Thrifting and Sewing and Some Lemonade!

This may be one of the best finds of my life.

Two dollars!

I am still speechless.

Look at the stitching!  All done by hand and very,

very tiny.  Even though I am so happy to have given it a new home, there is something sobering about it having ended up at the thrift store in the first place.  

Makes you wonder about the hows and whys.

Life has been so full these past few months, and when that happens, sewing (and blogging!) 

get pushed to the back burner.

I needed a quick project to get me back in the swing of things, 

and I have had the Oliver and S Popover Sundress saved for a while now.  

It proved to be just the thing.  

Quick, easy, and cute!  

Perfect for my niece

and 

perfect for her aunt!

Well, summer has arrived, at least for a few days, here in the city.  Between the heat

and the kids home from school, cool drinks are in high

demand in the MorningGlory household.

I share this lemonade syrup that is great to have in the fridge.  

Lemonade Syrup

3 cups sugar

1 cup water

3 cups lemon juice

(you can squeeze your own, or the stuff in the green bottle 

works just fine!)

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Remove from heat and let cool slightly.  

Add lemon juice. 

Mix well and store covered in the refrigerator.

To use:  mix 1/4 cup syrup with 3/4 cup cold water.

You can adjust the amount of syrup to personal taste.  

This is also great added to seltzer or iced tea!

Cheers!

Can you say willpower?

Because I obviously can't!  

Yes, this machine called to me from the depths of the shelves, chased after me, jumped in my cart, picked the locks of my car, hid behind the back seat, and then when it thought I wasn't looking, 

slithered in the side door of my house. 

Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

p.s. it sews like a dream!!!

May Day Musings

It's May Day today, and it's raining.  No tiny bouquets of flowers will be delivered to doorsteps in the midst of the rain.  Although, here in our part of the world, the rain is much needed.  As a child I remember making the woven paper baskets at school and at home, filling them with flowers picked from our yard, and leaving them on the front porches of our neighbors.  Somewhere along the way, the tradition slowly disappeared.  Even though it wasn't all that long ago, it seems very far away.  

Looking through some photos from this past fall, I came across a couple I snapped with my phone while waiting with my youngest for the school bus.  His stop is located near an older, brick building that probably, at one time, was an apartment building for the workers of a local mill or factory.  The corner apartment was likely the office or store-front for the building.  While standing near this corner store-front, waiting for the bus, I discovered these carvings in the stone and brick-work.  Funny to think that there must have been others who stood in the same spot, waiting, too.

A Baby Gift

Another friend recently had a baby boy, so I spent some time this weekend sewing and knitting a little set to send to the new parents:

two burp pads,

a tiny pair of knitted socks,

two matching bibs,

a Waldorf-style stuffed toy,

and

a copy of the infamous Dangerous Book for Boys.

Into the mail they go, and hopefully on their way to bring a long-distance welcome to a 

sweet, baby boy and his parents.

Easy, Breezy, Knit Washcloth

It's been a while since my last post!  I've been keeping busy with kids' schedules and spring activities.  We had a wonderful Easter here at Morning Glory Lane.  We celebrated with a family dinner on Saturday, church on Sunday, and lots and lots of chocolate in between!

I have been squeezing in some sewing and some yarn goodness where I can.  Some projects require more thinking than others!  I like to always have an easy, no-brain-required, project at hand for those times when I'm just too tired to think.  For me, these easy knitted washcloths fit the bill.  I like to have a steady supply of these around for gifts, and I also try to have a few in my Etsy shop.  This pattern has been around

forever, made by grandmas and moms all over the world, but I thought I'd do a quick write-up for those of you who may be new to the knitting bug, or who might enjoy a trip down memory lane.  

Easy, Breezy, Knit Washcloth (knit on the diagonal)

Use a cotton yarn and an appropriate sized needle.  For Peaches -n- Creme yarn, I use a size 7 needle.    Switch up or down a size to adjust to yarn weight and to find your personal preference.  Some people like a very tight washcloth, and others like them loose and squishy!

Cast On 4

First Row:  Knit

Row 2:  K 2, YO, K2

Row 3:  K2, YO, K to end

Row 4:  K2, YO, K to end

Continue in this pattern until you have 45 stitches on your needle.

Now you will begin the decrease.

K 1, K2 together, YO, K2 together, K to end

Continue in this pattern (K 1, K2 together, YO, K2 together, K to end) until you have

4 remaining stitches on your needle.

Bind off, weave in ends, and enjoy your new washcloth!

Happy Knitting!

Digging for Treasure

I found some thrifty goodies recently.  A couple of linen table runners with embroidery and lace insertion.

Some old, deep-ivory colored lace, pipe cleaners, and royal blue wool felt.

A basket full of vintage bias tape, rick rack, and seam binding.  The polka dots and stripes are great!

A fat-quarterish piece of vintage fabric, and some HUGE rick rack!  It doesn't appear to be cotton, probably used in upholstery or home dec, but it is amazing stuff!

Some vintage ticking, a green colored wooden spool, and two rather tattered potholders.  The potholders have seen a lot of use, but I fell in love with the patterns.  The ticking was looking a little worse for wear as well, but I have since washed it, and it came out looking bright and clean.

All of these were stuffed in a box at my local thrift shop - I paid less then $1.50 for the whole lot!  sometimes digging a little can turn up some nice surprises!

Edit post to add, I'm linking this up with Elizabeth's Vintage Quilt Thursday!

A Bowlful of Pom-Poms

 

I've got crocus all over my yard right now.  Purple and yellow and white.  Spring might actually be here!  The weekend is supposed to be sunny and warm - I can't wait!!

It's been a busy couple of weeks around here, and as such, not much sewing - or blogging for that matter - has gotten done.  The girls and I have a few of the Clover pom-pom makers and when we have a few minutes, it's been fun to wrap some yarn.  It can be a little addicting, though!

I have no idea what we will make with all of these.  I was sort of toying around with the idea of a bunting of sorts that we could use at birthdays and parties.  We'll have to see.  I saw that Clover also makes a heart shaped maker - how in the world does that work?!?  I have to admit when the tool came out, I was a little skeptical.  I mean, really, it is pretty easy to just wrap yarn around a circle of cardboard to make a pom-pom.  But, I am admittedly a convert now.  We have them in three sizes.  The extra large one is great, and makes some impressive pom-poms, but it takes quite a lot of yarn!  If nothing else, they are fun to use!

Hope it's getting warm in your neighborhood, too!  Happy Friday!