This Shelf which hangs in my Dining room was specially made for my teacup collection years ago.  I saw one like it in Victoria Magazine and took a picture of it to my wood man and he built this for me.  I have loved it as it hold some treasures for sure.  These teacups are from all over, and most of them I have bought on our many travels around the US at antique shops.   I have some favorites, and I switch them around sometimes, because I can't quit buying them.  So this is not my entire collection.  I do love these little pedestaled ones and I have a few of them now.

 This one was my husbands grandmother's teacup, and I think it is just so stunning.

 Okay, I know that I have posted this shelf before, but that was probably at Christmastime.  Joy is the sentiment I want to echo loud and clear all through the year, so I leave my "JOY" letters up always.  Notice the copper bowl full of mercury glass ornaments.  I like mercury glass so much I just can't put it away after Christmas, and I am getting quite a collection of it, and it something I like to look at all through the year also.  as you can see, I also like toile ware too!

Happy with it now!

A few posts back I showed off a framed piece from Home Interiors, that I took apart and painted and then in the frame was a wonderful embroidered white 'M' monogramed on white.  I said I needed feed back.  Well the majority of comments I got back were to not frame something square with something oval. I agreed, so this is what I have done with this frame now and it is hanging in my craft studio.  I love it now and am doing something different with the monogram.  Below is what it looked like before I changed it.

*Here is an interesting side note though.  When I was at the Brass Armadillo (antique mall with my sister a few weeks ago) I spotted this same exact framed piece two different times in that mall, and the first time it was  $30.00 and the second time it was tagged $60.00.  (keep in mind that it is a home interiors heavy plastic frame and not an antique at all)  I had to smirk, laugh and grin big, cause I got mine for a couple of dollars at a yard sale!  SCORE!

From my latest thrifting trip!

Two weeks ago I was in Pheonix for my Birthday. We had gorgeous weather, and I spent that Saturday with my sister, hitting garage sales, going to Goodwill, and then the real fun was the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall. We had so much fun that day and we went to lunch
and had my favorite dish.

I am always looking for new little white pitchers. I love these little things. These two came from the antique mall.

These two 'Royal Albert' teacups were given to me by my sister. I think this is some kind of warmer. I love the unpolished silver look though.

I found some really pretty pieces that I couldn't resist. I love to collect double handled teacups.

New French for my Craft Studio

 The top and bottom paper mache boxes are covered with wrapping paper, and the two in between are covered in scrapbook patterned paper.  Love that French look!

                                                    My weekend project for my Craft Studio.

Petite box swap (Flea Market edition)

I am a participant in the Heather's Speckled Egg Petite box swap-Flea market edition. We were asked to decorate up two matchboxes and fill them with flea market finds, goodies and eyecandy. We all have two partners and it is just great fun to see how many things can be stuffed into that regular matchbox size. It is amazing all that can fit in those boxes. I kind of gave mine a little theme on the tag. "Vintage and Vintage look from 1910-1960. I just tried to imagine walking through a flea market at the time I was putting this together. One of my most favorite pastimes. I have missed out before on these swaps, and was sad about it. I have been checking back lots to make sure I didn't miss the next edition. It was great fun. and I am so looking forward to recieving two matchboxes from different gals.

It was fun to do up two identical boxes and put the same things in each one.  I will mail these out this week.  I thought this was one of the funnest swaps I have been involved with.

I made a old looking bracelet with a key attached, put in vintage lace, trims, domino, millinary items, glass glitter, clothespins, embellishments, tags, chrystal chandelier drop, old hanky, many papers, some vintage, old ephemera, german embossed scraps, and vintage buttons etc.

On the receiving end.

From the 'Winter fabric sampler swap' over at A Swap for all Seasons and my partner was Wendy Aspinall of Bliss angels. She made this very artsy wonderfully shabby with a paris theme for me. We were asked to do a 5x7 (fabric as the base) sampler. Interestingly we both put the eiffel tower on our samplers for each other.

Some of the pretty things I got for my birthday, on February 13th.

From the first quarter of YOE swap site. My partner crocheted me a beautiful snowflake for the dressed in Winter ornament and then she also sent me a lovely battenburg lace curtain, and these tags and vintage postcards. Thanks to Courtney for this.

Here is the darling sign that Kristin over at signssalvage.blogspot.com sent me for my birthday.  We actually have the same birthday.  I just love her vintage signs, and am the proud owner of 3 of them now.  Thanks so much Kristin.                      

This primitive beauty was made for the Thimbleprims old fashioned doll swap. She was made by Mary Mattis of polkadothillmusings.blogspot.com. She is holding a basket of sewing notions, and a small sample of the quilt she is working on. And then she added vintage buttons to the tag explaining her. 

                                                                                  These two very lovely framed pieces were given to me by my good friend Camille Leavitt. They are rare around here.  I don't know much about them, but have been admiring them when we have gone antiquing together.  I love the domed glass.  and the backgrounds give them such a great 3-D effect.  Thanks so much for this wonderful birthday present!
                                                                                

Using Iron-on transfers

This week I have been working on little
gifts. This one in for the Swap for all
seasons Winter swap. We were suppose
to make a 5x7 fabric collage. Here is my
finished work. I will be sending it out
soon, and can't wait to see the sampler
I get by someone else's hand in return.

As you can see, each one of these gifts starts
with an iron-on transfer.
 










The heart pillow is actually to hang
on a doorknob or sit on a dresser or
in the bathroom. I made this for my
sweet blogging friend Kristin of signs
and salvage. Our birthdays are the
same day and we will both be celebrating on
Sunday Feb. 13. She sent me
one of her lovely vintage signs,
and I am going to post it later
with other things that have been
sent to me.



 

























This piece is a hanging pocket for
my sister. I will be traveling to
Pheonix this weekend to go thrifting
and antiquing with her. I wanted to
give her a Valentine. So this is it, and
it has a little gift tucked in the pocket.

I had to pick a winner a day early!

Okay, I know this is a day early, but I have to end my two fold giveaway a day early, because, I am  (1) going out of town for a few days and will be away from my computer.  And (2) I need to get this in the mail tomorrow, cause I want the winners to get their stuff by Valentine's Day, and I am leaving on a trip.  So here it is. . .         My first place winner is Pam at Fairy Rocks and things.  Congratulations!
                   My second place winner is Tabitha at Creative Wings Boutique  I have contacted you both in comments on your blogs, but if you are seeing this please contact me at  ask@comnett.net  with your maiing addresses please ASAP  I am leaving town soon and need to get these in the mail.  Thanks to all of you out there who became new followers and who visit my blog regularly.  I so appreciate all of you and the friendships I have made in the last year of blogging.  You are all super!      Love you all Michele

New for my Etsy Shop

Valentine decoration or wonderful card for a sweetheart.
Layers of cardstock, paper, and embellishments for a
retro look.

                                      I got really busy and have been sewing and crafting, trying
                        to get more stuff on Etsy and participate in swaps. I have had a great January.

Dresser pillow decorated with Vintage doilies, charms and buttons.

Patchwork pillow also has vintage doily fabric rose and vintage buttons.

Another pillow for a bedroom or sweet little spot.

For the second place winner!

I have decided that I really need
to have a second place winner in
my Two-fold giveaway. So here is
what the second person drawn will
get. This lovely Valentine tag
decorated front and back and left
over from the Valentine tag swap.










This Stand up Valentine decoration or
card to give someone special full of
charming charms.














This recycled gem of a Valentine card
with envelope. The large heart is covered
in chocolate wrapper and the smaller heart
is punched out of another purchased card.








If you have already entered the giveaway,
then you will be in the drawing for this too.
I JUST LOVE FEBRUARY! SO HAPPY
FEBRUARY!

Thimbleprims Studio Old Fashioned Doll Swap

Here she is! I just finished her. She is one of my patterns I designed back in the late 80's. And her name is "Prairie Sweetheart"  She is made of muslin and calico prints trims and mini eyelet lace.  Her hair is made out of embroidery floss.  I wish I could keep her, but she is going out to Mary Mattis at Polka dot hill musings
I did make her a bit smaller than I use to. We were asked to make an old fashioned doll to swap with one other person. This was hosted by Cindy at Thimbleprims Studio.

"Lookin' old is the tag that I use with my antique looking items.

Her collar is truly vintage and hand crocheted.

Valentine tag swap-My tags

Here are the 20 tags I completed for Kandeland's Valentine tag swap. I forgot to take a picture of the back of themas there was a whole other scene on the back.   I will have to post all the tags when they come. They should be here soon. I am excited to see all the talent that will be coming my way.

I realized that 20 of the same tags are kind of daunting when there are 19 pieces on each tag and the glitter wasn't sticking on the hearts.  I pulled out the red glitter glue and had to do some adjusting.   But I was happy how they all looked lined up. Thanks to Natalia for hosting this. Check out her wonderful blog at kandeland.typepad.com