ReImagined Remnants & Treasures

Humility unwrapped

2011-12-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

I panicked...got overwhelmed. And I forgot.

I forgot to go in the strength I have...with what I had been given. Forgot to observe the birds, carefree in the care of God, who have enough for each day. Who make amazing nests from our remnants. Instead I thought it wasn't enough. I needed more to be like the other sellers...to be enough.

I bought too much with money I didn't have...and I didn't have enough time to use it...Now I have piles of unused fabrics and a bill to pay.

Today I am unwrapping grace and forgiveness and Love. I am remembering who I am really, and that I don't have to be like the popular girls! God is redeeming my mistake with humility...a true gift that lets me be grateful for who I am, not worried about who I am not.
...I am slower in my work since my accident...don't get large quantities of things made.
...I am committed to working with recycled stuff and vintage stuff instead of all new..."reimagined remnants and treasures"
...My creativity works best in making one or two of a kind, not lots of the same thing.

..and that is my "lovely, messy truth" today...I get to be who I am TODAY, not yesterday or years ago, but now...and love this me, because my God loves me the way I am.

...so today I offer that. and I am grateful for what I get to do today--make skirts!...and so grateful that I am God's reimagined treasure.

What are you struggling with about yourself that you can see through eyes of grace and humility today?

You can go here for more tuesdays unwrapped:

chatting at the sky

Angels and a Giveaway

2011-12-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

These sweet little angels are posted outside my kitchen window reminding me when I am inside or out, that I am being watched over. I have had an amazing experience of angels in my life after my car went off a cliff 11 years ago, broke in pieces and I was saved...lots of physical and speech therapies..and another disease discovered that required chemo...but throughout those 3 worst years, I was given the grace of seeing white feathery angel wings that told me an angel held me. At times I worried about my children--then so young--and I saw them held by that same white feathery winged angel.

These 2 were freebies from thefeatherednest originally

This Christmas I am making a garland with these free downloadable images...you too can download them. Mine is a story of amazing grace and love during a time of uncertainty, pain and fear...something I want to remember with my garland.

I hope to have it made next week to show you the finished one.

These awesome canvases would go nicely with my angels!! I love that the angels in Bible stories always said "Fear not!" when they greeted someone.

Here is the link for a GIVEAWAY to win these or other Christmas themed boards over at Nesting Place: http://www.thenester.com/

We humans go to fear so easily, but that isn't what our Creator wants...God wants to bring us peace and Joy, healing and hope.

One more thing...If your shopping includes little ones, http://shopetsybaby.com/Candee_Cayne.html is having its annual sale with participating shops..,INCLUDING ME!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/reimaginedtreasures?ref=si_shop Anywhere you find the picture of Miss CandeeCayne in the photos of the item, you get the reward...mine is FREE SHIPPING. Look for this:

May you see your blessings today!
Kathi

Tuesday's Gifts

2011-11-29T14:26:00.000-08:00

I am undone by autumn light! ...its long shadows and brilliance astound me...literally 3 of my lines of November's gratitude list have to do with it. I am a lover of colors, and I think autumn light does something indescribable for color.

This beautiful little angel given to me by someone dear, has a broken wing. Later I will glue it with some really great stinky glue. But she has captured me with her peace even with her broken wing! We have adopted 3 broken kitties over the years. The last one we named Harry Potter---he seems to be endowed by his Creator with magical love.

Harry Potter


Lily, one of our broken kitties

Chula, once a very frightened little kitty

The past 2 days I have watched a miracle unfold as the 3 (loving, angry, and fearful) PLAYED TOGETHER!!! I never thought it would be possible. But Love truly does heal even anger and fear. Even mine. For this Love of God I am soooo grateful.

And finally, today, I go into my studio to work/sew/embroider...grateful today for the joy of doing work that I love...and for this gift of MY Creator. It has truly been a healing art for this soul. I am so happy that Emily is doing tuesdays unwrapped now...It is the perfect break from the busy holiday stuff, to slow and be grateful for the ordinary in my life. Here is her link to find more blogs tuesdays unwrapped blogs:
http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2011/11/29/tuesdays-unwrapped/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChattingAtTheSky+%28chatting+at+the+sky%29&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

May you see all your blessings in front of you today!
Love, Kathi

SALE & Free Shipping for Sweet Thanksgiving Dresses

2011-11-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

I am having a last minute shopper's sale in my etsy shop! These two dresses are ready to ship in a 12M and a 3T and can still come to you for Thanksgiving! WITH FREE SHIPPING!! and if you follow my blog, you can even get an additional 10% off of your order!


3T/4T size Also available with these adorable French Bloomers, Ready to Ship!!


12 month size

Happy Thanksgiving to you! ENJOY your loved ones. This is my first year without my daughter---she's away at college. It is so true when "they" tell you how fast the time flies by!

Pink Hats for little sugarplums!

2011-11-12T01:22:00.000-08:00

When my youngest sister was little--in the 80s---she was so into strawberry shortcake! I am enjoying the resurgence of that little cutie! So I got this flannel to sew up into little blankets, and couldn't resist making a cupcake hat to go with the aqua, pink and reds in it. The little cherries on top are from a vintage curtain that I had already recycled!

