A move on the horizon

This past month has brought a lot of packing tape, boxes, and some topsy-turviness to the Morning Glory household as we prepare to move house.  As we muddle through these next few weeks before we get nestled into our new abode, it will likely be quiet on the blog front.   My sewing machines and fabric are being prepared and packed for the move, and I imagine I will be lurking around blog-land when I have a chance, counting down the days until we are once again settled.  This will be a good move for us – more space and more yard – always a very good thing with kids.   But, for now, it’s back to work – packing and taping, packing and taping, packing and taping…

-Elizabeth

And the heat goes on

and on and on and on!  To keep cool we have been doing a lot of this…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And on the sidelines, I have found a bit of time to start this…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a crocheted, granny-square bonnet.  I thought it would be a cute addition to my niece’s wardrobe for the chilly fall days (although, at the moment,  those fall temps seem soooo far off!).   I am adapting it from a vintage granny-square book I have had for a while.   I’ve got the bonnet part figured out and almost done, but I want to change the ties to something  more modern - and I’m a little “stuck” on that part!  It is a common style I have seen over the years using four separate granny squares and sewing them together to form the bonnet portion. For mine, I have added a few rows of single crochet around the outer edge.   I am contemplating a strap that would fit beneath the chin and button on the other side.  Judging from the weather forecast, it looks like I will have plenty of sticky, hot days (and nights) ahead to figure it all out! 

-Elizabeth

Fabulous Friday Finds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand total:  $11.63

Happy Friday!

-Elizabeth

Another Baby Top

I’ve been working with some more of my vintage fabric lately, turning these…

 

 

 

 

 

 

into this….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The red gingham border is not vintage.  The blue and red floral was a pillowcase I found at the thrift store, and the yellow was some older yardage.   The top measures out at 42x51, so it’s definitely a baby/toddler size.  I have this blue and white floral (see below) in my stash that I am thinking of using for the backing, but I’m not sold on it yet – it doesn’t seem “strong” enough to me.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, the heat has found us!  Our temps have been soaring since the weekend, and without a/c, we have to be pretty creative to keep cool.  As an alternative to ice cream, I freeze pudding in small plastic cups, so they can easily be grabbed as a snack.  Because they freeze solid, it takes a bit longer for the kids to devour them – they have to scrape at the pudding with a spoon!   We vary the flavor and have added chocolate chips, bananas, and blueberries, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

-Elizabeth

Happy Fourth of July!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With thanksgiving and celebration from my home to yours,

-Elizabeth

 

Image courtesy of http://hubpages.com/hub/patriotic-american-flags-clip-art

Fabulous Thrifting Find and I am…

 

 

…so happy to give her a new home.

 

 

Happy Friday!

-Elizabeth

A few projects

This afternoon I found some time to start quilting this smaller quilt that I showed you earlier this month.  I’m just stitching horizontal lines across the width of the quilt without marking it, using my foot and my eyes as my guides.   (I have seen this referred to on several blogs as “organic” quilting.)  I am using a light pink thread for both the bobbin and the upper thread, and although I feel this top says “Easter” to me, I think I will like it when it is finished.  I’ve been auditioning several fabrics for the binding, and I haven’t found anything I like as much as a pure white. 

I also finished up a quick child-sized quilt from some vintage sheet squares.  I have admired these all over blog land, and this is the second one I have made.  The first is a little bigger – more of a lap-sized – but both are tied and self-bound.  They are so soft and cool to sleep with in these hot summer months!

I’ve also been working with my green stash…

The green floral in the middle is from a vintage piece of yardage I found at the thrift last winter.  I love digging through the linen bin and coming up with some great stuff!   I always try to look towards the bottom first, as that seems to be where all the vintage stuff migrates.  I don’t know if it’s because no one around here seems to want it, so it just sinks to the bottom, or if it’s because they are usually smaller pieces and get easily covered up by the huge comforters and such.  I haven’t figured it out,  but nonetheless, I’m happy it’s there for me to find! 

 

I think I will use these as part of a pieced backing.  They are sort of a “free-form” log cabin type block.

 

 

We’ve been enjoying some beautiful weather here today.  It has been very soothing to sit at the machine with the windows open and a light summer breeze blowing through.  I know much of the United States has had its’ fill of incredible heat recently, and I hope  that for those of you dealing with the high temps, relief will come soon.

Happy summer and happy sewing,

-Elizabeth