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A little blog about my big loves; family, friends, stitching and yep, chocolate!

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Days Gone By

Sometimes, I am certain I was born in the wrong era.  

Although, truth be told, I don't like to sweat, so air conditioning is a must.  
I don't like to be cold, so central heating is a must.
I don't like to wash dishes, so a dishwasher is a must. 
I like clean clothes and wouldn't like washing EVERYTHING by hand so a washer and dryer are a must.
I don't generally like cleaning, but I do like a clean house, so vacuum cleaners and other tools to make household chores easier are a must. 
I'm not high maintenance though.  Really.  I'm not.

Okay.... maybe a little.

Anyway, I do love old fashioned things which is probably why I (we all) love samplers so much.
Speaking of samplers:
This is my progress to date on Mary Gibson:
I can't wait to get to the Adam & Eve under that tree. 
Now that I've moved passed those alphabets where every letter required a change in thread, I'm making a bit faster progress.

Would you like to see some of the treasures I've found?
Keep in mind, these have all been found over time, I just took forever to take pictures.
(There's more too, but I'll show you a few today).
Ready?  Let's go!
Here's a pretty, old fashioned thing, don't you think?  
My dear friend Sheila and I saw it at an estate sale during one of our lunchtime forays.
I was too cheap to buy it.  
She bought it and surprised me with it!
Thank you, Sheila!!!

Normallly, if I see something I like, and it's not cost prohibitive, I buy it.
I saw this sweet wedding sampler yesterday at an antique store.  

Took the pic with my iphone - sorry it's not better.

I loved it, but I didn't buy it (and it wasn't expensive).
I must have had an aneurism.
At any rate, now I'm kind of regretting not getting it.    
Isn't it pretty and sweet?  
It makes me sad to think that this once belonged to someone, that it was stitched with love and that now, nobody in the family wants it.
How can that be?  
click on the picture to (hopefully) see it in bigger detail.  
The stitches are really pretty.
Darn it.
Things don't have to be 100's of years old for me to love them.
I found this table cloth at an estate sale for $4.  
I'm sure it's not terribly old.
But that doesn't matter.
I love all the embroidered flowers and the time it took to embroider.
I think it would make a lovely bed coverlet.
I have an antique, white iron bed that I think it'll be beautiful on.
Of course, the bed is disassembled and stored away.  
But one day.... when I have a cottage with a sweet, little guest room; this 
will go on the bed.

This is a child's desk I found at an estate sale, this past summer.
I think I paid $40 for it (a lot for me to spend at an estate sale) but it was in perfect condition and I thought it was worth every penny.
I usually have a doll sitting on the bench - not sure where she ran off to.

A lot of the things I love would be considered more "vintage" than antiques but I love them, just the same.

I am, as I'm sure you've figured out, always on the hunt for sewing related items.
I don't really sew.  My mom is a great sewer.  Me, not so much.
But, I appreciate the art of the needle and all things related.

Here are a couple of tiny things I've found recently:
The felted, pale green thimble "box" and the thimble hat pinkeep were tucked into the heart shaped sewing box, all for $4.
Eagle eye Sheila spotted these.

I think I showed you a couple of the crochet pot holders I found this past summer but I've since added to my collection.  
What is it about these?
I would never have made these and then used them to hold pots.  
My pot holders get really gross in no time at all.
I found a couple of them and Deb gave me the three red and white ones on the left side, plus the round one in the center.
Don't you love them?  
I've got them lining the top wall of my craft room.
I think they're adorable.
Check out the cotton slips on the blue dresses.


This is a pretty, old Whitman's tin that used to belong to my Aunt.
She was moving to a new place and my mom knew I would love it.
When she asked her if I could have it, she said yes!
It is, for me, a treasure.
I love the soft worn colors of it.  She used it to store sewing items and so do I.

These thread winders are actually hand made, mother of pearl, fishing lures.
I spotted them at an antique market.  They were on the proprietor's head.
On his fishing hat. 

