I mentioned previously that I inherited a small box of sewing things from my aunt. I've had it for a few years now and haven't done much with it. When I was doing my sewing room reorganization I went through the box again and rediscovered some old patterns.
So for an inexpensive sewing room decoration I color copied and framed them.

When I looked in the one package there was this bib all cut out with this stitching pattern attached.

I still remember my joy when I opened this doll (Baby Sally) on Christmas, she came with a complete layatte, bunting and numerous dresses all made from this pattern. My aunt even made us matching dresses. Here we are and I'm wearing mine and I think she has hers on under the coat.

Baby Sally got lots of love. She made it through me and then my daughters. She could probably use a trip to the doll hospital. I still have most of her wardrobe packed away nicecly and waiting for another little girl. A lot of love went into making these patterns.

I went to an antique shop this weekend and found this vintage tablecloth (very cheaply which makes it even better) and it fits my kitchen table perfectly.

I also bought this vintage looking piece of fabric from my local quilt shop. I'm stuck figuring out if I should just hem it and use it as a tablecloth or cut it into three pieces for 3 table runners. Any suggestions?

I've had a few small finishes. When cleaning my sewing rooms I found some things that were close to completion. This was part of Lynette Anderson's www.lynetteandersondesigns.typepad.com Noah's ark pattern. I enlarged the block and framed it ready for spring.

Some wool applique recently finished. I love working with wool. I couldn't resist this pattern. Once it's framed all I'll need is some yellow flowers to match. It shouldn't be too much longer -all of my daffodils are up and have buds on them!

Sometimes, when I really love a fabric I need to use every little scrap

Here's the front - a pincushion using a little design from Cinderberry Stitches www.cinderberrystitches.typepad.com .


I'm putting this at the end of this post so if you are squemish - stop reading.
Here's a tip for those of you who burn firewood. Don't just scoop up a big armful of logs and put them next to your fireplace. You may have an unwelcome visitor.
Apparently this little fellow crawled into the woodpile to hibernate.
When I brought the logs into the house, he must have warmed up and woken up. My daughter was looking at the bricks above the fireplace and asked "what's that?" Luckily my husband was home, and I am proud to report that I came out of hiding long enough to help. In my opinion one of the benefits of being married is having someone to get rid of spiders, catch mice, kill cooperheads , and now bats. This is what a terrific man I'm married too: first he stood there with it until I could take a picture of it; then he let it go outside. But there was snow on the ground and the bat was obviously struggling and couldn't fly. Just a moment before I was ready for him to kill it, but then I felt sorry for it. So he scooped it up again and took it to a covered place where at least it wouldn't get wet and maybe go back to it's nap.
So now I bring in one log at a time and make sure I check it thoroughly.

Melanie www.jellybeanangel2.blogspot.com and I are doing the Christmas Story together.
Here's my second block.

Has your sewing room or sewing area ever gotten so bad that you couldn't really sew in it? With all the Holiday sewing I had done, mine had gotten like that. Piles on piles on my cutting table. I spent last week cleaning and organizing. It was an extra challenging because I wanted to set my daughters sewing machine up. So I had to rearrange the furniture as well. I bought this plain little folding table and "prettied" it up by making a skirt for it. So now I'll have company while I sew, if only we can agree on a radio station to listen to while we're in there!

Several years ago my aunt sent me a box of scraps and some old patterns. While cleaning and organizing my sewing room this week (more on that in my next post) I was going through what was left of that box I found 2 very old lace hearts. I handstitched one down to a white floral background. Just in time for Valentine's Day.

I've been caught

If you look on my sidebar, you'll see I started a new fabric diet. I was a little premature in putting that there.
Has anyone been to Joann's lately and noticed the really cute fabrics? I am a strong believer in supporting my local businesses. But with the sale at Joanns, and the 20% of coupon I couldn't help myself. I went in to buy flannel for backing.
And found lots of other fabrics. .
When I got to the cutting counter, the very nice lady who works there said "I thought you were on a fabric diet" Oops - she reads my blog. Actually this is just what a need, someone to keep my honest.
But look at this cute fabric.

Boy fabric


Girl fabric


My favorite - French Chicken fabric


Oops almost forgot my backing

It could have been worse, I could have bought much more. I know that it may not be the same caliber as quilt shop fabric but with the sale nothing I bought was more than $4.00 a yard - and again French Chicken fabric - need I say more?
Although I want to go back and buy some more, I'm going to try not to now that going off the fabric diet has been found out.

Did you ever have one of those spells where there was some problem with every thing you sewed. I couldn't even make a simple 9 patch correctly. So this morning, I thought - simple - that's the way to go. My daughter came home from school with a list of sewing supplies we need to purchase for a class and on the list was pincushion.
I love pincushions. I could give her one of these.

I could give her this one - very unimaginative.

But then I was looking through my strips and selvedges. And an idea was born. A simple idea. Her own personalized pincushion.

Hopefully I've got my sewing mojo back

I also think a good cleaning and organizing of my sewing room may help.
But that's not as much fun as sewing.