Embroidery Restoration

I was at an estate sale recently and spotted this cute little pillowcase.  It was in terrible shape, very dirty and missing lots of stitches.  I picked it up and looked at it, laid it back down and started to leave the room.  My next thought was it will probably be trashed if someone didn't buy it.  Thinking it wouldn't be the first $3 I've  wasted if I couldn't clean it up, I decided to get it.

 

 

It laundered beautifully so my next step was to send it to Texas.  My friend, Kathleen, at Yesteryear Embroideries had agreed to restore the embroidery for me.  She is very reasonable and had it back to me in less than a week.

 

This is what it looks like now!

 

 

 

 

 

I added a piece of vintage crocheted lace and it has a permanent home on my guest bed.  I love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

The History of Mother of Pearl Buttons

My friend, Kathleen, from Yesteryear Embroideries posted this information recently about mother of pearl buttons.  With her permission, of course, I am sharing some of her photos.

Mr. Beopple cutting buttons.

John Fredrick Beopple, an immigrant from Otlensen, Germany and farm laborer in Columbus Junction in the late 19th century is credited with beginning the pearl button industry in Muscatine, Iowa.

While in Germany, Beopple made buttons from animal horns, but also experimented using fresh-water mussel shells. William Molis, superintendent of the water works, loaned Beopple $15 to move his hand made button cutting machine to Muscatine. Muscatine is located at a bend in the Mississippi River where great amounts of clams grew.

Advertising piece for Beopple's Buttons

On January 26, 1891, Beopple partnered with Molis and formed Beopple Pearl Button Company.  In 1898 Nicholas, Patrick and Thomas Barry boosted the industry into a modern commercial enterprise by developing automatic saws and drills. Barry automation caused the pearl button industry in Muscatine to increase so at its peak from 1913-1919 one third of the entire population of Muscatine was employed in some aspect of making pearl buttons. Beopple later served as a shell expert at the Biological Station at Fairport, Iowa, a few miles from Muscatine, in studying mussel shells of the Mississippi River. During the preparation of the Dingley Tariff Bill, Beopple was called as a pearl button authority to Washington DC.  Beopple died January 30, 1972

 

I Won!

I was so thrilled when I received an email from Shell of The Raspberry Rabbits telling me I won this beautiful Christmas folk art tree.  Shell is an extremely talented textile folk artist and I have admired her work with quite some time.  I thoroughly enjoy her blog and love her furry employees, Harrington and Hannah.

I hope you'll take time to stop by Raspberry Rabbits and say hello to Shell and the bunnies.

Stone Gable is Back

Long before I started my own blog, I read Stone Gable blog almost everyday.  I loved all the wonderful recipes and tutorials that Yvonne shared with her readers.  I was sad when she announced back in the fall that she was discontinuing  her blog.  Well, as of March 5, Stone Gable is back!  Check it out when you have a minute.

Hope you had a great weekend!   I enjoyed working outside. The spring flowers and trees are blooming in my area now.  My favorite are the daffodils.  I planted at least 20 or 30 new blubs last fall but they aren't coming up.  I'm hoping the unusual weather we've had is responsible for their absence.  I've read that squirrels will not eat daffodil blubs because they are toxic.  I hope that's true!  I'll be spending lots of time outside with the corgi girls this week.

Lavender Body Butter

Today I received  the wonderful lavender body butter that I won in Michaele's giveaway from Sprout 'n' Wings blog.  I just have to tell you that it is heavenly!  The lavender fragrance is fantastic!

Thank you so much, Michaele, for this wonderful gift!  I can't wait to try some of your other products!

Evelyn Kate Designs

Every night around 10:30, if I'm not engrossed in a great book, I read blogs for an hour or so.  Earlier this week I came across Evelyn Kate Designs.  Ashley offers some great tutorials and really fun printables such as the above recipe card.  Check out this cute blog when you have time.

Pet Accessory Organizer

I was reading Just Cats In-Home Care blog recently and saw this tip from Deb.  She suggested using a clear over-the-door shoe organizer to store your pet accessories. What a great idea!  I got this organizer at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  It was $14.99 and I had a $5 off coupon.  Since I have three furgirls, I can never keep up with their leashes, medicines, bandanas etc. 

The  top is divided into two sections.  I put emergency info in one and their rabies certificates in the other.

Thanks, Deb, for this great tip!

