GREEN - but pretty!

I've been busy canning my blackberry crop. I've made Blackberry butter and Blackberry Peach chutney....still more blackberries to be cooked up!

BUT...I still have time to sew...

I love these free bags. My husband picks them up at conventions, some I receive as "freebies" from local shops, and some are given to me (hoping they'll be returned once they are made over.)

There are sooooo many out there right now, and most of them are free (or are only a couple of dollars if you HAVE to buy one.)

Most of the bags come with a logo on one side and the back side is usually blank (a few have two sided logos.)

I like to sit with a stack in the evening, turn on a good movie, and rip them open. Some I will rip completely open to remake the whole bag, others I rip open just the area I want to insert fabric. Sometimes I'm not sure what will happen until I take them into the sewing room...so I'll just rip them all apart!

This simple Kroger bag received a layered pocket over the logo area, and I totally covered the back. There was already a small zipper pocket inside (bonus) so no inside pockets were added.

Instead of sewing the black bias back onto the edges, I used a light pink to give it an accent.

This pink breast cancer bag received a pocket from vintage tablecloth fabric on both sides and a lining was added to the inside.

This purple bag I received from a Quilt shop opening. I also used vintage tablecloth fabric This bag was rather long, so it got an inside pocket of the same tablecloth fabric and an outside pocket. I re-used the purple bias tape for putting the bag back together, and used a light purple bias tape for the upper edge for the lace trim.

This cute green back has left over rick rack on top of vintage tablecloth fabric, and a small bit of leftover trim. I actually think this is once of my favorites (and I'm not fond of green!)

This cute bag was already lined with a waterproof fabric, so I only added the vintage trim around the top (to hide the snap I added) and used a pretty piece of embroidery to cover the logo on the pocket. I did not cut this bag open, only stitching through all to add the decorative pocket. I can't believe how many people stop me to ask about this bag!

Like I said...there's no reason "GREEN" can't be pretty. I can take my new "cute green" on my next shopping trip to the Farmer's market.

So...go green yourself. I'm sure you have your own bags you can pretty up!

Sunday Thoughts

Psalm 92:5 How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!

Moving & Projects

My daughter has been planning a move for quite awhile. She was living in an apartment during this last year, but really wanted to move back into the historic district to live. She finally found a cute carriage house that was just a perfect size for her dog, Rocky, her cat, Tigger, and herself.

Before her move we were both busy getting items ready to move in. She sold off most of her "newer" items and bought items with more character at flea markets and garage sales that she could make over to her liking. She is collecting vintage 1950 items to decorate her home.

One large item she purchased was this dresser. Some how I never got a picture of it in all it's glory (painted black.) She found this piece at a local garage sale for $10. She stripped the paint and sanded it down knowing she wanted to paint it "her blue" color.

Once we got the piece painted she wanted me to "decorate" the front to dress it up. She wants black, white and blue (kind of a teal color) in her bedroom and bath so I came up with a design and started on the smaller drawers before deciding to proceed with the whole front of the dresser.

I liked the idea of continuing the design down the full front.

Once we got it moved into her bedroom she decided on small shiny knobs that looked similar to the black paint on the front.

She also purchased this small bathroom shelf, but wanted me to paint a piece to put in the back, again tying in the teal color with her other items.

She hung it in her bathroom...which I guess you notice has the same curtains that I used in Miss Janice's Library makeover. (You can see them here.)

There were two panels left over from the library makeover, so I used a whole one as the shower cover and cut the top piece off the other curtain to finish off the look.

I used the last left over piece to make a small coverlet at the end of the bed to tie the two rooms together. I think it was a nice touch to finish off the room and tie all the colors together.

She purchased this screen at Canton and her dad cut her a piece of plywood for the top. I painted it with chalkboard paint then decorated the edges with her teal color. She can use the top to write on and the screen portion holds things via magnets. (Has to be an old metal screen for this to work.)

For her kitchen window I used some old tea towels she bought at Canton to make her simple curtains. She wanted to purchase a stained glass window to hang in the lower portion of the window, but they're too expensive for her budget. So I painted her one.

She was in FFA in high school and raised a steer her senior year - so she liked the cow I painted on an old window. Her dad hung it for her so it looks like the kitchen window.

I am still waiting on the fabric I ordered to finish her last two couch cushions, so I'll save the couch pictures for another day!

