book love, vintage goodness, and a giveaway!

So somehow here I am writing my 100th post! Supposedly shy and quiet me.

I know I surprised many people by starting this blog, and I myself am surprised by how much I have enjoyed it. I had no idea what I was getting into, never thought that someone might come read what I was going to write, and I certainly never expected to meet so many wonderful people in the process!

So as a bit of a thank you to everyone who comes here to visit I am happy to be having my very first giveaway!

I have been waiting to share this book with you all for a long time now. It is called the Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney. Have you heard of it before?

It is one of the most wonderful books ever. Surely that is clear just by looking at that sweet picture! I have my own copy from when I was little and just a year or so read it with the girls for the first time. Now we have read it several times, Chloe often picks it up to read a chapter to herself, I cannot begin to tell you how much she loves this book! It is so nice also because it was perfect for both my 5 year old and my 9 year old, a great family read aloud book.

Really though I find myself at a loss for words when trying to explain the sweetness of this book. So how about a couple excerpts from the first chapter, A Home View... (and by the way, this book was written in 1881 so the language is sometimes a bit different...)

"The little old kitchen had quieted down from the bustle and confusion of mid-day; and now, with its afternoon manners on , presented a holiday aspect, that as the principal room in the brown house, it was eminently proper it should have. It was just on the edge of twilight; and the little Peppers, all except Ben, the oldest of the flock, were enjoying a "breathing spell" as their mother called it, which meant some quiet work suitable for the hour.

"To help mother," was the greatest ambition of all the children, older and younger; but in Polly's and Ben's souls, the desire grew so overwhelmingly great as to absorb all lesser thoughts. Many and vast were their secret plans, by which they were to astonish her at some future day, which they would only confide - as they did everything else - to one another. For this brother and sister were everything to each other, and stood loyally together through "thick and thin."

Polly was ten, and Ben one year older; and the younger three of the "Five Little Peppers, " as they were called, looked up to them with the intensest admiration and love. What they failed to do, couldn't very well be done by anyone!"

Wonderful I tell you! Please, go find this book to read with your little ones!

Of course I have to include some handmade gifts as well...
I have so much fun sewing with my vintage feedsack fabrics. They are mostly smaller pieces so I juts go through the stacks pulling out colors that catch my eye.

This day I was obviously inspired by turquoise! I think this may be called a trivet? Sure, that's what I will call it. Perhaps you could set your tea there, or a pretty vase of flowers.

I also have this little bag I made, more feedsack fabrics combined with organic cotton poplin. And then a small set of feedsack pieces for you to make something on your own.

Oh, and I should say, I sure am not giving away my own childhood copy of the book, but we have an extra one (an extra extra one, Chloe has her own special copy now too.)

So please do leave a comment if you would like a chance to win. I will also offer an extra entry if you follow my blog and another extra entry if you mention the giveaway on your own blog. I want to share this book with everyone! I will accept comments through next Sunday and announce a winner on Monday.

Hoping to get a couple other posts done this week too, feeling like I have lots to say these days, though really you will probably just be getting lots of pictures.

Happy beautiful days to all!


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