He didn't even flinch........

Good Sunday everyone....I had to go run for my camera when I turned around and saw this this a.m.
It's a typical Sunday in our home, t.v., newspapers, funnies, aebelskivers, church, etc.
After church this morning my dh asked me if we wanted to go get some pizza at a local pizzeria and then head over to the recycling center nearby....it's flabbergasted I was, and couldn't say yes fast enough!

This was the first item I spotted...on the "free" pile no less. It's filled with orchid tubes....they're really dirty and dusty....I care not since I love to clean things....:)
I'll just need to add a bin pull to the drawer and it's all set to go.

This is the item I thought my dh might have issues with. But he didn't. See that price of $5 on the handle? That's probably why. It's covered with icky stickers that have been on there for ages because most of them aren't coming off easily....

Time to get out my trusty sander....look at all the cubbies on this guy! It measures a whopping 21 inches long and is really heavy...I'll be able to fit lots of my crafting tools in this cool bin.

cubby heaven........

Someone went a little crazy with the man stickers but that's ok. I see some cool vintage wallpaper in this totes future.....

Can't wait to clean her up and show her off!

I've finally completely lost my head!!!!!

Yes, that's right, I "won" another kid leather doll body on Ebay....my dh gets a good chuckle when I say "I won!" He's thinking, "Umm, yeah, not really."

I love them without their heads...this one has great porcelain hands to, although one of the thumbs is missing...wonder where it went....any guesses?

o.k., we'll never really know now will we?

This head looks kinda cute on her, doesn't it?

Alright, I agree, it needs to be a pretty girl doll head. Guess I have my work cut out for me...looking for a pretty head.
Just a light post for a Saturday night...hope you're all having a great weekend...it's cold here, expecting snow!!

What I'm working on right now.........

I love, love, love making journals.....there's something very satisfying about putting all the right elements together so that they gel (at least to my eye). 

I have a lovely customer who has asked me to put an order together for her...and it includes some journals........

Lucky me!

I've started using my 1926 Singer sewing machine again (it's so much fun to stitch on paper!)
Unfortunately I broke a needle yesterday....oh well, time to buy some more anyway.
I'm also looking for a great sewing book, you know, the kind for novices but that has really cool patterns and ideas. I just ordered French General's Home Sewn and can't wait to get it! I plan on making some linen sheets for my bed as the cost of the new (or old ones) is cost-prohibitive for me.

I'll be doing some research on Amazon tonight for some good basic sewing books....it's been too long for me and I would love to get back into it! And I think I need to add some stitches to the sweet girls photo above, don't you?

The finishing touches.....

on my laundry room...check out my new decal from circlelinestudio on Etsy....

and please, for the love of everything decent in this world, try not to notice the floor in this picture...just the woven rug. See, I had been searching for just the right rug for this room...unsuccessfully. It was either too light (showing lots of dirt from my dog running in and out) or too dark (showing lint, etc. that comes naturally in a laundry room).

Then I remembered my parents, years ago now, had given me this rug woven by my grandma from Texas. I tucked it away thinking, "This is kinda granny-like and not really my style". Well, guess what? It's my style now! I was repairing some of the seams on this rug before putting it out and noticed that some of the fabrics used by my grandma were the same fabrics that my mom made some of my childhood dresses out of......awwwww, I was really sold on it at that point! And once this room is painted and the flooring material is changed, it will still be the highlight, as far as I'm concerned.

If you like my new decal, let me know...and get yourself over to circlelinestudio, she has lots of really pretty decals and it was super easy to put up!

May you have the sweetest.....

Valentine's Day ever......xoxoxo

~A most generous blogger~

That would be sweet Amy at mittensathome.blogspot.com
A while back she had a giveaway of a coffee sleeve crown that she had made for her shop and anyone who commented got a chance to win one...well, she went ahead and made one for everyone who commented~ their own special crown and mine came the other day!

It was wrapped in this great shredded paper and she personalized mine with items she knew I would love...pink lily of the valley and a glitter initial, some white tulle and a pink button.
Amy, thanks so very much, your crown is very happy in it's new home, and you're one of the sweetest bloggers I know.

If you haven't been to Amy's shop yet, what are you waiting for?
I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
www.etsy.com/shop/vintagemarketplace
Thanks again Amy, and I do hope you're enjoying your sweet Mom's visit!

Adding character to your home.....

I found this cool piece on Etsy....it's an old wooden countertop display box for house numbers.

At least that is what it was originally for.....I think I might use it for either hanging our house keys (after inserting some cool old hooks) or displaying some old skeleton keys.

I love finding unique items like this for my home, don't you?

Keeps things interesting..:)

A couple thrifty finds.....and some pillow lust....:)

A sweet new addition to the Pottery Barn spring offerings....love it but not gonna buy it.

And another (not gonna buy this one either)...love it though!

Really love this one....may buy it...maybe.

Now this one I own already. It's my prettiest pillow...at least I think so and that's all that matters, right?

~Her close-up~

Found these amazing spoons at GW today...love them so much I want to marry them....

Check out this one with it's cute measuring lines....notice the little  dip thingy on the left? It's why I bought this spoon, that and it's adorable red painted handle. I'm a sucker for old kitchen utensils.

In love with this good sized galvanized bucket which I can use around the house, Liberty thinks she can use it too...:)

Lastly, this scary old cabinet card....I'll definitely use her next Halloween!
Thanks for checking out my newest thrift finds! What have you found lately?

~Two little projects~

Sometimes when I go in my studio I just don't have any creative mojo  working for me....yesterday was one of those days....but I really wanted to make or re-do something. Ever have those moments? Yeah, I know you have....:)

This project was super easy, I had already ordered the label pulls a while ago, yesterday I went to Home Depot to get some wood screws....

I think they kinda look like a stack of miniature luggage, don't you think so? I adore old cigar boxes, the older the better I say.

It's hard to beat those beautiful graphics.

This box above is also an old cigar box, but cardboard, not wood. It wasn't nearly as cool so I covered it completely with old wallpaper.

The inside got a makeover as well from some old sheet music pages I had.
So even though I didn't have much creatively going on in my head I was still able to transform some ordinary boxes and that satisfied my "need" to make something.
In a few minutes I'll be making my dd some homemade chocolate chip cookies that she's been hankering for for quite awhile.
A perfect afternoon....hope yours is too..:)

It's just not fair!!!!!

This time of year plays with my heart. We had a stunningly beautiful day today here in the PNW, mostly sunny skies, a few scattered wispy clouds, and temps in the mid 50's. Oh how I wish it would last, but I've lived here long enough to know better....:).
Look at my daphne bush above, it's getting ready to burst in February with my favorite floral scent of all time. (Thanks Mel for introducing me to the charms of daphne!)

This is one of our sasanqua camellias, they thrive in lower light, which we have quite a bit of in certain parts of our courtyard, they thrive in there!

This pic is looking down our street, see the blue sky? Such a tease!

Even St. Francis is smiling today, the sun's on him...

And have you ever heard of the Sarcococca plant? (Not really sure if I spelled it correctly).
It also thrives in shade and can't take the sun. It blooms right now with a very heady scent. I had a friend come over so we could walk today and she said "What is that scent?" She had never heard of it and it's a perfect plant if you have a shady area that is difficult. They're evergreen and the fact that they have scent in January is a huge bonus for me. There aren't many plants with scent this early but this one is great, we have them by out back door as well.

Luckily we're supposed to have several more days like today, my heart is singing~~~~~~~~~~