Here's another hat I actually made awhile back and hadn't been inspired for the flower...Then I found this kitten-soft pink yarn...I mean SO soft...I've made up a couple of these triple flowers...they kinda look like peonies to me. The white yarn was being discontinued...it is corn and cotton. When I think of corn fiber, I don't think soft!!!! But this stuff is softer than most cottons. I just loved it and bought everything they had left. The flannels in both pictures are for little baby kimono lounge sets I am thinking...they are so sweet!

The third new hat I have made lately is like another one but people were asking for all pink roses (why not?!) and this one is gorgeous with the Christmas Rose outfit I made.

I'm really loving how the pants turned out...my first use of crinkled seam binding on my clothing!! Well, that's really about all I have been up to lately---sewing for the holidays! You can check out my etsy shop by clicking on the side links if you want to see more. XXOO.....Kathi

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY blogging!

and here is Beverly's linkhttp://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

Autumn Pink

2011-10-01T00:36:00.000-07:00

Here we are in autumn once again! I saw my first fallen fig leaf yesterday....and my studio (okay, my house) is full of fabric, trims, stacks of possibly-put-together fabrics and open sketch books! Both of our kids have moved out to college now, leaving me lots of space!!!!

je t'aime...te amo...I love you

I just love using the vintage embroideries and laces. I "rescued" this lace from a worn out pillow case, the flower from a worn table runner, but they are still in great condition...and it makes me think about all the time and work that women put into them..the hand embroidered little flowers, french knots, one by one...there must have been so much love that went into these little treasures! Many moms now are working and don't have time to make all these extra touches, but I love to put these old ones on my new creations and let moms today enjoy them on their little ones. The twirly dress' rosette has my hand stamped ribbon saying "je taime" or I love you.

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY. HERE'S THE LINK BACK TO BEVERLY! and one more Pink picture!
******IF YOU LEAVE A COMMENT, I WILL GIVE YOU A DISCOUNT CODE FOR MY STORE!!******
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

XOXO
Kathi

Shabby Chic Pinks and Roses

2011-07-01T23:19:00.000-07:00

My customers have requested and I have been sewing more shabby chic rosy dresses this week. This one is a mix of new fabrics from a UK designer and some recycled vintage linens and trims in my stash. I just loved the stripes of cupcakes, cherries, and roses in the bodice, but it is discontinued and I only could find enough for 3 dress bodices!!


My first "Reverse Knot Dress" with the ties in back. I am liking the long bow hanging down in back

One of a kind---this is to fit 12-18 Months It is the last Ava Rose fabric I can find anywhere!! The bottom border is an awesome vintage rose ticking fabric. I have quite a bit of this one, so ruffle pants can be requested with this dress. I'm thinking about what to make with the rest of the piece I found???

Isn't this sweet?!

I have one or two more summery rose dresses to make up and then will be working madly on my fall and holiday line up! I am very excited about the fabrics I have found, and will share more later.

Lily--THE Queen of Everything!--and I bid you

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!!!

Here's Beverly's link, too:

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

XOXO

Raindrops on Roses

2011-06-04T01:06:00.000-07:00

The rain keeps falling and it is June, one week before my "baby" girl's graduation. Last weekend was senior ball, and we had to rush over a jacket because it was raining and snowing!!!


Some beautiful friends had dinner together before Ball.


Three best friends

The weather is frightful, but the past couple weeks have been full of all those last moments...so I was reminded of the song, "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.....these are a few of my favorite things." And I thought I would share a few of my favorite things.

There's my girl singing her own song at the "Unplugged" talent show that she produced for her senior project!!!


Last concerts

Last comedy sportz performance. Tonight she won best female improver!!!!!!!!!


Putting her on the bus to leave for choir trip to Greece.

Well, Happy Pink Saturday. And, oh yeah, here's my "whiskers on kittens" pic---my sweet kitty who is NOT going to graduate and leave home!!

xoxoxoxoxo
Here is the link to get back to Beverly's Pink Saturday blog
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

New Styles, Pretty Pinks!

2011-05-20T23:57:00.000-07:00

The sun has been out a few times now this spring!! A few flowers are daring to bloom, and it's fast approaching wedding season, so I decided to do something new this spring---flower girl dresses! I have some beautiful vintage linens--actual linen--in my collection that have been waiting for me to figure out what to create with them. I started this pattern with a a Portabella Pixie pattern and changed it until I had the it the way I pictured it. Absolutely LOVE this neckline, though. It is so graceful. I pictured this in an outdoor wedding, although I think with petticoats and starch it would be great in a brownstone church too!!

There's a big bow tied in back


Sweet row of old buttons

This is another beautiful shabby chic linen in my stash...I picture it on a really little flower girl. It has cherubs, arches of roses and a chandelier with birds on it....need I say more?!

Actual color


I darkened this photo so you can see better

I also have added a twirly tiered style dress to my shop. I don't have them all made up yet, this is the first...I remember twirling outside on our hilly grassy backyard until I fell down, and then laying and watching the sky spin. :) This would make a good party dress too, though, I think.

here's a hint of future creations!

Happy Pink Saturday!!

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

This is my new shop avatar http://www.etsy.com/shop/reimaginedtreasures?ref=si_shop by Wildenblue! She did the new banner too...go check her out; she has some great ones here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildenblue

A GIVEAWAY Before Easter!!

