cherished*vintage

Yo-Yo Bracelets

2012-01-19T01:04:00.000-08:00

My love affair with fabric yo yos has been going on, well... since forever!
It started way back.
Even waaayyy before I was lucky enough to receive this vintage beauty.

What I love about yo yos (besides their cuteness) is how versatile they are. One can use them for hundreds of projects! They are the ultimate embellishment.

A few months ago, I created some fun bracelets using yo yos.

They don't require a lot of material to make, so it's a great way to use up some of your scrap fabric.

For mine: I used old barkcloth, a vintage tablecloth, and an old linen napkin.
Each bracelet has five yo yos. I attached each yo yo to a 1" wide ribbon. You can either sew them to the ribbon, or hot glue - your preference. I made sure to form my yo yos into a cuff like shape as I put them together so I didn't get gaps between each one. (Does that make sense?)
For a few bracelets, I cut the ribbon 30" long so a bow could be made to tie around the wrist.
For others, I used a 7" piece of ribbon and sewed on a toggle clasp.
Either way is super cute.
Oh, and I also added old glass buttons to the center of each yo yo.

I truly admire the ladies who made thousands and thousands of yo yos by hand back in the old days, oh, and I'm sure there are some ladies that still do. But... if you're like me and have made just one by hand... you know how awesome any help would be.
So...if you don't have a yo yo maker, ya gotta get one. It's one of the best inventions ever! It'll save you so. much. time. Believe me!

Here's a list of supplies if you want to make your own:

fabric
buttons
ribbon
needle and thread
hot glue
toggle clasp
yo yo maker

Snowmageddon or Snowverreacting?

2012-01-17T14:40:00.000-08:00

We're in the midst of an Arctic blast here in Western Washington. The news people are so funny to listen to. One minute we're going to have the most snow we've seen in 50 years and the next, they say something completely different. I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

We have been enjoying the snow we have gotten so far. Sunday, the girls made a snow bear. And of course she is dressed in pink!

Vintage Valentine Heart Shaped Candy Boxes and Chocolate Tins

2012-01-05T23:27:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
So hard to believe that we've begun another year, but so ready to, too...
Now that Christmas has been put away, it's time to pull out Valentine's Day stuff!
One of my favorites - vintage chocolate boxes.
I especially love any with roses.

Since I only have a few, I decided to make one of my own to display.

Want to make your own vintage inspired heart candy box too?
Here's how I made mine.

1. Reuse a chocolate box.

2. Cover the top. (I used old wall paper)
3. Next, I outlined the edge with a line of glue.
4. Cover the glue with glitter.
5. Martha Stewart glitter is awesome. It's so fine and sparkly!
6. Cover the bottom with more old wall paper.

7. Before I glued the paper to the bottom piece, I removed the inner heart.
8. Glue the inner heart back on the bottom.
9. Cover the rest of the box - sides of top and bottom with coordinating paper.
To finish: embellish the top.
(I used vintage millinery flowers, velvet ribbon, and lace)

I enjoyed making the one box, so I HAD to make another - ha!

Besides heart shaped chocolate boxes, I have a small collection of vintage chocolate tins.
Roses are a must on these too, and boy are they hard to find!

Have you gotten your Valentine decorations out yet?

Linking up to Romantic Homes Show and Tell Friday, here.

A Peek Into My Holiday Home

2011-12-19T23:11:00.000-08:00

I love to tour blogland during the holidays and view all the gorgeous homes. Since I missed the deadline for most of the home tour parties, I thought I'd share quick glimpse inside our home anyways.

My favorite part of our upstairs decor this year... no more ICKY carpet!

Oh, but I do love my collection of vintage tree toppers along the mantel too...

Gift Ideas

2011-12-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Looking for last minute gift ideas?
Have you checked out Pinterest? It's full of inspiration! I spotted these, and knew they would make perfect teacher gifts.
The girls went through my stash of vintage jewelry odds and ends and picked out what they wanted for their teachers bookmark.
Next, they chose some ribbon, I added clamps to each end and attached a few glass beads and the vintage jewelry pieces.
We love how they turned out!

I also whipped up a couple key rings too.
For each, I used two pieces of felted wool, a vintage rhinestone button, and attached the clip with matching ribbon leftover from the book marks.

Such simple ideas, that can be personalized for anyone.

DIY Felt Wreath Ornament

2011-12-13T16:14:00.001-08:00

I needed a craft idea for 9 Girl Scouts who were coming over for a Christmas tea party on Monday afternoon...
...and I didn't have time to shop for supplies.

Thanks to Pinterest, I found this idea at 1:45am Monday morning.
The best part, I had all the supplies on hand - yay!
So, by 2am I was busily cutting lots and lots of 1" squares of felted wool!

The girls and I had fun making ours, so I thought I'd show you how we made 'em.
To begin, I cut a 9" piece of craft wire. Sorry, but I'm not sure what gauge of wire I used. It was firm, but easily bendable too - if that helps.
Make a "U" shape on one end of the wire - this is to prevent the squares from sliding off.

Now, from your stash of 1" squares

begin threading pieces of wool onto your wire.
Since the wire was somewhat firm, it poked through the felt easy enough.

I used approximately 32-35 squares of felt.
When you have the desired amount of felt on the wire, twist the ends together a few times.
Trim the excess ends with wire cutters, and bend the twisted part down flat.

For the loop, I ran a 9" piece of ribbon around the wire and tied the two ends into a knot.
Next, I slid the knot (so it wouldn't show) back towards the wire, and tied another knot close to the wool. If your wreath gets a little wonky, just bend it around to form a nice circle.

I made a bow and attached it with tacky glue to finish.

Cute, huh?

I used scraps from felted wool sweaters for ours, but craft felt might work too.

DIY Vintage Style Reflectors For Your Christmas Tree

2011-12-01T01:38:00.001-08:00

Something I've wanted for my Christmas tree, but never seem to find or win on eBay are vintage reflectors.
Have you ever watched an auction for them?
Wow! It's crazy how expensive they can get!

I spied a bag of sandbakkel tins in my junk drawer the other day that I picked up while thrifting who knows when... and I had an "ah-ha" moment.
Forget sandbakkels, I'm gonna make reflectors!

All I had to do to make them work, was to drill a hole in the bottom of the tin for the light to fit through. I used a 5/16 drill bit which made a perfect sized hole. Easy peasy.

For $1.99, I ended up with 25 reflector replicas. At approximately .08 cents each, I'd say that was pretty reasonable!
The added sparkle? Priceless!

A Little Project Before Christmas Goes Up

2011-11-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

FINALLY! We're getting rid of the carpet in our living and dining room.

I was thrilled my hubby agreed to take this on, between his other projects.

The hardwood looks great so far. Just need to add another trim piece to the base shoe, and we're good.

Hmm, I'm not quite sure that he understands that I want this project completed by Sunday though...

Since we're not hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas is going up early. Hopefully...

Cashmere Ruffle Rose Scarf Giveaway!!

2011-10-25T15:03:00.001-07:00

It's time for a giveaway!
In appreciation of all my fabulous customers, I'll be giving away two of my cashmere scarves.
One in shades of green, and the other in cream.

All you have to do is become a fan and like cherished*vintage on Facebook.

I'll draw and post the two winners on my Facebook page, Halloween night October 31st.

Vintage Spoons Repurposed

2011-10-22T23:20:00.001-07:00

What a weekend! The Ruffles & Rust show was a blast!
I so appreciate YOU - my friends, customers, and fellow vendors who stopped by.
Thank you, thank you!
Now, it's time to unload the trailer... but not much to unload for which I'm thankful.

I had fresh flowers in my space, and took these pictures to show an example of the hand stamped spoons I sold.
Have you seen hand stamped spoons? They've been popular for awhile now.
I love 'em. I think they are so cute tied to a mason jar, stuck in a plant, or attached to a gift.
My intentions were to make a few myself to sell, but I struck out terribly on my own.
My hubby ended up completing ~~the~~ my project.
Ahem he loves that - ha!
I was not good at flattening out the spoons. I tried doing that with a hammer, but it just wasn't working for me. Thankfully, hubby came along and saved the day. He has has a hydraulic metal press and that did the job perfectly.
Next came the hand stamping. Sheesh! That was harder for me to do than I thought, too - ha! I ruined a few spoons because I didn't hit the stamp hard enough.... Oh well, hubby saved the day again. Have I mentioned that he. is. the. best!

I'm already gathering up more silverplated spoons to stamp.
I think they're too great not to have on hand.

Vintage Button Hair Pins

2011-10-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

...packaged and ready for Ruffles & Rust.
Seven more sleeps - whoo hoo!

Dolies! Not A Grandma Thing Anymore

2011-10-12T12:48:00.001-07:00

It's crunch time!
Less than 10 days until Ruffles & Rust - whoa!

I made a few pillows while I was burning the midnight oil last night.
I'm loving the doily pillow. Oh how I'd love to learn how to crochet one day....

....in my spare time - ha!

Felt Flower Pillow

2011-10-08T13:25:00.001-07:00

I spotted a cute pillow on the cover of this magazine, at the grocery store the other day.
Great inspiration. I knew I had to make one of my own!I created my own flowers out of cashmere remnants I had laying around.

I added rhinestone buttons to the centers of the lilies.
You can never have too much sparkle!

Overall, I love how it turned out, but it took awhile to make all the flowers!

Getting Some Halloween Out

2011-10-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

Yay! It's time for Halloween decorations to come out of storage.

I think I enjoy unpacking my Halloween stuff as much as I enjoy having it out, and displayed all month long.

Boats -Vintage Family Cruisers

2011-09-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share a small collection of boat pictures I took over the summer while up at the beach. Aren't they cute?
Cruiser style boats from the 20's to 40's, have always been a favorite of mine. What a dream it would be to own one. I love their lines. I love that they are made out of wood and not fiberglass!
How fun would it be to cruise around the Sound or the San Juan Islands in one of these classics?
And by all means, dressed in your best classic nautical fashions, of course!
It makes me happy to watch these beauties go by.
This original sales brochure of my Dad's, is from the 20's. It is fun to look through, and is a real neat piece of vintage ephemera.

I'll keep dreamin'...

Cashmere Flower Bloom Belt

2011-09-09T10:06:00.001-07:00

Flower bloom belts are quite popular right now, so I decided to make some using my cashmere scraps.
What a cute accessory for a simple dress, or to wear over a cardigan paired with jeans - don't you think?
Ahh...so many options!

Each flower is sewn onto a felt loop that slides over the ribbon. It can easily be removed from the ribbon and added to any other belt too.

Hoping to have more bloom belts completed and available for Ruffles and Rust in October.

Clam Chowder

2011-09-06T21:58:00.001-07:00

One of the perks of summer beach living on Whidbey - digging as many clams as you want.
Two weeks ago, hubby and I dug enough clams to fill a 5 gallon bucket!
A couple days before that, my mom and I did the same.
It's all because I like to have a supply of chopped clams and bottles of nectar in our freezer, so I can make chowder during the winter months.

After we dug the clams, we let them sit for a couple hours in sea water that I added a couple handfuls of cornmeal to. This process causes the clams to spit out most of their sand.
It's very important that you don't let the clams die. If the water gets to warm, you could loose them. The clams need to be alive when you cook 'em.
Here they are all cooked.

It took me about an hour to chop this batch. I ended up with 8 cups of chopped clams and 2 gallons of nectar.
Today, I made enough chowder to serve 50 people. It's my contribution for the meal exchange I do with a group a mom's from our church.
This recipe has been our family's favorite for many years.
My mom purchased it from the Old Fisherman's Grotto restaurant in Monterey, California back in the early 80's.

1 carrot, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 potato, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1/2 pound bacon, minced
1/4 pound butter
3 fresh garlic cloves, minced
16 ounces clam juice
1 1/2 C flour
2 C milk
2 C Heavy whipping cream
2 C half and half
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 pound clam, chopped (fresh, frozen, or canned)

Cook bacon, set aside. Saute vegetables over medium heat until tender. When vegetables are tender, add flour to make a roux. Cook for a couple minutes, allowing flour to cook. Add clam juice and dairy products. Stir by using a wire whip. Add fresh garlic, black pepper, bacon and chopped clams. Cook over low-medium heat stirring occasionally to prevent chowder from scorching. Cook for a couple hours until chowder is brought to desired thickness. A crockpot is recommended. Clam juice can be added to thin chowder down if it gets too thick. Chowder needs to be stirred often, probably about every 10-15 minutes or so, or it will stick to the bottom of the pot.

**I basically use the recipe only as a list for ingredients. I never use the exact measurements. We like more potatoes, bacon, and clam juice in ours.

Bon appetit!

What I've been creating...

2011-09-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

...the last few days.

Come Tie One On - Ruffles and Rust

2011-09-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

It's time to "save the date" for the Ruffles and Rust show.
Friday night, October 21st 5pm - 8pm for first choice shopping
"An Apron Affair" Wear an apron that best represents you, your blog, etc...
$25 entry
Tickets are limited and can be purchased online or at participating stores.
For more info visit Come Junk With Us
or stop by Ruffles and Rust Square in Downtown Snohomish.

Saturday, October 22nd 9am - 4pm
$8 entry
I have discount entry coupons available for Saturday and am happy to send them to you!

Things are crazy busy in the studio right now - all in preparation for the show.
Can't wait to see you there!

Cashmere Scarf Prototype

2011-08-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

I've been playing around with some new scarf styles lately.

I'm excited to present to you, one of my latest designs.

What do you think of the "chain" style?

Making A Statement

2011-08-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

For the last couple days, I've been playing around with my odds & ends stash (in all its sparkly glory) of vintage costume jewelry.
My sewing machine is on the fritz, so making jewelry has been a nice break.
I've noticed a trend for big bold statement jewelry, so that's the look I went for with these collage style necklaces.

Each statement piece is created with an array of vintage earrings, pins, necklaces, and some old buttons too.

"Statement" is the key word here. These pieces are supposed to stand out rather than just blend with your outfit.

Bright colors and chunky pieces, are what's HOT!

The more sparkle and flash, the better!

My one-of-a-kind pieces were designed to be remembered, and to make you feel more excited about your look.

Thanks for stopping by!

Summertime Lemonade Stand

2011-08-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

The girls and their friends ran a successful lemonade/cookie/jewelry stand, today.
So many smiling customers made it so fun for them!
Each girl put in much thought and time over last couple of days, to make it happen.
I'm so proud they stuck with it.
I think they are too!!

S'mores Cookies

2011-08-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

A fun cookie, perfect for summer.
I made these today.
You can find the recipe here.
They're really good!

Dress Form Makeover

2011-08-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

Update!
Thanks so much for all the interest in my scarf pictured on my dress form. It's definitely one of my most pinned pictures on Pinterest.
To answer a couple of the many questions I've received...
Yes, I made the scarf. I have been making and selling my ruffle rose scarves since the fall of 2009.
Sorry, I haven't shared a tutorial because I sell them.
Periodically, I do list a few here, in my Etsy shop.

Yay! I finished a project that's been on my "to do" list for a long time.

I've had this table top vintage dress form for some time now, and its been in desperate need of a makeover. Since it's made from a soft spongy foam material, it didn't paint well. I tried a long time ago. Can you tell? Ha! After painting failed. I decided to decoupage it with old magazine pages and finally took the time to do it, yesterday.

I gathered up a few old Needlecraft magazines from the 30's that were once my Grandmas, and a couple Playbills from the late 40's I picked up antiquing a few years ago.

Mixing 1 part glue and 2 parts water, I made my own decoupage solution.

After ripping pages out of the magazines, I started by painting some glue mixture on the form. Next, I took the pieces of paper, dipped them in the glue mixture until they were saturated, removed the excess (so it didn't get so drippy), and began layering the pieces on the form.

Once I had on a good base layer, I added some ads that I liked and wanted to remain visible. Another layer of glue was brushed on to seal everything together.

Here she is, in all her glory!

So happy that my "to do" list is one project shorter - at least for now anyways....ha!

Wire Hanger Makeover

2011-08-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Want to make your wire coat hangers much prettier?
You can! With a custom slip cover.
Slip covers can make anything more beautiful, even icky wire hangers!
I was inspired to make my own recently, when I saw these on Pinterest.

Here's a step by step on how I made my own covered wire coat hangers.
First, choose your fabric (I used vintage tablecloth scraps) and place your hanger over the part of the fabric which you want to show.

Next, trace* around your hanger making sure to include a seam allowance. I allowed for a 1/2" seam and a little over an inch for the bottom to hang below the wire.
*I always trace around each hanger I cover. Even though wire hangers seem to be the same, they can vary - and by a lot!

Cut out two pieces (front and back) of fabric, along your traced line.

If your piece of fabric isn't hemmed on the bottom edge, now is the time to do that.

I mark (on the wrong side of fabric) where the neck of the hanger will come through. With wrong sides together, sew from that mark to the bottom edge for both sides. Make sure to leave that 1/2" open at top for the hanger to fit through.
Before I turn and press, I clip the seam allowance with pinking shears.

The fun part is adding some embellishments.
I love the scalloped edge on this one!

Adding a button a couple inches from each shoulder makes a cute way to keep a thin strapped dress from sliding off the hanger.
Do you have any old embroidered pillowcases laying around?
They make pretty hanger covers too!

What an improvement to those pesky wire hangers, right?

Reusing Vintage Hankies - A Hanky Pillow

2011-07-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

I love the style of old crazy quilts.
Today I put together a couple pillows loosely based on that style, using some vintage hankies I had laying around.

Generally, crazy quilts are hand embroidered with decorative stitches at each seam.
As you can see, I didn't get that fancy while making these...

Instead, I cut each hanky and laid them out in my desired design, making sure only finished edges were exposed on each piece before I topstitched them to the pillow top.

I used 5-6 different coordinating hankies for each pillow.

I'm so happy these vintage hankies aren't stuffed away in a box any longer. They're to pretty for that!

Vintage Iron Crib Turned Settee

2011-07-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Something that has been on my "want list" for a very, very long time, has been fulfilled!

Back in June, my friend Todd (Bountiful Home and Nursery) posted a picture here, of a vintage iron crib he had for sale in his shop.

I wasted no time hurrying down to Edmonds to snatch it up!
Today, I finished making the mattress cover, ruffle skirt, and pillow covers.

I've always dreamed of having a covered front porch where we could lounge around on warm summer days drinking iced tea, reading, or even taking a snooze on a vintage cast iron crib turned into a settee or daybed.

Well, since there are no covered front porches in my near future, I figured what the heck, we could still use an outdoor daybed anyways. We have a wonderful spot set aside in the garden where it will be nestled under some trees - a perfect place to daydream.

I am always on the lookout for photo and show props, so I think she'll make a great fixture for displaying my ruffle rose pillows too.

Thanks Todd, for posting a picture that day. I'm so happy with my purchase!

Croquet? Bocce Ball? Anyone?

2011-07-26T00:31:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you played Croquet?
It's been so long, I can't remember the last time I had played.
But a few weeks ago, in all its charming, vintage glory, this set was begging to be played - so that's what we did!

Oh my! It's funny how a seemingly gentle sport, can turn into a fiercely competitive game.
Doggone it! I don't think I could have had any better luck hitting the wickets if I tried -hmpf! Somehow, the wickets just kept getting in the way of my ball, and made it impossible for it to pass through - ha! I'm such a poor loser...

Thankfully, at least I didn't come in last again the second game too - ha!

And, how about Bocce Ball?
It's another game we like to play during the summer.

Although it can take some skill and strategy to win, it's such a fun game that anyone can play.

Some of us use the "strong flying method" ...

While others... well, they just don't have a method at all - ha!

No matter what method, or skill. Good times are guaranteed!

Roses and Victorian Funeral Baskets

2011-07-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

I cut most of the roses from our yard, today. Oh my goodness, it's hard for me to do this!

Ahh, but so worth it when I get to bring them inside.

I picked up the tall vintage Victorian funeral basket,
at a great garage sale on Whidbey. Couldn't pass it up, it was too good of a price.
I just love the height of it!
Perfect addition to my collection, wouldn't you say?

Double Bluff Beach

2011-07-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

While up on Whidbey Is. a couple weeks ago, we spent a few hours one morning/afternoon, at Double Bluff Beach. It's a favorite public beach (most beaches are private on the island) for locals and visitors. We lucked out and had pretty decent weather that week, something we haven't had much of this summer...

It's such a beautiful beach. I love how the best of everything "beachy" is here. You get pretty beach grass, wild roses, perfectly sun bleached driftwood, and soft sand under your toes. Not to mention, the splendid view on a clear day, of the Olympic Mountains to the west!

It was fun to watch the low clouds lift and disappear off the bay, while we were there.

All along the beach, people have built forts, and even created art.
I loved this heart sculpture that someone had made from clam shells and clay from the bluff.

The girls were very excited to climb up the bank and carve their names in the bluff.If you're ever up on Whidbey Island, Double Bluff beach is a must to visit!

Happy 4th Of July, To You!

2011-07-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

Wishing you all, a wonderful holiday, celebrating our country's freedom!
God Bless America

Desirable, Sustainable, and Collectible

2011-07-04T00:11:00.000-07:00

I had a good yard sale(ing) day, Saturday.
We're up on the Island for the 4th, so we headed to some sales (which there are usually more of on holiday weekends) over here.

One of the sweetest old ladies ever, had a marvelous sale going on.
I pretty much spent all my dollars at her sale. I got some cool stuff!
One thing I bought were these old tins.
I love old tins! Aren't they great?

I'm going to add the Colgate, and Vaseline tins to a vignette in our main bathroom. Oh, and the lard tin? It's gonna make a wonderful vase.

Disneyland Memories

2011-07-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

Our 5 day Disneyland adventure was a fun-filled, whirlwind of a vacation.
My cousin, Jennifer met up with us two days. She was the best guide, ever. We rode 6 rides before 11 am one day - thanks Jennifer!

At times, even with our 4 day park hopper tickets, we felt like we'd run out of time to see everything. We ended up closing down Disneyland 3 nights in a row!

A relaxing vacation? Hmm... uh-uh.
But, lots of fun memories were made!
We loved it.

Disneyland Silhouette Studio Souvenir

2011-06-30T00:48:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited to share the best Disneyland souvenir purchase I've ever made - hands down!
I decided to take the time,(since we were at Disneyland for more than one day)to have silhouette's made of the girls.

I love how they turned out!
For $9, you get two mirror imaged silhouettes, and for about $10 more, you can get a frame.

I thought the whole process would take a bit of time, so we went to the studio soon after they opened. Much to my surprise, it took the artist about 1 minute to cut each individual silhouette - totally unbelievable!!

This lady cut each silhouette freehand - no projector, cutting machine, anything! Both girls sat sideways in a chair in front of her. She took one look, began cutting and chatting, and voila', she was done.
Amazing!
If you've never taken the time to get a silhouette done at Disneyland, you just might want to.
It is SO worth it!

Pink Peonies

2011-06-29T23:01:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite flowers.

So happy to find these blooming in our yard, when we came home from Disneyland!

Farm Chicks 2011

2011-06-08T14:42:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning at 6:45am, we were on the road to Spokane headed to Farm Chicks!
By 11:15am, we were in the parking lot of the fairgrounds ready for some shopping.

My parents met us at the gate with our tickets. Even though the line was much shorter this year due to ticket pre-sales, it was still so nice we didn't have to wait at all.

Last year, I was so overwhelmed as soon as I stepped foot into the show. It is so hard to explain the feeling... I guess it's just something you have to experience yourself.
This year was much better. Arriving a little later than the BIG rush made it so much less stressful. We still felt like we were caught up in the frenzy, and that makes it so FUN!

The whole experience is so crazy, really. I told myself I'd take a lot of pictures to share, but I got so caught up in the moment, I completely forgot. I did pull out my camera to get a pic of this Brach's candy shelf. I really, really, loved it!

Here is a picture collage and list of what came home with me:
old wooden ironing board, milkshake glasses, two funeral baskets, 1956 All laundry soap bucket, a handful of old buttons, beaded purse, and two vintage tablecloths.

Old funeral baskets are by far, one of my most favorite things to collect.
The two I bought, fit in perfectly with some others I have on my mantel.

Check out other Farm Chick experiences here.
And, if you haven't been yourself, you must next year!

Farm Chicks Time - Woot! Woot!

2011-06-04T00:14:00.000-07:00

In a few short hours, we'll be shopping at Farm Chicks!
This year, we are taking the girls, and meeting my parents in Spokane.
I'm so happy that my Mom and Dad were able to purchase our entry tickets.
Yay! That means, no waiting in that super long line for us!
Can't wait to see all the fabulousness that is Farm Chicks.
I made the apron for Sydney to wear while shopping at the show. She is so excited to dress-up for shopping.

Hope you all have a terrific weekend. It's supposed to hit close to 80° the next couple days, here in Washington. We haven't had temperatures that warm since Sept. of last year.
We are so due!

Something Fun For Summer

2011-05-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

Looking for a cute accessory for summer?
How about a wristlet. They make great gifts, too!

For an added bonus, each of these wristlets come with a cute removable flower pin!

If you're interested, each are available here.

Yay! Somethin's Blooming

2011-05-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

We have had such a cold and rainy spring.
So, to finally have some color appear in our yard, it's a big deal!

Fresh flowers cut from my garden - oh, that makes me so happy!

It's kinda sorta starting to feel like spring over here in these parts - ha!

Sugared Pecans

2011-05-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

Need a quick and easy gift idea?
How about making some sugared pecans!
It's what we gave our teachers this week, for Teacher Appreciation Day.
My recipe is so simple and quick!
No need to use egg whites like most recipes suggest.

Sugared Pecans

1/3 C sugar
2 Tbsp water
1 C pecans

Combine sugar and water in skillet, stir until sugar is dissolved. Add pecans. Stir continuously over medium high to high heat until sugar turns white and coats the pecans. Cool on waxed paper.

Fill a bag, tie on a ribbon, attach a tag, and you'll have a sweet handmade gift in no time!

Sugared pecans are so tasty in salad, but we like them best, straight out of the bag!

Flower Containers

2011-05-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

These new repurposed flower containers make me happy each time I see them.

I purchased the vintage stamp holder from Karen (my Easter basket swap partner), she finds lots of fun things for her etsy shop. You might want to check it out!

The old chicken feeder and flowers came from my friend Todd. He owns the most charming shop, Bountiful Home & Nursery. He's so great! On a whim, I sent him a message asking if he had an old chicken feeder and voila' - he did!

Little Pink Studio's Easter Basket Swap 2011

2011-04-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Have you ever participated in a swap?
If you have, you know how fun they are. If not, you just gotta.
They're so fun!!
When I heard the word that Cerri (Little Pink Studio) was hosting an Easter Basket swap, I jumped at the chance to join in the fun.
Just look at the pretty basket I received!

I was paired with Karen (Recycled Rita).
I couldn't have had a more perfect partner!
Look at all the fabulousness she sent me!
My basket was overflowing with fun and beautiful things. Can you spot the cute egg cups? The little chick is extra cute!
She sent me lots of fun bits to create with too. I love it all!!
Check out the handmade cuff. It is gorgeous!
Oh, and anything velvet... makes my heart swoon.

Karen was so kind to send along some special treats for Sydney and Daphne too.
They were so excited!

I was spoiled, and I love it! Thanks so much Karen!
*************************************

Here is a peek at what I sent Karen.

So, next time you come across a swap that looks fun. Go for it.
You'll be so happy you did!

Papier Mache' Nests

2011-04-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

This year, the girls and I made nests for our Easter table favors.
It was a fun project to do together, and we think they turned out pretty cute too!

If you're interested in making 'em, here's a little tutorial for you:

1. You'll need a bunch of shredded paper. (We used old book pages)

2. Find a suitable item to use as a form and cover with plastic wrap. (We used vintage jello molds)

3. Mix equal parts of Elmer's glue and water. Now is the time to solicit some workers. You'll love the extra help!

4. Dip paper into the glue mixture until saturated. Remove excess glue (so it doesn't drip too much) before layering on your form.

5. Using a few layers of paper, cover mold completely, leaving no gaps.

6. After your form is covered (and still wet), take a few dry pieces of shredded paper and apply randomly giving it a "nesty" look.

7. Allow to dry (10-12 hours).
When dry, fill with extra paper shred and yummy treats!

A Creamy Neutral Easter Color Palette

2011-04-18T23:57:00.000-07:00

Last night, I got started on my Easter decorating.

I went for a creamy neutral theme this year.

The reason...

I had shredded a bunch of old book pages (for another project), and decided to use some of what I had leftover, for filler in my vignettes.

One thing I made, was this bunny silhouette. I put it together, in less than 5 minutes!

If you want to make one, this is how I made mine: first off, I printed a bunny image on card stock, then I cut it out, glued it to a page from a hymnal, and put it in an old frame - voila' instant art!

I tried to keep my decorations to a minimum - which is hard for me, 'cause I love lots of stuff!

Oh, I guess I did sneak in a wee bit of color, afterall...

Vintage Hats Make Cute Easter Baskets

2011-04-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

Need a different idea for an Easter basket?

While antiquing in Portland, I found two vintage hats which I thought would make great Easter baskets. So that's what I created today.

I made a simple handle with wire that I covered with seam binding,

and added vintage millinery flowers 'cause they make everything prettier.

A cute repurpose, don't cha think?

