Feeling crafty!

I don't normally do "crafts".  It isn't that I can't or don't like them, it is simply because I would rather sew than do most anything else.  I saw this really cute idea on Virginia's blog, Artsy VaVa, and thought they would make great Christmas gifts for my nieces.  I don't spend a lot of money on their gifts and usually make something by hand like a scarf or purse organizer.  Years ago I made a lot of jewelry so I had most of the supplies I needed.

Virginia used stretchy cord so I picked up some of that.  Turns out I really didn't like working with it because the beads kept slipping over even my double knots.  I could have gone to the store and purchased thicker cords but I had some thin leather cord that used instead.  That knotted up perfectly.

I didn't have any super glue so I used E-6000 glue to help secure the screw eyes in the cork.  I am going to pick up some glue to secure the knots at the end of the bead runs. Mine are a little "dangly-er" because I just got so caught up in stringing on the pretty beads.

 (I am very easily entertained!)  I may cut back on the beads a bit.  I did 5 while I sat watching tv.  I now have to convince my mother to use the prong type of wine bottle opener when she is cracking open another bottle of wine.  I found a few corks that didn't have any significant writing on the sides so I will run those over a stamp just as Virginia did.

These are so much fun to make and with my cork supply, I can make a whole lot more!!

The tomato plant that ate my patio

The plant had to come out today.  It made me a little sad because there are so many green tomatoes on it and it is still going strong.  We won't be having any more warm nights and tomatoes ripen best when the nights are warm and the days are hot.  Now it is time for pots of mums in the garden box that sits at the end of the patio.

This was my last harvest of the season.

Most are fairly ripe but will turn a much nicer shade of red sitting on the window sill in the kitchen.  This truly was the most incredible tomato plant...ever!

Today is the perfect day to be in the yard.  Low 70's, a gentle breeze and sun is warm.  Time to drag out the weed whacker and take down the flowers in the perennial garden.  The birds ate the last of the sunflower seeds and the seed heads of the cone flowers are long gone.  The only thing that would make today better would be if I could build a big bonfire in the backyard tonight!

Oh.my.word!

I harvested last Friday morning.  I just pulled these off the vine about an hour ago.

I only planted one tomato plant.  I know!!  This is crazy.  Where they are planted I get full sun for most of the day.  There are roughly another 20 on the vine that are in some shade of red but not ready to be harvested.  About 35 or 40 green tomatoes are on the vine as well as more flowers.  Since the nights are starting to get cool I know the ones that are green now will probably not fully ripen.  At this point, I am totally ok with that.  I have been eating one or two a day.  I think I am just about "tomatoed out"!  I am going to wash this batch and then toss them into boiling water to skin.  I don't have time to can until the weekend so I will just bag them up and put them into the freezer until I have all my supplies and ingredients to make salsa.  Everyone in my family will be getting a large jar (or two) of salsa.  Family - prepare yourselves!

They really are beautiful.

Got 'maters?!

Ironstone love

During the lunch hour, I decided to drop into the Goodwill near my office.  I nearly always find a little treasure and for some reason it is the best place to find pieces of old ironstone.  Yesterday was no exception.  For just 97 cents this little beauty made it into my basket.

The gravy boat was made somewhere between 1867 and 1893 based on information I found on the internet.

In the interest of full disclosure it does have one little problem.

It doesn't make me think any less of the piece.  Many pieces of my stoneware is in "less than perfect" condition.  As a matter of fact, so am I!


Linking up to Southern Hospitality

  

Least favorite chore

Today is the day.  I have been putting this off for a week but I can't ignore it any longer.  Today is the day that I get down on my very bad knee, remove the racks, pull the "guts" and clean the dishwasher.  I am prepared with vinegar, baking soda and lovely smelling JR Watkins cleaner.

It's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it.  I'm goin' in!

Bitten by the ASCP bug!

After my granddaughter and I finished this project, I decided to grab my sample pot of ASCP Provence and see what I could do to transform a bedside table from my room.  I purchased it a couple of years ago at a large community yard sale.

The table is pretty banged up with a faux leather top.  I knew the carving in the legs would distress beautifully and I think I was right.

Hello, gorgeous!

I noticed something right away.  I like the way the Provence covered so much better than the white.  Even the first coat was nice without any brush marks.  I can't say that about Old White.  The sample pot was enough to do this the table with two coats and I have enough left over to to a shelf also in my bedroom.  Once again, I first waxed with clear wax and then sparingly applied the dark wax where I thought appropriate.

I don't want to go crazy with painted wood pieces all over the house but it is so tempting.  My Hitchcock chairs are safe but the hutch and dining room table are in my sights!

Linking up to Get Your Craft On! and The 135th Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking and Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage and Furniture Feature Friday on Miss Mustard Seed because I just had to!!

Yard sale happiness

Today was the big community yard sale near my home.  My mission was to find some ironstone and I did!

The platter is T&R Boote and the pattern is Sydham.  It was produced in England in 1864.  The covered sugar bowl doesn't have a mark I recognize, just the letters PM.  The little dish that is missing a lid was made by Johnson Brothers in England.  All for just $5.  It was a good day!

Linking to