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Category Archives: Throwback Thursday


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Throwback Thursday – Stitchery

I’ve loved to work with fibers and textiles for as long as I can remember. When I was in second grade I made a challah cover out of purple felt. I think my mother may still have that project, somewhere. Over the years I’ve tried my hand at lots of different types of stitchery projects, and some I’ve truly loved. Here’s a trip down memory lane via needle and thread (or yarn or floss or something)

1. Crewel embroidery. I was a child of the seventies and one year for my birthday I received a crewel embroidery kit full of burnt orange and avocado green threads along with a giant embroidery needle. I think I made a mushroom or something.

2. Needlepoint. At summer camp we would make our own designs on the canvas, then tape up the raw edges with masking tape and go to town. I remember one particular bargello (zig-zag) pattern that I especially enjoyed.

3. Macrame. So maybe this doesn’t really belong in this category, but it is made with fibers. I made dozens of tiny twisted bracelets at summer camp over the years.

4. Stamped Cross Stitch. You just follow the lines printed on the fabric. What could be easier? Still, I wasn’t super impressed with the finished products. My mom still has her stamped cross stitch challah cover, though.

5. Counted Cross Stitch. Now this was a pastime I loved. I stitched on linen, I stitched on cotton, and I stitched on baby clothes. I found it soothing and I liked the end product, especially old fashioned looking samplers.

6. Garment Sewing. I learned to sew in seventh grade Home Economics class. Next to typing and junior year English,  it was the most useful class in school. I made two prom dresses, a velvet and tafetta gown for a ball, children’s clothing for my little cousin, and numerous other items.

7. Rug hooking. Again I’m not sure this really counts, but I did it. I did one project, and I found it tedious. Of course it was an ugly pattern with ugly yarn, not the type of beautiful project that crafters make these days.

8. Knitting. I tried. Really, I did. So not my thing.

9. Quilting. My love. I don’t do nearly as much of it as I would like, but I have made hundreds of quilts over the last couple of decades, and I adore my fabrics, patterns, and volumes of quilting books and magazines. By the way, I designed the Bubble Fish pattern in the photo above. It ran in Quiltmaker Magazine in 1995, and they made it into the kit you see above. I never actually sewed that quilt, I just drew it out on graph paper and mailed it in (remember mailing?). It won their ongoing design contest, and the rest is history.


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Throwback Thursday – Clean and Fresh

Today’s throwback is dedicated to personal hygiene. Remember those products that have come and gone? Some we loved, others we tolerated, some are still around. Here are some from my growing up years.

1. Mr. Bubble. I was never a huge fan of baths as a little kid, even though I loved the water. A bubble bath, on the other hand, was a treat!

2. No More Tangles – My grandmother bought this just for me and used it whenever I stayed over. My mother did not use it, and there were both tangles and tears. Maybe that’s way I dreaded the bath?

3. Prell Shampoo – How could something so green not be good?

4. Herbal Essence Shampoo – You’ll tell two friends, and they’ll tell two friends, and so on. I liked the smell of this one.

5. Body On Tap Beer Shampoo – Why?

6. Nair – Oh my goodness. My dad was a dermatologist and had a fit when he saw that I bought this. He had so many people visit his office with horrible reactions to this product. Still, it wasn’t as scary as a razor.

7. Love’s Lemon Scent – To this day the scent of lemon takes me back to junior high.

8. Loose Powder with a big puff – I remember having this stuff after a bath when I was little. I like plain ole baby powder better, thank you very much.

9. Aim Toothpaste – I liked this minty green gel so much better than the boring old crest toothpaste my mom always bought.

10. Noxzema Cream – From acne to sunburn, this stuff was the best. And that fresh tingle it gave you… brrrrr.


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Throwback Thursday – Toys I Wish I Had

I wasn’t a deprived child, but there were plenty of toys that I envied growing up. My parents were more of the books, crafts, and random objects kind of gift givers. I don’t believe either of them ever set foot in a Toys-R-Us store. Ever.

1. Light Brite. Pictures made of light? Who wouldn’t want to spend hours putting those tiny plastic pegs in those tiny holes?

2. Dapper Dan Doll. I just loved all the fasteners he had on his outfit. Very 70’s chic.

3. Easy Bake Oven. I don’t think this one needs an explanation.

4. Skateboard. Sure I’m uncoordinated. Sure the kid down the street broke her wrist falling off one. But they were SO cool! And yes, I’m talking about the plastic kind.

5. Big Wheel. I had the traditional tricycle, which was awesome in its own way, but not quite the same as the big wheel.

6. Sit-n-spin. This thing was too much fun. Good thing my friends had one or I would have really missed out on childhood.

7. Creepy Crawlers. My brother had this, and it was uber cool. Of course he never let me touch it, so I had faux bug envy.

8. Etch A Sketch. I always played with the one at the dentist’s office.

9. Mr. Potato Head. I bought myself one of these as an adult.