fabulous thrift store finds

love the 50s Christmas ceramics!!! somebody painted faces on the deer, which originally made me second guess their purchase....but i decided it added to their character, glad that i didnt pass these beauties up, they look fantastic in my whitewashed hutch!

vintage paper goodies! the santa on the empty Christmas Lites box is gonna make great Christmas tags this year!

this vintage santa mug is a real treasure!!! 

 vintage shiny brite perfection....in the original packaging!!! <3 <3 <3

delightful old ceramic spice set

sometimes you score big when thrifting, and this was one of those times!!!! love, love my purchases this day!!!!

cranberry love

i have a fondness for cranberries that is beyond words...i dream of  standing knee deep in a cranberry bog in New England...harvesting these red beauties(maybe there is some sort of vacation for that?) soooo, in short i decided it is way past time to learn how to make my own cranberry sauce...

a quick google search....and to my amazement(and joy) it is quite simple! Here is the recipe I choose from www.savorysweetlife.com

(simple and amazing) cranberry sauce recipe

ingredients:

12 oz. bag of fresh cranberries

3/4 c. orange juice

2/3 cup of brown sugar

1/3 cup white sugar

directions:

place all of the ingredients in a saucepan(I made a double batch) and cook on medium high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until most of the liquid is reduced. You'll hear the cranberries popping, dont worry, that's what you want them to do. Remove from the heat and serve. Cranberry Sauce can be mad days ahead of time, then warmed to room temperature or heated slightly.

yummmmmmmmmmmmm! 

also on that website, there is an apple cranberry crisp recipe with this cranberry sauce as a base

etsy sneak peek

well i promised it and here it is!!!!!! this cute little bird will soon be available on my etsy site

recycledchick

sew cute birdie makedo pincushion

will be only $12 on ETSY!

(PLUS SHIPPING)

He is made from recycled wool(he is even stuffed with recycled wool)

and is perched atop a recycled wooden spool 

great Christmas gift!!!!!!

GIVEAWAY!!!!

WIN THESE EARRINGS!!!!

Here's the deal friends....I need more followers for my blog!!!! so, i will bribe you to follow me!!! every new person who follows my blog until the last day of the month will be entered to win these earrings! 

and....just in time for Christmas! these beauties make a great gift or an addition to your holiday outfit...keys with vintage green glass beads (from French General)are valued at $12 and shipping is included(if necessary)

so get in the drawing while the gettin is good!!!

next up tomorrow: sneak peak of my etsy shop

which btw: opening has been delayed but will be up 

and running by black friday at the latest!!!!

Christmas collection at NOTO!

 achater (french for the act of shopping) necklaces  at NOTO featuring famous shopping destinations, Paris, NYC, Madison Ave, Fifth Ave, Michigan Ave...embellished with swarovski crystals, bits of lace and pearls

all necklaces are one of a kind for $20 each at NOTO

biblioteque(french for library) collection at NOTO

I am so excited about my holiday jewelry collection at NOTO! And I must say, its one of my best collections yet!!! 

Romantic Homes

i am soooooooooooo excited! My dear friend Susan Taggart of Home Sweet Home, got her blog published in the December Issue of Romantic Homes!!!!!!This is just so amazing(not to toot my own horn buuuuuttttt, I have been telling her for yeeeeears that she should be in magazines!!!!) 

you have GOT to check out her fabulous blog! 

www.mustlovejunk.blogspot.com

and while I am at it....

check out Home Sweet Homes' holiday open house!

this weekend!  

Friday, November 16th from 9 am to 4 pm

 and Saturday, November 17th from 9 am to 2 pm

on  7385 Middlebranch in Plain township 

imagine childhood giveaway!!!

I just wanted to let all my friends know about the amazing giveaway@

IMAGINE CHILDHOOD

check it out on their blog @ 

imaginechildhood/blog!

FOR CHANCES TO WIN A $75 GIFT CERTIFICATE!!!

I purchased some gifts for my children last year from their website and they were truly lovely! 

good luck! 

Raise Money for Loving Kinsley Sarai | YouCaring

Raise Money for Loving Kinsley Sarai | YouCaring

gift basket for the party in pink!

I just want to thank my friends and their generous donations for this gift basket I assembled fot the ZUMBA PARTY IN PINK fundraiser for breast cancer!!!! Journey pillow was made by local artist Carol Cox, you can purchase her pillows at at One Vintage Lane in Hartville Ohio, and speaking of One Vintage Lane, the other gorgeous items that filled this basket were donated by One Vintage Lane(see previous post for address and shop hours) and last but certainly not least, Susan and Sharon of Home Sweet Home(also see previous post for shop hours and address) donated a $10 gift certificate to their shop!!!! thank you, thank you, thank you ladies!!!! I really enjoyed attending this event with my daughter, and sister in law Kristen Moreland....and anticipate being involved in future party in pink events!!! <3

GREEN TOMATO GRATIN

what to do, what to do....its the end of the season and you have boat loads of delish green tomatoes just begging to be cooked... my mom gave me this recipe( and the tomatoes) and it was YUMMY!!!!
I served it with some garlic and olive oil couscous, and I could not imageine a more delightful late summer meal!!!! so try it out friends, its easy to whip up on week night or add some protein for a weekend feast!!!

GREEN TOMATO GRATIN

2 lbs green tomatoes(about 8), sliced 1/3 inch thick

salt

3T. extra virgin oil, plus more for baking dish

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 t. red pepper flakes

18 butter flavored crackers such as Ritz, crushed* i just used the herbed breadcrumbs that i already had*

2 oz. finely grated parmesan(about 1/2 cup)

2 T. chopped fresh marjoram

1. preheat oven to 425 degrees. Meanwhile, sprinkle tomatoeswith 1 1/2 t. salt. pat with paper towels. place tomatoes in a single layer in an oiled 9 by 13 in baking dish. Drizzle with oil.Sprinkle with garlic and red pepper.

2. In a small bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Sprinkle over tomatoes. Bake in upper third of the oven until tops are browned, 12 to 15 minutes. ENJOY!!!!!

MY FALL COLLECTION AT NOTO

I AM BACK!!!!!

It's been way too long since I posted but I am back....and with a creative vengence!!!!

this is my latest fall jewelry collection at Akrons' very own NOTO

I have taken a whole new selection of items to her shop...this is just a sample...

and can i just mention, that her new fall clothing is to die for???

rich fall colors and fabrics make me almost not hate the seasons changing..

and i just had to post a picture of this GORGEOUS fall jacket(picture right above)

absolutley fantastic!!!!A yummy addition to any wardrobe....

visit her and check out whats new:

NOTO

51 E. Market St.

Akron, Ohio 44308

hours of operation Tue- Sat. 3 to 7

or visit her on the web@

www.zelionoto.com

p.s. I fixed the glitch that was preventing people from following me, so PLEASE be a follower!!!!

p.s.s....i almost forget to mention that a few select items from my spring/ summer collection are on sale!!!!



ONE VINTAGE LANE

Welcome to

 ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOPS IN THE AREA!!!!!!

ONE VINTAGE LANE

1138 W.MAPLE ST. UNIT C

HARTVILLE OHIO

(330)877-3411

I met this lovely shops'owner years ago when we were both selling our wares at craft shows and I was blown away by her creativity and talent!!! Since then  she has become an awesome friend and opened her gorgeous shop which absolutely overflows with things that I love!!! Her signature handpainted and hand stenciled furniture is, in a word, fabulous!!!!so check her out!  You will  be  sure to find something you cant live without! <3

NESTING

nest /nest/, noun:

a structure or place made or

chosen by a bird for laying eggs

and sheltering its young.

I gotta be honest, I have been pretty down in the dumps these days. Ever have those times where you just feel uninspired? well I have been there for weeks! Then this sweet mama robin decided to nest in my fence!!!! She even let me get several close ups of her baby! I have watched her tend her nest day in and day out. Pateintly caring for  her eggs and then her babies....which reminded me, of course, of the mothering nature we as women possess. Whether we have our own children or not, the desire to "nest" runs deep. My own nest is  my sanctuary, my place to create and express myself.....but also the place where I nurture my family. So even in my longest most frustrating days in my heart is the desire to nest, to build and grow and love.  

Hugh En Plein Air

Just had to share my sweet little boy as he intently painted the other day. There is something that sparks the imagination and creativity about creating art outside.....getting in touch with the earth on the most basic level... and no one is more perceptive of this than children. It was such a joy to see Hugh deep in thought and creating....<3 Just another reason to love summer!

lookee here what I made!!!! a birdfeeder!!!

I have been seeing these made all over the place and I have been wondering just how to attach the dishes together.Then a friend told me E-6000!!!! you simply glue the dishes together! E-6000 is pretty much a forever adhesive! I just took some leftover dishes from the Junque girls sale and assembled this beauty while the kids were swimming! I let it set for 24 hours before putting it out with the seed, and the top little birdie bowl is filled with water! the birds must be loving it because I put it out the day before yesterday and I had to fill it already! next up, I will find an organic hummingbird food recipe to fill my new hummingbird feeder that I purchased at wal-mart!
P.S. these would also make great serving trays for an afternoon tea!!!!

MUD PUDDLE DAY

Mud Puddle Day

"Let's go for a walk," I said to the boy

He replied with a scowl;turned back to his toys

"and what if I promised fun on the way?"

"what if I told you it's mud puddle day?"

-Liza Rosenberg

and mud puddle day it was!!!!

When my boys saw the torrential downpour on Fathers day,

They couldnt help but run around in it!

Accross the street they discovered the deepest, muddiest, most amazing mud puddle ever!

even though the a part of me wanted to scream,

"no! too messy" the mama in me prevailed and i sat and enjoyed the pure joy they found in their discovery!

right now the house is quiet, little boys are sleeping, and the big girl is at vbs....

(I miss that girl and cant wait to hug her)

I feel oddly lonely and empty at this silence...which usually beckons me to read or write,,,,

or fold another load of laundry...but this time something is different....

and I realize time is passing entirely too fast...I feel something slipping away... then I remember that when 7 am rolls around my busy world will be reawakened and sigh with relief.....

life is good, better than good 

a few highlights from New England....

the boys at Old Sturbridge Village

learning to dance @ OSB

blackmail pics of the boys at OSB

hiking

building sandcastles at Bow Lake, NH

Ben and Jerrrys, my Graceland...

Sierra practing up on her photography in Portsmouth, NH

tug boats @ Portsmouth

Sadie at Bow Lake

Our hosts, John and Sarah

Live Free or Die!

thats what the New Hampshire license plates say anyway....

wow! I have some catching up to do, here are just a few highlights from our visit to New England!

The Kids loved Old Sturbridge Village, Mass. We were there during wool days so the kids got to see sheep being sheared..... which they thought had to be kinda mean to the sheep and had to be reassured that the sheep didnt mind at all! Lots of swimming and hiking and catching up with our dear friends John, Sarah and their lovely 2 year old daughter, Sadie. John is my husbands best friend from all the way back in their days together in the army as cav. scouts! I guess they never figured that someday they would be talking diapers and mortgage payments, but here we are!!!! Great trip but sadly we probably wont see eachother for another year or two....