Board.....eh?

It's a funny thing.  We can plan and search and create 

to get just the right look, at the right angle, 

and have everything in its place~

and then.....

You see, I found this board at a yard sale for a dollar or two.

It doesn't match a thing in my house.

I had no idea what on earth I would do with it, but

it wanted to go home with me.

As I was thinking,"I don't need more junk," I gave the dollar,

and home with me it came.

(work in progress - please forgive the markings)

Little did I know that day just how much I would use

that board.  It has been host to letter-writing,

stitching (nearly every day,) or occasionally just a flat surface

for my tea if I am sitting on the couch.

I keep my little scissor zipper in the upper corner ~

so handy.

Lesson learned: like a chance meeting that brings you

a best friend, a silly little board has

become a valuable tool to me. 

Happy surprises are everywhere just waiting for us.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Making Progress

Just thought I would share~

I was looking at my last few posts

and thought I had better show you,

I really do stitch once in a while.

I showed the beginnings here.

Tomorrow, I am going to get boarders and backing 

fabric so I can finish it up.  So far,

I'm liking it.  I think the boarders will help

tone down the business a little.

It will have a darker boarder & binding.

I am also working on the quilt label for my

Christmas quilt.  The top was ready before 

Christmas, but I didn't have the back ready.

I hand stitch my labels so it takes

a little time - not enough to be a 

real excuse, but I'm using it as one for now:)

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Fun Doing Laundry

So maybe I'm warped, but a friend gave me a recipe for homemade laundry detergent, and I just ran with it.

I mentioned in my last post I got a couple other things at the estate sale I would show in a later post.  Well, here goes...

I found these two beautiful carafes.  In the shorter one, I put my homemade laundry detergent, and in the taller one with a handle, my homemade fabric softener.

As if that wasn't enough, the measurements are in tablespoons so I found a couple old pretty spoons and stitched up a little fun.

Theeeeen... I ran across the idea of wool dryer balls.  I have of course heard of them and seen them.  Why I never thought of making them??? 

So I made some.  They are so easy.  Just wind up a ball of yarn just like you used to do for Grandma when you were a kid.  When they are a little larger than a tennis ball or about the size of a smaller orange, tuck the end in and tie them individually in an old nylon.  Run them through the washer and dryer, then remove them from the nylon.  If you do this, remember worsted wool will not felt so be sure to use regular wool yarn - I used the one for fisherman's sweaters.  
I have a pretty little spot on my dryer now, and all of my laundry is done because I have been so excited about using my new toys.  Yes, I know little things - little minds.  I must be okay with that, because I'm loving it.
Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Estate Sale Finds

This was actually a good estate sale.  Sometimes, I feel a little weird about estate sales although I love seeing old time goodies that are nowhere to be found on store shelves today.  The ol' fella that owned this home also had another in another town so was selling off one of them.  There were over 8000 books (a good portion cookbooks.)

I found a sweet little doll quilt.

One of the things I just love about these little old doll quilts is their imperfections.  These little blocks are not square - you can see at the bottom corner - as well as the fact that they were loved.

Also, a few kitchen items, I just couldn't live without.

I have always wanted a cake cover - I usually see the tops, but the bottoms are gone, or they are in such poor condition, it's not worth it.  This one is fantastic.  It even locks so the lid doesn't slide over into the cake.  Love little butter molds.  
I have a bit of a collection of pie crust cutters, purely by accident of course:) I actually use them though, some for pie crusts and some for other confections.

I have never seen one like this.  It has the wheel at one end and at the other the scallop.  I can't wait to try it.

And....there was a sewing room with some interesting notions-score!

This might sound funny, but of all my pincushions, I don't have an old fashioned tomato.  Lots of vintage transfers.  I will use some, but not all.  Also, lots of lace and vintage trims, so I have goodies to organize.  Huge hoop - $1.
I did get just a couple other things, but I want to show you that with something else in another post.

There was lots more there of course, but we must set our limits (even if they are waaaaay out there:)

Time to stitch...

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches