All Things Pretty...

Pretty ladies and other things...

There is a boxful of vintage photos in my studio...   a large box. 

Every single photo has been purchased with the intent of using in a project of some sort.  They all tell a story...   whether it's a lovely lady gazing into the horizon, a new bride looking "not so in love," children with their mothers. 

 

 

(I am especially fond of pretty and/or interesting hairstyles, hats, outfits)

 

I once had the idea of taking some of the photos and writing a story around them; wouldn't that be fun? 

I haven't pursued that idea yet, but it's on my "to do someday" list.

Needless to say, I cannot pass up the opportunity to dig through hundreds of photos at antiques shops, sometimes estate sales... looking for those "special" ones.  Of course, the price has to be right as well (I won't pay more than $1 apiece, not matter how pretty the image!).

I recently purchased these two beauties at Junk Bonanza.

 

 

Junk Bonanza is always a fun event.  There is something for everyone...whether it is a large furniture piece you are looking for, garden art, true antiques, "junk" antiques, repurposed junk, handmade OOAK jewelry pieces... you name it, it's there!

For me, JB is all about the little things.  I love to dig for diamonds...so to speak.  I never come home with big pieces; my biggest purchase (size-wise) this year was a very unique birdhouse (photos later). 

 

Some of my other finds this year:

 

 

I was instantly attracted to this box...  loved the cameo-like image on the cover.  Its color is a soft, faded peachy-cream.  

The price tag read "scarf in a box, $2" and I was sold before even seeing the scarf. 

It turns out, the scarf is okay, but it could have been the ugliest scarf on Earth and I would have still purchased the box. 

I think I offended the dealer a tiny bit, when I mentioned this (my love of the box, not so much of the scarf). 

 

 

I also found lots of pretty buttons for reasonable prices. 

 

 

One of my favorite shops of all-time, Rose Mille in Stillwater, was there.   Michelle has the prettiest booth ever~ with tons of millinery, ribbons, trim~ many of which she gets directly from France.   They closed their bricks-n-mortar shop a few months back, but all of her merchandise is still available online and soon, via occasional sales.

Her "new" millinery looks and feels vintage, and I always end up purchasing a few sprigs to use for those special projects.

 

 

 

Another little find was this dainty berry bowl...  I need another dainty bowl as much as I need a hole in my head, but I couldn't put it down!  

What is it with me and little pink, delicate, flowery bowls?!?

 

 

 

Another sweet purchase was this little lady...

she stands all of 3 inches tall.

 

 

Isn't she sweet? 

The hat, the dress, the dark hair...reminded me of "Gone with the Wind" ~ which is my all-time favorite movie.  Of course I had to bring her home!

 

Still feeling the LoVe...

As February comes to an end, I am a bit sad to say goodbye.  After all, February  is the month of Love and it provides us with the excuse to play with lots of pink,

red,

glitter, 

..and with hearts...

 

(Okay, in my case, it was more purples and lavenders this year....  )

 

This is an altered heart tin I swapped over at An Altered Place.  I wanted the overall effect to be very girly, and to resemble the top of a vintage Valentine's candy box.

 

 

 

This is the beautiful altered tin I received from swap partner, Jill. 

 

 

 

 

 Isn't it wonderful?!? 

I love the softness and romance....  I think I can even use it as a tree ornament next Christmas.

 

This little cutie is a Valentine's altered matchbox I made for Michele.  The swap was hosted by the JoAnne at Vintage Dragonfly ; you can see other beautiful altered matchboxes here.

 

 

 

 

My partner, Sandi,  couldn't find the right size matchbox,

so she altered a paper mache one. 

It is so pretty and dainty!

 

 

 

Another Heart that I received this year was from Bobbi Ann Cook...

she knows how much I love pink and frou-frou!

 

 

 

I'm still feeling it... are you?

 

This birdie is not flying...

Exciting day today....

 

Last day of school!  yippee!  My summer vacation officially begins at 1:20 pm today, when the last of the school buses roll out of the parking lot...

 

Then I hop in my car and off I go!  Oh, the places I will see.

 

   

I'm driving to Lawrence, Kansas to join Karla Nathan and 30 other amazing women in Karla's 3rd annual BirdSong.  A weekend full of art, creativity, inspiration and friendship.  What else can I ask for?

