONG HER SEWING TOOLS. WE HAVE MANY COLLECTORS OF THOSE THINGS NOW! ENJOY! WHAT A MESS, BUT I CAN'T GET THE PICTURES WHERE I WANT THEM! SORRY.

NEW THINGS I HAVE MADE OTHER THAN CQ

SOME TIME BACK I MENTIONED THAT MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE A SPACE IN AN ANTIQUE MALL -- CAROL'S PLACE! WE FEATURE COTTAGE STYLE AND SHABBY CHIC STYLE FURNITURE AND ALL THINGS OF HOME DECOR!

THIS PAST TWO WEEKS HAVE BEEN BUSY MAKING THINGS WITH BURLAP (WHICH IS REALLY A HOT ITEM RIGHT NOW IN THAT DECOR). HERE ARE PICTURES OF THE BURLAP PILLOWS WITH OFF/WHITE MUSLIN RUFFLES WITH STENCILS ALSO!

ALSO WE HAD FUN WITH THE NEW BLACKBOARD PAINT! SEVERAL COMPANIES MAKING IT NOW EITHER BY THE PINT OR QUART OR SPRAY CANS. THE MAN AT THE PAINT STORE TOLD US NOT TO BOTHER WITH THE SPRAY AS IT LEAVES BUBBLES ETC. AND PAINTING 2 COATS WITH A BRUSH LEAVES A NICE SMOOTH FINISH. SO.....

WE PAINTED THE CENTERS OF WHITE PLATES AND PIE PLATES AND WROTE ON THEM WITH CHALK "BOO!" AND "HAPPY HALLOWEEN", AND HAVE NOW CHANGED TO "HAPPY FALL" AND "HAPPY THANKSGIVING". FUN, FUN.

YES, ANOTHER RR BLOCK FINISHED! WHEW!

I WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMED WITH RR BLOCKS ALL AT ONCE WHEN SOME RR'S HAD SOME PEOPLE DROP OUT. BUT I AM FINALLY CATCHING UP.

HERE IS DARLENE'S BLOCK FROM THE ANYTHING GOES RR - SHE CHOSE A FAIRY TALE THEME. THE BLOCK I CHOSE WAS RUMPLE STILTSKIN!! PLENTY OF GOLD ADDED TO THIS BLOCK FOR THE FAIRY TALE! I ENJOYED EMBELLISHING IT. FUN!

ANOTHER RR BLOCK FINISHED

THIS BLOCK IS ONE FROM THE TRADITIONAL ALL ABOUT SEWING RR. IT IS READY AND HAS GONE TO THE NEXT ONE TO WORK ON IT. THIS IS A FUN RR AS IT PERTAINS TO ANYTHING ABOUT SEWING. I CHOSE TO EMBROIDER ONE OF THE 'TOOLS' THAT I SEEM TO USE A LOT WHEN SEWING! HA.

CAROL

BLOCK FOR TRADITIONAL ALL ABOUT SEWING RR

THIS BLOCK BELONGS TO ANOTHER IN THIS RR AND IT WAS MY TURN TO WORK ON IT.   I WAS TO WORK ON 1/4 OF THE BLOCK.    IT WAS FUN MAKING LITTLE THINGS USED IN SEWING.   IT IS OFF NOW TO THE NEXT PERSON TO WORK ON IT.  

REMEMBER 'SPARKLE PLENTY' DICK TRACY'S BABY GIRL?

SPARKLE PLENTY WAS INTRODUCED AS A DOLL TO THE WORLD WHEN SHE WAS A STAR CHARACTER IN THE DICK TRACY COMIC STRIP IN LOTS OF YEARS GONE BY!  I WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND THE DOLL LAST WEEK IN AN ANTIQUE MALL HERE IN WICHITA, KS.  IDEAL DOLL COMPANY MADE HER IN ABOUT 1958-60.  HER HEAD WAS HARD PLASTIC AND HER BODY WAS MADE OF 'MAGIC SKIN'.   THIS WAS THE DOLL WORLD'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT VINYL.  IT WAS VERY SOFT, THE COLOR OF FLESH AND WAS STUFFED SO THAT IT FELT JUST LIKE A REAL BABY'S SKIN. 

ALAS, OVER THE YEARS THE 'MAGIC SKIN' BEGAN TO FAIL.  IT TURNED DARK AND IN TIME WAS COMPLETELY BLACK.  THIS IS THE CONDITION THE DOLL I FOUND WAS IN.  HER HEAD WAS PERFECT AS IT WAS HARD PLASTIC BUT HER BODY WAS BLACK ALL OVER.  SHE HAD THE PERFECT 'YELLOW STRING HAIR' THAT SHE WAS MADE WITH AND IT STILL HUNG DOWN TO HER KNEES IN THE BACK! 

