My new dresses

Made from a thrifted sheet. This is New Look 6351. It's long, down to my ankles and very comfortable. This is Simplicity 2973. First time using this pattern. The material is from 1999. Not my favorite choice, but using my stash. Maybe a little too short.

Sally the Salamander

My Aunt Louise made a poem for Layla and her Salamander. Hope you can read it.

Ruby tried on the dresses I made. The bottom dress is for Layla, but she wouldn't try it on.

Thrifting and repurposing

These embroidery pieces are from an old scarf I thrifted. They are now ready to be appliqued to an apron or something else. I had already used the lace on a pillowcase dress (dress with the blue lace border.Thrifed these yesterday. I found this apron for a $1.00 and the placemat for $.50 (for a purse). I really don't think the apron is homemade but it looks old and really cute.

Dresses made

These are the 2 patterns I decided on. The McCall's pattern is from 1983. First time I've used it. Both patterns were pretty easy. The hat looks pretty cute, so I may try it next.
This one is for Ruby. I'll be keeping them Friday so maybe I can get a picture. They are really close in size. Ruby is shorter.

Layla's dress.

Sewing for the Grandkids

Now that it's so warm out I'm having a hard time focusing on sewing or even staying indoors. I'm addicted to cutting vines and briars. I just loose all track to time and not even tired until I walk up the hill to come to the house and it hits me. Rain is in the forecast so maybe I can get something done and rest a little.

I've got some really cute material to make outfits for the girls. Only question is which to use first? and which pattern?

Welcome Spring

It's finally Springtime.

Still working on the woods. I've been raking leaves and got a big blister on my thumb. Still cleaning out the trash. Found 1 queen and 1 king sheet for $1.99 each and used them for my curtains on my porch. When I put them down the wind blows them up. Any ideas on what I need to weight them down?

Easter Eggs

Last Sunday my Mom had made some really cute hanging Easter eggs ornaments. They are so easy you really don't need a pattern.Just cut out 2 felt pieces, a piece of ribbon and buttons or embrodiery or both. I had a lot of buttons I've collected, plus I went to Joann's and they had packs of buttons for $1.29. I got the tiniest little buttons and a bag with little animals. Add stuffing and blanket stitch around the edges.

Scrapbook

There wasn't any working outside this weekend. It was cold and raining. My husband did manage to put up a new mailbox. Someone knocked down our mailbox and didn't stop to let us know. Oh well we needed a new one. The grandkids were here and we had fun inside.
I got a new project I'm starting. I'm making a scrapbook for my grandchildren. I decided to start with our grandparents. We're going to write things we remember about our grandparents, parents, and our children. First I need to get prints from our pictures. I think it will be a lot of fun. Maybe someday they can share this with their grandchildren.

Jewerly Making

I made a few jewerly items today. Some will probably be gifts. I ordered the cameo off Etsy, not sure where. The others came from Joann's. I really enjoy making jewerly.

Doll dress for Alley

Finally got a dress made for Layla's doll Alley. The pattern was pretty easy. I followed the instructions but I couldn't find a way to put the apron on the doll. So I had to put velcro tabs at the top (don't know why I couldn't figure that out). How does she look? Had to give her a haircut.

My new picnic area

It was really nice and warm here last week. Last 2 days not so warm. I took advantage of those warm days and worked outside to clean up in the woods behind our house. We've had a house here for 33 years and my husband owed the property 3 years before that. We are just know deciding to clean up the woods. We thought it would be better to do this before every thing blooms out. Funny thing about briars, they never die out. We have a lot of blackberry vines and huge grape vines. Some have been on these trees for years and have nearly killed some of them. One day I worked down there by myself for 3 hours. The time just flew by and I enjoyed it so much.

If you've never lived out in rural areas you may not realize folks used to throw trash in the woods. There wasn 't any land fills or trash pick up. Later in the years folks covered up the trash piles with dirt. Folks definately used these woods for trash. I found old bottles, cans, tires, parts to a bed, tin from a roof, bumper from a car. You can see in one of the pictures some of the tin. I've used 5 big trash bags so far.

We plan on doing more this weekend. There is a level spot at the bottom of the hill and we want to make it a picnic area.

This is 100

Can't believe I stuck with it, but this is my 100th anniversary post. It seems like only yesterday. I've been introduced to a wonderful group of bloggers I now call friends. Thanks for all of your comments and visits to my blog. Hope to keep it up.
Now to my back porch. With Spring approaching I couldn't wait to dress it up. I know I covered those cushions and pillows back in the fall. That just didn't work for me. First of all the cushions faded and looked horrible. Guess they weren't weather proof. The pillows were made from vinyl tablecloths. They weren't comfortable.

I bought 2 new cushions from "Old Time Pottery". Made the pillows from material in my stash and covered the lamp with the same material. Used my old cushions on the chairs. I really need to bring them inside in the Winter. But where do I store them?

My Ruby Girl and Doll Patterns

Haven't been feeling my best for almost 2 weeks now. Today is the first day I wanted to get off the couch and actually do something. Think it's allergies. Still haven't finished Jakob's quilt, but I'm working on it.

Got a lot of things I want to make. Layla has an 18" doll (Alley). Remember to take batteries out of Alley. I have lots of patterns for her. This is half of them. Been collecting these for a while. Most were .99, never paid more than $1.99.

This little baby loves to pose. I had her all to myself and she was willing to pose.