What I've Been Up To....

Here are some things I've been working on... vintage trims sample tags to sell in my Etsy Shop (they are great to use in art projects)

And my one-of-a-kind upcycled picture frames.  

Lots of things to list still. Anyone interested can purchase items from my shop on Cyber Monday and get a 15% discount on the total order - just enter the code: CYBERMONDAY at checkout. Deal starts at midnight Sunday, and ends at midnight Monday.

Upcycle - Vintage Cottage White Picture Frame

NOTE: Congrats to Nelly Lutte of Ephrata PA who won my collage platter on stacymakescents.com!

I wanted to share with you my latest embellished frame.  Painted, distressed, and embellished with jewelry findings, backed with pretty paper.

Frugal Living and a Giveaway

I have recently taken it upon myself to learn all I can about frugal living. I already spend lots of my time frequenting thrift shops - I would much rather spend my money there than at the local shopping mall or department stores. I'm learning to preserve foods by canning and freezing, and I'm clipping coupons, organizing them in a binder. A HUGE help to me has been Stacy at stacymakescents. Stacy is the Queen of frugal living and is ever willing to share her hints and ideas. She has weekly giveaways, and this week I am proud to be a giveaway sponsor. So skip on over there and check it out (no international entries, only US please). The prize? Remember this?....

Sweet Bird Find, and Current Wedding Project

I am so far behind!! I cannot believe that it is September 1st (my very FAVORITE month!) - where did August go???? Anywho, I'm coming around to visit today to see what you're up to. Wanted to share a recent find - a darling tray/caddy in a gold finish with little "kissing" birds on the handle. It is listed in my Etsy.   I have more finds I can't wait to photograph and show you very soon. This past weekend was one of the best in the way of discovering treasures!

I have also been busy filling a custom order for bridesmaid gift boxes (last two pics), and I'm almost finished -Yay!

Swapping Goodies from Rebecca

Sweet Rebecca of A Gathering Place and I had our own swap, and look what wonderful goodies I received today!! Tea Bags/covers, note cards, book mark tag by Rebecca herself.... did I mention I dearly love a cup of tea?  it is one of life's pleasures...

and just look at this gorgeous hand painted swap box - a treasure in itself! I shall cherish it always.

Filled with things I love, look at that big sparkly rhinestone brooch - be still my heart!

Lucious laces, little gold heart locket, sweet hanky,

vintage buttons and sewing notions, little trinkets...I love it all!

Such a FUN SWAP - thank you Rebecca, from the bottom of my heart...

Randomness...

I received my Birdsong Tag Book from Karla! These tags are all beautiful - there are so many wonderfully creative people who participate in swaps; if you haven't done so, I encourage you to participate in one.

Blog friends are the best! Look at all these wonderful goodies I received in the mail from my friend Abby - she knows how much I love pretties like this, and I am just overwhelmed with the goodness of her heart....

You remember the child's chair I upcycled? It is the green one on the left. Found these other two on recent treasure hunts and painted them for my photographer friend - she will be using them as child photo props.

Some cottage whites

Winners of my giveaway are:  1. Friendship Collage Art:  Deb of Garage Sale Gal.  2. Ceramic Trinket Dish: Jan Marie of Re-Creations.  Congrats, girls!
Today I am posting a couple of cottage white items,  a pair of vintage milk glass shakers and a tiered tray I finished recently. Both are for sale in my Etsy shop.  Hope you enjoy!

A Friendship Giveaway!

Aaarrggg!! - I have had computer issues - had to get a whole new computer, keyboard and everything! A very unexpected expense.....I'm behind on my blogging, and I aim to catch up - starting right now. I'm having a "friendship" giveaway - these two items will be given away, so there will be 2 winners!

#1: My original FRIENDSHIP art collage
#2: a sweet vintage oval shaped ceramic trinket dish with a pink and gray rose design.

Just leave a comment by 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Sunday, July 17 - I will put all names in a hat and draw two winners on Sunday evening.

Apple Green Child's Chair

I finished this little upcycle project yesterday - it's already sold to a local photographer to use as prop in children's photos.  I painted the little chair an apple green, distressed it a bit, and then added a walnut stain which I quickly wiped off.

I'm ready for the Birdsong Tag Book Swap!

I finished my tags well ahead of the mail-in deadline for Karla Nathan's Birdsong Tag Book Swap - these were so fun to do!

For The Vintage Wedding

I'm delighted to participate in Angelic Accents wedding blog party  (just click on the link on the sidebar to visit lovely participating blogs) - I chose a few photos of vintage wedding inspiration:

A GIFT FOR THE BRIDE...

LUSCIOUS BRIDESMAID DRESSES...

BRIDAL JEWELRY WITH A TOUCH OF BLUE...

VINTAGE BRIDE TAGS....

and CUSTOM GIFTBOXES FOR BRIDESMAIDS..

Through The Eyes of a Child

I wanted to share this collage piece I just finished, inspired by this gorgeous image of a little girl from The Graphics Fairy. I love her soulful eyes.  Children are so precious and innocent for such a short time....forget about the insignificant things - the housework will wait.....grasp the moments and cherish them.

My BLESSINGS journal, and a some recent finds

I am taking part in Christian Paper Crafts Thursday Bible Verse Challenge.  I want to share my Blessings Journal that I just finished. In it I am writing my daily blessings - the unexpected things that the Lord sends that bring me joy and make my heart overflow.

Here are my yard sale finds today. I found a fabulous art glass vase, china teacups and saucers made in Austria, a huge roll of silky ribbon used as blanket binding - isn't it a yummy color?, and a darling wooden drawer with a label bracket on the front and divided sections. This would be great sitting on a coffee table filled with curiosities, or as a base for altered art.  I hope you find some great things this weekend as well!

Collage Art

I have collected quite a stash of vintage lace and findings - I can't help it - it's a sickness. S-o-o-o, I decided to get busy using them in collages and other art pieces. Here is one I just finished. It was very difficult to photograph, I took maybe 50 shots and still can't quite get it right. Even with the newest easy-to-use cameras, my photographic skills are lacking.... I picked the better pics to show you.  It is listed it in my etsy shop.

A Matchbox Swap with Abby of Little Birdie Blessings

Abby of Little Birdie Blessings and I decided to do our own swap, and was it ever fun! As I opened my package, I was blown away by all the wonderful things it contained.

First of all this gorgeous box...

Filled with goodness....

and overflowing with things I love, scripture, florals, birds, Victorian ladies...

vintage laces, trims, sparkling jewels and trinkets, tags....

Oh my gosh, I've played and played with all these pretties. It is as if Abby took a peek inside my heart and made this beautiful box for me. If you are interested in a participating in a swap, I urge you to do so. Here are some really fun blogs that offer swaps quite often, and all are fabulous!

Vintage Dragonfly
 Speckled Egg
 A Swap For All Seasons

Or, just pair up with a blog friend, like Abby and I did, and have your own swap!