 

I'm hosting a rosette/bird swap, and also joined a tag book swap and a matchbox swap.  I'm saving my photos for after the event so as not to spoil the surprise, but here's a sneak peak.

 

 

 

 

Lots of photos of the event to follow next week!

 

Dainty and sweet...

Between the craziness of Spring fever at school

(the kids-and staff-getting ready for Spring Break next week), 

getting ready for our own trip to Europe,

and still fighting the flu/cold that won't quit,

I managed to finish a few projects this week...

and a bit of Spring organizing.

 

Taking my extensive little collection of Limoges and dainty china out of storage, washing, and finding a place to display takes a few days.

 

 

This year, I also decided to "wallpaper" the back of the 1970's built-in cabinet in my dining room.  I have been meaning to paint it for year, but somehow haven't taken the plunge.... so when I ran across this shabby chic roses wallpaper at an estate sale (although I don't think it's very old), I knew instantly what I wanted to use it for.

 

Since I don't have room to display all my little pieces, I take turns rotating them. 

It brings me joy to look at their dainty little flowers whenever I pass through our dining room...  the instantly brighten up a gloomy day.

....
iIwas a week of fairies....   finished my fairy tags for the swap being hosted by JoAnne.  They are all packed up and ready to mail!  Yay!

The baby image is from my collection of vintage photographs... 

 She got her fairy wings and graced the tags with her presence...although each one is a little different.

 

How was your week?

Projects on my desk...

My studio looks quite the mess at the moment.  

My desk is covered with mounds of lace, ribbons, millinery....

 

 

 

I've been busy making custom-ordered cufflets for a Spring wedding...

 

The vintage-inspired wedding colors are soft blue and ivory. 

 The bridesmaids will be wearing cufflets (the one above is only about 1/3 finished...lots of hand embellishments to add) and carrying a bouquet of soft blue lilacs.  Doesn't it sound beautiful?

 

....

Another work-in-process is this paper crown for a dear and very patient lady.  I participated in a crown swap a while back and, due to health and some personal things going on in my life at that time, I was unable to finish her crown.

 

The base is paper, but I've added my signature fabric ruffles, lots of tulle and vintage millinery in yellows and ivories.

I hope she likes it~!  

 

 This weekend, I started working on my fairy tags for the Vintage Dragonfly's swap:

 

 

 

JoAnne's swaps are always fantastic, and this one will be no exception. 

A sneak peek at my tag (still working on concept; might make a few changes)...

 

 

And of course, I'm working on my book pages for the Beatrix Potter swap I am hosting with The Altered Paper group, which I posted about previously.

 

I found this darling Jemima Puddle fabric and want to incorporate it into my book covers - and a couple of charms  -- of course, lots of millinery in the soft colors of Beatrix Potter drawings.

Well, I think that's it for now...  off to finish some of these and get them ready to mail.

Hope you are having a creative weekend.

.

  Related articles

Ruffles and rosettes...

Feeling the love...

Salty, Peppy and friends...

I had Friday off (end of grading period) and decided that I would spend it doing something I love... hunting for treasures!  

My drive took me to Rogers, Minnesota and luckily for me, the antiques stores in town were all having a big sale this weekend... my timing couldn't have been better!

The majority of my finds were purchased at 30%, 40% or 50% off their original price.  I didn't even bother to look  in booths that weren't offering at least a 30% discount; what was the point of wasting my time and money?

I came home smiling and content.  

 

Here are some of my finds:

darling vintage Spaniels planter... love the colors!

 

 

 

Meet "Salty" and "Peppy"

Aren't they cute?  They look like nerdy little bunnies....

 

 

the cutest vintage buttons... I bought these for the packagin; it's very difficult in my neck of the woods to find these buttons in their original button cards.  Oh, I love the artwork!  (The fact that they were only 25 cents apiece certainly didn't hurt either!)

 

 

 

Baggies full of vintage paper doilies came home with me as well.  I like having these on hand for various projects.   It alway amazes me to see the lovely designs.

The necklace is made out of buttons and is darn cute...  I plan on using it as a "garland" for an altered book cover  (more on that later) I'm working on. 

 

 

 

 

....you know how I love children's books and illustrations, so imagine my delight to find this linen book for just a dollar! 

