Simple Black Check Chair Pillows

Well, I did it!  I got out the sewing machine and went at this afternoon. 

I actually just covered pillow forms, instead of real chair pads.  And I found matching ribbon on sale to use instead of making those tedious ties.  I was going for simple!  I wish I had a bigger checked print and a bit larger pillow form, but I was at the mercy of  "the sale".  Can't afford to be too picky!

( I promise they don't have such a dizzying look to them in real life!) 

I'm pretty happy with them, they have a primitive look to them, which I like.  Maybe I need to find some blackbirds to add to my decor.  I always see blackbirds in the primitive displays in my catalogs.

 

I may add a button to the center to give it a little extra something, but haven't decided yet.

Recent and Hopeful Craftiness

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I just thought I'd take a few minutes to show a few things I've finished up in my little crochet corner. 

I had so much fun with my new little niece the other day.  Here is a little cocoon set I made her:

I also finished that wrap I mentioned last week:

You will notice that the top edge is a bit more ruffled than the bottom.  It's supposed to be a more subtle edging like the bottom.  Oops!  Oh, well I made it my own and it adds a little extra something, I guess.

I'm hoping to get my sewing machine out, maybe tomorrow, or hopefuly somtime next week.  I'm needing new chair pads for the kitchen table.  I have what I need, I just need to do it!  I also want to make a pillowcase dress and leggings for my oldest niece.  She's three, soon to be four, and I thought those would make a nice birthday present. 

Here's to happy crafting! :-)

Oatmeal Cookies, Chicken 'n Dumplings and Crochet

Sounds pretty farm-girly to me! 

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You know I have never made an oatmeal cookie.  At least not the kind you bake.  I've made the kind on the stovetop with oatmeal, peanut butter and cocoa, etc. - you mix it all together and then drop them on a cookie sheet to cool.  But a baked oatmeal cookie - this is a first for me.

I had no raisins, which is fine with me, I much prefer chocolate chips anyway, so I subsitituted the chocolate chips for raisins.  They were a big hit here at home and at my sister's and mom's.  I took a plate over this afternoon when the boys and I went to visit.  My sister just had a baby a couple of weeks ago, so I thought they might like a homebaked treat for an afternoon snack.  Yum!

I need to get going.  I have chicken and dumplings on the menu for tonight and it's about time to de-bone the chicken.  It's been rather cold here, for us anyway. 24 degrees this morning.  I thought it would warm us up as we settle in for a cold winter's evening.

Here's what I have on my hook - it's going to be a small half-circle wrap.  I'm trying to use what I have on hand.  So I'm specifically looking for patterns that go with the yarn and specific amount I have.

What's in a Name?

Well, on Wednesday it was a Cafe Mocha and the name was "Melanie". 

A Starbucks nearby takes your order and then asks your name.  I've always politely said "Sharity", making sure to enunciate as clearly as I'm able.  Still, I don't know if they don't hear it correctly, or possibly the handwriting is so bad they can't read it, but it always comes out anything but Sharity!  A favorite among friends (we all got a good laugh at that girls night out) SHANTY. 

So why do they bother if they aren't even going to get it right....or not even try.  Sometimes I'll be patiently waiting and "Jim" will get his coffee, next "Gina", and then "Beth" but then, oh, they get to mine and I'm the "uh, EggNog Latte". Gee, thanks!  Anyway, I guess they do try, it's just kind of silly if you ask me.  They really don't care what my name is.  And I'm really okay with that, I usually just want my coffee anyway.

I was sort of frustrated the other day, after once again, politely saying "Sharity", they call out "Sh-are-tee". Lovely, just lovely.  That would be me, I guess.  So thinking it over I thought it would be fun to just give some random name next time.  I DID!  I kind of shocked myself when "Melanie" came out!  hehe it was kind of fun. 

I did feel a little guilty though, after all that is not my name.  "Thou shalt not lie."  hmm  It's kind of funny, because I picked "Melanie" since in my mind she is a gracious, humble, meek, loyal, forgiving, lovely southern lady in 'Gone With the Wind'.  And here I am lying telling the guy at Starbucks my name is "Melanie", when in fact it is really Sharity!  Great!  Not being a very consistent Christian now am I?!  All in good fun, I guess.

Since 'Gone With the Wind' is one of my favorites - first choice, among many I suppose, would be 'Scarlett', right?  Now I'll not go into an in depth character analysis and comparison of Scarlett and Melanie, but growing up I thought Scarlett was just fabulous.  I even wanted to name my little girl Scarlett.  However, in my Bible reading and studying a couple of years back, I was mulling over what it meant to be a Godly wife and mother and it suddenly hit me!  (See Proverbs 31 and Titus 2:3-5) The movie popped into my head out of nowhere.  (I guess the Lord was giving me an illustration!)  It's not Scarlett in her selfish, me-first, try and have it all my way attitude I should have been holding in such high esteem all these years, it's Melanie, an honest to goodness all 'round sweet spirit!  Truly an a-ha moment.  Love it!

A sweet spirit and cafe mocha - that's what's in the name.  I had fun with my alias, not sure if I'll continue or not, but if I do I'll let you know what name I went with and why. ;-)