Vintage Birds

A DISCLAIMER: The cleaning woman was dusting again without her glasses on. And the photographer was too lazy to re-take the photos.

A couple of months ago, our daughter was in the bathroom, straightening her hair. I heard her say "What's the deal with all the birds?". I ran over, thinking there were a bunch of birds at the birdfeeder. She said "What's with all the birds in the bathroom?". I looked in the bathroom, and around the house, and I guess I have a collection and didn't even know it! The one above is a goldfinch. It's in the living room, not the bathroom.

The one on the left is a Tanager, and on the right is a parakeet. I think the parakeet is my favorite bird figurine.

On the left is a parrot, and an American Robin on the right. I got the robin for my birthday several years ago. It's one of my favorites.

I got this oriole last summer while on vacation in Wisconsin.

A lovebird wallpocket. From the fine bathroom collection.

This is an old cockatiel, I believe. Also a bathroom special.

Another bathroom bird.

These caged birds are also from the bathroom. I got them from Ebay, and I thought they were so cute. They are cute, but they also look like little hot air balloons, floating away....

A close-up of a dusty bathroom bird.

A bird on a McCoy planter. Another of my favorites.

I've had this birdie since I was a little girl. Could this one possibly be my favorite?

Finally, an old wall pocket with parakeets on it. I'm almost positive that this one is my favorite! But then there's all the roosters. Let's not even go there! Do you maybe have a collection that you don't know about? If you would like to see more vintage things that are hopefully not all dusty like mine, hop over to Coloradolady, where Suzanne is our wonderful hostess!

Valentine Crafts For REDnesday!

I'm continuing what I started last week, and showing a couple Valentine projects that I have been working on, for Rednesday.

I made this fleece throw for the back of our geriatric couch, because I like to have some kind of seasonal thing on there. My Mom will be 85 next month, and she remembers the couch from when she was a little girl!

I started with this throw from Walgreens. It was on sale for $1.99 last week. You can't buy fleece by the yard that cheap! And it also has a nice blanket stitch all around the edges. It's 50"x60".

I picked up three different Valentine fabrics at JoAnns, cut out the hearts, added white rickrack around them, and that was it. It cost me about $4 to make, and I'm quite happy with it!

I got these little chenille Valentine girl ornaments from Ebay. They were a little plain though.

So I added some red glitter, and gave each gal a little heart wand to spread love all around!

And then I made a little garland out of them for the mirror. I think they need to go on a wider ribbon. Or something. I'm not happy with it yet, so I think I'll tinker with it a bit more! I'm having so much fun making Valentine decorations that I'm definitely going to need a bigger box when I pack it all up again! Now if you would like to see more reds, pop in to It's A Very Cherry World, where Sue hosts this fun party every week!

Estate Sale Finds and An Award

I went to an estate sale Saturday morning. I thought it was the first day of the sale, because that's the way it was listed on the website, but it was the second day. Kinda irritating, seeing as I made sure I got there at 7AM to get one of the numbers hanging on the gate. Ah well, I'm just so happy to have a sale to go to at all in winter!
I've always wanted a Home Sweet Home picture, and now I have one!

I don't know what kind of stitching this is. Crewel? Needlepoint? I thought it was interesting, and for only 50 cents, it came home with me.

I almost squealed when I saw this little cottage ornament! It's staying out year-round, and if I can get that front door open, I'm moving in!

This picture is so bright and Springy that I had to have it! Love the frame too. All of these pictures were so filthy. It isn't just dust, because it just smears when I wipe it. I think it was a smoker's home, so I'll have to put a little bit more elbow grease into it!

I had to grab this little hanky, made in Sweden. Again, very Springy! I also got a bunch of knitting needles in various sizes, and a few little doodads that the cashier let me have for free! I guess the second day of a sale isn't such a bad thing after all!

And finally, Kori at Blonde Episodes gave me this award about a week ago, and I'm just now getting around to posting it. Thank you sweet Kori! If you've never seen her blog, please pop in for a visit. Besides being the nicest gal on the planet, she is a great writer, and every day she features little tidbits about old Hollywood and current style icons. It's so much fun visiting her!
I am passing this award on to all of my bloggie friends!

I'm Dreaming of Spring!

I went to a few thrift stores today, looking for valentine decorations. I didn't see anything like that, but I kept being drawn to things that made me think of Spring. I know, it's crazy, seeing as it's only January 6th. Especially since we are getting 6-10" of snow tomorrow!

This is what I would love to be doing right now. Watering my flowers, with a big yellow bow in my hair!

C.U.T.E. I wish I could read the label on the bottom of these, because I have no idea who made them.

I wouldn't mind sitting on a big old toadstool right now either! With a birdie perched on my shoe.