 I had to have them and was not to be denied.  
Finally, he agreed to sell them to me but I insisted he keep the hat!  

I was lucky enough to get quite a few of these beauties and they are all different. 
Some are quite small and some, like these, are a bit bigger.
I love them! 

I think that's about enough for today but I'll show you one more thing before I sign off.

I spotted this last object in an ad for an estate sale in Virginia, not far from where my mom and dad live.
I sent Mom the link and told her she should go to the sale because it looked like it might be a good one and I thought there might be some antiques SHE would like.
Wink. Wink.
When she got to the sale, she looked but couldn't find the object I had told her about.
Thankfully, she asked someone and they found it.
I have never seen one like it.
And, even though I'm more of a dog gal than a cat gal,
I loved it!

See how shiny the drawers are on the side?
The whole thing is tarnished but I can't decide whether to polish it or not.
So far, not polishing it has won.
It's not a big thing.  It is about 3" tall and 3" deep and I love it!

Finally, I'll leave you with a pic of Rob and me at a birthday party for a great niece we went to last week.
As you may notice, I have grown my hair out quite a bit since I first started blogging.
I've also changed the color.  
I have hair ADD.
I've been a blonde, a brunette, an auburn and now a red head.  
I initially started growing it so I could pull it back when I run.  
It is now long enough to do that and is probably long enough for a 50+ year old broad.


Not the best pic in the world (taken with my sister in laws phone) but you get the idea.

Have a great week and thanks so much for the warm welcome back.
You all make me so happy to be a part of this blogging/stitching community and I truly appreciate each and every comment that you leave me!
Speaking of which - WHY oh WHY did blogger go to the new, two word format?
I HATE IT.
BLECH!
If you don't want to leave a comment, I'll be sad but will understand!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by today and I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my finds  and I hope that you'll come back soon.  

Next post, I should have Ann Sandles back from the framer.  I can't wait to get her home!!

Peace!
Terri

59 comments:

Margaret said...

Oh, lots of eye candy as usual!!!! Love your Mary Gibson! So pretty! What fibers are you using? Love those reds! Sigh.... And all of your estate finds -- so cool! I especially love the fish threadwinders and how the man had them in his hat! lol! That little cat drawer piece is so cool too! But then everything you've found is cool. I need to find out how to find estate sales around me. I don't know if I'd have the patience to find a good bargain or a cool bargain though. Love your new hairstyle! And color too! Such a cute pic of you and your DH!

Margaret said...

ps: I think I'm slowing getting the hang of reading the darned word verification. It's definitely still difficult though. lol!

Jackie's Stitches said...

You post has me falling in love with Mary Gibson and itching to go antiquing! LOVE the story about the thread winders on the guys hat.

The red color and hairstyle really do suit you!

Carolyn said...

Yay! There's my buddy! Girlfriend, you have some PRETTY PRETTIES there! woo of the hoo....I LOVE your sampler. So, so pretty! And all of your estate sale finds are to die for. I wish we lived closer so we could haunt them together. Oh wait....we like the same stuff, so we might be fighting over it! LOL LOVE your vintage pot holders. I have a few that were my great grandmothers and like you, can't imagine using them. What's up with that? Mine look so yucky right now. I would never use the pretty ones.

LOVE your hair! You so don't look like you are 50 plus. I, on the other hand, do. LOL You look fabulous!

Hugs, friend....xoxo

Marion said...

LOVE your hair!!!
I love all your treasures too!!! I think I was born in the wrong era as well....I love antiques...my house is full of them....
I don't like the two words either, but I'm just happy when I CAN post a comment...sometimes Blogger won't even let me do that!
Take care
marion

Sherry :o) said...

Good to see your wonderful post. I love the heart pin cushion that your friend surprised you by doubling back and purchasing. Nice progress on the stitching front. Missed seeing you last week - how was the meeting? (if you went)... the little chest of drawers is really cool! Have a great week!

