Thrift Store Treasures

$24.00 well spent!!

Thursdays are 25% off at my favorite thrift store. I don't often go on Thursdays because by the time I get there it's all pretty picked over.  But last Thursday I hit the jack-pot!

Look at all these goodies I got!!

The best deal of the night goes to this Catherine Holm fondue set. It's in excellent condition!  

These pieces sell for ridiculous prices on Etsy and Ebay.

I see these tackle boxes and just can't resist..when they're a good price!  $1.50 (after the 25% discount) WAS a good price. I'll be storing my glue gun and glue sticks in here.

I'm going to re-purpose this musical jewelry box for Charlotte. 

She just got her ears pierced and she'll need somewhere to store all her earrings someday.

Bright and cheery serving trays...too cute to pass up. Especially when they were 25% off!

Children's books are always one of my favorite things to look at. 

On Thursday all pictures books are only 75 cents!  These two are like new!

This Snap Circuit kit was going to be for Elijah, but he already has this particular 

set...so does Penelope.  It's like brand new and it was only $2.00!

This Christmas plate is for me...it's going to look wonderful in my dining room hutch come December.  The pattern is Merry Christmas by Johnson Bros...it was $3.00!

Aren't these vintage platters awesome! I love the crazing and stains on 

them...it just adds to the beauty of the piece!  

