Lynn Carson Harris

Thoughtful Sunday

"The whole world had changed. Only the fairy tales remained the same."

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry, 1989.

Gratitude

I am grateful for even the smallest glimpse of the sun in the winter.

Handspun Handknit

This little doll sweater was knit as a sample for Chris's Blue Faced Leicester roving. It was a real pleasure to spin this fiber and the yarn turned out very soft. I split the roving lengthwise into fourths before spinning. This is what it looked like before I started. 

P loves this sweater. The pattern is for an 18 inch American Girls style doll but she was thrilled when we discovered that it also fits her doll. She has seen me knit two of these sweaters that were not for her. Both sweaters have been mailed away.

I am sure you can guess what I did last night.

I spun some yarn for a sweater for little miss Petunia's doll.

I don't know when I'll get that next sweater knit.

A mother's work is never done.

Thoughtful Sunday

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank, 1952.

Pie Day

I seem to learn a lot of things on flickr these days. I checked in this morning and learned that today is National Pie Day. So, naturally I made a pie.

 

Put it on your calendars for next year. January 23 - National Pie Day.

If you're quick you still have time to make a pie tonight!

I mixed up a pie crust and used this easy recipe with blueberries from the freezer.

Happy Pie Day.

If you missed the celebration today you get another chance on  March 14: Pi Day.

Progress and a Nomination

We have been progressing slowly on our projects around here. The demolition part of the bathroom renovation was without incident. There is still a bit of dust and crumble that is cleaned up each day but I am happy to report that I can still work in the sewing room even without half of the ceiling. I even finished up these two doll quilts yesterday. They were a special order from a grandmother for her lucky granddaughters.

 

I hope they have fun with them.

I got some good news when I found out I was nominated for a Poppy award in the "crafters" category! Woohoo! Go check out all the other great artists and then VOTE FOR ME!! (or whoever you think deserves the award.)

Thoughtful Sunday

"Music is very nice for a party because it gives you time to eat your fill without having to make conversation."

The Cricket in Times Square, George Selden, 1960.

Flashback Friday

I was a real square in high school. I wore dresses almost everyday. Usually they were dresses made by me. Here I am as a high school junior wearing a dress hot off the sewing machine. I am not sure where this was taken but probably at a 4-H competition event.

My sister has been converting all of her old slides to digital format. She has been distracting, entertaining me during my cleaning process with lots of fun photos.

And since I know you are dying to see more of the junk I have cluttering my house - here are some things I unearthed in the sewing room. They never got put away when I brought them home from the thrift. There is a lot of inspiring stuff here I tell you.

We actually had a copy of this one when I was growing up. It is chock full of mushroom and owl ideas. What goes around comes around. It has a 1972 copyright.

This book from 1966 also has some great things in it. There are a surprising number of pink and orange projects.

When I am a little more caught up I plan to make some things inspired by these books.

Yeah, someday.

Double the Fun

Every major clean up project needs a snack break.

Today's clean up required two.

 

That ceiling is coming down TOMORROW!

Back to work. Today's portion of the sewing room clean included sewing a doll quilt top together. Now I don't have to worry about losing parts to that project.

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Peppermint bark is WAY easier to make than I thought.

Melt. Pour. Melt. Pour. Sprinkle.

It is THAT easy.

It might be a really bad thing that I stocked up on candy canes when they were on sale after Christmas.

The Big Sewing Room Clean Up

Some of you may know that we live in an old farm house. We have s-l-o-w-l-y been renovating it for over twenty years.

Shortly after M was born the tiles in the shower of our only bathroom started falling off the wall. We had made plans to put two bathrooms upstairs so we decided not to spend the time to fix the bathroom that was to be torn out and turned into our mudroom.

Well, M is now 16. And we still have no bathrooms upstairs. We are still not using the shower in the downstairs bath.  Sixteen years of baths. The sink has started leaking into the basement.  So it goes.

Now is the time. We are putting in the upstairs bathrooms. We have adjusted the plans and are getting ready to make some progress.

The flooring in the upstairs bath areas was removed years ago and used to repair the floors in the other rooms of the house. The next step is to remove the temporary plastic ceiling that has been in my sewing room for 18 years so that the plumbing can be installed.  There will be lots of dust and debris. 

SO yesterday was spent cleaning in the sewing room so that everything does not get buried in debris. I am starting at the construction end of the room and going through everything. I found many piles of vintage patterns that I have picked up at sales. In sorting them to file them by size and style I found that I am TOTALLY prepared in the doll clothes department.

 

Any size doll and any style of dress. I now have half a copy box of doll dress patterns...  It's a sickness.  

Have any of you ever seen a looping needle? Well here it is! After looking at the directions it appears that someone has developed a really complicated way to crochet. I could be wrong but really, that is how it looks. If all of my crochet hooks break or get lost I am ready and even have 22 EXCITING patterns to make!  This is just one of the many strange and quirky sewing/crafting items I have accumulated.

I found this partially made smocked dress. It is a size four. If I hurry P might be able to wear it. I didn't check to see if all of the pieces are there.

I think it may be too late for this one. It is a much smaller size but I really like the fabric. Someone even started the smocking.

 

Do you think these hat designs will be coming back? Bow ties might already be back in. Didn't Martha demonstrate how to make them on her show recently?  Those rick rack flowers are pretty special -that is an idea I think I can use.

I am telling you. It is a jungle in here. Look what else I found. Yes, I wore that on my head when I got married.  It looked a bit fresher then.

 

I had better get back to work. That ceiling is coming down on Friday!

I wonder what treasures I'll find today.