Mary Zoom

Sunday Inspiration - Affection

2012-01-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

"Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection." Pindar (ancient Greek poet)

1. Moss Covered Monogram by Esther Shafer

2. Holding Hands Illustration by Sara Pulver

3. Vintage Seam Binding by Jersey Ice Cream Company

4. Spooning No. 2 Fine Art Photo by Petek Design

5. French Beaded Flowers by Fen

6. Los Cabos Porcelain Ring by MaaP Studio

7. Greeting Card with Handwritten Calligraphy by Sparrow Nest Script

8. Wedding Invitation by Vanessa Ottenbreit

9. Romantic French Print by The Love Shop

World's Best Sunflower Brittle

2012-01-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

I recently found an old little cookbook called "Recipes from the Tri-State Area" that was typed on a typewriter and printed by hand on an old mimeograph machine. This little book is a collection from a previous generation of farm wives of all their favorite recipes using wheat and sunflowers, which are the two big cash crops here in Northwest Kansas.

Inside this little treasure trove is a recipe for Sunflower Brittle, contributed by Opal Bretz. I made tons of it for Christmas gifts and sold it at Farmer's Market. It was a great way to earn extra money for gifts. Mrs. Bretz's recipe is no fail as long as you use a good candy thermometer. I'm planning to make some more for Valentine's Day and dip the brittle pieces in chocolate and red and white sprinkles.

I use only locally grown sunflower seeds that I buy directly from the local sunflower processing plant.

This is the office and lab where they grade the loads that the farmer hauls in from the sunflower fields.

Here is Mrs. Bretz's recipe for sunflower brittle if you would like to try making it. I recommend that you do because it is light and airy and almost melts in your mouth!

World's Best Sunflower Brittle

from the kitchen of Opal Bretz,

Sherman County Kansas

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water

1 cup sugar

2 cups sunflower seeds

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup white syrup

2 tbs. butter

Bring 1/2 cup water to boil, and add sugar and white syrup. Stir until dissolved and boil it until it spins a thread or to 238º on a candy thermometer. Add sunflower seeds and cook slowly over a low fire to 300º. Take from fire, and add butter, soda and vanilla. Stir quickly. Spread onto well buttered cookie sheet. Cool then break into desired pieces.

Sunday Inspiration

2012-01-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." Audrey Hepburn

I plan to laugh a lot and be happy today. And kiss my DH, too - lots!

1. Elegantly feminine corsage by Discerning Chichi

2. Clay hug and kiss balls by 645 Workshop

3. Fun and whimsical 2012 calendar by The Ink Nest

4. Beautiful dress by River of Romansk

I'm going to Sparkle!

2012-01-12T13:27:00.002-07:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Jeni, of In Color Order is cohosting a quilt-a-long, which is kind of like a virtual quilting bee. The quilt that we are going to be making is called "Sparkle" which is a fun take on a traditional block.

Kitchen Quilt - circa 2005

This is a similar quilt I made a few years ago. It uses florals and has a smaller square of homespun check in the center of the block. The Sparkle quilt will update this design and will replace the small square with one big square in the center.

Join me in making your own Sparkle quilt! Go here to find out how to pick your fabrics, and then join the Sparkle Flickr group and share your progress. See you there!

Sunday Inspiration

2012-01-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

"Sow good services; sweet remembrances will grow from them." Madame de Stael (French author 1766-1817)

I love this sentiment - This is my visual interpretation of it:

Artists From Left to Right:

Susan Lussier O'Connor

Steam Designs

Sandra Ramirez

Liz Lollar

How to Read Seed Catalogs for Gardening Success

2012-01-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know it is only January. It's cold. The days are short and I'm stuck inside. But now is the best time to start planning your garden. I love January because that's when I start receiving all the seed and gardening catalogs and my dreams begin to come alive!

There are so many beautiful pictures in these catalogs. I feel like a little girl looking at the Sears-Roebuck Christmas Wish Book - I want one of everything! However, if I want my flowers and vegetables to look like the pictures in the catalogs, I need to understand how to interpret the catalog's descriptions. Not all flowers and vegetables are suited to all climates, and seed catalogs will give you the information you need for success.

Catalog descriptions usually include specific information, such as plant height (how tall a plant will grow) and plant spread (how much space a plant will take in the garden; flower size, fruit size; the number of days to germination; number of days to maturity. These numbers are estimates, though, because every garden has a unique microclimate.

Make sure you know your planting zone, which is how you can find out which plants will grow successfully in your climate. You can find it here if you live in the United States. Also consider the spot you will be planting your flowers and vegetables. Vegetable gardens need a minimum of 6 hours of continuous full sun. Less than that and your plants will be spindly and production will be low. Trust me, I know from bitter experience that you can't fool Mother Nature on this one!

If you are planting a flower garden, there are all different plants for different light levels. Terms you will see are full shade, partial shade, partial sun and full sun. Again, a plant that thrives in full shade will burn up in full sun and a flower that needs full sun will be weak and spindly and produce few flowers.

Some seeds are treated with fungicides to help them grow in cool, wet soil. However, seeds are available untreated. If a catalog doesn't say that they offer untreated seeds then chances are the seeds are treated. A quick Google search for "untreated seeds" yielded lots of sources.

Seed companies want you to be dazzled by their brilliant products. And I am! Don't be afraid to try new varieties. Just remember that if you live in North Dakota, varieties designed to grow well in Florida will be smaller. Have fun shopping!

New Year's Resolution - Again

2012-01-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is again - The new year. 2012 instead of 2011. This is a repost of lasts year's new year's resolutions entitled Making Mistakes. As I was rereading this post, at first I thought that I hadn't done so well because I still wasn't realizing success beyond my wildest dreams. Aren't we all too hard on ourselves? However, I did accomplish one key goal - A written plan. I took a course at our local college where the big final project was a business plan. And I got an "A" on it, too! (patting myself on the back).

So, my friends, here is the original post:

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." I suppose that's true. With 2011 coming quite soon, and with the rush of the Christmas season behind me, I find myself becoming quite introspective. Since I made plenty of mistakes in 2010, I plan to learn from them - might as well make good use of them since they're already made!

