HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY

MY HANDMADE SEASHELL TOPIARIES

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

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

     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

     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

. 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!!!

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

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!!!

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

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?

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.