Simply baskets

I've blogged about my basket collection before, but I thought I'd share a few close ups of a few of my favorites. I display these on the white bookcase in our living room so they stand out as little works of folk art. They are simple and worn, and to me, the more lopsided they are, the more endearing.

Who made these baskets? What role did they play in everyday life long ago? Were they passed down in families as a valued piece of family history..."Aunt Addie wove this from splints of ash trees that grew on her Virginia farm."? They speak to me with their simple beauty, how I wish they could tell me the many stories of their early lives.
                                                  
                                                      Enjoy the day,
                                                           Robyn

Oh yeah, my favorite? It's a toss up between the first two pictured above. Yours?

Signs

New Orleans

While traveling, I often photograph signs...special signs that catch my eye. This is one of those signs...outside an antique store in the French Quarter. I wanted to bring it home...isn't it great? It's cut metal, painted and aged perfectly...a real antique incorporated into an antique store sign.

Nantucket

I love that these signs are reminiscent of old trade signs found in early American cities. 

The Wayside Inn

                                                         Boston

These genuine, early signs hang in Quincy Market in the atrium. As we sat and ate dinner, my camera clicked away to capture the lovely graphics on these beauties. They are hung very high and are dimly lit, but if you look up...they are there for you.

...my laundry room

My late father-in-law found this at an estate sale and knew I'd like it...an old sign with a Florida touch.

 Thought I'd share this little bit of bliss with you. This was my Super Bowl treat...the whole thing was chocolate...even the little cup!!! It was yummy!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

...a wee bit of progress

I have been trying to hook a bit every day in an effort to complete this rug. Can you see the ripples? I am what is known as a packer...I hook very tightly. I try and try to "loosen things up", but to no avail.

Did manage to get the background around a few letters completed...and I hooked our last name, but will have to re-hook it as it is lost in the grass. Also, completed the tulips on the left.

This is a large rug about 40x30...for me....it's getting heavy!

Sooooo...I'm planning on hooking this weekend....a few hours...during the game.

Thank you all for the encouraging comments...it really has helped me to keep pulling loops.

Enjoy the day...and the big game,

Robyn

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to "Precious Boy"! This is a name Annie pinned on her dad years ago...it stuck. So, from your girls..Happy Birthday to our "Precious Boy"!!!

                                                        Enjoy the day,
                                                            Robyn

February window

This is my February kitchen window. Lots of hearts and lots of red...and lots of husband and daughter. Happy February everybody!

Mr. Mugwump...love a man in a red hat! Meet our daughter Annie...born with a little something extra...Annie has Down Syndrome. These two hold my heart, make my days, are my world.

.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Crewel

This is a crewel pillow my mother did decades ago. It is sewn on lovely oatmeal linen with wool that makes me think of Spring.

This is a footstool with a crewel top. My mother started this and I finished it. This was a kit offered by Family Circle Magazine...it included the pattern on linen, the wool, and the little wooden stool. I bought it for my mother as a Christmas gift...decades ago.

A few months ago I went on a search for a good crewel kit and found this...

This is  a kit from The Crewel Work Company in England. Everything was included in the kit , except the frame. I was able to work on it a little bit on our recent trip...

It will work up quickly, and crewel is a forgiving medium...that's a plus. Now I just have to find the time.

Anyone else like crewel? I have a feeling it has been bumped from favor by many other needle arts.

                                                                    Enjoy the day,

                                                                        Robyn

Now that's a tree...

This live oak is a local landmark in Thomasville. It is over three hundred years old and as you can see...it is enormous. 

Saw one of these...an eagle...in a beautiful blue sky.

And went back to the nursery to pick up a few more lamb's ears...snapped some color for you.

 Heading home today...

                                             Enjoy the day,
                                                  Robyn