Kits and a swap.....

I hope you are all enjoying the end of your summer. We are having a heatwave here in Southern California (and horrible fires also) and it does make one cranky at times....especially at night when you want to sleep!
I realized that I have never shown you a swap I did with my friend Marlene. She has 2 Wheaton terriers and loves scotties too so as you can see, one little guy is peeking out of the basket. The flower on the basket is made by me...I just loved the basket and had to make a flower to embellish it:

I finally finished a few sets and got them listed in my etsy;

I was lucky to get a pretty lot of English tins for a good price on ebay and have filled them with more goodies for creating.....

The one above is a large set... this is one of two that I have listed, more fun things to create with....

And this time I am adding some nice surprises before mailing them...it's nice to be surprised occassionally! Well, I am off to finish dinner preparations...ham on the grill, potato salad, deviled eggs and fresh slice tomatoes from the garden...yum! Hope you have a good monday tomorrow! karen....

What's new.....

Well, most important on the agenda is my cute mommy is home! She did not want me taking her picture but I had too... gotta show off that pretty nightie! Anyway she is doing well, better than she has all summer and we have a nurse coming every third day so I am calmer because I know we have support. So hopefully we are getting back to our normal routines because I have to go back to work on Wednesday.
My mom felt so good, she wanted to help me get started on some projects for a halloween fair that I will be doing in Oct. called Glitterfest. So she helped me sew some backgrounds for some new banners....I love halloween and am really excited to work with all my fun stuff!

I promised to show you my loot from last weeks flea market adventure. I noticed after I took the picture that everything is in the same color pallette...Anyway, there isn't much but I do love what I got:

Vintage religious cards....they are just so pretty and calming...some tiny little christmas cards, a couple of pretty rhinestone brooches and a cross/medal. And two powder boxes that make my heart smile. The one has a Marie Antoinette era picture on it and little feet on the bottom of it...that one I am going to keep, the other will probably become one of my kits...I have only seen newer powder boxes that are glass bottomed and these are just wonderful!

Here is a closeup of the jewels...

Anyway, thanks for the well-wishes for my mom, I am definitely a happier person and calmer that she is doing so much better!

I will be posting soon about some things that I have listed in my etsy...I am finally getting some things put together! Have a great weekend! karen....

This and That

It has been awhile since I last posted, our lives seem to be forever busy but in a holding pattern at the same time!
We did go camping! That was so calming to me, I guess because I couldn't fuss, just beautiful nature and books and family.....

This was the only good picture we got, my camera batteries died right away, but that's okay, we will remember it in our hearts.....
My poor mom was put back in the hospital on thursday for yet another surgery!

We were both so upset at first but now realize it was a godsend that her wound was still looking funky because when they opened her up , they found a huge blood clot! She has also recieved 3 units of blood and she said she feels like a different person. She finally has her pink cheeks back and doesn't look so ashen so we have decided that we are greatful for this stay.....

I was able to list exactly 2 things in my etsy....more kits to come...

First this darling hand-blown glass salt and pepper set. I love the polka dots!

And the second is one of my inspiration kits but this time in a large size...lots and lots of pretty goodies to create with and a beautiful English bisquit tin to boot!

Well, that's about it for now. I may try to slip over to our flea for a short time this morning. I will be back to show you my goodies if I do...

Here is another little vignette from my mom's birthday. The doll at the is one my mom stuffed and dressed in a beautiful old silk years ago and we took it out of storage...I just love her!

Happy Sunday! karen....

A Camping we Will Go!

Last night I took a rosary class with Robin, I had soooo much fun! This was a beginning jewelry making class and a friend of Robin's had it at her house in Topanga Canyon. It was like having a class in a tree house! I loved it! I didn't take pictures, I forgot my camera but these are pictures that Robin had posted on her blog. My rosary isn't done, it will be made with green beads and vintage brass findings.

We are leaving to go camping for 2 days tomorrow. I am excited to go, thought I wouldn't be able but family and friends have rallied together to help us have our little getaway. My friend will come and check on mom and my cousin Al is spending the 3 days with her. I am so glad to get away...now I need to go finish gathering and shopping!

I have added a couple of pictures for you to copy from a vintage child's book that I purchased awhile back. I think they are just so charming!

It is a board book and the paintings were wonderfully done for the book.....

Hope your next few days are wonderful...I am off to romp in the woods! Talk to you when I get back! karen.....

A View from the Credenza.......

Just love this teacup and I didn't really plan it's contents, it just sorta happened and it makes me happy to walk by it every day so I thought I would share it with you....

And every teacup needs a pretty creamer cousin filled with vintage hankies right? Happy Friday my friends...

My cute Mommy is back in the hospital, she had a surgery to clean out the wound where the hip was replaced, infection had set in. She is doing pretty well, we are just bummed that she is having to go thru all this! They said she will now be on 6 weeks of antibiotic infusion daily but this time a nurse might be coming to our house for a while and then they will teach me how to do it...much easier since I start back to work Sept. 2nd.... Please think good thoughts for her!

I will try to keep up my posts! hugs! karen....

Giving him wings.....

A few years back, I was window shopping postcards on ebay and found this postcard that I couldn't stop thinking about. I went back the next day and put him in my watch list, all the while never intending to buy anything.... but this little guy haunted me and I knew I needed to give him a home.....

When he came in the mail, I thought to myself, " What am I doing buying another postcard, I was just going to window shop!" Then I opened up my package and read the writing on the front...... It says "How do you like this alligator bait?" I knew why I needed this postcard...this little boy needed wings....

Ahhhhhh! That's better! Now he can fly!
Happy Monday! karen.....
PS... go check out my little flea market on my etsy site, fun things to be had!

I am having a flea market on Etsy!!!!

It is soooo time for me to de-clutter. Our room is swelling with treasures and I need to de-stash and fast so I can also put some new kits that I have been collecting for....I just need to be able to see my goodies !

So.... I have added a bunch of goodies that hubby needed to pry from my vintage loving hands at really good prices. There are also a few of my moms doll collectibles, so have a look!

A collection of wonderful hand crocheted hot pads...love the colors!

From my mom's collection: A Boyd Porcelain doll, numbered and gorgeous!

And an alburon Irish doll...so cute and sweet!

and 2 Jan Hagara mugs, a Jan Hagara tin and a Nancy Doyle collector plate....

A darling little hand crocheted pillow...oh how hard it was to post this!

Some adorable soapstone bunny napkin rings...

2 sets of Matrushka's, this one is little red riding hood and a cool bunny one too!
And there is more too! Vintage hats, old children's books.... Go take a look!