Blizzard

The weather forecaster said Upstate New York was "pummeled in snow". Well said.

We shoveled Thursday morning, Friday afternoon, and twice today. My Beulah and mom's dog, Sophie,

love all the action.

Here are some photos my sister's fiance took with his way cool iPhone. Those iPhones are so darn cool. I'm

doing the tracfone thing. It's cheap. It works but... it doesn't take panoramic shots!

Sarah and Adam

I love this song

DIY Cards

I just wanted to create a cute little "Merry Christmas" for my facebook page. Yesterday I purchased this cool rooster mug at my favorite antique store. As I sipped my coffee I was just itching to take a picture of it! I set the cup on a piece of computer paper and with one hand I held up another piece for the back drop. It turned out looking like this

I opened the photo up in Picasa straightened it, brightened it, added text, the CinemaScope effect, and a border

The photo on top ( Hi ) and this one below (coffee ) I used the font and effects in photobucket

I had a whole bunch of fun with this!!! Hope it inspired you a bit :o) xoxo

Trilby

This great shop modeled this great hat with their great apron... I know! I'v been searching the net for such-of-a-hat. Turns out it's not a Fedora -- it's called a Trilby. Cute, huh? I think it will be a smash this summer -- or maybe next depending on how quick everybody catches on. I know I want one! So far the best I could find was either $400 or $8... The $8 wins although I think I'll hold out a little longer and see if one shows up in the shops here come spring :o)

Behind

Well... I feel kinda behind! I admire folks who keep up with their blogs and share awesome info or just simple, beautiful pictures from their lives. I guess I feel like my life is chaotic. I don't want to share photos of my studio because it's like a fabric bomb went off in here. I don't have anything cool to say or projects to share. I've been kinda burning the candle at both ends all the while trying to figure out what I SHOULD be doing. That's tricky business, ahaha! Through all the upheaval of the last few weeks I have had Beulah my steady companion :o) She has actually inspired me to draw a bit. I don't draw well but the sketch I did of her was kinda cute. I was thinking of turning it into blank cards to sell in my etsy shop. Anyone done that before? I'm forever trying to find new ways to be creative and earn a little extra ca$h. Maybe you know how that is.

This n' That

The Shampoo I'm currently using and like a lot so far

the shirt i will be buying SOON! I have 2 other shirts from these  folks and they are great!

Katharine Hepburn and the ever handsome Cary Grant in Sylvia Scarlett. This movie is one of my favs

the ring i want really bad and am thinking of treating myself to... when i have the money.

That's it for this week. I hope to share some of my new designs come Monday. The sewing machine and I have been busy!

Micah

My twin sister and her husband are so blessed to welcome their gorgeous baby boy, Micah. He was born  July 9. Rachel was in labor 19 hours. It wasn't easy for her but she was so brave. I can't begin to say how proud I am of her, how sweet Spencer was, and how much I love our family's new addition. Micah holds my heart. I look forward to being a part of his beautiful life. Instead of "Aunt Hannah" Rachel decided he'd call me Nina because that is what she calls me sometimes. I like it -- a lot ♥ I was in the labor room the entire time. When Rachel asked me to be there I was worried. Blood, pain, bodily fluids -- not really my deal. I didn't feel qeezy once-- well, maybe that once but it was okay. I was glad I could be there to pray with Rachel and just be close. The entire thing was surreal for me. I don't think new life is something we can wrap our minds around because it's heavenly.

Micah 1 day old

Me and Micah

Micah and his Papa 

Corgi Love

I have high hopes of finding a corgi puppy of my very own before the summer is over. 

The little dog with a big smile  ♥

WWII Slides!

My great-grandmother and grandfather had these slides taken of "home life" to send to their son (my great uncle) while he was serving in the south pacific. They're a little staged and very fun! So happy we have these.

I've been busy sewing new merch for Let's Backtrack which I hope to post this weekend :o) So stayed tuned! 


          

When I was a Cleaning Girl

I came across this slideshow I made 4 years ago. Back then my twin sister and I were 21 and we worked as housekeepers at a big old manor house where 17 senior citizens lived. It was a very unique "old folks" home. It was a real home setting with one big dinning room table, living room and parlor. The house wound about like a maze and when Rachel and I started working there at 19 we had a time finding our way around! While most young people our age were at college we were here. We cleaned up after the residents we grew to love and consider family. I loved the big old house whose floors I scrubbed and whose hidden stairways and rooms and nooks my sister and I discovered as "the housekeepers". It wasn't a glamours job and we took it out of necessity when our Dad left in order to help Mom keep the house. I don't say this in a woe-as-me kind of way because looking back I can see how beautiful it all was. Rachel and I worked there for 3 1/2 years. Some mornings as I tied on my apron and started collecting the trash I was scared that I would never amount to anything better than a cleaning girl. But then one of the residents would say "Good morning sunshine! How's my girl?" 


Those years were like a mini life time all their own. It seems like it was all a wonderful dream. I miss it. I wish I hadn't worried so much back then about what people thought or what I'd become. Things rarely turn out the way we think but they always turn out. :o)

Doris Day

Gingham Camp shirts are back and this is a fad I just couldn't resist. I fear it will be short lived. I couldn't help but picture Doris Day. They seem like just the kind of shirts she'd sport with jean clam diggers while singing a cheery song. I just ordered not one but TWO. I know. Here's to sunshine, gingham, and song!

Doris Day by hannahandclaude featuring a poplin shirt

Sessun sleeveless dress
$137 - coggles.com

Old Navy poplin shirt
$18 - oldnavy.gap.com

J Crew knit cardigan
$62 - jcrew.com

Old navy
$25 - oldnavy.gap.com

Oliver Peoples tortoiseshell sunglasses
$325 - oliverpeoples.com

Essie nailpolish
$8 - zappos.com

MAC Cosmetics beauty product
£14 - debenhams.com

Gingham Fabric in Yellow, Fly a Kite by Riley Blake Designs, Half Yard
$4.50 - etsy.com

Down by the O U T L E T

It's been hot here in upstate New York. Probably like most of the east coast. Yesterday and today we drove into town and walked by the outlet. The boy scouts and the town have worked hard to make a beautiful 1.5 mile trail by the water. There are just gobs of wild roses (New York's state flower) and flaxs. It smells like heaven and looks pert near close. 

my sister Sarah and her fiance Adam

We put wild roses in her hair :o)

Looking downt the outlet from the launch where we waded

I wasn't fast enough to get a shot of the big blue heron that lives here. I named him Gus.

Someone painted that rock to look like an alligator head ??? Kinda fun, right?

flax everywhere!!!

the Leigh High valley rail road bridge. out of service now. there was a train wreck there in 1911 where the train derailed and came right over the edge into the outlet.

Make Mine Cross Country

We are ever changing people. My own shifting ideals sometimes surprise me! All my life I've wanted to see Europe. Ireland, Italy, England. I've even been interested in seeing Africa, China, Greece. Basically, everywhere on the other side of an ocean. For some reason, unknown to me, I suddenly just want to see AMERICA. The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Washington DC, Yellowstone National Park. Wide open ranges in California, the mountains in the mid west, the mansions in the south. But most of all... THE REDWOOD FOREST!!!! Oh, I'd love to see that in person, wow. I live in New York and I haven't even seen NY City.

I've decided the best way so visit some of these amazing places would be... with a camper. I have become enamored with the Teardrop Camper. LOVE LOVE. What more does a person need? Okay, you don't really have to answer that, ahahah!

And they can be perfectly adorable, and sweet, and cozy inside!