A Little Ditty...

A friend of mine, Kathy, calls something you buy for someone that costs under $5.00 a "Ditty".
I was going to visit a friend this morning and thought I'd like to bring her a little sumpn'-sumpn', and my eye landed on a little magnet I'd made.

She's a bird lover and I thought this magnet would be perfect...but how to wrap it? I ventured into my studio and found a stack of matchboxes that I'd purchased from the Dollar Tree. In just minutes I had covered it with a bit 'o' sheet music, a tiny vintage image, a lil' sticker and itty-bitty ribbon flower.

Here's the magnet in this photo (above). Of course I had to line the inside of the box, too! ;-)

So, there ya go!

Just sharing a little Ditty for you...that costs only pennies!!!

Knee Deep in Summer..

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace,who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion," Your God reigns!"
Is.52:7

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy.

Ps. 96:12

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Is. 58:11

He makes me lie down in green pastures....

...He leads me besides quiet waters.....

....He restores my soul...

Ps. 23:2

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your justice like the great deep.

Ps. 36:6

Sharing a few pics of our annual camping trip to Sawmill Lake~a secluded area that is a treacherous drive, but well worth it! This was Winston's first time camping. He wasn't sure what to make of it all, but he seemed to have a good time, and I was relieved that he left the snakes alone. (Little, harmless water snakes...)

We hiked, swam, rafted, and played games.....Although we were 'roughing it', Steve and I made sure to make time for ourselves and share a bit 'o' the grape. ;-)

Steve, the gourmet cook, with Winston hoping for a morsel to drop!

The deal was, Steve and I cooked, and Courtney and Caleb did dishes...

Our campsite...our friends, Brian and Jenni had joined us, too.

"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink in the wild air..." Ralph Waldo Emerson

A great time was had by all. 'Nothing like spending a few days in God's country to restore, renew and replenish one's soul!!

More Pics of "My Favorite Things"

As promised, here is the interior of Tina's wonderful and whimsical store~ My Favorite Things~

Many of the creations are Tina's wonderful designs, and can be purchased on her website! I purchased an adorable birdhouse kit that I cannot WAIT to create!!

This is the back of the store..if you look closely, you can see Tina behind her counter....

Here is Tina's Wall of Fame! ;-) Magazines and newspapers she's been published in.

Be sure to check out her blog and website--she has so many darling things for sale!!

Where Bloggers Create

Karen, at My Desert Cottage is hosting a "Where Bloggers Create" party. I hadn't planned on participating as my studio's a fright and haven't gotten around to organizing it. Today Steve and I motored up to Nevada City to tootle around. He had the rest of the week off after our camping trip (another blog post soon). Anyhoo, we popped in at my favorite shop there, called
My Favorite Things. We hadn't been there since December and since then Tina, the owner, has opened up a studio in the back and holds craft classes back there. Not only that, but for a mere $5 you can craft anytime (well, when she's open) to your heart's content! She invited me to take a look and I was so thrilled to have my camera! Tina's a blogger, too, so this entry counts (I hope!)

You can click on any picture to enlarge it....

These are sample of the crafts she offers to teach.

Stay tuned for pictures of her fabulous store! Thanks, Tina for letting me use your studio to participate at the Where Bloggers Create Party!!

A Bride in 1944...

I just wanted to share with you a sweet little scrapbook I picked up at an antique store awhile back.. (you can click on each picture for a larger view)

A young bride in 1944 probably couldn't afford a fancy bridal book, so she made her own, using clippings from magazines..

It was just so poignant and sweet, I couldn't resist it!

I just imagine her, as a new bride, eagerly setting up house, learning new recipes for her new husband!

And the back was covered in this bird motif paper. Anyway, just wanted to share this sweet booklet with you!

And for this weekend:

I certainly will!!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thank you for all the well-wishes and sharing my joy of our little blessing that's on her way!!

TTFN!! (Ta Ta For Now)

Guess What!!???

Zac and Amy called after their Doctor's appointment and ultra-sound...

....they are having a GIRL!!! Sweet baby Lindy Christine is due December 15th. Oh! I just can't WAIT!!

"A tiny daughter gives parents a life in a climate of perpetual wonder"

~Pierre Doucet~

Painted White is having a Giveaway!

Alice over at Painted White is having an amazing giveaway! Pop over and enter!!

SWAP!!

Chateau of Remnants recently invited me to join in a swap she was hosting called The Vintage Solstice Swap. Anything with the word "vintage" count me in! I was partnered with the very lovely and talented Jessica of Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping! I was so excited when I opened this lovely box...

