slightly addicted to vintage cookbooks.

slightly addicted to vintage cookbooks., originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

early christmas present

early christmas present, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

otis

otis, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

otis

otis, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

next door

next door, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

gifties from betsylynn50

gifties from betsylynn50, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

aneela hooey xmas top done

aneela hooey xmas top done, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

what im working on now

what im working on now, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

whats in my purse

whats in my purse, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

19 years ago

19 years ago, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

needlebook from jeanette(scrapnchick)

needlebook from jeanette(scrapnchick), originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

otis enjoying the lovely evening

otis enjoying the lovely evening, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

next door

next door, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

Pretties from a tiny local shop

Pretties from a tiny local shop, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

Pretties from a tiny local shop

needlebook partner, what do you think?

needlebook partner, what do you think?, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

someones missing his daddy

someones missing his daddy, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

sweet trim

sweet trim, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

trivet

trivet, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

giving it an overcoat of raw umber to tone in down and make it look more vintagey

giving it an overcoat of raw umber to tone in down and make it look more vintagey, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

which color? minty green or lucky shamrock...

which color? minty green or lucky shamrock..., originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

kitchen almost done

kitchen almost done, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

happy mail

happy mail, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

amy butler fabrics for swap

amy butler fabrics for swap, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

Otis

close up otis, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

Last friday i was driving down a country road when i saw a wee dog running down the middle of the on-coming traffic! i followed him down a side road and after some time i was finally able to get him into my car. if his family doesnt claim him by next saturday, we will most likely be keeping him.
he is just the sweetest little thing.

chloe and new pooch

chloe and new pooch, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

chloe and baby bird

chloe and baby bird, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

cracker tray

cracker tray , originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

some weeks back i had picked up a couple of cracker trays while thrifting. i think they were from the 60's-70's era. i thought it would be cute to make up some of our own, but i really wanted them to have some kind of scallopy edge. cutting the edge of the wood turned out to be not so great.(my jig saw skills suck eggs). so i went out looking for something else and i came across this adorable and tiny trim.
here is the result. kind of sweet, huh?

12 vintage dresden plates

12 vintage dresden plates from catslye, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

I am so excited! I got these lovelies in yesterdays mail. There is nothing like vintage quilt blocks, and especially dresden plates. The fabrics on these are simply gorgeous. I am such a sucker for 30's fabrics, and these dont disappoint. I will take a close up of some of them if anyone is interested in seeing more of the fabrics. Just let me know. The plates are about 12". I am thinking i may do a cream with red polka dot as the background and centers. What would you do if these beauties where yours? I think this will make a luscious wall hanging for my bedroom.

RATZ swap

Feeling a bit bummed that this round of DQS is over?  Need something to take your mind off of waiting for a quilt to arrive?  Come join us for some quick swapping between rounds!  We've created a special swap group specifically to run between DQS rounds--Rapid And Tiny Zakka Swap (the RATZ Swap).  These swaps will consist of short, one month rounds for small usable items (i.e. key fobs, luggage tags, inches, grocery bag, cup cozies, etc.) -- a fun way to try all those cool tutorials and patterns out there.  No extras are to be included in these international swaps, just create and ship!  So if you're interested in continuing the fun of DQS join us and sign up for our very first round--key fobs!  RATZ Swap

paint, tulips, and old timey notes

paint, tulips, and old timey notes, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

in the last few weeks we have picked up a few items that we want to sell at the flea market. they are pretty cruddy looking as is (sorry i dont have any befores, i will try to take a pic before we paint). the paint swatches are to help decide what color to paint them. i think i will go with a darkish turquoise. i have seen a couple of gorgeous pieces painted like that on pinterest lately.
about a month ago a lady came to our house and asked if she could put a sign in our yard about her lost dog. we of course said yes. three weeks later, i had assumed the dog would never be found, and had most likely been hit by a car, as we live on a very busy street. turns out a guy a couple houses down from us had picked the dog up off the street and had kept him. a few people had seen it happen and after being contacted by the dog people to see if he would put a sign up, confessed to having said dog.
the dog people were just so happy to have their dog back, they stopped off and gave us a tulip plant to say thanks for us putting up the sign. such a sweet gesture i thought.
the typewriter was a thriftstore find for $7. i was going to sell it, but the family is having too much fun writing fun notes, quotes and silly song lyrics to each other. i think it may stay on the coffee table for awhile
whats on your coffee table?

