And The Winner Is.....

...Deb611! She was the second to the last person to enter late last night...and she won! I used random.org and it generated #124. It just goes to prove that a person can win something no matter WHEN they enter. Anyway, congratulations, Deb611, and I'll be e-mailing you shortly for your address. Many heartfelt thanks to everyone who entered and for all of the kind, sweet comments by you all. Thank you too, again, Kim, for hosting this fun and exciting 3rd Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway.

"Tea Time Tidbits" Special Posting #2

With this teacup is a note that reads as follows: "My Grandmother Whitten (My Mother's Mother) gave this pretty cup & saucer to my Mother when I was 5 days old. Signed--Mildred" Well, my great, great Aunt Mildred was 5 days old in 1897! That means this teacup and saucer are at least 112 years old. I was tickled pink when my grandmother, to whom this teacup was given after Aunt Mill's , gave this to me. It has a few small chips, but you know, if I were 112 years old, I'd have some chips too!

Star Spangled Sparkle Brooches

I saw these filigreed star stampings and immediately thought they'd look lovely turned into a patriotic brooch filled with glass bead flower and seed beads. The two brooches are very different from each other--one with an almost folk art feel to it and the other with bright, bold red, white and blue colors. Anyway, I finally got them done--and had a ball putting them together, by the way. The "folk art" colored one I've put on my Lollishop and the other I'll be putting on Etsy sometime today.

With Remembrance and Gratitude...

...to the many men and women who have served, who served and gave their lives, and who are serving today in our military...and thank you to the families and their sacrifices as well. It's so good to have a Memorial Day every year so that we may pause and be grateful for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice--their lives--so that we may enjoy the many freedoms we have today. I am humbled and grateful for each one.

"A Window in Paris?"--Treasury!

Yippeee! I finally got to do a Treasury on Etsy--true, it's not the MAIN Treasury, but Treasury West is still a Treasury. I've been so eager to do one and feared having to get up at 3:00 a.m. in order to be on time to get in on one...but, no, during lunch the numbers got lower and lower. Finally, it was low enough to do (many thanks for the words of wisdom from people in the forums!). So, my Treasury is "A Window in Paris?" and features windows that could be seen in Paris. I figure, if I can't actually go to Paris physically, I might as well go through Etsy! ; ) I have no idea how to get the picture here...so here is the link if you'd like to check it out>>>>> http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=54746

A Fun Summertime Swap

I've entered another swap---The American Homemaker's Summer Swap. If you're interested, you have until May 22 to enter. I debated on this--sort of didn't want to spend the $$ (which isn't really all the much actually--$10-15)--but the clincher for me was that the swap included one vintage and one handmade item. I simply couldn't resist! Besides, it's fun to get little boxes of goodies in the mail. Something pleasant--not a bill!

"Tea Time Tidbits" Special Postings

I've decided to do a special post on my blog once a week--maybe twice if there is occasion--specifically on tea including teacups, teapots, tea places, types of teas...well, you get the idea. I thought of doing "Teacup Tuesdays" or "Taking Tea Thursdays" or some such cleverness on a specific day of the week, but I wanted to be a bit more spontaneous. Taking tea is a relaxing and, yes, beautiful process. I've been blessed with many teacups, teapots, and other tea wares collected from different places for over 25 years and would specifically like to share these with you. Some things you might have seen before on this blog but most you haven't. I know how much I've enjoyed seeing others' tea wares and pretties and thought you might enjoy it too.
This silver teapot was one of those "must haves". My brother and his family live in New Zealand. He is a pastor there and runs a small Bible institute. On a visit there many years ago I really wanted to buy a teapot. I was determined! We scoured antique and second hand shops, and I found this one much to my delight. Most of this type have a bone or even wood knob at the top and/or on the handle which I specifically didn't want (I know, it was allowed it to be cooler to the touch, but I thought the bone and wood detracted from the beauty of the teapots). Finally, we found this one, and it was just perfect! When I look at it, it makes me think of my brother so far away and the fun we all had (well, okay, maybe the men didn't have as much fun as we gals) looking for this.

