Some Christmas Crafting Eye Candy

Each year, I make a few wreaths to be sold at a local fundraiser.  

My friends Karen and Liz started a performing arts program for kids

 with special needs and the "Festival of Wreaths" is their main fundraiser.  

It's a wonderful organization and a fun event.  

Plus, how can I resist an excuse to run to the craft store, heat up

 my glue gun and put off addressing Christmas cards for one more day? 

 I love how this lollipop and gumdrops wreath turned out.  

A lady bought it for her kitchen.  

The anal retentive crafter at work...

I'm not good at casually throwing something together and making it look fabulous.  

A woman did fall in love with this one and is mailing it to relatives in Alaska.

My favorite.  

Some cookie cutters, felt blanket stitched cookie ornaments and polka dots. 

 I make this one every year and it is a crowd pleaser.

Linking with:

Debbiedoo's

Christmas Cuteness!

A routine trip to the thrift shop can often turn emotional for me 

when I come across something handmade.  

Why did someone's creative efforts end up in a 

discard pile headed to the thrift shop?

Was it an unwanted gift from long ago?

Was someone cleaning out a dear relative's stash and making

 the hard decisions as to what to keep and what to let go?

  This little pillow was just such a find.

  It stopped me in my tracks.

  And then I grabbed it, of course.

  I couldn't resist such cuteness and the 

           chance to preserve this little handmade gem.    

Linking with: Debbiedoos 

Mockingbird Hill Cottage      

15% off in my Etsy shop!

~Happy Shopping~

Enter code BLACKFRIDAY or CYBERMONDAY 

for 15% off anything in my Etsy shop.

I'm sure there is someone on your list 

who would like something vintage...

Boston Terrier Doorstop

Or vintage inspired...

Vintage Inspired Playtime Aprons

 Happy Holidays!

Time to list it...

I have been selling my vintage finds on Etsy for over a year now.  With each item I list, I hear the usual voice in my head tempting me to "keep it, keep it, keep it" right up until I finish editing the listing and push the publish button.  I recently listed this pair of wooden newel post caps.  For once,  there was no voice in my head tempting me to keep them.  Don't get me wrong, the detail is hard to resist and I had already displayed them on my bookshelf.  But, I did hear a tiny voice, the tiny voice of my 6 year old telling her brother to "look at the wooden boobies", and I knew it was time for them to go.

Linking with:

Apron Thrift Girl

Thrifty Love at Cap Creations

Coastal Charm

Common Ground

Junkin Joe at the Cottage Market

Field Trip~Leesburg, VA

Each year, my aunt stops at our house for a visit on her drive down from Vermont to Virginia to see family.  This year, I decided to leave the kids with my husband for a few days and hitch a ride with her.  How could I resist the chance to spend a day antiquing in Leesburg, Virginia?  I had a list of shops I was dying to check out thanks to some of the inspiring blogs I follow.  My friend,  Mary Alice of the beautiful blog Chateau Chic also gave me a list of shops to visit in her hometown. 

photo credit: Such Pretty Things

My first stop was The Old Lucketts Store.  Just inside the front door, I was treated to a real life encounter with the dealer space I admire each day on the inspiring blog Miss Mustard Seed.  Marian is one of the many dealers at Lucketts and I was thrilled to see her finds (and Milk Paint) in person.  It was surreal to be in the space that I look at online each day as I drink my morning coffee.  I love Marian's can do attitude and her eye for decorating.  If she was a rock star, I would have to admit to being one of her groupie's.  If I had run into her, I'm sure I would have acted like a silly star-struck kid! 

I checked out all the vendors in the building and couldn't resist this bowl and linen runner.  The bowl is very weathered, but the blue goes perfectly in my living room

 and is a tricky color to find.

photo credit: On A Whim

Next I headed to On A Whim right down the road.  Hard to miss.  The shop looks just like photos I have seen posted by blogger friends.  Such fun finds in this shop.  All so well displayed and reasonably priced.  I found a few things...

My house has a large entryway with a brick fireplace and I am always on the hunt for black accessories for the mantel.  These black onyx candle holders are perfect.

And this guy was begging me to take him home.  Not an old find, but fit right in with the vintage vibe of the shop.  A perfect birthday gift for my friend who is an Anthropologie fan.  The rest of my day was spent in downtown Leesburg touring a handful of antique shops and grabbing a yummy lunch.  Definitely worth the trip and, thanks to blogland,

 I didn't miss a thing.

Good Enough to Eat...

Is it any wonder these wooden rings caught my attention at a recent estate sale.  

Amazing colors.  As bright and tempting as a roll of lifesavers.

And just as irresistible all stacked up on their wooden base.

At just under 5" tall, this little vintage stacking toy had me at hello!

Linking with:

Apron Thrift Girl

Coastal Charm

The Real Deal

We were in Massachusetts over the weekend enjoying an early taste of fall.  We went exploring and found this amazing pumpkin parked downtown in front of a row of shops.  Needless to say, it caught the attention of everyone that was passing by.  

Hard to believe, but it is made of styrofoam.

We found the real deal later in the day and decided that

 the best things do often come in small packages.

Patience is a Virtue...

Patience is not only a virtue, but can be quite valuable when thrifting. 

 Last week I was short on time (and patience to be honest) when I saw this cute pitcher at my local thrift shop.  I had to pass it up.  I couldn't face the long checkout line. 

Fast forward one week and I am back at the thrift shop.  It is 10am. 

 I have not learned my lesson to avoid the morning hours.  There is good news, the little cottage ware pitcher is still waiting for me.  There is bad news, so is the long line at the checkout.  Isn't it strange how somedays you can deal and some days you can't?  Today I can deal and decide to wait in line...patiently.  The lady in front of me was in no hurry.  After she paid, she continued to ask to see things in the display case behind the register.  Her daughter, who had driven her, was so frustrated that she went to wait for her in the car.  The rest of us would have to wait it out.  I decided to check out the items in the case.

This little corn pitcher caught my eye.

And this cute teapot. 

 I had time to kill, so used the Etsy app on my iphone to do a little search. 

 What a great find.  Two pieces of Shawnee king corn pottery for $9.

Patience, when thrifting, can really pay off!

Linking with:

Apron Thrift Girl

Coastal Charm

Common Ground

Win One of my Laundry Day Aprons

Click on over to Cathy's adorable blog Cap Creations, 

and enter to win one of my child's laundry day aprons.

Giveaway Link.

I first met Kathy through her Thrifty Love link party and have joined in to celebrate her reaching 1,000 followers.  She is hosting a week of giveaways with multiple entries available on each item. 

 Cathy also has an adorable Etsy shop featuring hand stamped custom

 jewelry and vintage lovelies. 

Speaking of shops, I also gave Cathy a 10% off coupon code for my

  Etsy shop to share with her readers.  So, check it out!

Truly Local Honey

This Summer I shared a few photos of my favorite farm stand right down the road from where we vacationed in Massachusetts.  Beyond the yummy tomatoes and sweet corn, what captured my heart was the fact that it was an honor stand.  Such a good old fashioned treat to visit each day while on vacation.  We found a handful of honor stands while vacationing this summer and they all charmed me.

But, I must admit, I have a new favorite.  It is this adorable honor stand my husband and son built a few weeks ago to sell their homegrown honey.  They have brought a little of that old fashioned charm we enjoyed so much this summer, back to New Jersey.  Lemonade stands are a common sight on our street, but a honey stand is not something you usually come across in a residential neighborhood!

The neighbors have enjoyed watching our bees this past year 

and have all been anxious to get a taste.

They are my son's best customers.

And I will say, everyone has been "honorable" so far.  Everytime 

a jar or two disappears, my son finds money in the cigar box.  

Needless to say, everyone is quite charmed by his little honor stand. 

  

Every day is Christmas....

As I was sneaking my newest find into the house last weekend, my 6 year old daughter saw me and asked "Is that for me?"  It was a scene right out of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  I felt like the Grinch, stuffing presents and the Christmas tree up the chimney, caught red-handed by sweet little Cindy Lou Hoo.  My daughter asked a pretty simple question, 

but I didn't have a simple answer.

How do I explain that Mommy likes doll cribs just as much

 (and maybe even more) than a 6 year old?

and that Mommy likes little high chairs...

and little rocking chairs...

and little step stools that I am way to big to use...

I have yet to think of a simple answer.  So, the answer is always "yes, it's for both of us to share" as I hand my newest find over to my daughter and her dolls and patiently wait my turn.  I guess everyday is Christmas when your mom has a passion for vintage.

