a pirate's life fer me

So ... my rearranging/decorating a go-go extended to many different rooms in the house. Take this guest bathroom for instance. It was the recipient of a new floor and a new rug, but then I started gathering what turned out to be a plethora of sailing memorabilia and put it all together in this teeny-weeny room.

The framed pictures have not been seen on my walls since we lived in the Speilberg House* but I uncovered them in an upstairs closet. The middle platter on the wall was last seen above my kitchen table, and I don't know where the heck that top plate came from, but apparently I own it.

My little sailor friend is part of my nesting doll collection ... and yes ... that sailor houses two more sailors inside of him. I am pretty certain that I have felt a wee bit of the scurvy while sitting in that room.

And I mean that in a good way.

*For six years in the 80's, we lived in the home that Steven Speilberg grew up in. Someday I will tell the tales from that adventure.

Vintage Strings Attached

So ... since my next project du jour involves quilting my ginger scrappy quilt, and worse yet ... writing the pattern ... I needed some distraction, if just for a moment. Here is a little trio of treasures that sits atop the tower o'thread in my sewing room. The picture with the green frame is from my childhood home. I brought it home to live with me after both my parents were gone. The worst part is that I don't exactly remember where it was hung when I was a kid. How bad am I? The plate is something I picked up at an antique store several years ago, but I like to pretend that it's a picture of the street I live on ... now.

Ummm .... let's just say that it is.

This little tin with sweet birds on it was purchased just a couple of weeks ago. But get this! It is meant to hold string. You know I love string! I use a lot of string, so of course the purchase was a valid one. And, it's from England. I'm from England! (Well, my grandfather was.) I also believe that it truly is old. (I'm old! How eerie is this?)

So ... does anyone have an idea just how old it is? And ...
Is there anyone out there who actually enjoys the pattern-writing part?

You'd Better Watch Out ...

So ... I may or may have not mentioned before that I'm a collector. Mostly I'm just a collector of ... stuff ... but at this time of year, when collecting reaches OCD status, I actually try to set limits. (These limitations do not apply to the collecting of cookies and/or anything else with sugar and/or butter in it.) Several years ago I realized that I had quite a few Santas ... and voila ... a collection was born. (Collecting snowmen at that point was no longer an option.) The above announcement of Santas to come is part of another block exchange quilt, (although that particular square was done by moi.)

These Santas pictured above look old and antique-y, perhaps passed down through generations. Oh ... I got them at Marshalls. But let's face it ... my Marshalls is getting pretty old.

This little charmer was purchased at a Craft Fair. So, I do think I can honestly say that it was hand made.

And this baby was purchased just this year ... at The Dollar Store. Just guess how much I paid for him? I love him because he has a blue coat ... something hard to come by. I also love him 'cause he only cost a buck.

So ... what are your Christmas Collections?

"Bountiful" Blessings

So ... you remember this little number?
It now has it's own collection.

I taught the class on Tuesday ... sick as can be ... with no discernable voice ...

And the results were fabulous ... thanks to...

Sandee, who is an experienced sewer and teacher and friend, and served as my "voice" at many points during the class.

Beth, who is also an experienced sewer and first-time-mom-to-be in January. Her belly gave us all good vibes.

And Sue, who is just a newbie among newbies at this and yet look! she kept up with the best of them and did a terrific job.

It was a thrill to see my pattern in different fabrics. (Fyi, Sue and Beth did not pick out their fabrics together. Apparently great minds do think alike.) Also, Sue is planning on putting the borders on the ends instead of the top and bottom and make it into a table runner. I am seriously beginning to question the validity of her "newbie-ness".

Thanks to all. My voice has almost returned. Apologies to those who are a little let down by that last statement.

Blue Plate Special

So ... in the interest of Collections ... I offer the following:

Plates
Blue and White Plates
Pretty much ... everywhere.


On the wall in the dining room ...

Above the bay window in the kitchen ...

Over an arched doorway in my bathroom ...

PDaddy once commented that his cause of death could possibly read, "Hit on the head by a plate. A Blue and White plate." He really needn't worry. I am quite the expert on hanging my plates. I am never going to put one of my precious plates in danger!

Just kidding, PDaddy. I promise to save you first.

So ... what ARE your collections?

Collecting My Thoughts ...

True Story:

When Sonny Boy was 4 or 5 and considered PB&J to be a food group, he developed an interesting ... if not annoying habit. I would make him his favorite sandwich, (which had to be cut crosswise -- heaven forbid I should cut it into rectangles) he would take a couple of small bites out of the center ... and then pretty much call it a day. I figured out pretty quickly that he was adverse to the "crusts" as all children are wont to do at some point or another, but he wasn't within miles of the crust. This resulted in a) a waste (something I am adverse to) and b) Sonny Boy being hungry in approximately 14.5 minutes. In not long, the following conversation took place:

Mommie: "Sonny Boy ... why won't you eat the crusts on your sandwich?"

Sonny Boy: "Because ... mmmm..... (long pause) ... because I am starting a crust collection."

I knew immediately I had to take some responsibility for his answer, because I too was a collector. And I still am. I have been thinking of devoting some posts to my collections . . . and yours. Start thinking about it. Be prepared to answer the following questions.

What are your favorite collections and why?
Do you have some collections that were important once and no longer drive you ... but still take up a lot of space?

And most importantly: Do you think Sonny Boy still has his collection stored somewhere in my home?

P.S. It worked! The Clam Dip worked! One day after that post, the temperature dropped almost 20 degrees -- with nary a stormcloud in sight. Ooooh ... I should try and sell my clam dip recipe. Ya think?

But . . . Should She Sell Them?

So . . . vacation appears to be over . . . or does it? Here's the question of the day: How can I bring part of that vacation attitude home to stay? How can I conjure up a few sea breezes when I live in the desert? How can I make peace with my vacuum?

Every single time we go to the beach, I go on walks in the morning and collect sea shells. I have purchased just a few (the starfish do not seem to wash up on the So Cal beaches I am walking on) but all the rest have been collected personally by moi. At this point I have them all around the house. There are some that bring back specific memories of specific years. I collect alot of different things, but these are among my favorites.

(My current collection du jour, by the way . . . grandchildren.)

Today there are many, many . . . many things on the "To-Do" list. (Why is it that my mind never focused further than last Saturday while my calendar amassed it's own collection?) I will slap on a smile. I will give it a go. I will vacuum.

But I'll keep coming back to get a whiff of the shells. Because, as you well know, she smells seashells when she can't be at the seashore.

P.S. I am going to a party tomorrow and you all are invited. I'm taking part in a "Romantic House Tour" on this blog. Tune in.