MY teacup from MJF teacup exchange + an adorable tea quilt

Well I can't believe I forgot to show you my teacup that I received from a farmgirl on Mary Janes Farm website. There was a teacup & saucer exchange last month and I just had to join in the fun! I was so pleased with this teacup as it is the Wilow Blue pattern which I have an entire cupboard full of! But this is a darling octagon shaped saucer and the teacup is also an octagon shape coming up to a round circle at the top. It really is quite unique to me, yet it does match my china. I love it! Thanks Debra! :)

AND.....here's an adorable teacup quilt project from Debbie Mumm's website!

http://www.debbiemumm.com/Projects/Quilting/2007/05/

Sweet childhood memories of Halloween

I always loved Halloween as a child. I can remember excitedly picking out my costume every year. Uusally I was a gypsy girl, rummaging through my mother's closets to find those 70's skirts and tops all colorful and oh so loud (smiling here) with a headscarf and lots of dangly jewelry and chunky bracelets that were so popular...the gypsy girl is still my style today I suppose as I do love long flowy skirts and bangles even now! :) But I vividly remember one year I was Raggedy Ann and I have always loved her! I still have a fond place for her in my heart, even now as an adult. When I think back on those young years I can remember that I adored the times in elementary school when I would get to assist the teacher with changing the bulletin board in the classroom--it was such a treat and I felt so special to be selected to help...maybe it was because I was trusted with a stapler! LOL But whatever it was, I can still remember the times I was stapling away the fall leaves or the feathers on the turkey for fall-time. Isn't it funny the things that make you smile from your childhood?

On Halloween day, or the Friday before if it fell on a weekend, we would bring sweets and treats for our classroom "party" and listen to scary stories on records (oh dear...dating myself there a bit, aren't I?) while we did a Halloween craft project at our little party. On Halloween night, I went with a friend trick-or-treating (usually a neighborhood girl that I played with all the time after school) and our moms would trail behind us as we went door-to-door. Of course, I remember how happy my dad was when I got home with a bag of candy, too, ha-ha. I clearly remember he stole all the "Mary Janes" from the bag, his favorite. (Do they even make those candies anymore?)



celebrating-halloween.com

Halloween never was a scary time for me although I can remember the paper skeletons blowing in the breeze that people would hang on their porches, the glow of carved pumpkins sitting on porches, & the crunch of leaves under our feet and we skipped along giggling and enjoying our fun. I suppose Halloween isn't quite the same for children nowadays as parents have to be so careful and watchful...taking their children only to houses where they know the owners. But I think it could still be fun, perhaps having a "safe" Halloween party at your home for your children and a few of their friends! Oh, the sweet and delightful Halloween ideas you could prepare and fun games for the children! I hope I have that opportunity one day! But I am sad at Halloween now because I go to a church that has deemed Halloween the "devil's day" or something similiar and "oh so sinister" and they don't celebrate "Halloween", but rather have a "fall festival". I suppose it can be fun for the children as they still get Halloween candy and play games, but I just don't see the evil in Halloween. Of course, on a funny note, my husband told me early on that there was one day out of the year that I was guaranteed I would never have to cook and would get a dinner out.....Halloween night! He hates handing candy out to the kids! :) Well, heck, mama didn't raise no fool, I'll take a free dinner out any time!

I stumbled upon this website and thought it looked like fun!

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEBSITE: celebrating halloween website

I love October

October is by far my favorite month. I may be a bit biased since my wedding anniversary is October 7, 2006. :) But I love the fall colors and the fall weather. Today it is "raining" leaves all over our yard everytime the breeze blows. I noticed our neighbor, Loretta, setting up her front porch for fall and Halloween. She does an excellent job with pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, and fall mums every year! It just really puts me in the mood for fall & pumpkins!

Tea onTuesday: Cranberry-Herbal Tea Granita

bettycrocker.com

CRANBERRY-HERBAL TEA GRANITA

INGREDIENTS
*5 whole cloves
*1 slice orange
*2 cups water
*1/2 cup sugar
*1 stick cinnamon
*3 tea bags red zesty herbal tea flavored with hibiscus, rose hips and lemongrass
*1 1/2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
*1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
*Fresh fruit, if desired
*Thin almond wafer cookies, if desired

PREPARATION
1. Insert cloves into peel of orange slice. In 2-quart saucepan, heat water, sugar, cinnamon and orange slice to boiling, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; add tea bags. Cover; let steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags, cinnamon stick and orange slice.

2. Stir cranberry and pineapple juices into tea. Pour into 2-quart nonmetal bowl or 8-inch square glass baking dish. Cover; freeze about 2 hours or until partially frozen. Stir with fork or wire whisk. Cover; freeze 3 hours longer, stirring every 30 minutes and breaking up any large chunks.

3. Remove granita from freezer 20 minutes before serving. Spoon into stemmed glasses.

Garnish with fruit and cookies.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutrition facts per serving:
*Calories 100 (Calories from Fat 0)
*Total Fat 0g
*Saturated Fat 0g
*Trans Fat 0g
*Cholesterol 0mg
*Sodium 0mg
*Total Carbohydrate 26g
*Dietary Fiber 0g
*Protein 0g

~~ecipe and photo from: bettycrocker.com~~

100 things about me

1. I am married to the most wonderful, funny, sweet man who makes me laugh daily (ok, everyone else thinks he's cranky, especially his parents, but what do they know)
2. We have no children, but I have a cat who's about 15 years old now (she's my "little senior citizen")
3. I love old, vintage, and pretty things from the Victorian age thru the 50s
4. Antique malls are my favorite place to shop, while I detest the mall (everything is just too new & pricey!)

5. I eat too much cheese--way to much, well a girl has to have some vices, right?
6. I also eat too many sweets...trying to work on cutting that way down...hello Weight Watchers
7. My favorite flower is the rose, but all flowers make me happy

8. I can't choose a favorite color- how could one be so much better than the rest? But I admit I adore PINK! And my husband would say I adore GREEN! (must be the Irish in me)
9. I enjoy looking at all the talent on Etsy & wishing I had time to do more crafts
10. I enjoy scrapbooking, decorative painting & cross stitch
11. I would like to try collage art...I find mixed media awful and yet intriguing at the same time

12. I'm shy, but not nearly as shy as I was when I was younger
13. I don't like talking on the phone--probably because I work at a switchboard :)
14. I sometimes think I miss my 20s, but then I realize I was confused, immature and didn't know who I was
15. Old men who walk around whistling songs to themselves make me smile
16. Old ladies with red lipstick and too much rouge make me smile
17. I do cook, but I want to learn more variety...I get tired of the "same old"
18. I wish I was taller (I'm only 5'6")
19. White cake with white buttercream frosting is my friend
20. Fall is my favorite time of year

21. My guilty pleasure TV show is "House"
22. I have a love/hate relationship with computers & most technology
23. I love living where it snows in the winter-time...but only on the days I'm not driving

24. I'm not athletic and I'm not at all interested in sports
25. I'd like to learn to be a great photographer (and all my blog-readers agree I need to learn!)
26. I love God (this list, by the way, is NOT in order of importance!)
27. The smell of anything pork or chicken makes me sick
28. I am a "pescetarian"....I eat fish but no "meat" (not a raving PETA person here...I miss the taste of steak...I just can't digest it)
29. I love vintage material and vintage buttons
30. I loved shoes with a passion till my feet grew to size 9 and it became too difficult to find cute shoes in my size
31. I love the outdoors, but I'm a hotel person, not a camper
32. One of my dreams is to travel to Ireland (my family is Irish)
33. I'm addicted to tea & coffee
34. I love decorating and decorating books, especially Rachel Ashwell
35. I love cottage/shabby chic/vintage styles
36. Nobody tagged me to do this list, I just felt the need to talk all about myself! :)
37. I don't leave the house without makeup
38. I'm addicted to ebay
39. I have to have nail polish on at all times...toes too!
40. I won't swim in any water that I cannot see through...I did when I was little and cannot stand wondering what is brushing against my feet under the water! :0
41. I think clowns are evil and creepy
42. I want to paint every room in my house a different color
43. My first job was at a fast food place while in college, that only lasted 6 months...too much work between college & work-study too...and I hated smelling like food! YUCK, but it made me appreciate how hard those people have to work for little money
41. I don't have a favorite movie, but I love romantic comedies and action comedies best
42. I enjoy the internet and I'm thankful for all the lovely people I have met here
43. I don't have any brother's or sisters
44. I have developed a recent love of prim items
45. I believe fairy tales do come true and there is a happily ever after, if you help them along and work hard to keep it
46. I love animals

