Itsy Bits and Pieces

Something Accomplished!

2012-01-31T09:39:00.002-06:00

We recently finished a major part of our entryway re-do...the coat rack/bench! It is a very functional part of our house. In Minnesota, shoes are kicked off when you enter the house...sand, snow, mud, salt...its all dragged in. And there are always coats, gloves, hats, etc. The photo below is what the mudroom section looked like in stage one after I removed the old wallpaper, primed, and painted...

We had this shoe storage bench from Ikea that provided a place to sit down, and some peg racks on the wall. But I have always felt it was unbalanced in the room...keepin' it real here...

We had nice existing wainscoting...

We decided to make it feel like a built in coat rack/ bench unit! My husband built a basic shelf with nice pine boards and a couple of pre-made shelf brackets. It is nearly 7 feet long... we made it to extend several inches beyond the bench on each side.

It would be fine like that, but we decided to dress it up with crown molding on top, and later on the interior...

We screwed it into the studs for strength, choosing a height we thought looked right...the top would be used for displaying decorative items so we kept that in mind...

Flat decorative moldings were added to each side as a border edge. The shelf brackets were set to just over the length of the bench, so the molding edge would line up with the bench.

Then it was time to prime and paint! We really liked the wall color we had chosen and I used the same color on the shelf unit- Benjamin Moore's White Sand in an eggshell finish.

I painted it out all the way to the floor. You can't see it here, but I painted a pale drop shadow on the line where it crosses the wainscoting for a little more realism there. The paint brings it together like a single piece!

Then the jewelry...the beautiful black hooks! We spent about $50 on these, the most expensive part of the project...but OH SO pretty...

Finally, the black shoe bench was put back in place... This project cost around $100, mostly due to the hooks and crown molding, but could be done in a simpler way, for much less money! In the photo below, you can see the interior moldings, too! We are really happy with this addition to the entryway! Next post, I will be showing the entire entryway reveal...before and after! It has taken awhile, but was well worth the effort!

I am joining Kim at Wow Us Wednesday

and Linda at Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

I am also joining Karianne over at Thistlewood Farm for the Imagine The Impossibilities Challenge~ it inspired me to get this finished!

There are 6 host blogs for the challenge! You can click on the icon above to start visiting!

Until next time...

Fun Finds...And A Great Giveaway...

2012-01-27T13:45:00.000-06:00

I had some great finds at the thrift store yesterday! A vintage group photo is always a find, and with the old canteen I found, makes a perfect vignette...

Look at this great old light fixture...

some test tubes in a rack...

and a fun old book.

This vintage velvet bow and feather once adorned a woman's hat!

A vintage French book always comes home with me...

I love the fun pages...

My favorite finds are these charming vintage velvet fruit pincushions... I think they would be lovely gathered in a bowl or basket...

and this wonderful old French Flow Blue Bowl! Far from perfect...but it is mine...

Another wonderful find this week is - the Card Keyper- from Suzanne of Privet and Holly! She is having a great GIVEAWAY to launch her Etsy Shop and the great card organizer she and her mother created! She is giving away THREE of them, so your odds are good! I love mine...keeps all my rewards and member cards organized and right at hand when I need them! She also includes a special punch and cute charms! I know you will love it, too! You can click on the photo below to visit her blog and enter the giveaway!

Until next time...hope your weekend is full of fun finds, too!

Have You Seen These?

2012-01-25T13:07:00.000-06:00

Have you seen these? I was shopping in Michaels yarn department when I spotted these (I'm not being paid to share any of this...just what I found this week). Baker's twine is popular right now for art and packaging. These are called Sugar 'n Cream Twists- a small cotton yarn, that reminds me a lot of Baker's twine! They come in some fun colors (look at that pink and white), and at $1.99 for each cute 95 yd skein, I can afford to use these for lots of projects!

I love the grab bins in the store, too! They have some great new lines for spring...these cute stamps were $1.50 each and went along with some adorable note cards, journals, etc.

At Half Price Books, I bought this fun magnetic stamping kit. It is made by the Magnetic Poetry people...and sells on their website for $39.95. If you have a Half Price books nearby, I found it for $14.99 there!

It has 250 magnetic backed stamps that you use interchangeably on a metal backed block. It also comes with the storage case and an acid-free ink pad. I love the simple font, and will have a lot of fun with this set!

I used the "Thanks" stamp...

with one of the other stamps I bought, to dress up the tissue paper wrap on an etsy customer's package...cute, don't you think?

Until next time...

An Uplifting Post...

2012-01-23T14:43:00.000-06:00

Today over at Privet and Holly , Suzanne shared the uplifting story of Heather Von St. James, a mesothelioma survivor. If you haven't read it, I hope you will stop by, read her post, and share Heather's story, too!

Until next time...

Fun Finds and a Winner...

2012-01-17T14:12:00.003-06:00

I have a few fun thrift store finds to share this week...don't you love the colors of this embossed Dutch tin?

I found a couple of dainty linens for spring, too.

I love this quilted pillow sham~ the pale gray pattern on soft white... not sure if I'll use it as a sham or just for the pretty fabric...

This old cash book is so decorative~ from the impressed cover...

To the interior...

and page headings...

This BIG twig basket will be great holding pots in the garden or out in the porch this spring!

My favorite find this week is this great vintage lamp! I love the combination of wood and woven, and with the right shade will add to the rustic farmhouse style I am adding to my decor!

I am always amazed at the goodies found in a thrift store...

Also today...I want to thank everyone who entered my Vintage Valentine giveaway over at Knick of Time! Thanks so much, Angie! You did a wonderful job of hosting!

The winner is Linda at Coastal Charm and I am joining her this week at her Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Until next time...

How Nice!

2012-01-15T17:07:00.000-06:00

I believe that there is really not enough niceness or common courtesy in the world today. And I think that a kindness or good deed really makes a difference in the world! I know how good it feels being on the receiving end, and how great it is to give niceness, too!
Today I happened upon Operation Nice
a wonderful blog/website started by Melissa Morris Ivone to "remind you that a little NICE goes a long way."

To me, a site that encourages "proactive niceness" is one worth sharing! You'll find the button I have added to the top of my sidebar to share the site and to remind myself and others of the importance of "niceness"! Be sure and visit the Facebook
page, too!

Until next time...I hope you have a "NICE" day... (and I really mean it!)

Building, Painting, and Still Time to Enter the Giveaway...

2012-01-12T23:41:00.000-06:00

I have been very busy working in my entryway! You might remember last fall when I tore the wallpaper down one day! It took nine paint samples, but we finally found one and finished painting the walls- it is a fairly large space with a 14 foot wall in the stairway. After a break for the holidays, we are doing a woodworking and painting project in the space and have made quite a change in the way the room looked! I'll be posting the project at the end of the month when we've completed it, but we are very happy with how it is turning out!
Meanwhile, in case you missed it...I wanted to remind you about the Vintage Valentines Giveaway I am sponsoring over at Knick of Time!
I hope you'll head over to Angie's fun blog and enter the giveaway!

There are lots of fun goodies up for grabs!

Until next time...

A Fun Vintage Valentine Goodies Giveaway...

2012-01-10T23:12:00.000-06:00

I am sponsoring a Vintage Valentine Goodies giveaway over at Knick of Time ! I hope you'll head on over and visit sweet Angie! She has a great blog and a wonderful etsy shop !
Thanks so much for hosting, Angie!

Here are just some of the fun goodies up for grabs...you can enter over at Knick of Time! Good Luck!

Until next time...

Vintage Bottle Caps...

2012-01-07T15:03:00.000-06:00

I have a thing for vintage bottle caps...so colorful and graphic...a reminder of days past! I've been putting together groups for my Itsy Bits And Pieces etsy shop...

I love putting them in lots by color...I think they would be wonderful framed as artwork! Thought I'd share some of, what to me, is pure eye candy...

Aren't they great looking? Like little works of art... If you're interested, these cap lots and more are in my etsy shop.
I've seen many great ideas for using bottle caps...magnets, jewelry, and altered art- we even had one man at the last Junk Bonanza who was covering the front of his Kegerator! Have you seen or done any fun projects with bottle caps?
Here's a couple of BIG ideas I found on Pinterest~

Source: travelobsession.wordpress.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Source: s245.photobucket.com via Lacey on Pinterest

Until next time...

I am joining Angie at Knick of Time Tuesday

A Fun Guest Post From Design Shuffle...

2012-01-05T20:37:00.000-06:00

Today I am happy to welcome Design Shuffle for a guest post! Design Shuffle is a wonderful online community full of inspiration from interior designers, trade professionals and those interested in design! If you haven't visited their website, blog, and facebook page, you are in for a treat...enjoy!

Hi, I’m Joanna, a writer for Design Shuffle, an online portal for all things interior design. I spend my days scouring the internet finding the most beautiful images of homes and sharing them with readers onblogs like Itsy Bits And Pieces. Thanks for letting me share some vintage spaces today! Children’s rooms are the perfect place to decorate with vintage finds. Old signage, beds, vintage fabrics and antique toys play nicely with some of today’s furnishings. Take a look at some of the vintage kids' rooms we found. Hopefully, you’ll find yourself inspired by these decorating ideas.An antique wooden bed and vintage bedding work nicely along with other vintage finds, such as the buffer-c sign and an old toy stove.An old metal bed gives this room a touch of nostalgia. Vintage toys line the walls in the background.A retro modern room with vintage games is the perfect room for the boys. An art deco dresser sits off to the side.Another metal bed (this time in blue) gives the room a cheerful pop of color. Vintage wallpapers line the walls and there are vintage linens on the bed.Twin beds make for a fun bedroom design accented with a vintage art gallery wall. Lots of fun accessories finish off the décor.Vintage Barbie fashion plates give this room a sense of style. The tufted bed in pink gives this space another kick of glamour. These bedroom design ideas are both girly and reminiscent of the past.A corner play space is filled with vintage toys and unexpected finds to thrill the child in all of us. The alphabet cutouts are super cool, as is the comfy geometric rug.An antique crib is the centerpiece of this lovely vintage room just waiting to inspire lots of interior design ideas for parents in waiting. An old horse and stroller add a touch of nostalgia to the room.Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8Aren't these vintage kids' rooms adorable? For even more design inspiration, head on over to Design Shuffle where you can connect with San Francisco interior designers, Boston interior designers, and more!

A BIG thanks to Joanna and Design Shuffle for the fun inspiration!

Until next time...

We Have A Winner...

2012-01-04T01:24:00.000-06:00

Thank you all for entering my giveaway and for your wonderful comments! You make blogging so much fun! I've enjoyed getting to know so many of you, and am looking forward to getting to know some of you who are new followers, too! The winner of the giveaway is~

Kari of Thistlewood Farm

Hope you enjoy the goodies, Kari!

Until next time...

Still Time To Enter The Giveaway!

2012-01-02T11:00:00.002-06:00

This giveaway is now closed...
Happy 2012 Everyone! We're getting back to a more normal pace of life here...how about you? If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, there's still time! Just click on the button below...ends Tues Jan 3rd 10 PM CST. Good luck!

Until next time...

Fun Finds...

2011-12-31T00:38:00.001-06:00

Yesterday my husband and I took a day for some relaxation and stopped in at a thrift store. Thought I'd share some of the fun finds of the day! Isn't the sheet music fun? I found some pretty linens, too...

This homespun looking piece is from Austria~ I've really been attracted to blue lately...

and I love the detail on this lovely piece...

Satin hankie holders are always a fun find...

Paper doilies are great for artwork or in the kitchen...

This great basket purse is from the 60's...love the kitschy shells and golden paint on the sides...

This vintage wool boy's cap is so cute...

as is the sweet name tag inside...

Vintage hangers...

and a lovely pair of Italian brass wall sconces round out the discoveries today!

These were actually tagged, something I've only previously seen on tole pieces. We had a great day~ you just never know what treasures are waiting out there!

If you haven't entered the giveaway I have going on right now, you can click on the button below, or visit my last post! Its open until January 3rd!

Until next time...wishing you all a...

Giveaway Time and Goodies in the Mail!

2011-12-27T22:05:00.002-06:00

I've received some wonderful goodies in the mail lately! I was lucky to win this beautiful necklace from the talented Tricia of A Rosy Note ! It was made by her sister Kristi Roshau , who makes beautiful jewelry! You can click on the link to check out her wonderful designs. Thank you, Tricia and Kristi...I love it!

Recently I ordered these wonderful antique lotto markers from the etsy shop of sweet Kim of Numinosity ! They are different than any I have had before and I just love them!

But Kim surprised me with some goodies, too...some of her artwork and glass beads...

and this lovely bracelet! Thank you SO much, Kim!

Another sweet (and I do mean sweet) surprise in the mail came from my friend Missy, of My Cottage Charm ! Missy sent me this huge mug~ and I like my mugs BIG...

and some of her homemade coconut balls and chocolate covered cherries (I may or may not have eaten a few before these photos). Reading her blog, I have always thought she must be a very good cook...and now I know I was right! SO GOOD!! Thank you so much, Missy!

One last goodie in the mail...this lovely necklace from my inspiring friend Cindy Adkins of Whimsical Musings ! I love how she used the clip to hold the altered domino...so clever! Cindy is a talented artist and writer with several e-books on Amazon right now!

I hope you will visit these great ladies, you will be glad you did! Thanks also to all of you who sent sweet cards in the mail...it was
sure fun to get the mail lately!
The following giveaway is now ended...
I have made so many wonderful friends on the blogs...I appreciate all of you and your visits to my blog! You support and inspire me and I enjoy every minute of it! I've decided to celebrate the coming of a New Year~ it's time for a little goodie giveaway! I've put together a package of ephemera and fun...bingo cards, French vocabulary cards, dominoes, a booklet of sheet music, and old notebook and a school card, clothespins, a piece of crocheted lace, old Euro photo postcards, crinkled seam binding, and a vintage French book. Goodies for art and fun!

To enter, just leave a comment on this post.
If you share the giveaway on your blog or facebook, leave a separate comment to let me know, and you'll get a second entry!
The giveaway ends Tuesday Jan 3rd, 10 PM CST. Good luck!

Until next time...

O Christmas Tree...

2011-12-23T12:51:00.000-06:00

Isn't this little snowman a cutie patootie? He's a recent addition to our tree this year! This year we have a little 11 month old grandchild in the house and decided a big tree was way too much temptation for her...so we have a tabletop tree! Its perfect for our simple decorating this year, too!

I used an old matelasse coverlet as a tree skirt and a little chalkware creche...I love its sweetness...

a little eye candy...

and Sophie is always willing to pose...

Wishing you a wonderful Blessed Christmas from our house to yours...

Until next time...

More From the 2011 Bachman's Holiday Ideas House...

2011-12-21T19:38:00.003-06:00

Are you ready for more of the Bachman's 2011 Holiday Ideas House? Thank you for all of the wonderful comments you left on part one! This is a bit of a long post...so hang on...we're headed upstairs~
Above is one of my favorite ideas from the house~ it was on the wall going up the stairs. And I love how the stair risers were decorated...

The window was beautifully dressed...

First stop is the girl's bedroom, with a Bohemian Woodland theme...

A garden trellis serves as a canopy and shelving...

and jump ropes with clothespins serve as art displays...

Tins were spray painted and, with magnets, used for display...

Next up...The Craft Room! Who wouldn't love this room?

an old trunk makes a wonderful storage piece...

and look at these old locker doors re-used for storage and magnet boards...

Old bedsprings make a fun tree...

and vintage bread trays are great organizers...

The house bathrooms have some beautiful ideas...

Don't you love this toilet paper idea?

and look how an old drawer pull was re-used on the wall as a towel holder!

The master bedroom was full of vintage goodness...

Isn't the room beautiful? And look at this vintage industrial laundry basket holding the tree!

Last, is the fun boy's bedroom- done in a Planes, Trains, and Automobile theme! The ceiling fixture is a traffic cone...

The wall art was done with magnetic paint and the trucks have magnets...

Tire treads for valances!

Well, that's the end of the tour! Wasn't it a wonderful Ideas House? The Spring Ideas House will be open
March 22- April 15th 2012! Remember... you can click on the Bachman's House link in my labels at the end of the post, or on my sidebar, to see past houses!

Until next time...

The Bachman's 2011 Holiday Ideas House

2011-12-19T20:43:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for a visit to the 2011 Bachman's Holiday Ideas House? If you haven't seen this house before, it is a former family home on the flagship property of Bachman's ~ a wonderful floral, garden, landscaping, and home decor store in Minnesota. You can visit my posts on previous ideas houses by clicking on the link in the labels at the end of this post, or on my sidebar.
I met my friend Suzanne, of Privet and Holly ~ we shopped the store and shared a visit over a delicious coffee before touring the house! Its so great to have made a sweet friend through blogging! It was a gray and rainy day here in Minnesota and a fun girls' day out!

Today I'll share the lower level of the house...

The charming front porch ...

whimsical bottle trees...

The front entry...

Who wouldn't want to dine in this beautiful room?

Photo placecards are a fun idea...

I love the wall decorated with a giant wreath of silverplate trays and a wonderful old headboard and footboard turned into a planter...

Vintage punch cups make a striking garland on the windows...

The kitchen is bright and cheery...

I love the metal lawyer's cabinet re-purposed here...

This old crib end is used as a hat rack...

The living room/sunroom space has many fun ideas, too...

The tree was gorgeous...

my favorite...the flameless candles nestled in...

Isn't this old bed frame a creative coffee table?

Are you still with me? A bit of a long post, but I hope you enjoyed it! Next post, I'll share the upper floors!

Until next time...

More Christmas Fun...

2011-12-16T23:36:00.001-06:00

It's been fun and busy around our home with all the holiday goings on this week! Thought I'd share a little more of the Christmas decorating in our home! I found a couple of cuties at the thrift store this week~ a fun snowman...

and this little Santa on skis...

I love vintage ornaments...

especially this wonderful old Santa bulb...

some more vignettes from around the house...

I fell in love with this sweet little boy's coat...

The lovely tag is from my friend Sharon of My Vintage Studio ...

The mantel in the entryway is very simple this year...

simple canning jars, with snow, flameless candles, and greens...

I made the SNOW letters of cardstock and glittered them with vintage silvery glitter...

A fun "Deer With Antlers Silhouette" is from The Graphics Fairy ~ printed on cardstock, and cut out to place on the mirror...it reflects for a fun 3-D appearance...

I found this cute pair of skates this week, too...such a great gingham lining!

And finally... my favorite decorations this year...my three oldest grandchildren were here and decorated this window for us! If you ever need coloring pages...just google it...you'll find lots of them, all different types, to print out on your printer!

I'll be sharing our tree soon, too! This week I had a fun visit to the Bachman's Holiday House...and next week I'll share the wonderful sights and holiday ideas!

I am joining Debra at Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration Friday

Until next time...enjoy this wonderful time of year!

A Little Christmas Decorating...

2011-12-07T19:23:00.001-06:00

Thanks to everyone for all your nice comments on my last post about the craft fair! We had a great time- attendance was down as snow moved in (which made for a fun take-down, too)... But, we had some sales, met a lot of fun vendors, and did some shopping! And its always fun spending time with my daughter!
With the last show of the year behind me, I've finally started doing a little decorating for Christmas. Some years I want to decorate everything in sight, other years...I decorate very simply. Are you like that? This year with the sale, and not feeling my best (I'm battling bronchitis right now after having a cold for the last two weeks), I am definitely in a simple mood...an up north, almost Scandinavian decor. Today I'll share the hutch! Rather than unpacking a lot of Christmas decor, I am doing a lot with color this year...a fresh and cheery red and white!

