Penny Rugs and more

In January I started on the Fellowship of Flowers project.  (For information on that click on the link on the right hand side of this blog.) That got me interested in using wool and felt for other projects as well.

Since I have been working with it more and more I decided I should organize what I had.  I found it in several places in my craft room.  Now it is all together.  I added some too.  I found a picture for making what is called a penny rug and remembered that awhile back I had purchased a circle die for my die cut machine. (just for cutting "pennies" for this kind of project.)   Here is a picture of my machine.  I originally bought it to use for scrapbooking but now use it for lots of different craft projects.

If you have never tried a die cut machine and want to learn more about the Big Shot like I own or others  you can watch tutorials on You Tube.   Just go to You Tube and put Big Shot Tutorials in the search line.   Here is a link I used.....   Big Shot Tutorials .    There are other die cut machines and you can probably learn about them there too.
   Although it is really designed for paper for scrapbooking  and paper crafting I have had no trouble cutting fabric, wool,  or felt if it isn't too thick. 



  By using it to cut the little wool or felt circles I can do 4 different sizes at a time, easily.  I spent a couple of evenings (while watching the news) cutting out circles.  Then I found a pair of patterns from Shakerwood Woolens  and when they arrived I went crazy....

This first picture shows (using plain paper) the sizes of the circles I can cut.

The next picture is a box of circles precut.

and then here are the two projects I have started.  They are all put together.  I just have to finish off with the blanket stitch all the way around each circle.  That is best done while we are going for a drive somewhere or when I am sitting in a doctors office.... waiting....

I should mention here that the die I purchased came from a friend who sells or at least sold "Stampin UP" things.  The die itself was made by Sizzix.  Apparently this die has been retired but you can still find them on ebay.  Here is a picture of one I just found offered for sale there.  If you want to do an ebay search  you can probably find one available. 

 I looked up dies for the Accucut quilting die cutter and found them to be more expensive in comparison to the Sizzix.  I have no idea why.   Maybe someone out there knows why.  But if you have the Accucut die cut machine already you can get dies for it for penny rug circles.  You will just apparently pay  more!


I have done a few other things using the wool and felt and I will share those another time.

A fairy tea party and a trip to some sales

Just a  quick little tea party today for the fairies in my garden.

This week I have been busy chasing around to sales to find things for my shop and below you will see some of the things I saw.  I also spent a lot of time in my gardens since the weather was wonderful and of course I tended to my shop.   soooooo.........  That is why the tea party part of this post is so "mini."

 .  I want to share a couple of things I have seen lately at the sales.

These pretty little cups and saucers were sitting on a table at a sale and I had wanted to buy them.  However someone beat me to it.... she did let me take pictures so I could share.  They had such lovely scenes painted on them.....

I was pretty sad that I didn't get them.   They were made in Japan and here is the mark.

I saw a few other things but NOTHING tempted me.  I did take their pictures though to share so you can see what it out there.

A yellow tea pot.........

 a modern looking tea set.......

And here a violet tea cup and saucer someone has filled with plastic violets.  If I had bought it they would have had to go but it was "cute."  And at the very least caught my eye!!

I hope I will be able to have a nice outdoor tea party again next week but it depends on what is happening in my life.

Thanks for joining me  today and hope you visit all the other Tea Time blogs as well.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

TeaTime

 

 I just added this really cute 1930s style kitchen and table chair set to my shop.  I thought it might be fun to have tea out there today since it is a beautiful day.   I am enjoying getting to spend more and more time outside since the weather is behaving so nicely.

So here are some of the items I gathered up to use for tea today.  A nice brown betty teapot, a cute little glass "bunny on a nest" to use for a sugar bowl, a sweet pot holder of the era (Sunbonnet Sue), a homemade hankie apron and of course a pretty Royal Albert teacup and saucer.

Thanks for joining me for tea today and hope you visit all the other Tea Time blogs as well.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

Tea and gardens

This week  I have been paying attention to the baby robins, which have been born, and are currently being fed by mamma and I think poppa too.  I just looked out at them and Mamma or poppa was there feeding them.  I can't get a decent picture without bothering them so you will just have to imagine.   Their nest is located  in a rhododendron  bush directly above a nice long row of Lily of the the Valleys. This first picture shows one of the other rows of lily of the valley I have along the sidewalk going along one side of my house.  They are so pretty and delicate and smell so good. 

 I have always LOVED the song White Coral Bells!  You can listen to it here if you click on this.

White Coral Bells

 In honor of those I have brought out one of my lily of the valley teacups and saucers.  It is made by Royal Dover and I think it really shows how pretty and special  lily of the valley is.  My Mother in Law always loved lily's of the valley so I always think of her when I see them or use this cup and saucer.