One mistake I made was a lack of planning. I definitely had lots of good intentions but without planning, that's what my dreams remained - good intentions. Oh, flying by the seat of my ample pants served me well enough but had I converted my 2010 resolutions into written-down plans, success beyond my wildest dreams would not have been so elusive.

What does all this rumination and introspection mean? It means that 2011 will be lived on purpose. With a plan. A well thought out plan. A written-down plan. Eleanor Roosevelt also said, "In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."

So, my dear friends, please hold me accountable. Until next time...

Sunday Inspiration: The Future Beckons

2012-01-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

Mark Twain once said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Vintage Tall Ship Fine Art Print by gbrousseau

As 2011 closes and 2012 opens, that is what I want to do - Throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor and catch the trade winds in my sails. To all my friends - May you explore, dream and discover all things good!

Paper Plate Baskets

2011-09-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

I was sipping my coffee and browsing the internet and came upon this great tutorial by Sarah Hearts for making baskets out of paper plates - the cheap, flimsy kind. You know, the ones that leak all over and fold in half as soon as you put any food on them. These baskets are easy peasy and quite addictive. I thought they would be cute using the Japanese fabric sticky tape that I have in my new Etsy supply shop.

Here are the baskets that I made - I used some vintage buttons for embellishments, but you could put anything on them, or you could leave them plain and just taped together.

If you would like to learn to make these, the tutorial is by Sarah Hearts, and she has the tutorial here. I would love to hear your ideas on different ways to use these cuties.

County Fair - Old Fashioned Fun

2011-08-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

Every summer during the first week of August, Main Street becomes quiet and moves to the County Fair. Do you think I'm exaggerating? I'm not! County Fair is the hub of all social activity for one whole week. People take vacation time from work; businesses close and move to Fair; new entrepreneurial enterprises come to life.

Here in Sherman County, Kansas, the tradition of County Fair is alive and well. We own our own carnival, so we can let our kids loose to ride carnival rides to their heart's content. On wristband night, it is $10.00 to ride all they rides they want as many times as they want. The people that maintain and operate all the rides and game booths are our neighbors, and their kids and grandkids are running around the fairgrounds with our kids and grandkids. Small town culture at it's best!

The kiddie ride run by our local Rotary Club.

The guy in the bright green shirt running the ride is Tom, the editor of our local newspaper, the Goodland Star-News.

Dean, a local banker, is running the ferris wheel.

View from the ferris wheel - Isn't the Kansas sunset beautiful!

The best dish scrubbies in the world, all handmade and only $1.25!

I stock up every summer.

This is Connie, who makes the scrubbies.

Of course, we can't forget the 4-H pigs.

Here they are, after a hard day's work at the swine show.

Top 10 Tips to Conserve Water Use in the Garden

2011-07-06T05:11:00.000-07:00

I love growing my own food! Not only does it taste better, but I know that it is safe to eat because I know I didn't put any chemicals in the soil. Water is a most precious natural resource, necessary to sustain life and necessary to a good yield in the garden. There seems to be a limitless amount of fresh water - all we need to do is turn on our water faucet. Yet, the ability to enjoy fresh water on demand in some areas has led to the lowering of the water table. Out here in Western Kansas where agriculture is our livelihood and drought often a reality, responsible water use is of utmost importance. I think you will find that a few simple and strategic changes in the way you use water to irrigate your garden will reap many benefits for water conservation.

Eat Fresh 100% cotton market bag by Pamela Fugate Designs

Top Ten Ways to Improve Water Use in the Garden

1. Water deeply but no more deeply than the root zone of the plant. More than that is unnecessary.

2. Water slowly - turn down the flow. Too heavy of a flow of water will result in run-off and wasted water.

3. Water infrequently but thoroughly. Adjust the droplets to a larger size to minimize evaporation. Frequent shallow watering causes plants to concentrate their root system close to the surface resulting in plants that are more sensitive to water fluctuations.

4. Loosen the soil. Compacted soil results in water wasted by run-off.

Blueberry Basket Dish Towel by Tina Produce

5. Mulch, mulch, mulch! Adequate mulching conserves water by helping keep the soil loose and reducing evaporation. Coarse mulches need to be applied in a thicker layer (3-4 inches) for maximum effectiveness while finer mulches can be applied 1-2 inches deep.

6. Make sure to keep your garden well weeded to reduce competition for precious moisture. Also consider removing surplus plants for the same reason. This will give you plants to share!

7. In the vegetable garden, use wide rows and plant crops closer together. This strategy will allow your plants to have plenty of needed sun for growth and fruitfulness but still provide extra shade by the base to help reduce evaporation.

8. Avoid watering during windy weather! Wind is a huge moisture stealer.

9. Water early in the morning when humidity is the highest to reduce evaporation.

10. Consider using soaker hoses and timers rather than sprinklers. This way you can strategically concentrate the exact right amount of precious water at the base of the plants in order to use less water but still achieve good deep irrigation. Also, consider collecting rainwater using rain barrels (a fancy name for a covered trash can) under your downspouts. Just make sure they are covered to keep curious kids and animals from falling in and drowning.

Felt Play Veggies by Royal Rugrats

As you can see, small investments in time and planning when watering the garden can reap large benefits in water conservation.

Independence Day

2011-07-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

Every July 4th in the USA we celebrate the founding of our country with rest, relaxation, barbecue and fireworks. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

The Sparkler by JamieShelman on Etsy

I have to keep cool!

2011-06-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

Day after tomorrow, temperatures are predicted to be between 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Yikes! Here are some of my Etsy favorite ways to keep cool.

