Pretty Morning Glories

Good day!

Today I will explore September's Flower of the Month - the Morning Glory.

This is the first of two flowers for the month.

The second flower is the Aster, and we will have fun with them later.

Morning glories are actually considered weeds in many places.

The common weed "bind weed" is a close relative.

So who chooses what is a weed, and what is a flower?

I have no idea!

vintage postcard from http://www.fairy-freckles.com/

According to www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html the Morning Glory stood for

Affection

in Victorian times.

Morning glory tray

http://www.lpmchina.com/

The current sites for Flower of the Month and

Meanings of the Flower of the Month

do not include morning glories.

I'm pretty sure this is because they are mostly run by floral shops!

It would be very difficult for a flower shop to

add morning glories into their bouquets!

http://www.fairies-tales-art.com/

Today I am in a pretty mood.

No not ME!

A pretty morning glory mood!

"Glory" photograph

http://www.fineartamerica.com/

Here are some pretty dresses from Liana's blog

for two of her paperdolls:

She does such lovely work.

You can find her site on my Favorites section to the Right.

http://www.sunriseseeds.com/

Morning glories come in a variety of colors.

You will see them most commonly in blue,

next in purple and deep blue,

with some magenta and pink too!

http://www.edenbrothers.com/

You will also find the morning glory a favorite among artists.

Perhaps it is the variety in color;

Or the variations of color within one flower.

Perhaps it is because the flower grows anywhere,

 so it is outside their studio window?

http://www.arpitablankverse.blogspot.com/

morning glory cake plate, http://www.daisydeecrafts.com/

morning glory light by Wendy Legro

"White and blue convolvulus!

At four it goes to bed,

With bell closed tight with all its might,

Perhaps you've heard it said?"

- little verse by Kate Greenaway

morning glory cloche

http://www.pregnancyandbabysheknows.com/

http://www.daisydeecrafts.com/

morning glory fairies on purse, closeup

Morning Glory Fairy Purse

If anyone knows who is the artist of this creation, please let me know.

My notes have gone bye-bye on this one.

:0(

Let's explore some vintage ads and vintage art!

vintage soap ad from http://www.polyvore.com/

Nope, I have no idea why Morning Glories and Coal Stoves go together!

I fancified this and decided those were morning glories.

They probably are some other kind of flower, but it fit in with this theme!!

a beautiful watercolor by Helen Crayenhoff

an illustration from the Art Nouveau period, 1920's

Here is a very nice and simple design for needlepoint

by http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/

The thing is, you can super easily adapt this to a bead-woven project

or a bead embroidery project too!

Why not use some washable grid line paper,

and make some finger towels or pillowcases with this design?

Just because a design says it is for one craft,

explore!

Imagine!

closeup of morning glory, www.mikesjournal.com

Well folks,

that's all she says

for today!

Have a really nice day.

Look for the positive - it truly is there!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

AND

YOU CAN NOW LEAVE COMMENTS ON MY BLOG

EASIER THAN BEFORE!!

cool!

Aprons, Appetizers and free paperdolls with lots of dresses!

Hello!

I hope your day is full of sunshine, whether outside or inside.
Our skies are gray, with big rolling thunder and a steady rain.
But that's okay!
It is a perfect day to spend inside with a sewing machine, vintage apron patterns, and my fabric stash.
Or...to chat about aprons with you!

vintage Singer sewing machine French ad

I had quite a bit of fun yesterday looking through my craft/sewing books, and browsing Amazon for apron books. I delight in showing you some of my finds!



http://www.amazon.com/Sew-Cute-Leisure-Arts-4809/dp/160140400X/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img

gotta love Mary Englebreit...

I really really like the feature on Amazon where you can take a sneek peak at what's inside a book, before you order. Don't you just hate it when you purchase a book, get it home, and it is not at all what you expected or wanted? I sure do.

"Worthy books

Are not companions - they are solitudes:

We lose ourselves in them and all our cares." 

- Philip James Bailey

http://www.amazon.com/Apron-Book-Wearing-Sharing-Comfort/dp/0740761811/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_1_dp

I have this book, and it is terrific!

A special feature -

the back has a pocket that contains a pattern of a full size bib apron!

EllynAnne Geisel, author, has filled her book with loads of photos of vintage aprons, vintage apron ads, stories from women of their apron memories growing up, history of the apron (starting with Adam and Eve!) and so much more.

Do I sound like a commercial yet?

But wait...there's more!!!  (My husband and I always laugh at those commercials.)

http://www.amazon.com/Feedsack-Secrets-Fashion-Hard-Times/dp/1935362313/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_4_dp

This book is definitely on my wish list now. It looks very interesting from descriptions and reviews.  I remember my grandmother talking about using feed sacks to make clothes. I also remember vaguely something made with a blue and pink design from a feedsack.  Long ago memories.

vintage Ivorine Soap ad

http://www.amazon.com/Aprons-Mid-20th-Century-Designers-Collectors/dp/076431341X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306180271&sr=1-6

Time for a Deep Fried Mozzarella recipe!

This is one of the appetizer recipes that was lost from yesterday's blog.

Enjoy...but be sure to wear an apron!

Deep Fried Mozzarella

from 'Cooking with Mickey Gourmet Mickey Cookbook, Volume II'

Caffe Villa Verde, Disneyland Hotel

1 pound whole mozzarella cheese

3 eggs, beaten

1/2 Cup flour

1 Cup bread crumbs

1/4 Cup parsley, chopped

4 Cups vegetable oil for frying

marinara sauce

> Cut mozzarella cheese into 3" sticks about 1/2" thick.

Combine bread crumbs and chopped parsley in a small bowl.

Set up beaten eggs in another.

Place flour on a plate.

First thoroughly dust cheese sticks in flour, shaking off any excess.

Dip in beaten egg, coating thoroughly, and then in bread crumbs.

Press lightly to ensure an even coating.

Refrigerate 15 minutes to allow breading to set up.

>In the meantime, heat oil in a heavy skillet (or electric skillet, my preference) just large enough to allow for 2" of oil.

When oil is hot, fry a few cheese sticks at a time to a golden brown.

Drain on paper towels.

Repeat until all cheese has been fried.

Serve hot with marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

- my additions....

We like Paul Newman's Original Spaghetti Sauce, or Blue Parrot Spaghetti Sauce, to use as marinara sauce.  We also like Ranch dressing to dip the fried cheese in.

vintage spice ad

Here are the paper dolls I promised from yesterday:

Check out the cute aprons these paperdolls have!

This next book of aprons I also own. It is full of pages of vintage apron photos, and has a large pattern index in the back. These are meant to be enlarged. I find this can be a real hassle, trying to get a full size apron out of a pattern that says "Enlarge 400%", but it is doable. Get your scotch tape out!

An alternative is to take it to a print/copy store (we use Kinko's mostly) and have them enlarge and print it on their 'big' machines for a small fee.



http://www.amazon.com/Apron-25-Fresh-Flirty-Designs/dp/B0032Z6YLY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306178071&sr=1-1

Don't let my comments about enlarging patterns scare you - this is still a super book, with really cute apron patterns.

vintage postcard, Spanish couple

Well, I think that's enough for one day.

I hope you have fun with the paperdolls.

Invite a child over to help you cut out and play with them!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com