yes Vicki, there is a knitting fairy!

The alpaca teddy bear and rabbit have been found…..

It helps to organize, clean out the loft more than once a year. Okay, searching through piles of magazines, bags and boxes of yarn, many unfinished projects and drawers with doll parts!

They were knit from a Debbie Bliss pattern and one ply alpaca…before progressive lenses in glasses.

To go where no knitter wants to go….

I wanted longer socks! I had left over yarn and by the time my stout foot and leg filled out the socks, they were too short.

So I used a ‘technique’ called ‘cutting’ that I have used when ‘mending’ sweaters and needed the same yarn to make the patch.

I see knitting as fabric so it doesn’t bother me to cut it.

Heart stopping moments, but once you cut, you are the point of no return.

Keep picking, keep the faith and within an hour all stitches will be safely on the needles ready to be knitted.

Knit On!

Oh Henry!

What did you bring me today? The last pieces of your memories?

Upon further inspection...and a closer look, there are issues!

Not all things can be saved and choices must be made.



When there is hope, I will try; sometimes we just have let go….but I will save the Buttons!!

Out with the Vintage, In with the New!

20^th century stove, white coil burners, brown accents, condition fair to poor.

21^st century stove, stainless steel, ceramic burners under glass top, black accents, condition minty new!

Flooring, can I hope for new flooring in this century?!

Swishy Goodies

Finally took time to look around...or rather drool (sorry how un-lady like!) at most things last night at Swish-Vintage Finds For Your Sassy Self store. Here are some recent finds!

 A very Barbie like dress Silken Flame..

Knitted scarf from Sylvancoft. I knit my first white and yellow afghan in this stitch!

Babies, Babies, you would think it was Spring!

You know it was a long cold winter in Alberta when….babies start arriving fast and furious in September.

I have a new niece, my Aunt is a proud Great Grandmother to her first great grandchild – a girl, my cousin’s daughter is about to give birth; and these are just the ones I know about. On my husband side, our niece is expecting, not sure when.

These vintage baby items are cute, I bought them at some garage sale.

Here is my project for my new niece:

Linen No. 5

Why did you survive?

One piece, a keepsake from a past household, brought to Sylvancroft.

How many were there in this set? Are there others that survived from a seamstress scissors?

Rescued now! Given a gentle wash, lightly pressed….saved for someone else to discover many years from now.

Curtains!

Here is one curtain panel that I cleaned and hung up on my window! Sylvancroft and my house were built within two years of each other. Even though my house is not a mansion, some of the double hung windows are close to the same size! This panel is too short.

 Showing the yellowing on the panel

 After cleaning

 Detail, now to mend holes.

Temporarily on my window

Auction Lesson No. 3

You must pay for, and take home the items purchased, regardless of condition.

I am not a seasoned auction goer, but I do know better than to buy dirty, broken, damaged items like these!

Auction Lesson No. 2

Always remain calm and do not, let competitiveness overtake common sense when bidding against only one other person….

Auction Lesson No. 1

Always thoroughly inspect items, with a flashlight, when deciding whether or not to bid on items.

Re-freshing Muriel

1937 wedding dress, ivory, satin, with lace inserts, belt, long sleeves, covered buttons in back, small rosettes at neck, princess bodice, A line, comes with slip, ivory, below knee length, A line, machine sewn by Muriel, and her veil, two tier net, with pearl beads for crown, short to shoulder, complete with stockings, ivory, possibly silk.

If my Mother saw how I pinned these delicates in such a manner, I would receive a scolding!

Disclaimer: Items are pinned to the clothes line for the picture, I put a layer of sheet on the line first for padding and hung the dress and slip and upside down.

Carol's Colorful Cardigans

These wonderful 50s & 60s cardigans and shell tops are from a fellow fashion doll collector. Everything gets the sunny breezy treatment before joining the collection! Yes, I kept this group out of the direct sunlight, some are wool and some are the 'new' tricot.

Miss Sylvia - the Lilies like the Linens

I don't know who is happier to feel the sun....the lilies or the linens! Smelling sweetly now Ms. Sylvia!

Oh Sunny Happy Day!

The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing; the linens are happy....released from their dark, cramped quarters of 80 years, and years of being stuffed into closets and trunks, the wind catches their sleeves, billowing the skirts, thank you they whisper, thank you.

Sun and Wind - Where Art Thou?

Just when I need to 'air' some musty smelly clothes, there has not been a 36 hour period without a storm or rain! It is mid July...in 'sunny' Alberta! I am getting a work out just hanging out the clothes and running to beat the rain to bring them in again.

Smelly damp furry things....not good.