Green Jug Cooler
OldGreenCanoe
$25.00
Lemonade Stand - Pi...
savvymomshop
$13.99
vintage style POOL ...
summerroad
$15.00
Vintage General Ele...
AttysVintage
$19.00
Arctic Wonderland w...
wordybirdstudi...
$83.95
Cabana--6x6 inch Or...
decorating4
$38.00
Adjustable Crochet ...
beliz82
$35.00
Rustic weathered re...
GettingWeddy
$10.00
Float Away 11x14 pr...
sadlyharmless
$22.00
VINTAGE Polar Cub F...
jennyelkins
$30.00
A Saturday in '...
donnageissler
$30.00
Keep Calm and Drink...
KeepCalmShop
$15.95
Sexy Strapless love...
madoosika
$49.00
Cold Shower (matted...
PaydirtPhoto52
$39.95
You & Me, How Sweet...
Monorail
$20.00

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is to introduce to you three very important Dad's in my life:

My Grandfather (yes, that is me and my little brother)

My Dad

and the best Dad of all.... my wonderful husband

(yes he is awake behind the shades)

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!!!

Flag Day - Celebrating the Symbol of Our Freedom

2011-06-14T05:30:00.003-07:00

Today is Flag Day here in the United States. It is celebrated every June 14 because it was on June 14, 1777, that the Flag of of the United States was adopted by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. While Flag Day is not a federal holiday when the government and banking offices close, it is an important day to reflect on the freedoms that the Flag of the United States symbolize as well as the great sacrifices made by men and women throughout the generations to secure those freedoms.

As child growing up, we recited the Pledge of Allegiance every morning to start the school day:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Here is a collection of vintage buttons put together by one of my favorite designers/authors, Amy Barickman of The Vintage Workshop

Thrifted Garden Finds

2011-05-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

My garden is in full bloom so I wanted to bring some flowers inside to enjoy.

Don't you just love this tree trunk vase?

I think it shows off the peonies quite well.

I love the white snowballs and the white of the

vintage milk glass vase with the little bit of green leaves for contrast.

See the lovely scalloped edge?

Just the right touch, don't you think?

Giveaway on my friend's blog

2011-04-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hello All -
Amanda from the blog Too Blessed to Be Stressed is giving away a set of Mommy and Me wrist cuff wallets in my what a hoot print. She and I met through my Etsy shop and have established a friendship. Believe it or not, she actually has family in my hometown of Goodland, KS, and came here every summer growing up to visit her grandparents!

Aside from that, Amanda has children with allergies, and so her blog is full of great information, inspiration and support for other Moms of children with multiple food allergies. She is also a long distance runner and homeschool Mom, so she has a wealth of great info for lots of us.

Mommy and Me Cuffs - What a Hoot!

Make sure to check out her blog and don't forget to enter the giveaway, too!

Mommy and Me Cuffs - What a Hoot!

Hurry Up, Spring - I miss you!

2011-03-30T05:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, today is March 30, almost April, so where is Spring? Don't get me wrong, I love snow. Snowy winter days are wonderful - they blanket us in a white coverlet and everything looks so clean and beautiful. Plus, the world stands still for a day, giving me time to take a deep breath. However, enough is enough! I am ready to move forward into Spring - REALLY ready!

I took this picture of my back yard yesterday

I started some seedlings for my vegetable garden this past weekend. They haven't germinated yet, but should in a few days. My husband, John CowMilk, designed and built this wonderful frame so they can have adequate light. We will be adding the lights as soon as my pepper plants germinate, which should be in a few days. We are growing LOTS of jalapeno peppers to make hot pepper jelly to sell at Farmer's Market this summer.

Here is my little spot of Spring

Art of Serenity

2011-03-14T04:13:00.002-07:00

Beautiful Aquamarine by Daffydowndillies

TheSlyFox $56.00	janeyclothing $97.00	SassyGlassStud... $50.00	noellabeautywo... $4.99
aiseirigh $65.00	honeytree $28.00	Gemtonebeads $138.91	FlourishBathBo... $5.50
prettypetalstu... $75.00	TheSilverPearl $36.00	Hideminy $39.00	larimeloom $99.00
stonecraft $275.00	PomLove $6.00	undertheroot $65.00	felicitycrew $23.00

Sunday Inspiration - Love

2011-02-13T05:00:00.002-07:00

"Love" by Denise Mayumi via Flickr

Today is February 13, the day before Valentine's Day. So, I guess that makes it Valentine's Day Eve! In honor of the holiday that celebrates love, this Sunday's inspiring quote is from one of my favorite authors - St. Paul.

"Je t'aime - Mae and Bebe" by KatHannah

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

From St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians.

Etsy favorites of mine

2011-02-10T05:00:00.002-07:00

'Will it ever be spring again?'

With snow on the ground, it seems as if spring will never arrive!

nautilus ... ocean ... leapinggazelle $20.00	Paper Shabby Roses ... nippykat $8.00	At The Cabin, No. 1... kittyrogers $25.00
City Bohemian Uptow... byloomandhyde $154.00	ECRU GLOVE-VALENTIN... vogueknitting $38.00	Eco Friendly Sand E... ecofriendlybea... $42.00
Edwardian classic..... labellefairy $325.00	Fine Detail A Signe... gildinglilies $20.00	square earrings Aula46 $15.00
Punch Needle Grass ... erinf115 $32.00	Alicante White Porc... MaaPstudio $42.00	Elegant robin's... bluehollow $4.05
Completely Tiny Moo... awkward $25.00	Beauty Tote Bag in ... bayanhippo $37.00	5 Vintage Crochet F... creativecarmel... $10.00

Celebrating Art in Kansas

2011-02-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

150 years ago, in 1861, Kansas became the 34th state added to the United States. Here is a collection of work by Kansas artists for you to enjoy:

'Heart of the midwest' by MaryZoom

Saturday in the Par... InHonorOf $7.50	Simple Bookplates midwestmoderng... $2.50	Birdy-Head Notebook... MacKomicsStudi... $4.00
Fishy Onesie and Bu... jennyjustjenny $16.50	Set of 40 GO Green ... CMonetCrafts $5.00	Nerd Power Pocket P... annebvinyl $
Passenger train countrywindows $12.00	Handmade Yellow Sun... GrapeVineCeram... $15.00	Cola Cufflinks CMonetRocks $
Upcycled Tea Cup Bi... CMonetGarden $9.00	Bird's Nest - C... ruralpearl $14.00	Summer - Giclee Dig... fookadesigns $20.00

Sunday Inspiration - Persevere

2011-02-06T05:00:00.002-07:00

Spiral Pendant by LP Jewelry

per·se·vere

verb \ˌpər-sə-ˈvir\

intransitive verb

: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement

Great Plains Pioneer Family late 1800s

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense." Winston Churchill

Organic Compost for Your Garden

2011-02-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

It's 12 degrees below zero this morning - Ugh!!! I'm ready for spring and itching to get outside and dig in the dirt! Although it will be a while before I can do that, I've been gearing up for gardening season all winter by making black gold, a.k.a worm poop, um I mean worm castings.

Worm castings are what worms leave behind after feeding on my kitchen waste, and are a great, free and sustainable addition to your organic garden. Worm castings are a superior organic fertilizer full of nutrients and other properties that make for beautiful gardens.

Here is a video from Cornell University all about vermicomposting (the official term). It is about 10 minutes long, so pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy!

Here is my little worm bin. I drilled holes in it everywhere, including the bottom. I think I'm going to drill holes in the top, too. That way the worms have even more air circulation.

Next I put my already-read newspaper through the shredder to make the bedding. I filled the bin about halfway full with newspaper and sprayed it down with water to moisten it. The paper should be moist but not wet. Then I added not just any worms, but red wiggler worms. I bought them from Rising Mist Organic Farm. Here is a downloadable quick overview of what to and what not to feed your worms: Your Guide to Vermicomposting

Can you see the worms? They have turned the newspaper bedding and my kitchen waste into poop, um.... castings. This batch is ready to harvest for garden compost.

Here's the inside of the worm bin. I scraped all the leftover bedding and food to one side and waited about a week or so for the worms to move to where the food was. Then I just scooped the poop into a bucket, picked out any stragglers and placed them back with their friends by the food.

Here's where I keep my worm bin. It is sitting on a boot tray by the fridge. Don't worry, the castings don't smell at all. Well, they smell, but like good earth, not like poop.

Vermicomposting is not only a lot of fun, but it is an easy way to produce your own great compost for your organic garden year round. It's also a great project to do with your kids. I hope my worm bin has whet your appetite to learn more about this sustainable gardening practice.

Sunday Inspiration - Imagine

2011-01-30T05:00:00.003-07:00

"At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done - Then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago." Frances Hodgson Burnett

Imagine necklace

Where is your imagination taking you today?

Sunday Inspiration - Success

2011-01-23T01:00:00.003-07:00

PEACE & LOVE ornaments by RecycledParts

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children…to leave the world a better place…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Winter Garden

2011-01-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Look what I woke up to today!

Black-eyed Susans covered in ice

Pine Tree in my front yard all flocked from frozen fog

Cedar Tree full of ice crystals

Winter is so beautiful!

Pioneer Quilt

2011-01-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I posted about a wonderful working quilt I had acquired that was made by a Great Plains pioneer woman. It was so shabby, torn and worn out, but you could still see the original beauty. Because it was so worn out, I washed it and cut it up, salvaging only what was useable. Here are some pictures of the quilt top salvaged pieces:

A true crazy quilt design

Look at all the beautiful textures and colors!
I see a piece of fabric that still has a dart left in it.

Some very, very tiny pieces.
She made use of everything!

Pieces of the quilt all piled up.
I'm sure this pioneer homemaker had
a nice scrap pile that she kept adding to
so that nothing would go to waste.

Dying Art of Letter Writing

2011-01-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

This week is National Letter Writing Week here in the US. With email, Facebook and Twitter, it seems that sitting down to write a letter with pen and paper is becoming a dying art. Don't get me wrong - I love email! What an efficient and sustainable way to communicate. However, there is something very special that happens when a letter is written, sent, delivered and then read.

I have a cousin in Chicago who I correspond with. Also a girlfriend of 30 years in St. Louis. When I receive one of their letters in my mailbox, it is as if I have received a priceless gift! I read and reread their letters, written in their own hand, and it is as if a piece of themselves has been imparted into my life. That's one thing that I like about a letter - I can put it in my pocket and carry it with me!

My husband and I dated before email. We were separated for a season while I was away to college. I still have his love letters stored away in a box. Try tying up a group of emails with a ribbon!

In honor of letters, here are a few of my favorite Etsy finds:

Here is a lovely notecard by StoriesDivinations

Here is another beautiful notecard by ParrotDesignStudios

Wouldn't it be fun to type a letter on this typewriter from Brooklynretro?

I would love to hear a story about a special letter you received!

Pioneer Spirit

2011-01-09T07:05:00.001-07:00

I love living on the Western Kansas High Plains! Living here is so inspiring. The strength of character, resourcefullness and just plain moxie it took to come here and set up housekeeping back in the 1880s is just amazing! Imagine being 16 or 18 years old, packing up all your belongings and heading for the Great Plains homestead with your new husband, knowing you might never see your family again. Remember, these were the days before telephone and Facebook.

Awhile back I happened on a tattered pioneer quilt at a local yard sale. It was being used in the back of a pickup truck to give the farm dog a soft place to lay on trips to town. What a treasure! It was a scrap quilt that had been lovingly pieced in the crazy quilt style out of tiny still-good remnants. Quilts made by pioneer women were working quilts, and this particular quilt had paid its dues.

I purchased this quilt right out of the pickup truck for a dollar, took it home, washed it in my washing machine and dried it in my dryer - Can you imagine?!? It came out beautiful, though still tattered, ready to keep working. I want to be like that quilt - resourceful and giving, no matter my age or circumstance.

A Sherman County, Kansas, young pioneer woman with her sod house in the background. Can you imagine living and raising a family there?

Look how young she is! Can't you just see the character

and determination in her eyes?

Here is a piece of that quilt,

recycled yet again for another generation to enjoy.

What inspires you? I'd love to hear it!

Studio Organizing Idea

2011-01-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hello, my friends! I just wanted to show you how I organized my t-shirt stash. I used one of those wire cube shelf things that I got at Target. I ended up wiring the pieces together - that way it won't come apart on me when I pull out a shirt. Then I folded the t-shirts in half crosswise, put the sleeves inward and then rolled them up tightly. I put the shelving on a garage sale coffee table in order to increase the storage. I plan to put baskets of scraps underneath.

