What makes me smile....

I do so love pretty things....

gorgeous old paintings:

Beautiful old illustrations:

My wonderful fabric collection...

Delicate antique lace...

Wonderful old ephemera ~

Making something pretty ~

Roses. Alive or dried...it doesn't matter to me. They are heavenly!!!

Great ideas that utilize simple components ~

Beautiful antique jewelry...

Sweet old buttons...they are like precious jewels to me.

Making something that has been cast-off into something

that is precious and wonderful....

Happy Monday dear friends ~ you are the best!!!!

Thank you always for stopping by to see what I'm up to!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Simple ideas make beautiful gifts!

I shared this post a few years ago and when I took a look at it again
I thought it would be such a wonderful thing to create for wedding favors!!!
Or you could make these gift cones for baby shower favors as well ~
and since it's Spring...wouldn't these be wonderful to make
as Easter favors filled with goodies for your guests????
Here's my old post....it was from around Christmas, so keep that in mind!!

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Well, not everything turns out to be a great idea...
this raggedy garland might look OK if it were about five times more full and fluffy....
the spray glue kind of matted it up a bit too ~
I guess you can't glitter EVERYTHING!

BUT....now I've decided to try this....please tell me what you think ~ will it look like a bride if I use ivory tulle as garland?? I love the ethereal look of it and I'm thinking it will be just what I need ~

now I need a Michael's coupon!

Here's a mini-tutorial....kind of a mini version of what I sell in my Etsy shop ~

A Victorian Cone Ornament

Supplies needed to complete this project:
• Embossed, paintable wallpaper (from Lowes or Home Depot)
• Fabri-Tac glue, it bonds quickly (Wal-mart carries this)
• Elmer's Spray Adhesive (Wal-mart)
• Brown acrylic paint or antiquing solution (Folk-Art brand is at Michael's or Hobby Lobby)
• Paint brush
• Scissors, hole punch
• Clear glitter, Martha Stewart Ultra Fine and Diamond Dust (Michael's, use a coupon)
• Ribbon or seam binding, a couple of buttons and a vintage earring that matches
• Pattern or template printed out from this post....look at the bottom paragraph for the link:
http://www.brendawalton.com/blog/2007/02/sweet_treats.html

Place pieces good side down in an old box and spray back sides with spray glue. Press together to form a bond. Now both sides are pretty! Punch holes as on the template.

Another beautiful Christmas goodie for our tree!!!
I won't leave the lace and seam binding inside but you get the idea ~
how about a bag of candy wrapped in the tulle and stuffed inside
with a little puff coming out the top??

If you don't have some of these supplies,
use what you do have. Scrapbooking paper, newspaper, old sheet music...
even wrapping paper, you can sandwich a piece of cardstock
in between the layers to stabilize the paper better.
I love creating things with what I have on hand!

And last but certainly not least, the wonderful winner of the Food Network Magazine
and the little snowguy ~ Pea of Pea Picker's Primitives ~
thank you all so much for entering!

The sweet snowman ornament is NOW a tutorial you can purchase
in my Etsy shop!!!





Wishing you all a great Friday dear friends!

xxoo, Dawn

Just about a year ago...

Since I've been totally unproductive today,

I decided to take a look back.

My goodness, do we REALLY realize how fast time flies?????

Here's my post from around this time last year

and now we have new leather furniture too!!!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

I finally finished our living room curtains!!!

My goodness...it feels so good to have them hanging

and to have them finished.

I'm just so pleased with how they turned out...

just the right amount of toile border

on the drop cloth fabric panels.

We don't have a frou-frou living room ~

it's very "cabinet of curiosites" and I just wanted to keep

them very stream-lined but elegant as well.

Now. All I need is a gorgeous new leather sofa and I'll make

some soft feather pillows to go with!

I sewed this beautiful skirted table about 12 years ago from a wonderful old

matelasse (Bates) bedspread and the topper

is the exact same fabric (Waverly cream and tan toile)

as the borders on the panels!

I even re-purposed the trim from the old bedspread

and added it to the edge of the topper!

I had this skirted table in my very first antique store "Red Rooster Antiques"...

Noah was about three or four years old....

Sept. 11th happened and my first little store was history.

The table has endured though and followed us as I love it so much ~

More art...the one nearest the window I put together from wonderful found objects.

I don't know if you remember the two bubble glass ovals we found recently

while out junkin' but I want to add them to either side of the lamp

filled with amazing old things!!!

My motto is that a wall is meant to be filled with 

things that you LOVE.

The shot below is from the doorway of our foyer ~

Not all is perfect...

but just perfect for us.

I just love our sweet home.

It is what you make it.

Make it cozy, warm and inviting and use what you have!

You don't have to have fancy things, fancy furniture and such ~

You make it wonderful!!!!

Thank you always, always for stopping by to see what I'm up to

and especially for your precious comments!

Wishing you a WONDERFUL Thursday my sweet, sweet friends....

hugs and love,

Dawn

A little change is good!!!

Isn't it just amazing???

How a little paint, some inexpensive sheet vinyl and the kindness

of one very sweet dad, can transform a room???

I'm such a goob too, I can't help but keep going into each bathroom

and staring at them!!!

They are both so pretty now!

Yes, I know my window curtain is way too long but at this point

I don't care, I love the softness.

The shower curtain is one I bought a few years ago at Ross

and it has this amazing giant valance of tan lace!

It matched the flooring and wall color perfectly.

Don't you love it when that happens?

Would you like to see a BEFORE pic????

Well, here it is:

This is a peek at Noah's bath or the "guest" bathroom ~

Same flooring and looks so very pretty now!!!!

I still need to accessorize a little but am loving the fresh,

new look that the floor gives it!

And I have a couple little BEFORE pics of this one too!!! Take a peek:

Isn't it just wonderful what beautiful paint and

gorgeous vinyl sheet flooring can do to a room???

A little change IS SO, SO good!!!

OH! And you know I love to share with you when I find a wonderful magazine ~

I just don't buy them very much anymore but this one just came out and I love it!!!

Happy Tuesday sweet angels ~

Thank you so much for stopping by to see me!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

A precious angel turns five!!!!

Our little granddaughter Clara turned FIVE Sunday

and had the MOST AMAZING birthday party ever!

I have to share some pics...

She was so sweet and so very thankful ~

Her other grandmother gave her a birthstone ring! Her mother is slipping it on her finger!

Emily's mom, Dawn (yes, we are both Dawns!) with baby Murray.

Noah and his sweet cousin Grayson ~

Cousins Allison and Brant and Uncle Mark and Aunt Susan ~

She loved the feather boa she got from Uncle Brad!!!!

Clara and cousin Parker hamming it up!

It was a super hero party so each guest got a mask and cape ~

Happy Birthday sweet girl ~

You are blessed with so, so many who love you!!!!

Wishing you a wonderful Monday precious friends...

thank you always for sharing my joy!

hugs and love,

Dawn