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Friday, October 30, 2009

Little Pink Faerie ,,,,

It's that time again..when all the pinkies gather together for a gigantic pink party. Hosted by the mostest hostess, sweet Beverly over at HowSweetTheSound ,come and join in the fun.
There are quite a few of us now, usually between 150 and 160 pink participants.. so scamper on over to Beverly's to see them all. There are some beautiful blogs out there and some really sweet ladies. Come..join in....
And there's another pretty blog you should be sure and look at..it's Betty at
She'sSoPretty. Make sure you view her blog..It's beautiful.

Sweet little barefoot pink Faerie has invited you to join her tea party. Her name is Lalannie and a few of her friends will be there.. Sunbonnet Sue, Hannah, May, Molly, Sarah, Emily, all the rest of the girls, Suri the mouse, Oscar the flying pink pig...and several more faerie friends.
There will be tea and cocoa and Kool-Aid, there will be tiny cakes and tarts..oh,so many things.
Lalannie just can't wait for the little party to start....the tea table is set up, all arranged with the little tulip tea set ( the one below ), tiny tulip cups and sweet saucers for the sweets. Come..join in the party the little ones are having and the one sweet Beverly is having..
when the refreshments are over..the little ones will get out their craft supplies and begin their crafting for Thanksgiving and Christmas.. Ooooo, what great fun, doncha think??




Thursday, October 29, 2009

Happy Halloween


Happy, happy Halloween everyone. Be safe, very safe and have tons of fun. May all your trick or treat bags be filled with the most wonderful candies...

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Gorgeous Blogger Award from Tina


Oooooo, I've been presented with a lovely award from Tina of BeansieBabbles. Thank you so much Tina, I just love it.
For the award, I am to tell 6 things about myself and to pass the award on to 6 more people. So here goes...

1.
I was raised on a farm and still love "country, back in the day" life. I am just a barefoot,country girl at heart.
2.
My favorite foods would have to be what I call simple,country food....farm food. I like bar-b-q ribs, fried catfish straight from the river, pinto beans with collard greens and hot buttered cornbread, the foods my mama always said made you feel like you had been hugged.... and I also love Chinese food..
3
I have 2 sons, 1 daughter in love, and 4 of the most amazing grandchildren..
4.
I collect cookbooks..the older the better, aprons, vintage crochet patterns and books, patterns of crafts, vintage linens, Precious Moments, fabric, thimbles, hankies with crochet or tatting edges, and egg cups. Those are my major collecting things..
5.
I love to craft, crochet, knit a bit and embroidery..and I also love to quilt, though I am certainly no expert.
6.
I am a cancer survivor of over 15 years now and consider myself one of the most fortunate women. My doctors were and are still most amazing and I thank them each day of my life.

And now...to pass the award on to 6 more bloggers..

1. To Suzanne @ Colorado Lady
2. LaVoice @ Thoughts from MeMe's Corner
3. Sally @ Smiling Sally
4. Alice @ Alicesg
5. Dawn @ CandG Designs
6. MarianEdwards Dream Weaver

Thank you again Tina..I just love my pretty new award

Monday, October 26, 2009

Farm Girls Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah's Special Chocolate Popcorn Balls

10 cups popped popcorn
1 cup chopped pecans
4 ounces white baking chocolate,chopped coarsly
1/2 cup butter
4 cups miniature marshmallows
Combine the popcorn, pecans, and chocolate in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir constantly until marshmallows melt and mixture is smooth. Pour over popcorn mixture; toss until well coated. Daampen hands slightly shape mixture into 2 /1/2" balls. Cool completely on buttered aluminum foil or buttered waxed paper. Wrap each popcorn ball in cellophane or plastic wrap..
Makes bout 36 popcorn balls

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Farm Girls Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah's Great Adventure .... November Block

