Butterflies are free
I discovered from Google that the title for this post may have come to mind from the 1972 movie with Goldie Hawn (never saw it), a Charles Dickens novel (never read it) or a song I do not remember.
Needing a change from making dozens of cards online with digital photos over the years…..I dug deep. I found a foam butterfly stamp and paints that were still good in my stash. About an hour later, I had a dozen butterfly folded cards the old-fashioned way….and free!
Back to the present on the subject of loving lunch.
Lunch bags
I am very fond of Vera Bradley bags. The colors and patterns of the fabrics of their products are consistently beautiful. The VB bag at the upper left is an interpretation of brown bag. The VB bag on the upper right holds two 12 ounce cans nicely. That said the berry, pecan spring mix salad prepared at Meijer’s which magically appears in the refrigerator for my lunch best fits in my Avon Gardens tote bag.
New habit, rather than “do dishes” (aka wash a mug) @ work…there is enough room to carry it back and forth in the tote, so it is included in a normal dishwasher load. Saves time too (due to the proximity of the sink).
Does carrying 1) backpack with laptop, 2) purse and 3) tote bag for lunch qualify for “bag lady” status? 😉
Last week I caught a talk show moment when a young man said a brown bag lunch was a status symbol that someone cared to take the time prepare a meal. He preferred the love of brown bag lunch over having lunch money. Unfortunately, I did not get his name and I have thought about lunch since then…as I recall…
1st-6th grade: I had a metal lunch box.
6th-12th grade: I took brown bag lunches.
College-20 years of work: Fast food or cafeteria.
2000 to present: Logo insulated, Vera Bradley and a Avon Gardens tote bag have all been used to take my lunch to work.
Google searches are wonderful for trying to clarify my memory of that metal lunch box. I narrowed it down to these three photos.
I looked for Yogi Bear. Not quite right. Eventually, I found Huckleberry Hound and friends…1963…embossed….black border…..vacuum bottle thermos with glass liner and Bakelite cup (I remember the sound of my broken thermos). It looks like it would be worth over $100, if I had not worn it out in six years.
Fun fact: 120 million metal lunch boxes were sold between 1950 and 1970.
Option 3
Option 2
Option 1 This is IT!
From the real estate programming on HGTV, it seems 95% of home buyers are looking for an open concept floor plan and a fire-place. A home with a grrrreat room and a fire-place does not necessarily equal a great layout for entertaining. In our case, the prominence of the fireplace creates a challenge for a conversation friendly seating arrangement. This dilemma has been particularly frustrating after updating furniture two years ago.
Our “ah ha” moment came hours before company was arriving. Swap square ottomans for rectangular ottomans…great room to dressing room. Open the center of the room and bench the fireplace hearth with comfortable ottomans plus pillows.
Bench seating
Fabric samples
There are many fine 18″ X 18″ fabric samples that regularly come up on sale. Here are a couple of ideas for wrapping.
Wrap jewelry box
Envelope bag
The envelope bag was not only made as gift wrap but also as long-term storage for a chunky African necklace.
Souvenir choices from London and Neuschwanstein
For a non-traditional seasonal post, I decided to photograph souvenirs from this year’s travels for several reasons.
(When the gift stores sell pillow covers without the insert, there are no worries with packing for the return flight 🙂 Love them!
Found in the Indianapolis Star, November 30, 2012. “For many women, crafting becomes a business” by Amanda Bell. Love this!
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012212010310&nclick_check=1
Inspiration the old-fashioned way! Newspaper 🙂
Elementary, my dear!
Click here to view this photo book larger
In honor of the occasion, Elfcroft has a new header image of cotton fabrics.
Since the Middle Ages, silver and gold have been traditional anniversary gifts for 25th and 50th celebrations . In 1937 the National Retail Jewelers expanded the traditions recommending gifts for each year. Cotton became the new tradition for 2nd anniversaries representing “durability and the ability to adapt”….a fitting description of two years of blogging experience.
For Elfcroft, blogging is:
If Elfcroft did not post these photos and stories…the projects would surely slip from recall…as I focus on the next thing at home and in the garden.
I headed out-of-town, away from town to the farm lands of the mid-west. On the way, I snapped a photo of this charming restaurant on the town square in Danville, Indiana that is wall-to-wall Mayberry inspired. The food is great too.
Look Santa is driving and the car is full of presents
Mayberry Cafe with vintage police car!
On to Bainbridge, Indiana to shop @ Designs by Donna and Friends. Primetime for Donna’s business is the Covered Bridge Festival in October plus Christmas. She hosted 29 outdoor booths during the Festival this year. Christmas shopping is indoors with 22 friends offering crafts for sale. Hmmmm! I guess this is what the world was like before “Etsy”. My favorite things to buy are hand-woven rugs, purses, arrangements, jewelery, etc.
Donna and Friends Sign
Designs by Donna and Friends
One more thing, a lighthouse in the lake behind the shop!
elfcroft 