Just Ducky!

When I first saw this cardi in the Mini Boden catalog I was smitten! When I got online "just to look at it" I saw that it said low stock in my size & every other color was already sold out I pounced! It was a bit of a splurge for me but I had a percent off discount & free shipping & returns so I thought it was as good a deal as could be expected. {A few days later I checked back online & they had all sold out! Glad I jumped when I did!}

I think it's been a good investment though. It's so snuggly & cozy. I've worn it quite a lot already. Yes, I could've made one much like it myself but sometimes it's nice to not have to. 😊 

Naturally I needed a duck dress to go with it!

I hunted on eBay & Etsy for good fabrics. I found this vintage duck print cotton on eBay. 

Of course I had to accessorize while I was at it. 😉 So I scored these cute mallard earrings on eBay too!

I used vintage McCall's 7741.

I made the A-line version. 

I had a trusty vintage metal zipper in the stash that coordinated perfectly! 

Funnily enough the new dress had its debut on the first day of duck season! 🙈😆

Keep making!

💕 Michelle 🍓 

Falling for Flannel

It's starting to get rather chilly in my neck of the woods. There's nothing quite like soft & snuggly flannel to keep cozy & warm. It's not just for pjs {Though I do love nice flannel jammies.} Here's what I've been making with it lately.

London Calling

Mod Sixties Shift Dress

{Vintage Simplicity 7300 from 1967}

Fabric from Joann's 

《a couple years ago now I think.》

I found some adorable earring to go with all my anglophile outfits on eBay!  They even came from England & were very inexpensive! 

Teatime Dirndl Skirt

With Ric Rac Trim

Fabric also from Joann's 

These gorgeous plaid flannel were found at Walmart. They are extra thick & so wonderful to work with. A great value for the price. I've made a pair of cigarette trousers from the black and white buffalo plaid. 

I intended to make the same from the tartan but I'm thinking of making a 60s shift with a big pleat in front instead as I tend to get more wear out of my dresses than trousers.

{Vogue V9189}
《Original 1960 design》

These trousers remind me of some worn by Lettuce in the 1986 version of Murder At The Vicarage & Gina in the 1991 version of They Do It With Mirrors.

This sweater is an old make from the Debbie Bliss knitting booklet Land Girl. 

I've got lots of cooler weather wear planned including a red knitted top like this one to go with these trousers. I'm thinking of working scottie dogs into the yoke. Won't that be darling??

What are you making?

Love,

Michelle 🍓 

August Roundup

 August!

My birthday month. 😄

I decided to go ahead & turn 31 on the 15th rather than counting back down to 29 as so many women are prone to do. 😉

For the 1st time in my life I spent my bday away from home. 

These chicken jammies {a gift from my sister Beth} came along.

To beautiful Washington state.

We visited Mt. Rainier 

Mt. Saint Helens 

&

Pike Place Market

We were out there for a wedding. It was my first flight & i loved it! As fun & beautiful as the trip was there is truly no place like home. 💕🏡💕 The weather back in my neck of the woods is unseasonably cool & has me looking forward to Autumn.

I'm excitedly planning colorful wooly makes. I want to make my first crocheted cardigan out of these Cath Kidston colors.

But first I need to make a lil something for my cousin's baby boy who is due any minute.

I'd had a dream of cubbies for all my yarn & some of my tchotchkes too. It's finally come true & it's just as cute as I imagined. {They're only about half filled here.}

Seeing all the colors is really going to spark inspiration I think.

How was your August?

Any big plans for September? 

Love,

Michelle 🍓 

Timmy Willie's GF Country Berry Scones

My sister Beth is one of the many people that benefits greatly from a Gluten Free diet so I had to be sure to have something yummy at the Beatrix Potter party for her to enjoy. I decided on scones since it was a tea party & I'd been wanting to try my hand at GF scones for a while now. We all loved them, even the gluten eaters, so I'd like to share my recipe with you. 

From Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse"

 1 {16oz} box of GF baking mix 

{I used Aldi's pancakes kind.}

1/4c. Sugar

1/2c. Butter {chilled}

1 {3.5oz} pkg. Dried Blueberries 

1c. Fresh Strawberries  

{cut into bite sized pieces}

3/4c. Milk

3 Eggs

1/2tsp. Vanilla Extract 

🍓🍓🍓

Mix together baking mix & sugar in a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender. Add berries & toss until evenly distributed & strawberries are coated. Mix milk, eggs. & vanilla in a separate bowl very well. Now add this to the flour & berry mixture. Stir with a rubber spatula until well incorporated. Drop by rounded 1/2 cupsful onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 425° F for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown & baked through. This makes about 8 large scones. You could also make them smaller & adjust cooking times accordingly. 

From Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse"

Perhaps you could serve them the next time a friend from the town comes to visit?

Enjoy!

Happy 151st Birthday, Beatrix!

Last year on Beatrix Potter's 150th birthday we had an impromptu painting party. It was so much fun that I decided to actually plan one this year! It was so much fun. I think my six wee leetle rabbits enjoyed it very much! I know I did. 

I found a few fun ideas on Pinterest. The little cabbages are oreo truffles in ruffled circles of tissue paper. So easy but so cute! The garden boxes are made from wafer cookies & frosting.

I asked the kids to wear an outfit inspired by their favorite Beatrix Potter character. 

Joel is Tom Kitten

Annelise is Moffat

{Tom's sister}

Jack is Tommy Brock the Badger

{Note his badger shoes}

James is Mr. Tod the Fox

Abbey is Cottontail

 one of Peter's sisters 

Wes is a foxy-whiskered-gentleman too

{And at the age where he gets easily embarrassed by Auntie.}

Oh, & I was Beatrix herself,  of course.

Painting!

It really was a wonderful party! I'm so glad it worked out. I think we'll do it again next year!

Gone too soon June.

Well, this month just zipped on by!

'Twas a busy month...

All in all a good month.

Made some new cushion designs.

Sewed a strawberry dress with Astrid  {the aqua sewing machine} for...

The vintage sale at which my friend Lily {Mode de Lis} & I shared a booth!

It was so much fun & such a great experience! I would definitely do it again.

Did a bit of thrifting with Momma & found some fun strawberry themed items. 🍓😄

My grandpa had a surgery & a few of us took turns staying overnight there to take care of him & grandma. There's nothing like being away from home to make you appreciate your little dwelling on this earth more. As Miss Read said in Village Diary: 

"With all the windows in the house opened, I sat down with my tea tray and thought how lovely it was to be back. I feel like a sword in a scabbard, I told myself, and instantly decided that a sword was much too dashing. Perhaps a cup, hanging again on its accustomed hook on the kitchen dresser, would be a better simile."

Some happy mail came all the way from England! I ordered a backpack for an upcoming trip out West to Seattle for a wedding in August! Somehow a meter of London print duck cloth found its way into my online shopping bag as well. 😉

The 1st Friday of Summer meant the local Old Settlers carnival! Homemade ice cream from a retro looking food truck was a must. I call this one the pb&j: peanut butter ice cream on the bottom & strawberry on the top. 🍦😋

Oh, how I love the view from the top of the ferris wheel. 

The brick streets in our little town's square are so charming. 

I love how retro some of the rides are.

I've been working away on two major custom orders. These daisy grannies are for a queen sized bedspread. I'm beginning to see them when I close my eyes. I've never made a blankie this big before. {Good thing I love making these, right?}

And also I'm copying a beloved lacy shrug for a lovely gal I met at the vintage sale! This is the first time I've copied a garment & it's coming along nicely. Lots of counting & recounting stitches & scribbling down notes. I'm rather enjoying the almost magical way simple stitches become something beautiful.

🍓🍓🍓

How has your June been?

Do you have any big plans for the Summer?

Hope you're enjoying the long days!

Love,

Michelle 🍓 

{Ps cushions are available for custom order. $35 + shipping 

And the watermelon version is currently listed in my Etsy shop & ready to ship!}