Vintage Linens~Show and Tell Friday!

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.


A few weeks ago I picked up a small bundle of linens for $4.00 at an estate sale. I couldn't tell exactly how many there were, but I assumed 6.


They aren't even close to perfect condition, but still very sweet. All hand done applique and embroidered strawberries.


When I got them home, I unwrapped them and was happy to discover 4 napkins and 4 placemats!


Even more handiwork on the placemats.


They will be perfect for a summertime tea. Thank you for looking at my new treasures! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.


Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name only (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Handmade Cards-Paper Crafting Thursday

The winners of last week's paper crafting are Leann and Roberta Anne. Please email me your addresses and I'll get your prizes in the mail!

I'm doing something a little different this week. Instead of giving you exact measurements for a card, I'm showing you what you can do with a simple pattern and various paper, stamps, stickers and ribbon. I made these cards last Friday night, mostly from paper in my scrap drawer.

Here is the basic pattern.


You can add layers, round or cut corners.








Lots of different looks! Thanks for stopping by for a visit and let me know if you make some of your own.

~More Homemade Cards~

A few more things I've made recently...

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day.


I made several new things this week, including these bird themed journaling spots for scrapbook pages.


And some various bookmarks.

Items can be found in my Etsy Shop! Thank you for stopping by for a visit!


Paper Craft Fun: Post any kind of paper craft (card, bookmark, tag, banner, journal, etc.) on your blog between now and next week and come sign Mr. Linky. Next Thursday, I will draw two of the names and the winners will receive supplies for a homemade card: blank notecard, envelope, and an assortment of scrapbook paper, stickers (or stamped images), and ribbon. Link back here in your post, so that others will know where to join in the fun, too!

ETA: Starting next week, I'm going to be posting the Paper Crafting projects every Wednesday.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Hello! Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your advice on my new contacts. My appointment went well and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. They said I couldn't leave the store until I put them in/took them out three times in a row and since I don't like to waste time, I figured it out in about 15 minutes! We'll see if I still remember in the morning!


Today I would like to share a recipe for Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake. If you have blueberries in your freezer, or can get them on sale like they are here in Texas, then you should try this cake!

Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
8 oz. cream cheese, chilled
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream butter and sugar in large mixing bowl. Add eggs, vanilla and milk. In a separate bowl, combine 1 3/4 cups of the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and blend well.

Cut cream cheese into small cubes. Set aside. Combine blueberries and remaining 1/4 cup flour in small bowl. Add blueberries, along with the cream cheese cubes to cake batter and gently fold in. Spread in a greased 9 x 13 pan.

Topping: Mix brown sugar, cinnamon and flour together in small bowl. With a pastry blender, two knives or your fingers blend in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over cake. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Let me know if you try it!

My Daybook

I am participating in Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook today.

~For Today~
Monday-February 23, 09

Outside My Window...
the mourning doves are thinking about building a nest.

I am thinking...
that I need to get up earlier.

I am thankful for...
an early springtime.

From the learning room:
We are working on multiplication drills. Do they ever end?!

From the kitchen...
Monday~Creamy Oven Chicken
Tuesday~Homemade Pizza
Wednesday~Farmhouse Chicken
Thursday~Saucy Chicken Sandwiches
I have lots of chicken to use up this week!

I am wearing...
jeans and a black shirt.

I am creating...
coffee stained gift tags.

I am reading...
back issues of Martha Stewart.

I am hoping...
to make some progress cleaning up the backyard gardens this week.

I am hearing...
the girls eating cereal and Benjamin coughing. He isn't feeling well today.

Around the house...
are a few loads of laundry to finish and a kitchen floor to mop.

One of my favorite things...
my morning cup of coffee.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
On Tuesday, Grace and I are getting our eye exams. I've been wearing glasses for the past two years and am finally going to get contacts. I'm nervous though...any words of advice?

Here are two pictures that I am sharing...


This past weekend was the Cub Scout "Dad and Lad Cake Bake-off." Here is Benjamin cutting up strawberries.


The theme was "What America Means to Me, so Phillip and Benjamin made a delicious flag cake with homemade buttercream frosting and lots of strawberries, blueberries and exactly 50 stars!

Thank you for reading my Daybook and I hope you have a great start to your week!

Show and Tell Friday!

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

I have a couple of birthday presents to share with you, today. I have a very sweet friend, Debbi, that I met through blogging. I have enjoying getting to know her better over the past few months and she sent me a surprise package in the mail last week.