47. I love pretty much all types of music (ok, except country or bluegrass, sorry honey), but classical & jazz inspire me the most
48. I'm 39.999 and feel like I'm finally getting to know my true self and what I enjoy and want from my life (you didn't think I was going to tell that true # did you?)
49. As soon as we win the MegaMillion, I'm quitting my job and staying at home to work on all my crafts :-)
50. I am a "farmgirl at heart"....I hang out at maryjanesfarm.org

51. I am "back in college" part-time taking classes in Deaf Interpretation while working full-time at a large University...not easy to do!

52. I tried to learn how to crochet a dishcloth and just kept going...it became a scarf and now I can't stop crocheting scarves! :)

53. I love aprons

54. I am NOT a morning person--Do not test this one

55. Since I type so much now I find I can barely write in cursive anymore. When I try I mess it up so if I must use a pen and paper – I print. Usually in all caps

56. Reading blogs that are dark with light print is difficult for me

57. I love tea and anything tea-related

If anyone actually made it all the way to the end of this, thanks for reading! :) I may finish the 100 someday, but for now this seems like plenty. A girl has to keep an air of mystery about her, right? Geez, I can't let out ALL my secrets at once!

MJF: Teacup & Saucer Exchange 2008 cont'd.....

I shared a few posts back that I had joined my first teacup & saucer exchange on Mary Jane's Farm. I did finally find the perfect teacup & saucer for fellow farmgirl, Ally, in California. I loved this teacup and saucer and had to buy it when I found it! Being a lover of chinese food & tea, it was a delight when I spied it! I love the light blue & royal patterns...it has a chinese dragon in the middle of the teacup inside & on the saucer as well.

I included a few goodies for my new farmgirl friend. The latest issue of Tea Time magazine, a must if you love tea! It always has great articles on different tea rooms both in the U.S. and abroad, tea ideas, and lots of tea party recipes. Of course, I also included a box of tea and some tea biscuits...got to have those with tea! I even made a cute little cellphone "dangle"...it's a tiny blue teapot! :-) I made one to hang on my cell phone and I just love it. Nothing like announcing to the world your love for tea.

I hope she enjoys these as I have enjoyed this teacup exchange...my first! I can't wait for the next one! I think I will start looking for another teacup & goodies! :-)

Back to School



Taken in Gatlingburg, TN, Smoky Mountains

How can it be this time already? No, I don't have children going back to school, just myself! And how can I be behind in classes in only 2 weeks? My textbook finally arrived Friday--after the first assignment was due Tuesday! Oh well, it's a good thing I'm on good terms with my instructor. :-) So I have spent the last two days buried in this book playing catch-up. My husband says he'll see me in December when the semester ends. :-) The Stokoe system vs. the Liddell-Johnson Hold Movement is NOT my idea of fun! I don't want to learn the morphology and syntax of every lexical unit is American Sign Language! Yes, I am whining.

I could be doing so much more in my craft room! I have to admit I have been taking "breaks" and working on my crocheted scarf. WOW--I never knew this could be so addictive! I will have to post a pic when I am finished.

It's hard to believe it's practically fall. The weather sure isn't cooperating here--it's an amazing 89 degrees today! But, it's supposed to drop in the 70's later this week...and for that, I am grateful. I have already put a fall tablecloth on the kitchen table and started poring over fall recipes...apples, pumpkins, cinnamon. I love the colors of fall & the scents of fall! I love the sound of leaves crunching under my feet. I just LOVE Oct to Dec, well, maybe after March. After all, I am Irish too. :-)

The Granny Palace

I have always wanted to crochet. I can remember as a little girl studying over a booklet that had directions for crocheting, knitting, embroidering, and tatting. I never did learn to do any of it except a bit of embroidery-work, but I did have all these neat little rolled up balls of yarn in different colors. :-)

I finally decided to learn how to crochet! I may be a bit ambitious...I started making a simple dishcloth, but for once my rows have turned out quite nice and so it has evolved into a scarf! Who else but myself would decide to make a scarf for a first project?! I have never finished a dishcloth in my life, because they always ended up with these horrible crooked edges. But a woman on MJF forum suggested I try using a N-hook or larger. Well, I found a N-hook at my local Wal-mart and wow! I can't believe the difference. I can't stop crocheting!

