My New Blog Look and My Thrift Store Finds....

The new look of my blog has been completed. Michelle at Shabby Creations, has done all my blog design work. She does wonderful work. It's great to work with someone who understands what you want and then creates it just for you.

Did you notice the new damask print for the border. I just love the blue and white. It has such a crisp look that works well with my blog header. I didn't want to change ANYTHING about the header. It was perfect to me. The center page has been changed from white to blue and all the lettering is now brown. We added a little change to my signature. Just the look I wanted. I have added new flicker buttons, to display my aprons. Many of you have commented asking how to view them, well here they are. My Etsy also has a new button and I've added some new items to the shop. Love to hear how you like the changes....

I went to my absolute favorite thrift store, Rescued Treasures. EVERYTHING is ALWAYS 50% off EVERYDAY! Can't beat that. Yesterday I went to the Salvation Army. I could not believe how much everything cost. A used crock pot was $24.99. Can't you buy a new one for that price. I walked out without buying one thing. I was so disappointed. So today I packed up some clothing we no longer needed and I set off to find some treasures and make a donation at the same time.

This is what I got. All this for the same price as I would have paid for one crock pot.

Lots of teacups for some valentine pincushions to stock my Etsy store with. Isn't the ceramic shoe made to look like a flower just adorable. It will make the perfect pincushion.

The patterns were each 15 cents. I'm going to use them to wrap my items. It's cheaper than tissue and goes great with the sewing theme. I can't take credit for this idea. Dawn at "The Feathered Nest" is the originator of this idea. The forks....I have an idea. You'll have to wait and see.

I love black books. You can use them for decorating. Stack them on top of each other and use them to elevate items. I love to do this by placing a smaller lamp on top of the books, giving the lamp a taller appearance. I do have another project for the books. I will be working on that for the Etsy shop. The glassware is another new idea. I'm trying to prepare early for any craft shows I may do. Last year was the first craft show I did in about 15 years and I was up quite a few late nights trying to prepare.

Don't you just love bargain hunting at the thrift shop. I am definitely "Hooke On" thrift store shopping. I only wish we had more of these shops where I live. Stop by Hooked on Fridays to see what other people are hooked on.Wishing you a wonderful weekend. My next post....I can't wait to share with you what I got in the mail today! Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today. Hebrews 3:13

A Friend's Sweet New Baby Granddaughter...

My good friend Sandy became a grandmother for the first time last week. Addison came into this world with a grand entrance last Thursday evening. Sandy and her husband could not be more excited about the arrival of their beautiful granddaughter. I saw her Monday evening when our knitting group gathered, she was already hard at work knitting a sweet little pink hat for Addison. This weekend I asked her husband to send me a photo of Addison with her grandmother. What a perfect photo was sent. Look at this sweet gift from God, holding onto her grandma's finger. It's hard to believe that she is only 1 hour old in this photo. Have you ever seen a baby's eyes so wide open. I think she was just staring at her new grandma.

Well, what to do with the photo? I wanted to make a "Creation From My Heart" for my dear friend. Here is what I came up with... Addison was holding onto her grandma Sandy's hand, and I had the perfect poem for the gift bag..... GRANDMAS hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever... What a wonderful gift, a new grandchild. As one part of our life closes a new chapter begins... I also finished a special order from my Etsy shop for Susan. She also is a new grandmother to Benjamin. She sent me a photo and wanted a memory box using the photo of her new grandson. Isn't he sweet. Well the order is finished and boxed up ready to be mailed to her tomorrow. He looks so precious. How quickly he will grow. I love working on these projects. Once I get started, the time passes by so quickly. Each one of us is given a special gift. Isn't it wonderful when we are able to use that gift. It's amazing what you can do with it. Take the time to use the gifts that you have been blessed with! Wishing you a wonderful day.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

What Are You Hooked On... And A Thank You Gift Sent Out...

