It’s Flea Market Friday again, and boy do I HAVE SOME GOODIES FOR YOU! Starts at 7:30 central time. Come join me! I’ve got BLING, MILLINERY, FURNITURE, and FRAMES, among other stuff. Come check me out!
Also, this is my 100th post! Woo-Hoo! Sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar (under the FYI category) some time before next friday & I’ll draw the name of one lucky gal to get a free pack of vintage wallpaper & a sweet little ballerina bon bon/nut cup basket. Sound like fun? Sign up! NOTE: If you’ve already signed up, you’re already entered in the drawing! If your tab says “unsubscribe”, then you’re already signed up and entered in the drawing!
Gotta cut it short to list more fun stuff. I have some amazing things coming up. No peeking…you’ll just have to come see! Ok, here’s a couple sneek peeks on my flickr.
Karla is having a “what I love about my home” party, so I thought I’d finally do my little bit about home lovin. I love lots of things in my home, but here are a few of the things that are making me smile today (probably because some of them are new!).
LOVE to collect. The best collections are ones that aren’t planned, you just happen upon special things. That’s how this little collection of beautiful wedding (or funeral…but I like to think positively!) baskets began. I found the tall skinny one for $5 and that was the beginning of a beautiful obsession. My latest aquisition is the one in front with the barbola swags. LOVE this one. Got it for a song this weekend when I was supposed to be looking for things for Flea Market Friday. Sorry, this one won’t be for sale, but don’t worry I found some fun stuff for you too! Here’s part of my basket collection:
Also REALLY love this tiny little vintage easel. I always keep the book “A Pocket Full of Proverbs” by Joan Walsh Anglund on it, propped open to this page. The script reads “Larger ships may venter more, little boats must stay near shore”. I love this and always think of my sons. I know one day, they’ll be big ships sailing off on their own adventures, but while I can, I’m keeping my little boats near shore.
My newest fave thing is my foofed up lampshades on my favorite old alabaster lamps. Got the ruffles from Lori at Vintage Flair who sells the most fantastic lampshade trim kits. LOVE this wonderful cantelope-peachy color. I added my own pink millinery. My living room has robin’s egg blue, brown, some gold, some peachy colors, some amber, and little bits of pink all with large doses of cream and white. Somehow it all works. I think things ‘work’ when you love them.
I also love that my home is newer. About 2 years old. The house we had before was a beautiful old Craftsman built in 1920 or so in a fabulous old historic district in a quaint little college town (go sooners!). But, it wasn’t so cute after a while. Every free moment (and every spare dollar) was spent remodelling or just maintaining the old place. It was gorgeous, more windows than I’ve ever seen, beautiful in every way, but we were pooped! So we built a new one. I love the flow and the floorplan of it, I love the balance and symmetry it has. I also love that my husband and I did all we could to give it some old house character (remember my cool green stove?). Brian also built parts of it, like the mantle.
It’s fitting he built the mantle, since it’s the heart of the home. It’s a metaphore for our lives, he builds it and I decorate it! He is a wonderful husband and I am so grateful for him. This brings me to my favorite thing about my house, the people who live here. My family, the sound of my kids laughing and the patter of their feet as they run around on our floors, the memories, the special moments we’ve shared, the blessing of having a safe and warm place to be. I’m so thankful for my home, but without my family it would just be a house. What I love about my home is intangible, it’s the heart of those who rest under it’s roof, who play between it’s walls, who stand on the foundation of a family.
Thanks, Karla, for making me think about what I love about my home. Thank you, God for reminding me that stuff is expensive, but people are priceless.
Here’s to hoping you are enjoying the heart of your home.
Wasn’t so great. It was hot. I mean HOT. It was dirty and it was more trouble than it was worth! But, the kids had a fantastic time and that’s what matters.
I do like the colors of everything. The sort of bright pastels everywhere, pink aqua, a little yellow. Reminds me of salt-water taffy or something.
