My Beautiful Blog Banner

I absolutely love this banner that Susan Tuttle made for my blog! She is absolutely wonderful, not to mention talented. She hopped right on the job for me and I am sooo appreciative. It looks great! It was thousands of times easier than my trying to learn how to do it myself - which would have taken years! Now I don't have to have 'banner envy'. If you are in the neighborhood for a banner for a blog or etsy shop, or if you just want to check out a beautiful blog, stop by Ilka's Attic. You won't be disappointed.

Goodies

First of all, a warning - this is going to be one looooong post! I have so much to share! Above are some great finds from the Flea Market. Some fabulous vintage fabric flowers, a parisian paper weight, and an adorable charm bracelet. I was all too happy to find these - and frustrated that I didn't have time to find more! There were lots of vendors with great stuff - take these gorgeous evening bags for instance!

Soo beautiful!~

I told you that I would fill you in on Tinsel Trading Company. It did NOT disappoint. Rows and rows of gorgeous fabric, lace, paper flowers...it makes the heart flutter! They were also super helpful in helping customer look for what they would love. The photo of buttons from yesterday's entry are also from the shop. Here are some more of their goodies! Aren't they to die for? They felt as beautiful as they looked!

And some more oh so lovelies! ~~~

It just makes the heart go pitter-patter! Here is what I came home with - perfect for paper crafting!

Once we finally left Tinsel Trading, I had to go and check out The Store Across the Street. It's located on 64 West 38th. It sells great ribbons, but also has some great inspiration... Look how sweet!

Of course, no trip to New York is complete without popping in to Shabby Chic! I found lots of treasures there! Here they are, mixed in with some great old photos and a beautiful vintage letter.

So much creative fuel!

New York City - Fleas, Crafts and More!

I can't wait to tell you about the wonderfully crafty things we saw in New York! We just got back, and I am still in the semi-caffeine supported unpacking mode, even though I know I really need to be going to bed! I got to visit the places that I knew were going to have some great finds. I am really thankful that my family puts up with all that! I tried to hurry, but it was like torture at times! Suffice it to say that I wound up dragging a huge Shabby Chic bag with me first thing in the morning (big mistake) through subways and taxi cabs, (and did I mention a deluge of rain?) before we even got to the flea market! Luckily, I was frantically able to keep my goodies, and my camera from getting completely soaked!

Anyway, I have tons more pictures that I am going to put up tomorrow, but I just had to get started with something tonight! How about for good measure - a shot of the flea market!

Can you believe my family wanted to leave after about 30 minutes? Okay, it was about 10,000 degrees in there - but there were two floors and tons of great things! The frustration of it all! Anyway, more tomorrow. I got some great treaures!

Exciting times!

Hello, girls! I found this gorgeous wedding album at an antique mall earlier this summer. Can you believe it!? What a gem! I practically ran out of the store thinking they were surely going to change their minds about selling it. It's beautiful. The cover says, "Our Children's Wedding". How sad! I am constantly buying up old photographs for use in all sorts of ways; my mother is forever telling me to write on the back that they are not family members. She says that it will save my children endless ours of confusion one day, trying to figure out who these people are when I kick the bucket! I am so glad the Andrea has inspired me to start buying up old hats when I see them; this one goes so well with the photo I think. Exciting times for this couple!

Speaking of Andrea and exciting times, did you see that the Queen of Blogs actually visited my humble ol' thing?! I am sooo excited! She is an amazing and inspirational artist. What an honor!

Tomorrow morning we are heading out of town for New York City! I am already prepared, cash in hand, to head to one of the weekend flea markets. I am also excited to take a look-see for myself at THE Tinsel Trading Company, which has been featured in so many magazines. I'll be sure to let you know on Monday about all my treasures!

Day Two

I'm back again for day 2 of attempting to blog! I am still amazed that I am tackling such a technological feat, but then again - Anything Can Happen. When I found this old book with that title, I knew I had to have it as a reminder that anything is possible!

As I mentioned last night, so many women have been inspirational to me through their varied messages and ideas that they have on their blogs. To me, the queen of all inspirational blogs would have to be Andrea Singarella! There hasn't been a single day that I have looked at her website and not been awed and inspired at her boundless creativity. I am sooo excited that she is starting her own online shop...a chance for all of us to get a piece of her gorgeous One Hundred Wishes! I know she will not disappoint. I have thought about emailing her about the fact that she has inspired me to begin blogging, but then that would be like showing Picasso your paint-by-number!

Another inspirational woman is my friend at Notes From A Cottage Industry. She is the queen of the idea that although things may go awry, life is still beautiful and full of joyful surprises waiting to be found.

The Beginning

Well, I finally did it! Tonight, after doing my 'blog-about' and looking at all the inspirational and lovely blogs of so many women, I decided I had to do it too! Unfortunately, I am exhausted from just the process of getting this far! I hope it gets easier with time.

So for now, I'll leave you with this beautiful photo. I love the man's expression; trying to be serious while taking the picture. And the woman, smiling and giggling, turning away. I'm pretty impressed with the fact that it worked, aren't you?

Tomorrow, I'll tackle more of this website, and give credit where credit is due - to so many people who have inspired me and given me Joy for the Journey.