Welcome Spring

 

Today a little bird told me. . .SPRING IS HERE !!!

I awoke to a new sound this morning. . .one I realized I've missed for months. . .The morning SONGS of our feathery friends. . .and the soft cooing of the dove family who nest on the porch close to my window. . .Such WELCOMED SOUNDS. . .Such a WELCOMED SEASON. . .NEW BEGINNINGS all around. . .I can hardly wait to get barefoot and in the garden. . .and put Old Man Winter behind me. . .

Just sharing a couple of snaps with my friends to say. . . 

 

 

Peek Into My Vintage Sewing Machine Collection and Graphics

 

1908? One hundred eight years old? Amazing. . .

I only hope I look that well at 108. . .(smile)

 

My passion and John's hobby is collecting vintage treadle machines. . .I collect them. . .John restores them. . .They are wonderful pieces of domestic art. . .The decorations on each one is rather awesome. . .very collectable for the artwork alone.

 

 

 

 

I learned to treadle about eight years ago. . .Our collection was getting so large and the machines were so lovely that I decided I wanted to learn how to use them. . .Lots of trials and errors before I got the rhythm down. . .Once I did, I LOVED it. . .

 

Sources: The Graphis Fairy &  Knick of Time

 

I still laugh at myself, thinking back to those 'learning days'. . .of how I was so clueless that I spent hours one day trying to figure out how to backstitch. . .I looked at--and tried--every knob and lever. . .I tried to treadle backwards. . .Then I made a phone call to a friend who had told me that she remembered her Mom sewing on a treadle. . .She got a real 'belly laugh' because of me. . .'Treadles don't backstitch! They're OLD'. . .Who knew? . .Obviously. . .not me.

 

When you think about it, ladies in the 19th and early 20th centuries were probably glad they no longer had to sew everything by hand. . .THANKFUL FOR SMALL FAVORS. . .

 

Source: www.olddesignshop.com

 

I won't tell you about my first attempts at filling a bobbin. . .for a SHUTTLE. . .totally embarrassing. . .

 

Source: Source: Pinterest Graphics Board

 

When I set my mind to something, I don't give up easy. . .Since I had no instructions. . .no book (at the time). . .and my patience grew thin. . .I searched the net for information. . .Eight years ago there was very little in how-to treadle, as there is now. . .It was John who found an old treadle machine manual that was a God-send. . .Gradually. . .very gradually. . .I began to get the hang of it. . .falling in love with the process that in the end, wasn't that hard. . .I was making it too technical. 

 

 

I think treadling is as much a feeling--a calming rhythm--in the soul as much as it is mechanical. . . There is nothing like the hum of the treadle at work. . .It's relaxing. . .believe it or not. . .There's something basic and comforting in it. . .

 

That may be the difference in my love of treadles and John's. . .Mine is of the heart. . .His is in the simple mechanics of it. . .but both of us have a deep appreciation of them.

 

Source: Pinterest Graphics Board

 

I make many of my quilt tops on the old machines. . .The vintage treadles are so heavy and strong and make the most beautiful stitches. . .much finer (in my opinion) than any of the newer electric sewing machines.

 

Source: Pinterest Graphics Board

 

 

 

 What TREASURES I find in the sewing cabinet drawers, too. . .

 

Source: Pinterest Graphics Board

 

Soon we'll be displaying at least fifteen Treadle Sewing Machines from various manufacturers. . .Visitors will be able to try their hand (or foot) at treadling. . .so I began to work with a few graphics for ads. . .I intended to make a couple. . .then it was another and another. . .There was no stopping me. . .I made many more than I'm sharing. . .

 

 

I also discovered the Designer at BE FUNKY . . .

Lots of inspirational templates that are so easy to use. . .FYI. . .

 

I plan. . .one day. . .in my spare time (wink). . .to demonstrate on a post what I've learned about sewing with a treadle machine. . .practical advise. . .as well as more of my Vintage Sewing Machine Collection. . .Those posts will be at DUNCAN FARMSTEAD since they are so connected to the past. . .And there's a possibility that John may sell a few treadle sewing machines in working order, too. . .Lots of good things to come. . .in VINTAGE SEWING and COLLECTIONS. . .Be sure to STAY TOONED. . . .It will be fun. . .

 

 

For more Sewing Graphics, visit:

PINTEREST GRAPHICS BOARD

KNICK OF TIME

THE GRAPHICS FAIRY

 

 

Inspiring Women: UpDate on Creating With Threads

 

Do you remember Marta, an Architect at the American University of Nigeria,

and her work with the LADIES OF YOLA?