We didn’t even really eat much because it was so hot that food was the last thing on our minds! The kids did have a corn dog and a funnel cake, which was a big hit. I didn’t get to go to the building that has all the winners for “best rose” or “best apple pie” or “best china painting on a teacup” because we just got too tuckered out with the kids. That building is always my favorite part, reminds me what the fair really started out as, this sort of community thing. Now it’s a lot of drunk people doing bad kareoke and girls wearing cut-off shorts with their buns hanging out the bottom of their pants and guys wearing t-shirts that have a picture of a stripper on a pole with the words “I support single moms” written across it. I actually saw this shirt on a dad with his kids in the kiddie section. Nice role model, huh? lol… And lots of people flicking their cigarettes near my kids face and just nastiness. I don’t hate people who smoke or drink or wear bad clothing. I used to smoke (eek!), I’ll have an occassional drink, and I sadly have a lack-luster wardrobe (no daisy dukes, I assure you), but you know, it was just a lot of yuckiness.
So, we tried to stick to the kiddie area, except when we went in the car building so my husband could drool over cars we’ll never own (funny how we had time for THAT building. hmpf.).
So, the fair was a flop for me but that’s OK. The next day I snuck off to a couple of antique stores and got some goodies I’ll show pictures of later. I also got a few things for the next Flea Market Friday. So, you’ll have to come see what I found for you this time!
Also… this is my 98th post. I can’t believe I’ve had 98 things to say! I’ll have a give-away on my 100th so stay tuned.
**edit: Thanks for the great response to Flea Market Friday! Everything in the flea market has sold. Come back next Friday for more fun stuff! Thanks!**
Oh yeah. That’s right. It wouldn’t be a weekend without a trip to a good flea market, right? Well, mine will be on a much smaller scale, but starting this friday, September 21, we’re going to have a weekly Flea Market Friday!
Here’s a sneak peek at some of our offerings this week. We’ll have a couple of surprises too.
INCREDIBLE and very OLD costume made of a creamy colored fabric (muslin maybe?) with BLACK CREPE PAPER EDGING on all the ruffles! It even has an apron (not shown) with a humungus black crepe paper bow. This may have been a child’s costume. Check out the skirt on my coffee table, which is four feet in diameter:
Just in time for Halloween! Don’t you love the black and cream? Look at the funny little headband! It also came with ruffled bloomers (not shown)
Fabulous lampshade. Spotty and dusty and old, just perfect. LOOK at those ruffles! It’s a ruffly week around here!
More ruffles… my favorite throw pillow EVER.
The most fantastic three tiered and scalloped cupcake tree!
Can’t you just imagine all your thanksgiving and halloween cupcakes or vintage halloween decorations on here? It’s HUGE. for scale, I placed some stuff on it:
There’ll be a few more things not posted here, so you’ll have to come by and check it out. I’m shooting for 8:00 central time, which gives the west coast chickadees time to get home from work.
This is going to be a random kind of post! First of all, my sweet friend Kasse, of Miss Duffy’s, has chosen me to be her first ever “featured artist” for the month. It’s so fun! You can check it out here. I’m tickled. She’s such a sweety pie. I mean really, she doesn’t carry the lines of many of the artists she plans to feature, but she is a woman who believes in supporting and promoting other creative women. She’s such an inspiration in the areas of generosity and graciousness, I can’t even tell you. Kasse is a treasure and I hope you’ll all go to her shop and spend a buncha money! LOL. She’s advertising in Mary Engelbreit this month and next and she’s currently looking for more artists to feature, so if you’re interested, give her a shout-out. Check out the fantastic jewelry by famous artist John Wind for Maximal Art. OH.MY.GOSH. Amazing.
My LINKS page has all my blogroll peeps on it, but it’s messed up. When my husband was transferring the data from my blog to the website, he “captured” an old list, so lots of folks aren’t on it that were on it before. I DID NOT DELETE YOU!! I promise! I’m trying to get it fixed, so people like Little Pink Studio and Sweet Eye Candy Creations, and Angelina’s Cards will be back on there soon. I’m so lazy, I hate to go look them up, I’m so used to just hitting a button and bam! I’m there!
Then, here are some funny things from my life today.
When I got off the treadmill today, my son ran up to me and said “MOM! Just LOOK at you! You’re so SKINNY now!”. Of course, I’m not skinny. I’m still fat. Is he gonna be a great husband or what? That’s right gals, I’m raisin ‘em right!
My 22 month old sat down on the bed today and said “mama. WUSSUP?”. He’s so funny.
