~Small Spaces Are Sometimes The Best Places~

I woke up to bird songs and soft rain....my favorite kind of morning. I went downstairs and turned off the outside light....started the coffee enjoying the rare peacefulness of living in town on a busier than we thought when we bought, street! My hubby remarked the other day they need to take down the 25mph sign and change the name from Garfield to Speedway....lol!

I have lots of work to do and have been working on discipline to rise early to begin my day. So far, so good. I am usually a late riser and a late, very late, to bed gal....I am finding with a more normal schedule I feel peppier, happier and far more productive!

I thought I would share a few little glimpses of the room where my computer is, as that is where I usually start my day....my computer sits on an antique white wicker table that, today, has a hand crocheted cloth over it, but I change it often....in the corner are two big windows softly draped with Rachel Ashwell's rosy curtains...I love sitting here with the windows open.....

This is a tiny room...I did not know they made rooms this small....it is about the size of a nice size walk in closet!!!! When we purchased this vintage home, I had no idea how I would manage, but have found through the years I love the intimate feel of smaller spaces! Isn't that a blessing? :)
We have a double bed in here with my little desk and a small antique dresser that once belonged to my husbands father....I have painted it a soft marshmallow green...it is really that yummy!!!...infact, I want to paint the wood floors downstairs this color...really!!! I am negotiating this with my you know who!


This room I refer to as The Girls Room, for when the NY grandgirls come for a visit, this is where some of them sleep...the closet if full of their things....some of which are far too young for them, but I can't part with them....


A plethora of pillows on the bed.....lots and lots of ruffles...


The little vintage twisted leg table next to the bed....see how little room there is???

A little watercolor by the famed artist Donna Barton and one of my favorites...

A cookie tin that I thought was adorable...the cookies were delicious, too. My youngest daughter brought this to me from a San Fransisco trip about fourteen years ago.....

A Gentlemans Organizer I found in a quaint old church where they held yearly craft shows....and...it was already white!


Darling little shoes with scallops....you wonder about the little girl that wore these and what her life was like....


A saved and dear to my heart, piece of artwork done by my son using wax resist....I think he was in first grade when this was done...it has always hung somewhere in our home.....he is now a father of three, two in college and one on the way. How time rushes by....

A found treasure on our trip last winter....she has the sweetest face and pretty faces are so important to me in pieces whether it is lamps or embroidery....
Thank you for visiting me, today.....I hope you enjoyed your little peek at where I write and edit pictures and work on my website....

Back to busy.....hope you are having a scrumptious day!!!!! Jil xo

~Pink Saturday And Stormy Weather~

I thought I better get my Pink Saturday post done, as we have a chain of storms moving in and they are already at Lansing. Lancing is only about two hours West from Port Huron....I love thunderstorms and the rain, I do not like the severe storms and my heart goes out to all those suffering the effects of flooding and tornados and damage from lightening. I am so sad about all the lose of life....There are no words for such a tragedy, only many prayers!

I always make sure the candles are ready with the matches and flashlights close by. My cel phone in my pocket.... We have a basement with a little cold room under the kitchen. It has an outside wall with a little window that is now boarded up to keep winter out, I have a clawfoot hammer in there in case....we are at the end of tornado alley and in 1953 Port Huron suffered a severe tornado, so it is good to be ready and have a game plan. We had a little one that did no damage, two years ago, and it was just three blocks from the house...it followed the pretty park along the two big Blue Water bridges, went across the water and over to Sarnia, Ontario, CA.

By visiting our wonderful host for this event Beverly you will find todays list of marvelous PINK blogs, so grab some ice tea, or a Dr. Pepper and have yourself a fun time.....

And,as always, this week flew by and it was a nice week. Lots of sunshine and happy birds.... I hope your week was nice as well. I worked on all sorts of things and even finished this little Welcome sign...




I hope you can see her....there is a little Miss Mouse sitting in the suitcase. My oldest granddaughter gave this to me quite some time ago.....when you open the box the lid is a stamp. I have used this stamp many times and this is one of my favorite possessions! I had such a hard time capturing her and all the other pictures did not turn out well as I would love to show you the whole little box.


Our storms are to continue tomorrow, and if they do, I won't be on the computer very much coming by to say "hi"! I will have to do it between storms or on Sunday..and I am going to see if I can find some early ones....

So, Happy Pink Wishes to you all!
Jil

~Advice Needed~Please....

*Click on the picture to see a larger and pretty view....

Hello Ladies.....I found this lovely piece of embroidery on one of my jaunts to a favorite antique store. When I found a corner peeking out from other not very nice pieces, I wondered why this was in with them and then I saw the stains....I sadly laid it back, but arranged it on top so others could see this lovely work that someone very talented with a needle created.

I browsed on thru the three stories of linens, glass, furniture, vintage clothing, jewelry, china and more than I can remember. As I was strolling and picking up items to purchase, I kept thinking of that piece of embroidery....it just kept calling to me. So......I trudged back up two flights of stairs and as I walked towards it, I thought it was just too lovely to leave behind. I thought that there must be a way to get these old stains out. The nice woman, cashier and owner, did not know how, but wished me luck and marked it down to $1.00.



I have something I picked up in a quilt shop called Grandma's Secret Spot Remover....well, Grandma's Secret did not even begin to budge these stains....I know the little ones by the basket are tiny rust stains, but the larger ones have a raspberry cast to them.



I really want to use this as the colors are my favorites and I love this piece and have the perfect spot for it on my Low Boy. (This piece of furniture once belonged to my Great Grandmother and my Great Aunt left it to me, including what was in all the dreawers. In the bottom drawer wrapped in tissue was a beaded flapper dress, purse and hat. How I wish I had them today!!!)

I did not mean to get side tracked here....what I am hoping is that one of you talented gals will have the secret that Grandma did not have on how to remove the stain.

I had thought of cutting around the basket and turning it into a pillow, but I love the corner work and the hand crocheted lace and do not want to do this if at all possible....

So all suggestions are very, very Welcome and a big THANK YOU in advance...
Jil

Hello blog friends....I hope your week got off to a better start than mine...lol! Nothing serioius, just little bumps and all of a sudden I have gone stupid about putting a link on! What is this about?? I have put lots on, believe me, but now, when I think I have a link on I do not....I am doing some little thing wrong and not seeing it! Ugggg....I will study on it after dinner...

But...I was able to finish another Southern Belle Pillow..great for taking your mind off troubling matters....I love these little Belles and think they are so charming with ribbon embroidery....I love the ones with the full crocheted skirts, but I am all thumbs with a crochet hook, so this is my take with them....

~SOLD~

And, now my camera is not behaving....and the sun actually came out when I took these....I am going to have to go and give it a little sweet talk and get out my book to see why they are so dark....see,.... another little bump in the road...

Jil