All Things Pretty...

Spools, threads, tatting...

Has the simplest display, or maybe even a single item sitting in an antique booth chockful of "stuff" ever caught your eye?  

You are instantly drawn to it... not quite sure why.  Oh yes, we've all had those "oohhh" moments when something truly beautiful makes us stop in our tracks.  But I'm not referring to those items, the obvious one.  I'm referring to the ones that don't scream "look at me!"

That happened to me recently while visiting one of my favorite occasional sales at How Quaint, in Shakopee.  I walked into a booth full of lovelies and spotted a bowl that contained these...

 

 

..simple little spools with unfinished pieces  of lace/tatting wound around them...

I picked up each one gingerly...

attracted to their color, texture, even their smell 

 

Of course, I had to buy them... and as soon as I got home, whipped out my camera and proceeded to take ((many)) photos...

 

...the tones of the spools look beautiful when paired with vintage millinery and silks...   

 And a few of my estate sales pieces also came out to join the photo shoot...

Once the photo shoot was done... they were put into a crystal bowl in The Sunshine Room... where they will sit for awhile until I decide if I (ever) want to unwind the pieces to see them in their entirety.

Thanks for letting me share my little spools!  

(I'm also sharing with the White Wednesday party over at the Faded Charm)

What great little finds have you brought home recently?

Soller, Mallorca Spain

Happy New Year!  

We are seven days into 2012 and I have yet to post about my holiday trip to Spain.  

One word to sum it up:

 a

m

a

z

i

n

g

Of course, the very best part was seeing our daughter, Bianca.

 She was a wonderful hostess and guide, enabling us to see Spain through her eyes.

I'm still going through photos (800+) and selecting favorites for sharing.  However, today I want to focus on a little town in the island of Mallorca.   It was a 50 minute bus ride from Palma.... and is called Soller.

The views on our way up to Soller were breathtaking.

Our first glimpses of Soller literally took our breath away!

 Like something straight out of a story book.

The little town Plaza was decked out for the holidays.

And everywhere,

absolutely EVERYWHERE,

you looked there was something beautiful to see.

 

The windows, doors, little vignettes along the sidewalks....

My thumb was hurtin' from all the photo snapping...

And just when I thought I had gotten over all that beauty, we came upon this iron fence.

 

And behind it... this lovely private garden~

And as my eyes wandered, identifying known plants and trying to figure out what others were, I spotted one.   

A pink rose!

I crammed my camera between the fence bars, zoomed in, trying to get a better shot.

Still a bit blurry, yet magnificent.  

A total surprise!

But wait.... is that?  

another pink rose?!?

Lovely.

The perfect little town.

The perfect day.

And a perfect glass of Spanish red Crianza before our ride back to Palma.

Perfect.

p.s.  I'm slowly but surely getting back into my real life (lol).  

Linking up to Beverly's Pink Saturday party and sharing by Soller pink roses.

Tattered, frayed, chippy...

Earlier this week I shared with you my recent multi-estate sale adventure...  

I'm still cleaning, examining, photographing my finds - and trying to decide on a case-by-case basis whether it's a "keeper" or a "seller". 

None are perfect or pristine.

 

 

Age has taken its toll...

 

..but how could I turn away from such loveliness?

I have never been able to resist vintage shoes in cream or ivory,  so imagine my joy when I found these beauties...

 

 

...oh, the places they've been!...

...the stories they could tell!...

I would love to restore them.  They are made out of the softest calfskin... which has a bit of damage here/there, and the heels are crusted with years of dirt.  

Does anyone have suggestions on the best way to go about cleaning them?

*   *  *

 

And here we have my little bisque angel... in soft faded shades of yellow and pink.   A tiny pink rose in each hand. ((sigh))

 

 

(as of this posting, not much in the "selling" bin....  quite a lot in the "keeping")

 

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

 

I'm linking up to these fun, fabulous parties and sharing my estate sale finds:

White Wednesday at Faded Charm Cottage

Show and Tell Friday @ Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Junk Bonanza....

The Creative Connection Event and Junk Bonanza both took place last weekend here in Minneapolis... the city was overflowing with creativity!

Unfortunately, I never made it out to CCE due to work schedule, but I did manage to spend most of Saturday at the Junk Bonanza!

Don't let the name fool you....   this is the good stuff! 

You were greeted by fun fall decor and fabulous vignettes...

 

It seems like the "it" projects, materials and medium of the moment in Blogland can be spotted throughout the event...

for example....   burlap

 

..this shade was fabulous!  It had a unique mix of textures....

 they used pearls and rusty iron knobs as accents.

 

...lots of tattered books without spines... beautifully embellished with fabric, buttons, buckles.

 

I spotted a few "new" ideas; like these mushrooms made from vintage laces and fabrics, their base/stem consist of old wood and/or knobs ...  they were so lovely!

 

...this may not be a new concept or idea...

but it was the first time I'd seen them in person.

...vintage buttons and pearls inside glass ornaments...

 

There were some amazing dressforms!   Old, torn, tattered, embellished....  these two were among my favorites.

 

 

...isn't the "black wings" idea cool?  Perfect for Halloween!

 

... I almost dropped my camera when I spotted this one!

 The wings are wood - the metal tiles spell out "junk love"

 

A few santos dolls were in attendance...  I'm still searching for the right one to bring home;

they were all over $150, which is way over my budget...

so the search continues.

 

ISN"T SHE BEAUTIFUL?!  

This bust stole my heart!  I was ready to pull out the plastic and buy it, no matter the cost...but then I noticed the "NFS" tag ...  

don't you hate it when that happens?  

There should be a law against it!  Using pieces as props and getting us all worked up about them - only to find out we can't bring them home!

 

...these little girl dress/slips have been tea stained and embellished with tattered laces... so darling!

 

The booths were a destination themselves...  vendors went all out to make their wares look fabulous.  

This one was one of my favorites... the queens of posh ALWAYS go over the top with their displays...  you just sit there and drool a bit.

 

See what I mean?

 

I had a great time chatting with vendors, some of which are also bloggers.

The Etsy folks were also there and it was nice to actually meet and greet the "real" people behind this booming business.  We talked about one of my fears:  Etsy has gotten so successful that they will be gobbled up by a big fish... and then, our Etsy that we've come to love... will change.  Hopefully not anytime soon.

 

I hope you are having a nice week!

I'm joining these parties....

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

 

"Crazy Days" in Excelsior...

Our little neighboring town celebrated its annual "crazy days" event this past weekend... three whole days of sidewalk sales, wonderful deals, street vendors selling brats, hot dogs, burgers, rootbeer floats... music... and a flea market on Saturday with outside vendors coming into town to sell their wares.

It was very hot the first two days and many of us were walking around in somewhat of a daze... although my heart wanted to shop, my brain/body just wanted an ice cold bottle of water and the shade of a maple tree (of which there are many in Excelsior!).

 

In spite of the heat, I did manage to make some wonderful purchases...

1. this fabulous vintage suitcase in a lovely faded peachy color

....the inside is in fabulous condition; no tears, no stains, no odors...

2. the dress inside the suitcase was my 2nd purchase... I fell in love with the hem and edging... it's almost a shame to cut it up!

 

3. a few antique photos

...aren't they lovely? especially the smiling gal above; it's difficult to actually find someone who looks happy in old pics due to the fact that they had to sit still for so long...

 

4. some faux pearls and bling

5. vintage sewing notions

 

 

6. a grab bag full of lace (I love these; you never know what you're getting and you are rarely disappointed, as there are usually a few gems in there!)

 

7. vintage postcards... jackpot! All dated/stamped from 1902-1911.... not in perfect condition (who cares?!?) and ranging in price from 5 cents to 50 cents.... I ended up with 40 in total for under $8...

 

 

A productive weekend... don't you think? Well worth suffering the heat!

I'm linking up to the White Wednesday party at Faded Charm Cottage.

Happy Wednesday!

She sells sea shells...

I'm back home in Minnesota (haven't even unpacked yet).  It was wonderful seeing my family and spending time with my mother; but it sure is nice to be home!

Today I'm sharing some photos of seashells decor, taken at my brother's home....  after all, how can you live in Florida and not go with a nautical or beach theme in your decorating?  My sister-in-law is a bit "tired" of it, but my brother is a big fishing fanatic and loves anything nautical.  I think they've come up with a wonderful compromise, by incorporating a few pieces here and there.

...this seashell mirror inspires me to make one of my own!....

... they've recently visited Mexico and brought back some beautiful pieces collected by the sea...

... I fell in love with their clever idea of using seashells as "mulch" outside...

 

 Happy White Wednesday!

I'm linking up to the party over at Faded Charm Cottage.

(Off I go to do some creating...  I have several swaps I need to complete/mail...

 stay tuned for many lovely pics this week!)

