Bliss

I've been thinking about the items that I've been making and showing you on my blog. . . it truly is my bliss to create. And I must tell you how encouraging it is for me personally to show you what I've made and receive the sweetest comments from you all. Everyone has their one "thing" that they can do, that they're truly good at . . . that they enjoy.

Don't get me wrong, I love being an antique store owner. The friendships that I've made with Cindy, my business partner, and so many of the wonderful customers, are invaluable to me. Making things look pretty so when a customer sees it they are taken to another time or place, that's such a great feeling.

But I have to admit, creating something from a stack of papers and found objects or a piece of vintage fabric, has always been wonderful to me.

I want to share with you one of my most favorite books of all time. My favorites are not fiction, though. They are decorating or how-to books and boy, do I have a ton of them! This book is by the creators of Victoria Magazine: The Business of Bliss ~ How to Profit from Doing What You Love.

The women featured in this book are so very inspirational. The businesses they've created are truly amazing. I love to thumb through it and see all the successful women and read about them. They all are so very different but are following their own personal bliss.

You may not be able to devote yourself full-time to your bliss but you must try to make time for what truly makes you happy. This happiness will reflect in you and bubble over to everyone that surrounds you. Time is fleeting and we look up and another month has passed by us. So my thought for you today is to carve out time in your day to follow your bliss . . .

little birds

OK, I've tried my hand at paperclay again and here are the results. Two little birds. A moma bird and a little baby in it's nest. I used Martha's ultrafine glitter on the pair and I just love that stuff! It's almost as fine as baby powder. Mom can stand on her little wire legs and baby sits comfortably. They will be for sale this evening in my etsy shop! Hope you've all had a wonderful day ~

Delicious Punch Recipe ~

What is happening to me? This is not a foodie blog but I just keep thinking about sharing a few recipes with you and just can't resist posting them. This is a recipe great for graduation parties, showers or whatever . . .

Tropical Punch

6 cups water
3 cups sugar

Cook until sugar is dissolved in a dutch oven or big pot. Remove from heat.

Add:

Three 32 oz. cans of unsweetened pineapple juice
One 6 oz. can of frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup lemon juice
3 cups of smashed bananas (approx. 9)

Pour into two 1-gallon jugs or containers leaving room at the top add lid and freeze at least two hours (but I've made it days in advance). Take out of freezer at least 45 minutes before serving and pour one gallon of slush into punch bowl.

Add one 2-liter of ginger ale over each 1 gallon of mix. (so you will need to buy two 2 liters of ginger ale)

As you can see it makes a lot of punch but you'll need it as it will be gone in no time!

Wedding Punch

One of my favorites . . .

I wanted to share another recipe with you all and it's one of my favorites. You may have made these before but if you haven't, try them ~ you'll love them! The picture above looks just like the salad but I make it in the foil cupcake cups . . .

Frozen Fruit Cups

One 8 oz. pkg. softened cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

One 10 oz. jar of cherries, drained

One 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained

One 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

1/2 cup chopped pecans

One 8 oz. container cool whip

Combine cream cheese and sugar, mix until fluffy. Set aside 9 cherries cut in half and 18 oranges. Add pineapple, pecans and rest of cherries (chopped). Mix together with cream cheese and sugar mixture. Fold in whipped topping and oranges. Spoon into silver cupcake liners. Garnish with the cherries and oranges then freeze. Makes about 18 cups.

This is wonderful served at showers and parties!

Art Sale!!

I'm having a little sale in my etsy shop if you'd like to take a look . . . working on some new things and want these to go home with someone. Thanks so much for looking & hoping your having a wonderful Memorial day with your family & friends!

Gorgeous French Style!

I have to share with you some gorgeous blogs! I had a lovely comment left for me about my collages from Ciel d'Orage ~ a beautiful blog that I have fallen in love with. Go, look, and enjoy all her beautiful photographs then . . . look at every one of her links, MORE french blogs!!

You can always open an extra window for Babel Fish Translator and copy and paste the text to be able to read them. Does anyone know of an easier way to read these? I do love looking at them . . . enjoy!!

Fairie dresses . . .

Look at this beautiful book I found. The name of it is Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand. It features amazing little dresses created just for fairies! I would love to see more of this one . . .you can find it here.

Victoria Magazine

Photographs by Wendi Schneider

http://www.paintedphoto.com/

You must go and see her beautiful work!

I've been noticing that some of the new people involved with Victoria magazine and it's revival have visited several of my most favorite bloggers. Victoria magazine was absolutely, undeniably, timeless.

At first when I bought Victoria magazine years ago, I sliced them apart, saving my most favorite pages and inserting them into sheet protectors and notebooks. And believe me, I sliced MANY pages . . . I have many notebooks, as a matter of fact!! But as the years passed, I could not cut them up anymore! When I received my final issue and realized that it finally was the very last one, I was so, so sad. I started searching them out at thrift stores and buying years and years of them to stash away because I loved them. Victoria was a constant. Timeless, beautiful, undeniably elegant.

