Sewing Project - Fabric Vase Wrap - Green Fern

This wrap started with the fern embroidery which is machine stitched and was acquired as a left over from someone else project.  I chose a moss green linen for the base fabric and some green flannel as the middle layer.  I pinned the embroidery until I was happy but there was not much choice because I did not want the braid in the side seam.  I sewed the fern pieces on to the linen & flannel then placed it right side together with the lining fabric which is a leaf pattern polyester fabric. Stitched all the way around leave a gap to turn the piece right side out. I trimmed the 4 corners then turned it. I pressed it then sewed my curvy top stitching all the way around.  I then wrapped it around the bottle I had chosen and determined where the side seam would be.  Sewed the side seam creating the flap which in this case are the same size. This makes it identical either way it is placed on the vase/bottle. 

The bottle I used for this wrap is a bit shorter then the others and a bit bigger in circumference.

The fabric layers were cut 7" T x 12" W to give me a finished piece which is 6.5"T x 11.5" W using .25 inch seams.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

My aunt and I went for a visit at the Night of Artists Gallery at Bonnie Doon Mall.

It holds wonderful art from local artists.

There is pottery, sculpture, fabric arts, photography, acrylic painters, watercolor painters, and much more.

The show in the feature area was art from local high school artists. What an opportunity and encouragement to young artist to be in a gallery.

We really enjoyed our visit and had a good chat with one of the local artists who was manning the gallery that day.

I am always in for a tea related book.  The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens was a great read.

Muldoon's Tea Rooms owned by Penny and Daniel Stanley has started looking a little outdated.  We get to know the regulars who seek refuge in this cozy tea shop.  Daniel is the wonderful baker who produces delicious baked goods. Sadie who is dieting comes to indulge, Brenda comes to right her letters to Nicholas Cage which she does eventually posts and Clare returns to find a long lost soul mate.

Penny and Daniel's marriage experiences an renewal as well during the story. 

We all have to be true to ourselves and move head on into our life.

My aunt and I visited the Paint Spot as well the day of our outing as she wanted some Japanese papers.

Much of the supplies in this store were beyond what I was willing to pay but I did find this tiny eye dropper bottle I can use for essential oils.  I have looked for one at the health food and they did not this size. 

It measures 1.5 inches tall so is very tiny.

I love it.

I sliced open my thumb on a microplane grater while doing up some hard cheese for my pizza. I did get a small nick the first time which I should have heeded but did not so with the lesson unlearned it got a little harder.

Needless to say the pizza was on hold.  Fortunately, this time I did not get lightheaded but there was a lot of blood.  I had to hold it above my head for 10 minutes to get it under control.

After dousing it with peroxide I wrapped it in this towel tight in order to get the blood flow to stop.

I was able to get a bandaid on it before I headed to bed.  It hurt a lot!  My right hand was out of commission for over 2 weeks.

I decided that I needed a light where my ironing table sits when I am sewing.

The general room light is behind me so I was on the hunt for a lamp.

I managed this lamp which uses standard size bulbs came home with me.  It got a thorough cleaning. 

I have hung it on the wire shelving near my ironing board.

It is working very well. 

What a great book!  Pilgrims by Paul McDermott.  This is a true story.

Val is 74 and has cancer.  Paul is in the healing profession and has come to visit Val as a Hospice Home Support worker.  Paul is a young man who feels led to do this work.

He is there to provide support to Val as she comes to the end of her life.  He provides physical support - some yard work, shopping assistance, and other things. They talk about life, books, and much more.

We learn about Paul and Val in this book.

Very good book and should probably keep it and read it again in the future.

Small Gifts - Oil Diffusers - One of a Kind - Set 3

I am loving this creative process of making cool felt diffusers for these diverse type of containers. 

Here, I have a two inch square crystal napkin holder laid down flat with the hole facing up.  I made a different type of felt flower for this one.  You can find the tutorial for this flower here. 

Teal Blossom - I chose teal felt and cut six 2 inch circles then a yellow one for the center of the flower and a green one for the base.  I thought the green one suggests leaves without having actual leaves imposing onto the edge of the glass. I really wanted to be able to see the 4 corners of the napkin holder.

The video suggests hot glue but I chose to stitch this flower together which makes a cleaner end product.

I then stitched it to a white felt ball which helps the flower stay in place on the napkin holder.

This flower design is full and very easy to put together.

On the right is a photo of the top. 

With the oil being placed on the yellow center it will keep any discoloration to a minimum.

With Love Cup - This is a beautiful Mikasa - With Love pattern ivory bone china cup from the early 1980's.  

I decided to make the diffuser an ivory felt stuffy decorated with a  round petal pattern. 

I found this Petal Pattern video on line. The opening of the cup measures 2.75 inches but I needed to add some for seams and for puffiness. I cut 2 ivory felt circles measuring 3.5 inches in diameter and sewed them together with a 1/4 inch seam leaving an opening to turn it inside out. I then stuffed it with cotton batting and slip stitched the opening closed.  I then created the petal pattern according to the video using warm rose yarn to match the cup.

To accent the center I added a warm green circle topped with a gold metal filigree accent which was stitched on with the same yarn. 

I have created a spacer to place under the petal to keep it at the top of the cup.  I could keep the drops of oil to the center to lessen an discoloration of the ivory felt.  This diffuser would fit in nicely in a kitchen, a dining room, a reading nook or even on a bedside table. 

Time to Unwind - A ball of variegated yarn to encompass many shades of brown and reds which brings in the colors in the basket as well.  I created the ball by hand to be just the right size for the basket.

I created custom sized knitting needles from skewers cut down to about 4 inches.  I glued wooden beads to the blunt end.  Once the beads were dry I used Distress Ink of Antique Linen and Vintage Photo to add some color to the needles to be more in keeping with the overall color scheme. 

I added the More Mustard tag which was color printed and punched with the 2 inch circle punch.

Perfect quiet time to enjoy the aromatherapy of essential oils.

Triangular Trio - A set of three felt flowers with white pom pom centers set in a triangular bottle.

The flowers are purple, grey and light blue.  Each has a yellow fringe surrounding the white pom in the middle.

Each flower has a twisted silver wire stem which is terminated at the bottom with a iridescent ebead just before the end curl.

I have wrapped a length of yellow grosgrain ribbon around the neck of the bottle to repeat the yellow in the bouquet.

The essential oil can be applied to either the felt or the pom pom. The essential oil may discolor the white centers.

I wanted a less flowery option in a diffuser.

Tiny Beer - This diffuser started with a vintage etched crystal shot glass with a nice handle. It measures 4 inches tall. 

I rolled a piece of ginger colored felt to be the beer and placed it in the bottom of the glass.

Now I needed to create the frothy foam at the top of the drink.  I rummaged through  my yarn stash to find a messy white yarn which I wrapped around a white pom pom.  I secured the head to the beer with hot glue.

I think it looks great!

Garage Sale Bonanza

During a visit with my sister and brother in law and niece on the weekend we attended a community garage sale.  What a hoot!  All outside, a good amount of walking, and a ton of interesting things to look at.

I had a Tupperware Ultra21 Quiche pan on my list because I dropped mine last weekend.  It lost a piece and gained a crack so it's days are numbered.

I managed to find a brand new one for 3 dollars with the lid.

I use this to roast root vegetables.  Just love this ovenware.

It is no longer made and in a search on line I was looking at over $50 to replace it.  At the last house we visited!

I had a silicone trivet on the list for camping.  

This one will do nicely.  No brand name on it but the right size and material.  Nice color and pattern.

I think it was .25 cents.

They had one place with lots of books so maybe it was books from the library along with others that were donated.

Books were fill a bag for $5.  The three of us share the bag and cost.

I have not been to a library since the pandemic started so I 

I have been using small free libraries to get my reading material.  I quarantine the books for a week.  

I return them to the free libraries when I am done reading them.  I am sure there are others in the same place that I am.

I am happy with this selection.

I have always wanted a miniature tea set but to buy new they are pretty expensive.  This one is blue and white which is my favorite colors.  The tray is 4.5 inches wide and holds the 2 teacup and saucers, the cream and sugar and the teapot.  

This was a good score. This is a Hallmark 2007 Gingerbread Ornament Set and Display Stand.  

All the pieces are still there in their original packaging so I don't think it was every used.  Each of the gingerbread layers has small hooks on the underside for the ornaments. I believe it holds 12 ornaments.  No doubt at the time you could buy additional ornaments in the gingerbread style.

The three ornaments - angel, heart and snowman cookie ornaments are included.

I am always in for Christmas decorations.

I bought a rain stick.  

Yes, it is designed for kids but it makes a great sound.

Primary colors are find with me.

  

A set of vintage miniature fluted metal moulds also came home with me.  They measure about 1.25 inches to 1.5 inches tall.

Today, they can be used for candy, cookies, fondant, pastry, soap, tartlets, petit fours and a bunch more for sure.

I don't know what their original use would have been.  It must have been something very special because with only a few tins making any amount would have been very time consuming.

Again, just the right size for macro photography.   I'm not sure I will ever bake something in them.  You never know I might get inspired.

Small bottle vases are wonderful.  The first set was a scented oil diffuser set with the small ceramic discs for the oil.  The three glass vases are great.  I will not use the oil.  The set on the right hand side have a very nice feel.  About 2 inches tall so will do again for macro photography. 

Another small flower vase in a gorgeous red color.

I believe it is handmade.

It measures under 2 inches tall.  

I did get a package of dried flowers as well which will work well with these small vases and bottles for still life photography.

I have used the solid brass business card holder on the left in my purse for the last few years.   Gold is not really my color so when I saw the shiny silver chrome one I decided I would prefer that one.

The cost for the silver one again was less than a dollar.  After a bit of research turns out the brass one maybe worth a few dollars so I will see about selling it.

This is a battery operated candle. I have several plastic ones in white and red for photography.   

I seldom burn candles just because of the open flame.  There are times where nothing but the real thing will do. I use a wax warmer rather than scented candles.

This one is the best of both worlds because it is made of wax so it looks "real" from that point of view and is also battery operated.

Again, the price was a song.

A tiny blue glass swan in perfect condition.

Can be used for macro photography, love cobalt blue glass, and a beautiful object.

I have been wanting something to write quotes or words for my photography.

This turns out to be a My Cinema Light Box which came with letters originally.  I did look for the letters but they were not close by.  Of course they were clear so the light would show them nicely.  I did put batteries in and that works.

Here I have used Scrabble letters and I have other wood ones I can used.  I may consider printing letters on acetate so I could slide them in the slots. We shall see.

I used to have a large and small whisk and a while back I made the decision to get rid of the large one.

I have since regretted that decision.

A Pampered Chef Whisk still in the packaging.

Yes, please.

It has a skinny handle so it fits into my utensil caddy nicely.

A useful tool to have during a pandemic.

It allows me to open doors with out touching them, to use the bank machine with the touch screen stylus, bottle opener, elevator button pusher, and will hold my keys as well.

I have not been doing a lot of shopping in the last year and half.  The drugstore and the grocery store primarily.  I had not heard of these tools but at my last visit to the drug store the teller was promoting such a tool for $13.00.  I did not purchase one at the price but this one was .50 and still in the box.

For less than $20 dollars and a morning spent with family this was a great.  Checked off a few things from my shopping list with out going inside a store. The weather cooperated and it did not rain. It was cool but we were dressed for the weather. 

Cobalt Glass Photo Shoot

I have been thinking about my Blue and White calendar for 2019 which will feature my Blue Nordic dishes, decor items I have collected and the Cobalt Blue glass I have gathered in the last couple of years.  I was trying to figure out what to use for a background when I discovered some inspiration on my Flickr feed - Blue Dimples taken by Susanne.

I had this sheet of textured acrylic that would do the job.  Now I had to figure out how to help it stand vertically.  I have several wood blocks with perpendicular slots in them that I figured would do the job.  I have 6 of them and with a 2 tall supports behind at both ends it stood.  The sheet is 48 inches wide so plenty of space in the center to set up my display without them interfering with my photo.

I am super pleased to have solved that problem so now I can move forward with my actual 12 layouts.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday #70 hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.
Through My Lens #130 hosted by Mersad

Recent Snapshots

Here's a few photos from my walk this morning.

The white bloom from the sow thistle. 

I found these gorgeous dahlias at the park.  They were very dark pink and the petals were perfect.

The bees were buzzing around the Spiraea in several shades of pink and purple.

The small white purple bloom is some type of clover.  It was very tall rather than the low to the ground I am used to.

These are grasses of some sort but I was not able to identify it.
I used one of my out of focus photos as the background for the mosaic.

This was breakfast this morning.
Featuring nice tomatoes, ham and egg. 

A small dish of fresh raspberries  from a friends patch.  It's great to eat whole food picked by me.

These are my tomato plants.  They are yellow pear plants which I have been warned will grow very tall.  As you can see it had quite a few flowers.  Soon there will be tomatoes. 

I will let it grow to the top of the posts then I will have to cut off the top ends so it can concentrate on fruit.


During my visits to thrift shops, I have been looking for one of these bottles for a while. The prices are usually more than I am willing to pay.  Finally, last week the price was right and the bottle gorgeous.  It is 3.5 inches square with a super round ball stopper.  I am not fussy about the discolored plastic on the stopper.  It may have to go.  I removed the labels which were for Essenza Sweet Pea fragrance diffuser oil.  It was sold with reeds. This is the third in my collection. 

The bottle in the center has a Avon mark on the bottom.  The silver lid is plastic so not quite the same level as the others.  I don't know what it held originally. I loved the swirl pattern on the body of the bottle.

The bottle on the right features alternating clear and frosted bands running vertically along the body.  It has a metal lid with embossed pattern on the top with Doulton embossed on the band.  This was an expensive Eau de Parfum bottle. 

These add some flair to vignettes that I create for photography.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday #48 hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.

Through my Lens #102 hosted by Mersad.

Share Your Cup - This Week

Today, it was time for Welcome to my Kitchen.  This is our monthly women fellowship group.  We are growing!  Last year at this time we had 9 around this table. This week, we had 12 women attend with one of our regulars under the weather and not able to attend.  The table was overflowing!!

Our host this month provided fruit salad, juice, fresh tea biscuits right from the oven.  There was a cheese plate and I filled my mug with hot tea.

Everyone is sharing, making plans, praying and getting to know one another on a different level.  It's a challenge to keep everyone on track at times because it's loud and joyful.



We always have so much fun.  A couple of the ladies brought baking and we collected a few extra dollars money for our overseas missions work.

I met my sister half way between our houses today because our Easter plans were derailed by a large spring storm.  After having tea, trading our bags of stuff going in each direction we checked out a couple thrift stores. 

I found another plate in blue and white.  It has the same fluted edge as the Myott/Johnson Brothers ones I have but surprise it was made in Japan.  I was surprised to see the mark.

It will fit in just nicely with the pieces I have and at under a $1 and could not leave it there.

This is the book on my reading shelf this week.  It's is so interesting how our attitude affects how we see the world.

I am working through the preparation to make some changes in my place which is a huge stretch for me. 

I bought cabinets for the kitchen and tools which I have never owned before. Been spending time at hardware stores and Re-Store retail outlets.  Hours of  research on line for flooring, shelf brackets, and soon paint.

Many people have been very supportive. I been hearing "It will be alright"
"We survived and are thrilled with the results and so will you"
"I know a guy who paints, builds, does electrical, etc."

I found this wonderful bottle at the thrift store as well.  Note the name: Doulton.  I did not know they sold perfume. 

The bottle is heavy and very nicely cut to provide the clear and frosted pattern. 

The lid looks like metal until you touch it then you know it's plastic. Very good imitation. 

It will add some class to a photo down the line.  This is my second perfume bottle.  Super happy with this one.

I was working on a photo shoot the other day and I had roses in the vase but it occurred to me that with spring I should have tulips.

A visit to the craft store this week allowed me to bring home 2 picks for the price of one. I bought this bring traditional set and a lighter in pastel colors as well.  Should cover most situation.s

A small Battenburg doily under a crackled glass vase with a few marble in the base.  Taken against a black velvet background.

Works for me!

Sharing with Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup #245.