Vintage Crocheted Tablecloth

My mother's mother crocheted this lovely tablecloth probably in the mid-1940's

I have mentioned before that I never met my grandmother. She died at the age of 44 in 1950 leaving eleven children.  The youngest was just 6 years old and the oldest three (in their twenties) raised their younger siblings.

 During my genealogy research, we searched intently, but were not able to locate my grandmothers official birth record.  My mom says her mother was born either in Quakertown or Perkasie which are both located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She was raised in Philadelphia.  The youngest of thirteen children, Catherine Mary was born to parents that arrived in America from Germany in the late 1870's.

A trait I see passed from my German ancestors is a strong work ethic.  I have heard many stories and see it continued in my mom and aunts.  Even into their 70's (they are slowing a bit in their 80's) they were very hard workers and what they put their hand to, they did with perfection and intensity (almost to a fault).

I appreciate this tablecloth not just because it is so beautiful but because it is the hand work of someone I would like to know.  As you can see from the background in the photo below, my grandmother lived in very poor conditions.

I am not sure she had a very happy life living with so little,

a mostly absent but nasty when present husband,

working so hard to raise her many children
and dying so young.

I always hoped to find her birth record so I could give it to my mom.

She speaks of her mother often and I know it would mean the world to her.

Catherine Mary

holding her baby, Minnie Rose

(named after her aunts Wilhemina and Rose)

~*~

my grandmothers crochet hooks post

Joining Cindy @My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday

Paper Flowers

Inspired by a cute covered box by Janet @Today's Fabulous Finds, I searched my craft cabinet for some snippets to make a container myself. I made some sweet little paper flowers that can be used to decorate anything you might imagine.  Here are a few projects I did.

This oatmeal covered container is very similar to the one Janet made except that instead of crepe paper flowers, I added these little paper flowers.

I think it makes a lovely place to store special treasures a little girl might find.

Cute when attached to a tiny gift card.

Recycling a tin can for a desk accessory.

Using a 40% off coupon, I bought a cutter in a pleasing petal shape.  I followed this YouTube video.
After cutting out 8 circles, lightly spritz with water.  Scrunch each circle into a small ball.

Open the scrunched balls and stack.  Punch a hole through the stack.  This can easily be done with a pointy object, but my husband excitedly suggested using his drill and so, to please him, I did.  You can purchase cute little brads in the scrap-booking department of a craft store. Since they don't show, I used plain ones that worked fine and were less expensive.

To form the flower, begin with the top petal and squish it together.  Repeat with the remaining petals.  Then open gently until you like the shape of your flower.

I made my flowers from computer paper and card stock.  You might choose paper in solid or a printed pattern.  For an added dimension, the edges can be inked just after punching them out and prior to scrunching.

Note about using pages from a book:  I found that when making these flowers using pages from an older dictionary that they came out better when I did not wet them.  Perhaps there is a greater fabric content but they simply did not hold the scrunch when wet! Pages from a regular book may not react this way but if you find they do, skip the wetting step.

Linking to the very sweet blog of Olga @Olga's Home & Garden Blog for her Handmade Monday!

Family Time

We celebrated Valentine's Day with family on Sunday.

Jamie and family came over and we picked up my mom.
An easy meal, I made hoagies, soup and Greek Panzanella Salad and of course, potato chips because, you can never have enough potato chips ;)

  Caroline Catherine ~ Cambrie Noelle ~ Lorraine Diane

Great-Grandmom ~ Baby Girl ~ Mom-Mom

(I should had thought to get Jamie in this photo for a four generational shot)

♥ sweet baby girl ♥

 Noah and Silas were thrilled to be outside playing hockey

Dear Keri and Mom-Mom

Caleb played hard then fell fast asleep after a messy skinned knee :(

 Cheesecake Shooters were a hit (recipe below)

a little love for everyone

even my blogging friends!

Cheesecake Shooters
from Souffle Bombay
8oz cream cheese, softened
16 oz sour cream
1 small box vanilla instant pudding
1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 TBS
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 can of cherry pie filling
1 pack (not box) of plain graham crackers
3 TBS melted butter

Optional: 2 1/2 ounce shooter cups with lids usually found at party stores or wholesale clubs.

