pen pals

Do you ever have the feeling that this little blog world is so very similar to reading letters from your favorite pen pals? I was thinking of that this morning, and how I've always loved the idea of pen pals. Corresponding with someone else, miles away and getting a little glimpse of how they live, where they live and what they enjoy doing.

I've not traveled much in my life but am always intrigued by other states, locations and countries. Sometimes I think we are so different, but then when I read your blogs I realize that we all have so very much in common.

What are the chances, Pat????

And the wonderful winner of the sweet little baby shoe pincushion is

Pat

a regular customer at The Plum Tree and so very complimentary of everything Cindy and I make!! Pat, it was just meant to be, girl!

I'll have the little shoe up at the store for you early Tuesday morning but you can pick it up whenever you'd like. (I hope that's OK, or should I mail it to you? :)

Thank you all so very much for your kind comments about the pincushion, I wish I had a gift for each and every one of you ~ This was fun ~ I'll be sure to do it again soon!

xxoo Dawn

Estate sale finds...

I just had to share a few photos of some wonderful little things I found at an estate sale this past Friday! Old bingo cards and tokens, the tiniest of books, old baby layette patterns, look at the small hangers, too! A few millinery flowers, old linens, an autograph book with the coolest font on the cover and last but not least I think that is a frozen Charlotte, am I right?

Thanks for looking at my treasures hopefully to be included in artwork and coming to a little antique store near you!! (I think Charlotte has to stay with me though :)

Me...Tagged?

Thank you so much, Theresa from Garden Antiques News for tagging me a favorite blog, Cindy's For Love of Home blog and our little store, too!! I love to check out Theresa's blog daily to see what she's been up to also!!

And also, Lana from Honeysuckle Lane's Simple Joys for tagging the store also! WOW! How in the world do I pick just five??

1. Well I love to check in on Lauren at Alice Lands...her artwork is amazing and her personality also!


2. Secondly, Mica's Garboodles Soup, she is a wonderful artist also and I love to see everything that she creates.


3. Then there's JoAnnA at Moss Hill Studio, her work and her spirit inspire me daily...


4. Of course, Cindy's For Love of Home blog, my sweet friend and bus. partner, I always look to see glimpses of her beautiful home and yard, she has a green thumb like none other!


5. Do I have to end at five? How about Garden Antiques, Notes from a Cottage Industry, Raised in Cotton, The Adventures of Elizabeth, and of course, Tongue in Cheek.

I have too many that are my favorites, I can't choose just five!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

xxoo Dawn

My first giveaway!

An old baby shoe, slightly scuffed on the toe ~ maybe due to taking those first little steps . . . vintage buttons, old lace, an old photo of a precious baby & hang tag picturing a nest ~ and last but not least, an old clock face representing time and how fleeting it is ~ blink, and they're grown!

I so enjoy reading about all of your lives and seeing your wonderful artwork, pictures and projects. The "blogs that I love to visit" list seems to growing at an amazing rate, too!

I've won some beautiful giveaways that I am just so thankful for, so I wanted to give back a little something. I finished this baby shoe pincushion today (using vintage lace, buttons and even an old clock face) and would love to give the little thing away to you!

Please just leave me a comment on this post and Sunday evening I'll draw one lucky winner's name and send right out to you! Thanks so much for stopping by and spread the word about my giveaway, OK? I'll take comments until 11:00 pm EST and then draw a name!






Thank you so much, Suzi and Sweetpeas and Snapshots for my wonderful piece of artwork!! I just received it yesterday and I love it. The illustration of Alice sleeping is so sweet. It will have a place of honor in my little studio ~ thank you again!!

finally ~ new stuff!

I haven't posted in quite a while but that doesn't mean I stop looking at all of your wonderful blogs! I've been working on these little pieces for awhile now and they are finally finished. Maybe I think too much about them. I worry "does it need just one more thing?" while days pass by. But nevertheless, I'm pleased with how they all turned out. I've seen plenty of other's work with babies with little hats on and with little wings, but why is it I never tire of seeing the little sweethearts? I had to do one myself and love how it turned out it the vintage jar. I've put these items in the store ~ let's see how they do!

Hello!

Can you believe this amazing sleeping porch Cindy has created on our porch at the store? She had this whole little idea in her head and finally it has come to fruition ~ The curtains and the quilt were my big contribution to the "look"!

Who in the world had this hour-glass figure? Apparently this was before fast-food!

Hello you sweet bloggy friends! I've been way too caught up with things at the store and just haven't gotten around to posting. I love to check on all of your blogs and read about what's new in your lives and also see what you've been creating!