Nicola said...

I am so pleased to discover your blog after your kind words on mine. I can't beleive that I haven't found it before.

Mary Gibson is so beautiful.

I have taken word verification of my blog, it is such a nuisance now.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Great post!
I think we're lucky to live in an era (and in countries) where we have the luxuries you mention (some of them at least, I don't have a dishwasher or air con) but also the time to appreciate things from the past.
The people from those eras were too busy surviving to spend time adoring their simple things!
I think maybe the people in the wedding sampler didn't have children to pass it on to, maybe no nieces or nephews either. My Mum has alot of pieces from her Great Aunts which will come to me but I know little about them and my sons will know even less. As the generations go on the sentimental value decreases. At least this sampler has a chance of being bought by someone who will treasure it, go on, go back and buy it!
Finally, you can remove the verify thingies, I have. One was okay but these discriminate against the short-sighted!

marly said...

Very nice post! Lots of interesting items. You certainly don't look 50! The word verification has become a game for me. I'm trying to see how many I get right.

Sharon said...

Oh wow, what great finds. I am loving every single one. That tablecloth reminds me of one my grandma had, what a great idea for a bed cover. Mary Gibson, oh my she is beautiful. Just love it and the picture of you and DH is so nice. What a nice looking couple you are. xoxox

Deb said...

Wow, you've gotten tons done of Mary Gibson. I do know what you mean about the different colored alphabets slowing you down. I hate them (and of course, I've got them with Ann Rayner).

Love all your sewing treasures - you always find the best!

And I'm with you on the verifier thing - it drives me nuts so I took it off mine after someone told me after six tries they gave up and sent me an email instead. Then of course, I get a weird comment! LOL

Love everything and great pix of you and Rob.

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

wow you sure have fun. Now,,,the redhead with a red happy face??? would that be you? lol funny what pops into my mind when I see and read something. Love all of your finds and Nice to see you back in blog.
I TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT THE TWO WORD THING...I have my own two words to that one....
Be always in stitches

Deborah said...

Mary is beautiful and i can't wait to see it finished. I just love all the wonderful things that you picked up. The little silver set of drawers is just great.

MoonBeam said...

Good to have a nice, long post from you.

Your sampler is looking great.

Don't polish the little sewing drawers (at least for a while).

And, yes, that new two word format is horrible. Sometimes I have to try to post three times before I can leave my comment...these old eyes just aren't able to read that black and white raggedy looking stuff very well. I might have to start using the cheater button!

Bobbi

Melissa said...

You look great, Terri! Very different with the longer hair and the change in colour.

Love Mary Gibson - she is looking fabulous!

And of course i love your finds, especially the child's desk - so sweet!

Myra said...

I love seeing your found treasures. I especially like the desk.

Ranae said...

MG is looking so pretty. You'll soon get to Adam and Eve.
I love every single one of your treasures, lovely finds.
What a cute couple ;)

Catherine said...

Wonderful stitches and goodies ~ and an especially sweet picture!

Beth said...

Oh but Mary Gibson is wonderful - great estate finds too. I'm like you - often I obsess with why the item has been "lost" to the family...very sad I think.

samplerlover said...

Mary Gibson looks really lovely. Great progress. You and Deb find the most wonderful things when you go antiqueing. Love everything that you found.

Not a big fan of the new Blogger. It is a right p9ain.

Holly Hills Primitives said...

Oh my goodness, you're getting quite a sewing collection. Good for you! Love the new hairdo and the color. Hope you and your buddies come out to visit one of these days. Have a great week, Dawn

CJ in OK ;-) said...

Your sampler is looking so pretty and I loved seeing all your treasures collected. CJ in OK ;-)

Jeanne said...

yes I hate this change in Blogger requiriing 2 words and one is usually difficult to decipher. Double blech!!

