Janet Clare - Blog

I don't know how to knit (I wish!) but I thought those of you who do might enjoy this site: Janet Clare. She also has various posts on sewing, crochet and cooking.

Hobby Blogs - Lists

Just a little note:

I've recently sorted the hobby blogs that I've posted to the left by category. As best I could. Each one has so many more things to them than the particular categories they are under but I like things sorted and organized and that just jives better with my way of thinking. So I sorted them by their most prominent interests. To me. :) Or sometimes, by their prominent trade.

Also, note that the ones under Fun & Inspiration have many different things that inspire me (i.e. sewing, cooking, photography to name a few.) and it was too difficult to sort them into a particular category at the moment. ;)

When you have a spare moment, I think they're all worth checking out!

Dottie Angel - Blog

Random picture from vintage children's book.

Is it fair to pick favorites? With craft blogs? Of course, how could you even begin to pick a favorite?! I've found so many favorites!

So I'll just say that my favorite of the week, is by far Dottie Angel. I've been reading her (Tif's) archives during every spare minute that I can find make these past few days. I love it! Her style is so similar to what I want to do. It's so incredibly inspiring. She sews bags/purses, pillows (she calls them cushions :), and slips. The slips are vintage slips that she dies and then embellishes. They're very pretty. (She was even published in the newspaper! I'm only in the May archives - still have June and July to catch up on but I'm really enjoying it)!

When I say that her style is similar, I mean that she uses similar materials (vintage lace, linens, buttons) that I plan to use. Although, I have no plans in the near future to make bags (purses) or embellish slips. I do have many other ideas floating through my head as far as using similar materials.

And her posts are sprinkled with the perfect amount of humor! She's a good read.

You know it's funny, they always say, Don't judge a book by it's cover., but that's exactly what I do with blogs. The pictures have to grab my attention first in order to peak my interest. Her vintage sewing notions are what first caught my eye. (I recently posted about them here). But going back to pictures, I think of that when I take my own pictures (which nowhere near meet my expectations. :) I'm not complaining there or fishing for compliments. They just don't, most of the time. :) But I'm so focused on this whole house thing, this summer, that pictures have been pushed to the wayside. Along with everything else. I'd love to take pictures of different vintage finds more often and post them but there just isn't time for that yet. I plan to change that this winter as I slowly begin to unpack and settle into our home.

Fabulous Fifi

Oh my. Oh my! I just came across the most lovely blog. Now, I don't usually make it a habit to use the word 'lovely'. In fact, I rarely breathe the word. But this blog IS lovely! And I have a blue ladder very similar to the one in her pictures (pictured under: Getting ready for a party). If you enjoy vintage, shabby chic (good) junk like I do, check out Fabulous Fifi! She just started her blog in July. If I could afford an interior decorator, I'd have her come to decorate my house! Only a little more streamlined. :) And not so many things about. But it's very pretty, just the same.

Truthfully, I'm not sure yet if she's an interior decorator for hire. I found her through another blog that mentioned she does design for magazines. I plan to extensively investigate her blog. Soon.

Here is my blue ladder from junk picking this spring, amidst a few of the other treasures that we collected. It's a little difficult to tell what everything else in the picture is. But believe me, I plan to put it all to good use. ;) Some, I already have - like the white bookshelf/plant stand? to the left. I have it in my kitchen right now. It's one of my favorite finds. Ever. It has the best patina! I'll get better pictures of that and the ladder in the next year as our home unfolds.

Vintage Sewing Notions

I discovered this website (Dottie Angel) only moments ago! I am drooling (ok. not literally! ...ok maybe I am... ;) over her sewing supplies. They are a dream to look at! I have only a fraction of that which is in her pictures but this is what I aspire to own (and work with)!

These are the same type of vintage sewing supplies that I would like to use once I start my sewing projects. Check it out! I am always on the prowl (at garage sales and vintage shops) for similar items. :)

NOTE: You will have to scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on Older Posts and scroll down some more. They're on that page, posted under "me, my natty little basket and the world..."

Decor Inspiration

For those of you who are crazy about the cottage, shabby chic style like I, check out The Old Painted Cottage (listed under Fun & Inspiration on my blog). Her name is Jen and she features a Cottage of the Month! I was enjoying taking a peak at all of the cottages that have been featured thus far, this year!

At the bottom of the page (after you click on Cottage of the Month above) you will see a cottage for every month of this year so far.

How lucky for those who have been featured here! It's my little dream to have my house featured in a magazine. Someday, when I'm rich and famous and I can hire an interior designer...maybe they'll come a callin'. Lol. ;) Nothing wrong with dreaming!