Amy's Visit

Amy came for a visit. She spent a fair amount of time snuggling with Luna.We had fun shopping for bridesmaid dresses, dreaming up wedding color schemes, and of course she tried on wedding dresses!
Chaps for brunch on Sunday. Brunch is my favorite there. Chaps is amazing, it's like a restaurant version of anthropologie!

I think I'm glad Amy doesn't live here- she's got too good of an eye at thrifting! She found this cute cookbook stand that folds up. Adorable! Too bad it's so portable , or maybe I would have had a chance at keeping it. And I have bags and bags of items from thrift stores that need to be inventoried!And I just have to share some of my new favorites of my cutie in her new reversible corduroy vest. I couldn't resist. I justified the purchase because we're making a trip to Minnesota tomorrow and the temps are lower there! I think she's going to be a fashionista, clearly- she loves it!

I love my husband. He's the sweetest and best when I have visitors. One night he made homemade soup for us (even without a recipe) and he cleaned up too. He cooked and cleaned and watched Luna all weekend so we could do some shopping a little more easily.

Some New Finds

We hit a really great estate sale last weekend. I picked up these cute playing cards from some garage sales. They will make great ATC's.

And I found this vintage laundry basket. I love these and I've been wanting one for a long time. Whenever I see them they are usually not for sale or way out of my price range. This is a smaller one, but I still love it. It will be great to put some linens in. It will also come in handy as a display piece for craft fairs.

I found this great red box oozing with pretty trims, ribbon, and rick rack.

Summer Afternoon Snack

I finally had enough of my very own basil to make pesto. It all just looked so pretty I wanted to take a few pictures. It's pretty simple basil, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan- thrown together and blended- yum!

And I need to share this iced tea because it is to die for. I love it, not too sweet, but not bitter.

Of course it's from Barefoot Contessa Family Style Cookbook. I love Ina!

Super simple, here is the link for the Herbal Iced Tea:

-4 celestial seasonings red zinger tea bags

-4 celestial seasonings lemon zinger bags

-4 cups of apple juice

You steep 4 cups of boiling water in the 8 tea bags. Add the apple juice- chill, and voila- so good! I plan on experimenting with other teas mixed with apple juice, I think it will be good. And I love angry chickens concentrated tea idea- so smart because we go through this too fast!

And of course, I wanted an excuse to show off my newest thrift store table cloth- and I don't think I've shared that little serving tray before!

$1 Chair Before and After

Before

After

Thrifting was good to us this weekend.  I bought two of these beauties for $1 each at an antique store on the way home from our camping trip.  Ah, how I love spray paint.  Our dining room is going to get very colorful soon!  So what do you think, should chair #2 be painted the same green color, or should I go with a soft yellow?

Ready For a Shower?

These cute invites are patiently waiting a special occasion.  I found them at a few garage sales and antique shops.  They are so sweet and cheery! 

The Finds

This was a little g-sale $5 find!  Just needs a little more scrubbing.  We could use an extra stool at our counter, and the step stool folds in.  It was red, I couldn't resist.  Wouldn't you agree, very practical?  Being practical is usually highly unlike me when it comes to these sales!
The fan was from the farm chicks sale, as well as the cute pastel clothes drying rack.  I felt Sam should be proud- I was very practical, we needed both of these items badly.  I also found a cute vintage leather belt, some fun bandanas, and some frogs (for flower arranging)

I have cakes to bake, projects I'm itching to do, so much to do!  But I must share with you quickly the little goods I've found.  Enjoy the weekend everyone.  I hope to report of some before and afters when the weekend is through!

To Sell or Not to Sell?

I love these!  I love all things that are orange!  I'm sick of my green bowls, and these are bigger. Problem is, I think these would be a good etsy seller, I don't know if anyone would want to buy my green ones.  Don't they resemble these Ikat tea pots Grace posted on Design Sponge?  They have a gold rim inside on the top too.  Whaddya think?  By the way, etsy update coming this Friday!  

My bags are Packed

You guys, my photography has really been lacking lately, sorry about that(click on the picture for a larger, better view.) But I just couldn't resist and had to share with you the new (old) suitcase I got! I found it at the local thrift store. I usually don't find much at that one, but this gem had my name written all over it! It's packed and ready to fly out to New York. Isn't it cute?
My husband helped me pack, he's pretty much a professional. All of my clothes are in this bag. The only problem? He's not coming with. So this means the chances of me bringing everything back home with me again are slim! I brought all sorts of art projects to do.

And a little shout out is in order for my friend Amy. She is graduating from nursing school today. Congrats Amy, you're going to make an excellent nurse! Have fun in Hawaii!

A few good finds!

Ok, I don't know what has gotten into me. Antiquing in Snohomish, I spotted this little baptism gown awhile ago, and it was there the last time I went, so I just had to get it. Can't you just imagine pink satin ribbon strung through the neck and the little sleeves? I just love it!

And then there is this little planter- so cute! They are in my shabby chic guest room for now. Of course the backdrop is this cool quilt that my mom brought for me!


I need to do another post soon on what I did when my parents were here. But I thought I'd share these finds first. And here is a daisy garbage can I found at the coolest thrift store ever on Whidby Island. I'm loving it in my art space!
So I have even more surprises to share with you. I figure I'll just spread them out over a little bit of time.

Spring is in the Air

Daffodils! And a new, chipper outfit right off the target sale rack! $5 skirt + $13 sweater!

I had a wonderful day off yesterday. Here is what I'm enjoying lately:

*all the steals, deals, and finds (goodwill and target)
*buying some new art supplies (sponge, brayer, gel medium, silver glitter, white gel pen, canvas)
*discovering Pacific Coast Crafts (would like to take a class, but after Jess' story I'm a little hesitant. they offer a wide range of sweet classes things from upholstery, to Norwegian Hardonger to Amy Butler bags to Victorian style corset making. See why I'm a little leery?)
*baking fresh bread
*making microwave caramel corn
*basically eating unhealthy altogether

Now for the steals, deals, and finds:

I was looking for these after X-mas, but I didn't find any that fit me. My other slippers are getting quite ratty, so I was pleased to find these at Goodwill for $1.49

I've been drinking coffee all winter out of a green mug. Here is a more fresh, happy mug for spring ($0.49) sitting atop a saucer I found about a year ago in Eau Claire, not knowing what I would do with it, now they make a happy pair!

Linda and Dennis came to visit and we had quite a lovely time, and she bought me this tea pot, isn't it lovely?

I just couldn't pass this up. It's a bit gunky on the inside, so it will work quite nicely for my crafting endeavors and looks great in my craft area!

And no trip to a thrift store would be complete without a few vintage pillow cases! I'm thinking of making a quilt out of them.

What was I thinking? Well I was a child of the 80's- the phrase and that heart handle, I just had to!

This book is so rad! It shows how to embroider any flower under the sun. We'll see if it gets used. I found it at half priced books. At first I passed it up, but when I saw it in Michaels for $20, I decided to go back and grab it for $3



I am truly loving embroidery! I really want to get into it. You just have to click on the picture below to see just how perfect this lady's handiwork is. I'm thinking it would be cool to collect a bunch of day of the week towels and make a quilt. I just get them all dirty and ruin them if I actually use them, and I don't like having them purely for display.

Heather Bailey is by far the most talented lady ever! Look what she did! So creative! And she is featured in this months issue of Mary Engelbreits Home Companion (love that mag.) You can find more of her photos on her flickr images.


Isn't this the most darling, creative kids jacket you have ever seen? It makes lovely use of vintage linens and the crocheted edging!

Some of the "afters", sorta

Before

After

Well, here is the cabinet. I just don't know. I put these patterned papers and textured papers I had inside the cabinet. It's a really fast, lazy job that I did. I was using my favorite adhesive of late-blue, poster puddy! I even ran out. Bummer! So I'm going to leave it temporary for awhile and let it sit for a few days. What d0 you think? Should the paper stay or go? And please do realize that if I do attach it permanently it will look much better and be positioned more carefully. Now that I see the close up of the picture I just don't know. The colors are a little crazy!

Before

After

Here is the finished candelabra. Whaddya think? I think it's kinda spiffy. Tomorrow, (or later tonight) I might post some house pics and you will get to see where I put these projects. Our place is starting to come together. Before and after projects are so fun!