I brought in pieces that I already had...

with a few sweet Christmas touches...

lovely old books...

a wonderful old teapot...

and this antique candy tin is filled with pepperberries!

A vintage chocolate covered cherry box looks cute on my latest scale find! I've eaten many chocolate covered cherries in Christmases past...

This old Red Willow transferware platter is circa 1860...

of course I've added my sweet dog figurines...

and clocks...

and a charming old framed Christmas postcard...

The hutch makes me smile...hope you have enjoyed seeing it!

I am joining Kim at Wow Us Wednesday

and

Debra at Christmas Block Party Vintage Inspiration Friday

Until next time...

The Handmade Christmas...

2011-12-02T15:18:00.001-06:00

Well, I've been a little missing-in-action around here this week...getting ready for The Handmade Christmas Craft Fair! There are 46 handmade vendors, we are one of a few artist/crafting/ephemera supply vendors doing the show! Thought I'd share a little eye candy... just a few of the goodies we are bringing!

If you are in Minnesota, we'd love to see you! The sale is tomorrow, Saturday December 3rd from
10 am-7 pm, at~

The Handmade Christmas Craft Fair

Trinity City Church

1849 Marshall Avenue

St Paul MN

There are 46 vendors in four rooms/ hourly giveaways drawings/ yarn spinning demonstrations/ discount passes/ girls night out! Hope to see some of you there!

Until next time...

Wishing You A...

2011-11-21T23:41:00.001-06:00

Until next time...

A Turkey Trot...

2011-11-21T22:39:00.001-06:00

This week my friend Alison from The Polohouse did a funny post about her Vintage Gobblers...which she thinks are ugly, but they really are great! She inspired me to share a few of my funny looking birds, too! I often line them up down the center of the Thanksgiving table...a turkey trot, so to speak! The grandchildren are always amused by them! This big platter always is on the table, too! Setting out these pieces always bring wonderful family gatherings to mind...

There are several sets of vintage turkey salt and pepper shakers...

and some colorful planters...

this is a little old chalkware pair...

and even some vintage Gurley candles...

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays...a special time of counting our blessings, family traditions, and sharing a special meal! This year, we are blessed that all of our children will be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner! I hope you all have a wonderful week and a Happy Thanksgiving to my US friends!

I am joining Suzanne at Privet and Holly's Monday Moments

Until next time...

Greens for the Front Porch...and a Winner!

2011-11-17T15:43:00.001-06:00

Thank you all for your get well wishes...they really brought a smile to my face...I am glad to be feeling much better now! The weather has turned cold here, so I decided to start setting out greens in the front porch planter, before it is too cold and frozen to do so! I am in a simple Northwoods frame of mind this year...and just used green, black, and white colors. Our house is green and the front doors are black and white, so it is a natural looking entry!

Recently, I found these great outdoor custom vinyl numbers from santasgiftshoppe on etsy...under $10, including shipping! I think they really dress up the door!

An old Rock Spring Beverages crate works well, with its chippy green paint...

It holds some snowshoes and a sign I made several years ago...

I love to decorate with vintage skates, and I love the laces on these...

I mixed greens, many of which I found at the compost site down at the lake. Its fun to re-use the fresh clippings that others discard...I re-cut and soaked them in water, to make them last longer. I also mixed in a few that I bought and added some roping around the front door.

I think its a great look for winter! Tomorrow we are going to add some white lights and more greens to the front of the house. We'll take advantage of the weather, as it will warm up tomorrow~ to 47 degrees~ but Saturday, snow is expected! We want to finish before the snow flies!

And, on another note...thank you to all who entered the My Memories giveaway! For those of you wanting to purchase this fun software program, I will leave the $10 discount code on my sidebar. The winner is~

the sweet and talented Dorthe of Den Lille Lade !

I am joining Debra at Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

Honey at 2805 Potpourri Party

and

At The Picket Fence Doors And Porches Party

Until next time...stay warm!

Don't Miss The Giveaway!

2011-11-11T11:35:00.001-06:00

Thanks so much for all of the sweet comments about my fall hutch in my last post! I am a little under-the-weather and resting right now, but wanted to stop by to remind everyone to enter the great software giveaway I have going on right now! Its a lot of fun! Just click on the icon above! Ends Weds Nov 16th at 10PM CST.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend...

Until next time...I'll be curled up with some magazines and a warm blanket...
Linda

The Fall Hutch and a Fun Giveaway!!

2011-11-09T17:01:00.000-06:00

Fall is rapidly coming to a close and the holidays are quickly approaching! Thought I would share a few small changes I made to my hutch for late fall, before I switch it out for Christmas! I mainly did it with the use of color~ browns and golds, with a touch of orange...

I love this little porcelain leaf...

A couple of golden bird figurines add a whimsical touch...

as do some of my dog figurines...

I brought back acorns from the lake...

LOVE this old plate...

and I added this vintage shaker that I found recently... just a few small changes...

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW ENDED...

Now for the giveaway! I am sure you have seen the My Memories giveaways on the blogs lately...they are the top rated scrapbooking software...They offered me the opportunity to review the software and another chance for you to win the My Memories Suite for free!

I'm a beginner at this sort of thing, but found it easy to use, and there are tutorials, too. There are many templates, background papers, embellishments, etc., as well as the ability to work totally from scratch. I played around with some of the photos from this post. Using a collage template, I chose a background color, cropped the photos, added shadow, and text. Something like this could be used as a scrapbook page, printed as an advertising card, there are so many possibilities!

This is a very simple one I created with photos of my pugs...I chose a corrugated paper, adjusted the opacity, added mats, shadows, text, and embellishment. It is easy to move or rotate items, to move layers behind or in front, and you can even add music or video for use on the web...

And you can do lots more than just digital scrapbooking... here I took a photo of some vintage ballerina cake toppers, added mats and phrase of my choosing...it is designed to print out on a white background and be framed.

Since you can put things into a JPG format you can print them as photos, or Christmas cards, artwork...whatever you want. I have only done just a few projects, so I know there are LOTS more possibilities with this software! There are many free template downloads on their website as well as a large selection of downloadable software add-ons at low cost, so you can constantly get new templates, papers, etc! I am having a lot of fun with this and am looking forward to working on some Christmas gifts with the software, too!

