Treasures From Galena

We didn't spend much in Galena this past weekend.  Had to be thankful just to be able to go.  I picked up a few treasures at the antique mall:

Isn't that pretty?  I love vintage embroidered linens!

A vintage Aunt Martha iron-on embroidery transfer pattern.  I'm always thrilled when I find a vintage pattern that I don't have in my extensive collection!!! 

I'm trying to decide if I should use that doily or cut it up for my crazy quilts.  I'm leaning towards using it on my dresser.

I bought these for my crazies.  Perfect cutters!

I have a weakness for these beautiful crocheted doilies with the pansies on them.  I have a few that mom made for me and a few that I've picked up over the years in my treasure travels.  The pansies are very pastel on this one.  So pretty!

The beads came from Galena Beads.  One of my favorite stores in Galena!  They were buy 1/get 1 so I was able to get a lot for my money!

So that's what I bought in Galena!  Money was tight but that's ok.  We were just happy to be there.

In other news, I added a few new things to the shop.  First, check out Kathi's new hand-felted pumpkin patch:

Isn't that precious?!!!  It's an original creation and all hand felted.  Those pumpkins are absolutely adorable!

Then I added one of my "trash to treasure" projects:

This was a junky old metal wall pocket that I picked up at the junk store.  Cute but kind of ugly.  Not anymore!  I filled the pocket with a pumpkin, berries and harvest flowers.  The crow sits atop the pumpkin.  Very soft and shabby chic!  Both are available here.

Yesterday, I started playing with some Autumn cuff bracelets.  Quite different from Debi's tutorial.  I'll have photos soon.  These are fun!  Unique techniques!!!

I'm also working on my next Creatively Coping with Depression article.  This one is taking me awhile but it's quite extensive and rather difficult for me to write.  I'll have it ready soon.

For now, have a great day everyone!

Happy Pink Saturday! Pink Lemonade Lady!!!!

Happy Pink Saturday everyone!  I pushed myself just a twinge to get this completed in time for this week's Pink Saturday presentation.  I cannot tell you how much I love this crazy quilt piece!

This sweet little lady is drinking lemonade and surrounded by pink roses worked in silk ribbon embroidery!  I actually bought the frame first, in a resale shop so this is a trash to treasure project!!!  I worked the crazy quilt block to go with the frame.

It's entirely embroidered and beaded by hand.  I added some vintage millinery flowers to the bottom corner of the frame for just a touch of vintage charm!

As much as I hate to part with it, I just know that there's someone who will absolutely love to have it so I've added it to my Etsy shop.

So that's my Pink Saturday post for today everyone!  I'd like to say a special thank you to our gracious host Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for allowing me to participate in Pink Saturday.  Please stop by her blog for a visit and while you're there, check out some of the other lovely Pink Saturday Bloggers!

Also, my drawing for this pretty little Sewing Art Quilt continues:

I'm so eager to find out who the winner is!!!  To learn more about how to enter, please click here!  Help me reach my 300 Followers!!!  I have another lovely prize all ready to go for my next drawing!!!

Finally, tomorrow (Sunday) is the 15th of the month!  That means I have a new Guest Blogger to introduce you too.  You're all in for a real treat so please stop by again to meet her.  She's a sweet angel and has loads of eye candy to share with you!

Have a great Pink Saturday everyone!

Patriotic Home Decor

Just some photos for today everyone.  I'm quite tired now and still have to cook some chicken (cook is a dirty word!) and clean my bathroom.  These are our 4th of July home decor do-dads:













All are now available here.

Tomorrow we have flea market to go to.  Scott & I will pick mom up and head up there.  Keep your fingers crossed that I we find some great do-dads!

Trash To Treasure - Repurposed Junk

I really have to start taking photos before I start a "trash to treasure" project.  There is just a huge difference between what I start with and what I end up with.

As my long time readers know, I love flea markets.  I also love junk stores, garage sales and resale shops.  One never knows what little treasure might be hiding in the shadows waiting for me to come along and re-purpose it!

This was the most ugly tealight holder I've ever seen.  But I saw potential!  Note to self:  MUST REMEMBER TO TAKE PHOTOS BEFOREHAND!!!



Just look at my little Cottage Teapot now!  I painted it pink, added flowers and glitter and now it would be the prettiest little centerpiece in a cottage style kitchen!

Here's another of my re-purposed objects:



Again, this was ugly as sin!  It was a music box but the music didn't work.  The cage was wood & broken and the bird was red, black and white.  Not anymore.  My Cottage Birdcage is now white, the bird is pink, white and blue and I've adorned it with flowers & glitter.  It's like night and day!

Friday is garage sale day and Sunday is a huge flea market so I expect to find something that I can alter from junk to pretty!

In other news, mom & I have started on some July 4th things.  These are mom's little USA Heart Ornaments:



Aren't they sweet? I love the 4th of July!  I'll be at mom's tomorrow and Friday and hopefully will finish up on a few of the patriotic do-dads that I started on.

In the meantime, I've been working on my "Spring Song" Mixed Media Art Quilt:



I'll be adding a little nest with eggs to the bottom right-hand corner.  It will also get just a twinge of glitter.  I have one more sewn up to stitch on and I plan to sew up a few more next week.  I will be writing some tutorials on doing Mixed Media Art Quilts.  How to layer fabrics, how to embellish and what you can embellish with (just about anything) and so on.  It's really not all that different from Crazy Quilting.  Just no seams to cover.  Anyway be sure to stop back for those articles.

Let's see, what else did I do today?  Oh, galletas pour mi padre!  Sorry, just practicing the little bit of Spanish that I know.  I made some Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies for my dad:



You can find the recipe here if you would like to try them.

Before I head out for the day, please drop me an email if you would like to be added to my mailing list for our upcoming Kitty & Me Designs newsletter.  I'll add you to the list right away and send you a coupon for free shipping.

That's for today everyone!  Have a great evening!

Little Things

What is it about "little things" that we women just love?  Beads & buttons, bits of lace & trim, cookies & cupcakes and anything that sparkles.  We love them, we gather them and we hunt them down!

Several years ago, Scott went to a wedding.  I couldn't go because our windows were being replaced that weekend.  Anyway, a poem was recited at the wedding and Scott asked for a copy because it reminded him of me and all the little things that I love.

LITTLE THINGS

It's the little things

that let you know

Not the words or fancy show

It's the little things

Lovers do

That say so much

With words so few.

A gesture of warmth

A moment of care

The little things 

Lovers share

An intimate glance

Encompassing two

The way you touch me

The way I touch you.

The smiling eyes

That trust and know

These little things

Set hearts aglow.

Watch for them

Look for them

With Open heart greet

The gestures of Love

That flavor life sweet!

So if seeds of Love

You want to sew

Start with the little things

And watch them grow!

I was so taken with this poem.  Not because of the poem itself, but because it made my husband think of me.  It's just one of those little things.  I guess I'm sort of funny that way.  I get all excited when he brings home a piece of bubble wrap or a couple of small boxes for me for shipping.  It's not what he does, it's the thought.

I really love little things.  Tiny seashells, old keys, kittens and puppies, flowers and even certain bugs.  Nothing that bites or stings!  I even like spiders.  I'm fascinated with them!  I don't want them on me, but I like to look at them.

As as you know, I like to make little things.  After doing those last 3 crazy quilt ornaments, I decided to sew up a few blocks to make more.  Here is the next one I'll be stitching on:

When I finish up here on the computer, I'm going to relax and stitch on this and watch me some Food Channel!

Here's another little thing I loved making:

My little "Altered Art Cherub".  I saw this in the thrift store uptown and it reminded me of a friend of mine.  Someone whom I haven't sent anything to in quite awhile.  I like to send out little surprise gifts or cards now and then.  People will always remember how you made them feel.  I like to make people feel special.

Anyway, this little angel was all white.  As you can see, I painted him, set him up in a small wire basket (also from the thrift store) and created a garden around him.  Of course I added glitter.

I so enjoy taking little odds & ends of what most people would call "junk" and turning it into a lovely treasure.

Here is another of my "trash to treasure" pieces:

This was a tea-light holder.  Another thrift shop find.  Now it's Two Doves On A Birdbath.  It was white so again, I painted it and added a glass lid from a perfume bottle.  Then I grew the garden!

Another little thing I like to play with is paper.  I made these 5 little Violet Gift Tags at mom's the other day:

I had some tiny little vintage greeting cards with violets on them.  I thought they would be nice for Spring birthdays!

Mom likes to make little things too.  Here is her latest Mother's Day Tussy Mussy:

Just look at those sweet little kitties!

Well, I'm off to stitch.  At least until the dryer shuts off.  Speaking of little things, my husband just ran uptown for a car part.  He stopped at McDonald's and bought me a small fry.  Love those little things!