The colors look so pretty, I hate to use them now. But this way I can see everything without rummaging through boxes. It's easy to pull one out without disturbing the others.

Here is the room in my studio cottage that I have the t-shirts.
Isn't that little handmade built-in cabinet great?

Here are all the t-shirts - aren't they pretty?
The icky shag carpet has to go - that's the plan!

What creative idea have you come up with for organizing your stash and tools?

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T19:09:00.007-07:00

photo credit

Life On Purpose

2010-12-29T06:29:00.005-07:00

This is what Western Kansas looks
like in the Spring - I can't wait!

As you know, my posting has been pretty spotty; very spotty, actually. However, I have been thinking a lot about living life on purpose, and Mary Zoom will begin to reflect that. I believe with all my heart that creativity and inspiration can infuse even the most mundane details of daily living, and this blog will serve to journal how that works in my life and work. So, my friends, lets go on a creative journey together!

Making Mistakes

2010-12-28T19:18:00.003-07:00

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." I suppose that's true. With 2011 coming quite soon, and with the rush of the Christmas season behind me, I find myself becoming quite introspective. Since I made plenty of mistakes in 2010, I plan to learn from them - might as well make good use of them since they're already made!

One mistake I made was a lack of planning. I definitely had lots of good intentions but without planning, that's what my dreams remained - good intentions. Oh, flying by the seat of my ample pants served me well enough but had I converted my 2010 resolutions into written-down plans, success beyond my wildest dreams would not have been so elusive.

Merry Christmas to All!

2010-12-25T08:02:00.012-07:00

These words are excerpts from my very, VERY favorite Christmas musical, Handel's Messiah:

And the glory, the glory of the Lord shall
Be revealed. And all flesh shall see it
Together, together, For the mouth of the
Lord has spoken it. And the glory, the
glory of the Lord.
(Isaiah 40:5)

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a
Son is given, unto us a Son is given, and
The government shall be upon His
Shoulders, and His Name shall be
Called: Wonderful, Counselor, The
Might God, The Everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace, The Everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace!
(Isaiah 9:6)

Glory to God! Glory to God in the
highest! Good will towards men!
(St. Luke 2:14)

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice greatly!
The King cometh unto thee.
(Zechariah 9:9)

Who is this King of Glory? Who is this
King of Glory? This King of Glory. The
Lord strong and mighty, the Lord strong
and mighty. The Lord of Hosts. He is the
King of Glory.
(Psalm 14:7-10)

And He shall reign forever and ever!
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and He
Shall reign forever and ever.
Hallelujah!
(Revelation 11:15, 19:16)

From Messiah by George Frederic Handel, written in 1741

What About Making

2010-12-21T06:47:00.002-07:00

Tara Gentile at Scoutie Girl asked this question: Why do you make? This question got me to thinking about the answer. I've never really thought much about it before because I've always made. I mean, always - it's in my DNA. My mom always made stuff and so did my grandmother. My grandfather was a dairy farmer, and my Dad was an engineer. I guess he designed stuff and then made it.

As a child, I actually thought everyone was a maker, too. When I grew up, I found that wasn't the case, but that's okay. Those I know who are not makers do other cool stuff like bookeeping and teaching. In some ways, maybe that is what they make.

So, Tara, I guess this is my answer: I just make. I'm not sure how to do {be} otherwise. I'd like to know why others make, too!

Dinner Plates

2010-06-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

My Mom and I had a BIG garage sale last weekend. It was so fun! People paid US to haul away our cast off stuff - what a concept. Our customers were happy because they found a bargain, and we were happy because we divested ourselves of clutter and earned some extra money.

One of our customers bought all the odd and end plates that we had at 25¢ each, including some of my Mom's Portmerion Botanical Garden odd sandwich plates (now THAT is a bargain!!!). She explained that when she gives a plate of cookies, she can tell the recipient to keep the plate. I LOVE that idea - What a wonderful way to bless a friend.

+
Now I'm all inspired to make some cookies to put on a beautiful thrifted give-away plate!

Here's a Portmerion Botanic Garden Plate. Aren't they beautiful?

Getting Started at Mary Zoom's Cottage

2010-06-20T19:56:00.001-07:00

Well, today I started on the front bedroom of Mary Zoom's cottage. This is where I will have my sewing room. I am really excited to have a space all my own that is not in the basement. It is a nice big room with windows, and there are 12 foot ceilings! The first thing I did was pull up the icky carpet, which will lead to the next step of sanding the wood floors to get rid of the stuck-on carpet pad. It will be a lot of hard work but will be worth it!

Here is the floor without the carpet. In the background you can see what it used to look like. You should have seen me all covered in black dried-out carpet pad dust!

Here is a picture of the door and the closet. The woodwork doesn't look too bad through the eye of the camera, but close up it's pretty rough. I'm wondering if I should paint it white? My favorite white is called "Atrium White" from Benjamin Moore. It would definitely brighten the room.

Look at the beautiful hinges!

This is the north window.

This is the east window. It looks out over the front porch. I'm thinking of putting my sewing machine in front of this window. That way I can watch the world go by while I'm sitting and sewing. Also, it is the PERFECT window for african violets.

Sewing Machines

2010-05-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

I really do love to sew - I mean, really REALLY! There is nothing more relaxing and therapeutic than sitting at my sewing machine after a stressful day at my *regular* job at our local hospital. The hum of my brand new fancy-schmancy computerized sewing machine is so soothing. Yet, I miss the clickety-whirr of the machine I learned to sew on, back in the day when computerized machines were just a twinkle in the eye of sewing machine manufacturers. There was something mesmerizing about the rhythmic machinery sound as I sat as a fifth grader making my very first dress. I guess that's why I am drawn to vintage sewing machines - that unique clickety-whirr sound of my childhood.

Here is a picture of my little collection of vintage mechanical sewing machines. They all work! My favorite is the aqua and white beauty in front - it was my grandmother's. Do you have a favorite memory about learning to sew? I'd love to hear it!

