crazy for daisies...

I'm sure by now you've noticed I've been tweaking my blog appearance.

I think I've finally settled on this vintage daisy theme. The inspiration was a vintage daisy feedsack in my collection.

I know I've mentioned it before that daisies are my favorite so I thought it was only right that they should feature heavily in my blog theme. ^_^

 

One of my most recent crochet projects is daisy granny squares. They are so much fun! I'm really enjoying experimenting with different colors for the background with stash yarn. My favorite is the aqua, naturally. ^_~

I tried out the "join as you go method" for joining some squares & I loved it. I used this tutorial found on Pinterest.  {Oh, I followed this tutorial for the daisy grannies, also found on Pinterest. I ♡ you, Pinterest! *blows kisses*}

I'm so in love with my new theme that I even committed to having some [square!] business cards made.

Happy Tuesday!

Much Love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

the almost lost art of thank you notes...

Do you still write thank you notes?



 I try to as often as possible.

 

It seems to me it's not as commonplace as it used to be.

I think in our greedy, more is more society any opportunity to show gratitude is a wonderful thing.

And who doesn't like receiving happy mail, I ask you?!

One of the first thank you notes I remember receiving was from the leader of Junior Choir at church, I was probably 7 or 8. I can't even remember what the note was thanking me for, but I do recall being so excited about receiving my very own piece of mail that I asked Mom if I could send a "You're Welcome" note in return. I was quite disappointed to find out that wasn't a thing. In my child's mind it was the only appropriate response since it was instilled in me to tell someone you're welcome if they told me thank you. haha!

A little while back I heard that they are no longer going to be teaching cursive handwriting in school. I think that is a shame. I read an article once that said something about how important handwriting really is. They made a point that when you hand write something you use more of the old noodle than you do when you type. Isn't that interesting? I couldn't find a link to the article, but here is a post that talks about the article to which I'm referring.

I can speak from experience that pieces of handwriting from loved ones now gone is something I treasure. For years I cleaned house for my great grandma, Grandma Lou, and did a little shopping for her too. I saved one of the notes she left me with the grocery list. She would have me do little mending jobs for her as well since she, an excellent seamstress herself, was no longer able. The note read: "Michelle, Could you put in a new zipper? This one is nuts. Gram" hahaha! She was such a hoot.

So, I sat out on the deck on an unseasonable mild afternoon
& started writing.
{Making a photo worthy display beforehand of course. *wink*}
Then I got to thinking about being thankful.

Being thankful is so important.
We are told to be thankful to God for everything in all circumstances.
{In each & every case it's always far better than what we truly deserve.}





"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

to which indeed you were called in one body;

and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

 singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

{Colossians 3:15-17}



"Rejoice always;

pray without ceasing;

in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

{1 Thessalonians 5:16-18}



"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

 Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

{Philippians 4:4-7}



Did you notice how often the words 'rejoice' & 'grateful' or 'thankful' are in the same passage?

Ah, nothing cultivates the joy of the Lord quite like giving thanks to Him.

It puts things into the right perspective.

We remember that He is in control.

All things are filtered through His loving hands.

How can you help but have joy when this is the case?

 

When we thank someone for some kind thing that they have done for us we ultimately thank God as well because He is the One Who put these givers in our lives.

 

Let us always be thankful to Him for the innumerable gifts He gives us every day. ^_^

{But especially that greatest gift of all: His beloved Son, Who gave His life a ransom for those who will believe in Him & His sufficient sacrifice to reconcile wretched sinners to Himself.}

 

So, next time you're penning thank you notes

to those who are a blessing to you,

remember the ultimate Giver.

 

{And be sure to take a coffee & cake break
when your hand starts to get a bit tired.}

~*~

Do you have any treasured memories connected with hand writing?

How often do you hand write things?
 

^_^

Much Love,

Michelle
{Yep, I took the piccies & I ate that cake. It was good.}

the colors of my life...

When I was a little girl I sang in our local civic chorale's youth chorus for a few years. We sang a wide variety of types of songs from show tunes to Psalms to oldies. {and one weird song about an ocelot of all things, "Saucy Little Ocelot", which contained the line "Saucy little ocelot, likes to fuss & boss a lot." Which my friend who sat next to me during practice & I thought perfectly described another girl in the group. We would elbow each other & try to keep from giggling...but I digress...}

 One of the show tunes we sang was called The Colors of My Life from the musical Barnum (which I've never actually seen.)

 

Some song lyrics tend to take up residence in my brain and never leave.

Such as the lines

 

"The colors of my life are bountiful & bold." sung by the fella

 

and

 

"The colors of my life are softer than a breeze." sung by the lady.

 

Every so often I think about these words & I wonder which color schemes would I use to characterize my life?

I really like both bountiful & bold AND softer than a breeze colors.

The only colors I'm not too terribly fond of are neons.

And in moderation even they can be tolerable.

 

Picking out colors for a new knit or crochet project is one of my favorite parts of the whole creative process. I love trying different color combinations. Nothing pleases my eye so much as just the right balance of colors. In my life there is a time & place for bright & cheery as well as pastel & pretty. I like to incorporate them both into my wardrobe & décor.