Only in Miami....

I've been in Miami since last Friday...  I had forgotten just how scorching hot it can feel!  But it sure beats the seven months of winter we have back home.  I'll take sunshine and heat over snow ANY TIME.

Some photos taken on South Beach at the marina behind my mom's condo.

 

 

... there's something about the late afternoon clouds over the water that seems so peaceful...

 

Palm trees = Sunshine

 
 

I hope you are enjoying your summer days.  Happy Summer Solstice!

 

Haut chocolat in Chicago...

During our most recent trip to Chi Town to visit our daughter, we actually had some "down" time!  Usually we rush out there; attend her track meet, maybe have some dinner on the town, then drive back the next morning... It was nice to just chill and actually sightsee a bit and act like tourists.

We took a drive out to LincolnPark and surrounding neighborhoods...  discovered some wonderful restaurants and shops. 

My jaw dropped when I spotted the window display and signage (in purple!) of a place called Vosges... and imagine my joy when I stepped through the door and realized it was a French-inspired chocolate shop!  The smell of chocolate is just heavenly, isn't it?

 

...Gorgeous hydrangeas and roses in petite silver cups greeted you....

 

...eye-catching displays....

 
...their "enchanted mushroom"  weighs in at 1.3 lbs. and is filled with soft, dark chocolate and hazelnuts; made and decorated by hand! 

 

 
...their "tower of chocolate" with all the different flavors they sell!  Look at the yummy colors of their packaging!

 

 
...their arched wall was covered with a unique purple foliage paper...

even the signage was pretty!
 

  

 

Then we ventured toward the back of the shoppe and discovered their haut chocolate counter...

...We got a kick out of our daughter "Bianca" having her own chocolat!

 

 

Everywhere you looked there was something wonderful to see....

 
...hand painted signs on glass...

little feminine touches here and there...

 

I must have acted like I just got off the turnip truck because our daughter was actually telling me to stop taking pictures.... I think my behavior embarassed her a bit (wouldn't be the first -or last- time!)... although she was too nice to say anything else!

As we were walking out the door, I looked to my left and saw the white plates displayed against a deep purple wall... made me (almost) want to run home and paint something in this gorgeous color!

 
I'm linking up to the new French Inspiration Thursday party at the French Cupboard...

 

 
p.s.  I later learned that Vosges has several shops throughout the country... you can find out more about Vosges and their products at http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/

French architectural details...

I was recently going through photos taken last Spring during my trip to Europe.... trying to choose some favorites to use for note cards...  and was once again awed by all the beauty that we saw. 

I can still feel my excitement as I deplaned in Paris... itching to see my daughter, Bianca, and anxious to start my adventure.  Bianca was a wonderful guide, and in 3 short days (before heading off to Italy), she gave me a glimpse and a taste for what Paris is all about.

Some of my fondest memories are centered on the architecture... the "simple" details that seem to be everywhere, even in the humblest of structures.  Of course, the "must see" spots were wonderful...  but as a traveler, I've always enjoyed seeing "behind the scenes" and striking out to areas that are a bit off the common path.

As I looked through the photos, I noticed (again!) the gorgeous white and cream details my camera had captured...

 

 
 

 

...the entrances and facades were incredible...  but the inside - wow- most ceilings and passageways were a work of art themselves!

 
  
 
 ... I miss you, Paris, can't wait to visit you again!

Linking up to White Wednesday at Faded Charm Cottage;

stop by to check out all the beautiful whites.

 

Towers of Flowers...

I'm welcoming the week with  photos from Macy's Spring flower show (which opened here in Minneapolis last weekend)... this year's theme is "Towers of Flowers" and boy, were there towers! 

 

The displays were as amazing as ever!  One of the "hits" of the show were the

BLUE orchids...

 

...everyone was going a bit nuts over their vivid BLUE tint (although most didn't realize they were dyed).... 

 
Each "tower" was more breathtaking than the other...  this one was a mosaic tower, brimming with bougainvilleas...  reminded me of South Florida gardens...

  
 

 
 ..the trees, shrubs and foliage combinations were stunning as well.  Many of the displays had a distinct European or Mediterranean "feel" to them. 

 

 

 

 But the "piece de resistance" was the Leaning Tower...

 

 

I have a few hundred more pics I'd like to share... but will save those for a future post!  The lighting was very bright and made it difficult for a rookie like moi to take decent pics...