I WAS ESTATIC!  SHE IS NOT AN EASY FIND!  I'M SURE MANY WERE TOSSED OUT AS THEIR BODIES BEGAN TO BLACKEN.  I HAVE HAD ONE OF HER IN THE PAST, YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD THE DOLL SHOP IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM.  A CUSTOMER ACCUSED ME OF PUTTING A WHITE HEAD ON A BLACK BODY AND WAS VERY ADAMENT ABOUT IT.   I TRIED TO EXPLAIN BUT SHE STORMED OUT OF THE SHOP AND ALL WE OTHERS IN THE SHOP COULD DO WAS HAVE A BIG LAUGH ABOUT IT! 

BACK TO MY PRESENT SPARKLE PLENTY -  OF COURSE SHE WAS NAKED.  SHE WAS TERRIBLY DIRTY, HER FACE MARKED WITH DIRT AND GRIME.  HER HAIR WAS A DIRTY TANGLED MESS.  I CLEANED HER ALL UP (WITH MY CAROL'S MIRACLE DOLL CLEANER, PLEASE EXCUSE THE ADV.) AND WASHED AND DETANGLED ALL HER LONG HAIR.  THEN I  DECIDED TO DRESS HER.  I MADE A LOVELY WHITE BATISTE DRESS AND PANTIES WITH VINTAGE NARROW WHITE LACE TO TRIM IT - ALL BY HAND, NO MACHINE SEWING.  I MADE LONG WHITE STOCKINGS FOR HER TO COVER THOSE POOR PITIFUL BLACK LEGS ALSO.   HERE ARE THE PICTURES OF HER TAKEN BEFORE I LISTED HER ON EBAY.  THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY THIS LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY FROM A COMIC STRIP OR THE DOLL WORLD, AND THINK BACK IN TIME.  I HAVE ENJOYED HER FOR A TIME, AND NOW SOMEONE ELSE HAS ALREADY DECIDED ON HER TOO ON EBAY.   BLESS HER HEART.   SHE MUST HAVE HAD A HARD LIFE.  IT WAS VERY EVIDENT WHEN I FOUND HER! 

SORRY, I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO 'PUT' THESE PHOTOS WHERE I WANT THEM! 

CAROL

BLOCK - ANYTHING GOES RR

THIS BLOCK BELONGS TO CATHY L.  HER THEME WAS ST. PATRICK'S DAY AND I CHOSE HER BLOCK 'WEARING OF THE GREEN' TO WORK ON.   IT WAS FUN, AS I COULD EMBELLISH THE PRINT OF THE BEAUTIFUL LADY WEARING A LARGE HAT AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE BLOCK.   SHE ASKED FOR ONLY BLACK AND GREEN TO BE USED IN THE EMBELLISHMENTS. 

RR to make a VALENTINE WALL HANGING

I am presently in a Round Robin in the CQI group.   This is an 'anything goes' do your block RR.  This means that we each make six 6" blocks and they get passed around between 6 of us.   We each choose one block when the 6 blocks come to us from each person that we want to work on for that person.  This is not always an easy task, as some of the blocks are just beautiful and it is hard to choose.  Each person decides his own theme and I chose Valentine theme and my blocks will be made into a wall hanging when I receive them all back.    I think I posted my naked blocks on this blog a few months back when this all started.   Today, I have pictures of some of the blocks that the ladies have finished.  I am looking forward to the day they all arrive back home!   Here is one of the blocks finished by Ruby in my group.   Beautiful work.  I will have a lovely wall hanging someday!  

PUMPKIN I MADE FOR AUTUMN 2009

I WAS IN AN "ORANGE RR" AT THE TIME AND WHEN I RECEIVED MY BLOCK BACK, I WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING OF IT AND NOT JUST HAVE A BLOCK LAYING AROUND.  I MADE THIS PUMPKIN OUT OF IT AND ENJOY IT EACH FALL.  

CURRENT RR DYB SEW IT UP RUBY'S BLOCKS

I FINISHED RUBY'S BLOCK IN THIS RR AND HAVE SENT IT ON TODAY TO CATHY.  ALSO SHE ASKED THAT WE EACH SHARE AND WORK THE 6TH BLOCK TOGETHER SO ALL SIX BLOCKS WILL BE FINISHED WHEN SHE RECEIVES THEM BACK.   MY WORK ON THE 6TH BLOCK IS THE ROSE TRELLIS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BLOCK.  

THIS RR IS TO DO WITH SEWING AND ALL THINGS ABOUT SEWING.  RUBY PICKED SOME VERY CUTE MATERIALS TO PIECE HER BLOCKS WITH.  I EMBELLISHED THE "NEEDLES AND PINS" WORDS, THE BLUE SPOOL OF THREAD, THE GOLD THIMBLE AND THE SEAM TREATMENTS WITH THE BLUE FLOWERS AND THE ONE AT THE TOP OF THE BLOCK TO BRING THE BLUE UP ONTO THE GREEN PART OF THE BLOCK.  ALSO RUBY ADDED THE WHITE LACE WHEN SHE PIECED THE BLOCK.  I ADDED MORE WHITE STITCHES ABOVE IT AND THEN PLACED THE BLUE BUTTONS ON IT.  I TRIED TO EXTEND THE WHITE MORE ABOVE THE BUTTONS WITH STITCHING TO PARTIALLY COVER THE YELLOW TAPE MEASURE FABRIC.  ALSO I STITCHED ON THE SILKY.  IT IS A SWEET LITTLE GIRL SEWING FOR HER DOLLS.   THEY ARE PARTIALLY HIDDEN UNDER THE LACE, BUT THEIR DRESSES AND FEATURES ARE BROUGHT OUT IN STITCHING ALSO.   THIS WAS A FUN BLOCK TO WORK ON.  

HERE IS THE 6TH BLOCK THAT WE WILL SHARE IN EMBELLISHING.  I STITCHED THE ROSE TRELLIS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BLOCK.   RUBY HAD A LARGE PIECE OF BEIGE LACE GOING DIAGONALLY UP THE SIDE AND IT JUST CALLED FOR A TRELLIS AND FLOWERS. 

THIS WILL BE A FUN RR FOR ALL OF US, AS WE ALL ENJOY ANYTHING TO DO WITH SEWING OR USING THE TOOLS.  

GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER LATELY

Here is a late picture this summer of Mia, who I made the wall hanging for.   One thing I haven't mentioned is that she is a CF child, but is doing exceptionally well, don't you think?   Such a sweet little girl.  

VIDEOS OF FLOWER MAKING USING SILK RIBBON EMBROIDERY

I HAPPENED ONTO SOME WONDERFUL VIDEOS OF FLOWER MAKING OF SILK RIBBON EMBROIDERY AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE LINK WITH ALL OF YOU. HER INSTRUCTIONS ARE SO EASY TO FOLLOW! ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=DivanNiekerk&search_type=

 

 CAROL L.

MY BLOCK FOR TRADITIONAL ALL ABOUT SEWING RR

AS OF AUGUST 15, THE TRADITIONAL IS UNDER WAY!   MANY OF US ARE EXCITED TO MAKE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR OUR SEWING ROOMS OR OUR HOBBY IN GENERAL OF CRAZY QUILTING.   I HAVE CHOSEN TO MAKE A COVER FOR MY SEWING MACHINE WHEN IT IS UP AND OUT FOR USE (WHICH IS ALWAYS THE CASE).  

I HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA INTEREST IN MAKING THIS.  I HAVE SAVED PICTURES OF MY FIRST GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS 13 MO. OLD THAT I TOOK AT MY HOME WHEN SHE WAS VISITING ME.   AS ALWAYS I HAD SEWING AROUND MY CHAIR AND SHE LOVED TO PLAY WITH THE SPOOLS OF THREAD.   THIS SPECIAL DAY, SHE CHOSE A LAVENDER SPOOL OF THREAD AND WAS QUITE TAKEN WITH IT.   I QUICKLY CAME WITH THE CAMERA AND TOOK PICTURES OF HER ADVENTURES WITH IT.   I AM USING THOSE AS APPLIQUES ON MY SEWING MACHINE COVER AFTER I PIECED IT WITH BEIGE AND BROWN TONES OF SILKY FABRIC.  IT IS NOW ON IT'S WAY THROUGH THE RR.  BUT HERE ARE THE PICTURES.  

WALL HANGING I MADE FOR MY GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER "MIA"

MY SON - GRANDPA LARRY BROWN

MIA'S PARENTS

MY LABEL ON BACK

MIA MARIE BROWN WAS BORN APRIL 27,  2 YEARS AGO IN 2009. 4 YEARS AGO I MADE A WALL HANGING SIMILAR FOR HER OLDER SISTER, ADDISON. I WAS EXCITED RIGHT AWAY TO MAKE ONE FOR MIA, ONLY OF COURSE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. BOTH OF THEM HAVE MANY PICTURES OF THEM AND THE RELATIVES PRINTED OFF IN SILK AND EMBELLISHED AROUND ON THE WALL HANGINGS. ADDISON'S WAS MADE AS A SURPRISE, SO I CHOSE PICTURES FROM ONES ON MY COMPUTER THAT THE PARENTS SENT TO US. FOR THIS ONE, FOR MIA, I ASKED THEM TO CHOOSE THE PICTURES THEY WANTED ON IT AND SEND THEM TO ME. I THINK THEY CHOSE VERY WELL.

I WAS DELAYED FOR OVER A YEAR BECAUSE OF MY SHOULDER INJURY AND SURGERY. FINALLY TODAY, THE FINISHED WALL HANGING IS ON IT'S WAY TO THEM IN SPRING, TX. VIA MY OWN SON, (MIA'S GRANDPA) WHO IS GOING FOR A VISIT. WE ARE ALL EXCITED TO KNOW THEY HAVE IT. HERE ARE A LOT OF PICTURES I HAVE TAKEN OF IT. IT WAS MADE IN NINE BLOCKS, EACH 18". I EMBELLISHED ALL THE SEAMS BEFORE I SET THE BLOCKS TOGETHER. THEN I APPLIED THE PICTURES, AS I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO COVER SOME OF THE SEAMS WITH THEM TOO. I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY SEEING THIS. I HAVE ENJOYED THIS 2 YEARS OF WORK ON IT.