Welcome to my blog about things I love to collect, refinishing furniture and decorating using flea market finds (with a few crochet projects now and then).Thanks so much for visiting!




Friday, January 27, 2012

Unplanned trip to Arizona

I'm on my way to Arizona.
My dad (98 years old) called this morning and said he thinks he should come home (back to Minnesota)
He wanted to try spending one more winter there but he says he getting too weak and tires out too easily. (Plus the closest hospital is 100 miles away).

from this....

to this....

So I'll be boarding a plane on Monday to Phoenix, renting a car and driving 100 miles south to his little house in a small remote town. Then we drive back to Phoenix next Friday and fly back to Minnesota.

It will be a short trip for me but I plan to drive back to Arizona about a month so I can close up his house properly for the summer.

I hope....

So I will not bother to drag along my computer and I won't be posting or visiting until I get back.

See you all then!
(wish me luck that everything goes okay)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Just a quiet day...

It's been pretty quiet today and very dark and dreary outside. I'm very much a sun person so I tend to run out of ambition on days like this. My post is short and simple.

I recently found this pretty millinery flower that is so soft and lovely, a little ragged around the edges but still so beautiful.



Add a little vintage lace background and it makes such a pretty picture.


I'm so surprised at all the new followers on my blog lately...I appreciate it so much and so many kind words. 

Just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to look at my blog and to leave such sweet comments!

Linking to;
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
The Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thursday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
2805 for Potpourri Friday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Crochet Roses Pillow

Last week I showed you my little crocheted roses and this is what I have done with them so far...


I planned to cover the entire pillow with roses but when I placed a staggered row across the middle to get started I found I liked the look so I went with it...


Then I thought maybe they will look nice on my leftover linen from drawing rug hooking designs...it's not a pillow yet, just thinking for now...

With all of the roses I've crocheted, and they are so fun to make... I'm going to make a big bunch of pillows for myself and maybe I'll try a few pillows in my etsy shop...maybe? 


I also just finished a new wool applique pattern that ended being one of my favorites...I just had to post about it. I added little pom pom fringe around the edges...I think they look like tiny snowballs and the colors are so soft and pretty.

Thanks for taking a look...hope your week is going just perfect!

Linking to;
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
The Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thursday
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
2805 for Potpourri Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Homemade roses, soap and the rest of my junk shop treasures...

I take on way more than I'll ever be able to finish in a lifetime...I imagine most of you have the same problem...


I started crocheting these roses and I can't stop, I have a plan for them that I'll show hopefully next week..


Then I started making them with soft pink yarn....can't stop crocheting these either...


I have to include my homemade soap that my friend Stephanie taught me how to make.
This is only my 3rd batch but I think it's my best so far...it has the most wonderful lavender scent.
I just cut it into chunks because I like the rustic look...


And as promised, the rest of my junking finds in my favorite Arizona shop...
I couldn't resist this rose lamp for $5 and not a nick anywhere...


I will use the set of 4 claw feet as book ends...I love these!


The fan was in the shop on my first trip but he had just purchased it and hadn't tried it out to see if it works. He said to come back the next day, which I did, then he gave me a price... $20... but if it was working it would have been $40. He plugged it in to show me how slow it moved but once I got it home and turned on the switch, she ran beautifully! On top of that the oscillating works too...it just needed to be used, it probably sat for decades in some old shed.


I think it was a steal for $20...the blades are brass, no bends or dents and once it's cleaned up it will really shine...helps that Mr. Wild is a sparky electrician so I never worry about bringing home anything electric knowing he can always fix it!


An old kerosene can they used on the railroad in that town years ago which has the prettiest patina...


An old basket...


 And this you will think I am crazy to buy....I had to make the mistake of opening the door and what did I find...


It's an old ironing board!
It's super heavy and has a real neat handle on the front...the pictures just don't show.

I know, pretty rough but I've had a thing for old wringer washers, irons and boards forever so this is right up my alley. I have plans for it...I want to cut out a hole in the fence around my garden when we move, I'll set this inside....I know...kind of 'out there'  but that's me!


Thanks for stopping!!!

Linking to these parties;

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
The Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thursday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home
2805 for Potpourri Friday

Friday, January 6, 2012

Yee Haw! Back Online!!!!

I'm back!!!
I just installed my new internet service and I am one happy camper!
Just looked at my Pinterest and saw this pretty bird called a Blue Fairy Wren (Australia) that made me smile and decided I'd use this pretty picture for a post.


This new service is unlimited!!!! 
What is that? My old service gave me so little time for so much more $$$.
I called Mr. Wild at work and told him don't be surprised if I'm still online when you get home tonight.
This could also become very dangerous...will I ever get anything productive done!!!! 
It will be fun at first but I hope I can control myself!
Anyway...what fun it's going to be to spend more time on your blogs for a change!

See you soon!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

A few of my favorite treasures from my favorite junk shop...


Just a quick post of my first trip to my favorite junk shop in Arizona....


I about fell over when I saw this vintage laundry basket/cart. It's in such good condition and still has the original cotton clothes holder. None of his stuff is marked so I held my breath and asked...he said $10!
I've seen these sell on Etsy and Ebay for $65 on up!

We had one when I was little and I always thought it was so cool. It disappeared later on but I found the cart only about 20 years ago at a garage sale but didn't buy it. I always regretted that. Now they are so popular and sooo expensive. I'm so happy to have found one at a decent price.

Since this has the original cloth 'basket' which is in good shape except for a stain on the edge (no holes, tears or rot), I think I'll use the original as a pattern and make a pretty floral 'basket'. Maybe I'll find some vintage or vintage looking fabric...or maybe some old pillow ticking in pink and white.
If you click on the image you can see it a lot better.


Then I saw this old sewing machine, it's a Wilcox Gibbs and looks good other than being pretty dusty. He said $20 on that so I went for it. I've sewn all my life and I've always wanted to collect vintage sewing machines like this but again, the price has gotten so high.


One can never have too many old tool boxes. $3 to $5 each.  One is a tackle box. I recently saw a pin on Pinterest where they put brackets under a red box like this and used it as a flower planter...will do that with these someday.

An old twin bed size bed spring for $5!!!! This will be my Sweet Pea trellis!

I have more but will save them for next week...by then I hope to have an additional internet service to use.
 I've had a glitch in this one since Dec. 23rd.

Thanks for stopping!

Linking to;
Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
The Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thursday
2805 for Potpourri Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home