Blue Ridge Altered Art

Have a Blessed Mothers Day

2011-05-08T04:44:00.000-07:00

Bleeding Heart Flowers and the Cross

2011-04-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

I am linking this post to Faded Charms White Wednesday , Fishtail Cottage for Cottage Flora Thursday . Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday . Favorite Things Saturday

   My favorite flower has always been the bleeding heart. I love the simplicity of the flower and the meaning behind it. I have the pink or red as some call it that represents the blood of Jesus and the white His Resurrection. Did you know that inside a bloom is a spear that pierced His side. I have shown a bloom opened with a picture of the spear.

    I also collect the old pressed pattern glass with the bleeding heart pattern.

     I have also included one of the many antique Easter cards I have. This is the only one that shows the true meaning of Easter.

     Have a Blessed and safe Easter. ~~Sherry~~

Victorian children in white and First love

2011-04-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

     It is Faded Charms White Wednesday again and it is one of my favorite parties of the week since most of my house is done in white. Be sure and stop over at Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday also.

     I think I have mentioned before how much I love old prints and the two with the children in white are two of my favorites. The little boy sitting on the edge of the water fishing and the little girl in her prim white bonnet and frilly dress. I purchased these at two at different times. Their frames are very similar and I love the chippiness of the frames. Both have wood backs which I have never removed but would love to take a peak inside hoping that it would give me some idea of the era of the prints.

     The last picture is of my sister, a friend named Skeeter and myself. He was our first love. This was taken in the summer in about 1955. Skeeter visited his grandparents every summer and we were his grandparents closest neighbors so if he wanted to play, he was stuck with my sister and myself. Would love to know where he is now. His Grandparents moved in the late 1950's and we never heard from them again.

My Grandmother's Decorated Real Eggs

2011-04-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

     This is a partial collection of my Grandmother's decorated eggs. My sister has some and my Mother has the bulk of her collection in the Antique French display case my Grandmother bought to display her eggs in. She was an artist beyond compare. Her eggs were her crowning glory as they were displayed quite a few times in our county seat library for all to enjoy.
     The first photo has an egg on a stand decorated with pearls and gold braids that opens up to a velvet lined interior. The yellow looking egg has dried fern attached. The one with the mirror in the bottom is open on both sides and has a bouquet of velvet flowers in the top that reflect in the mirror. The one in the front she applied cracked egg shell to an egg and then dipped it in dye to give it the marble effect. My favorite of these is the open one that looks like it has an egg yolk in it. She split an egg in two and placed the top portion of another egg inside that she had added tiny gold beads to. She would apply her beads with tweezers.
                                                                                    The next photo is a close up of some of my favorites. The next photo has 3 of her Easter and spring related eggs. The middle one she dyed the egg in boiling onion skin to give it a mottled look to it. The cross is made with bark and has dried flowers at the base of the cross.
The next photo has two that are Valentines related with hanging hearts. She always put a tiny bead at the bottom to represent dripping blood. I love the Victorian looking ones that she decoupaged and then added black lace or netting. The glisten you see on a lot of the eggs was her treasured diamond dust.

     The two blue ones she decoupaged and added diamond dust.

     The last two are my very favorites. The one with the dove she took the top of an egg as the base. She placed small letters on the base alpha and omega. Under the egg she put the letters BTL which were her initials. That is the only piece she signed in someway. Next she placed a dove with an egg between it's wings with a gold cross with red rhinestone. The crown of thorns she made from a twig and painted gold. She adds a bit of glimmer with irridescent sequins to the base and beside the crown.

     The last one I shared a few months ago for blue Monday. She painted an egg blue and all the decoration she made with crushed eggs that she applied to thin cardboard that she cut into flower design. She evevn made the bow at the top with cardboard with the applied crushed eggshell. This is the only piece that is dated 1971 with tiny white letters applied to the sides of the egg.

     Before Easter I plan on doing another post with the eggs and the cabinet that my Mom has.
                                                                                         I am linking this post to Faded Charm for White Wednesday. I am also joining Kara at Elements Interiors for Whassap Wednesday, Doni at Faith, Grace and Crafts for Pearls and Lace Thursday , Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday , Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday , My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

One Heart, One Mind

2011-04-03T05:42:00.001-07:00

SPCA Yardsale Goodies Another Chandy

2011-03-31T05:16:00.000-07:00

I am linking this post to Colorado Lady for Thrifty Thingie Thursday.

There were some great things at the local SPCA yardsale Saturday. So much so that I kept going back after loading my car twice.

Some of my great finds was an antique ironstone butter dish with liner for $2.00, an Atlas aqua canning jar with glass lid for 75 cents, a collection of candlesticks that I will be using for my seashell candlestick displays, a fibre optic Very large Easter egg with bunny inside in it's original box that was $39.00 new and I paid $2.00 for it and a large box of craft items that included an unused bottle of mod podge, a can of acrylic spray, 10 angel hair ribbon packages and over 30 packages of dazzle flex o mirror. The whole box of craft stuff was only $2.00.

My treasure though was the wrought iron chandelier with clay pots with the light fixture inside each one. Great items as I can change the flowers with the season. When I first saw it I thought the price tag read $30.00 so I asked the lady if that was right. No she said it was $3.00. Of course I said SOLD without trying to bring too much attention to my find. I am thinking of painting the whole thing white, but will think on it before I do.

That was one of the nicest sales I have ever attended. Everything was in sections, garden center, craft section, art and frame section, holiday section, linen section, household items and so on. I could have lingered all day as I have never seen so much in one sale like that before unless it was an auction.

Hope you found some great things last weekend. Looking forward to seeing your treasures. A lot of what I found I have listed on etsy.

1800's Ship Painting

2011-03-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

I love anything connected to the sea or beach. I found this painting many years ago at an auction and fell in love with it. The blue sky and the green blue sea set my heart afluttering. It is dated 1869 on the back and is signed Colter.
You can see by the crazing of the paint and the old frame that it is very old. I can imagine it having hung above an old fireplace many years ago which I think cause a lot of the crazing.

I am linking this post to Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

Seashell Art Candlesticks

2011-03-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

     I should be thinking Spring. After all I am a florist and Easter is just around the corner but summer projects keep calling my name. When I came across Cyndy at The Exchange and her post about sealife candlesticks well Spring just got put aside for the moment. If you love shells then her post is for you.
     Am I the only one that starts a project then another idea pops up and you get side tracked? I have admired the different high end shops with the old bottles with seashells soldered to them. Well I have many old bottles but I did not want to permanetly transform them with shells. Besides I had a problem with the dark solder making such a division between the bottle and the shell. Well when I found Cyndy's post about putting them on candlesticks she had me won at hello.
     She shows how you can hot glue the shells to the candlesticks and they stay I am here to tell you!!! Her tutorial is fabulous and a must see. I love the way the shells on the candlesticks look like one unit. I have many old glass candlesticks that belonged to my Grandmother. She loved and collected odd candlesticks. So I got them together and started to make my version of Cyndy's. The only difference in mine is I had all these bags of micro mini glass balls that are used for making water in fairy gardens and I hot glued them around the bottom of the shells to look like water. And another plus is if you ever want your candleholders or shells back you can just soak them in hot water to remove the shells. Be sure to check her out.

I am linking this post to Faded Charm for White Wednesday and A Beach Cottage for Good life Wednesday. I am also traveling over the Kara's at Elements Interiors for Whassup Whassup Par-tay . And be sure to check out Common Ground for Inspiration Friday . I am also linking to Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday.

Mischievious Kittens!!!

2011-03-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

I am linking this post to Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

This print is from the early 1900's. The artist of the orginial painting was C. Reichert an Austrian artist that passed away in 1918. I love this print with the mischievious kittens and the blue birds. The frame was painted a yucky gold and I repainted it in white. I belive this is the original frame it came in. Beautiful colors and such a playful scene.

The winner of my giveaway for the cakestand and tablecloth is Beverly from Southern home Sweet home. Beverly email me and I will send out your cakestand and tablecloth the first of next week.
Sorry for short post this morning, but I am a florist and unfortunately am working on 3 funerals this week. All you prayer warriors please say a prayer for the Bowen family. Mr Bowen was a very active member of our church since his youth. He has been ill for a few months and passed away at the age of 79.

Blue Quilt Top for blue Monday and tablecloth cakestand giveaway

2011-03-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

   I am linking this post to Smilling Sally for Blue Monday . Also linking to Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday. And Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS FOR THE CAKESTAND AND THE TABLECLOTH!!!
   If you could not already realize I love blue and the combination of blue and white is my favorite. I use to make quilts, but when I became a florist, time was limited to this fun hobby. I appreciate the time and effort people take in making quilts and so when I find quilts or in this instance quilt tops I usually grab them up. I got this one at an auction a few years ago. I paid only $12.00 for it. I was thrilled at the price, but sad that no one else appreciated the time, money and effort that goes into this work of art. I am hoping that in my "old age" which in reality is now, I will be able to finish it. I would love to be able to frame it, but it is huge.
     Be sure and stop by Sally's for other blues today.
     I have finally hit 100 followers and in celebration of that I am doing a give a way. This is open to U.S. followers only. The only rule is you must be a follower or become a new follower. Just post a comment to this blog post and you are in the running. Since so many of my followers do tablescapes and tea parties I decided the gift would be a new spring green tablecloth 60" by 102" and the spring flower cake stand that I made from a vintage plate and vase. Good luck and I will announce the winner on my Monday's Blue Monday post. Have a great week. ~~Sherry~~

Know That He Is Lord

2011-03-13T06:01:00.001-07:00

Mr Rabbit Says "Let Me In"

2011-03-10T19:36:00.000-08:00

I am joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for her Spring Cloche Party , How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday. and Faded Charm for White Wednesday.
I would like to introduce you to Mr and Mrs Rabbit. They are not getting along right now and she will not let him into the cloche with her. I think he did not bring any carrots home for dinner so she is a little bit annoyed with him. Hope they make up before the mating season or we might not see any little bunnies running around.

     I love this pair of rabbits. They each have a Napcoware Import Japan sticker on them. They came in the large egg. Not sure if that is Napcoware. Such detail to their faces. I love how the egg is decorated with flowers. I have them placed in my largest cloche which is 13" tall.
     On Monday I will be having my first give a way for having reached 100 followers. I will give details on Mondays Blue Monday post. Visit my 100 follower give a way HERE.
     Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all the other cloches At Marty's

By the Sea By the Sea By the Beautiful Sea!!!

2011-03-08T18:55:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the title, but that song popped into my head when I was placing the old seaside photo's in my coral and I cannot get it out of my head.
I love seashells and I really love coral. I did not realize how much I had until I started gathering it together for this blog post. I love the different textures and colors of shells and coral. Each piece is different just like our fingerprints. It amazes me when I think that with all the people in the world no 2 peoples prints are the same. Well it is the same with shells, no two are exactly alike. I am mostly attracted to ones that are different shades of white. I also like old black and white photo's with beach themes. Especially when they are of vintage swimsuits.

I am posting this to Faded Charm for White Wednesday , Paisley Passion for Thrilling Thursday and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

Cobalt Painted Stoneware

2011-03-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

I am linking this post to Smiling Sally for Blue Monday. A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday. In the 1980's I subscribed to a magazine called Early American Life. There was an add in it about this reproduction of antique stoneware made by the Wisconsin pottery in Columbus Wisconsin. You could join to receive one piece every 6 weeks for I beleive the price was $19.99 each 6 weeks. You never knew what pieces you were getting til they arrived. All pieces are dated and mine are from 1988-1990. I do not know exactly how many pieces I have, but have shown most. I have a few other pieces scattered here and there, but these are pieces that are clusted together. The first picture are different shape and design jugs and pitchers.

The next picture is a large crock with a blue painted flower and leaf design. I have only used that for flowers once in a while. The Grandma's Dessert Mold is an antique and belonged to my Grandmother. The second are all covered pieces that I keep sugar, tea and the large one has my flour. Next is my beverage center where I put my coffee or tea together in the morng. The large container with the deer is a beverage container with spigot. Love this piece. The mug in this picture was not part of the collection. The next picture has my mixing bowls, baking crocks and inside one is a pottery colander. When I was collecting these I thought what in the world I am thinking. But after many years I really appreciate them and use them every day. Thanks for stopping by to see my repro stoneware. ~~Sherry~~

God's Thoughts

2011-03-06T07:17:00.001-08:00

Antique Cinnamon Box Treasure

2011-03-04T06:42:00.000-08:00

     It is really tooooo cold for yardsales, but the first one of the season in 40 degree weather with wind blowing, I roughed it anyway. I am truly glad I did.
     First thing I spotted was this little maple desk or dressing table. Someone had tried refinishing it, but I am going to paint it white and distress it a bit. For $5.00 I could not leave it.
     My treasure was the antique finger jointed cinnamon box with great graphics and slide top. The gentleman selling it said that his father worked in a store in New jersey and when it closed his father kept this box. It is a treasure and I cannot find any information on cinnamon boxes of this type anywhere online or in any of the books I have. Any information someone could furnish would be greatly appreciated. At $5.00 I knew I could not go wrong.
     I also got the twisted stem ruby candleholders for $1.00 each. A damascene bracelet for $2.00, an elf riding some kind of animal made in occupied Japan for $2.00 and the silver planter for $1.00. Not a bad haul for $17.00.

I am linking this post to AL A Carte for Junkin Finds Friday and Show and tell Friday at My Romantic Home. I am also including this in Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special. I can't forget Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday! And Costal Charms Nifty Thrifty Tuesday . Also Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday.

Mother Nature Says Spring Is On The Way!!!

2011-03-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

Mother Nature has arrived letting us know that Spring is on it's way. She is adorned with budding branches where the birds gathering either feathering their nests or perching on limbs looking for their mate for the season.

You can also see the crickets and frogs coming out to gather a bit of warmth from the sunshine. Moss covered limbs and emerging shelf tree fungus are also adorning the trunks of trees.

So do not fear signs of spring are in the air and Mother Nature stands with her slight smile to say WELCOME and ENJOY!!!

I am linking todays post to Faded Charm for White Wednesday.

Antique Washbowl & Pitcher

2011-02-28T12:49:00.000-08:00

I am linking today's post to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday.

This is one of two washbowl and pitcher sets that I have. I love them, but have limited myself to two. This one was made by the Bennett company Which was located in Baltimore Maryland in the 1890's.

I love blue so of course this was a must have. I have it in my bathroom and usually have flowers in it, but did not have any for this post. I love the combination of the blue flowers and the fruit. The colbalt blue is my favorite color blue. Of course we have to have a lovely crochet edge handtowel to dry off. This pitcher came with a lid. I would think that was to keep the water hot from the wood stove to the bedroom where most of these were used in their early life. I had a washstand with a harp back where I displayed this, but have sent it on to live with my daughter. I had used the stand as changing table when she was born. Was the perfect piece for that. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit Sally for Blue Monday.

Grace and Peace to You

2011-02-27T06:21:00.000-08:00

Ironstone Roses and Funnel Cake

2011-02-22T19:26:00.000-08:00

I really do like the look of roses in ironstone. The simplicity of ironstone gives the roses or any other flower space to shine. This white ironstone pitcher and bowl is one of two sets I have. The other one is a blue and white transfer piece. I really do like pitchers and bowls, but have limited my collection to 2. There is just to much else I like to collect.

I also like anything with chippy paint and you have seen and will see this old screen many times in my post. The pitcher is setting upon one of 4 pedestals I have. I normally have a plant on this one. I love pedestals for display.

And to end my White Wednesday post you will see at the bottom my indulgence for the evening, Funnel Cake. Who wouldn't love a treat that brings back memories of carnivals and county fairs. Growing up my children looked forward to this treat for breakfast when they were home on snow days.

Be sure and stop by Faded Charm for White Wednesday and see all the other wonderful whites for today!!! I am also linking this to Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

For the LOVE of Rocks

2011-02-20T18:09:00.000-08:00

I am linking todays post to Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday. Also linking to Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday. And of course linking to Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

     I admit it, I love rocks. I have loved rocks ever since I was a little girl. I would collect rocks and keep them in a box under my bed. I really love anything that is of nature and not man made. Rocks, seashells, limbs of trees and driftwood. I will sometime share some of my Grandmothers collection of driftwood. You will not beleive it.

     I went to an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. They had listed old books and that was my main attraction. When I got there placed thru out the sale were rocks. Most were not so special, but the blue one jumped right in my hands. Yes really!!! I love blue and rocks and I beleive the rock knew that. There were many rooms in the house and as I carried my blue rock around I looked thru some books and other items around the house. Then what caught my eye was the match to the blue rock I was carrying. The blue rock in my hand started shaking. Yes really!!! When I picked up it's match it stopped. They were together again. Nothing was priced and I had asked the lady in the first room how much the rocks were. She said $2.00 each. So I was able to reunite these two for $4.00. Don't you just love "LOVE" stories like that.

     I did find some old books I liked and I bought quite a few for $2.00 each. But my true love was the blue rock bookends. Here they are in their new home. Together at last!!!

SIMPLE ELEGANCE FOR WHITE WEDNESDAY

2011-02-16T06:44:00.000-08:00

I am linking today's post to Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday. I am also joining Suzanne at Colorado lady for Thrifty Thingies Thursday.  Linking also to Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday. I am also sharing with Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

     I have a passion for rustic, natural items with a touch of elegance added in. This is a small part of what I collect.
     I love baskets and this little one belonged to my Grandmother. Some call it a one egg buttocks basket and some say it is a saleman's sample. This little basket is perfect and from the late 1800's. I beleive it was painted or coated with milk paint in it's early life as there are traces of white on it. I have a large collection of old baskets. Many belonged to my Grandmother and others have been gathered at auctions, estate sales and yardsales. I love going to auctions where there are longaberger baskets and antique ones. Every one comes for the longaberger baskets and I can get the antique ones for a song.
     I have grouped this one with some of my other loves like the deer antlers, shells, old boxes with the picture frame top, organic items like the wasp nest and a little touch of bling with the tabletop chandy. All are gathered on a basket rim mirrored tray setting atop my stack of vintage tweed suitcases.
     In the last picture is a photo of my Grandmother in the early 1900's who owned the little basket. She was dressed in her sisters prom dress for this photo. She was a very special lady and it was from her love of old items and love of doing flower arrangments which made me appreciate the old, the natural and my love for doing flower arrangements. It was her love of the last that encouraged me to become a florist.
     This is decorating on the cheap as everything was found except the basket given to me by my Grandmother, the chandy was a $1.00 yardsale purchase and was black and I painted white and the picture frame box was $2.00 at a yardsale. So this vignette cost $3.00!!!
     Thanks for joining me for White Wednesday. ~~Sherry~~

HAPPY VALENTINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-13T06:39:00.000-08:00

Thrifty Shadow Box Project

2011-02-02T19:23:00.000-08:00

I am linking this post to Tales of Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday .

These shadow box frames are for my someday project. Have you seen the prices of shawdow box frames new? They are way out of my price range for the project I am planning.

     So everywhere I go I am looking for shadow box frames. I do not care what is on the inside, if it is cheap and can be opened up, I buy it.

     Recently I found the first three at a thrift shop for $1.00 each. I could not beleive these nice wood shadow box frames with paper red roses were that cheap. On the back of each one of them is the price tag of $12.99 and they had come from target. I am going to keep them with the roses until after Valentines.

     The other ones I have purchased mostly from yardsales and the most I spent was $3.00 for the large blue one with the bathroom scene. Most of the others were $1.00 including the 2 matching ones that came from ikea and are still wrapped in the shrink wrap. I do not know what the original price was, but I would not think they were cheap.

     My some day project is to take them apart, paint each one white and chippy them up a bit, line with burlap and place some of my shells in them. I am really excited about this except for the part of trying to make them all into a grouping on one wall. That intimidates me a little. I think if they were all one size and shape it would be easier, but we will see. This will be a very thrifty wall displaly because I paid so very little for the frames and have collected some nice shells from yardsales, thrift stores and auctions. I will be putting one special shell in each frame. Thanks for stopping by and hope the weather is better in you neck of the woods than in ours!!! ~~Sherry~~

Oriental Tea Party w/Chinese Tea Brick

2011-01-31T16:30:00.000-08:00

This is my first time joining a tea party, so bear with me. I am linking this post to Silken Purses "Teapot & Tea Things Tuesday". , A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday. , Lady Katherine Tea Parlor for Tea Time Tuesday. , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday ,

     I love tea and have in my life time collected as many as 50 teapots. Over the years I have taken my collection down to 3 complete tea sets and a couple of teapots that match different china sets I have.
     This is one of my favorites which is a Japanese set that has a red chop mark. It was not meant for export. I got this at an auction where the family had lived in Japan for many decades. The cups and saucers are paper thin. Very pretty handpainted scenes on each piece. I have a service for 8, but I am having a tea party for two today.
     We are having Japanese green tea and poppy seed bread. I have kept it simple.
     In the upper left you will see a tea brick. It is from China and is compressed tea. It has an embossed oriental scene on one side and the other is divided into bricks. History has it that at one time these bricks were used as currency and you would cut the brick into pieces and use to purchase other items. The tea pieces would be ground to make your tea. I got mine on ebay in the 1990's. I have seen them since and they are much more than what I paid for mine. You can go on line and on wikipedia they have a real nice write up on the history of the tea brick. I love having it to go along with my tea set collections. The brass item is a Chinese tea cannister for loose tea. When you take the lid off you can see another lid that helps keep the tea fresh. I love this piece for all the embossed oriental symbols all around. This piece belonged to my Grandmother.
     The large framed fan I got at auction many years ago. Not sure if it is Chinese or Japanese.
Now you can join me and see what I have put together for our tea party. Enjoy.

This link is to my most favorite part of Karate Kid 2. That is the tea ceremony. It really shows the romantic side of tea. Thanks for stopping by and having a bit of tea with me. ~~Sherry~~

I "HEART" Pearls Valentines Wreath

2011-01-30T13:15:00.000-08:00

I am linking this post to Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday. I am also linking Paisley Passions Thrilling Thursday. Also linking to Faith, Grace and crafts for Pearls and Lace Thursday .

This wreath started with a bunch of tiny bouquets of roses and pearls I got quite a while ago from a Church bazaar. I love pearls, not too crazy about roses eventhough I am a florist. I would rather have a bouquet of white stock and electric blue delphinium.

I had a straw wreath that was covered in green plastic, so I covered it with white satin ribbon. I did not like the way the ribbon overlap showed, so I then wrapped the ribbon with white tulling.

I also had on had some red sheer ribbon that had a little glimmer to it that was left over from Christmas. I took the little bouquets and and added 3 loops of the sheer ribbon around each bouquet. I then added these bouquets to the center of the heart.

I also buy a lot of jewelry at auctions and yardsales. After making the wreath, I wanted more pearls to go with the pearls in the little bouquets. I found this 8 strand pearl necklace and attached it to the bottom.

Most of what I used, I already had on hand. I am not a red and pink kind of gal, so I will make me another Valentines wreath with white orchids. I will just add this red one to my flower shop. Thanks for stopping by!!! ~~Sherry~~

Snow Day Breakfast on Vintage Blue Willow Restaurant Plates

2011-01-27T09:30:00.000-08:00

Here is my morning breakfast of French toast that I prepared with fresh eggs from my Mom's chickens. I used vanilla extract that was developed in the 1930's by my childrens grandfather who was a pharmacist, for the french toast. The pharmacy closed in the last few years, but the gift shop that is there now still sells his extract. I also used it in the snow cream. I have sausage links and fresh snow ice cream to go along with the meal. It is served on a divided blue willow restaurant plate. I have 10 of them and my Grandchildren love eating off of them. Most were gotten at yardsales for no more than $1.00 each. Four I got at auction for $10.00. Snow ice cream: big bowl of snow, Add enough half and half til it is the consistency of a slurpy, add sugar to taste and vanilla extract to taste. Mix til sugar is disolved. If too thin either add more snow or put in freezer til it gets to the consistency of a slurpy. Yummy!!! I am sharing this with Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. I am also linking to Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous. I am also linking to Flaunt it Friday a Chic On a Shoestring Decorating. Linking to Paisley Passions Fun w/Food Friday . And Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

Snow StormLocal White WineHomemade Spinach Dip~~~~~~~~~

2011-01-26T14:49:00.000-08:00

I am linking this to White Wednesday at Faded charm.

Our Daily Duty to Be..........

2011-01-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

Winter Display

2011-01-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

This was my display for Christmas on the buffet in my dining room. It is more wintery than Christmas, soooo I am leaving it up for a while. The tree is decorated with white pearl snowflakes, glittered dark green grape clusters, crystal icycles, snowbaby ornaments and green balls with a raised snowflake design.

The candle wreath is green and white berries with the same green balls with snowflakes that I took out the hanger and added glittered leaves to make them look like fruit. The globe is an antique one that is from South America that they would use on floats with candles. I love it because it is full of bubbles and flaws and weighs a ton!!!

The oil painting is Victorian and is one of my favorite snow paintings. There is a woman and little girl walking towards the sunset. I am posting this with Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. Be sure and go by and see all the beauties there this week.

Neiman Marcus Look-a-Like For Holiday Bazaar

2010-11-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

I cannot wait for December 6th. I have made over 30 Christmas items for our local bazaar. Fun day with a parade and a bevy of crafters attend the local fund raiser for our local rescue squad.
     Here are two of the 15 wreaths I have made. The first is a copy of one I saw at Neiman Marcus. I love deer antlers and use a lot of them for my own personal decorating all year long. At Christmas I add them to my own wreaths and center pieces when I do a rustic woodland lodge theme that I think I will do this year. Antlers also look great just perched on the branches of trees.
     One year I did a white Christmas tree with blue and silver ornaments. It did not go over to well with my Grandson. When he came to see it, I asked him what he thought of it and he said "Meemaw, don't you know Christmas trees are suppose to be green." So much for an all white tree.
                                                                                    The next wreath is a hunt country theme. Since I live in horse country many of my clientele  have horse farms so many of my designs are geared towards them. Hope you enjoy and I hope to add some more of what I have been working on this week.

THE PEACE OF GOD

2010-11-21T05:21:00.001-08:00

CHRISTMAS WITH VINTAGE BRASS

2010-11-18T04:25:00.000-08:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST TO BEYOND THE PICKET FENCE FOR THE UNDER $100 LINKY PARTY and Show and Tell Friday a My Romantic Home.
I am getting in the Christmas mode getting ready for our local Christmas Bazaar. It is really easy to find vintage brass in our area. No one seems to use it much anymore. It makes for a haven for me. Much of what you find does need a lot of polishing and in this fast paced era no one wants that extra work it takes to bring it back to it former beauty.
I found the candleholders and the compote at yardsales for $1.00 each. The silks I was fortunate to find at a yardsale of a former Florist that was selling all of her unused silks and Christmas greens. The silks were all 25 cents each and all the new garlands and wreaths were 50 cents each. I was in florist heaven!!! I purchased the battery candlesticks at the dollar store, so you can see that this project was a steal to make. I love bargains like that so I can keep my prices down for the bazaar.
The brass candlesticks I attached an o'daptor, which is a plastic attachment for candleholders to put fresh on silk flowers in. You can also just use a piece of sahara (the foam for silk flowers) to the top of the candleholder with hot glue. I first placed my candle in and worked the greens and silks around it. I also placed a piece of sahara in the compote with hot glue and just worked the greens and silks in it also to coordinate with the candleholders. Quick and easy.
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all of the other items at Beyond the Picket Fence.

I AM DREAMING OF SNOW PAINTING

2010-11-11T18:44:00.000-08:00

I am linking this post to Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. I admit it, I LOVE SNOW, I know I am in the minority here, but there is something about snow this time of year that just seems to refreshen everything. So until I have the real thing, I have started hanging my winter snow paintings. This one is I purchased on ebay many years ago before paintings started going crazy price wise in the art department. I fell in love at first site. It came from Canada and is my favorite of my snow paintings. The thick texture of the paint gives it dimention and depth. It is hard to tell by the photo's. The way the artist did the shadows from the trees is incredible. I cannot draw stick people, so this painting really impressed me. It is a very large painting and is over my sofa in my living room from fall til spring. I think when you have art that makes a statement in a room you and anyone else who enters does not see the flaws (or dust and clutter) as much when you have a bold painting as the first thing they see. I have 3 more snow paintings and 2 of the three have horses. There is just something about horses and snow!!! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit Cindy for the other wonderful Show and Tell post this week.

MY VINTAGE AMERICAN INDIAN THANKSGIVING

2010-11-11T05:06:00.000-08:00

I am linking this post to Colorado lady Vintage Thingie Thursday. I am also listing this to Cindy's My Romantic Homes Show and Tell Friday. My Thanksgiving decor always incorporates American Indian items. I am showing you some of what I incorporate into my displays. I love the old childrens books showing the early life of the American Indian. They are colorful and give such a warm look at their early life. The Indian stature I got on ebay many years ago and the basket came from a yardsale. The Indian chief is an antique tobacco jar that belonged to my Grandfather. Much of his den was decorated with Indian items. I was blessed to have gotten this jar that was in his den for as long as I can remember. I will display these items in different settings with wheat and Indian corn. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all the other wonderful things at Colorado lady!!!

My Collection of Ironstone

2010-09-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

I am linking this post to Faded Charms White Wednesday. Be sure and go by and check out all the wonderful white post there today.

I love anything white especially dishes. I have 3 sets of white dinnerware. The top picture is one and my very favorite. This set is a J & G Meakin set from England. It was complete as shown. It even came with the matching teapot. I got this several years ago at an auction and paid $15.00 for it. There were quite a few other dinnerware sets there and most people were more interested in the ornate designed sets, so I was able to get this white set for very little. The other photo shows my other odd pieces that I have picked up in thrift stores and yardsales. I love the graduated size pitchers. I am still looking for the larger size ones to complete the set. I love the simplicity of them. Thanks for stopping by!!!

HOPE ~JOY~PEACE

2010-09-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

GRANDMOTHERS DECORATED EGG

2010-09-13T07:17:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS TO SMILING SALLY'S BLUE MONDAY. I AM ALSO LINKING UP WITH MY ROMANTIC HOME FOR SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY. MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A SELF TAUGHT ARTIST. SHE COULD DO MOST ANYTHING. HER FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS AND CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS WERE INCREDIBLE. MOST OF HER WORK WAS WITH NATURAL MATERIALS. SHE GREW UP IN A LOG CABIN AND SPENT MANY HOURS IN THE WOODS LOOKING AT NATURE WITH HER FATHER. AS A YOUNG CHILD NOT HAVING MANY STORE BOUGHT MATERIAL ITEMS, SHE LOOKED TO NATURE FOR HER PLEASURE. THIS IS A CHICKEN EGG THAT SHE PAINTED AND DECORATED WITH CARDBOARD BOW, BASE AND FLOWERS. THE CARDBOARD ITEMS SHE SPRAYED WHITE AND GLUED ON TINY PIECES OF CRUSHED EGG SHELLS. SHE WAS SO PARTICULAR ABOUT HER WORK, THAT THE FRONT AND BACK OF THIS EGG ARE IDENTICAL. SHE EVEN ADORNED THE CENTER OF THE FLOWERS AND THE BOW WITH A BLUE RHINESTONE. SHE MADE THIS IN THE 1970'S. I HAVE MANY OF HER EGGS AND MY MOM HAS HER SHOWCASE WITH MANY THAT I WILL SHARE WITH YOU LATER. SHE WAS SO WELL KNOWN FOR HER EGG DECORATING THAT THEY WERE DISPLAYED IN OUR COUNTY SEAT LIBRARY AT ONE TIME FOR ALL TO SEE. THEY ARE AMAZING. SOME WE HAVE HAS CUT OUT AND LITTLE SCENES INSIDE. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORIATES BECAUSE OF IT BEING MY FAVORITE COLOR BLUE. ALL FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE EGGS THAT SHE DECORATED FOR US AT CHRISTMAS. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL THE OTHER LOVILIES AT BLUE MONDAY.

2010-09-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

GIFTED

2010-09-05T02:12:00.001-07:00

My Handmade crocheted blue throw

2010-08-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am linking this post to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday.
Have I mentioned before that I love blue, white and brown. I think I have several times. This is an afghan that I crocheted in the 1970's. I had found the pattern for it from a Family Circle magazine and you had to order the pattern for it. I made me the blue and white one and a mauve and cream one for my Mother for Christmas. This was a very fun throw to make as you crocheted the strips and then sewed them together. I have been searching thru my files (which could take many months) because I would like to make one for my daughter and 2 daughter-in-laws for Christmas. By the time I find the pattern that might mean next Christmas. The way it is crocheted, it is very heavy. I keep mine draped
over the bentwood rocking chair that belonged to my Grandfathers uncle.
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all the other blue posts today at Smiling Sally's!!!

2010-08-29T04:48:00.001-07:00

A HALF-HULL SHIP PAINTING

2010-08-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

I am linking this to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

This is a half hull painting that I got at auction many years ago. The auction was held one a Wednesday in the evening. By the time they got to the art, there were only about 5 people left. They put this with 4 other paintings and I got them all for $5.00. I kept this one and another very large one of a docked fishing boat and sold the rest. This is also a large painting, but unusual in that it is a painting with a 3-D half ship attached to the painting. It is 36" by 24" and is signed Capt. Howe. I have not been able to find anything about the artist. This hangs center stage in my dining room. The ship has been carved of wood and the sails are fabric. I love my blues, browns and white as you can see from all my post.

PEACE

2010-08-21T19:16:00.001-07:00

MY MOTHERS CRAB SHELL ANGELS

2010-08-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST TO KATHLEENS' FADED CHARM COTTAGE AT http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ FOR WHITE WEDNESDAY.

TODAY I AM SHARING MY MOMS CRABSHELL ANGELS. SHE HAS MADE ABOUT 40 THIS YEAR. SHE MADE QUITE A FEW LAST YEAR AND THEY WERE SUCH A BIG HIT THAT SHE MADE MORE TO SHARE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I DO A CRAFT FAIR THE FIRST WEEK IN DECEMBER AND SHE GAVE ME SOME TO SELL AND THEY WENT INSTANTLY. SHE PUTS A LOT OF TIME INTO THESE AND WE ALL TREASURE THEM. I AM FREQUENTLY ASKED WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS FOR THINGS. I AM SURE FROM MY MOM WHO IS VERY CRAFTY AND MY GRANDMOTHER WHO DECORATED REAL EGG SHELLS WHICH I WILL SHARE WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.

WE CAN SOAR LIKE THE EAGLES!!!

2010-08-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

"THE LITTLE CAPTIVE" BY MAUD HUMPHREY

2010-08-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST TO CINDY AT SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY AT http://romantichome.blogspot.com/. I AM ALSO LINKING THIS POST TO VINTAGE THINGIE THURSDAY AT http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/. BE SURE AND GO BY AND SEE ALL THE VINTAGE ITEMS POSTED THERE. I LOVE PAINTINGS AND OLD ORIGINAL PRINTS. I LIKE MY ART TO BE THE FIRST THING I SEE WHEN I COME HOME. I AM NOT IN A POSITION WHERE I CAN GO TO A GALLERY OR HIGH END SHOP AND PURCHASED SAID ART, BUT HAVE BEEN BLESSED THAT WHAT I DO HAVE HAS BEEN PURCHASED FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY AT YARDSALES AND AUCTIONS. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PIECES THAT I GOT AT A YARDSALE THAT WAS INDOORS. A NEPHEW OF THE LADY THAT HAD PASSED AWAY WAS SELLING EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE. THINGS WERE ON TABLES AND THE PICTURES WERE STACKED AGAINST THE WALLS ON THE FLOOR. THERE SHE WAS. NO PRICE STICKER AND I HAD JUST GOTTEN TO SALE AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WOULD BE ASKING FOR ANYTHING. I PICKED HER UP AND WENT TO WHERE THEY HAD A TABLE WITH A CASH BOX AND ASKED HOW MUCH. "OH $1.00 WOULD BE FINE." YES I SAID THAT WOULD BE FINE. I PAID AND TOOK HER TO THE CAR BEFORE I LOOKED ANY FURTHER. THIS PRINT IS A MAUD HUMPHREY ORIGINAL PRINT COPYRIGHT 1897 BY THE KNAPP CO. IT IS TITLED "THE LITTLE CAPTIVE." MAUD HUMPHREY WAS A NOTED ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR FROM THE LATE 1800'S INTO THE 1900'S. SHE STARTED DOING A LOT OF WATERCOLORS OF CHILDREN AND IN LATER YEARS DID FASHION ILLUSTRATIONS. BY THE EARLY 1900'S SHE WAS MAKING $50,000 A YEAR WHICH WAS A GREAT SALARY FOR A WOMAN IN THAT ERA. HER SON WAS HUMPHREY BOGART AND MANY OF THE FACES OF THE CHILDREN WERE DONE WITH HER SON AS A MODEL FOR HER WORKS. I LOVE THE GENTLE COLORS AND THE ANGELIC FACE OF THE LITTLE GIRL. JUST REMEMBER YOU CAN HAVE A COLLECTION OF FINE ART AND PRINTS, BUT JUST BE PATIENT AND YOU CAN HAVE A NICE COLLECTION WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK!!!

