Spring!

        Spring is finally here! In the air and on my clothes! I found very pretty single curtain panel for $1 at Hudson's Dirt Cheep the other day. I decided that the beautiful material would best be used for a new Spring dress for me! So, I went to cutting and measuring and made myself a new spring dress! 

Rice Bowl Quilt

        Yesterday I began working on my quilt! The squares are rice bowls. Unfortunately, I lost the directions. So, I have just been making the rice bowls. I'm not sure how to piece the borders together. I will have to wait for my Grandmother to send a copy of the directions. Maybe then I'll know what I'm doing. Sort of.

Rainbow Brite!

        YAY! I have organized my sewing materials! And all the colors reminded me of my favorite 80's cartoon - Rainbow Brite! So... I organized

My Spools

My Buttons

My Ribbons

And my NEW Fabrics!

Good Friday = Planting Day

        Yesterday was Good Friday which means planting day! We filled raised beds, tilled, planted, fertilized, and etcetera. And it was a really nice day to get all the planting done. In past years we have waited until late April or even early May. That is the worst time to plant. It is far to hot in Mississippi to plant after mid April.

        My father-in-law uses an olde-timey planter to plant corn. It has a little wheel that places the corn the perfect depth in the ground and distance apart. This planter used to be horse or mule drawn. But we have a more modern way of doing things now. . . 

Yet, somehow, this still seems a bit back-woods.

        Other things were planted by hand and hoe. Jake, my eight-year-old nephew, and I planted the cantaloupe by hand. Earlier that morning we also planted watermelon into little peat-moss cups. 

        Also, the figs, pears, peaches, and apples are all in full bloom! I can't wait for all these things to produce fruits and veggies! Ah, another successful day on the Harrell Family Farm.

Rice Bowl and Chopsticks Apron

        Here is the rice bowl and chopstick pocket all sewn onto my apron. This is the template that I posted a picture of s few weeks ago. I think that I will keep this one for myself. So far it is my favorite piece that I have created. Yay!

Cups an Espresso Café

        Most Saturdays, and the occasional Sunday, I work a at local coffee house called Cups. I enjoy it. Especially since I enjoy coffee. Though, I wouldn't really say I would "kill for coffee." Most days I prefer a good hot tea or, if I really feel like spoiling myself, a chai tea latte.

        This awesome spaghetti-strap shirt is another one of my great bargain buys. I purchased it last summer at the local Hudson's Dirt Cheap for a mere $2. Yeah. Wow. So, I wear this shirt to work fairly often. Lovely.

Unique Aprons

        I have been working on some more aprons. This one is made from only two dish towels which can be purchased at a dollar store for a dollar or less each. I am glad that my cousin pointed out to me that they are 100% cotton! So, I was sure to wash and dry them first so that the recipient of this apron isn't unpleasantly surprised upon removing it from the dryer after it's first wash. The teapot itself is a pocket and the strings are just cute ribbons I found on clearance at Michael's.

        Also, here are the pieces to the pocket I am going to put on my next apron. I placed a pencil beside it for scale. It is much larger than the last one that Lisa and I made without the rice. I will place this piece on a heavy dark brown linen. Pictures of the finished apron soon to come.

Sunset Fishing

        Ah, how I love early Spring. Lath took Curly and me fishing this week. We just went down to the small pond in the pasture. It was so nice outside. Just before dusk, maybe 70 degrees outside. We only caught a few good channel cats, a little mud cat, and a very tiny pond perch. It was just catch and release for fun. Curly enjoyed himself.

A Stitch in Time

        I've been trying to keep busy lately. Especially with so many women I know having babies. Here are a few of my latest projects/creations. The first is a teddy bear hat and booties set. I crocheted these with some curly, scrunchy yarn. I crocheted the little brown buttons on the booties and just stitched the eyes and nose onto the hat.
        The second set was down with some good old Red Heart brand yarn. These booties were done with an afghan stitch. When they are stitched together then turned right-side out they make a neat little criss-cross pattern down the front. The base of the hat was done in afghan stitch for about four rows. It was then joined, turned down to make a cuff, and single crocheted to the top. It was hard to close the top, since i did it backwards from the way I usually work, but it was fine. Lastly I laced the booties and embroidered the fish hook onto the hat with a dark brown yarn.

The Thrifty Queen

        I am Tab the Queen of Thrift! I purchased this awesome T shirt for $3 at the local Hudson's Dirt Cheep Salvage Center. And, yes, I did rock some cassette tapes in the 80's. Books on tape with Teddy Ruxpin. I loved that bear.I listen in my little legging pants, plastic headband, and Keds tennies. Thanks Mom.