A Haven for Vee

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Frosty Window Pane and a New Needle Book


Frosty window pane, no candles gleaming inside...

Brrrr, it's cold out there! This is the first real taste of winter we've had. No snow that'll stick yet, just bitter brain burning, toe numbing, below zero temps in the past two days. Since it's January, I'll not complain.

The view above is from my sewing room window. (In the header picture, that would be the upstairs window with the lamp glow.) I was in the sewing room again for the first time in weeks. I have two little needle books to make. Unfortunately, this didn't turn out as well as I had hoped so I will have to keep this one. =D


1. My old needlebook made from scraps and sort of crazy quilted together. ( I say "sort of" because I do not sew. I only pretend to on this blog. )

2. Quality felt (real wool) used for the pages.

3. Wondering about recycling a placemat...

4. Experimenting with ratty old lace and linen...

5. The new book, less than satisfactory (don't look too close), but I love the little ruffle.

Do you want to see some extraordinary needlebooks created by a pro? Visit Dawn at The Feathered Nest on this post titled The Little Elf is Getting Faster or scroll around a bit, there are others there.


Oh, okay, take a closer look. See those wonky corners? All a part of its charm, I'm sure. Perhaps if I took the coffee grounds to it...hmmmm...

Stay warm and cozy!

32 comments:

  1. I was wondering what a needle book was, I thought maybe you got new needle'point' books or something but when I read the post...WOW...nice idea! I've never seen these, Vee. And, I look this one with character. Perfection is SO over-rated!

    Very cute, indeed!

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  2. Your little needlebook is adorable. This looks like a perfect way to spend such a cold day ... tucked away in that cozy room creating beautiful things.
    Love that picture of the grands on their saucers on your sidebar.

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  3. Oh that's a cute idea- I don't think I have ever seen one. It looks great- no wonkiness that I can see.

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  4. Wow! 'Tis cold here, but not as cold as you have. But when it gets really bone-chilling cold, the number doesn't totally matter, does it? Such, are allllllllllll very cold.

    Love your lyrical description of your cold!!

    Awwwww, that little lacy book is so sweet! Just the way it is. Precious. Who wants a perfectly symmetrical hand-made item???? Nope! Not! Yours is lovely.

    Love that you are telling like --- where your sewing room is located, in your sweet Header pic. Mmmmm, has all my "where-is-that-room?" questioning, pushed you over the edge, to stopping me, before I get a chance to ("bug you") ask about it? -giggles-

    Come on, I can't be the only Dear Reader, who loves to know blog friend's house lay-outs! Nahhhhh, I can't be the only one! ,-)

    "I am not young enough to know everything."
    - Oscar Wilde

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  5. I love it!! And thank you for pointing out your sewing room window.....I am always inetersted in windows with little lights shining in them.

    I worked in MY sewing room yesterday....UNdecorating. Now I have some sewing projects to start. Quilts for a set of triplets soon to be born. The mother is a twin herself and I have known her since she was 18 months old!

    I LOVED the romantic needle case!

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  6. Did I work in our old drug store, you asked...

    Very little. The wife of a store owner chooses her role, early on. Be a part of running the store. Or not.

    I was shy back then, and home having/raising kids. So it was kind of an easy choice for me.

    When we'd only been married a couple of years, and he was called back into the Army, because of the "Berlin Crisis"... At Christmas Time I did try to help out.

    Being in the back of the store, where Christmas gifts were being purchased, wasn't too bad. But having to try to RUN THE SODA FOUNTAIN, while the regular woman went to lunch, was a HORROR.

    I gladly never stepped back into store work again!!! Other than some book keeping, but that was done "out back" in the office.

    "I am not young enough to know everything."
    - Oscar Wilde

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  7. They are charming & so feminine Vee. It is a balmy 20 here ... time for flip flops & sunsuits ... chuckle.

    Have a beautiful day ~
    TTFN ~
    Hugs,
    Marydon

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  8. yes, charming!
    I don't think I've ever seen needle books except for the cardboard ones the old time needles came in. I like the concept! Love the frosty window pane, too...

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  9. I LOVE it! It's sew pretty. :) Good work.

    We got snow here on Christmas Eve. It can go anytime now...

    ((Hugs))
    Laura

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  10. I'm like Ellen...the only needle books I recall are the cardboard ones that we used to buy needles in (way back when). Neat idea!

    And frosted windows are something I remember from 'way back when' as well. Not this year! They make for a nice picture.

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  11. I think your needle book is pretty! I've not seen one before.
    Below zero temps? Brrr! I'd like to fast forward to spring when it gets that cold. I'm hoping for a milder winter this year.

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  12. Below zero...brrrrr! However, I try very hard not to complain about the cold. After all, I far exceed my complaint quota complaining about the heat (which I do hate). I do hope you're staying warm and cozy though! (I'll bet that lovely flannel nightgown helps!)

