A Treasure Hunt

 (Thanks to E for the image)

Welcome 2012 !!   Out with the old and in with the new … well at least that’s what I have been saying for years and years, but some how the “old” never makes it “out” of my house!!  I was left with quite a collection when my mother died in 1982; then my dad in 1998.  Their treasures sit packed away in my basement wrapped in the same newspaper I packed them in.  Cleaning out this collection is complicated because I live, and work, in one state and my “real” home and collection in another.  The story behind all this is what country songs are made of … anyway … rare is the time I spend in my “real” home and I prefer not to sort when I’m there,  but over Christmas I did some sorting.  I thought I’d share one of the things I found.  It kept me entertained for hours. Here we go:

Buried in the bottom of a box, I found this fun paper bag.

Inside the 60s era paper bag was this 1910 Montgomery Ward catalog.

I vaguely recall this thing from childhood, and think it “lived” on the top shelf of the coat closet (of all places). It’s terribly fragile and low on my list of priorities is scanning it onto Flickr.

Seems you could buy everything from houses to tombstones.  Unfortunately I had it packed away before I realized that I failed to take a photo of the houses (I will).   

 How about a buggy ?

 A Tombstone? 

  A cream separator maybe ?  How about a nice saddle?

Here's what I would have ordered :)

I do believe my folks liked the MW catalog because I found several things I recognized; some I have.  

My Grandmother had this carpet, I used it for a while in the 70s and traded it for "services" to a local florist and I think she still has it in her show room.   

Oh yes indeed I have one of these in the basement.  It belonged to my  paternal Grandmother who died shortly after my Dad was born in 1924.  It was a favorite toy when I visited my Aunt Ethel, then in the mid 60s she chopped the ornate top off and sold it ... not to worry it found its way back to me.

Mother decorated the dining room wall with one of these (my brother has it).

... and she used one of these as a flower planter in the front yard ... (it finally rotted :) my Dad was so sad)

I also have several things (or similar things) out of the catalog. Like this trunk.  I probably ruined its value by painting it and ripping the lining out, but it's held my treasures since the mid 70's (of course its in the basement).

I had a similar dining set in the 70s and sold most of it years ago.  I sold the china cabinet about 6 yrs ago to a friend.  I think I paid $100 for the set in about 1972, my dad went with me to pick it up and could not believe I spent that much ... "you just got robbed" !!

This chair (a rocker version) is in my basement; I painted it white and used it when my daughter was little.  It came from Mr. Main's house, he was the rich guy in town ... a banker.  

Finally I had no idea where this vase came from but its been in my china cupboard for years !!

Hope you enjoyed shopping with me ...  if you have something you would like for me to look up, just let me know, be happy to !  

Look whats new on the farm !!

 WELCOME BABIES  !!

Adeleigh and Weston arrived Friday afternoon, 4 weeks early but doing well. Mom did fantastic !!  Almost immediately after delivery they were placed skin-to-skin with mom and left there for about an hour to bond.  So fun to watch them during the first few minutes of life what a miracle !!  God is amazing !!   

Adeleigh Grace 4lbs 15 oz -18 inches long

Weston Hoyt 4lb 7.5 oz - 19 inches long

If the weekend is any indication of the next few years, their feet will not hit the floor until they're simply too heavy to lug around. I'll likely be posting more pics over the next few years  :)  

Thanks for stopping by, E

Dilly Dallying with Paper Doilies

Don’t you love this Christmas swag that Vicki made ?  When I spotted it on her blog  I knew I'd have to try making one sometime. 

It's made with supplies from a kit here (love their stuff).  The center doily grabbed my eye; I don't think I've ever seen a printed doily ??  I wondered if it was printed or stamped.  I decided I would give printing a go since I am not taken with my stamping skills.  Here is what I came up with …after more than one attempt J.  This digital thing may be basic for most folks but not here in the “Hollow! 

I found an image copied it into Word, adjusted the image size, then simply repeated pasting the image onto the page.  Then the real fun started.  At best I abhor my printer … I’m sure it’s me but we always disagree - sometimes it gets really nasty where there is a globing of paper and sometimes even cursing is involved – anyway … I ended up taping the doily onto the page using painter’s masking tape (the blue tape that peels off easily).  I found that placement of the doily on the page was important; the doily needs an inch or so below the edge or else as the paper feeds the printer (at least mine) eats the edge of the doily. I also found that securing tape under the doily in the center is a delicate operation (it tears). So here is what I ended up with. 

Now secure in my doily printing skills (and about 3 hrs into it) I did another doily using vintage Christmas paper wrap from here -  I've become a doily printing fool.  

On another note I made myself a Hippo under glass vignette for Christmas, the best $1 I've spent in a while (Dollar Tree hippo)  makes me smile every time I look at him J

The Christmas season begins

I am kicking off the season with one of my favorite Christmas songs; I just discovered it a few years ago !  Let the merriment of the season begin ...  and it's "Merry Christmas" at my house.

I have no idea if the following is true - but it has to be because I found the information in online :) 

"Gayla Peevey (born 1943) is perhaps best known for her song, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Columbia, 1953). A child star from Oklahoma City, she was 10 years old when she recorded the novelty song written by John Rox in 1950. The Oklahoma City Zoo capitalized upon the popularity of the song in 1953 through a fund raising campaign to "buy a hippo for Gayla" in order to bring a hippo to the zoo. (They had no hippopotamus at the time.) The song raised $3,000. A baby hippo, named Matilda, was procured and flown in to Oklahoma City and presented by Peevey to the zoo."(paroly.com)

'Tis the Season - no peeking

I started following several blogs about two years ago during a very difficult time of my life.  And "as the world turned" and life's circumstances improved I discovered that I really enjoyed blogland.  Just before New Year's eve 2011 I started my own blog. My first blogging adventure was on NYE when I joined in on a craft-a-long with Paula and friends, it was so stink'n  fun !  This little piece of my world has been a way to connect, share, and acknowledge the wonderfully talented and generous women I've had the pleasure of meeting here in blogland.  


One of the wonderful women I've met is Cindy at Rick Rack and Gingham.  She is hosting a Christmas ornament swap and invited me to join.  I will be exchanging ornaments with Cindy and Debby from Cozy Blanket. I'm working on my little ornaments and here's a peek at one under construction ... but that's all for now :)   I hope to have these in the mail in a few days !!   Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving everyone !  E in TN

An Oink and a Moo ... our sweet "Little People" are almost due

For months my life has been consumed planning a baby shower for my niece who is expecting her first baby in January; turned out to be babies.   She’s not so much a girl-ie girl but a country kind’a girl.  She wanted a “John Deereish” themed shower, but I convinced her to allow me a little freedom and promised her she would be happy … and she was.

Her invitations were from etsy: Little Bee’s Graphics – we printed and embellished them.

I decided to use Fisher Price “Little People”, their farm toys are precious.  Here’s what I ended up with:

The banner is hand cut, embellished with baker’s twine, ric rac, ribbon, and buttons.  The corn stalks are made in a tube (of sorts) over a metal rod.  The cobs are made from paper and wrapped with crepe paper, the tassels are jute.  There are four different cakes on the table, but I cheated, only the sheet cake is edible, the others are fondant covered rice crispy cakes for decoration. My Dad was no doubt rollin in his grave over me buying miniature hay bales, even with a Michael’s coupon.   “W” is for Weston, and “A” is for Adeleigh. 

We have a history of twins in the family.  My dad had twin maternal aunts and twin paternal uncles.  Kelsey’s Grandmother Barbara has two sets of twin siblings.  Our guests enjoyed the display with all the twins pictures.   

 The "store bought" sheet cake was topped with toy John Deer Farm equipment.

The children on this cake represent the twins: Adeleigh and Weston

I loved his frog; her blue bird was perfect !

My friend Amanda made the fondant with a simple recipe melting marshmallows, and adding powdered sugar.  She covered the cakes and I helped her decorate them.  I used a small sauce pan as a mold for the rice crispy cakes.  The fence posts are Kit Kat candy bars.

  

 The pig cake is my favorite.  I've had the sweet little pig toy for years; I made the mud puddle and pig rump from pre-packaged fondant. 

The centerpiece on my appetizer/beverage table was a challenge.  I saw these wonderful gigantic (41/2 ft) sunflowers and knew I had to have them, but vases were way outside my budget so I used a plant stand, turned it upside down, wrapped it in poster board, and covered it with paper and chicken wire.  I added the red fabric and a jute ribbon. I was pretty pleased with it, and the price was right !  

  (look close and you can kind'a see the chicken wire)

I made two types of centerpieces: The diaper cake is topped with a toy from 

Oriental Trading Company. It's a cute cow that will fit inside the barn. 

(Afraid we didn't get a very good picture of these).

 

The paper animals, flowers and tractor are cut with scissors and punches (sure wish I had a fancy machine to do this !), the hay bales are raffia wrapped around tiny foam squares.  Some of the paper elements are embossed.  The base is a cake round supported by ping pong balls I spray painted red. 

The pig centerpiece is a puppet from the Dollar Tree, over a tin can and the eggs are painted Easter eggs.  Mums are gorgeous this time of year, and inexpensive (5 for $20); they looked great on the tables.   

The food was wonderful (thanks to someone other than me):  Fresh tossed salad with almonds and mandarin oranges, fried/grilled chicken (of course), green beans, scalloped potatoes, and fresh yeast rolls with honey butter served from a wheel barrow. 

  

We had a huge crowd, mostly family.

She received a ton of really nice gifts.

The day and the shower were perfect. One thing is for certain these babies are 

surrounded by a family that loves them and can't wait to meet them.   

(me, Kelsey, Laura my daughter)

We had a “real” photographer in the group, and I can’t wait to get her pics. I can’t thank everyone enough for all the help !!!  ( ...and as horrible as I look,  I’m look'in pretty good for someone who had a horrible GI bug for the 4 days leading up to the big day, thought the gallbladder might have to come out at one point ! ) 

Thanks for stopping by !!  E