I promise you today’s post will make you smile and don’t worry, there are no bugs of any kind in it…it’s a PRETTY post! Sorry if I made some of you cringe yesterday with my dragonfly story… (HERE)
I was surprised to receive a large, almost 11 pound box from one of my very dear readers… but surprised is hardly the right word for this box! It’s an absolute glorious box!!! This reader has a close friend who is having some health issues and sadly is having to let go of all her sewing supplies. I’m not sure if she still has any of her dolls…but I hope so! She is also unable to care for her ailing husband so they are selling their home and most of their possessions and moving into an assisted living facility. This former seamstress used to sew for the larger Annette Himstedt and Sissel Skille dolls and gave my reader boxes of things to share with seamstresses she thought would and could use them. I hope I do her the honor of making some lovely things from what was shared with me.
[If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.]
Oh goody… I see laces and buttons!
I was going to just show them to you in the plastic zip lock bags, but that would never do… you just can’t see what they are really like… and they are beautiful.
I took them all out of the plastic zip lock bags they were in and arranged them all on top of my dresser…
Here’s some close up shots…
I had to get the buttons out too… there are some very pretty ones and I see lots of “brooches” for some Civil War dresses… :o)
It looks like something from a pirate’s treasure chest, doesn’t it?
Thank you very much, dear “reader” and please tell your friend, I am very blessed to have received this treasure box. I will pray for her and her husband as they make this transition in their lives to this new way of life.
I hope to get my sewing room all finished over the weekend… maybe sooner, but we have a big “Welcome Students” picnic on Saturday, so my time will be limited… I worked in there all day today and it’s going to work… it’s going to be perfect!
I have a question for you though… Most of my embroidery floss is wrapped on those little white cards and stacked neatly in a compartmentalized box, but I was sorting through some bags of embroidery floss… please tell me your bag of floss doesn’t look like this? What a mess mine was… but not any more! :o)
(I think that’s called ELEVEN years of being TOO busy!)
I’ll be back to sewing your favorite dolly dresses in a flash!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
If this isn’t inspiration, I have never seen inspiration. And what a perfect time for it — just as you have the storage you need, you have received your reward for all your effort. You could make colonial, regency, Victorian, and Edwardian dresses all winter and never run out of trim, buttons, or broaches. Winter party dresses, here you come! You might have to make one for Rebecca as well. Maybe we could all say a prayer for the lovely woman whose stash this was part of and for the intentions of your thoughtful gift-giver.
Hi Marilyn,
Believe it or not, I have been working all day and I am still not finished….it is driving me crazy figuring out where yo put the pieces of furniture…
Yes, wasn’t the box wonderful…I have already found a place for everything!!
Blessings, Jeanne
If you’ve been working all day and feel that you’ve made a decent beginning, you should be proud of yourself. This is a huge project, and every detail matters. You have to have everything logically arranged so you can go straight to it, and there is a whole lot to arrange, including every piece of furniture you want to keep. The time you are spending now will save you a lot of time and frustration later.
HI Marilyn,
I hope you’re right… it just can only be arranged a certain way because of lighting and plugs and windows and the sun coming in…etc… I want to get it “just right!” and hopefully I’m almost there!
Thanks so much for the pep talk…
Blessings, Jeanne
What a gorgeous display of material, trims and buttons, Jeanne! While it must have been disheartening for the woman who can no longer use them, and yes, Marilyn, we should pray for her, I will say that they went to the right person! You will do them justice, and in a big way, Jeanne. They look like materials and trims that Magalie would use! This is going to be exciting to see what dolls are going to get to use these lovely fabrics!
Since I don’t embroider, I have no embroidery thread messes, but still, I get other messes!!!