And they have all congregated on this little metal shelf that I found at an antique store before Christmas. I think I might have it hanging upside down, but these guys seem safe from falling off this way. Yes, I'm dreaming of Spring, but all that snow tomorrow will definitely bring me back to reality! Now if you would like to see lots more vintage things, head over to Coloradolady, where Suzanne is our wonderful hostess every week!

Valentine Shadowbox

I think I've run out of red things in my house. Luckily, Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so that should last me a month of REDnesdays! I've always loved Valentine's Day. I loved picking out the perfect valentine for everyone in my class, especially the cute boys! We would all have a little "mailbox" on our desk, and we'd each get up and pass out our cards. Did you do that too?

I love making valentine crafts, and I'm pretty happy with how this shadowbox turned out.

It started with a little heart-shaped box from Michaels, and a twirly glittery heart decoration, also from Michaels. I took the lid off the box, painted the box red, and added scrapbook paper to the inside. I took the glittery hearts apart...

and glued the bigger glitter heart to the rim of the box. I printed out a copy of an old valentine that I had, added a little picket fence and some flowers and lots of glitter glue!

And I still have the lid from the box and two glitter hearts to make something else.

Some old valentines on a wire picture holder that I found at Goodwill. It had a really ugly design on the base, so I just painted it red.

And finally, two valentine cups from Michaels. Love the heart-shaped handles! I'm working on another project that I'll share next week for REDnesday. Now, if you'd like to see more red things, head over to It's A Very Cherry World, where Sue is our awesome hostess every week!

A Crafty Weekend

Is it wrong to fall in love with a paper punch? I know you gals with your Cricuts have a love thing going on!

I just bought this Martha Stewart edge punch. Isn't it beautiful? I know, I know, you probably have one already. But I am very new to this tag-making experience.

I thought I would try to make a tag before I make one of Elizabeth's, for her Tag Along. She will be making a different tag every month, and she provides the graphics for them. You can copy hers, or make it your own. So I made this little one, to get some practice. The crepe paper was definitely the boss of me, instead of the other way around! But I am learning. I wish you could see the glittery parts, because I love the Stickles glitter glue that I used. Either way, I want to use that edge punch to make many more!

I also made a bunch of felt and flannel hearts, all a little different from one another.

I acquired alot of apothecary jars last year. Last year. That sounds funny to say!

So I needed to fill those jars with lots of hearts, and felt ones seemed the cheapest way. Seven down, many more to go. I hope you found time this weekend to craft!

Happy New Year! 2009 In Review

I would like to wish you all a Bonne Annee, or Good Year! And do a quick little review of 2009. I started this blog back in April, and I wanted to quit after just one week! I was putting too much pressure on myself to post often. It was supposed to be fun. Well, it is now, because I just go at my own pace, and just be myself! I'll start off the review with a couple of my favorite finds.

I found these pink shrooms at an estate sale, put them down, then quickly ran back and got them. They're perfect for my "secret garden"!

I just love the colors and graphics on this vintage Chinese Checkers game that I found at an estate sale.

I have always loved Smokey the Bear, ever since I was little, but I never had anything of his until I found this scarf. I almost cried when I saw it, believe it or not! Still looking for the perfect frame.

I found this quilt at a barn sale, for $3.50! A perfect addition to my patriotic decorations.

This old pink radio is one of my favorite things, won on Ebay.

This old lunchbox was another one of my Ebay winnings.

I've always wanted one of these pretty wastebaskets. Now that I finally have one, I feel it's too pretty to put garbage in!

I enjoyed showing my little children's stove that I had when I was a little girl.

I also enjoyed sharing my little pink dollhouse.

One of my favorite projects was turning this $1.00 garage sale clock...

into this! So fun and easy.

Another project that I enjoyed doing was making a cushion and pillows for the bench by the back door. They were so pretty, until the squirrels ripped them all to shreds. They used the stuffing in their nests up in the trees. I guess it was their mating season, so hopefully I will remember when that was, so I can bring in the new ones I plan to make!

I'm so proud of myself, because this summer I walked through that arch and conquered my fear of the neighbors in back of us, who threatened me. I had let my secret garden get all weedy for a couple of years because I was too afraid to go back there. I guess I got tired of being afraid. I got alot accomplished, including that picket fence along the back of the garden, until I got a raging case of poison ivy!

I had a wonderful time on my Girls Gone Wild Weekend!

My daughter, mother, sister and niece went to the Czech Fest in Wisconsin. We only got in a little bit of trouble!

My baby turned 21! That officially makes me old. But I don't feel old!

All in all, it's been a great year. I wish all of you and your families a 2010 that is filled with lots of love, happiness and prosperity!

And I want to thank all of the wonderful people that I have met here in blogland. You have all taught me so much, and shared little peeks into your lives, and I've enjoyed every minute of it!