simplesparrow

trees, vacation and happy things

My little tree wall hanging is all done. I thoroughly enjoyed the process, having been my very first applique-by-hand project. Do you see those few french knots up at the top? Well, I'm here to tell ya that that is the very first time I have succeeded in doing those!! Still, I need lots of practice refining my technique. You should have seen me, I was all thumbs and totally awkward--but hey, those are french knots, thank you very much. It only took me like, 5 thousand years to get the hang of it. Speaking of french knots, have you seen the swoon worthy pillows at the connect the dots pillow project over at Purl ? Wow-wee. Love those. here are a couple more close up pictures of my hanging. The photo quality is lame, but man, I'm just too busy sometimes to try and be Ansel Adams every time I take a photo.

Simple Sparrow is going to fly the coup in a couple of days and head up to Oregon and Washington for vacation. Family, friends, shopping, swimming, sitting and doing nothing...you know the routine. I'll be gone for nearly 3 weeks (!!!) It's possible I may feel like squeezing in a post or two while I'm there. When I get back I have a new project I'm excited to share with you and I'll be doing another shop update and a give-away!  woohoo.

I feel the need to also just say thank you, again, to all of you who stop by here to visit me. I appreciate each and every one of you! Really. Reading your kind comments is always a bright spot in my day and I thank you so much for that. xo.

I'll leave you with some things that are making me happy this week.....

This small arrangement--hydrangeas from the yard and a vintage bowl with beach stones sitting on an old picnic basket.

My new flats.

And my very cool new bag made by my dear friend, Blue Corduroy.  Em, can I tell you again how much I love this? It's a match made in heaven :)

loving this book

Thank you for all the towel quilt love!! It's so nice to get your feedback and support. So far, it's ranking right up there with some of the most favorite things I've made! If any of you make one, let me know..I would love to see it!

So, on to my current obsession. The other night my crafting buddy and her family were over for dinner and afterwords as the guys chilled on the couch watching a surfing dvd, we scooped up a pile of my vintage craft books to go through. As we were thumbing through them and sharing pictures of things we loved, I did happen to wonder what in the world was I doing with a couple of them. I mean they were, so ... so.. ugly! We were laughing as we skimmed through all the pages trying to find out what in the heck possessed me to bring THAT book home? That was pretty funny and those particular books are now in the Goodwill pile.

But after all that, I was so happy to become re-acquainted with the book in the photo-- Applique Stitchery by Jean Ray Laury. You can find it on Amazon here and it's cheap! But I'll say it's worth it's weight in gold. I'm loving it more now then even I first did when I bought it well over a year ago--maybe two. So now I'm working on my first ever wall hanging. This is kind of evolving as I go along, but for the most part it will be a grouping of trees. My plan is to fill it in with some simple embroidery and maybe some leaves for the trees--but I know myself all to well and often times I end up with something totally different then what I had envisioned when I started. So far I'm liking it. I think I might even have it done by the end of the week! Lightning craft speed around here this week. Amazing.

have trailer, will travel

2 more trailer pillows. i love making these...they are..just...so quirky. i think these two may be spoken for, if not, into the shop they will go.

thanks for all the stew love. good ol' martha , she does have some good ones. i wanted to just give you a link for the recipe but she didn't have it on her site. so, here you go--straight from everyday food #15.

chicken and artichoke stew serves 8.  

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

salt and pepper

2 Tbls. butter

2 large onions, finely chopped

1/2 c. all purpose flour

3 1/2 c. chicken broth

6 med. carrots, cut into rounds

1 tsp. dried thyme

2 cans (14 ounces each) artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
sliced lengthwise.

1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley

1. generously season chicken with salt and pepper. heat 1 tablespoon butter in dutch oven (or 5 quart stockpot) over medium-high heat. brown half the chicken on both sides, about 5 minutes. transfer to a plate. repeat with remaining butter and chicken. (I used about half the butter and added olive oil) set aside to cool.

2. reduce heat to medium. add 1/4 cup water; scrape bottom of pan with a wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. add onions; cook until golden, about 5 min. stir in flour; cook 1 more minute. (i found that at this point the flour got really thick, so i added a little more water)

3. add broth and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil. add carrots, thyme, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. simmer until carrots are almost tender, about 5 min.

4. cut chicken into 1/2 in. pieces and return to pot; cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thickened, 10 to 15 min. add artichokes; cook until warmed through, about 1 min. stir in parsley. serve over rice if desired--we like brown or a combo of both white and brown.

this is so good, and it was a real hit with the fam. enjoy!

i have two extra copies of romantic homes magazine, the issue where our beloved alicia is featured. i can't remember where exactly, but someone was saying they couldn't find a copy--maybe it was someone in the UK. anyway, here are two copies for the swapping. i would love...LOVE...to have a copy of a marie claire idees magazine in trade. that one seems to keep eluding me, unless i order a subscription , which is very pricey, which means i would rather spend money on fabric. so, those of you who fit this description and could maybe send an MC idees my way, please just pop a comment! they'll go to the first 2 who say they want them.