Here are a few pictures of the cup and saucer including the mark.

I was finally able to get outside and do some work in the yard this week.  And here are a few of the pictures.



 This first picture is an interesting combo.  I had planted a Pink azalea and an Euyonomous ‘Gold Splash’ next to each other and over the years they have grown together.  My neighbor wanted to know what the plant was so he could get one too.....  LOL

I bought some hanging baskets for our porch and a few other places.  Love the big bright cheerful blossoms for the New Guinea Impatiens. 

 We have been able to eat dinner a couple of evening now, on the porch.  So am happy to have such pretty flowers to enhance the atmosphere.


Probably my all time favorite plant for a hanging basket is the Lofos.  I had never seen it before last year but as soon as I got a chance to get another this year I jumped on it.

The plant I had last year ended up growing so long that the stems reached the ground... BEAUTIFUL.

The final picture this week is of a scented geranium.... citronella scented....  in a pot amongst a couple of my fairy houses.   (I know they may look like birdhouses but to me they are fairy houses.... LOL)

Thanks for joining me for tea today and hope you visit all the other Tea Time blogs as well.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

Be sure to come back next Tuesday for another Tea Party and join me on Thursdays or Fridays for my project updates.

Shopping Fun

This time of year allows my husband and I to do lots of yard saling, attend flea markets and in general, have fun shopping for ourselves and for the shop.

As a result of that, some visitors from out of town, and   in addition to shop hours and such, I don't have much time for crafting, quilting or other fun things like that.  But I don't mind cause I love the "hunt."

 I managed to find some good stuff on my last few outings.

Just a couple of pictures to share.  Some is for keeping, some is for selling.  I love the "grungy", shabby chic look for some things.  And of course the pretty floral for tea parties.  This week it was the former that I found.   I have a project planned for that light fixture.  I will share it with you later.

This second picture shows a cabinet door I found with very "chippy paint.It is now holding a wreath I made awhile back. The wreath is a grape vine and has lot of bows, stars and hearts with buttons. All made from homespun.  I know I will keep this one.  Now, where should I hang it???

A simple child's tea party

I was out in my antique shop doing some cleaning and straightening and came across this little child's tea set that I had almost forgotten about.  I will have to put it out where someone can see it better.  I can't believe it hasn't been snapped up.  It is by no means in perfect shape as it was no doubt played with and loved by it's young owner.  But it is still useful and so cute.

ANYWAY....  I decided I would make up a simple child's tea party for this week's Tea Cup Tuesday post.   So here it is.
     This set was probably made right after WWII and the pattern was very similar to a very popular, at the time, grownup dish pattern called Golden Wheat by Homer Laughlin.  I don't have any at the moment or I would show you.

I even found a pretty little doily that fit right under the plate with the cake.

And here are closeups of the various pieces........

 And finally the mark.

My final picture today is sort of an update on the post I did this past Friday about the Robin's nest in my Rhododendron.   The night and day after I took the pictures of the nest we have a pretty bad rain storm and I was worried about the little family.  But I peeked through the window of my enclosed porch was able to take a picture of the the momma the next day when it was sunny and nice.  I was very relieved to see her there.

Thanks for joining me for tea today and hope you visit all the other Tea Time blogs as well.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

Be sure to come back next Tuesday for another Tea Party and join me on Thursdays or Fridays for my project updates.

A bit of Nature to share

No crafting projects to show today but I thought I would share a bit of nature.

Yesterday I went out into the side yard to pick some Lily of the Valley that I have growing in abundance.

Here are the few I got because......

 as I was picking them I suddenly heard a loud complaint and fluttering from a bird above my head..... I looked up and realized there must be a nest in the Rhododendron bush the lilies are under.


Yep,  here is a picture of the nest.  I quickly took the picture and got away so as not to disturb the momma bird any more.   Because the bush is next to our glassed in porch I went inside later and looked out at the bush, saw the nest and the momma sitting there.

The real reason for this story is because overnight we had a heavy rain and wind storm come in and I wondered how the momma was doing.  I peeked out the window again and saw her hunkered down, being pelted with rain.  I felt bad for her but if I had tried to give shelter to the area she would have been even more upset I am sure.  I am hopeful she will continue to be able to do her job.

This final picture shows some of the branches that came down in our backyard over night.  It was a hard storm....  Glad it didn't hit anything important on the way down.  Just a bit of cleanup tomorrow unless we get more.  You can click on picture to see it better.

Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to check in on Tuesday for the Tea Cup Tuesday parties.