Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Just a Chat and a Cup of Tea

Hi
I got out my favorite tea set for you. Whenever I want to just have a really good chat with a friend I get out my Dainty Blue tea set and almost every time I do I think of my Aunt Lottie who gave me the first piece. She always had time for a visit. I could drop in on her anytime and she'd stop what she was doing and make us a cup of tea. She always seemed to have a fresh batch of the world's best chocolate chip cookies just out of the oven too. We'd sit in her kitchen and talk. I can't remember talking about anything meaningful or her giving me advice or anything, but I just remember enjoying my visits there so much. Perhaps because she was always so happy to see me and stopped what she was doing just for me. So, I am happy that you came for a visit. I've got the tea all ready for you. Do you like Mary Engelbreit? I've always enjoyed her artwork because it's so cheerful and her style of decorating also. I have followed her over the years as each new home she moved to was featured in her magazine, or other magazines before she had her own. This month in Home Companion they have pictures of her latest home and it's all in yellows, oranges and even brown! It was so different from the style and colors she's had for many years, no sign of any cherries or black and white checks, that it seemed weird to me. I'm sure if we had the resources many of us would do something different with our homes, but would you change your entire color scheme?

My daughter in law has saved all of my grandaughter's little dresses and asked me to make a quilt with them. I think that is such a great way of preserving the memories. She found a quilt she liked in this magazine. It was such a coincidence because my friend Mary had just lent me this magazine because there was a quilt in it that she thought was "me". Guess which one it was?
You guessed it! It was the one my DIL had chosen! I'm going to make it bigger than this. It will be 5 blocks rather than 3. It is going to be so cute. If there is enough fabric from the dresses I'm making 2: one for my DIL and one for my grand. Don't expect to see any pictures of them any time soon though because it's going to take awhile.
We took pictures of all the little dresses. They are so cute! I'm going to try to use some of the sweet embroidery onthe dresses in the quilt and the fun buttons too.

My sister has started a blog. No pictures, just words. She has a real gift for writing. I'm sure she'd love it if you'd stop by and say hello.

Our house needs painting inside. We've been here 4 years. When we moved in I did the walls in the living and dining rooms, front hall, our bedroom and the kitchen. The rest of the house was just a cream color and looked okay. All the trim was a creamy white. I love pure white trim and have decided it's time to paint the rooms that we left out and paint all the trim. I hate painting trim and even though I have painted a lot of houses (we have lived in 10 different houses in 39 years of marriage) I am still a terrible painter and get covered with paint every time I do it. There are 13 windows, and they are all the kind that 6 or more panes in each section top and bottom and they take forever. I know I will love the fresh clean look when it's done, so it's just a case of getting started.
Well I've rambled on long enough. Hope I didn't talk your ear off!
Have a wonderful day.
Rhondi xo

37 comments:

  1. Hi Rhondi -
    I love the idea of the little dresses for the quilt. It will be such a sweet reminder of days past. Can't wait to see what you do.
    ~Adrienne~

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  2. Well, I've never met you, yet I'd say 'that quilt is just so Rhondi'! I also bought that magazine - just to do some dreaming.

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  3. Glad to see you back Rhondi! I've missed your posts. I think the quilt with the dresses is a wonderful idea! And I love your blue and white tea set.

    I wish I could get some of my friends to start blogs!
    Have a great day!

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  4. The quilt idea sounds adorable and I look forward to seeing how it turns out.
    I saw the article about Mary Engelbreit's new house in Home Companion. I have loved all of her past houses, but this one - no thanks. Not my taste.
    Have a nice day and thanks for the tea from your beautiful tea set.

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  5. Good luck with the painting. We have painted many times, but I just don't do it myself anymore. I think my bones are too creaky. ;-) Maybe you can show us pictures when you finish.

    I know the quilt is going to be wonderful, and so meaningful. How fantastic to create a treasure.

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  6. Hi Rhondi...the quilt sounds lovely. Can't wait to see the finished product.

    I love your blog and always feel right at home visiting...thank you!
    Michele

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  7. A wonderful idea to make a quilt from the little dresses. Try and incoporate the buttons and embroidery! Have just been over to Wendalyn's page! Most interesting! Will visit her again! Love Eleanor

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  8. thanks for the lovely chat! i'm excited to see the quilt! :)

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  9. Thanks for inviting all of us to your Tea Party!! It is lovely. I especially love the tea set from your Aunt Lottie...and the stories and the time you've shared with us!