2011-04-04T01:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to reimaginedremnantsandtreasures blog!!!
Today reimaginedtreasures is being reviewed by blogger Lindsay Lee on http://www.Lindsay-thelees.blogspot.com AND if you follow me on my blog and follow this link to hers you will find out about a special discount code offered Monday and Tuesday, PLUS be able to enter a GIVEAWAY from my shop!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/reimaginedtreasures This is a first for me, so I am really excited to see what it's like!

Isn't she adorable!!? A customer/photographer took photos of her little sweetie wearing one of my flower fairy dresses. I am finishing version 3 of it and listing the very last one today. There is also a lavender version, with one left

I really love creating whimsical, sweet clothes for tiny girls to dance and imagine and have tea parties in....and for their mommys to take pictures that will be forever beautiful...I use almost all vintage and upcycled (saved from being thrown into landfills) fabrics and trims...I think recycling and reusing can be truly beautiful....What do you think? I would LOVE to hear from you about what sizes you are looking for,
because in 2010 I sold most in size 12M, but this Spring, seem to be getting many for sizes 2T-5T so it would help me to hear from you what size your little one is is you would be interested in my baby and toddler clothing.

I admit that I used new fabrics in this dress...the trims and some of them are upcycled.

go to my store to see the other side of this pinafore dress! And don't forget to enter the giveaway!! Plus, follow my blog and leave me a comment, Please!!
http://www.Lindsay-thelees.blogspot.com
GOOD LUCK!!

In the Depth of Winter

2011-02-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."

Albert Camus, Nobel Prize winning author

It is cold here. Another big snow storm supposed to come in tomorrow and drop 1-2 feet of snow here. Life has been full of storms the past few months. So when I came across this quote today, it really took hold. The apple blossom reminds me of seasons and change and hope.
...and I just love apple blossoms. Their scent, their colors, shape, and the promise of fresh home grown apples! Spring, summer, are here within me.
I've been finding comfort in sewing tiny spring dresses and ruffles and using the handmade laces of those artisans who have gone before me. This is version 2 of my flower fairy dress...it is sold out now too, and I'm working on a new one in beautiful lavenders and peaches.

The beautiful collage at the top of the blog has my peach baby hat included with these other beautiful etsy item. It was so pretty, I decided to share it here. You can click on any of the pictures to get to them directly on etsy.

It is good to be back!

2010-10-08T23:18:00.000-07:00

It is great to be back after surgery and a long recovery!! Imagine how excited I was this week to find these photos in my email! The editor had asked me for a hat months ago. I wasn't really too sure how these things work, so I didn't tell people, except my family, and now here it is!! The feature article in Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine's October 2010 issue. THIS LITTLE DARLING IS WEARING MY HAT!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/57802472/toddler-black-and-white-striped-flapper


CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE: www.pnmag.com

I also found these adorable photos of a gorgeous little girl from Greece who is wearing my dress and playing in the adorable play porch her mommy has made for her! I so appreciate getting to see children and babies actually wearing my creations!


http://www.etsy.com/listing/52304660/frog-fairy-apron-dress-custom-order-yor

MY SUPER GIRLY SOCK MONKEY BAKES APRON http://www.etsy.com/listing/50656581/retro-sock-monkey-cupcake-apron-girls-3

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!! Looking forward to reading blogs and reconnecting. Here is Beverly's link:

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Roses everywhere!

2010-06-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

Roses just make me smile. I get to walk out my front door every day right now and smell them. The arbor is covered and both sides of the driveway are surrounded in a variety of pinks!

I also just looked around and realized how many fabrics I have collected have roses on them! This dress that I just listed is in citrus colors, but the Kaffe Fassett fabric of the apron is brilliant orange and rasberry pinks.

A different mood entirely for me from these roses

This peachy color is soothing and sweet for me. I found this beautiful shabby chic roses fabric at an awesome fabric yard sale!!!!

This is the front of the apron dress I created with it. The apron is Cicely Mary Barker's vintage flower fairy fabric that I had remnants of in my stash! Love the pink velvet rick rack too!!!

I found out this week that I have to have shoulder surgery, on my right arm!! It is happening in August, so I am putting out my fall items now on my etsy store. JUST CLICK ON MY LINK TO IT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BLOG PAGE. PreOrders are great if you want fall items since I won't be able to sew for about a month after surgery...I can make them now though!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

Pink and Gray

2010-06-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY! In the 60's, I was in elementary school, the 5th grade, when pink and gray became very popular! I loved that combination and drooled over my friend's pink and grey wool plaid skirt with the pink sweater!! So I love that that combo is back again!...and I find I like the mustard yellow with grey as well. This is one side of my new reversible pinafore set. I love this old hand knitted lace and 60's trim. The gray cotton sateen is upcycled men's shirting fabric!

Here is the other side. I can't decide if I think it is rosebuds or cherries. It is from a piece of vintage 80's fabric I found. It was so fun sewing the lace onto the fabric and creating the little ruffle pants! I had just enough of the little pink lace to go around the legs, too!

I make this hat based on an internet free pattern I found. Love the way the petals curl up. I think this would be adorable with this outfit!

