Pink Roses

happy halloween...

from her royal majesty, the queen...

eye spy...more junk

 I promise...this is it for Texas...but here are a few more pictures of my finds...6 great hats, the most expensive was the one with the velvet berries at $7.00!

I LOVE the pink velvet bow on this hat...

assorted paper tags and tickets and game cards...

vintage pink Christmas...

 

a few buttons...

polka dot spools...    

and a few old flowers...

There is more...jewelry & linens ...but they require cleaning and washing and ironing, and I haven't gotten around to that yet.  Oh, but I promised no more Texas...well maybe just one more post!

Halloween 2008...

Halloween has never been a big deal around our house.  Sure the kids loved dressing up and eating candy, but lots of Halloween things scared my kids, so we never went all out like some people do.  I remember someone once gave my children a ghost decoration with a motion sensor, and when you walked past it would make a spooky laugh.  I swear if I had it today, it would still bring Elizabeth to tears!  Scared the heck out of my kids.  Threw it away.  This is my first Halloween without any kids at home.  The first Halloween in 22 years I don't have to make a costume, and by "make" please know that includes: occasional sewing, hot glue, staples, duct tape, safety pins, rope,  and the like.  Our costumes were meant to survive the night, not become heirlooms.  I almost didn't decorate at all this year, except my parents are here and they are worth it.

On a positive note: I've only opened one bag of Halloween candy so far (fun sized Milky Way), the bad news is I've almost eaten the whole bag.  How far do you have to walk to burn off an entire fun size bag of candy?  From here to say...Omaha?         

Can't wait to see all the little people at my door on Friday night!

new moo...

  Do you Moo?  My new order of Moo cards arrived last week and they are so tiny and colorful and cute.    I got them to trade at Silver Bella in 2 weeks, so if you are going to Omaha-lets trade!    If you aren't going, maybe we could trade by mail after I get home.

If you are interested in ordering your own Moo cards you can find the information here:MOO.

I have 14 new cards, and some left from my last batch...

I have about a dozen Moo cards from other people, but haven't come up with a clever way to display them yet. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them!   

real life...

Hi friends, just wanted to check in as I've been absent for a few days.  My real life is interfering with my blogging, and I hate it when that happens!  Both of my kids have had things going on this week, and it's so frustrating to me, not to be able to be there for them and fix everything.  It will all work out, and it's part of growing up...for me and them.  My BIG deal is, that my parents are coming on Monday to stay for a week, and I am in that panic mode that only they can set in motion.  Please tell me you know what I mean!  Don't get me wrong-they don't expect perfection, it's just pressure I put on myself. 

So this morning I sat at the kitchen table and drank a cup of coffee, and as the sun came through the window, I took this picture.  It was calm and serene.  I want to be calm and serene.  For now, I'm off to finish the to-do list, but I'll be back Monday...calm and serene.

Enjoy your weekend!

true story...

While hiking through the Bar-W field in Warrenton Texas, I passed a "booth", actually more like a couple of tents-a couple of tables-and piles of junk, and I was going to walk right past this booth, when the older woman inside said hello to me.  I always stop when they say hello, it's rude not to.  We started talking, and I started rummaging, and I came across a hat.  The hat was navy blue straw, not very pretty, but it had this faded pink rose on it that I really liked, and the tag inside said "Myrtle of Houston"...a nice Texas souvenir I thought.  No price tag, so I inquired...

Me: How much is this hat?

woman: (please read this with a DEEP southern accent) "Oh lord honey, that hat belonged to a good friend of mine I went to church with for 50 years...I bought it at her estate sale"

Me: I'm sorry to hear your friend passed away...

woman: Oh she didn't pass away...she was killed

Me: (speechless)...I looked at the woman, and then looked at the hat, and then looked back at the woman...

woman: Oh don't worry honey, she wasn't wearing that hat when it happened.

She wanted $1.00 for the hat, I gladly paid, and later that night in my hotel room I took the flower and the tag off the hat and threw the hat in the garbage.  My sister said "why are you throwing the hat away?"  I told her it might have witnessed a crime, and I didn't want any part of that. 

Poor Myrtle.

my kind of junk...

You know me well enough by now, that none of this should surprise you...

a baby doll dress, pink pearls, lace and trim...  rusty film tins...

a massive tangle of pearl necklaces ($6.00)...

my initial in wood and metal...

Texas:for a scrapbook or picture frame or charm bracelet...

this Texas puzzle piece would make a cool belt buckle if I ever go back to the prom...

pretty cabinet card holders...

a sweet little box that's pink inside...

more to come...

Texas treasures...

After eight days of stomping around the fields of Texas during Antiques Week, you may wonder, did I find any treasures?  The answer is yes,  I bought a few things, nothing big, it all came home on the plane with me.  The real treasures are the things I brought home with me in my head and in my heart...the sights and smells and smiles. 

The real treasures were the blue sky days and star filled nights.  Sheriff's on horseback. A turtle crossing the road.  Barbeque, homemade tortillas, icebox lemonade pie. Hugs from Susan and Theresa, a glass of iced tea with Debbie.  Calling my son when the band played "Sweet Home Alabama" to let him know " they're playing your song".  Talking and laughing and sharing stories with strangers, yet hugging and parting as friends.  Yes, Texas is full of treasures, it's an experience just waiting for you...and it all happens again in April!

As for the junk I bought...show and tell tomorrow!

Texas inspiration: 3

This was an idea that was new to me: tissue paper flowers made from dress patterns.  I saw these flowers in a few booths, including Theresa's...

The natural color of the tissue paper makes it look instantly vintage, and the black lines and writing give it a great look.  I bought a bunch of patterns for 10 cents each, and started making these last night while watching TV.  They were really simple, but the tissue tears easily, so be gentle...I tore mine in several places! I think these would look great on a package, or pinned like a corsage onto a mannequin or lampshade...endless possibilities!

Have a fabulous weekend!

{Edit: here's a super simple little video I found online that shows you how to make tissue paper flowers...she uses 4 sheets of paper...you could use more...hope this helps!}

Tissue Flower Video

Texas inspiration: 2

Willow Nest Farm. {sigh}   Their website reads...

"Willow Nest is a pleasure for the senses; a combination of the romantic and the rustic, the practical and the frivolous.  The juxtaposition of something old and primitive placed with something soft and pretty; that's our style -- the "Linda and Ludmil " style."

I love it! Here is one of the MANY inspirations I got from their booth in Texas...using books without covers.  I loved the way they looked so aged and worn, yet very neutral and versatile...so shabby chic, or should I say rustic romantic!  I couldn't wait to try this at home.  Just take any old hard bound book...

This would be a great way to use thrift store/garage sale books with damaged or ugly covers.  I used a knife to cut away the cover, and then peeled the backing off of the spine...don't peel it all off...you want that aged look...

Use an odd number of books for more visual appeal...

Tie them up with some ribbon, and add a chandelier crystal or a faded millinery flower, a vintage photo...you name it.  This took all of 5 minutes to do, and I think it will look great in a bookcase, or on the mantel.  Thanks Linda and Ludmil for your creative inspiration.