I Can't Help It....

It's Friday so that means it's Tootsie Time!

I'm linking in for Fertilizer Friday

I love Lilacs!!

Their scent carries all worries and cares away

and brings back childhood memories.

Mom would pick a bouquet

and place it upon the kitchen table.

Each time you entered the fragrance embraced you.

I love this poem....

The Lilacs Mother Planted

I listened by the doorstep as the evening shadows

fell, 

While from the distance floated the faint tinklings

of a bell,

The night hawk circled overhead then dropped

straight down below,

The same as when I first lived there, in childhood,

long ago.

The trees have grown much taller in the yard

where once I played,

And now looked so majestic in their summer robes

arrayed;

And near the walk the lilacs flung their fragrance

to the air

The lilacs that my darling mother planted for us

there.

Ah, yes, what tender memories are forced on us

again,

Who leave our home in boyhood days and then

return grown men;

To seek again the playgrounds which in youth

we loved so well,

The shade beneath the apple tree, the old pump

at the well,

The woodpile, and the cellar door, the dear old

blacksmith shop,

The granary that held the corn with martin box

on top.

But dearer than the playgrounds was the perfume

in the air,

From those dear lilac bushes that my mother

planted there.

Oh, sweet and fragrant lilac, the one she loved so

well,

Thy fragrance brings to memory sad thoughts I

cannot tell;

Sweet lullabies of childhood sung at the evening

rest,

By mother clasping closely the one she loved the

best.

A voice that gently whispered sweet words of

love to me,

A face so kind and gentle, a heart with love so free;

Still yet my heart throbs feel them, still yet I see

them there,

When lilacs that she planted with fragrance fill

the air.

__Ed Blair.

My lilacs are blooming proudly

Once when we were stationed in Miami

I received a package from Fed Ex

it had been overnighted

when I opened it

I couldn't believe my eyes

or nose

Mom had picked the most gorgeous bouquet

of Lilacs from her garden

and sent them to me

I couldn't stop crying

she had touched my heart once again

the scent

the color

I'll never ever forget....

Vintage Thingies Time

It's time for Vintage Thingies Thursday over at The Coloradolady

Be sure to stop by and see everyone's thingies!!! LOL

Last weekend while out Treasure Hunting, my daughter and I stopped at the Antique Mall in Gustine. It's been open for a few years now, but we had never checked it out..I know Bad me!!

Boy did it have alot of goodies!

Sorry no photo of the mall this time,

but I did manage to pick up a couple thingies.

A jar of white and MOP buttons

couldn't resist at $2

And a vintage child's hankie, isn't it sweeeet!

I'm in the process of collecting children's hankies

for a future project ☺ it was also $2

On the way to check out I spied a box of $1 goodies.

I snagged the pink and white beaded Dragonfly pin

you can see it in the center of the hankie.

Need to make this place a regular stop!

Treasures ~ 4/13/10

I'm joining in with:

  Today's Thrifty Treasures at  Southern Hospitality

2nd Time Around Tuesday at A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm

 

My daughter and I were able to get out

and to some Treasure Hunting last weekend.

We hit quite a few sales, but pickings were at a minimun. :(

We did manage to pick up a few things here and there.

Not sure what this wooden box was for, but I liked it.

I'll have to ponder on it for awhile. 

The little white cupboard to the left is missing some knobs

and in desperate need of a paint job.

Not sure what it is with me and totes.

If I see a tote I like I have to get it!

The little one on top of the cupboard was just too cute.

Smaller than normal,

but just the right size for a First Aid kit for the van.

Or.....?

2 ziplock bags of old cookie cutters, jello molds, etc.

The larger jello mold will go in my Treasure Pile for a future project.

It's so weird, I've been thinking how long it has been since I've had Angel Food cake...and what do I find?

An Angel Food pan just like Mom had!

The blue green candy dish just jumped up in my hand as did the

red and white plate! Guess they liked me ;)

I picked up a shutter, you can see the bottom...it has white flowers painted all over it. The flowers have to go!

