Purse paraphernalia!

I just adore this compact! I found it in one of my Granny's purses. Her name was Elenora. "Yardley" is engraved on the back.

Here is the lipstick.

Of course, there is the powder!

Behind the mirror is the rouge!

I can't imagine that color on me!

This compact belonged to my husband's grandmother. Her name was Marjorie. The powder puff inside has the word "Volupte" on it.

This was another of her compacts. It is "Max Factor".

She also owned this lighter.

Here are the last two of my collection. The rectangular shaped compact is "Merle Norman" Lash Creme. The round compact is "Plough's" Black and White Beauty Creations.

Pretty Things.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Casserole Tote Tutorial

This is the seventh casserole tote that I have made this summer. I finally took some photos along the way! You will need:
2/3 yard quilted fabric (or at least 19 inches)
1 package (4 yards) 1/2 inch single fold bias tape
1 package 7/8 inch single fold bias tape (there will be some left over)
thread to match the bias tape
I pre-washed the fabric and trimmed off the selvage. I prefer a rotary cutter for straight edge cuts. Starting with the fabric folded, selvage edges together, cut two thicknesses for two 19" x 14 3/4 " rectangles. Then cut the 2 handles from the remaining fabric, 19" x 2 1/2 ". Finally, cut one of the large rectangles in 1/2 lengthwise so that you have 2 rectangles that are 19" x 7 3/8".
Stitch the 1/2 inch bias tape to the long edges of the handles and the inner edges of the half rectangles. Divide the remaining 1/2 inch bias tape into 4 equal lengths. Fold in one end and stitch it closed in 1/2 to create 4 ties.

Pin the two half rectangles (the top) to the large rectangle (the bottom). Pin the handles 2 1/2 inches from the outside edges.

Stitch the handles about 1/4 inch from the edges.

Sew all outer edges together with the 7/8 inch bias tape.

Hand stitch the ties 3 1/2 inches from the ends along the center opening of the tote.

The finished tote!

A peek at the bottom!

I hope this makes sense. I will be happy to try and answer any questions.

Ya'll come back!

Lorilee

My Assistant!

Honey thinks that I can't do a thing without her assistance! She follows me in and out of the house and from room to room like a shadow. She sleeps against my leg while I am blogging. She watches me from this bed while I sew. It drives my husband crazy!
I plan to have the casserole tote tutorial up soon. I am also planning new curtains. That will be something else to share!
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Lorilee

Dog Days!

Lexi and Honey spend their days sleeping on the sofa and looking out the door! They really love the new door. The old door had a curtain across the window that blocked the view. This one has blinds that are easily raised and lowered. Windex is required frequently for the nose smears!

The hoards of white-wing doves on the birdfeeders are entertaining. Every so often a squirrel comes to check out the feeder. Some mornings, there is a rabbit in the yard. A dog's job is never done!

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Lorilee

Line-drying hazard!

I adore the fresh scent of line-dryed sheets except when they contain one of these! As I was folding sheets fresh off the clothesline, I was startled by a cicada flying out! They are very prolific this year, their noise can be deafening in the evenings.

According to Wikipedia, cicadas are sometimes called "locusts" although they are not related to true locusts which are a kind of grasshopper. Also, "Cicadas are benign to humans and do not bite or sting, but can be pests to several cultivated crops." Their assault on the ears is not mentioned! They are said to be eaten in many parts of the world, and the shells are used in traditional medicines of China. They can have them from my yard!

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Lorilee

Pattern Collecting!

I guess I should call myself a pattern collector. I don't sew all that much, but I have quite a few patterns. Hobby Lobby has their Simplicity patterns on sale for 99 cents each-limit 10. Hey! I only bought five! These tote bags are cute. The outer part can be interchangable.

Of course, I couldn't resist anything about aprons! Miniature aprons--how cute!

Vintage aprons are so awesome!

Even the pattern envelope looks vintage! Cool!

SIGH! Little aprons for little girls! I think we should start young! I also looked at fabric because I am thinking about new curtains in my living room. I have to go back to work on August 13, and I am STILL working on 2 casserole carriers and the tutorial I promised. I think I am running out of time! I guess there's always next summer.

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Lorilee

My Stuff!

