Saturday, March 22, 2014

Books 2014 Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nellie Bly

My granddaughter had to report on a famous American and chose Nellie Bly. I posted a picture of her in her costume from the day it was presented. As part of her project she used a lot of materials to learn about one of the first female reporters to go beyond the society and gardening pages.

After the report was done she loaned me this book. What a terrible time it was to be trapped in the mental health system. Nellie was lucky to be rescued for many being commited to an asylum was a death sentence or led to a lifetime of abuse, neglect and horrible living conditions. I do wonder even with t,he money she was able to get for Blackwell's Island by bringing this all to the attention of a grand jury to be investigated, if conditions improved much and for how long.

I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
I pin - cozyatoz
I socialize - on Google Plus and on Twitter .

Monday, March 17, 2014

You know it is funny what you do sometimes. Jim is on a business trip. I have no plans to leave the house. I got up today showered and dressed in a green sweater.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all.
I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
I pin - cozyatoz
I socialize - on Google Plus and on Twitter .

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Randomly Sharing Peachtree Cottage on Zibbet

On schedule today and randomly sharing a shop I came across. This time it is Peachtree Cottage.

My favorite items among all that is in the shop such as beaded jewelry, crocheted baby items and more are the tatted designs. Tatting is a way to make handmade lace and to me a skill that produces the most beautiful products. Show us you say?
Well I will.

A Bracelet

A Victorian Bookmark

Butterfly Earrings

Most of the items in the shop can be custom ordered in colors of your choice. There are many more bookmarks, more earrings, and pendants, all of them tatted.

The seller introduces herself on the shops profile page with these words.
I create chainmaille, beaded and wire wrapped jewelry; shuttle tatted bookmarks, jewelry, and other tatted items; crochet and knit baby blankets, sweater sets, and home decor items. All are personally handmade and quality checked by me.

Handcrafting is part of my heritage and has been handed down through my family over the years, from my mother's mother, to my mother, to me. I have been crafting for over 50 years. Even with years of hand crafting experience, I continue to research new ideas and concepts as I create each of my creations, or patterns.

Mission - To use my skills and knowledge to make creative, quality, handmade creations in Jewelry, Crochet and Tatting. Also to create beautiful as well as functional items which will enhance peoples lives and bring a smile to their faces at affordable prices.

Jewelry - Sparkling timeless elegance is yours with my handmade jewelry. My chainmaille, beaded and tatted jewelry items are carefully handmade and quality double checked to ensure you are receiving my best creations. Chainmaille jewelry brings artistic, ageless beauty to items appropriate for both men and women. Creating with beads allows for sparkle, color, and modern designs. Handmade lace tatted jewelry allows for the romance of yesteryear, a feminine flair, and a personal touch in your jewelry.

Tatting - The art of making lace using a shuttle and thread captured my interest several years ago. Since that time I have worked hard to achieve the status of Artist for shuttle tatting (I am currently working towards Master). Bookmarks, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, decorations, etc. all made knot by knot are perfect as gifts or as a special treat for yourself.

Crochet and Knit - Don't you just love the soft skin of a little newborn baby? I've always felt babies deserved something special just for them. My sweaters, hats, booties, and blankets or afghans are made with super soft yarn to caress them gently. My handmade items make wonderful baby shower gifts or pamper your own baby with sweet, soft items from my hooks and needles! They are also great for Reborn Dolls!

Home Decor - Bring graceful, timeless elegance to your decor with my selection of thread creations for your home. Carefully created one stitch at a time my bookmarks, doilies, and tissue box covers bring warmth, comfort and style to every room of your home. Pamper yourself with a touch of hand made elegance for your home!

Memberships - I was the Founder and Leader of the Thread Artist Guild® from 2005 to 2013. I am honored to have achieved the level of Master Artist. I am also a founding member of the Guild of Master Bearcrafters. In addition, I maintain membership in the Crochet Guild of America.
You can learn more about Peachtree Cottage

Next week another shop. See you then.




I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
I pin - cozyatoz
I socialize - on Google Plus and on Twitter .

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Never Ahead

I live a life where I am always catching up it seems and never ahead. My own fault and I have no valid excuses for it. I am a professional at grand plans and the easiest person for me to ignore is me. I can do whatever anyone else needs on time, every time.

So any way I planned on Tuesdays being a day to share something handmade in my house and I missed doing that yesterday. You are getting that post today combined with a random new thing in my life for my grand what is new Wednesday idea.

Today's handmade items are again something Jim has. He bought them in Grantsville, Utah at a craft show that was called Handcrafted Holiday. Like many craft shows now it was handcrafted after you ran past Pampered Chef and the Tupperware people. Shame how that has gone, you know? Any way Jim bought these from a wood turner at the show because he liked the woods and the shapes.


As for what's new? It is such a simple thing really. After a couple weeks it seems of everyday being cloudy and wet and snowy or rainy we had beautiful blue sky today. As I walked by windows doing this and that I could feel the warmth from the sunshine coming through even though we barely were above freezing for a high temperature today. The view from one of my kitchen windows will show you what it was like.


