A Wonderful R.A.K., and Marie Tags!!!

I have started to receive tags from the "Marie Swap"

http://vintage-le.blogspot.com/

hosted by Arielle. The middle tag is an "Extra Tag" I made (anyone want to swap?) for this exchange. The one under mine is from Beth Jaffe, it says "Let them eat cake!" you can visit her blog,

http://thequeenofcupsrunnethover.blogspot.com/

Thank you Beth the Tag and the little "bonus" potpourri was wonderful!

The tag on the right was from Sonyia Crouse, her blog is

http://vintagerosedesigns.blogspot.com/

she did a silhouette of Marie. These are the first ones of the ten. I cannot wait to see them all together. Thank You Sonyia!

Earlier last week I received the Terri's

http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/

wonderful tag from her. You see we are good friends and well we are not on each others list but traded anyway. Thank You Terri for the lovely tag (and for using the blue rhinestones that I begged for).

Look at what else arrived? Yes my R.A.K. from Nancy Vanhoose!

So many beautiful envelopes......

These are so lovely I don't know if I will ever have the heart to use them. She used beautiful Flocked papers and her work, as anyone who has ever received any of her work can attest to is impeccable. Even her tag is pretty, and the lovely ribbon tied into the perfect knot. Nancy had these posted on her Blog and I commented on them, I never dreamed I would be lucky enough to receive them! Please head over to her blog

http://herartnest.blogspot.com/

and check them out there. She is a much better photographer than I am. Thank You so much Nancy!

The True Face of Evil.....

I met a lady at a local market, She makes homemade donuts. All manner of yummy decedent goodness, that a "healthy and fit" person would avoid. I was good......... I was, (okay stop laughing now), until I saw these.... Yes she had creme and custard filled "Long Johns". Sure Steven could have held me back, told me "No, don't do it Deb, don't give in to the fresh donut pastry with its light and airy creme filling. No, resist the Chocolate topping that beckons with it's just baked aroma". He could have said it........ I might have listened. Instead he said "I want one with Custard" Say hello to my little friend........ I had to eat this in two stages. It is big, and the donut is soft and the creme is so light.... there it is people. I have to tell you this puppy has all over Krispy Creme (at least that is may opinion, but then I have only had them twice). I am so glad I do not have access to these on a regular basis, it could get ugly. What am I saying, it already is.

Blog Party Come on and Join!!!

Karen of "My Desert Cottage" is hosting a "Where Bloggers Create" Party. Take pictures and show off your studio where you "Create" art! Please join her, myself and countless others in a feast of "eye candy" and inspiration on July 24th. You can go here to sign up or click on the header to be taken directly there:

http://mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/2009/06/im-having-party.html

A Game for You!

Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway-but your waiter may know! YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH This is pretty neat. DON'T CHEAT BY LOOKING DOWN FIRST!It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read ...Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50.

5.If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759...If you haven't, add 1758.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should have a three digit number.

The first digit of this was your original number. (i.e., How many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)The next two numbers are YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2009) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

Reader Request.

This is a short video of some china painting I have done. Kim from her blog, http://thevictorianparlor.blogspot.com/ mentioned she would like to see some of "my" china painting. So Kim this video is from my July 18, 2008 posting.

I must make a new one, for now I wanted you to see some of the things I have done.

My 4th of July Weekend.

Finding this fellow below "The Infant of Prague" was what turned out to be a part of a great weekend. I was born and raised Catholic. There was a time these icons, as well as statues of the Blessed Mother Mary, St. Joseph, and the Sacred Heart graced Catholic homes all over. Some of the most beautiful statues graced our churches, reminding us always of our faith and those who gave their lives for it . I love these religious symbols and icons. I do not pray to them, but they serve to remind me that I am not alone and that they are there for me. Much like a string one ties around ones finger to remind them. I feel truly blessed when I am lucky enough to find one as beautiful as this. His crown intact, glass eyes in delicately painted chalk-ware. He is not "dressed up" as was the custom in our home. Perhaps his robes faded and fell to disrepair? He has a few nicks but his face is serene and childlike. I just love him. This would have been enough for me, but he turned out to be just the beginning. 

