Buttons

Today I was sorting through my Mom's buttons. You see, I do a lot of sewing and I asked her if she happened to have any buttons. With that small request, I have obtained two bags and a jelly jar of buttons.  They are so beautiful too...I remember looking at some of these buttons in a tin that my Mom had.  When I was a child she kept them in a white cookie tin that was in the shape of a carousel and it had purple and pink ribbons and white horses painted on it.  I distinctly remember that the tin still smelled of cookies when I opened it and what was even better were the hundreds of different buttons at my disposal.

I remember sitting on the floor and admiring each button. Some were plain, while others had beautiful carvings on them.  There were some very special ones that even had rhinestones or an armed forces emblem on them.  It is a vivid memory that I hold quite dear.  Laying on an old carpet, with the sun coming in the window and a tin of buttons. 

Now I have my own daughter and my Mother just gave me all her buttons.  Someday, I hope to see my daughter on the floor sorting through the buttons.  Maybe she will wonder where each one came from or how old they are. Maybe she will want to create with them or keep them as a treasure. Whatever she decides it is just fine with me.  I just hope the legacy and the interest of buttons can be passed down to her. My own little button.

Blessings-

Hi, It's been a long time..

Well howdy out there! It has been an incredibly long time since I have posted...for that I am sorry...but I have a million excuses, not to which I will list right now...

So, I last posted in September of 2012.  A lot has changed since then! However, I am still running my Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/jclairep)..shameless plug...and I am still working from home.  My family is well and happy and we are becoming quite settled in our little home in PA.  It has been cold and breezy here lately and I think every living creature in this area is ready for Spring! I did find my daffodils peeking up from the ground and the pussy willow does have some buds, so that is a promising sign!

I worked on an awful lot on projects this Winter! Knit coasters, scarves, mug cozies and I was able to create a new patchwork skirt!  These vintage fabrics are so special to me because they range from the 1940's to the 1980's.  In the center is a rooster patch that is actually from a 1940's vintage curtain!  In the top left, you can see a yellow and blue patch that comes from fabric from Hoboken, NJ. It belonged to a friend's mother who passed away.  She was an avid sewer and I feel honored to have a piece of her passion. The Bright Yellow Patch with checks on the left is from a flea market in PA. The woman who sold it to me was a seamstress and decided to retire. There was such an array of fabric there!  The other patches come from friends and family who are all close to my heart.  All these patches became one skirt.  It is amazing, isn't it?  Every patch has a story, every fabric is sewn together. Separate, they may not be much, but put them together as a group....and wow...a beautiful thing can come together.

So, on that note, I am happy that I had to time to write today.  Be well...take care...and make sure you see the beautiful patches in your life and keep them together.

Have a great night and a better day -

Jennifer

Easy Saturday

It is an easy Saturday night.  Perfect Fall weather and on top of it all I think an outdoor cat has adopted me.  She is a sweet little grey and white tuxedo and has visited us three times so far, but this time she sat with me as we watch the moths flutter around.  She reminds me of my cat Spike who passed away three years ago.  He was my love and it is so nice to feel his presence in her.  It may sound strange, but I do believe that sometimes our angels come back for a visit.

On another note, this fine evening is making me think of camping this time of year.  Cool enough for a good night's sleep, but you don't freeze.  This Summer was so great because a wonderful hike at Hawk Mountain here in PA renewed my sense of getting outside. I think after being an indoor Momma for so long, it took little hike and some interesting wildlife to get me back in the swing of things.  That and some great friends who made the hike that much more fun.  It was great as well because Lily got to enjoy watching some hawks fly by at a wonderful scenic view spot.  Really a great day.  One to remember.

I especially like the last photo. It is so simple, but to me, tells a great story.  So, on to my easy Saturday evening with a brew and a great movie.  Have a wonderful evening and peace and harmony to all the world.

