Hot Sulphur Springs

D and I have wanted to get away for awhile now. with family obligations, school and work, it's been an impossible schedule. This weekend, it turned out I had no work and he had no school. Perfect. The only problem was that I had (still have) a nasty head cold. You know when you walk around in a state of mid-sneeze all day long and only one nostril works? That's me. The dry air burns my throat, my brain feels too big for my skull and my eyes itch. If we were going away, I wanted it to be relaxing. No igloo camping or ice fishing or jumping off snowy cliffs in skis. I wanted a hot spring, a good book and some quiet.

We decided on Hot Sulphur Springs. It has a long history as a spa and has mostly adult guests. There are about twenty different pools and a lot of them are just big enough for two people so it's very private. It was wonderful soaking in the mineral-laden waters while snow gently on my eye lids and hair. I'd get out for awhile to cool off and hop back in again.



Right now I'm reading The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. They were the inspiration for the show the Legend of the Seeker, which I'm hooked on. It's so good. And you can watch the whole season one instantly on Netflix. Definitely worth checking out. Just a great story.

We were very lucky in our travels to stop in Grand Lake, where they were hosting a winter olympic festival. I'm not too into sports or the olympics, but it was nice to see a crowd of people out and about on a very cold day. And, because of the festivities, a lot of businesses that would ordinarily not be open, were open. Including the Kauffman House Museum. What a great place that was! There were enthusiastic docents, hot cider and homemade cookies. Also, some of the most beautiful handcrafts made by the Kauffman women:



Now this quilt is really something Though I am well past my crazy for crazy quilts phase, I was intrigued by this quilt, made form scraps of the finest silks, satins and velvets. I first thought it to be a reproduction because the colors were so vivid. But it's the real deal. Preserved due to the dry conditions up there. Stitches are rarely repeated and the intricate Colorado motifs are really amazing.



Something I really admire about these small town Victorian families I hear about is their apparently infinite imagination and industry. To use every scrap of fabric. To make something beautiful and useable out of what we would consider waste.

Very impressive.



We had such a nice time:







So nice to be blogging again. I've finished up some projects since my last post and would love to post them soon. I have a hard time taking nice pictures if it's a cloudy kind of day and my days off have been cloudy, I'm afraid. But that can only last so long. Hope everyone has a great week!

Giveaway Details

Okay, now we're in business! After a bit of trouble with my camera, I can now explain the giveaway. First, please download the button to your blog if you enter. It's the first button I've ever made! (See left margin)

If 10 people enter the giveaway, this will be given to one lucky winner whose name will be drawn at random:



Of course, most everything is vintage. I call this the emerald package. Green fabric scraps, the cutest quilted block, buttons, trims, etc. A few surprises will also be sent.

If 20 people enter, I will also give away this:



A sewing bonanza! Lots of vintage cloth, some quite old. Good yardage, too. And also a selection of my favorite trims:



Great stuff, truly. Perfect crafting supplies for when one must hunker down for movies and hot cocoa in the cold weather to come.

To enter, just respond to this post. I'll put all names in a hat and draw one on November 10.

If 30 people respond, another gift package will be added so tell your friends!

Good luck!

Swap!

Hooray! When I got home I had a HUGE package waiting for me from my swap buddy!!

I was so excited. The "I love pink and aqua" swap was the 1st swap I ever participated in. The rules stated to include at least one craft supply, one thing you made and spend about $15 not including shipping. I really agonized over what to get my swap partner. I scoured her website looking for clues on what she might like. I searched thrift shops, estate sales, garage sales. I asked anyone who was around to look at the package I was assembling to give me an honest opinion. I sent the package priority mail and crossed my fingers...

And I got an email back saying it was received AND LOVED!!!! Hooray! And then I got my package soon afterward and love,love,love the contents!

Here's what I got:

Can you see the adorable pink and aqua plates and cups? They remind me of lunchroom trays in a cafeteria. I can't wait to use them for TV dinners with D. In the back there's a velvet jewelry box - something I always have a use for.