HAND VASES AND MOON PRINT

2010-08-11T04:41:00.000-07:00

I love this old print with the full moon and the reflection in the water. I beleive it is from the 1910-1920 time frame. It is signed L. Goddard, but in reallity it was two artist that worked together, Rudolph F. Ingerle & L.G. Woolfenden. Ingerle was a landscape artist and Woolfenden was a photographer. They combined their skills to make pictures. Many of their prints were used for calendars and advertising. The hand vases were my Granny's. I have been referring to her in many of my post as Grandmother, but she was Granny to us all. The hand vases are marked U.S.A. and are part of my white pottery collection. These are special because they were my Granny's. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all the other wonderful post at Faded Charm.

I am linking this post to Kathleen at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com// for White Wednesday. I am also linking this up with Cindy at My Romantic Home at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

SAILING SHIP AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA

2010-08-09T06:06:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST TO SALLY FOR BLUE MONDAY AT http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ . THIS IS A PAINTING THAT HANGS OVER MY LIVING ROOM SOFA. IF YOU HAVE VISITED MY BLOG YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE BLUE WHITE AND BROWNS. THIS PAINTING HAS IT ALL. I AM NOT CRAZY ABOUT THE GOLD FRAME IT IS IN, BUT HAVE NOT FOUND THE PERFECT "THRIFTY" FRAME FOR IT YET. I HAVE HAD IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IT ALWAYS HANGS HERE IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER. IN THE FALL IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH MY CANADIAN LOGGING PAINTING. IT IS SIGNED M.S. DONOHUE AND IS DATED 3-81, SO IT IS ABOUT 29 YEARS OLD. I PURCHASED THIS AT AUCTION FOR ABOUT $20.00. IT DOES NOT FIT THE FRAME EXACTLY AND I THINK THAT TURNED SOME PEOPLE OFF FROM BIDDING ON IT. MUCH TO MY DELIGHT. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY AND BE SURE TO VISIT SALLY FOR MORE BLUE MONDAY TREASURES.

GRANDMOTHERS SILVER PURSES

2010-08-08T04:59:00.000-07:00

THESE ARE SOME OF MY GRANDMOTHERS TREASURED SILVER PIECES THAT SHE GAVE ME MANY YEARS AGO. THERE IS A FLAT SILVER PURSE WITH CHAIN WITH A MONOGRAM. THE INSIDE IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS WITH A COIN HOLDER IN THE CENTER. THE SMALL COMPACT IS SILVER WITH AN OPENWORK BASKET DESIGN AND BEHIND THE DESIGN IS BLUE/GREEN GLASS THAT MAKES THE DESIGN SHOW UP. THE MESH PURSE IS VICTORIAN WITH A GORGEOUS EMBOSSED DESIGN. IT REMINDS ME OF THE LIDS ON THE OLD POWDER BOXES FROM THAT SAME ERA. I DISPLAY THEM IN A GLASS TOP TABLE TO PROTECT THEM.

I AM LINKING THIS POST TO SILVER SUNDAY AT http://thegypsyfish.blogspot.com/.

HE SHOWS ME THE WAY I SHOULD GO

2010-08-08T04:27:00.000-07:00

MY GRANDPARENTS COUNTRY STORE

2010-08-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST TO VINTAGE THINGIE THURSDAY AT http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/ AND SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY AT http://romantichome.blogspot.com/ AND GARAGE SALEN PARTY AT http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/ BE SURE TO STOP BY AND SEE ALL THE ITEMS THERE TODAY.

MY GRANDPARENTS MOVED TO WASHINGTON, DC DURING THE DEPRESSION SO MY GRANDFATHER COULD WORK IN A CONCRETE FACTORY. SHORTLY AFTER THE DEPRESSION THEY MOVED BACK TO THE AREA AND HE BUILT A LITTLE HOUSE WITH A DIRT FLOOR AND A SMALL STORE THAT HAD ONE GAS PUMP. IT WAS ABOUT MIDWAY BETWEEN WHERE I LIVE AND THE COUNTY SEAT. REALLY IN NO WHERE LAND. THEY JUST SOLD THE ESSENTIALS LIKE BREAD, MILK, FLOUR, FEED AND OTHER SMALL ITEMS. THE STORE WAS NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN MOST PEOPLES OUTSIDE STORAGE SHEDS TODAY. THEY HAD THIS STORE IN THE 1930'S. MY GRANDMOTHER WORKED THE STORE WHILE MY GRANDFATHER DID HAULING. HE HAD SAVED MONEY TO BUY AN OLD DUMP TRUCK. IN THE LAST PHOTO IS A PICTURE OF A BASKET THAT SHE BOUGHT FROM A TRAVELING SALESMAN TO GIVE TO HER MOTHER FOR MOTHER'S DAY WHILE SHE WAS WORKING IN THE STORE.IT DATES TO THE 1930'S AND IT IS STILL IN PRISTINE CONDITION. MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER MUST HAVE TREASURED IT SO THAT SHE DID NOT USE IT MUCH. THE OTHER ITEM THAT CAME FROM THE STORE IS AN OLD PLANTERS PEANUT JAR. AFTER THEY GAVE UP THE STORE MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD STORE HER SUGAR IN IT. WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY IN 2007, SHE WAS STILL KEEPING HER SUGAR IN IT. THE LAST ITEM IS A WOODEN PEPSI CARRIER, ALSO FROM THE STORE. SHE KEPT HER CLIPPERS, WIRE AND OTHER FLOWER RELATED ITEMS IN IT. IN THE 1950'S THRU THE 1970'S SHE ENTERED FLOWER SHOWS AND SHE KEPT EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED IN THAT LITTLE CARRIER. I TREASURE THESE ITEMS BECAUSE THEY MEANT SO MUCH TO HER. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY AND HAVE A WONDERFUL THRIFTY DAY!!!

WHITE WEDNESDAY WITH HAEGER AND USA POTTERY

2010-08-04T05:15:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING UP THIS POST WITH WHITE WEDNESDAY AT http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ .

I AM A FLORIST AND I LIKE TO COLLECT THE HAEGER AND USA POTTERY THAT WAS MADE FOR THE FLORIST INDUSTRY. MOST OF THE PIECES I HAVE ARE FROM THE 1940'S THRU THE 1960'S. I LIKE VERY STREAMLINED SIMPLE PIECES, EXCEPT MY SWAN. I GOT "HER" BECAUSE SHE REALLY LOOKS GREAT WITH SEASHELLS. CHANGING OUT EACH SEASON AND ALWAYS USE NATURE ITEMS IN MY DISPLAYS. SUMMER IT IS SHELLS. FALL I USE MY EXTENSIVE ROCK COLLECTION. THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST COLLECTIONS I STARTED AS A LITTLE GIRL. I KEPT A BOX UNDER MY BED WITH PRETTY ROCKS THAT I WOULD FIND ON MY OUTINGS. YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THAT THIS FALL. WINTER I LIKE USING BERRIES AND ESPECIALLY PINE CONES. SPRING I USE FLOWERED BRANCHES. THE SIMPLE LINES OF THE USA POTTERY AND HAEGER LOOK GOOD NO MATTER WHAT I DISPLAY IN THEM. BE SURE TO GO TO FADED CHARM AND CHECK OUT ALL THE LOVELY WHITES THAT WILL BE POSTED TODAY. P.S. THE PRINT IN THE PICTURE IS AN A.AKINSON FOX PRINT. I SCORED BIG TIME ON THIS ORIGINAL PRINT IN ORIGINAL FRAME AT AN AUCTION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FOR $30. I BELEIVE THE TITLE OF THIS ONE IS "ALONG THE GARDEN PATH."

