Monday, October 15, 2007

Weekend Puttering

I hope that everyone had a great weekend! Ours was spent puttering around and getting some things done around here. On Friday it rained most of the day and was a great day to finish up on this little bucket tote bag that I started a month ago. I used vintage ticking, an old pair of jeans, vintage rick-rack and buttons and the cutest cowgirl and cowboy Michael Miller fabric.
The inside is lined with red gingham fabric and I did free form rope-like machine quilting to add durability. A ticking pocket provides three areas for storing keys, I-Pods or a cell phone.
Red blanket stitching up one side and along the bottom between the ticking and denim.
A stacked button closure with coordinating buttons.

Doogs and I took a break on the porch to watch the rain. A little blurry...I think from the raindrops that landed on my camera lens.
A cozy peek inside the window to our kitchen.
My husband made a copper trellis to frame the window to the garage. He has trained Pyracantha to grow on the trellis - he is soooo handy and clever! This year we have lots of pretty berries all over it.


My husband was out in the cold yesterday morning cleaning out the car. I must have been sending some strong "help me, please!!" signals to him to clean it. Thank you honey! Poor thing has to do the heavy things around the house being as I am not physically able to. Of course, Doogie is "supervising!" He loves to be right in there whilst you are doing things!!
Doogie says, "Ok, we are done cleaning out all of my dog hair...can we go for a ride now?" How can you say NO to that face? So, we went for a short ride to the foothills. Some real weekend putterers! I love these old cars - even if they move at a snail's pace.
An old cemetary in the country close to our home. We have driven past this for years and never stopped. We took a stretch break and walked around to look at the old tombstones. What was really amazing is most of these graves were from the late 1800's and early 1900's and most were Irish immigrants. I wonder what brought them to California back then. Our little wee one is a big dog stuck in a little dog body. He is fascinated with cows and horses and everytime he spots one in a field, he will sit up and go to radar alert status! Cracks us up!

I would also like to thank Lisa for giving me the "You Make Me Smile Award." YOU make all of us smile, too! I am so glad that you are blogging and sharing with all of us your charming home and precious treasures! ((HUGS))) If you have never visited Lisa, just click here. Lisa is a collector of so many adorable things and sells her wares at an antique shop in Oregon.

48 comments:

Flea Market Queen said...

The tote is wonderful...
Love it!
What a wonderful drive, I love our little drives around town too!

Priscilla

Nunnie's Attic said...

I love that tote! It is so adorable. And your Doogs is cracking ME up. I don't think I would have been able to resist him either.

Love,
Julie

Artifax said...

Doogie is just so cute! How could you not go for a drive when he gives you that look? :)

And your tote is adorable!

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

Becky how cute is Doogs!! And as for that divine fabric-wow!!!!

Esther Sunday said...

OMG, what can I say? EVERYTHING is frickin' adorable!!!! The bag - oh may, what sweet fabric! Loved the pics outside the house too! And Doogs? Love that dog! Thanks for sharing your weekend! Love, Esther

Esther Sunday said...

PS - LOVE the new blog banner!

Dena said...

Hi Becky,

Ohhhh that is SO cute! I have an old one that my mom had made for me by a very talented lady she worked with. I used to use it for sleep overs so that gives you an idea of how long I've had it. It's nothing near as fancy as the one you made but I do love it so. There's nothing better than a handmade tote :) Doogs is such a cutie pie!

Hugs,
Dena

Michelle said...

Your new banner is too cute! Your tote is adorable! You are very talented! I'm sewing challenged.. Taking a sewing class is on my "to do" list! I just love that doggy-it looks like he had a good weekend too!

Nancy said...

I love the Pyracantha around your window! What a beautiful idea. Your tote bag is fantastic. And, your dog is so cute I can't even think of a word for that!

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Look at that bag!!!! I love it inside and out.
You did great on your banner. The first time I got one up there I felt like I had just given birth while having wisdom teeth pulled. It is a painful process for sure!

regina barnett said...

LOVE YOUR DOG, HE CRACKS ME UP, EVERYTIME. SOUND LIKE YA'LL HAD A NICE WEEKEND. I LOVE GOING TO GRAVE SIDES AND LOOKING AT OLD TUMBSTONES. TO ME IT'S A PEACEFUL FEELING. THANKS FOR SHARING.