Update on Mary Zoom's Cottage

2010-05-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

Now that the weather is FINALLY warming up and hopefully we have had our last frost (which was only a week ago), the vegetable garden is finally going in. It's been about a month or 6 weeks since we did the initial tilling of the garden plot. Since then it has been just too cold and damp to go any further. However, this weekend was nice, so we weeded the plot, smoothed out the surface, laid weed barrier down and edged the plot with recycled 4 X 4s that we found by the shed.

As much as I am itching to work inside our "Southern Home" and get my sewing studio set up and moved, we are concentrating on the outside gardens and yard while the weather is nice. Once the 100-degree weather hits and the Western Kansas winds start howling, there will be plenty of time to work on the inside.

Here is the vegetable garden all set up in the back yard of Mary Zoom's Cottage. The trellis is made from two scrap pieces of livestock fence we found laying around. They will soon be covered with green beans! There are also some tomato plants ready to go in.

Isn't this a beautiful patch of rhubarb? This came with our house! In the background is some oregano that I planted shortly after we moved here.

We like to use everything. This is where we found those 4 X 4s that we used to edge the garden. I can't wait to use the old picket fence! And look at that beautiful old door! We are planning to clean it up, scrape chipped paint off and make it into a headboard for our bed. I'll post a picture when it's finished.

This homemaker would have had a vegetable garden similar to what we are putting in. Do you have a vegetable garden, and what are your favorite vegetables to grow?

Lotsa Boxes Tutorial - Again

2010-05-14T05:21:00.009-07:00

With the summer craft fair season almost upon us, I thought I would share this post again. These make up fast and easy and are quite addictive! They are a great extra give-away to include with jewelry sales. I know my customers love them.

These cute little boxes are a good way to use up all those leftover greeting cards. I have also picked up greeting cards at yard sales and thrift shops EXTREMELY cheap! They are lots of fun to make and go together really fast. I made a ton of them one evening and put them in a big basket in my craft fair booth and gave them away as an extra little gift to each of my customers.

Step 1: Gather the following tools and supplies:

- Leftover Greeting card

- Quilting ruler

- Glue stick

- Rotary cutter

- Bone folder

Step 2: Cut the greeting card in half at the fold with the rotary cutter for a nice straight cut.

Step 3:  Cut about a 1/16 inch sliver off one short end and one long end of the inside half. That way the bottom of the box will fit nicely into the top.

Step 4:  Take the bone folder and score both cards 1 inch (2.5 cm) from every edge and then cut 1 inch (2.5), using the score lines as a guide, on the short ends only to the score lines (see the picture). If you would like a deeper box, then make your score lines farther away from the edge.

Step 5:  Bend in all score lines on both cards.  Glue the short tabs on the ends inside the longer end tabs.

And now you're done! You have just made a cute little gift or treasure box from a recycled greeting card. Anyone have any ideas for what to do with all the leftover envelopes?

Mary Zoom's Cottage

2010-04-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it - we bought the little house next door to our house. We call it our "Southern Home" because it is next door just to the south. Our Southern Home was built in 1910 and is the oldest home in our part of town. The house we live in was built in the 1930s, and there are many homes that were built as recently as the 1950s. It is quite an eclectic neighborhood.

We plan to dust our Southern Home off and restore her to her former turn-of-the century simple glory. After that, I will move my Mary Zoom studio next door and once again this wonderful house will be filled with laughter and sunshine.

Here are some "before" pictures:

Here she is - our Southern Home. Isn't she beautiful?

This is the original chicken coop in the back yard - Don't you think it will make a great garden shed?

This is a detail of the woodwork on the front door.

Here is the kitchen - I have lot's of ideas for this room!

The bathroom leaves a lot to be desired, doesn't it?

This is a view into the little bedroom. Don't you love the original finish on the woodwork?

It's like that throughout the entire house.

An Attempt at being Left-Brained

2010-01-02T08:41:00.007-07:00

Having been challenged by the girls at Savvy Blogging, I have proceeded to set some goals. Being the right-brained creative type, this has not come naturally. As a matter of fact, my brain now hurts. However, I love a new challenge, so here goes:

Goal #1: Post once a week. Might as well start with something simple.

Goal #2: Start jotting down ideas for new posts so that I can constantly be on the lookout for beautiful and interesting ways to present the subject.

Goal #3: Learn one new technical skill each week and pray my brain doesn't explode.

So, there we go. My underlying goal is to write a blog that will be beautiful, enjoyable and useful - and through the process of posting, begin to connect with other creative souls. This is about as left-brained as I know how to be.

Beautiful Ribbon

2010-01-01T20:12:00.004-07:00

I'm a sucker for vintage seam binding, an absolute sucker. The colors are so yummy, and the texture is beautiful. Even the vintage labels are pretty!

Some packs of vintage seam binding from my stash.

So beautiful!

Ten Things That Make Me Smile

2009-12-29T21:20:00.007-07:00

1. Western Kansas Sunsets.

2. Snow, lots of snow.

3. Digging in the dirt.

4. The color green.

5. Walking in the early morning.

6. FABRIC!

7. Drinking tea in the evening with my husband.

8. Freshly brewed coffee with whipped cream on top.

9. Popcorn made the old fashioned way in a pot on the stove.

10. Garage sales and thrift shops.

What makes you smile?

Thank You!

2009-12-08T06:12:00.006-07:00

I want to take the time to thank EVERYONE who has purchased from my Etsy shop during this Christmas season. I have been overwhelmed with the wonderful connections made with my delightful customers from all over the world!

Recycled Magazine Stickers

2009-10-01T19:52:00.011-07:00

As an Etsy shopkeeper, I adore my customers and always like to send them a thank you gift with each purchase. This post is an idea I had for a thank you gift that is easy to make, uses cast-off magazines and is nice and light so as to not add weight and postage costs to decrease profits.

Here is what you need:

Xyron 1 1/2 inch sticker maker

1 1/2 inch circle punch (or any other shaped punch that you like).

Magazine to cut up.

I like to use pretty lifestyle magazines and garden magazines but you can use whatever magazine suits your personality and taste.