Bunnyville, NC

Before leaving New Bern on Friday,  I visited with a new blogging friend, Shell, from The  Raspberry Rabbits.  There's not enough adjectives to describe this girl!  She's beautiful, talented, funny and can do anything!  She has decorated her home beautifully and every room looks like a magazine picture.  I loved her studio  where she works on her quilts and quilting designs. This is also the bunny suite!

Sir Walter Harrington was quite charming and performed a few of his favorite tricks for me.  Isn't he handsome?  Every hare is in place.

Sugie Bun Bun was very calm and collected, being the southern belle that she is.  Occasionally, she gave Sir Harrington a quick glance telling him to mind his manners.

Shell is active in a local rabbit rescue organization is quite knowledgeable about the health and well being of these sweet this animals.

After visiting with the bunnies, we had a wonderful lunch at a local restaurant and then it was time to say goodbye.  We discovered that her sister lives very close to me so hopefully, we'll get to visit again when she's in VA.

I am so amazed at the wonderful friends I have made through my blog!  What a blessing!

Easter Egg Door Decoration

I saw this idea on Two Succulent Sisters blog and thought it was adorable.  Using things I already had, I made this one last night.  My egg shape is not perfect but I thought it turned out really cute for my first one.  If you visit their blog, they give step-by-step instructions to make one.

This forsythia is in full bloom right across from my house and directly in front of my sewing window.  I have enjoyed it so much, but we may get snow this weekend and that will destroy the blooms.

Brynwood Needleworks Giveaway

Donna, at Brynwood Needleworks is having the most beautiful giveway.  The winner will be announced on April 1st.  Take time to check it out.  I love her work!  You may click on her link under my Blog List on the bottom right of this page.

Laughing Duck Farm Blog

Last night I discovered the Laughing Duck Farm blog.  If you have time today, please check it out.  They had the cutest baby goat born just this past Sunday!  I would love to get my hands on her, she's adorable!  I believe this farm is located in Texas and the blog is one you don't want to miss. 

I spent yesterday afternoon outside picking up limbs and starting to clean up the backyard for spring.  The land behind my house is undeveloped and is full of beautiful hollies and hardwoods.  The wind was pretty strong and the sound of it whistling through those trees was great.  There was a beautiful blue sky and the movement of the fluffy white clouds was so pretty.  I'm one of those people who can get "high" on nature real fast!

The corgi girls had a great time!  In between picking up each stick, I had to throw the frisbee for Arabelle and Heidi.  Hanna is not the athletic type and doesn't like getting overly hot and tired. 

Hope this weather is a sign of an early spring!

MousesHouses Blogspot

(This picture was used with owner's permission.)

If you haven't read the MousesHouses blog recently, you just have to check it out.  Maggie Rudy, the blog owner, has a picture book coming out in March featuring her mice.  On her blog she has a video done by her son about her studio and she also talks about how the book was photographed.  It is very interesting!  I don't have any little ones around anymore but I may have to buy this book just for me.  I think it comes out on March 11 and you can preorder from Amazon.

Stone Gable

If you haven't already, you have to visit the Stone Gable blog.  She has the most beautiful tablescapes and scrumptious looking recipes. Her blog is near the top of my list of favorites.  I like the tutorials she offers also.

I'm quickly getting burned out with my organizing projects.  I guess you could say getting all my cabinets organized was my main New Year's resolution.  My mind keeps moving forward to daffodils popping out of the ground, spring peepers, and outside projects.  I keep telling myself it's only January, but that doesn't seem to help the restlessness I feel.

I must be content to read a few more good books, search for more great blogs and watch OWN network for at least eight more weeks.

Sarah-Jane Down the Lane

Please take time to visit this blog if you haven't already.  This lady lives in England and writes about the most fascinating things.   She's a talented photographer also and her pictures are beautiful!  Be sure to go back to some her summer posts of her flowers.

To me, the expression "it's a small world" really does apply to the world of blogging.  I can visit so many countries in my pajamas with a cup of hot tea!

Verde Farm

This week I discovered Verde Farm blog (by way of West Virginia Treasures) and it is one of my favorite blogs!  I love the pictures of her chickens, the story of her "flying pig" and all her  critters.   I would love to visit her West Virginia farm someday. 

If you haven't explored the world of blogs, you don't know what you're missing.  There are so many beautiful ones!

Wildenblue Farm Journal

My wonderful friend, Laura, has the most beautiful blog and this week she's sharing a recipe for Pumpkin Gingerbread that looks yummy.  Check out her blog. It's under my blog list at the bottom left corner.

I'm a little under the weather today.  A cold has come crashing down on me like a ton of bricks.   I had several fun things planned for the week, but I may have to postpone some of them.