Hi everyone,
I’m so glad you liked the pictures I showed of what “might” be coming from me in the future. The taupe/tan/beige jumper with the gathered underarms was the first dress I picked that night I was looking for ideas. I think it is SO SO adorable and hope I can get it figured out!
The second one I picked was the plaid dress with the big ruffled collar and tie! I think it’s just as sweet as can be and really want to master it!
The red wool coat set was my “challenge” that night I was looking at ideas. I just think it was so different looking.
For now, I just want to do something simple as I get “back” to my sewing. It seems like it’s been forever!
Now for the “Cinnamon” part…
My hubby went to town today and when he got to our farm store, they had Cinnamon Queen baby chicks for sale… because these are hybrid, they normally sell for $5.00 each, but this was the last of what they had. 19 baby chicks, 4 weeks old and the store wanted to get rid of them. He’s quite the bird lover so when the lady saw him “debating” if he needed any, she made him an offer he couldn’t refuse… .75 cents each, if he’d take them all. Well, that’s like telling me, you can have all the buttons/lace/fabric/ for 85% off! :o) He took them all and before he brought them in the house, he called for Reuben from the door… and said, “look what I brought home!” Reuben knows the cheeps they make and knew it was baby chicks.
They are currently in the living room, in front of the fireplace…
They are called Cinnamon Queens and are a very nice hybrid hen, coming from breeding Rhode Island Reds roosters and Silver Laced Wyandotte hens. They are large brown egg layers and lay between 250-300 eggs per year! They are docile and friendly and can stand very cold or hot weather. They are early egg layers and can start laying after just 16 weeks… so we should start having more eggs come November.
And now for the Brownies part…
So tonight was the LAST party for now! I’m truly partied out! This one was very special as the others have been, but it’s been a bit taxing keeping up with them. It’s been a wedding (the one I fixed the wedding dress for), then a bridal shower, then a very special one year old’s birthday party, a baby shower, and a birthday party for a dear friend. We have the wedding for our Pastor and his new bride to be in 2 weeks… but I don’t have to do a thing for it except show up! YAY!
Tonight was the birthday party and I thought, (since I had NO time to sew or even be in my sewing room), I’d show you what I made for her. She’s a brownie kind of gal and even though she LOVES to make brownies herself, I thought I’d give her a break and give her one of my “Brownies in a Jar” as my gift. I added a few more chocolate goodies in her tub and wrapped it as fun as I could.
Then I found one of those clear basket cellophane bags in my sewing room and wrapped it around it all.
I’ve been making these “Brownies in a Jar” for MANY MANY years and have the tutorial of how to do them on my blog. If you’d like to see how it’s done, step by step, just click HERE.
Well, this momma is going to bed!
Have a great Friday and weekend!
I’ll see you Monday,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, Joy, before I forget, I responded to your comment on yesterday’s blog.
Oh, that jumper was my favorite, too, Jeanne. It’s just so cute. I think if you have a pattern that has an armhole curve, you could trace it, the slash and spread the armhole curve to allow for the excess fabric needed to gather up that way. The front section is even easier–just draw a line straight across at about where you want it, and again slash and spread, to allow room for the pleats. Depending on the doll, a band at the top that’s about an inch high (finished) would do it. The straps look like they have been made separately and enclosed in the top seam, and then probably button in back (which I would surmise is constructed similarly). Or you could enclose them in the back seam and have them button in the front, with perhaps some cute novelty buttons.
What a surprise, that George should come home with all those chicks!! Haha….It looks like they’ve started to get their adult feathers already. It sounds like they will be a good investment for you, and you’ll have plenty of fresh eggs to sell before you know it.
Oh, what a nice gift for your friend! If it involves chocolate, I’m all for it!
Thanks Charlotte, for the info on the plaid dress with the pleats. I do like that style. 🙂
What darling outfits you picked out for a start to sewing again, Jeanne! I guess because of their colors, they are giving off a “fall” vibe, for back to school! I love brown plaid, just the thought of it makes me think of lunch boxes, pencil cases, books, etc., thanks to being a former teacher! You never forget the thrill of those first back to school days! Stores are even now gearing up for school!
The chicks are adorable, and even in back to school” browns and gold feathers! Not that they are going back to school, but the colors sure do match the brown plaid! George will be busy this fall and winter!
The jumper could also be a little sundress if the arms were not cut so low, but adding a cute top would probably be best for this. The pleats in front, plus the gathering under the arms and ties are what make this so cute, so a solid color jumper works best in this situation, I think.
Your gift of the brownies in a jar is adorable! I love the way you decorated the jar top!
Jeanne, what a great surprise! These baby chicks are so sweet. I am sure Reuben had a big night protecting them. Does he sleep near them when they are in the house?
I love the ideas you chose to start your dress ideas. Both of these will be a fun challenge.
I love the gift you made for a chocolate lover. Home made brownies in a jar are fun to make and done in a jiffy.
I went to my very first craft and chat meeting here in the new neighborhood.
I did not take any photos but I wish I had taken a photo of this one woman’s project.
Anyway, most of the women (three) were working on teeny tiny bead projects. They were making jewelry. It was interesting but not my thing for sure. It seems to me that making stuff with tiny beads is a bit like crochet, making lace (my mother could make beautiful traditional bobbin lace, I have many lovely samples, and maybe macrame…?
