Sunday, June 27, 2010

Antique Quilt Frame






I went to church garage sales yesterday--my favorite Saturday activity this summer. I've found a lot of wool at great prices. Yesterday at the Columbus Mennonite Church rummage sale I found this antique quilt frame. $25. I was there during the last hour so prices were very low. I think this quilt rack is absolutely beautiful, and it works. It is exactly like one I remember seeing in an Aunt's home years and years ago. I like that it is narrow, that adjusting the tension for quilting is easy with the gears on the cross pieces, and that it is all there and in working condition.

I have my mom's quilt rack--the one dad made for her. It is essentially four corner posts made of heavy 4x4s. You start with the quilt at full size using four long pieces of lumber. The quilt gets smaller and narrower as you quilt. It is great because you don't have to baste, but it takes up the whole room at first. If any of the nieces or one of my sisters or sisters-in-law wants the four posts, I'll part with them now that I have an option. If no one wants it, I'll keep it, cause I can use it to baste a quilt before putting it in the "new" frame. Not that I'm planning to quilt any time soon, but I might, just to try out the frame.

Does anyone have any idea how old this might be? The hand-forged iron hooks make it look 19th century to me... But I'm no expert. Those are hand-forged iron hooks, aren't they?

Friday, June 25, 2010

My Demographic

I just came home from street fair number three. Jen and I had a great time, again. I'm tired because it was hot and I was on my feet all evening. I was on my feet because people were looking at my things, and buying my things! I enjoy watching faces light up with a big smile when they focus on the mice and rabbits and monsters. The faces that are most often drawn to my table, and most often light up when they see my things are between 5 and 12. More girls than boys, but not by much--maybe 60/40.

Maybe that is part of why my Etsy sales are slow. 7 year old kids are not looking for toys on Etsy.

No worries, though. I had FUN! Sold all of my small bunnies, most of my bed head barbies, and a lot of owls, mice and birds. Sales were way up over fair number two! I'll be pleased if I do this well at the remaining three fairs.

McDonalds has a booth across from us and Ronald McDonald was there for part of the evening. He made a special trip over to my booth to look at the monsters and bed heads up close, and to tell me that he had been eying them all night and that he really liked them.

Should I add that to the Etsy site: Endorsed by Ronald McDonald??? Or does that just prove that my target audience is between the ages of 5 and 12?

Don't forget to comment on the post below for a chance to win your very own bed head barbie. I won't check your age.

First tomatoes and Special Olympics


Two totally unrelated topics.

I found my first ripe cherry tomatoes yesterday. Four. I ate them in the garden. I don't think I even took two steps away from the plant. No sharing. No washing. Just warm, sweet bliss.

Joseph and Alex will go to the Special Olympics State meet today. Joseph competes in track tomorrow; Alex in gymnastics tomorrow. Both will stay in the dorm for two nights and come home Sunday morning. This is the first time Joseph will sleep away from both of us at the same time. It is time for this milestone, but it is hard for me. Joseph will probably be just fine as long as he has Bear. Alex has been to a one night school sleepover and a neighbor's for a sleepover, but two nights and a whole day will be a big deal. He has been clingy. Again, it is good for him to have some independence, but may be difficult. I'm not sure which I worry about more? Maybe I should just worry about me. We will go watch them compete, but will need to split up because they compete at the same time.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Revision to Give Away post

Uh... I forgot to say that I'd do a DRAWING and give away ONE Bed Head Barbie. So, I'm honoring my promise to the folks that responded before I realized my mistake, but for the rest of you, you have a CHANCE to win a bed head barbie. I'll do a random number drawing to pick the winner.

What a domestic disaster moment!

Enter by July 4...

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Bed Head Barbie: My first GIVE AWAY






I'm getting ready for another street fair in Westerville this Friday. I made more birds, more owls, and I have the apples all ready. But I've missed making monsters. The trouble is, no one is spending that much on an item. Small items are selling, the large ones are not. So... I made a new kind of monster. Just about 5 inches tall, they are shapeless creatures with very flat feet and really bad hair. Hmmm.... what should I call them. I know, "Bed Head Barbie." Even Barbie is shapeless when she rolls out of bed in the morning, and in slippers her feet and flat and fat, just like mine.

And, what luck, I decided to have my very first give away. A "Bed Head Barbie" give away! Just post a comment below, and be sure you give me a way to contact you, and you will have a chance to win your very own Bed Head Barbie. (I'll even ship to you free!) Or if you prefer, I'll send a Buckeye Bed Head. (If you don't know the difference, you don't live in Ohio.) You can tell me which Bed Head is your favorite, but I can't guarantee that one will still be available when the give away is over. I'll try to make a new one like it. I'll do a random number drawing on July 5th with all the entries that I get by July 4th at midnight to pick the winner.

Barbie is made from recycled, upcycled, repurposed, reclaimed wool garments. She is stuffed with wool as well. Only the thread she is sewn with is new.

So, tell your friends and be sure to respond by July 4th.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Felt Apples

I'm home. I worked hard grading from 8-5 for seven straight days. A
marathon of grading. But I had free time every evening to stitch.
These apples are my newest creation. I really love them, and they are
easy to make. They just take a bit of time.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Little Vacation/Work related trip

I'm off on a little vacation aka work trip. I will be busy from 8 to 5 every day, but free after that. I've loaded the trunk of the car with projects. I'll be curious how much I actually accomplish while I'm away.

No meals to plan, no baths to give, no dishes to wash, no boys to entertain, no hugs, no kisses, no clothes to wash, no beds to make, no one to take care of except me. Sounds a bit like heaven and a bit lonely. I think I'll be really happy to return home to my crazy dysfunctional family. I'm not even gone and I already feel a bit lonely...

Maybe I'm just a bit nervous. We have to share hotel rooms. That could be okay, or it could be not so great. I've never met the person with whom I'll be sharing a room for the next 7 days...

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Yermits



I showed one of this artist's Yermits in my post from a week or so ago of Etsy favorites. I find myself wandering around this Etsy shop, laughing, admiring, grinning, and marveling at the creativity. So many shops, including mine, are full of cute animals. (Well, my monsters aren't exactly cute...) This shop is full of clever, funny, irreverent, creatures that provide a bit of social commentary and a whole different kind of cuteness. You have to read the bios for each doll. It is worth the trip.

Dave? Are you listening. One of these would be a great present for your loving wife...

Friday, June 04, 2010

Alex is in Middle School!!


Today was Alex's last day of elementary school, and thus the last day of elementary school for our family.

It was bittersweet to watch him go through the ceremonies of the last day at our elementary school. DARE graduation was today also; that was different from last year. The children in the school line the halls and "clap out" all of the fifth graders. Each fifth grader is then given a chance to ring the old-fashioned school bell that sits at the entrance to the school. I think it is a great way to mark the end of the year and the transition from elementary school to middle school.

I let Alex pick our dinner for the evening. He wants to go to a fast food chain. Not my choice, but not my choice! Today is his day.

The photos are awful. I forgot camera and only had my phone. There was such a crowd I couldn't get a photo with Alex and the bell, just Alex and a tree limb. You get the idea--I hope.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

End of year teacher gifts

Thank goodness for the blog. I couldn't remember if I'd used felt
hearts as teacher gifts at Christmas. I checked the blog to find I'd
done cookies. So tomorrow the boys will take their teachers hearts
with hand made cards.