Although the cover is worn, the illustrations inside are just gorgeous. 

Note the date:  1919 

 (I hope I'll look this good when I'm 93!)

 

 

 

A bag marked "misc linens" and priced at just $2 (less 30%) was tucked away in a crate.  For me, these bags are like a pinata...  

full of treats and you never know what you will get. 

 

Like this set of napkins.

I love it when the linens have little notes tucked in with them, that gives me a bit of history about the piece.

 

 

 

Several embroidered pieces, a few white hankies...

 

 

 

 

Crocheted pieces (in great shape!) and a baby gown...



 

 

There was even a pair of crocheted gloves.... made in France! 

They are in need of some TLC for stains, but still lovely.

 

All in all, a bargain for just $1.40 - yippee!

 

 

 

 

I love estate sales...my top 5 favorites

...there is no denying it... 

 if you are patient,

 are willing to overlook/withstand the crazy people (that run you down to get to the merchandise),

put up with the (sometimes) unfriendly sellers,

the once-in-a-while musty smells of old 'stuff'

and a few other minor inconveniences... 

estate sales are IT for finding fun and unique items and crafting supplies at very reasonable prices.  If you are very VERY lucky, you can find true gems overlooked by everyone during the 2-day sale and go home with armfuls of "stuff" for dirt cheap.

(large basket &  silk flowers....$5)

 

I NEVER arrive super early (I don't do numbers or waiting lines), hardly ever attend sales on their first day, but rather wait for the 2nd or 3rd days when items are marked way down.

I have a couple of favorite local estate sales companies that I follow... I know that they are friendly, their sales usually have tons of the good junk, and their prices are right. 

(vintage bibles and religious collectibles)
 

Also, I try to stay near home.  There is nothing that is so precious that I'm willing to drive more than 15 miles to obtain.   I am lucky enough to have a nice supply of sales each weekend that are fairly close to home. 

My favorite things to hunt for at these sales? 

 

#1.   Vintage linens

(on this day, I found several hand-embroidered vintage pillowcases for 50 cents apiece... not in perfect shape due to stains, small tears, but I didn't care... the value for me lays in the embroidery itself.)

(my heart always jumps for joy when I find beautiful Irish linen!  these were nicely pressed and stored...a true delight to find)
 

 

#2.   Ribbons, ribbons, ribbons!

 

(on a good day, I will find gorgeous vintage ribbons... like the silk and taffeta seam binding... a bagful of them for $1....)

 

#3.  vintage hats and millinery

 

(I buy any vintage hat that is $5 or less and has millinery...these are by far the hardest to find in my neck of the woods... collectors and dealers snatch them up fast!) 

 

#4.  oh, baby! 

( gowns, shoes, accessories) 

 

(at this particular estate sale, the owner was a baby doll collector and she had tons of vintage newborn gowns... all with dainty laces, buttons and embroidered...  $1 to $2 apiece) 

 
(I buy baby shoes when I find them priced at $1 or less... not an easy task)

 

#5.  floral china (Limoges, Bavarian are my favorites)

 

 

 

There you are - my favorite things to "hunt" for!

Wishing you a lovely weekend... 

I'm off to my studio to finish up some Valentines projects and a few custom order rosettes, as I look out the window at the freshly fallen snow; my idea of a perfect day!

 

 

 

 p.s.  linking up to the party over at Pink Saturday!

Related articles

Pretty pink inspiration...

Surrounded by reds...

Sunshine Room update...

The "new" Sunshine Room is still in process...    although, from the way it's going, I think it's starting to look more like a "garden" room...   flowers are everywhere! 

 

There is sooo much to do (still) - but I wanted to share some pics of what it looks like so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An old tulle canopy which covered by daughter's bed for many years has been repurposed...  the sheer white dresses up the windows a bit, without blocking the beautiful natural light (one of the room's main features). 

...  lots and lots of layers, draping, and white rosettes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...the wall behind my desk is covered in tulle, and a gorgeous vintage mirror holds center stage. 

White plates, suspended by laces and ribbons, add whimsy.

 

 

 

It's starting to look like a store display instead of a workroom/craft room... which is fine with me!

 

I'm just following my heart on this one - no decorating rules, no do's and don'ts.... just pretty things around me.

 

 

 

That's all for now... I'll share "final" views when it's all complete.

 

p.s.   Linking up to Transformation Thursday... visit here for wonderful inspiration

Surrounded by reds...

My back hurts, my calves hurt, my arms hurt.... I am sore all over.  Nope, not from a new exercise routine or workout; I spent most of the weekend moving my studio (aka "the sunshine room") from downstairs to the upstairs.  

It took 100's (well not really, but I'm sure it's close if I counted) of trips up and down those stairs to get all my "stuff" moved!   And that doesn't even include the furnishings - my husband and son were kind enough to do that.   My heavy "sunshine" desk, of solid wood, was the biggest challenge.  They ended up taking the feet off and the door frame(s) off to even get it out of the room!   I owe them big time...

My new studio will now be in my prior master bedroom; it has windows facing north, south and west - so the natural lighting is amazing!  Since the walls are not cheery yellow, but rather "sky blue" -  I guess I'll need to come up with a new name.  

Or... I could paint the walls that shade of pink  I've always wanted.... hmmm...   we'll see.   Let me get settled in first and see where my inspiration takes me.  For now, I'll share some photos of all the reds I've been playing with in preparation for February.  I have really scaled back on swaps (last year, I think I signed up for 12+) this year, so I'm really enjoying not having the pressure and deadlines to worry about. 

 
I discovered that having too much red in your vignette is really difficult to photograph...

...the ribbons were fun finds from an estate sale I attended last weekend...

 

I also came home with a bagful of plastic berries... don't know why (?!?), or how I will use them, but just couldn't resist their 25 cent pricetag.

What is wrong with me?

Well, I'm off to work on my new space...  

right after I take some Aleve and eat some fresh berries...

Have a beautiful Monday!! 

(btw, did I mention that our temp is -3 right now? 

And the forecast looks like this:

"Bitterly cold. A mix of clouds and sun. Dangerous wind chills as low as -30F. High -3F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.) 

Religion in the morning light...

More experimentation with lighting, camera settings, editing...

 

Today's subject was "religious artifacts, icons"

 

 

 

 

 

I have amassed quite a collection of old bibles; many of them in foreign languages.

The spine of these old gems are just beautiful.

 

 

  ... it's been a long and tiring week thus far.  I have Friday AND Monday off, so I'm looking forward to ending my work week tomorrow!  Yay!

I have a BIG project planned for the long weekend:  moving my Sunshine Room up into my old master bedroom.  Lots of packing and sorting to do....  hubby will move the big furniture pieces and I am in charge of everything else.  Can't wait to see it all finished!

 

Forgotten photos... part I

When I first started blogging, I was always on the lookout for the perfect picture, that vignette that just beckoned to be photographed.  Sometimes it was a storefront or store window, a booth in an antiques mall, a project or product displayed in a store, or even nature's beauty.  

Slowly and steadily, my blog changed ...   Pretty pictures, sometimes beautiful pictures,  gave way to tags, ATC's and other artistic projects created for swaps and blog friends.   My blog became a "crafting" blog instead of what I originally intended it to convey - a place for me to share all things that had captured my eye... "All Things Pretty." 

So as I start the new year 2013, I am making a concerted effort to stay on the path of pretty, frilly, feminine, froufrou, girlie, romantic - all things that make me happy to be a woman!   

Don't get me wrong; there will still be those occasional artistic projects to share, but the majority of them will be featured on my Flickr and Pinterest boards. 

 I've also started to edit the picture files on my desktop (how does one accumulate so many pics in a relatively short period of time?!?!?!?!?!) and will be featuring some long-forgotten gems that never made it into a post, but that truly deserve their moment in the limelight.

I'll start off with some photos taken during our trip to Spain last Christmas.   Our daughter, Bianca, was living in Palma, Mallorca for a year and we thought it would be magical to visit her during the holidays.   We were not disappointed!

I fell instantly in love with the beautiful island of Mallorca. 

One of my favorite places to visit on the island was the local "farmer's" market "Mercat"...  the colors, the smells, the people....  everyone was out doing their daily shopping for fresh produce, fish, legumes....      

Europeans don't have the luxury of the huge refrigerators that we Americans are accustomed to, nor do they have the vast array of frozen and preserved foods that we consume.   I love the fact that they eat so much fresh (healthy!) food and take the selection of their foods very seriously. 

 

what we call "Jordan" almonds, in a gorgeous array of colors

 

sweets in all shapes and colors

 

the selection of "gummies" was incredible

 

dried fruits and "candied" fruits were beautifully displayed

 

 

all the fruits and vegetables were fresh, healthy, colorful...they looked like something straight out of a cooking magazine photo.  You know the ones... where the "food" looks so perfect that it doesn't look real?

 

 

 

 

While in Spain, Bianca became a fig lover...   there are many varieties easily available and the prices are very reasonable, compared to what we pay in the United States.

 

Did you know that figs are high in calcium and iron?

Not only are they delicious, but they are also low in calories and make a great snack.

Here are some serving tips:

• Sweet, succulent fig fruit is best enjoyed as it is without any additions.

• Fresh figs are a great addition to salad, in cakes and ice creams.

• Dried ones can be added to soup, stews and to enrich poultry, venison, lamb meat.

• Dry figs are excellent additions to muffins, cakes, sandwiches, pies, and cheesecakes.

  
  

  Well, all these photos have made me hungry for some fresh fruit!   

  Stay tuned for more "forgotten" photos in the next few posts.

  
  

A vintage tea party...

If you follow my blog, you know that we have an upcoming wedding in our family... my oldest, Byron, is getting married on December 21st to the most wonderful of young ladies, Kathryn. 

She is a true example of someone who is beautiful inside and out. 

 So it was with great joy that I agreed to host a bridal shower

for my future daughter-in-law. 

 

(my handpainted banner on canvas)
 

Since I have so much Limoges china (which I have been collecting for years and saving for a special family occasion, such as this) her sisters and I agreed that a vintage tea party theme would be perfect.

 

 

As I went about my planning, I aimed for romantic vintage charm... hats, gloves, pearls....  flowers.... out came my cherished vintage linens....  

  

 

Special, handmade touches - like these dainty napkin rings made by my mother over 20 years ago.

 

 

Milk glass vessels were used for the flowers.

 

The menu consisted of delicious savories, bread and sweets....

 

 

 

 

 

A "dress up" table was set up for guests to try on gloves, pearls, hats...

 

 

 

 

..the girly girl mannequin was a big hit... not only did it serve as a hat stand, but it provided great decor for our tea room and a place for guests to place their gifts... a bit like a Christmas tree (I laid a beautiful vintage lace tablecloth underneath it, like a "tree skirt")....  it also became the favorite photo spot for guests.

 

 

 

 

(this fabulous pink concoction was borrowed from sweet Diane, of DB & Company in Excelsior.  If you are ever in the area, make sure to stop by her shoppe for beautiful gifts and home decor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage details and handmade touches made the event a bit more special...

 

(1970 paper wedding decor - remember those? - in the bride's wedding colors - fit our theme perfectly)

a banner with the bride's new monogram

 

vintage cake topper under glass...

 

 The beautiful Bride-to-be was wearing a 1940's bridal tiara (with pearls and rhinestones) and veil (both pieces found at an estate sale... they had been lovingly  rapped, labeled and stored by the  owner).

 

   The happy soon-to-be "Mother in Law" (me!) with the beautiful bride-to-be.

 

All in all, a fun and festive day.   Lots of beautiful memories in the making...  stories were shared, wishes were made...

 

(56 more days 'til Wedding Day!)

 

Now on to some more  wedding planning....

 p.s.   I'm sharing my vintage tea with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound... stop on by, they are celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness with lots of pink!

 

 

Surrounded by fairies...

I have been surrounded by fairies for the past week or so.

A couple of swaps had "fairie" themes and I welcomed the opportunity to go exploring in my stash of supplies for some inspiration....

 

When I opened  a 1920's children' piano book with the song entitled "Where do fairies hide?"  -  I knew I had found my muse!

  

  

For Karla Nathan's "Fairie Book Swap"  I had to create eight fairy pages....

 

Each was embellished to the max with vintage millinery.... appliques from a 1940's dress... a beautiful scroll stamp (embossed in gold) served as the background.

 

The adorable fairy image came from another vintage children's book....

isn't he sweet?

 

 

 

The back of each page was also finished with a fairy theme...  alot simpler.... but still using vintage fairy images.

Everything got wrapped up carefully, with some pretty ribbons and more fairy touches....

 

 

..off it went to Karla!  

She had an overwhelming response to her swap; with over 100 participants! 

We will each receive our very own Fairy Book with 8 pages, plus Karla's unique cover.  I can't wait to see everyone's come up with!

Another fun fairy-themed swap was for the BlissfullARTSwaps Group....

  entitled a "Mermaid Fairy Wand"

Well, as much as I love wands AND fairies, there was no way I could pass this one up!

My wand for swap partner, Susan...

Lots of vintage touches, including the 1950's butterfly ribbon (which I LOVE and had been saving for a special project).

this is the back of the wand.... magical blooms and butterflies for my fairy mermaid.

 

...and there you have it... my fairy world as of late.

Enjoy!

 

p.s  sharing my fairies with Beverly and her Pink Saturday!


My little corner.... the Sunshine Room

Karen is once again hosting her "Where Bloggers Create" blog party...  I remember finding it last summer and visiting so many beautifully creative spaces, in all sizes, colors, styles.  This year, I'm joining in on all  the fun!

 

So here is my little corner of the world -  where I create to my heart's content.  

Nothing quite matches, nothing is perfect... or over-organized...  but I love it!   

 

Welcome to the "sunshine room."  

 Aptly named by my children due to the bright yellow walls.

You see, this room is just 10' x 11' and sits in the basement of my home, with just an easement window for natural light.  To make things worse, the window is in a corner of the room, so very little sunshine makes its way in.

 

 

 

Solution?  A bright, cheery color for the walls and furniture...lots of lamps.

 

All of the furnitue and accesories in the room are second-hand (with the exception of the bookcase).  Putting the room together on a tight budget means I'd rather spend my cash on supplies vs. furniture.

 

 

My biggest challenge with the room (besides the lighting) is storage for my ever-growing amount of ribbons, laces and miscellaneous crafting supplies.

 

I also love old books (especially children's books) and have now officially run out of room for them (until I find another bookcase to repurpose!).

 

 

Each of the above pieces were individually purchased at a thrift shoppe; each for less than $5.  

Some needed a bit of TLC, some lace "covering" for little dents or flaws.

 

 

 

SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN THE ROOM ARE...

 

RIBBONS

I have ribbons stored everywhere....    

I am very visual and need to have things out where I can see them.  

Using hatboxes for storage is fun and inexpensive, but my favorite are the clear ones (the one above used to belong to my daughter's great-grandmother)  where I can see its contents.

 

DOMINOES IN GLASS

Last year, I joined the dominoes craze... I wanted to alter dominoes day and night!  

During that time I scoured my favorite shops for  ivory ones and was lucky enough to find severa sets.  

These are now stored in glass containers... waiting their turn for a makeover.

 

 

PEARLS

Pearls are another one of my passions.  

I can't pass up a vintage strand if the price is right.  

Some of them are displayed on this wire form (which also used to belong to my late motherin-law)... the beautiful vintage pearl tiara was a recent find.

 

VINTAGE WATERCOLOR

This pld watercolor by an unknown artist called out to me from an estate sale -

I love the look on the little boy's face!   

 

 

SILK FLOWERS...

the ones that look so real, that you have to touch them to make sure they aren't!

I have a basketful that sits in a corner of the Sunshine Room... waiting for the perfect project.  

In the meantime, they pretty-up the room.

 

 GLASS BOXES

I love these!

They are perfect for storing little things:  buttons, scraps of millinery, beads... 

They don't take up much space, are fairly easy to find and inexpensive (I never pay more than $2-$3 for mine), and look beautiful either empty or full.

I have also used them as gift boxes for birthday gifts for friends, or even as containers for swap gifts.

 

 

MIRROR MIRROR on the wall...

In a room this tight and lacking in natural light,

a mirror placed in the right location can work magic.  

This old beauty sits next between the entry door and the easement window;

 light reflects off of it into the space.

 

 

 

BASKETS

..another storage solution...

I used mine for displaying and storing items that are too charming to hide away...

such as vintage baby shoes.... or fabric flowers.

 

POTTERY, VASES

for storing scraps of vintage wallpaper, dowels; anything that is long and narrow.

