Junk Queen

My flea market cart, Stella, sometimes gets a bad rap.  Some of you may remember my post about her here.  Since then, I have a liner in the making.  Also, I thought it would be fun to add a little swag to her liner.

She hauls around my junky finds so I thought it would be most appropriate if she were crowned the "Junk Queen".  Her talents include being steadfast and hardworking during the long junking days, caring by hauling goodies for friends and multitasking by being my impromptu table when a junkin' girl is grabbing an on the go meal.

I love pale blue, especially mixed with white and tan.

Some vintage lace tossed in for good mojo.

When her liner is complete, a little glam can be added too, lol.

Happy junkin' trails to you sugahs!

xo's ~ heidi

Romancing the summertime whites

Recently, I have been rearranging some of my favorite finds and treasures.  Some things I put away for a season so that it will seem fresh and new the next time the season comes back around.

I adore a calming fresh palette of whites.

Mixed with some seashells, I tucked my whiteware and McCoy pottery here and there.

{the white ruler crown is one of my very faves lately}

I found this sweet bust while thrifting.

For mere pennies, the treasures that are out there waiting to be found amaze me.

Here is a close up of my unbottled time.

{if only it could be that easy, right?}

Maybe it would be need to tuck a little sea inspired scroll in the neck of the bottle.

There are two sides to this story.

I also love the look of handpainted china. {hence the next shelf down}

I am so fickle about what I want to display in this cabinet.  I know it will come together one day.

As a result, both styles are remain displayed for now . . . on different shelves, of course. 

I am linking in to Faded Charm's White Wednesday for this post.

Happy White Wednesday everyone!

Sending you happy summertime wishes sugahs!

xo's ~ Heidi

You had me at vintage laces

 While visiting one of my bloggerette sisters, Kimberly, I discovered she was hosting a vintage laces ATC swap.  Do I even I have to tell you that it was a swap I could not pass up, lol?

I did not realize the swap was closed but Kimberly was so sweet to squeeze me in anyway. ;)

You meet some of the sweetest gals in blogland ~ it's true.

Any opportunity to play with one of my favorite mediums is a joy.

I used tone on tone colors and added some champagne beads, baby buttons and a heart with key charm.

This one I aptly named "My Dearest Love" - not only for the feel of it but laces are one of my dearest loves so it seemed to be a perfect fit.

Here is a close up of the chippy frame {a Stampin' Up hardware frame painted with white picket fence crackle paint and sealed with some Ultimate glue - which I highly recommend by the way}, "LOVE" lace and the darling heart with key charm.

Instead of using brads to adhere the frame I just covered the holes with vintage baby buttons and adhered everything the Ultimate glue.

If you love making ATC's, Kimberly hosts some great swaps weekly so check her out!

Thanks Kimberly, making this was a blast!

I am also linking this to Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration Friday

Hope you are having some fun getting your art out sugahs!

xo's ~ Heidi

Forever flower garden

Vintage hats make me wonder about the fashions of yesteryear - the colors, styles and details

Their sweet blooms and faded colors inspire my creative muse.

I adore this little pale aqua number.

Don't gasp - I have already plucked some blooms for my friend Tracy at Creative Cure to use on a vintage wallpaper tag.   {I told you not to gasp}

  I can't wait until she posts the pic!  It is GORGEOUS!  I love the way she mixed different vintage elements colored in pale aqua with ecru and tan.

The blooms are so frothy - I love to craft with these.

The velvet violets on this one make me swoon. ;)

Sometimes it is hard for me to pluck the flowers but creating pretty things with them also make me happy.

{I am a fickle girl after all}

Couldn't you just imagine someone's sweet grandma wearing this one with her Sunday best and white gloves?

A bouquet of tempting taupe.

 Ooh those velvet berries are to die for!

This one I cannot pluck.  In fact, I may wear this one someday.

It's soft crushed rose is simply beautiful.

I supposed you can tell I have been picking this one over for a while.

