Needlework, Finishing, Designing, Quilting, Some Discoveries and Adventures in Stitching from Windy Ridge Designs

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Give Me an F

It's been a heck of a week.  I've taken a new position with the historical society and am now trying to sort out the work done before me so I can try to start with a clean slate.  It's not as easily done as said.

But, I did promise to share some of the things from the goody bag gifted to me by my friend a few weeks ago.

Here's the F - and it's accompanying paperwork.  I originally thought that they were iron-on letters.  But, they're vintage.  Who knew that in "vintage times" they didn't iron their letters onto their sweaters - not me.  Turns out that this is a "cotton form" (I have them in various sizes) that you attach to whatever you're putting the letter on and then you sew (presumably by hand) over it (presumably in something like a satin stitch).  And VIOLA!  You have a letter F on whatever you're putting it onto - sweater, hankie, towel - where were all the places that LaVerne put all her initials?  I seem to remember there were a lot of things.  That was tres chic back then. 





Anyway, neither of my names begin with an F - so, if yours does, email me and I will exchange for your goodies.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Shoe Personality

My mother used to love shoes.  I remember when I was small, she had a pair in the closet.  They were Spectator Pumps.  Not usual ones either.  Hers were a medium brown and cream.  They were SO pretty.  It took her years to get rid of them.  I think that they were part of her working wardrobe back during the war and she kept them because they reminded her of when.  I haven't been a shoe hound.  But, every now and then I notice a pair of really nice shoes.  Like I did when I watched the premier of Covert Affairs.  I noticed those red soled shoes she was wearing.  So, I did a Google to find out about those shoes.  And what I found was interesting.  More than just the little black pump.

Well, if I wasn't the size I am, and if I was 30 years younger, and if my feet didn't already hurt so much, and I hadn't ruined one ankle back in 2001 - well, then you'd see me wearing this shoe -

LOVE the red, white, and black color combo (what a surprise!), love that HIGH heel, and the leather.  And then that houndstooth check brings it all back down to earth again.  It is designed by Christian Louboutin and can be seen at this website; where it does a little pirouette for you to see its every advantage.  It's only $1,200.00.  WAY out of my price range, but a girl can dream; right?

So, do you have a shoe personality?

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Fiona's Giveaway

Fiona, over at Peaceful Threads has been up to some hijinks.  Seems she's gotten 100 followers and is doing a giveaway.  So, you might want to rush on over to Fi's place and put a comment on her giveaway post so you can be entered too.  The pinkeep she's giving is really pretty.  Check it out!

Monday, August 2, 2010

A Mystery to Ponder

Last week a friend of mine through the historical society brought in a bag of stuff.  She said it was either from her mother or grandmother (this friend is in her 70's, so that could be going back a bit).  It was all stitching related and she thought I could use the things for myself or perhaps for a client or two.  So, I've gone through the bag.  Some things I will share with you as the month goes by, but I wanted to get this in right away.

It's called the Singercraft Guide.  As you can see, I have the box, guide itself, and what looks to be an instruction manual.  I have yet to read the manual.  So, let's see how many guesses I get over the month (about how long it will take me to get around to reading that manual).  And, maybe if someone can guess it right, I'll send them a little something from my stash - if I can get myself together enough to do that too.  No promises yet!

Also along with the above came this:

and this

Intrigued?  Me too!  It's been hot here over the last two month; these last few days, we've cooled off to the 80's.  However, Tuesday we're in for a round of oven-like temperatures again.  What we really need is rain.  We've only had an inch and 7/8s of rain since the beginning of June.  That's why I'm not showing anymore garden pictures - there IS no more garden.  My trees are stressed and I'm waiting for the bank book to grow a bit more so I can go out and buy gaitors for them.  Then hopefully they'll survive this awful summer!  Hope the weather is better where you are.