Are you as glad as I am that the holiday weekend is finally here? I've already tackled some long overdue chores like cleaning up the craft room! Too many bits and pieces of projects here, there and everywhere.

When I found this treasure trove of small old envelopes, all addressed to the Williams sisters, I knew they were coming home with me. Each one is a wedding invitation, or an 'at home' card. So beautiful and lovely.

Although my to-do list is long this weekend, I am definitely making time to hit the antique mall. Are you?

For You, Teacher...

Thanking my children's teachers has always been important to me. They work so hard all year, and I want to make sure they know I appreciate them. This year, I am saying 'thanks' with chalkboard clipboards.

I painted the clipboards with chalkboard paint, added a few stamps and hot-glued an apple with their name. I attached a tag with the directions for cleaning, etc. Up at the top I added a thank you card that I made from a vintage class picture.



On the back I used 'mod podge' to attach some pictures from old school books. I sure hope they like them!
*Have you thanked your teacher today?*
Please stop by and check out my friend Sandy's awesome stamping blog.
This gal has really got it going on when it comes to stamping!

Happy Mother's Day ~

Today I like to reflect on the woman who is to me the most inspirational of mothers.

I think how blessed I am to have been given the opportunity to
be a mother, and for all the responsibility and joy that role involves.

Here is a poem entitled When Mother Sleeps by Edgar Guest

When mother sleeps, a slamming door

Disturbs her not at all;

A man might walk across the floor

Or wander through the hall

A pistol shot outside would not

Drive slumber from her eyes-

But she is always on the spot

The moment baby cries.

The thunder crash she would not hear,

Nor shouting in the street;

A barking dog, however near,

Of sleep can never cheat

Dear mother, but I've noticed this

To my profound surprise;

That always wide-awake she is

The moment baby cries.

However weary she may be,

Though wrapped in slumber deep,

Somehow it always seems to me

Her vigil she will keep.

Sound sleeper that she is, I take

It in her heart there lies

A love that causes her to wake

The moment baby cries.

Happy Mother's Day...

Crafting...By Necessity

I have been crafting lately, but only things that must get done,

which I suppose is something. Not exactly what I aspire to.

Perhaps you feel the same at times. Hopefully warmer weather and a little bit of spring break will open up some more windows for me.

The..."Big Kick"

Well, after much hemming, hawing and generally coveting my friend's Big Shot, I decided to take the plunge myself. I, however, decided on the Big Kick instead. (Mainly because that was the one I could get my hands on!) I was a little intimidated at first...okay, a lot intimidated, but I think I pretty much have the hang of it. My first creation here (see above!) I used a huge die cut (actually called a BIGZ) by Sizzix. This bird and bird cage were especially created by Tim Holtz. Not bad, huh??

For the Love of....Jars

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is a month to think of all there is to love in the world...

and for me that involves...

jars.

My latest obsession.

I'm not really sure what's up with that.

I hope this holiday finds you

with someone

or something to love.

" O, you

Were the best of all my days."

~ Frank O'Hara

"Elegy for the Personal Letter" by Allison Joseph
I miss the rumpled coreners of correspondence,
the ink blots and crossouts that show
someone lives on the other end, a person
whose hand makes errors, leaves traces.
I miss fine stationary, its raised elegant
lettering prominent on creamy shades of ivory
or pearl grey. I even miss hasty notes
dashed off on notebook paper, edges
ragged as their scribbled messages-
can't write much now-thinking of you.
When letters come now, they are formatted
by some distant computer, addressed
to Occupant or To family living at-
meager greetings at best,
salutations made by committee.
Among the glossy catalogues
and one time only offers
the bills and invoices,
letters arrive so rarely now that I drop
all other mail to the floor when
an envelope arrives and the handwriting
is actual handwriting, the return address
somewhere I can locate on any map.
So seldom is it that letters come
That I stop everything else
to identify the scrawl that has come this far-
the twist and the whirl of the letters,
the loops of the numerals. I open
those envelopes first, forgetting
the claim of any other mail,
hoping for news I could not read
in any other way but this.

A Sneak Peek!

While the grand finale of the long-awaited new craftroom is not yet ready,

I think I can share at least a sneak peek!

It's overwhelming to have a place for everything and everything in its place.

I am so not used to that.

I hope it doesn't disturb my crafting mojo.

More to share after some finishing touches...

...and a little more organizing.

Have a great week!

I went to a friend's Stampin' Up party on Friday night. Of course, I needed a stamp-themed hostess gift! These stamps from Michael's dollar bin dressed up nicely!
In the meantime, the craft room project is finally finished! Hubby hung up my punches today; one of the final things on the To-Do list! When it's light enough tomorrow, I promise pics.
Have a great week!

Inspiration

I got the inspiration for this gift box from one I found at an adorable vintage store.

Getting it right was harder than it looked, but well worth it when I saw
the smile on my friend's face.

I put it in a cellophane gift bag, tied the top with lace and an

old earring and it was ready to go!

Wishing that you receive a gift with an extra special touch this holiday.

I tried not to let the major construction elements (ie: plastic on the walls, cardboard on the floor, general mayhem) stop my holiday decorating.
This year I finally did what I've wanted to do for some time...
decorate with all pink and white.

So far, no one's even noticed.

(ie: complained)

I'll take that as a good sign.

It's Been A While

Sorry, my blogland friends. I have notforgotten about you.

Simply a time of computer issues...

...and massive reorganization as we begin craftroom construction!!

But in the meantime I did manage this cute cookie tin for my friend's birthday. Of course, I forgot to take pictures before I put the wrap on.
You know how it goes!

Hope you are getting some crafting done in your own corner of the world!

Although I was a little behind in the Halloween crafting, I am still chugging away and gathering inspiration. I have figured out about myself that I need to start several holidays ahead...like right now I need to be thinking about Valentine's Day.

I know, it's sad.
This weekend has been really chilly - not a time I like to spend outdoors! But the beauty of the pumpkin farm can not be over looked, no matter what the weather!

Happy Halloween!

What a great present for me today! Hubby had a contractor come today and talk about finishing part of our now-attic into a craft space! Be still my heart! Now we just have to see how the estimate comes back...Grrrr...
When I found this vintage candy box on Etsy (a place I've been perusing way too much lately, according to the ol' checkbook)
I knew it would be the perfect thing for some old vintage love letters, no?
A great decoration for Valentine's Day.

As promised, I worked on some paperweights this weekend to add to Etsy. I like how they turned out, though they are tricky to photograph!

This one I love...

...and this one, too!

Have a great weekend!

Yesterday morning, Hubby woke me early to ask if I wanted him to drop me off at an antique market while he ran an errand in a neighboring state. Is that a question that even needs asking? And so I enjoying a Saturday morning surprise that left me with even more treaures stockpiled. I decided that by next weekend I will have a few more paperweights added to my long neglected etsy shop.

Some new tags to get the inspiration rolling.

Have a great week!