Dolly is rescued.

For the past few weeks I have been spending a little time here and there restoring a quilt rescued from a church sale by a co worker. I have jokingly named her Dolly. This is because she reminds me of the kind of quilt that Dolly Parton would have had as a child in her cabin. Dolly tells of how her siblings slept together in one bed and under home made quilts made of scraps and this quilt fits that description perfectly.

I am not the first person to try and restore this quilt. My co worker was giving it a great effort and as I was working I saw evidence of someone else trying to repair it. The fabrics in this quilt are very delicate at this point, almost to the point of being shop worn. Some are of such a lose weave that they unravel with the slightest touch. If you look the only way I could mark seams that needed repair was with painters tape, but as I worked more and more seams needed securing. I have worked hard not to make this my Pandora's box and I believe I have been quite successful. I have begun to tie it and make it a quilt with that rural country scrap look. I know it will be loved. This is going to be a Christmas gift and I am going to feel good about someone loving it.

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Rescued Love

In my adventures to local thrift stores I have been blessed to find many items that I can up cycle into something new, but on a couple of my last outings I found items that I felt needed to be rescued. I guess it's mostly because I know the work that went into these items and some how can't fathom why they ended up in a thrift store, but some where out there they were loved once and are now loved again.

The valentine themed afghan is done in a crochet stitch (I know how to do this with a long hooked needle, but I don't know the exact name of the stitch) and made of the softest yarns. I just wanted to hug it because I know it was meant to send love. It is four foot square and just enough to cover on a cold February evening. I rescued this for the small price of $4.99. It will make a great addition to my holiday decorations.

The quilt of red white and blue is a bit faded, but is about twin size. It is a log cabin quilt pattern and I know the time that was spent making this quilt. It is tied and this method gives it that primitive look. I also rescued this for the small price of $4.99 and it will also make a great addition to my holiday decorating.

For those of you who know me well know that I decorate every month with a different theme if the time is there to do it. I enjoy life to the fullest and up cycled and rescued items make the love all the better.

Getting down to business. New listings on Etsy.

As promised to myself I am getting down to business. I have rebuilt my Etsy store and have added some of the new items that I have been creating. These new Boho (Bohemian style) bags have been easy and so much fun to make. They show a lot of promise. I am having a great time making and creating.

Messy Craft Room

Okay so I didn't wait until tomorrow to post the pictures of my messy craft room. A lot of crafting and work has been going on here. It's time to get serious about being creative. No matter how tired I am I need to get my act together. I intend to be back tomorrow.

Where oh where have I been?

Okay so not blogging has become a bad thing and I think I am back. It's not like I haven't been busy.

It was a bountiful summer and fall for fruits and vegetables and even though this is a craft blog preserving food is a craft. Many hours were spent on my days off making jams and baking and making sure the food did not go to waste. The picture of the full pantry is mind boggling to say the least. I have given plenty of it to others also. Believe it or not the universe has replaced with empty jars one for one every jar that I have given away. Thanks to estate sales and good eyes I will be ready if more comes next year. So for all of those blessings of food that were given I have been blessed to be able to share and enjoy as well.

Another project was the road side dresser. This story can be followed on the blog TheThriftGift.blogspot.com. Working a little bit at a time on Sundays and after work this beat up old dresser was transformed into a utility piece for the sun room. It is the perfect height for using my electric grill and I couldn't be happier with the results. It makes a wonderful addition and was quite the craft project. I hope you take the time to look. You will find a link to The Thrift Gift under blogs that I follow.

I got a lot of gardening done this year and can't wait to see how things turn out in the spring with all the new perennials. I gave away plants and received new ones plus used coupons to get new plants at work. I did a lot of recycling and crafty things there also. There was so much stuff in this yard and once it was all in one place it all fell into it's own new home.

I have a lot of good intentions for the following days and weeks so I hope you all will keep in touch with me and follow my blog. Until we share time again have a great day and stay well.