We had to take our car in to the shop this weekend. $1000.00. Yep. ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. *sigh* that’s a lot of crowns, chicks. So, I was feeling all depressed about it when I realized how selfish I am. I have a wonderful husband who works long and hard for us, two beautiful, strong, healthy children, a gorgeous home with comfortable beds and a pretty couch, food in our bellies every day, and so much more. My cup runeth over. I at first was praying for the money to pay the bill. And, although I do still desire that, I thought about it and had to pray for forgiveness for my greed and selfishness. Then, instead of asking for more, I just thanked Him for my blessings. I think I need to be a better steward of what I DO have. Ya know? I’m not patting myself on the back for finally realizing I needed to praise and thank, I’m just saying why does it always take me so long to remember?! LOL… Why do I always go into panic mode? Oh well, I just have to try to be better and more faith-filled every day.
Someone once told me that FAITH and FEAR are like two sides of a scale. When one is full, the other seems empty. When one is heavy, the other seems light. Isn’t that SO true?
I am so grateful for all of you who have ordered something from my little shop. You just have no idea what a blessing each and every order is to me and my family. It means I get to be home with my kids, I get to be creative and have fun, I get to meet wonderful women from all over the world. I thank God for you!
I also thank God for just this little world. This creative virtual playground with all of you bright lights and creative minds leaving comments on my blog and inspiration on flickr. It’s such a gift to be here!
Our state is having it’s State Fair right now. I live in Oklahoma and it’s our statehood centennial this year, so the fair is supposed to have a bunch of cool stuff. Anyway, Hubby and I are taking the kids one day this week. I’ll try to post pictures of all the crap I eat and the craziness that is the state fair. I’ll have to make up time on the treadmill after all that junk I’m gonna be inhaling!
OK, I gotta get back to work. Hope you all have a fantastic Thursday.
Made some new bracelets for my shop and FINALLY got them listed yesterday! Aren’t they cute?
I made these out of all the same kinds of supplies I use to make my crowns, but they’re a little more suited to daily wear! They’ll look great when you’re all gussied up, or knock your socks off in jeans and a t-shirt too!
I had a great time making them, and there’s more to come as I keep playing with my vintage bits! If you’d like one, go getcha one….they’re in my shop up in the sidebar there!
My little guy is teething this week. I’m worn out! I’m also trying so hard to get my rear on that treadmill every day. I keep telling myself I LOVE to workout! ha ha… The power of positive thinking, right?!
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I’m going to my sister’s baby shower on Sunday, so thought I would make a little wallpaper covered box for her to use for momentos from the birth of her third child. You know, the hospital bracelets, etc. I made some before. I put them all in a pile here and liked how they looked. Aren’t they cute?
I think vintage wallpaper and wallpaper covered stuff is one of my favorite things. I may be slightly obsessed.
So, I was IM’ing with Heather, of Bluhm Studios the other day and the movie, The Princess Bride came up in conversation. One of my all time favorites (or for you, Natasha… favoUrites). Anyway, we started exchanging little quotes from the movie…. “inconceivable!” “hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” “He’s not dead, he’s just Mostly dead”. “the PIT of DISPAIR!” and so-on. If you’ve never seen the movie, oh MY GOSH, go rent it. It’s fantastic. Better yet, buy it. I did! Even my husband and sons love it.
So that got me thinkin about things that sort of shape who you are, things that say “I’m from THIS generation”. Even silly things, like 80’s hairsprayed Mall HAIR! Parachute pants, GREASE 2 (oh, the horror!), etc.
Then I started thinking about my favorite things. How some from then have remained (though, I did eventually nix the birdnest bangs), and some are newer. Here’s my off-the-cuff list! There’s no particular order and I didn’t give it great thought, it’s just what came to mind.
