Aaaack! I never post my favorite first, but I just have to this time! This is the cutest little owl I have ever seen! It's ceramic, I guess, and has 'Mexico' stamped on it. I have NO IDEA how old it is or when it was made but I don't care-I had to have it!

And look! Even the back is beautiful!



I just love this apron! It's vintage and a little farm print that is just too cute!



These are the most beautiful handkerchiefs I have ever seen! They really are just gorgeous! The first one is the "Blue" one, and here is a shot of the whole thing.

And here is a detail shot...


This is the "Pink" hankie. I can't decide which one I like better!

A detail picture of the pink one...


This is a new craft book I found. It looked really great at first, and really, it is a good book. It's just that it's not that helpful to me, personally, because I've done a lot of it/those types of things already. Lots and LOTS of projects-the whole book (and it's a big one) is full of projects!


Really...I need to do less shopping and more crafting! lol!

More WIPs, A Find and The Last of the Christmas Projects

Oops. I just realized that the title may technically be wrong...because this particular WIP was supposed to be a Christmas gift, but...now I'm just hoping to have it done in time for his birthday later this month. (If I would just get off the computer and quit looking at everyone elses' beautiful things, I could make more of my own!) Anyway...this is a little art quilt I'm working on. It's actually one in a series of 3. I've got 3 great pictures: one of him as a teeny boy, one as an older boy, then one all grown up. I've also made up a little story to go along with them. I really hope he likes it! I don't know if this type of art appeals to him or not but, I think he'll enjoy the humor, if nothing else. There will be words in the big, black spaces and of course I'll do more stitching and beading. I've made about the same amount of progress on the other two, but they weren't around while I was taking pictures.


This is my Find! I found it in the little dollar section of Target, which they call something else now because not everything is a dollar...this was $2.50. Still a bargain! They call it a "magazine rack", but I don't think they know what they are talking about, as it is clearly a little sewing basket for toting little WIPs around the house in! It's pretty small-the blue basket part is about 10 X 8, so I don't even know what magazine would even fit in there...comics, maybe? lol! You can also see one of my other WIPs in there now. I'm practicing my embroidery before I do some on yet another work in progress. I haven't embroidered in years so, although it doesn't have to be perfect, I want to make sure it at least looks decent. I don't know what I'm going to do with this when I'm done though...but, I did choose the colors to match my new office when we are done with the renovations, so I'll probably turn it into a little pillow or mini quilt somehow. (Of course, those are technically my initials...the 'P' doesn't always show up, though! LOL! After 14 years I still can't get used to that married name!) Anyway, I just love this little basket!



THIS is the last of the Christmas Projects, I promise! One more picture of a couple of Christmas Pillows out of the Target kitchen towels that you haven't seen before...the red one, which is a heavy cotton with appliques (similar to the sage green ones) and one made out of a cotton waffle knit towel. This was such a great and easy way to decorate! Just fold it in half, stitch it up leaving a little opening for stuffing, sew that up, and it's done!


The last towel project...a tote bag. I could have put a little more time and energy to it, but, I was trying to make it to match an outfit right before we were meeting some friends for dinner.... It's still cute and, because it's not so 'Christmasy'/more 'Wintery, I am still using it. I can at least use it through January, and maybe even in February if it's not 75 degrees outside by then.


I also made Christmas aprons for Allison, Claire and my mom, and I could have SWORN I took pictures of them, but I guess not. Allison wanted everyone to have matching aprons for the baking and cooking. So, although only she and Nana matched, I was able to whip up 3 for them, and I used my vintage Christmas one.


So...now I am going to leave the computer today, and work on some of those WIPs! Really. I promise. I think.

A Vintage Apron and a WIP

With so much going on, I forgot about these two little goodies. The first is a vintage apron I found in Gruene...my new favorite town, if you couldn't tell. lol! There is just so much cute stuff there!




This is one of my WIPs...I always have several going on at once...this little cutie will be a new tote bag. I think the elephant is adorable, and I just love the black floral print sooooooo much! I found it at Jo-Ann's and only got a yard...didn't realize it's potential, I guess. I went back to get more but by then it was all gone. (If anybody sees this, grab it up and I'll buy it from you!) The problem with this tote is, I'm loving it so much, I don't know if I want to keep it for myself or try to sell it.


And, for dinner tonight...Steven's ribs (made with his own special recipe sauce) and baked potatoes. My favorite!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Thrifty Vintage Finds in Gruene

Oh! Gruene, TX! I cannot believe I waited so long to go! But, I didn't want to go in the middle of summer, and this past weekend was perfect...nice and cool enough just to be considered cold. It was worth the wait!

Now, this first piece is neither 'thrifty' nor 'vintage'(bought at a regular gift shop), but...it is gorgeous and it is mine! A sculpture by artist Sandy Coulter of 'Full of Spirit Creations'. This is one of her smaller sculptures. She also has bigger ones (probably 18" to 2' tall, maybe???) that are also GORGEOUS!!! There is one in that shop that was literally pulling me to it! I don't know if y'all believe in that kind of thing or think I'm crazy or what, but, it was way, way in the back of the shop, and I could literally feel a gravitational pull...I couldn't stop and look at anything until I made my way back there. And I don't normally start at the back of a shop. But it is gorgeous and it was made for me, but I just couldn't justify spending money on that right now with needing to buy Christmas gifts for the kids. I am just going to pray and pray that it is still there after Christmas! This smaller piece (maybe 6-8" tall?) is beautiful also. The picture doesn't do it justice, but the heart is so golden and radiating...at least I could justify this one!


So moving on to the vintage/antique shop... here is a thrifty little vintage Vera Neumann Christmas tablecloth. It just barley fits my table! I'm going to replace the big, very dark red candles I usually have on that table with some lighter red ones that match, along with some greenery or something to make a matching centerpiece. I just wish I could get my hands on the matching napkins.


This is just an up close shot of the poinsetta...


One of my favorite thrifty vintage items...this Christmas Apron! I LOVE IT! I think I'm just going to go ahead and wear it out all the time. I think it would look cute with jeans and a green, red or white t-shirt and my Hanna Andersson red clogs. People may think I'm crazy, but this thing just needs to be seen! I'll have to find some coordinating fabric and made a tote, too! hee-hee!


And this is my favorite...I love all of the little nesting dolls and I have some old nesting Santa's (can't keep that out all year, though) but these are nesting OWLS! How cute are they?!? I can keep them out year round and they are adorable.


They had to throw me out of that store so they could close! Literally! And I only made it through like, 1/8th of the place. Definitely going back, sans children!