When I saw the shaker at a church rummage sale,

 I searched high and low for it's mate. No such luck.

It's a nice size.

The crocheted tablecloth is round and huge!

Very pretty.

Grabbed the pink Damask napkins and a couple other doily things.

All in all I spent under $20.00 for everything.

Only broke one of my $20's

Better luck next time ;)

Paper Bags Albulms

I was in the mood last month to make

some Paper Bag Albums/Scrapbooks.

They're pretty easy to  make and tons of fun!

You'll need:

 4 brown lunch size paper bags,

or more depending on the size you want to make

all your embellishing goodies

this can include anything and everything 

☺

Lay the paper bags on top of each other

 reveresing each one opposite of the other

 and fold in half

Next punch 3-5 holes for your binding area

I like to use a nail (a very technical tool) 

to keep them aligned when needed

 

I also like to staple the sides of the folded bottom.

It gives it a little more stability,

cuts down on the amount of give of the folds.

But it's not necessary.

Try to remember to do this before
covering the page with your background paper.

If you don't, no worries just embellish over the staples.

If you want a deeper pocket

(let's face it, who doesn't? ;))

just trim a tiny strip off.

You'll be left with two pockets,

one shallow and one deep.
The open ends of the bags make a
great place for keepsakes, notes, tags, etc. 

Now the fun begins.....

You need to cover the brown paper.

Use papers, fabrics or whatever.

There are NO RULES.

Do what ever your heart desires.

Cover the area that you want to cover with glue,

mod podge, etc.

Flip it over onto the wrong side of your covering

and press down hard all over.

Now you can measure and cut to fit or do it this way, 

cutting off the extra around the bag -

whichever is most easiest for you.

Turn it over and trim any extra

There ya go!

Now you can cover two pages at once or each page individually.

I've done it both ways and each is just as easy.
Or if you want some of the brown paper showing
just cover part or even none!

If you hold the pages up to the light

 you can see where you need to punch your holes

through the "covering" papers

Voila!

OK

Ready Set Embellish!

You can layer papers....

and more papers, make pockets,

add images...

trims, found objects, beads, buttons... whatever

In order to bind the pages together, you can use yarn, string, raffia,

binder rings, strips of fabrics,

anything that will be able to keep the book together.

I stuff these with lots of goodies, but there is always room for more.

I add a ribbon to the front and back.

I usually find something to add where the ribbon's attached to

 help keep it more secure. I like to use my hot glue for this.

The ribbon can be tied or wound around a button.

 It will adjust to the volume of the book

while keeping the contents secure.

Here are the ones I made last month.

A Vintage Garden

Lots of vintage papers...

and old embellishments.

Cottage Garden Treasures

Lots of florals....

pockets and fun trims... 

with room for jotting garden notes.

Garden Fairies

Some stories...

Fairy catching info...

even a recipe.

Some I've made in the past:

I started on a series of vintage "Cookbooks"

vol. 1

Stuck in lots of tags, old pamphlets....

old recipes....

embellished with old buttons, rick rack.......

even included an attached yarn bookmark

with XO beads on the end

lots to go through!

Vol. 2

I used part of my Grandmother's old apron to cover

 the front of this one.

The person who purchased this, 

gave it to her Mother for Christmas.

Included in the pocket were things

Grandma may have had in there

*note the date on the letter...1917

tons of tags and old recipes

even and old order blank from the dairy

"New Perfection Cook Stove"!

more treasure packed inside

We have a friend that instead of exchanging gifts

at Christmas we exchange pictures from that year.

This one I made into a photo Album/Scrapbook

for her.

See you can use just about anything....

paper pieces....

farmer handkerchieves....

tidbits of lace, trim...

an old tea towel.....

stamp if you'd like....

can't say no to dried rose petals...

Well, I hope that gave you enough inspiration to try one for yourself.

If not, the ones I made last month 

will be in my store by the end of the week. ☺