That 70's Chair

After a wonderfully amazing weekend at a youth worker's conference in Chicago with 3000 other crazy people, tim and I decided we really need a night of pure, unabashed retail therapy...at Goodwill.

Yes, the Goodwill you donate your old toasters and ugly Christmas sweaters to. :)

We went to the store nearest our home where there was nothin' good to be seen...until we went over to the furniture side. There I saw, sat and briefly noted a chair and then dismissed the idea of it. I couldn't find the price tag and since I was pretty sure that didn't mean the chair was free (always a faint hope, right?), I passed and we went on to the next store.

Tim was incredibly upset to find the most deliciously soft, supple Italian leather shoe.

One.

One shoe.

Either someone donated only one or perhaps a one legged man bought the other shoe. He moped about for a few minutes until I found a milk glass coffee mug for $.48 and his faith in a good bargain was restored.

While we're leaving the store, I suddenly blurt out that we've got to go back to the first store for that chair.

Tim does a double take because he doesn't remember any chair at all, but he dutifully drives us back to the first store while I'm trying to describe the exact color of this chair, how comfortable it is and that I have the perfect place for it.

We get to store where I excitedly lead him to the chair.

"Oh" he says. Not "Oh!" as in cool. Not "Oh" as in wicked awesome. But "Oh" as in "Didn't the 70's do enough damage to our young, impressionable psyches?"

I tell him to sit in it.

"Oh" he says. as in "Oh, thank you Lord for creating an instantly amazing place to snooze, read a novel or watch a game." And in the wink of an eye, we were loading this much too large chair into his much too small trunk and driving home with flashing lights all the way. (when I get really happy, I either chatter away or fall completely silent. this was totally a chatter away ride home. Tim probably wanted to put me in the trunk and let the chair ride up front.)

It does have great lines. And I like the green, just so you know. I think I'll paint the feet black, but for now, I think I'll take a snooze in my new 70's chair. :)

Upcycling En Masse

Elsie Flannigan and Rachel Denbow are about to kick off a year of repurposing, remaking and renewing old, worn or damaged items. In other words, they have tapped into a passion of mine: Upcycling. Join in the effort here...Project ReStyle - A Beautiful Mess

Go against the grain of New Years exclamations of Out with the Old and In with the New. Embrace a new resolution of In with the Old and Who needs the New!

Loopy for Christmas (and a giveaway)

This little project is straight from our childhood; a paper chain. Even now, children make colorful chains to count down the days to Christmas, my youngest child still among them.

The slight twist is that I used paper taken from an old French book "Les Malheurs De Sophie" (The Troubles of Sophie) that I purchased at the Porte de Clignancourt flea market in Paris. I looked the book up on Wiki and found that a film & ballet had been based upon it as well which is kind of cool. (forgive some of my photos, I think my camera is about to die since it also flipped out on me over Thanksgiving)

For my chain, I used 8 sheets from the book and cut them into 2 inch strips. The pages have a lovely, creamy aged quality and are still quite sturdy.

I used very basic tools, especially since losing my bone folder in a class, so I improvised with a rub-on tool. :)

After cutting my little pile of 2 inch strips, I scored a line down the length of each strip and folded them on the score line. ~This is a super easy project, but not the most mind engaging, so it's perfect to do while watching your favorite Christmas movie.~

Once all of the strips were folded in half lengthwise, I ran a line of glue down one side and pressed. While pressing the halves together, I also ran my fingers along the paper in a curling motion, so that when the glue dried, the strips would already be predisposed to forming a loop. (if that makes any sense, almost like curling ribbon)

Since I'm not the most patient of gals, I skipped the drying part and went straight into stapling my strips into loops connecting them as I went along. The Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher (or whatever it's called) is great for this. The little staples have a nice hold and fit the tone of the project.

When I had attached all of my loops together, I cut lengths of seam binding to tie to each end for hanging. The 8 pages translated into about 8 feet of paper chain. The glimpses of French text and aged paper would go very well decorating all through the year as well as Christmas time. If you'd like, you could also finish the edges of the strips with distress ink or vintage glass glitter, but be careful not to weigh the loops down or the draping effect might be lost.