(trying to hide some of the bald spots)

One of my favorite things about this hat is the velvet leaves.

{I guess by now you have figured out how much I love velvet roses and leaves, ha ha}

Is there an interesting art supply you love to craft with?  I would love to hear your favorites ladies!

Thanks to stopping by to visit ~ xo's ~ Heidi

linking to:

Tidying teacups

Lately, I have been able to squeeze in a few minutes here and there to tidy some teacups and a few other random things like this curvy mirror.

It measures about 5x7 inches which makes me wonder if it was used as a shaving mirror

or maybe for a vanity.

The mercury glass tealight holder splashes light against the mirror when I light it at night.

At a recent trip to TJ Maxx, I scored this super cheap and super chic wire basket.

I knew I could find something to corral in it {like our pile of napkins}.

 And, there were other sizes too!

If you need a pretty basket to hold towels, art supplies, toys, get over there quick!

{sidebar tip -- their reusable shopping bags are usually cute only cost a dollar = cute gift bag for cheap}

Many years ago, I found some German morning glory placecard holders.

They are just too pretty to keep in storage.  Not only do they make sweet placecard holders for a tea but they also make beautiful beverage or dish markers.

I have been culling out alot of what I don't use {yay Goodwill and some happy friends} and trying incorporate what I love and use more in my decor.

While some people may love a china hutch filled with chintz, I think my love would be Limoges.

{pale, delicate pastel flowers, and curvy designs}

A petit Limoges tureen and some butter pats - the butter pats have also served as tea bag rests.

One of my dearest and best friends, Kelli, gave me this soup bouillon cup (my first one!).

The pale green wash is a perfect backdrop to the handpainted flowers.

Wouldn't a shrimp bisque be pretty in this one?!

Here is a closeup of the handpainted flowers and gold flourishes.

What spaces have you been tidying up that you love?

Thanks for stopping by sweet friends!

xo's ~ Heidi

Shaping up and paper love

This year I have been more devoted to making better lifestyle choices like exercising and a swapping out junky foods for healthy ones.

Life is busy.  I get distracted (yes, really, it's true).  Sometimes I need to refocus or up my game.

Rhonna Farrar has kicked off a new Six Week Shape Up challenge.  What could you commit to for six weeks that would be better for you?  Me - FOCUS.  Really commit to walking the walk of a healthier me.

Rhonna has such wonderful artwork on her blog to motivate us toward our goal.  I decided to take her challenge and create a healthy lifestyle journal to help keep me accountable.

This process has helped me discover that having something pretty to work with helps the chronically distracted (me) to be aware and joyful about journaling.

(inside front cover)

There are times when my "healthy" day does not go perfectly.  Again, life can get in the way.

What is important is that I keep going, keep moving to being a healthier me.

I am proud to say I no longer need high blood pressure medicine.

I have traded that expense for a gym membership, happily.

(inside back cover) 

Friends, if I can do this . . . you CAN do this!!

We have everything we need in us to do it.

Expect miracles . . . they happen every day.

On a different note, I wanted to share some vintage paper finds I have picked up lately.

Are you as smitten with vintage paper and ephemera as I am?

It is a love/hate thing.  I love to use it but I hate to use it too because I love to hoard it, lol.

Vintage bingo cards - love the colors!

Can you see a patriotic mixed media piece done with the blue or red ones?

Alphabet Flash cards.

The graphics on these are awesome!!

I especially love the bees and the queen.

{hmm, queen bee, be queen}

I told you I get distracted.

More alphabet flash card goodness.  ;-)

I also blog for Liz at Cydney's Alley in Senoia, GA.

While working on a recent project, Liz received a package of German scrap.

When she opened the box, the sparkle of glitter and the lush vibrancy of color grabbed my eye.

The word barter immediately entered my mind.

"Why yes, Liz, I would LOVE to barter with you!"

Done!  She nestled my package in her signature black bag with lime green polka dot tissue.

I love Liz. Purveyor of fine junktiques, she totally gets my love for anything vintage and divine quirky.

Aren't these parrots awesome?!

I wish I could effectively show how vibrant and sprinkled with glitter these die cuts are.

Cute toads of summer and spring.

So glad you stopped by sweet friends!

I hope you have a wonderful week!

 xo's ~ Heidi

Sister of the heart

As a kid, I was only in Girl Scouts one or two years.  I don't remember much about it but I do remember the retro uniform and beanie cap.

As an adult, I have loved being a troop leader for my daughter and all of the sweet little girls in our troop.

It has been fun to live vicariously through these girls all of the fun things Girl Scouts have the opportunity to do.  Crafts, sports, making s'mores, adventure, friendships (young and old), serving our community - I enjoy it all.

One of the lines of the Girl Scout law is to be a sister to every Girl Scout.

(photo courtesy here)

I have some sisters outside of Girl Scouts -  my girlfriends!

One such friend was not in Girl Scouts but was in 4H when she was a little girl.

Her sons are now in 4H too.

Are you seeing a pattern here?

Life always seems to come full circle.

Andrea and I are definitely sisters of the heart.

We love our family, anything handmade, antiques and the well worn.

What a surprise I received from her!

Vintage Girl Scout buttons!

When I opened her card and saw these sweet buttons my heart skipped a beat.

How precious and thoughtful - she is such dear friend, a sister of the heart.

It is funny how time and traditions bring people together.

It makes me realize how much we might all have in common and may not know it.

Sending you xo's my sisters! ~ Heidi

Shabby Sweet Sunbonnet Sue

Shabby sweet Sunbonnet Sue stocking!

{say that 5 times fast}

This is the adorable Sunbonnet Sue stocking I received from Cheryl for Joli Paquet's Vintage Stocking swap!

I was blown away by the sunwashed colors and delicate details!  Cheryl has a way of using infusing enchantment into her beautiful creations.

Vintage millinery with a touch of glitter - I think she is trying to make me swoon.

I just love the sweet basket charm she sewed to Sunbonnet Sue's hand!

A sweet rosette with the right amount of bling



I love the layers of lace and taupe pearls droplets - just smitten with the peachy pink roses!

This will be so sweet hanging in my craft room to store vintage paper treats or lace scraps.

As if that didn't drop me to the floor like a feather, Cheryl also included more treasures that made my heart skip a beat, or two, or three, or four.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I was touched by all of the wonderful treasures Cheryl sent.

It was as if she knew exacty what would make my heart go pitter patter.

She REALLY spoiled me - I will not be the same, I will not I tell you! 

 An adorned burlap sack filled to the brim with precious paper treats, ornaments and beloved baubles.

A shabbilicious cuff with soft crochet lace and rosettes.

Here is another pic of the adorned burlap sack.

Isn't the vintage pin with creamy bead the cat's pa-jams?

And hand dyed lace too people! It makes smile just to look at it!

Lucious trims, millinery, crochet pinned with blingy pearl pins on a vintage bobbin.

Oh, gosh!  Let me just lay my cheek against it and sigh.

Shut - the -  front - door!

Isn't this the cutest container for treats?!

Let's take a look inside . . .

A sweet cherub {Cheryl}, vintage wallpaper treats, a sweet looking glass with ribbon and more enchanting baubles!

She must have known she would make me faint.

- a bag filled with vintage millinery complete with clip on earring as a closure.

Then the most adorable ornament in creamy colors and silk ribbon.

{Yep, I fainted, hit the floor in a vintage treat induced coma}

Mr. Glittery Reindeer with millinery won my heart.

Rolls of vintage wallpaper tied with ribbon and a sweet wedding bell.

Cheryl, I cannot thank you enough for such thoughtful and dear treasures.

I adore my stocking and your sweet heart that you put into everything!

Thank you for stopping by to visit sweet friends!

xo's ~ Heidi