The First Secret...Be Yourself!

The first of seven secrets is Sincerity.  This one quality all by itself will work overtime for you.  It's better than the false smiles and big promises of the petty politician or shabby peddler. . .because it's real!  Sincerity is a quality of hometown folks. . .where everyone knows everyone else.  It's a quality you can trust.

Once upon a time there was a salesman who didn't like dogs. . .and he couldn't get by the household pet.  There was another salesman who never had trouble with dogs.  In fact his interest in the household pet often led to the sale of his product.  But remember, this was a sincere interest!

Sincerity means that you have a real interest in whatever it is that you're doing. . .not just pretending in order to sell something. . .or get something.

The funny part of it is. . .that you will sell your product if you are really sincere.  And the quality of sincerity will get you more, also. . .more of what you want. . .no matter what it is!

This is a rule that works both ways. . .unless you are sincerely interested in others. . .you can't possibly expect others to have any sort of sincere interest in you! 

Sincere interest from others. . .and the help it brings you. . .is a reward for interest given.  It's a profit you can't make without first investing. . .a harvest you can't reap without first sowing the seed.  But still. . .it's one of the safest investments you could make!

If you feel life is giving you fake values. . .ask yourself, Am I being true to my own highest abilities?  Am I really being my best self in all circumstances?

If you are constantly on the watch. . .constantly trying to make the answer to both of these questions "Yes", then you are on the road to a new kind of success for yourself.  It will be a personal success. . .as new friends are attracted to you by your interest in others. . .and your helpfulness.  It will also be a business success. . .for businessmen value honest sincerity. . .and are always on the lookout for it.

Benjamin Franklin a long time ago listed sincerity as his important maxim for making good.  So ought you!  Sincerity is one of the soundest secrets of success you'll ever find!

Next week we continue with Enthusiasm!

Vintage Child's Ironing Board Bulletin Board

For some reason lately at the auctions I have been attracted to the old children's ironing boards.  This one I am about to show you is only my second one I've purchased, but for $2.00 she was a gem.  I didn't know what I was going to do with until Mabel and I came up with the great idea to make it into a bulletin board for my sewing room.

Look at how cute it is.  And what made it perfect for my sewing room was the color of the legs were already a beautiful old red.  The top was padded and covered with a muslin hand stitch laced to it.  Since the only place I had to hang it in my sewing room was a white door I felt I should cover it to make it pop.

I had the perfect red fabric that I had just bought for my yoyo quilt and then I realized I had a couple of cork squares that would work for on top of the ironing board.  Even though I'm sure I could have just pinned into all the fabric that was on top of the ironing board, I didn't want to ruin it.  So I cut the cork to fit the ironing board and just laid it on top of the existing muslin.  I didn't glue it or anything, the fabric I was covering it with would hold it in place.

Then using my staple gun I just covered it with the fabric like you would a chair.  I had purchased 1/2 yard and that was the exact size needed for the ironing board.  Everything was just meant to be.  At first I didn't want to staple into it trying to preserve the old ironing board, but I then I realized it should matter since I was making it for me to enjoy for many years to come.  I do like how you can see the lacing holding the muslin on still on the bottom.

The finished project.  Quick and easy and totally adorable. 

Then I new I needed some cute thumbtacks to use on it.  I had made some yoyo's for my quilt that weren't exactly the right red color I was going for.  It's a cute vintage retro "livestock" print.  I got out my jar of buttons and some big headed thumbtacks and got started.

I hot glued the thumbtacks to the back of the yoyos.  I then hot glued buttons to the front of them in reds and whites.  If I had to do it over again I would have sewed the buttons on first to keep the fabric kind of hooked together before gluing on the thumbtacks.  But they still work fine for me and look so cute on the ironing board.

Look how adorable it looks hanging on the skinny closet door in my sewing room.  The fabric and the red legs of the ironing board are perfect and I love the way the yoyo's look on it.  Now I can pin anything I need to have handy on my cute vintage child's ironing board bulletin board. 

I'll have to show you my other little child's ironing board when I get a chance.  Mabel loves it because it has an iron burn mark on the wood on top from a small size child's iron!!  Maybe I'll just hang it next to this one on the wall because it is much smaller.  I'll keep you posted.

Joy

Always inspiring to check out Where Women Create.

YoYo Quilt

Here's the next project Ethel and I are working on. 

 Red and White Yoyo quilt.  Odd name, but that's what they call them.  

Made with a plastic template, which makes life a lot easier. Those poor women, in the "good old days" I can't imagine doing these without one.  

I never cared much for yoyo quilts, you usually find them with all different colored fabrics, and no backing.  Maybe that's why. But when I saw it done in red and white, I fell in looooove.  

Off to the fabric store, and of course you are limited at Joann Fabrics, so several shops later, and a thinner wallet, we had what we needed.  

One of the stops was at Hobby Lobby.  We didn't even stop for fabric there, but what a pleasant surprise, they have quite a collection.

 And quite a few red and whites.

This is a yoyo, the front is the scrunched up side. This size is 3 1/2"

You start off with a square and end up with this.

Ethel fought me on the football pattern. Then I showed her it doesn't matter as long as you have the color you want. 

She agreed!

Starting a nice little collection!

I had the basket full and stacked NEATLY, 

then my grandson used it as a step to climb on the bed.  

But he did put them all back in the basket for me.  

You could just imagine!

Think I have enough pins!!!!

See them ALL on the table. Time to arrange on the board. 

(the design board is insulation brd. covered with batting)

This was harder than it looks.  I didn't have an even number of fabrics,

 so arranging them was a challenge.

I had to walk away a few times, my eyes were going bonkers.

192 Later!

 (well I have 3 more to do)

looks like candy

Now I have to sew each one on the backing strips.....

 by hand. 

I'll post the progress of that later. 

Ethel's yoyo's are 2 3/8"....so she has to make 409 of these little suckers.

 May be awhile before you see hers on the design board.  

Just kidding Ethel! 

They go pretty quick. 

Banner

Look what Ethel made me!

Cute mini banner with bright mexican colors. 

She will be making normal size for birthdays, Christmas, etc....

Chalkboard so you can change for whatever occasion. 

Priceless!

We were up stairs and coming down I told my grandson, "Hold Mimi's hand."  He refused, so I told him he had to stay up here or sit and scoot down. 

 My sons girlfriend titled this perfectly. 

Total Defeat!


I finally got wise to him and asked him if he could help Mimi down the stairs. He jumped up with his little helping hand stretched out.

The Girls

Aren't the girls sweet?  Their no sew coats are made out of and old sweat shirt of mine.  

Cut off the sleeves, make two slits for their arms.....yes they have arms...... near the wrist end.  Snip down the seam, so that it's big enough for the head. Roll it back to make the turtle neck.  TADA! 

The models are Gracie at the top and her sister May!

(And yes those are pee marks on the carpet, bad girls!)