Then what you do is look at the different pages and use your punch to "audition" different textures, pictures and design elements. This is the reason I like to use the squeeze style punch - it makes it easy to see exactly what your sticker will look like. You can find potential sticker material in pictures of fabric or photos of jewelry or you can punch out different words or phrases. I've punched circles of just about everything. It's amazing how different one little element by itself will look.

Here are a bunch of circles that I punched out. Aren't the colors and textures so pretty?

Here are the stickers coming out of this nifty little machine.

I like to put a few stickers in a little cellophane envelope along with my business card - the crystal clear package looks so pretty. You could also make a little envelope from a piece of recycled paper.

Packrats of the World Unite!

2009-06-17T05:14:00.016-07:00

Yes, I admit it. I must come clean to clear my conscience. I am a *gasp* packrat, an accumulator of all things transformable. However, I like the synonym for packrat better: gatherer. Somehow that sounds more lofty.

I come from a long line of pack rats. As long as I can remember, my Mom has always had a huge stash of what she calls "raw materials." My Dad, too - only he called his

stuff "good stuff." Everything was fair game to become "raw materials" or "good stuff."

I have loved fabric ever since I was little. It just looked so pretty and felt so nice. My first introduction to recycling beautiful fabric was when I was in junior high school - okay, now I'm telling my age. In the 60's (the LATE 60s, thank you very much). Yep - before recycling was all the rage. My Dad had a GORGEOUS brown wool nubby tweed two-piece suit he didn't want to wear anymore. Well, I just couldn't let that great wool go to wool-tweed-suit heaven, so I cut it up and remade myself a pair of slacks to wear with my favorite dark brown sweater.

So, what is the moral of the story? Things made of fabric are not what they seem. A silk shirt is really a purse lining. A shrunk wool sweater is really a little bitty girl's coat. A linen dress is really a tote..... Get my drift? Now you don't have to feel guilty about saving a cast-off somethings anymore. They have now become "raw materials" that have been *gathered* so as to be ready to be transformed into whatever your mind can imagine. Have fun, my fellow packrat, and gather to your heart's content!

This used to be a T-shirt. Now it is a wrist cuff wallet for runners, walkers and bikers.

This was a wool sweater at one time. I shrunk it down with REALLY hot water and then cut it into circles. They looked kind of plain, so I needle felted the little garden design onto them.

This used to be a ladies cotton blouse - you know, the plain kind of long sleeved shirt. As a kids church teacher, when I needed art smocks to protect my little students' Sunday best frocks, I figured out that I could cut off the collars, whack off the cuffs and put the shirts on backwards. Voila! A kid's art smock. This is the perfected version.

Once upon a time this was a 100% cotton pillowcase. Now it is a sustainable market bag that holds LOTS of groceries - or garage sale finds - or maybe thrift shop treasures that we are *gathering.*

And this is my current favorite. Believe it or not, this used to be a wild and wacky tie-dyed T-shirt. Now it is yarn that is pretty to look at in its current form of a yarn cake. Hmm.... I may never even take it off my shelf, it is so yummy.

A New Blouse

2009-06-13T13:47:00.010-07:00

I was at the thrift shop the other day and bought this VERY cute summer blouse - it fits me perfectly and has the best little details. It also has a peplum, which I just LOVE. Well, I started to wear it and something about it just didn't seem quite right. I walked around the house in it for awhile, but there was just something about it that bugged me. I finally figured it out: it was the collar. It was just too big and floppy to suit me.

Oh no! Now what to do? The blouse was so perfect otherwise! And, I paid $3.99 for it at the thrift shop, a premium price. Well, it hit me - I could ditch the collar altogether, which I proceeded to do. Now the blouse is absolutely just right.

Here is the blouse with the collar cut off. I used this vintage seam binding to finish off the cut edges. I have to say, it does pay to be a packrat!

Isn't this the most beautiful ribbon? It's really easy to use. Just remember it has no stretch at all, so you will have to ease it a little bit around the corners.

The next thing I did was add the binding starting from the right bottom front, all the way around and ending at the left bottom front. I sewed the binding on the INSIDE of the blouse.

Then I pressed the binding towards the edge of the fabric. After that I wrapped it around to the front and sewed it down. If you have trouble with the buttons making your lines wavy, try using a zipper foot for the button edge.

Here's the same blouse without the collar. Much more to my liking!

Here's a close-up detail where you can see the bound edges. Now I can't wait to wear my new blouse!

Mysterious woman travels to Ohio

2009-05-03T19:18:00.011-07:00

Internet commerce is an amazing phenomenon. Out here in Sherman County, Kansas, we love it! Since we are three hours from the nearest mall, the internet has become our virtual mall. We can visit Target, Home Depot and Bath and Body Works all in a matter of minutes. And.... we don't even have to use any gasoline to get there!

Any way, back to the original subject - Internet commerce is an amazing phenomenon. Take my Etsy shop, for instance. Not only do I have the entire world at my virtual doorstep, I have been able to connect with so many wonderful people. Recently I sold a Mysterious Woman Wrist Cuff Wallet to zJayne, a fellow Etsy shopkeeper. From that humble connection, my Mysterious Woman printed on scraps of t-shirt cotton have been beautifully worked into zJayne's True Colors Pouch Wristlet.

zJayne's Etsy shop is a wonderful constellation of altered art that is both beautiful and functional. I'm quite honored to see Mysterious Woman included in such a great line of functional art. No matter where you live in the virtual universe of internet commerce, you absolutely MUST travel to Ohio to visit zJa yne's wonderful shop!

Here is the original Mysterious Woman.

Here are the women that traveled to Ohio.

Here are the women transformed into True Colors Pouch Wristlets

Secrets of Savvy Etsy Sellers

2009-04-30T20:40:00.004-07:00

If you are an Etsy shopkeeper and want to improve your shop, then you should check out this fun blog called On The Dot Creations. The blog author, Julie, has written some great tutorials on sprucing up your shop and has just published a free eBook entitled Secrets of Savvy Etsy Sellers. Make sure and check it out and download your own copy! - and look for yours truly, as I contributed hint #36 on page 19.

6 pounds 4 ounces less

2009-04-15T16:55:00.005-07:00

I struck a great deal at my local thrift shop here in Goodland, Kansas, today. I mean it, I almost feel guilty except for one thing - I saved 6 pounds and 4 ounces of stained and ripped T-shirts from going into our local landfill. Let me explain:

For whatever reason, people often donate things that are really not useable rather than throw them away themselves. One day I asked LaVaughn, the thrift shop manager, if I could go through the unwearable Tees and buy them for cheap. Well, I wasn't prepared for how cheap! I paid $1.00 for 6 pounds and 4 ounces of 100% cotton T-shirts, thus saving them from the landfill!

You ask, what will you do with those unwearables? I bring them home, wash them and sanitize them (using a chemical-free method the EPA recommends), and then I cut around the stains and holes and use the beautiful cotton fabric to make wrist cuff wallets.

Belts Galore

2009-03-15T17:07:00.009-07:00

Yesterday I was at my very favorite thrift shop. Actually it is the only thrift shop here in my home town of Goodland, Kansas. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful thrift shop! The prices are great, and the selection quite varied, from housewares to patterns to clothes to linens. You know, thrift shop stuff! What was even better yesterday was that they had a 25 cent sale. All the clothes and shoes were only 25 cents each! What a bargain. My best purchase, though, was the 27 cotton webbing belts that I bought. As a matter of fact, I bought every one they had. Gee, at 25 cents, how could I pass up such a treasure trove?

So, you ask, what would one do with 27 cotton webbing belts? Repurpose them into market bag handles! Has anyone ever priced a yard of cotton webbing? Let me tell you, the cost is definitely more than 25 cents!

Here is my passel of 27 cotton webbing belts, fresh from the thrift shop. There are lots of different colors, widths and textures.

Here are those same belts, minus the hardware, all washed and ready to be recycled into market bag handles. So many yummy colors!

If you are ever traveling on I-70 through Western Kansas, make sure to stop by our wonderful thrift shop in downtown Goodland, Kansas. You never know, you might stumble upon a 25 cent sale or even better yet, their sack sale when everything you can moosh into a shopping back is a dollar! Now there's a bargain!

Lotsa Boxes - A tutorial

2009-03-13T19:52:00.040-07:00

These cute little boxes are a good way to use up all those leftover greeting cards. I have also picked up greeting cards at yard sales and thrift shops EXTREMELY cheap! They are lots of fun to make and go together really fast. I made a ton of them on evening and put them in a big basket in my craft fair boot and gave them away as an extra little gift to each of my customers.

Step 1: Gather the following tools and supplies:

- Leftover Greeting card

- Quilting ruler

- Glue stick

- Rotary cutter

- Bone folder

Step 5: Bend in all score lines on both cards. Glue the short tabs on the ends inside the longer end tabs.

And now you're done! You have just made a cute little gift or treasure box from a recycled greeting card. Now, what to do with all the leftover envelopes???

Flocking

2009-03-10T19:25:00.004-07:00

Look what I woke up to this morning - frozen fog! This is one of the most beautiful weather phenomena here in the High Plains of Western Kansas. I like to call this "flocking" but the technical term is "rime ice." Some people call it "frost feathers."

I looked rime ice up, and according to what I read, rime ice is formed when super cooled water droplets come in contact with a surface that is also at a temperature below freezing. The flocking effect happens because the miniscule ice particles are somehow mixed with air pockets.

Sadly, as soon as the sun came out, all the flocking was gone, just a memory in a photograph.

Shredded Wheat Bread

2009-03-10T05:34:00.012-07:00

My very favorite cereals of all time is shredded wheat, the miniature ones frosted with sugar. I buy it in those big bags. I am in such a rut - Every single morning I fill my soup bowl with the handle on it with shredded wheat and soy milk. The bowl is the perfect size and the portion is just right for a good breakfast that gets me going in the morning. The only problem is when all the little shredded wheat biscuits are gone, a pile of crushed cereal remains in the bottom of the bag. Call my picky, but I really don't like crushed shredded wheat and milk.

So rather than throw away perfectly good crushed shredded wheat crumbs, I searched the internet for a shredded wheat bread recipe that I could bake in my bread machine and found a great recipe called "Joan's Shredded Wheat Bread."

Here's the recipe:

1 1/4 cup water

2 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP honey

1/2 tsp salt (You can put less in to taste)

1/2 cup shredded wheat finely crushed (this is where the crumbs in the bottom of the bag come in)

1 1/4 cup bread flour

1 1/2 tsp yeast

2 TBSB gluten flour

Then you just turn on your bread machine according to the instructions. I did discover that it works better if you put all the dry ingredients in first.

Here's my loaf of bread - It really turned out good. Thank you, Joan, wherever you are!

A Present for Myself

2009-03-02T06:19:00.011-07:00

Well, I went and did it - I bought myself a present. Ever since I saw this post on one of my favorite blogs, Laughing Purple Goldfish, I have coveted a yarn ball winder so I could make my thrifted yarn stash look like little yarn cupcakes.

Here is my stash, though not quite as impressive as Laughing Purple Goldfish!

Don't you just love this white-on-white texture? This came from a 1960s wool sweater that I took apart. The shimmery stuff in the first picture came from a couple of funky-looking scarves that I picked up at a garage sale for 25 cents each - don't you just LOVE a bargain!

New Dress

2008-03-27T18:34:00.008-07:00

I have definitely been in the mood for sewing. I had found this beautiful lavender colored linen dress at the United Methodist Thrift Shop in St. Francis, Kansas, and even though I knew it wouldn't fit me, I bought it anyway for the fabric. I cut the dress apart and used the fabric to make this cute spring little girl's dress. Since the fabric is so beautiful, I put extra care into the construction by making all french seams and then hand-sewing the linen bias facings. I put a line down the center of shell pink and milk chocolate polka dot grosgrain ribbon for just a touch of contrast, and the back neck closure is an antique pearl button. It was really a lot of fun to take something that was not being used and re-imagine it and give it a second life.

Here is the original linen dress cut apart

and ready to be given a second life.

Here is the linen dress re-imagined into a

cute spring dress for a little girl.

Here is a detail of the back of the dress.

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