HI Linda,
I got rid of some patterns, fabrics and trims when Rebecca helped me, but I can’t imagine saying, “okay, this is it…I’m done with sewing…” I can truly feel for this woman… she must have cried when she packed up her things…
As I was putting things away, I was “thinking” ahead of what they could be used for…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
A treasure your surprise box certainly is! Just look at all the loveliness! I know the lady will be so glad to hear her supplies went to someone who will really use them! Bless her!!
Yes, I did have a bag of floss just like yours. I, too, separated the skeins into colors and then wrapped on those little bobbin cards all day long! I sort them in my compartmentalized box by color, not by number. You’ll get there, Jeanne! All in good time.
Have fun at your picnic! The university students arrive this weekend as well in my area for the University of Virginia classes that start next week. Bed, Bath, and Beyond was hopping yesterday when I took something back.
HI Karen,
Oh good, I wasn’t the only one who had messy floss! I knew I surely wasn’t alone! I just put my skeins in the compartments and will wrap them another time… hopefully not in 11 more years…
I’ve got to figure out what I’m taking to the picnic… hmmm… something easy I think… I’m still working in my sewing room… what a job this has been…
Yes, our town has been hopping too! We have to be careful driving in town as so many new students don’t know the way the traffic goes…
Thanks Karen,
Blessings, Jeanne
What an amazing box of treasures!!! I’m wondering what it would be like to open a box like that with a creative mind like yours. Do you see or touch something and almost immediately an idea comes to you? I know it will be so special for all of us to see the end results and I can’t even imagine how blessed this lady’s friend will be to see her precious things turned into something you created because everything you put your hand to, dear lady, ends up being a work of art. Prayers for this sweet lady, for her friend who thought of you and for you, precious Jeanne, as you continue to minister to so many, in so many different ways. Best of luck with your new furniture and sewing room reorganization.
Blessings!
HI Bobi,
My mind does think like you said…when I see something, immediately I think of what kind of dress it would look best made into… and the buttons, I”m the same way with them…
I’m still working on my sewing room and it seems like it will never be done… my sister from PA is coming in a few days and she said she’d love to help me, so if I can stand it I might wait on her….
Blessings, Jeanne
How exciting to receive the box of treasures. It must have been so delightful to go through it all and I’m sure your mind was racing with ideas. The laces were beautiful. How sweet of this lady to pass these on to you. Yes, prayers for her with all the upcoming changes in her life.
Can’t wait to see what else you’ve done in your sewing room. It will be a joy for you to sit in such an organized room with pretty cabinets and such storage spaces!!!
HI Paula,
I had opened the box, but when I got them all laid out for you all to see, I was seeing them for the first time too… I mean “really” seeing them…out of the zip lock bags.
Oh Paula, my sewing room has just about got the best of me… I am trying to keep my dolls away from the sunlight and my fabrics too…and I only have so many outlets that are in the right spots and I have that slanted ceiling… so trying to figure things out has been a little complicated… to say the least. I DO like the openness of it, though… I really like that so far.
Cindy told me to sleep on it tonight and hit it again tomorrow..so I’m going to take her advice…
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a wonderful and sweet gift, Jeanne. To me, it looks like Christmas… in August! It must be a very sad day when we can no longer create; creating has been my lifesaver this week. When you use one of her items you should say a quick prayer for her and her husband (like how prayer shawls are made). I hope this woman will have access to a computer and be able to see her fabrics, buttons, and laces being used when you show us your dresses.
It sounds like SIU is on the same schedule as my daughter’s university. They are welcoming the new students this weekend too. (My daughter went to a camp, so was there a week early.)
I didn’t comment on your post from yesterday. At first, I wasn’t sure if you were pulling our leg or not. I don’t think I could do that for any amount of money, but then I am a food wimp, and not proud of it.
HI Cindy,
Oh, I am so sorry I didn’t post any comments on your post about your daughter moving to college. I wanted to just reach out and hug you so badly… I could feel your heart aching through your words. I hope your tears have eased up somewhat… and the texts have come often!
