Junkin' Monday

Hello & welcome to another Junkin' Monday. We didn't hit any flea markets or estate sales last week end...we set out for the cattle barns flea but stopped for a picnic w/ the dogs, sitting in the grass instead of the picnic tables, so they'd feel more like a part of it. Anyway, we ruined our backs & never made it to the flea. LOL But I did go thrifting, of course! ;o) I got a few "luvs" but most were just good buys that I probably could have lived w/out (but don't tell hubby!)....plate rack for my back fence (I saw it on somebody's blog & loved it!), glass champagne bucket, wall sconces, cherub, sea shells, urn, hearts wallpaper, paper roses, mini-teapots, beautiful crocheted runner & vintage seam binding.

These tall, stand frames were my luvs for the day. They'll be great for Thanksgiving buffet..or with a quote...or an initial. I'll give them a coat of white paint.

The ironstone sugar & creamer has cherubs on it. The picture frame is really ugly right now but I think it'll look great glittered up. Love the pot of paper roses!

I think I am going to make tassels out of these mini-teapots.

I know, these wall shelves are ugly as all get out but just picture them painted white w/ a china plate sitting on them.... & they were only $3. This runner is gorgeous & I can't believe I scored 2 more bags of vintage seam binding....I've been on a roll finding it lately!

Nice urn & the plain muslin banners will be an easy make-over for some event.

I don't need another champagne bucket...I already have 4 but @ $4 I couldn't leave this crystal one sitting on teh shelf. If nothing else, it will be great filled w/ vintage ornaments @ Christmas. Maybe I'll put all my toppers in it.

Hope you had a great weekend....visit Clara & Marcela @ Cottage Charm & Family Inspiration for lots more junkin' treasures.

Art exchange...ruched rose

Many of y'all are involved in the art exchange that's been going around. I was very flattered & honored to be asked by Jeanne @ Dream, Create & Inspire to play along & @ first, I wasn't sure what to do for my project. But then I decided that a ruched rose would be perfect. I had recently taken a class learning how to make them (from Jana @ Collected Treasures), it would ship well, could be finished in an evening & they're beautiful.

I strayed from Jana's instructions a bit though, by using a silk crepe instead of velvet. It was from an old dress I bought out of the Halloween section while thrifting. I used the satin from the dress for leaves & also cut up an old sweater for leaves. I wanted to use angora for the leaves but I must have gotten rid of the sweater I've outgrown & I came up empty at the thrift stores. I gave it all a tea stain before assembling. I think I'm liking the crepe!

I added a pearl button center....

These can be glued on a package, pinned on a jacket or used to adorn a journal...I just think they're beautiful! Hope the recipient loves it as much as I do.

This black velvet rose is the one I made in class. I love this technique & am eager to try lots of fabrics...maybe even some lace.


I bet you all are staying busy...I know I have been. I'm still trying to figure out my fall decor...I'll share pics when I do!

Taking chili uptown!

Next time you make a pot of chili, don't serve it w/ cornbread...take it to a whole new level & serve it on top of creamy polenta. Yummmmmmm!

To jazz it up even further, we used diced rib-eyes instead of chili meat & we topped it w/ pepper jack instead of cheddar. Now this is some gourmet chili!

Junkin' Monday

Hello..... hope you all had a great Halloween! For today's Junkin' Monday post, I wanted to share pictures I took last weekend of my friend Jana's, Fall Trade Days. She's located in Arlington & her shop, Collected Treasures is just darling...stop in & treat yourself if you're in the area. For the Trade Days, she closed up shop & opened up her back lot to dealers from all over the metroplex. The weather was beautiful, the company was good & the shopping was great....gotta love them days!

Here's my friend Cindy, admiring some jewelry in Joanna's booth (from Sweet Finds ). Cindy & I went to high school together & we recently reconnected. She makes beautiful jewelry & I keep telling her she needs to start a blog.

Here's Joanna & me. Joanna taught the crown class in my Paper Cowgirl retreat..she's super-talented & mega-sweet. We also took a ruched rose class from Jana recently & she's joined the Art Diva's group....I'm looking forward to many more classes, both w/ her & from her.

And this gorgeous booth is Jana's....isn't it dreamy? You should see her shop!

Here's Jana, the Queen Diva herself! I just love her outfit! I have to brag on Jana for a minute cause she may be the most talented woman I know. She seems to be able to do everything & do it extremely well & w/ great style....but I like her anyway. ;o)

Look at the sweet little aprons she makes...I should have gotten me one! But I can pick one up the next time I'm in her shop.

Fabulous tole trays.

And these are the some of the girls from my art group. We're missing Jana, Joanna, me & Rochelle. From left to right it's Lisa, JoAnn (she's the girl I copied the altered spoons idea from...she doesn't have a blog but should), Charlene, Carolyn & Pat. This is one talented group of women...I'm very honored to be a part of the Art Diva's!



Look at the fabulous houses Carolyn makes....they are so detailed!

Love this pink Christmas one!

And this china cabinet of Lisa's was beautiful...I'm very surprised it didn't sell. I have one almost exactly like it & will never tire of it. You can see mine here in this post. Mine doesn't have the wonderful gingerbread trim in the door though.

And Lori from Katie's Rose Cottage showed up @ the Trade Days too! Here she is w/ Pat.

I didn't buy much that day, spent too much time talking & laughing & not enough time focused on teh hunt. I saw several things, in everybody's pictures, that I never noticed while shopping. But I did score some treasures!

LOVE these chenille pumpkins Jana made!

And isn't this little kewpie doll sweet? I bought 4 huge bags of the shredded sheet music...at a $1.50 a bag, it wasn't worth doing it myself!

Got a "herd" of tiny deer & some tee-weensy Christmas scenes. Also some scrabble letters spelling out "create".

Couple of flash cards...my favorites are the ones that say "gobble" & "turkey" but I also got cake, grandfather, house & nest.

Love thsi old shoe form! I saw an altered one by somebody in the "It's All About Me" party & it made me want to do one.

Some bling & some transferware.

Love these tiny little "scenes". They'll be great on tags or under a mini-cloche or something.

And I bought this Valentine kit to make a special Valentine for a very special granddaughter.

I had a lot of fun that day....visiting w/ friends both new & old, junkin' for treasures & soaking up a gorgeous fall day. Life is good! Jana is having another Trade Days next spring & guess who will have a booth there? Yep, I'm giving myself a "license to buy" (as Jana calls it)...what fun!

Stop by & visit Clara & Marcela @ Cottage Charm & Family Inspiration for lots more junkin' treasures!