I really don't mind cold but I do crave blue sky and sunshine sometimes and today I had plenty. I am grateful.

I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
I pin - cozyatoz
I socialize - on Google Plus and on Twitter .

Monday, February 24, 2014

Pickle Valentine Beyond the Beads

Pickle Valentine should be famous near and far for the knowledge and selection showcased in her shop if you are exploring and learning about the world of vintage beads. Today however I am sharing another side of this shop and the seller behind the scenes.

From Libby's shop Profile Page she tells of an earlier time in her life in this way.
At one time in my life, I was a constant knitter. I was taught basic knitting by my grandmother when I was very young and started knitting seriously when I was in my twenties.

I collected knitting books and magazines, both used and new. Many of the magazines are old and yellowed with age. They were obviously well-loved by their owners, even having smudges, writing or coffee stains. Others look newer, but none of them look as if they just came off a store shelf. I only bought books with patterns I considered beautiful amd I didn't particularly care if a book or magazine was in pristine shape. I will describe any faults or flaws in each listing. I also will be selling hardcover books in much better shape. 

Amazingly, I still love the patterns thirty or forty years down the road. Many of them look newer and fresher today than they did back then. We had a much more limited choices of yarn back when few people knitted in public and knitting had not become as popular as it is today. The knitting renaissance has gladdened my heart. I can imagine how gorgeous these patterns would look like with the newer yarns. 
Let me show you a few of the classics from the time Libby was a knitter and you can start dreaming of projects to come when you get your copies of the wonderful magazines from her shop.

Handmade Magazine, a multipurpose craft publication which was very popular amongst us Earth Mother types back in the 70s and 80s, was a high quality magazine crammed with patterns and designs to inspire you....and with practical full scale patterns and instructions so whatever you attempted would be a success. There are articles and patterns for designing fabric with lino cuts, tiling a floor, making a greatcoat, making a woven shawl, knitting, a quilted jacket, fan patterns, making a roman blind, and using a Folkloric shirt pattern to make a longer dress, a cute pair of lace up ballet slippers, more knitting patterns...and even making a quilted painted headboard. 

1987 Winter Family Circle Knitting and Crochet magazine packed with both crochet and knitting patterns. 50 sweater patterns, Holiday knitting, granny squares used in innovative holiday vests, outdoor sweaters, Arans, cables, and plenty of inspiration. If you would like to see more pictures, just send me a convo. I also have a picture of the cover, but I would rather show the insides of the magazine. 
These books were published by the New York Times! That explains why the knits are so fashionable. My pictures are only a sample of what is in this magazine. If you love the styles of the 1980s, you will love this. 

Vintage 1983 Phildar Mailles Pattern book. Thirty-six European designed knits in this book, including a kimono hoodie, Fair Isle designs, Cable designs, mittens, scarf, very popular Mother and child's sweaters shown in second photo which was also published in a separate book. There are also wonderful patterns for guys in this book. 


I would love to hear from you after you browse the shop to know what favorite things you found.

Comments and sharing are always appreciated.
Hope to hear from you soon.



I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
I pin - cozyatoz
I socialize - on Google Plus, and on Twitter.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Lehane Arts Shop of the Week

Today I want to share with you all the Group2020 shop of the week. Lehane Arts is a new shop but not new to selling on Etsy. She has recently decided to separate her chainmaille jewelry form her other work and formed a new shop. In this shop you will find lovely beaded pieces in the form of necklaces and earrings. The jewelry includes Celtic inspirations, mood jewelry, dichroic pendants and much more.

From the shop profile page I found this statement that sets the tone for the works you will see.
Symbolism, color, shape, size, and material are all elements involved in each of my creations. I think of beads and my jewelry creations as connections between the day-to-day world and the supernatural world just beyond our view, a world of beauty and eternity. Certain gemstones may exude positive energies and colors also can influence our awareness. Color informs mood.
I love the colors and the swirls resembling waves in the pendant.

A brilliant stone don't you think?

A beautiful deep red for days when you want to feel bold and powerful.


Ready to shop?
LehaneArts.Etsy.com



I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
I pin - cozyatoz
I socialize - on Google Plus, on Twitter, and on Facebook

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Nellie Bly

I had another post planned for today but I just have to share and record this memory instead. 

My granddaughter had to do a presentation of an American personality. When showed a list by her teacher she chose Nellie Bly because she like the name. She learned a lot about her including the age of her death which matches my current age. She liked to remind me that I should be careful now since I am so old. She read biographies, watched a movie and then prepared a costume and display and a report to read. All of her classmates did the same.

The kids got together with parents, community heroes like police, firemen, active duty military and veterans and sang patriotic songs. After the songs the adults were encouraged to go and talk to the kids about their American. An active duty female in the Army talked to Posie for quite awhile and at the end gave her a hug.
My granddaughter was SOOOOOOOO excited that she got a hug from "an Army girl". You see, to some the military are celebrities.


I wish I had been there but I got to see a video on Facebook that I can't share here so I just have the picture.

I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
I pin - cozyatoz
I socialize - on Google Plus, on Twitter, and on Facebook