Estate Sale Extravaganzas

So, yes, it was a great winter for Estate Sales. Here's a picture of the first mansion in McClellan Heights where Dick had a sale...

Then, a month later -- he was right across the street...

Bert carrying her antique sled...(among other treasures)

This Art Deco mirror was $700 (still there on day three, $350)

I bought this cast iron dutch oven in pristine condition for $10.

THIS was my biggest find of the winter. Only $5. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.  How lucky am I?  Oh, that's right....pretty damn lucky.  Do you get it?

It is the most adorable hand-painted little chair. It really does LOOK like a little boy

Another excellent treasure involved putting on my snow boots

Inspired To Sew!!

I AM DELIGHTED to tell you that my new job is working for Schmetz's new digital magazine, Inspired to SEW.  Hey -- a job I'm really, really good at -- AND I GET TO DO IT WHILE SITTING IN MY LAZYBOY...!!

The intention of Inspired to SEW is to provide a glimpse into the creative heart of today’s most talented sewing and quilting artists. Why do they sew? What inspires them? Where do they get their ideas? How do they get “into the zone”? Where and when do they do their best work?

It has been so much fun to interview women who LOVE TO SEW.  And I am always amazed at how different we all are.   Then, I am equally as amazed at how much we all have in common.

I am telling you -- women who sew are the BEST PEOPLE on the planet.  They are kind, and generous, and loving and giving.  It is such a pleasure to meet them and tell their stories...

 This fourth issue of “Inspired to SEW” shines a light on two "Sewing Buddies." The dynamic duo of Jan Potter and Bonne Swett. You may know them as the birthmoms of the Hey Rita Tote!

Of course, I met them when I was working for the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington.  We are friends, and they keep in touch.  I'm hoping one day they come to Iowa to visit ME!! 

It was a pleasure for me to interview them for the new digital magazine, Inspired To SEW!

Mary Mulari, Bonne Swett, Hey Rita Tote, Rita, Jan Potter -- moments before we went out for a delicious Mexican dinner (great picture, Jackie!)

Weekend BONANZA of Treasure Hunting!!

One of the best Estate Sale guys in this area is Dick Taber. He does a great job -- his sales are organized, the stuff is all priced, we all know how his system works, and because of his excellent reputation -- he gets ALL THE BEST SALES.

This winter, he got into a neighborhood known as McClellan Heights.  About four square blocks of huge, Victorian mansions...like this one...

I went on the first day with my friend Sue...

This is the view from the porch.  Yes, that's the Mississippi River...

HOLY COW...I could hardly wait to see the inside of this house...

Sue, visiting with a friend of ours...(I was already holding so much treasure, I could hardly take this picture)...

The library room was beautiful

A folding hunt-scene card table...$20

Most of the books were $2...

Server set for $10.

HUGE original painting.  $800.

My best piece of treasure was found in the barn behind the house.

I actually went to this estate sale on all three days.  And you'll see the TREASURE in another post.  There was just too much stuff...

Sewing For Dylan

If you're lucky, your life includes a large cast of loving, involved characters...sisters, brothers, children, grandchildren, friends, aunts, uncles, neighbors, cousins, sewing sisters -- well, you know who I'm talking about. I refer to this crew as "My People". They are the ones who are there for you, no matter what.  They listen, they know you, and you know you can call at 3:00 AM and say, I'm coming to your house and I'm bringing my dog.  Yes, ...these are my people..."

Over the years -- you've met MOST OF MY PEOPLE...

Of course, my cousin Kim and her daughter Carrie...

At Matt's (Kim's son) wedding last fall -- Carrie, husband Steve, Dylan and daughter Elizabeth.

Most of the time -- I see Carrie like this.  Every Monday she comes to my house to help me clean and organize...(here, trying to convince Elizabeth to wear a fake leopard fur coat)

Sometimes, the kids come with Carrie -- and Dylan, in particular,  LOVED my shower curtain...

Remember when I had to make this modification? Some random t-shirts, with fringe, OF COURSE...

Dylan knew the Chuck Norris quotes by heart...

After this wedding last fall, 10-year old Dylan was diagnosed with cancer...

HOLY COW...what this young family has been through the last six months.  It was a terrible ordeal. Surgeries, long stays in the hospital, chemo, spinal taps, being away from home.  Dylan was a very, very sick little boy. And for those of us who love this family -- it was hard to know what to do.

It was such a horrible time, and I wanted them to know they were in my thoughts.   I kept thinking WHAT CAN I DO FOR DYLAN??    It was a brutal winter, Dylan was always cold...Can you see what I made??

Dylan was at the University of Iowa Hospital -- so I started off with a fleece snuggler...then, of course, I ADDED a little pizzaaz that I knew he would enjoy.

I enjoyed searching t-shirt mountain for just the right sentiments...

I cut the Chuck Norris panel out of my shower curtain, then positioned it upside down, so Dylan could read it when he wore the snuggler...

Then, I made a University of Iowa t-shirt totebag...

The bag itself was useful -- Carrie was always carrying things in and out of the hospital room...

