taking it easy...

my mistress, Miss Tif says she's been a little 'snowed under' the past few days...

she is happy to report her 'tees' were well received at the 'holiday craft' show on sunday and since then she has been 'scrubbing and cleaning' mossy shed in preparation for her folks arrival (which was last night)...

it will come as no surprise to you, dear readers to learn that 'cleaning' has been the last thing on her mind as she clocked up eight straight days with Miss Ethel...she now has new 'slips' and some 'tees' waiting for their moment to shine in her little store, but to be frank she is a little 'pooped'...

she's taking it easy just like me, for the next few days...spending quality time with the family.

in the meantime...rest assured she will be back next week with her

'christmas-crafty-how-to' (oh yes, i can feel the excitement growing already)

and with a bit of luck some 'new wares' in the shop window.

Tif's wishing you a happy thanksgiving and so am i ~ India Rose

let me count the ways i love thee...

last week i shed 'tears of sorrow', this week i have shed 'tears of joy'...

if you are sitting comfortably, then i shall begin...

wednesday night is my favorite night of the school week, having a large brood most school nights are packed with activities and such like. wednesday night is no different, however the activity that is needed to be 'got to' is only five minutes away from my thrift store.

("how convenient is that" i hear you cry..."i know" says i)

our #2 is required to be at dance lessons by 7pm, so i leave the shed behind with 'fed' children (ha ha ha) and head down the hill, tip out our #2 and then head onto my destination.

just little old me, all by myself, just the way i like it...

as i get nearer my heart starts to beat a little faster...what treasure has been discarded by another and now sits waiting for me to find it. i have a path that i take once inside the store, first stop is 'coat hangers' just in case a lovely crocheted one is waiting to be given a home...then i peruse the 'china' aisles, moving on to 'pots and pans', quickly glancing at 'glassware' as i round the corner to 'bric a brac'...next i head to 'bedding & linens' before checking the furniture dept, finishing up in the ladies 'undies' aisle to browse the slips.

it is a great way to spend an hour or so, usually by 'bric a brac' my allergies have set in and i need to do everything in my willpower not to scratch my eyes out...but it is a 'cross' i am willing to bear to get my 'thrifty' fix.

so the scene is set dear readers ("blimey Tif, is there more?"..."oh yes, it's quite a ramble today")

this wednesday just past, i had finished in the bedding aisle, snapping up a delightful pair of pillowcases that i have no use for but as one day i may have to run a 'bed & breakfast', it seemed foolish not to think ahead and plan accordingly.

i rounded the corner and pushed my little cart past the 'granny blanket' section, spying a perfect one for ''used dog'...(and let me tell you it was most appreciated by her). and that was the moment dear readers, the moment that happens maybe once or twice in a lifetime when inside a thrift store...

yes, a chorus of angels appeared, yes, glory shone all around and yes, a lone tear of joy slid down my cheek (what was that you say? no, dear readers that was not my allergies, i swear it was an emotional reaction and not the dust mites coming from used dog's blanket)...how could it be that only little old me could see this treasure and everyone around seemed oblivious to it's magnetic powers...

when i bought my 'how could you have ever been cast aside' treasure home, my man was quick to notice that something in my studio was 'attacking' him as he walked by (a term he uses frequently when 'doilified' items and the 'likes' get too close for comfort)...

"oh god, you've been to the thrift store again...why Tif, oh why do you have to go through the door? and what have you bought home this time...oh, let me see, another stool...i imagine you were thinking the abundance of stools we have already just isn't enough"

"don't say a bad word about this little stool, it's not just any ordinary stool, it is special...and before you say it...no, it is not a commode" i replied on the defense.