My husband is thrilled to see me take up a new (I think he means "inexpensive!") hobby and especially since it looks like I might even finish this one! :-) At this point, I have so many "craft" things started, I figure I'll have to live to be atleast 100 to finish them all!

I am obsessed with this scarf...I find myself crocheting while I'm waiting for anything. My husband now thinks I'm nuts. OK, nuttier. We were in his truck the other day and he made the comment that he needed a cover for his laptop and immediately, before I could say anything, he says, "and I don't mean something you crochet!" ROFL. What?? Did I give the impression that I was going to cover the house in everything imaginable that can be crocheted? He did tell me that he didn't want to live in a Granny Palace! I thought I was going to die laughing. What is a Granny Palace? Apparently it's one of those homes you walk into and everything right down to the toilet paper is hiding in or under something crocheted! Well, I don't think I'll be that bad...but I did threaten to crochet him a Nilla cookie box "cozy". :-)

A Sunday Drive

VIEW OF GATLINBURG, TN

As usual, I spent Saturday working. I have been working alot of Saturday's lately. Partly because I like the overtime, partly because we hired 6 new people this summer and no one seems to have a good work ethnic anymore, partly because it's the beginning of a new school year at the university where I work. Yes, the students are back in town and classes started Monday. I am already longing for the Christmas holiday, ha. And I haven't even signed up for my classes yet.

Sunday after church, my husband Jeff said, what do you want to do? I said, well...let's just go for a drive. Those are dangerous words for us! We ended up driving to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN, for dinner. Yes, we're nutty like that. But it's only a 3 1/2 hour drive from Virginia where we live. Do other people take driving trips like this I wonder?

SHOPPES IN GATLINBURG

We were married in Pigeon Forge, TN, at a cabin we rented for the week, almost 2 years ago (October 7th), so it has a special place in our hearts. We often joke that if we were to ever win the Mega Million, we should just move there. We drive to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg several times a year, often just to eat dinner or stay a night or two. For someone like me, a craft person, it's a paradise! I love going through the shops and I love the 8-mile-loop in the Arts & Crafts Community in Gatlinburg. I have this fantasy of owning a shop there one day & spending all my time working on different projects. :-) Well, if you're going to dream, dream big, right?

GATLINBURG, VIEW FROM THE AQUARIUM

We often have lunch at a quaint little place called The Wild Plum Tea Room in the Gatlinburg Arts & Craft Community and have become known as "regulars" there. Not an actual Tea Room, but a charming little bistro-type place. Their speciality drink is the "Wild Plum Tea" (hot or
cold) which is a citrus & tea beverage. OH YUM. My husband loves the tea so much that I bought their little cookbook so I could have the recipe. Naturally, he says I don't make it often enough. :-) We have become friends with the owner, Casey, and last year we were invited to their Christmas dinner. It was wonderful! We were so warmly welcomed by Casey and the staff, we even said it felt more like home than when his parents come in for Christmas. That made me sad, but how true it was for the both of us.

THE WILD PLUM TEA ROOM, GATLINBURG

I love just driving through Pigeon Forge on the "Parkway" though I can't really explain it. It is nothing more than miles of restaurants, motels & hotels, outlets and shops. Gatlinburg is the same, only a two-lane road through "downtown" instead of a 4-lane highway. And it's all surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains. I'm really not a mountain-type-of-girl, having grown up in the Tidewater section of Virginia, but I find these mountains beautiful. Well, perhaps, I am biased since we were married here. :-)

THE PARKWAY (US-441) IN PIGEON FORGE

I'm sure we'll find our way back down there again in October even if just for a night or two. :-) And of course, we'll have to drop in, have lunch and tea, and say hi to Casey and the girls!

VIEW OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, TN

Also, another happy note, I did find the newest issue of Artful Blogging! Oh, yes, how I do love this magazine. And maybe my banner will be in the next issue! :-) Now I must go and sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy & dream!

My banner in Artful Blogging??

OH MY GOSH!! I AM SO EXCITED!!

I got a comment on my blog from one of my fav magazines "Artful Blogging" that they are interested in publishing my blog banner! I know for some this might not be so exciting, but for me, I AM THRILLED!

