At Grampa's Desk

Grampa was born in 1914, almost didn't survive the flu of 1918, lived through the depression, served in WWII, worked for many years at the lumber yard, and told his grand-daughter she would someday get his desk.
I always told him I was in no hurry to get it (because I knew what he meant by 'someday'.)

He lasted 97 years and was kind and intelligent until his last day with us.  
One of the items I found last weekend that I didn't show,

is this book.  The copy-write is 1918, the year before Grampa began school.
He learned 'The Palmer Method' of writing most likely from a book just like this.  Good penmanship was a sign of a good education.
Not to sound cliche, but my how times have changed.

As a teacher, I know the the English is the only language with two forms of writing (print & cursive,) and it would make much more sense to have just one.   Buuuut, the nostalgic romantic in me just loves cursive.  
I even taught a calligraphy class one term.  Not just with regular pens and pencils, but with old fashioned dipping pens.  I wish we still used them.  
They make even so-so writing beautiful.

I use them when I write letters. 
What is a letter? I hear young readers asking.
Here is an example written to my great-great-grand-mother from her Aunt Jane.  They are still here speaking of births, travels, relations, etc.
How many emails will be around 100 years from now?

And now, if you'll allow me, I would like to encourage you 

to sit and write a letter - 
to a friend, a relative, or someone who has touched your life.
If you have never used a fountain pen, and you have the opportunity, go ahead.  Give it a whirl.  You just might find yourself writing more letters just as I am going to do now~
at my grampa's desk.

PS Those are pictures of Grampa with a little ol' me on his lap.  They would probably look a little better in a pretty little frame, but he had them in these little plastic ones for as long as I can remember so I keep them as they are.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

One Man's Trash

We had a busy but fun weekend.
My mother-in-law and I went to Portland to 
their largest yard sale.
Over 400 vendors in one building.
We went last year as well.
We seemed to find a lot more last year:
however, we did find a little something.

This is just part of the spoils.

 I love intaglios.  I have an amber glass intaglio necklace.  
This is clear so it actually shows the color behind it. 
I have a bit of a collection of beaded collars.
I'm not quite sure  why I just am so drawn to them.
The two strands of beads are just to use in whatever,
but I was sure I needed them.

 Always on the hunt for fabric.
A piece of homespun, wool, and cotton.
It's the quilter in me.

She reminded me of Holly Hobby.

An old pot holder that I'll wash and use.

 I have always wanted a half doll pincushion so
I finally found one - and a mother-of-pearl pin.

We returned home (to in-laws) and across the street,

a neighbor was having a yard sale.  I found this lamp that

is not old, but will be a great bedside lamp.  I

should have straightened the shade before taking the picture.

I did get just a couple other things, but they are

for others so I don't want them to see before they

receive them.

A fun weekend but as always,

it feels good to be home.

Hope you have a beautiful Monday.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers & Even Stitches

Ranch House Candles in Post, Oregeon

I recently received my new order from

Ranch House Candles.
These are excellent candles!  
Post, Oregon is right in the middle of Oregon.
The whole town consists of one building.
If you are a candle person, you might just take a peek.
The wicks are in the middle unlike so many.
Dawn does a fabulous job, is knowledgeable 
and shares that knowledge -  like the darker the candle,
the longer it burns, cool candles burn longer, etc.

She is pouring more candles each week,

and each week, I can't wait to smell what's next:)

Last week was Blackberry Sage Tea
This one should come with a spoon.


Her latest is Citrus-Basil (light green.)
It smells like summer.  I love it.

The Banana Nut Bread smells like the real thing.

If computer screens could be scratch-n-sniff,
you could smell for yourself.

You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two pictures.
Mr. LB asked for either one ~ the burnable kind or the edible kind-
he got both:)

She keeps her Facebook page updated, and
I have created this link so you can just click
Ranch House Candles
to see a list of available scents.
She was pouring more today (Wed.)

or you can call &/or email:

ranchhousecandlesor@gmail.com

Phone: (541)408-4505

If you search for 'Ranch House Candles,' be sure you put Oregon
in the search or it will take you to Texas.

Wynken, Blynken, & Nod Crazy

It's almost quilt show season:)

I just registered my Wynken, Blynken, & Nod quilt

in the Krazy Horse Quilt Show.

The show is May 4-5, 2013

In Pendleton, Oregon.

I finished this up last summer (since last years show.)

It is not a judged show & I've only put

a quilt in it once or twice, but I like to support the local show -

(I like judged shows.) 

This quilt is made from a Pendleton Wool suit (pink,)

a pair of wool pants & skirt (ivory,)

and the beige is from a WWII military blanket.

It was a little thicker than the other fabrics, 

but it was the perfect color.

Finding quality fabric for joining the blocks was

the biggest challenge - 

which made piecing them difficult as 

the new fabric was 'wobbly' by comparison.