A beautiful Anne of Green Gables doll that belonged to her, but she thought Grace, Emily and I would enjoy her. I keep her displayed on top of my bedroom desk.


Isn't she pretty?






Debbie also gave me the sweetest hankie to add to my collection.




I especially love the bluebirds. Thank you for taking a look at a couple of gifts from my special friend and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!


Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name only (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Homemade Cards ~ Paper Crafting Thursday!

The winners of last week's paper crafting are Tami and Jules. Please email me your addresses and I'll get your prizes in the mail!


Welcome to this week's card making project! Remember you can use any paper, stickers or stamps on your own card.


Cover a 5 1/2" x 4" blank notecard with scrapbook paper.


Cut an approx 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" oval from scrapbook paper. Cut a slightly smaller oval from cardstock and add stickers or stamps of your choice. Glue ovals to card, as shown.


Glue length of lace to front of card. I used hot glue.


Thread a ribbon through middle of card (cut a slit with a craft knife), wrap around front and tie a knot.


Add additional stickers or stamps.


Send to a friend!

~More Homemade Cards~

A few more things I've made recently...

Another bird card.


The floral paper flips back to reveal a ~Happy Easter~ message on these tags.


Running bunny tags.


Items can be found in my Etsy Shop! Thank you for stopping by for a visit!


Paper Craft Fun: Post any kind of paper craft (card, bookmark, tag, banner, journal, etc.) on your blog between now and next week and come sign Mr. Linky. Next Thursday, I will draw two of the names and the winners will receive supplies for a homemade card: blank notecard, envelope, and an assortment of scrapbook paper, stickers (or stamped images), and ribbon. Link back here in your post, so that others will know where to join in the fun, too!

New Thrift Store Finds

Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your comments on our recent celebrations. Today, I am sharing some recent thrift store and estate sale finds. I got this silver cake server and small spoon for $3.00.


I still need to clean it, but the detail work is beautiful.




I am especially happy with this next find: 40 Martha Stewart Magazines, many of them dating back to 1995/1996.


I love looking through the back issues each month. I got each one for 59 cents.


I am officially out of room on my bookshelf now!


And lastly, some of you will remember these tea cups that I found last year.


They didn't have saucers, so I've slowly been collecting ones to match the soft green, blue and pink.




Most of them are around $1.00 each.


Only two more to go and my set will be complete.


Thank you for taking a look at my new treasures!

Monday This and That

Good morning! Thank you to all who participated in Show and Tell Friday and the comments on my fairy calendar. I hope you had a relaxing weekend, with a little Valentine's Day fun, too.


This past Thursday was Benjamin's 8th birthday. We went out to lunch and then had Nana and Papa over for a pizza dinner.


I think he liked his new Webkinz.


Just like last year, Benjamin asked me to make him a "dirt cake."


Layers of crushed oreos, vanilla pudding and gummy worms.


Valentine's Day was also fun. I left little surprises on the kitchen table.


And Benjamin wrote me a very special poem.


Now that we are finished with birthdays until May, I need to start weeding and cleaning up the yard. These daffodils just popped up in our neighbors garden. As you can see, spring comes very early in Texas!

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. I'll be back tomorrow with some recent thrift store finds!

Fairy Calendar~Show and Tell Friday

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.


Thank you so much for the birthday wishes for Benjamin! We had a fun day and I'll share pictures next week. For Show and Tell, I'm sharing a "Fairy Days" calendar that my sister-in-law made me a few years ago.


Even though it is out of date, I still keep it displayed in my kitchen.


Take a look at all the wonderful details...


January/February


March/April


May/June


July/August


September/October


November/December

What was your favorite page? It's so hard to pick just one!


Thank you for taking a look and Happy Valentine's Day!


Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name only (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Homemade Cards ~ Paper Crafting Thursday!

The winners of last week's paper crafting are Emily and Jillian. Please email me your addresses and I'll get your prizes in the mail!


This week's card project is very simple and is perfect for large patterned scrapbook paper.


You will need:
-Blank 6 1/2" x 5" notecard
-6 1/4" x 4 3/4" rectangle of scrapbook paper
-Approx. 2" circle of scrapbook paper or cardstock. You can cut it with decorative scissors or use a paper punch.
-20" ribbon


Cover blank notecard with scrapbook paper.


I shaded the edges of the scalloped circle with a foam ink pad.


Just quickly rub the edges, as shown.


Cut a small slit in card fold with craft knife.


Stamp or add a sticker to scalloped circle and punch a small hole. Thread ribbon through slit and then through tag. Secure with knot.


I also added a tiny pearl gem.


Send to a friend!

~More Homemade Cards~


We have another birthday at our house today. Benjamin is now 8 years old and we have a fun day planned with new toys, pudding cups with neighborhood friends, pizza for dinner and a gummy worm and oreo cake. I'll share pictures soon!

A few more things I've made recently...







Items can be found in my Etsy Shop! Thank you for stopping by for a visit!

Paper Craft Fun: Post any kind of paper craft (card, bookmark, tag, banner, journal, etc.) on your blog between now and next week and come sign Mr. Linky. Next Thursday, I will draw two of the names and the winners will receive supplies for a homemade card: blank notecard, envelope, and an assortment of scrapbook paper, stickers (or stamped images), and ribbon. Link back here in your post, so that others will know where to join in the fun, too!

Valentine's Day Decorations

Thank you for the wonderful birthday wishes and to all who participated in Show and Tell Friday! This weekend, I spent a little time putting up Valentine decorations, but kept them very simple.

I tucked in pink hydrangeas (from Michaels) on my teacup shelves. I will leave them up all the way through spring.




I decorated my tea tray with a pink candle, ribbon and rose petals.








And finally, tulips and candles for my kitchen table centerpiece. The tulips were a birthday gift from my friend. They probably won't last all the way until Saturday, so I will pick up some more at the grocery store.






Thank you for taking a look at my simple Valentine decorations. I'm sure we'll add some candy by the end of the week. :0)

Show and Tell Friday!

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.


Thursday was my birthday and I had a wonderful day. For show and tell, I'm sharing two gifts from my parents. A beautiful perfume bottle for my collection and a lovely vintage rose ring.






The rose is a beautiful shade of blue.




Isn't it pretty?! Thank you for looking at my special birthday gifts and also for the birthday wishes, yesterday!


Please read the Show and Tell Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to participate.

If you would like to join in, please leave your *permalink* below, along with your first name only (this makes the list easier to read). If your link has been removed from Mr. Linky, please re-read over the guidelines before re-posting. Have fun!

Handmade Cards ~ Paper Crafting Thursday!

The winners of last week's paper crafting are Angie and Melanie. Please email me your addresses and I'll get your prizes in the mail!

Welcome to this week's card project! All you need is cardstock, paper, and ribbon!


Gather your supplies, including a 6 1/2" x 5" blank notecard.


Cover card with 6 1/4" x 4 3/4" piece of scrapbook paper.


Cut a 2" x 6 1/4" strip of scrapbook paper and glue to front of card, as shown.


Cut 3 - 1 3/4" squares of cardstock and 3 - 1 1/2" squares of scrapbook paper.


Glue paper to front of cardstock squares. I also shaded the edges with a pink ink pad.


Glue squares to paper strip, as shown.


Add a bow at the top.


Send to a friend!

~More Homemade Cards~

A few more things I've made recently...

Petite notecards


Fun stickers!


Bunny gift tags

Items can be found in my Etsy Shop! Thank you for stopping by for a visit!

Paper Craft Fun: Post any kind of paper craft (card, bookmark, tag, banner, journal, etc.) on your blog between now and next week and come sign Mr. Linky. Next Thursday, I will draw two of the names and the winners will receive supplies for a homemade card: blank notecard, envelope, and an assortment of scrapbook paper, stickers (or stamped images), and ribbon. Link back here in your post, so that others will know where to join in the fun, too!

Homemade Valentines and Cookie Bars

Thank you so much for your birthday wishes for Grace! She enjoyed reading them, too.

On Monday, the girls made Valentines for their Faith Keeper friends. Everyone had lots of fun exchanging their little cards.






I made a batch of Cookie Bars to take along. I substituted Valentine M & M's for the chocolate chips.


Today was busy with errands and I got my hair cut and colored. Hopefully I can get my Valentine decorations up tomorrow, since it's less than two weeks away. Thank you for stopping by for a visit!

Happy Birthday, Grace!

Sunday was Grace's 11th birthday!


Our celebrating started Saturday evening with a cookout. We invited Phillip's family, a friend from church and a couple of friends from the neighborhood.


Grace designed her own cake. It was vanilla flavored with light blue icing, pink shells, and "Webkinz" in white.


Sunday morning began with a healthy and nutritious breakfast. The birthday girl got to pick out the cereal.


Opening fun presents.




After church we went to Grace's favorite restaurant, Macaroni Grill.


It was a fun filled weekend for everyone! Thank you for taking a look and I hope you have a wonderful start to your week!