Movies
1. Family Man
2. Return to me
3. The Notebook
4. The Princess Bride
5. The Story of Us
6. A Christmas Story
7. Top Gun
8. There’s Something about Mary
9. The Wedding Singer
10. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
11. The Bishop’s Wife (The old black & white one with David Niven & Cary Grant)
12. Jurassic Park
13. Die Hard (I know, but Bruce Willis is HOT)
Books
1. Of course decorating books
2. The Chronicles of Narnia, especially The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe
3. The Screwtape Letters
4. The book of Daniel in the Bible
5. Evidence That Demands a Verdict
Music
1. Bon Jovi
2. Nora Jones
3. Sheryl Crow
4. Third Day
5. The Great Divide
6. Jimmy Buffet
7. Steven Tyrell (singin the old standards!)
8. some country… Kenny Chesney, Toby Kieth, a few others
Decorating
1. Aqua/blues with some brown (see my couch!)
2. Authentic OLD chippy, shiney paint (I don’t like so much the newly distressed stuff)
3. seashells (see my mantle!)
4. Paintings of birds, roses, flowers, soft
5. Old Moulding made into stuff
People
1. My husband, children and whole family
2. all of you bloggin babes
3. Our old Preacher, Jim. Retired. Miss him.
4. Good friends, old and new
5. Strong Mothers & Fathers, dedicated to each other and their kids
6. Parents who discipline justly and with love and a vision that you must do so to give your children a good and happy life.
7. BABIES BABIES BABIES
8. Pregnant women, ripe with the fresh innocent beautiful future
9. People who will help you move! Ha ha….
10. Firefighters (is it a job requirement that they be cute? Once, our old church caught on fire and about 10 of them came to put it out. I thought it was fitting I was at church so I could be reminded not to have impure thoughts!)
11. Police. Soldiers, Teachers, Doctors, Nurses, Volunteers
12. Anyone who reaches out in love to another
13. People who can see past political, racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and religious differences and see the person who is really there…..a person. With likes, dislikes, humor, value. Regardless of where they stand on the war, politics, or other controversial issues. I love people who realize that most of us come to different conclusions, but usually for similar reasons!
Favorite Quotes
1. “For I know the plans I have for you, sayeth the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11
2. “I sound my barbaric Yawp from the rooftops of the world” Walt Whitman
3. “There’s never time to do it right, there’s always time to do it twice” unknown
Things I try to remember
1. When dealing with difficult or strange people, I try to remember I could be “entertaining angels, unawares”.
2. No matter how I feel about someone, God thinks they’re wonderful. They are loved, valued, important to someone, somewhere.
3. My children are growing up too quickly.
4. My husband works hard for me and our family.
5. Get on the treadmill
6. God is the king, master, and creator of the universe. What am I worried about?
7. My blessings…too many to count
Can I get an “AMEN”? What are some of your favorite things?
Hey, if you like the wallpaper on my boxes, it’s for sale in the Doodle Packs on my site! Just click in the side bar!
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About a million years or so ago, Heather and I were emailing each other about the AMAZING lamp shades that Lori puts together. At that time, Lori wasn’t selling her marvelous Lamp Shade Kits (which she sells on her etsy and her blog). So, Heather suggested we do a swap. Not just for the shade, but for the whole lamp. So, that’s what we did.
Well, that’s easier said than done! I could NOT find any good vintage lamps anywhere. It was making me really crazy! I finally found some cute ones, but they looked completely ridiculous with the ruffly shade. Anyway, I finally remembered I had a pair of these super cute budoir lamps and viola! It worked.
I decorated the shade with ruffles from a little girl’s dress, a bit of satin ribbon, and a big floppy vintage millinery flower in Heather’s (and my) favorite sweet aqua blue. That’s it! Simple and sweet.
I hope you like your lampshade as much as I love mine, Heather! Though, the wiring on this old beauty looks a little iffy…. maybe I’ll toss in a rewiring kit too! To see the loverly shade Heather made for me, click HERE!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…… I’ve shipped out all the current orders for my website, etsy, and special orders! Woo-HOoooo! I feel so responsible today, wrapping up so many loose ends! Even sent off a birthday present to sweet Natasha. yep. I’m feelin good!
I’m working on a pink and aqua/blue vintage Christmas inspired bits & pieces collage right now for a sweet friend and customer. I’ll show you pictures when it’s done. SOOO darling! I’m using lots of the wallpapers from my new Doodle Packs. They’re so soft and yummy.
I think that’s all for now. Remember, to post comments on my blog now, you must click on the title of the post.
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Thanks for all the ribbon love in the last post! Sorry, but those ribbons do not belong to me, so I’m not selling them! I wish they were mine. I think my sis will give me a couple, she has one or two she can spare! ha ha…..