The reader who sent me the fabrics said she would share the news of what I thought of the fabrics with her friend. I hope it blessed her heart and I hope she read everyone’s comments too… That would surely brighten her day just a bit, I would think…
I guess you were in the “category” of the “grossed me out” ladies… huh? Sorry about that…
Thanks so much Cindy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you, Jeanne. Thank goodness for texting and Facetime, it really eases the loneliness. You are so lucky that your two stayed close; I’m a bit jealous. We have a number of great schools within an hour or two. Unfortunately, none of those were “picked” as “the one”.
Yes, I was one of the grossed out ladies, sorry, but you have risen to hero status in my eyes. Like I said I’m a food wimp and could NEVER do that for any amount of money. Although I did chomp on a carpenter ant that got into my juicer once. I survived that ordeal. lol Anyway, I will never be able to look at a dragonfly without thinking of you. 🙂
Yes, yes, a pretty post, much more up my alley. What a gorgeous amount of trims and ribbons etc you have received. I’m sure you will find many ways to use them.
Of our four antique stores in town, one specializes in pre 1900’s items. I have seen button from the Civil War for sale there. There is a whole large section of vintage sewing items
I have an ivory Victorian tape measure that I received as a gift many years ago.
My grandmother was an avid sewer and saved many lovely things I have a trinket box my grandfather gave to her as a wedding gift that is filled with mother of pearl and a few bone buttons that were hers. I remember a popular pass time when I was a young child in the mid 1970’s was trading buttons.
I embroidered a lot as a teen and young adult. The last large item I did was my daughter’s birth sampler, since then only clothing embellishments on her childhood dresses. I have a Brazilian embroidery pillow kit that I’ve had for years, I want to start on it sometime soon.
Can’t wait to see whose up next, I hope it’s another Civil war dress, perhaps on Rebecca or Saige this time. My latest doll thing is thinking my Nellie should have two hair options, long and short. I’ve seen her customized with #33 wig and It is adorable
HI Laura,
Yes, this was a pretty box of things, wasn’t it? I was so blessed by it… and I do have some plans already for some of the things that caught my eye… :o)
My sister in PA has taken me to some of the Civil War stores in Gettysburg and I’m pretty much in heaven when I go in one of them… I bet you’re just like me in the stores… touching, feeling, dreaming, imagining… etc… :o) am I right?
Ooooo….a Civil War dress… be still my heart…
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, eye candy at 7:07 in the morning. Just lovely things.
I can remember as a child, you could send in the labels from Wright’s trims like rick rack, and I think it was a dime for postage. Then one day a large manila envelope would arrive in the mail filled with pieces of trim large enough to make things for dolls. I loved that.
Hope everyone’s stomach has recovered from yesterday 🙂
Hi Joy,
Sorry again about yesterday’s post… I knew you hated the cicada’s and the ladybugs, so I knew you wouldn’t be thrilled with the dragonfly… :o/
Sending in labels for trims… how fun would that be… I hope you enjoyed it… I certainly would have…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a wonderful collection! It certainly went to the right person. I hope the lady can see some of the dresses you make incorporating the beautiful buttons and laces. I’m sure your mystery reader will enjoy seeing them. How thoughtful and inspiring, especially since you’ll have a place for everything now.
I have several very large coat buttons and a matching belt buckle with green glass insets that belonged to my great-grandmother that I keep in a glass case. Your posts remind me of so many things from the past that I wouldn’t normally think of. Thanks to you and your many readers who spark these memories.
Hi Susette,
Yes, I certainly have to agree with you…it is a wonderful collection of laces and trims and those buttons…why I could open up a shop, I think!