 

 

 

VINTAGE NOTECARDS

I buy them whenever I find them... usually less than $1 for an incomplete set.  

(the handy storage unit with drawers, on wheels, was another thrift store find)

 

 

PRETTY TIN/METAL CONTAINERS

They store some of the tags and tag books received from swaps.  

It keeps these visible and handy so I can pull them out for admiring or for inspiration.

 

 "WALL OF FAME" INSPIRATION BOARD

I use the inspiration board in a less traditional manner;

it displays cute business cards, notes, tags, and miscellaneous pieces received.  

These are bits and pieces that have brought a smile to my face.

 

 

BOOKS

Tattered, worn spines are my favorite.  

I have a weakness for children's books with beautiful illustrations.

(the little box was one of my earliest creations... after discovering Sandra Evertson and falling in love with her whimsical style)

 

AND FINALLY, MY DESK AND CHAIR.

 my chair is in pale chippy yellow, with a worn pink roses decal...  

 

My desk is  large, also chippy yellow (yes, I found it this way!) ... it is solid wood and heavy.

 Always full of materials and projects "in process"

 

 I customized the inside of the panel door by a whimsical children's painting

... using cutouts from some favorite cards and adding a freehand background. 

 

And there you have it....  a glimpse into my sunshine room.

I hope you enjoyed your little tour.

 

Treasure hunting...

Last weekend was full of activity... all of it fun.   Time spent with family is always the best! 

 

 I did, however, take a little break from the July 4th festivities to attend one of my favorite antiques shows in Lake Elko, Minnesota.  This one is held only three times per year and the variety of merchandise is always amazing.  It also used to be an event where you could find great bargains -dealers were always willing to  negotiate - but that has changed. 

Although the selection of merchandise was still spectacular, the prices were a bit crazy.  There were actually some booths where I caught myself mumbling (I'm sure someone heard me and thought I had some mental issues) words like "crazy" "greedy" "what the ?!?"

I was by myself...and took my time meandering.

My patience paid off; I was able to come home with some wonderful finds.

 

...some lovely vintage hats in shades of white

 

...lots of vintage jewelry...

 

Jewelry hunting is always exhausting for me.   I have to be in the right mindset and have enough energy to "dig" through piles of tangles necklaces, looking for that diamond-in-the-rough.  Booths with perfectly placed pieces, sometimes in their boxes, don't appeal to me. 

 I like the junk piles.... you know that ones - where the dealer has a sign that reads: "$1"   Those dealers are always willing to give you an even better price if you buy a lot.

 

...more pearls for my collection

I can't get enough!   Love the lustre of the old ones.

 

I was focused on finding bling...

crystals, prisms, rhinestones

 

A few mid-century pieces looked promising... so they came home with me.

 

 

 

Of course, I couldn't keep my eyes (or hands) away from the linens.

I was lucky to find several booths of dealers who had lovely clean linens, all neatly pressed, most of them in baggies, for a very reasonable flat price. 

Those are my favorite... I always feel like a kid in a candy store... not knowing what treasure might be waiting for me.

 

 

I was not disappointed; so many pretties came home with me!

 

This is just a sampling of  my treasures... 

I'll save some pics for future posts.

 

Linking up to Faded Charm Cottage's White Wednesday to share my finds.

 

One last hurrah....

The July 4th celebrations are coming to an end...  it feels like we've been on our best patriotic behavior all week! lol 

 I've enjoyed seeing all the red/white/blue decor around town and our beautiful flag flying high from front porches, doorsteps, etc.

 

 

 

For my last hurrah to this special holiday, I'm sharing some of the patriotic-themed projects exchanged with blogging friends.

 

For Tee's "Tag-A-Month" swap, I made this whimsical vintage-inspired tag for my swap partner, Linda.

 

 

This is the wonderful tag I received from Linda....

 

The lady with a hat image is beautiful.... Linda also included lots of laces, ephemera and little bits and pieces for future projects.

 

Another fun swap with a patriotic theme was the "Red, White and Blue Marie ATC" swap, hosted by Terri, in the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group. 

 

These are the gorgeous ATC's I received from my swap partners...

 

from Terri

 

from Kris

 

Aren't they beautiful?

 

These are the ATC's I made for them...

and last... but not least...

 

 Hope you are having a wonderful weekend...

 

I'm sharing my "last hurrah" with Beverly and her Pink Saturday party; stop on by for some fabulous red, white and blue celebrations!

 

 

A Red, White & Blue Weekend...

My weekend was filled with barn sales, estate sales, garage sales... some gardening... some family time.  It was busy, yet enjoyable and relaxing.

(this was the actual site of a Barn Sale I visited in Medina, Minnesota...isn't it wonderful?)

 

I don't know if it was the barn itself or all the red, white and blue vignettes I saw at every single place I stopped (I almost had to check my calendar:  did I missthe  4th of July or something? !?) but I was feeling it!

When I got home, I decided to "bring out" the reds in my screened-in porch ...

 

 

If you recall, last year I painted all of my white porch wicker (boring and faded) black, and found a truckload of floral pillows at a local church rummage sale (for just $2 apiece!). 

   

(the red/white felted wool/cotton knit throw was another recent find... for $3.99...homemade and beautiful.... I was going to save it for the chilly evenings of Fall, but since it fit the theme, it came out to stay)

What's fun about these pillows with their array of colors is that I can highlight any of the colors with accessories for a different look.

 

My vintage tablecloth collection is put to good use during the summer months, as I like to use them on my porch tables for a punch of color.

 

 

Another Barn Sale find were two vintage smaller flags, which were mounted on dowels and tin stars added; perfect for my deck flower pots!

Well there you have it! 

My porch is festive, patriotic, and totally ready for the 4th of July!

 

Linking up to:

Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here

Uncommonly Yours @ Uncommon Designs

 Show & Tell Friday @ Romantic Home

 Vintage Patriotic Party @ Common Ground

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Regal beauties....

Several recent projects have included crowns and queens....  I noticed, as I was putting together this post, that I've been using more and more of the faded creams, ecru, and soft grays and tans tones in my projects.  

In the BlissfullARTSwaps Group, we made ATC's for  the theme "Where's My Crown?" 

 I used Shakespeare's female characters as my muse.

(images are courtesy of The Graphics Fairy)

 

 

 

 

Also for the BlissfullARTSwaps Group (make sure to check out the work of all the amazing artists in this group)....  I joined the "altered Pierrot paperdoll" swap...  

The Pierrot doll image is from The Graphics Fairy...we were to alter/dress our doll using any medium/materials we desired.

 

I had all these divine laces I've been saving for a special project,

so I decided to use them for my doll's gown.  

 

 

The bodice of the gown is made from a scrap of very, very old silk (1800's dress). 

Oh, how I wish I had seen the actual dress back in it's day - I guarantee is was magificent!

 

of course, every royal beauty needs her jewels... 

 

The original doll had a traditional Pierrot hat which didn't quite work with my "beaute royale" look, so off it came.... and in its place, a beautiful crown.

 

I am quite pleased with how she turned out... and she is enroute to her rightful owner: my swap partner, Janet.

(this is actually the second Pierrot doll I've made for Janet, as the first one never made it to its final destination!  Thanks to delivery confirmation; we were able to identify where it went... seems like my first beauty is "stuck" somewhere in the St. Paul, Minnesota USPS routing center).

 

So there they are.... my regal beauties.

Thanks for letting me share them with you!

 

A bit of vintage....

Happy Saturday to you!

Today I'm sharing some of last weekend's finds...   from an estate sale that I almost missed!  

 

A sweet container that one had a lid...  I fell in love with the delicate pink spray of flowers (sigh) and knew it was perfect for displaying my fresh-cut roses

(since the roses in my own garden are not yet blooming, some silks are filling in for the moment)

 

 

This particular estate sale had thousands of silk florals!   Stems of every color, size, material...  wreaths, bouquets (lots of bridals!)  

I came home with a very large box of  silk roses.

Tucked away underneath a pile of stems, I found this little cherub.

Gold-toned, with fine details, and carrying a basket on his back.

isn't he divine?

 

I also came home with several dozen of these little bouquets, in a variety of colors.  

The delicate little flowers are perfect for all types of projects... and it seems that they (the flowers) are getting harder and harder to find at local craft stores, so I was delighted to find this stash.

I love it when you find pretty treasures in unexpected places...don't you?

 

(linking to Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound)

 

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?