She wrote:

There are 42 ladies involved in the program who have created and sold about 200 rugs, 20 sets of placemats and a few hand bags.  We are presently  working on an order of 480 rugs!!!! The materials used for weaving is  recycle strips of fabric from local tailors. 

This is the first time these ladies have done something for themselves and their earnings is allowing them to send their children to school, attend to medical difficulties but most of all is giving them confidence and empowerment. . .

Since they received the additional 33 RAG RUG LOOMS, these ladies have been weaving Rag Rugs like crazy. . .

 

They finished the year with great success. . . making more than 350 rugs additional rugs by the middle of December. . .Is this not INSPIRING?

If you missed the original post about the ladies of the CREATING WITH THREADS PROJECT and the heart-warming story of 6 year old HELIMA who weaves and sells placemats so that she is able to attend school. . . CLICK HERE

 

 

I can't tell you how thrilled John and I are to have been a part of this project. . .It's amazing how four little pieces of wood have made such a difference in people's lives. . .When we originally started making the looms, we were hoping organizations would benefit. . .especially the youth organizations such as SCOUTS  and 4-H. . .never dreaming how far-reaching the craft would go. . .Thanks to Marta and her foresight, the LADIES OF YOLA are bettering their lives. . .I think I can speak for all of us in. . .

 

Wishing the LADIES OF YOLA

another successful RAG RUG year!

 

 

Farmhouse Kitchen Color Trends for 2016

HEAD'S UP for this year's KITCHEN COLOR TREND. . .which continues to dominate the marketplace. . . from KITCHEN AND BATH BUSINESS NEWS:

 

"GRAY and WHITE. . .NATURE-INSPIRED HUES. . .deliver a blend of PEACE and POSITIVITY in 2016"

 

For a couple of years I've been enamored with soft shades of WHITE and GRAY for tranquility in our own home. . .utilizing neutrals that CALM the SOUL. . .

 

Recently, I came across an article in Kitchen and Bath Business--a trade magazine that keeps me up-to-date on new products and trends. . .I may live in a true FARMHOUSE, but that doesn't mean I can't latch onto some inspiration from present trends. . .What's really nice is when my decorating style lines up with the marketplace. . .I love saying to myself, "Well. . .I've been doing that for years!" (grin)

 

According to KBB, there's a trend toward SERENE due to our growing interconnectedness with social media causing us to spend a lot of our waking hours "staring at some sort of computer screen. . . As a result we have seen a shift to a more neutral and natural design aesthetic as an escape from the chaos that is everyday life."

 

GRAYS, SOFT WHITES, and other NEUTRAL PALETTES are the hottest trend for 2016 because after a busy day, we are ready for some 'CALM, SIMPLICITY, SPIRITUALITY, LESS-IS-MORE visual relief.' . .The neutral palettes are also a wonderful backdrop to add more color--if desired--at any time. . .

 

I've been thinking about our own kitchen for this coming year. . .It's time to repaint and refresh. . .We also have a sink to replace, which I hope will be one of those deep porcelain ones. . .so I began looking for inspiration. . .Here's a few that I selected at the BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS  and the KITCHEN AND BATH BUSINESS websites:

 

  

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

   

  



Notice the use of BLACK or a dark, smoky gray in some of the photos. . .They look much like our kitchen palette already. . .HMMMMM. . .

I do like the kitchens that are less cluttered  . . .Maybe I'll just up-date with fresh paint and put more items out of sight for a fresh, more contemporary look for 2016. . ."LESS IS MORE". . .or so they say. . .

 

Ideas anyone? Are you leaning toward this trend?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .

 

Like Ghost Stories?

 

How about a true GHOST STORY to start your day?

I promised one in a previous post and have 'told my tale' over at DUNCAN FARMSTEAD. . .the story of a cat on the wall but nowhere in our little shack. . .It actually happened to me. . .

So pop on over there and read about my encounter. . .and enjoy the numerous photos of a vintage cotton plantation.

I'm knee deep in paperwork and taxes this week. . .but will have a Country Farm Home post for you soon. . .In the meantime. . .

 

AN EARLY MORNING GHOSTLY VISIT AT THE SHACK UP INN

 

 

 

 



Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes and Oreo Flowers...

 

I love surprising people throughout the year with little recognitions of how SPECIAL they are. . .I see no reason to only REMEMBER others at Christmastime. . .My brother has taught me that. . .He rarely sends GIFTS at holidays or birthdays. . .but throughout the year, PACKAGES may arrive 'out of the blue'. . .To tell you the truth, those little REMEMBRANCES touch me greatly. . .

 

And so, I took the opportunity to do something a little special for VALENTINE'S DAY and for a few of those whom we consider FRIENDS. . .as a Thank You. . .and hopefully to make them feel 'LOVED'  themselves. . .What's the best way to touch the HEART? . .HOME-BAKED GOODIES!!!