Seeb said...

I love your window frame with flowers.nice job!

Lisa Johnson said...

Becky, your banner is adorable. I'm so glad you figured out how to do it. Now I want to change mine to something cuter. I really need to get that scanner hooked up, don't I? I am so lame, I totally missed that someone else gave you that award, I guess you doubley deserve it. Your blog is wonderful!

Love,

Lisa

P.S. Adorable tote too!

Anonymous said...

That fabric is sooo adorable! The tote is so cute! My dog Maxie LOVES to go for rides too.

Manuela

Bristol said...

Okay first of all I love the banner,very cute. And the bag is very very cute. I am going to have to look for that fabric. I am doing my son's room ina cowboy/
cabin kind of theme. And to save the best for last your dog, is such a cute dog. can I say cute anymore!
Bristol

Webmaster said...

What a cute bag! I love the detailing.

Rosie's Whimsy said...

Your tote is so cute.....very whimsical! And, the Pyracantha around your window makes my heart go pitty pat......that is such a wonderful idea!

Anonymous said...

I have to say, Doogs is the best. I tried and tried to get a picture of Winston smiling today, in order to present my award but he is such a wiggle worm when he is smiling I couldn't do it.

Winston and Doogs should meet. They'd have such great dog days. Winston love the car rides too. Not sure what he'd think about cows.

So, I know you've received this award a bunch, but that is because you are just making every one smile so much we are going to need plastic surgery to get the smiles off our faces!

Come on over and pick up another one for your mantle, Miss Becky!

Betty said...

I love, love, love your tote!! I've been wanting to make one with denim. Now maybe I have a reason to rip up some of my jeans that are too tight!

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

That tote is so cute!
Doogs is so sweet sitting there watching the rain, and I love the look from outside-in to your cozy kitchen!
Beautiful flower vine trailing up that trellis and framing out the window!
:)

Anonymous said...

Becky, you are so clever. That bag is gorgeous. Love those little cowboys and cowgirls and the bright colours you chose.

Kate

Anonymous said...

You are quite a seamstress. The bag is wonderful!

I love the way your husband framed the window with a wreath. Very clever.

Doogs is the cutest!

~elaine~

Heidi said...

That bucket tote is so adorable!!! You did a top notch job on it and I know it will be so fun to use. Everything on it is so perfectly coordinated. Great job! And now what are you stitching???

Doogs is just too cute for words! I agree that you can't say no to that face. Good thing you didn't as that cemetary looks really neat. I love reading old tombstones and thinking about the person buried there. I don't mean that in a morbid way. Right at the foot of my father and sister's grave is a baby and noone ever comes to visit. It sadden us and we always think about "Our Little Angel" which is on the tiny tombstone whenever we are there.

I too have a wonderful husband who takes care of all the physical things I no longer can due to a chronic illness. A kind and loving husband is our most precious treasure. Yours has made your garage window look amazing. I thought you were going to say it was the window to the bedroom or something. :)

~~ Heidi ~~

Feenwerkstatt said...

I LOVE the bag - it's amazing!!!!
But Doogs is really the cutest ;0)))
Love, Anja

bee'nme said...

That is THE CUTEST tote - what an awesome designer and seamstress you are Beck!! Love it - are you going to be selling it or others like it in the future? Hope so! Doogs is just a hoot - what a sweetie he must be - and I am way impressed, but not too surprised, that even your garage has a beautiful window!! :o) Love the image for your banner - I'm glad you got that up there!!

I have about 800 things to blog about and no time:o( Hope to finally post this afternoon - BTW - wow, you found SO MANY cool new sites - I was sneaking a peek at them as I had time here and there - lovely links all around - thanks for sharing!!

Hugs for your day - talk to you soon,
Becky S.

Natasha Burns said...

Hi Becky,
I've had a ball listening to your music, I've had your page open for about an hour while I clean the desk up and tidy up in here!!
Wow that tote is so gorgeous, I just adore anything cowboy!
Your dog is so beautiful!!!
LOVE your home, that climbing berry plant on the copper frame your hubby made is amazing!!!!

