Red Cross Stitch Project Completed! Pearls and Lace Thursday #143

  It is finally finished!!
(see Wilma??)

I worked and worked and it's finally done.  As soon as I clipped the last thread, I took it to the ironing board and ironed it flat.  And then the fun began!

As a lover of vintage sewing items, I have a lot of things in my craft space that I can choose from.  But some of my very favorites are trims and buttons (as you know if you've seen much of my blog!).  

I got things off the shelves, pulled items out of drawers, took my sewing boxes off the desk, and this is what I used.  The different shades of reds just make me happy.  I love red.  Of course I love most colors!

(don't ask me about aqua though...)

The sampler is known as the Beaumont, and I ordered the chart a few years ago and started it.  I know, it takes me while to finish things!

Just because I was confused about why samplers from this era didn't have certain letters in their alphabets, I will mention this:  The letters I, and W were left out many times because of the redundancy of the stitches...

in other words, the J could be copied to be an I, and the V used to make a W.  

Above, the original chart has other initials.  My husband thought it would be neat to have my own initials as the maker of this one.  I humored him...and added the G for him to the chart as well!

The initials tape is French laundry tape used to identify clothing sent to the laundries.

Just gorgeous!

And because of the red theme, I had to add my lovely trims still in their own original packaging!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my reds.  

I am delighted to be finished with this sampler and will be getting it framed soon.

And before I get going with the party, I'd like to say a huge welcome to my newest followers!!!

I'm always so excited to make new friends!

As of today, we are in the middle of a cold spell (as most of you are).  We got down to 29 last night!!

But, the chimney sweep is coming any minute now and we will have a nice fire in the fireplace in a matter of a few hours.  I always love the smell of a wood fire, and am looking forward to the first fire of the season.  

So, it's time for the party!  Feel free to add your lovely post to the link below.  Just add the url code from your post to the link and go by and visit the others!  I will be hopping over to visit each of you!

Lots of hugs to you!

Blessings,

Doni

Pearls and Lace Thursday #122 Faded Blue Sewing Box

There's just something in me that can't stand to let a faded and tattered sewing box get past me.

I mean, they just have something that makes me break out into song.  (well, not really...but almost!).

I DO get quite excited when I see one that is affordable.

Thus, my newest addition!!

The faded beauty outside is surpassed by the lovely interior, still bright and vivid as if new.  But I love the charm of the faded fabric...

One of my favorite finds last year was this lovely package of trim.  It is used for making lace, and the texture of the thread, the color of the lace, and the package details all make it a perfect piece for my collection.

Another find was the brown plaid bias tape!  I love this color and needed it for some masculine things I am working on.  (Valentine's is just around the corner!!)

As my profile says, if there is one thing that I want all the visitors to my blog to know, it is that

Faith is a Gift from God...not something we muster up in ourselves.  

Lots still needs to be done to finally finish my room, but I think it is nearing completion.  I really have procrastinated this week!  I need to work at putting all the little stuff away in their spots and finish my desk areas.  BUT, I have started yet another project in the middle of the chaos!  I am working on a Valentine's gift for my hubby, so I have lots of stuff still sitting out.  This time I am choosing browns and dark reds....no pink!

SO!  It's time for Pearls and Lace Thursday!!

I must say, last week totally blew me away!  I had so many new followers, comments, and people joining my party that I was ecstatic!  Y'all are really wonderful!  Your projects were great, and your comments made me smile all week!  So glad y'all liked the pearls!!!

Be sure and join me again this week by adding the url code from your post to the link below.

I hope you all have a great rest of the week!

Blessings,

Doni

I will also be joining some parties!!

Mosiac Monday at
http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/
Make it Pretty Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/
Today's Thrifty Treasures at
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/
Cowgirl Up Party Monday
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
Just Something I Whipped Up
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
Knick of Time Tuesday
http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/
Open House Party
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Cottage Garden Party
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/
Hope in Every Season
http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/
Blissful White Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com/
Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/
What's It Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Whatever You Want Wednesday
http://www.freeprettythingsforyou.com/
What We Accomplished Wednesday
http://www.greenwillowpond.com/
Grace at Home
http://www.impartinggrace.com/
Time Travel Thursday
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
Vintage Thingie Thursday
http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/
Minute for Me Thursday
http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Feathered Nest Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
It's a Hodgepodge Friday
http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/
Frugalicious Friday
http://decormamma.blogspot.com/
A Crafty Soiree
http://www.katiesnestingspot.com/
Vintage Inspiration Friday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
Inspiration Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
Thrifty Things Friday
http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/
Simple and Sweet Fridays
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/
Shabbylicious Friday
http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/
Potpourrie Friday
http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Flaunt It Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/
Pink Saturday
http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com/
Sew Darn Crafty
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

My Craft Room Reveal for Where Bloggers Create 2012

A huge welcome to each of you!  I hope you enjoy my craft room.
I've spent MONTHS getting ready for your visit!  Many hours of cleaning and reorganizing.
I've added a ton of new items to my collections, and have displayed them because I love them.
If you'd like to see last year's photos of my room, you can click here to compare.