Want to know about the giveway? Read on...

And now to give some elements of this project away! We all love happy mail, so I'm going to send someone 8 pages and 1 illustration from this vintage French book as well as seam binding in deep green, silvery white and red so you can choose which you would like should you decide to make a paper chain and use the rest for other projects. I also have a page or two of vintage sheet music and vintage Christmas cards & seals to tuck into this little package as well as some recently unearthed Heidi Swapp product that I likely bought more than once (hey, I get excited about cool stuff or some came in a kit).

To be entered into the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post. For another entry, link this post in your blog (but only if you want to share the opportunity with a friend or two!) and include that in your post. My trusty assistant will draw a name from Santa's boot next Friday, December 11th. Bon Chance!

Walkersville Day with an Opus

I was lucky enough to get to squire Miss Rosemary, one of the Opus Gluei ladies, around my tiny town last Saturday for the annual Walkersville Day when the entire town is full of yard sales, garage sales, church yard sales, church festivals and more.

The weather cooperated and the town did too. We had a blast, particularly scoring at the local Church of Christ sale where we giggled like mad school girls as we read passages from Cherry Ames nursing books (Oh Cherry!), an old Nancy Drew cookbook (the recipe titles were worth the $.50) and a medical shorthand study book where, yes, sometimes the shorthand resembled the body part IYKWIM!

Rosemary was also able to see that I'm not telling tall tales when I say our mayor owns the local one room (tiny) feedstore down the street where he sits on the front porch in his flannel shirt watching his townspeople go by. And my youngest can't stop talking about Miss Rosemary (to a 13 year old, that's high praise). The Lutheran church had the best baked goods. All my attempts to 'be good' flew out the window when I bit into a moist, chewy 7-layer bar. This was a 'who needs a man' snack. Yes, they were really that special. We didn't know what to think of the Lemon Chocolate Chip cookies though. What do you think about that now Rosemary?

I figured I'd better send an entry for the Order of the Opus Gluei challenge over their way, so I worked on the Getaway theme by finally beginning work on the trip that we took to Hawaii with our kids 2 years ago. You know what's wild? I still had loads of paper to use left over from the scrapbook for a trip that the better half and I took to Hawaii 4 years ago along with a giant stack of tropical travel themed embellishments! Even wilder, it's still cool paper.

For this one I finally used these Meri Meri flipflops that I'd been saving for some crazy reason. Getting these three clowns to take a photo together is like nailing Jello to a tree. Here, they were worn out from snorkeling, walking and hiking through lava fields or rainforest, so I was finally able to catch them unaware.

For the 2nd layout, I opened up a package of Lil Davis bottle caps that I tried to sell in a scrap/stamp yard sale a couple of years ago. When I was cleaning off some shelves, I rediscovered them hiding in a box. Whaddya know, they are still perfectly cool, plus I was able to dust off some old Heidi Swapp tape and plastic alphabet letters.

These completed pages should make me feel good to get started on the trip scrapbook, right? Somehow that giant stack of photos that are still lying on the counter seem to be laughing mockingly at me. They will be done. Eventually. For now, it's past 5p.m. and the weekend is starting. Where's my martini shaker?

My Stimulus Package and a Rule(r) to live by

(I know, 2 posts in 1 day! Crazy, right?)

Doesn't include tax breaks, incentives or a free coffee from Dunkin Donuts. It does include yummy fun that I couldn't pass up when I was out shopping with Rosemary.

I came home with this sweet, chippy, swirly frame and turned it into a bulletin board. Sorry about the shadowy light. My studio is in my basement, hence, no natural light, just OTTs & an old chandelier and this baby is too big to lug upstairs and photograph (before I've had copious amounts of caffeine).

The 'Bloom' banner is keeping it company. I saw the cute 'Spring' banners on House of 3 and decided to improvise my own with some Heidi Swapp stash I'd been hoarding. I think it was hiding behind a family size bag of Cadbury mini eggs. Ate those yummies and voila, I saw a whole new stash! Cut the circles for it with my old friend, a CM circle cutter. That was probably one of the first purchases that sucked me into scrapbooking.

Here is the rest of my stimulus package. Most all of it has found a home, but I've yet to hang up the green shelf. Isn't there something like this in most of our grandmother's bathrooms? They usually aren't painted a bright lime green though. Can't wait to hang this in the studio and overrun it with goodies. I also loved the silvery, dove grey of this hat. I have a huge head. HUGE. Hats never fit me. This one worked. And it's vintage. And perty. So I adopted it. It was meant to be. I also brought home sparklies that were labeled 'Table Confetti'. Hmmmph, right. Sozo, the princess cat, would eat that confetti straight away and while it my be a shinier job to clean the litter box for the next few weeks, I can see these faux gems getting used in loads of projects instead! The black bead trim was found in the barn at Chartreuse and while I have no idea how I'll be using it, it was pretty and had to come home with me. Yes, it did.

Confessing also that I am easy prey for cute packaging, hence the Mocha Rose lip balm found its way into my grubby paws. It's made by the Rosebud Perfume Company which is literally 2 miles up the road from my house. They make Rosebud Salve which is one of Sephora's biggest sellers. Run over to Sephora and support my local peeps! (BTW, the Mocha Rose balm is so very good)

Not from Chartreuse, but a continuation of the tweaking of the studio:

Ignore the paint, glitter and copious clutter. Yes, this is pretty much how it ALWAYS is. I've had this inkling in the back of my head for a long time and have particularly seen it put to use on seamstress tables. When I was at the antique mall last month, I picked up these vintage yardsticks, almost got them, but changed my mind at the last minute. Not sure why.

Well, I found out. It was because they hadn't yet been marked down! I picked up 4 on sale; 2 of them from our local paper. A quick treatment with a handsaw, staple gun and hammer did the trick. Now my countertops are rimmed by an old yardstick edging that is not only useful, it's pretty cool looking if I do say so myself. (To me anyway. My Pottery Barn friends are probably agog with horror) I was checking out at the antique store and this lady starts asking me about my plans for them. When I told her, she picks them up and starts fondling MY yardsticks, getting that greedy, grabby, I'm gonna steal your Cabbage Patch look in her eye. I nearly whacked her with a stick to get them back. Go find your own sticks chickie (well, that's what I was thinking!)

Paying it forward, awards & a giveaway!

Since Valentine's Day is around the corner and it seems like my little corner of the world is awash in pinks, I think I had pink on the brain when I ordered 2 sets of these Basic Grey chipboard stickers! So, I'm giving the extra set away along with 2 stamps from Glitz Designs. Just leave a comment telling me what you love (or hate) about Valentine's Day and I'll draw a winner on Sunday the 25th. And I have been honored with 2 sweet awards,
Priscila of Casa Bella Chic gave me a Kreativ Blogger award, but you should see her work. She is astounding and full of vintage, altered charm!

As I am surrounded by talented and creative friends, they are all 'Kreative Bloggers', but don't we all like to get a pat on the back to reassure us that we aren't hunched over our work tables because we're stark raving mad? (myself excluded, I AM Cruisazy!)

So here are five people who are not only creative, but live all aspects of their live through an art-filtered lens:
Danielle, Kelly, Tina, Heidi and Becky
Please, when you get the chance, tell them hello and let them know I sent you their way!

I also got this sweet award from Back Through Time: This is what this award entails:
These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon's of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers. When you pass the award along please include these guidelines. I'm supposed to give the love away to 8 friends!
I don't think I know a single blogger who's left a comment that seeks anything more than to be friendly, but only 8? That's hard! I'll give it a try: Valita, Amy, Dianna, Rosemary, TJ, Jennifer, For the love of vintage..., Trying to Stay Calm!


This past weekend, Chartreuse and Co. we having their monthly tag sale, so Kim and I met in town to drive out there together. First, we should've dressed in long underwear because it was cooooooooooooooooolder than, well, it was cold. I'm just now regaining feeling in my toes. Nothing is heated in their barns or carriage house with the exception of a few space heaters in one barn, but the shopping is worth it! The barn is FULL to the rafters with treasure if you're willing to dig for it, but we were good. I just got 3 old theater poster prints and a vintage choker from here.
From there we went to a couple of local antique malls and came away with a few treasures. Whenever I shop with another artsy person, my shopping is always artsy focused so most everything is something that will be repurposed at some point in time. My favorite finds were the old receipt book and the organizer that looks like an old book. Just cool stuff on the cheap (my favorite kind of stuff!).
For lunch, we hit Frisco's almost exclusively for their Exploded Potatoes. Habit forming potatoes. They are like a loaded potato on crack. Made the mistake of ordering a pizza and not eating very much of it because I was focused solely upon the potatoes when the owner comes by concerned that something was wrong with the food. Couldn't be further from the truth! The pizza was brought home and enjoyed for dinner, but he's got to know that he could sway votes with those potatoes. Yummmm, getting hungry just thinking about them. If you ever want to meet for lunch south of Frederick one day, call me. I'll take you to the source hidden away in an industrial park. It'll be our dirty little secret.

Upcycled Art

Remember back when chipboard was riding the first big wave of popularity and if we bought one package, two was better? (oh, you only bought one package? Well, bless your heart! I, on the other hand, had no self-control) And then, if you are anything like me, the chipboard either 1)got put away in a drawer only to be used intermittently because, at any moment, companies might halt all production of chipboard thereby leaving the world in the midst of a devastating chipboard shortage or 2)you forgot about it completely until your chipboard storage drawer would no longer open and when you finally yanked it free, you were rewarded with an avalanche of warped cardboard. I'll plead guilty on both counts.

I'm not making any no-buy declarations. I know myself. But I am making a concerted effort to use what I have this year on a far greater level than I have previously. So, I was staring at two packages of Basic Grey undressed chipboard recently. Just had to have them. Very rarely used them. In fact, one package is still sealed. Knowing that all things in life are better with bling and that an art supply would practically soar when dripping with bling, I spent a few minutes glittering the entire contents of my open package of chipboard.

Suddenly what had been non-descript pieces of cardboard turned into sparkling, tarnished silver pieces of possibility. Even the most basic shape is elevated with just a little something special. (if you aren't into glitter, I'm sorry. We can't be friends. No, no, I'm kidding. We can still be friends! I still love you! mostly)

Then, I was folding some old linens that I had bought at an auction. Most of them have nasty rust stains, holes, tears and seemed destined for the rag pile. Many of them are edged with pretty lace though and I hate to see anything go to waste. But...even with holes and stains I still cringe a bit whenever I think of taking scissors to something old and vintage. I feel like my Nana will walk through the door and lecture me on wastefulness while making me eat cinnamon squash (another story).

Eh, I got over it.

With my newly glittered chipboard loveliness and scraps of old dresser scarf, I'm working on these little notebooks. They'll help me out with my resolutions to be better about simplifying and making lists this year; just right for tucking into my pocketbook.

New Year, time to rotate some dishes? I love the Fireking Charm cup & saucers, but rarely pull them out. The Year of Color blog is focusing on blue and white for the month, so I'm sipping coffee, tea and hot chocolate from these for a few weeks. Nana would be proud. I bought them at a little antique shop in OK when I went to visit her and Papa a couple of summers ago.

Ever heard of the 5 year plan?

And I'm not talking about a car loan either.

Ever bought anything for your home and five years later, it's still not done? Our shed (old chicken house) is full of 'stuff' that seems to be on the five year plan. The following is one such project that turned into a five year plan, maybe a six year plan. We're not sure of the exact time we got started with this one.

Long before the back porch was renovated, long before the basement was renovated, long before the endless powder room disaster, er, renovation, the hubbie and I were at an auction in Buckeystown held by Mike, the flamboyant auctioneer. Most everything was junk. Even the $2 box lots weren't moving, but the people watching is always a cheap date.

In between cheap veneer computer desks and a hospital bed, there was this sad, old iron baby crib. It had several layers of paint chipping off of it. The latest was what we dubbed "l'il Devil Red". Must've scared that baby witless to wake up with blood red bars holding him back from the world. The crib was a no sale and I pushed hubbie whispering "Offer a $1." I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it and little did I know it would be at least five years before my plan would come to fruition!