You have lots of fun estate finds Terri and your sampler is beautiful. I wish I had time to hit some estate sales but I barely have time for any stitching let alone those.

Sylvia said...

I love all your antiquing finds - so cool.
Mary Gibson is looking very pretty.

I am so with you on this two work thing - sometimes they are impossible to read. Hate it!!

Christine said...

Beautiful stiyching and great vintage and antique finds.
Great to see a picture of you, I love the hair colour.
I hate the new word verification too. They are SO hard to read

Siobhán said...

Your Mary Gibson looks fantastic!! It's so pretty. Wonderful progress. I love all of your vintage finds, too. My friend crocheted some pot holders for me. They're not vintage but they were made with love, and so I'm the same--can't bear to use them as pot holders! Instead, I rest my Yankee candle jars on them.

Love the red hair! I went red for awhile--loved it--but it was too high maintenance for me.

Krista said...

Your sampler is looking so beautiful, and thanks for sharing all the little treasures you have found. Love that pretty little pincushion!

Love your new hairstyle and color. What a nice pic of your and your husband. Have a great week!

Rhona said...

Stitching is looking great! Love all your finds but especially those little drawers...how absolutely adorable!

Anna van Schurman said...

Mary Gibson is gorgeous and so is your hair! If you have a hard time with the two word authentication, you can hit the button that looks like volume control. It will give an audio clip that sounds like a party with a series of words that are easy to make out to write. No more trying to figure out that second word with the black sploge on it! :)

Katrina said...

Mary Gibson is gorgeous!!!! Your treasures are wonderful. I especially love the whitman tin, it's just too much fun.

Love the new hair too :-).

Cath said...

Lovely finds ,and great stitching . X

Nancy said...

Beautiful sampler you are stitching! I can't wait to see Adam & Eve beside the tree.

I love all of your finds Terri! It is so fun to go on treasure hunts especially when you can come home with wonderful treasures!

Loraine said...

What a fabulous post Terri! Your sampler is looking wonderful! I can't get over how many wonderful things you find at estate and antiques sales. You have some lovely treasures to add to your sewing collection!
I love your new hair do. You look great in any color, or style!
Still working on an e-mail to you. Sorry it's so long, It's been one of those weeks...or months. Everyone is sick and the schedule is packed!
Hugs to you!

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

Oh I love Mary Gibson ... beautiful stitching my friend ..

bisous xxx de France

woolwoman said...

what great finds Terri - those thimble keeps are awesome! Love your Mary Gibson progress. Lovely sampler to be sure. I'm with you on the word verification but I just keep hacking at it until I get it to take - urghhh - have a good week! mel

Cari said...

Oh my gosh Terri...this was a wonderful post. thanks for shari g. and whe you get the cottage guest room decorated , let me know! I'd love to come for a visit!!! xoxoxo

valerie said...

You always find the neatest stuff at estate sales! I love the embroidered tablecloth and those fishing lures. Wow, so many wonderful things. Great progress on Mary.

I think your hair looks fabulous! Color, length and all. Great photo!

Kathy said...

Enjoyed your post! I would love to know more about thread winders. I have not heard that term before and don't know what they are.

From the Attic said...

Hi Terri

Great post with lots of interesting stuff. I often think about our stitched pieces and what will happen to them when we are no longer here. Perhaps they will end up in a thrift store too. I really hope not though.

Chrissie

PS.... and no Blogger, I am not a robot!! Can't you just take my word for it!!

Anonymous said...

Neat finds! I wish I looked as young as you do for 50! I'm 50+ but you look like a young un! Your stitching is fab! Glad you are back! Jannie

Prims By The Water said...

Love your new sampler and WOW that hair..you look awesome girl!!! Glad you are back to blogging..miss ya. Take care, Janice

Mary said...

Great post - you certainly have had some fun with your purchases. Love the last little drawer set and oh my that looks like Elizabeth behind it.
Mary

JOLENE said...

