Can I Sneak This In?

It's been sooooo long!  I may be talking to myself and I would be OK with that. It would be fitting, considering I haven't been visiting blogs either, not on a regular basis.  Still here I am, at the very least, keeping a visual record on my "treasures."

I have done a few crafty things in the past year.  I should get around to posting them sometime.  Considering the time of year,  I'll share my more recent projects, Valentine's projects.  So, here we go!

My mantel seems the easiest place to start.  I made these crepe paper flowers this year.  Using THIS tutorial.

I actually made these silhouette portraits of my kids last year, but I never posted them.  These are mounted on two cork-backed coasters bought from the dollar store!

Shhhh!  Don't tell, but these are actually two angels I had out at Christmas.  I think they can fit into multiple holiday decors!  The heart vase was an estate sale buy last year.

A little sparse here.  I wanted to share my favorite "G" man Valentine.  Plus, the easel I made to hold it.

I took a stab at this project after seeing it.....somewhere in blogland.  Not a bad first effort, but it's amazing how difficult it was to bend exactly where you wanted without moving other parts.

So, I don't want to spill everything at once.  I need to keep myself interested, too.  Interested in posting that is!  Check out my previous post if you want to see the banner that is still up, and my anthropomorphic Valentine's.  I wasn't up for the editing my ceiling fan out of those photos another time!

Love Banner

This is a first for me.  I am posting this on both my blogs.  Here and on Stampin' Garden.

I have been wanting to make a banner for a few years now.  I made it my mission to get one done this weekend....and that's what it took, the better part of a weekend.  I will say I am happy with the results, though.

I contemplated every detail, over and over.  I pulled out all the tricks in my bag.  I used my Cricut, vintage trims and lots of Stampin' Up! paper.  I tried a few new things along the way.

The red tulle on the "L" that came out of an auction box lot. 

Using lots of pearls and scrunchy tissue flowers on the "O."

The glitter heart on the "V" that I topped with Crystal Effects so that no glitter flakes off.

The vintage seam binding on the "E" that I crinkled and made my bow.

Here's my mantel with my favorite vintage valentine's.

I'm in love.

Yep, It's Rednesday and Life Has Been Good.

Hello everyone!  Can you believe this is my second post of the new year?  Not that 2010 was bad, but something unexpected came over me at the beginning of 2011.  A sense of contentment and calm.  I didn't make a resolution.  It wasn't a conscience decision.  It just happened.  So, instead of trying to figure it out.  Maybe over-think it, like I tend to do, I am going with it. 

Thrifting has been good.  Gas prices have kept me from venturing out too much, but those few times really paid off.  This is only about half of my haul.  The other half, when I post it, will be less colorful.  I had to group all these together for Rednesday!  Yeah!   Sue @ Sue Loves Cherries is our wonderful hostess!

Of course I was hoping to find Valentine's to add to my collection.  I collect mostly birds, baseball and anthropomorphic foods.  I only found two, but two is better than none, right?

I love, love, love the Constitution book.  It's from 1936. I totally forgot it would be missing a few amendments...six to be exact!  It will be a great addition to my patriotic items.  As will the cupcake picks.  I found the ones on the right first.  They are 48 star flags.  They were sold be the piece and I resisted buying them all and went with 6.  Then I ran across the bag of 50 star picks for less than the price of my original 6!  Now to use them!

The fabric, I hope to use recovering my kitchen chairs as soon as I can find a suitable tablecloth to cut up.  I thought this fabric might make a good skirt on those chairs.  I guess we'll see.

The price was right on the glasses, so hopefully I will find a few more somewhere in my travels.

The felt covered heart beads are new.  I actually have a few projects in mind, but in typical fashion, I'm a little behind.  Of course I will share anything I complete!

Now I need to run.  I heading to Mom and Dad's today.  They bought a new computer and yours truly setting it up for them.  I am hoping to hit a few thrift store along the way.....

A Good Start To The New Year

Although it's been quiet on the old blog, I've been quite busy.  The very first day of the New Year came the first auction of 2011.  The beginning of the year can be a dangerous time.  I'm always anxious to buy.  I know this about myself and yet I did it again.  I think a lackluster December at the thrift shops might have been contributing factor.  When I saw this I knew, I had to have it!

Even the auction regulars were surprised with my bidding.  One of my auction friends was across the room.  He said when they shouted, "Sold!"  I had a grin from ear to ear.  I guess I don't have much of a poker face!  So this is my Christmas present from my in-laws.  This year in lieu of presents they gave us some money to spend.  Mine didn't last long!  Many times when I spend over my self-imposed limit I have a little buyers remorse, but not this time!  I love this little guy!

He looks right at home above my ribbon cabinet.  His needle is broke, otherwise it's functional.  Someday I'll have to get a needle and give him a spin!

Santa is Bringing Me Coal

I'm convinced of it.  I have been such a bad blogger.

Maybe I shouldn't feel too sad.

I found most everything here just in the past year.

Funny thing is, it looked like a lot more piled in my storage room.

Now I wish I had bought more...a lot more.

Something to look forward to come January when the auctions heat up again.

Sorry the pictures are a little dark and maybe not cropped quite the way I would like.  After a such long absence I figured I better just get it done!

Quickie Post with Some Halloween Decor to Share

I know I have been away for a LONG time.  Over two months!  I lost all motivation to blog.  Both reading and posting.  Recently I had begun to think about coming back, slowly.  Well, I got this post from the EHAG group (one of the few that still come to my inbox) and I was compelled to participate.  They are giving away some Halloween goodies in which I shared my favorite Halloween decoration.  The only project I've completed this fall became the obvious choice, so I figured it was necessary to show them!

Here's the pattern I started with.  Black Cats...Orange Pumpkins WSD #126 by Wooden Spool Designs

In the shop where I bought the pattern their samples were made up in white.  They caught my eye, obviously!  Love the ghosty white ones!

Of course, the orange are nice too!

I had a blast making these.  They were so easy because you construct the muslin base (I used a wool blend) then cut a slit where the face will go and stuff it!  Then, it's a simple matter of whip-stitching the face on!

I would like to finish these off with some wire tendrils and maybe some ripped green/brown strip around the spool.  Although they are pretty cute as-is!

So now that I'm back...maybe I'll get to posting a few more things before the holiday.  Just maybe!


In the meantime, done forget to check out the EHAG blog!

What Cheer Goodies on Rednesday!

Yeah!  I have a Rednesday post!

Please spread the love, especially to out gracious host Sue @ Sue Loves Cherries!

Well, it's procrastination that has lead me to sharing my What Cheer finds on Rednesday!  Last Friday Mr. Made and I went to the somewhat well known What Cheer flea market.  Flea markets and auctions are not Mr. Made's favorite things, but he indulges me from time to time.  It seems every time I go I take someone different, this time it happened to be his turn.

So, I figure that 4 of the 7 items I bought have red in them...it qualifies for a Rednesday post!

I LOVE the canister set ( I know a certain hostess will like them, too!)  It wasn't priced so I asked the vendor about the price...it seemed fair to me, so I took it.  Funny thing is, as we were nesting it together she told me she had bought it that morning from another vendor.  I wonder what she paid, cuz seriously, I didn't pay that much!

If you are only interested in reds...you might want to end here.........not likely, right?

My other What Cheer find.  I nice chippy cabinet....maybe a little too chippy???  We are down to bare wood in spots.

I'm a bad blogger when it comes to taking pictures, but I managed to get Mr. to take a few...

Here's me at the dollar boxes.  This is the first place to hit!  It is busy at the boxes in the morning.  I went back towards the end of the day and nobody was there.  Of course neither were the things I had passed up....why I struggle with myself over a buck I'll never know!  Note to self: hand wipes are NOT enough. Next time I'm taking gloves.  That stuff is DUSTY!

Anyway, I'm holding my morel mushroom.  Anybody else hunt for morels in the spring?  I also bought the plate and Rudolph book at the dollar boxes.

Some things are just too fun to pass up!  I felt more than a little goofy but I had to have a picture with Spiderman!

Nice picture honey!  Was it really necesary to show me from this angle?

Here we are at the end of the day....tired but still smiling.  It was a good day!

BTW-I will mention our daughter also had a VERY good day.  Even though she wasn't with us she managed to get 34 Pokemon figures and 2 Pokemon jelly glasses!  I'd post a picture, just for fun...but they've already melded into her collection!  She has a lot and we have fun finding them for her!