When we were in FL at cousin Joan and Charlie's house, Joan was hanging laundry on the line using these really cool wooden pins. (I get such a feeling of nostalgia when I see a clothesline, I just love them.) They had a metal clip on the side which means you never have to worry about cleaning off the actual line itself or having it transfer black lines to your clean laundry. I tried to find some on Ebay but had no luck, not knowing their brand name, I looked many times and never found any. So I was thinking that we could make some like them and Joannie kindly mailed me one to copy. She didn't have too many, so I knew this was a big favor! Well, they are really clever and special and much nicer than the clips you can buy today, as you'll see in the close up shots.
Anyway, I lucked out and found some on Etsy! And then I found more in an antiques place, online, so I got a package for Joan and 1 for me to share with the Mumster. Woot!
This clips over the line. Bring it inside every night with the clean, dry clothes and it should last you forever!
This is one of Joan's old clips next to a modern day one. See the amazing woodwork involved and how much heavier the spring is? Not to mention the very cool metal clip on the side.....
This is a shopping COUP! I just love when a search has a happy ending! A box of 12 plus her loaner are on the way to Joan and now I have another little gift for the Mumster, too. I gave her some plastic bird shaped clips for her birthday, they are fun and cute and silly.
On to the bitties- this month had 3 themes- red/white on point, Valentine's and Retro Toys.
I made red/white cats, they came out pretty cute. I let the printed text fabric do most of the work for me this time. By carefully placing the head fabric, it made them pretty interesting. I kept Sweet Pea for me. :)
The Valentine block was fun. I stitched "Be Mine" in most of the hearts. One special one for my buddy, Kimmie, whom I love to tease.
Retro toys- I started out making a paddle ball toy, then I made a huge mistake.
I made myself one of these and showed it to the man. He LOVED it and insisted that I make 11 more, one for everyone in the group. Argggh! Men! Well, he flattered me so hard, I fell for it. I'm not calling him by name so as not to set off any copyright alarms, I saw where one blogger had to remove her felt guy because of a threatening letter from the company. Boo hiss. Anyway, he came out cute. I gave him different colored glasses just to give the girls a choice. Blue and green were the most popular.
So everyone in the Retro Toy group is getting 2 blocks from me this time.
I made 48 blocks this month, I didn't make any extras for side swaps, I felt rather over-extended as it was. :)
So? Who all hangs laundry outside when the weather is nice? I need a new line as a heavy snow killed my last one. I drape things on the verandah, so if anyone drives down our drive, they'll really think we're hillbillies! :)
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7 comments:
Susan - I just discovered your blog and I love it! You have a great style - those cat blocks are wonderful.
I've never seen clothes pins like that. I have fond memories of hanging out clothes and my son has promised to put a clothesline up for me in the Spring.
I think there's something very satisfying about getting the washing pegged out on the line. Although my line is a whirlygig (rotary drier) these days. My pegs are like those but plastic but I buy the wooden ones in Poundland for crafting! They don't have the cool metal clip that yours do (genius!) but they're brilliant for painting and sticking stuff on with the Cubs. And cheap at a quid for about forty!
Spud Guy is awesome! But my favourite is the ball and paddle one (and Kimmie's bite me!)
Cool clothes pins! They always think they are improving something or they think they gotta throw in a shortcut in the making and continue to charge the same price...maddening! I love those kitties in the test fabric. All the bitties are adorable. Mr. Potatoe Head is fun, fun, fun!
Oh I just love to hang washing on the line, it smells so fresh when you bring it in to iron it...nothing like it. I have some wooden pegs, some dolly pegs, and some pretty plastic ones that have a soft spot so you don't mark your clothes (not sure they work, but are pretty colours). I love everyone's bitty blocks this month, so original.
Love those clothes pins!!! Wonder why they aren't made like that anymore....I need to have my hubby put me up a regular line....I have the "compact" umbrella type, can't put much on it....
Your blocks are amazing as always!!!
I read this blog.It really informative for us.This all pics are so colorful and amazing.Thanx to share with us.
Susan,
When I saw your potato heads I had to tell you a story. My husband was tying my grandson's new sneakers, his first tie pair. Mason started rubbing my husband's head in a gentle circular motion, he has short hair and bald spot in the back. As Mason rubbed his head he whispered, "Mr. Potato Head." It was precious.
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