Here is a very sweet porcelain doll I found in a box. Her dress is beautiful and she has glass eyes. When I asked how much and the guy told me, I just had to have her, after all he was practically giving her away. Now to find her a wig, and some shoes.

Isn't this little head/planter (this is a small version only about 3" tall) sweet. She was very inexpensive since her thumb was broke, but she was just so pretty I had to bring her home.

Anyone for a massive cup of coffee? This cup and saucer are huge, the fellow said they were called "Milk and Cookie" cups. I don't know about that, looks like it would take almost a quart of milk, and maybe a whole box of cookies for this baby!

Here is a bad shot of two of the "bird" wall pockets I found. If anyone has been to my home they know how much I love bird figurines. I have collected quite a few of them. I am particular though. I love the "Made in Japan" shiny ones, and the Czech ones.  This weekend I found four!

I put it all together. It was a pleasant surprise to find all these things. I went along expecting to maybe find one or two things. It is always that way for me. When I go on a lark, expecting nothing, I find some very cool things.

Here are some "yummy" things I got for my daughter Kim. She "loves" vintage 70's things (I was young then, and hated all this bright neon hippie stuff? go figure) Anyway you cannot see it but apparently these are from a store close-out. They were marked $35 -$45 each. I bought them "all"for $10.00! I am debating saving them for her birthday next Saturday, but they are so cool I may have to give them to her early. The Orange sweater is short waisted, with a skirt along the bottom. The Green/purple waist jacket just screams Kim (they had a bright orange and yellow which would have been her fist choice, but they did not have her size). The lime green and Tye-dyed blouse will look nice with them. I can say this much about them, you will see her coming.

We went up to Lexington to spend the 4th with Steve's family. I had a chance to see his sister's cottage. They have done a lot of work and it is lovely.( You know it has been too long since you have been there when they keep calling you by the other daughter-in-law's name.)We arrived home just in time for the fireworks downtown. On the way home around 8:30-9:30pm we must have counted 35+ deer out in the fields, along the side of the freeway walking around, all the way home from Lexington to Lake Orion. It was weird seeing them all out walking and grazing casually. They would look up at the cars like it was no big deal. They are so pretty (I was just glad none of them got any ideas about crossing the freeway, or highways in front of a car). 

Well I am beat. Tomorrow it is back to work, not complaining with the economy just grateful to still have some work. Down to three and a half days, but it is something. Went to the fruit stand this morning and bought fresh fruit and veggies, too. Now, off to finish my laundry and think about dinner. 

Busy Friday..... finishing up.

I have belonged to the Yahoo Group, Michigan AB , for some time. They are celebrating their 10th anniversary and  one of the Hostesses,           Corinne http://glitzohgirl.typepad.com

has decided to put together a commemorative book together. She has called out to all members to join and I think at last count there were 140+ participants. This is the page I am submitting. I made one original for me and one for Corinne, the other members will receive copies. It is a big project and Corinne is doing all this work as a "gift" to us. Thank You so much Corinne. I hope you like my page, I cannot wait to see the book!

Here are some other things I have been fiddling with. While I cannot yet share with you the tags I made for the Marie Antoinette Tag Swap,(although you can see the corner of one in the picture, my bad), I can show you some of the projects I have been working on.

Do you remember a few months ago my dear friend in Tennessee, Cathy Teller, sent me a box of lace bits and goodies from her Mom and her? Well I finally finished these little gifts for them. They are fabric collage folders. Using coffee stained fabric, silk flowers, ribbon, and a transfer image. I even found a pin for each. For Cathy I found a pin made from a piece of China. She is a fabulous China Painter and I thought she would love this pretty recycled pin. For her Mother a pretty golden Rose.

I placed some "handmade" cards inside. I made this thinking she could put her cards for each month in here ready to mail. She could also place hankies, photos, or anything she likes in them. I put a couple hankies in the smaller one for Cathy's Mom.

So now off to mail all these goodies to their new homes. It feels so good to get things done. I still have to dress my doll for the exchange I am doing for a Doll Group. I love making these things and sending them off but the real fun for me comes when the person receives them and it brings a smile to their face and some joy to their day!