I am still on the lookout for their fall issue which hasn't shown up at my local bookstore yet. Ah...it's awful to be this impatient! :-)

Now I guess I had better get busy on my blog because who knows how many people might just drop by!

The Trend of Thrifting



fabric.com

Is thrifting ending? Sadly, I was just thinking this today as I came from two local thrift shops. I've noticed the prices are up and the nice vintage items are down. I to love to buy clothing for the fabric to use in craft items AND it's reusing/recycling (love to do that!) and cheaper than buying fabric in fabric shops. I did find a vintage apron today that I just couldn't resist for $1. Guess it's back to the yard sales & church rummage sales (love those!) My grandmother and I used to go to all the local church sales all the time and we got great items for giveaway prices. (Besides, churches around here love to do the "all the clothing you can stuff in a wal-mart bag for $1"). Great place to get fabric!

My mother-in-law has to be the Queen of Yard Sales though if there ever was one! I mean this is the woman who bought an almost brand-new car at a yard sale! It's a little hard to beat something like that.

Thrift stores are great places to find items to paint on too. I have found old chargers before that weren't very nice-looking for using at your dinner table BUT made great surfaces to do decorative painting on. There's something that makes me feel good about giving new life to an old item...maybe it makes me feel like it's my part of being "green". lol, even if it's just a small thing.

MJF: Teacup & Saucer Exchange 2008



pic from: Mary Janes Farm

I am so excited! I joined my first swap on MJF! A teacup and saucer exchange!I would love to be able to join the ornament exchange or the tote bag exchange....but I am afraid my skills are at beginner level and some of these farmgirls are so skilled.

But TEACUPS! I collect teapots (and china, and tea cups, and....) so this I can handle! I am really looking forward to finding the perfect teacup & saucer...AND


I am even thinking of making a simple french tea towel to include with it! Big dreams for me! lol

I saw a pattern in the October 2008 Craft n Things magazine and I think even I can handle doing that. Well...we'll see! Off to find the perfect tea cup!

Artful Blogging

oh! My blogs are so blahhhh...

I found this magazine over the weekend and I was so amazed! And by the same publisher as Somerset Life, one of my newest and favorite magazines.

Where do they find the inspiration? I suppose after I've been blogging for at least a year, I will have some nice photos too, but WOW. The creativity this causes to rush through by veins is awesome and I want to stop everything and start crafting!

Definitely a magazine worth exploring, but be careful! I think the passion for crafting is contagious! :-)

Confessions of an apron lover

I have a confession: I just love aprons! So you know I am pleased to see that they are the "in" fashion accessory right now. I guess it brings back memories of helping my grandmother in the kitchen when I was a child and spending all my summers, breaks, and vacations with my grandparents. She always wore an apron in the kitchen and had one for me to wear too. What I would do to still have one of those half-aprons!

I bought this adorable apron on eBay...yes, as you know, I am no seamstress and I think my first little project is going to be a basic half-apron. All the ladies on MJF sew them, wear them, love them! So I must get busy! :-) I couldn't resist this one for the fabric...(sorry I am such a horrible photographer! guess I won't be changing careers anytime soon! LOL) The fabric is a Donna Dewberry print with her roses, butterflies,daisies, ladybugs...and I wish you could see the background color! A perfectly pale lemon-ice yellow! Trimmed in such dainty white lace and hunter green trim, complete with a bow. I thought it would be wonderful to wear while I am decorative painting. Maybe it will even inspire me. :-) I am so far behind in everything...

There's just something so wonderful, feminine, creative, warm & homey about wearing an apron. I'm sure some of my (feminist) friends would disagree, but it gives me these fantastic & fabulous fantasies of being a domestic goddess with the sparkling clean house, fresh bread aroma drifting from the kitchen, home-made jams and jellies lining the pantry shelf, and my creativity in a flourish as I masterly paint-sew-crochet-tat-you name it! I probably should be on medication. LOL. Well, it's a wonderful dream and even though the house will never be spotless or sparkling, although I'd settle for "uncluttered" right now, I would love to make loaves of bread & home-made jams. And I haven't given up on the crocheting yet! Maybe there's still hope for me.

On a funny note, my husband saw me in an apron for the first time last Christmas holiday as I was preparing holiday treats and Christmas Day dinner. I have to admit, his look was priceless! I think he thought I truly was a domestic goddess in my apron! :-)