Susie said...

Love your tote, such cute details!
Congratulations on your award. Your posts truly do put a smile on my face.
How interesting about all the Irish emigrants to CA during that time. I wonder if there was some type of land grant that they were given (something like a homestead?)
Something to ponder..
xo

Reginas Cottage said...

The bag is very cute;I love the look
from outside-into your cozy kittchen.
The Pyracantha around your window is
very great idea.
My dog jackless loves to go for rides
too.
Have a nice day Regina

Lallee said...

Becky, you go to the nth degree with the details in your bags. I just love this one and all the stitching, buttons, etc. The fabric is ever so cute. I pretended I was a cowgirl all the time when I was growing up. I wanted to grow up and be Dale Evans so I could be married to handsome Roy Rogers and ride Trigger. LOL

What a good companion Doogs was while your car was getting cleaned. I drove behind one of those old cars just this weekend!

Lallee said...

I forgot to say how cute your banner is. That is new isn't it?

Jane said...

Wow that tote is fantastic! I love the colors on it! What charming pictures of your home, I love the frame of pyrocantha around the garage window. It sounds like you had a restful and fun weekend with your drive with hubby and doogy!

Kristen said...

What wonderful pictures! I just LOVE that tote! OH my, I wish I could sew! That would just be so much fun! By the way, your dog is just too cute!

jamestownboys said...

Becky your bag is so neat!! I love the way you put all those fun fabrics together!!
Loved reading about your puttering around too :)
Hope you're having a great week.
Beth

Bristol said...

I already posted once that I love your tote. But I just had to tell you again, I love it.
Bristol

blessings said...

Oh how I love Micheal Miller's Cowboy/girl stuff!! I have some amazing wood guys to match that are on my son's walls. (should be in the "around the house" section if you want to take a peek) I haven't seen this print with the blue background though. I love it. Your Doogs is darling! I'm not sure if the dog in the story you read was a scottie. It was the only photo I had of an angel holding a dog. Blessings... Polly

Meggie said...

The tote is sooo adorable. How ingenious to use old jeans.... Your Doogs is a hoot!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

The tote is adorable! And I love the Pyracantha...I was just reading an article about that today! Your kitchen looks so inviting! If I was outside looking in, I would be knocking on your door for sure!

Doogs is one of my favorite blog dogs :-)
Penny

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

The tote is so cute, so is your header for your blog. I was reading your blog and read that your home was given the cottage of the month award in July. I saw that in July but just now but two and two together. Your blog is one of my favorites that I visit daily even when I don't make a comment I come over just to see and read your blog.
Have a blessed day
ginger

Maria Catalina Wiley said...

Love your little tote bay, very cute :) Doogie is adorable also. Thanks for sharing some of your weekend with us.
Maria

crazyhaberdasher said...

Love the bag! Love everything! Thanks for sharing!

Mary said...

Oh, that tote is soooo cute! The details are fabulous. And Doogie is one cute dude! Glad you had a nice weekend!
xoxo,
Mary

Rose Garden Romantic said...

Hi! Just wanted to say I'm loving your blog with all the photos of your charming home and your sweet little scotty! The tote is so cute!!
Michelle

Rosemary said...

Hi Becky, love the bag! What pattern did ya use? Rosemary

Michelle E. ~ Vintage Pastiche' said...

What a great weekend you had :) I just LOVE that tote you did a beautiful job!

DOOGS is adorable I bet he and my Olivia would make a great couple ;)

*muah*
Michelle

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Thank you everyone for visiting and leaving such nice comments. I have been telling Doogs how much he makes you smile. His head is swelling...ha.

Rosemary, I did not have a pattern, however I would be happy to answer any questions that anyone should have. Just drop me an email.

love to all,
becky

Anonymous said...

OMG that tote is adorable. I love making bags and that one is wayyy cute. Nice job.

Judypatooote said...

Wow, that is a beautiful tote...I love the old vintage fabric... and your dog is so darn cute....

Anonymous said...

Becky, EVERYTHING here is just SO cute! The banner, the AMAZING tote, the doggie, YOU... cute, cute, CUTE!


xo,
Kim