A TREASURED BLUE PLATTER

2010-08-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST UP WITH SMILING SALLY'S BLUE MONDAY AT http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/2010/08/blue-monday-blue-note-cards.html. BE SURE AND GO VISIT ALL THE LOVELY BLUE POST THAT WILL BE THERE TODAY.

TODAY I AM SHARING WITH BLUE MONDAY MY TREASURED BLUE PLATTER THAT MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE ME MANY MANY YEARS AGO. IT IS A STAFFORDSHIRE PIECE AND THE TITLE IS "LADY OF THE LAKE". IT IS VERY LARGE AND VERY PRECIOUS TO ME. I HAD TO GO OUTSIDE AND GET THE STEPLADDER TO TAKE A PICTURE OF IT ON TOP OF MY CORNER CABINET. I RARELY TAKE IT DOWN BECAUSE I AM SO AFRAID OF BREAKING IT. I DID NOT MEASURE IT WHEN I WAS "UP THE LADDER", BUT IT IS A LARGE TURKEY SIZE PLATTER. SHE HAD GOTTEN IT AT AUCTION I THE 1950'S.

VINTAGE BEDROOM CHANDELIER $5.00 !!!

2010-08-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST UP WITH RHODA'S TODAY'S THRIFTY TREASURES AT /http://southernhospitalityblog.com/.
I AM ALSO LINKING THIS TO NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY AT http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/.

I AM SOOOOOOO EXCITED. I HAVE BEEN WANTING A CHANDELIER FOR MY BEDROOM, BUT WASN'T WILLING TO PAY THE BIG PRICES THAT WERE BEING ASKED. I WANTED SOMETHING SIMPLE AND GARDEN LIKE. I WENT TO A CHURCH SALE AND THERE SITTING ON THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF ME ASKING ME TO TAKE IT HOME WAS THIS GREEN TREASURE. AND THE PRICE $5.00. YES THAT IS RIGHT $5.00. IT HAD A BOX WITH IT WITH ALL THE MISSING BLING, SO WITH A LITTLE CLEAN UP AND MAYBE SOME WHITE PAINT, I HAVE MY CHANDELIER. SCORE!!!

HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY

2010-07-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

MY HANDMADE SEASHELL TOPIARIES

2010-07-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY BUFFET IN MY DINING ROOM. ON EACH END IS A SEASHELL TOPIARY THAT I MADE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. ALSO ON THE TABLE IS AN ORIGINAL SAILORS ART BOX. IT IS MY ONLY REAL SEA RELATED ANTIQUE THAT I HAVE. ALSO ON THE BUFFET IS A PICTURE THAT I TREASURE OF MY GRANDMOTHER AND DAD IN THE 1940'S NEAR THE END OF WW11. SHE AND MY GRANDFATHER WENT TO VISIT HIM WHERE HE WAS STATIONED.

I AM LINKING TODAYS POST TO CINDY'S SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY AT http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/ and FEATURE YOURSELF FRIDAY AT http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/ AND FAVORITE THINGS AT http://thehillsarelivin.blogspot.com/ .

PEARLS LACE AND SEASHELLS

2010-07-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST UP WITH PEARLS AND LACE THURSDAY OVER AT http://faithgracecrafts.blogspot.com/. I AM ALSO LINKING THIS UP WITH CINDY AT MY ROMANTIC HOMES SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY AT http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/. I LOVE COMBINING PEARLS WITH SHELLS. FROM WHINCE THEY CAME YOU KNOW!!! THE PEARL EMBEDDED PAPERWEIGHTS GIVE IT THAT MOONLIT SPARKLE AND THE LACE GIVES IT AN OLD WORLD FEEL. THE SUNLIGHT WAS COMING THRU MY LIVING ROOM WINDOW AND MADE THE PAPERWEIGHTS LOOK LIKE THEY WERE LIT. HAPPY PEARLS AND LACE THURSDAY.

CHIPPY WHITE PAINT WEDNESDAY

2010-07-28T05:26:00.000-07:00

I AM LINKING THIS POST UP WITH FADED CHARMS WHITE WEDNESDAY OVER AT http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/.com//. BE SURE AND CHECK OUT ALL THE GREAT WHITE POSTS THAT ARE THERE TODAY AND COTTAGE CHARM FOR NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY AT /http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ and http://www.coloradolady.blogspot.com/ FOR VITAGE THINGIE THURSDAY.

I REALLY DO LIKE CHIPPY WHITE PAINT. I SPOTTED THE BIRDCAGE AT A FARM SALE WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD SET UP. I WENT DASHING TO IT HOPING IT WAS NOT ALREADY SOLD. THE PRICE WAS $30.00. I DO NOT NORMALLY PAY THAT MUCH AT A YARDSALE, BUT THIS WAS A MUST HAVE. I OFFERED HER $20.00 THINKING THERE IS NO WAY SHE IS GOING TO TAKE THAT THIS EARLY IN THE DAY. SHE SAID SURE. I DID NOT WANT TO HAUL THIS THING HOME.

THE NEXT PLANTER SITS ON MY PORCH IN FRONT OF A CHIPPY PAINT SCREEN. IT WAS ALSO PURCHASED AT A YARDSALE FOR ABOUT $5.00.

THE BOWL WITH SHELLS IN IT ON MY COFFEE TABLE IS A NEW ITEM, BUT HAS THAT OLD CHIPPY PAINT LOOK TO IT. OF COURSE IT ALSO WAS FROM A YARDSALE FOR A COUPLE OF DOLLARS. DON'T YOU JUST LOVE YARDSALES. ENJOY YOUR WHITE WEDNESDAY AND THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!!

MY WINDOW OF BLUE BLUE AND MORE BLUE

2010-07-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

     I AM LINKING THIS POST UP WITH RHODA'S THRIFTY TREASURES MONDAY AT http://southernhospitalityblog.com/ and Blue monday over at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/. ALSO CHECK OUT CINDY'S SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY AT http://romantichome.blogspot.com/. BE SURE AND GO AND CHECK OUT ALL THE WONDERFUL THRIFTY POST THERE.
     I LOVE BLUE. THERE IS NOT A ROOM IN MY HOME THAT DOES NOT HAVE BLUE IN IT. THIS WINDOW IS IN MY KITCHEN. IT WAS A WINDOW TO A PORCH THAT WAS OPENED UP AFTER THE PORCH WAS ENCLOSED.
     ON THE TOP ROW ARE MANY OF MY VINTAGE BOTTLES AND ROSE BOWLS. THE NEXT SHELF HAS FIDDLE BOTTLES, OIL LAMPS, A LARGE FLOAT AND TWO GLASS PEDESTALS THAT HAVE SEALS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE HOLDING UP THE LARGE ROSE BOWL. THESE WERE MY MOST RECENT THRIFTY TREASURES THAT I GOT AT A YARDSALE FOR $2.00 FOR EACH SET. THE NEXT SHELF HAS AN OLD AUSTRIAN CANNISTER SET WITH AN EDELWEISS DESIGN ON IT. I GOT THAT AT AN ESTATE AUCTION MANY YEARS AGO. THE LAST SHELF JUST HAS STORAGE JARS AND A VERY PRETTY VASE.
     I WILL SHOW MORE OF MY BLUE TREASURES ANOTHER TIME.  THIS WINDOW MAKES ME WANT TO WORK IN THE KITCHEN!!!

