Apron for Liz Dillon

I'm going to a party for Liz Dillon. The party is to replace her recipes, which were all lost in the fire.
I was asked to provide a box for the recipes, which I did, but not in a crafty way. So I decided to bring in the cuteness factor by making an apron for her as well.

This is fabric I found at a yard sale -- the dark is brown, not black:

 Here's the pocket:

must build stash

Here's my new fabric that I ordered from equilter. I took a survey and the credit they gave me just about covered the shipping. So basically I saved by not driving to JoAnn's, and that makes me a good person for buying these cute things!!

thrifty finds

Rosie really wants me to post pictures of what I found, but I don't think I'm very good at making things look good. Except a vine on a log which I'll try to post later.

So bear in mind that these things are really in good condition and look much better in real life than in these pictures.


Okay, here it goes:
This is a "utility" cardigan -- not the best of the lot, but serviceable:
















This blouse is a color I really like and fits well. It has these really flashy rhinestone buttons that I might change. The argument against changing is that there are a LOT, including two on each cuff..















This sweater I'm wearing today. It has pockets!! And the zipper zips up as well as down, making the longer length doable. I guess the mirror, and possibly the lens, is dirty...




















This cardigan is stellar. I love the color and design.
















Plain Gap wool turtleneck:



















Nicely cabled wool blend turtleneck:



















Gap merino wool, thin and lightweight:



















Ditto in pink:
















This might look like fleece but is angora and wool, J. Crew:

















I also got a red fleece Ann Taylor Loft pullover for casual stuff, and another blouse which I think I'll bring when I come -- a purple paisley Liz Claiborne blouse. That sounds terrible but in real life is quite sophis.

I tried taking a picture of the jacket, but all I get is fat and glare, so forget that. Probably it won't be cold enough to wear it to DC, so I don't know when you'll see it....

So that's about it! Other than the stuff I got for you girls, which I'll bring.

Oh, and here's the vine on the log:

Is there such a thing as a Black Thumb?

We at Little Gidding have a bit of a spotty track record when it comes to houseplants. Basically, we kill them. We don't mean to - we actually think they're quite nice, and wish that bringing them into our house wasn't the equivalent of a death sentence. The truth is, however, that despite our best efforts and attentions, green things turn brown in our company.

Lorraine says that the air is toxic, and plants are just much more responsive than people are (who knows how many years of our lives we've already lost?).

In any case, here's our current crop (all of which were gifts, although the health of the plants in no way reflects the health of our love for the givers).

Exhibit A: the oregano plant. This one's only half dead, I think. I wonder if I just cut off the brown bits, if it would look better.


Exhibit B: the geranium. Despite its scraggly appearance (it just doesn't have any blossoms at thee moment), this is actually the healthiest (and oldest) of our plants. I gather geraniums are very hearty.


Exhibit C: the miniature rose. Ok, this one died incredibly fast. So fast, in fact, that within days it was dusty and covered in cobwebs. How something that is (was) alive and being watered regularly can suddenly turn into something from Miss Havisham's bedside table, I don't know. But there you have it.

And yes, all three of these are currently adorning our windowsill. We still hold out hope for the geranium and the oregano (which is to say that I still water them, and trim off the dead parts when I remember).

The rose just hasn't made it to the trash yet...

Lucinda

Who ever said it wasn't a good idea? I do some of my best book-judging by covers...


I found this at the huge book sale at my library this weekend (along with a whole bunch of other fabulous books). I thought it looked delightful and, having read it, I can safely say that it is.

I mean really. Take a closer look at that picture:

Coupled with this description from the inside flap:

"Lucinda's uncle, Mr. Pescott, was the squire of Rindle Green. He owned the manor and all the land that could be seen from the manor windows. Lucinda and her fmaily owned nothing at all.

"There were six of them, five children and their mother, who kept house for Uncle Pescott in return for their keep. Their keep did not include clothes, so they were always shabby. Lucinda thought he kept them like beggars, and she found it hard to hold her tongue about his unfairness - a trait that constantly caused trouble."

It goes on from there. Basically, how can you go wrong?

I've already told Bridgie that she doesn't need to bring reading material when she comes down.

This is brilliant

I think I'm a convert.

The Perfect Knot