Spring is Coming!!!!!

Spring is coming oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

Here in the Greater Cincinnati area we really can't complain about this past Winter.  We've only had a few very cold days and really not below 0 as in the past Winter's. But, that said, I am tired of gray, rainy, brown filled days. I am soooo ready for blue skies, songbirds, Spring flowers, and gentle showers with sun shining and rainbows....not the tornadic storms of the past weeks, but Cincinnati is known for it's thunderstorms and lightening shows....so we are always ready for those. And, finally time changed! That means longer days!!!! which I start counting down on Dec 21st the shortest day of the year. I am the person who after Christmas and New Years 50+ degrees could start.HEHE.
This past week I got my wish....must've been the luck o' the Irish.....everything has budded out and flowering beautifully....Daffodils.........

This photo was taken in a southern suburb of Dayton...this is just part of the homes front yard!! The rest looks just the same..about 2 acres I guess. All daffodils and buttercups! Closer to the home is a small lawn and container gardens!.............................................

there are also Hyacinths, Tulips, Forget-Me-Not's, Azaleas, assorted Wildflower and  Groundcovers, and even the Raspberry thicket is leafing out! Then the raucous symphony at daybreak and sunset by the Robin's, Dove's, North Carolina Wren's, Black-cap Chickadees, Orioles, Owl, Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, red-winged Blackbird, Blue jays and Cardinals...with a rhythm section provided by the Red Pileated Woodpeckers and Woodcocks. Now all we need are the evening sounds of Frogs, Crickets, Tree Frogs and the rest. It's kinda neat tho to hear the songs of the Coyote at night when they get together.....we're lucky they do not like Norwegian Elkhounds (Shadow) and give them a wide birth..they smell way too much like a wolf (no dog odor, but they are like 2000 years removed from their wild brethern definitely not a 

'WolfDog', but very good hunter's and pack oriented)...Anyway back to Spring.

Since everything is bloomin all over I thought I'd show a couple of my newest Spring ideas.................

I made this Spring pillow by using a 1940's hankie and hand-embroidering some of the flowers and adding a couple of applique butterflies.

I then took some chipboard flowers to strew among the others and letters

that spell out SPRING. Perfect for indoor or outdoor rooms!

This little cutie is Angel and she is very special cause she's a musical angel of prayer........a music box! 

 She has her original little gold and brown wings, dress, and cord halo in her hair, but I added a 1930-40's hankie in matching colors that I hand-embroidered and added blue paper flowers.

 I then gave her a bit more bling by adding a two-toned blue rhinestone pin to her cord halo.

She sits atop a wooden box that when opened reveals a vintage hand-crocheted doily and a 1960's Virgin Mary pin. When you wind up her musicbox she plays, 'Amazing Grace'. Now Angel has come just in time for Easter!

I have been working on some other Springy creations that I'll show later, but if you'd like to know more about these two just let me know. Now I am off to visit some other Springy BlogParties! If you'd like to join me just go to my Weekly BlogParties Page and you can come with me. See you there!

St. Patrick's Week!

Oh I am so glad you stopped by today! Let's go down the kitchen hall.............

......and sit on the porch....................................

 

I can't wait to show you some St. Patty's inspired designs...............................................

Okay ya comfy? Wow it still looks a little wintry, but boy it sure has been warm. Here, let me get this stuff outta the box........................................................................

You said you were looking for a different birthday gift for your friend.....This is Colleen......

my March Angelic Inspiration ($27.50). She is a little (4" tall) lady from 1950. She has the prettiest blue eyes and long strawberry blonde curled tresses. Her dress was created from a 1930's hankie with a daffodil motif (daffodil is the flower for March) accented by new hand-tatted flowers embellished with glass beads. It has an overlay of a vintage hand-crocheted potholder in coordinating colors. The bodice and hat is embellished with a smaller hand-tatted and beaded flower. Her wings are embroidered tulle and she holds a bouquet of dried Babies Breath and a little charm that reads, 'Make a Wish'. Now, I just use this candlestick she's sitting on to show off her flowing gown, but she sits on the edge of a shelf prettily with her dress hanging down. And, she'll also sit on a small pedestal cake plate with her dress flowing over the sides making a unique cloche display. 

Here's another cute idea.....I know it smells wonderful....it's a potpourri pillow ($24.95). The pillow was created by using a 1950's linen hankie with machined-embroidered daisies as it's accent. I then took the 1940's dress potholder and added it to the center of the hankie. The potpourri (in a small cloth bag) is tucked into the bodice of the dress. To change the potpourri you just untie the the ribbon and take it out. The material on the back of the pillow is a coordinating yellow. It is soooo springy and St. Patty looking. Did you know the Celts of Ireland believed that when daisies bloomed in the Spring fields where children were buried it was God's way of letting them know they were okay and in heaven...isn't that a nice thought.

Oh, and look what I did for a Lady who was making a shadow box for her new little Granddaughter........

She brought in a 1950-60's Irish linen and lace scalloped hankie with little shamrock's that were machine-embroidered. I was worried the material would shred if I tried to hand-embroider the wee ones name (and what a truly Irish name it is!) directly on it, so I created a small fabric name plate 

I was pleasantly surprised it didn't take me long to hand-embroider those letters at all and the dye lot of today's thread matched the vintage perfectly...phew! Within the week she was off to the framers and then flying to meet the new bundle of joy.

Hm...what else is in my box......well.................................................................................

This big throw pillow was created by combining new lace over a pillow form and embellished with a 1940's Southern-Belle hand-tatted doily...perfect for your inner little girl..hehe......I love the black centered white daisies..Oh ya that is a 1960's enamalware black and white daisy pin she's holding..LoL, two gifts in one... pillow for decor and jewelry to wear! ($44.95)

You saw the other apron I did like this. The apron ($24.95) is from the 1940-50. I embellished the pockets with  vintage  hand-crocheted rick-rack edging and flowers, then I hand-embroidered some little flowers on the apron to match. My Aunt had one of these...plain, nothing on the pocket or anything...the same color...that matched her waitress (dress) uniform. Couldn't you see yourself in the kitchen Saturday...Oh my gosh.....speakin of kitchen...I gotta run inside and check on dinner!!!...wait here I'll be right back..........Can you call Hubs and have him meet ya here for supper? And, go ahead, check out the Weekly Blog Parties Page to see all the fun goin on in Bloglandia!

Made it....nothing burned. Can you two come for dinner? It's Irish Stew, Soda Bread, and Emerald Isle Cake.........Oh good. 

Ya know it has really been nice this week.....up in the 70's down in the upper 60's........how bout we eat outside. It is really Springy..what am I saying next week is the first day of Spring isn't it. I'll have some other things to show ya next week like a new music box and a pillow I'm finishing. Let's go in..you can help me get the plates and all to set the table...............................

The Bridal Season is Here!

Spring kicks off the busy wedding season and also sees the increase of Bridal Showers. I love showers there are so many themes and gift ideas...and gift registries are a great help in figuring out the Bride and Groom's tastes and choosing that all important wedding gift...., but the Bridal Shower for me has always been a time when you give a gift the new Bride may not have thought she needed at all, but it sure comes in handy. Or, it is a second marriage or the Couple have been together for a while and have decided to tie the knot...they usually have the necessities, but the shower gift can be something special..unique.


The most popular flowers for weddings are roses..white roses for pure love and red for passionate love. For the Bride who chose the classic in flowers for her wedding how about an American Beauty themed shower?
Invitations could be sent attached to a silk rose..be sure to mention the theme and that gifts should have a rose motif....this could be a very rosy party. Gifts might include,bedding with a rose motif, rose soaps and rose scents for the bath. Rose-scented candles with candlesticks or holders. How about  rosy red appliances or kitchen utensils for the kitchen. Think outside the box...a gift card to the local nursery for Knock-out rose plants for the garden or container gardens on the porch.
Decorations would include an arrangement of roses...guests could take one as they leave the shower as a remembrance. A sheet cake or cupcakes with sugar roses is a given. I always like to use decorations the Bride can take with her to use......how about a gift set for the Bride............................................................

 This is a 1940's table cloth perfect to place over the gift table or place on the food table with the cake. She can use it on her table in her new home.

A matching Hostess apron  was created using a 1950's red and white apron that has rose appliques on the pockets I made out of another table cloth.
The Bride-to-Be would don this upon her arrival....
those pockets can hold a lot of gift cards..hehe

Included in this set is 4 1940 beverage glasses in a rose motif. You could find glass votive cups to fit across the mouth of the glass and they become votive holders for on the table. The perfect shower gift for a Bride.








The complete set is available for $49.99

I think the American Beauty Bridal Shower is a fun theme...oh..and don't forget to 'shower' her with rose petals as she enters the party..every Bride should walk on rose petals. Please come on back again...I'll have a few more ideas to show you.
Don't forget to visit all the BlogParties on my party page at the top.

Pink Saturday post a little delayed

It has been a a hectic day around the Greater Cincinnati area today. For those who haven't heard the news a Super Cell Tornado hit the area Friday afternoon. It's path made it's way from Louisville Ky , thru southern Ind., along the Ohio River on the Ky side and across up into North Eastern Ohio...that is hundreds of miles in 3 hours! Here in Cincy we just had a Thunderstorm, but , not 50 miles away, WOW...this reminded me of the 1974 tornadoes....whole towns are gone...wooded areas pulled up by the roots...sigh....thoughts and prayers to those who lost loved ones, are hurt, lost homes or businesses.


A little Pink Saturday should help lighten the mood. I thought I'd do a little pictorial of pinks straight from 1949-1955 as seen thru the decor and ads in American Home, Woman's Day, and Family Circle Magazines.


This layout shows same floral print in 4 different colorways with different accent colors and styles, but all use pink somewhere.

 Now this 50's basement Rumpus Room showcases 2 salmon pink leather chairs!

And, this stately home utilizes a pale pink brick.

I love this spread. Pink and turquoise..so 40-50's...

 look at that great pitcher for lemonade and

 that condiment server ferris-wheel with black wrought-iron and pink ceramic! LOL Now I'm gonna have to be on the look out for these two pieces ;)

 Of course I had to include this illustration from a short story in a 1949 Woman's Day. What every homemaker daydreamed of...all her everyday tasks that she pirouetted through in pink ballet toe-shoes!!!

This last picture doesn't have much pink in it, but I found it remarkable....................................

isn't this a pretty dining room?  Black and White..leather and glass....pink tulips. Straight out of IKEA ideas?
Um...kinda....this is a decorating layout from 1967 touting Scandinavian decor in Better Homes and Gardens!!! Were you one of those who thought IKEA was new..modern?.....guess you like like 'Vintage' modern. hehe. Have a pinkiliscious day! And fon't forget to stop by Beverly's for Pink Saturday listed up on my Blog Party page to see all the other pink posts!

It's Old Stuff Day!!!

Who da thunk it!!! A whole day dedicated to the celebration of OLD STUFF! We in Bloglandia have known for a very long time what a national treasure there is in old barns.....garages.....basements......attics.......closets...
just waiting to be found.....restored, repurposed, renewed. In celebration of OLD STUFF DAY here is a pictorial salute...............................................................
                                       These are some old things in my kitchen
 

 This is a vintage stamped for embroidery tablerunner I completed and have for sale on my website

 This vintage apron is one I hand-embroidered. It's available for $19.99
I took this pic in the garden next to the old child's wheelbarrow filled with heirloom sedum taken from my Grandma's house..she planted it in the 40's

This is a vintage tray and coasters from the 60's

Old landscape

vintage embroidery Transfers

Vintage Religious card














and Postdard

 Old stuff in a dining room cubby

And, old aluminum and glass stuff over the dining room window

This is just a little of my OLD STUFF. Just things I've picked up over the last 40 years..LOL..I started when I was....10! The best thing about old stuff it was either given to me by folks who didn't want it anymore or was purchased for only a few dollars.......who says you can't decorate on a dime. It might be old stuff, but it cleans up real good.

Now let's visit the Thrifty Groove for her party