Giveaway Tote

From this - a skirt I haven't worn since three jobs, eight years, and two toddlers ago.

To this: a giveaway! A stylish linen print market tote, fully lined with a blue print cotton, and embellished with some fussy-cut flowers.
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Happy 105th post, Sycamore Corner Crafts! I started out with a bag, and here is another bag. It is yours if you are the randomly drawn name from a comment posted here before 8pm Sunday, I'll announce the winner then.

Please be sure to include your email in your post if it is not in your profile, so I can contact you to get your address! Good luck!

Camping, and a Cookbook

Our home away from home last week

Late nights around the fire

Days filled with exploring - and spending time with Grammy and Gramp

Amish farm from the car, lots of exploring the countryside. I'd never been to Pennsylvania Dutch country before, we spent a lot of time on Wikipedia looking up the Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren practices and beliefs. *I should mention this was Wikipedia on the phone. It was absolutely lovely and very peaceful to have no computer for a week.

When we got home, I was happy to see the garden not entirely dead, and my new curtains still up which I forgot to show before leaving. They mainly block the light from the sunny side of the kitchen, and are just cheap matchstick blinds lined with black denim and a black and white print. Functional and pretty.

Gramp picked out this cookbook - I can guarantee that nothing in it is low fat. But I'm looking forward to trying some dumplings and other intriguing dishes. And the desserts look delish. Thanks Gramp!

I haven't forgotten the giveaway - update ahead. It will be something crafted by me, which means I can't give it away until I craft it. Ahem. Be right back...

Raspberries

Are our favorite. Thanks Grammy and Gramp! May they take over everything and give us lots and lots for years to come.

Fix-it Friday - Painted Cafe Table

Once again I have forgotten to take the "before" photo - believe me when I say this table had seen many summers and a couple of winters outside, and was a dry and distressed weathered dark brown. I think this caribbean aqua is just the ticket. The toddlers helped with priming (we used brushes) but were distressed themselves not to be allowed to spray on the color. After they sniffed the stinkiness of spray paint they reconsidered and retreated indoors. Better for their brain cells anyway!

Now, if it will only cool down enough in the evenings for an actual glass of wine outside watching fireflies (not as many as last year, it has been so dry and hot) swatting mozzies (many many more than last year)

Summer Top

Remember my crush on the schoolhouse tunic in black and white check back in spring top week? Well, here is my attempt. My fabric (from Joann's) is not so drapey - the trapeze-type body isn't working for my mama body, so I plan to do some darts in the back to gather it in a bit. But Mr. Sycamore declared it does not look maternity-esque, so it is a start. Used the Market Shirt pattern (meant for a much lighter voile) from Weekend Sewing - had to lower the neckline considerably and in retrospect I would have made the sleeves shorter and the body longer, but overall I like it!

WIP - Free Fleece!

And I love free! Thanks to my friend Diana who scored it for me and taught me how to wash it, and to Felicia for loaning me the carders. What will it become? Felt? A sweater? It is lovely grey and white and very long. I've been longing to a) plant a dye garden b) try dyeing with plants ... this may have to wait until next summer. But oh, I dream of sheep.

A Very Green Post

Check out the pumpkin! I swear it looks like this vine grows a couple of feet a day and has taken over its patch by the house. Saw a three foot black snake last week - but that's good, right? Fewer rodents? Right?

Okra is cool! Seriously, we love gumbo here, and growing up northern I only discovered okra as an adult. Yum.

What is that hiding? This watermelon also seems to grow several feet a day - in several directions.

I can see we need more official stakes than just rotten branches jammed in the ground and groaning under the tomato load. They sure do love hot weather.

Train Bag

With a Thomas that goes around and around. Whipped up from the stash, and I love this color combo!



Oh yes, and this is my 100th post. Watch for a giveaway when we get back from camping to celebrate! And yes, I was not organized enough to organize it pre-camping. But happy 100 to me!

Wednesday WIP - Cross Stitch

I needed something small and cool to work on for our vacation, so I finally started this lovely pattern, which I've had for a year at least, from WooHoo on Etsy. I hand-dyed the cloth in coffee, which gave it an interesting mottled look for the background (maybe it will look like an heirloom early) and I foolishly started in a floss that I knew I didn't have enough of, so the color will be slightly off when I switch - I see items like that all the time in thrift stores, so now I'll have one of my own, and someone in the future can say "look at that, she was so frugal that she just kept going and used up what she had" or, you know, "look at that, she was too cheap and lazy to plan correctly or start over when she ran out"

Vintage Swaps Summer 2010

I've been following Shivaya Naturals for a while now - can't remember how I came across it, I think probably off of Soulemama. I really love how Heather combines joy in her kids' activities, food, crafty stuff, design, yoga, landscape. She's inspiring me to improve my photos too. Anyway, having seen previous posts about the Vintage Swap I thought I'd join this time, and got matched up with Halima at Old World Knits. I can't wait to get started thrifting for the swap. Check out Halima's blog for some thrifty goodness and great links.

Meanwhile, I may have blogged about these hand-mades before, but below you will see the chef's hat and all-purpose toddler apron in action. The chocolate cake was as good after it came out of oven as it was on the spoon.

Fix-It Story - Screened Porch

As you can see, we couldn't really install permanent screens here. And we only need them in bug season. So the solution turned out to be a screen house meant for a gazebo (it came with velcro already attached). I cut off one side and used that to create the triangular piece to go up the ceiling. I had to extend it a bit so got some outdoor fabric at Joann's on sale (phew! it was still pretty pricey) And made some sandbags for stability around the zipper there. We're very happy with it so far, although in the million degree heat it is not cool enough to eat out there until midnight snacks. Coffee in the morning works too.

In a non-fix-it Friday project, I actually broke a chair by sitting in it. Sorry Gina! I think this one may be irreparable. The irony is, I've actualy lost 5 pounds already this summer by trying to eat more salads, even though they seem to make me hungry. At least I'm still padded enough that nothing was hurt but my pride.

Thrift Store Find - Footed Bowl

I love love love that this bowl has a pie-crust edge. We have fruit at the table every night for the picky eaters to substitute for dinner, this bowl makes me happy no matter what we put in it.

Happy Birthday, United States! Happy Fourth of July, everyone!