Happy New Year!

Welcome Christmas!

Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Come this way!

Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Christmas Day.

Christmas Blessings from my house to yours!

Oh Christmas Cone, Oh Christmas Cone!

These are fun to make. I actually started this last year and did not know what I wanted to do with it so put it away. The paper I chose seemed so dreary. But adding a bit of feather boa and a cute litte girl edged with glass glitter perked it right up. One of the words on the paper is in an unwelcome spot, but unfortunately it won't be moving any time soon.

My Altered Cabinet Card for Marie

Marie's Altered Card

What a treat!

Marie's Treasures

A Swap for All Seasons hosted an altered cabinet card swap. What wonderful treasures I received from my swap partner Marie. I love the Instant Ancestor she made. I am not sure what is all in the little gold sachet, but it made everything smell heavenly.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Thanksgiving"
The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.'
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.
Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway~
Thanksgiving comes again!

Happy Haunting!

Winter White Wonderland ATC

It has been awhile since I posted. We had a critical family medical issue. To those who have been asking, my husband is slowly but surely healing and on the mend. My heartfelt thanks to everyone whose has sent healing thoughts and prayers his way.

After dusting the cobwebs in my craft room, I was happy to work on making my ATCs for Red Lead's Winter White Wonderland ATC swap. The blue in the photo was a bit darker than I wanted, but I could not resist using it.

Tin Swapping!

A Swap for All Seasons had an altered tin swap. Above is the beautiful green tin made for me by my partner, Maudina. The purple crackled tin is the one I sent to her. What a fun swap.

BCS One Year and Counting!

Once you choose hope, anything's possible... Christopher Reeve

Guarding Angels

My sister and I shopped our way back from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. We stopped at Nell Hill's in Kansas City. They had room after room of decor eye candy. Linda discovered this print on canvas of a cemetary angel hanging in a staircase. I had to have it.

Cemetary sculptures are beautiful works of art, altered by mother nature.

Birthday Treasures!

A couple of my favorite things..... doilies and glassware, both from my sister for my birthday. Don't you just love the color of the green thread used in these doilies? Green is probably my favorite color. These doiles might just have to find a home on the wall in my craft room.

The Fenton hobnail salt and pepper shakers are beauties. I have been admiring this very set of shakers in area antique malls but always set them back down not wanting to slurge.

Last but not least is the fabulous tchotchki pin Linda made. I love the little picture of my smiley kids she used from an old photo. Hiding under the ribbon is a little sewing machine charm & under the photo charm is my lucky number 3. I had to wear this to work today just to show it off. Thank you Linda! You're the best.

ATCs for the Red Lead Holiday ATC Swap.

You've Got a Friend.

In the mail this week arrived a wonderful chunky book full of love, good wishes and friendship from my favorite fabulous sister, the Sunshine Club at Follow Your Bliss, and other art friends. Thank you for such a beautiful special gift.

Some of the best lessons in life are often acquired during our most challenging times. In the past year I have come to realize the greatness and importance of family and the many friends I am blessed with. I treasure and value all of you.

Tchotchke Shmotchke

This was a first for me. I made a tchotchke pin for a swap Red Lead is doing. Looking for the origin of this word, I learned that a tchotchke is Yiddish slang for an inexpensive souvenir, trinket, or ornament. Fun!

More Antique Ancestors

Antique Ancestors ATCs

It has been awhile since I made ATCs. These are my first four in a Red Lead ATC swap challenge. Four more to go. Running out of time so I better hurry!

Butterfly Wishes Itty Bitty Book

No Genie in this Lamp!

Even though it needed some TLC this lamp caught my eye at one of my favorite thrift stores for the total of $3.01. My heart pounded! When I got my lamp home I cleaned it up, played with the wiring a bit, and threw on a harp and the too small of a shade I had around the house. Not only does the top light up but a tiny bulb in the bottom lights up too! This little gem will be going into my new/old sitting room. I may not have any funiture to sit on, but at least I won't be standing in the dark.

Swap for All Seasons Vintage Swimwear Tag

The Gift of Friends

I have been blessed with many wonderful friends. Waiting for me when I arrived home from work Wednesday was a small package and a card from one of them... MaryLou. She was wearing 'Flower' parfum the night before at bunco and I kept sniffing her out to enjoy the scent. In my package was a brand new bottle of 'Flower' in one of the most adorable bottles ever! But even sweeter then the parfum was the wonderful card offering these words of cheer and encourgement "a new month, a new day and a new parfum". So I am taking her advice. "Put a smile on, enjoy." You rock MaryLou!

