gift of sewing patterns

Got a ton of patterns in the mail and have no idea who they are from. Thank you!















There are about 12 more; I just got tired of scanning

1st sale on etsy

Put my first item for sale on etsy today. So I guess I have started this adventure; we will see where it goes from here. I plan to put a lot of scarves and baby hats on it in the future.

Mom's email

I got this in an e-mail today from my mother-in-law. I thought it nice and poetic and thought this was a good spot to post it. If it is not, I apologize. She didn't write this; it was sent to her by her sister-in-law who received it from someone else. I have no idea where the story started, but I like the sentiment.

"Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you, and I wish you enough".

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom".

They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?".

Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?".

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?".

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then she turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear."

"I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more."

"I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting."

"I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

"I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting."

"I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess."

"I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Only if you wish send this to the people you will never forget and remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you. If you don't send it to anyone it may mean that you are in such a hurry
that you have forgotten your friends.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....
To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH"

What flower are you

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You? Click here to find out.

I just thought this might be fun for some of you. Please post afterward so we can all see what each other is.

Painted apples

It's the first day of school.
Here is an apple or two for all those teachers out there.
Two kids at school and one home; this should be interesting to see how the littlest reacts to all this alone time.

I didn't paint these apples; my grandmother did back when I was a kid. I just love them.

My Kids Sihouettes

Some silhouettes of my children that I cut.
A sort of fading art.

If you are interested in silhouettes of your family, please go to my store "Vintage Threads, Inc." link on left side of screen to place an order. (I ship only in the United States).

Effies done

Effie is done and will be back on her way to New York on Monday or Tuesday.

Effie now and Effie Before .

Effie nearly done

Effie is almost done.

She now has a caplet and embroidery on her hat and bodice. Her embroidery was done with rayon thread. Other touches are satin ribbon on dress and caplet. Shoes are being made; then she is done and will go back to New York. Her shoes are being sewn out of mauve wool.

Beehive 2

Well This is done now I can get it in the mail.

Such a bad photo. Yuck!

pillow skirt

FREE PATTERN FOLLOW LINK Here is my new skirt made from a pillow case.

Please go here to find pattern/instructions. From start to finish was less than 10 minutes total.

If you want, you can use new or vintage pillow cases. I like the old ones. Mine, I think, is from the late 60's to early 70's.

But it could be real charming with a real old pillow case that is embroidered on and has a lace edge. That might take a little longer as it might have to be lined or just wear a slip if you care about such things. Most real old cases are white; depending on the thread count it might have to be lined -- this one did not.

Sorry for blurry photo; my 8 year old couldn't sit still while taking the photo.

Here is the link in case it breaks again
http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/2006/05/index.html

Big Deal ?

I just had my 1000th visitor. I am not sure - is that a big deal or not?

Lava lava part 1

I was asked to show a back flap lava lava and a front flap.

Here are the directions for the back flap. The front flap version, and how to make it, is in the next post.

First, start with fabric corner on the right hip. Then you wrap it in front of your body. Continue this around the back until you come to the front again. Tie the knot on hip. If a wind blows this will not open up and show your skin. To show skin you have to open 3/4 of the dress; see picture. If you are standing in a wind that strong you should go inside; it is not safe. This is not like the dresses from the 60's that only 1/4 of the dress opens and you are exposed. This is a real simple skirt to make. If you ever decide you don't want it any more, you still have all your yardage, minus the fringe part, to make something else out of.

These photos where taken by my 8 year old; I couldn't find my tripod -- sorry if they are a little weird. I know the skirt is dark, so if you click on the picture you will get a bigger photo that's easier to see.

lava lava part 2

FREE PATTERN
I was asked to show how a lava lava works with it having a front flap.

OK my waist is 30 inches and my hips are 38. I took my waist measurement and multiplied by 2 and added 8 inches (if you want a bigger tie, add 12 inches). This gave me a number of 68 inches. This is how wide the fabric is cut . I use rayon. It has a much nicer drape and just fits better; cotton is too bulky and stiff. Fringe the edges -- I like 3 inches of fringe. So the actual width of the lava lava is now 62 inches. The height of it is whatever the fabric is from selvage to selvage. This is a no-sew project.
To wear a front flap lava lava, I place one corner of fabric on my left hip. Then go around my back, then I bring it to the front to tie. Simple! This is not like the 60's wrap that always flaps open; you can see from the photo even if I pick up the flap I am not showing any skin.