For those of you who can't wait to try this, MyMemories.com has offered my readers a special discount code for $10 off the purchase of the My Memories Suite v2 software as well as a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store- a $20 value! Just copy and paste and enter this code at checkout-

STMMMS20905

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY, if you aren't a follower, please become one. Then just visit the MyMemories.com website and let me know what your favorite digital paper pack kit is- I think you will enjoy exploring- there are MANY types, my favorites are the vintage style! One comment is all you need!
If you would like to earn extra entries, you can leave a separate comment for any of the following-

a blog or sidebar mention

like My Memories on facebook

or follow their Blog , where they have fun weekly challenges!

Good luck! The giveaway ends Weds November 16th- 10 PM CST

Until next time...
Linda

Some Fun Finds...

2011-11-04T22:37:00.001-05:00

Today I had some fun finds out thrifting! Look at these wonderful German spice jars! Very old, certainly not perfect, and oh-so-lovely!

The blue and brown transferware decoration is delicate and pretty...

I love this transferware covered dish! The aqua decoration color is hard to find and always a keeper...

A stoneware bowl was another find...

The leaf decoration is perfect for the season.

This old china plate is very delicate and beautiful...

I always LOVE finding anything vintage Christmas...but Christmas sheet music is not something I find often!

anyone have some hand bells?

Its always a great day treasure hunting!

I am joining~

Honey at 2805 : Potpourri Party

Tammy at Type A Hunter Gatherer Party
and
Angie at Knick of Time Tuesday

Until next time...

Linda

The Lady Gets A Makeover...

2011-10-30T00:10:00.000-05:00

Recently, I found this little lady curbside...a chippy, gaudy golden girl. But I had other plans for her...a makeover!

I decided to decoupage the mannequin with vintage dictionary pages...the pattern is small and wouldn't detract from displays.

I didn't try to make her perfect...a wrinkly surface was fine with me...

I think she turned out beautifully! I plan to use her in my studio for display...

of antique jewelry...

and lovely old lace...

She's so stylish now...

I am joining Angie at Knick of Time Tuesday

and Kim at Wow Us Wednesdays

Until next time...
Linda

Outdoors at the Bachman Fall Ideas House 2011...

2011-10-26T22:40:00.000-05:00

I hope you've been enjoying the Bachman's 2011 Fall Ideas House tour! Today I'll finish up with all the outdoor jewelry! So much prettiness...just enjoy...

How about this huge broom made from tree branches tied to a larger branch?

One of my favorite things about this Ideas House was the shed decorated as a haunted house!

Vintage Christmas tree stands hold dried up tree branch cuttings and fun crows...

and a rake is a great perch...

Take a look at all the spooky fun inside...

Hanging Spanish moss, spiderwebs, and old chain add to the creepiness...

Love the spooky ghosts...

spiders...

and creepy fun bottles...

and lots of fun treats, too!

Well, that's it from the fall house! As I write this the Holiday Ideas House is being decorated...it is open from November 10th - December 18th!

Until next time...
Linda

More From the Bachman's Fall Ideas House 2011...

2011-10-24T23:36:00.000-05:00

Today I'm going to share the office and bedrooms from the Bachman's Fall Ideas House! You can check out my earlier posts, if you are just getting started, and you can also click on the link in my labels at the end of the post to see posts from past houses! The office/family room space is one of my favorites! The workspace above is a tabletop on old wooden beehives. and vintage ballot boxes serve as storage...

Look at this decorative wall of clipboards...

and bicycle wheels hold cards and photos!

Herb drying racks are used as newspaper/magazine holders.

In the master bedroom, a fence gate is used as a headboard...

and a cabinet is handcrafted from scrap wood...

The teenage girl's bedroom has a modern, trendy feel! How about using magazines as wall art?

A decorative fabric shower curtain serves as a headboard...

and some old metal building trim is used as a valance!

Vintage suitcases work as decorative storage...

as do great looking shadowboxes!

Another of my favorite spaces is the pre-school boy's room! Lots of graphic elements come into play here! Love the wall of letters!

Vintage flashcards are used in shelves...

and drawer fronts! The toy wood block handles are fun, too!

A lamp with a stacked book base is very decorative...and the yarn wrapped lampshade is simple and colorful!

The valance in this room is denim with pants pockets!

I love these vintage scooter shelves...

and the fun salvage furniture!

But how many people have an old store checkout light turned into a fun lamp in their room? And the toy storage buckets, with license plate letters, are so fun!

Next time I'll wrap it up with all of the fun seasonal outdoor decorating...especially the shed (haunted house)!

Until next time...
Linda

A Simple Halloween Project...

2011-10-19T16:54:00.001-05:00

I thought I'd take a one post break from the Bachman's Fall Ideas House- you can visit the last couple of posts here to catch up, if you've missed them! Lately I've seen many fun projects using globes! I remembered a project I did several years ago for Halloween and decided to share it as a simple project! Just find a globe at a thrift store or garage sale- doesn't matter if the globe surface is damaged and newer ones work fine, too. I painted it out in a golden tone, and antiqued it to look like a harvest moon. You can see one side of the globe isn't perfect...

Martha Stewart has a great Witch Silhouette on her site! It's pictured below...There's a template there which can also be re-sized for windows. I decided to use it for my moon.

I used a standard graphite paper transfer to the globe for the template, and painted the witch with black craft paint. If you leave the painted globe on the globe stand, it looks like the witch is flying around when you spin it!

I decided to take mine off the stand this year and put it on top of a tall, chunky, black wood candlestick! I'm thinking I need to do a big "Man In The Moon" face next! So many fun possibilities!

I am joining Kim at Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday
and
Angie at Knick of Time Tuesdays

Until next time...
Linda

Bachmans Fall Ideas House 2011- Part 2

2011-10-16T20:07:00.001-05:00

Well, time for more from the Bachman's Fall Ideas House 2011! Thank you so much for all of your nice comments about my last post...I really appreciate that you enjoy seeing the fun ideas! Today I'll share some of the living room, sunroom, hallway, and bathroom ideas! I love these "book" shelves...so clever!

An old trunk lid married to an industrial base becomes a fun side table!

Have you ever thought of using an old wood ironing board as a behind the sofa table?

Old windows and salvaged wood become a great coffee table...

I LOVE the old print block decorating the interior base!

The sunroom had a wine theme! They had a drawing giving away the contents of this room...wouldn't you love to win this?

Old barrels became decorative wall shelves...

and cut-off wine bottles are used for candles!

The stairwells had decorative artwork~ old windows and photos on burlap backgrounds.

Another of my favorite ideas was this piece~ I like how the mailing side of the postcards was used!

I have a few bathroom ideas to share, too! They used vintage buffet tops as shelves and mirrors...

this yardstick had hooks attached and served as an oh-so-decorative curtain rod...

and a divided box makes decorative and practical wall storage!

Next time...the bedrooms! Remember if you would like to see more of past houses, just click on the labels link at the end of this post!

Until next time...
Linda

The Bachman's Fall Ideas House 2011

2011-10-13T22:04:00.004-05:00

Last week I spent a fun day with my friend Suzanne of Privet and Holly, visiting the Bachman's Fall Ideas House! I always enjoy her company so much...I love that we met through blogging!
For those of you unfamiliar with the Ideas House, Bachman's are well known Floral, Gift, and Garden stores in the Twin Cities area. A former family home on the flagship property has been converted into an Ideas House 4 times a year and I have done posts on all the previous houses. They are always full of wonderful ideas! Fall is such a beautiful time to visit the house, with beautiful seasonal decorations! I'll be sharing some of the fun ideas with you! The front porch is always a charming entry to the home! This fun dresser is re-done to hold winter wear...

An old bed or crib spring bottom is used to suspend glass jar candleholders.

The curtains were burlap panels tied with colorful napkins and fall stems...

I love this bench made from 4 chairs...it opens for storage!

An industrial cart, topped with glass serves as a table...

and an old garden gate was used for display and to hold test tube garlands with flowers.

Fall goodies cozied up the room...

The dining room featured a large focal piece- salvaged lumber was used for the base table and to hold tacked on botanical prints...

The table was set for fall dining...I love how they used the vintage amber and green glassware we often see in thrift stores! Chairs were decorated with more burlap!

Love the fun wine rack...

and the lovely way artichokes were scooped out to hold votives!

The charming kitchen features a large metal cage embellished with honeysuckle vines, over the light fixture...

a vintage shutter works as display and to hold recipe cards...

and large cubbies provide storage over the stove.

Old ceiling tin makes a beautiful display backdrop, too!

The window held sweet little potted plants on the ledge, and hanging dried bouquets serve as a valance!

Next time I'll share more of the house! For past houses, you can click on the Bachman's Ideas house link in the labels at the end of this post, or on links on the sidebar!

I am joining Debra at Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration Friday
Until next time...
Linda

A Little Bit Creepy and Spooky Mantel...

2011-10-09T21:35:00.000-05:00

I don't usually do much spooky Halloween decorating, but decided my grandkids might enjoy visiting Grandma's Mad Scientist mantel! I happened to have found some scary goodies at garage and estate sales this year! Lab glass and old bottles are perfect- I added an Arsenic Poison label from The Graphics Fairy, which I distressed with some Walnut Spray Ink.

Lots of old books were added...

Look at this wonderful old 1918 dental poster that I found at an estate sale...perfectly creepy and gross...

Two skulls are perfect for the mad scientist lab!

I bought two paper mache craft skulls at Michaels for a dollar each, painted them off-white, antiqued with burnt umber, and topped with satin sealer.

I put one in an old lantern and set the other on a little alabaster urn...

I found two rats at the thrift store and put one in a lab jar and the other under a bulb cage...

I think it looks wonderfully creepy...maybe I'll have to add some spiderwebs and spiders, too!

I think the kids will love it!

I am joining Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special

Until next time...
Linda

A Front Entry for Fall...

2011-10-07T16:45:00.002-05:00

This week I re-did the front entry to our home for fall! I brought out the wonderful old Handy Hauler that we found curbside last year...

I love this rusty chippy old thing...and filled it with colorful mums!

A chippy old twig stand doesn't mind the weather, and holds one of some vintage folk art wood crows I have...

along with a great warty pumpkin!

The old picket fence comes in handy all year...

We are having the most wonderful fall weather this year, and all of these leaves (and we have a LOT of them!) are falling everywhere...

as nature adds the best decoration of all...a beautiful, deep carpet of leaves...

Until next time...I will be enjoying every minute I can...even with a rake in my hands!

I am joining Debra at Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

Linda

A Simple Project...

2011-10-03T08:33:00.000-05:00

I had a lot of fun using some old photos and vintage vocabulary cards to create some projects for Junk Bonanza! I used a variety of backgrounds including photo folders...

I simply added fun photos and vocabulary cards that I liked with them...isn't she a cutie?

The same vocabulary card took on a different feeling with an antique photo...I love using old hangers for whimsical displays...

Love the names written on the folder...

I did some with a ghostly Halloween feeling...this one used an old plinth block for a background, and the photo is easily changed out...

Love this ghostly old group photo...

Some photos I did in a humorous way...my sense of humor can get pretty out there sometimes and a project like this lends itself well to it...

It was a lot of fun! I thought it might be fun to try with scans of family photos, too! Hope you'll try it!

I'm linking to Knick of Time Tuesday - she's having a fun Tatttered Books giveaway, too!

Until next time...

Linda

Harvest Time...

2011-09-26T22:09:00.000-05:00

It was a beautiful fall day here today, cloudy and in the upper 60s- perfect for harvesting the rest of our apples and for picking the hydrangea blooms before frost. This variety is Haralson, a sweet tart perfect for pies...

The hydrangea is beautifully marked and looks gorgeous drying in a yellowware pitcher...

Aren't they lovely?

The trees are really beginning to turn color here and will be peaking over the next few weeks! I am trying to spend some time outdoors enjoying it each day!

Until next time...
Linda

FUN at Junk Bonanza!

2011-09-20T00:26:00.000-05:00

Another Junk Bonanza has come and gone...and what a Bonanza it was! So much fun- meeting many of you, seeing old friends and making new ones...laughter, tears, and our best sale ever! Thank you to everyone who came to see us! My daughter, Liana, and I share a large double space with our friend Kris of Cottage Dreams! We always have such a fun time together! Thought I'd share some photos from our space- it is so busy I didn't get out for other photos, but many other bloggers are doing great posts!

Below is our big Itsy Bits And Pieces roto-bin, full of all sorts of goodies! It is always a popular shopping point for crafters, scrapbookers, and artists.

All of the assemblage projects I shared in my last post sold quickly! THANK YOU for all your encouraging comments about them...it makes me want to do more projects!!

We love to find interesting items- like this old hairnet display...

Old medical charts and goodies were popular this year- many of ours dated from 1889...

There were lots of vintage sewing goodies...seam binding and rick rack...and lots of notions!

Our space is large enough to do different color schemes...the other side of the space is more eclectic cabin...