I just love the old E. Fields poem

Wynken, Blynken, & Nod

so did a center scene of the poem

and the actual poem which happens to be

4 stanzas long, one stanza in each corner.

On the crazy quilt part, I did all one stitch.

That was a first for me - I usually like to mix it up.

If you've never read the poem:

Wynken, Blynken, & Nod

by Eugene Fields

 Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night

Sailed off in a wooden shoe,-

Sailed on a river of crystal light

Into a sea of dew.

“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”

The old moon asked the three.

“We have come to fish for the herring-fish

That live in this beautiful sea;

Nets of silver and gold have we,”

Said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,

As they rocked in the wooden shoe;

And the wind that sped them all night long

Ruffled the waves of dew;

The little stars were the herring-fish

That lived in the beautiful sea.

“Now cast your nets wherever you wish,-

Never afraid are we!”

So cried the stars to the fishermen three,

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

All night long their nets they threw

To the stars in the twinkling foam,-

Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,

‘Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed

As if it could not be;

And some folk thought ’twas a dream they’d dreamed

Of sailing that beautiful sea;

But I shall name you the fishermen three:

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,

And Nod is a little head,

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies

Is a wee one’s trundle-bed;

So shut your eyes while Mother sings

Of wonderful sights that be,

And you shall see the beautiful things

As you rock in the misty sea

Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:-

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. 

My children are teenagers,

so maybe this will be for a grand-daughter someday - 

I can wait:)

It just all seemed to work, and

other than the quality of the new wool

I am pleased with how it turned out.

Oh, yea, It weighs just about 7 pounds!

It oughta be warm.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

(PS, waited a couple days to try to have nice enough weather to photograph the entire thing - Mother Nature doesn't want me to:)

Book Review: A People and Their Quilts

I really try to be one of those~

'If you don't have anything nice to say,

don't say anything at all." 

That being said, if I say I think this is good, I really do:)

I have read & used plenty of shallow, unorganized, 

or low quality books and patterns, but

try to keep them to myself unless asked or

guiding someone who is new to the art.

Nothing is more discouraging than trying something

for the first time and not having quality &/or complete instructions. 

I happened across this over-sized book.

And I know better than to judge a book by its cover,

buuuut....

I was so taken with the woman on the cover (Opal,)

I checked it out.

I did read the book summary:)

It features people from & living in the Appalachia Mountains

and their connection to quilts.

It is not a pattern book, but some of

the antique quilts featured - 

that had no pattern,

are absolutely amazing.

This book was published in 1983 so some of the clothes

 that people are wearing are a bit of a flash-back.

One lady interviewed was 100 years old at that time,

which means she was born in the 1880's.

Hearing their stories is something we have no way

of acquiring today.

It was not only a good read from a quilter's point of view,

but from a humanitarian and historian point of view.

I am truly thankful for all I have.

I am certain that a good majority of the people interviewed

and featured are gone now & their quilts

passed to another generation.

A book well worth the read.

The author is/was the founder of the

Museum of Appalachia

which is mentioned several times throughout the book.

The museum has become a success as well.

If you live in that area, you might plan a day trip.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

For the Love of Lace

They say the first step is to admit it.

Okay, here goes.

I am addicted...to antique lace.

Am I alone in this?

I was at the local bargain counter and found a piece of wool.

I thought, "I will just look really quick at what else

there is."  In the 25 cent bin, 

I found this beautiful antique lace collar.

Oh, but it gets better.

I donate items there relatively frequently.

When I went to pay for the skirt and collar,

she said, "Oh, I'm not going to charge you for 

that little thing."  

Because, 25 cents was too much???

I thanked her immensely.

The pink ribbon ties must have been sewn on later.

I have a stack of vintage linens and laces up-stairs, 

down-stairs, lace here, lace there,  geesh.

Another fun piece - has a couple little spots - haven't tried to remove yet. 

 If you share this same addiction, there is

a wonderful little book you might enjoy.

It discusses the history of lace and the making

of it over the course of time.

Did you know that at one time lace was outlawed? 

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

~A Big Thank You~

I hope everybody had a blessed Easter weekend full of

joy, thankfulness, and of course a bit of chocolate.

Thank you!

I recently won a giveaway at 

Betsy's Heartstrings

Take a look at her blog - such beautiful pretties

and beautiful words.

I returned home from a wonderful Easter weekend and had

waiting for me a sweet surprise. 

A fabulous care package including this had made postcard.

There are actually 3 bottles of different sparkling ciders, but one

is hiding.  Wonderful Watkins lotions and balms - can't

wait to try these out.  I thought I did pretty good not

digging right into them so I could get a picture first.

Did you see the glass - now I have my own "special" glass.

We also discovered in the process of this give-away

that we are only a couple hours from one another.

Blogging brings friends together from near and far.

Again, thank you Mom E.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches