A New Home for an Old Chair

When I was born, my grandparents were much older than most grandparents these days. That just seemed to be the norm back then. Their home had a parlor - one of those rooms that was rarely used, but was there. We always sat in the dining room where they had two big leather chairs. They sat there and we just found a place to sit.  It never seemed strange to me. That was just the way it was done. More often than not, my Grampa would take us into the kitchen and give us saltine crackers with real butter.

In their parlor were two very big wooden chairs with upholstered seats and backs. There was an beautiful carving across the back of the chair. I loved to look at the grain lines in the wood. It was very unusual to me. My Mom told me it was rose wood and I thought about what a big rose bush it had to have come from.

Once when a great aunt was visiting, we sat in the parlor. I chose one of the big wooden chairs and was so disappointed. It was scratchy to sit on. I don't remember the color or the type of fabric, but it wasn't fun to sit in. It was far more fun to look at the grain of the wood.


In the very early 60's both of my grandparents died within a month of each other and the house needed to be cleared out. Those two big chairs came to live at my parent's home. The first thing my Mother did was replace that scratchy fabric. They were always in our living room. Since family rooms were not a thing back then, it was a living room. I loved sitting in that chair. It was big, it was comfortable and the arms had a wonderful smoothness to them. 

The little boy who lived in the apartment in our house used to come ask if he could sit in the "King Chair". He would hop up there and just sit like a king on his throne. Just before my husband and I were married, my Mother had the chairs respringed (not sure if that is the correct wording) and covered in a beautiful teal velvet. One of my favorite pictures from our wedding day in that of our two 5 years old ring bearers dressed in their tuxes and sitting together in one of those chairs. They just seemed to be waiting for whatever came next.


In the early 70's my Mom and Dad decided to downsize and build a small retirement home. There would be no room for those two lovely chairs. Anyone who wanted them could have them. Unfortunately, we lived in a small house and only had room for one. My brother and his wife took the other one. And not long after, they got rid of it. But I have kept my chair. I still love the grain of the wood. When we moved to a bigger home, I redid the upholstery to go with our living room. Sadly, early in December I sat in the chair and the webbing beneath the springs gave way. Remember it has been nearly 50 years since my Mother had that spring work done.

So now it is 2015 and we are getting ready to downsize. There will be no room for the chair in our new place. And it grieved me that it had come to the end of a journey. But there is always a light at the end of a tunnel. Recently our daughter asked if she could have the chair. Said she loves the chair, finds it comfortable and wants it in her place. You have no idea how thrilled I was to hear that. My husband and I decided to have the work done on the springs and the chair reupholstered in something she would like. Last week we went fabric shopping. Now she is not a fabric person and I wasn't sure what she would choose. But it had to be her decision. It was her chair now and had to fit into her home. It was a long selection process..........and one I very much enjoyed. Some of the fabrics she liked, didn't do the chair justice. Other fabric was just not to her liking. But finally she had it narrowed down to 3. And she made her selection. And a great choice she made. She told her Dad that the fabric had to honor the chair. And so the chair will live on again in another home. It is going off to the upholster next week and then to its new home.

I am delighted to see the chair be reborn. It will have a new set of springs, new upholstery and a new home. I home that it serves her as well as it has the last three generations.

I don't live on Pinterest... but thankfully my kids don't care!

by RobinsFlight
The holidays around our house are interspersed with birthdays, which makes for some interesting compromises.  Gift lists must be rationed so that you don't run out of ideas before one occasion or another.  Christmas decorations must be put up only after a certain date so that the birthday before it doesn't get overlooked- and maybe more importantly so that the houseful of children at a birthday party don't knock over the Christmas tree.  And forget trying to burn off that Thanksgiving pumpkin pie before loading up on Christmas cookies, because there's birthday cake in there too.  And once those Christmas cookies are gone, look out... here comes another birthday cake.  The New Years resolution to lose those pounds become the Ides of March resolution, which just doesn't seem the same.

We tend to do birthday parties at home.  Not only does my bank account balk at spending hundreds of dollars on a party while I'm also trying to budget for Christmas presents, but there's something a bit more meaningful about having a handful of close friends over for some fun rather than a gaggle of classmates all running around someplace with barely enough time to scarf down some pizza and cake and tear the wrapping off a pile of presents, not knowing what's from whom.  A few years back I made the realization that it's easier to throw a party for boys than for girls.  Girls like crafts and activities and organized games.  Boys just want to play with the toys at someone else's house and dust out the back of the closets playing hide and seek.

This year the little boy (who consistently tells me that he's not little anymore) wanted a Lego party.  Fine, no problem- we have plenty of Legos, and it seems pretty easy to throw down a sheet, dump the Lego collection on the floor, and let them build and play to their hearts' content, or at least until their parents come to pick them up.  But it seems like there should be some way to make more of a theme to this party.  So I have the bright idea of a Lego cake.  Shouldn't be too hard, right?

I am a mom, a crafter, an Etsy seller- no stranger to the wonders of Google and Pinterest.  So Lego themed baking ideas were easy to find.  I even found some "easy" ones, which was a definite must.  I am particular when it comes to my crafting- mistakes in sewing and crochet get fixed immediately.  But when it comes to baking, not so much.  My recipes often are more like "a handful of this and a dash of that" rather than exact measurements.  When it comes to frosting a cake I go with the "decorative swirls" mostly because it kind of hides the visual imperfections that all of my cakes have- a professional cake decorator I am not.  Things taste good (well, usually... with the exception of my beet red velvet cake experiment... I'll tell you about that some other time) but they just don't generally look professionally decorated.

So I'm not quite sure what I was thinking when, in addition to a Lego cake and Lego ice cream sandwiches, I decided that Lego head marshmallow pops would be fun.  Looks easy, right?  It's just a marshmallow on a stick, coated in yellow tinted white chocolate with an M&M on top.  No problem.

The Marshmallow Blob

Thankfully, I didn't start them the morning of the party.

The problems started with the marshmallows.  I had a bag of marshmallows in the pantry left over from vacation last summer, I didn't need fresh ones, right?  Uh, wrong.  What I had in the pantry was one large hunk of marshmallow, the individual pieces having stuck together long ago, along with bits of sand from that beach bonfire where we last made s'mores.  Ok, so maybe I did need fresh ones.

At least the sticks weren't hard- they sell lollipop sticks pretty much anywhere nowadays thanks to the popularity of cake pops.  Great!  And fresh marshmallows go on the sticks without a problem.

Marshmallow on a Stick- that's the easy part

Now for the chocolate.  I put the white chocolate chips in a bowl, threw it in the microwave for a bit... and burnt my hand trying to pull it out of the microwave!  Oops- apparently I picked the cereal bowl that gets hot in the microwave!  Turns out, this was a good thing- the heat of the bowl kept my chocolate melted for longer, I think.  Didn't help me hold the bowl steady though.  I had to use a napkin to hold it while stirring 3 drops of yellow food coloring into the quarter cup of melted chocolate, and while coating the marshmallows.



 Ok, here we go... I tried dipping the marshmallow into the chocolate, but apparently the chocolate (or maybe just the bowl) was too hot.  The marshmallow just started melting into the chocolate.  *sigh*

Spreading the Chocolate

Round 2.  Marshmallow on stick, dip into cooled chocolate.  Nope.  This time the marshmallow just spun on the stick, came loose, and fell into the bowl!  Ok, so maybe this dipping thing isn't going to work.

Round 3.  Marshmallow on stick, spread chocolate on with a knife.  Well, this is a bit trickier to get smooth, but do-able.  At least the marshmallow stayed on the stick, and the chocolate stayed on the marshmallow.  With a little work I got the chocolate fairly smooth, and stuck a yellow M&M on the top.  Forget covering the M&M with chocolate- it's already yellow.  Looking good now though, I've got it figured out, it'll be smooth sailing from here on.

Oops- now what do I do to keep the thing upright while it's drying?  I wandered around the kitchen for a bit, looking for a crevice to wedge it into.  I finally decided on an empty egg carton (thankfully, I had had eggs for breakfast), turned upside down, with small slits cut in the bumps where the eggs had sat.  Not the most stable thing, and I had to be careful that the pops didn't fall into each other, but it was better than wandering around the kitchen with a yellow marshmallow on a stick in my hands waiting for it to cool.

Hairball Marshmallow

 Alright, one down, and I know what I'm doing, right?  Another marshmallow on a stick, spread the chocolate... except in my search for a stand the chocolate had cooled down too much.  This pop looked more like something the cat coughed up (never mind that we don't have a cat).  Hmmm, not attractive.

Round 4.  Heat up chocolate again- but not too much, so the marshmallow doesn't melt.  Spread, smooth.  Oh, good.  Maybe I am getting the hang of this.  After a few tries, I figured out that it was easiest to cover the top and bottom, then spread and smooth the sides.  And to reheat the chocolate for only about 10 seconds after coating 2 pops.

Ooh, this one looks pretty good!

Practice does make perfect, or at least better.  I ended up with 12 pops, none of which are perfect but only 2 of which look pretty horrible.  And somehow I doubt the kids will mind the imperfections- after all, what kid ever argued about eating chocolate covered marshmallows?  But remind me next time to stop with the cake and ice cream.  Sometimes that "little extra" is more work than it's worth.  But then, maybe my little boy is worth the extra work.  Regardless, it's obvious I don't live on Pinterest.  But I'm ok with that- there are more important things in life than an impeccable marshmallow pop.


This holiday season, may you enjoy the important things in life!

Robin

Finished Pops

It's Official

It is official. I am now the steward of Little Free Library #19705. The library is located beside our driveway and has been a work in progress for a long time.

I first read about the Little Free Libraries in 2010. This is an organization started by Todd Bol of Hudson, WI, in 2009 to honor his mother. She had been a school teacher who loved to read. His concept was simple. He built a covered box, filled it with books and left it at the end of his driveway. People were encouraged to take a book and leave a book. 

Eventually he was joined by others who helped with getting the word out and building the libraries. One of the missions of the organization was to get 2510 libraries registered...the same number that Andrew Carneige founded. That goal was reached ahead of schedule.

The first official Little Free Library - using the new name of the organization was situated in Madison, WI. along a bike path in 2010.

All the information and maybe the incentive for you to have one can be found on their web site   littlefreelibrary.org   or the facebook page www.facebook.com/littlefreelibrary


For years I have been mentioning how neat an idea I thought it was and wouldn't it be fun to have one. Since we had never seen one, I think my husband was not so thrilled with the idea. Vandals would destroy it, people would steal books, there were a lot of excuses.

In June our daughter spotted one in Damariscotta Mills, Maine, while we were on vacation. "Look! There's a little library". Sure enough, at the end of the drive was a little red building filled with books. So the conversation took off from there. Again the reasons why it was not practical. Being a somewhat persistent person, I said, "You ask me all the time what I want for my birthday, our anniversary or Christmas and when I say nothing, you get upset. So I am telling you I want a Little Free Library."  Death defying silence took over the car. Finally I was asked what kind of a library I wanted.

Now here comes the tricky part.  I am a seamstress. I work with a sewing machine and thread on a daily basis. So I wanted my LFL to look like a spool of thread. Hey, I had waited this long for it, why not really stir up the pot.

And so the process began. And it required a 
number of trips to the hardware store. My 
husband finally decided that the round 
tubes you use to pour footings was the 
best thing to use for the shape. Then 
there was the problem of waterproofing 
the thing. By now we have a 16" diameter 
x 22" high base for the library. 

What would we use for the thread? Originally, I had thought of that big cotton rope that was used for boat anchors. Unfortunately, after a trip to the marine supply, cotton rope is a thing of the past. Now it is nylon or plastic. Neither of which would take the bright purple paint I wanted used. It had to match our shutters, doors and Adirondak chairs. Finally a light bulb went off and we used those foam pool noodles. When they were sliced in half, they did the trick.

After a couple of coats of paint, I had the deep royal purple I wanted. Now it was time for the spool ends. Hubby got busy at the table saw and router to get those whipped into shape.

Finally, my library was ready for its door and another challenge. The door had to swing up or swing down because of the shape. We finally decided on it opening down - hoping visitors remember to close it. The door has a window and a knob - also challenges in their own small way.

The last hurdle was where to put the library. We live on a narrow country lane, so beside the road was not an option. In front of the house meant people had to drive down the driveway and then worry about backing out. (Everyone complains about our driveway) So the LFL is situated on the side of the drive, off the road so one only has to pull into the top of the drive and get out of the car.


My sign has arrived. I am registered. The books will be loaded in as soon as it stops raining and I can get out there to do it. Am I excited? Yes I am. In fact I am thinking of having a grand opening. LFL encourages you to do that so your neighbors can become aware of it. 

So I do have to say thank you to my wonderful husband of 48 years for a present I am really excited about. 

And here is the finished LFL. The sign is in place. The stand has been painted. Don't you just love the thread hanging out of the top of the spool! It was worth the wait.

Because you can never have enough sunsets

Those of you who've followed our blog for a while are probably familiar with my vacations, and my sunset photos.  Our family trips to the Sleeping Bear Dunes aren't quite annual, but every couple years we feel the need to get back to this familiar place that is full of beauty and fun.  And such was the case this year, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos from this year with you.

I hope you too had a wonderful summer!
-RobinsFlight

4th of July Memories

www.FabricGreetings.etsy.com

The 4th of July is just about here. Although Memorial Day heralds the official start to the Summer season, the 4th of July seems to be a bigger celebration. People flock to the beach, have backyard cookouts and scout out a good place to view the fireworks. All rites of the Summer holiday.

I am sure everyone has a special memory of this holiday. Does it involve a spectacular display of fireworks, a great cook out or a sunburn from too many hours on the beach?

In my case it is a memory that spans a decade or more. And it was all done from the comfort of our living room. I absolutely loved watching Arthur Feidler conduct the Boston Pops Orchestra. The Pops always did a 4th of July concert on the Charles River Esplanade and it was broadcast on many PBS stations. Thousands of people would pack picnic suppers, grab a blanket and head to the grassy areas to wait for this free concert. A great display of  fireworks on the Charles River followed the performance.

Arthur Feidler was the conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra for 50 years. That was longer than the 17 previous conductors combined. He is credited with making music fun and interesting. He was known for his popular and light classical programs.  And although I am tone deaf and had no idea what they were playing, watching him conduct was a thrill in itself.

The July 4, 1976 concert is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest single audience for classical music concert. 400,000 people attended that concert. July 4, 1976 was a very special year.

Arthur Feidler was a spirited little man who always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye. He had a head of white hair that sometimes seems a bit unruly. He just had fun with his orchestra and himself. One of his biggest likes was watching the Boston firemen do their jobs. He often went to see firefighters at work when there was a fire in the Boston area. On his 75th birthday, his family presented him with his very one full sized fire truck....wonder where you keep something like that.

Arthur Feidler died in 1979. A 32 cent stamp was created in his memory. And for me, the music was no longer the same. He was followed by John Williams as conductor of the Pops. Certainly another great conductor, but in my eyes, not an Arthur Feidler. Somehow the 4th of July has lost a bit of its sparkle

Making Mushrooms

  by: www.FabricGreetings.etsy.com


Winter is hopefully coming to an end. Everyone is beginning to go stir crazy from being snowed in or bothered by the intense cold that has blanketed much of our country this year.  

Those who garden are scouring the seed catalogs that arrive. Thoughts are turning to what to do with the yard and gardens when the weather permits. Here is a little crafty idea to get you started. These little - or big - mushrooms make wonderful garden art. Or they can be displayed on a patio table. They are fun to make and the kids can help as well. And is a great way of recycling.

If your children are young or clumsy, then I suggest using some of the plastic ware that can be found in the dollar stores.
  

Here's what you need to do.

I scour the thrift shops, Goodwill, and flea markets for my supplies. With  yard sales starting, you can find ideas there too.

You will need glasses, vases, hurricane globes, candle sticks or bottles for the stem of your mushrooms.

The "caps" of your mushrooms will be bowls, lids, plates, cheese domes.

Again - this is left to your imagination. 









Now comes the fun part. Experiment with putting different "caps" on the stems. Turn glasses upside down, try longer vases on smaller tops or larger tops. Your imagination is  supposed to run wild here.

When you  have decided on the way 
you want your mushroom to look, you will glue 
them together. I use E6000 glue. 
It has a very strong odor and should be 
used near an open window, or in the open air. 
It works on glass and is waterproof. 
I do not recommend kids using it without
parental guidance.





Once you have your mushroom completed, you can add embellishments if desired.

The little mushroom above is made from a candle stick topped with a desert plate. On top of the desert plate is a small condiment bowl. Finally a green glass bead is glued to the top. This mushroom is approximately 6 inches tall. The large, tall mushroom in the header picture is 10 inches tall. The size depends only on what you choose for a stem and cap.




                   
                             If you are making mushrooms with plastic
                             ware, a good glue to use is
                             Aleene's Jewel-It.
                            The glue is non toxic and water proof.







If you make some mushrooms, post a link in the comment section so we can see the creativity of our readers.

How to Clean a Ceiling Fan

Today's post is a by one of our Friends team members, JewelsbyTrish.  It's a repost from her own blog, but she's generously shared it with us.


I have devised a great way to clean a ceiling fan WITHOUT all the dusty mess! You see I am highly allergic to dust. So you think I would clean the fans often, but alas I fall into the trap we all fall into...can't see it up there so pretend it isn't there! Right!? ;-) Then when I finally do clean them, there is dust falling everywhere & I am sneezing up a storm. No more folks! Here we go:

{ITEMS NEEDED}
• ceiling fan (hehe...I couldn't resist)
• old pillow case
• umbrella
• bandana (optional)

1. Put hair in ponytail & wrap head with bandana. This keeps any stray dust from landing in your hair & causing an allergy attack later. (optional)

2. Open umbrella underneath your fan. This will catch any falling dust! Now your bed won't have dust bunnies for you to clean nor will there be any to vacuum off the carpet! Simply take the umbrella outside & shake.

3. Take your old pillow case & slip it over the fan blade. Grip it tightly so no dust falls & pull to end of fan blade. Dust will be trapped inside the pillow case & none should be falling or billowing out into the room.

4. Clean 1 fan at a time being sure to take pillow case outside after to shake dust from pillow case before proceeding to the next fan.

5. If your fans are not extremely dusty, skip step 4. Clean all fans in your house, then shake out the dust when job is complete.

6. Shake out umbrella of dust. (You should not have much, if any, due to the pillow case catching it all.)

7. Wash pillow case with your load of cleaning rags for the week & save for next time!


I hope you found this how-to helpful!!!

Creative Valentine Gifts

by FabricGreetings

We would have to live in a bubble not to know that Valentine's Day will be here in less than a month. The B&M stores are already filled with hearts and chocolates and lacy things. And there is nothing wrong with that - if you are a hearts and lace and chocolate kind of person. However, there are some other great options available from shops on etsy.

I am a member of the FriendsofHeartsandHandsUnited Team on etsy. Our members are scattered across the world and their shops are just as diverse. What I am going to do here is introduce you to some great finds from these shops. They are not the traditional type of Valentine, but are gifts that would be well used, enjoyed and appreciated.                 

                                                 

Our team leader runs Robin'sFlight - a shop 
that is well stocked with lovely crocheted 
purses, wallets and gadget bags. Everyone, 
young and old alike can use a gadget bag. So 
take a look.www.RobinsFlight.etsy.com


If your special person is at all crafty or sews, then something from this shop is sure to please. The shop is called Sewsouk and is run by a Brit living in Morocco. The shop is www.Sewsouk.etsy.com and is chuck a buck full of colorful items.


Jeanie is a knitter and her shop features some wonderful cold weather items. Who wouldn't be thrilled with a knitted cowl or fingerless gloves to get through the rest of the cold weather. It sure isn't over yet. Be sure to visit www.JeanieBeanHandknits.etsy.com


Is your special someone into vintage? We have a vintage seller who specializes in vintage buttons as well as other items. Personally, I have never met a button I didn't like. She is well versed on buttons and can answer your questions. Her shop is www.NouveauxRetro.etsy.com

Jewelry is always considered the "go to" gift for this holiday. And we are lucky to have several jewelry shops on the team. Each has its own niche. You need to check them all out and find what works for you.

