Perfect Timing

On Saturday I received a belated birthday card in the mail, along with a gift card to Michaels.  There was a very sweet "sorry I'm late" message from the sender.  But actually her card arrived at exactly the most perfect time.  I needed a couple things, so I decided to go to Michaels Saturday afternoon.  Imagine my delight when I discovered that the clearance items were 70% off the red sticker (clearance) price!  Take a look at all the goodies I found!

 

I added up the regular prices and all this comes to over $150.00!!  I paid $19.95...including tax!

I always need markers with the "littles" around, and I bet they'll like the clay too!

I know two little girls who are going to LOVE the glitter tape!

The bird stamp ended up costing about $1.50!!  I love the cute little striped bags,

the tiny garland, and the metallic markers.

I couldn't pass up these pads of cute paper.

The red felted wool is saying "Christmas ornaments" to me, and I can always

use extra stuff for making necklaces. 

Mandy might take the "ampersand"...we'll paint it, or cover it with some fun paper. 

The file folders are for me. 

There are six different patterns...each one is so pretty.

It'll be fun to store crafty inspiration in them!

 

This belated birthday gift arrived on just the right day!

I had the best time shopping for all these treasures.

Thank you, Thank you, dear Regina!!

 



Merry Christmas to Me!

I know, I'm either kind of early, or really late with this greeting. 

In this case the answer is "really late"!

Back in December I received an Etsy gift card from my dear friend Gail.  I've been browsing Etsy ever since....and I've finally found exactly what I wanted to spend it on!

 

Rusty Hinges

Framed Antique Apothecary Bottle

Antique Glass Insulator Display

All three pieces are from a shop called Knick of Time...love this shop. I also love the blog by the same name.  Tons of great ideas, beautiful photos, and free images too!

 

 

Thank you Gail!  I love my new treasures!!

Stay tuned to see what I end up doing with them all.

 



Another Birthday Blessing or Do Something Creative Everyday



I haven't had much time at all to do anything creative, and it's making me cranky.  It's been this way for months, it's making me really cranky!  When I saw these journal pages on Pinterest I thought this would be a neat way to be a little creative everyday. 

I also thought...."maybe I'll start this in January!"  After all journals usually begin at the beginning of the year....right?? 
But I think my family might be ready for cranky me to go away!

Fortunately some of them start with July!  My friend Tisha found one and gave it to me for my birthday last month, and...so far so good!  I'm managing to be a little bit creative each day!

This image is originally from a magazine called
Somerset Life. My very favorite publication!!
"Do Something Creative Everyday"

Thank you for the journal Tisha! I love a nice chevron pattern!

Here's what I have so far.  I'm hoping to get a bit more creative as time goes on.

No words necessary!

1st entry ~ I'm a night person...but I REALLY want to be a morning person. 
It's so hard to change. But I'm trying!

Remember this post?  Well that finally happened...last night!  More about it in a future post.

 

 

Once I get settled into my new space, and get back to creating on a bigger scale,

I think I will continue to "Do Something Creative Everyday". 

It's nice...and it helps me get over my crankies!!

 

 

 



Birthday Blessings 2

Napkins seemed to be a gift theme this year....three different friends gave me packages

of napkins.  The napkins will definitely be well used. But not in the way you'd probably guess.

 

I found these plastic coasters at the thrift store last year.  They're great for several reasons. 
They were VERY inexpensive.  Napkins slide in and out...so I can have coasters to match any room in the house. 
Because you use napkins in them, they are so absorbent.

Six coasters came in this cute box. Someday I'm going to paint that box.....someday!

You were right Peggy!
My grandbabies love these napkins...as napkins! 
I love them as coasters...so we're all happy!

Love the border on these.  Do you see where the napkin slides in?

I should have taken a photo of the other side of the "Flip" napkin.  It says "Flop"!



I shared a peek at these napkins yesterday.  They're going to look so sweet as coasters!  Thanks again Joyce!

Last but not least, Regina gave these colorful napkins.  I love the paisley design.

I think I have a wonderful assortment of summertime napkins coasters!!  I found a similar set of napkin holder coasters on Amazon.....just in case you want your very own!

 

 

~~~~::~~~~ 

 

Speaking of birthdays.....I want to wish my dear friend

Gail a VERY Happy Birthday!

Love you a bunch!!

 

  

 

 

Favorite Find on Etsy

I still have my Etsy Gift Cards, and this sign is high on my "I Think This Is It" list.

I love the colors and the size...but mostly I love the sentiment!

 

The shop is called The House of Belonging.

There are a lot of really great signs in this shop! 

 

 

 

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

 

Happy Birthday to my friend (and co-worker) Joan!! 

Hope you have an extra-special day!

 

 

Crazy Quilt

Just look at this beautiful piece of history that was recently gifted to me.  This crazy quilt dates back to the 1880s...and it's in remarkable shape considering it's over 130 years old.  There are a lot of pieces that have disintegrated.  You can see the creamy colored cotton batting showing through in many spots.  There's also some fabric pieces that have tears and frayed fabric. 

But there are many areas that are just wonderful! 

 

I love the little bits of extra stitching, and the red with black polka-dots piece is fun.

 

Great colors in this section.

 

I love this piece with the black velvet roses, and the red, white and blue piece is a bit of ribbon.

 

I'd love to try and save a big enough piece to display on the end of a bed, and I'd also like to make a pillow to use in my family room.  It's such a wonderful piece of history, and I want to preserve as much of it as possible.

 

I'm so grateful to the friend who gave this.  She and her husband have an extensive collection of history in their home....most of it from the years surrounding the Civil War.  She regularly gifts me with sweet treasures to create with...this quilt is, by far, the most  wonderful thing she's ever given me.  Such a special gift!



Four

Four little statues sitting on the shelf....in the guest room.

 

Three were a gift from my friend Regina. 

She gave them to me for Christmas a couple years ago....when I had three grandbabies. 



 

In 2011 Caleb was born.

 

 

Lucky me....I found a fourth statue during a trip to the thrift store!

 

And now there are four. 



Just as there should be.

 

Buzz!

There are bumble bees buzzing around my laundry room!

And I couldn't "bee" happier!!

Bees courtesy of my friend Patricia.

Snapshot

A tiny little watercolor from a friend.

It's about 1 1/2 x 2 inches "big" without the ceramic frame.

A very "Pretty Poppy".

Thank you Tisha.  I love it!

Tisha's Watercolors on Pinterest.



Friend

For the month of June I'll be participating in a Photo A Day Challenge. One prompt, one photo, & few words. The daily prompt is the title of each post. Click on the link below for more information.

June - Photo A Day Challenge

"My friend Gail sent me this card a while back...I think it's so pretty, and it has a squirrel on it!  Gail moved to Knoxville, TN last year and I miss her.  I hope we'll be able to visit her later this year.  Her birthday is Monday.  I'll be calling her to wish her a happy one....."

And so ends A Photo A Day for the month of June.  I enjoyed it.  But I don't think I'll be particpating for the month of July.