Tuesday, April 15, 2008

April Giveaway

Well, it seems like forever since I have updated my blog.  Once I got my computer fixed (and bought a laptop as well, just in case), my TV blew up, so it was back to the big electronics store to spend my tax refund!!  Mostly I have been busy with my parents.  My dad had surgery on his knee cap so he is unable to drive for a few weeks and I have had to tote my mom back & forth to dialysis, getting groceries, cleaning their house, cutting their grass, etc....plus trying to keep my own house in order.  They are both in their 80's so they need help with things as is.  But another week and my dad should be back to driving and running errands. OH...Daughtry just came on the radio....gosh that voice, I could just melt, between him and Steve Perry from Journey, I could just disolve when I hear them sing~~~..okay, back to reality!!

I have a few pictures of things I have purchased recently and also I have just a small giveaway this month, but I love the little box it comes in, so "ON with the pictures.  I bought this paper mache bunny from Jenny of Everyday is a Holiday, it came wrapped so pretty and even her business card is to die for.  I am still in the middle of cleaning house, so once that is done, I have to find the perfect spot to display it.  I envy her talent to paint like she does, just amazing.  I can hardly draw a stick figure, its just not there.

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And this pretty wrapping paper from Sadie Lou's shop Nickel Candy.  One of them has a cloth-like texture to it, really neato!!  I think I am going to use it to make my bags with matching tags.  She has alot of really cute supplies in her shop, and it goes fast, I have missed out on a few things I have wanted because I was busy with something and figured I could come back later to get it and "POOF", its gone!!

And now, here is the April Giveaway.  Inside the cute little pink & white polka dot suitcase is a small mint vanilla candle (smells so good), 2 pink tissue paper carnations, angel made out of a doily, small pink roses, round scalloped tags, felt flower cut-outs, old pink flower sequins, 8 old greeting cards (great images for tags), and 4 sheets of stationary from the 70's, its really GROOVY!!.  Just leave a comment and I will enter your name to win.  Will pick the winner on Friday.  Good Luck.  It's going to be 72 today so I am off to wash sheets to hang on the line and get the weeds out of my front flower bed.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

I'm BACK!!

Did you know there are no support groups for people whose computers have died....and I really think I could have used one.  It's amazing how much I depend on this thing.  I went ahead and bought a laptop, but still hoping that my desktop is fixable so that my kids can use that one and keep their grubby paws off my new one.  I am still learning how to use this little pad instead of the mouse...takes some getting used to.  Oh, and our TV blew up as well...it must have been done the same time the computer was, but just took a little while longer to die ( we had a storm and I think when the power surged, it messed everything up.)  Anyway, I have a few pictures of some goodies I found on my trip to the Eastern Shore of Maryland when I went to visit my sister and cousins.  I didnt get to stay as long as I would have liked, I wanted to hit more thrift stores.  There was one place we went to called The Barn that was at a nunnery (is that right?) and was run by the nuns....stuff was cheap or FREE.  I got cookbooks and the kids got toys...as if they needed anymore of those!!  Here are a few of my finds:

Really pretty Lefton Southern Belle Planter in great condition and a vintage bunny rabbit.

I am not sure how to tell if Milk Glass is old or not, but they were only .50 a piece and I thought I could use them in the bathroom for cotton balls, q-tips, etc.

And last is a 1/2 find.  Only the angel head is a find, the rest I crafted.  I came across 3 vintage angel head pics, 2 brunette and 1 blonde, they still have the "made in Japan" stickerson the wings and have been wanting to do something with them.  Well when I went to the Big Flea a few months ago I knew what I had to do.  A man was selling vintage christmas items and he had 3 angels with heads almost like mine and their bodies were cone shape and covered in HOT pink feathers, each one was holding an instrument, for the 3 of them he wanted $75..YIKES.  So since I have had time on my hands with no computer I dug them out and made one with a cone styrofoam body, pink boas, vintage chenille arms, vintage forget me nots, pink pearl necklace and I glittered her wings up a bit. Her halo has a bit of pink boa on it, but I apparently cut that out of the picture. I left the "made in japan" sticker on her wings since I couldnt bear to take it off, if it has stayed on this long then it deserves to be there.  I think the next one I am going to use some pink feathers, but mine dont look as christmasy as the ones did at the antique show.  Well, I am gathering things for my giveaway which I will be posting in a few days, but for now I am off to hopefully catch up on some emails, flickr pictures and blogs.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Boo Hoo---I'm Sad

