Having fun thrifting!!!

My cute hubby came home from garage-saling with this hat for me..... it is in perfect shape, If I filled it with fiberfill, it would be a perfect cushion! It will be in my etsy soon.

I bought this pretty hat pin from the estate of a fun collector....

I also got all these fun goodies, the large bottle is actually a dark purple, which is so pretty and I love that large canister with the beat up lid...soon it will be filled with oatmeal! The little silver shells are going to become some fun creation and the teacup will join my etsy....

I had a really fun Memorial Day weekend....it is so nice to relax, enjoy friends and do some treasure hunting! Hope yours was wonderful also! karen....

Oooo La La!

So...... a few weeks back, I found a lovely little blog called Bliss Farm Antiques... I visited a couple of times and fell in love.... Jackie lives on a beautiful farm and also owns an antique store that is filled with genuine french treasures.... both a dream of mine.
Well.....she had a giveaway and of course I signed up!! But sadly I didn't win (boo hoo!) Well last week I woke up to an email that said "Hello Winner!" Huh? That contest was over...I rubbed my eyes and opened the email. Evidentally 2 of her 3 winners didn't respond and I was picked in the second go-round.
I was to win some french ephemera (be still my heart, I love old paper!) a little french tin, 2 stencils and a lavender sachet... I was thrilled!!!

Now, go forward in time to this past monday.... I return home from work, tired and maybe a little grumpy (me??? no!) and there is this wonderful, large box with my name on it waiting for me!!!!
Look what Jackie sent me!

A box covered in old french paper, wonderful old paper ephemera, a candle that smells like heaven I am just sure of it, a burlap wine bag that I am going to foof up, some pretty blue ribbon and a gorgeous crystal perfume bottle that was once worn around the neck ( of a french princess I am sure!), the promised sachet........oh so fun!

But wait! There is more! I still can't breathe I am so excited about these:

REAL, AUTHENTIC, VINTAGE FRENCH GRAIN SACKS! I have made a million different things with these in my head already....I LOVE the pig ...... I am just so excited! But wait!

You still havent seen the wonderful paper goodies! And some buttons, and the tins:

Oh Thank you so much Jackie, I am just thrilled with all my french loot! Now the rest of you need to go visit Bliss Farm Antiques and see what a lovely blog and shop it is! Happy Thursday! karen.....

Gliltterfest and Thrifting....

Yesterday I was lucky enough to join my good friend Robin as a vendor at Glitterfest in Santa Ana, Ca. I took these couple of pictures before the show with the intention of visiting many others at the show later but we were swamped! This little bloggy/art world that we live in sparkled at this great event. The above picture is a pathetic picture of one of my favorite pieces that Robin had. It was a domed frame filled with Marie Antoinette beauty, velvet, organza, sparkle...It was attached to a large wire bust and decorated with a more wonderful flowers and vintage pretties...all my full pictures came out blurry so at least I got the main part of the piece.
I did not show at this event. I will again in the fall so all these pictures are of Robin's goodies for sale....

Above were little decorated matchboxes, crown hooks, tags and frozen charlottes.

Below, a close-up of the charlottes...wouldn't you want to just take this beautiful dish of charlottes home and admire them????? I would!!!!

How about this! A charlotte in a bell jar! Handpainted and dressed, a glitter rug and wonderful velvet leaves and the word Amore soldered as a bouquet on the top..... stunning!

Unfortunately, that is all the photo's that I was able to take but here are my acquisitions.... Some gorgeous earrings from Lisa Loria...I am in love with them...she also makes the cutest creations with vintage doll heads and her jewelry was sooooo fun...lots of enamel daisy bracelets and rings...just fun, fun, fun!

I also purchased this little "candy store" bracelet but didn't get the sellers blog...

Now.....On to today.... You didn't think I was done did you? I haven't posted in quite awhile so you get a loooong, picture infused post today!

Well, I went to our little flea and on the way to my favorite seller (I see her first and then go to the others) I spotted 2 frogs....which then became two frogs that I couldn't stop thinking about....

I love children's book illustrations and they evoked a feeling of the illustrations from "Frog and Toad together" and "Wind in the Willows" I could not, I repeat....could not, leave this little flea without those silly frogs.....

A man asked me..."Do you collect frogs?" "No" I replied "Cant say I even like frogs!" But these frogs..... oh I had to have these silly frogs!

Imagine your husband's response when you arrive home with these frogs...well, mine was the same but I am one smiling, frog-loving girl!!!

I also came home with some wallpaper, buttons, postcards, seam binding and 2 pretty plates....

But Oh those silly frogs!!!!

This is a candle I got from the goodwill this week, the wreath is actually for christmas and it had a green candle in the center but I bought the pretty blue one and it will look great with my beachy decorations and the wreath looks like coral.....

This chair is my last find.... It was sitting by the door at a little thrift store I go to.... Hello! You are coming home with me little chair! I know the cushion is a little small but I already had it and am on the lookout for one I love that fits....

Well, I am off to make dinner! I had a great weekend, I hope yours was fun too! Talk to you soon! karen.....

Weird and Scary?

I know some people are freaked out by dolls, some of these would probably fall in that category but when I saw this bag of doll parts my heart just went pitter-pat. I haven't figured out what I will do with them yet, I am going to share some on my etsy, but they still make me smile!
Hope your week is starting off well! karen....

Fun at the Flea

This sweet old quilt was purchased for my mom. I thought it was made of feedsack fabric but she said no, just really old cotton. It is in great shape, she will just do a couple of things to it and she will have a "new" old quilt.

Some tea towels to dress up for my etsy, a child's reader and a cute bunny doo-dad.

Buttons! Oh my! I love me some buttons!

An adorable childs apron made from 2 vintage hankies....soon to come to my etsy...

And then I had to throw this picture in!

This little rascal curled up in my closet, I closed the door and she didn't even care, she was cozy. (Please no comments on the messiness...I choose to think it is a wonderful grouping of colors!)

Have a happy end to your weekend and a great start to your week! karen.....

Petite Inspiration Box Swap- my gifts

I wanted to share with you what I made for my wonderful partners.....
Here are their boxes....

Here is one all stuffed with goodies.... millinery, lace, a fancy little bird, yo-yo's , cute cards, buttons etc........

I also made each of them a spring banner using Mary's wonderful Logomachy images....

And here are all 3 banners together.....I love making things pretty for people!

This was a great swap, if you have a chance to join a swap, jump in! and have lots of fun!

Happy Monday! karen.....

The Spotted Hen

My friend Jean makes these wonderful children's and baby quilts and I wanted to share them with my etsy customers. But since I already have a following for my inspiration kits and vintage goodies, I decided to open a new etsy. Our new etsy is named The Spotted Hen and will carry handmade by Jean and Me and also some vintage children/baby and home items.... Come by and visit, we will be adding to it over the next couple of weeks but please go visit to see Jean's quilts, they make a darling gift for a child or baby....

Jean has been unable to work the last couple of years due to health issues and was very successful with these beauties but cannot get around to sell them anymore so this will also help her financial situation, something many of us can understand in this in our economy...

Here is here sassy poodle quilt:

A darling blue quilt:

And of course, a rubber ducky quilt:
She makes these a generous size: 38" x 50", made out of flannel and chenille so they are very soft and adds a little pillow which usually becomes the child's " softie or blankie" so that they can carry it around instead of the whole quilt.... They are well loved!

Also in our new etsy, I have added this darling vintage lamb planter:

I will be back soon for another post....I am busy updating my etsy's, I also have some new kits that I am adding to my other etsy...I will let you know when they are ready!

Have a great Saturday! karen.....