Rustic Decor Shop Alert...

It's always fun to find a new shop and see the creative juices 

that flow from someone's heart and soul.  

Today I have a brand new seller to introduce to you.

Say hello to Esty shop Kountry Collections...

What fun rustic crafts from this husband and wife team.  

I'm liking their nod to denim.

Stop by the store and give them a little love.  

Those monogram burlap prints come personalized.

And speaking of Etsy.  Check out some of my new listings...

 This little plaque from the 70's is in Joan Walsh Anglund 

or Holly Hobbie style...

I love the original label and graphics on this brown fertilizer bottle.

Anyone like vintage trims and laces?  There are

 almost 11 yards of this old gimp trim...

Old maps make great wall decor.  I'm offering  

3 big ones in 1 lot... all of PA counties...

And for a bit more ephemera - how about a Hershey, PA grouping?

Thanks for visiting today!  ~Joyce

Valentine Sheet Music Badge Project...

Sometimes little snippets become project inspiration.  

Such was the case with this red foil ribbon.   

I had just a small amount - not enough to make a nice bow.  

But...

 ...just enough to fashion a paper badge.  A bit of vintage 

sheet music and a vintage button complete the project.

I'm pretty happy with it.  Nothing but 2 pinwheels and 2 strips.

I had such a small amount of ribbon - my red pinwheel is

about 8 little fans glued together and they're pretty stretched out.

 Not sure how to make the pinwheels?  Go here.

And now my lace dressed mannequin is Valentine ready.

Could easily work for Christmas too.

Linking to Vintage Inspiration Party and

Let's Talk Vintage

By the way - be sure to check out the Let's Talk Vintage link.  

My sweet bible story book was featured.  And this week she's talking about buttons

 and I just happened to use an old button in today's project.  How' bout that?

Saturday Sightings - Eagles & Owls!....

Today - I had the pleasure of visiting my local zoo.

  They were holding a 'free' community weekend - 

and I talked My Love into visiting.  

This is my favorite shot of the day...

American Bald Eagle @ ZooAmerica

 It had just snowed overnight - which made it so fun... and cold!  

This was the scene... & the stream that runs through the park.

 My love was able to capture the critters in amazing

 ways with his high powered camera. 

See what I mean... so much clearer than mine...

And how cute is this Snowy Owl in the snow...

 What a fun afternoon!
I never tire of seeing God's marvelous creatures.

Beautiful Bible Story Book Art...

Did you know that old time art & graphics are simply beautiful to behold?  

I mean beautiful!   Have a look...

 This children's bible story book features the bible parable 

(which is a story to teach a lesson) of the 10 virgins.

  This is a Raphael Tuck & Sons book from 1901 -

  famous for their gorgeous postcards.

The story in brief:

In the custom of bible time marriages - there went out 10 

virgins to meet a bridegroom as he returned with his bride.  

Each had lamps filled with oil.  They waited and waited, but 

the bridegroom did not come as soon as expected...

Waiting for the bridegroom

 ...but about midnight the alert was made - he was on his way!

  Quickly they refilled their lamps that had been burning 

while they waited... that is, 5 of them did. 

'Behold - the bridegroom cometh.'

 Five of them did not bring extra oil.  

Of course the latter 5 tried to beg oil from the wise 5 - 

but it was not to be had.

The foolish virgins begging for oil

To learn the rest of the story - read Matthew 25:1-13.
(Or - this sweet book is available here.)

This parable, with various lessons, was told by Jesus himself. 

Most surely it carries a warning to be ready when Jesus returns.

Each of these virgins knew the bridegroom,

each was his friend - but not all were ready.
Ask Jesus if you are ready - be sure!

Linking to Let's Talk Vintage

Winter Front Porch...

With just a very few minor adjustments - 

my front porch easily went from Christmas to Winter this year.

 

I simply removed the wrapped package, replaced the ornament 

with a grapevine ball, repositioned some things... 

 

 and wa-la - we have Winter...

I also added my bargain Valentine wreath to the front door.

I'm keeping the twinkly lights at night.  

To see the rest of the porch - visit this post.

Customized $1 Valentine Invites...

I'm planning to host a Valentine's party next month and

needed a few invitations.  Pinterest has great handmade ideas. 

But 'handmade' means 'time'...

So I also checked out my local Dollar Tree.  

They had beautiful invitations that I thought would work.

So with a few fabric hearts & some machine stitching...

...I believe we're good to go.

Turns out - sometimes handmade can be 'bought' - 

for just $1 no less! 
Besides - I think to print my own might cost even more - ink is not cheap!

Now hopefully the rest of the planning will go as smoothly.

  Visit my Hearts and Valentines Board to see if you can spot my inspiration photo. 

Valentine Wall Hanging Project...

I'm continuing my mission to 'Revamp It to Sell It'...

Ashamedly - this project has been in the making 3 years!  

Tis pathetic I know...  But alas - it is what it is and

 I'm moving forward in my 'Do' mantra for 2015.

The wonderful old Victorian frame needed a little help and 

had no glass - so I decided a project was in order.

 

After feeling stalled 2 years ago, 

 

this morning I finally finished it.  

At least I'm calling it finished... I guess more could be done - 

but obviously I don't do well with a blank slate.

  

This was my first twig word art.  The supplies are simple enough.

 And 'Hug' went together very easily.  Gotta love a glue gun!

The little gingham patches?  I felt it needed some red - in fabric. 

And for another pop of red I gave the button heart...well a heart.

 I'm loving this twig art stuff!

Hopefully somebody likes my 3 year project and buys it up for Valentine's Day.

Now - booth or Etsy?  Maybe both!
 Linking to Vintage Inspiration Party

Winter Sunday Afternoons....

What do you do with cold Sunday afternoons?

 

It's not unusual to find me in front of the fireplace

 (candles make fire right?)...

...playing myself a game of scrabble.

There are things about winter to be embraced.

You have set all the borders of the earth;
You have made summer and winter.

Psalm 74:17

Friday Favorite Finds....

I haven't been buying much lately... even for reselling.  

But I did pick up these sweet votives at a thrift shop.  

They were in their Christmas section...which was half price.
(Yes - they have leaves...but I guess the silver made them think 'Christmas'.)

So I got 8... count 'em - 8!  For the bargain price of $1.

I'll be able to have a candle at everybody's plate

 when hosting this Fall.  It's little things like this that

 inspire me to be hospitable - truly!
(Be) a lover of hospitality...  Titus 1:8

Muted Jewel Tones Displays....

It's been a while since I showed you any thrift shop displays that I've completed.  

Here are a few in the store for the past week.

I started with some silver with purple and clear glass...

Then some turquoise (almost blue) glass and gold...

 ...and finally a little teal glass and white.

That lovely pitcher and bowl set has a green tag and

 green tags are half price this week...hmmm!

 
Hopefully these say 'Happy New Year' in some manner.

Stitches...

I'm continuing my mission to get old inventory sold and outta here.   

Sometimes that means grouping in lots, sometimes lowering price, 

sometimes redoing or altering in some way... you get the picture.  

I have a little feedsack type bag.  My intent was to 'dress it up' 

by sewing a little patch on the front.   I had given it to my mother 

about 3 years ago for a little project to give her something to do.  

She knew how to do the edge stitch I was wanting (I didn't) 

and handstitching still seemed to work for her.  

After her death about a year later, I brought it home -

 assuming she had never worked on it. 

What a surprise when I pulled out the forgotten project today...

 There were her broken little stitches down one side.

  She had tried to do it - but it was just too hard for her.   

Aww....  the tears want to come...

This is a new stitch for me - but today was a good day to learn...

I'm getting there.  I think I'll also stitch a heart in the center of the patch.

How I love sweet moments such as these.

Does one ever get over the loss of a mother?
Linking to Let's Talk Vintage

New Goodies in the Shop...

While people have Christmas money to spend - 

I've been busy listing some new goods in my Esty shop.

Check out the vintage Valentine wares - including flash cards...

These old books and a vintage tole trash can...

...and some neat greeting card and baby ephemera lots.

There's even an unused baby record book.

I just love 'vintage'.  It's instant charm for the home!

Winter Evening Project #2 - Fluffy Heart...

My heart wreath from  4 years ago is no longer looking so good. 

So tonight was deconstruct time.   To begin my new project -  

I cut a 7" heart from cardboard.  Then with the occasional dab of 

hot glue - started wrapping this fluffy yarn around it.

  And wa-la....

The old heart.... (from its hey day)...

 

...has become a new heart for this day.

   Hello chenille goodness! 

Anybody else getting ready for Valentine's Day already?