Not sure what to do with these beautiful embroideries YET. They are a wee bit fragile; I am wondering about pillows?

...and finally, do kids wear polyester any more? I was given this cool, very 60s poly fabric. So what do you think?

June Roses

2010-06-04T22:31:00.000-07:00

They are here. Not that I deserve them this year. I have neglected them terribly. I have had a lot of pain this year, and am sewing or knitting most of the time, so gardening has taken less than a back seat... but in their beautiful God like way, they have come back to us anyway!

Double Delight

"Grace gives us not what we deserve, but what we need!"

(See the heart?)

Thanks for coming by today. I love having you stroll through my garden with me for a moment. Enjoy your Pink Saturday. And here is Bev's link to see more of us"
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

Strawberries and a Recipe!

2010-05-29T00:15:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY TO BEVERLY'S PINK SATURDAY BLOGGERS!!!! I am pretty much a newcomer to this, but have enjoyed meeting some of you over the past couple months. I am blogging today about strawberries! Always a favorite growing up, I remember going picking with my mom up in Washington, crouching down to find those juicy treasures under the leaves. She made--and still makes THE BEST strawberry jam! I am sharing the little pink and red strawberry bubble rompers that I have recently made, along with my mom's strawberry cookbook, From the Strawberry Patch and a recipe by her grandma, my babushka who I blogged about in my last post.

6 - 12 month size in front of my strawberry plants!

3 vintage pearl buttons down the back

This is the Newborn to 5 months size

My mom published this in the early 80's and it is no longer in print, but sometimes you can find it on ebay...by Sharon Kay Alexander...she put a favorite recipe of each person in our family, but my favorite now, that I thought some of you would like is my great grandma's strawberry shortcake recipe!!! It's written the way she cooked...a handful of this, a pinch of that, so my mom "translated" it

Aren't her pages adorable?!! You should be able to click on these and then save to your computer if you would like. And here is a picture of yours truly with my great grandparents in front of their farm house!

notice her pink geraniums in the screen porch window...I always remember those!

Thank you so much for coming by!

Here is Beverly's link so you can visit more people, too!

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

Late for Pink Saturday

2010-05-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

I am very late today! The past few weeks I've been to doctors and they are slowly figuring out why I have been in so much pain! Looks like low Vitamin D is a major culprit, along with a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder!
I feel old! like my Babushka, my Czech great-grandma who called me her little babushka. "Matroyshka" (Russian) is the common word used these days, but they are really the same.
My babushka was an extraordinary woman living on a South Dakota farm and raising many children, including my mom. She got through so many incredibly hard times with Prayer, and hard work. I had the joy of her in our lives until I was 12. and her humble life as gardener, seamstress, quilter, major pray-er, and super loving woman, inspire me every day. I am SO grateful for getting to know this woman!
I finished my first Babushka dress, and am enjoying this embroidery. Here is the other side of this reversible dress

and a hat that woud be cute with it...or a headband with this flower

Happy Pink Saturday to anyone coming by late like me! Here is the link to Beverly's blog so you can get the list of other pink bloggers

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

Pink Saturday

2010-04-23T23:03:00.000-07:00

It is the season for flowery flowey (is that even a word?) dresses and little girls (and boys) running outside in meadows and long grass, making daisy chains and bouquets for mom (that get squished by chubby little hands before they make it to mom, and mom is THRILLED)

I have been working on some this week from Sandy Henderson's Portabello Pixie patterns with my recycled fabrics---though I did add a few splashes of new fabrics to get the combinations of patterns and colors just how I wanted them.

This one has an apron for mom out of the peony print of the apron on the dress:

They look adorable together, (but I think my photos are blurry?) Can you all tell me if they are clear on your monitor or blurry, please. Made me wish I had a little toddler for that dress!

Today is my daughter's Junior Prom! Her dress will be a bit more like this! (Not quite, but...hopefully some photos of her will be forthcoming as well! Today was fun seeing her new haircut and doing her nails to start getting ready!!


Here is Bev's Pink Saturday link so you can visit the other Pink posts!
      http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

Here they are!!

2010-04-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

I really did finish my peony apron and little girl's coordinating dress! The weather isn't cooperating with taking their pictures together, but here they are!

The mama's apron

Daughter's apron dress with the "apron" matching the mommy's! (This is basically a Portobello Pixie pattern by Sandy Henderson. I so like being able to combine lots of fabrics into a dress!) I remember how much my little girl loved to wear something that went tied us together...she would point it out to everyone! I could also make a child size kitchen apron, but I HAD to make this dress with this combo of fabrics....I am recycling a duvet cover (the peony print) and a pillow sham (the beige print) the dark red with white silhouette flowers is new, I must confess...the others are upcycled fabrics that were remnants but new! When I was ironing the little dress (this one is 2T, but it can be made in 6Mos all the way to a 4T), I found myself quite wistful, wishing I had a little girl to give it to!

I love the pleating on this pattern. The apron ties can be tied in front if you are on the small side, which looks very summer Japanese kimono to me! (yukata) Tied in back, though brings out the pleating details; I liked it both ways... the fabric combo is also very Japanese to me (I lived there for one year in the 80's!) I was only 20 and discovering the world, but peonies are one of the many flowers I associate always now with Japan and their beautiful, artistic landscape.

