Fall Fashion Show -- Me a Prize Winner?

A neighbor invited me to attend a Fall Fashion Show at Inge's Fashions last night. I haven't really explored clothes shopping since moving to Great Falls in April 2009.

This is an excerpt from the Great Falls Tribune about the owner, economy, and her store:

The proprietor, Inge Buchholz, said she has noticed more customers head straight for the clearance rack when they enter her store than browse the other areas.

"Since this thing set in, the recession, I do notice people are more price conscious," Buchholz said. "So I'm putting more things on sale and bringing in some products that are still a good quality, but are less expensive."

The bread and butter of Inge's Fashions continues to be the store's mainstays unique women's clothing items, including the only selection of the sizes 4X to 7X in town, and strong customer service, Buchholz said.

"I have a lot of repeat customers," she added.

It was a fun outing with ladies of all sizes and ages (one was 86) modeling very pretty fashionable clothing. I had already decided I would have to go back and do some exploring (and purchasing) when the crowds of women were gone. There was a very good turn out.

Door prizes were being called for floral arrangements and gift certificates. I had my name in the hat, but never even usually get my name called for anything. Well, last night was a first as I won the top prize -- a pair of "Not Your Daughter's Jeans". I don't know much about them and will be going back to Inge's on Saturday to find and fit into my new pair that retail for $100.

All I could hear the ladies at the fashion show talk about was how much Oprah recommended them.

Here are some other important selling points I have found online today:

"Created for real women with real curves"

"A unique criss-cross panel that flattens your tummy, lifts your rear, and makes you look and feel a size smaller" -- SOUNDS LIKE A MIRACLE TO ME!.

I will have to let you know how I feel when I get these babies on.

Except for the Mouse -- Christmas Creation

Here is the finished embroidery wallhanging I started a month ago. I just needed to get in front of the sewing machine and get the machine quilting and border completed.

I am getting more and more in the holiday spirit as the Halloween decorations are in full swing on the front picture window.



Also, I just spent 2 1/2 hours outside in the front yard working on the "swamp" of cottonwood tree leaves. A very nice elderly gentleman pulled up to work on a lawn across the street and came over and helped me. He has a wonderful machine called a Billy Goat that sucked up the leaves in a bag. He then dumped them onto my driveway for me to get into big heavy bags while he played with his machine on the lawn. It took 10 bags in all to complete the job.

This man was so sweet and would only take a cash donation from me. I hate that when people just say for a donation as I always want to give more. In the end I could only scrap up $8 in cash from around the house, but he was happy with that and worked very hard with me.

I think he was really "an angel" who came to help me with a very big task. Hope you have an angel to help you out today or when you need it most.

Petticoat Patty / Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Block

I have been in the "sewing" kind of mood since talking with a dear friend from Nashville over this past weekend.

"Tangent -- to go off suddenly in another direction or on a different line of thought, action etc."

That describes me or at least my creative personality at times. I have been in a "tangent" with embroidery ever since the beginning of 2009. I also purchased tons of very nice kitchen towels and keep an ever watchful eye out for cute patterns and designs to put on them. Just had to break down and purchase a new printer ink cartridge the other day.

So here is my very big Petticoat Patty or as some know her also as Sunbonnet Sue. She is from a 1992 publication called Favorite Applique Patterns from The Old Country Store with designs by Cheryl A. Benner.



I love the shape of the shoe in the pattern and decided to add a black button for an embellishment. Also, I put a miniature fabric yo-yo for the flower to add a little special touch.




The outcome is not quite decided as to whether the creation will turn into a big quilt or a wall hanging or a gift for a young girl as a blanket or doll blanket. I do know I will be playing with more fabrics and making more of these pretty Petticoat Patty / Sunbonnet Sue quilt blocks in the future.

Antique Presents -- Edison Toaster

I just received a very nice phone call from my sister-in-law, Trish, thanking us for finding a beautiful antique appliance -- an Edison Toaster.

It is from Edison Electric Appliance Co. Inc. Chicago ILL. - Ontario Calif. A General Electric Organization. It does have slight surface rust but I think it will clean up just fine. One feature of this toaster is that on the side it has a knob that opens and closes the two doors to access your toast.

A little research on the computer find a Wikipedia entry of the company information with some pictures of the toasters and the history. There is not one of such ornate design as shown above.

I did do a search on Ebay and found the toaster there someone has to offer. The person listing it is offering less than a dollar to start the bidding. His postage is slightly under $10 which might seem high to some, but having shipped one the other day, that postage is low as well.

Exploring and finding this gem for Trish has me interested in exploring the local antiques stores in Great Falls in the near future.

Natural Halloween Decorations

08-07-09 007, originally uploaded by chez60.

I spent a good part of my afternoon rummaging through unpacked boxes trying to find a cool vintage yard ornament (in other words -- my jack-o-lantern) to decorate for Halloween today. When all is said and done a wonderful treasure trove of things were unearthed from some boxes but no seasonal item found. I am hoping on a spur of the moment I gave him to a good friend or at least a new home to be enjoyed.

These spider webs remind me now that we have had frost in the morning the pesky flies, mosquitoes, and bees are gone till next summer. The visual of the webs also reminds me now we need to do something about a few spiders (big ones I might add) that have been spotted in the basement. I am not a big supporter of eight legged creatures even though the can weave some of the most beautiful pieces of art to behold.

Well, a skeleton is hanging from a branch on the big tree outside now and some really cool characters are displayed in the big picture window (a vampire, top hat skeleton, a mummy, and Frankenstein) so today was not a total disappointment in my decorating department!!!

I do love Fall. I do love the holidays that are just around the corner.

Also, I have been printing out some holiday inspired embroidery patterns off of flickr.com in the Vintage Hoop Love Transfer Pattern group. If you are a stitcher, do a little exploring here. You won't be disappointed.

The kids and I had some fun creating a "spooky" music list on playlist.com (free - no charge) and have been getting in the mood for the fun filled times to come. We came up with Monster Mash, Purple People Eater, Time Warp, Wild Thing, Addams Family theme music, and even found Batman and some Scooby Doo stuff to include on our music list.

Time to close for now -- Don't forget to take moments and enjoy the natural decorations around you. I know I am looking where I am planted these days.