    Your needle case is so pretty...don't change a thing!

    ~ Cheryl...who has returned to sanity after yesterday's dither ;-)

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  13. Playing with fabric and ruffles and lace is a perfect way to spend some time on a frosty day. I think your needlebook is sweet.

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  14. It has gotten frost bite cold here! I met V in Manhattan last night to attend another Christmas celebration and my toes and were like ice even though I dressed warm.

    I love the needle book I won form you, Vee. I use it all the time. I recently spent two hours sewing back buttons on shirst. Why don't manufactureres knot the thread on buttons any longer..it's so annoying.

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  15. Oh brrrr, it is way too cold in your neck of the woods. I just opened the front door to air out the house--it is 71 outside. Your needle book is very vintage. I like it.

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  16. Hey, Vee!

    I love your new header - your house looks great - John did such a good job, and I like knowing that you're up there in that sewing room with the lamp on.

    I think your needle case is just great the way it is. I like that it's not perfectly perfect. If it was perfect it would have come from a store where some seamstresses overseas in a sweatshop have put it together in 10 seconds flat! This one has feeling and love and a friend's fingers putting it together AND it has heard its maker possibly fussing at it for not lining up just exactly right! I'd much rather have something like that!

    Alex Trebek and Golda Meir? Ok, I get Golda, but I couldn't see Alex at all. Silly girl! Thanks for playing along tho. It was fun and funny at my expense, and if you can't laugh at yourself then you've got problems! And I don't wanna have any of those!

    Hugs!

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  17. Hi Vee!

    Such cozy pictures! We are having mild temperatures here in Idaho, but I know that won't last! I would truly love to see some snow.

    I love your needle book - it's just beautiful!

    Hugs,
    barb

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  18. Happy New Year Vee! Love those new dishes of yours... adorable! I've never seen a needle book before but I think the idea is fabulous. So what if you're corners are a little wonky, some days I'm a bit wonky myself. Great gift idea.

    Hugs, Sherry

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  19. Ok, let's see....First, I LOVE your header. What a pretty house. Second, WOW...is it ever cold over there. It was actually 85 here today in good old So. California which I actually don't like. It is just plain weird to be that warm in Jan. All my windows are open and it seems like spring. I am wearing capri's and short sleeves...I am LONGING for some cold, rainy weather and hot fires and hot tea. And then, the needlebook. I love it. I have actually never heard of them before...what a good idea. OK, guess that is it for now. I will be back. I soo enjoyed my visit...Debbie

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  20. I know this sounds crazy, but that ice is so pretty on that window. Reminds me of North Dakota when ice would form inside the house on the windows. For a long time.

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  21. Hi Vee, I think your needle book is very sweet. I can't sew at all if you can make something so pretty! Thanks for visiting and your kind comment. It is very cold isn't it? Going to warm up again on the weekend though. Hugs, Pam

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  22. Thank you for being my cheerleader, friend! And I will be delighted if you copy the tea tray! As my Bekah said to me when I told her I was "stealing" an idea from her older sister..."Mama, it is not stealing to be inspired by a good idea!" I think she's right.

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  23. Well, I'm impressed, never having made such a thing at all!

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  24. We' ve had a whopper of a rainstorm here. They call it a pineapple express as it has come straight from Hawaii. Unfortunately it lost some of the heat along the way.

    I admire your constant crafting. You go girl!

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  25. Hello Vee...

    Catching up on my blog friends, been away too long over the holidays. Love catching up on your posts...Happy New Year to you and your hubby!

    Thanks for the visit. :)

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  26. nice post thanks for sharing! blessings soraya

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  27. Great idea! I'm thinking that I should try my hand at making one. I'm forever wondering where to put my needles. . .that is when I sew and I'm working on motivating myself to do that more often.
    Have you seen handmade covers for regular notebooks -those that are vinyl? I've often (years) thought of doing that. Maybe Christmas fabric for my Christmas notebook. You've got me thinking!

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  28. Beautiful pictures Vee! Your home looks so warm and inviting!

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  29. Your needlebook is beautiful (just like that picture of the window)! I always love visiting you....so inspirational!

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  30. Oh that is so sweet Vee, you did a wonderful job! I laughed out loud when I read "I say "sort of" because I do not sew. I only pretend to on this blog"..ha-ha Your humor and honesty is refreshing and I would love it if you were my next-door neighbor!
    Your home is so beautiful too, I love the header picture of it, with the lights in the windows it looks so welcoming and warm..heavy sigh..smile

    Happy New Year and God bless..Lori

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  31. Well, sweet Vee, I don't see anything here that is wonky...only a charming little needle boo, I've never even heard of them...and wonder now why my mama didn't have these. I am always searching thru my machine drawers for a needle...now, maybe I can make one. Mine would be so plain as I don't sew a lick. Maybe I better just stay with something like a pin cushion. :))

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