Silver Sunday Seamstress Tools...

Welcome to the September edition of Silver Sunday! This month, I'm sharing my scissors with you. Of course, every seamstress needs tools for cutting, and I'm sharing my stainless and silver scissors used for various purposes in my creative endeavors.

In the first photograph, from top to bottom: Gingher 8" knife edge Dressmaker's Shears (used for multipurpose cutting), Gingher 8" serrated edge Dressmaker's Shears (these are especially useful when cutting sheer or slippery fabrics, as the teeth grip the fabric), silver Sheffield scissors (purchased in Colonial Williamsburg last year), Gingher 6" knife edge Applique' scissors (with a special edge to protect the fabric you don't want to cut), and my Gingher Bent Tip scissors (used to snip threads while fabric is hooped for machine embroidery).
Of course, I have various embroidery scissors, too. (Of course, I do! lol) My prized embroidery scissors are the little rabbit embroidery scissors attached to a little pincushion (a gift from Shell May of The Raspberry Rabbits. She made the pincushion!), and on the right are my Gingher 4.5" thread nippers (I love these because the tuck into the palm of my hand, and I can actually wear them while sewing at the machine). The two pairs of embroidery scissors on the left are Gingher embroidery scissors with wonderful sharp points for precision cutting. The bottom pair has a pink ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness design on the handles, and a portion of the sales were donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Just one more peek at the rabbit scissors from Shell. Hey, girlfriend...only ONE more sleep! I'll explain to everyone else tomorrow.
Thanks again to Beth of Gypsy Fish Journal for hosting our monthly Silver Sunday event. Be sure to click on her link to see what other silver treasures are being shown in Blogland today! Oh, and congratulations to Debra of Common Ground for winning Beth's Silver Sunday drawing!

If you're new, or didn't know it yet, I'm celebrating my 500th Post with a giveaway. If you're interested in participating, please click on my giveaway button here to find out how you can enter, and what you might win.

I'm so glad you stopped by to visit. I hope you enjoy a restful and creative Silver Sunday!

Let's Get The Party Started...

My pal, Debra over at Common Ground posted about a Pajama Party with the Trash Queen at Talking Trash. I always love a girly pajama party, so I've decided to skeedaddle over there, too.
I'm grabbing my favorite pillow, Bazooka bubble gum and the Dippity Do so we can spike up my hair later. Lee is on her way over in her vintage Mustang. Her dad, Hal, always lets her drive and we love her convertible. We just had to promise not to hang out the windows and shout at boys. ("You two-timer! Does your girlfriend know you were out with me last night?") We can get pretty bad!
Cindy and I saw The Sound of Music, and we're inspired to organize a mini talent show! I get to sing "Climb Every Mountain". (Badly, too, I might add. But what's a wrong note among friends? We'll all have a good laugh.) Oh, and it's a good thing we'll be at Trash Queen's house this time. Cindy's dad always hides in the closet when we're at her house. Scared the crap outta me last time!

We won't forget to pick up Laura. I'm so glad she broke up with Mark. Mike is a much nicer guy and he doesn't mind when she goes out with the girls once in a while. Heck, he might even show up and serenade her outside the bedroom window! He's pretty cute that way.
Handsome won't be coming around, for sure. All the girls hang on my guy when he stops by. Everyone loves a tall drummer, you know, and he fairly mesmerizes them with his witty repartee. He promised to stay home with Kes and keep the home fires burning. I'll be back early in the morning anyway. Miss him too much to gone all weekend!

So, you're all invited to come over and join the party. See you there!

It Was So Good...

Sunday was a relaxing day spent cooking, and knitting while watching NASCAR (yeah, I know...but I like it!). One of the delicious surprises was making the Cranberry Cake Mix that I won in Debra's 200th Follower Giveaway over at Common Ground last month. Remember? What a wonderful assortment of beautiful items. She's my inspiration for giveaway generosity.

Yesterday, I unwrapped the package and released the beautiful turkey flour sack kitchen towel that enveloped the cake mix. Then, following the directions (I'm really good at that!), I assembled the ingredients and mixed up the cake. It baked away while I prepared dinner.

After dinner each evening, Handsome and I do kitchen cleanup together. He's an excellent cook in his own right, and after twenty eight years of practice, we work together well. Cleanup is not usually too bad because I learned to "clean as I go" from Mum when I was a kid. Handsome must have learned the same from my mother-in-law because he doesn't like a messy workspace either. So, last night after tidying up the kitchen, we rewarded ourselves with a piece of Cranberry Cake, topped with whipped cream.

I wish you'd been here to sample this dessert, courtesy of sweet Debra. The mix is manufactured for Mary Lake-Thompson, Ltd. in California. I don't know where Debra found this lovely mix, wrapped in a tea towel I'll use and cherish, but I hope you'll be able to find some (and that I might be able to find more!). Debra, if you'll share your source, I'd be so grateful.

You have through Thanksgiving Day (midnight) to continue to enter my 200th Post Giveaway. Just leave a comment on my posts each day and you'll receive another entry. I'll announce my winner on Friday, Nov. 27th.

If you missed the original post, which lists all the ways you can enter, here's a quick link, which also shows you all the gifts I'm offering to one lucky winner.

My left sidebar has many more generous giveaways being offered at some of my other favorite blogs. Say "hi" from me!

Gifts From Debra Of Common Ground...

The mail carrier sure made my day yesterday!
I received a box from my blog friend, Debra of Common Ground blog!
She drew my name for her incredible 200th Follower Giveaway package,
and to say I was excited is a real understatement!

When I opened the box,
the first thing I saw was the prettiest pink package for moi.
Inside the envelope was a pretty card with a sweet message from Debra,
along with her Victoria Bliss-worthy business card.From there, I commenced to figuratively drool over
each and every component of my prize package.

A package of Cranberry Walnut Cake Mix, wrapped in
a beautiful Thanksgiving turkey tea towel...
A red toile fabric bag which I'm going to repurpose...
A bar of herbal soap in the sweetest fragrance...
A Somerset Holidays publication loaded with inspiration...

A vintage card with two sweet children, which
Debra decorated with wire, ribbon and a button. So beautiful!
and
A vintage chippy clock face that I coveted from one of
Debra's posts about her booth. She GAVE it to me!
and
My most favorite prize of all...
This breathtaking 2010 journal.
It's going to be my well-loved datebook for next year.
Just look at this image - multiple pages devoted to birds and the seasons!
Check out the inside covers. See? ACORNS and oak leaves!
Obviously it was meant to be mine!
Debra, dear...I love, love, love every single thing in my package.
To use one of my Mum's terms...I was gobsmacked!
(That's a good thing!)
Thank you so much for your generosity! I wish you all of life's blessings.