The photography is what stands out the most to me. Of course, the subject of the photography was gorgeous but the way in which it was taken was always so much a part of Victoria magazine. What amazing photographs ~ this is why we loved Victoria ~ the beauty they showed in their magazine and their continued support for women and their efforts to earn a living creating beautiful things. Sign up for your subscription here.

Wishing you all a wonderful day ~

New etsy items!

I just listed a few pieces of my artwork in my etsy store! These didn't sell at the festival this past weekend and thought I'd try them on etsy instead.

I want you all to know how incredibly inspired I am by looking at all of your blogs. From decorating to artwork, I love seeing your work, your ideas and interacting with each and every one of you! Thanks for visiting my little corner of blogland ~

Simply worn out

Well, this little photo says it all. I'm a little ragged around the edges today! The Geranium Festival is over and was a huge success! The weather was simply beautiful, the crowd was amazing and so, so many people saw our little antique store. Hopefully we'll have a ton of new customers due to the great exposure of the festival. I'm recovering today, though. I'm simply tired and have been resting all day long. I'll be adding many of my collage art pieces to my etsy shop tonight or tomorrow that didn't sell. Also, wonderful news, sweet Tracey at Notes from a Cottage Industry bought my barkcloth pillows! Thank you, Tracey ~

Theresa's beautiful home

You may have already seen this beautiful home in your latest issue of Country Living but if you haven't seen these videos of her home, you've missed it! Here's her home in four different videos. Look at all of them ~ you will be inspired! (ps. Notice her lovely clothes she has on for the interview ~ looks like Magnolia Pearl!)

You can collage just about anything!

I've been looking at this silver tray in my laundry room for quite a while now thinking that I should do something neat with that. The center was pretty rough looking and I normally really like that, but not everyone shares my taste of tarnished silver. So . . . I put a very simple bird collage in the center, tied it with a ribbon hanger and here it is! I don't know if anyone else will like it but I think it turned out pretty neat. Wishing you all have a wonderful day!

More handmades . . .

Here are some pillows I made last night out of my most favorite barkcloth fabric stash! These are going into the store Saturday morning for the big Geranium Festival. The little things if front are small lavender sachets with neat ole' vintage buttons in the center . . . I've got to get busy as this is my last day of creating. I have to get to the store tomorrow so Cindy and I can create some amazing displays to WOW the customers!! Thanks so much for looking . . .

Thank you, Mica!

Sweet Mica of Garboodles sent me the most precious little dolly with my very own initial on her dress! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this, Mica. You have such a sweet spirit and I'll treasure her ~ a little inspiration dolly for my studio!

New etsy listing

I wanted to share with you another little pincushion. This one is very similar to the one that I gave away in my contest recently. I've just listed it in my etsy shop! I've been working on projects for the store but decided to list this one. Thanks so much for looking!!

And thank you all so very much for your kind comments about my new found JUNK! That's what I love about this little blog world. You all are so sweet and you "get" me ~ xxoo to you all!

OK, what has happened to me?

I have gone nuts. I went to Scott's Antique Market near Atlanta this past Saturday and had such a great time with my husband and son (I did almost melt but that's Georgia humidity)

BUT, what I've discovered is . . . I love JUNK. Cast off items that no one loves anymore. Broken watches, metal pieces that belonged to something, who knows what, crazy old buttons, pins and single earrings with no mates . . . I love it all.

I see them all in artwork and having a new home where they will be treasured again. Take a look at my simple little finds:

I see a wonderful assemblage coming soon inside this metal clock case!

My wish for you . . .

My wish for all of you sweet mamas, is plenty of hugs, kisses and the happiest Mother's Day ever. I have to share with you what the pure love of a nine year old little boy, my youngest son Noah, wrote to me in a mother's day card he made himself at school:

My Mom

My mom is the best mom ever.

You are very nice You care for me.

You are the most creative person I know.

You love me, and I love you.

You are really helping. You help me with all my projects.

You are also very funny.

I love you mom.

Love, Noah

I cry every time I read it.

Right now. This moment. He thinks I'm wonderful.

The love of a nine-year old.

You can't beat it.

Happy Mother's Day!

Two more collages...

This is another collage I've placed on the cover of an old book (above). Can you tell I love the sweetness of childhood? And the collage below is simple but I love it. The little girl is saying her prayers with her mother.

Today I had to run by Target to pick up a few things and wondered it they had a small, inexpensive paper shredder to help me make neat sheet music or old book pages "grass". I like to crunch it up and use it in some of the things I put in old jars ~ This little guy was only about 12.00!

