Each Day

As I rise this morning.... getting my writing ready to post... I tell myself... "Today is going to be a happy day.... Be grateful... give thanks... for all I have and for what will be given to me... "
I hope at the end of this day I can sit down and have said at least one small word that has eased someones heart and it feels like sunshine where it went. If I have done nothing I can trace... nothing that brought a smile to a face, then waking up this morning for me has been a waste...
Have a wonderful day and in doing so you will be blessed.....

Have You Noticed ?

Have you noticed I have a thing for cheap bling??? Whatever the reason, I'm into playing dress up with my vintage finds.... Always when I am out and about I am training the eye to look for dress me up jewels, especially rhinestones.... Loving earring and brooches as they always can find a home here with me.

Always knowing I would never have diamonds and riches of which I can't tell the difference anyway.... I can find many treasures in second hand stores... Then I can add to anything... my duds..pillows...purses and many beloved items. My lingering desire for collecting all that glitters is a every day hunt... after all... costume jewelry was designed for the lady who couldn't afford the best in life... and to that I am assured is a large number of us... But the wonderful part of the whole thing we think we do have the best of the best in life.....

When I find some lovely vintage gems I am so happy it makes me smile so much my face muscles start to hurt... It is really cheap therapy. Loving vintage and antique is a condition of the heart... I sometime wonder what is a appropriate way to describe myself... and the things that bring me joy... I guess it is to be able to see charm and enjoy with others... typing out our passions and sharing of treasures, thoughts, and life.... It adds bling to my life.... cheap bling......

Vintage Appeal

Good Morning.... I have been enjoying my coffee and trying to say "hello world"..... Yesterday was a very long day for me... We had a nice time.... not coming home winners only in the fact that we had a very safe trip back to my little corner of the world of which makes me the happiest.... Today I must run to the pharm and purchase my meds and wash my car " Bessie" who is always in need of after a trip of any sort.... I am also hoping to have a couple hours to work on some projects...

I was able to complete a couple objects on Tuesday afternoon I am sharing with you today.... I embellished the jar of white buttons and made them more of a presentation... I added some wonderful old vintage lace to the lid { If I were more primitive I would have left the jar as was found} but I had to do more.... I added a beautifully illustrated tag I made with a lovely photo and aged book papers and snipps of roses and tied in creme crinkle ribbons...

I also made a scrappy card for a 50 th wedding reception we will be unable to attend as we have a conflict on the date... We need to be at our church festival working. I also have added a hand-written note with well wishes.

Then elevating to a new level I embellished the little petite Hamilton clock I purchased at the antique shoppe. My original thought was to add a vintage brooch to the front for a touch of bling... As I searched my home my eyes fell upon this vintage rhinestone bracelet I just had hung over the lid of a covered glass jar on display ... Laying the lovely old bracelet on top of the clock, having a total different vision originally, I was in amazement... it fit perfectly...Rushing down the basement into my craft area I instantly married the two pieces of vintage pieces of time together. Some times the simplest things are meant to be... Now my little vintage find at the shoppe has a magnetic attraction with a shabby chic touch of bling, every object can has a potential to reveal much more if we are willing to view it in a different way and give it a chance.... Not only do you have a one of a kind... you are able to add the touch of vintage that is so well loved right now and oh so very friendly for your budget....

Crinkle Ribbon and Antique Finds

Antique skirting purchased at the antique shop... I will be making a couple more pillows with its simple white story of grace and charm... I do believe this is a piece of original under garment of a petticoat or slip from the past.....

Hankies from antique store for making some parer doll hankies.... I will share and thinking about offering some for sale.... Any one interested?

Old books from antique store with just the right covers and pages for displaying or embellishing... Reading can always become a evening pleasure before eyes drifting off to sleep.

Little working clock also from antique store.... I will be adding a vintage brooch to this little treasure of the past for embellishment... It will give me the desired touch of bling along with the little touch of pink roses on the clock face. Will share when completed...

Old Address gift book... the paper encourages the thought of petite scrap book... A sweet gift of the past... Will share when finished.

Buttons... Buttons... Buttons... A great jar of buttons purchased at antique shop.... I will embellish this jar until I choose to start creating with these wonderful vintage buttons...

I received some crinkle ribbon from Polly at http://countingyourblessings.blogspot.com/ yesterday and ready to do some creating.....This enchanting ribbon works well with my scrapping in a perfectly lovely way. I know it is bias ribbon but I have not found a place to purchase it to crinkle it myself. If anyone knows and would like to share that would be wonderful.....

As you can see I made a little treasure hunt trip to the antique store this morning.... Again hunting for little affordable treasures for making little changes for the eye in my home..... I will be making a few items for resale also.....Hope you enjoyed my little shopping trip ... Tomorrow I will not have a post as far as my plans are at this time... Tom and I are planning a day outing, traveling to New Buffalo, Michigan to go to Four Winds Casino...... Wishing you all a very nice couple days until I find the hours to post again...

Ps. If you can find a moment stop by and say hi to Sandi and send a well wish and a prayer to her and her family... Her father suffered a heart attact a couple days ago... This lovely lady has a charming blog and a wonderful outlook on life and I am sure it would mean alot to hear from you during this time period... http://waysidetreasures-sandi.blogspot.com/

Reflections Of The Past... Hand Written

Lending itself to vintage and past years the lovely art of handwriting is becoming a lost art.... I find this to be very sad. You cannot re-read a phone call... or hold a email close to your heart. I am always so intrigued with lovely old writings of letters and post cards with the aging envelopes and wonderful old stamps... tied together with a lovely ribbon..holding the sincere words from the past. It becomes a emotional experience... Beautiful old hand written pages are truly magical...a collection of treasured family memories and often a story of deep love.... that strike at the heart. Lovely letters are revisits of a past time and can be enjoyed for generations.... I still have a lovely letter written by my grandmother to me on my graduation day... This piece of paper brings tears to my eyes and pulls at my heart strings every time I read it... Beautifully phrased words written by a lady many years ago that I adored. It is living written proof this wonderful lady once graced and blessed this earth we live on... A blessing .....

Vintage Inspiration Projects

This week I plan on diverting my attention to working on some vintage inspired projects.... Yesterday toward evening I found myself snipping away at paper dolls.... I have a card to make for a reception we will be unable to attend as we have a commitment to our church festival coming up in two weeks. I will be pulling out snippets of ribbons and wonderful old buttons and lace and jewelry to complete some of these projects. I always love hunting for all these special embellishments and transforming them into something unexpected and different. I will be making a couple items for our church craft booth for our festival also... Vintage ephemera is always in the back of my mind for creating... I have always love making things , however over the years my taste has really changed.... Everything I create is vintage inspiration.... It is a return to loveliness for me.

Whites and Creams

In my eyes... there are no colors that has the calmness and the sweetness as something adorned with or objects of whites and creams. They tell a simple story of beauty and grace.... The addition of candlelight dancing across the room carried from wall to wall ... shimmering a offering of essence. When friends and neighbors come calling for a visit , how lovely for them to enter into this fresh, crisp, sugared touch of peaceful presence. Whites and creams do not have the shocking effect and presence but offers a soft, fluffy cloud of unending tranquility. Allot of you lady's here in blog land have chosen to have snowy white and creamy ivory swirled together with a chippy and distressed patina, taking it to a level of comfort and aging, therefore taking away any feeling of sterile...
I have posted previously my love for more whites, creams, and lattes, with tea stained colors... I just love the peaceful presence and surroundings they provide... Making a beautiful impression......

Tuckered Out

Can't think of much to post about cause I think I need a nap.... Up out of bed fairly early to make the 8:30 mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church... Home from church and Tom and I went over to St. Mike's Golf and played 18 holes... Came home and cut up half a ice cold watermelon.... picked green beans and sweet corn from the garden.... Now I am tuckered and think I need to swim a couple times around the pool and lay down and take a nap..... Then get up and fold clothes from the dryer and prepare supper... Tonight is going to be a simple farm meal.... Smoked sausage... sweet corn... tomatoes... and ice cold watermelon..... Just alot of rewards when you can go ut to the garden and pick most of your supper from it... I love this time when you harvest your plantings.... Hope you all are having a good day....Ps. we enjoyed our evening last night in Ft. Wayne with our friends... Food was very good.....

Objects and People

What makes one man's JUNK another man"s TREASURE ???? How many times have we heard from other's " What do you want that old thing for?" As we are standing there with drool running down our chin.... Just what makes this love affair with this so called " undesirable" object?? I personally think it is a great gift to have vision to see beauty in this object... Through these gifted eyes we find many wonderful friends and people... The gift to look beyond.... How many times have we been deceived by a well dressed person, reeking with jewels and found sincerity in someone not a s well designed.... The expensive can be a rocky- love affair while the timeworn with stands.....

Vintage Hankie

Despite some rain this morning I made my way down to The Red Barn Annual Garage Sale.... I enjoyed looking ....I found myself coming home with not one single little object to love... They are mainly country and primitive so I usually don't find too much but always enjoy the hunt..... Going through the process hunting for something unique is always so much fun... Today wasn't the day..... I am sincerely being true to myself and not acquiring and spending money for things I can definitely live without... Usually that item I can't live without comes in the form of a antique beaded purse.... I only have a few paper doll ornaments down at the shoppe{ I place them on consignment} to sell yet so I think I may have to restock.... and that means I should get busy working on some items....

I am sharing with you another little vintage hankie Paper Doll... I haven't went on a hunt for hankies yet to make more....

The rain has made me feel somewhat sluggish today.... I probably won't get too involved in projects as we are going with another couple to Ft. Wayne, Indiana and meeting up with another couple at the Triangle Park Bar and Grill for wonderful food and conversation......I have never been there before so I am looking forward to it... I must try to remember to take my camera....No blogger should leave home without their camera.... So many times I wish I would have placed it in my purse...and so many times I had not done so... Wishing you all a very nice weekend .....

Oh My.... Mine Is thrown All Over The Table

I have been visiting http://www.mydesertcottage.blogspot.com this morning and viewing all the lovely places bloggers create.... Oh my gosh I have been working on a scrappy folder card and need to finish it today... but my area is a large table with everything just thrown all over it and the over-flow laid out on a old ping pong table.... Oh..I haven't figured out where to go with a small space yet but it will not be anything like the lovely areas I just visited this morning..... Enjoyed all your areas and you are very fortunate and talented ladies.... Thanks for sharing....

Home and Family

I know I post alot on the importance of home and love of family... I have come to the time where I can see we are really letting other things take us over and in this time of homes bursting the economy ... why don't we do ourselves a favor and us them for what they were intented for.... We need to take some steps backwards and base our lives on love of home and family.... if we are genuine we know we have managed to let our lavish wants get in the way of this.... We have desires for home and belongings that are causing us hardships and in the process loosing touch with family...
Why do w think it has to be a major holiday for sharing with love ones????? We need to set new { old} trends for others who don't quite get it! It truly is time for giving of our time and sharing... Maybe our divorce rate may decrease if we taught our families all things are not so disposable.. Most of my favorite memories and loved thoughts and best times are those I spent with my parents and family.... and it wasn't while on some out-landish vacation somewhere... They are memories that we created around the most precious thing we call home... We do need a soul searching pursuit... make every day a child will want to spend.... so in turn this child will become a adult wanting to give their children a home and family foundation... Our children do practice their own personal life's that we are giving to them... That alone is something to really think about.... Make sure we are giving them something of true value.... I have heard so many times that parents say" I don't want my kids to have to struggle like I did!" Why the heck not???? This is what makes a person strong! Do we really want this vision of sugarplums dancing around in our kids heads or do we want them to know a true foundation? Start today.... give the perfect present.... The present of Home and Family....

Daily Chores

Today has been a cleaning day....As I sit and rest from time to time my mind wanders to a poem on days of the week I remember reading.... I thought I would write my own version of feelings....
As I work my way through every day of the week I thank God with a very humble heart for giving me this day... I can't change the past nor do I know the future..... I need to make present memories and cherish them as they were my last....
Monday....Wash Day.. Make others happy, use my talents, and wash away selfishness.
Tuesday.... Ironing Day... Help my family, neighbors, and friends iron out their problems..
Wednesday... Mending Day... Look at every day as a challenge.... and do what I can to help mend the hearts of others
Thursday.... Cleaning Day.... With a kind deed for all I need clean thoughts and a pure heart.
Friday....Cooking Day.... Cook to nourish the body and the soul and share with others without fear of tomorrow.
Saturday... Shopping Day... Shop for all the wants and needs of others, wasting not energy in a useless way...
Sunday.... The Family Day... The Lord's Day to be shared with family and friends looking only on the bright side of life....

Ps. I am doing this post and I have country music in the back ground coming from the dish on TV.... The music and post doesn't go together and has placed a big old smile on my face.... It's Randy singing through his nose " On The Other Hand"...

Who Am I ?????