This is the H.M.S. Mayflower Great Adventures of Sunbonnet Sue and Friends Series of Quilt Blocks.
Sue,Hannah, the rest of the girls..along with Do and myself; invite you to join the adventures of the Sweetest Girls on the Block..the Block of the Month. :). You just had to know I was gonna do that, didn't you????
Leave the girls, Do and myself a comment if you will join in our adventures. We would love to have you join in the fun..if not for a quilt..perhaps for a pillow.. We would love to have you..
Just click on image to enlarge...it fits a 12" block

Friday, October 23, 2009

Farm Girls Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah's Great Adventure .... Pink Saturday

It's that time again..the day to celebrate that wonderful color pink. Hosted by the lovely Beverly
at HowSweetTheSound it's a fun event for everyone. Just click on the link to take you to all the pink partiers, you will have great fun. Come join in..


My pink for this week involves the adventures of Sunbonnet Sue and her dear friend Hannah. They have decided to do a Thanksgiving redo, in their boat aptly named the Mayflower. One can only hope the girls have a bucket in the boat,in case they should spring a leak. When they return from their great journey to the new land..across the wide open seas..(in this case the nearby creek)..they will have a proper Thanksgiving with all the trimmings.
Mother has done the ham, the turkey is browning in the oven. Hannah's mother has done the dressing and the pies. Molly's mother has done the cakes..and May's mother has done salads and vegetables. There is to be a big feast this year with all the neighbors joining in.

Sue and Hannah are so happy, soon some of the other little girls will be here to play pilgrims.
So we leave our girls..giggling as always, and always inviting you to join their fun. Trust me, listen to their giggles awhile, and they will cast their sweet spell on you..and you too will see little outfits for the girls in all the dainty fabric.
Sue,Hannah,May,Molly, Sarah and all the girls wish for you a most lovely weekend.
If you would care for a boat ride in the HMS Mayflower, just form a line to the right. Going to the left will put you straight in the creek bed with the giantic, ganoromus catfish that lives in the deepest hole in the creek. Ahhhhh, but thats another story.
This little quilt block was designed and machine appliqued by Do. She has been ever so gracious in sending along the pattern, and I will post it Sunday. This is her orginal design and I just love it.. now,if I can only get it hand appliqued.. :) . I have almost all of November to finish up..for this is the November block.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Farm Girls Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah with Pumpkin




Love these two little ones. I'm not sure that Sue is really liking the trim on her sleeve,but it has to do till I can find a pretty red.
I really enjoy applique, and I love Sue more than any pattern, so she is always my choice of most anything to do. The pattern above and abot 6 posts down is the little block for October..
We have a really cute one for November that I will post this Sunday. You will love Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah in this one. Do already has hers done..I will start mine within the next week and hopefully, with work..etc, I can finish in 2 to 3 weeks.
I hope ya'll will join us in our Farm Girls applique, and that you will love the girls as much as we do.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Socks that Jingle,Jingle,Jingle....

Jana brought me this pattern after I had admired some little socks she had made for her daughter. She said the pattern she used was for an adult size, but she scaled down for her daughters smaller socks.

For Adult "Jinglers"
You will need :
a pair of adult size socks with a ribbed cuff
42 ...3/8" jingle bells
size 10 crochet cotton..the color of your choice
size #7 hook
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thread 21 bells onto the crochet thread.......

Using a slip knot, put hook through top edge of sock between 2 ribs. pull through a loop, yarn over and draw yarn through 2 loops on hook for beginning single crochet.

*Chain 4, pull one bell to top of chain and secure with a chain one. Chain 4, single crochet between 2 ribs 1/4" from previous single crochet; repeat from *all around.. Adjust the space as needed so that bells will fit , End the last repeat with with a slip stitch in top of beginning single crochet. Fasten off and repeat for the other sock.
*Note:
I have some such socks, as it so happens I also have some jingle bells (my husband says I have a complete craft store in my craft area..I really don't ), I have some thread and crochet hooks...so there we have another project. . Ohhh, how I wish for more hours in the day or the ability to move faster... :).

