Hello December 2016

I have always been partial to mittens and this is my favorite pair. It is getting cold enough to wear them too. There is a small hole in one of the thumbs which I must repair before it gets any bigger. xo

DIY Heating Pad Cozy

I was all set to donate a fair isle pullover sweater vest that I never wear but decided to make a cover for my heating pad instead. It was so easy requiring only two seams, one on the left side and one at the top. I was able to utilize the two finished edges of the garment at the bottom and top right using the underarm banding. I am so happy and can hardly wait to use it. I usually turn it on a few minutes before I jump into bed in the fall and winter. I used the other half for a cozy for my hot water bottle. I have been very busy cleaning out closets and doing general reorganizing. The nesting season will be here soon. xo

DIY Leftover Yarn Winders

Isn't this a clever idea for your leftover embroidery floss and knitting yarn? I have way too many clip clothespins and this would be a good use for them.

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Vintage Halloween Photo from NJ

Isn't this a wonderful photo? There was a story yesterday in the Star Ledger about Vintage Photos of Halloween in New Jersey and this one was my favorite. It was taken at a Halloween parade in Dover NJ and is undated. I hope the person who was pushing this Pumpkin Pram was in costume too. The pumpkin boy's expression is hard to read but I don't think he's too happy about being trapped inside this fabulous hand-made costume. I think it's adorable and perfect for keeping him nice and warm.

Blue and White Checked Slipcover

image source

My favorite fabric. This chair looks like the perfect place to curl up with a good book, doesn't it? I hope there is an ottoman somewhere. I love that the owner dragged another chair beside the easy chair to hold all the books because there were fresh flowers on the table. 

We had rain all night but it stopped at daybreak. Enjoy your Sunday whatever you do, inside or outside. xo

Beautiful Embroidery

Flower Detail: Top Panel of Jane Nicholas Mirror stitched by Lorna Loveland.

Middle Panel

I wish I could see the entire finished mirror surround, don't you? Oh, the power of a woman with a needle!

UPDATE: I found the entire mirror!!!

It's beautiful, isn't it? via

Pincushion Love

Globe Pincushions

Oh.My.Goodness! What a great idea. I still use my red tomato pincushion with the dangling strawberry to sharpen needles and another one that fits on my wrist. I've had them since high school or even before that. I'm loving these globes. via

Shower with A View

Wow, isn't this fabulous? It's a year-round outside shower that just happens to be inside. via 

Getting my attic organized unearthed my sewing machine and today I did a little mending and button sewing. I had to replace a missing button on my trench coat but luckily there was an extra one in a hidden place. It was a very awkward job because there was a small button on the underside that you were supposed to affix at the same time you were sewing on the larger top button. At the end you were supposed to wrap the extra thread around and around before tying it off. I didn't do a very good job of the last part but it's fine and doesn't pucker or anything when I wear it. I forgot all about putting spacers like wooden toothpicks under the larger button to make room for the wrapping. How soon we forget when we don't sew every day as I used to in my youth. But it felt good giving new life to a coat I haven't worn in ages because of the missing button. It's pitch black outside and it's only a little after five o'clock. I'm off to walk Webster now. Enjoy your Sunday evening. xo

Did you sew as a child on a toy sewing machine?

I did and I had a similar toy sewing machine. I can vividly remember sewing doll clothes on the screened porch in the summer before I graduated to my mother's Singer in the sewing room. That was also at a very young age. We always had a sewing room too which was wonderful. I am selling this one on ebay. I photographed it in my guest room. This built-in cupboard with shelves above and drawers below has a pull-out slide that was perfect for attaching the clamp on this vintage child's sewing machine.

Webster, Tabitha and I worked outside all afternoon yesterday and into the early evening getting the yard ready for fall. I weed whacked and they watched. Really! They love to watch me work and they give me lots of moral support just by being close by. Our street was repaved this week and it looks so nice. Now both entrances to my circular driveway are nice and spiffy too. 

DIY: Cute Reversible Bag to Sew

This bag is supposed to be for kids but I want one too. You could adjust the size quite easily. It would have made a fabulous basket for an Easter Egg Hunt if I had discovered it earlier for you. What a great way to use up all those small pieces of fabric you've been saving! Directions and pattern HERE. You're welcome.

Mary Cassatt, Snow Nest, and Daffodils Sprouting

Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926). Young Mother Sewing, 1900. The Metropolitan Museum posted this photo in celebration of Women's History Month. Don't you love it?

I've had my eye on the bird nest for a long time. It was the snow piled inside that disclosed the location.

I am seeing a few signs of spring here and there. These daffodils will be some welcome color pretty soon.

Recent Instagram Photos

My Instagram @contentinacottage

I have been trying to drink more water and I like drinking out of glass. This French Limonade stoppered bottle holds almost 4 cups. I try to drink at least two of them during the day. Last night, I noticed lots of bubbles had formed inside for some reason even though it was tap water.

Strong morning shadows on my kitchen wall. I love the radiator key projected on the wall.

Long afternoon shadows from the kitchen window on the gable end.

A vintage handmade clothespin apron from Scotland. I love the embroidered heather.

This is a closeup of the writing on my water bottle. Happy Friday, it's almost the weekend!

Sewing A Happy Medium

I found this photo that I had saved but I don't know the source. I thought this was a great label.

Wonderful clothing label

What size do you wear? Happy medium. Love it. via

Great Scissors

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Pearl Buttons

Don't you love this shirt button card? Pearl buttons are my favorite. via

Bee Quilt

It has been over a month since the beginning of the bee quilt. Hand printed bees on hand dyed fabric. Wonder how it's coming along? I love it so far! via

Royal Embroidered Monogram Crowned Initial 'E'

This is beautiful needlework, isn't it? I'm assuming it's for Queen Elizabeth II but I'm not really sure. See it full size at Townmouse on Flickr. You will be flabbergasted! 
Here's what she says about this piece in her embroidery photostream: "From an old, long out-of-print Italian book on beautiful monogram embroidery. It includes some of the best examples of this type of work I've ever seen. Many of these pieces were ebroidered for royal and titled families over the last century, hence the use of crowns in quite a lot of the work. The text is in italian."

DIY Hanging Embroidery Hoop Basket Tutorial

I might make some without the hoops with drawstrings for the upcoming farm-market season. Wonderful tutorial here.

The Seamstress's Prayer

”...As the pieces come together, help me sew seams that are straight, so that nothing tears apart or unravels; and when it does, show me where and how to patch with just the right touch...”
The Seamstress’s Prayer by Jay Hanley

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