Let's Go Shopping!

Well, in an effort to increase my stength and stamina after my surgery...I decided to hit the cute antique district not far from where I live. Of course, I had to take you with me! This is one of my absolute favorite booths. I make sure I hit this one every time!

I love the bead work on this vintage dress! Hello, Gorgeous!

Ok...how adorable are the purses from vintage fabric?! I almost got one, but was a little worried about the handle. With the kids and everything, I like to be able to throw my bag over my shoulder. Hmmm...maybe I made a mistake not grabbing one of these!

Love the old sheet music...

A wonderful old chenille bedspread - GREAT condition, and not a bad price! Wrong size :(

Shoes and chocolate?!?! What could be better??



Hope you have some time to go poking around your neighborhood this weekend!

Notebooks Galore

I've been trying to use some recouperation time as creativity time! It's worked well so far; I've made some new things to go out to the shoppe. I hope they strike a chord with someone. I love this photo of my grandmother below. A pony, for crying out loud! They lived in the city! I wish I knew the story behind that one!

This one I did in a tiny notebook.

Hoping you have a wonderful day - -

One Lovely Gal

I did a little experimenting tonight with a larger picture - what do you think?? I loved this ol' gal when I saw her - and I think the sentiment sums her up pretty well. I made this notebook journal, and some others I'll show you in the morning (too dark out for pics!) to send out to one of the shoppes that sells my books. My hubby had some other things going out for me Fed Ex - like a little Christmas book I made of pics of the kids for my mother-in-law. Something made me double check with him what he was sending where, and thank goodness I did! He had the pics of the kids packed to go to the shoppe - with the letter for my mother-in-law! Can you imagine the look on the woman's face? I would been embarrassed half to death!

Anyway, thanks for your sweet comments. Went back to the doctor today and got the larger bandages taken off and exchanged for smaller ones. He said everything looks great. Whew! Thank God for everyday miracles.
Sarah

The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful...

A beautiful snow fell today, just enough for it to be beautiful, but not a complete headache. Well, for me, anyway, since I'm still at home after the ol' gallbladder. Today I ventured out briefly and carefully for the first time since the surgery. I'm so glad I did! Usually, I don't look in the fake flower section at our craft store; the flowers are usually not that attractive, and made of plastic, not paper. But I found some adorable ones today that I can't wait to try out on some journals and books.

Hope you have pleasant winter weather in your neck of the woods!

Celebration

Whew! Today arrives with me thankful for the skills of an extremely competent surgeon and the care of compassionate nurses who have brought me through my gallbladder issues safe and sound, and delivered me back home to my hubby and children. That was a close one! It leaves me thankful for today, and even more determined than ever to stop and smell the roses, and enjoy the little things.

Today, one of my favorite journal ships off to Vickie. You may remember the three children from a few posts back. I tucked this card in with it. I hope you enjoy it, Vicki!

Many thanks to my blogfriend Alison for honoring me with this special award. Too cute for words, and much appreciated.

I promise it won't be long before I tag other bloggers for the honor, Allison. But for now...back to the couch!
Enjoy the week!

This, I love!

With a stint of unseasonably warm weather, my spring fever has set in way too early! Same for this little guy. I love how he turned out!

Vintage Cake Toppers

I'm sorry for the blur - it's way dark here tonight, but I had to get these photos in! I was shocked this morning when I saw this photo of a vintage wedding cake topper collection in our local Style Magazine. How fun is that! I had thought about starting such a collection, and definitely think I will now. I even salvaged a junky mirrored cabinet similar to this one. Now I know just what to use it for! My hubby and I were married in December (quite a few years back!) so I set this cloche up next to a vintage wedding album and some other memorabilia. Something that can definitely stay up through Valentine's Day, huh?

New on Etsy!

I absolutely love this book! It's quite large - 8 1/2 x 11", and had heavy weight blank paper inside. I learned an inportant lesson today...I always seem to put my crafts on the back burner - sort of 'if I have time"...today, I didn't have time, but did it anyway! I'm glad I did!

Find of the Day

I found these gorgeous silhouette boxes at a country store today. The owner told me who they were made by, and now I can't recall her name! I do remember seeing her in Country Living, or one of those magazines; maybe you will remember?
I made a promise to myself that I would make something fabulous to put in etsy this weekend. So far, I'm not holding up my end of the bargain! Hmmm... On the other hand, I am definitely looking forward to cozying up with the latest delicious issue of Somerset Life. If you haven't gotten it yet - you must! It's a must read! Have a great weekend!

Happiest of New Years

Best Wishes for a Merry and Joyful 2008!

I have already made lots of resolutions, and am looking forward to a wonderful new year. What have you resolved to do in 2008? Do share!

May peace fill all the empty spaces around you

And in you, may contentment answer all your wishes.

May comfort be yours, warm and soft like a sigh.

And may the coming year show you that every day is really a first day,a new year.

Let abundance be your constant companion,so that you have much to share.

May mirth be near you always,like a lamp shining brightly

on the many paths you travel.

May you be true love.

-- Author Unknown

A Great Find!

I couldn't believe it when I found this waxed wood canvas today while out doing some junkin'. It's absolutely adorable. The inside says "L Abbott"...I sure wish I knew more about her because she is right up my alley! So I immediately took her down to my sad new studio space...in the basement. Remember when I told you I wasn't sure if this space would work? I am even mores sceptical after a few hours of trying to get it set up. No natural light, bad wood paneling, tattered carpet...it's going to be a stretch of the imagination, that's for sure! Still - we'll see what happens, as this little fairy says! At any rate, I hope she can inspire me enough to re-stock my etsy shoppe!
I hope you're enjoying your holiday!

Despair

I am beside myself with disbelief. My favorite scrapbook/paper crafts store, Recollections, is closing. Closing!! I can't believe it. It's where I purchase all my goodies. Nowhere else even comes close. What will I do??

(sigh)

Whew!

For now, I am back on track, and ready to show you what I've been up to! As I mentioned, my craft space has moved - maybe permanently, but for sure for the holidays. It's still all a jumble, and really hard to find anything!!

Still, I managed an order for a friend of mine; she loves the little girl I use so frequently! I can't believe I managed it in a completely disorganized and boxed up space!

Our big holiday party went off without a hitch last night, despite numerous threats of up to 5 inches of snow. Whew! Now I feel like I can relax a little. Major project for over the holiday will be organizing this 'new' craft space...and of course, a little antiquing!

Have a great week!

Drats - Part II

Okay, now this is getting ridiculous. I got the first problem solved, and even managed to find a minute to download some new pictures - my packed up studio space (sigh) and some great Christmas crafty-ness that I had accomplished, and now it seems that the computer has a some sort of virus! This leaves me with my laptop, and without the ability to download my photos for you! It's not fair! Grrrr.....

Onto some other news. Did those of you who are paper-craft-people know that Tim Holtz has a blog now?! How cool is that? Make sure you check it out!

And don't forget to add these two books to your Christmas wish list! Sooo much inspiration!







Well, I hate being out of the loop! So many of you have gorgeous things on your blogs these days, and I'm just late for the party! Don't worry, though. I'll be back with a vengeance!

"Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night."
~Glade Byron Addams

Drats!

Darn it, friends! My camera is not downloading properly, and it's been ages since I've been able to visit with you! So here are some 'oldies but goodies'. I loved this little sampler I saw in an old shop. I hope you do, too!

Over the weekend, I packed up my studio space :( It was soooo hard to do, but with Christmas coming, we really needed the extra room. My husband is trying to convince me to set everything back up in the basement (where we put the boxes for now.) He's moving out to a beautiful new office we added on our house...and says I am more than welcome to occupy the basement. It IS finished....but dreary as all get out! Yuck! (But I'll think about it.)

The picture below I took on Thanksgiving morning; it's the view down our street. Gorgeous!

What's in My Journal?

Odd things, like a button drawer.

Mean things, fishooks, barbs in your hand.

But marbles too. A genius for being agreeable.

Junkyard crucifixes, voluptuous discards.

Space for knicknacks, and forAlaska.

Evidence to hang me, or to beatify.

Clues that lead nowhere, that never connected anyway.

Deliberate obfuscation, the kind that takes genius.

Chasms in character. Loud omissions. Mornings that yawn above a new grave.

Pages you know exist but you can't find them.

Someone's terribly inevitable life story, maybe mine.

-- William Stafford