I've been working on a few art projects again for the shop and will take photos as soon as they are finished. One that I did finish is in the store now and is a much larger version of the dress form I made last week. I think she would be lovely in someone's sewing room or even bedroom displaying a collection of necklaces! I've placed a pin cushion in the opening of the neck and trimmed it with antique lace and buttons. Our big Geranium Festival is coming up in about a month and we are trying so hard to get the store ready. It's our big chance to "show off" to many visitors who may not have been to our store before or think antique stores are stuffy old places. We have so many great things that there is usually something for everyone.



But anyway, my goal as well as Cindy's goal is to make and find as many cool things to go into the store this next month as we possibly can. I'll try to take plenty of photos of all that we are doing and as always, I update our store's blog every Thursday night so Friday mornings there will be pictures of all that is new on that blog. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for ALL the kind comments about The Plum Tree!!

New photos from the store!

I wanted to let all you sweet blog friends know that I've updated the store's blog and would love for you to stop by and see all the pictures. I finished a few tiny projects last night and will post these items here. A small collage assemblage of a sweet vintage little girl, a couple of wooden collage tags and a fabric covered journal. I've put these items in the store. We have a special "handmades" section that we are trying to fill up before our big festival in May.

Decorating advice

Hi everyone! I wanted to introduce you to a new bloggy friend of mine ~ Cindy, of Wisteria Place. She's having a little contest (I guess I'm announcing another one :) asking for advice in decorating her fireplace. She's wanting a few comments to guide her and I know you girls are so talented that you can point her in the right direction. And remember, whoever's advice she takes, is the winner!

Some new artwork

I just finished an assemblage last night and wanted to share it with you. I love dress forms, so when I found this small one at Michael's, I knew I would love to turn it into something neat. I've layered old pattern pieces over the form and added several found objects, ribbons and letter tiles. The base is constructed of an old thread spool and another paper mache ornament. I'm going to sell it in our store but if it doesn't sell, I'll put it in my etsy shop!

Also, the other photo is my first attempt at paperclay. The tall thin piece is going to be a sweet little girl doll, and the other is a mad little baby I'm going to attempt to paint. I'll be sure to post pictures of them in progress. We'll see how that goes!

I'm back to the antique store today and I do hope you all have a wonderful week, maybe the temperatures are going to creep back up and we can get back to enjoying Spring!

Go, look, comment to win!

I've got to let you know about a spring give-away my friend Cindy is hosting ~ I love all the items myself and need to leave a ton of comments!! I hope I win, oh, and good luck to you too!!

Wishing you a Blessed & Happy Easter!

Please enjoy a bit of Easy Chicken Pot Pie

My little addition to the potluck today is a very easy recipe
that many of you may already know about
but I cooked it for my family last night and
not a teeny tiny speck was left!

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

• 2 reg. sized cans of Veg-All


• 2 reg. sized cans of Cream of Chicken Soup


• 1/2 tsp of Pepper (adjust to your taste)


• 1 chicken cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces or
  use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store!


• 1 box of refrigerated Pie Crusts

Mix the first four ingredients in a large bowl.
Spray an 8 x 8 pan or casserole dish with cooking spray
(I used a 9 x 13 in the photos)
and lay out one of the pie crusts.

Then place chicken mixture on top of this crust.
Place the other crust on top, tucking in around all edges.
Slice top to allow steam to escape.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes
or until browned on top.
Serve to your sweet family!

Out the window

Potluck tomorrow!

I wanted to post about Ms Shabby in the City's Potluck. She's given us a great idea to post a recipe that we'd bring to a potluck tomorrow. Just go and post a comment on her blog tomorrow (Friday, April 6th) and you'll have others checking in on what you're serving!

Thank you, Delila!

How utterly amazing to receive such a fabulous little package, from halfway around the earth, filled with tiny treasures!

I won a contest a while back from Delila's Sepia Art Studio blog and it was so worth the wait. Thank you so very much, Delila! I must get busy creating with these sweet papers . . .

My very favorite item, this little charmed heart:

"little dream"

I finally had a chance to finish my latest art project! The boys are out of school this week for Spring break, so I just stayed up very late last night and finished it. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I took it up to the store today, hopefully it will find a good home!

Here are a few of the finished shots:

Thank you all so very much for your sweet, kind compliments on my little project. I so appreciate it. You wonder when your making something, will someone else like this? But you just have to trust your gut and do what you love.

Thanks so much you sweeties!!