    ~Blessings,
    Jan

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  10. You're daughter-in-law is lucky to have a quilter in the family!!! Love the idea of saving all the dresses. How wonderful. And I wasn't sure if I was thrilled by ME's new home. Pretty for sure, but I loved the last one the very most. I guess the one given is change. I'll miss her old house though!

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  11. Rhondi - thanks for the kind comments on the blog. I must say, my cup/mug collection doesn't hold a candle to the beauties I've seen photographed on your blog!

    I just received my Home Companion in the mail - I love that magazine! I have to say, though, that the color scheme of ME's newest home isn't my all time favorite. As a matter of fact, I told hubby it reminded me very much of the colors I used in the 70's, which was not my best decorating period, so I don't have fond memories of them! It goes without saying that ME did a MUCH better job with those colors than I did, but I'm still not ready to revisit that color pallette any time soon!

    And your grandkids are beautiful!!! Loved that poem you posted - and the photo of your chair with the three little chairs surrounding it out on the deck... That was so sweet!...Donna

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  12. Rhondi, that will be so lovely. I did a quilt for my grandaughter when she was 7, using fabric from all the clothes I had made her..I think there were 50 pieces! A wonderful heirloom.

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  13. That tea set is wonderful. I love blue any way. The quilt is just going to be a great keepsake for your grandaughter. We talked about that idea but no one (Heidi) did anymore about it. LOL. She is our quilter after all.
    Nancy

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  14. How sweet to see all those little dresses all lined up and ready for a quilt. There are quite a few of them. I have some of my baby clothes and love having the actual dresses. I even have my first pair of patent leather shoes and tennis shoes. I will look forward to seeing this quilt grow. Don't forget to share photos every now and then.

    Painting does really freshen up a house. We have been doing it too but we have had these colors for 7 years and it is looking grubby and tired. I changed one color in our living room as I did not like what I had anymore but I love our ox blood red wall and would not give that up any time soon. I do think however that sometimes people get too tired of their interior or pick to trendy of colors and items which look dated later on.

    I really miss visits with you but am glad you enjoyed your visits with your three adorable grandchildren.

    Hugs ~
    Heidi

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  15. I love your tea set--definitely one of the prettiest I have seen. Thank you for letting me have some tea in the dainty cup. You were brave to trust me ;-)

    I remember seeing ME's house a few years ago and it was toned way down from her artful style. I'll have to check the latest redo.

    I hate painting trim too. Hubby usually does that part and I do the walls. I don't have to try to stay in the lines so much ;-)

    I'll look forward to seeing the quilts some day.

    Lallee

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  16. Rhondi, Your tea set is so pretty. I enjoyed your tea so much.

    Now, about painting your trim and walls. Just start in one place. The beauty will get you to finish. Smile!

    As for me, I need company coming to get me motivated.

    Take care,

    Jeanne

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  17. What a beautiful tea set Rhondi. And I love the idea of the quilt from the baby dresses. I made quilts from my brother-in-law's shirts after he died and they are treasured by my sister and her children. I'd love to do one from baby dresses - a joyful thing. Blessings, marlene

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  18. Hi Rhondi! Your tea set is so sweet and lovely! and what sweet memories you have of your aunt. Her attitude is a lesson to all of us, isn't it? I'll be looking forward to seeing the little quilt you're going to make. It will be darling. My mother's a quilter, tho at 85 she said she had made the last one for my birthday last year. Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  19. Hey Rhondi,
    Yes I love Home Companion! It's my favorite magazine! And I found her new colors interesting too. I guess she was ready for a change.

    Good luck with the painting!
    Becky

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  20. I love your blue and white tea set. It is so delicate. I can just imagine you sitting and chatting with your aunt ovr a pot of tea and eating cookies. Thanks for sharing the memories with us.
    Warm regards, karen

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  21. Just wanted to stop & say hi, since I just came upon your blog today - it caught my eye b/c in the first post I read, you mentioned your Aunt Lottie - my grandmother was known as Lottie - (short for Charlotte) - not really a common name, so am always intrigued when I see her name pop up somewhere - and she would have LOVED your blog, too - lots of cute, dainty things!