Getting married soon? Then head on over to KC's lovely shop. She specializes in unique wedding accessories not only for the bride, but for the groom, the attendants (male and female) and the parents of the bride. Her memory charms are a huge success. www.KCowie.etsy.com

We have a Southern lass who does very pretty dainty items. She has a flair for the flirty but with a lot of class. Trish runs www.JewelsbyTrish.etsy.com

Resin jewelry is the specialty of our Aussie member. Topaz offers a wide variety of colors and shapes with her resin accessories. The color combinations she gets are wonderful. Her shop is www.TopazTurtle.etsy.com  She is a busy one and also has a décor shop called www.TwoCrackedJars.etsy.com

Inspirational necklaces, definition necklaces and map necklaces can be found in a shop run by Lisa. Her pendants are not something you will find everywhere,
The shop is www.JewelrybyJakemi.etsy.com

How about a lovely piece of stained glass? There are so many ways you can use it - a sun catcher, a wall panel, a nightlight, a decorative box, a stand alone ornament. This shop is sure to have something special. Nancy runs two shops.  www.DesignsStainedGlass.etsy.com says it all. 

Her other shop has a softer side and features fabric purses, pillows, cat toys and other fabric items.

That shop is www.NancyEllenStudios.etsy.com

We have another Aussie on our team. Belle also runs two shops - both very distinct and miles apart. If you have a cat, you will love what she offers in her shop www.Kiteepee.etsy.com  for your feline friend. She has just started offering kitty tee pees. They are wonderful as kitty hidey holes or litter box covers. And while you are at it, check out www.BeljaysFeltnArt for lovely scarves and belly dancing accessories.

April is on a roll with her magnet boards and organizing items. So if you are buying for someone who wants to stay neat and tidy, be sure to pop into www.MooreMagnets.etsy.com Her countdown calendars are also a huge success.


Last but not least are the shops I run. If you are looking to send a unique and special Valentine card, you will find some ideas in my shop. I also offer pillowcase greetings which work well for kids big and small. All of these can be found in www.FabricGreetings.etsy.com  If the special person happens to be an 18" doll then check out www.ADollsNecessities.etsy.com

So there you have it...a wide variety of items. Actually, there is something for everyone if you brose through those shops. And nothing says love like Handmade.

Frigid fun

by RobinsFlight

Like many in the United States, last week left us with more snow and colder temps than this area has seen in quite a while.  I know some parts of the country were snowier and more frigid than here in the Detroit area, but our 6-8" of snow, on top of the 6" or so that were already on the ground, was more than my kids had ever seen!  And 30 below (*F) wind chills...well, that had me remembering days when Michigan State University closed classes for a day back twenty years ago, and farther back, remembering walking to school in Wisconsin with friends, all waddling like penguins, we were so bundled up!


Our extended Christmas break, thanks to 3 snow days, left us with some extra time around the house.  And since there's only so long that 2 kids and a mom can handle cooped up indoors, we did venture out a bit.  Before the heaviest of the snow hit, the kids had fun making a snowman, complete with hat, scarf and a carrot nose.  The next morning he had to be dug out, of course- don't want our snowman suffocating under a blanket of snow!





Then there's the general playing in the snow.  My kids are fond of building snow slides and doing their best of fall, flip, and push each other down.  And no snow day would be complete without a trip to the sledding hill.  Unfortunately, my camera didn't accompany us that day.

 














I think my favorite activity was blowing bubbles and watching them freeze.  Yes, I have to admit, the idea came from the now viral pictures by Angela Kelly that have been circulating on the internet.  But hey, what a great idea!  My photos aren't nearly as good as hers are, but it was fun.  



The temperature was -12*F, and there was a decent wind.  It probably would've been better if the wind had been lighter- it tended to blow the bubbles away with enough force that they'd just shatter when they hit something. 

They froze almost instantly, not a slow crystallization.  I actually had to blow pretty quickly to got any bubbles before the liquid froze on the wand.  And the smaller bubbles definitely lasted best.




I tried it again the next day.  The wind was less, and it was warmer- I think about 6 *F above this time.  The bubbles froze more slowly, but they didn't seem to hold their shape nearly as well.  A few held together though.




So what did you do to occupy yourself during the big freeze?