Love your sassy red hair, it looks good on you. Your sampler looks pretty in red, too. Lol. What fun vintage finds and those sweet potholders really are cute. My grandma made several of these and I have them tucked away in my cedar chest. Smiles...

Patty C. said...

Nice stitching !!!
You are such a good shopper ;)

If I don't comment it's because I'm apparently a robot - lol

TinaTx said...

Great post! I was shaking my head in agreement the whole time I was reading! Our list of necessities seems to be the same. LOL
Nice stitching and wonderful shopping finds. I always wonder about the photos I find in antique shops, especially the cute little baby pictures. I've stitched several wedding samplers for marriages that didn't last - wonder if they ended up in antique shops?
Love the new hair color! I've let mine grow out too but mine is more because I moved 150 miles from my hairdresser. I wear it pulled back a lot but it sure ain't because of running!

Carol said...

Beautiful progress on Mary, Terri--and you're looking pretty darn good yourself!! Love your new hair color--it suits you well :)

Edgar said...

What super finds!! Congrats.... and your coif is super!!

Julie said...

Your sampler is looking good.
I am always amazed at the great little finds you get at those garage sales.We don't have any thing like that. :(

Mylene said...

A lovely post, Terri. and wow! you look GREAT!!!

Cathy Lloyd said...

OMGOSH! That Whitman tin is TO DIE FOR! You have been getting so many fun things! Love all your pictures. Somehow I missed your post...so hey...sorry bout that! I hate the 2-word thing too. Humpff.....

merumo said...

Mary is looking very pretty! You are one of my beautiful inspirations... And all the vintage/antique? stuff are so tempting, too. Wish we had good antique shops in our area, too.

Susan @ Real Girl Designs said...

You could have been born in another era - you would just want that era to involve a house full of servants, so that you didn't have to do the washing or cleaning! And there would have been maids to start a fireplace in your bedroom each evening - not sure what they did in the summer, though...

Your finds are all lovely!

Sherry said...

I love all your new treasures! Wish I was that lucky! Mary Gibson is beautiful.

Linda said...

Hi Terrie
You know how much I love seeing your finds. If we lived near each other, we would be trouble!!
We garage sale most Saturdays, and have found lots of goodies, I'll have to get pics on my blog.
So tell me, where did you find Mary Gibson? Looks like another must-do
Linda

Lynn said...

I loved this post!
Mary Gibson is looking fabulous! I can't wait to see Adam & Eve either.

Your estate finds are amazing. I think that little cat piece is just awesome!! I also like the Whitman box you inherited. I wish there were more of those estate sales around here. They look like such fun.

I love your hair colour and I think it really suits you!

Vinniey said...

Your Mary Gibson is gorgeous! Lovely colors and beautiful progress!

Beautiful bench you've found! So cute but very vintage. OMG! I love that old Whitman's tin too. It's very vintage and beautiful! And that mini drawer is so gorgeous! Lovely photo of you and your hubby!

You look so pretty with this hairdo, Terri! I went brown on last month and I love my new hairdo too. :) Looking forward to see your framed Ann Sandles. It must be very beautiful! :) Happy stitching and treasures hunt!

Penny said...

Wonderful stitching on Mary Gibson! She is so pretty. Love all of your estate finds! I would love to go to estate sales, but am not one to do something like that on my own. Too bad I don't have any like minded friends. :) What a lovely picture of you and your husband and I love the red hair! :)

Brigitte said...

Very nice stitching progress. And oh, what wonderful finds. This tiny little drawer chest is so unusual, a real little beauty. I have never seen anything like that before. Love the old Whitman tin.

Kathy Ellen said...

I thoroughly loved reading this post, and seeing all of your terrific estate finds. What fun! Mary Gibson is really beautiful too, and is inspiring me to consider stitching her too. Now, if only there were more hours in every day, and more years to stitch everything that inspires me! Every one of your posts are such fun and so inspirational too