vintage goodies

vintage goodies, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

i havent been to the antique mall in awhile so i had the hubby drop me off while he got a haircut. i wasnt really in the mood to spend money (what???) but couldnt resist the tartan plaid cover of this cookbook. i have never been able to pass up a cute small wood box with a good price and neat wording. the dala horses....well of course i couldnt NOT buy them!!!

pear blossom

pear blossom, originally uploaded by chickenfoot.

we have been fortunate to have a gorgeous pear tree in our yard that is prolific (every other year). this is a fruit year! the tree produces lovely small bartlett pears that i hear are delicious. unfortunately i hate pears!
i just love the way the blossoms look, so springish. we have been spending time in the yard the last week or so because of the unseasonably warm weather.
we planted a few peonies in the front and i got several rhubarb plants from my fil, that are now safely tucked into the back garden
i love rhubarb crisp, do you have a favorite rhubarb recipe?

Bread, glorious bread

i found this fantastic recipe for crusty bread from Simply So Good via Pinterest. its a wonderfully easy loaf to make too! you put the dough together at nite and then let it rise overnite. early the next day, you pop it into the oven to bake. easy peasy. one caveat, you need a cast iron pot (or enameled cast iron) with lid, because you heat the pan empty. the pot also heats evenly and the lid causes a crispy crust.
janet also gives a number of additions you can add to the loaves for variety.
my second loaf i made with raisins, cinnamon and walnuts. i soaked the raisins for a few hours in some orange spice tea to plump them up. then i sprinkled the unbaked loaf with demerara sugar.
yum.

 krusta bread , tagged me for this fun little "get to know you" game.

The rules:
Answer some questions. Post some questions. Tag some people. It's an 11-11-11 plan (answer 11 questions, "tag" 11 bloggers, ask 11 questions).

1. Starch or no starch? i use best press, which is a starch substitute
2. Prewashing or not? no. definitely not!
3. Solids or prints? i love both equally. they both have their uses
4. Dogs or cats? i heart kitties, but i am highly allergic (asthma), but am more tolerant of doggies
5. Big quilts or little quilts? for me to make? i think small. that is usually what i end up making
6. Thrifting or buying new? hmm, depends what we are talking about. fabric...new. clothes....new. most other things....thrifted!! i also love to check out flea markets and antique shops
7. Wood floors or carpet? wood floors all the way. there is just something so homey about wood floors
8. Beer or wine? wine!! or champers. i quit smoking almost 20 years ago and gave up beer at the same time. they just go together, ya know?
9. Staying in or going out? at nite...definitely staying in. hubby and i dont have a nite life. but i do love to run around  during the day. check number 6.
10. One fabric line per quilt or mix and match? both! haha
11. Watching tv or listening to music? neither to be honest. i like silence.

im not really good at blogging as of late. so i wont tag anyone else
but if you would love to play along, i will post some questions, just in case. let me know if you play

1. your favorite childhood memory
2. your favorite sweet
3. what is your favorite quilt block to make?
4. what is your favorite quilt block to look at?
5. best summer pasttime?
6. summer drink of choice?
7. have you ever made something so horrid you immediately threw it away after finishing? what was it?
8.who do you feel blessed to have in your life (besides your family)?
9.do you totally love pinterest???
10. name something sweet you did for someone else today
11. name something sweet you did for yourself today

i bought some 3/8" hexie papers from work last week and decided to play with them and make a pincushion as part of a giveaway for the latest round of DQS. i still need to sew the top to the back but ive been putting it off, as i will be cutting off half of the outer row.
i have always been envious of other people's paper piecing. while i was browsing blogs tonight i found a NY beauty quilt a long.....i decided i need to play along.
i think i will do it scrappy
What are you up to?