Working on some new "tote" ideas...so more things to show in a couple of days. We also had a meeting with Miss Janice this week...ready to begin her bedroom and bathroom make over. More pictures to follow of before and after pictures!

Blackberry Sherbet

Picking blackberries two times a day. I pick the back garden in the morning and outside the fence in the afternoon - always looking for the shade to determine when I pick them.

Today I'm going to make Blackberry Sherbet. (Yesterday I made a Blackberry Brandy Sauce. I want to try it on cheesecake.)

First you need 4 cups of fresh blackberries and 2 cups of sugar. Stir them together in a large bowl and let this mixture stand for about 30 minutes.

Next, process the mixture in a food processor or blender until smooth. I use my blender and it works just fine. I then pour this into my Chinois Strainer and mash the juice out into a 9 inch square pan (which I don't own so I put in into a 8 x 10 pan.)

Once I have all the juice released I stir in 2 cups of buttermilk. Then, cover and freeze for 8 hours.

After 8 hours I break the mixture into chunks and put it back into the blender to mix up again until smooth.

I return it to my pan and freeze again for about 3 hours until firm.

Now...ready to eat for dessert....

This is one of the easiest things you can make for dessert and is cool and refreshing!

I think tomorrow I'll make jelly...or a pie...just have to wait and see how many I pick!

Reality!

Back from a week of beach days...nothing better. BUT, now the reality...I have berries ready to pick and ready to be made into something good.

The girls picked several bags and froze them while I was away, but there are many more and I have to get busy!

This was my morning reward, and I haven't even been outside the fence yet. I know there are probably this many more.

The bad news is that I broke my finger while we were away...it's more a nuisance than anything...but it does make typing difficult (than goodness for spell checker!)

Have an appointment this morning, but once I return I'll let you know what I decide to make with this "batch" of blackberries!

Till then.....

Vacation

In case you weren't aware...I've been away! We are currently in Pensacola, Florida. We left last Friday and will be returning to Texas this Friday. Time at the beach...just time away... has been wonderful!

This is our view from the balcony - bay on the left and Gulf on the right...who could ask for more?

We brought our granddaughter with us, so we've been busy, busy between the beach and the pool. Oh to have that kind of energy again.

We've had great fun sightseeing also. We found the Pensacola Historic district and the Historic Pensacola Village. We wandered through the buildings and sites around there for a day. These are some of the restored buildings.

1890 Lear-Rocheblave House

1832 Old Christ Church

Julee Cottage 1805

Lauren liked driving on the old train!

Well, it's still early, but we'll be off to the beach soon!

More on Pensacola soon (hopefully...I am on vacation, you know!)

Denison TX

I feel like I've been gone from blogland forever. Wedding is over, honeymooners have returned and my girlfriend, RT, has gone home to Florida!

I met RT in college and we became great friends (more like opposite attracts.) After college we lived together in New York and we've kept in touch for 36 years! Friends have come and gone in all those years, but the Lord continues to solidify our bond and today we are more sisters than long time friends. She has been there for me during events large and small. Hard times and good...she is a treasure and we enjoy any time we can spend together. I try to get to Florida yearly to spend time with her...she doesn't come here as often, but we speak weekly so it never feels like time has past when we do get together.

Before RT left we had a wonderful week together. It's been 7 years since she's visited here, so we had much to catch up on and many new places to visit. We only had a week...so it was a whirlwind. We cushioned in down time to recoup from the wedding, but also planned some day trips to shop and enjoy the Texas scenery.

We spent one enjoyable day in Denison, TX. Denison is one of my favorite shopping spots - and one antique mall in particular always has great displays. I love all the aqua items grouped together! Really makes a statement.

There is also a REAL service station in Denison. Of course, as always you can self serve OR...

There is full service! I couldn't believe it was a full service station!

Of course, I have my own "full service" attendant! He takes good care of me!

My other favorite place in Denison is Peggy Sue's Diner. It's a cute little place in an old gas station.

I love the outdoor seating. It was a very "cool" June day when we visited. (That would mean a day in the 80's.)

The inside is done in a retro decor with red benches and chairs.

There's also a juke box with loads of great songs.

We opted to sit outside and enjoy the day. Denison City Hall is across the street.

The menu is varied and offers a variety of home cooking.

It's off the main street, so not a lot of traffic on this side street, which made for a quiet lunch.
All in all...it was a great day and more special memories were created to add to our scrapbook of moments together.