…. just a lot of teeny tiny work connecting the beads and weaving through.
I brought a quilt to bind. There was a woman that brought a pretty kind of crewel embroidery motif of that fuzzy sort of yarn? and was making flowers.
All of them were making these things for craft shows.
okay, then a woman (boy I can’t remember anyone’s names :-/ ) came in with a small banner sort of thing, I was massively impressed. She dies her own fabric so it is kind of like batik but really pretty…. She was making a banner for a nature center at a park called Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park. I think the theme was insects or animals?? I forgot to get more details, but she made a giant (well, about 10 inches by 13 inches) Lantern Fly!! It was gorgeous. haha haha I hope she comes next week so I can get a photo. It was all applique and machine sewn borders. We talked about sewing and machines and she has two very expensive Berninas. I told her I have 6 machines, all “old” Singers, and one White.
Okay, today I hope all of you have a comfortable enjoyable day.
I will be at the old house if you need me 😄 doing laundry and perhaps shuffling through my sewing, or maybe grab my china cabinet drawers.
Stay cool and hydrated. 🥰
Next time you go, see if you can get a pic to share. That banner sounds really neat. 🙂
I love the first little jumper. It’s adorable and I love the fall color it represents.
Those little chicks are adorable and it’s incredible that they lay so many eggs a year.
They will certainly keep George busy.
I’ve read many stories about people who have chicken this pets, literally. They like to sit on their persons lap and be petted. I wouldn’t mind having a chicken or two, but I don’t think our neighborhood would appreciate it unfortunately. so I just feed the birds a lot around our yard.
Those brownies you make are wonderful and a great gift and all the goodies you put with the brownie ingredients make it a yummy gift.
Everyone have a great day!
Well, I sure hope that Sissy’s shot today works and that she can get back to sewing business. Be thinking of her.
Great choices, Jeanne, on the outfits. Can’t wait to see the pattern making wizard in action. 🙂
Those chicks are such cute little puffs and will turn into some great producers I’m sure. Since they are hybrid, I suppose that their eggs are infertile? I don’t think you have any roosters anyway. Always thinking of things around here.
Been so out of it this past week with whatever “we” have. Other person has also joined the ranks. I drove to the store in desperation yesterday and returned home with flour taco shells. Made a cheese roll up in the microwave. Tasted okay and didn’t make me cough. Thought I was recovering until last night when we were both coughing and up and down. Guess I’ll need a nap this afternoon.
Fortunately, it has been cool, so my meager yard watering has sufficed. I did find at least six zucchini that I picked yesterday. One is huge. Now, we need to go to the store again and pick up some Monterey Jack cheese so that I can make my favorite casserole. Soon I hope. I think I’ve lost at least three pounds.
That was a great gift basket that Jeanne put together. All the fun items and the brownie mix too. Looks so festive. 🙂
Have a great weekend everyone.
For a minute I thought the top of the brownie jar was your latest doll hat — it’s pretty enough.
Look at the difference in the chicks in the first and second pictures. In the first, they look listless — in the second, they look happy, lively, and secure. They know a good home even if they never had one. It’s going to be fun watching them grow.
Joy, have you considered a COVID test? Your cough sounds like what my sister had. She didn’t think it was COVID, but took a test anyway and was quite surprised. It turned out to be a mild case.
A few days ago, I did consider the Covid test. We have boxes and boxes laying around. But, not enough energy to go online to see which ones had expired. Since we are up to date on all of our shots, including flu, if it is/was that, it is a new mutation. I’ll have to see if I can get other person to try one. 🙂
Well, guess what? Other person has Covid!! So, guess who else has it? I just did my test. Thanks so much for reminding me to test. Usually, I’m the one doing the reminders about shots testing etc. So glad you thought to mention it.
Now, where did I get it??? I’ll probably never know.
Thank you, Joy, for remembering my shot today. It was very different from any I have had before because of the pinched nerve. I will not tell what it was like just say that it will take a few days to get better. I did come home and take a nap and that helped a lot. I am feeling better, but taking it easy.
Jeanne I love the chicks! I had a pet one for Easter as a child, but in spite of trying to keep it safe a coon got it. I know yours will do much better!
Wishes for a great weekend for you all.
Oh, Sissy, sorry that the shot was painful, I guess. Please take it easy and rest if you can. Thinking of you.
Here, we just tested for Covid, and guess what, we have it. Not good at all.
Joy, I just read about y’all having covid. I am so sorry. I hope it won’t be a long case. The times I had it they were more just like a cold, except the first time, and that was before we had even heard of it. When I went to the doc after the first time he told me it not been flu, so that is what it was. We took the first 2 shots, that is all. I had 2 mild cases when I checked the tests. Peyton has never had it.
Prayers for your and Other that you will be over it soon.
My back is better, but I have to take it easy for a while.
So sorry to hear that, Joy. I also only took the first two shots, but I mask up with a N95 mask to go anywhere with a lot of people- store, church, doctor. I even wear the lighter blue surgical ones my dad used for dental surgery if I will be visiting with a neighbor. I’ve never had Covid maybe because I’ve been so vigilant in the mask wearing even though I have encountered some snide remarks. Beats being sick. I hope you both get better quickly.