Today over at Hooked on Houses, Julia is having her Friday discussion on what you are "Hooked On". Take a look at all the things that interest people. I had to say that lately I am hooked on making my pincushions. I am planning on having a Valentines Giveaway. I know the perfect little pincushion for the prize! Check back next week to put you name in the drawing.

I had a Dear Friend that I met through blogging that helped me out over Christmas. I finally got the little thank you together and mailed it off to her. It was so kind of someone I have never personally met, to take the time to help me out. I was truly touched by her kind actions. I think we have all met friends through blog land. Isn't it wonderful to get a comment or an email, with an encouraging or kind word. I treasure these things and the friendships I have made. Here's a sneak peak of what I sent off in the mail as a Thank You. The gift came from heart, just as her act of kindness did.

I made the card using a photo I got from Vintage Studio. Sharon has a wonderful blog. She was kind enough to post some photos that can be used for your personal sue. I thought it would be great as a little thank you card.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

A Friend Is a Precious giftFrom GOD.

My New Rooster Tassel...

It's a "Tassel Party"  Stop by Here to see some wonderful creativity. 
A few months ago I was at the craft store and these roosters caught my eye. I've mentioned before that I already have way to many roosters, but I love roosters. So I purchased 5 of them figuring that I would come up with an idea for what to Create. Over the past few months I've seen some rooster tassels while cruising the internet. Today I thought I would give it a go and see what I could come up with. Anything was better than thinking up what to cook for dinner. Here's the original rooster. I really didn't care for the color of the rooster, so step one was to paint him.

My original thought was to use a gold paint. Here's the work in progress. I was unhappy with the color.

I searched through my spay paint collection and came up with one of my favorites, a very dark brown paint. I sprayed him in the garage, but it's only about 15 degrees here in Michigan and it would not dry. After coming inside to finish the painting, I was happy with the outcome.

Having my drapery business, I get quite a collection of small left over pieces of drapery trim. I went to my stash and found the perfect combination for my kitchen. I also gathered up a few reels of ribbon and my glue gun and I was ready to put this tassels together. I surprised myself how it came out.

It needed something...Hmmm...

When in doubt, I grab my favorite gold Venetian craft paint! I added a few gold highlights to the body and a ribbon to hand him from, now I was happy.

I found the perfect spot for him, right above my desk in the kitchen. I really didn't need another rooster in the kitchen....But he is just so darn cute I had to add him to my collection. Really... Do you think you can have to many roosters in the kitchen? I had so much fun making this tassel. I have four more roosters and I think I will get to work and add a few to my Etsy shop this week. I had been putting this project off, unsure I could get it to work out. In the end it was something I really enjoyed creating. What project have you been putting off? I'd be happy to help you out. Let me give you a little nudge to get started. Sometimes that's all we need. Someone to encourage us. I have met so many wonderful women through my blog whose comments have been an encouragement to me. That's all you need, a little encouragement. I know you can do it and you'll surprise yourself with the finished product! "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself." Philippians 2:3

New Journals on My Etsy...

Some of you have asked if I will be selling my journals. I did have some in my Etsy shop before Christmas and they sold. Well I've been working one them this week and I have just added 4 of them to my Etsy. Each journal comes with a matching gift bag and my NEW ADDITION a page marker. It's a cute little item I added. I'm going to add sets of these on my Etsy this week for Valentines. Here's my new journals...

GARDENING JOURNAL

PRAYER JOURNAL

MOTHER'S JOURNAL FRIENDSHIP JOURNAL I really enjoy making these. Our bible study group met on Friday and I gave my friend the journal I made her. She really liked it. They make a wonderful gift for a friend or yourself. Over the years I have enjoyed jotting down thoughts or prayers and looking back on the entries years later. I have one journal that I kept when the boys were young. I wrote down funny things that they would say. I wrote down a few notes from when my husband and I told my youngest about the "Birds & The Bees". To this day I still laugh when I read his reaction! Life goes by so fast, it's wonderful to have something to look back upon. Thanks for visiting I enjoy hearing from you. Memory is a way Of holding onto The things you love, The things you are, The things… YOU never want to lose.

God Blesses Us With Friends...

It's a dear friend's birthday this week and I decided to make her something. I know she likes these journals, she has purchased them from me to give as gifts. My thought....Why not make her one she can keep. How many times do we purchase something for someone else, and would love to have one for ourselves. I do it all the time. I talk myself out of spending the money on myself. We all deserve to treat ourselves once in a while. So I am going to treat her!

A wonderful journal that she can keep notes in. I know it will go wonderfully with her kitchen decor. I made a matching gift bag.I also made the clip to be used as a page marker. I saw this idea in the Somerset Life magazine and love it. I will post the photos and show you the idea next week.

My favorite embellishments are buttons and ribbons. What do you love to use?

The inside has a poem about journals. Here's the page marker....

Next time you have someone special to buy a gift for, think about making something. I know when I receive a gift that was created for me it is a treasure. If you wnat handmade and just don't have the time, go over to the Sassy Apron Shop and see all her wonderful aprons just in time for Valentine's Day. What a wonderful gift they would be. Speaking of journals, I visited "My Vintage Studio's "Blog today. She has created some wonderful journals. She's having a give away. Head on over and check it out.

It is soooo cold here in Michigan, I don't want to leave the house. Maybe I'll get a few projects done and be able to share them with you. Have a wonderful Thursday. How beautiful A day can be when FRIENDSHIP touches it.

I've Been Busy Creating New Etsy Items....

For the past few days I've been busy creating some items for my Etsy shop. After making a teacup pincushion for a friend's birthday I decided to make some to sell. I've been scouring the flee markets for some wonderful teacups and other unique items to transform. Wouldn't these be cute in a sewing room?

Here's a close up of the buttons and the pins that I have embellished with charms. Head on over to my Etsy and you can see more of the detail....

Every pincushion comes with a matching handmade gift bag. It's already to give to someone special.... The gift bag has a wonderful poem someone gave me about sewing... I have searched for some cute sayings about sewing, and i haven't found many. If you have one you would like to share with me, please do I would love to start a collection.

This would be the perfect gift for an expectant mother or grandmother who loves to sew. This shoe is just so precious.

If you love to sew and love shoes... how perfect is this! A wonderful old vase has a new found life, as a cherished pincushion for some who loves the art of sewing... I love pincushions and I love turning something that has an ordinary purpose into a gift for someone to treasure. Pincushions remind me of when I was young and my mom teaching me to sew at the age of 10. Sewing has been a love of mine over the years. If you don't sew, I encourage you to start with a small project. Aprons are a wonderful first time project and they have become quite popular. There are many patterns for aprons and they now longer look like the aprons that your grandmother wore. You will be amazed at what you can make and the satisfaction it will bring you when you have finished your new "Creation From the Heart"! "Teach your child a craft and it will be a gift they will have forever"...

A Wonderful Book....

My dear friend Amy's birthday was a few weeks ago. She enjoys vintage photos so I decided to give her this book for her birthday. It was a great find at Joann Fabrics. It has 57 pages of images and the wonderful thing about the book is that it comes with a CD and you can download the photos to use in your creations. Here's a of the front cover of the book.

I scanned a few photos to show you what the prints look like.

There are color images and black and white. For some reason when I post the photos they do not come out as well as when they are printed. The quality is very good when they are printed.

The book has a few hundred photos that can be used for all sorts of artwork. I liked it so much I had to get one with my 40% off coupon!

I've been busy making teacup pincushions for my Etsy shop. I'm posting them tomorrow. I made Amy one for her birthday....Here's a sneak peek of what I've been up to....

Come visit tomorrow when I post the assortment of pincushions and matching gift bags! Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday...