Flea Market Bag ~

Have you seen this pattern? It is by Grand Revival and has been out for some time now. I whipped me up one of these bags and love the fabric I used and how it turned out. I thought I was making the longer handled bag, but when I got it done it ended up being the shorter style...oh well...I still love it! I used a coordinating fabric for the inside and it is an *easy as pie* pattern. I left mine open for now, but you can also add a tab out of fabric and velcro and I intend to do that at some point. Pictures didn't load in the order I wanted them to, but I hear that other people have that problem every now and then too, but you get the idea. Love this tote and had fun making it.

I think there is *something in the air* because I have really been digging out, sorting, cleaning etc. today. I do intend to have a huge garage sale in May so that is part of what is spuring me on, but I tend to get this way at this time of year. Out with the old and in with the *VINTAGE*...or out with the old and have a clean house! LOL Have a wonderful day! Blessings ~

Bird Nest Tags ~

I have accumulated a lot of paint samples that I am not using and instead of just throwing them out I made a few little 3D birdnest tags. I thought they turned out pretty cute and I have listed some in my Etsy store in case anyone is interested. Colors of the paint samples are Milk sugar, Sage and Sugar blossom in the Laura Ashley Home paint line. These would be cute attached to a gift or just to add to your home for spring. Enjoy and blessings ~

Birds, Bookmarks & Wreaths ~

I LOVE this wreath! I can't remember if I have shared it before, but it is a beauty! I received this from my best friend for my birthday a couple years ago and I decided today that I am decorating for Spring whether it has arrived or not. Maybe if I do that it will come sooner?? We can only hope right...LOL ! She decorated this wreath and inside the bottom of it is the sweetest nest with three little eggs...just precious and I love the colors!

Inside the wreath at the bottom is this sweet little nest with three eggs in it...too cute!

I have been working on making some "bird themed" items and I like how these bookmarks and little tag turned out. I used a paint sample to make the little bird tag that says, Home Tweet Home...trying to use things I already have here on hand. Very simple, but lovely ~

I am hoping that the antique store that is going out of business still has the very old nest for $1.00 when they open up in March. I intended to get it last fall and I forgot, but it was one of the last days before they closed so I am hopeful...Happy Spring a little early! Blessings ~

Playing with Images ~

I was playing around today with the hue and saturation in my picture program and made the vintage postcards in my previous post a softer color. What do you think? I like how they turned out. I intended to make them sepia tones , but I did this instead. Just having fun playing around when I should be cleaning ! Enjoy ~

Sweet Easter Images ~

I thought I would share a couple of my vintage postcard images with you artists for the upcoming holiday. I adore these images...they are just too sweet! I am so ready for spring and Easter and all that beautiful season has to offer. New life, new growth, new beginnings...I am ready to dig in my good ole' Michigan soil and clean out my flower beds...I am ready to open up my potting shed and get it all cleaned out and ready for warm weather...I am ready to throw open my windows and let the spring air waft in to filter out all the winter doldrums...*SO READY* ~

Wisteria ~

I found these pictures on my computer today that I took a couple years ago of some gorgeous Wisteria blooming in Hillsdale, Michigan which is about a half hour away from us. I could not believe how beautiful this is and I had never noticed it before. I was there for quite some time and took several pictures. Enjoy ~

I love this old building that the Wisteria is attached to. Gorgeous architecture ~

Blog Awards ~

I must apologize as I have been given two blog awards lately and I have been very remiss in getting them posted. Today I won the "Honest Scrap" award from Christine Annette Designs . This is how it works: 1) Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.2) Show the 7 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.3) List at least 10 honest things about yourself. I can't pick just seven so anyone who wants to do this and reads my blog is welcome to do it. I will give it to all of you! LOL Well here goes...10 honest things about myself: 1. I love magazines and I am addicted to Romantic Homes and Romantic Country magazines. 2. My passion is to go flea-marketing and antiquing. 3. Anyone can put my day over the moon by bringing me white or light pink flowers. 4. I LOVE sweets! 5. I do not like to travel far from home. (however I would make an exception to go to France, Paris, Italy, Tuscany...) 6. I could easily be a vegetarian...meat just doesn’t do anything for me and I don’t eat much of it. 7. My 50th birthday is in March and I am dreading that big number! YIKES...:) 8. I could stand to lose twenty lbs. I was very skinny once upon a time until I had to start taking meds for my fibromyalgia. 9. I love my humble ole home...it is not perfect by far, but I don’t need the latest and greatest. 10. I am so glad I found the world of BLOG! Also, last Saturday Koleen over at Angels, Rabbits and Roses gave me a sisterhood award and here are the rules for that award: 1. Put the logo on you post or blog. (oops didn't do that one) 2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great "Attitude and/or Gratitude". 3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. 4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. 5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award