I have no idea what to do with myself, didnt realize how much I depended on my computer now that I dont have one.  Me and the kids went for a little road trip last week for a few days to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to see some relatives and when I came back my computer was sick.  My neighbor said it is probably the power supply since the monitor and printer still work, the tower just wont turn on.  Apparently we had a storm while I was gone.  I pulled out my old computer (almost 11 years old) and played on it for a few days, but it is just toooo tired to do the things I want it to do, and it is pre-digital cameras and doesnt have one of those slots to put your media card.  So I cant even upload the pictures of the goodies I got on my trip.  Anyway, my neighbor is supposed to come look and my computer and see if it is the power supply.  I am secretly hoping its not worth bothering with and then I can go get the laptop I have been wanting!!!  I have been using the librarys computers to check emails and such.  Well, one thing about not having computer access 24/7 .....I have been getting some cleaning and sorting done.  The kids room are LOOKING GOOD!!!....Well, we only have a limited amount of computer time at the library, so I am off to pick up my home interior candles and then do some shopping (alone, with no kids!!!)   Be sure to check back, I am getting things together for my April Blog Giveaway....some cute things!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Ticks, Snakes & Goodies

Kind of a mixed up title huh?  Well we have had some nice weather for the past few weeks so now that my foot is healed I have been taking the puppy for walks through the trails in the woods.  Yesterday we encountered a raccoon and the puppy immediately thought "PLAYMATE", of course I was thinking "RABIES", but after a few hisses and swats from the raccoon he left well enough alone.  Unfortunately when I got home I was just feeling icky, like something was crawling on me, and it was, I found 2 ticks.  I hate ticks, too much like having little spiders crawling on you and I would rather deal with snakes than spiders.  Now comes my story about the snake.  Last June my husband had come home after my daughters 6th grade graduation and when I walked in the back door of the kitchen I see about a 4 foot black snake laying in front of my sink.  My husband gets the broom, I dont know what he planned to do...sweep him out the back door.  But anyway, the snake decided to go in between a crack between our dishwasher and cabinet.  So, I get my flashlight and lay down on the floor and shine it in the crack and theres the snake looking at me.  My husband was just like "he found his way in, he can find his way out".  I dont mind snakes, I am more scared of spiders, but I didnt want the snake camping out in my kitchen, what if I got up in the middle of the night and wanted a drink and stepped on him.  Anyway, I think he eventually did find his way out because sometimes in the morning I would find him sunning himself by the pool, and a few times he was in my flower beds when I was pulling weeds, but I quickly shooed him out because I knew he was after my frogs.  I figure he has plenty of mice to eat with all the corn fields around our house.  SO, at the end of the summer, I was doing laundry one day and when I picked up a shirt off the floor (laundry room is an old enclosed back porch and is attached to the kitchen) and there lays a baby snake.  I didnt think anything of it and put him outside, but the next few days I found a few more on the back porch, which makes me wonder where the mama is and why they are in my laundry room.  Never did figure that one out either, but hopefully they will stay outside this summer, but this is a 60 year old farmhouse with lots of nooks and crannies they can get in. Of course you know that my kids thought the snakes were "totally cool" and we should keep them as pets.....NOT!!  Now that I have probably gave everyone the heebie jeebies, on to nicer things.

I received a "Sparkle" award from Diane at http://saturdayfinds.blogspot.com/.  Thank You so much Diane, I am thrilled!!  If you havent visited her blog, go now, because she makes the cutest creations with old cards, lace, crepe paper and vintage trims.  Always such cute things to look at.  Now I need to pass the award along to:

Suzy at http://georgiapeachez.typepad.com/georgiapeachez/  she has interesting itme on her blog this week...go check it out!!

Beth at http://www.elizabethholcombe.typepad.com/  the cutest pincushions you will ever see!!

Sadie at http://craftilyeverafter.blogspot.com/  her Betsy's are becoming a household name.

Lori at http://faeriewindow.blogspot.com/  she makes the cutest boxes!

Karla at http://sugarbeardesigns.blogspot.com/  lots of pretty creations in her etsy shop.

Linda at http://lindasgoodies.blogspot.com/  adorable felted folksies!

Julie at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5386317  she doesnt have a blog, but she has a etsy shop and makes some of the sweetest houses!!

Well, I have been making chenille bunnies like crazy, even though they are fake, they seem to multiply like crazy.  But thats a good thing.....thanks everyone for enjoying and ordering them.  My little baskets got put on the back burner, but I did finish a pink one the other day while waiting for the laundry....here is a picture, it is in my etsy shop now...okay I dont know why that little picture is there, but oh well.

This is my recent bargain of the week....found this jewelry at the bottom of a box at a church sale, one of the earrings is missing a stone, but for .50 a pair, too good to pass up.

And last, I have been wanting a pink princess phone for my bedroom for about 5 years, but they always seem to go up pretty high on ebay, plus they are hard wired and would have to be converted.  BUT, now Target has an updated version, so when I saw it advertised I went and bought me one.  And there are times when we need a "regular" phone since the kids (and me) carry the cordless ones all over the house and leave them wherever we happen to be when the call ends, this results in dead phones all the time, so now I can still call someone when the cordless ones are dead. 

Well, only a few more days of freedom, the kids start their spring break Friday and continues for 10 DAYS....I am thinking about a trip to Williamsburg, VA for a visit to the pottery factory, or to Denton on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to visit my sister, she says the have some really nice thrift stores!  See you in a few days!!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Easter Goodie Winner

Just a quick post to congratulate Tricia from Genedoll1, she was the winner of the Easter Goodies.  I am going to try and do a give-away each month, so be sure to keep checking back.  I will be back this weekend to update with some thrift store goodies and a Sparkle award that I received from Diane at Saturday Finds that needs to be passed along.  Thank You everyone for your comments and well wishes for my parents. 

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Easter Goodie Give-Away

 

Sorry for this small picture, I was choosing "medium" but the elf that lives in my computer is acting up today and doing the opposite of whatever I want.  My kids love the Spiderwick Chronicles and anything to do with fairys, brownies, etc.  I would just like to have those little brownies that clean your house and keep things in order for you.   Anywhoo, just a quick post for an Easter Goodie Bag Give-Away.  There is a cute little cardboard Easter Basket filled with pink Easter grass and a Boyds Bear, new kitchent tea towel, bundles of vintage ribbons, vintage dennison easter seals, chenille chicks, wooden easter eggs, little pink plastic bears, vintage pink flower sequins, and a few other surprise goodies.  Just leave a comment on the blog and I will pick a winner on Wednesday.  Since Easter is early this year, I would like to get it mailed out in time to enjoy them for a few weeks. 

Monday, February 25, 2008

Getting Ready for Easter

It was a busy week last week and then Friday the kids were out of school for a small ice storm that came through.  Luckily my daughter, my neighbor and I were still able to go out to dinner and then to the local playhouse to see the play "West Side Story".  I have never seen the movie before so I was surprised that it was a "tragic" love story, I always like the happy endings.  Well, another busy week ahead but I just wanted to post a few things I have been working on and bought.

These are the chenille bunnies and basket I made for a customer from Glitter and Grunge.  Hopefully I will get a few more done to add to my etsy shop.

Set of 3 chenille bunnies in my etsy shop right now.

These are work-in-process, still not done but hopefully will be done in the next few days.  I have run out of ribbon and need to get to the craft store, but A.C. Moores ad comes out on Wednesdays and they have the 40% off coupon that I like to use.  Michaels craft store also has the coupons but for some reason they didnt have an ad this week.

And look at this cute little bunny, he is perched up on one of Julies houses who has a shop on etsy called Piecefulbits.  The tiny bunny I purchased from Hazel, and her shop on etsy is called Blosson Hill Cottons, she has lots of different animals.  She was even nice enough to design a scottie dog for me, which I dont have a picture of because it has already been mailed to my girlfriend in PA. I have since found a cute little easter basket for him to rest in. 

Well, thats all for my update, I am off to take my dad to the doctor, his knee cap has torn away from his knee replacement he had 5 months ago and he has to have surgery to get that sewed back on.  Then Friday I have to take my mom to the doctor, her kidneys are failing so she has to start dialysis soon and they have to "make a vein" since hers are too small.  It is at that point in life where I have to take care of them instead of vice versa, but they are in their 80's so I guess that is to be expected.  Hope everyone has a great week!!