Oh How I LOVED My Auntie Frannie.... :-)

My parents moved from Michigan to the Northwest before I was born. Several years later my uncle (my dad's brother) and Auntie Frannie moved out here too. Neither family knew anyone here so we were a tight knit little group.

My Auntie Frannie and Uncle Karl had five kids and money was VERY, VERY tight.

Christmas came and the only thing I really wanted was a Barbie wedding dress.

My sweet Auntie with allllll of those little kids made me the wedding dress on the right that Christmas.

I can still remember how thrilled I was and that was FIFTY years ago. I have treasured it all of these years......even then I knew how much love had gone into it and I tear up just writing about it.

One year my Mum was in the hospital on my birthday. All six of the little pack were outside playing and my Auntie wouldn't let me come into the house. I couldn't figure out why I was banned, but I was. Several hours later she surprised me with the sweetest little birthday party and a yummy cake.

I always felt welcome and loved at their house. It was almost like another set of parents.

She was such a treasure and I loved her so much.

She passed away from Cancer about ten years ago.........about ten years after my uncle. Their sweet daughter (my favorite cousin) passed away about three years ago. All from Cancer. Cancer killed my dad as well. That's a lot of cancer for one little family, I think.


I hope you have an Auntie that you love and who loves YOU!


Bless your little pea-pickin' hearts.

Huggies and Lovies,
Spencer

xoxoxoxox

And, The Pillow Makin' Continues.....

Oh YUM......how totally delicious is this old linen tablecloth? It's the most beautiful linen I've ever found. A lovely "hand" to it....and look at this yummy embroidery. It was handmade, for sure. It actually had a seam down the center of the cloth!

Now, I don't normally cut up ANYTHING that's in perfect condition....but whack this I did!

I thought it would really be better to cut it up and enjoy it than to stick it in a drawer unused.

Right? Yeah, maybe not, but I soooo wanted pillows out of it.

Thankfully an old tip from high school came back to me. Now, that in and of itself is a REAL miracle. That was a LONG time ago! :-)

If you try to cut linen it just gets all wonky. That would never do. If you pull a thread it will leave a perfect little line in the fabric. If you cut right on that line it's a sure bet it won't be wonky....in fact, it will be PERFECT.

I cut off the bits on the sides that had the hemstitching on it....and crocheted little vintage buttons across the edge....

I can't really tell you how I did it....I don't really know myself. I'm a lousy crochet-er....and just sort of faked the whole thing. Shhhh....I'm not really admitting that. Not here on the www. :-)

I wanted to be able to get full use of the entire tablecloth so I incorporated that little bit of lovely embroidery. Isn't it sooo pretty. I think the woman who made this would be happy to see her glorious work displayed.

Stitch that little gal up with a bit of piping and voila!.....Looks like a pillow to me!

More coming soon. I'm going to finish this darn den, come heck or high water.

What does that mean anyway? Anybody know?


So my sweet little chickie friends....

Thanks again for coming to see what I've been up to.

God bless all of you. ABUNDANTLY!

Big smoochies!

xoxoxox

Spence