Vintage Inspired Easter Bunny Treat Bucket

2011-04-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

The other day, I made a few of these buckets.

Thought I'd share how I made them, in case you wanted to make one or four yourself. Ha!

I started with a 4" peat pot, and cut off the top rim.

Next, I needed a base for the ears, so I broke a Popsicle stick in half and hot glued the two pieces to the pot. After mixing up Fast Mache' according to the directions, I began covering the outside of the entire piece.

Once the outside of the pot was covered, I let it dry in the oven for an hour or so. When the outside was fairly dry, I covered the inside with Fast Mache', and let the whole piece completely dry in the oven.

I drilled two holes in the sides for a handle.

Base paint was next - I used pink.

After the pink paint dried, I used white for the top coat. I didn't cover the pink perfectly, because I wanted some pink to show under the white.

I then drew on the design of his face before I painted it.

To finish, I added a wire handle wrapped in tinsel, a crepe paper flower, and bow.

Tah -dah!

Easter Bunnies

2011-04-07T00:34:00.000-07:00

Bunnies have been multiplying around here - just in time for Easter!

I have recently listed each of these cuties, in my etsy shop.

Old Chocolate Tin

2011-04-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, hubby and I went on our annual trip to Portland, with my folks. We had such a great time shopping, and dining without kids - I could never tire of this getaway! I bought a couple souvenirs while down there. Thought I'd share my first treasure with you. The roses had me at first sight!

Hope you all are having a great week! The girls are on spring vacation this week, and loving sleeping in - me too!

Cashmere Flower Pins

2011-03-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

I made a few of my flower pins, yesterday. Mostly spring colors.

They make great gifts!

Pink

2011-03-29T00:13:00.000-07:00

Within this past month, my aunt has been diagnosed with breast cancer, had surgery, recovered, and also traveled to Disneyland.

Today is the day, she starts her chemotherapy.

I was told once, by a friend who went through chemo, that she would often get super cold during her treatments. When I found out that my aunt was going to go through chemo, I decided that she needed a snuggly blankie in case she experienced this "getting cold" bit too. Not only is pink the "color" for breast cancer awareness, it's her favorite color too!

With all these new and unexpected changes in her life, she recently shared this in an email:

I feel very much at peace and know that God is in control of my life, whatever he has instore for me. One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." That verse has helped me through a lot and continues to help me now. None of us know what lies ahead of us each day but we know God is in control and with His perfect timing we can have peace in that blessing.

God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

A Day In The Studio

2011-03-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned to create a vintage chenille baby quilt.

While I was putting this blanket together, I was reminded how much I love vintage chenille.
There is nothing like it!

Hopefully, baby Ryder will love to snuggle up in his new quilt.

Studio Reveal!

2011-03-18T00:04:00.000-07:00

It's done! Well, mostly done anyways... I still have a few "little" things to do.
It is so nice to finally have my own space to spread out and work. Yesterday, I completed my first custom order utilizing my new studio - it was so wonderful!

As you can tell, I love color! I chose to mainly use my favorite colors of pink, red, and turquoise.

In one of the cubbie holes, I had my hubby hang pieces of plastic gutters for ribbon storage.
I can't tell you how great this is! It's so nice not having to dig through my previous mess of tangled ribbon.

I love my center island too. The top measures 39 1/4 x 57 1/2 - lots of room to lay out projects.
And, it's the perfect height to stand at while cutting fabric.

This view looks towards the hallway that leads to my fabric room.

This picture shows the entrance into the studio, and the other cubbie where my fabulous (still needs a liner) cart (that will eventually catch dirty laundry from the shoot) sits.

Besides having a nice place to work, I now also, have a great fabric room.
Although, it's not exactly how I wanted everything organized, it works well enough.

I really tried so hard not to use plastic tubs. I just couldn't make it work.
I did however, condense my chenille remnants down to only seven 105 qt, and six 58 qt tubs - yikes!

Having this studio project complete, feels so good!

I'm linking up to these parties today:

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Found Treasures

2011-03-02T16:15:00.001-08:00

Here are a few treasures I picked up at the Ruffles and Rust spring show.
The show was fabulous with lots of cool "junk" to be found!
Don't cha love my new 7-up vase?
I think it's the coolest - repurposing at its best!

Whenever I spot a bucket of buttons. I dig.
I found some beauties for a grand total of $2.

Couldn't pass up the vintage sequin purse.
A perfect addition to my vintage little purse collection.

This little wooden cheese box makes a fun display piece.

I'm always on the lookout for old children's tin watering cans and sand buckets.
I don't have a collection yet (this is only my 2nd piece) but I'm trying - ha!

My most favorite find of the day was an old wicker vase with barbola roses.
Love, love, love.
It was actually gold, and since I'm not a big fan of gold, I fixed that by painting it white. I'm pretty sure it had been white once before since that's what was showing beneath some of the chippy gold.

If you weren't able to make it to the show, you now have a chance to experience a little Ruffles and Rust yourself. Timi, the shows creator, has teamed up with Annie (Annie's on First) fame, and opened Ruffles and Rust Square in Snohomish.
I can't wait to check it out!

Studio Update

2011-03-01T10:18:00.000-08:00

Well... things are moving right along in the studio.
Last week the girls had mid-winter break from school.
We didn't have to go or be anywhere. It was so nice to stay home!
I was able to get most of my fabrics organized into the fabric room, furniture painted (before snow), and just plain organize sewing and crafting supplies.
I even got a few things hung up on the walls!

I'm loving how it's coming together, things are getting put away, and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel - yay!

Old Rhinestone Buttons

2011-02-25T15:22:00.001-08:00

Look what I found! Aren't they gorgeous?
You can't believe how excited I was to pick these beauties up. If you're a button collector, you know how hard it is sometimes, to find unique old rhinestone buttons.

Now, this is my kind of bling!

Have a fabulous weekend!
We'll be waiting for the ice to melt as we're in the middle of a record cold snap. Brrrr

Using What I Had . . .

2011-02-17T23:52:00.000-08:00

. . . might not have been the best idea.
It took me FOREVER to get the rusted lid off this can of paint!
So... maybe keeping paint from 2004 is too long? Ha!

Instead of buying more paint, I always try to be frugal and use up what I have first.

Today's project was to get this hutch and dresser painted pink for its new place, in my studio.

Thankfully, the paint was still usable.
Well... only after I fished out all those rusty flakes that fell into the can when I finally pulled the lid off... that added texture wasn't going to be a good thing - ha!

Oh yeah, I have a question...
When you paint a chest of drawers, do you paint the entire drawer, sides and all? I never do.
Just curious.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T16:49:00.001-08:00

Hope you're having a wonderful day, celebrating those you love.
We've had a great day! The girls both had super fun parties at school, and have been so involved this afternoon with the Valentine's they received from their classmates. It's so nice to see lots of homemade Valentine's in their boxes.
I love that!

Each Valentine's Day, our PTA hosts an appreciation lunch for the teachers and staff at school.
This year, I made a reusable lunch bag from a felted sweater.
I embellished the bag with one of my ruffly flower pins that can be removed and worn on a jacket too.

The staff and teachers really enjoy this special lunch, and it's so fun to be a part of.

** On a side note, isn't the vintage valentine up top, cute?
It was one of many I received from my daddy this year.
The little birdie holding the heart is attached to a spring so it jumps out at ya when you open the card - adorable!
I'll try to take pictures of the others I got. There are so many really cute ones.

2011 Valentine's - Felted Rose Hair Pin

2011-02-13T23:43:00.000-08:00

My girls requested I make my felted flower hair pins for all the little ladies in their respective classrooms for Valentine's Day. . .

. . . and, in red and pink no less.

And the boys . . . well . . . they'll just be getting candy.

Valentine Pom Pom Scarf

2011-02-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

The other night, I made 30 pom poms in Valentine colors.

I strung 15 pom poms together, and ended up with a cute scarf.

A fun and funky accessory for Valentine's Day!

Both my girls are excited to wear theirs on Monday.

Organizing Fabric (Mainly Vintage Chenille)

2011-02-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

Finally the last piece of flooring has been installed and all baseboards nailed down - my studio is complete!
Only problem is, it looks like this...

So...I'm in the process of moving stuff out, so I can move it back in.
I was able to get most of my vintage chenille bedspreads organized in the fabric room before I about sneezed to death. Whoo hoo for Benadryl!

I feel like I've barely made a dent in all this organizing - but at least it's a start!

One Thing Leads To Another

2011-01-28T20:37:00.001-08:00

After reading the title to this post, do you have that 80's song by The Fixx running through your head? If you didn't... you might now that I mentioned it - ha!

So anyways, I was thinking today, how sometimes "one thing really does lead to another".
Take for instance custom orders.
Right before Christmas, I was commissioned to create a couple button bracelets.
At that time, I was so busy with scarf orders that I had to put off the job until after the holidays.

Since I couldn't get right to the bracelets and because my stash of "really good" vintage buttons had dwindled, I suggested to my client that she gather up an assortment of her own personal buttons to use. In the meantime while she was on a button search, she became curious about my scarves, and that lead to this custom one for her.

Which in turn, turned into more scarf orders from her.
One thing truly does, lead to another.

Embellished Baby Onesie's

2011-01-27T23:25:00.000-08:00

Today, I embellished a few onesies for a baby shower gift.

I don't know about you, but I have lots of fabric scraps always ready to be used in a project - and this project was perfect!
Cashmere pieces added such a nice soft texture to a couple of the shirts.

I created a pattern template for each image.
Cut out the image on fabric, and used fusible web to attach it to the shirt.
(I love fusible web because it helps keep the applique in place while topstitching).

This fun and simple project added some cuteness to an otherwise not so exciting set of onesie's.

Today Is National Pie Day

2011-01-23T17:14:00.001-08:00

I couldn't let "National Pie Day" pass without baking a pie.
Pies are definitely one of my most favorite confections to bake, and my family's most favorite to eat!
Hopefully, you will get to celebrate by enjoying a piece of pie today too.

Oreo Truffles

2010-12-30T12:04:00.001-08:00

Have you ever made these?

They're super easy, and really yummy!

Oreo Truffles

1 (16 ounce) package OREO'S
1 (8 ounce) package Cream Cheese, softened
Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Directions:
Crush cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; Add cream cheese; mix until well blended.

Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter. Chill.
Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet.

Decorate as desired.

Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Twenty-Ten Basement Remodel Catch Up

2010-12-29T00:02:00.000-08:00

Most of you know, that since April, we've been in the midst of remodeling our basement.
My hubby has been doing all the work himself, which has been a labor of love.
Each time we thought we had an idea when we might finish this project, another wrench has been thrown in the mix. It has been interesting, to say the least!
Just to recap where we left off in July, my hubby had just finished framing in a wall and putting up sheetrock - here's what it looked like.

In August, he built us a custom bar, tiled the floor behind the bar, added a sink, and put up bead board paneling.

Now, fast forward a few months..... and here is where we're at today!

You might remember awhile back, when I mentioned we purchased a collection of vintage license plates.
Well, now you can see from the above pic what we did with most of 'em!
My hubby reworked our stairs too - I didn't want carpet covering them again.

So he patched them the best he could, painted them black, and used some of the leftover license plates and some other signs on the risers.
The nezperc plate is extra special since it was my hubby's late grandparent's personalized plate.

Here is a view of the other side of the room opposite the new wall.

And this view shows part of the area behind our couches...

It feels good to finally be this far along. We still have a bunch of work to do though. The back bedroom down here that I store all my fabric in, still hasn't been touched. So, that's what's next on the list! My studio area has been painted, new floor installed, so after the back bedroom is finished, I think I'll get to move in - yay!

What I Do In My Spare Time

2010-12-27T22:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all my fabulous customers who keep me busy.

I have been truly blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T21:54:00.000-08:00

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!!

Thought I'd share a couple verses from my favorite Thanksgiving hymn - enjoy.

Come, Ye Thankful People - Henry Alford

Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home:

All is safely gathered in. Ere the winter storm begin;

God, our Maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied:

Come to God's own temple come, Raise the song of harvest home.

Even so, Lord, quickly come To Thy final harvest home;

Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin;

There, forever purified, In Thy presence to abide:

Come, with all Thine angels, come, Raise the glorious harvest home.

Ruffles and Rust 2010 = AMAZING!!

2010-10-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's been awhile since I've posted...
Last weekend was a whirlwind.
My first show ever, and well,....? It was a complete success!
A wonderful time was had by all!

I didn't get a chance to take any pictures myself, so I'm thankful for Elise Marie Photography and Tres Birds Photography. They did an amazing job capturing the show. Be sure to click on their names, to see more photos from the show.
So much eye candy!
Thanks ladies, for all the beautiful pictures of my space.

My flower pins sold out right away. Wish I would have had more ...

The two drawers in this old chest were filled with my scarves.

I sold vintage found goods as well.

My rings made from vintage buttons and old costume jewelry, were a hit!

This pair of vintage dance costumes were a definite conversation piece,

as was my vintage prom dress.
Stella (my manny) quite possibly, might have been the most photographed lady at the ball. Ha!

Timi and her Come Junk With Us posse, rocked!
She promoted and ran the most amazing show. Nothing was spared.
It was an honor to be included.

I also want to thank all my customers for the support.
It means so much to me, I appreciate you all!
Thank you, Thank you!

One Week 'Til Ruffles & Rust

2010-10-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

It's getting close.

Excitement is buzzing all around town!

Check out all of the incredible vendors that will be at Ruffles & Rust October 22 and 23.

A limited number of tickets for Friday night are still available. Information is available here.

Coming to the show on Saturday? Don't forget to print the above coupon for $3's off your entry.

Now, it's back to work for me.

See you soon!

The Most Excellent Chocolate Chip Cookie

2010-10-11T17:44:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for the most excellent chocolate chip cookie recipe, you've come to the right place.

If you want a perfectly crisp outside with a stay soft center, look no further.

Oh, and don't forget the milk.

Karoline's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 Sticks Salted Butter
1/2 C granulated sugar
1 C brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 C flour
1 tsp soda
chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°
Whip butter, stir in both sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Add chocolate chips. Stir in flour and soda. Mix all together. Drop dough by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 min.

Coming Soon - Ruffles & Rust

2010-10-01T10:32:00.001-07:00

Hey Ladies!
It's time to mark your calendars - 'cause this is one show, ya don't want to miss!!
October 22 and 23
Evergreen State Fair Grounds (Display Hall)
Monroe, Washington

I'm busily preparing all sorts of goodies to fill my space.
Hopefully, I can get some sneak peeks posted soon...

The show festivities start Friday night, Oct. 22 for early shopping and a Blogger/Facebook fan ball. Tickets are limited, and on sale for $25.

Check out where you can purchase tickets for Friday's event, here.

For Saturday only, print out this flyer and save $3 off your entry!

Can't wait to see you at the show!

Salty and Sweet Perfection

2010-09-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

When those bags of candy corn hit the shelves, I can't help myself.
I grab a bag, some cocktail peanuts and mix up my favorite snack of the season.

Yay! It's Fall

2010-09-22T22:56:00.001-07:00

This past weekend we headed east of the mountains, to my brother and sister-in-law's cabin. Now, is one of the prettiest times of the year.
The leaves have begun to the change. The mornings are chilly, and the days still warm.

Our main objective, was to do some of this...

...and this...
(The girls never miss a chance to ride on that quad!)

...for this.
Aahh, winter warmth!

Dexter loved hanging out in the woods with us too.

While the boys (and my SIL) cut and loaded firewood, I walked around the property enjoying all of the fall beauty - like this vine maple. Gorgeous!

I don't want you to think I do nothing but play and take pictures, while everyone else sweats. Ha!
My job for the weekend - designated cook. I love feeding the hungry workers!

We're so thankful they share their place (and firewood) with us.
The entire weekend creates good times and great memories - we love it!

Barbola Roses

2010-09-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yay! I finally found something affordable with barbola roses.
What better, then a sweet Victorian funeral basket to add to my collection!
I have been searching years, for something, anything, adorned with barbola that wouldn't break the bank.
Today, I'm loving the basket filled with my end of the season hydrangeas.

Hope you all are having a great week!

The Best Kinds Of Cookbooks

2010-09-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

Reading through cookbooks has gotta be one of my favorite pastimes.
I especially love church cookbooks. I have found so many great recipes within these books - particularly cookies!
Pictured above, are the ones I use often. Most, were ~~taken,~~ passed down from my mom's collection, so a few are from the 70's and 80's.

A while ago, a friend of mine from church brought me boxes and boxes full of cookbooks. She was sorting through her personal collection, and I was lucky enough to get to go through her castaways. I still have a big box of church cookbooks to read - one of these days...

Do You Make Homemade Pickles?

2010-09-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

I made 12 quarts of homemade pickles the other day.

I don't have any experience canning. However, I do know, that the best canned peaches, and cherries I ever had, were canned by my hubby's Grandpa Percy.
Oh, and he could make the best homemade grape jelly in the world!

My mom never canned anything when I was growing up... "why can when you can buy it", she always says. I just shake my head.

Making homemade pickles was easy. I didn't even have to do that hot water bath thing - which was very cool!
I wish I could tell you how fabulous they taste, but I have to wait until Thanksgiving to try 'em.
Hmmmm patience...

A One Woman Sweatshop...

2010-09-02T13:47:00.001-07:00

... and hey that's me! HA!
I've been MIA 'cause I've been busy sewing every spare second I find.

I need lots of merchandise to fill my booth at the Come Junk With Us "Ruffles and Rust" show in October.
I'm so excited to be in the show, but a tad overwhelmed at the same time - it'll be my first show ever! Whoa!

Collecting

2010-08-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's much simpler to buy a collection, then it is to start collecting, right?
The other day, we were pretty excited to find a fabulous collection of vintage license plates on Craigslist. We scored over 75 plates for such a fantastic price! We would have paid at least 3 x's as much if we would have bought them individually.
Can't wait to show you what we'll be doing with them.

The Best Chicken Salad

2010-08-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

Since I had some leftover chicken from the other night, I made my favorite chicken salad this morning. I had to share the recipe, it's that good!
The recipe is from a Longaberger cookbook. I'm not sure which one because I only have this photocopy.

Don't you love the food stains on my copy? A sure sign the recipe is good. Ha!
When I make it, I never measure out the ingredients. I eyeball the portions and wing it.
Enjoy!

Scarves and Bracelets

2010-08-03T15:52:00.001-07:00

I've been working like crazy.
Trying to get things made for my Etsy shop and also for a show I'm doing in October.
Here are a few new things...

Barn Sale on Whidbey

2010-08-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Ray and Jackie hosted their annual barn sale. I try to never to miss this sale because I always find great stuff for great prices!
It's a fun, flea market style, old fashion clear out your barn type sale.

There are usually 6 to 8 vendors.
I forgot to take a picture of the cute barn - I guess I was too busy shopping!
I did take this picture of Jackie's garden, though. Isn't it pretty?

Here is what I came home with...
the old drying rack was my favorite purchase of the day. It'll be put to good use in October - same goes for the rake.

Actually, the hat box is pretty awesome too...

On our way back down to the beach, we stopped at another sale.
There, I found this pretty motto. It's a nice addition to my collection hanging by our front door.

Summertime Estate Sale Finds

2010-07-29T01:24:00.000-07:00

While I was going through pictures on my computer, I came across these I had forgotten about.

Here's a sampling of some fun things I've picked up at estate sales this summer.
Lately, there seems to be a plethora of estate sales around here each week. I've been so tempted to hit each one, but I've shown much restraint - like limiting myself to one or two a month.
Oh boy, is that hard!

10 A.M. Break

2010-07-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

We love to visit daddy and bring treats to his work at break time.
This morning we took doughnuts from FROST.

If you live in the Seattle area, you must visit. The doughnuts are that fantastic!
FROST is located in Mill Creek approx. 20 miles north of Seattle.

Some of our favs - Aztec chocolate, red velvet, salted carmel, and smoky bacon maple bars.

I think we made his day.

Sewing Studio in the Making

2010-07-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

It all started back in April...
We purchased wood laminate to replace the icky carpeting in our basement.
Then, one day, my hubby said, "hey, why don't we make you a sewing studio?" Huh? Whaa?
Um, okay, you didn't have to ask me twice!
So began the process.
Here is a pic of where my studio will be.

After pulling up the icky carpet, we found even ickier carpet underneath.
Ewww, I guess there wasn't much to choose from in 1975? Makes me seasick just standing on it. Oh, and it's glued down too! Aye yai yai

In this pic, you can see a bit of the new floor. Hubby has been working in sections across the room. Here, he has also laid out where the new wall will stand.

Besides building a wall, he removed part of the false ceiling that would have been on the other side of the wall in our rec room area.

Yay! The wall is up.
Complete with a built-in for our stereo theater system.
Plus the ceiling is sheetrocked. Yay

Since hubby made himself a built-in for the stereo, I had only one request.
A laundry shoot!
He designed a space to perfectly fit my laundry cart and catch our dirty clothes.
He's the best!!

Oh, and remember, I promised I'd share my bestest find from Farm Chick's?
Well, this is it!! Isn't it amazing? One day, it'll have a darling liner...
I bought it from Lisa (A Thing For Roses). She made me a screamin' offer I couldn't refuse.
Thanks so much, Lisa!!

We're still plugging along with the remodel. I get to paint the studio soon! We have beadboard stained and ready to go up. The ceiling is textured, just need to paint it. The bar is designed, just needs to be built. And so the list goes on....

Vintage Bedspring

2010-07-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

Is this the coolest find, or what?
Soon, it'll be repurposed into lots of fun and cool stuff.

Seriously? People slept on these things? Hmph, I can't even imagine. Yikes!

One of the Many Perks of Summer

2010-07-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Freshly picked raspberries.
Oh how I love summer!!

Fair Scones

2010-07-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

Chances are, if you live in the Northwest, you've had Fisher scones.
If not, they are a "must have" especially when you're at one of our local fairs.

I much prefer making baked goods from scratch, but when something is better from the box, I'm all about semi-homemade. Ha!
Locally, Costco sells this big box of Fisher Scone mix which is so nice to have on hand.
They're so quick and easy to make.

Perfect for breakfast or anytime, they are
so delicious smothered in butter and fresh homemade strawberry jam!

An Old Fashion Hometown Parade

2010-07-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

The little community of Maxwelton on Whidbey Island hosts a cute little 4th of July parade.
It was a fun way to start our celebration of Independence Day.

The Maxwelton Parade rolls down two blocks from the Maxwelton Farm to the Mackie baseball field. It may be the shortest parade in the world, but it's full of spirit!

It was fun to watch and share this experience with the girls. Since my hubby grew up on the Island, he spent many years celebrating the 4th in the same way.
2010 marked the parade's 95th year!

Patriotic Garb

2010-07-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

The girls really love to dress in Red, White, and Blue when celebrating Independence Day.
I've made many patriotic outfits in the past, but some years, I just don't have the time...
The other day when I told the girls I was thinking of making them something to wear on the 4th, Sydney immediately blurted out, "Yay! I love it when you make me clothes." With that response, I wasted no time, I figured I'd better take advantage of that while it lasts, I know the days of actually liking what mom makes are numbered. Ha!

I kept it simple, just a patchwork twirly skirt and a t-shirt I embellished. Nothing fancy, but festive nonetheless.

My country tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing: Land where my fathers died, Land of the
Pilgrim's pride. From every mountain side Let freedom ring!
-Samuel F. Smith

Have a wonderful and safe 4th!

Strawberry Fields

2010-07-01T16:24:00.001-07:00

Last Friday, we made our annual trek to the u-pick strawberry patch.
Even though the weather we've been having around here doesn't make it feel like summer, heading out to pick vine ripened berries sure does.
I love sharing this tradition with the girls. It's our official kick off to summer.
We picked almost 10 pounds, enough for a couple batches of jam and a few containers of slicers.

To start our day, this is one of our favorites when we have fresh berries.

Mmmm, I love ice cream for breakfast!

Confectionary Tins

2010-06-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

For awhile now, I've been gathering tins decorated with roses.
I'll never pay more than $5 for one.
Most are made in England, Western Germany, and Holland, and some are definitely older than others.
I like to use mine to hold buttons and miscellaneous stuff.

They also make pretty flower containers.

I always use a glass vase filled with water as a liner, just incase the tin leaks.

More Bracelets

2010-06-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

Both Sydney and Daphne wanted a button bracelet of their own.
I made theirs with new buttons, but added in a few vintage buttons too. Most of the buttons are plastic so it is nice and light for them to wear.

At church on Sunday, my mother said to me "well, where's mine?" so yesterday, I made her a bracelet too.
I used all old glass buttons. It turned out so pretty and sparkly!
My mommy is happy! She has her own, and loves that she can wear it with everything.

Pretty Buttons!

2010-06-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite purchase at Farm Chicks was this pretty charm bracelet.
I ran into Laura (WSU Laura) at the show and right away noticed the sparkly bracelet she was wearing. Right then, I knew I had to have one too!
Lisa (A Thing For Roses) created the bracelet using lots of pretty vintage buttons. I was thrilled when I found she had one left for me to buy.
I've now added a few more buttons from my stash of favorite buttons (you know, the ones you love so much that you never use) to it. I'm so happy to finally use some of my favs and love how the bracelet just keeps getting prettier!

A few weeks ago, I put together a few rings using a couple vintage buttons and an old earring. Big rings seem to be all the rage right now.
I love wearing these!

Tomorrow, is Sydney's last day of 1st grade.
She thought her teacher would like a button charm bracelet like mine, so I made one for her.
It turned out really pretty.

To wrap it, I made a little bag out of a vintage hanky.
The coordinating fabric flower is made from the same hanky. I glued the flower to a clothespin which made a great closure for the little bag.
Sydney then attached a note to her teacher.
Oh boy, is she going to miss Mrs. Emery!

Put To Good Use

2010-06-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

I love my vintage lard can found at Farm Chicks.

Even more, I love my just picked peonies in it!

Farm Chicks - Part 2 - My Experience

2010-06-08T19:17:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning, I was on my way (with my hubby) to my first Farm Chicks show -yeehaw!
Taking notes from other bloggers who have previously attended Farm Chicks, I was expecting a long ticket line. We arrived at the show at 10:45 a.m. to two very long ticket lines!
The wait wasn't all that bad. Thankfully the sun was shining, and those in line around us were a hoot!

I wholeheartedly intended to take lots of pictures.
Fact is, I was completely overwhelmed when I stepped inside!
I have never experienced anything quite like it. People where everywhere, you could hardly move. Vendors were trying to complete sale after sale after sale, sometimes many at a time, it was complete and utter madness, but absolutely amazing and so exciting!!
Here a a few random pics I took on Sunday.

I wish I could have captured the true essence of the show. Everything about it was quite remarkable really. The vendors put so much thought into their spaces and goods. To me, that is what prevailed throughout the entire show. It was fun to bump into fellow blogging friends and finally meet some in person too. It was just an all around great experience. I can't wait to go back!

Side note: Next year we're packing our own lunch. We wasted an hour of precious shopping time waiting in line to buy our lunch. We won't be doing that again!

Farm Chicks - Part 1

2010-06-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

My Farm Chicks loot.

I managed to fill my cart (and then some) with no problem at all.

What's in my cart?

A vintage chenille bedspread, 11 vintage tablecloths, 4 tole trays, a candy box, old lard can, vintage floral tin, huge ribbon rose, vintage rose hat, and a vintage button charm bracelet.

What didn't fit?

The amazing old funeral basket and my bestest purchase of all (can't wait to share).

I loved the Farm Chicks frenzy!
More to come later...

Farm Chicks! Have Cart - Will Shop

2010-06-04T11:07:00.001-07:00

Whoohoo!! I'm finally going to Farm Chicks!!

The other day, I made a liner for my vintage cart.

I can't wait to fill this baby with treasures!

I'll try to remember to take lots of pics at the show.

Have a fabulous weekend - I know I will!

Teacher Gift Idea

2010-06-02T10:34:00.001-07:00

My baby graduated from preschool last week, so now, we have officially completed our preschool years. Oh boy, is that bittersweet!

I put together a little "Thank you" package for Daphne's teachers. I included a gift certificate to a local garden nursery, some flower seed packs, and attached a vintage hanky that I had made into a flower pin.

Summer vacation has somewhat started in our household. We're now just waiting for Sydney, she gets out of school on the 18th!

Flowers From Vintage Jello Molds

2010-05-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

Completely inspired by these, I set out to make my own.

I gathered together some of my vintage jello molds.

Next, I went to town cutting, drilling, and piecing together the molds to form flowers.
I used some aluminum cookie molds, and a few lamp parts too.

After spray painting the flowers, stems, and leaves, I stapled them to my new picket fence section.

So fun to make, I love the whimsy charm they add to my picket fence!

Reuse, Repurpose, and Upcycle

2010-05-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Look at this stack of beautifully weathered cedar!

Piled up for the taking, this wood is the old fencing from our church. Since my daddy was in charge of the fence project, I asked him to save me some of this awesome old wood. I had some ideas how to reuse it in my garden.

I had my hubby rip a few boards and build me a picket fence section.
Next, I repurposed a few vintage sifters. They make wonderful flower containers since they come prepared with drainage!

Today, I'm working on something more to add to the fence section.
They're turning out so cute. Can't wait to show you!