Oh--for those who asked, my valentines teacup came from starbucks. my son works there and we get to use his discount. comes in handy.

a little of this--a little of that

still a bit random here...so much to talk about i guess!

well! so i'm not the only one with tardy books due at the library. you guys crack me up! meg , your comment was hilarious. ok, now i guess i'll fess up and tell you what my fine was--that's the least i can do when some of you so willingly told me yours...it was like, 51.00 dollars or something. it was one of those times when we went on vacation and i forgot to turn the books and videos in--videos rack up major fines in my neck of the woods. gee-whiz, the lady at the counter was not very quiet about either. i thought you are supposed to whisper in the library!? thanks for sharing your fine stories, they were pret-TY entertaining.

i LOVE this tea cozy featured in the march country living magazine. it fills me with so much inspiration. tea cozies are just one of the cutest things ever. i have been wanting to make one for my new teapot (which is not so new anymore). it's one of those personal size ones, enough for about 2 cups. it would look so very cute with a little jacket to keep it warm. speaking of tea cozy inspiration, did you happen to lay eyes on the one cassi made?? that one will definitely cause you to break out the smelling salts. is there no end to cassi's incredible talent? love her.

i have been working on more trailer embroidery. they are quite addicting you know. and, the smallest pair of hands in the house has taken a sudden interest in learning to sew. you should have seen his face when he came up through the cloth and realized his needle had left the thread behind. it was this big "whoops!" expression...so cute.

moving on to yet another totally different subject...i had a sudden burst to take photos of my cat today. he is the best kitty ever. just one big ball of fluff and sweetness--with an occasional feisty side. but mostly sweetness. his name is otter, and i adore him.

more trailer love

here's another, and i like this one even more.

to answer those who asked why trailers? just because i thought it would be so funny and random (i have a different sense of humor sometimes) and i've always thought they were so cute and 'nest like'...like a portabel nest on wheels. but mostly because of the random humor.

i spent some time with my sketchbook last night and i love what my research turned up! i feel giddy just thinking about them! vintage trailers make me so *happy*.

this one is for sale in my etsy shop now.

suddenly...

...i've taken to embroidering trailers and turning them in to small pillows. i'm working on a whole trailer park you could say. don't ask why, i already told you i was weird.

also, here is the japanese craft book i made my slippers from and a photo of the style i chose. ISBN 4943309430771. there are patterns in the back that you enlarge with a copy machine. lets just say i enlarged mine much more then they suggested..ahem..i do not have petite japanese feet. the book has several cute slipper styles, some from leather even. you can click on the photos to get a better look.

Round needlecase done

I have 3 hours before the clock strikes 12:00, and then begins my first computer free day. No internet, no checking mail, nothing. Can I do it?  I think I can, I think I can , I think I can....(you've read "The Little Engine That Could" haven't you?) Anyway, really quick before I sign off until Saturday; I finished my round needle-case and it will be going to someone who is so very kind....you'll have to wait to find out just who. Happy Friday all!

Buttons, needle-books and some random chatting

Before I get to the buttons and such, here is the random chatty part:
First, a conversation I had last night with Noah~

Noah: "I've made up my mind" (spoken soberly as he marches through the living-room)
Me: "Oh really, what do you mean?" (my curiosity peeks because he remains silent, deep in thought)
Me again: "What are you thinking?"
Noah: "I've made up my mind, I'm going to sell stickers."
Me: "Really?" "How much are you charging?"
Noah: "Seven bucks....each." (said quite firmly, and very matter-of-fact)
Me: "Wow, that's kind of high!"
Noah: "Yep, seven bucks." (I didn't want to haggle with him, I could tell he meant business.)

In other chatty news, I bought the first issue of Amy's new Mail Order crafty-club thingy. I'm so excited to find it in my mailbox. I especially like that the first issue will include a birthday calendar to make...always wanted something like that.

Lastly, Noah is going to be in Molly's  mini-swap with a new friend in the UK. He will flip with excitement to get his own special package :) I would have put her button on my sidebar, but typepad does make it easy to figure that out. I try, and if I don't get it quickly well, I just don't have time to sit there working on it. Ho-hum..there are worse things in life.

OK, I satisfied my need to chat. Thanks :)

Buttons!! I love fabric buttons...never really new I did until I started making some. I've just about used up my little kits I found at the thrift, and I must get more! I love all of them, but aren't the baby ones especially cute? Now, to just think of a way to package them cutely and off to my Etsy shop the will go.....

Here is my next needle-book from the same pink blazer I haven't quite finished yet. A round one! I love the circle shape. And before you think that I did those lovely roses on the front...I must tell you, nay, I did not. I swiped them from a thrifted sweater, and there are several more left for me to have fun with. I'm telling ya, if you don't already scrounge the thrift stores for sweaters and such to re-make into something else...you must start now!! Such a treasure trove for so little $$$.

I'll leave you now with a sneak peek at Lily Sophia. Hopefully I'll finish her this weekend.

Needlebook or embroidery case?

A while ago, I found a vintage, pink cashmere (yes, vintage--pink--cashmere!!) blazer at the thrift store. Oh what joy! Oh what excitement! What would I ever do whithout a thrift nearby...I don't even want to go there..ahem. Anyway, this is my first project from that blazer. I adore this. I don't always make things I adore. Much of the time I'm just O.K. with it. But this I want to kiss :) As you can see it's a needlebook, and I also added a little pocket to stow away a few small notions, or some embroidery floss for your current project. The posie on the front is baby alpaca wool with a vintage button. The chocolate brown ribbon is vintage velvet. Have I said vintage enough in this post? sheesh.  This is another  item I'm thinking of adding to  my etsy shop when I reopen it.