I had told her I was 'into' aqua lately-so she went with the aqua and cream theme.... The box was lined with the vintage brown and aqua handkerchief and included all this cream and aqua goodies!!!

vintage lace and crochet flowers adorned vintage bingo cards....

6 ATC cards...she noted that she'd seen my Tablescapes where I used ATC's as place cards and made these for a future Tablescape! I love them and my head is reeling with ideas of an aqua and white Tablescape!! ;-)

..a few vintage playing cards (perfect for future ATC's--I always make mine on vintage playing cards) ~ And look at these darling "book beads"! (Book marks) Great for summer reading--it feels so beachy!

Fun vintage ephemera for my collage art....

This darling little scrapbook--perfect for newborn pics of our first grandchild due in Dec!

And two rhinestone embellished creamers! Lovely for tea parties, or salad dressings at dinner, or holding my roses from my garden.

Thank you so much, Jessica! What a fun swap to participate in!!

Off to Bodega Bay...

Caleb (youngest son) and I are taking off for a couple of days to Bodega Bay to visit Monty & Kathleen (bro-in-law and sis-in-law). They rented a beach house for a week and are having friends and family come and go. Alas, Steve had commitments here and couldn't get away.

As a 'thank you' I created a little photo scrap book for Monty and Kathleen to store their memories of their week at the beach house.

Please excuse the poor quality of pictures--I was in a hurry,but you'll get the gist of it! ;-)

I made the tag (above) for the outside package....love that quote!!

I tucked in a little envelope to store extra prints.

The back...

Well, gotta finish packing! See ya later!!!

Metamorphosis Monday

Just got in under the wire for Metamorphosis Monday! Too many things going on around here making it difficult to make time to blog! Anyhoo..here is my entry~

I was given a darling sugar and creamer from my dear friend Anita..only the sugar bowl had lost its little toppey thing. I found an old vintage earring just the right colors and decided to glue it on...I just clipped off the clippy part of the earring and glued it on...

...with E600 glue--a marvelous glue I use for all sorts of projects. Easy-Peasy!!

Here is the set displayed on my kitchen table..until I found just the spot for them to live for awhile...

..on my coffee table in the sitting room!

Check out all the other great Met Monday ideas over at Susan's at Between Naps on the Porch!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th!! Zac and Amy are up visiting from Seal Beach..Amy's got a cute little baby-bump!

We rafted down the American River yesterday, today is a bar-b-que at mom-in-love's house along with fireworks..tomorrow is Christmas in July. I'm lovin' having all the family together!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, too!!

Grandma's Bottles

I recently cleaned out the guest room and when I came across this display I snapped a few pics. Memories came flooding back as I looked at these bottles.
They had belonged to Steve’s grandma and came to me plain. She saved everything and these were really old bottles.

Grandma was your quintessential grandma..she was short, with short gray hair, sensible shoes, and a strong German character.
She outlived two husbands and a baby daughter. My own grandparents lived far away when I was growing up, and died when I was young. I was so blessed to inherit Steve’s grandma when I married into his wonderful family. I always felt loved and accepted by her.
As a young wife and mother, I was fascinated with what life was like for her when she was my age. We had many discussions about home making, and being a wife and mother. She patiently answered all my questions, some, looking back, must have been embarrassing for her, but she must have known the innocence of my inquires and my need to figure out what life was all about. (I found out later that she didn’t even have these discussions with her own daughters!)

Well into her 80’s she lived alone in a two-bedroom bungalow, where she kept a garden and canned her own fruits and vegetables. She made dill-pickles to die for!

She had a strong faith and loved the Lord, although when we named our youngest son Caleb, she apparently didn’t care for the name. I said “But Grandma, the name Caleb is in the Bible!” to which she responded “I know, I looked. But it’s only in there twice!” :-D

She lived a good long life. Kept active almost to the end with church activities and game nights with her “Lady Friends” as she called them.
She passed away 16 years ago at 94 years. I loved her with all my heart.

When Darlou and her sisters were going through her things if they’d come across something they think I’d like they’d say, “This looks old-give it to Myrna!" ;-)
That’s how I acquired these bottles, along with some of her costume jewelry and bits and bobs from her sewing box. I gathered up the items and glued them on the bottles. Used her earrings for the tops of some of the bottles. That was 16 years ago. Back then I called them ‘embellished bottles”…NOW it’s called “altered art! Who knew that it would become so popular today? ;-)