 

These Red Velvet Cupcakes with their cute Oreo Flowers are so, so SIMPLE. . .and you'll need very few ingredients. . .Actually, I made the first batch to test out an IDEA  I'd seen at a local bakery. . .It went so quickly and got the THUMBS UP from John's taste testing that I decided to make more. . .Honest. . .I spent maybe 45 minutes on the first fifteen cupcakes, not including the cooking time. . .Before the afternoon was over, I had red and pink all over the kitchen. . .but so HAPPY with the results. . . .

 

Since I can't send each of you a RED VELVET CUPCAKE. . .I'm doing the next best thing. . .Sharing the QUICK AND SIMPLE with you. . .

 

 

Isn't that EASY?

 

Each of the FLOWERS are a little different--one of a kind. . .

that's how you'll find them in NATURE. . .

I was also testing different techniques. . .(SMILE)

 

 

 

 

EASY PEASY AND

Ready for Delivery. . .

 

 

Wishing You a

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY WONDERFUL WEEKEND

 

. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .

 

 

 

 

Rag Rug Loom Gift Sets Available for Purchase Through Valentine's Day

 

 

It's almost the DAY OF LOVE. . .Candy, Flowers, Cards. . .A Special Holiday for those SPECIAL PEOPLE. . To celebrate we've put together six Rag Rug Loom GIFT SETS--five Mini Loom Gift Sets and one 2N1 Loom Gift Set. . .They'll be available for purchase through FEBRUARY 14 only. . .They'll disappear after that.

 

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

 

 

 

 

 



Love That Farmhouse Denim

 

Everyone who loves DENIM raise your hand.

(Both of my hands are raised. . .grin)

 

I needed a pick-me-up for the FARMHOUSE this week. . .Something that promised Spring was coming. . .Something comfy and cozy feeling. . .Something utilizing what I already had on-hand.

 

I was thinking about this as I sewed up a few more MINI RAG RUG LOOM GIFT SETS for VALENTINE'S DAY. . .noticing that the ones I favored were SOFT DENIM BLUES. . .and suddenly realizing how nice those soft blues looked with neutrals. . .As we all know, denim can come in a lot of different shades. . .but MY STYLE appeared to be the softer hues.

 

 

Actually, my LOVE and RESPECT for DENIM has evolved gradually. . .

I was reminded with the gift bags that little by little

I had incorporated DENIM into my PLAIN AND SIMPLE FARMHOUSE STYLE all along  . . .

The difference this time was settling on the WORN AND FADED SOFT BLUES. . .

instead of a hodge-podge of colors. . .Maybe an occasional darker denim to make things interesting. . .MAYBE.

 

Sometimes an obvious idea is overlooked. . .DENIM CLOTHING has always been a huge favorite on our COTTON FARM. . .Denim IS made from cotton, you know. . .(duh--another no brainer I missed)

 

 

So. . .I began gathering together the worn, faded, frayed denims. . .stacked up in the sewing room. . .to see what I could do.

 

The FARMHOUSE BATH was the first to get a make-over. . .

It was the obvious choice since it already had SOFT BLUE WAINSCOTING. . .

 

 

Gertie and Mamie got new duds. . .mixing together LACE, LINENS, COTTONS, and DENIM. . .

Blue JARS. . .and denim tied SOAP. . .LOVED IT. . .

 

Moving on to the KITCHEN. . .another realization.. . .I already had a denim blue vintage bucket and a blue prim cabinet. . .

All I needed to do was add POPS OF DENIM to the room. . .

 

 

My enthusiasm grew. . .

INSPIRING me to make new(?) KITCHEN TOWELS to add to the mix. . .

Again, I grabbed possibilities close at hand. . .bought at yard sales last Summer.

 

 

There's NO RULE that we must buy our KITCHEN TOWELS. . is there?

If there is, then I'm a REBEL. . .

because this TOWEL was made from the back of a man's DENIM SHIRT. . .

and parts and pieces from others. . .LOVE IT. . .

 

 

I was on a roll. . .On to the living room for a few ACCENTS there. . .

as the entire house began to come together. . .

 

 

An afternoon spent. . .and see the results!!!

From now on, I'll be looking at the SOFT BLUE DENIMS in a different way. . .but will use them as ACCENTS. . .not as the primary focus. . .NEUTRALS continue to rule here. . .Yet. . .Simple POPS OF COLOR do freshen up the OLE' FARMHOUSE. . .

at no real cost. . .only a little elbow grease. . .

 

How about you?

Would DENIM DECOR work for you?

It's PLAIN. . .SIMPLE. . .and LIVING EASY APPROVED.

Worth considering?