What is your peony story?!

Pink Saturday Peonies

2010-04-17T00:23:00.000-07:00

"Sharing miracles is not the same thing as having all the answers. Together we take one step at a time along the narrow path between glimmerings of revelation and profound mystery"

---Jean Grasso Fitzpatrick

Not too long ago, I shared with you this peony plant and my doubt about whether it will actually bloom each year. And yet, here she is blooming...reminding me that miracles continually happen all around me. The quote above is one from a parenting book we got when our kids were babies-- called SOMETHING MORE-- and it continues to have great meaning for me!

I also wanted to have my peony apron and little girl's apron dress to show you today, but they are still in process! Check back with me this week to see them...they would be great for a mother and little girl, toddler size. Here is a different pink toile retro vintage apron that I have in stock, though, and I think a little ruffled girl-size version would be super cute for a Mommy and daughter. I will custom make it for the size girl that it is requested for!

I love these hand embroidered flower baskets and hand crocheted lace...and the big fluffy bow!

Thanks for visiting me today, and here is the link to Beverly's blog so you can see more PINK SATURDAY posts

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Skies of Blue

2010-04-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

Cherry Blossoms are starting to come out! I'm hearing Duke Ellington singing in my head...

"I see trees of green...red roses too

I see 'em blooming, for me and for you...

and I think to myself, what a wonderful world

"I see skies of blue...clouds of white

bright blessed days...dark sacred nights...

and I think to myself...What a wonderful world...."

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky

are also on the faces...of people going by...

I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do?

They're really sayin, I love you

I hear babies cry...I watch them grow

They'll learn much more...than I'll ever know

and I think to myself, What a wonderful world...."

So, I had to sew a cherry blossom dress for a wee one! This one fits an 18-24 month girl...I love it with the eyelet top and bloomers

These little capri bloomers come in all sizes up to 4T...great with anything!

"Blue skies smiling at me! "

I couldn't make up my mind whether I liked this daisy and blue skies dress better with red or a black and white polka dot ribbon-sash, so I made it available with either!! I think hot pink or lime would be really pretty, too!

"...and I think to myself, what a wonderful world
...oh, yeah!"

Dylan always wore the hat and his boots on backwards to garden!!!
Hope your are experiencing some wonder in your world today!

Pink Easter Saturday

2010-04-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

For me, Easter is all about resurrection and renewal---of the earth and of our spirits. This pink rose was the last one of autumn in my yard, and now I look for what will come next after the end of our long winter.

Not too long ago, I shared with you all a reimagined outfit I had made from Vera scarves and a recycled linen shirt. I received a wonderful email in response to that post, and I want to share it today in the spirit of being a reimagined soul, of never losing hope in what God can do, the spirit of being resurrected...

"...I was reading on your blog and saw the Vera pants etc. I had tears in my eyes as Vera passed away this year and I know she would have been delighted to see your creation! She was my Daughter in law's God mother. She had a marvelous story of survival. Vera was an assistant to Tito in the old Yugoslavia. She literally escaped at night with the clothes on her back and started a life on her own. My husband and I had the opportunity to meet her and spend an afternoon with her in her home at Palm Springs. She was a Orthodox Christian and I do believe she had a relationship with God. Vera lived in several European countries and made her living in the arts before finding her way to New York. She literally lived in Grand Central Station and had nothing but the clothes on her back and drank water for days. She ended up working for a company that designed printed fabrics. Her artful eye and painting abilities came into play. She asked her boss if she could come in on a Saturday and organize the threads and yarns. She worked for free. When she finished all the organizing there were lots of small useless pieces and she asked her boss if she could have them. After she finished working all day at the company, she would design her own prints with the leftovers. She would peddling her prints around New York to start her business. Vera did many other amazing artful and talented things in her life. Kathi, you and Vera were kindred spirits as she used reimagined treasures just like you. She also painted birds that were used by the Audubon Society. ( I am fortunate enough to have one of her original watercolors.) She was a delightful lady with many talents like you! I found her an inspiration and great example of survival and success. Her estate was left to two churches! I must say she had great earthly wealth when she died but... I can hear her say, "Thanks God for all He had done for me"....

My blog and website are call Reimagined Remnants and Treasures not only because I use recycled fabrics and vintage bits to create, but because I have experienced being recycled and reImagined by God after a near fatal car accident and then disease...I am unable to do my former job--an R.N.--yet, in my healing process, this little business has been unfolding!

May you know deeply God's love and healing and the power of being resurrected this Easter and all year! And I would love to hear your experiences of renewal and being reImagined!

Kathi

Taking Time

2010-03-29T00:26:00.000-07:00

"Nobody sees a flower, really.

It is so small. We haven't the time

and to see takes time,

like to have friends

takes time."

-Georgia O'Keefe

This weekend I needed to rest my mind. We worked outside Saturday, cleaning up the yard, planted a few things and Chloe, cut some beautiful flower arrangements.

Camelias floating in my Japanese ikebana bowl

Today, I went out to photograph some of the beauty in my own yard that I walk right by, forget to be thankful for, or worse, am too busy to even see. We planted the camellias to celebrate our anniversary #17, and the crabapple tree was the year before...they are finally really budding and blooming...some good things take time! The roses we planted for our 15th anniversary (15 old roses) bloomed right away, but are so much fuller and bigger now (we just had our 21st in January!)

