Blessing Dress for Baby Penny

I found a new long lace curtain panal to turn into this sweet little baby blessing dress for baby Penny

aka (Penelope June)  She wore it on Sunday June 1st and looked so sweet in it, custom made just for her tiny little chubby body.  

could there be anything sweeter?

 The back had vintage shirt buttons all the way down and the sash that tied in the back was satin.  The dress was all-over lace that was ecru!  I loved sewing this one and I always get lots of satisfaction our of making these dresses for my granddaughters.

At home with my Shabby French looks

I have not posted for a while, or even very much, but I still have a great love for blogging.  I think that with social media and smart phones which puts computers right in everyone's palms, that blogging has kind of taken a back seat to twitter and facebook.  Anyone agree with me out there?  I still love my blogs, and as it heats up more and more outside, I have vowed to get back into blogging, and reconnect with some of my most cherished favorite blogs and blogging friends this summer.  With that I am posting some of my projects and finds that have taken me more and more into white shabby french look.  The neutrals and whites in my house are numerous.  So sit back and relax a bit.  I have lots of photos for you to view in this post. And have a great summer, thanks for visiting, and come back often.  I will visit you as well if you leave a comment, and maybe we can reconnect through our sweet blogs.  

my favorite sign in my living room says a great deal of who Michele Askeroth is. . . I made this in December from a piece of wood I found in the desert.

 don't you love the burlap wreath.  For my birthday back in Feb, my friend made this so cute burlap wreath and even added a little bit of vintage bling to the floral centers.   Thanks Camille!

 The sweet bird cage was a present to myself while I was shopping on my birthday. Did not need it,but wanted it, and since it was my birthday, well splurged!  The big platter in the background is large and heavy, and was given to me by my sister and is a Mikasa piece.

 the wired piece with the bird on top, looks like something that has weathered in some old shed in France.

 I must have twenty or so, small white pitchers.  Some are old, and some are new, but love them all.

 I just can't seem to get enough of mercury glass, and here are some random items in a wire basket on my coffee table in the living room.

  I find these old hard plastic elements from the 60's and paint them to look like tarnished silver!

        Can't make myself take down the vintage Easter banner I made for spring with old postcards that is attached to my old window in front of my fireplace.  I need to get busy and make one for the 4th to replce this one.  I was in a shop far from home when I found the shabby clips that are attached to the window.

 back in the beginning of March, I made this mossy accent piece and put it into a
lovely little urn that I painted and distressed.

 I keep on filling my chalk painted hutch with more whites and collections of silver pieces

on a recent trip, I found this lovely mercury glass knob and knew that it had to replace the
knob on this hutch.  It could not be more perfect for the cabinet door.

 Found this mirror at a thrift shop and gave it a good coat of white paint.

 the shelf came from a thrift shop and was in my craft studio, and of course more birds.  I just love birds and these two matching ones are now considered vintage as they

 Made the pedastal, but glueing an large plate on top of a painted terra cotta an the wire basket was purchased off of the online yardsale site in our valley (facebook)

 I found these two quails on separate occasions, but both at thrift shops

these little birds are reproductions with a French Flair!

 My daughter just gave me this chubby ceramic bird for Mother's day.
She knows that I love porcelain birdies.

Found this exquisite antiquie frame at a yard sale.  Isn't it amazing what you can find sometimes at unsuspecting yard sales. 

 Two of my dining room pillows, both of which are fabric transfered (iron ons)

 We had a mishap and this ceramic frame fell off the shelf it sits on and It got cracks in it.  My husband felt so bad, but I told him that it just made it more shabby and that is Okay!

My son recently returned home after being away for 2 years, and so the whole family gathered to welcome him back.  So this is the message I did up on my big kitchen chalkboard. 

 I love my cast iron birdbath, and it has been a focal point for years now.

The cast iron door mat works well as a centerpiece and provides hours of fun with magnets 

for the kids.  

 I have been making these Burlap table runners, and have sold some and given some as gifts. 

I am crazy about burlap and I had to redo an old wreath with china in it, so decided to do it into burlap

Here is my chance to have a little bit of color with my whites and neutrals

My last little picture of something that I have posted before, but it surely captures the shabby french theme.  I bought this old drawer insert for .75 at a yard sale, and this is the shabby french piece I turned out.  I am thinking that we need a good ole giveaway for the summer.  Stay tuned I feel one coming up from this blog.  Happy summer to all. . . .

Our sweet little granddaughters born within the last few months

I am happy to announce the arrivals of these two beautiful little sweet baby girls.  I am thrilled to welcome them to the Askeroth family!

"

 Meet Penelope June Dowse aka "Penny" who was born on March 31, 2014

 3 week old Penny

I held her when she was a few hours old

 And meet our little Mayley Kate Askeroth who was born on November 12th on her due date 11-12-13

Mayley Kate is 5 months old now.

Pa Pa and Grammy with Mayley Kate on January 25

We are thrilled to have them, hold them and love them!!!!

First real patchwork quilt

This is my very first true patchwork quilt. I Made this for a new granddaughter  Penelope June that is coming soon.  I machine quilted it then bound the edge with matching fabric.  I have done patchwork pillows. Sewn most of my life but never really gotten into quilting.  I say every new year when doing my resolutions, that this is the year when I will start quilting.  I finally did it and am thoroughly hooked!   This pictures are from my i.phone so that is why they are kind of blurry.

Jane Austen Anniversary Swap

I recently participated in the Jane Austen Anniversary swap that was hosted by Mercedes Scott over at an Altered place.  My assigned partner was Angi who lives in Hawaii.  I decided to make a little book that would celebrate Jane Austen's greatest work.   "Pride and Prejudice" which is of course my favorite and so many others worldwide.

 I love it when you just start crafting something, not knowing how it will really turn out, but when you are finished, you wish that you did not have to send it away.  This is what you are always asked to do, by the swapping hosts, to create something you would love to recieve.  It is what it is all about.

these images and book pages came from an old copy of the book, Pride and Prejudice, that was my Mother's.  I could not find any copyright date on this one, but would love to know more of a history of this version.  It was so cool that it came with some illustrations.

 that is my little book, and here is the other item I made in honor of Jane Austen.  A paper medallion with pheasant feathers, lace and ribbon.

And these are the two items that were sent to me by my partner Angi.  I felt it was cool that both of us went in the direction of Pride and Prejudice.  I willl hang this up in my craft room.  

 Information of her life on the back side.  Beautifully done mixed media art.  Thankyou Angi

And then this showed up in the mail, made especially for me by Debbie Vignola for my birthday which is coming up next week.  It was so very thoughtful of here.  She is a member also of An Altered place too.   Thanks so much Debbie.  It was so thoughtful and I adore it!