4x4 Birthday Chunky Page

A New Treasure

Today I dropped by an estate sale in the neighborhood and acquired a new serving fork. I am finding myself drawn to random old silverware lately. Many of the old vintage patterns are so full of style and glamour. It will eventually get polished, but first I will just admire its charm for awhile.

Spring Is in the Air

Take a sniff of the lilacs from my yard. When I open the window on that side of the house, the fragrance of lilacs drifts in with the breeze.

Happy Easter!

RAKs

When life gets a bit topsy-turvy, trying to jumpstart creative mojo is not easy. Thought I could give it a kick by reorganizing my little 'craftcave' and then making a couple RAKs. (I also discovered all those scraps and little tidbits too good to throw away have a worthwhile purpose.)

Vintage Spring Sweetness!

This week in the mail my Vintage Spring Sweetness package arrived from Terri at Grace Notes. I could not have been more delighted when I opened it. She knew just what I liked from pink glassware (with candy inside) to old sewing trims. Included was an adorable spring bunny and some vintage dainty embroidered luncheon napkins. Thank you Terri. I luv it all!!

Spring Showers

What is it about this cute little gal with the umbrella that calls to me. Maybe she reminds me of my daughter when she was small. At the first drop, she would run to the back porch with her new umbrella and stand in the rain. Or maybe it reminds me of my son when he was little. He had a new Cardinal Baseball umbrella from his grandmother and immediately took it outside to climb on top of the air conditioner and jump off in hopes to float like Mary Poppins. The umbrella did not survive the first attempt. There is nothing better than a good umbrella.

Pig on a Blanket!

Over the years one of my favorite people has acquired the ability to turn shopping into a form of art on an admirable scale. There are very few I know who come close to being in her league. For years I made fun of her for it. Now, I am just in awe. Being her sister, I often find myself the recipient of some of the loveliest treasures she finds. For awhile now Linda has decided that for my personal sake I should collect pigs and always manages to slip one in no matter the occasion. This is one of her best efforts to convert me. This little gilt is so cute I have to smile when I look at her.

New Charms for Swapping

These are my latest batch for a charm swap. Next round, I would like to step out of my safe little box and try something different and more creative. Just not sure how or what yet.

What a Croc!

For the last dozen years or so, President's Day weekend has been an outlet mall shopping spree for me. A number of friends and I head down to the Lake of the Ozarks for a few days of shopping, food and fun. This year we did more than our part to help the sluggish ecomony. One of the many deals purchased was at the Crocs store. I have never owned a pair before, but for a total of $13, now I own three pair to slump around in. What a deal!!

Play Date

What a day! My friend Becky invited me over for a play date along with 4 other gals. The table was full of paper, felted hearts, beads, wire, buttons, glitter, charms, magnets, thread and every other goodie on the planet.....including chocolate. We stamped, cut and glued the delightful afternoon away. Then we feasted in the kitchen on fruit, veggies, nuts, and cheese along with homemade pumpkin bread and cherry cheesecake cupcakes...YUM! Thank you Becky for inviting me. You are the best!

My Treasure Box

Putting away some clutter today brought me to a treasure of mine...my thread box. It was handmade by my sweet, dear father-in-law for me many years ago. He loved to work with his hands especially if wood was involved. There is barely a room in my house that does not have a touch of his handiwork. Charlie taught me how to two-step and never said a cross word about anyone. He was quite a gentleman. God blessed me with the best of in-laws. I could not have hand picked them any better.

Charming Swap

Every other month or so there is a handmade charm swap with the Red Lead group. It has been fun and challenging trying to come up with something different each time. These were made from a small piece of an old quilt picked up at a local antique mall bought for making eye glass cozies.

Hurry Spring!

I have on two pair of socks with shoes and my feet are still cold! Spring is not getting here fast enough for me this year so I am waiting for my next hot flash!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dominos

Dominos for a Red Lead swap.

Winter Whimsy Mitten Swap

A Swap for All Seasons hosted a Winter Whimsey Mitten Swap. These are the items I sent to my swap partner.

My Newest Treasures

While Christmas shopping, I drug my sweet husband into a local antique mall for a browse and was oogling a beautiful depression bowl in one of the cases. Guess what I found under the tree this year paired up with two equally lovely etched candle holders! So begins my new passion!

Happy Winter