The Sea Beckons

We are fortunate to live just a mile from the Atlantic ocean, which we enjoyed visiting this past Sunday.  Seagulls, splashing, sand and seashells beckoned us on a gorgeous, breezy day.  During this time of year I love to decorate with reminders of the ocean.  Our living room is enhanced with the soft pastel colors of seashells...

...like this seashell wreath I made a few years ago, now hanging by cheesecloth:

The pale blue coverlet I scored at the flea market (with my dear friends) fits the antique daybed perfectly:

I thought the colors on this pink pillow resembled those on pale seashells...

St. Therese presides over a seashell filled with powder blue floral pebbles.

I enhanced some of the pebbles with glittered crosses:

The mantel hosts a glass vase with sea shells, while fresh hydrangeas and portraits of our children rest nearby:

Our talented neighbor painted these portraits from photos we had taken of the children at the ocean.  That was 3 years ago - I miss how small they were.

Silver cups and delicate paper flowers made by yourangil.etsy.com rest on this shelf:

It is a peaceful room to take in a summer breeze.  Hope you are enjoying a restful summer!
Sharing with White Wednesday and Feathered Nest Friday.

Left in the Dust

This past weekend my adventuresome thrifter friend Michelle and I hit the local flea market.  The hot and humid weather, combined with a lack of vendors (could they have been at Brimfield?), was a bit disheartening.  But that didn't stop us from trekking the field in our boots for some scores.  The vendors literally left us in the dust (churned up from their departing cars) as we said our goodbyes. 
But a lackluster day of thriftin' is better than no thriftin' right? 

Here's what I was able to find before everyone packed up...
This sweet devotional poetry book, vintage card and mother-of-pearl buckle atop a pretty white apron:

I love the sweet angel faces on the book:

The card has some tarnished glitter on the flowers:

Here is the sweet vintage white apron:

It has got a delicate peach ribbon attached:

These 12 cocktail napkins came from the same vendor with the apron:

Last Friday I found these other gems while visiting a thrift store near my mother's house.  Two repro-mercury candlesticks and more vintage cards:

I just love their colors, imagery and sentiments:

Lovely finds all in all!
I'll be sharing with White Wednesday and Vintage Inspiration Friday.  Check out Michelle's unique finds from the dusty flea market, too, as well as her fabulous studio post for Where Bloggers Create.

Winging It!

Hello friends!  Just a quick note here to let you know I've listed more angel wings in my etsy shop.  Various sizes and styles are now available.  I hope you will 'fly' over to take a look. 

Recently Tausha of the gorgeous Simply Me blog purchased a pair, and they look so pretty in her home (see her post here).  Thank you Tausha!

Here are some photos of the wings on sale.  I decided to use white wire for one large pair:

The small ones would look lovely on a Santos doll or miniature dress form.
(this dress form is also in my shop):

Thanks for looking!

Creative Corner

This weekend Karen Valentine is hosting her 'Where Women Create' blog party.  It's always fun to take a peek inside some of the most inspiring creative spaces there.  I didn't plan on joining this party, since my creative space is lacking in the space part, but figured I'd post to join in on the fun.
 
It is this little corner of our bedroom:

Most of my supplies are in the white wardrobe, and shelves nearby.

I leave plenty of visual stimulus out as well...

Items I created, plus my dear crowned fairy queen from Abby:

I need to do more crafting with this wallpaper stash...

One product I have been making a lot of lately is my set of angel wings.  I've got both large and small sizes coming to my etsy shop soon in this new vintage-inspired shape:

(small pair of wings)

Sharing with White Wednesday this week. 
Make sure to check out all the lovely creative spaces at Karen's party this weekend!

Paper Lanterns

We did a little celebrating last weekend for our daughter's birthday - a fancy tea party!  She had a delightful time with her fancy little friends, and of course I had a delightful time decorating for it. 
I wanted to share with you these paper lanterns that were used at the party.  I bought them here after seeing them used in a Romantic Homes magazine wedding feature. 

They floated above our hammock, where the little girls loved to swing...

After the party, I couldn't resist keeping them in our dining room for a little while...

I strung my pink crepe paper flowers on to each lantern as a pretty touch.

They blend well with fresh roses from the garden...

Sharing these pink pretties with Beverly's Pink Saturday, and the white lanterns with White Wednesday next week.  Enjoy your weekends!

Somerset Life Giveaway Winner

Thanks to all who participated in my Somerset Life magazine giveaway and for all the related support! 

The winner of this summer issue of the magazine is....

Vickie from Ranger 911!!!

Congratulations, Vickie!  Please send your mailing address to my email (see top right of my blog) when you get a chance and I'll send it out to you.  :)  

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Sunday couldn't have been a brighter day to spend time shopping with my picker sister friends, Michelle and Karen.  We shopped our little feet out and scored some serious bargains at our local flea market and White Elephant shop.  There were giggles and gasps of delight as we uncovered discarded items that just needed a little love. 
I was so impressed with Karen's eye for the rustic farmhouse pieces, and Michelle's vision for everything we touched.  She had so many rusty old items transformed already in her creative mind, and gave us great ideas.
Without further adieu, here is what came home with me...

Amazing old platter, ironstone dish and buttons:

These trophies have seen better days - one is missing a handle and the other is somewhat melted(?).  But they are from the early 1900's:

They are resting on the prettiest twin summer coverlet.  I was so touched that once I met the ladies at the flea market, they took me right over to a vendor selling this coverlet.  It looks to be handmade from the palest of blue seersucker fabric, with white lace trim down the middle and a white ruffle hem.  They knew I would love it! 

Blue and white plates - of course!

I got these other pretty plates to use at my daughter's 5th birthday tea party this weekend.  So sweet!

A charming florentine box...

Michelle and I salvaged these crochet threads from the buck hut at the White Elephant.  Aged to perfection, I'd say.  And look at that adorable candle Michelle gave me with the 'picka sista' bathing beauties.  I love it!

Thank you Michelle!

It's never too early to shop for Christmas.  This Santa caught my eye, as he had a Jeanne D'Arc Living style about him.  I plan to change out his garish gold gifts for something more to my liking:

(oops - gotta wash his face, too)

Is it me, or does Santa look like he's been enjoying the Christmas punch?

And here we are at the flea market.  I think we spent 45 minutes or so in this area alone - those crates nearby are dollar bins.  Woo hoo!  (or should I say yee-haw! in my Texan husband's cowboy hat)

(me, Michelle, Karen)

The first time Michelle and I visited the White Elephant we grabbed some rustic rakes for our blog photo.  It seemed right to keep up that tradition, 'cause we were certainly pickin'!

(Michelle, Karen)

(Michelle, me)

(me with sun in my eyes, Karen)

Of course we had to get that White Elephant sign in our photos, too. 
Thanks ladies - I had the best time!!! Please join us next time, Sandi!
Make sure you visit Michelle's blog PetiteMichelleLouise.blogspot.com and Karen's blog AShabbyMomentinTime.blogspot.com to see their loot (let's just say I was the one that behaved).  Not to mention they also visited a nearby vintage fair which sounded dreamy. 

Oh, and don't forget to enter my Somerset Life magazine giveaway!

Sharing with:
White Wednesday
Vintage Inspiration Friday