Just as soon as the porch was renovated (which I was sure was going to start happening at any moment, ha), the crib, once rehabbed, would make a cute little sofa/settee for a cozy reading spot.

L'il Devil Red crib went in the shed to wait it out. At least a year goes by...

Porch still not done...

Nope, not yet...

Ah, porch work has begun!

Now it's time to dig out the L'il Devil.

Countless home improvement shows lie to us telling us we can just take an old piece of metal furniture to an autobody shop where they'll sandblast it and paint it on the cheap. Not only will no place in my county do it, but I was also advised that I wouldn't want paint meant for a vehicle in my home if I had any furniture finished with it since it would be highly toxic to breath the fumes.

After asking some friends where they had their old tulip lawn chairs stripped, they suggested we call a headstone company. Yes, a headstone company. After all, the images, names and dates are all sandblasted into the stone and they could sandblast the paint off the crib, couldn't they? Hubbie dropped L'il Devil off and got a promise that they'd get to it over the weekend.

And another year (at least) goes by...

Headstone companies are, sadly, busy places. We were sure L'il Devil had gone off to die. Practically gave up on it.

Somewhere in there, in a fit of optimism, I had bought a baby mattress (which also went into the shed) and a vintage handsewn barkcloth daybed cover(I could've just passed out cold when I found this) at Lucketts.

Finally, hubbie tries one last time to spring L'il Devil from exile and they promise us one final time that it will be done the very next week. Well, lo and behold, they made good on that promise with profuse apologies and wouldn't accept payment for it because of the crazy time frame.

L'il Devil cleaned up nice. Over the holiday, hubbie painted it and we brought it inside where it will no longer be known for its scary red hue, but as a place to relax. Of course, Sozo kitty found it in about 30 seconds once we had the daybed cover on it. If you're ever in the neighborhood, come on over and sit a spell.

Operation Mistletoe, off the rails!

Shopping done. Check.


Gifts for out of town relatives wrapped. Check

Packages sent. Check. (bless hubby and his willingness to stand on line)

Cards send. Um, some, but not all. Not check. Not even hat check. (the small eensie weensie check I have are these very few cards I made for a very few fellow artsy types; I even sacrificed some vintage lace and sheet music. a painful, but satisfying creative process)

All handcrafted gifts done, wrapped and delivered. Not. Even. Close. (cue Twilight Zone music cause this is where I'm at right now)

Am I worried, frazzled, freaked? Not yet. But I'm out of Cadbury Mini Ornaments, so if you see me at 2 a.m. at the gas station buying up all of their overpriced Christmas candy, you know the melt down is near. But hey, why are YOU at the gas station at 2 a.m. in the morning young lady? Hmmmm?

(I'm not finished decorating either, bwahahahaha)

But, I did make a bit of time for some vintage loveliness....


I love old glass refrigerator dishes. Not only do we actually use them as refrigerator dishes in this house, they are perfect in my studio to hold cards, embellishments, piles of lace and all manner of whatnot. I snagged this one for so cheap, it'd make you want to slap your 7th grade science teacher.

My love affair with Putz houses began a few years ago when I won one in an auction and decided to read up on them. This little pink one joined the vintage village last week. (I also brake for brush trees, num, num, yum)

I saw 2 tiny blue suitcases perfect for a weekend at Nana's. Opened them up and nearly fainted with delight at the lining. Squeals of joy! Then hastily shutting them in an attempt to deflect interest or attention from other shoppers.

Can't get to Nana's for Christmas, but I can use them in the meantime to show off some pretty little boxes of Shiny Brites!
And because I can breath a sigh of relief that all the packages are in the mail, I giggle to myself when I think about how I taped those suckers shut. I wish I could buy a case of TINSEL TAPE. It is fun on a roll. And think of the possible uses for art projects. Oooooh! Good stuff!

For a bazillion gift ideas, art projects and freebie downloads, check out: One Pretty Thing I love the Procrastinate Now, Panic Later spoof card download!

