A little antiquing

When Mom and I were in Wisconsin last month for a family wedding, we decided to hit an antique mall on the way home. Mom bought a wonderful old army blanket and I found these two treasures.

The clasp on this box is broken, but the painting is so beautiful.

And I loved that a name was painted on the back.

With a quick Google search, I found that Mr. & Mrs. N. B. Newnam were part of the establishment in 1838 of the Methodist Episcopal Church Society in Talmage Corners in LaGrange County, Indiana. The church was started with a membership of 14.

I wonder if this beautiful document box once contained papers related to the church...  

I also bought this doll sized dry sink. So sweet!

It looks very similar to a regular sized dry sink that I have from my parents.

I'll have to share a picture of both of them together one day...

Since that day, I did have a chance to stop at another antique mall.

Here are the treasures that I found there.

While I am not a fan of womens shoes (I have bad feet that are always sore), I love antique shoes and related items. My great-grandfather was a shoemaker for the Mooseheart Orphanage. (I have his old foot sizer.) I collect old shoe forms (mainly childrens) and "shoe" sewing items too. 

I'll have to share my collection one day.

Although I have some wooden children's shoe forms, this is the first time I've seen a matched set.
I love all of the nail/tack marks and signs of wear... 

They were priced individually, but I thought they really should stay together after all these years.

The price was right, so they came home with me.

Then there was the crewel work on top of this red wooden stool! Oh my!

The needle work and the story that it tells! I was smitten immediately.

I picked it up and couldn't put it down! Wow! To be able to do crewel work like this!

So these are my latest treasures that I just had to share with you.

Just looking at these pictures bring a smile to my face.

Is it wrong to walk around your home and admire your collections?

It sure makes the dusting more enjoyable lol!

There is still time to enter my little giveaway!
I will be picking a winner on July 3rd. You can enter here.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
~Psalm 121:5-6

Blessings, Patti

Catching up ~ A Trunk Show

Last month Inspired Needle Ltd. in Lemont, Illinois 

hosted a trunk show from Hands On Design.

Pictures are always good, but seeing stitched models in person are even better!

I loved this group of bee designs titled "Just Bee: Bee More"

"To The Beach" series 

Love the Chalkboard designs!

"Good Ship Sampler" aren't the ships in the bottles neat?

And the models that really caught my eye 

Of course they had to go home with me!

I love that it was kitted up with everything that I need to do the finishing just like the models!

All I need to supply is the threads :)

Here's hoping there will be a Spring and Summer design in this series...

And since I haven't included any pics of the pups lately, (and it has been noticed lol)

here are Peanut and Leia in a double decker pose. 

They usually are laying on this couch in our home office while I sit at the desk and post on my blog. 

Hoping that I will finish soon and pay more attention to them ;)

There is still time to enter my little giveaway. 

You can find the post here.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

~Psalm 121:1-4

Blessings, Patti

Wheaten Woolens ~ The Shopping

In addition to shopping Wheaten Woolens, folk artist Ginny Henson was again set up with her amazing folk art, antiques and topiaries.

Ginny has an amazing green thumb and her topiaries are like works of art. 

Magical creations where garden fairies would love to live.

Variegated leaves always seem to call to me...

Mom bought this sweet bird from Ginny.

And I bought this sweet bunny. I also bought the old tin box in the middle from Ginny. The box on the bottom has held my sewing notions for years and I loved how Ginny's box stacked perfectly. I have several magnets on the inside lid of my box, so the stack holds together quite nicely.

I bought this lovely hand-dyed linen from Rebekah and some pretty notecards from her daughter, Kelsey Anilee.

And what did we buy from Wheaten Woolens, you ask?

Well, Mom and I had quite a bit of fun!

Here are Mom's wonderful purchases.

An awesome handmade basket by Cyndy Simmons

and a sweet handmade sheep with old square nail legs.

And a fabulous selection of wool.

And look at my awesome basket made by Cyndy Simmons!

Thanks Mom for such a wonderful surprise!!!!

I bought this wool applique kit designed by Beth Anne.

The colors are gorgeous and I love that braided finish!

I tried to resist buying wool, but some colors are too hard to resist ;)

And hand-dyed velvet had to come home with me too. I'm thinking some pumpkins my appear from these in a few months... 

And you know that I couldn't resist that amazing collection of Rustic Wool Moire threads! 

My collection certainly grew in one day lol!

And here is where you can join in the fun:

A giveaway of a little charm pack of Wheaten Woolens hand dyed wool and a bonus...

I accidently purchased a spool of Rustic Wool Moire thread in a color that I already own,

so you can have a chance to try it out :)

Please leave a comment on this post, or send me an email to pgagliardi9@hotmail.com 

with WW Giveaway in the subject line and tell me...

What will you be doing this 4th of July?

I will pick a winner on July 3rd using random.org.

Thanks for joining in our trip!

Thanks also for your continuing prayers and positive thoughts!

Mom will be starting chemo this week and

my sister-in-law, Joy will have her second round of chemo this week.

Mom has her wool projects prepped and Joy has fabric for a new quilt,

so I think that they are both all set!

He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:29-31

Blessings, Patti 

Wheaten Woolens ~ The Place

In addition to the Wheaton Woolens store,

it was a pleasure to return to Barry and Beth Anne's homestead.

Truly an oasis of peace and beauty. 

This is the Severin Miller Home built in 1860.

I love the hilly property so unlike the Illinois flatland.

And such beauty in the gardens as well.

I hear that folk artist Ginny Henson is a wonderful garden planner. ;)

These white roses, variegated tree and rusty iron hearts really caught my eye!

A beautiful vignette right at the entry.

Can't you imagine summer afternoons whiled away on this swing ~ stitching or hooking?!

Barry and Beth Anne collect many of the same things that I do ~ 

stone fruit, treen,

painted toleware. But they have an amazing knack for display!

This is a house worthy of a magazine cover,

Yet at the same time a very comfortable home that you don't want to leave.

(This year, they probably were wondering if Mom and I would ever leave lol! We were the first to arrive and the last to leave ~ we just couldn't help ourselves :) Sorry!)

Oh what stories these object could tell...

The details of the home such a wonderful backdrop of beauty to the amazing collections.

Up these stairs more beauty awaits...

Loved these wooly worms of all my favorite colors looking like artwork in this beautiful cupboard.

Hooked rugs everywhere - so hard to tell if they are antiques or Beth Anne's creations.

A quiet little corner with one of Ginny's sweet birds.

Isn't this chair pad so perfect for this chair?

I will have one more post ~ The Shopping!

And will have a little giveaway for you for joining me on this trip.

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.

~Isaiah 40:28

Blessings, Patti