What I was playing with in 2018

 My latest obsession is decorating small tins. This one began as a Whitman candy container. I have transformed it with ephemera (old and new) buttons, lace, glitter, faux flowers, jewels and pearls making it a little work of art. It stands on four faux pearl buttons.

The lid is covered with a perfectly fitting paper doily upon which is a vintage carved button with a jewel atop, picture of a Victorian lady, some silk flowers, pearls and more. The tin is just 3.5" x 3.5" and stands 1.25" tall including lid and feet.

 Couldn't stop at just that and had to decorate the bottom and inside lid as well!

Time to Spread Some Love

 Above all holidays, my favorite is Valentine's Day.  I love hearts, doilies, cards and everything about it!  The making of them and especially the receiving of them.  I'm starting early this year as part of my attitude adjusting.  There have been difficult days lately and this is what I'm doing to get over the hump . . .

 Just the beginning!  Until I run out of doilies, red paper, ribbon and burlap, this will be my entertainment 'til Feburary 14th

Happy New Year

 It has to be better than 2020!!

One small bright spot in my year was meeting and trading cards with an artist from Santa Fe, NM. Each month I look forward to one of her beautiful cards, notes and paper goodies in the mail.

Dropped this one, from me, in the outgoing mail this morning. It expresses my feelings and hopes for the new year. My wishes for everyone is more peace, civility and graciousness in everyone's life for 2021.

Four Pin Friday ~ Happy First day of May

Do you remember the lost tradition of  May Basket Day?

 They would anonymously be hung on a neighbor's doorknob 

but nowadays they don't necessarily have to be baskets

Maybe next year, when the quarantine is over, we can bring this loving giving neighborly tradition back.

Schools out until at least April 24th here in Spokane. To give the kiddles something to occupy their time and get them outdoors, some genius has thought of a game for them. Neighbors are to put a shamrock in a window. Whichever child logs the most shamrocks wins. Not sure what they win, but probably just the fact that it's a competition is enough to get them counting.

Here is my front door this morning. I so like the way it looks, I just may keep the shamrock right where it is!

Happy Valentine's Day

In many past years I hand~made Christmas cards for friends and family.  I gave that up two holidays ago and decided it would be more fun for me to make Valentines ~ ~ ♥

Which is what I have done the last two years.  Here are just a few of this year's cards

Left an opening to tuck a little note into each

Handmade with LOVE

A few handcrafted Valentines for some special people ~

 For my kind and generous DIL Dawn

 For my good crafting friend Joann

And for my sweet Daughter Kim

For myself, in honor of my Dad ~the photo is of him as a baby

Inspired by Pinterest

Being that Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays, maybe because I love the heart shape and how it lends itself to design, I had to begin creating early!

Pinterest always get's my creative juices working and I found several ideas, not to copy, but to launch into a project of my own ~~~

This one I jumped on today.  Still have to figure a hanger for it.  Maybe some jute or some old twisted wire.  Hmmmmmmmmm?

(Baby picture is of my dad)

Christmas 2018

First Christmas in our new home inspired me to decorate more than I have in the last two years. (I will leave it up to you to figure out why)

Our little prelit tree fit perfectly in our front window

At night our little porch sparkles with lights (snow shovel is at the ready)

and today I filled the carved out birch log with welcoming greenery and faux poinsettias 

Each year our first holiday touches are memories of our grandson's gifts to us when they were young . . .

 A loving cup from Talon

and this extra special snowman from Kevin.  I notice this year he is a bit worn and stained but we love him just the same!

Christmas Nostalgia (reposted from years gone by )

This year we trotted out some oldies but goodies passed down from our families.
These delicate Christmas balls have been moved from home to home and been languishing in my closet for years.  We used them as a table centerpiece this year...

In an old divided box made for them, the price from Macy's just 59 cents.  Sadly the most beautiful ball didn't survive all the moves, broke in a million pieces but I just can't throw it away.

We started collecting old greeting cards years ago when you could find them in thrift stores.  Here are just a few . . .

 

Like some of the others, this one is a fine etching by Paul F. Berdanier, done in America in 1879.

Halloween 2018

Another Halloween, another party at Dawn & Derek's with all the costumes, food and decor!

 She always goes all out with her costume

         ready for the sock hop!

 Deb ~ the sweetest witch I know

character from Clockwork Orange

Lisa does all the inside decorating every year

and, at the generosity of our host and hostess the food ... ahhh the food

Like father, like son!!

t.o.b. Asylum Escapee & Derek from the book and movie "Clockwork Orange"

Early Mornng Walk

on the Fourth of July.  My mission . . . to see how many were flying flags in my new neighborhood!

 

 

Maybe one out of every 10 homes were flying Old Glory.