And check out the paper goodies - big pink hearts to string on a garland maybe, cards she made, envelopes and places for tiny notes. Also, lots of embroidery floss in shades of aqua and pink.



Funky patterned fabric quarters to use in the cushions I'm making for the rocking chair I refinished this summer!



She made me these tiny notebooks! I use notebooks all the time at work and always look for cute ones like this.




Pretty vintage pin. Love the pearls!



Fancy star boxes with lots of pink and aqua buttons.




Needless to say, my cat was impressed.



Cute little cupcake that grows in water. So sweet!



Here's a closeup of one of the cards she made. They're the perfect size for sending recipes or short thankyous. The cookie book is a find, too. Great recipes to try!



I also got a fun tin of candy scented lip gloss that for some reason I didn't get a photo of. I know I immediately used it so maybe I didn't put it back on the table afterwards! Speaking of missed photo ops, when I opened the package, everything was wrapped separately in little pink and aqua tissue papper bundles. It looked so pretty. I wish I had been able to control my excitement. But being me, I tore into it squealing with glee and just made a terrible mess of it. Oh well.

Here's the package I sent her:

I knew she quilted, so I tried to get a sewing theme going. I found this little wicker sewing basket and glued sequins to the top.



The inside was pink gingham. All my collected treasures fit snuggly inside.



I found a vintage pattern and embroidered it all in aqua. If you can't tell, it's two busy bees working hard at sewing. One has a needle and one has a thimble. I then appliqued my embroidery to a potholder made of vintage fabric.




Here's a closeup of the pin I included. I also gave her a bit of the fabric I used for the potholder. I just loved that fabric. If you look closely, you'll see there are tiny deer hidden in the print.



Pink buttons, pink plastic glittery bells and a little girl's apron with pink and blue flowers.



Vintage trims and ultra fine glitter.




Well, I've just GOT to get to bed or I'll be a zombie for my patients in the morning.

Take care!

Crafty Stock-ups

Today I had quite a bit of luck in the craft department as far as the estate sale haul. It was super fun digging through all the fabric and sewing notions with my ma. She caught some things I would've missed.

Like this:



A dresser scarf half finished with such a pretty peacock. I got another one just like it that hasn't been worked on. At this particular garage sale, the lady was selling fabric - and this included those scarves - by the bag. Price of bag? $1.00!





At another sale I got the crewel kit that's keeping the fabric company for $1.00. It includes a zipper and a lining and instructions. I've never done crewel before, but this looks like a lovely project. I like having a stash of little project kits. Especially come winter when going out thrifting is not so pleasant. Nothing like a little project, an old movie and a long afternoon free.

We also came across these:



They all came together in a bag and we waited until we got home to separate them all out and divide them between us. What fun! And I found a few treasures for the I Heart Pink and Aqua Swap I joined.

For $2.50, I scored a Weave It at another sale







It makes the cutest little square coasters. I was thinking of making some to border a small square hooked rug did a few years ago. We'll see what happens. I'm still working on that chair and D's (my husband's) hat. I've been itching to make a rug though lately. Ever since D decided to make a little office in our basement, I've wanted to make him a rug. Just to make the place a little more comfy. He has said he likes the austere, light bulb dangling from a cord, no nonsense atmosphere of the basement because it helps him concentrate. All I can think is cold tootsies!

Other finds were all for the garden. I've been looking for garden statues since we moved in. They are scarce and the ones I do find are in boutiques for prices I can't even pay for indoor bric-a-brac. These were all $1.00-$2.00 a piece.











D has been having good luck with finds, too. Check out our new fish plate:




And our new artwork. It tells a story I find inspirational.



So, that's all for now. Time to enjoy my fam. I leave you with pics of earings purchased at Classic Facets from the costume jewelry drawers. The fine jewelry I'd give my teeth for, but they don't take teeth for payment. Just gobs of cash I do not have. I wish they'd hurry up and put pieces for sale on the web.

My new earings



Ma's new earings