Victoria Magazine's Blue and White Issue

I was looking forward to Victoria magazine's "Blue and White" issue, not necessarily because I have a great love of blue and white but because it really can be stunning and I know Victoria always does a great job with it. They displayed beautiful pictures of teacups (lovely) and other things in gorgeous shades of the two colors. The shades they chose this year are a creamy white and a light blue--almost a periwinkle. Lovely! I've decided in honor of that article to give you a few pictures of MY blue and whites for the month. I have already given pictures last year of my blue and white bathroom (blue and cream actually). The toile you see here is an up-close picture of my shower curtain. I just had to have a toile shower curtain and found this one on eBay. I'm so pleased with it.
I also changed the pictures in my bathroom to the chair pictures you see here. They fit into the old gold, blue, and creamy white theme in my bathroom, and since there were found at a yard sale, the price was right. I know they are more appropriate in a dining room, but I thought they were a nice, albeit tongue-in-cheek, addition to the wall above the toilet.
And lastly, in honor of the periwinkle color of the items in Victoria magazine, I've included a picture of the Forget-Me-Not's blooming in my garden right now. I just love Forget-Me-Nots. They remind me of my grandmother and the garden she had when she lived in her house. She always had these flowers scattered about. I think they are sweet, lovely flowers in every way.

Button Swap

I haven't participated in a swap for awhile. I guess some can get a little costly, even though I have such GREAT fun finding little bits to put into a package. Well, this swap sounded fun AND inexpensive. I will be exchanging six buttons (more if I'd like) and a little note with someone. What a sweet and simple swap! Check it out here>>>>Wondermommy>>>for all the details and to sign up (which is through May 20th by the way).

A Pretty Marie Antionette Gift in the Mail

I love getting mail...nice, pleasant mail....mail that you don't have to send back to anyone with, like, a big check in it...mail that gives good news...that kind of mail. Unfortunately this doesn't happen too often, but, you know, it happened the other day. Cassandra was having a Marie Antionette giveaway on her blog giving away a few of these lovelies (pictured above). It was just great to win one. Isn't her business card just beautiful? I'm so impressed. Well, her other offerings are just as impressive. Check out her shop and what she has to offer here (it's worth the trip)>>>>My Beau Papier Shoppe. Thanks, Cassandra, for the pretties. ; )

A Beautiful Mother's Day

My dear husband and children bought me this cherry tree last year for Mother's Day. I have always, ALWAYS wanted a pink flowering tree for the front of our house--think Thomas Kincaid! They smell beautiful; they look beautiful; and all the birds just love eating the little dried cherries off in the spring. I have been waiting impatiently, VERY impatiently might I say, for my new tree to bloom this spring....and it finally has! It is just lovely. Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.

Hey, I'm in a Treasury!

I don't know how to do one...so I haven't done one...and I'm not totally sure what it's all about...but a very nice person has added one of my things to her Treasury--check it out here>>>> Treasury. While you're at it, check out Catherine's lovelies at her Etsy site>>>>abbasgirl.

A Bracelet?

Yes, a bracelet (added this morning to my Etsy shop). While making the vintage image charms, I looked at the images collectively and thought they all belonged together somehow. That is how this bracelet was born. I added some vintage German ruby red flower beads and some pink and clear swirled flower beads that coordinate quite nicely with the images. This is definitely for the romantic at heart. Wish I had made it earlier to offer it for Valentine's Day, but it really would be pretty all year round.

Little Vase of Violets

The arrival of violets is always a joy and remind me of the little bottles of violet perfume my grandmother used to give me on birthdays when I was young. I thought I was pretty grown up getting perfume! The perfume always had a soft, sweet scent--matching the beauty and delicateness of the flower. This little bouquet was given to me last night by my sweet, little . She came running up to me with a little hand full of squished flowers. Yes, they looked somewhat sickly at first, but thankfully they perked up in this small bottle of water overnight. What a delight!

3rd Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway

Kim at One Woman's Cottage Life is sponsoring her 3rd annual Cottage Charm Giveaway. She has a list that grows every year of wonderfully talented people who offer beautiful giveaways through her blog event. I've discovered some incredible blogs through this event, and this year I'm very excited to be a part of all the fun. The giveaway lasts through the month of May ending on May 30th, so you have plenty of time to enter the many drawings and to see the new ones that will be added daily. On May 30th I will pick and announce the winner via www.random.org. Above is a picture of what I will be offering to one winner--a pink and copper glass bead floral charm and a blue and white glass bead floral pendant. Simply leave a comment below to be counted for my giveaway. Then...be sure go to Kim's blog (click on the button below) to visit the list of many other bloggers and to enter their giveaways.