On the 2nd Day of Christmas, the Flea Market brought to me...

a sick daughter. Actually this is her 2nd sick day and I'm feeling the cabin fever, especially when my holiday list that is about a mile long isn't getting any shorter due to the fact that I'm stuck indoors with a coughing, sneezy, snuffling, can't get to sleep chickie. And now I'm officially registering a fever.

On the other hand, involuntary sequestering can be good for the soul, the pocketbook and the crafty type. No excuses or reason why I can't play in my tiny, closet-like studio! (really, it's smaller than my in-laws closet, but I'd kill for her shoe collection)

Before I forget, last week before the Thanksgiving gluttony marathon, my hubby and I were able to meet up with Kim for a couple of hours of junking at the Old Lucketts Store and On A Whim. Lucketts had their design showhouse open and it was a Christmas feast for the eyes. I could've packed an overnight case and a bag of chocolate and moved in on the spot. I love quirky old homes with nooks, crannies, moulding, painted floors and I die for claw foot tubs filled with giant ornaments. Just. Die.

Our time was cut short to run home and pick up the youngest rug rat from a weekend youth trip, but I did manage to score a few little yummies...

A long strand of sparkling chandelier crystals which will be perfect for crafty projects, a tiny bunch of vintage package toppers, a vintage printed tablecloth that fell exactly at my $18 limit mark and a dangly fun bracelet that I am wearing as often as possible. The hubby actually found the tablecloth. Long ago and far away (well, our previous and first home) when I started collecting them, I set an arbitrary amount of $18 being the highest I would ever pay for a vintage cloth. I've stuck to the rule fairly well breaking it perhaps twice. It keeps my tablecloth avarice under control.

I had to work to pass up the Christmas tablecloths at Lucketts. I have to keep telling myself I have enough already. I just pulled them out of the linen closet today and am ready to drape them on every available table. If I can keep the kitty from snuggling up on them! Being sequestered at home, I've had time to wrap presents (I gave in to the lure of MORE wrapping paper, so flog me with a roll of French ribbon), do some cyber shopping and the most fun~work on my Journal Your Christmas book!

I made a decision not to buy anything for this project, but to work with supplies I already have. Already having a massive collection of Basic Grey Christmas paper on hand took care of the paper needs. Most of the other items I've put in the project basket aren't Christmas related, but will lend themselves well to the effort. Going out on a limb, I didn't buy a journal or album either. I hope it's not a mistake, but I cut cardboard sheets into 4x12in lengths and plan to get the complete project bound at Staples once I'm done.

Another decision I made was a quick one: to be brief. This month is busy enough as it is without me agonizing and spending hours trying to create the perfect project. This entire class is all about enjoying the process and the holiday. What fun would it be to start with good intentions, then wig out because one day didn't cause me to exclaim with joy over my inherent cleverness (ha, me clever?!?)?

Here is my cover and first 2 days. I've also been enjoying checking out the journals of others in the class. What talent and heartfelt journaling to peruse! Truly love how we can all take the same prompt and interpret it so individually!

Pretty is as Thrifty does

Okay. Okay, okay, okay, so you know how when you get really excited when you get a great deal? Or you find something so unbelievably cool and you just can't wait to share it with someone? Cool! Then this is how I feel when on the 9th visit to a thrift shop I find something I actually want to buy instead of donate.

So, let's share, shall we?

Yes, I saw something on the shelves we donated, but we also found these beauties which we left the store with for less than a 10-spot:Lots of gloriously simple, but infinitely functional milk glass goodies for the kitchen; mixing bowls (which in my house double as serving bowls), a sturdy diner mug, a couple of bowls, a ramekin and a neato little vase. Plus a rosey, posey print.

Hubby doesn't know it yet, but I'm soon coming to a point where I'll box up all the newlywed Corelle to give one of our children when they get their first place. I'm ready to switch the kitch completely over to MY tastes.

And really it pains me that this is probably the stuff that my Nana sold at a garage sale for a nickle when I was a little girl. People are donating these classics. Sure they don't have the media love that Jadite gets or pink depression glass, but milk glass is an all inclusive glass. It doesn't discriminate. You can pair it with Jadite, depression glass in all shades, ruby glass. Heck, even new Fiesta and it will complement nicely. If you have milk glass and you don't want it, send it to moi!