MY WALL POCKETS FROM OLD BOTTLES

2010-07-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

. Here are two old bottles that I have transformed into wall pockets. The first one I have titled Lavender and old lace. The lace for both of these plaques was from an old wedding dress that I purchased remnats of from a lady that was a seamstress from the 1930's tru the 1960's. The one on the left has a stone heart dangling from the neck and lavender sprigs coming out of the bottle. There is a key attached to the end of the lace. The other one I named Keys to the pearls of the sea. It has the same lace and the bottle is filled with faux pearls and shells. There is a key dangling from the lace and I have drawn on a keyhole on the bottle. Both of these are attached to a plaque that I have distressed. These have been very popular in a local shop where I sell them and now I have some on etsy. So fun to make!!! Thanks for looking. I am linking this post to http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/ for transformation thursday, Finding fabulous http://decormamma.blogspot.com/ for Frugalicious Friday, http://faithgracecrafts.blogspot.com/ for Pearls and lace Thursday and http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/ for Feature yourself Friday. Be sure and go check out all the wonderful posts.

OLD SUITCASE LOVE!!!

2010-07-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

I am linking this up with

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/ for show and tell Friday and http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/ for vintage thingie thursday.

I love old suitcases and have had quite a few over the years. I gave 3 to my daughter and just kept the brown tweed ones. I got them at an auction a while back for $5.00 for both of them. I had not displayed them because I was waiting to find a small one to go on top of them so they would look finished. I went to a yardsale a couple of weeks ago and there was an open suitcase with packets of vintage jewelry in it. Most of the jewelry was priced too high, but there were packages of buttons that were real cheap, so I was picking out the packets of buttons. The gentleman came over and said his wife said if I would take all of the packets I could have the suitcase they were in all for $10.00. I looked around at his wife to make sure that this was for real because you know how men are sometimes about getting rid of stuff and she said yes I could have it all for $10.00. I closed the suitcase, handed them the $10.00 and ran to the car before they changed their mind. It was the perfect fit for the top suitcase I was needing. Don't you just love yardsales.

MY WHITE PORCELAIN BIRDS AND FLOWERS

2010-07-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

This is part of my collection of white porcelain birds and flowers. The tall one in the back are Iris's. They were made in portugal. The bird statue is unmarked as is the orchid to the left of the Iris. The others are ones I got at thrift stores and yardsales. They all had minor flaws that stood out when they were their natural color. I painted them high gloss white and they look like expensive porcelain and now the flaws do not show. Unbeleivable what a little paint can do to other items and not just furniture.
I amlinking up to http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/. Make sure to stop in to see all the wonderful white items that are being placed by other bloggers.

EASTLAKE CHILDS DESK BEST YARDSALE FIND THIS YEAR!!!

2010-07-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

I am linking this post to http://lemoncholys.blogspot.com/ for fleamarket Friday and http://www.southernhospitalityblog.com/thriftytreasures. Be sure and go and check out all the other post that are listed.

Memorial day weekend does not usually prove to be a good yardsale weekend. People are busy doing other things. Like going to flea markets or the beach. Of course I am always on the lookout for them anytime of the year and happen to see a sign in our local postoffice about a 4 day yardsale on Memorial Day weekend in a small village a few miles from where I live. Being the dedicated yardsaler that I am I went early the first day because I did not know exactly where it was (not really, I am one of the early birds to all yardsales). The village is so small that there are no stores, just a postoffice and one intersection with a 4 way stop sign. If you would blink you would miss it.

When I saw a few people setting up, I drove by a few times until I saw they had made a good start at putting things out. Much to my loveeeee they were bringing box after box out of an old shed on the site and boxes out of the old house. I told myself I better stop before a crowd arrived. My mom and I were told to just go thru the boxes and if we find anything we want just make a pile and she would give us one price. She did not have to tell me twice. Beautiful old Bavarian bowls, plates, vases, old bottles, linens, fabric, buttons, McCoy planters and vases and on and on. I made my pile that first day and all I bought was just $25.00. She said more people would be coming on Saturday and they would be bringing more boxes out of the house and sheds.

Of course I had to go the second day. More dishes. A whole set of pink rose dishes for 8 including the teapot, sugar, creamer, platters and other serving pieces. I asked how much for the box (they were very dirty from being in the shed for years) and she said would $5.00 be too much. Of course not I said. Feeling very guilty. From another lady that was there I got a pair of deer antlers for $2.00 and an Italian vase which turned out to be very valuable for $1.00.

Did I go back the third day you ask? Of course I did. I go to Church every Sunday and made a quick run out there again before Church. That is when I saw it "THE DESK". In very good shape. No broken spindles or knobs. Needs a slight sanding. You open up the front and there are cubbies. Looks just like an adult Eastlake desk. I knew the lady very well that had it and she did not have a price on it. I really had no intentions of buying a desk. It was a childs Eastlake desk with carved kitten design on the front. I told her that even at a yardsale she could easily get $75. to $100 for that desk. She said if you will take it you can have it for $10.00!!!!!!!!! I told her no you really should put the price I said on it and you will get that for it. No she said she wanted me to have it for $10.00. I bought it for that and am going to refinish it for my 4th grandson. Isn't it just the cutest thing. I have researched it and cannot find another one like it anywhere. I can truly say I was honest with her about getting more for it, but she wanted me to have it for one of my grandsons. Too sweet!!!

Now, did I go back the 4th day. No. I had to leave something for everyone else didn't I!!!!!!!!

MY DAUGHTERS SPECIAL GIFT

2010-07-18T05:47:00.001-07:00

This was a special gift to me several years ago. My daughter is a photograper and combined my favorite Bible verse and a picture from on top of the hill where my grandparents lived looking over the valley. She has such a gift of knowing what to give. She makes gifts personal and her eye for photography is incredible. The verse is Phil. 4:4-7.

WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I THINKING? AND WHAT AM I DOING HERE?

2010-07-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog. I do not know what I was thinking when I told my daughter that I think I would like to start blogging. She encouraged me and came over today and said lets get your blog going.

I have followed so many blogs in the last couple of years and have learned so much especially about blogging, decorating and have found some great recipes.

I am a florist that works alone. I also am a collector of antique baskets, art and anything with chippy paint. I am here to share some of those things with you but not on my first blog. I need to get the feel of this here thing and let you get to know me first.

I am 60 years old and blessed with 3 grown children, a wonderful son-in-law and 2 wonderful daughter-in-laws. They have all given me the best gift a mother could ask for 4 precious grandsons.

I have lived in the same community in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mts for all of my years. It is truly God's country. I can stand on my front porch and look at the house across the field where I was raised til I was 5. My daughter and her family now live there. At the age of 5 we moved "Across the field" from that house. When I told my first grade teacher I was moving, she said we are going to miss you. I asked her why? I am just moving across the field. Funny how some things stick with you over time.

In this blog I will share some of my life experiences, but mostly my love of my family, my church, my collections and my crafting. There will be a few recipes. I have some wonderful ones from my Grandmother who passed away 3 years ago in June. Her grape juice pie was to die for. And her wine, well lets just say we all lived thru it!!!

Well I guess I will be back and hope you all will let me know how my first post went. Have a great evening, day, morning depending on where you are in the world. I am linking this up with http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/ for Show & tell Friday. Be sure and check out all the wonderful blogs who have posted.