Pink Saturday

Wooden Spools of thread found at a Flea Market in an old Train Case. I opened the case and it was full of sewing needles, a tatting hook(?) threads and the wonderful scent of Old Lady perfume.



For a flash of a second I knew that older woman. She had stuffed her beloved needle work into the train case with her perfume and some loose face powder, most likely, then carried it where life took her. Perhaps to her daughter's after a fall or to the retirement home as her life-line.

So many thoughts, situations, I hope she was happy.



Pink Thread, still wound on the spool. Many spools, small, at the ready. And embroidery thread, my favorite. The embroidery thread was marked 5 cents, the pink thread on the wooden spool is marked 19 cents and both with the assurance: 'Will Boil'.

And for 5 and 19 cents! We don't even have the cents symbol anymore! LONG before electric typewriters, main frame computers, PCs, laptops, Blackberries....Embroidery thread, not DMC, is 29 cents at my fabric store...I have SO much regular thread I have NO idea how much that might cost but a wee more than 19 cents, I would guess.

Rather takes you to a time long ago when clothes were washed with boiling water. My G-Mom had an old wringer washer, I'm sure after the water was heated on the stove (drawn first from the cistern) it was poured over the clothing in the washer and agitated.

Oh, I wish I had that wringer washer on the back porch of my little cottage!

Well, until I get the cottage I won't complain. LOL!

Special thanks to Our Sweet Pink Saturday Hostess, Beverly at How Sweet The Sound! Now run over there and indulge yourself in all things PINK!

Enjoy!

And the Moral to your Reality?

Hi All!

We are approaching the Dog Dayz of Summer here in North Texas. August usually lasts forever...or so it seems. I stay inside and pretend I am snowed in from a blizzard...I'll even pull out the tea pot and make hot blueberry tea and plan Holiday decor and meals.

So I asked the Mental Health Expert, my hubby, if it's OK to live in Denial pretending I'm snowed in during August or until the weather cools.

Yes, that's fine, he says, as long as the little white dog next door isn't talking to you you're fine.

Uh oh...I say, But she is.

He looks at me with that 'I can read your mind' look and says.

Do you talk back to it?

Yes, when I am hanging the clothes on the line I do.

I think you are OK, then he adds, as long as it doesn't tell you to kill people.

Heavens No! She has never said anything like that! Gosh, I would NOT talk to her if she did, ya know?

He starts to leave the room then turns back...What does that little white dog next door say?

Nothing important,we just chat...but she did tell me I should hit the sale at the fabric store and buy all the fabrics and embroidery threads I want.

Aaah....you're fine then, nothing wrong with talking to that dog. Did you tell it you already bought lots of fabric and embroidery thread, remember last Saturday when I took you to breakfast and we walked to the fabric store?

I remember breakfast...but that was three weeks ago!

Yes, and what have you made with your new fabric and threads?

*sigh*

Thought so, he said.

The Gall of that man!

And then he gave me that 'Look' again.

But I have those new shelves that will look so pretty with the folded fabrics in stacks...all in the color of our decor.

Isn't that what makes going to the fabric store so much fun, he slyly inquires.

Oh, Yes! I exclaim.

Well, if you bring all that fabric home then you will eliminate a source of fun, a reason to get out of the house and then you'll feel trapped by all the projects you MUST get done to relieve yourself from all the guilt. I just don't think that is healthy for you.

But talking to the little white dog next door is?

As long as it doesn't tell you to kill people, etc, it's fine, he says as he takes my debit card out of the little woven cozy where it lives with my insurance card, driver's license and cell phone.

BEAST!

Moral to the story...don't tell your hard working hubby the little dog next door tells you to buy fabric! BUY the fabric FIRST, then you can BLAME it on the little white dog next door!

Can't believe I even told him what she said...

Our First Cottage

Hello, I'm so glad you stopped by!

I hope your summer is in full bloom and you are relaxing and working on projects you put off till times were a bit slower.

Today I finished a project I wanted to do for a long time...use fabric art and embroidery to reproduce the first home we lived in, posted about here shortly after we married.

And here is the finished piece:



One the left blooming fabulously is a purple crepe myrtle. That goes with the Rose of Sharon on the other side of the house...the Rose of Sharon was already there as was the large tree.



Daffodils now bloom on the walkway to the backyard. And a cluster of Wax Leaf Begonias bloom in pinks, burgundies with rich green and dark foliage. Under the large window two large rose bushes are ever blooming while just below are Pink Caladiums and Hydrangeas.



