making jewelry

Working silver comes as naturally to me as sewing and shaping fabric does. Some of you may know that about 16 years ago Jack and I had a great time making silver and turquoise jewelry. I am planning to sell all the silver and tools and turquoise soon and decided to make a few last pieces before that is all gone. So today I cut and stamped a few small crosses. My hands do not like the little 2 pound sledge hammer I used to use, so it goes differently. But at least it goes! I love rowdy big chunky pieces, and great long strings of beads, much more the taste of a gypsy than that of a lady. so heavy Navajo styles speak to me.
We moved a few things into an antique mall booth last week. I may offer a little silver in there. Wish us luck! Edyth

Wedding bells in our back yard

We had a lovely little wedding for Granddaughter Sarah and Justin Cobb, whom we are happy to welcome into the family. 10 year old Elizabeth walked with her mother to the altar and then stood to the side. Our friend Penny did the house flowers from her own yard and they were a perfect grace note in the living room. A friend of Sarah's iced her cake, and another played a keyboard organ on our deck, and the whole wedding was simple and personal and perfect. Champagne punch and wedding cake were served in our dining room. Jillian Harris who will be our next bride when she marries grandson John, took professional quality pictures. I will share some of them here. E

New pictures, many of the old cape

Hi, I have been having a fine time gathering photos to make slide shows here. Thanks to all of you who sent photos taken before we lost the cape. Thanks especially to Rosie and Melanie for the Christmas ones! Betsy, don't you have more? You can view the slide shows from the link at the right. Virginia your namesake doll is on the old doll one. I hope to add more photos by and by. Warmly, Edyth

Lazy summer fruit pie

Hope all of you are having a great summer. I tried a lazy way to make a peach pie last evening. Our kitchen has lots of Tomatoes from our yard and of course yellow squash and a few cukes and also peaches from a local grower.
Here is a lazy cobbler pie:
4 TBS margarine (I used smart balance lite)
10 to 20 oz of sliced peaches
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar again
1/2 cup milk
Place margarine in baking dish and melt in oven. Heat peaches, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in saucepan and bring to a boil. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, 1/2 cup sugar, and cinnamon and milk togeher in mixing bowl and stir until smooth. Remove baking dish from oven when the margarine has melted. Add flour mixture, then peach mixture, do not stir. Bake 22 to 28 minutes at 375. Crust will rise to the top and brown. Wonderful served warm with ice cream!

1860 Paper Doll

This sweet Mcloughlin paper doll was given to me in the 1950's by a lady in Hamilton Texas whose name was Katie. Last name began with E, perhaps Edmondson. It had come down in her family from a girl my friend Katie was named after. The doll is thought to have belonged to Katie Holland, a child whose heart never learned to keep a proper rythm and died in childhood. Little Katie must have enjoyed quiet toys. On the back of the doll is written in pencil the name "Helen".

I have kept the paper doll over 50 years, in an envelope. Now I am passing her to a much younger doll collecting friend to ensure safe keeping for another generation! In thinking of how to share this adorable image of the demure little paper doll, so rightly termed ephemera by collectors, I hit upon the idea of printing a book mark with the image. So now when I remember to put it in the books, I mail the book mark to people ordering my books.

A lovely hooked rug

Rug hooking friend Leah sent photos of her adaptation of my bed rug pattern (available from Barb Carroll at Woolley Fox as are all my rug patterns). Leah chose not to work the center of the design as she wanted to use it under a table and chairs. Her cats think she hooked it just for them! I love the deep colors in Leah's delightful piece, she has created a real treasure! Edyth

Lassie come home

Jack and I went to a large Antique show in Round Top Texas last Wed, (180 miles east of us) and saw many friends there, and had a really nice time. We used to set up and show there. It became too hard for us many years back. I am sure if we had not had the fire we would still enjoy being in business, with the shop in our beautiful big white stucco barn building there beside our house. We both still enjoy the antiques.
In the antique show we found one of Jack's beautiful hutch tables he made back in the 80's, signed and dated of course. I wished we could buy it back! Jack said if things we have made are beginning to show up in antique shows, we must be getting old!
And in another booth was one of my own dolls, number 10 from 1983 signed and dated of course. The owner began to tell me who made the doll.. Edyth someone, not Edyth Head,.. and I said "me." She said Oh you are Edyth! The doll had been in a Houston estate of a long ago dealer friend Agnes Terry. We did bring her home.
In the 1980's I made and sold a number of cloth dolls. Several of the first ones looked like this blond doll. The second doll and two more were spoon heads, like "Old Spoon" pictured also. Then I went entirely to a round 4 part head with applied and quilted ears. Those looked much like the doll in the red dress. Then 36 big Belsnickle dolls with quilted beards. There were about 125 dolls in all. Last were 6 molded face Izzy looking dolls like this red dressed one, mentioned before, the difference being a better profile.

Last night we went to two art receptions and sat and listened to music until nearly nine. Outside under trees on a big deck, behind one of the galleries. We held hands and relaxed and enjoyed it so much. In Fredericksburg we have vacation all the time! Or maybe I am just feeling the joy of spring. Best to each of you, E