"well 'special' is certainly the word for it" he mocked back

"i have never in all my forty years come across a stool like this, therefore i am thinking it will be another forty years (god willing) before i see another in my travels. that alone tells me this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, one that i could not pass up..."

yes dear readers, i may have my 'rose colored' specs on but i do not care, a stool like this is a 'find of the century' (at least mine that is)...now safely in my studio, living out it's remaining days by my side...

she will see you on monday, after the 'holiday shop' ~ Tif

hanging around...

my latest thrifty obsession is clothes hangers...especially the crocheted kind.

but as with crocheted granny blankets, actually finding one in 'non garish' colors is pretty rare, at least in my neck of the woods. i have had a bit of luck on occasion but to be honest it is always hit or miss.

my need for such a multitude of 'said' item became apparent when i started to plan my skirt party way back when in september. the half a dozen or so hangers i possessed for 'photo taking' purposes, suddenly appeared way too little for displaying the slips at an 'event'...

i mentioned this issue to my man, "we have plenty of plastic hangers you can use or wire ones, why do you need to go and find more?"...at that point i made a mental note not to discuss such finer details with my man again...when i mentioned the suggestion to our #1 later that day, she looked aghast and said "does he not have a clue, surely he sees it's about the whole picture here, the 'look' you are creating?" which made me feel alot better...especially knowing i had bought at least 'one being' into this world with some 'visual' integrity.

and so my little 'hanger' collection has been growing slowly and steadily. now i have t-shirts to add to the 'rack' for my 'holiday craft shop', i have decided as good crocheted ones are thin on the ground, i will set about making my own...it is 'my treat' that i reward myself with, after 3 or more t-shirts have been done, i allow myself a cup of tea and to crochet one hanger...

it is very simple, they are made from a strip of double crochet the length of the hanger and wide enough to wrap around...when finished i just fold it around the hanger and stitch it along the bottom. i am quite sure this is a 'no brainer' for any crocheter but it gives me a 'yarn fix', uses up odd bits from my 'yarn stash' and best of all, relieves the monotony of doing lots of t-shirts in a short space of time...i am up to 21 'tees' and i think that's where i am stopping. i plan to start tomorrow on 'black slips', trying to get a few made in time for the holiday season which is fast approaching...

she's hoping the weather brightens so she can take a pic of her 'find of the century' at the thrift store, to show tomorrow ~ Tif

next up...

for your perusal,

some corsages i have been working on...inbetween my little 't-shirt run'...

i've always liked dabbling in 'corsages', there is such a multitude of uses for them...they are perfect at making the ordinary become extraordinary, any shop bought item becomes a little more unique with a corsage's magic touch...

i have never had much luck in selling such items, but that doesn't stop me from making a little batch from time to time...this latest 'batch' is crafted from scraps of vintage lace, knitted pieces, old bark cloth and some rather natty stitching by old Miss Ethel...

i fully expect to bring all of them home from my little holiday show...

("what will become of your little batch, Tif?" i hear you ask)...do not fret for my 'sweet corsages' dear readers...i see a christmas tree in the 'not too distant' future needing a little 'corsaging' ...(oh, please let that grand word mean what i think it means)

she's thanking you for the lovely t-shirt comments ~ Tif

'beavering' away...

i am pleased to report, my arse has been in gear for several days now...

every now and then my 'thoughts' drift to 'found dog' but then i pull myself together and focus again. i am no nearer to adding a new 'hound' into our lives, in fact i have taken several steps back, i fear...but one thing i have learnt in my 'life lesson' of last week, at some point in the future we will find a 'doggie' and add her to the fold...who knows when, but sooner rather than later, i hope.

in the meantime i have a week of 'beavering' ahead of me...this coming sunday i am involved in a 'holiday craft sale' and as i spent last week 'occupied' with my first 'break down' of my forties, i have left myself very little time to 'whip up' some goods for the festive occasion.
at my skirt party (which of course feels like a lifetime ago) i wore my t-shirt that had been 'dottie angeled'...this received many an admiring comment ("how many would 'many' be then Tif?")...oh alright then, i received 'three' admiring comments...('three' being more than 'two' therefore i feel it acceptable in the circumstances of my delicate heart, to use the word 'many' to help me feel better).

and so i have decided to give it a go with some t-shirts for the 'holiday sale' and whatever doesn't sell (which quite honestly could be hit or miss, who knows until i dip my toes into the water) i will put in my little store for my final update before Christmas...

there we have it...i am mending my broken heart with lace, buttons and stitching...which quite honestly is a very nice way to patch things up.