Lots of suitcases...

maps big and small...our partner Kris had 4 wonderful old school maps...they flew out the door...She always finds the BEST stuff!

We had lots of vintage jewelry parts for crafters...

I love this old dress form that Kris brought...

AND I got to meet so many wonderful bloggers!! I was having a bad flare-up of my chronic dry eyes during the sale, so I'm looking pretty puffy, but I want to share the photos with you anyway! They are such a GREAT group of women, it was a pleasure getting together with all of them!!

Hollie from Funky Junk Show

Faye from Wild Rose Vintage

Alison from The Polohouse and Suzanne from Privet and Holly

Deb from Garage Sale Gal

and Laurel from Chipping With Charm

I also met Jan of Gracie's Cottage and Jeanne of Bees Knees Bungalow - I wish I had photos of those lovely ladies, too! Everyone was so friendly and it was like I knew everyone forever! Funny how blogging is like that! Many of them have posted great Junk Bonanza posts with wonderful photos! I hope you stop by and visit their great blogs, too!
And here's my sweet daughter, Liana, who helped her mom make it through another year! She's been my partner for the last 10 years...I couldn't do it without her, and wouldn't want to!

And if you are wondering what I bought? I've been wanting a little old rusty toy truck to hold some of my bottle brush trees at Christmas...this one will do just fine!

We had the BEST time...and we're already signed up for next year...

Until next time...I'll be resting up and catching up!
Linda

Ready For Junk Bonanza!

2011-09-14T21:23:00.000-05:00

Well, we are all set up and ready for this year's Junk Bonanza! At 8 AM tomorrow, the doors open to early bird ticket holders, and it should be a FUN and busy day! Thought I would share a few projects my husband and I worked on yesterday for the sale! I had quite a few vintage hem marker stands- I've always loved the look of these, sort of industrial and graphic. I decided to add some fun junk goodies for some great assemblages! Wheels in different sizes were bolted onto the stands (using pre-drilled holes) to be used as photo holders...

You know I love to use vintage hangers! Well, attaching one to the top of the stand is another great looking display idea!

And a vintage little blackboard with a scrabble tray added, makes a fun message board! I hope you try making some of these! I'll be sharing more projects and lots of photos from Junk Bonanza soon! It is held Sept 15, 16, and 17th at Canterbury Park in Shakopee MN. Hope to meet some of you there- we are in space 230-231!

Until next time...I'm off for some much needed sleep and an early morning!
Linda

Isn't She A Cutie?

2011-09-04T21:25:00.000-05:00

I haven't done much thrifting lately with lots of family goings on and getting ready for Junk Bonanza, but last week I stopped by a Goodwill and found this charming vintage scale! I love the graphic face, so different than others I've found! I added this little cutie to my kitchen, holding an old coffee tin...

I love the crackled patina of the tin...

and the vintage coffee sign I framed...

The antique milk glass fruit bowl is one of my favorites! From the late 1880's, it was made by Challinor Taylor and Co. We usually use it for bananas, but now it's holding some of this year's apples...

I think the little scale is a fun addition to my coffee corner!

Until next time...have a wonderful Labor Day holiday!

Linda

Early Signs of Fall at the Lake...

2011-08-29T22:01:00.000-05:00

I'm just back from a long weekend with the family at the lake! It was a time to relax...no work! I hadn't been down for several weeks so the early fall changes in the garden were clear to see. The Chinese Lanterns are in their glory now...

flowers are blooming in mass now...

lots of spider webs...

changing colors and seedheads...

grasses waving in the breeze...

and berries setting...

Many geese, ducks, and water birds are migrating in huge flocks now...

So many areas of the country are having too much water now, but we are very dry. The water level is so low that we are unable to take the boat off the lift right now...You can see the lake looks empty as most everyone has the same problem...

Sophie and Bailey always enjoy relaxing...wherever we are...

even sitting on a chair on the deck!

The days were in the 70's and the sunsets were cool and beautiful...

But summer's not over yet...near 90 degrees is predicted for the first of September!

Until next time...
Linda

Apple Days...

2011-08-24T22:27:00.000-05:00

I love this time of year! We picked the first of our early apples today! There's nothing like apples just off the tree! I guess fall must really be on its way!

"When the apple is ripe, it will fall."

~Irish Proverb

Until next time...hope you have a wonderful weekend enjoying the last lazy days of summer...

Linda

A Girls Gotta Do What A Girls Gotta Do...

2011-08-15T13:57:00.001-05:00

Sometimes...you just gotta do it! Now I know this wallpaper in my entry and stairway was a favorite of many of you, but I have had it for 10 years and was more than ready for a change! I grabbed a corner and ripped a piece off the wall...no turning back... (and I saved LOTS for projects) Thank goodness I prepped the wall well before hanging the paper...you can see it came off easily and was down in this large area in 2 hours. I still have to give the wall a light scrubbing to get any paste or paper residue and then I'm ready to prime and paint!

Even with the old wall prep walls, I am LOVING it already...so much lighter and brighter...

My husband is quite attached to the taupe-gray paint on the tongue and groove wall...

but I like the soft white of the gingerbread...

Pinterest to the rescue! If you haven't visited Pinterest, it is FULL of the best inspiration!! I think this photo is just what we need! What do you think? I LOVE it and I think this look will work in our space!

Until next time...I have a date with a stripper...

Linda

Fun Finds for Junk Bonanza...

2011-08-09T09:53:00.000-05:00

Junk Bonanza, the big antique, vintage, and re-use show is coming up in September, and my daughter and I went on a treasure hunting day to find some more junk for our space there! I love this old wood NOTIONS rack! It will be a great display for some of our Itsy Bits And Pieces and will be for sale, too! And how about this beautifully faded old hat box?

I love the old roses fabric...

A rusty stamp rack full of vintage stamps will join the vintage office goodies we have...

And an old faucet is always a fun find...

We fell in love with these vintage flashlights...

with their rustic patina...

and we found some glassware to add to the vintage bottles and lab glass we are bringing...

Love the etched glass...

These old ladies cloth boots are charming...great chippy white heels...

and this wonderful old three part vanity mirror was a great find, too!

We are always attracted to anything farmhouse...like this old cow print!

We're really looking forward to this year's Bonanza- Sept 15, 16, and 17th at Canterbury Park,
Shakopee, Minnesota! I'm excited to meet some of you there, too! I'll share more goodies soon!

Until next time...
Linda

Summer Sun and Shade...

2011-08-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, when we visited the lake, the sunny perennial beds were in full bloom! I thought I'd share some of the beauty with you! It's been so hot and humid this summer...you can see the humidity on my camera lens in the pic below...