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  22. The quilt will be beautiful! What a darling keepsake it will be. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

    Love that tea set! I'm so partial to blue and white glass. Just lovely!

    Kady

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  23. Hi Rhondi,I just love,love,love that blue and white tea set.Cute ideal about the quilt made with the dresses. Please show it to us when you are through making it.

    Thank you for your visit to my tea.

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  24. Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion is one of my favourite magazines! What a beautiful blue & white tea set Rhondi.

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  25. Hi Rhondi, I just love that tea set in your header. Would you mind sharing what pattern it is? It is just beautiful. I love Mary Engelbreit too but I saw her new home and it just isn't...her. lol, as if I know what is her more than she does. I just loved the last home, so much so that I bought the book she wrote about it.
    The quilt is going to be spectacular, I hope we get to see it way off in the future. What pretty little dresses!

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  26. What a lovely tea party! Everything looks absolutely wonderful. We had a tea party a little bit ago: http://anapronaday.blogspot.com/2008/05/tea-party-vintage-style.html

    I'll be sure to not miss the next one at Jan & Tom's!

    For your daily dose of vintage goodness & a bit of silliness, stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen

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  27. I too am a Mary E.fan..she's so cheerful in her designs...though a little busy.I have her book 'Home Sweet Home' and love it! Do you have it? I love her inscription in the front...'For Phil-"my home is in your eyes". She has a bookcase on page 48 that I loved so much I made one similar and it turned out to be very special. I can't believe she left her cheerful reds behind in her new home. Too much money, thats what! =) Michaels craft store is carrying beautiful greeting cards by her for only $1. a pkg. Have you seen them? btw, loved this post!

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  28. P.S. and the quilt made with the little dresses are going to be a wonderful together!

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  29. Hi Rhondi, We better hurry up and drink that cup of tea, so you can get to work. I love the idea of the girl clothes for the quilt. That is going to be really special.
    Bonnie

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  30. Rhondi, you can talk my ear off any day of the week! I Love it! I adore Mary Englebreight! I also love the idea of that quilt. What a special gift it will be when done. Those fabrics are so pretty! I wish I had more time for quilting and stuff! I'll just have to enjoy yours instead!

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  31. Rhondi, I have also followed ME through all of her moves...I have also made major decorating changes. Started with traditional chippendale and have come around to an eclectic mix of vintage, antique and kitsch, however, we have stayed in the same house. I love, love, love the quilt idea..can't wait to see the end result. It is a precious gift. We just did some painting, and it was very gratifying...check my latest post. One other thing...what you said to Brenda....I am also a Pollyanna, always have been and will continue to try to be the worlds oldest cheer leader. Susan

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  32. Thank you Rhondi for the tutorial on links. I shall certainly try to do it!

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  33. Good Morning Rhondi, So nice to sit down & read you blog!...& for the record your posts could never be too long! Sounds like you had a great week with your kids & grandchildren!...I love the poem!!!...And the quilt is just amazingly pretty!....What a charming quilt that will be! Also loved that beautiful "tea set"! I am off to continue sewing ...am making all the crib bedding for a friends new "grandbaby"...We are having a shower Friday night 7 needs to be done! Yikes! Waited a bit too long to get started...but every piece is turning out so sweet!....You have a great day!...Heidi XO

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  34. What a darling idea for the quilt! Wish I would have thought of it sooner and saved more of my girls' dresses. Of course, I would have passed them all to my mama 'cuz though my passion (paper quilling) is spelled very closely to quilting, the skills sets are very different indeed!

    thanks for the lovely chat over tea!

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  35. Oh, I just love the idea of a quilt made of her dresses! The dresses look so darling all laid out. I know it will be something she'll treasure.

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  36. Rhondi, that tea set is beautiful. What a fantastic idea about making these dresses into a quilt. I must stop by your sister's blog.

    Rhondi, I have a special award for you on my blog today. Please stop by and take it home. Karen

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  37. Hi Rhondi! What nice!I just love the idea of a quilt made of her dresses! I love its!
    Visit me anytime....
    hugs

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Hi
Thanks so very much for taking the time to leave a comment. I always read every one. I am glad you stopped by for a visit. Hope you'll come again!
Rhondi