My sister is expecting her third daughter this fall. I’m so excited. I have two beautiful sons, whom I would not trade for anything, but I always had this secret wish for a daughter. My husband says I’m too old for more (stupid boy. Women are never old. duh). I’m 34. Besides, he said another one might “push him over the edge”. Whatever. Like he’s the one who deals with the issues anyway!!! Men. Boys.
So anyhoooo, I’m going to be making some fun girly stuff for her soon. I love that. I don’t get to do much crafty stuff for my sons. Glitter just isn’t that cool to a 5 year old boy. Give him a Dylan and Cole poster, and he’s happy. If you don’t know who Dylan and Cole are, well… they’re only the coolest teenage twin boys ever. They star in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody on Disney. He’s ATE UP with the Suite Life. Also with Star Wars and Transformers. NONE of this is fodder for a glittery collage. None. So, I slather my neices with all my crowns and wallpaper and paintings and they love it.
Anyway, I’m thinking of making a little keepsake box for her with some of the pretty new papers in my current Doodle Packs. I really like the one in the I Want Candy pack that has the rose wreath garlands and pink and blue stripes. I’ll show pictures of how it turns out.
Not much of a post today. Just ramblings!
I didn’t post on 9/11 because it was just so sad. I didn’t know what to really say. I will say this. I pray for our country and for our children. I worry and fear, but I have faith. I know who I belong to and I live in the promises of God. But, that doesn’t stop me from worry and sadness.
I pray for all of those who lost loved ones in the multiple tragedies of that day and all of us who were and are touched and deeply saddened by that loss.
I worked in downtown Oklahoma City for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company when Tim McVeigh bombed the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building. I worked right across the street, as a matter of fact. The blast was so strong that we actually thought it was our building that had been bombed. I was only 21 at the time. I can’t believe it’s been 12 years since that awful day. We all, of course, ran out of the building to see the horrible result of one (or more) man’s selfishness and evil. It was so awful. Everyone in my office was standing around when one woman said “let’s pray!”. So about 50 of us held hands in a circle in an empty lot across the street and prayed our hearts out. I’m tearing up remembering it now. So many were lost that day, little tiny babies even.
My point is, that was a fraction of what 9-11 was. I cannot imagine what people have and are suffering. My heart and prayers go out to you.
I would also like to thank every firefighter, police officer, soldier, EMT, Paramedic, Doctor, Teacher and every other profession that works every day in dangerous and scarey situations and does so selflessly and at their own peril for the benefit of people they do not know. That is the true definition of love, honor, charity, and giving. Thank you so very much.
Would you just LOOK at all that vintage satin ribbon-osity?! My sister picked this entire lot up at a church sale recently. She paid $2 for the entire box! Can you believe that? For scale, I placed a quarter in the picture. Can you find it? ha ha… These aren’t MY ribbons, but they were just so gorgeous when she showed them to me, and so bountiful, that I had to snap some pictures!
They were all like this, tied up in pretty little premade bows, many laying in neat little rows. Can’t you just imagine a half dozen or so sweet ladies from the church all making bows for like.. a WEEK or so for some pretty little project? What in the world were they making them for? I wish my sister would have asked them. My curiosity is killin me. Anyway, I just had to take a picture of them. I knew you would appreciate the amazing find that it is! There have to be hundreds of them here. Just amazing.
In website news…. Yay! It’s so exciting to see things selling out. Ya’ll really liked that vintage trim. The Doodle packs are doing great too, which I’m so relieved about since I cut up tons of wallpaper. Some of which I used my last bits! I’ll be listing some new (vintage) embellishments later in the week. I’ll keep ya posted.
Thank you so much for honoring me with your business and your time reading my little blog here. I know money and time are two things that are hard to come by, so I appreciate you OH so very much.
If we run out of Doodle packs on the website, I have a few at etsy also, thought that might be a good way to let people know I’m here!
I’ll post some fun crafts I’ve been doing later this week, as well as my fun swap stuff for Cerri, who is my partner in the Sweet & Sinister swap that Artsy Mama is hosting. I told myself NO MORE SWAPS, but how could I resist such a fun theme? *sigh*
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