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!

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Embroidery on Paper

If I see something super neat, I like to see if it can be done on a small scale.  Things on a small scale are just so much more interesting!  I saw a large piece of paper that was stitched on on Pinterest and thought it looked so pretty.  Sometime a while ago I found a wee vintage dictionary with its back cover missing as well as a few pages...and, well, the two ideas just went together in my mind.  It took some trial and error, but here is the little brooch that is the end result...

 

What do you think? 

Memorial Day Weekend Sale

Happy Memorial Day Weekend...and thank you to our military past and present for their sacrifices and service.  I'm having a sale in my Etsy shop to honor our servicemen and women--enter the coupon code GLASS10 to receive 10% off your order.

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. 

Blooming Cherry Tree

This is the cherry tree that my kids bought me for Mother's Day several years ago. 

 

I love watching the buds as they turn from deep pink to light pink as the open during the spring. 

 

The dark pink process seems to have been longer this year perhaps to cool temps and cloudy days.  Regardless, it has been a pleasure to watch...especially when a goldfinch or robin happens to perch in its branches.  Oh, the hummingbirds have returned this past week too.  We saw three yesterday.  They are such little delights...and it was such a long winter. 

Vintage Red Heart Buttons

 

I recently bought an old sewing machine at a thrift store.  There's more to that which I'll leave for a different post.  The two draws were full of notions (what put me over the edge to buy the machine). Some things were bobbins and other items for the sewing machine.  Some things were old and junky.  Then there were a few treasures...including buttons--most not that great but a few nice ones!  These two heart buttons were in it.  I love them!  They need to be on a project, but it will be a while before I'll be able to part with them. 

 

Vintage Jewelry Embellished Perfume Bottle Necklace

Well, I had had this perfume bottle on my craft table for quite awhile now.  It was completely intact except for the embellishment that was on the very front.  It dawned on me to PUT an embellishment on the front that would complement the bottle (plus some extra pearls and rhinestones).  After seeing my mother's Stampington magazine, I then decided to make it into a necklace. 

 

The bail and chain can be taken off without any problem if someone just wanted the pretty little bottle for their boudoir table.  I personally prefer it as just the bottle, but it's nice that this piece is versatile enough to be used as a necklace as well. 

Spring Sale in My Etsy Shop

Enter the coupon code "GLASS10" to receive 10% off your order today through Sunday (April 10-13).

Pretty Button Cards and New Felt Pin

Mom and I went to a large antique mall this past weekend down around the southern boarder of the state.  It was our annual trek down there for a "girl's day".  It was loads of fun...and relaxing too.  I found some pretty button cards.

 

The card itself is pretty on this one not to mention the buttons.  I'm pretty sure the buttons are glass, but sometimes it is so hard to tell.

 

This little girl one is sweet along with the simple pink buttons.

 

This one is gorgeous.  Don't you just love that wedding dress?? 

 

Also, I completed another felt pin.  This is a depiction of a vintage Mason or Ball jar with fireflies in it.  Can you tell summer was on my mind while making this?  The ends and flight paths of the fireflies are in glow in the dark thread for extra fun.  I'll be listing this in my Etsy shop soon. 

Finallly....

 

....spring has arrived!  We have been waiting a long, long time, but these little crocuses that bloomed just this morning have shown me that spring is actually...truly...really here.  Hooray!

A New Chair for a Song

 

I finally...yes, finally...finished this chair.  It didn't take long.  The hard part was just taking the time to finish it.  The chair was a $1 find in all of its dark stained wood and orange and yellow striped glory.  The arms came off (not problem). 

 

A couple of coats of ivory paint took care of the dark wood stain (perhaps it needs a little sanding to give it a "roughed up" look though).  Our walls are ivory, so the chair had to be ivory. 

 

The braid was a thrift store find (it was in a bag of other notions for a few dollars).  The pretty green material was the end bits of a roll of material found at a different thrift store for $5.  I'm thrilled that there is some still left, since it's so pretty and versatile.  It will await a future project.  Anyway, with a hot glue gun and a staple gun, this was easy to do and finish.  Now we have a "new" chair in our bedroom!