I know the print isn't for everyone, but it was sitting there looking so lush and lonely that we brought it home. It does have a place in the grand scheme of our new living room plans, but for now, it will have to be happy perched on a ledge in the dining room. Kind of reminds me of these flowers that are still blooming in our garden.

If you haven't overheard the Christmas music playing in the background while you shop the past week, you probably haven't actually gone shopping. The season is here; especially if you make any of your decorations or gifts. There is a cool little blog happening this month. You can click on it if you look on the right sidebar here. Joli Paquet is offering tips, tutorials and recipes all month long by some of my favorite bloggers. The best part of Joli Paquet is that they also have kits of lots of various holiday projects that are A-Maze-Ing. If you love to get a little glue under the fingernails or glitter in your hair and want a creative jumpstart, check them out! I already came, saw and shopped!

I really feel that even in this economy, we should seek out unique, personal gift ideas like the ones Joli Paquet offers rather than defaulting to only shopping the big box stores. If we don't, next year there might not be a Joli Paquet or Christmas show at your fairgrounds or even a fundraising church bazaar. We'll find ourselves buying keychains and travel mugs in plain black boxes by the register when we pick up our deodorant. I really don't want that. I'd much rather buy Reeses when I pick up my deodorant.

Happy Valentines Day!

A few years ago, I realized that even though I was married, Valentine's Day didn't automatically mean flowers, candy, candlelight dinner and whatever diamond pendant Zale's Jewelers was hawking that year. Some years the hubby really knocks it out of the park with a fabulous gift like last year when he got the entire family tickets to see Wicked. Another year, it was an afterthought when he said we were going to dinner, only he hadn't planned where and every decent place was booked up because, of course, reservations had been made well in advance, so we ended up coming back home after some 'intense fellowship' (codeword for argument). Whatever this year brings, I hope that everyone gives themselves a little love even if that means buying that amazing vintage sweater set that's at the little vintage clothing boutique downtown who thinks that vintage is really another word for haute couture and charges as though it were. Hmm, wonder what I might be getting this year....

I did get fabulously spoiled by my swap partner for the Vintage Heart Swap,Valita. That box was filled with all sorts of lovelies like a vintage apron, a swath of old lace, trims, jewelry findings, buttons, old Valentines, candy which was immediately decimated, a floofy bubble pen, fun heart soap and more. The most fabulous goodies though were this frothy confection of a pin and her handcrafted tussie mussie. She tells me it was her first foray into them, but I think Valita is trying to be modest. Don't girlfriend! My daughters were super jealous of me and that is high praise! See the loveliness?

Over the weekend, I was able to take in an auction that was held at the teensiest little row house I've ever seen in downtown Frederick. It had snowed in the morning, so I hoped that turnout would be low, but apparently at least 100 people had the same hopes because that's how many of us were squished into what was maybe a 20 foot wide yard that held the entire contents of the house. It was damp and cold and too crowded to even get a good look at most of the items. I did come away with a hobnail pedestal cake stand, a Depression glass cake plate and a box full of old linens. Here's a little photo of the fun stuff I got before my frozen toes which kept getting stepped on had quite enough and marched me to my car.
I think these are my favorite out of the box in linens.
On Tuesday, we had our Primaries. Rock the vote! Only I didn't rock it the way my 12 year old wanted me to, so she fussed at me while I let that child accompany me to the voting booth. I guess everyone in that school cafeteria knows who I didn't vote for now, eh?

But on Wednesday, we had some ice storm fun to wake up to. School was canceled and we stayed in our jammies for as long as possible. It was lovely to look at and a minefield to walk over. My behind must have a huge bruise because I really planted it on my way to the car. If someone had a camera on me, we could be $10,000 richer if we sent it to America's Funniest Home Videos. Not only did I fall, but my enormous backside then acted as a sled and sent me flying several feet before I landed in a slushie pothole. You know, if ever in the morning, even your espresso can't wake you, there's nothing like a refreshing dip in a sub-zero pool of ice to shock you into full awareness. It was pretty to look at all the ice though while I hobbled back into the house to change clothes. My dormant lavender looked like a frosty ice princess.