I have added this sweet little bluebird to the give-away to celebrate my one year anniversary of blogging. I found the vintage pattern in a basket I bought at a garage sale. I bought the basket because it was a little wicker house that opened at the lid, cute. It was stuffed with old patterns, most of which I wasn't interested in. But then I found the pattern for this little bird. It is supposed to be a pincushion, and I suppose you could use it for that, I just think it's adorable for spring decorating. I am sending it along with the nest that I prettied up with some vintage millinery flowers and a button charm I made. The glass dish is the bottom to a lidded round butter dish that was my grandmothers and, sorry, it's not included. Got to keep that, but it does look pretty with the nest & bird:>) I think I will be making a few more of these and putting them in my etsy shop. They just sing spring don't you think? If you want a chance to win this, comment here, the drawing is Sunday night, March 2.

I'm a little chagrined. I was at work yesterday talking about the weather (we are supposed to get up to 7 inches of snow in the next couple days), doing my usual complaining about how I can't wait for spring, and God seemed to be saying something to me. I was suddenly stopped by the thought, what if I was very old, and very ill and this might be the very last winter I was alive? What if this were the last soft snowfall I would ever see? I know, it's a little morbid but lets face it, none of us know how long we have. For some people this will be their last February on earth. It seems it is easy to keep our eyes on what is to come and sometimes to just wish that what is happening in our lives right now was over. What a waste of days that is. We are all given only so many and each one is a gift. A chance to do something good. A chance to enjoy whatever we can of this little piece of time. Right now the snow is softly falling outside my window, the trees are sugar coated and, for now, it isn't muddy or grey. I guess I can be content with today and know that spring is on its way but that today, is worth celebrating too. I am warm inside my home and blessed in so many ways. Right now, today, is beautiful in its own way. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.:>)
Thanks for all the lovely comments on my give-away. I am working on a few more fun things to add to it. I forgot to add, I will do the drawing on Sunday, March 2nd so still plenty of time to "de-lurk". Enjoy today.

Thrifting and a give-away

What is it about rummaging through other peoples cast offs that gives me such a thrill? Earl and I had a great day together yesterday exploring new territory in Ann Arbor. Home to the University of Michigan and a very diverse and artistic population, Ann Arbor is a good time just waiting to be had, so we had it! We were concentrating on thrift shops yesterday and our first stop was a Kiwanis club thrift store. This store is only open Saturdays from 9-12, no pictures because it was so packed with bargain hunters you had to almost fight to get through the crowd. Not my idea of a great time, but since we got there as the doors opened we beat most of the crowd in and I got a few bits of vintage jewelry and pearls for creating, then we got out of there while we could still get to the door.Our next stop was a fun one, it was a reuse and recycleing center where "good" stuff is dropped off instead of going to the dump. I have thought this idea was a good one for a long time! Look at all the light fixtures here! This chandelier was only $15.00, the wicker chair below (there were two!) only $35.00!

I didn't get anything here but we will be back in the spring to look again.Look at this chair, $35.00! I swear if I had a speck of blue in my house I would have bought this, it was in perfect condition.

One of the last stops was my favorite. It's called Thrift Mart and it is a resale and consignment shop. Oh my. Three floors of the most awesome, great stuff ever!

Needlepoint chairs and stools....

These vintage glasses were only 50 cents each, love the bright fruits on them!

I saw this little tea for one and thought of Dolly, sorry Dolly, didn't get it:>(

You say you like milk glass? They have a little. I did walk away with a few treasures, there was so much to see here I could have bought more, but the budget just wouldn't allow it so this is what I found....

A platter that goes with my set of Johnson Brothers rose bouquet (another garage sale find) that we use all the time for special dinner parties, and a stack of 17 clear glass dessert plates for $4! The platter was marked $10 but they rang it at $9 because it had been there long enough to get marked down. What a deal! the platter is listed on replacements.com for $30.99. The dessert plates are just what we need for big family dinner parties and I love that they are so simple that they don't fight whatever china pattern I use. I did get a couple more things but I am waiting to show them to you until I finish a few projects...which leads me to the other reason for this post. One year ago today I stumbled and bumbled my way through my first post on this blog. I had no idea what I was doing or how much I would get out of this experience. It has been such a positive part of my life and I have loved every minute of it and every person I have met through sweet comments and the thoughts and experiences and creations you put into your own blogs! So here is what I am giving away

It seems appropriate. After all you have all touched my heart in so many ways. The bliss charm represents the joy I find through this little piece of the world that is all mine to express myself in any way I choose. So I am giving you my heart and thanking you for the smiles and inspiration you have given me. I will be adding some more items as the week goes on. Just leave a comment on this post and your name goes in the hat. Thanks for making this a great year, I look forward to the next and to more fun with my "invisible friends":>)

Tomorrow is my one year anniversary of starting this blog. I feel a give-away coming on... come back tomorrow and find out what it will be! Today, Earl and I are headed to Ann Arbor to explore a world of Thrift and antique shops that we haven't ever been to before. Sounds like so much fun! See you tomorrow:>)

I can feel it...

It has been months since I had a good yard sale, thrift store, curbside browse and I am feeling the need for a little thrift therapy :>) I wouldn't say I'm addicted to the hunt. No, addiction is a pretty strong word with negative connotations, and I don't think thrifting is negative, therefore, it can't be an addiction, right? Hmmm. Well, I just happened to be in a thrift store the other day, and these bowls were being put out. I love red, and this deep, rich red with roses is so pretty! Four soup bowls and a large vegetable/serving bowl and I had a coupon for half off so I snapped them up. They say Myott, Staffordshire England on the back and they are in really great shape. SO, I come in the door and pull them out to show youngest daughter (who is so much like her father!). Look honey aren't these pretty? She looks at me and says, "did you need those for something?" Well..., yeah..., I can use these for soup and... stuff.... Well, what does need have to do with it anyway? Someday I'm going to remember that question when she is all grown up and a bargain (addict) hunter herself!