See the grass in the bottom of the jar?

Hello sweet readers

Look at these precious smiling faces!

Our store's blog has been updated with fresh photos ~

I'd love for you to stop by and take a look!

Caring bloggers rose day ~

Today is caring bloggers rose day

and these roses are for you,

all my sweet new blogging friends!

Britt-Arnhild of http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com

came up with this wonderful idea!

xxoo Dawn

New artwork...

Here are a few pieces of art that I finished today and had to show you. I'm saving them for our big Geranium Festival at the store. One is a sweet little girl holding a dolly which says "little friends". The other is the "Lullabye Lady" collage on the cover of an old book! I've used vintage sheet music and lace and even a vintage pin (which is not glued only the lace is) The frame around the lady playing the piano is a gift from Delila at Sepia Art Studio. I better get back to work, Cindy wants me to crank it out!

Thank you so much!

How wonderful is it to look in your mailbox and see a little box you just know holds a treasure for you. I opened it up and saw the sweetest baby mermaid with a little bitty pearl necklace! A clean smelling handmade soap and a lovely card all from Paula Dion and The Speckled Egg Shop & Blog. Paula, your work is incredible and I'll treasure it always. I'm hanging it in my art room for inspiration!

You want an amazing glaze for that cake?

I have to share this recipe with you. I've used it on the pound cake before and it just absolutely puts it over the top. You may like it plain or you can try this:

Melt one stick of butter or margarine in a saucepan
Add one cup of sugar
Add 1/2 tsp of baking soda
Add 1/2 cup of buttermilk.

Bring to a boil. Take off the heat. Pour this mixture over the cake as soon as it is finished baking and still in the tube pan. Let stand one hour in the pan.

Believe me, this is not something you need to make every week ~ I'm not sure what the nutritional value is but on the yummy scale, it's off the charts!

My Sour Cream ~ Buttermilk Pound Cake

Here is my tried and true recipe and believe me, you will have requests to make it again! The secret is that the egg whites are whipped until they are fluffy and then folded in at the end! Oh, and don't worry, you will not taste the buttermilk or sour cream after it is baked they just add delicious moisture.

Sour Cream ~ Buttermilk Pound Cake

1 cup of sweet cream butter

3 cups of sugar

6 eggs, separated

1 tsp. real vanilla

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

3 cups plain flour

1/2 cup of buttermilk

1/2 cup of sour cream

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and coat tube pan thickly with shortening and dust with flour.

Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg yolks and vanilla. In a separate bowl add flour, soda and salt. Stir until well blended. Put aside. In another small bowl add sour cream and buttermilk. Stir these until well blended.

Start your mixer back up and add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the buttermilk mixture, then 1/3 of the flour mixture, then the other 1/2 of the buttermilk mixture and lastly add the remaining 1/3 of the flour. For some reason you have to add these in this order for it to turn out correctly.

I then clean my beaters with soap and water so no butter remains on them and in a smaller bowl beat the egg whites until they are fluffy and pretty stiff.

At this point, fold the egg whites into the cake batter but not too roughly so as not to remove the fluff.

Pour into tube pan, gently drop bottom of pan onto counter to remove any air bubbles and then slide into your preheated oven.

My recipe says to bake for one hour but I start checking it at 45 min. Ovens cook so differently. Let cool about 15 min, and turn out onto cake plate. Another secret of mine with the wedding cakes was that I would turn out the layer onto saran wrap and wrap immediately in it then I would wrap it with heavy duty aluminum foil, place on a pizza pan and place it in the freezer. All the moisture goes back into the cake and the texture is wonderful.

Enjoy with your wonderful family!

New photos

If you'd like to take a peek, we have new photos of the store!

Tagged!

Well, Carol of Raised in Cotton has tagged me it seems, to tell seven things about myself and pass on the tag to seven other of my favorite blogs . . . I don't know if I can think of seven things but here goes:

1) I was a graphic designer for 20 years before owning an antiques store.

2) I love to be at home. I'm very domestic and should have been born in a different time.

3) I was married at nineteen and our first three boys were only two years apart!

4) I love to create so much that I have supplies in my little room to make tons and tons of stuff, but I still want more...

5) I adore babies. At least now, I've realized I don't have to have them to love them . . .

6) I love to stuff things in drawers, out of sight ~ out of mind.

7) I can make a killer pound cake ~ from scratch. I made and decorated many cakes and a few wedding cakes and it was my tried and true recipe. I should share it with you, right?

And now I tag ~

Cindy, at For Love of Home

Cindy, at Wisteriaplace

Beachy of Beachy's Cape Cod Cupboard

Theresa of Garden Antqiues News

Lori at Faerie Window

Lidy at Tales from a Little French Garden House

and Lana at Honeysuckle Lane's Simple Joys

I can't wait to read all about you now!