For smaller or childrens sizes... use less bells and smaller sized bells

Blues,Blues,Blues .... Blue Monday

It's been awhile now since I've participated in Blue Monday festivities and I've really missed it. Tonight,I'm getting a faster start so as not to be late and miss all the goings on. There are always so many things to see, so many gorgeous blues..and so many sweet people participating in Blue Monday....and then there is the one who always comes to mind when I see a gorgeous blue, and that's our own sweet Sally. Our sweet hostess of blue, with that gorgeous smile and the twinkle shining from her eyes..she is a vision in blueness. Thank you Sally, for hosting us all..it's always such a pleasure to participate here and I've missed it so. For everyone to see all the pretty blues, drop by
Smiling Sally and see all the pretty participants.

Isn't this pretty? I know back "back in the day" people used match holders..does anyone use them still? This one is just so pretty..
Ahhhh, these pretties. Aren't they gorgeous?? Now someone tell me..are they sake cups or egg cups?? No matter which they are, I wish they were mine.
Isn't this a pretty napkin holder...Does anyone still use them anymore??? I do so love these blues.
Again.... probably my favorite thing to search for in my treasure hunts in an antique store.. I love, love, love egg cups , and in my area, they are very hard to find. Perhaps,I just haven't stumbled into the right place yet.
Sweet..pretty canisters, Can one ever have too much sweet blues ???

Sunbonnet Sue Cross Stitch for Christmas


This sweet little pattern I have just discovered tucked away in a 1984 magazine. There was this pattern along with some smaller Christmas cross stitch..and I just love this pattern. Alas..
I have problems seeing the tiny 22 count cross stitch fabric...I know I can get fabric that I might be able to see better, but it dosen't seem to be as delicate to me. For this sweet pattern, I just might do it anyway. As all of you know, this is my favorite pattern for anything..whether it be a quilt, a painting..a drawing..embroidery..needlecase..and on and on,Sue is just my favorite pattern period.
I've tried to make this pattern as "seeable" as possible. I've tried to press the crease from the old paper,and hopefully you can see the pattern. Click on to enlarge and if that dosen't work..leave me a message, and I will enlarge the pattern more. I hope you enjoy the little pattern...

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Fantastic Sewing Secrets

1.
White vinegar dabbed lightly to the crease of stubborn wrinkles will make the creases disappear
when pressed/ironed. Keep vinegar in a small spray bottle near your ironing board and things to be pressed.
2.
Finally !!!! A way to keep your machine foot control in place.....glue a piece of gripper fabric to the bottom of the foot control. (Gripper fabric is the kind used on the bottoms of children's sleepwear.
3.
If at all possible,have your ironing board next to your sewing table and sewing machine.... and if at all possible,have the ironing board the same height as the sewing table. When it's time to press....everything is right there.
4.
When you're hand sewing, rub a fabric softener sheet over the whole length of thread to prevent knotting. Who knew ??? I have to try this..I've always used beeswax..
5.
Have a light duty scrubber near your sewing....for use as a pincushion. It cleans and sharpens pins every time you use it.
6.
When you're sewing snaps in place...sew the top half first. Then,rub a little chalk over the end tip. Press it aganist the other side of your sewing piece to mark where you should sew the bottom half.
7.
If you have a hard time threading your needle, dip the end of thread into clear nail polish. It dries in just a second or two...and leaves the thread stiff for easier threading of your needle.
8.
If your pinking shears are dull, cut through a doubled strip of aluminum foil several times. They will cut much easier.
9.
When you're triming seams, lay your scissors flat as you cut.Your seams will be even because you cut through all the layers at once.
10.
Keep a tape measure handy by taping a 6" length to your sewing machine.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Sunshine and Shadow



Just a bit of sunshine and shadow in front of a favorite shop. I not only enjoyed the tiny flower..I loved the bench and all the pretties inside. I just have to get about and take more pictures of some really great shops to just go nuts in. You know,the ones that have aprons,tablecloths,hankies..Pyrex...all sorts of amazing little sweet things you can't live without. *sighs....Now,I want to go thrift shopping..perhaps one of the last flea markets of the fall...

