museum books—followed by
exquisite laces and sumptuous
fabrics that are reproductions
based on original samples from
ald mills.
Once the “background” for the
room was set, Sandi focused on
what went on the walls, Whether
they depict persons, florals or
landscapes, Sandi says, “the pic-
tures have to have a romantic
look or feel.” She searched for
frames cut from old molds and
purchased ones in silver tones
she felt were more unusual than
gold. “An antique picture of a
bride—or even just an old,
tered picture in a vintage frame—
can add a fect 7 f
touch to a room,
But Sandi's guests always tell
her that what really captivates
them are the “little, tiny things”
that fill their rooms. Sandi has
proven resourceful at finding an
assortment of suitable treasures:
a hand-crocheted coverlet, a pin
cushion once used by small,
feminine fingers and fragrant
sachets, to name a few.
Presenting amenities with a
touch of grace and nostalgia is
another one of Sandi's subtle but
important means of evoking
romunce in a room. Translucent
glycerine soaps in jewel tones
are offered from a silver candy
dish. Bubble bath packets fill a
vintage basket lined with a cro-
cheted doily. Plush, thirsty tow-
els are draped invitingly over the
rim of a clawfoot tub,
To further pique the interest
and imagination of her guests
Sandi intersperses her favorite
collectibles throughout the inn.
‘The rooms abound with charm-
ing antique dolls in authentic
dress and toys once enjoyed by
children long ago.
While a hint of romance is
essential for hosting an inn,
Sandi emphasizes that the same
principles can be used to make
Above: Fi
IN LOVE with
Leslie Pridgen’s
pure white
afghan, It's
both beautiful
aud simple to
stitch.
Left: & COUN-
TRY HEART
RUG will warm
his heart and
keep the fires
burning. Yarn
by Coats and
Clark:
your own home into a special
retreat. Romance blooms in a
setting laden with creature com-
forts, fancy frills and delights
that tickle the imagination
Editor's Not
or information about
the Liberty Rose Inn, contact innkeep-
cers Brad and Sandi Hirz, 1022
Jamestown Road. Williamshus
Virginia 23185: tel, (757) 253-1260.=s{THE MAILBOX
SHOW & TELL
Dear Country Afghans.
T’'m enclosing a photograph of
the afghan that I made from your
1996 issue. I have gotten many
complements on how beautiful it
is, made it in shades of pink for
our motor home. Thanks again for
your wonderful magazine.
Sincerely
Phyllis Warren
Jackson. Mississippt
‘Thank you for sharing your cre:
ation with us. The Stained Glass
Flowers look equally lovely in
CLEAN OUT YOUR
CLOSETS
Dear Country Afghans. 4
Lam sending thi
in the hope that
Country Afghans will be interest
ed in helping the residents of the
Pine Ridge Reservation in South
Dakota/Nebraska, The reservation
is located in one of the poorest
counties in the nation and is home
10 25, 000 Lakota (Sioux), half of
them under 16 years old. The win-
ters are bitterly cold and many
fumes lack central heating.
Tam collecting yarn and unfin
ished knitted or crocheted projects
which I march up with needle
warkers who are willing to com-
plete them. L could also use but
tons and fabric
4 fellow knitter Meg Swanson
told me about this project seven
years ago. She and have been
shipping a.carton of custom-knit
items to the reservation each
year, Last year enlisted the help
of other needleworkers nation-
wide and we were able (0 ship 30
cartons!
For more information, send a
SASE to Anne Rogers, Strait To
| Petersburg, PA 17:
0 Lemon Street, E.
20-1134 or
contact her via fax (717-898:
7909) or e-mail (ARogers
626@aol.com).
The Heart, 6
‘Thank you for your help
Anne Rogers
Note: Anne Rogers ds
individuals and organizatio
wrhich collect everything from tooth=
bprushes 19 eanned goods. Please help!
KIDS CAN DO IT, TOO!
Dear Country Afghans.
Warm-Up America! is a pro-
gram that gathers volunteers from
around the country to knit and
crochet blankets. Last year, over
30, 000 warm winter blanket were
sent to people who desperately
needed them.
Recently, students in elementary
and secondary schools have
jumped on the band wagon, fo0.
Both girls and boys are learning
10 make simple squares
| expressly for the pur
pose of urning them
| into afghans for Warm
| Up America!
Ifyou have the 1
to volunteer at a local
school, I'm sure your
efforts will be wel:
comed. The afghans
your schoo! produces
will most certainly be
welcomed by grateful
recipients
Want more informa-
tion about Warm Up
America? Free instruc-
tion booklets and infor-
‘mation on participating
in the program are
available by sending a
SASE to: Craft Yarn
Council of America,
P.O. Box 9, Gastonia,
Dear Country
1 really enjoy your mag
Although I have made many of the
projects in each issue, Lam
unable to find just the right design
10 use at my summer house, I've
decorated the porch and several
rooms with wooden sail boats
lighthouses and other “beachy”
items. Do you have any afghan
patterns that would go with my
decor? Perhaps sailboats or
seashells?
Christina Kay George
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Dear Christina:
We asked several of our design-
ets if they could come up with
something with summer-house
style. Turn to page 5 for the
results. Our Summer Starfish is
perfect for sand, sea and chilly
evenings,EEE Collecting fEz=z3
DECOY DUCKS
Hunting for a bargain? Enjoy these alternatives to
expensive antique carved birds.
By Cynthia E. Georgeff
ntique decoys—the “real
thing” in terms of duck
memorabilia—were
accessible and reasonably priced
just 20 years ago. That was the
time (o start a collection.
Toslay, the cost of an authen-
tic, hand-carved antique decoy
can equal a car payment or even
approach a mortgage payment.
Gone are the days of finding a
bargain at a flea market. The
demand has grown over the
years, supplies have diminished,
and prices have fise
ly. But, don’t despair! There is
an alternative to Collecting.
authentic decoys which can be
fun and imaginative. You can
start a collection of “quacks,”
Quack decoys aren’t genuine
antiques, But they still have dec-
orative and functional values
that’s all their own
Decoys can fit into any decor.
Porcelain, jade or ceramic ducks
provide a feminine touch. Wood-
carved decoys and bookends
have a masculine flavor. Baskets,
banks, and magnets just say
“fun.” And, crocheted decoys,
such as afghans, pillows or mag-
azine holders, add a cozy look to
room.
In the Living Room, put up a
decoy-theme wallcovering and
ander. Browse a local art sale to
find an original paintin
oils, acrylics, pastels or water-
done in
Take a closer look at the embroidered mallards. They are worked in cross stitch.
lors. Create a shelf or tabletop
or hollowed-o
m papier-mic!
wood. If you pre-
fer a blue and white color scheme
collect Oriental duck ware. Add
a few items sculpted from jade.
Start with duck-print bed
linens to turn your bedroom into
a hunter's haven, If you'd like a
coordinated ducky bathroom,
there are shower curtains, towels
and mats to choose from. Don’t
forget about sculptured soaps
and night-lights.
Craft shops and shows are a
good place to find newly
oys and one-of-kind
items, Look for decoys covered
in seashells or beans, ornaments,
door stops, banks and lamps,
Consideri y
kitchen? You'll find entire sets of
china with mallard motif
well as glasses. coffee mi
cookie jars and
antiques mall to find vintage salt
and pepper shakers or spoon rests.
si e outdoor crea-
t 1 let them grace
your front door, welcome mat or
mailbox? Your local home center
probably stocks do:
ucts that are
find what you are looking for?
Browse mail order catalogs to
find unique duck items,
While merchants and artisans
have made it easy to collect
quacks, they certainly haven't
made it easy to choose!
Opposite page, above: Here are a pair
‘of ducks for your den or family room.
MarySally Smith used cross stitch
‘on the wings and chest of this
LOW. The
DECOY DUCK MAGAZINE HOLD-
ER can double as a caddy for a pen
‘and pad or your current erachet project.
Opposite page: Our DECOY DUCK
COVERLET is perfect for the avid
sportsman, It's worked in single ero-
chet to keep him warm whether he's
sitting in a row boat or a recliner,