Back From Ny and LA Fair Ribbons

Above my nephew had this hair hat he wore since he has none and we all took turns wearing it... LOL

Hi there....we are back from NY...Foxy sure did miss us. ...we had a great time. :) It is always fun to visit with family....here's some of our photos from there....and WOW the colors for fall were just awesome!!!!!

An old 1880s gravesite

 At the 50s diner

We set off "poppers"

Just beautiful

The pillow I made my sis with $$$ weaved into it...

 I thought this fan was cute

The ribbons won at LA Fair 2010

My sis wearing the necklace I made her

This is a photo of my sis and our kids in 1971 and then again now, Lori my daughter couldn't make it so we held up her photo... :)

Farewell Allie Cat-----Halloween Doorway Beads

My sweet Allie cat died this past Saturday at the age of 20.

She had a long and good life, but I will miss her terribly. Prayers to Allie.....

Spooky Halloween Door Beads

You will need:

• 3 beaded necklaces for each strand hanging [48 necklaces-be sure they are the same length-needed for 16 hanging beaded strands]gold, silver and purple]
• 4ply worsted weight yarn[I used Red Heart] Orange, Black, Purple, and White
• wooden dowel 3/4"[JoAnns Craft store]
• 2 wooden ball ends to slip over dowel
• Aleena's Tacky glue
• DecoArt Twinkles Black craft glitter paint

• Hook size G or F

• Start by cutting a necklace anywhere between two beads-
• ch 8 1st Step: with one end of beads -begin to attach with a sc between the first and second bead- 2x, continue to sc between each bead to the other end,
• Next Step: -change colors-cut the 2nd necklace and start with sc 2x between the 1st and 2nd bead of the 2nd beaded strand,
• Next Step: repeat on the 3rd strand -changing colors again-

HINT: the tighter you crochet the more of a "curl" you will have-

• Ending: You will end with a ch 4-5 and fasten off.
• You can make any color combination or make each strand all one color- Make 16 strands and weave in ends
• I used the black orange black on most strands-or purple- white -purple, or purple-black-purple-- mostly I tried to use Halloween colors. :)

HINT: when adding a new necklace strand sc around the tail of the new color to help shorten the weaving in process-

• Next Step: I wraped the end of each bead strand with the 8 ch- around the dowel and knotted in place -I used black- sc around the dowel spacing each strand evenly to hold in place. -this keeps each strand from moving-
• NOTE: Be sure to leave abour 2 " at each end. Next Step: Put some glue inside each end ball opening and slip over both ends of the dowel.
• Let dry over night


• Last Step: paint the balls with the black paint. Let dry ....

Hang up in any doorway or window area, these can be used at any party in any color for any holiday, Experiment and have Fun. Be sure to show me what you have made and link back to this blog for pattern details and giving credit to me for the pattern. Thank you....

"Happy Halloween"

LA Fair Winner

I won ribbons at the local LA County fair...thats my hat in the green

It was fun to go there and see who won what... :) this is my red white and blue bag

and this is my other bag

Happy Labor Day

1882 – The first Labor Day holiday parade was held in New York City. It was sponsored by the Central Labor Union. Some 10,000 workers — all men — participated in the parade. It was to honor the men of labor. Ironicly the 1st Labor Day was actually celebrated on a Tuesday. Until Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, laborers who chose to participate in parades had to forfeit a day's wages.

Labor Day is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation." In 1884, the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country. Many other labor organizations, notably the affiliates of the International Workingmen's Association, favored a May 1 holiday. With the event of Chicago's Haymarket riots in early May of 1886, some believed that a May 1 holiday could become an opportunity to commemorate the riots. Thus, fearing that May Day holidays might strengthen the socialist movement, some moved to support the position of the Knights of Labor and their date for Labor Day. Through the years the 25 June 1938


1940: The Wages and Hours (later Fair Labor Standards) Act is passed, banning child labor and setting the 40-hour work week. The Act went into effect in October 1940, and was upheld in the Supreme Court on 3 February 1941.nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886.

