Sailing...

Ah, the weather was perfect for yard sailing this past weekend. I had a super-fun time hitting some long-long-long block sales..... prices were great, the weather was fabulous and everyone was super friendly :-) Here are just a few things that I picked up... I found some jewelry along with a large faceted glass paper weight-- all of this for $2.A silver champagne bucket for $1....A large fabulous yellow bird cage for only $3....Two pirate chests for $3....Some pirate treasure, a pink & white box and some wooden paint samples, all of this for only $2.I also found three containers that I am going to use to hold some of my jewelry for $3-- I have never heard of "trollbeads" before... I googled the name... and up popped this link. WOW! They are selling the very same 3 containers for FIFTY DOLLARS. Crazy-crazy. I have these in my vintage dresser holding my earrings. They work perfectly! Fifty dollars... have you ever in your life?...... Lastly, this clock. I can't remember if I shared this already or not. I bought it a while ago---- for only $1. It works too!A fun-fun-fun treasure filled weekend, coupled with a gift card to HOME DEPOT from my lovely daughter... and it made for a perfect Mothers day weekend. I've linked up with "Thrift Share Monday" and "Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays"

Ohhhhhhh man...

I got a bad cold.....I'll be back.... *sniff-cough-sneeze*

Painting, pruning, pixies...

and puttering too..... I have been very busy around the homestead lately, getting the yard ready for summer. The other day, after my two year old grandaughter left a perfect FULL set dental impression on my grandson's arm.... I thought it was befitting that I finally get around to painting on this huge frame I picked up at a yard sale for only $3. The Mod Podged paper was already in place. Loving the colors on this...My first thought was to make it into a chalk board, but I don't think that would hold up to being rained on. Its been kept outdoors for over a year already! What to paint? hmmmm... Why a very popular mantra of course, "Keep calm and carry on" I purposely put it side ways--- to further remind everyone (myself included) to keep calm-- crooked things bother me lolThen on to pruning.... I've got a lot of rose bushes on my property, and I'm always on the look out for more roses whenever I go to the hardware store or garden nursery. Last count I took, I had 35, and I've added more since then. I love 'em. This one is as big as a dinner plate. Everyone of the rose bushes has to have the dead heads cut off periodically. My most favorite thing to do in the yard is to prune, so its all good. I pull off the full spent heads of rose petals and toss them over my grandkids, its wonderful until they start grabbing them themselves..... I also have a collection of miniature rose bushes. I have 26 of them, so far. I've been lucky to find some mini roses at one of our local dollar stores-- next time I see them, I'm going to buy at least 30 more so I can have them lined up like little soldiers along the side of my house. Here is a photo of my gardening buddy "Puss-Puss". I stole her from my neighbor. Well, I guess those of you who know cats, know.... you can't really steal a cat now can you. No one owns a cat.... anywho, this once ferrel cat hangs out with me and is my constant outdoor companion when I'm working. I lurve her~
Lastly, pixies.... I've added some pixies inside cages that I've got hanging in various places in my grandkids play yard.... I added about 6 more to the area, here are just a few~ This little purple doll was a 10 cent yard sale find, a little hot glue to keep her curls in place, a smidge of wire to keep the wings that came off a broken butterfly in place and taaaaaa daaaaaaa instant fairy in a cage.Its adorable to watch them find the pixies and get really close to the cages and peek inside. The get so happy, its adorable I tell you!Well, now I'm off to go work on transforming this pinata of "Woody" into a Pirate pinata!Always having fun~

Thrifted Treasures...

I always come across the bestest stuff.... this metal childs patio furniture was being sold for $20, I got it for $10!This absolutely fabulous lamp-- that still works, I bought for only $5. The round metal mirror was $1 and the green beaded tree was $1. Here is a close-up of my lovely new lamp! *swoon*This pile of embroidered and crocheted items was only $2. I've never seen this crocheted edging before... this crocheting was done using ric rac and gives it a lovely scalloped edge. This pile of old photographs, greeting cards, boxes and an old book was only $2.Lastly, this signed water color painting painted by the artist N. Taylor Stonington. My husband bought this for $3... online they sell for around $300 to over a$1, 000 buckeroos. Sweetie... I still don't like it! I've linked to Apron Thrift Girl's "Thrift Share Monday" and "Her Library Adventures "Flea Market Finds" linky parties.

Happy Easter Everyone

Textiles

I seriously must single handedly have the largest collection of crocheted trims, table cloths & embroidered pieces ever amassed. Even more so, because I hardly ever use any of it! I did make a cover for this bird cage awhile back.... I think it turned out rather cute. The chippy bird cage and stand I picked up at a yard sale for $15.
This next bird cage was needing a cover as well... I just stitched the edges of a long rectangle piece of fabric which I added vintage crocheted trim to the edges of. Easy peasy...I have one of my beloved images that I simply treasure that I've made into a fairy inside the cage... I call him "Sweet Pete" I have him sitting on the swing inside the cage. I have over 30 bird cages of different sizes and shapes through out my home.... I know right?.... I think a few more cages might be getting some crocheted trim added to them as well.
I've linked up to Freckled Laundries textile linky party, and Beverly's Pink Saturday linky party.

Swappin' fun

I recently received a couple of boxes of goodies in the mail. The first box of goodies was sent to me from Betty Villalobos. Who doesn't have a blog... just yet. I love-love-love the tag she sent along with a box full of goodies. I simply adore cats, so this is absolutely perfect for me. Honestly, the photo does not do justice to the workmanship that went into this tag. It is 3 dimensional and exquisite~ She also sent along some yummy chocolate, two bundles of to-die-for fabric, an adorable cup and a Tim Holtz metal book thingie. Thank you so much Betty for your generousity, now get off your hinny and start a BLOG!! I would love to see more of your creations as I'm sure others would too! I was invited to join in on Vivian's Easter ornament swap. Vivian Neroni of vivs-whimsy, the swap hostess, made these two ornaments... A felt egg, and a felted chick hatching out of an egg. Super cute huh? This ornament was made by Valeria Kraft of Glittery Daze and Nights. Simply darling!Theresa Whitmore of Sycamore Moon Studios felted this whimsical bunny. Charming little bunny isn't it? Rebekah Conklin from Full of Bliss Creations made this felted bunny. The attention to detail is amazing.
This bunny head ornament was made by Cyndi LaChance from Holiday Sparkle. Super cute!
I haven't brought out anything "Eastery" this Easter--- so I've just got all of these beauties tucked inside a crystal bowlie for my family and friends to admire~
I did hang this beautiful cross in front of a mirror, recently bought for only $1.50.... isn't it beautiful. I guess thats the best "Easter" decoration isn't it~