-Blessings

The Labyrinth

Today I took my daughter to church and after the Sunday school class we decided to get some lemonade and a bagel.  She asked me if she could eat her bagel outside, so I said sure and we left the building and went to the courtyard right outside the doors.  The courtyard is in its splendor right now as all the flowers are in bloom and the air is just cool enough to want to sit down and enjoy them.  It also has a Memorial Fountain and a labyrinth maze for meditation.

Lillian walked over to the maze with her paper cup of lemonade and looked at it for a moment.  "What's this Mama?" she asked me.  "It's a labyrinth..a maze that you can walk through and you have to find your way in and out with out crossing the lines." I told her.  She started inside the maze and followed its twists and turns and I could see by the look on her face that she became a little confused and frustrated.  "Can you show me how to do this Mama?" she asked. "Sure." I said.  She wanted me to walk in front of her and she followed each step I made. "Do you see how when you think you are so close to finishing, you have to take a different path?" I told her.  "It is so windy and curvy Mama!" she responded.  After about seven minutes of walking and twisting we finally made it to the center of the labyrinth.  "Here we are! Okay, now, do you want me to show you the way out?" I asked.  "No Mama, I can do it myself".  As I walked across the lines and left her to figure it out, it occurred to me that she is starting Kindergarten tomorrow and how incredibly symbolic this was.

For six years I have shown her what I know, tried to show her how to follow a good path and was always ready to have her follow my footsteps.  Here we are, the day before school and she is ready to figure the path out for herself.  I stood on the grass and watched my baby twist and turn and back track her steps and, in a precious moments time, she found her way out of the labyrinth.  All by herself.  She was proud as punch.

So, there it is.  The first day of Kindergarten through 12th grade starts tomorrow.  I am sure there will be many mazes and directions she will need to go.  She may not know it, but I will always be following in her footsteps.

-Blessings

Learning is Taxing

So last night I am up until 1:30 A.M. trying to understand how the federal tax systems work. SHEESH! I am still a little confused, but I am so grateful that there are professionals out there who to understand.  I feel like I am walking on eggshells when I look up the information!  It was a bit of a "pulling your hair out" situation.  So, I think this morning, I need to step away and breathe a bit...literally! What is that phrase?  "Life, Death and Taxes?"  The working man (or in this case woman) working for...well...the Man!

A great weekend

Quite a few things are going on in the Price House today!  We were travelers all weekend and coming home just made me want to jump into work a bit.  

I have been working on a new "up cycled" skirt, which I am excited about...I feel like I am getting ready for the Fall and working with the corduroy has been great.  I hope to finish this by the end of the week!  When I started working on this, I saw so many possibilities for skirts, but I am a sucker for a long patchwork skirt...so there it is!

 

What was great about this weekend as well is that I was able to finish a gift for a friend! I really like how this up cycled pillow turned out.  It is amazing how abandoned curtains and cords can turn out so cool looking!  A nice little accent, if I do say so myself!

With all this wonderful creativity flowing, I have to point out that the best part of the weekend was traveling to see family.  That is what it all comes down too..don't you think?  Putting love into our creations.  Be it a skirt, a pillow, a painting, or, most of all, a family. To make something great, you must first put in the thought, and with that thought, your heart.

I wish you the most blessed week and positive creativity!

Jennifer

 

This has been a wonderful week! I reorganized my work space, I was able to finish a quilt, feeling a bit more inspired and I know in the back of my head that Fall will be here soon.  I have plans to weed the gardens, begin sewing new ideas and to finally settle in to the business that I have been wanted to to plunge in too.

I thought you would like to see the quilt I finished! It is amazing how many thoughts are sewn into a quilt.  Your mind tends to wander as you work and I find that with each patten, stitch and tie, the thoughts are woven in. It is quite a process, but it was very therapeutic.

Here it is..by the way..did I mention this is the first completed quilt I have ever made? I have made tops, but this was the first binding, backing and laying I have done.:

I have to say, I would definitely do this again. But now, I have the desire to work on skirts with corduroy and wild patterns.  Looking forward to some creativity!

Blessings-
Jennifer