Come on in, grab a glass of tea, and have a look!  You may open drawers and boxes to your heart's content...

A huge thanks to Karen at My Desert Cottage for hosting this awesome party!

  

My favorite spot (below) is the sewing area.  Not that I sew much.  I just love sewing notions and laces.

I have quite a few vintage sewing boxes that are covered in various tattered fabrics, and yes...

they are loaded!

Someone asked me if I knew which drawers had 'what' in them, and for the most part, I do.

I have lots of lace hidden in these drawers!  I'll show you some of my favorite drawers later in this post.

The seam binding ribbon is so pretty, I decided to let it hang low over the shelf below to help hide my most used supplies (pens, scissors, etc.).  I love the colors and sometimes just run my hand through it for fun!

As you can see, I utilize almost every inch of wall space!  The shelving is a mix of wooden shelves on simple brackets of metal or wood.  I use inexpensive jars to hold favorite buttons and threads.

The white plastic drawers have held my scrapbooking items for years, and I've recently added vintage pieces of music pages to their fronts to unify them.  The shelf liner is also vintage music, simply cut into strips with shaped scissors and adhered to the wooden shelves.  Easiest and quickest project I've done.

My favorite laces and threads have center stage, because I love to see the pretty colors.

I guess it just makes me happy to gaze at the lovely shades of colors.  At one time I thought I would try to use only one color combination (pink and cream) in my room decor.  I quickly found out that I couldn't live without seeing all of the lovely items I'd collected, so they all came out!

This large green floral box actually folds up.  I have it sitting on a shelf and it is full of counted cross stitch patterns and materials.

Using vintage storage items for my pretties has to be one of the best ways to decorate my space.

If I see what I have, I tend to use it more often.  When I choose something for a photo shoot for a blog post, I try to make sure to put it back where I will remember it!  Sometimes I have piles and piles of items on my guestroom bed where I tend to do most of my photography.  Thankfully I don't have much overnight company!  I love this little room, but have wanted to swap rooms with the guest room.  The light in there is sooooo much better than this room.  Maybe for next year!

At the time I am writing this, I have to admit to y'all that I've already changed these lingerie boxes around!

It seems that I'm always morphing, shifting, changing and re-doing something in this room!

Over the last few years, I have been blessed to be able to host a blog party called

Pearls and Lace Thursday.  I try to remember to place a Bible verse in each post, but I sometimes forget.

One of the most important things about my blog though, is that it is a place where the Word is shared.

Using the collections God has given me as a background, I'd like to share some things with you:

I hope that you'll each be blessed by my posts and if you have any questions, always feel free to email me.

And come back each Thursday to join me for Pearls and Lace Thursdays!!

Sneak Peeks below!  I have lots to share with y'all in future posts!!

OK...this drawer of laces above is my favorite drawer....

Well actually...THIS drawer (above) is my favorite!!

Hmmm, I have lots of favorites to be honest with you!!!

I think I must just be a collector of pretties more than a crafter these days.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to make things, but it seems that more and more I prefer to

just make it look pretty and then look at it...photograph it, and blog about it!

I hope you enjoyed touring my little craft room.  I've enjoyed getting it ready for you!

Now, if I'll just uncover the sewing machine and actually MAKE something!

A huge hug for each of you,

and a big welcome for my newest followers!

blessings,

Doni

parties I attend:

Mosiac Monday at

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/
Today's Thrifty Treasures at
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/
Blue Monday at
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/
Metamorphosis Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Cowgirl Up Party Monday
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/
Just Something I Whipped Up
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
Knick of Time Tuesday
http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday at
http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teatime Tuesday at
http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/
Victoria Tuesday at
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Tea for Two at
http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday at
http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday at
http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday at
http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday at
http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
2nd Time Around Tuesday at
http://diane1876.blogspot.com/
White Wednesday
http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/
What's It Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
Whatever You Want Wednesday
http://www.freeprettythingsforyou.com/
Vintage Thingie Thursday
http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/
Minute for Me Thursday
http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/
Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.bluecreekhome.com/
Open House Party
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Feathered Nest Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
It's a Hodgepodge Friday
http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/
Frugalicious Friday
http://decormamma.blogspot.com/
A Crafty Soiree
http://www.katiesnestingspot.com/
Vintage Inspiration Friday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
Inspiration Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
Thrifty Things Friday
http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/
Simple and Sweet Fridays
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/
Flaunt It Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/
Pink Saturday
http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com/
Sew Darn Crafty
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/