Remember When?

Do you remember back when a photographer would go door to door offering to take pictures of a child on a pony? My Mom has the cutest picture of her taken in the early 40's on one of those ponies. I've always loved that picture of her. Hmmm... she better watchout, cause it may just end up at my house one of these days... hehe

For the last 3 years Sydney has had her picture taken on a pony too. Our preschool arranges for ponies to come to the school for rides and pictures. The kids really love it!

Here is Sydney posing with Simba the pony.

If you ask her what her favorite part about the ponies are, she'll tell you how funny they are when they scratch their fannies on the chainlink fence. It doesn't take much to amuse a 5 year old. :o)
It's been fun having these pictures taken for the last 3 years. It's blows me away how much she's changed in that time. My babe is growing up so fast...

Friday Finds

I had way to much on my "to do list" Friday so, I really shouldn't have looked on Craigslist to see if there were any estate sales happening.

Well... I looked... and I found one that sounded so good, I just couldn't pass it up! I made a call to my Mom to see if the girls could come and hang out with her for a bit. Thankfully, she was available. It was so nice to be able to focus on treasure hunting all by myself.

This was one of those sales that is so fun! The home was packed and everything was in beautiful condition. I spent a couple hours gathering up some wonderful things I love.

You wouldn't believe the amount of aprons this lady had. I'm sure there were well over 100 and all types too. I found 4 that I couldn't pass up. Two of them have Hardanger embroidery on the bottom which is so exquisite!

There were so many beautiful linens all with some type of handwork on them. I bought a few handtowels and pot holders. Some of the other things I found were: an old yellow hat box, hankies, vintage nut cups, pink floral hat, German berry bowl, Dresden lace figurine, old piano music books, lots of metal flower frogs, glass bottles, vintage pink gloves, tablerunner, and old hose sprayers.

This pink hat is packed with fantastic old millinery flowers. The big rose on the front is the best!
Here is a close-up of the figurine. I just love her! It's really hard to find these without broken lace.

Some of the metal frogs I got are very little, only measuring 5/8". I haven't seen any this small before. They are so perfect for holding things like this very small rose card.

Even though, I'm still trying to catch up on the projects I didn't get to on Friday, I'm glad I went to the sale!

Changing Mood...

On Friday, I picked up a few neat new things at an excellent estate sale (I'll do a post showing my finds soon). Anyways, a couple things I bought got me thinking about a few new ideas that I want to do to change our "couch room" a little. The couch room is one bedroom in our house that we left as a little TV/playroom for the girls.

So, today for my first project, I had hubby cut and miter the corners of some scrap wood.

I glued and nailed the pieces together to make 14" square frames, which I'll cover with vintage tablecloths to look like an unframed painting on a canvas.
I cut the fabric in 16" squares and stapled it around the frames.

I made a total of 9 squares to hang on the wall. I wanted the design to have a patchwork quilt look to it, and here it is...

One project for the room down, a few more to go. I'll keep you posted.

Lemon Torte Dessert

We had another bridal shower at our church this week and it was my turn to do dessert.

This recipe is a long time favorite of our family. It's probably the most requested dessert when we have get togethers.

Here's how you make it......

Crust: Mix as for pie crust 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 1/2 cubes butter, 1 1/2 Cups flour. Pat into the bottom of a 9X13 pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

In a double boiler cook until thick, 6 egg yolks, 3/4 Cup sugar, 1/4 Cup lemon juice. Add 1 package unflavored gelatin that has been soaked in 2/3 Cup water to the cooked mixture.

Beat 6 egg whites, 3/4 Cup sugar, 1/8 tsp salt until stiff.

When cooked mixture is slightly cool, fold in the stiff egg white mixture.

Pour over crust and refrigerate overnight.

Before serving, spread sweetened whipped cream over the entire dessert.

Cut into squares and enjoy!

It's a very refreshing light and airy dessert. Great for a luncheon or tea party!

The Pawsh Poodle Boutique Giveaway

Let me tell ya, I was so excited to win yet another giveaway!

I really never win anything, so to win 2 times in one month, I was so thrilled!

Sheri from The Pawsh Poodle Boutique just opened her online store and had a grand opening giveaway. Here are the gorgeous packages I received in the mail yesterday. Everything was wrapped beautifully!

I had so much fun opening each individual package - look at all the fabulous gifts!
I took a few pictures showing where the new goodies are now around my home. Sheri put together this ultra sweet pair of vintage gloves tied together with the coolest vintage tulle with velvet polkadots and a beautiful rhinestone button in the center of the rose. I just love them!

I love old cabinet photos. I think I need to start collecting more of these... hmmm

Sheri has a poodle named Sophee-a who is so very cute, so she sent me this charming poodle figurine. Isn't this the sweetest!

I've been wanting some faux treats. I love these faux sugar cubes with the pink roses.

I also got a metal flower frog which I love to collect, and some wonderful goat milk soap. Sheri spoiled me so much. Thank you Sheri!!! If you haven't checked out The Pawsh Poodle Boutique, I recommend you stop by. Sheri has some fantastic things!

Sunday Show & Tell - Bling

Today's show and tell hosted by Cerri (Little Pink Studio) is all about bling!

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I love vintage costume jewelry - always have. My Mom had a gift box filled with jewelry that I loved get into and play with when I was very little. My favorite thing was to pick off all the fancy stones! Now, I (and my mom) cringe at the thought of what I did, and all the beautiful pieces I ruined. ugh!

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Shoe jewelry - I just love the art deco style of this clip.

This pair of earrings is probably my most favorite because they belonged to my Grandma. I loved to wear them with a floral dress I had in the late eighties that they matched perfectly.
I bought this rhinestone necklace and earring set at an antique store when I was about twelve years old. I even wore the necklace to school when I was in Jr. High. That was way back then, when Madonna burst onto the scene and was wearing all kinds of rhinestone jewelry. Gosh, I was so hip. hehehe
Love this thin style jewelry box lined with pink velvet. It's from my Grandma too!

The majority of my sparkly jewelry is single earrings. One thing I do, is repurpose the pieces into new pins or buttons for handbags.

I adore pink anything, and this pin is no exception. I snagged it out of my Mom's jewelry box. And look, no missing stones! Thankfully my little fingers missed this one...

More sparkle!

Oh, and I couldn't resist sharing some of my rhinestone clocks too.

Thanks Cerri for hosting today! Please be sure to stop by Little Pink Studio for the link list of all the other participants!

I'm off to get my shades on. I need to protect my eyes from all the bling I'm about to see!

Have fun!

More Crazy Spring Snow...

I think the calendar says April... but you wouldn't know it with this crazy weather we're having. Enough already!

I am so ready to see leaves on the trees and flowers blooming...

Last Saturday Seattle set a record high of 79 degrees, it was heavenly. The girls wanted so bad to get their little pool out of storage. That evening we had a fire in our pit, we thought Spring had arrived! Now, fast forward one week and this it what our front yard looks like.
Daphne thinks the snow is so cool - she's jumping for joy!

We ended up with about 3 inches of very heavy snow. Sweet hubby went out and shook the snow out of some of our smaller trees - I was afraid the heavy snow would break their branches. Thankfully, no broken branches this morning.

We are hoping for some sunshine soon...

What's In My Jar Today...

Yesterday, Suzanne (Pink Roses) blogged about being stumped as to what to put in her apothecary jar at this time of year. Just like her, I recently have taken down my Easter decorations, and didn't know what to put in my jar either. I even thought I'd just store it away because I had no ideas. Well, I finally came up with something as I was rearranging today...

how about my mom's wedding bouquet from 1961.
I've had it sitting out lately, but now, it'll be protected a whole lot better!

Time To Put Away Some New Old Stuff...

Here are some treasures that have been accumulating on our dining room table for the last month or so. I've found a few fun things while thrifting and estate sale shopping recently so I thought I'd let you see what I bought before I put it away...

Last Friday, I saw an ad on Craigslist advertising an estate sale starting at 4 p.m. that evening. Since it was an unusual time, I thought I go check it out and boy, I'm so glad I did. The sale was run by an agency, but their prices were amazingly inexpensive. I love that! I picked up this pretty Austrian tea set. Can't wait to use it and have a tea party with the girls! I bought the large feather down pillow for the old barkcloth fabric cover.
Here's a random list of the other stuff in the pictures all from thrift stores and estate sales: valentines from the 60's, 2 postcards dated 1910, a couple dolls (one is a NancyAnn Little Red Riding Hood), vintage pearl necklace, old clip on earrings, pink childs hangers, old pink doll cradle, buttons, misc. fabrics, bridal hat w/ veil, vintage jewelry box, vintage ducks and a chick, childs A&W rootbeer mug...
vintage barkcloth sewing bag, old powder jar with enameled rose, cute candy tin with roses, antique cobbler shoe form and stand, Iowa State souvenir figurine, ladies gloves, vintage hanky, rhinestone pin, and a very old lamp with shade.
I still need to do some research on the lamp. It really is the coolest thing ever! The shade is so unbelievably fragile. I absolutely love the pleats and velvet ribbon edge. The whole thing is so charming, I love how it's aging...

It's nice to have the dining room table cleared off again - at least for a little bit anyways... It's crazy how piles of stuff seem to emerge and grow so quickly on it! :o)

Sunday Show & Tell - Hankies

Wow, it's Sunday again and time for another show & tell!

The challenge this week is *hankies*.

A huge thank you goes to Analise (Sugar*Sugar) and Cerri (Little Pink Studio) for taking turns with the hosting duties.

This week Analise is the hostess. Be sure you check out her blog and visit all the participants she has linked.

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I've been gathering vintage hankies for quite some time because someday I'd like to make a vintage hanky quilt.

I will usually buy hankies (if inexpensive) whenever I find them at garage sales, estate sales, or thrift stores. I don't like to spend more then a couple dollars for each one. Florals are by far my favorite, especially with roses of course!

Right now, my hankies are stored in a big ugly shipping box since that's where they end up when I bring them home.

Today, I went to the "ugly box" and grabbed out a few handfuls to press for show & tell.

Here is a little taste of what I have...

Besides floral, I love monogramed hankies too, so I don't like to pass them up either. Someday, I would like to have Merry Christmas spelled out with monogramed hankies displayed across our mantel at Christmas time...
Any hanky with a crocheted edge, tatting, or some type of embroidery will come home with me too. I appreciate the beautiful handwork that someone has taken the time to do.
Love scalloped edges - so very sweet!

These hankies - future projects...

One thing I make with vintage hankies are flowers. Here I've added some to the top of a sachet. They also make darling pins attached to handbags.

I made this patchwork style handbag with vintage hankies last fall.

I just realized I forgot to upload pictures of the gorgeous bridal hankies I have.

Oh well... I'll have to save them for another time.

Have a great day, and enjoy all the beautiful hankies out there!

I Won!

A couple weeks ago I participated in Karla & Beth's Bling Your Birdhouse Party.

It was a lot of fun! I enjoy these parties a lot! It's such a great way to find and meet other bloggers that you might not have come across otherwise.

Some ladies that day, held drawings and gave away birdhouses they had made for the party.

Sonya from Love of Yellow Roses had a giveaway and I was a winner! She made this charming birdhouse and was so gracious to gift it to me.

I absolutely love it! Pink and green my favorite colors, a pink rose, glitter, the sweet birdie, it couldn't be more perfect!

Plus, look at this sweet tag she made too! I have an inspiration board that I need to hang, and I can't wait to add this tag to it. Thanks so much Sonya!