I am still working on my sewing room, Susette… This has taken much longer than I anticipated… but I’m hoping in the end, it will be totally worth it… of course, I had to shorten my blinds by 22 slats… add another blind to the east window, panel up the one one in the wall…and now that I’ve moved the big bookshelf with the fabrics on it, I’ve exposed the other hole in the wall, so I need to get that repaired… I’m beginning to think this room will never be finished… but then of course it will…. silly me…
Thank YOU Susette, I’m always glad to inspire someone to sew, or dress a doll, or think of a picture they hadn’t thought of for a while…
Blessings, Jeanne
What a fun and generous gift box you received from the reader. I’m sure you will be able to utilize things in it…I think it got sent to a very appropriate, creative person (you) who will have fun and make use of it for someone else to enjoy!
Blessings.
Thank you Becky,
I’m anxious to get my room all finished so I can figure out what fabrics I’m going to use next… that’s always fun for me…
I was very blessed to receive the box and hope I can make the woman proud and happy that she gave her things away to someone who really appreciated and used them…
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my goodness, Jeanne, what a wonderful and bountiful treasure chest! For you to have received such a remarkable gift just as you have the storage to accommodate everything must surely be divine intervention. It could not have been sent to a more deserving person. I should think you won’t need to visit JoAnn’s for notions for a very long time! Enjoy sorting and organizing them in your new sewing space. I will certainly look forward to seeing the many charming dresses you will create using these treasures. What a source of inspiration they will be. Perhaps you could make something special for your dear reader and her generous friend as a thank you. Blessings upon them for their kindness, and blessings to you, too, for all the joy you will bring others with your talent as you use these lovely items.
HI Anne,
No, I think it might be a while before I have to visit Joann’s for anything… I’ve even found thread in my stash that had gone missing…so I’m set… now I just need to get my room totally finished so I can begin sewing again… I thought I might get done today, but it didn’t happen… when we moved the big double bookcase with all my fabrics to a different spot, it exposed the hole in the wall on the other side of the wall. My hubby was too tired to fix it with paneling tonight when he got home so I wasn’t able to get the room finished…
Oh well, soon it will be done… soon I say…
Thanks so much for your kind thoughts and you had some very good ideas about paying both ladies back for their generosity to me…
Thanks for your kind comments Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne…are you just bursting looking at every little thing that was in that wonderful box!
I know you just want to hide away and put it all in the drawers of your new sewing room. What perfect timing for your wonderful reader to send all those trims, laces, BUTTONS ( Oh the buttons!!) and fabric. She had wonderful taste and I hope the move they are making will be just what they need. She is your angel for sure. The folks at Joanne fabric may go into a deep funk though…you won’t need a trip there for awhile…LOL
Have a great weekend
HI Kathie,
I was bursting and the box came just when my mom came over so she got to see me open the box and look through the things with me. She was flabbergasted to put it mildly! She told me, “I know one thing… that lady loves you!”
I have had fun finding a place for it all… except the buttons are still in the bag… that’s for another day….
It will be a while before Joann’s sees me… I don’t need a thing!
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow! What a fabulous assortment of laces and buttons!! And what a lovely reader, who thought to pass these things along to you! I hope she’s able to show her friend the many wonderful comments you’ve gotten today, too. Perhaps it will comfort her heart. I would hate to have to give up my sewing, which I love and enjoy so much, but sometimes you do have to make these sacrifices. I hope she will find other things to occupy her time, things which she will enjoy doing.
Oh, yes, I know all about the embroidery floss! LOL I actually hae a little floss bobbin winder–it has grooves so the base will fit over the dividers of your floss box, and a place to insert the “hole” end of the floss bobbin, with a peg to go thru the hole to hold it in place; then you turn the crank and wind your floss bobbin! You do need to pay a little attention to how the floss is winding if you want it to lay smoothly, but it’s so much easier than doing it totally by hand!!
Here is a link to a picture of one. Mine is like that, but yellow: https://www.consumercrafts.com/store/details/catalog/basics-plastic-canvas/33175?gclid=CjwKEAjw3Nq9BRCw8OD6s4eI5HASJABsfCIaAWVqwc2ugNRAx4zc0gUxPv2u7BJ41PpzCwyrwjVcGhoCt53w_wcB