100 Days of Doilies Day 11

This is the other green doily I made from the same ball as the day 10 doily. I love this pattern. I love this color. I love my doilies. It's a love affair to remember.

The pattern is called Pineapple Panoply from Elizabeth Hiddleson. Did I misspell her name before? Hmmmmm.

 I have made several of these. By several I mean probably 20 or so. Seriously.

100 Days of Doilies Day 10

Green. I love this green! I was told not to wear it next to my face anymore but I still love it. This is from some thread I bought at the Yarn Outlet on 8th St in Colorado Springs for $1. Yes, $1. And I made two doilies from one ball. Woot! Come to think of it I sold two doilies this color a few years back. Woot again!

100 Days of Doilies Day 9

A sweet little doily in a pattern I used a lot back in the mid 90's. Thread from Karen at Library.

I'm sending this one to a friend in Ohio. (After I starch it, duh)

100 Days of Doilies Day 8

And now for something totally different lol! Ever seen a giraffe doily? Yeah, I hadn't either but I did a search for free doily patterns and there it was. Had to do it.

Still stash busting so pulled out all my crochet threads I drug with me from Colorado. Found suitable thread. Started doily. Ran out of thread (of course). Rummaged in stash for yarn I knew I had (dark part) Ran out of yarn. Broke down and bought other thread at Walmart. Took months to finish due to  billions of little giraffes around edge. Finally finished it up at oldest son's house in April WOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!

Yes, yes.... it needs starched, get off my butt already.

100 Days of Doilies Day 7

Ahhhhhh, the knitted doily! I made this on in Colorado in 2007. One of the ladies I knit with at Knitter's Kove wanted to try the technique and had some extra cotton yarn to share with me. I did a small one first then this one using vintage steel circular needles size 3. NEVER AGAIN!!! Let me repeat that....NEVER AGAIN!!!!

I took it to my mom in Chicago when she was in rehab after dehydrating due to chemo treatments. When she moved in with me I stretched it on a doily board and hung it in her room. (She died 6 weeks later) It stayed there until I took it down last October and brought it with me to Ranucky. It has lived several places here in my little pink room. I love it though I hate it. Clear as mud right?

100 Days of Doilies Day 6

This doily is called Mimosa. It's an Elizabeth Hiddleston pattern and I have probably made 1000, 500, 100, okay, 25-30 of these over the years. I used up some more of the ecru thread, actually the one I bought to finish the long pineapple shown on day 3. But of course I ran out and had to use white for the edge. I rather like it. It's 24" across.

I worked on this in Springfield, Il at a conference I was working the registration desk at. I couldn't hear much of what my boss was saying that day but I learned a lot about how the school admins in the next conference room down are using social networks like Twitter and Facebook to keep parents and students informed (Boy do their voices carry lol)

The people attending our conference without fail stopped to comment on my industriousness. And to tell me their mom/grandmother/aunt crocheted. Only one other person actually crocheted but she uses yarn.

100 Days of Doilies Day 5

I made this doily back in 2004-2005ish. Probably the last one I did before I moved to Colorado. It's a fine size 30 thread so I probably used a 10 or 12 steel hook. Again, this is a favorite pattern. I wish I knew where I put it.

This one lives on the back of a washstand that came from my dad's side of the family.

100 Days of Doilies Day 4

Another little stash buster doily done here in 2012. It's 8' across. I made myself not stress about the few ecru stitches in with the white. I mean seriously would Amish women stress about it? Wait...Do they even use doilies?

100 Days of Doilies Day 3

Today's doily teaches us several things. First, while it's okay to use up your stash, sometimes you will run out of thread. Secondly, the thread you use to finish might or not match lol! Lastly, vintage patterns ROCK!!!!

This was one of the very first patterns I ever learned to make. I found it in a 1955 or 56 Workbasket magazine. It remains one of my favorites.

Quite large, measures 29" long and 16" wide.

100 Days of Doilies Day 2

A small doily I made here in Rantoul with vintage thread Karen gave me at the first Yarn and Yak I went to at the Rantoul Public Library.

This was larger Speed Cro-sheen so I used a size 0 hook.

100 Days of Doilies Day 1

Welcome to my new endeavor! I am going to (try) to post 100 of my doilies in 100 days. Most I have made , some I didn't. Some are stained, some need starched, all are beautiful in their own way.

Doily #1 is near and dear to my heart and lives on the back of my computer chair. I made it when I was but a wee lassie living south of Naples FL on the edge of the Everglades in about 1983-1984. I used tatting cotton and a size 14 steel hook which is about the smallest one they make. I won Best Of Show with it in the Collier Co Fair the year my youngest son was born. Excuse the stains, it's had a long hard life.

Houston, We have Color!

Ok so I'm not in Houston...it was a movie reference duh!

Rock, Paper, Scissors...Feathers!

Playing with some of my favorite things.

 Idea from Pinterest. Paper. Scissors. Glue. Ink. Camera. Grand kids.

Yummy. 

Zinnia Elegans

Get a zing from zinnias!

Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow, grow quickly, and bloom heavily. They make a massive burst of color in your garden.

Zinnias have bright, solitary, daisy-like flowerheads on a single, erect stem. The most common zinnia is "dahlia-flowered" and grows up to three feet. Other types are "cactus-flowered."

Use in an annual or mixed border. Smaller zinnias are suitable for edging, windowboxes or other containers. The narrow-leaf zinnia also works well in hanging baskets.

Zinnias are very popular for cut flowers.

One of the flowers I remember my mom always growing is zinnias. I still love them. What other flower gives you so many colors and sizes and lasts so long in a vase? I have a few up and going out it the west farm garden but these are here at the house on the deck.

I was going to throw that planter thingy away. I think it was a record holder from the 50s or 60s. It came to me from the stuff I had in storage and I suspect it may have actually been Grandma Halley's. It sat on the garbage can to get set out but Brian and Deanna weren't sure so they left it. After I looked at it awhile I realized it would make a great planter. And so it is.

Sunrise Sunset

From Fiddler on the Roof

Sunrise Sunset

(Tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)
I don't remember growing older
When did they?

(Tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?

(Golde)
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?

(Men)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

(Women)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

(Tevye)
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?

(Golde)
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day

(Perchik)
They look so natural together

(Hodel)
Just like two newlyweds should be

(Perchik & Hodel)
Is there a canopy in store for me?

(All)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears