Sweet, Simple Swap

I just joined a Valentine swap...it is sweet and simple. All we have to do is making something for our swap partner with a heart on it. Easy peasy. Click HERE for all the details. Thursday the 10th is the last day to sign up if you are interested.

Fall Button Swap

Laurie at Button Floozies is hostessing a fall themed button swap.  Head on over for all the details!

Some of my Favorite Brooches

I failed to show you what some of my favorite brooches are. As part of Linda's (A Swap for all Seasons) Mother's Day Brooch Swap, we were suggested to post our favorite brooches on Flickr. I did that but didn't post on here. So, here are some of mine. Many beautiful brooches have passed through my hands and into my shop and on to a good home. I wish I could keep them all (some were hard to sell)...but a person can only have so many brooches. Those in this picture are old, and I haven't yet been able to give them up. The little circle one is actually a picture frame. The long, narrow white one is enamel. I love the crown one with its purple and clear rhinestones. The little blue bird one is sweet and such a vivid shade of blue. The large flower one is from Portugal, and my grandfather brought it back to my grandmother when he came home from WWII. Of course, the sterling silver teapot pin is a favorite. Enjoy!

Autumn Leaf Craft Swap Goodies from Victoria

Many thanks to Victoria of Things I Learn from Bear for the goodies she sent for GiddyStuff's Autumn Leaf Craft Swap. She sent some fun things to craft with--beautiful ribbon, beads (hooray...beads!), and some very pretty coppery charms. She sent some yummy goodies--a packet of hot cocoa mix and a caramel chocolate bar (mmmmmm). I love the dish cloths she sent--they are a gorgeous color! You know, I almost bought some cloths at a craft show and decided not to...then got these from Victoria in the mail. Thank you so much, Victoria.

May Petite Basket Swap....Addendum...

...as an addendum to my earlier post about the May Petite Basket Swap I participated in hosted by Jenny of Fated Follies...I received my petite May Day basket this past week from Tracy of Cotton Pickin' Cute. (I certainly would encourage you to visit Tracy's blog for some fun and interesting posts!) First of all, it smelled great when I opened the box--Tracy had included a little bundle of potpourri which I thought was a great idea. The basket was wrapped in a tea rose colored tulle and tied with a pretty green ribbon.
The basket itself was a doily that had been stiffened. It is in beautiful shades of green, ivory, and pink.
The basket was filled with all sorts of pretties.
I enjoyed the vintage goodies especially--the pretty buttons on the button card, a little creamer, and other fabric and paper trims.
Tracy even included an old letter--I thought that was very nice and appropriate for a May Day Basket.
She also gave me a sweet little bunny salt shaker...and I love the rose tag. It was indeed a fabulous basket filled with fun vintage treasures. Thank you so much, Tracy!

I'm Joining Another Swap

A Swap for All Seasons is hosting another fabulous sounding swap--"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." It sounds like a fun one for sure with its vintage wedding theme. Want to join in? The more the merrier! If you do, you may just click on the link at the beginning of this post, and you will be taken there.

Weekend Happenings

First of all, I'd like to thank Sadie of Lollishops for putting my shop on the Lollishops front page this past weekend! I was surprised and delighted and thankful to see my shop up and for the exposure. Thanks, Sadie!
Mom and I went to a couple of estate sales where I found some sparkles to sell in my shops and these two beauties...actually something for myself!
This first little creamer hails from Germany and has the sweetest roses on the front. I also love the frilly lace look along the edges of the piece. I'm eager for my roses to bloom so that I may cut them and put them into this. I think it will look beautiful.
Then this was sitting on a shelf--I couldn't believe no one had picked it up yet. It is in perfect condition, and, of course, the pattern matches the Old Country Roses pattern I'm trying to economically collect at thrift stores and estate sales. I have another teacup in this pattern--but not this style. I like how the inside of the cup is full of roses which is quite different from my other teacup. There is nothing like taking a sip of tea and seeing a beautiful pattern while sipping.
I finished the Petite May Basket Swap basket for my partner, Tracy of Cotton Pickin Cute, and have shipped it out to her. No pictures yet since I don't want to spoil her surprise, but once I know she has it I will post some pictures of what I sent her. I hope she likes it. It was fun to do.
I was up late Saturday night on this computer, and the screen started doing strange movements. I thought my eyes were unusually tired. The pictured continued to move which made me nervous, so I stood up and noticed that our monitor was smoking! Oh, no! My husband who had already gone to bed came running out and knew all of the things to unplug. Whew! I'm thankful--very thankful--that I was still up...that we hadn't gone for the evening....that my husband was home who knew what to do...the Lord took care of us! I have never heard of a computer monitor catching on fire before, but that one was quickly on its way. I'm grateful that what could have been bad a bad situation was taken care of by the Lord. We had a "spare" downstairs which I'm using now. I'm thankful for that too.
Oh, here is a screen shot of the Lollishops front page in case you'd like to see that I really was on the front page there!

American Homemaker Summertime Swap Box

While away on our camping trip, Angie's (check out her blog!) box arrived. You know someone likes vintage things when they send you a box full of goodies in a vintage box and wraps things in old sewing pattern pieces! You can see from the picture all of the fun things she sent including a clothes pin bag including pretty painted clothes pins, a finger pin cushion, er Jacks (those are all mine--I love carmel popcorn), small beach-themed pictures, two little teacups and saucers with a French lady and gentleman on them, a vintage recipie box with old recipies in it, a July 4th candy stick, a little note pad, and "The Perfect Hostess" (an etiquite, recipe, table setting, and party planning book from 1946). Thanks, Angie.

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!

Winter Basics & Baubles Swap Box Received

My Winter Basics & Baubles swap box (swap hosted by Heidi of Foxgloves and Folly) was sent to Beth a while back (hope she liked it...I really wanted to keep the sparkly bracelet I sent her!--sorry, I didn't take any pictures) of Rambling Gal, and I received mine from her yesterday. I wasn't having a very good day, and it was such a blessing to find a little box sitting on our doorstep when we got home from the kids' violin lessons. I really needed it! We were to send some kitchen basics to our swap partner (i.e. towels, small gadgets, etc.) and a piece of "bling" to wear. Here are pictures of what Beth sent--monogrammed napkins and a cup, Twinkle candy lollipops (the kids want them...but so do I!), yummy soap and air freshener from Bath and Body Works, and the bling?...a sparkly snowflake pendant. I love snowflakes--and how apprpriate for a winter "bling." Thanks, Beth!

A Winter Kitchen and Bling Swap

Heidi of Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly is hosting another swap. In this one a person must send their swap partner some kitchen linens and a gadget or two AND a little bling item. Leave it to Heidi to come up with something fun (even practical) during these winter hum-drum months. Check out her website for all the details at http://foxglovesfabricandfolly.blogspot.com. You must hurry though, for sign up must be complete by February 1!

Itty-Bitty Swap Items

Many thanks to Leslie, Ginger (www.seekingwoolandflax.blogspot.com), and Debbie (www.studiobeecreations.blogspot.com)for sending me some interesting itty bitty things! Each package was wrapped prettily, and it was so much fun looking through all the little things. The picture is of everything collectively that was sent by everyone. Pretty fun stuff. Thank you ladies!

Summer Swap Gifts from Lori

Many, many thanks to Lori from Morning Glories and Moonflowers for her lovely Summer Swap items. Now, this gal knows what pretty packaging is! Just ask my husband, packaging is very important to me, especially pretty packaging. Check out her blog (www.perfectisboring.blogspot.com) which is also beautiful and full of fun. The gifts were to have a summer theme, and hers did from the pretty butterfly on the cookie (yum!) box, to the sandals on her card, to the pretty ribbon and flowers on the necklace box, to, yes, the patriotic necklace. I loved it all. Thank you so much, Lori!