Linking with:

Caps Creations

Apron Thrift Girl

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

Potpourri Friday 2805

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Imparting Grace

Common Ground

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Junkin Joe at The Cottage Market

Miss Mustard Seed

    

Tiny Treasures

I had to pass on a local estate sale this weekend because the line was way too long and I was short on time.  Luckily, the thrift shop I peeked in on the way home had this group of tiny treasures was just waiting for me.  It has been many years 

since I last bought a piece of doll house furniture.

But, I just love white porcelain pitchers and wash basins.

So fun to have found a "mini me" version of one of my favorites.  It may be time to pull out my old dollhouse and give it a vintage decorating makeover.  I will keep you posted.....

Linking with: Miss Mustard Seed

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Thrifty Love at Caps Creations

The Cottage Market

1,000 Wishes

Our oldest daughter turned 16 this summer.  Born with multiple disabilities and an ever growing list of challenges, she greets every day with a smile and has never asked us for anything.  She can't communicate, but we have learned that she is happiest when she is surrounded by family and friends.  Her birthday was a week long celebration of grandparents and friends dropping in to help her celebrate. 

My husband had ordered a box of wish lanterns and we launched them in the evenings whenever we had guests.  Everyone had a chance to make a special wish. 

We are a superstitious group and the adults didn't reveal our wishes, but I'm sure many of them were for Samantha's continued health and happiness.  My 6 year old daughter must have heard the story about the genie in the bottle, because she told us that she wished Samantha could have 1,000 more wishes.  Maybe that is what the rest of us 

were hoping for as well..... 

Linking with:

Rooted in Thyme

Time Travel Thursday

Polka Dot Pretties

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff & Nonsense

Two Yellow Birds Decor

Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence

Grace st Home at Imparting Grace

Potpourri Friday at 2805

 

Looking Forward, Looking Back

We all have a list of things we are looking forward to when September comes.  Perhaps you are looking forward to cooler weather after a hot summer, or a little "me time" once the kids are settled back into their school routine.  But, I also suspect a number of us are looking forward to .... estate sales!!  Am I right?  I found it to be slim pickings during the summer months and I can't wait to go digging through a box of musty old linens or routing through the kitchen cabinets and drawers of a kitchen that has seen better days.  

The few finds I did come across this summer were at local thrift shops.  It is always hit or miss, but every so often something will catch my eye.  A favorite is this vintage Evenflo baby formula pitcher.  I have used Evenflo products over the years, 

but had no idea that the company dates back to the 1920's.

I love the bold red graphics.  

Very similar to my old Pyrex measuring cup.

Looking back, I have to say that Evenflo products got me through the early years of raising my kids.  Back in the 1920's could they have even imagined a future of manufacturing car seats, plastic high chairs, or my oldest daughter's much beloved pacifier?   

It's nice to see a company last for so many generations 

and so fun to have come across this little pitcher.

Linking With:

Coastal Charm

Frugal Treasures Tuesday

The Penny Worthy Project

Thrifty Love at Caps Creations

Simple Summer Fun

While on vacation, we've been enjoying playing board games at night.  Some friends came to visit and introduced us to Bananagrams.  It has quickly become a new family favorite. It is very similar to Scrabble, but without a game board and it moves along quickly.  It's a great after dinner game and my 6 year old has even been using the letter tiles to work on her spelling during the day.  But, I couldn't resist sharing these pictures of our second favorite game this summer-good old fashioned checkers.

We discovered this homemade checkerboard painted on

 the outdoor picnic table and it has kept us busy.

  

So simple and charming.

Linking With:

Kathe with a E

A Taste of Summer....Part 2

I came across another honor stand down the road from our vacation house

 and couldn't resist stopping.  This adorable wagon looks like it has weathered 

quite a few summers selling homegrown flowers and tomatoes! 

A Taste of Summer

It is back to school time for a number of people around the country, but we don't go back until after Labor Day, so I am trying to keep my head firmly planted in vacation mode.  In case you are trying to do the same, I wanted to share a peek at this local farm stand that says to me summer is still in full swing.  This honor stand is about a mile from our vacation home and we visit it daily.  It's old fashioned charm could be on the pages of Country Living magazine and I think that it is rare to find an "honor stand"

 at the end of a driveway these days.

Having lived in New Jersey for the past ten years, I will always support the argument that Jersey tomatoes are the best, but this local Massachusetts corn is tops.  It is super sweet.

And fresh picked flowers just within reach.  This honor stand is one of my fondest summer memories and one of the many reasons I am happy that my summer is still in full swing.

Also linking with: Potpourri Friday