A Fantastic Kitchen

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I like everything I see in this kitchen. It's a big one but it seems to be well designed. More than one person could work here and not get in the way of the other(s), I can't really see the sink in the marble island, just the faucet. I like the window over the farm sink, the oriental runner, the wooden floor, the Wolf commercial range, the beams and everything else. I like the white cabinets and the steel windows too. Wish I could see the rest of the room but I'm sure I would like it.

The weather today was very strange with torrential rain for five minutes, and then it would quit for five minutes. Repeat. This was all morning long. The sun came out in the afternoon but more rain is coming in the wee hours of the morning. Big wind is starting up now. Off to close all the windows. See you tomorrow. Sleep tight. xo

Cake with Flag Icing

I love this cake! The next holiday with a flag theme is Memorial Day in September. That will give you a little over a month to figure out how to do this. The cake stand makes it look like a straw hat decorated like a flag. via

My Vintage Singer Sewing Machine

I posted these two pictures on Instagram today because so many people wanted to know what sewing machine I was using. The decal on the front says it was manufactured in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Don't you love things that were made in the USA back when things were made to last instead of being thrown away? I believe the term is "planned obsolescence" and I don't like it one bit. I still prefer having things repaired whenever possible.

The instruction booklet says the Slant-O-Matic was the greatest sewing machine ever built! And I would have to agree. I can remember my mother saving up S&H Green Stamps for her first electric Singer. That's the only brand we ever had. We had an old treadle machine too and I loved sewing on it as a child. The next page of this booklet says ©1961. I think I bought mine a little later than that but it was still the most current model at the time. It is all metal construction and is not computerized. The decorative stitches are all gear driven. It is nicknamed The Rocketeer because of its futuristic mid-century modern design. I guess it would be called Retro now.

I have this Olive Oyl cartoon saved on my phone. I love texting it back when I receive a text that is worthy of this response.

Curtain with Red Geranium

Sunday morning sunshine in window with geranium.

It rained all night and was very windy too. Before it started yesterday, I put a red geranium in the first window I see when I go up the attic stairs. This is the way it greeted me when I went up to open the windows this morning. Thank you for all of your wonderful comments. 

Now I will tell you more. I had originally intended to do only one panel for each window, like a roman shade completely collapsed. Well, that didn't work at all. Too skimpy and not full enough to tie back in one direction, and they made the room too dark. Back to the drawing board to make three more. I have never made roman shades and didn't want to learn. I had no idea what I was going to use to tie back the double panels. I tried various twines, ropes, ribbons, etc. but was too lazy to make them from the same fabric at this point (burnout was just around the corner). Then I discovered a new roll of 3/4" white twill tape and that was the answer. I used white chair glide pins to anchor them. The white looks perfect from the outside too, matching the lining material. It was an evolutionary process, not planned the way it turned out. I could never be a decorator for anyone else. How would you explain process this to a client? Now that it's finished, I wouldn't change a thing. I sometimes cook this way too. What's for dinner? No idea. Start chopping an onion and see what happens. Not planned but delicious. Have a great Sunday. xo

New Curtains I Sewed for My Attic

What an adventure I had this week making curtains for my third floor home office/work room. This is where I have my sewing room and ironing board as well as two PC computers. One is an iMac and the other is an old Windows XP computer.

I moved my sewing machine next to the last window and I really like it here. I worked today rearranging the part of the room you see in the ten photos I am posting today. The rest of the room is is wreck but I will slowly get it just the way I want it.

This is a view showing one of the windows closed. I created a monster when I started this project. Right away I had to take out the screens and wash them in hot soapy water outside. Then I had to clean the windows inside and out. Thankfully, they are tilt windows so it wasn't hard at all.

This is a view to the way back.

This pic shows the white twill tape tie backs. In the winter when it's freezing outside I can remove and let the curtains hang shut so there won't be so much heat loss downstairs as the warm air rises and hits the cold window panes. If I'm sewing and need more natural light, I'll just tie back the ones beside my machine.

Here is a close up of the wonderful designer fabric. It is woven in a damask pattern and it's the same on the reverse side. I am so thrilled I found four panels of long draperies that I remade for my little windows. They were double lined too. One layer of white flannel for insulation and the white cotton lining material.

Here is a view of the wall behind my Singer. The TV on a vintage artist's stand was for sculpting and now my TV and DVD player use it. I don't have my cable working in the attic and I mostly listen to NPR up there. The baseboard heat is on this wall too for warmth if I sew when it's cold.

Another view. Are you bored yet? This shows my comfy chair pulled up to the machine.

This might be a repeat.

My trusty Singer I've had since about 1965 and it is still simply wonderful and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I had to have the bobbin winder repaired several years ago but otherwise, it has never had a problem. I had a cabinet for it at one time but I sold it to a friend long ago. It works fine on this makeshift stand that is easy to move around. I love my pin cushion with the clear plastic wrist strap. I have a red one too but the bracelet part broke and I've been using it with elastic that needs to be replaced. I found this blue one in a drawer this week and was so excited. It's better than my red one because it is filled with metal shavings that sharpen the pins every time you poke one in. It says made in Japan so it's very old. I always look at sewing supplies at house sales.

That's it for my this project that I started on Tuesday morning. My windows look so nice from outside too, just like the cozy cottage that it is. Enjoy the weekend. It was overcast all day and has just started to rain. xo

Cat with a Sewing Project

I have been busy up in the attic sewing curtains for three windows and I have been enjoying myself immensely. This kitten sewing with a red hot needle made me laugh. Will post photos when I'm finished. I found four long panels of lined sewn curtains in a big blue and white checked fabric and I had remake them for my windows. They were double lined and will make my attic much warmer this winter. More later. xo

King George VI and Princess Elizabeth

I love finding vintage images I've never seen before. via

Delightful Mud Room

The view outside the Dutch door is amazing and I don't see mud anywhere. Crisp Architects NY.