Bridge Tallies with Buttons for SALE

Please look here for Picasa pics of these adorable Bridge Tallies.

Some have sold, but there are still 8 of them left. They are priced at $2.50 each or 3 for $7.00. Write me for more info.

New Creations to Share

Besides Christmasy ideas, I have made a few one of a kind things this past week. I took them to the shop where my items are on consignment, Now and Then. The Game piece is in an old cheese box. I actually added a couple more bits to it after I took this picture.

"JOY" is an ornament with rub on letters on an old Spoon that I bent backwards and fluffed up with lace and black ribbon.

I also took in the little tray with stamps that I made several months ago and showed before.



It is so fun to come up with things to create but without the pressure of trying to crank out huge amounts for a specific sale.


After all, if it ain't fun, why do it?

Girls' Day Out and New Fun Finds

Had a terrific day out with my dear friend Karen yesterday. Flea Market/Antique Sale, Estate Sale, Antique Shop, lunch, Nell Hills. The tree colors in Kansas/Missouri are more gorgeous than usual this year. I told my grandson that one of the things about getting older is that you really love things like the fall leaves changing. Guess I realize how precious each season can be and that this one may be my last. (Not to worry; I am well; I just realize the brevity of life).

Snagged some good finds too. Another darling little cup with kitties! And, a whole box of Bridge Tallies with BUTTONS! So cute with little feathers and bits of this and that with the button faces. I will be reselling these very soon.

Catch it While You Can and a New Treasure

I am such a Fall Girl! And, I am so into enjoying it this very minute. Kansas is turning especially pretty this year.

Look at this darling little children's' dresser I found this weekend at an antique sale. My dear friend Karen sold it to me for a great price. It makes me happy looking at it. I'll NEVER grow up!!!

My Shoe Are Marching Kinda S~l~o~w

I certainly do not feel my 58 years mentally or emotionally, but physically, I think I might be older :) I just do not have the energy and stamina that I once did. Stops a girl from doing a lot of things.

Today I hit one estate sale then went to Wal Mart to stock up. I was whipped after that, so after lunch, just had to take a nap. The competitive feeling you can get from the blog world can be an incentive, but also a pressure. Makes me ponder wanting
to do the things that are most important. It is so easy to get into the trap of wanting to create and make stuff that people will notice. Yes, it is fun, but not the most important thing. For me, taking care of my husband and home and being a big part of my grandkidlets lives are the top priorities.

Who I am here at home and with those I love is most important.

My dear friend Sue, in Michigan, sent me my two newest shoes this week. They are just too cute marching along with the others! My shoes are marching slower these days, but in a more dedicated way, I hope.

Before and After -Decorating a Grandkids' Room

What a whirlwind, helping my friend Dianne with her room and guiding her in making decisions. We decided to go with a bright color palette of primaries in red, blue, green and yellow. As you can see from the before pics, we had some very dark blue paint on the bottom of the walls and a quirky, ugly border at top.

She wanted a reading nook like I have here I sent pics and talked with her husband John on the phone about the specs and he got started on the work before I arrived. He also did all the wall painting for us.The back wall of the nook is fabric that we tacked up.





The wall where all the kids names are done in wooden letters will be added to with each child's hand print when they visit. The white wall next to it is waiting for just the right pieces to add.

We found the darling easel chalkboard for a great price at an antique store. We also found the two sweet puzzles to hang. The vintage apron with is hanging over an ugly intercom that they do not use.

Still to come is a sweet rug that we ordered that will add more color.
Still more fluffing needed but the majority is finished. What a change! And, Dianne loves it. Lights still need to go in each end of the nook, but there should be lots of fun times in this room when the kidlets visit.

Life Goes on Without Blogging

Before my big trip, I was in a good routine of posting every day or two and I am not back into it yet. Settling back into being home and enjoying fluffing things for FALL, my FAVE season!
One of my fond memories will be taking a buggy ride driven by an Amish neighbor where I stayed. There is much good to be said of the Amish way of life. Staying close to home to avoid wanting so much of what the world offers, working hard, helping out your neighbors and loving God.
It does seem that the more you see, the more you want. Many of us love our "stuff" so much. Making it, buying it, arranging it, showing it. It can be a vicious circle, or it can be a way to connect our lives to our homes and in friendship as we share with those around us. All depends on our focus and our motives.
Enjoy your "stuff" today. Just do not let it overwhelm you~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What a Blessed Life!

Back from Indiana with a ton of great memories! Exhausted too! Dianne kept me going non-stop. Just wait until you see the transformation of the grandkids' room that we accomplished. Also, we hosted a wonderful tea party for her friends and went to the button show in Michigan. Worked on a glue book and took a horse and buggy ride with Amish friends. Got a few little goodies at some antique shops too.
I'm a happy girl today; it is one of my very favorite rainy kind of days~~~~~~
I will post some pics as soon as I re-group and rest up a bit.

These Days We Say "Repurposed"~~~~~~~~~~~

But, I can remember my grandma abiding by this little verse:

Make it Last
Wear it Out
Use it Up
Or Do Without

So, she would love these little bags that I have made from a book of fabric scraps that I got awhile back with several books of wallpaper. Some I left with their pinked edges showing. Some have my favorite common white string hand stitched through the tops as a drawstring. Some have ribbon. And some are just made as foldover pieces with a flap to keep things in. Perhaps to use as a little gift bag. I even made a little pillow out of one, with buttons added, of course!

Taking these to Indiana to give to all the ladies that come to a little tea party we are having. Kinda like taking my grandma along with me :)

I just love making things from something that would be just thrown away. What can you make today?

Big Trip to Land 'a Goshen (Indiana that is!)

I am busily scurrying around to make ready for a big trip. I have not been anywhere for 3 years! Well, I mean, any big trips like this. Plus, my friend Dianne and I have SO MANY plans that I am already exhausted. We are decorating a room for her grandchildren (7 and still counting!), having a tea party for a bunch of her friends, watching Anne of Green Gables together (she has NEVER seen it!), making gluebooks, and going to the fall show of the Michigan Button Society. If you live anywhere Near Big Rapids, Michigan and you LOVE buttons, you HAVE to try to come to this either Saturday or Sunday. You will see buttons like you have NEVER seen before and meet the nicest people anywhere! And, I get to see my dearest friend Sue and stay overnight at the show (can anyone say Baileys' Irish Creme?)plus a lot of other great button friends too!
So, have to get busy...........Less than two days now! (Can't you tell? I REALLY need to get away!!!)

Giveaway and Sale

Amy at Mod Podge Rocks is having her first Giveaway.
Check it out.




Also, the very talented girl at Art by Canace is having a 40% off sale on her graphic prints.

Sewin' and Plannin' and Dreamin' and Restin"

I am busy getting ready for a long awaited trip to see friends. Been a long time since I have been anywhere. Today I made this apron to take to someone special. It is from a free pattern HERE

It did not call for buttons, but a day without buttons is like..............well, YOU KNOW..............so, anyway, I just had to add some.









I know it is miles of days before Valentines, but this little image is my favorite button post card. I have been making so many of these little collages lately. In case you are wondering............no, I do not use the actual card, but I scan and print on cardstock.



In between the doing and thinking and creating, I have to take little naps. Guess Grammy is feeling her age a bit.

Real Life and A New Cup

Been feelin' sorta funky the past few days.......... dealing with health and family issues......... anxious, wanting to sleep too much. So, finding a new little cup at the local antique shop helped a bit. It is so sweet, and the second pic shows just how tiny it is...........just 1 5/8 inches tall! Tea Party anyone?

It's the little Things that Make Me So Happy

The other day my little granddaughter and I picked a bunch of little crab apples from the trees at the nursing home where my mother has lived for over 6 years. It is so hard to go there for me, but taking McKinley who loves to go, was a joy. We took her Great-Grandma outside with us and she watched us pick and held the ones McKinley gave her. I can still hear her saying "Look at the tiny, tiny one Grammy!"

Like Fall, which will pass before we know it, so will these young years for me with my granddaughter. How I cherish them!


Here is a felted wool Fall Leaves piece that I made for our front door.
Happy Fall Thursday!

Acorns are F~A~L~L~I~N~G ~~~~~~~~~~~

I know; Fall will not arrive for another week, but I love ACORNS all year around.
My acorn buttons are made from many materials: glass; both colored and black, brass, Bakelite, celluloid, plastics, pewter and steel.

They are mounted on a 9 X 12 piece of mat board that I first covered with a piece of wallpaper from a sample book. Then I used colored pencils to fill in some Dover letters to glue down the middle. Frames used by many button collectors are made to accommodate this 9 X 12 format. They have slide out backs so that you can easily open and add more buttons.

I just Love Fall and Acorns!

ENJOY!

A Thankful Heart AND Collage

I am not much of a Halloween girl, so I have moved right on to making some Thanksgiving collages. I am so THANKFUL for all my Bloggettes in Blogland!

And the Winner is...................

Hope from the blog Hopeful
Hope also has several Etsy shops. Tripletrouble is one where I recently purchased some great supplies.

Thanks to all my Blogettes for reading my blog and leaving a comment.

Darling Silhouette Find

I adore little silhouette pictures. Just look at that bunny! They seem to be harder to find; at least within my budget. SO, I was so happy to find this yesterday at the antique show after helping my friend Karen set up her space. Beth from Gathering Dust was there too with all of her goodies.

Don't forget! Tonight at midnight is the deadline to comment for the GIVEAWAY that I will announce tomorrow!

More to the Giveaway

Think the news of my Giveaway might have gotten lost below all those gluebook pages in my last blog!

I have added a bit of ephemera to the stash of love to go to one of my readers. This is to celebrate my 3 month anniversary of blogging. SO, leave a comment by midnight Saturday on what you like about my blog and have an opportunity to win.