I'm happy to join Smiling Sally and all her blue-loving friends today!

 

HAPPY MONDAY!

A day at the farm...

Have you ever seen a newborn lamb?  Have you touched the fur of freshly sheered sheep?  Have you enjoyed the smell of a chicken coop? 

This and more we experienced today when our class took its annual Spring field trip to a local farm.  It's almost as much fun to see them "ahhhh" and "uhhhhh" as it is to watch as they pinch their little faces and (sometimes) hold their noses when we walk into the barn!

 

The temp was a crisp 30 degrees... the sun was shining.... the snow had almost completely melted and left behind a trail of mud...  ah,  it all spells "FUN" for 5- and 6-year-olds!

 

 

 ...this lady pranced around like she owned the place!!

 

 

...precious...

 

The miracle of nature, the renewal of life's cycle, SPRING.... it surrounded us today and reminded us of how precious life truly is.

Happy Wednesday!

I'm linking up to Faded Charm's party to share my "white" farm animals!

I'm a lucky girl...

I'm always amazed by the generosity of people in Blogland....  it's not uncommon to see a give-away celebrating blogging anniversaries, # of posts, even birthdays!   The author usually has put quite a bit of thought into her give-away; always wanting to make sure the recipient feels special.

Well,  I AM FEELING SPECIAL.   I found at yesterday that I was the winner in Rose Mille's giveway!  What made this even more special was that the winner was not randomly selected, but rather was chosen based on a response to a specific question.

Those of you who live near Minneapolis, or who attended the Creative Connection Event last fall, may be familiar with Michelle Rose and her beautiful shoppe in Stillwater, Rose Mille.  As you walk through the doors (after you are awestruck by her window displays), you enter a serene, beautiful, elegant and ultra femininine atmosphere.  There is so much to see... you want to make sure you are looking UP, as well as DOWN.  Michelle always has imaginative ways to display things...

Rose Mille's website describes it as: 

. . . a vintage style fashion, home decor and crafts shop.

... but OH, it's so much than that!

Are you looking for vintage French ribbon?  Exquisite millinery?  Hand-made furniture that speaks to you?  Plumes and feathers that look like they came straight out of Moulin Rouge?   Chandeliers dripping with crystals, or light pendants covered with pantaloon ruffles?   Get the point?  Amazing!

So that is why I am thrilled and honored to be the recipient of Michelle's very first "kit" which contains all her favorites from the shop... 

 Isn't it all beautiful?  I've promised Michelle I will send her a pic of my creation(s) using her gifts... but I did warn her that I might hoard a few things.

Thank you, Michelle and Rose Mille!

http://rosemille.typepad.com/rose_mille/

 

I'm sharing my beautiful blue gift with Sally and the folks over at Blue Monday!

 

Tired, but Inspired!

 
 
Yesterday, my husband and I spent a few hours at one of my favorite shopping haunts, The Galleria.  ( Back in the days when I had a corporate job and made REAL money, I used to do a bit of shopping there.  Now, on my teaching assistant's salary, not affordable!). 

This mall is very upscale, and includes stores like Tiffany's (yes! THE Tiffany's).  This time of year, it's a feast for the eyes, with all the beautiful window displays and decorations.

I stopped by some of my favorite shoppes, and some new ones (sadly, a few of my old favorites are now out of business).  The biggest surprise came when I walked into Pottery Barn... wow!  they've really outdone themselves this season!   I was impressed with the very European "look" to their furniture, their decor, their displays.   Lots of taupes, natural linens, a bit of "rustic cottage" and "country bungalow."   Even my husband commented on it!

Needless to say, friends, I was inspired!   I decided then and there (this is how I usually make my decorating decisions) that I would be re-doing my living room this winter.... a fun project to keep me busy during our 6-month Minnesota winter!   We already had on the "to do" list  a kitchen renovation project, so adding another room was a natural thing, right?

My shopping for accessories starts TODAY!  Yippee!  I'm hitting the local, biggest HomeGoods store ever... pillows and throws in taupes, creams, chocolate brown maybe?  Some "rustic cottage" accessories...  We'll see what's out there.  (I actually started last night, when I picked up some paint chips/samples at Home Depot...  the mantle wall will become my "accent" wall.)

Here are some pics I took to help me remember exactly WHAT triggered my inspiration...

 

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE these great big pinecones!!!  (not so affordable at $10 a pop!  are they crazy?)

 

The lantern filled with holiday greenery was beautiful... I have one almost exactly like this on my porch which I'll bringing inside and using as a table centerpiece... 

 (another crazy expensive thing we say:  "fake" snow for $42 a bag!!!)

 
The photo does not do justice to this room display...  I currently have very similar basic white furniture in my living room, but it's a "shabby chic" look... well, after looking at this room, I realized I really liked the contrast of whites with darker woods.  However, I like more of a "distressed" look to my woods, not so much country... but you get the idea.  Our living area is not large and is complicated by the fact that all 4 walls are interrupted (bay window, mantle, 2 doorways), so it's a challenge to get the right furniture placement.

OK... so off to lunch at a friend's house we go... followed by an afternoon of shopping.   Can't wait to show you my finds!

HAPPY SUNDAY!  STAY WARM (it was 18 degrees here this a.m.!)

 

Much harder than it Seems...

 

As part of my ongoing quest to learn new crafts and explore my creativity, I recently attended some beading, soldering, and jewelry-making classes.

 I learned a few things: 

 1.  I don't have the patience for stringing beads together (one by one) 

2.  I really LOVE the design process... assembling the pieces, selecting the color scheme/theme...

3.  My eyes are getting OLD!  You mean I need Granny Glasses to see what I'm doing? No, I'm fine,Thank You.

4.  Soldering is A LOT HARDER than it seems!

5.  Don't quit your day job just yet, Mercedes!

I took a "making jewelry with stained glass" class at this fabulous little art studio called The Studio at Rush Creek... I wasn't really all that interested in the stained glass aspect of it; I was there to learn how to solder!  The instructor was SO patient with us; a group of 8 who were all a bit overwhelmed with the possibilities (6 of us were teachers!).  After all, HOW HARD CAN THIS BE?

 

Just for fun, I'd like to share some of my amateurish attempts...

 

..my first attempt... of course, I couldn't use a flat piece of glass (No, beveled glass for me, please!). Oh boy, I'm in BIG trouble.

 

...my 2nd attempt... I decided to press a dried flower between the image and glass; learned it's VERY easy to crack the glass this way!  Also learned that its VERY hard to solder straight!!!

 

...the instructor was very kind and polite when I suggested making a HEART shaped pendant... ((GASP)) which required that I cut, shape, and sand the stained glass piece.  Then I wanted a sticker on my piece, found it wouldn't adhere very well (this is when my clear nail polish came to the rescue!).

This 4th attempt I didn't have a chance to finish... but I'm already planning to go back for a visit this weekend and use their studio (only $6/hour to use their supplies/materials!) to complete this piece and practice on a few others.  My new mantra:  I WILL NOT LET THE SOLDERING IRON BEAT ME DOWN!

 

With a bit more success (barely), I attended a fabulous class at The Creative Connection Event a couple of weeks ago.  Our instructor was Kaari Meng from French General, who was so fun and fabulous! 

This is the piece we would be making...

 The time allotted was 3 whole hours, and I thought that was a very long time.... until I started stringing beads (one by one).... and stringing....

 

 and I couldn't get my hands to move exactly like Kaari's so that my loops and hooks were just perfect (I wonder why? ).  Ok, so maybe this type of craft is not made for me.

This is my "almost" finished piece (I still want to add a few more charms to it).  I guess 3 hours wasn't that long after all!

 

 

(I incorporated a few vintage pieces I brought from home...)

 

Overall, a wonderful experience in self-exploration!  

Happy Saturday!  Enjoy your weekend.

   

Put on your Black Hat...

During the first few weeks of Kindergarten, our students get to complete an "All About Me" page, which goes into a binder and we refer back to it throughout the school year to learn more about each other.  One of the questions on the "All About Me" is "what is your favorite color?"   These 5-year-olds are very surprised when MY answer is "black."   Black?   But that's a spooky color!  An ugly color!   A scary color!  They don't understand, in their brains full of blues, greens, and reds, how their teacher can LOVE the color BLACK.  But I do.

I especially love old black HATS.....whenever I see one, I start wondering about the story behind it.... who wore it?  to where?  Did they don their hat, then look at themselves in the mirror (just before heading out the door) and think "I look sharp!"  If it's a gentleman's hat, did he wear it to walk his lady love in the promenade? Maybe they wore it to a sad occasion (a funeral?).... ((sigh)) so much history right at our fingertips.

 

...I have recently acquired a love for black CLOAKS and STOLES.... short, long, all lengths really. ( This one was spotted at Junk Bonanza recently here in Minneapolis....  it was magnificent, but unfortunately the dealer was not willing to negotiate on the hefty pricetag.)

...black JEWELRY is on my Top 5 list of favorite black things...

(these earrings were a $2 find...love the pearls and rhinestones; they sorta remind me of a top hat...   

 

 

I'm linking up to The French Cupboard's

 

 and Lemoncholy's Flea Market Friday...

 

 Why not stop by for a visit?  I promise, you will be inspired!  Happy Friday!  
  
 

Junk Bonanza, part 2, Celebrating White

Still recuperating from Junk Bonanza... no, not physically tired... more like "eye" tired.... it was almost TOO much to take in at once!

Here are some of my favorite displays/vignettes....

 

..this was so sweet that I wanted to buy the entire vignette "as is"...

..the above vignette was spotted at the Round Barn Potting Company booth... it's a close-up so you can't appreciate the torn-apart  sofa with all the springs hanging out... it was unexpected; totally what Lori Miller, the owner, had in mind!  This lady is a genius at merchandising, displaying, product selection...  Her shoppe is just 50 mins. or so from my home, so I will be visiting her very soon!
 

---another Round Barn Potting Company vignette (above).... see what I mean about unexpected?

..OK,OK, so I'm stretching the "white" thing a bit here, as these Scrabble tiles are sorta creamish.... but still a very lovely vignette.

...lots of white pumpkins everywhere.... the small ones are my favorite!

 
 I'm linking up to the White Wednesday party over at  Faded Charm on this 22nd day of September, the official first day of Fall.... Happy Wednesday!
 
   

Junk Bonanza favorites... Part 1

 I'm sharing some of my favorite 

from this past Saturday's visit to Junk Bonanza..

 

B.E.W.A.R.E.  lots of photos!

these baby shoes were to-die-for!

 

 
...I SO wanted to bring this wagon home with me!....

 

...burlap was everywhere to be seen... this was one of my favorite lampshades...

 

  
...another fabulous shade! this one was made from what appeared to be men's shirts...

 

 

... rustic wooden chandelier covered in moss... great ornamental detail for the porch or garden!

... I guess I was into lampshades on Saturday!   The one above & below (plus the sweet baby dress) are from The Queens of Posh! booth... these ladies are talented!

 
 

...there were lots of vintage and truly antique trunks... I don't know about you, but for me, the more faded, tattered, somewhat rusty, the BETTER!

Can you stay for just one more pic?

 

... this was the FIRST time (but certainly not the last) I regretted waiting until the last day of Junk Bonanza to stop by... this chair AND lamp went for $20....  again, don't know what I would have done with them, but I'm positive they would have come home with me!  

I think I should STOP now... more pics later this week!
  

  

From Pink Frocks..to Pink Pulleys (and everything in between)

It's been a busy Saturday, so I'm very late with my Pink Saturday post for Beverly's party... Minneapolis hosted both The Creative Connection Event and Junk Bonanza here this weekend!  The Creative Connection Event needs a post of its own for me to get into all the goodness and creativity which abounded... and Junk Bonanza, wow!  A pure feast for the eyes!  Who knew "junk" could look this good?

 I'll be posting more pics later on this week,but for starters, I'm sharing a few marvelous pink finds...

Of course, the pink frocks are always present (but these were extra sweet)

...there were pink guitars...

...plush, frilly, velvetty pink pillows...

...pink dried flowers (peony?) were used in this vignette...

...and then I came to this booth... and my attention went to the pink pulley... what?!?  I couldn't believe that was original paint (the vendor assured me it was)... I SO wanted to bring it home with me; but couldn't figure out what to do with it.... so I passed it up. 

(now, just a few hours later, I am regretting it!)

..so there you have it; my Saturday full of pink goodies....

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!   

 

Autumn arrives early in Minnesota...

..crab apples...

 Whether we're ready or not, Fall is just around the corner....  here in Minnesota, it arrives fairly early and if you blink, you miss it!   Our Falls are breathtaking, but short.  I usually start getting the house ready for Fall around early September; so I can enjoy the beautiful colors of the season for about two months (since we usually have our first snow shortly after Halloween).

(photos taken this past weekend at Excelsior's Apple Days celebration... I was really inspired by all the Autumn colors.... from the golden tansy, to the beautiful zinnias...)