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Little Farm Girl Sue for Embroidery or Applique

Again, we have our favorite little one, sweet little farm girl, Sunbonnet Sue. She is always such a delight to me, no matter the field..whether it be a pillowslip, a dish towel..a potholder..maybe on a quilt, done in applique or maybe worked into a block the foundation method.
I would love doing a little quilt with Sue and alternating blocks of either a log cabin or rail fence. I also love the Dresden Plate and the ever so gorgeous fan quilts. My little dream quilt would be done in the softest shades and patterns in pinks, cremes and sage greens... and of course,it would have lace and ribbons and bows. Now I just have to stop dreaming and get started on one.
This little pattern can either be enlarged and used for applique..or printed off, and with the aid of a red transfer pen....drawn off and ironed onto an embroidery project. As the weather starts to turn cooler, I am gathering all my embroidery supplies and pretty threads, projects with the pattern ironed on....getting them all in order for cooler rainy,dreary days. I love to embroidery then..so I will be all set.
I hope you like the little pattern and can use it...

Monday, October 12, 2009

Tiny Yellow Faerie

Sweet little faerie, Lysia...all dressed in yellow has come to brighten a drab,rainy autumn day. She's a tiny spot of sunshine and to look at her makes me smile. She loves to play in the ivy and the soft pretty flowers..and she's usually as she is now,...wearing some ivy tendrils.
She's one of the most tiny faeries and the older one all look out for the small ones. They are allowing her to send hugs and blow kisses to you all, and they hope she brings some sunlight to you..
Click on the image to enlarge her...
I plan on printing her off,taking my transfer pen..and making myself an embroidery transfer.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah at Halloween .... Pink Saturday

It's that sweetest pastel shade of beautiful Pink time again..Pink Saturday. I love this day, when we all gather to show and tell of our pinks and in my case this week..a deeper pink. Thank you Beverly for being our sweet, gracious hostess and doing all the work you do.Such a lovely lady you are...
So come on and join in everyone...you'll have ever so much fun, you'll meet the sweetest,nicest people and see so many wonderful things in all manners and shades of pink. Just click onto
HowSweetTheSound and meet all the lovely participants. I promise you..you'll have much fun.
Beverly has asked us to name another blog we love to visit..and there are several that I just love.... one of them is the lovely Dawn at
CandGDesign.
Her blog always inspires me..you will just love her site..
Here we have our little lovlies, Sweet Sunbonnet Sue and her bestest friend Hannah. The girls have been best friends since they were babies and tho they are not that old, the girls are so like sisters. And by the by, their mothers have grown up the same way..like sisters and now their farms are their nearest neighbors.
The girls love to play house, and paper dolls.... and they love to play cook. Their mothers have given them a lot of kitchen tools that are no londer useable and in fact, the girls can roll a pretty mean mud pie with their trusty rolling pin. They make great cakes as well...
They're wondering now, what will become of the pumpkin seeds..and if they plant them, will they have great big pumpkins soon.
The girls were allowed to choose a pumpkin for themselves..and Sue's father has promised to carve the pumpkin for them, if they will draw on the face. The girls are very excited, for this is the first year they have been deemed old enough to do such a thing and they're very proud and plan to do their best. Little Elroy,the chubby little bat, has squeaked that he would like to help. Elroy loves the girls a lot and is their special pet. He's very tame and is very protective of his little friends.
I am anxious to see the way the girls carve their pumpkin..how will you carve yours? And what will you do with the seeds?
The first little block of the Monthly Adventures of Sweet Farm Girl Sunbonnet Sue...
It was made by my sweet quilting friend Do over in England. Do and I talk ever day over our messenger microphones and I love her to pieces. We plan our blocks and scan our fabric combinations anf send them..each to the other, so it's almost like we're in the same room. It's our way of quilting together.
Do has done her applique by machine rather than hand applique..she has another quilt she's also working on. My block is just now being laid out, and put into place so that I might begin to sew.
I sure hope you like our blocks and if you would like to join..always at your own pace, the pattern is below.. It won't matter if you take longer than a month..I know I will, because I also work quite a few hours each day in my little grocery store. So if you would like to join in..we would love to have you and to see your Sue blocks.
Hugs to you all from Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah....

