Vintage Thingies Thursday - Aunt Grace's Nutmeg Grinder

It has been such a long time since I joined all my vintage loving friends at VTT. It is good to be back.

My mom lovingly packed this sweet grinder in a box she sent for Christmas. It was her Aunt Grace's. She knew I would love it and take care of it.

I have never seen one with a top like this. Be sure to click on the photos so you can get a better look.

After grinding your spices, you can use the top to measure the amount needed for your recipe.

After you measure your spice, you can open the top to make pouring easier.


Want to see more vintage, retro or antiques? Check out what all my friends are sharing at Suzanne's place, Coloradolady.

New Moon TUSAL

Last year, I started collecting bits and pieces of thread and fabric to play along with Yoyo and friends at Dragon My Needle. While my cups (or jars) runnethed over with these bits, I didn't post pictures on the new moon as was requested. I am participating again this year and have resolved to post at least six months this year.



These jars were empty on January 1. The jar on the left is the one that sits by my recliner in the living room. It will hold orts from my embroidery and items I will be hand stitching. Right now it is filled with bits of thread from a quilt I started machine quilting. I was not happy with the results I was getting, so I am removing the stitching.

The large middle jar sits in my studio and is where I put tiny bits of fabric as I trim seams and corners or cut off selvages.

The jar on the right is the one that sits near my sewing machine. It gets all the thread from the beginning or end of seams. When I change my sewing machine needle, I drop it in this jar. Since I am not one to always pull out the pins before I sew over them, I place bent straight pins in there too. When I empty a spool of thread, it gets thrown in this jar. I love the clink it makes as it hits the side of the jar on its way to nestle in the bed of thread.

The next new moon is on Valentine's Day. Check back then to see the progress of my Totally Useless Stitch Along.

Finished ON Friday - Holiday Decorating...

...or maybe I should say Holiday UN-decorating.

It has been a real struggle for me this week. Last night I decided I just needed to push through the blue funk that has been surrounding me for the last couple of weeks. I decided that if I got the Christmas decorations put away, I would feel better.

This is what my dining room looked like this morning.

This is what it looks like now.

Where did all that stuff go? Back in the TEN plastic totes where they belong eleven months of the year. All of these totes are stuffed.

Please! Someone tell me they have as much, if not more Christmas decorations. Shortly after taking this picture, Hubs put his muscles to work and carried all these boxes to the garage. Some time next week, we will move them to the loft in the garage.

It was a beautiful day here today with lots of warm sunshine. I made sure to get outside to soak up some yellow light. It seems the blue has disappeared.

Have you managed to accomplish something this week - big or small? Tell us about it at "Finished for Friday" at Lit and Literature. Threeundertwo is our host and she has a new look. Check it out!

May you have a productive weekend!

More Bags Made for Christmas

Last week I posted about some bags I made for my friend's quilt shop. They are getting a lot of "talk" from customers. If you missed that post, you can see it here.

This is a little bag I made for daughter in law for Christmas. It is a small bag to use when a woman only needs her cell phone, an ID and a lipstick. The name of this bag is "Runaround" and it is a Lazy Girl design. Check out more of their designs here. There is a zipper in this bag, but those Lazy Girls have a very easy method for sewing in zippers. It is as easy as sewing two seams...REALLY!


Below is the first X bag I made. I was disappointed that this bag did not turn out like I thought it should. The pictures on the pattern do not show you that the other side of the bag is opposite. If this bag is turned around, the bag would be the turquoise fabric and the strap would be black...not the look I wanted. Being pressed for time, I sent it to daughter anyway and told her I would redo it. Bless her heart! She said she likes it this way and there was no need to redo it.

After I had the pattern figured out, the next one came together just as I wanted. The outside of the next bag is all black and the lining is pearly pink.

The X bag is from Four Corners Designs.


What am I working on now? Stay tuned...

Finished for Friday - Bags by the Old Bag

Brr! I hope you are staying warm. This has been a good week to stay inside.

Hubs and I have managed to get the Christmas tree undressed and to the curb. I have also managed to get a few of the other Christmas decorations piled in the dining room, but seem to be in no hurry to get all the decorations gathered and repacked. There is next week...

I have been enjoying time at the sewing machine. This week I have been working on a couple of handbags to display at my friend's quilt shop. This pink bag is too cute! It would be a great little Valentine's gift. The grommets are plastic drapery grommets and they were so easy to use.

Here is a close up of the pretty beaded trim.

The other bag is an X bag; so named because of the way it forms an X when it is put together. This is the fourth X bag I've made as I did three others for Christmas.

Here is a closer look at the fabric.

What have you accomplished this first week of 2010? Join threeundertwo at Lit and Literature and tell us.

Happy New Year 2000!

Remember when every one was worried about the havoc that would be caused when the new millennium would begin? Y2K. People were concerned that the Y2K bug would shut down everything.

Not me. I was only concerned with finding someone, anyone who would perform a wedding ceremony on that day. That is the day Hubs chose to marry me. I did find a minister and we have lived happily ever after.

Happy Anniversary, my love!


Happy 2010 to you, my blog reader! I hope the new year and the new decade are all that you want.

Finished for Friday - Some Christmas Stuff

Why is it no matter how early I start preparing for Christmas, the closer it gets the more I have to do?

Boogie made a visit last weekend. He and Papa went to get the Christmas tree and he helped decorate it.

We made and ate Rice Krispie Treats.


Then came Monday and a flare up of my lower back. The back is much better today thanks to nsaids, ice and heat.

Despite the back, I did complete the tree decorating Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday was spent decorating and cleaning the rest of the house.

I also got three packages put together and mailed this week. One was a new iPhone for the youngest daughter. Her Christmas present early. A package filled with ornaments went to daughter #3. She wanted all the ornaments she had made and collected over the years. The third package went to my girlfriends back home. They will be having our Christmas gathering on Sunday.

I have been a busy Bea in my studio these last months. These are not things I have finished this week, but I wanted to share them. I will not be letting any secrets out as none of these gifts will be going to friends and family that read my blog.

This is a quilted thread catcher. A pin cushion filled with sand rests on the table and holds the little basket. I made two of these; one for my mom and one for Hub's mom.

I made a handbag for one of my girlfriend's who celebrates a December birthday. I was so pleased with the way this turned out. Hope she likes it.

Below is one of the reusable shopping bags I made from fabric in my stash. The blue print was four yards I found at a flea market and paid $2. The red polka dot used for the pocket and lining was a damaged piece I found in a remnant basket.
Next is one of the crayon keepers I made for the grandsons. These were fun and fast to put together. Here it is all rolled up.

This is the back.

And the inside.

*You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

What's next? This weekend I need to wrap, wrap, wrap! Monday morning I want to be at the post office with huge boxes going to the grandson and kids in Milwaukee, the parents and kids in Kansas and the MIL in St. Louis. Last year everything had to be sent priority mail. Ouch! I am hoping to save some money this year by getting things shipped earlier.

My little Singer will be humming again this weekend as I have two more handbags to construct. Then next week I can get the last of my gifts for Hubs and start the cookie baking.

Are you beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Join threeundertwo and tell us what you have accomplished this week.