 

Since it was the lady who mentioned the gentle colors we'll take a look at some of those first.

{Ladies first ya know.} ^_~

 

 

 gentle

 

 

peaceful

 

 

lovely

 

 

calming

 

 

cozy

 

 

like a relaxing day at the beach

 

 that's what I think when I see pastels.

 

~*~

 

Now as to all things bright and beautiful...

 

fresh & juicy

 

 

cheerful

 

 

playful

 

energizing

*like a cup of coffee for your eyes*

 

 

warm

 

 

 like childhood summer days

 

 

That's what I think of when I see cheery brights.

^_^

 

As you can see I've been keeping busy with granny square blankies.

They are my most recent obsession, and they lend themselves very well to experimenting with different color palettes. I've just started on one I've been calling "pastel rainbow" while also working on a vintage beachy sweater in pale coral, light blue, & white. {Seen in some of the pics at the top.}

 

~*~

 

So these are the colors of my life.

Both light & lovely AND bright & beautiful.

 

What colors do you prefer?

Is there a certain scheme of colors that characterizes your life?

 

Much Love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

{Photos by me apart from the one of Mema & me. That was taken by Aunt Liz.}





say hello to my little friends...

Here's another sure sign of Spring - little baby chicks!
 



 

Well, once again I didn't get any outfit pics taken this past week.

Kels & I had the best of intentions, but we got distracted...by garage sales...

So in lieu of a 1940s inspired thrifted outfit here are my newest feathered friends. :D

These six little cuties will lay lovely brown eggs in just a few months time!

I bought them Sunday at our local TSC while picking up the feed for my flock.

They had some little baby mallard ducklings as well, which were pretty hard to resist, but I did! ;) I can't remember the name of these lil chickies' breed, but I think the gal there said they are a cross between Rhone Island Reds & White Rocks. She said they'll be brownish - can't wait to see what they look like when they're grown. I need to start thinking of suitable names. Though I may have to wait until their personalities er chickenalities start to develop to give them appropriate names. :) I already have a Philippa, Lillie-white, Freckles, Pepper, Snowy, & Oswald {the rooster}.

That night our electricity went out! Eek! One essential of chick keeping is a heat lamp. When they don't have Momma Hen to keep them warm they need the constant source of warmth that a heat lamp provides. Thankfully we have a generator. Although it runs on gas & only had enough of that stuff to last until about 9:00 PM. I had brought them into the basement {from the outbuilding I had been keeping them in} so they'd be warmer. Praise the Lord the power came back on at about 11 so they only had to go about 2 hours sans heat lamp.

They're all warm & cheerful today!

~*~

Now for some random bits...

The newest blooming beauties around here a lilacs & wild bluebells.

I made this bouquet {a mix of bought & homegrown flowers} to take to church & now I get to enjoy it in my room. I wish I could attach the scent for you all to enjoy!

{Removing all allergens, of course, for those of you who suffer from them.}

{Lovely Lilacs}

 {Beautiful Bluebells}

 

Isn't this dish towel just the cutest? It's from Kohl's. They have some pretty cute home wares.

 

I got this yellow Lu-Ray Pastels platter recently at a garage sale for $1.50! Woo-hoo!

 I like to collect pastel dishes whenever I find them for a super deal. I have some Shenandoah & Moderntone pieces as well. {You can see some in the photo below!} It's so fun how they all mix & match since they were made in similar eras. The few Cath Kidston dishes I have go so well too. 

 

 

The past couple days we've had rather chillier weather than the weeks before.

A nice cuppa {tea} & something sweet to eat is just what the doctor ordered.

{Well, actually there's no need to mention this to the doctor...we'll keep this just between us.} ;)

You can find the recipe for these yummy lemon bars in this post.

 

~*~

 Here is what I've been working on lately!

 

{A recent custom embroidery order. All in mint green!}

I've just the sewing up to do on this knitted gift for my cousin's baby girl.

Isn't that color delicious? It's my very favorite to use for baby girl gifts - such a vintage baby pink. {It's Knit Picks' Flamingo.} This is one of the colors I've picked out for my Summery cotton version of "Your Victory Jumper".  If I ever finish the original one, that is! ;)

~*~

 

 Any suggestions for names for my new baby hens?

What's blooming in your neck of the woods?

What do you collect?

{Photos by this girl!}

progress...

 

Ever so slowly...

Yet ever so surely...

Progress is being made.

After a couple minor freak-outs,

a few rows ripped back,

a few moments of questioning that fact that knitting is supposed to be a relaxing hobby,

I think I may finally have gotten my poor brain wrapped around this pattern.

 

 

Oh yeah, knitting is fun!

:)

{Listening to Ella Fitzgerald}

{Drinking Tetley British Blend with way too much 1/2 & 1/2}

{Enjoying the scent of Scentsy's "My Dear Watson"}

My idea of a perfect Saturday.

 

***

 

Still time to enter:

 

Click here to do so. ^_^