Flowers for Elizabeth

If you're a regular reader, you'll know that my SIL Elizabeth is always bringing me flowers.  When Elizabeth asked for ideas for a favor for her Card Night with her sisters, I knew just what to make.  The crochet flower is actually a pattern for a shamrock that I found online.  I added one petal and subtracted the stem.  I glued  the crochet flowers onto a felt flower shape.  I took small silk hydrangea flowers off the stem and glued them onto the crochet flower and glued a small jewel onto the center.

 To fern or not to fern...I choose not.

 Some pin backs...

 Aren't they pretty...I put them in a bag with a seed packet and labeled them for the hostess

A label on the back says...What happens at cards, stays at cards.

Hope she likes them.

Have a beautiful day.

Treasure Hunt

On the weekends I usually check the ads in the newspaper and online for rummage sales, then I hand them off to my DH.  He is a cheerful participant and has found a few treasures of his own on our outings.  This week took us to Skokie, to the Central United Methodist Church Rummage Sale, where we were amazed to find a beautiful, fully restored Log Cabin on their property.  A little online research, and I found out this... 

The log cabin was built in 1923, when Skokie, then called Niles Center, was a vast open prairie of tall grasses and few trees.  So few that the logs were harvested and shipped down from the north woods of Wisconsin.  Carpenters from Finland designed and styled the cabin after the buildings in their native land. After a long history, the log cabin is the still the  "heart" of the congregation and is used for classes, meetings and for a Boy Scout Troop.  The log cabin was a treasure we never expected to find.  I just love when that happens!

This is the back of the cabin.  The front we saw as we left, on a closed street with no access.

It was surprising to see this cabin, in the heart of suburbia, and looking as lovely as the day she was completed.

The rummage sale treasures were great too.  This enameled bin, probably from an old refrigerator.  Perfect for my potting bench to hold soil.

A white glass compote, four sweet bowls, another french manufactured canning jar, a tea light pot warmer, decorated with a Marjolien Baskin design...then the score of the day two yards of buttery colored suiting wool.  I immediately felted it in the washer at home, and it is lovely and perfect for crafting and dyeing. 
A yard of  matelasse white on white upholstery fabric. 
The save it from the rag bag pick of the day....this sweet embroidered hand towel.  Someones labor of love.
A drum roll please, the cost of my treasures, $4.00! It all fit into a brown paper bag, with nothing hanging out, as the lovely ladies at the table warned.  So much fun for $4!

 It was 70 degrees last night, down to 40 this afternoon.  We're in for another storm.  Welcome to Spring in Chicagoland!  Have a great day.

The Natural

Here are a few of the photos taken by my son the photographer.  He's the "Natural" in this post.  Taking on an assignment, doing his best, enjoying the process, that's Jon...a natural artist.

From your sign to God's ear... 

Hope is the one thing Cub fans have to have.

Robert Redford

Yes ladies, still handsome after all these years.

The soon to be new mayor of Chicago,

 Rahm Emanuel.

My favorite, Mr. Redford and Mr. Cub.
Ernie Banks is an icon in Chicago sports...and the only reason I got a detention in High School. (I was listening to my transistor radio in Theology class (my first mistake) when Ernie Banks hit his 300th home run...I felt the need to share it... (stupid mistake)  The result, one Saturday morning in the "Breakfast Club."

I don't know how Jon got this special moment in that crush of press. Jon spoke with everyone of the people he photographed.  Some a moment or two, some just to say, "Great job!"  to Robert Redford after throwing out the first pitch... "Congratulations!" to Mr Emanuel.  Jon's a natural there too, his calm, friendly style puts people at ease.  Hope you enjoyed these photos.  Thanks Jon,  for letting me post about them today.

The Finished Product

I sometimes post something I am working on, but you never get to see the finished product.  I stenciled a fern on to burlap and was pleased with the results.

I sewed the burlap onto a ready made pillow cover (available at Target) and trimmed it out with grosgrain ribbon.  That's one project done, so many waiting... 

Wait till I show you some of the photos my photographer son, Jon took yesterday at the Cub's game.  I saw Jon on TV so many times, like the proud Mom I am, I was giddy! He's the guy in the dark jacket and jeans, right next to the dugout! ( I took the photo from the TV) He photographed Robert Redford, and exchanged a few words (oh Hubbell, be still my heart!) Ernie Banks, who was friendly and cool, and Jon congratulated Raum Emmanuel, the soon to be new Mayor of Chicago. 

It was not a good day for photographers with a steady rain, and turned out not to be a good day for the Cubs, they lost.  Jon had a great time anyway, and took some great photos.  I hope to have some of his photos to post here next week.
Have a great weekend dear friends.

Opening Day, Go Cubbies!

The stories I could tell about Opening Day in Chicago...

First, you freeze, April in Chicago is unkind. Friends, oh, the best friends...Kren, Sobie and Marc. Left Field, the ONLY place to sit. The Bleacher Bums, beer, songs, cheers, spilled beers, coming home smelling like beer even though you never drank a drop. The players, soooo cute. (I was a teenager, even the beer vendor is cute.) The field, Wrigley is THE most beautiful ballpark. Oh yeah, the game. I know baseball,  I play catch. I've made some incredible catches in my day, right Sue? The Cubs never signed me.

My son Jon, the photographer who took this photo, will be at Wrigley today taking pictures. ROBERT REDFORD is throwing out the first pitch! Oh, to be at opening day.

I'll close my post with a song... If you know it, sing along! Let me set the stage...

Dick Selma is in the bullpen...He points at Left Field, and with his hand raised high, starts to make circles in the sky...with that, the Bums start singing.....

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH, Every time I go to town, boys all kick my dog around, makes no difference if he is a hound, better stop kickin' my dog around!

What did this have to do with baseball? Nothing I suppose. Just makes me all misty eyed remembering.
Let's play two!