1956 – Johnny Cash hit the record running with I Walk the Line. Cash’s debut hit song climbed to #17 on the pop music charts.
1960 – Cassius Clay of Louisville, KY won the gold medal in light heavyweight boxing at the Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. Clay would later change his name to Muhammad Ali and become one of the great boxing champions in the world. In 1996, at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA, Muhammad Ali was given the honor of lighting the Olympic flame.


1964 – The Animals’ House of the Rising Sun made it to #1. It stayed at the top until it was replaced three weeks later by Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman. Orbison’s smash was just entering the pop charts on this day for a 14-week run.

1986 – After 23 years of “oohing” and “aahing,” laughing and kibitzing as host of various talk shows, Merv Griffin aired his final program — for Metromedia Television.

The World Wide Web was born in 1992, changing the way we communicate (email), spend our money (online gambling, stores), and do business (e-commerce). By 1994, 3 million people were online. And by 1998, this figure increased to 100 million people. It is estimated that by 2001, some 1 billion people will be connected. Internet lingo like plug-ins, BTW (by the way), GOK (God only knows), IMHO (in my humble opinion), FAQS, SPAM, FTP, ISP, and phrases like "See you online" or "The server's down" or "Bill Gates" became part of our everyday vocabulary. We signed our mail with a :-) smile, a ;-) wink, or a :-* kiss. And - everyone has a cell phone (even Jason at right!)

2000: Kenny Lofton's first inning run ties a 1939 major league record set by Yankees' Red Rolfe for scoring in eighteen consecutive games.

2002 U.S.A. Kelly Clarkson Wins First American Idol



2002 : Kelly Clarkson a former Texas waitress wins the first series of American Idol after 15.5m votes were cast by telephone by American Idol viewers. American Idol has been the summer's new programme success with audiences in excess of 15 million.

2010: And of course everyone knows there's no wearing white after Labor Day??? Labor Day has come to be recognized in the United States not only as a celebration of the working class, but also as the unofficial end of the summer season. In the northern half of the U.S. the summer vacation season begins with Memorial Day and ends with Labor Day.

Spiders and Lizards and Crochet, Oh My!!!

This little moth landed on my flowers next to the pond so I captured a shot of him. :) I have been busy with bead garland for Christmas and decided I love making it, it is really easy, just buy some prestrung beads at the $1 store and cut them to make them a strand, starting at one end attach and sc, ch 4 and sc between each bead to end, then ch 1 turn, sc in sc, then 6 sc in the ch 4 space, that makes the ruffle, then sc in the sc, to end, you can change color for the last row or leave it all one color like I did with the blue beads, otherwise, change to your contrasting color and sc in each sc across. That's it...and if you want to make it longer you just attach another one by sc and continue with the pattern. Then use about an 8" strand of yarn and make a ties loop at the ends to be able to hang it on your tree, aound your house, or anywhere. I even made one that is a necklace... :) Fun!!!!

Now this is my g-son he just turned 14 and is taller than me now. He shot up this year like a sprout!!! Th group of us standing by the pond in the park for our annual picnic last Saturday it was a great day and lots of fun...we had KFC and carrot cake...yummy!!! My lizard friend came for a visit in the yard.. :)

And this spider is taking up home over my pond, he is actually pretty...and I don't like spiders.. :(

The cup holder with crochet trim I made is easy to do, I have the directions here ....

My Yellow flowers bloomed this year too!!!
Going in my shop soon!!

Crochet Retreat in the Mountains!!!

Wow this is a really unusual outfit!!!

Ok we went up to the mts and had a ball there were four of us this year and we even got to take a boat ride!!! I love it up there and the gals did too!!! :)

This woodpecker visited us

This place was built around the rocks and right in the middle of the house is a huge rock look closely

out in the yard crocheting

fudge attack!!! :)

Making Hats

I decided to decorate some hats and design them for my shop....I had fun and they turned out really great!!! Some of them I put charms on and others butterflys and lady bugs....:)

I think the colors really set them off....

This was a wicker box I out together....I was on a flower craze....

check out.... http://www.pointbreezedesigns.com/   or

http://treasuresagain.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TreasuresAgain4U

www.ebay.com/pbdesigns/

I've Been Busy Crocheting

This is a new cuff bracelet I made in Jelly Bean Yarn and Cotton. It is comfortable and pretty...I like cuff bracelets and with the added unique button I had found at one of the LYS it sets it off...will be available in my shop this week.... :)  Then I got wacky and added a headband to match

and now I am working on a matching ring.. :) This is a cotton crocheted necklace with a bead heart...the necklace is not done yet but I love the way it turned out. :)

This is part of my Kitty Bags and this one is called "Sweetheart Kitty" she is really cute for a little girl....also will be available and the pattern in my store this week...see the right side bar for link........

