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!

Smell of Roses in the Air

Whenever a window is opened...whenever laundry is being hug...whenever the mail is retrieved....the smell of roses is in the air.

What a delight!  The winter was hard on my roses bushes, and I lost three of them.  However, the heartiest of them have remained, and how wonderful they smell. 

This huge bush out back we have let grow with sweet abandon.  It is really huge...probably too huge.  However, we can smell it all around.  I've brought some in to enjoy as well.  How I love roses!

New Stitching Project

I just love embroidery and needlework...it is so relaxing and I love the look.  It is just fun to create, as many of you will agree.  I tried an experiment and designed this pendant this past week.  It is a little "Shabby Chic" and a little "Modern Victorian". 

It is a mixed media pendant with both new and vintage bits on it--new charm and beads, vintage pearls, lace, and buttons.  It has been listed in my Etsy shop, but I thought I'd share it here to see what you think. 

Teatime Pretties and Happy Spring

First of all...happy spring!  Yes, it is finally here.  What a winter it has been!  That is one thing I like about March...the hope of spring (among other things!). 

 

I go shopping and rarely buy anything for myself.  I'm either looking for things for other people, or just shopping for necessities, or shopping for things to either resell or to make into something to sell.  Well, these pretties I actually bought for me. 

 

 

 

The teacup/tea mug is from a gift shop.  It reminds me of a Cath Kidston print, though this is not related to Cath Kidston at all.  I've been greatly admiring all things Cath Kidston lately--the flowers, the colors, the prints--on Pinterest and elsewhere, and this tea mug was just perfect (in fact, I'm drinking tea from it right now).  The mug really does make tea taste better....really!

 

This little single-cup teapot is from the local antique mall.  I had had my eye on it for awhile, picking it up every time I went by it.  Remembering the old motto "Buy it or you wish you had", it made its way into my hands somehow.  Now it is mine!  It is very small.  Chintz patterns have always been a favorite.  I'm delighted to say the least. 

 

Catching Up

It HAS been awhile since posting.  There have been so many things that have gone on in our lives the past few months.  I suppose some catching up is in order.   This cannot be done all in one day or even in one week...that would be too overwhelming for us all, really.  So, I will start in little bites.  First of all, I'll share some crafts that have been completed lately.  I've tried my hand at a few cuffs.  What a lot of work! 

 

This one I loved seeing go together.  I had purchased these pretty vintage metal roses and couldn't wait to use them in a big way.  This cuff/bracelet turned out really well.

 

 

Then, this bridal one took forever to finish--many hours of embellishing.  The white embroidery on it ended up looking almost like lace.  With its pearly accents and glass beads, it shimmers and shines--perfect for a wedding day.  They are both in my Etsy shop.  These took so long to do, however, that I've moved on to some other felt projects.  Those will be in another post though.  Hope you like these.

Pretty Dishes for a Song

I found these two dishes this past Friday at a thrift shop.  I've been looking around for a pretty serving dish (like for mashed potatoes) but haven't wanted to spend much.  Well, these two dishes were only around $3.50--for both of them--so they were definitely worth the money.  The shapes, gold accents, cut work, and floral patterns are beautiful.   Hope you like them too!

 

Thrift Shop Finds

Today was a discount day at the thrift shop in town.  I just love discount days...but I so rarely actually make it to them...busy with school and such, you know.  However, I was able to go today and snagged some pretty and useful things for a song.

This is a wreath with beautiful plastic leaves on it.  I'm sure I'll have a purpose for this come fall.  It could use a good cleaning, but each of these leaves are on wire and will be very useful in the future, I'm sure.

Then there are these pretty, old spoons.  I have been looking for more to make some ornaments with, and these have a nice pattern on the ends and a pretty worn patina.

This is two strips of gold trim--one thinner and decorative and one with tassels.  Trim is expensive to buy outright, and I will certainly find uses for these pieces.  I may have enough to do a chair that desperately needs to be recovered and re-trimmed (yes, the chair I am sitting on!). 

This last thing is a dish that I do not need...but I love it.  It is perfect for pickles or sugar cubes or some other little bits. 

The cobalt and roses are so pretty together as well as the gold accents and scalloped shape of the dish.

Disappearing Blog List and New Tin

Well, I'm not sure what has happened to my list of blogs that I frequent...but my list is missing! Not that this hasn't happened before...and not that the list doesn't return eventually...BUT I've been nervously checking each day to see if my list has reappeared just in case this time it happens to be the time when my list disappears forever. Also, I miss reading about what is going on with my fellow bloggers. Guess I'll have to wait this one out (again!).  Also, I can only download pictures when I'm in Google Chrome---perhaps we are being strongly encouraged to only use Chrome.  Who knows?

Whenever I go thrift shop or antique hunting I rarely ever buy anything to keep...though that doesn't mean that most things I buy I'd LOVE to keep. However, a person can only have so much "stuff" pretty or not. However, I saw this tin at our local antique mall (my favorite mall), and immediately I knew this was a keeper. I really like the pattern on this tin--fancy roses. It was made in Belgium and probably came originally filled candy.  I've seen many over the years and have passed several up. The price was right on this one...$4.95...and I knew it was destined for our laundry room. Our laundry room is a bright, cheery yellow with plenty of pink rose/green/garden themed items. I think it looks quite at home with the green spritzer on the window sill.

An Old Beauty

I know she is chipped and worn...but isn't she just lovely?  I couldn't resist buying her at a flea market back a month or so ago.  Can you image what she looked like when she was brand new--grand, beautiful, lovely in every way?  I wonder what she adorned...where she went.  I never tire of looking at these old button beauties, do you?

New Teacup and Saucer

I really wasn't looking for a new teacup and saucer.  I was actually looking for a teapot--the perfect teapot with fruit on it to be exact.  However while at a flea market a few weeks back and while looking for that teapot (which I never did find, by the way), my eye immediately noticed this beautiful teacup and saucer.  Isn't it pretty?  The price was right, and I bought it. 

It is "Tapestry Rose" by Paragon.  While I was checking it over for cracks and chips, the man thunked the edge of the teacup with his finger and it "rang".  He said that that is the way one checks for hidden cracks.  If it does not "ring" and instead "thuds" it has a crack or chip somewhere.  I didn't know that!  So not only did I have a pretty teacup and saucer, but I learned something new too.

Wee Black Purse Necklace

Well, this little project is finally done!

It took me a while to finish, and, yes, I needed to pray a couple of times for extra help as there were some frustrating areas...but it is done and has been listed in my Etsy shop.

I embroidered some pink roses and buds on black felt (as well as some black beads for "fringe") and sewed it into a purse shape.

Tucked inside the purse is a little love note.  The purse is actually a pendant, and I thought it looked best on a gunmetal chain.  Enjoy...and happy weekend!

Pinterest Inspiration

Tobi at the The Pink Pixie Forest has encouraged us to write a post with what we've created as a result of a Pinterest inspiration...a "pin-spiration".  Pinterest offers a wealth of inspiration...and I really love looking around on there.  Well, here is a picture of the the pin I applied to one of my boards...

The link to it on my Pinterest board can be found HERE.  Then, the creation I made from it was this brooch made out of felt, embroidery thread and pretty rose beads.

 I just LOVE a round topped door...and climbing roses around it is the cherry on top.  This brooch was in my shop and has sold, but I have a white round-topped door with a pink flowered wreath on it in my shop (click HERE to see, if you'd like) and plans on making another "wooden" French door in the future...if only I had time!   

Felt Projects

I had been wanting to work on some fresh products...and projects that traveled well when we went to Montana.  While actual "felting" sounds intriguing, I figure that is something I don't want to do right now.  However, I love the idea of stitching onto felt.  I've embroidered since I was quite young--my grandmother taught me--and have done many projects moving on to cross stitch in my younger adult years.  I liked the idea of embroidering and stitching beads onto felt, so I bought many different colors of quality felt and have been stitching ever since.  It takes me forever to finish something these days, but it has been such fun coming up with ideas and actually doing them.  There are so many ideas in my head...now just for the time to DO them.  Here are some projects I've finished....

This has not only beads and embroidery but also some small vintage crochet pieces found at a barn sale and a thrift shop.

This one was fun!  You know I love roses and old doors (just check out my Pinterest pins). 

This needlebook took me awhile to do.  I was inspired by the springtime needlebook swap hosted by Button Floozies this past spring.  The inside has more embroidery and a little pocket and place for needles. 

All of these are listed in my Etsy shop and are for sale (along with some other felt projects including a pair of earrings).  

Matchbox Swap--From my Partner

It was a delight to receive my decorated matchbox from my partner, Oliva (check out her blog), in the Vintage Dragonfly "Partner's Choice" swap on Flicker.  Talk about sugar sweetness!  What a beautiful box filled with such pretty things! 

She did a wonderful job decorating it in colors I love and filling it with beautiful creative bits including some gorgeous beads, a vintage earring, a pretty shimmery doily, and a little crystal drawer pull (I think my favorite thing!)--just to name a few. 

She also included some lovely earrings.  Every thing was wrapped so nicely. 

Don't you just like all the pink?  Thank you SO much, Oliva! 

Roses, Flea Markets, School, and an Air Show

Well, Mom and I went the the Princeton flea market a week ago Saturday.  It was on one of the holiday weekends of the season and, therefore, supposed to be one of the best weekends to go.  Unfortunately it was stormy and windy, and we came home with very little.  While we still had fun, all of my favorite vendors except for one were not there!  Boo hoo!  So, this past Saturday we went to the little flea market here in town.  They have one the first Saturday of every month in the summer.  There wasn't a whole lot.  I did find some little mini tins to make push pins with, so that was worth it for sure. 

The kids worked hard--really hard--all last week to finish school, and they did it!  It was Friday evening before one of the kids finished...but we are done!  Hooray!  I will organize the books and records and store everything this week so that all of it can be well put away for the summer.  Of course, I will buy new curriculum at the end of the month, but at least nothing will be worked on until fall.  I'm very pleased with their hard work and efforts.  Now for a fun summer!

Speaking of summer...here are a few pictures of my rose bushes.  There are other varieties of roses on our property, but these are just what I got pictures of.  Can you almost smell them?  They are such a delight, and I so enjoy roses. 

Also on Saturday we went to an air show at a National Guard base not too far from here.  Our son loves airplanes, it was free, and any food we bought went to charity...so why not? 

 There were shiny airplanes, roaring engines, and amazing stunts in the sky.  It was a beautiful day, and we had a grand time.  Besides, the patriotic feeling was thrilling. 





Button Floozies Spring Needlebook Swap

Laurie at Button Floozies (one of my new favorite blogs) was the hostess of a swap--the Spring Needlebook Swap.  We were to send a partner a needlebook with a spring theme including, of course, buttons.  This again was a swap that took me out of my comfort zone since I'm not that good at sewing.  I had my idea in mind but found it hard to turn it into something tangible.  The person I was to send mine to is Laura--such a nice person!  She has received hers (she doesn't have a blog), so I'll post here what I sent her. 

It is made of felt.  I did a little bit of embroidery on it and sewed these sweet rose buttons on it. The birdhouse "opening" is a pretty vintage button.  I tried to find a bird button in my stash--a pretty duck could be found...but no springtime bird.  So...I decided to make a bird (hopefully it looks like one) out of two buttons and some embroidery.

Of course, I had to "sign" it with more embroidery and a little heart button.  Enjoy!

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!

Hearts and Roses

You know I can't resist hearts and roses--especially guilloche pieces and pink!  I added these to my shop recently....one is a rather large guilloche piece.  It was designed as a pendant and could certainly be used as one, but I put it on some ribbon so that it may be seen to be used as an ornament as well.

Then I played some with my new rose beads and made this pretty pin last weekend. I really do like these beads and thought they worked well into this setting.  I love the detail and the rich pink coloring.

Hope you like them too.  Enjoy!

A New Year to Come

So thankful for God's blessings in the past year and looking forward to the year ahead.  I hope to please and serve Him better. 

There are new projects in the works, and I'm excited to work on them...if only I had more time!  I ordered these beads recently from a man in China.  They were expensive, and I was a little anxious about spending the money...not certain they would come...not able to track them in any way.  However, thankfully they DID come...in good time too.  They are just beautiful.  I'm pleased and can't wait to create with them. 
Thank you for following me and taking the time to read what I say and for your sweet comments.  They are appreciated more than you know.  I'm thinking of a giveaway soon, so keep an eye out for a future post. Happy, blessed 2012 to you all. 

I had these gorgeous rich, deep pink pieces that I knew belonged on a romantic, heart-shaped ornament.  Actually, I think this would be nice hung on a corner of one of the mirrors in our bedroom , but it has been listed in my Etsy shop instead.