On some days now that my days of managing and being a shoppe owner are over.... I find myself still trying to realize what my dream should be... Many things I would very well like to enjoy in life... I just honestly can't afford... I would love to be able to dabble in a small way as I do miss customers and meeting people in person.... Blogging has been a nice fix for filling that void however.... I guess when you see others and can help brighten their day... it is humbling.... I find myself at a rather unfamiliar place in life.... not really wanting obligations, but yet some day's trying to seek out.... maybe it is all a part of accepting retirement and the one part of my body that wasn't ready was the mind because the body sure is there..
Many of you have Etsy Shops.... Do you find them to be of benefit????? Again, I am still trying to teach myself of the saying " less is more". I have always loved a pretty place to sit and place my feet up, now why can't I seem to do that??? Maybe I was envisioning more and not realize it takes more than one attitude adjustment when down sizing in any form.... Seems we are always striving to make ourselves content and our home lovely and cozy.... I know it takes time and I am in the process of learning to know who I am now... Aging and retirement is like a intruder breaking in... and I don't have a welcome mat......

Singing In The Rain

More than a handful of plants in my yard and garden are receiving little gentle showers from above today... It is helping them to drink and flourish...

We will also be blessed with many samplings from the garden... Our sweet corn will be ready for melting butter and salt and pepper starting by weekend.... Oh Oh Hummmm !!!!

All this in the natural surroundings with raindrops gently covering the leaves and buds is a great beauty in my eyes... The land provides crops and flowers and trees and other beautiful landscapes..... and is very much a gift from God this morning... There is a calming sensation from the grass to the air... remember when dark clouds are overhead.... relax and enjoy and go singing in the rain.... " I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain... what a wonderful feeling, I'm singing in the rain..."

Your Name.. A thing of Honor

You received it from your father, most of the time it may have been all he had to give....
It it your to keep and to cherish, and you should for as long as you live....
It was clean and untarnished the day he got it, and a worthy name to bear.... So please protect and guard it safely, for when everything is all said and done...
You'll be proud the name is spotless, when you pass it unto your son......

Timeless Gift

When I know I am going to a lovely shop I become like a small tiny tot with her eyes all a glow and it's like knowing Santa's on his way with time-touched goodies on his sleigh.... then the dashing comes in... the thought I am not able nor do I really wish to spend the amount I was able to when I worked full time.... I must admit truthfully it has taken a bit of the sparkle out of the visit.... Bit I give myself a attitude adjustment thing and start the hunt for some small treasure..... Lot of the time it may be aged papers or jewelry I can use to scrap with.... but I weaned myself to be happy and content... It actually has become " a good thing" as Martha would say.... In the past years I have made purchases and having having them home for awhile I wonder "why" I thought I had to have that... or disappointed it maybe didn't do what I had visioned in my mind... Then I end up placing it on ebay or at a garage sale or the worst thing.. I find it tucked away in some cranny somewhere. In our times now I know this is not something I want to be happening... so the glow in the eyes have become somewhat dimmer.... After time it is becoming quite easy to keep it simple... Tom and I have had many discussions over the past year that we really don't need to accumulate more, just try to maintain what we have.... just making peaceful, pleasant, lovely, and close to perfect for when guests may arrive... God has already blessed me with that and knowing this is the TIMELESS GIFT of everyday...
Ps. Years ago I would have used the thought process of do I want this object I can't live without or do I want electricity????? Hum, I think I could sneak over tho the neighbors house at night and plug in an extension cord..... HUMMMM... that does it.... that objects mine!!!!!!

Blogging Bliss

The process of raising 2 sons and a daughter and working through a failed marriage of 27 years, being a sacred thing that most of the time we did not openly share or discuss, through blogging, it has opened the doors to release and sharing in a positive way the celebrations of life and some of the dark clouds that surround it. In my adult years of life I have succumbed to the practically of most things and thankfully have learned the difference .... I have stated in earlier posts about the difference between WANT and NEED, or as I may have stated in earlier years..... Being spoiled and not being spoiled... We just need to often remind our self that unexpected gifts are everywhere. They are waiting to be found... just as a gem in a shell... Our Traditions are also magical... Just as magical as a mother and a child dropping spoonful of batter onto a cookie sheet... preserving the warm tradition of baking.
The joy and happiness... blogging brings to me in my relaxed times becomes of great importance . It brings me bliss, and blessings... A bit like a holiday tree after being bedecked with twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments.
It truly is a way of sharing childhood memories, charming traditions and heartwarming and humorous stories.... and the talents of others worldwide... also takes me on vacations that I cannot afford... through blogging.... I send you greetings that you "TAKE JOY" throughout each and every day.....

Cameo's

Elegant, Timeless, and Beautiful....
These silhouette ladies are usually carved and quite detailed. They have been around for hundreds of years, many being worn on necklines and lapels and fingers. Hand- crafted of shell, coral, and stone and set into ornate filigree frames. These Victorian era lovely women usually depicts long flowing hair with lovely roses truly are timeless and a favorite of mine...