Tea Tastes Better...

...in a pretty teacup, of course!  I have SO admired the pretty patterns of Cath Kidston products on Pinterest (Greengate is another line I adore!).  I've gone all over the official website wishing the company and items would come to America.  Oh, I know we can order the items...but for a a price.  Besides, there is nothing quite like actually going to a brick-and-mortar and looking at things.  We visited Victoria, British Colombia this past summer, and while no official store was anywhere close, a tea shop we went into was carrying this beautiful tea mug.  How could I resist?  I'm convinced my tea tastes better in it!

Blue and White Jewelry Embellished Clock

I finished embellishing a clock with vintage jewelry bits--in white and many complimentary shades of blue.  It actually seems like it has a coastal look to it, but I'm sure it would look nice with many different decors.  I've listed it in my Etsy shop.  Hope you like it!

Ready for Flowers

Added a few things to my shop today--a vintage jewelry embellished ornament and a perfume bottle.  They both are full of flowers and birds.  Enjoy!

Shabby, Chippy Pink Miniature Furniture

Aren't these adorable? 

I found them at an antique mall and just thought they were the cutest.  They have shabby chic charm.  I just got done reading an article (was it in Romantic Homes?) about a lady who collects vintage miniature furniture and has pieces around her home.  Anyway, they have been listed in my shop if you'd like to see them in more detail.

They have a lot of potential, and I can see them on a wreath or hanging on a door knob or just sitting on a bedside table. 

Hummers, Flowers, and Glass Lights

Guess I've been MIA lately!  Lots of things going on.  The kids and I have been working extra hard finishing up school for the year.  They have worked very diligently, and thankfully their standardized testing went well.  I'm very pleased with their efforts and work, and we only have a few more weeks left of school.  Hooray!  I finished another swap but will blog more about that later once my swap partner gets her package.  I hope all of you moms had a nice Mother's Day.  My big sweetie and two smaller sweeties gave me the nicest cards for Mother's Day (the kids made theirs).  What a blessing and delight to have such a loving family!  They bought me some flowers....

I'll need to replant them soon.  I DO love these colors, and they go well with the cranberry, gray, and deep purples on the siding and rocks on our house. 

They also bought me some solar night lights.  I've always wanted some but thought that so many styles were terribly ugly (not to mention the ones that change colors).  They know I love stained glass, and these mosaic glass ones are just perfect--beautiful during the daytime and at night!  I can't wait to get them into the ground. 

The roses are all blooming around the house (will save that for another post) and the hummingbirds have returned.  This pretty copper feeder was yet another gift from my crew--though for my birthday a few months back.  My other feeder had broken last year, and I really like this one.  Apparently the hummingbirds like it too.  They've been busy feeding.  What a joy to have them return for the season!  It has been great fun watching them. 

Spring Giveaway Jubilee Giveaway

I'm connecting with Sarah at Hope in Every Season, for her Spring Giveaway Jubilee.  She and others are offering giveaways during the month of March.  How can I resist joining in on the fun?  I'm offering a vintage rose perfume label image ornament, a wee sparkly ice cream cone trinket box (the ice cream part lifts up off the cone!), and a sparkling vintage rhinestone "leaf" pin.  I'll choose a winner March 31.

Here are my rules....

1.  Open to all--even internationally.
2.  One entry...leave a comment below.
3.  One entry....follow me on Facebook...leave comment below telling me you are.
4.  One entry....follow me on Twitter...leave comment below telling me you are.
5.  One entry...blog about my giveaway....leave comment below telling me you did.

Easy peasy.  Just make sure I can get a hold of you via email if you are the winner.  Please go to Sarah's blog to check out the other giveaways and enter them as well.  The more the merrier!

Heart Shaped Vintage Jewelry Ornament

Here is a picture of the pink mirrored heart ornament embellished with vintage and antique jewelry pieces.  I finally finished it, added it to my Etsy shop, and just love the mother-of-pearl and light pink pieces (not to mention all of those rhinestones).  Hope you like it too!

Cottage Charm Giveaway

Announcing my giveaway goodies for The Twice Remembered Cottage's 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway. I participated the last two years and couldn't wait to participate again this year. There are a number of others taking part in this, offering some beautiful cottage style items. Please click on the link above to see what else is being offered. Here is what I am giving away....

1) A special commemorative edition of the King James Bible. As said in the post above, this past week on May 2 was the celebration of the the KJV's 400th birthday...it's translation completed in 1611.
2) A pretty, decorative, cottage-style California Perfume Co. powder tin.
3) A little gold tone box with a lady and gentleman painted on enamel set into it. It has a spring-type hinged top. 4 & 5) A glove clip and some vintage jewelry push pins/thumbtacks (those push pins made by me).
The rules are simple... 1) You must be from the U.S. and have a U.S. address only. 2) Please leave only one comment on this post to be entered. 3) I will draw a name sometime during the day on May 29, so please add your comment by midnight May 28. The winner will be announced on May 29. 4) You must accept the entire offering, and I will ship all of the items pictured above. Please email with any questions. I hope you like these cottage offerings. Please hop on over to The Twice Remembered Cottage to enter the other lovely giveaways. Thanks for entering!

Finally Listed My Hand Beaded Lamp Shades

Yes, I've had these for awhile. To be honest, I didn't want to list them because I am concerned about how to safely ship them and the cost involved with that. After much thought I think I've figure out how to ship them so that they arrive to their destinations, if and when they sell, clean, economically, and safely. I did put a good deal of work into hand beading each one. It was fun, and I like how they look. Hopefully others will like them too.

~~~~~

This fun little chandelier shade has glass bead "sand", iridescent shells, and light blue "starfish".

This one has a cottage/shabby chic look with light green vines and leaves and milky pink glass flowers.

This one is elegant with glass bead flower clusters in various colors.

Another Ornament and a Teeny Tiny Fall Box

I finally finished two more vintage jewelry pieces. The first is this teeny tiny raw brass box with an autumn-inspired decoration on the top full of the pretty colors of the season. I was especially pleased to find the little brushed brass and rhinestone acorn to put on the top. It is very tiny and complete with a bit of red velvet in the inside bottom.

I've been working on the pink ornament for quite awhile gathering and placing just the right pieces to complete a sparkling piece full of rhinestones and glittery pieces. Hopefully it will add a pretty touch to someone's "shabby chic" and/or cottage home that is full of pinks.