Hostess Basket Giveaway

The warm weather has me in the mood to host a get together for my friends before school gets out and our schedules (actually our kid's schedules) whisk us in thousands of different directions.  In anticipation of my little party, I have put together a hostess basket for your next get together.  Just add some friends and a bottle of wine!

The giveaway includes:

• 1 Ceramic display bowl from the Martha Stewart Collection
• 1 Barefoot Contessa Red Velvet Cupcake & Frosting Mix
• 1 Vintage eyelet half apron
• 1 Vintage Inspired Bottle Apron/Wrap

There are 2 ways to enter:

• Follow my blog~all followers will receive 1 entry
• Leave 1 comment on 1 of my posts~look around and find a post that you enjoy~anyone posting between 5/23 and 5/30 will receive 1 entry
• There is a maximum of 2 entries per person
• The winner will be selected 5/30

Good Luck!

Irresistible Finds

Last weekend I found an estate sale right around the corner from my house.  Not only was it convenient, but I found a few things that I have been on the lookout for.  These adorable double egg cups are identical to a set I had seen in a consignment shop at Easter, but passed on because of the price.  Sometimes patience does pay off!

I have a soft spot for vintage birthday items and this 1960's musical cake plate was the first item I scooped up.  The $8 price had me thinking that it no longer worked, but I knew I would enjoy it regardless.  When I got it home and carefully flicked the little metal switch, it started playing "Happy Birthday".  My husband had a good laugh as I burst into tears.  

Clearly the previous owner was good at following instructions:

"We suggest using original carton for safely storing this fine Musical Cake Plate".

My etsy and ebay searches for a farmhouse scale have me now dreaming of vintage baby scales as well.  I have no room for this, but all common sense left me when I saw this fabulous scale and the adorable graphic on the face.

Doctor and nurse cats, tending to a tiny patient-irresistible.

Have you entered my giveaway?

   

Free Graphics and PicMonkey

When I graduated from college in 1987 computers were something I was aware of, but they weren't a household item and nothing I cared to have to deal with.  I had used an electric typewriter for my school papers and only Senior year was I required to check into the computer lab to type a few assignments.  I was prepared to ride off into the sunset with my English major in hand and never have to deal with math, science or the computer lab again.  Within 2 years of graduation, computers were all the rage and one was planted on my desk at work.  As an assistant buyer for Montgomery Ward, I was handed a manual and required to learn WYSIWYG, to create spreadsheets, reports and draft memos.  Somehow, I figured it out  and even found the much dreaded computer to be useful.  Flash forward many years, and the computer has become my friend.  I look back and wish my eyes had been more open to taking a computer class in college.  A graphic design or photography major sure would have come in handy when blogging.  I am endlessly searching tutorials for tips on how to make my blog pretty and learning as I go.

Last night, I took my first stab at "creating" a graphic for my blog and it was super easy.  Thanks to the generosity of Keren at free pretty things for you I downloaded this cute free bluebird graphic.  Then I used the PicMonkey site for the first time to add text.  Super easy, super quick.  And, the little bluebird is giving you a hint as to what I have planned for later in the week.  Have you had any luck making unique graphics for you blog?  

Have you entered my giveaway?

Linen Overhangs

One of my first stops at the Brimfield Antiques Show last weekend was a vintage linen booth where I have had luck in past years.  There was a table full of these lovely embroidered beauties.  The sign read "German Overhangs" 2 for $15, so I dove in and found these 2 keepers.  This style is new to me, but maybe you have seen it before.  The top part is embroidered on the backside so that it can hang over a rod etc. for a nice finished look.

These have so many of the things I look for in linens (beautiful embroidery, lace trim, vibrant colors).  Each piece makes such a statement.  They would be perfect for a bathroom or laundry room window treatment, or as a skirt for a sink or cabinet opening.  It is always fun to see something new.  Have you found anything new recently?  

Have you entered my giveaway?

A Beautiful Day at Brimfield

I snuck away with a friend for an overnight Friday and a full day of treasure hunting in the sunshine on Saturday at the Brimfield Antiques Show in Massachusetts.  I have heard it described as an "extravaganza" and it truly is.  A 1/2 mile stretch of road with fields filled with vendors on either side.  It would take 3 days to cover the whole place thoroughly and check out all 5,000+ of the vendors.  We were there by 7:30am, so got a jump on the crowds and covered quite a bit of ground.  My friend was on the lookout for a bench and some art.  I was hunting for items I had added to my wish list over the winter and haven't been able to find at local estate sales. 

I am going to clean-up this tin child's sink and make a little skirt for the opening 

where it is missing a door and use if for a shelf display.

I saw a nursery lamp like this over the winter at a local consignment shop, but it was in terrible shape and too expensive.  This Irmi Jack and Jill lamp had belonged to the dealer's daughter 

(now 42 years old) and I couldn't resist!

I love little chairs, and this one matches a wooden doll rocker in my daughter's room.  

Have you entered my giveaway?

Back to Blogging

I unintentionally took a little bit of a blog break and am happy to be back.  For the past 8 months, I have been working on a fundraiser featuring a Tour of local homes and it has been easy to fit the work into my daily routine.  But, the last minute details of the 2 weeks leading up to the Tour, took their toll on my schedule and I just couldn't

 find the time (or mental focus) to write a decent post. 

 The Tour was last Thursday and it was a huge success.  We had nice weather 

(after a week of rain), 6 beautifully decorated homes, 800 visitors, and raised $35,000 for local charities.  It was fun and challenging to do something so all consuming, but it is a wonderful feeling to be done.  The predictability of folding laundry and picking up the kid's toys is a welcome change!  Also, after spending time in such beautiful homes,

 I realize I need to give my own house a little attention and love. 

 I plan to spend some time reading my favorite decorating

 and design blogs to pick up a few new projects.  

And of course, get back to blogging.

"He, She" what could they be?

I am a little curious as to what I have here. 

 I found these "He, She" cups at a thrift shop in
Massachusetts while on vacation a few weeks ago.  

The rooster had me thinking egg cups or custard cups,

 but now I am leaning towards my husbands guess of tea cups. 

 I'm not finding anything similar on etsy or ebay to give me any clues, 

so the mystery may never be solved.

Any ideas?