IT IS WITH GREAT JOY that I write this email, to say that Dylan just finished his FINAL CHEMO treatment -- and the doctors believe they got ALL of his tumor during his last surgery. They have done tests, and saw NO signs of active cancer, so his future looks bright.

Many of you were aware of Dylan's situation -- if I was in the room with you for five minutes, I'm afraid I blurted it out.  And I know you have kept him in your prayers, and asked for updates...THANKS SO MUCH for your kindness and concern. It was a rotten, horrible time...and, fingers crossed, Dylan is cancer-free and on the road to a complete recovery.

Sewing is what I do. When it comes to being creative -- it's who I am. And I have always loved fixing things. Over the years, I've done a lot of sewing/fixing for Carrie's young family. I have mended, hemmed, and patched their favorite things. Steve's blue jeans, Dylan's new school pants...and last fall, after Matt's wedding, Elizabeth;s beautiful white dress. During the dancing portion of the evening -- the cute little overskirt was ripped away and completely separated from the tafetta underskirt. Elizabeth LOVED that dress -- and it would have had a lot of playing dress-up value...

The organza skirt was shredded in some places, and Carrie figured it was a complete loss. But Elizabeth INSISTED she bring it to me the Monday after the wedding....and I was proud and delighted that Elizabeth thought I could FIX ANYTHING...

I wish I had taken a "before" picture of the ruined pieces of her little white dress.... But -- here's the AFTER...

Lillian couldn't resist trying on Elizabeth's repaired dress...

My favorite hotel...

Because I was looking for a particular picture (and you know what a terrible job I do with pictures) -- I stumbled on some Blackhawk pictures from Christmas....ahhh.....fond memories...

At Christmastime, the Main lobby was decked out -- and I met my friend Jeff here.

Jeff lives in New York City now -- and he hasn't been in the Blackhawk Hotel for many years. He was astonished with the beautiful restoration. We sat on one of these comfy sofas, and exchanged Christmas gifts, and caught up on each other's lives...we had a lovely visit...

Jeff is a talented artist -- and he made me a googly eye Christmas ornament...

Of course, I gave him an Iowa t-shirt

AND, my 2013 gift -- a bag-o-rags...

Another one of my crappy mirror pictures (I don't have those selfie skills yet)

A couple of days later, I realized I lost my velvet gloves...one of my favorite things in the world...Ivé had them for years...I looked everywhere.  Then I called all the places I'd been over the weekend...

And -- guess who had my gloves??  THAT'S RIGHT -- THE BLACKHAWK HOTEL...

A few days later, I went back to pick up my gloves...and the desk clerk was so delightful...

More Valentine Deliveries

The minute Lilly walks into my house -- she goes right to the puzzle table to see what we're working on. Of course, it's even more fun if we finished the puzzle. Because, then -- I leave it on the table -- but I remove 50 pieces or so -- so she can get the satisfaction of completing the puzzle ALL BY HERSELF...

AND she knows to check out the game cupboard -- just in case there might be something new. We have all the obvious choices, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, checkers. She enjoys card games -- and she picked up this one on New Year's Day...

When I was a kid, we played WAR for hours -- with a deck that was 6"thick...

Lily and Uncle Melvin could have played WAR all afternoon...

A few weeks later, Lilly and I were going to take a Valentine present to Uncle Melvin's house.

She picked out her own outfit.

And was DELIGHTED to see Kathy and Uncle Melvin's little Yorkie again.  Dolly is quite a charmer...

Something these two little girls have in common.  The charming factor, I mean...

ERT: We Arrived!!

I have received several emails asking if Marion and I ever did arrive at our destination. Sorry -- I didn't mean to leave you hanging. YES, OF COURSE WE DID.

Maybe I put off this final blog post about our ERT (Epic Road Trip) because I didn't want it to end.  Then, the holidays got in the way...and -- what do you know?  IT'S MARCH ALREADY...

It was such a great trip....and I AM SO GLAD WE DID IT, MARION...

Because here's what I know for sure.  You NEVER know anything for sure. 

Life happens so fast...and the changes can be both instant and permanent. Of course, the older I get, the more clear this is -- which is why this particular trip was so special.

Once we left Savannah, Georgia -- we got on I-95 S. We had pretty much avoided it up to this point -- but who are we kidding?? IT WAS TIME TO MAKE SOME TIME...

The landscape changed very quickly -- and palm trees became a part of the scenery...

It's been such a long, cold, gray winter -- I barely remember what a blue sky looks like...

It was our longest day in the car -- but at the end would be HOME...(for Marion, of course -- not me)

Everything in this part of the world is so lush and green...

I was smitten by the number of beautiful, tropical birds lounging around town...

The vegetation is VERY DIFFERENT from my beloved Iowa cornfields...

Oh, yeah -- Marion's condo is ON THE GOLF COURSE....

The public beaches are accessible and absolutely, 100% stunning. 

Here we are, on our last day together.

Sometimes, it seems like just yesterday Marion and I were headed south, laughing and talking -- with the wind in our hair. But, at other times, it feels like years ago...