Be sure and check her out!!!

All About Shawls

Summer is a great time to make a shawl. It can be used when the sun goes down and you need a little something for the evening temps... I found this wonderful site on Vintage shawl history and how to quickly "zap" up a shawl and make it your own design....
First start with the shawl, dear ladies, this is the easiest to make. The shawl was a useful garment worn by women in the Civil War era. Shawls were created in a variety of fabrics and fibers, from plain to elaborate in design.

The best alternative to true cashmere was a blend of silk and wool. Pure silk was sometimes used, and later in the 19th century wool-cotton blends were used too. Printed cotton shawls came onto the market – some quite high quality, intended for light summer wear. At first there was usually a multicolour printed border round a plain centre. As the trade got better at imitating Indian calico fabric, shawls with all-over printed patterns were also produced.


As fashions changed, so did the shawl. By the 1830s, they were still essential items in the wardrobe of elegant ladies, but woven shawls were now available to “middling” women too. They worked better with the new wider skirts than fitted coats would. Improvements in looms made it easier to produce the large, typically Victorian shawl covering the entire upper body while also draping down over the skirt.

Clothes were another way for a Victorian lady to enjoy hand-knit lace. The Victorian Shawls were a favorite accessory. Some were simple one-stitch designs, while others were lavish, with ornate patterns, scalloped edges, and long fringe. For more warmth, shawls were often crafted from non-lacy patterns, such as garter stitch or double crochet, and then enhanced with a lacy edge. Whether they were lacy or cozy, shawls were often trimmed with ribbon and made in fashionable hues of red, mauve, and blue.

The simplest & warmest shawls were made from a square of wool, that was folded in half diagonally to make a large triangle. The ends of these shawls were often fringed. Today we call them the Triangle Shawl.
Decorative shawls were created from fine fabrics, and some were made to match the fabric of a favored dress. This flaunted a lady's wealth, as she could afford enough fine fabric to create a dress and large shawl. These shawls were often finished in a ruffle of the same fashion fabric and were cut very full in the hips to drape over their large skirt. Shawls in a paisley design were very desirerable, and many period photographs feature a belle proudly modeling her prized paisley. Fabrics with a check pattern were also frequently seen.

Knitted or crocheted shawls were widely used and were sometimes called a "Fascinator". A shell stitch pattern was popular, and an edging pattern in contrasting colored yarn was sometimes incorporated. Photos show both fringed and plain edges on these shawls. Most photos show a little collar crocheted on the neckline.


A note on crocheted shawls: You can find multitudes of crocheted or knitted shawls in thrift shops. Unfortunately, most are done in shiny acrylic yarns of excruciating color. Find one of these in somber colored wool, or at least an acrylic in a nice muted tone that looks like wool. Needless to say, period crocheted shawls did not come in the variegated yarn so popular today.


Lace shawls were very fashionable. While not providing much warmth, they were worn as an accessory with lovely dresses. Light shawls were seen with dark dresses, and dark shawls were worn with light or dark garments.

The best thing about the shawl is all the ways you can wear it. You can wear it around your neck, drape it down the front, or wear it the standard way over your shoulders, be sure and check other ways to wear your shawl here.


 "How to Make a Shawl" project:

Purchase a square of fabric from a fabric store or thrift shop. A nice woven wool blanket from a thrift shop is excellent material for a shawl. Purchased fabric should be very wide, try to find some that is 50 - 60 inches wide if at all possible. Wide fabrics are often available in the decorating or upholstery section of fabric stores. Choose a wool fabric in a solid, heather, or somber colored plaid.

Cut off the selvages from your square of fabric. Fringe the ends to at least 1/2 inch from the edge to prevent raveling. Fold your fabric square in half diagonally and your shawl is complete. Voila!!! Easy as pie....hmmmm that sounds good right now...lol....ok getting off track... :)