'used dog' is once again by my side, whilst Miss Ethel does her thing and all is quiet at 'the shed'...

she's thanking you so very much for your kind words about 'found dog' ~ Tif

'found dog'...

the past four days have felt more like forty...i have opened my door and my heart to 'found dog' who comes with so much 'baggage' that i can not keep her...she tried so hard and because of that i tried hard, but in the end i couldn't give her what she needs.

she broke me...i haven't cried so much in a long time, i cried for her and the fact that i could not help her...she has been gone from mossy shed over one hour, there is a strange calm and 'used dog' (who has aged 'one year' in 'one week') is looking at me as if to say "has it all gone away, really tell me, has it all gone away now?"

thankfully there is another 'soft hearted fool' like myself waiting on the horizon, willing to give her what i could not...i am so hopeful that 'found dog' has got her 'forever home'.

and me? well little old me just needs to wipe her tear stained cheeks, pick up the pieces, mend a few broken hearts around the shed, refocus and get her arse into gear...

she will see you on Monday ~ Tif

footnote: no pictures, let's not make this any harder than it already is...

the straw that broke the camel's back...

i will be gone for a few days...not anywhere special, just at the shed spending time with our new 'visitor', i do not use the word 'addition' just yet...

a 'furry friend' that needs to learn some manners before she is welcome to stay long term...so far in the space of a few hours we have found the cat litter box, sat on the couch uninvited, tossed our water bowl contents around and ...yes wait for it, located my yarn stash.

at some point later this week i hope to show you pictures of our new 'visitor'...they said she was a lab/greyhound mix but quite honestly from where i am sitting, i see the lab but no greyhound just great dane...

she's fearing for her 'doilies' lives ~ Tif

'doily' issues...

realizing from a very young age she was attracted to doilies, the young Tif set about crafting a card for her dear family members...

Tif's mother noticed her youngest child's talent in the 'doily department' and took great care in treasuring the card for many a year...

several moons later ("and some..." i hear you cry) an older Tif recieves the card back from her dear folks...and it all becomes clear.

if only she had noticed the 'nipple' situation at an earlier age, she may have avoided her 'doily abuse' a few weeks back...

she's wondering what other 'delights' lurk in the archives of her childhood ~ Tif

monday monday...

i am hosting a 'skirt' party this friday night with the lovely 'marmalade originals' gals...it seemed a great idea at the time...all those weeks ago and it still seems a great idea with just a few days to go. that's if i don't think about all the things i need to get done in the short space of time left...

i think the biggest disadvantage i have going for me right now is i'm a procrastinator...i am quite sure i am not alone in this.

so i must be spurred into action by making a list...

tuesday ("why not today Tif, what's wrong with monday?") well i have used my monday up on 'thinking' about my list, only a few minutes left and the door will be opened by our #3 and i will use him as an excuse to 'ponder' further instead of just 'doing'...

so let's start that over again,

tuesday: dye some 'slips' silver/gray for the 'holidays' (these are my favorites, i have to admit)...whilst Mrs W. Machine does her thing, concentrate on making 'teal' colored slips on Miss Ethel

wednesday: hope old wood 'hangers' purchased from etsy arrive in time for a little 'slip covering' magic...and 'blog'

thursday: make more slips...hopefully with lovely looking silver/gray color...wash and dry

friday: clean and shove piles of things upstairs, 'blog'...then make space ready for the 'skirt' party...this all seems very do able until we get to the bit about the party where i put on the invite 'food' and 'wine'...no problem with the 'wine' bit, still have plenty left over from turning 40 (excuse me here, i just need to compose myself...i forget i am 40 and then when i remind myself it just takes a little 'mo' to focus again...) it's the bit about 'food' that is bothering me...

i have yet to discover the aisle in the grocery stores that sell prepared fresh party food...i see frozen but not fresh...so i think i am back to the cheese cube on sticks fiasco...

in the meantime i'm rustling up help from anyone in the house that is willing to pitch in...so far i have had very little response...

according to her list, she will see you wednesday ~ Tif