Terri Lee Doll's, First Crazy Quilt and A Vintage Apron

Don't you love this beautiful vintage apron. I purchased years and years ago.
It is one of the items I will be letting go on my Etsy site in the next few days.
I washed and hung it on the line yesterday and loved watching it blow in the wind.

I was walking past my tiny little guest room (8 x 10 to be exact!) with camera in hand and realized I kept many of my treasures and collections in there. I thought I'd share some of them from time to time with you.
Did you ever hear of a Terri Lee Doll?
They were beautiful dolls from the 1940's. I always wanted one cause ~ hey ~ my name is Terri Lee!
One Christmas about 10 years ago ~ my Mom bought me this one. Isn't she beautiful?
http://www.terrilee.com/
Next to her is my beautiful box from Pat Winter.

This is my first Crazy Quilt. It still has needles in it with thread ~ it is far from done.
I had NO idea what I was doing. I made BIG blocks so I would have a bigger quilt ~ my teacher giggled when I told her that ~ now I know why!
All my kids still lived home back then. I would sit in my chair half the day and from dinner to bed ~ stitching!
I gained 5 pounds that fall-winter!
My style has changed so much but one day soon I want to finish it.
That is why it is hanging ~ a nagging reminder ;)
It has pieces of my children's clothing, their pictures, pennies with my anniversary year and my birth year.
Silly as it looks to me now ~ it holds many special pieces of my life ~ including introducing me to an art that will continue to ease me through many of life's ups and downs.

Our New Amish Quilt

I wanted to share with you the quilt I purchased last week-end in Bird-In-Hand, Pa.
The shop is called "Quilts and Crafts" and is located in the home of Omar and Sylvia Petershiem ~ 2544 Old Phila. Pike. Shopping in Lancaster County or any Amish community ~ it is quite common for shops to be located in homes. The last time my husband and I quilt shopped ~ we went right into spare bedrooms where they have quilts stacked 50 high. They peal back one at a time to show you.
I washed ours in cold water and hung it on the line all day to dry. There is nothing like the sight of a much loved quilt hanging on the line!

My husband will tell you ~ there is nothing like sleeping under a hand made Amish quilt. You feel the love and goodwill of every stitch. It doesn't feel "new" but well used.

I had the MOST wonderful nights sleep under our quilt and the fresh smell of it swinging in the wind all day on the clothes line should be bottled!

And by the way ~ I am NOT addicted to Amish country jams and jelly's as I have been accused of by my family!!!

I see at least 2 cans of Campbell's here and B&M beans as well!

Have You Been Sucked In To The Pandora Craze?

I Have! These are my 3 latest additions to my Pandora Bracelet ~ purchased this week with Christmas and Birthday $ I received from Grama (the green bead), Aunt Sally (the silver and green bead) and Brenda ( the pink butterfly). Thank you SO much!!!!!

I love the idea of being able to create my own special look and have mementos from my loved ones right on my wrist.

Check out the web site ~ http://www.pandora-jewelry.com/

Sea Glass From My Boy

Look at these wonderful treasures my son Franky has collected for me just this summer! I have always had a love affair with Sea Glass but had just a few pieces from a whole lifetime of searching. This summer my son has worked off and on at a home on a private beach in New York. He combs the beach when he arrives in the morning and during his lunch break. There seems to be an endless supply! My heart melts when I look at it ~ each piece carries his touch.

Sea Glass has become the "theme" of my summer!

Notice the red piece on top of the milk jar on my window ~ that is very rare. The lavender colors just blow me away!

If you are on the East Coast of the U.S. ~ there is a Sea Glass Festival in Lewes, Delaware October 11 & 12.

For more information on Sea Glass check out this cool site ~ http://seaglassassociation.org/

Come Meet My Garden Friend's

Would you like to meet my garden friends? We all share wondrous moments together.

There is my sweet angel that sits in place of a window box.She has a bit of a shiver ~ all covered in ice.

The Jackson No. 5 Garden wheel barrel is a treasure. I can't bear to put it away each winter ~ it looks so pretty with white lights and evergreen at Christmas. I do put a coat of poly on it each year to preserve the awesome green patina.

Then there is the hammock I take one or two naps in it a season. Usually when I sit there ~ I notice something that needs to be weeded and jump right up again.

My sweet Teddi is more like his nickname ~ RatDog. He is tough as they come and I have seen him eat things ~ well lets just say I've had to wait a few days to kiss him afterwards.

Jake ~ our Brittney ~ just spends the day barking at cats. He has the dearest spirit.

I'm waiting patiently for the Big Oak Tree to offer shade from the sun. Here in Ct ~ the leaves on the oaks don't really open fully till around Mothers Day.

There is my dear Ashley Angel, old vintage watering can we took from someones garbage, my sweet birdbath angel who is holding her head down to keep warm,the dog that stands guard on my deck and keeps Pansy's happily growing all season and lastly ~ the bird house (looking from the back) that seems to have been home to every kind of creature these last few years.

We are still snow covered here but in just 22 days~ IT WILL BE SPRING!!!!!

A Very Special Christmas Tea Party

Just look at the Tea Party I received from Pat http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/ complete with goodies to eat , a flowering tea pot, a precious snow woman and beautiful ornaments! There is a funny story behind this whole thing!

The day it arrived ~ I had been waiting all day for Frank to go to the store and get me rum for my rum cakes. As I unwrapped my goodies ~ Frank was drooling over what looked to be a big muffin. He told me he would go get my rum if I let him have the muffin. I agreed to give him half and off he went. When I opened the muffin to cut it in half ~ it was the very same rum cake that I was waiting to make! She even bakes them in the same tins I use ~ Pat I didn't tell you that!

Oh don't forget to check out the FLOWERING TEA POT! It starts off as a little flower bud. As you pour the boiling water on the bud it begins to open to this gorgeous flower with the sweetest aroma! It is the MOST amazing treat. Isn't the flower just BREATHTAKING! Pat thank you SO much for making me feel so blessed and loved!

Gingerbread Village in Middlebury, Ct.

Isn't this heaven! A local church in Middlebury, Ct. creates this Gingerbread Village every year.I hope you have time to double click on each photo !

My Endless Hug From Pat

Just look at the beautiful treasure's that landed on my doorstep this week. Never has a simple etsy purchase made me feel so special and loved. Most anyone who has stumbled onto my blog has been to Pat Winter's first. http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/ She is the angel of blog land in my eye's and has done so much to promote kindness and goodwill. Her work is a treasure to behold and the love weaved through her work is felt by the receiver of it. Thank you dear friend for making my heart skip a beat and for the endless hug I will feel wearing your work's of art! http://patwintergatherings.etsy.com/