The backyard of the house is very shady, with lush hostas and ferns... it's amazing to see the difference in plants...

I am joining Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

Until next time....hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Linda

Fun Decor At The Lake...

2011-07-31T20:55:00.002-05:00

In my last post, I shared some of my sporting goods collection in our porch at home. We decorate in a lodge style at our lakehome and use lots of fun sporting goods in our decor there, too! We mix it up with traditional lodge items and lots of my gameboard items. Love the two old pillow shams above...the Chanute Field sham is from where I was born! That was a great find in a local thrift store! The vintage fishing trophy in the photo below just makes me smile...

A colorful dartboard adds a really graphic touch to a wall...

as do vintage gameboards...

Here's another style of dartboard...

Love the baseball graphics...

Deer items show up here and there...

as do more vintage tennis rackets...

Isn't this vintage Syroco bookend fun?

I love the tin of vintage fishing flies and the lure was my husband's as a boy...

This is one of my favorite pieces of furniture, just a beautiful antique piece and perfect in the lakehouse with old collectibles. The drawers are full of games and jigsaw puzzles...

Old binoculars are one of my favorite collections...

Hope you enjoyed this peek at the lakehouse...other areas in the home have a vintage beachy look- I'll share those in the future, too!

I am joining Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

Until next time...
Linda

A Fun Collection and a Sweet Surprise in the Mail...

2011-07-26T09:09:00.002-05:00

Today I'm joining a fun party over at Privet and Holly where we are sharing our collections! I think the things we collect speak to us in some way...and make our houses feel like home!

I have a lot of collections, many of which I have already shared here on my blog... dog collectibles , tole trays , old books , chocolate covered cherry boxes , silverplate , old floral paintings
You can visit those posts by clicking on the links. But today I'm going to share a collection you might not expect...vintage sporting goods! We use them to decorate in our porch, and at the lake, which is done in more of a lodge style with lots of vintage fishing equipment!

In a old boat half, converted to shelves, there are some old sports trophies...

Sports ephemera is always fun...

I love to pair old sports goodies with my vintage game collection... I don't pass up old tennis rackets...

or croquet mallets (the chippier the better) and badminton rackets...

I just love finding goodies like these when I'm out treasure hunting! On my next post, I'll share some of the collection at the lake! I'm looking forward to seeing some of the other collections at the party! Thanks for hosting, Suzanne!

Today in the mail, I received the most wonderful surprise from my sweet friend Donna of My Shabby Chateau
It was wrapped with crinkled seam binding and a charming vintage get well card! I am finally over the flu/cold that plagued me for a couple of weeks!

Look what she made for me! Such a charming collage!! She made it on a book back cover with such cute elements!

I LOVE this little pug with its sparkly crown and collar...

so many cute pieces!

This piece sure made me SMILE! Thank you SO much, Donna...I couldn't love it more, my friend!

Until next time...
Linda

A Simple Project...

2011-07-18T22:15:00.003-05:00

There have been so many beautiful, creative studios on blogs this week! Mine was NOT one of them! My studio is another of my MANY "works-in-progress"! But I've been inspired by all the great spaces I've seen and decided to do a project to begin to organize some of the ephemera I have! Items that I have a lot of, like bingo cards, are stored in large metal wire baskets, but I need storage for many of the one-of-a-kind pieces and supplies. I had a couple of these inexpensive rolling storage carts, which I assembled...

and a big stash of stickers and rub-on letters...

which I used to label the drawers. I mixed up the fonts and didn't want perfection...

I think it gave the shelves a whimsical look...

I've started sorting all my paper goodies...easy accessibility and nice flat storage...

It's inspired me to keep going in the space! Thanks to all the bloggers sharing their great spaces! Maybe by next year...I'll be ready to share mine LOL!

I am joining Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

Until next time...
Linda

Sweet Surprises from Blogging Friends...

2011-07-15T18:26:00.003-05:00

Well, I have been battling a cold/flu all week, and it has been winning for the most part! But I am hoping a restful weekend will get me back to enjoying the summer! I really appreciate all the get well wishes you have sent my way this week! And I received some wonderful surprises from sweet blogging friends this week that have brightened my days! Look at this FUN PUGS book I received this week from my sweet friends KarenSue of SueBee and Ann of The Boston Lady ! They know how much I love pugs (including our Sophie and Bailey) and thought of me when they saw this book! It is full of such cute pics and great info and I just love it! Thank you so much ladies~ it was SO kind of you and brought a smile to my face!

Another WONDERFUL surprise this week was from my ever-so-thoughtful friend Cindy of
Cindy Adkins Whimsical Musings!
She sent me two of her beautiful tags! She creates such lovely artwork and is such a generous person! She's also hosting a fun giveaway right now! Be sure and check out her etsy shop ,too!
Thank you so much, sweet friend!

This week I purchased these great old dance tickets from lovely Heidi of Dreams Intertwined. She has a wonderful etsy shop full of interesting ephemera... I just LOVE these!

The package arrived in fun wrappings and she included some WHIMSICAL surprises, too!

Look at all these GOODIES!

Thank you so much, Heidi~ you are such a sweetheart! I hope you'll visit these ladies wonderful blogs, too! I feel SO blessed to have made so many nice friendships on the blogs!

Until next time...I'll be taking it easy and stopping by to see what I've been missing on blogs this week! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Linda

Under the Weather and This Week in the Garden...

2011-07-11T22:51:00.000-05:00

The summer cold bug is at our house and after watching other family members, I figure I have another three days of feeling under the weather. Today I took 4 naps and read some good books...Terry John Woods Summer House, and Fifi O'Neill's Romantic Prairie Style. Since I have little going on, I thought I'd share some pretties blooming in the garden this week! The first of my hydrangeas have begun to bloom! I've had trouble getting my bushes to bloom in the past, but this year they have quite a few! These dry beautifully, too...

There are many colors of astilbe...

and several varieties of lilies, too...

When I took these photos, I spotted a pair of mourning dove babies under a bush...every so often mama arrives to feed them!

Until next time...I'll be resting and reading...
Linda

Summertime...and the Livin' is Easy...

2011-07-06T23:27:00.000-05:00

Hope you are all doing well! Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my last post about the porch table! We have already shared some fun meals there this last week! I've been away from the blogs for a nice long holiday weekend, visiting with lots of friends and family at our family lakehome over the fourth. There was SO much fun and great memories made...grilling, boating, visiting, relaxing...

beautiful sunsets and fires...

and fireworks, too!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday, too!

Until next time...
Linda