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Sunbonnet Sue's Party Hat Pincushion.

This is a little Sunbonnet Sue or Hannah dress up tea party hat. Suri the mouse and Oscar the flying pig wanted me to take the photo with the hat laying atop lace. I'm not sure how well the little hat pincushion can be seen,but I sure had fun making it. Now,I can't wait to use it..I have some very pretty pins..and also some with pearl tops..so the dainty look of the hat will be kept intact.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Farm Girls Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah .... Pink Saturday

Hi to everyone. It's that most wonderful of days again..our pinkest of pink days..Pink Saturday. Hosted by the sweet and lovely Beverly. Come along and we shall go visit everyone.
Click on howsweetthesound and follow the crowd to view all the pinkies.


And here we have the sweetest little ones..Sunbonnet Sue and her sweet friend Hannah. The girls have quite a day planned, for their mothers,along with more ladies, are gathering together to have a quilting bee. There is much excitement, for while the ladies are quilting and talking, the little ones can enjoy playing together.
Annnnnd, at lunch..well!!!!!!, can you believe all the wonderful food. Hannah's mother has brought macaroni and cheese and fried chicken, there is meatloaf, and smothered steak..mashed potatoes,candied sweet potatoes, green beans..and the list goes on.....and then..there is the dessert table. Sue's mother has made the 3 layer coconut cake she is famous for and Molly's mother has made a butter cake, which so happens to be Hannah's favorite.

But, for now..off the girls go to play. They have all brought their baby dolls and there are scraps of fabric for the girls to make believe quilt along. They've decided all their babies need new clothes and tiny quilts, and their mothers have promised to make some..but first, must come the quilt.
I hope you like little Sue and the way she's dressed. She loves being dressed up with ribbons and lace..and this small Sue has another purpose. Her underskirt is also a needlecase/pinholder and her bonnet is a tiny pincushion.

Here we have little Farm Girl Hannah..coming to visit her dearest,bestest friend..Sunbonnet Sue. Ohhhhh, it's going to be so much fun....Little Hannah may become part of a quilt top..or perhaps a tiny pillow. Whatever is decided, she is happy with all her pink flowers.
CC is not so happy with the photo of Hannah, but it was the best one. Hannah apologizes for CC..*giggle

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Farm Girls Sunbonnet Sue and Hannah with Pumpkin

This is the Sue pattern with the markings for applique. The shoes are numbers 1,2,3,and 4... and go down first..then follow the numbers to set each piece in place. I mark the center of my pattern,the center of the background piece..and begin laying out and arranging my pattern pieces...then appliquing them down. This is the manner that works best for me..if you have another way that works for you..please,leave a comment and share with us. I would love to hear from you.

This is our October BOM.
If you remember, I was to make the block, post it and then post the pattern. Well, as you can see..that's not how it's happened.
I wasn't counting on being ill, in hospital for 9 days and then the usual things that always come up. *sighs deeply here. I did get the block partially finished..with only one little one, however it just doesn't look right. I need to step back, take a deep breath..and begin again.
So,with no further ado, and no more excuses.... I offer you the October block. The little ones fit on a 12" block.....
Aren't they cute..peering into the pumpkin. Is is a Halloween Trick or Treat pumpkin ???, is it a regular pumpkin that's been hollowed out and carved to hold a candle????? Our girls, Sunbonnet Sue and her dearest friend Hannah seem awfully interested. I wonder..will the girls go trick or treating???? Will they have a Halloween party with all their little friends ????
And..I wonder..how will you make the block? I would love to see your block if you join in. Now, I am off and away to begin mine again. I'm looking forward to having more time to do little block..and I hope I can manage it. Good luck with your blocks..I can't wait to see the finished blocks.