The window beside the crepe myrtle has a window box with yellow and orange flowers and greenery...that is when I stuck my finger with the needle and put my DNA at the top of the window, thus the awnings became a must.

More Caladiums, Begonias and Hydrangeas grace that side of the house and on the porch, outlined in scroll work that I would add if we lived there today, is a large wicker plant holder holding a variety of Geraniums.

Down the steps at the walk way is the Mail Box with our name and date of marriage that I moved up from the street. It is centered in Lantana with their blooms of peach, yellow and pinks...and they line the drive way as well.

On the door is an upper window to let in light and below are Door Chimes, Colorful bells that I would have if living there today.

Thank you for sharing this accomplishment with me! I hope you get to fashion something special you have wanted to do as well.

Warm hugs,
Melissa

Polka Dot Girls and Candy Cane Christmas

I happened upon the CUTEST embroidery pattern called The Polka Dot Girls. Composed of several larger designs and a few sweet smaller designs all for a quilt, wall hanging, well almost anything you want to make! I'm in love with them all!

I picked my favorite, chosen for the big huge cat the middle lady is holding. Reminds me of Hug A Lump, who did his best to lay all over my embroidery box and thread...at one point he was after the metallic thread. After we had an understanding that it was mine not his I started embroidering and fast as lightening that cat pounced on my leg and grabbed the thread before I knew what happened!

And because it was 2 in the morning he ran away snickering at me trying to quietly chase him through a dark house. Silly cat...he didn't barf or die so I guess all is well.

Well, here is the first one. I'm framing rather than quilting, etc.:



I added a few little bits here and there to make it my own and gave the cat alien eyes of green...lol! Then framed it:



Because I paint, I mistakenly thought embroidery would be similar to highlighting and shadowing. So I designed a sweet lavender candy cane for Christmas and made the bow out of metallic threads of different hues. I had NO idea it would take forever!
But,I learned a LOT and will let that guide the rest of my Christmas designs I want to make.

I hope you can see the sparkly outline and throughout the bow.



Not sure of the frame just yet.



I'm starting work again on the house applique and embroidery. Hope to have some photos of that soon.

We are barely surviving the heat! kids said the bank temperature was 108* this afternoon, same as yesterday and the day before...Ugh! And we have August yet to go...and September.

I pretend it is snowing and that is why I can't go out to play...lol!

Happy weekend to each of you!

Many hugs,
Melissa

Too Hot to Cook!

Happy Pink Saturday!

Salads

That's what we do when it's too hot to cook. Paper Plates and Cups full of ice are regular fare.

However, when the males are out of the house (which is SO rare!) I indulge myself at dinner time and use my Pink Petunia Pastelware and pretty stem ware and set dinner on a pink TV tray rescued via garage sale or flea market.



Cold Tuna salad with Parmesan Toast Triangles and a side of Pea Salad, flanked with a BIG goblet of Flavored Iced Tea.



A wonderful alternative to slaving over a hot stove.

Special thanks to our sweet Hostess: Beverly at How Sweet The Sound Hop on over to see what other Pink Goodies are being showcased today!

Have a wonder day!

Stay COOL,
Melissa

Heat Waves...

Weather.com sez:
Cloudy
101°F
Feels Like
107°F
Updated: Jun 24 04:25 p.m. CT

My little temperature thang on the side sez it's 99*

Probably doesn't work over that...people shouldn't either.

The AC man is coming out because yesterday I thought the AC wasn't working. Then I remember ACs don't cool much below 20* over the outside.

Thanking those clouds in the sky right now and thinking that is thunder I'm hearing.

Pretend you are seeing an Oasis instead of heat waves rising from the ground...imagine a nice cold glass of iced tea maybe some snow on the ground...maybe you are shivering a bit. Yes, that is what I am doing. So nice to have company.

Hugs for hanging with me,
Melissa

Greetings, Pinkies!

It's a Gorgeous Pink Saturday!

I've seen many lovely Roses, Peonies and Petunias these last few weeks...leaving me wishing I had put in that rose garden and maybe researched names of those I'd love to grow. Until then, I am enjoying other Blogger's photos of their gardens as they spring to life!

I've been embroidering this week with the Office Assistants curiously watching what I am doing with these hands...when I should be petting them, scratching their heads and rubbing their bellies.

I remembered a Mouse Pad I designed and sold for a while...thought you might like to take a peek and share the lift these sayings provide. They put 'things' in perspective for the Weekend and the rest of our beautiful days!



Toss perfection and give yourself a HUG!

Then pop on over to Beverly's for the Pink Saturday line up. Special thanks to our hostess Beverly for providing us these Pink Pleasures!

Melissa