In your mixing bowl combine the cream cheese and sour cream until blended. Pour in the pudding mix, sugar and vanilla and mix on medium for 3 minutes more. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.

Crush the graham crackers in your food processor until just crumbs. Add in the butter and 1 TBS sugar and pulse until combined. Place in a small bowl and set aside.

In your blender or food processor blend/pulse the cherry pie filling until it become syrup (no chunks left). You can of course make your own syrup from strawberries, blueberries etc instead of the pie filling if you have the time. Set aside.

In the shooter cups, wine glasses or whatever you may be using, first spoon enough graham cracker mixture to cover the bottom. Then spoon or pipe in some cheesecake mixture, then spoon enough syrup in to cover the cheesecake mixture, then spoon or pipe in second layer of cheesecake mixture, then place a few drops of syrup on top and swirl around for a spiral design by using a wooden toothpick or skewer.

~*~

And... some silly Valentine fun...

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Happy Valentine's Day to my guy!

♥

I got you to hold my hand
  I got you to understand
I got you to walk with me
  I got you to talk with me
I got you to kiss goodnight
I got you to hold me tight
I got you, I won't let go
I got you to love me so

(lyrics by Sonny Bono) 

From Wikipedia:

"I Got You Babe" is a 1965 number-one hit single by American pop music duo Sonny & Cher.

Sonny Bono, a songwriter and record producer for Phil Spector, wrote the song for himself and his wife, Cher, late at night in their basement. Noted session drummer Hal Blaine performed the drums for the song. Bono was inspired to write the song to capitalize on the popularity of the term "babe," as heard in Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" which was a hit for The Turtles.

Upon recording and releasing the song, "I Got You Babe" became the duo's biggest single, their signature song, and a defining recording of the early hippie countercultural movement. In August 1965, the single spent three weeks at the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nineteen on the R&B charts in the United States. The duo's single also hit number one in the United Kingdom

Valentine Blues

No, I am not feeling sad this Valentine's Day.
Just thought I would change from the traditional red and pink colors to something a little different.

I crocheted a sweet heart swag following a pattern by Molly on Design Sponge.  Instead of tiny hearts made with cotton thread as Molly did, I used worsted weight yarn.  I spaced my hearts closer together by chaining 15 between hearts rather than the 40 suggested when using thin cotton. Fifteen hearts were plenty to drape across a double window.
a few vignettes of my kitchen table centerpiece for February

Molly makes gorgeous heart garland's from beautiful thread and sells them in her shop.
They are dainty and lovely!

Molly Dunham's Pattern for Crocheted Heart Garland:

Materials

• fine crochet thread (20 to 30 gauge) in red and ecru
• size 10 crochet hook

Instructions

For the hearts:

1. Crochet 12 hearts using red crochet thread:

• To begin, Chain 2.
• Row 1: 2 single crochet (sc) in first chain. Chain 1, turn.
• Row 2: 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next stitch. Chain 1, turn.
• Rows 3 to 6: 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in each remaining stitch. Chain 1, turn.
• After row 6, you will have 7 stitches.
• Row 7: Skip first stitch. In second stitch: 1 half double crochet, three double crochet, 1 half double crochet. Skip one stitch, slip stitch in next stitch. Skip one stitch. In next stitch: 1 half double crochet, three double crochet, 1 half double crochet. Skip one stitch, slip stitch in next stitch.

2. To finish the hearts, slip the stitch down one side of the heart, approximately 6 slip stitches to the bottom. Chain 1 at the bottom of the heart, and slip stitch up the other side of the heart. Slip stitch to first chain of row 7. Fasten off and weave in tails.

For the garland:

1. Create garland using ecru crochet thread:

• Chain 40, *slip stitch to the top of the right lobe of one heart (though the back of the chain only). Chain 5, slip stitch to the left lobe of the heart. Chain 40*.
• Repeat from * to * above until all hearts are attached to the garland, ending with chain 40.

2. Fasten off, leaving small tails at either end for stringing up the garland.

linking to

Show & Tell @Blue Cricket Design, Crazy Cute Party @Between U & Me, Mary@ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, Smiling Sally for Blue Monday, Valentines Party@Cheap Crafty Mama