A Repurposed Collectible

From time to time I visit local antiques/collectibles shops and browse for inexpensive items that I can repurpose in some way. I have an extensive collection of vintage pieces that are waiting for a new life.

Pictured below is a skimmer/strainer with a small crack in it. It was a very inexpensive purchase, but I instantly had an idea for it when I spied it. Pictured with it are three yoyo's, a fabric leaf, a small piece of batting, some buttons, floss, a paper pattern piece, a cardboard pattern piece and the word "home" printed on a piece of paper . . . . .

. . . . . . . and this is what it became . . . . a cute little embroidered sign with yoyo flowers, great to hang from a rack, shelf, wall, etc.
I plan to repurpose several small items that I have collected and list them on Etsy at some point in the very near future. I am currently setting up my Etsy shoppe, taking time to write up my shop policies and shipping costs. I will provide a link as soon as my shoppe is ready.

Whatcha Working on Wednesday

Today will be a beautiful day . . . a gift! The forcast is clear blue sky with the temperature between 75 and 80. My plan is to spend most of the day outside working in the yard, prettying up my gardens. At 4:00 I will come in to shower and get ready for the Red Sox game that hubby and I have tickets for tonight. I can't wait!

I probably won't do any crafting today, but I will share what I have in progress and also something in the planning stage. Below is a photo of another table runner that I am designing to sell on consignment. It is simple patchwork using Thimbleberries fabrics. The oval in the center says "Country blessings" which I will embroider with black cotton perle. The circle shapes you see are for yoyo flowers that will be attached with button centers. I will applique the leaves among them. The project will be completed with backing and binding.

I live in a rural area in southern New Hampshire and there are several farms around. Not too far from my home is a sheep farm that produces various wool products and also sells meat. Occasionally I stop in to see what's available for wool offerings. In the past I have purchased wool roving, sheep curls, a sheep blanket and yarn for my craft projects.

I recently came up with an idea to knit some "thumbless" mittens with 100% wool, then wash them in hot water to shrink and felt them. My plan is to make little ornaments with the felted results (hopefully it will work). I thought I would applique wool hearts and stars them, attach buttons and a wire hanger, stuff with greens and maybe a little snowman, and sell them as ornaments. Last year I created a club called "Trim ~ A ~ Limb" Ornament Club. I will explain more about the club next week when I have more time.

Below is the wool applique and patchwork table runner that I pictured earlier. All of the blanket stitching is complete. I just have the backing and binding to do. I laid it out on my couch to photograph it, and it looked pretty cool there. So now I am thinking I may have to design a patchwork and wool drape for the back of my couch! Oh my...........



Any clue? Wait and watch!

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, nor a garden without love"

This is one of my roses that I photographed yesterday.

I hear my garden calling me . . . have a wonderful Wednesday!

Thyme for Gardening

This morning when I woke up it was a glorious day! The sky was vivid blue and crystal clear.....the birds were singing.....the air was pure and sweet smelling. I thought to myself, "what a beautiful gift from God".

I was so inspired this morning that I got excited (finally) about doing some gardening this weekend.....but I made the mistake of listening to the weather report. The forecast is clouds and showers for the entire weekend. As I sit here right now, after lunch, the clouds are rolling in for forecasted showers tonight. I am waiting for my granddaughter Norah to awake from her afternoon nap so we can go for a walk before the raindrops arrive.

Below, I am sharing some of my photos of a garden vignette that I created last year. I purchased a few old, rusted pieces from my friend's antique shop, "Log Cabin Antiques". I love to use "olde junque" as artistic pieces among the beautiful blooms of planted annuals.

I created this verse for the garden and painted it on an old piece of wood. I hung it using rusty wire to match the rusty old crib rails that it hangs from.

I had purchased this old box with a lid that someone had attached hardware cloth to. I tucked a potted annual into an old rusty flower sifter and set it inside the box. I also planted an ivy in an old rusty funnel and hung it from the left side of the box. I just love old junque!

"Tickle it with a hoe and it will laugh itself into a garden"