The three platters together cost $11.00...they range in size from 10 inches to 15 inches.

~~~::~~~

I keep telling Bill that all this is an investment...some day 

I'll make money off these things!

These pieces will eventually be listed on Etsy. 

Once Upon A Time I WILL open an Etsy shop!

It's such fun to find things for "the littles"!  This time Elijah will get the books, 

and the circuit board kit will go to Charlotte in a year or so.

Cathe Holden created some amazing stenciled platters.

I'd love to give that a try!  

If these turn out they might end up in that (someday) Etsy shop!  

Or at least at a "craft show"!

You can see Cathe's here, here, and here.

Only two more days until Thursday!!!

Pretty Linens

I bought this pretty wall hanging a couple years ago on Etsy a couple of years ago.  A creamy white runner; half of a red trimmed runner with a floral pattern stitched on it; a tiny strip from a red and cream quilt (the button is from the quilt piece too!); and some cluny lace bows.  A little folding and some stitching, add a hanger...there you have it! A beautiful wall hanging!  I love it!

There sure are some creative people on Etsy!

Bill's Christmas Gift...The Hawthorne House

Bill doesn't read my blog, so I think it's safe to share my plans for his Christmas gift.  Is it only me...or are gifts for men really hard to buy?  Bill is especially hard to buy for...he doesn't really want a lot of stuff (he thinks I collect enough stuff for the both of us!), and he really doesn't have any hobbies.  He loves to read...but I don't love to only buy books for him!

Wouldn't you know it....that it would be "the land of blog" that came to the rescue! For several years I have followed a blog called With Pencil and Pen...it's written by an artist...Katherine Thomas.  I love her work...it amazes me. The things she can do with colored pencils absolutely amaze me! Her pen and ink drawings are stunning. I just really love all her work!!

A couple years ago Katherine started selling pen and ink drawings, on old envelopes, in her Etsy shop called PostMarkArt.  Last year, on a trip to Michigan, I took a photo of one of Bill's boyhood homes..."The Hawthorne House".  Shortly afterwards I was reading Katherine's blog and it occurred to me that she might be able to use my (not very good phone photo) to create a PostMarkArt piece for Bill. I sent her the photo and she said it would work as a reference photo! She said she could start it this Fall...perfect timing for a Christmas gift!!

Earlier this year we made another trip to Michigan and I was able to get a couple more photos of the "Hawthorne House".  Not an easy feat since no one we visit lives anywhere near this place. Luckily Bill was in a reminiscing mood and didn't mind taking a drive. Mandy was traveling with us and she had never seen the house, so there was my excuse to visit it again. 

Just this past week, Katherine sent me some photos of envelopes she had available...they were all very nice, but I kind of had my heart set on something more personal. I dug around in some of that "stuff" I tend to save and found Bill's old stamp collection. I found a "first day cover" that I'm hoping Katherine will be able to use for the drawing of the "Hawthorne House".

I like that Bill's name is on this envelope. It's addressed to his second childhood home. This photo is of "The Hawthorne House"...it  was his first childhood home.  I think everything will tie together nicely!  I also think he'll really like this gift!

Here's a look at some of the PostMArkArt Katherine has done...I made a collage of four of her custom home portraits...I know "The Hawthorne House" will be equally wonderful! 

I've got my eye on the American Flag on the School Desk piece!

Katherine Thomas...links to her work and information about commissioning it. 

Fletcher

Oh my goodness....I love this face!!

 

I don't know about you...but I'm thinkin' he just might need this!

 

Etsy

Gift Idea

 

Yesterday, I found a wonderful gift idea AND tutorial on one of my favorite blogs. 

Easy, useful and really nice to look at...what could be better than that!! 

Visit Angie at Knick of Time to find out how to make these pretty beeswax candles!

 

Angie...thanks so much for letting me share this beautiful photo on my blog today. 

Now I just need to get myself some beeswax!

 

I think I'll do a little browsing on Etsy. 

Anyone have a suggestion for a beeswax source?

 



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.

 



Sisters

 Thank you Katie, for these awesome Instagram photos...complete with captions. 

I love seeing these sweet sisters together!

So without further delay...here's Charlotte and Louisa (aka Lulu).

 

Matching shirts ~ Charlotte's request.

 

Getting/giving a check-up.

Lulu puts up with so much.

Every day I'm snugglin'.

One day Lulu will be big enough to get back at her and Charlotte will be in for a world of hurt.

 

Contrary to what the look on her face would lead you to believe,
Lulu did actually enjoy having her sister hold her.

I think these cute sisters need some cute sister things...don't you.

I found some fun ideas on Etsy. 

The spoons and dolls are my favorites.

Bella Jackson Studios

 

Little Princess Gifts

 

Leapin Lily Pads

 

Brio Trio

 

Samdipity Bowtique

Now I need to start saving up for a little bit of shopping,

plus there'll be a bit of creating going on too!

 

Thought you might like to "see" a couple more cute pics!

 

Hipster Princess
(from Christine's Instagram)

Glasses ~ Courtesy of Charlotte

 

Happy Wednesday!!

 

 

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!

 

 

Some Cute Pins**

 I was using my pin cushion...which I bought at a Dollar Store at least a dozen years ago...and then left it on the nightstand.  My camera happened to be on the nightstand too.  So of course I took a picture (or two) of the pin cushion.  Then it was time to save the pictures on my laptop, and that lead to a trip to Etsy....where I decided to browse through listings of "straight pins".  I found some cute ones!

 

source
Love the packaging of these!

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Every pin cushion needs some pretty pins!

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Fun pins are nice too!

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If you don't like any of the other ones...well, here's S'more!



I still have my Etsy gift certificates......maybe my

really old pin cushion needs some really new pins.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!!

 

**Bet Pinterest popped in your head when you read the post title. C'mon, admit it.  It popped in my head and I already knew what the post was really about!

 

 



Great Aunt Margaret's Pin Cushion

I recently made a purchase on Etsy.  I bought a pin cushion from Sweet Annabelle's Shop. 

Not just any pin cushion either.  It belonged to Great Aunt Margaret.

 

 

Now I really didn't need another red tomato cushion....but something about this one spoke to me. Maybe it was because it's name is Japan.  I thought that was kind of funny. 

Once it arrived....well, I fell in love.  Look how tiny it is!

 

Did you notice that it matches my Raggedy's hair....I mean how perfect is that!!  So maybe the color spoke to me.  Of course I think ALL tomato cushions are this color.

Maybe it's all the pins poking out of it.....kind of porcupine like. Oh, "Japan", you're so cute!

Really though,,,it was "the story" that went with this little pin cushion....the story about Aunt Margaret and her saw-dust stuffed, sweet, little tomato.  I love the way Sweet Annabelle lists her wares.  Not all of them...I think this might be a new idea of her's...but there were at least two.  Here's the other one I saw. 

What a neat way to market such sweet treasures.

 

I wasn't surprised by the fun way Sweet Annabelle (AKA Sue Simpson) put together her Etsy shop because I've been reading her blog for a long time.   Also called Sweet Annabelle, her blog is one of my favorites. It's filled with stories about her family, her garden, her spiritual life, and so much more.

Pay her a visit...you'll love the time you spend there.  It'll make Aunt Margaret happy too!