I tend to be impatient, and struggle to trust that the peonies really will come back again this year!! This weekend, I took some time to really see, to talk to a friend, write a far away friend, plant with my husband and cut flowers with my daughter...I laid on the grass and took photos of crabapple blossoms and iris. And it was good!

Laura Bray over at www.katydiddys.blogspot.com had a great blog today about Sunday rest, and has a fun week of blogging planned. Check it out!

I hope you had a restful weekend and are re-energized for this week!

Storybooks and a Storybook Dress

2010-03-23T23:09:00.000-07:00

The Brambly Hedge china cup my mom brought Chloe from England. She also started us out on Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge stories of wee mice's wonderful lives amongst the herbs and wild flowers on the edge of a river. There is one for each season, and more. The Summer Story is all about the community getting ready for Poppy and Dusty's Wedding....This teacup is showing that and here are a couple of beautiful illustrations from that book:

I have always LOVED the sweet clothes and illustrations. Strongly recommend the books if you haven't found them yet! (and, no, I don't get anything out of recommending them!) Here's the link to the official website in the U.K.:
http://www.bramblyhedge.co.uk/frame.htm

At their website you can go into Wilfrid's Playroom to print out pictures for your child to color! and other fun things.

...And here is the dress I just finished with some rare, Rose and Hubble Brambly Hedge fabric and a few other vintage goodies!! I think its fun because it could also feel like an Alice in Wonderland dress to a 4 year old, like Alice at the tea party with all the little creatures!

I'd love to have you come to my etsy store! www.reimaginedtreasures.etsy.com

I hope your day is full of the beauty and wonder of a young child!......Kathi

Pink Saturday

2010-03-20T01:11:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first time to get my Pink Saturday post actually coordinated and up, except not everything I planned to post was photographed before the sun went down!! So my honey figured out how to scan in on his computer and email me my painting pictures, which I am sharing with you today...only the pink ones, of course!! Late morning, I will add in the new little toddler apron I made yesterday, with bunnies and carrots and daisies!!

My girl had to have tea parties DAILY! And would pour the cream until it the cup overflowed, then stirred it until most of it was on the tablecloth, and THEN drank a sip, and started over!!! I loved that!

I won 2nd Place with this one at an Art Show in 2000. Chloe, a that time had to wear pink every day!!! I sewed a LOT of pink then, and I still like to!

This was just too precious! She was helping make her birthday frosting for #2!!! (Notice the apron!)...and feeding the beater to the cat in between her own licks!! Stay tuned for the little pink apron (coming later today)that is for toddlers sizes 2 - 4! O.K. AFTER EDITING AND ACCIDENTALLY DELETING THEM TWICE!!!! HERE ARE THE APRON PICS! Did I mention that this fabric is a remnant from a dress I had made for Chloe about 15 years ago? The fabric is a cotton woven, so the bunnies and carrots are subtly woven into the fabric, not stamped on. I love ball fringe, but still wanted the feminine little daisy "necklace"!

I love how the back looks! The apron pinafore is one I adapted from a 1970's Simplicity pattern by enlarging the armholes so that it could be a comfortable apron for any 2 - 4 year old. Now on to list it on my etsy store!

I feel spring!

2010-03-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

This is one of the dresses I finished this weekend! It really makes me feel happy looking at it, and I am hoping it will do that for a little 3 or 4 year old girl. When I am working on these little girl clothes, it brings up such great memories of my daughter running and playing in the garden and park with her brother and her little friends! Chloe was a flower lover, and frequently picked flowers for me from my giant garden...often the flowers were pulled out roots and all!! But of course, I loved it!

What I hope to figure out soon is the whole scanning in process! I used to paint children, and would love to share some photos of those paintings with you here..but the photos aren't digital. (This was back in the prehistoric age of F_I_L_M!) I loved to photograph them in gardens or at the lake or parks doing their thing, not posed, and then paint them.

Here's another little treasure that sold already, but I thought I 'd share anyways. It is made from beautiful vintage organza-like cotton dotted swiss in blue and white. I totally fell in love with this vintage rose trim, too. And the fabric for the apron has little flocked daisies running down it! TEA PARTY!! and Alice in Wonderland!

These ties in back are upcycled and reImagined from a vintage apron. I just love recycling!!

2010-03-10T21:05:00.000-08:00

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without words,
And never stops at all.

Emily Dickinson

I just love this bit from Emily Dickinson which I saw on Beverly's site howsweetthesound.typepad.com I am going to be doing Pink Saturdays now. You can go there if you want to join in too!

Progress in Pink

2010-03-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

It has taken a while, but the first clothes from my "piles of pink" are here and even listed! I absolutely am in love with the pants from the Vera scarves. I hadn't realized back in the 60s that she did cotton scarves. All my aunts had her other scarves and of course her table linens, but I saw little ruffle pants when I found these 2 scarves, and here they are!

I also have a lot of the vintage cotton eyelet fabrics which I've been collecting for years. I really like the peasant tops in it, and little ruffle pants too, but QUESTION! For you moms with little ones, do you think the little girls prefer a top with or without elastic around the empire waist. I could make the top more free flowing, but I am looking for feedback from moms!

On my table is a nearly finished Easter dress in froth of white embroidered dots on white and blue cotton and this amazing antique bird trim. Then I woke up this morning and could barely walk because of some back spasm I have never had before! Progress is slow. This has been a real challenging few months for me with my health still. But this morning in (IN)courage, I read "Come to me all you who are weary....and I will give you rest for your soul" It immediately made me think of this adorable freebie pic that Dawn at thefeatherednest had so graciously put out for us! I wanted to share it with any of you who may also be feeling the need for a big wing around you to give comfort to your soul. All is not as I had hoped and planned, but, as my friend Connie says, ALL IS WELL.

The chickadees are back!

2010-02-18T14:33:00.000-08:00

The chickadees flew back into my garden yesterday. Last year was the first I have seen them up close and personal. They came in a large crowd (about 12) and made lots of noises warning each other about cat arrivals, took turns at eating the food, and allowed birds of another kind to fly with them and even benefit from their protective community! They spoke to me about love, community and acceptance, and TRUST. In my bird book, I read that they always travel like this and make sure each is taken care of, and you don't have to be a chickadee to be in their protective flock!

They also spoke to me Jesus' words to "observe the bird, carefree in the care of God" and to know how loved we are by God, and we will always have our needs met. Birds don't worry! I am thinking that's why they sing so beautifully!

These towels are what came out of that and since the chickadees are back, I am making more towels now, for my etsy shop! (I have been swamped with custom orders this month--a good thing--but, so I haven't put as much in my shop, but you can always email me or blog to me if you want to get something and it isn't showing up in my store!)

Happy Birthday, My dear Chloe

2010-02-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

Seventeen years today ago I was in L.A. sleeping through a relatively easy labor and then giving birth to my precious daughter, Chloe. How very fast have flown those years, and so full of joy, laughter (hers is and has always been fabulous and contagious!) , the inevitable tears, the shared treasures, watching her as she has danced and sung, explored through writing and photography, poured many a cup of tea party tea, loved and given to so many friends (human and 4-legged) and blossomed into the beautiful young woman she is today. I am so VERY PROUD of her!!!! Her brother is baking her chocolate cake, her dad is making her favorite steak dinner, me, I'm still knitting ?????, and her friends are joining us to watch what she's been dying to see, YES, the season premiere of LOST!! We celebrate her!

In Ireland last spring

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHLOE!!!!
LOVE, MOM

Cupcakes, Polka Dots and Rik Rak

2010-01-31T19:56:00.000-08:00

I am having my patience grown. After 3 weeks of the flu, I loved being in my studio again to create this little outfit for a new baby!!!!. Since it is close to valentines' day, I did one side in a pink heart fabric; the other is spring polka dot colors, and then the embroidered cupcake! The little orange and cream buttons were so sweet. I've been saving them for quite some time for the right outfit! These little white bloomers in vintage dotted swiss or eyelet fabrics are really fun to make. I am going to offer them in my etsy shop in sizes up to 4T; also have some hot pink linen ruffle pants in the sewing machine now, and an AWESOME, reImagined big pink roses Vera scarf becoming ruffle pants. I forgot to photograph just the ruffle bloomers for the shop, though, cause the outfit was going out the door to my friend! So the next pair is going in the shop! I also got my Portobellopixie pattern in the mail finally, so I can start putting those fabrics together into little girl apron dresses, peasant tops, and even some mommy sized aprons! Sandy Henderson is an awesome designer; I'm really excited to be working her patterns with vintage fabrics!

Now, it is off to finish MY almost 17 year old's birthday present! (No, it's not an apron dress!)

Piles of Pinks

2010-01-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

I have finally sorted through my fabrics and kinda gotten organized for 2010! I am so excited to start on my new line of toddler and preschool clothes! It is time. I have been collecting awesome fabric remnants, vintage embroideries and trims, etc for a few years now, and it seems that my most popular items are for the little ones these days. Soooo....along with the 1960's VERA cottons that I have been soaking and some wonderful vintage white cotton eyelet fabrics, I am beginning this new adventure!

I think these will be adorable peasant apron dresses and tops with the ruffle pants!

I absolutely LOVE vintage trims!!! Got to go get started!! Oh! and I have boy stuff too...just not in pinks! later on that! Feedback welcome! Requests and suggestions...Thanks
Kathi

Tea and Gratitude

2010-01-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

One of my special moments this holiday season was to meet my mom's dear friend who has also been a huge giver of vintage linens and things for my business! Janelle is a SWEETheart, and our few moments of thrift storing in SoCal this December were cherished by me! At the end, she gifted me with this Beautiful handpainted pansy tea pot that I had fallen for! along with another bag of her awesome vintage linen finds, which are soaking, as I write this, in her special recipe that I have found to always work, and am going to share with you all! But first a little gratitude list on this cloudy rainy day!

Somehow, there is enough!
the gift of being able to create treasures from remnants
i am loved
my angel dog, Bowser
stacks of vintage fabric waiting to be transformed into little girls' dresses and ruffle pants
the pause and a cup of tea
My daughter asked me to take HER thrifting today
my Husband has a job interview tomorrow!
a new decade to write upon
Inkspot, Lily and Chulita, our 3 cats!