 

 

I've been working on my Fall Wishing Wands and other goodies...  I'm really excited about using some of the ideas and skills I've recently acquired from online tutorials and classes... so many possibilities, so little time!  My challenge is always narrowing down my options so I don't over-think my projects... just "go with the flow" kind of thinking.

So I was excited to learn about the French Cupboard's Autumn Art Party on September 24th... stop by and check out all the details... I will be participating - will you?

White Visions of Europe

This is my first time joining the Faded Charm for their White Wednesday party...  stop on by for a visit and oodles of white goodness!

As you may already know from previous posts, I took my very first trip to Paris, Florence and Rome this past Spring... it was just as I had pictured (only better!).  When I look back on this trip, many things stand out in my memory, not the least of which will be the architecture and the statuaries.   Everywhere I looked another amazing site beheld my eyes...  it was like spending each moment of the day in a museum; except you could actually reach out and touch these!

So here are some of my favorites (I do apologize for not remembering names, significance, or even exact location... note to self:  next time, keep a journal!)

 

 

... I stood at this fountain for quite a while, loving the details, the story it tells... it wasn't 'til we got home and I was reviewing pics that I noticed the pink building in the background...

... every park we visited had gorgeous statuaries...

 

 

The churches, especially out-of-the-way ones which looked really old and unkempt, were my favorite places to visit... no matter what the outside looked like, I soon discovered that the interiors left me speechless... priceless paintings could be seen everywhere you looked...

This beautiful white lady stood motionless for over an hour in a piazza in Florence... the child stood right by her most of that time; waiting for her to move, to blink, until finally....

...she leaned down and blew him a kiss from her rose (which had fairy dust in it)... yes, it WAS magical and I was not ready with my camera!

 
 

 

Celebrating Pink Saturday with an... eLePhAnT!

Steven and I are enroute to Philadelphia... nice drive, with no schedule as to when we have to be there exactly...  so yesterday we're driving along Wisconsin and make a fuel stop; when I look up and see... a PINK ELEPHANT!  Immediately I thought of Beverly's Pink Saturday  party over How Sweet the Sound and had to take it's picture!

My new friend in located on I-90/I-94, just West of Madison,  County Rd V exit (mile marker 127), at a CITGO gas station....  if you're ever driving thru the area, you must definitely stop by to visit him!

 

...the owners, Terry and April, told me that our PINK friend had been there for over 50 years!  He gets new glasses every few years, and a good scrubbing once a week to clean up any unpleasant graffiti...  but here are some nice thoughts people wrote...

 

MAKE IT A PINK SATURDAY!

.

I'm joining the Gypsy... and going to Paris

 

I heard through the Blogvine that Sally  at Gypsy Mermaid was hosting a Charming Heart Swap (isn't that the cutest idea?) and I had to go over and check it out......  (you should too!)....   of course, I had to join in on the fun!  This gal has an amazing blog--I love everything in/on it!  I even love her music.....

In one of her recent  posts she writes..." I sip on a cup of chocolat chaud on the green grass with the shadow of the Eiffel tower castIng upon me"...  I smiled when I read this.  It brought back memories of my first trip to Europe this past March...  Paris in Spring is amazing!  We were there a few weeks before Easter and the shops were laden with beautiful edible creations...  

 

... and FLOWERS (fleurs).... just like the photos and postcards i had seen (only better!)...

 

...flowers were everywhere.... from a simple little street corner cafe....

...to a private courtyard... (bliss)...

Thank you, Sally, for the walk down memory lane!
  

.

Our Sunday full of Art.....

Although Steven and I have lived out in the cold Tundra (called Minneapolis) for over 15 years, we had never visited the Uptown Art Festival.   I think it's because we avoided crowds when our kids were small, and then when they grew up, we always stuck closer to home for art  (our town hosts a wonderful art festival each July called "Art on the Lake" in Excelsior)....  going to Uptown, dealing with traffic, parking, etc... just didn't appeal to us.   We've gotten really spoiled living in the 'burbs!!!

So we decided we would hit Uptown this year... check it out.  It was a scorchy 96 degress HOT HOT HOT! -- but we still managed to visit all 3 of the participating areas...  it worked out great with the bus shuttle between Uptown, Loring Park, and Powderhorn Park......

This is a "juried" event, so I was expecting a bit more...... more what?   D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y.   Although every booth was beautiful, there seemed to be quite an overlap within the mediums.  However, there were a few artists that truly captured the spirit of "uniqueness" for me.....here are some that really stood out.... (at least for me!  Steven was drawn to the painting and wood carvings)....

 
  

These floating images were created totally out of wire!   I almost passed them without noticing, as they were flying high above us....  the pics do not really do them justice.... they were truly art in motion!

...and then, we came to this beautiful wood nymph, carved out of wood.... every inch of her was exquisite!  Her hair consisted of a cascade of leaves...... she had an infant  (almost embryotic-looking) curled up at her feet (all 4 of them)....

...and a FROG, with such life-like eyes that he scared me (I hate frogs!)..... resting at her feet.

..isn't she incredible?  For a mere $12,000, I could have brought her home... (sigh) maybe next time.

...then we came to Kina Crow's booth www.KinaCrow.com... .I couldn't decide if her pieces were creepy or cute..... decided they were a bit creepy, but grew on you as you looked at them; so that in the end, they actually looked cute.   Maybe not exactly the effect Kina was going for, but it made people stop and look.

 
  
 
 

 

 

titled "the rude little piggy king"

 

...see what I mean about creepy?   This one is titled "the thought escapes me"

...but my absolute favorite amongst all her displayed pieces was this one..... (it has a specially meaning in our family because when my daughter was little we used to say that girls didn't ((fart)) --they have powder puffs!)  I couldn't stop grinning when I saw this....

 

 

...and then, when we were finally exhausted and drained from the heat (plus, the event was closing in a half-hour, we walked to the Art Hop stop to wait for the bus back to our car..... but when I looked across the street, my eyes rested on this beautiful church, nestled in the shade of the trees, and I ran across the street to snap a quick pic!  Once again, I was attracted to the door and windows.... and remembered that I have all these fabulous pictures I took in Paris last Spring that I still need to do something artsy with.....

 

 

 
  

  

ViVa FrAnCe!!

Wow!  I can't believe how long it's been since I posted to this blog!   So much has happened in the last couple of months; including my trip to Europe!   As you know by now, Bianca was studying in Paris since January 1st, so I flew out there on March 13th to "pick her up."  We toured Paris for three days, with Bianca serving as my very own tour guide!   She knew the key places to visit if your time is limited -- there is so much to see!  I was amazed by her grasp of the French language!  The patesseries were amazing!   I really enjoyed "window shopping" and admiring all the beautifully crafted confections!   Bianca treated me to the most wonderful "chocolat" and croissant I have EVER had (at her favorite little tea shop)....  When I look back at this adventure, certain things will stand out when I think of FRANCE:   the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, amazing fountains, even more amazing architectural structures, artistic edible creations in the windows at almost every corner, chic women with their scarves and boots..... 

 
Amazing Notre Dame! 

Bianca & Mercedes at Point Zero

Even the signs for the Metro stations were picturesque! 

 original chandelier that hung in Notre Dame......

France is just a plane ride away....

So it's been over a month since I've blogged.... what happened?   Holidays, then post-holidays, then recuperating from the holidays, haha!  Getting back into the grind of things after returning from Florida was TOUGH....   not to mention the fact that  am missing my baby girl terribly!   We saw her off on Jan. 1st from Chicago O'Hare - and she never looked back!   She was so excited to be (finally) going talkino Paris; I mean, she's been talking about this since she was 12 or 13.   And although I am excited for her, proud of her for spreading her wings, I am also petrified.   The world is such a crazy, unexplicable place these days.  Nothing, no where, no one is safe, completely safe.  You know?   So the fact that I can't hop on a place (or car) and be by her side in an hour or two if she needs me,well......   that's  hard.   Why is letting go so hard?   I thought I went through the toughest time when she went off to college -- but Paris is such a close 2nd!  Must be the distance.

That said, she has been fairly diligent in posting her adventures on girlsincurls.blogspot.com  (our joint Blog for communication).... beautiful, gorgeous, amazing pics of the places she's seen already!   Bianca mentioned that she is somewhat frustrated with her French -- it's not quite the same to learn the language in a classroom setting in USA, then go out there into the REAL world and speak it with the natives!   So her self confidence about her French skills have really taken a hit... I reminded her of how inadequate American people feel when speaking Spanish to a native.   The speed of the language, the dialect, the nuances,,,,,, told her to  hang in there and keep practicing!   Somehow, I know that she manages fairly well with her Francais.... maybe not perfect (as she would like it to be).... but well enough for a little AfroCuban girl from Excelsior!   So here are some of my favorite photos from Paris.........