A Blondie Day

Lace in the Garden

A few weeks ago, I went to an estate sale, where I found such wonderful treasures.  It was the same sale where I found HER.

Amongst the many goods I discovered that day was a vintage vinyl lace tablecloth.  I was not sure where I would end up finding use for it, but at $2, it was not to be left behind.

Well, now that I am in "garden mode", I got to thinking that just maybe that pretty vinyl lace may be the perfect way to have lace in my garden.  After all, there is lace in just about every other place in my life, it was fitting that it should be in the garden too.

So I got to thinking about how to use it for planting, and then got the idea that were I to combine it with burlap, I may just be able to make pretty little hanging lace "sack-lets".

So I did.

 

 

The open weave of the burlap, plus the openings in the vinyl lace provide drainage for the little flowers.  

The burlap and jute that I used for the handles are natural fibers, so they wear pretty well outside.  And the lace - well, it's vinyl, so water doesn't bother it at all.

 

If you would like to try them, it is simple!

 

Make 2 "sacklets" in a rectangle shape, the size of your choice (but keep them on the small size - the soil you put in them can get heavy!).  Make the inside burlap sack a 1/2 in. smaller than the outside sack so it will fit inside easier.  Also make the burlap sack about 1 in. longer so you can fold the top over.  It gives it a nice "sack" appearance.

Vintage vinyl tablecloths can often be found on eBay and sometimes on Etsy - or you may find one of your own at a sale!

 

 

Then cut little holes on each side top so you can insert your jute string.  After inserting the string through the hole, tie a knot to hold it in place.

 

 

Next, decorate your little sack-lets with fabrics strips, buttons, lace - any odds and ends you have about.

 

 

Fill them with soil and assorted little flowers.  Give them a touch of water -

and hang them up.

 

 

I hope you enjoy these if you decide to give them a try.

I have my "thinking cap" on to come up with other ways of using the rest of this pretty vinyl lace tablecloth!

Much love,

Helena

 

Ghost in the Garden

About a year ago, I purchased a big 'ole lampshade at a yard sale.  I could not resist it.  It had such pretty lines, and at $3 I knew I would find something to do with it.

A few weeks ago, JW looked at it perched upon the top of one of my fabric stash cabinets, and I was asked the question "Are you ever going to do something with this thing?"

I knew the time had come.

 

 

 

As most of you know, ghost shades are all over the crafty corners of the internet, and I did like them.  But I wanted to do something a little different with this.

So I thought - Why not the garden?

I stripped off the dusty old fabric and out to the garden it went.

 

 

It made the perfect pretty cage for flowers!  I loved the way it looked.

 

 

You can hang all kinds of pretty bits off the shade, as long as it is something you don't mind getting wet or blown around a bit.  Old lampshades are so easy to find at yard sales and thrift shops.  Find one with a shape you love.

 

 

And as the flowers grow and poke through more here and there, it will look prettier and prettier.

 

 

 

Now there will be those who will be curious...

 

 

 

...and those who may look at you as though you've lost your mind...

 

 

...but don't you mind them one bit.

 

 

You just enjoy your Ghost in the Garden.

 

Much love,

Helena

 

Today

Today was the first Me Day in quite a while.

Not complaining at all, but sometimes a Day Just for Me is absolutely what the doctor ordered.

So what did I do first?

Yes, kindred spirits - I went thrifting.

There wasn't too much in the thrifting cards for me today, but that did not matter a wit.  Just strolling along the aisles of my favorite thrift shop, casually taking in the sights, was pure pleasure.

And I came home with yet another pair of thrifted overalls.

 

 

I love overalls, and wear them around the house and to work in the garden very often.  I also from time to time put a pretty, lacy blouse underneath together with a pair of cloggy shoes and wear them out.   If it is a little chilly out, then a big, slouchy cardigan on top completes it.

 

Next on my list was a yummy sandwich for lunch while watching part of a favorite movie on Netflix... Sense and Sensibility.  I could watch this movie over and over again for many reasons.  The romantic clothing, the stunning scenery, the lovely, lyrical language, but most of all because of him...

 

Oh, how I adore Colonel Brandon.

 

After lunch, I fussed about changing some decor here and there.  It was time to once again bring out my blue vintage typewriter thrillingly discovered at the thrift shop some months ago.

 

 

And I thought, why can't a little old typewriter be used as a vase for some thrifted silk flowers?

 

 

And I thought - well, there's no reason...

 

 

No reason at all.

 

I had a very lovely Me Day.

 

But even if Me Days are few and far between, we should always try to fit in a few Me Moments every day - at least.

It's good for the soul.

 

Much Love,

Helena

 

 

 

The Walrus Said

Easter is almost here and the time for a break has come!

My little shop is on vacation and so am I.

"The time has come the walrus said to talk of many things...

 

 

 

...of birds and ships and sealing wax

of cabbages and kings.

And if the seal is boiling hot

and whether pigs have wings!"

 

That is one of my favorite poems by Lewis Carroll

and I always say that first line to myself.

 

Yes, I talk to myself quite often.

 

 

I will be checking in to my Facebook Page from time to time for the next couple of weeks and when I re-open the shop I will have some new Market Tote Bags with a little bit of an updated design.

 

I will also have some very exciting news to share!!  

Oh, this is life changing stuff, yes it is.  

 

Can't wait to tell you.

 

Hope you have a happy few weeks My Friends...

see you soon.

 

Much Love,

 

Helena

 

 

 

Doggin' Around

Hi My Friends...

I have been busier than a dog burying a bone trying to get some new things ready for the shop for early next week. The plan is to close the shop at the end of next week for a spring break, so I want to at least have some new goods in for a few days before I do so. 

I have new designs!  Keeping my fingers crossed you will like them.

In between working, I have also continued prettying up the house a bit for spring.

 

 

One of my newest treasures is this vintage needlepoint of roses.  It was an Etsy find.

 

Things like this just melt my heart because you can see the love and hard work that was put into it. 

I always feel privileged when a treasure like this comes to live with me.

 

 

 

Off to work I go, but I could not let the end of the week go by without wishing my friends a happy and blessed weekend.

 

Much love,

Helena

In the Pink

I am still in the process of Springing Up the house.  Today I put up a pair of gorgeous vintage pinkish-peachy rose drapes that were an eBay find.  

They did not disappoint me!  They have perfectly springed up the house, together with other little touches of pinks (which I can't seem to get enough of this spring) and florals.

 

 

See that handsome deer fellow peeking out from behind the curtain?

 

 

He was my Mom's. He's wearing a halter of spring flowers. My Mom made him halters for every season, so he is now perfectly fit and ready for spring.

 

 

 

Another great and wonderful thing about these drapes is that they were much too long, so I was able to trim about 16 in. off of each panel.  So now I have a few pieces of this scrumptious fabric to do something with!

 

(OK, so here comes the token Instagram...)

 

 

 

One thing about Springing Up your house though...

along with it comes Spring Cleaning.

And I have quite a bit of that to do.

 

 

Hope you are feeling In the Pink today!

 

Much love,

 

Helena

 

Springish

Spring has sprung.

Everywhere.

And I am behind in bringing Spring into our house.

It is a balmy 70 degrees outside today.  The sun is shining.  The sky is blue.  The breeze is heavenly warm.  And the chickens and cats are sunning themselves in various parts of the yard.  Time to get cracking!

I played around with a few springish vignettes composed of mostly thrifted goods.

 

 

And old enamel pie tin found for $3, dressed up for spring with a pretty yellow rose decal.  The statue was a thrift store find, lightened up with glossy white paint and trimmed with a bit of fabric scrap and a vintage rose and rhinestone clip earring.  The little chicken is another thrift store find, as is the petite black metal tray and the glass bottle.

 

 

 

The Mary in Prayer vase was my Mom's.  The pretty rose plate with the wire frame was a garage sale item, as was the colorful chicken figurine.  The blue glass bottle was also my Mom's and has been dressed up with a decal.

 

 

 

This gorgeous vintage beaded Asian wall hanging was found at a junque shop.  I gasped when I saw it - it is so lovely.  It was mine for $5.  The Kokeshi was found at a garage sale.  The pretty porcelain bird was from the Salvation Army and the glass bottle from an estate sale.

 

A little bit of a closer look...

 

 

 

 

I also just received the loveliest vintage rosey-pink curtains which I picked up on eBay.  Can't wait to get them up, as I am loving Pink this spring!

 Some new little goodes for the shop...

 

 

Tissue box jackets.  They button closed with assorted vintage buttons and dress up a ho-hum box of tissues with a little touch of vintage.

 

 

And they are also very polite..

 

 

These will be going in the shop today.

 

 

Hope a little Spring Fever is finding you in some way.

 

Much love,

 

Helena

 

What's in a Jar

A few weeks ago, I picked up a big 'ole box of empty assorted jars and bottles at an estate sale, not quite sure what I would do with them.

They were just too cute to pass up, and at the very least, they would always serve some sort of storage-type purpose.

 

Empty jars are quite the popular thing in the crafty world today, but I had never really dabbled with them before.

 

 

I love all the crocheted and knitted coverings for bottles, but, alas, I do not know how to crochet (though it is on my list of to do's), and my knitting, quite frankly, is just not too hot these days.

 

 

I do however have a rather large assortment of yarn, and, after searching through some of my vintage-y craft books for inspiration, thought I would give this a try...

 

 

Now, WRAPPING yarn - that's not out of my scope of abilities.  And combine it with some of my other favorite things... jute, old lace and fabric scraps...

 

 

 

... it makes one pretty little jar.

 

 

Add some little thrifted flowers, a tiny branch with a sweet message, and you've got a display to brighten your day.

 

Today is always a good day to be happy.

 

 

Much love,

 

 

Color My World

Right now, I have a big pot simmering on the stove, where I am making a homemade chicken stock.  I don't know what it is, but I can't seem to get enough soup these days.  I crave it! (No, NOT for the reason one might think.)

Maybe it is the association with comfort, warmth and security. Maybe it is my body asking for more veggies.  Maybe it's just because it's winter.  But whatever the reason, I am lovin' it in a big way.

And while I was sitting here with that scrumptious aroma filling the air, I started thinking about the colors of Singapore during JW's last trip, and noticing the colors all around me, right here in my own little home, in my own little world.

There are many.

So I started snapping pictures.

And I would love to share some colors with you...

 

 

This sweet Jesus picture tugs at my heart.  It is obviously very old, and I picture that it must have been given to a newlywed couple many years ago, which they then hung lovingly in their new home.  Did they go on to have a happy life?  Were they blessed with many years of love?  I hope so.

There is a nice story of how I got this picture.  

Last summer I, JW and My Girl went to an outdoor flea market in Pennsylvania.  We were walking around admiring all the many treasures when this, and another picture of roses, caught my eye.

I first asked the price of the the other picture, and a very nice man quoted a sum that was just a bit too much for me that day.  Then I asked him the price of this picture.  He looked at me and My Girl and he said, "It's yours.  All I ask is that you say a prayer for me."

I was touched, and this dear picture came home with us.  Needless to say, we both said a prayer for that very nice man with the kind heart that night.

 

More colors?

 

My ever growing kokeshi girlies.

 

 

 

Brightly colored enamel bowls I can't get enough of.

 

 

 

Illustrations from a vintage children's book I picked up at the Salvation Army.

 

 

More you say?

Sure!

 

 

Another enamel bowl and a vintage textured painting of roses I was also given for free last summer at a tag sale. (I was on a roll.)

 

 

A wreath made from little paper parasols.

 

Now I thought I was brilliant when I came up with this idea, only to discover it had been done - many times - before. But, oh well!

Notice the dangly buttons in the center.  Yes - me and my buttons - we love each other.

 

 

 

 

A vintage quilt, so lovingly made.

 

 

 

Bright and beautiful vintage afghans warming themselves in the sun.

 

 

 

Vintage slips, softly lady-like.

 

 

And just a little bit more?

 

 

Vintage jewelry on an old adjustable dress form, which I got for $1.00 at a garage sale.  Yes - ONE DOLLAR!  You bet I skipped happily out of there that day.

 

 

I had picked up these 2 old wooden shoes several months ago at the thrift shop.  They were just plain wood, which I eventually decided to dress up a bit. So on went a bit of paint and pretty vintage decals.

 

 

 

Some thrifted silk flowers...

 

and lastly, the soup I am making...

 

 

Some very pretty colors, indeed, in this soup!

I call it Hodge Podge Soup.

You basically add whatever veggies you have hanging around in your fridge or freezer to your homemade chicken stock, season it, and you have your tasty soup.

This particular batch includes sweet corn kernels, carrots, red, green and yellow peppers, spinach, onions, peas, orzo pasta, chicken meat and lots of freshly ground pepper!

 

Thank you for sharing all of today's colors with me.

 

Much Love,

 

A Plastic Bag Valentine

Yup, that's right!  Plastic bag Valentine hearts.

But first, let me tell you about Aunt Peaches.  Do any of you know her? I stumbled upon her blog a few months ago and fell instantly in love. She is witty, creative, unique and just plain fun.  You kind of get the feeling that if you were to meet her, you would want her to be your best friend.

So about a week ago, she posted a tutorial for Valentine Garlands from Plastic Grocery Bags.  And darn, these things looked pretty!  I had to have a go at them.

So here's my attempt...

 

 

I love them!  The only change I made was to add some vintage button "tails" on the ends of some of the garlands.

 

 

I can't help myself.  This little junque shop I go to often has mason jars filled with lovely assortments of vintage buttons, and I must immediately buy them.  Now I am swimming in buttons and must find ways to include them in just about everything I do.

 

 

You may notice one little heart with a rose print on it?  Well, that was my attempt at putting vintage fabric between clear plastic bags to see how it would work.  My hope was that the plastic would kind of melt through the fabric.  But it didn't work that way, and most of the plastic bag peeled off.  But one or two hearts did stay together, so I put them in.

 

 

If you have a moment, and you think you might want to try these unique garlands, visit Aunt Peaches' blog.  Her tutorial will teach you!

 

 

Enjoy Friends!

 

XOXOXO