Once again, it is too hard to pick so I pick all of you! I am sorry if I didn't stick to the rules...aren't rules made to be broken anyways?? LOL Have a wonderful day! Blessings ~

Look What 62 Cents Can Buy ~

I have been really watching my pennies lately, but I did stop in at a local thrift store last week and everything was half off. First I found 8 of these antique glass prisms in a bag for 25 cents so they were only 12 cents!!!! Then I found two of these plates that were regular 50 cents each for 25 cents each. I was thrilled that I only spent 62 cents and got some wonderful goodies! Still on a high finding those prisms!

Love this silverware that I have collected here and there ~

I adore this photo that I put in my shabby ceiling tile frame. Another gorgeous photograph that I purchased from Alice over at Painted White a while ago. She is an amazing photographer!

More silver and an old corsage that I love as well ~

Have a wonderful day filled with unexpected blessings ~

Floral Mosiac Creation ~

First let me say that I spent way too much time online last night! I was determined to get this mosiac done of my flowers from past years. This is my first attempt and I must say it was not without it's challenges. Loading all these pictures on dial-up was interesting, but I am so glad that I got it done...AND... it was *FUN*. I will say the photo quality is much better on my Flickr page than it is on here. Enjoy ~

Another Blog Giveaway ~

Head on over to The Maisy Report and visit Amy for another fantastic blog giveaway! You won't be sorry! She is giving away a gift card to the store or restaurant of your choice. What a lovely thing to do for us here in blogland! Thanks Amy!

Fairy Roses ~

Aren't these roses just gorgeous? I took this picture of my fairy rose bushes a couple years ago. I absolutely LOVE them! I think I may have to replant though because I have totally lost one bush . It never developed into the size and beauty of the other two. I can't imagine why because here on our land we have the most wonderful black soil you have ever seen! My mom has to take a lot of time working her soil and adding things to it and I just dig a hole, plant and most things grow HUGE! If it is supposed to be dwarf plant...forget about that. It will still be large! I know...I am *BLESSED* ~

Speaking of *BLESSED*...I was getting slightly depressed this morning. I won't bore you with the whole LONG story, but we noticed this morning that our refrigerator was not working ( it is less than 5 years old!) God knows we cannot afford another one at this time with job hours cut so after phone calls and googling online hubby found the problem and got it working again. We have ordered a new part for $30 just in case it conks out again, but I am feeling very blessed that we did not have to spend hundreds of dollars on repairs or a new refrigerator. Blessings to you today...take time to smell the roses ~

More Snail Mail Love ~

I was excited to get my package of goodies yesterday that I won on KayEllens blog ! I absolutely adore this matted photo and I am going to find just the right place for it. A tea bag from Paris in a cup...I love tea and the little bag is too cute! LOVE this Eiffel tower keychain! This may be the closest I ever get to Paris, but it won't be for lack of trying ~

Six Cavallini file folders with Paris themed and bird items ~

Then KayEllen also added this fusible fabric art quilt that was not even in the original giveaway !

A package of no sew Sealah items...I must learn how to use this stuff. It looks amazing! Thank you for all the goodies KayEllen! I do appreciate them so much!

I also received another letter in the mail this week from Gooseberry Patch telling me that they are going to put a recipe that I sent in in yet another cookbook. This will be the third Gooseberry Patch cookbook that I will have a recipe in. I will get a free copy of it in July so I am looking forward to that ! So get out those recipes and send them in...you never know, you might just be published!

Baby-A-Waiting ~

This week brought treasures in the mail and this one was very special. This is the ultrasound picture of my grandbaby to be (due in August) from my oldest daughter and her hubby. This will be their third child and we are *HOPING* for a girl, but we will gladly take whatever God sends and rejoice ! Just to have a healthy baby is all we can hope for ...the rest is up to Him. Have a wonderful day filled with blessings!

You are INSCRIBED on His hand ~

I made this hanging collage today and I really like how it turned out. Using neutral colors I rubber stamped a scripture verse on scrapbook paper for the center image. Then I embellished it with flowers, buttons, trim etc. It is a great reminder for all of us in these uncertain times that God loves us and is watching over us. It is for sale in my Etsy store if you are interested. Blessings ~