Crochet Fever - I'm Hooked!

Well, I've got it. If it came with a fever, I would be burning up! I had forgotten how much fun it is to crochet. Have not done it in decades... it all started when looking for scarves to accompany the wool coats I bought my daughters for Christmas. Could not find what I wanted - nothing was just right. After all, my baby is freezing her tail off in Germany now and needs coverage and warmth. So I thought, well, I used to crochet, I can just make her a scarf ... one visit to the Hobby Lobby Walls of Yarn and I was hooked!! Wow, the yarns... there are so many fabulous textures, weaves and colors. You don't have to be a "fancy" hooker (hehe) to make gorgeous scarves, just a few simple stitches! Here are some of my creations so far...

These are for sale in one of my etsy shops. Click on the pics to link there - Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

I am Thankful...

http://www.ducttapeanddenim.etsy.com/

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I always think about my daughter Becky, who is living in Germany now, this time of year. She was five and in kindergarten and asked by the teacher what she was most thankful for and she said "cranberry sauce".

As I get older, I am mellowing some, as all good cheese and good wine does. I am a little fatter than I would like to be and my knees don't work as well as they used to, but I do see that I have much to be thankful for. We all do. This crazy world that we live in just goes faster and faster, spinning out of control. Or it seems to be, but we must remember that it is not and that our faith is not in this world, but the one to come. Those of you that know me know that I put my faith in the Lord, I have to. Life is just to scary without that firm hand to guide me and that unconditional love that envelopes me and carries me through life.

It has been a tough year for us, three deaths in our family, some surgeries, family illnesses and traumas, but the Lord has been faithful. In amongst the turmoil, there He is, with His steady hand and loving arms. He is there for all of us, we just need to call out to Him and open our hearts. So this Thanksgiving, inspite of it seeming to be one of the worst years of my life, it really has been one of the best. The best because all the hurt that I have felt has drawn me closer to Him - I am most thankful for Jesus. He has surrounded me with a wonderful loving family and caring friends. I am thankful!

I wish you all the best Thanksgiving ever, and though times are tough and it seems there is no answer, there is, He is standing right in front of you, waiting. All your problems will not go away, but you will have a friend, that sticks closer than a brother. Happy Thanksgiving, My Friends - Enjoy your friends and family and be safe!

Some of my favorite Thanksgiving items from Etsy...

http://www.littlethings1.etsy.com/

http://www.goodandplenty.etsy.com/


http://www.dizzeelizzee.etsy.com/


http://www.truluxe.etsy.com/


http://www.basketsbypeggy.etsy.com/

The View from My Chair

I just love this time of year....the swan song of the leaves in brilliant colors and the sky is so blue. It was warm here today so I headed for the back porch with a book and parked myself in my favorite chair to enjoy the warm sun, blue sky and quiet - could not resist a pic or two to share - Hope you enjoy....

Thanks for stopping by - hope you all have a great week!!

Vintage Pillow Cases

I just love vintage pillow cases - beautiful hand embroidery work, to-die-for hand crochet edging and the crisp cool feel of cotton muslin on your cheek! I don't care how much money I spend, I cannot find one equal in quality to the ones from yesterday. All the seams on the inside are french seams, making for a tidy inside. No detail was omitted when these were crafted. Some ladies made their own cases before adding the wonderful details that make these so special. Can you imagine the time that it took - Here are some of my favorites....

Lovely Southern Belle

White on White - My favorite

Pink Variegated on Cool Cotton

Sweet Butterflies on Crisp Muslin
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For these and more lovely vintage textiles, please visit my shop at http://www.catnapcottage.net/

Vintage Market Sale on Etsy - Nov 8th & 9th

Vintage 1970s Bag from bytheway

Bring your purse and shop in your fuzzy slippers - Etsy's Vintage Market Sale is coming November 8th & 9th. Etsy Sellers are known for having the most unique vintage finds anywhere. Leave the searching and finding to us, sit back with your favorite beverage and shop these fabulous goods - nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a truly unique gift. Here are a few examples of items you will find...

Six Vintage Ivory Lucite Bangle Bracelets from susantique

Vintage Glass Condiment - Spice Jars from reprise


Yashica-Mat Vintage TLR twin lens reflex camera from SupplyFascination


Vintage Banjo Brooch from GeneralWhimsy2


Vintage Enamel Bread Box Eames Era Beauty Box by Lincoln from Carriers Cozy Cottage


Vintage WIDE Chunky Bracelet from mysouthernlace


Yummy Candy Dish in Mustard from daisytoad

Vintage Custurd Cups - White Milkglass - Made by Glassbake from CatNapCottage

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These and many more fabulous vintage finds - search "vms" on etsy - Mark your Calendar!!
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VMS Search - Click Here

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Many thanks to my friend Mona over at Carriers Cozy Cottage for organizing this fabulous event!!

Etsy Storque

Daniellexo, an admin for etsy, featured my turquoise bedspread in an article that she wrote for the Storque entitled "This Handmade Colorful Home". She also included lots of colorful room decor such as paintings and pillows. Click on the pic to take a Look....

Photo by hgtv.com

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You girls know how much I love my vintage chenilles, especially my peacocks. It made me smile! I also found the turquoise peacock in one of the gift guides.......

Holidy Gift Guide - Over $100

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Thanks Daniellexo!!

Etsy Gift Guide

Jewels 1977, a writer for Hubpages.com notified me today that she just did a Holiday Etsy Gift Giving Guide and included my shop. Thanks so much Jane - Here is the link to her guide...

http://hubpages.com/hub/Looking-for-a-Unique-Gift-Try-Etsycom

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Jane's Etsy Shop - She makes fabulous jewelry... http://www.jewels1977.etsy.com/

Vintage Quilt Tops

I scored the most awesome vintage quilt top off ebay. It is a random, no pattern really, crazy quilt type top. What makes it even more fabulous is that it is lined with vintage feedsacks and floursacks. Well, you guessed it, I promptly laundered it and fashioned the first of four pillow covers that this awesome quilt top will yield...barkcloth, silks, cottons, wools, just a true vintage fabric sampler. I am in love!!!

For this one-of-a-kind pillow cover and more vintage textile treasures, please visit my shop at

http://www.catnapcottage.net/

~~~Thanks for visiting and Come Again Soon~~

At the Cottage...

There's a place I go when I want to relax, it is The CatNap Cottage. Yes, it is really a place - it is a quiet and comfy environment, like stepping back in time - everything is old and welcoming. So get yourself a cup of tea in your favorite teacup and browse through these rooms at the cottage. I decorated it with thrift shop and antique shop finds, some things I painted, like the floor. It is painted a cottage white - the rugs are fabulous and the tole trays too. I just love it and want to share it with all my friends....

My bedroom at the cottage - vintage rug off ebay, dresser and mismatched mirror I painted white, vintage lamps from a friend, old black tole powder box and oval painting on the wall dates back to Civil War . Love BlueBoy, Pinky is on the other side of the bed. Vintage clock from antique dealer in Moultrie, GA. Doilies given to me by a friend. Bedside Table, was pink, and, you guessed it, I painted it white. Love the little book tray on the bottom - back when people read more and watched less tv. Bed is late 1800s from an antique store. Naps are fabulous in this room!!

Love this rug - from 1930s - 40s, I think. The table was given to me by one of my friends. I reworked the milk glass lamp to make it work again and picked up the painted suitcase from an artist in Moultrie, GA.


There are two of these lamps, one on each side of this deco style dresser that I painted white - my favorite lamps at the cottage - Just love them!

The project that I thought I would never finish. Purchased at an antique store for $45 - Took it apart, painted it cottage white, redid all the upholstery in this fabulous toile and ticking. Fireplace was red, painted it white - do you sense a theme here? LOL

Back of the chair - hammered all those little tacks myself!Fabulous Rug off ebay for $1250 - my favorite rug ever!!

The Wall of Tole Trays - Some of my favorites, most of them are Nashco. I am a sucker for painted trays, boxes, etc.

My shabby secretary - it is full of my favorite vintage plates and china teacups. Bet you can guess what the drawers are full of.....vintage textiles, mostly tablecloths and pillowcases!

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Hope you enjoyed browsing through the cottage today - thanks for letting me share it with you!!

Time to Make the Biscuits

Nanny kept a wooden bisquit bowl under the counter. It had flour in it and was covered with a floursack. When she made bisquits, she would add flour from a sack. She then made a hole in the middle, put in a handful of shortening (lard in the old days), and added some milk. She melded the mixture of milk and shortening with her hand until it was just the right consistency. She then started to spin the mixture around, picking up the flour from the sides and bottom of the bowl until there was this perfect bisquit dough. No bisquit cutters used by her - she then would knead it and when it was just right, she pinched off a piece and rolled it around in her hands until it was a nice ball. The perfect little ball of dough was then placed on a greased "bisquit pan" and smooshed down with the knuckles of her hand. Every bisquit she made literally had her handprint on it.

I was just tall enough to stand at her right hand and watch curiously as she magically made these perfect bisquits appear. She would give me small bits of the leftover dough and I would make tiny bisquits and bake them in the summer sun on large rocks in the yard - I was in such a big hurry to grow up, wish I had more of those days now.

Pillow Made from a Vintage Floursack

This pillow and more can be seen in my shop - http://www.catnapcottage.net/