Saturday, January 31, 2015

A Bufkins Bunny Bonnet & Basket

I'm back at sewing, yea!  I thought I'd start with
 something I can use a bigger needle with, easier
to grasp.  So, I dug out my hat mold & stitched up
a Bufkin bunny bonnet.


Leaving room for the ears.

Since the Bufkin girl bunnies favorite flower is the
 rose, I chose a velvet wild rose.  Also, a few tiny blue
 velvet forget-me-nots, velvet leaves, some vintage
 millinery radishes and a dark green silk ribbon.

I cut the large leaves into smaller ones.

Added a length of ribbon to each side.

Doesn't every bunny want a radish hat?

This bunny will also need a little basket
 for foraging in the woods.
Vintage carrots, some moss &
 
 teeny mushrooms too.
Along the way, she'll spread some
Heirloom Wild Rose seeds.
Time to start stitching a Bufkin bunny!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My niece Emily & her husband Nick have
a new baby boy, Emmett James, 9 lbs 2 oz.
Welcome to the world!
 Miss Ava is very excited to have a baby brother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I get my beautiful velvet flowers from By
Gone Days, based in Australia.  I have their
link listed under my favorite places.
By Gone Days

HAPPY SEWING!

Monday, January 26, 2015

New York

Daughter & I are back from a trip to New York, just in
time to avoid the big snowstorm headed for the East
coast.  Not proper planning, just dumb luck!  We stayed in
the heart of Manhattan at the Mansfield Hotel located on
historic Club Row, about 3 blocks from Times Square. 
 

The reason for the trip, was for Leann to have a
private session at the Circus Warehouse & shop
the garment district for costume fabrics.
 


A walk through Times Square as we headed to the
fashionable garment district......sensory overload.
So many fabric shops! 

Trim shops.
.
Ribbon shops.
Beads & feather shops.
 Two days of walking, shopping
 & eating.  My legs hurt, but we're 
having so much fun.
Button shops too........not a single bolt of reproduction
cotton, vintage buttons or trim anywhere!
A night time stroll through Times Square........
total sensory overload!!

We went to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre to see
the satirical comedy The Book Of Morman.
We laughed till tears ran down our face, very funny! 


With lessons finished and fabrics procured, day three was
leisurely strolling 5th Avenue and seeing the sites. 
The New York City Library.
Bryant Park.
The American Girl store.
 




Rockefeller Center.
St. Patrick's Cathedral.
We peeked in the windows of the pricey
exclusive shops.  
Trump Towers.
 FAO Schwartz Toy Store.
A window in the Macy's, everything
 hanging on it's side!

We saw Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre.
A highlight for us.

The last day started with breakfast at the
Russian Tea Room.  Elegant and quiet.
New York is sooooo loud!  Too many people,
too much traffic & horns were installed in cars
so New Yorkers could honk them, constantly!
 
We took the subway to Penn Station to meet up with
Leann's former roomie, Michelle, who lives on
Long Island. 
Michelle & Leann danced together professionally
and Michelle is an accomplished competitive
ballroom dancer.

Figuring out the subway map.  We made our
way to Highline Park and the 9/11 memorial.


The Freedom Tower was covered in fog.
Near fire station #10.

The 9/11 Memorial Fountains.  Peaceful, but sad.
Michelle took us to Baked By Melissa, where we picked
out a dozen tiny little cupcakes in different delicious flavors.
Cupcakes, coffee and a selfie!

We headed back uptown to Tony DiNapoli's, for a
 delicious authentic Italian dinner.  We had a great day
 catching up with Michelle!
 New York is a great place to visit but, as we headed
for the airport I was smiling and humming this tune...........

Green acres is the place for me
Farm living is the life for me
Land spreading out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan -  just give me that countryside!