The other morning a sunbeam was highlighting this little collection on our antique dropfront desk. The "I Like Ike" pin was something my Mom had as long as I can remember. I also found the bullet in her jewelry box. I have no idea where she got it. However, one evening I was looking through a catalog and saw a photo that looked just like it! It was a collection of Civil War Bullets. The description read, " Load your collection with these genuine relics from perhaps the most significant event in U.S. history. Set includes a musket ball and minie-bullet along with an exceedingly rare 'William's Cleaner' bullet and a .52-caliber Sharp's bullet (used only by cavalrymen). After more than 130 years of slow oxidation, the lead has acquired a white patina." The set was selling for $149.00 in a presentation case. Under the photo it also read, "Bullets have never been fired and were likely dropped by Civil War soldiers on the way to battle. They have been collected, with permission, on private property near Civil War battlefields. Set includes carbine rifle bullet, smooth bore musket bullet, musket minie ball and Williams Cleaner musket ball. According to the photo, mine looks like the Union Musket Minie ball.

If anyone has any knowledge to share, I would love to hear it!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Vintage Chicken

I found this chicken at one of my favorite local antique malls. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law and I had to go take a look after eating next door. I'm so glad we did! It is 4 1/2 inches long-the smaller version of these common hens.

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Lorilee

Woo Hoo 66% off!

I love it when Hobby Lobby has sales! I have been pining for a gazing ball for some time. I just couldn't spend the money on something breakable with a 14 year-old -BOY still around. I fell for this one. Since it has extra mirrored glass over the original blown glass ball, I hope it is a little harder to break too! The urn is not an official gazing ball stand, but it was on sale and seems to fit OK. I do have to dump water out of it IF it rains. That hasn't happened, but I have used the sprinkler. I'm using sprinklers DAILY. Please send rain!
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Lorilee

Spiny guest!

The other day, as I was puttering about the kitchen, I noticed something on my oak tree! I grabbed my binoculars to get a closer look!

As I tried to get even closer for some photos, my dogs chased it up the tree. It appears to be a spiny lizard.

He certainly has a prehistoric look! I am so glad to have him living in my yard. I saw a baby about a year ago! I wonder if he or she is the baby grown up or a parent? We have lots of geckos and anoles, but a spiny lizard is a treat!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Idle Hands? NOT

I thought I would share one of my hobbies. It is called Swedish Weaving or Huck Weaving. According to my pattern booklet, it became popular in America in the 1940's. The stitching only shows on the front of the fabric. Traditional Swedish Weave designs are usually mirror images, both top to bottom and side to side. It requires a special fabric called Huck Toweling much like counted cross-stitch requires Aida cloth. It is easy and doesn't require a great deal of concentration. This makes it ideal while watching T.V.. I have a Leisure Arts booklet with 12 designs. The above design is called "Waterfall".

This design is called "Heart Chain".

This design is "Wheat". I have done a few others, but I no longer have the towels. They were given as gifts. I've also dabbled in plastic canvas, counted cross-stitch, candlewicking, traditional embroidery, and Brazilian dimensional embroidery. I've tried lots of things, but mastered none!

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Lorilee

BEEP! BEEP!

Alas! Wile E. Coyote is not here! We found this roadrunner at a local store called "The Homestead". They carry metal decor and rustic furniture. When we first moved into our house, eleven years ago, we frequently had roadrunners visit our yard. They usually came to get water. We also saw them catch a few lizards. I really miss them! Hmm, what shall we call him? Beep? Chappy for Chaparral? I'm open to suggestions!
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Lorilee

Chicks' Tricks

Things have been pretty lazy in these hot days of summer! Most days the temperature has been reaching 100. The chickens are my evening entertainment! Pretty sad huh?

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Lorilee

Poultry Party?

What, you may ask, is going on? The girls are having a dust bathing party! Eventhough the whole chicken run is dirt, this corner has the best dirt!

This went on for some time with much clucking and fluffing.

I believe there is a total of five chickens in that chaos.

That must be an important feather that needs adjusting! Kinda makes me appreciate hands.

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Lorilee

Teen Torment!

This teen seldom cooperates for photos, unless he is flexing! Heh, Heh! Look what he left on my desktop after borrowing my laptop. I'm guessing he was adding photos to his My Space page. He was so sweet to leave them for me! And YEAH, he just had what he called a haircut! I would so like to be able to see his eyes and eyebrows.

He definitely keeps us on our toes!

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Lorilee

This little plant was mixed in with another plant that a friend shared with me. If anyone knows what it is, please let me know. I am guessing it is some kind of Aloe.

These are the little blooms at the end of a long stem!

The plant is only about 3 inches tall.

Oh, and the other plant died!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

American Independence!

" When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.-

That to secure these rights, Governments are institutioned among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,-

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,

and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate the Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the froms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing envariable the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.-

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States."

A pocket-size booklet with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States is available from the Heritage Foundation at www.heritage.org

Happy Independence Day!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee