Buttons - Snowflakes, Bagpipes and Fleur de Lis...

You never know what you will find in a container of buttons.  

I've found everything from crochet hooks to coins.  

From a recent rummage sale - a Mason jar of buttons has yielded 

some great metal specimens.   This set of 10 was in the assortment.  

I thought they were kinda cute...

...but when I enlarged my photos - I couldn't believe the detail.  

Awesome!

 There were also 3 coat-sized buttons embossed with bagpipes...

A great big button resembling a patchwork quilt and measuring 1 1/2" across!

These black and gold buttons are looking classy...

And this grouping of snowflakes and fleur de lis are some of my favorites...

 

 What is it about buttons?  They bring back precious memories of sorting 

through my mother's buttons when I was a little girl.

And what fun it was to watch my own daughter do the same with my buttons. 

 I'm selling the whole lot in my Etsy shop - hop on over.

May the joys of buttons continue for generations to come.

Happy Sorting! ~ Joyce

 

A Shabby DIY Blog Highlight (31 Projects)...

Have you been visiting Confessions of a Serial DIYer this month?  

Oh my - Christy has been one busy lady.  

She's been featuring a project a day in March.  

And these are awesome projects of her own creation!

Take a peek at some of my favorites so far...

Love this beach themed tray with reclaimed wood 'floor'...

I recently made a bunch of creamy white fabric rosettes - 

so  this rosette frame really appeals...

You can't go wrong with Chalk Boards from old frames...

(aren't her colors perfect?)

or with bulletin boards either.  Christy does a great job of

 walking us through the how-to of this...

So by all means - go check out all the projects.  

There are still a few more to come.

I've been hugely inspired - you will be too!

Special Delivery...

Today 2 sweet little girls and their mother knocked

 on my door and handed me this tiny sweet bouquet...

Miniature Irises

... freshly picked right from their garden!  Really?

  Flowers are blooming? Apparently I'd better check my own flower beds.

What a pick-me-up!  I am blessed.

Spring arrives tomorrow... and I have a special day after that...

 & again after that. 

Even at this old age - feeling excited! ~Joyce

Saturday Sightings...Vultures!

 There's a nearby village that seems to attract an abnormally 

high number of vultures.  We usually see them roosting 

high in the trees or soaring overhead.  Today they were camped 

on the ground in a larger-than-normal massive group.  

(Photos are fairly cropped.) 

 These are the black headed vultures - slightly more attractive 

than the red headed turkey vultures.   They do have their 

saving graces - as do all of God's creatures.  

Their wings are very large and make an impressive sound when they 

take flight.  They are pretty quiet (they have no voice box).  

We also appreciate our clean roads ('nuf said).

While the black on the red canoes makes a neat contrast - 

I sorta pity the canoe owners.  Good thing the canoes are upside down!

The local village?  Our dear Mount Gretna, PA - home of our summer cottage.  

Today was turn-on-the-water and put-stuff-back-out-on-the-porch day.  

Soon we can head over for weekends.  Spring IS coming! 

New Goods in the Shop...

Take a peek at some new merchandise in my Etsy shop...

Nothing says Spring like a new woven purse - 

and a new vintage purse will make you unique!  

Try this Japan straw barrel purse with lucite handle...

And if you prefer something even more unique - how

 about this inlaid wood box purse with bakelite handle?...

Nestle put out a promotional coffee jar with a special 

sterling silver filigree overlay - so pretty!...

And returning from last year - this beautiful  

large round tole painted tray of roses...

 

And this hand blown glass egg in Easter graphics box...

Keep checking the shop... new merchandise almost daily.

 Spring is on its way!  ~Joyce

Old Tool Box as Wall Shelf...

I've had this old tool box for years... but it's white paint wasn't working. 

 I stumbled upon this cutey at the Budget Decorator...

...and decided my white had to go.  I didn't do any distressing this time.  

These things distress themselves pretty quickly when used.

Boy do I wish I had better lighting to bring out the proper teal.

If it doesn't sell - I can always go back and distress it.  

For now it makes the Easter goods in my booth pop and

serves as a safe place for my real eggs (in the Spanish moss nest.)

Would love to see someone buy this for a wall shelf though!

Happy Spring - in teal!

A Sunday Snow Walk...

My Love and I enjoy taking walks in a local natural

 preservation area just down the road from us.   

Allow me to share a few of his shots from our walk today...

A Cedar Waxwing - we had never seen one

...and there was a whole flock of them!

...and from his walk yesterday.

Is there anything better than observing God's handiwork?  

I marvel that He didn't just make birds - he made many, many kinds! 

Creativity at its very best. 

Sometimes to see real beauty - you have to go looking!

Blessings to you ~Joyce

Friday Finds and Why I Bought Them...

We just had the biggest snow in several years yesterday (about 8") - 

but snow or no snow - there was a church rummage sale today!  

I had never been to this church sale before - but I'll definitely go again.  

It was great!  What made it great?  Prices, selection and get this - display!  

Any sale that takes the time to do a little displaying has my heart.  

Look what I spotted when I walked in...

 Yes - that great kitchen cabinet with things sweetly stashed around it.  

And a 50-cent-unless-marked sign...Rummage Sale heaven!  

I think I spent 45 minutes in this section alone.

   Cause right beside it was this little living room grouping...

 From this area I picked up the swan.  It's not vintage - 

but is a current enough look I think it will sell in the booth.  

At $2 - I can still make a little on it and my

 customers will think it's a bargain....  = Good Buy

Just yesterday I was thinking some faux flowers

 might be in order to help my booth look Spring-like.

  And look... surely there's a spring flower here somewhere... (there was!)

 They also did a good job of making the scarves look appealing... 

but I refrained...

  

Now - what did I get?

My most expensive item was the book of A B Frost drawings.  

If I'da had a smart phone - I might have passed.  It was $10.  

Can I get $20?   On eBay?  Maybe... some are selling; some are not.  

BUT - there's a book-guy that frequents my booth - 

and I'm thinking he'll pick it up - and probably for more like $30.

The Fairy Tales book seemed fairly safe at $3.  

The mirror? Ugly color - but simple enough to paint - only 50 cents.  

Everybody loves urns - so another safe buy at $2.

  Vintage unused photo albums sell for me - .50 ea.  

That big jug crock was only $5 - so it was a pretty safe buy too.  

The buttons were $1 - the jar is worth that!  

The heart sign?  Not vintage - but cheap holiday things usually 

sell in the booth.  But... I'll have to hold onto it for a whole year.

Old purses are always worth a look and straw ones sell.

The black one might be less desirable - but for 50 cents - why not?

 I rarely pick up flatware pieces unless they are unique.

But people use little sugar spoons in their canisters.  

 The other spoon touched my heart; it is engraved with 'Jesus Never Fails'.  

Will I be able to part with it?  We'll see after it's polished.  

Price?  Just 10 cents each!

What is it about finding bargains?  And being among such nice people?

It's some of the best therapy ever that's what! And only cost around $30. 

Blessings my friends!  ~Joyce

Couples Night Out (or Belated Valentine Party)...

Wow - this post is almost a week after that fact.  Time flies and doesn't always

 allow the computer time we'd like.  But the reality is - that is a 'good' problem!  

But we did host a little couples get together this past weekend - 

and I wanted to show you the final details.   We did a valentine theme 

even tho it was 2 weeks after the holiday.  I've found with my friends - 

'late' seems to suit more people.

My party planning involved....
1. sending out invites  2. making a take-home gift

   3. planning decor   4. planning a menu  

5. planning a game  6. decorating  7. cooking

Weeks ahead - I found little wooden hearts at a thrift shop and 

embellished them as 'take-home' gift ornaments... 

These were super cheap and used materials I already had on hand. 

Valentine napkins and a few packs of hearts from Dollar Tree were other purchases.

Then the menu planning... 

the main dish was this wonderful chicken and pasta recipe 

with sun dried tomatoes (a first for me).  Everyone loved it!
Gluten Free Party tip - I made a gluten free version for our personal Valentine evening - then froze some for my portion the night of the party.  Worked great!

Back to decorating - I put three candles on the table - but felt my center candle needed something between the base and the candle.  

Spanish moss was happy to just lay there for me - yay! 

(there was a spike to hold the candle and moss in place)...

 The rest of my finds were pretty much just scattered across the table. 

A bit of on-hand lace and burlap finished things off...

 (shh - the whole spanish moss idea was really to hide yucky rust on this 1 candle plate...)

 I wanted a dessert bar - but that can be a lot of work.  

To keep it simple - I bought the strawberry cheesecake.   

Pellman's for $10 (thanks discount grocery store)...

 Red velvet cake and cappuccino pudding completed the round up.... 

and of course fresh strawberries for garnish.  

I shopped my house for red and white and used some leftover fresh flowers...

 The dessert forks were happy to reside in this glass pickle dish...

Our game?  I passed around candy conversation hearts 

and had everyone pick 2.  Then we had story time!

  They chose 1 date (do people do those any more?) to tell about - 

but they had to tell the story using the words on their hearts.  Fun!

Now on to the next big project which needs to be taxes - 

but they're no fun.... so why not rearrange a room instead? 

 Gonna be a big day!