I love handmade cotton lace

These will magically become clean in Janelle's SPECIAL RECIPE! read on...

The only thing I have to add to this, is that some really stained pieces have needed a day or 2 of soaking before they really get stain-free! IT IS A KEEPER RECIPE! It's kind of like forgiveness and acceptance: if i soak in them long enough, even some pretty bad stains can be removed!

New Baby Friends, New Ideas, New Decade!!!!

2010-01-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

We got a beautiful surprise visit a few days ago from our dear friend, Joanna, my now- teenagers' favorite childhood babysitter, and her newest child, named Chloe after my Chloe! 4 year old Benjie loves to make music, and is very entertaining!

I truly enjoy little ones, and I think that is why, even though my 2 are 18 and nearly 17 years, I still really like to make clothes and hats and blankies for the wee ones! I especially want to create from the remnants, to lighten our human footprint on our planet that we will leave to these wee ones! I am finding I have oodles of great vintage remnants that could make adorable toddler clothing.
These are the little flannel pants I custom made for a friend's new niece. I sooo enjoyed this and am thinking about doing more baby and toddler pants for my etsy shop to go with the baby hats. I am also thinking of smock tops that double as aprons, all reimagined from remnant fabrics and vintage bits and trims, of course! Any thoughts about this?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-04T23:30:00.000-08:00

It has been a beautiful, magical Christmas season here, starting with the snow before Christmas! Snow seems to be magical for me, and definitely for Bowser, our angel-dog. I loved knitting hats and fingerless gloves and the cowl neck scarves while curled up by the tree, watching snow. Today is the 12th Day of Christmas, so I wanted to share these images before saying good bye to it, and to wish you all a happy new year, new decade! I am really looking forward to it! One of my new goals is to blog several times each week and to be able to exchange conversations with people about bloggy things! I hope you'll feel free to leave your comments throughout the year.

The colors of winter!

I love the giant chartreuse fig leaves with snow!

snow is gone, but I must share the incredible beauty of our rare sites with you!

That Glorious Autumn Glow

2009-10-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend really brought autumn to us here!.....its colors, the smells, and my favorite, the long low lighting! I really wanted to get out in it for awhile, even if it meant leaving my knitting. I was privileged to have my daughter and her friend join me for a bit to take some pictures. I was struck by not only the reds, orange and gold we expect on the fall leaves, but by the deep plum in the shadows of the leaves! and the many shades of greens!

Hats for the wee ones

Here are some of my berets and hat tributes to autumn's brilliant color. You can find these by clicking on my etsy button or the mini etsy pictures.

Graduation! Watch my "baby" bird fly!

2009-06-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

I have to apologize for not keeping up with my new blog, and show you why!! This mother bird has been really busy with my firstborn jumping from tree limbs and flying! The past few weeks have been full to overflowing with wonderful "lasts"....last comedy sportz show, last Chamber Choir concert, last concert choir concert, baccalaureate, last homework, last presentation, right up to the graduation walk itself!... it is a thrill and also a loss for me, the mama. I am so glad for these years with Dylan. He is accepted into Columbia College Chicago, and is leaving to start there September 8th. He will be focusing on musical theater, combining his two biggest passions. We are proud, and aching at how far away Chicago is....thankful I will still have a couple more years with my beautiful Chloe, as she is now a junior! (they are the middle two in this bottom photo, in case you don't know) Being a mom is a huge privilege. I am grateful daily.

2009-05-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Observing those birds

2009-05-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

I have been drawn to watching the birds for awhile now...actually wrestling with what those words of Jesus meant, to observe the birds, that we can live "carefree in the care of God" like them, free and unfettered to any job description/label (Matthew6:25,26. The Message Bible).
The chickadees came to visit us a couple weeks ago, in their standard flock of 8 - 12, and I watched them find food in the back yard, watching out for each other, sounding the alarm when our cat woke up from a nap on the fence! Then, the cat layed back down to sleep, and another sound was sounded, signalling safety, or "all is well" as my antique bird book says. And as my friend frequently tells me, "All is well" when I trust. Jesus said, if you choose a life of following God, you will be far more loved and cared for than even the birds! As I continue to choose trust, I will also keep embroidering the encouragements on to those daily things that I create to remind us.

Speaking of which, I realized as i photographed the nest a mama robin built outside my studio window, that their nests are also reimagined remnants!! They turn fallen pine needles, dryer lint, paper they found on the street, and even things out of my compost pile, into a nest, a home. I named my little business a couple years ago now, "Reimagined Remnants and Treasures" because I felt that God has reimagined me after a long series of events, into someone new and treasured, albeit made of remnants and leftovers!!! As I craft my purses or aprons out of old bits and pieces of somebody else' leftover creative stash or hard work, and add in my part, I watch the treasures emerge. and they are treasures when they take on meaning and create memories for someone else...they appear in new family photos, or they install themselves into another child's memories ("making cookies in the kitchen with mommy or grandma", "my mom's favorite purse was always that one...", or " remember the hat she wore on her first birthday!!??") These things are not treasures because they have such high monetary value; they are treasures because they were part of the special people and our life stories making a nest in our hearts