Snippets of inspiration ~

I love sharing tidbits that just might inspire you...

so I've been looking through my computer files

to see what I think you may love.

Take a little look ~ and I do hope something will trigger your creativity!!!

First up...precious succulent gardens created inside glass jars...

aren't they beautiful?

And you and I both love antique baby photos....right?

Look at this angel ~

This one looks like two sweet sisters.

How funny that the oldest looks so confident and

the little one is just a bit unsure.

One of my favorite prints ever...

An old piece of artwork I created inside of an old wooden "in box"

One more piece that I created inside of a broken clock.

The clock itself was so beautiful...it needed a new life!

A sweet display in my last studio.

Artwork I made several years ago just using an 11" x 14" canvas
and a page from an antique photo album,
pages from a botanical book and dried flowers.

The smallest banner that I've ever made using round tags,

antique ledger paper, embossed napkins, snippets of old lace,
rusty bells and words that I printed out on my computer
and of course,

beautiful vintage buttons and seam binding!

And lastly ~

To inspire your longing for spring...a beautiful fern!!!

Happy Thursday my dear friends!!!!

Hugs and love,

Dawn

The beginnings of Christmas ~

I've discovered as I get older that I just don't have what it takes

to put up a big ol' Christmas tree and all of the decorations anymore.

Simple and small is perfect for now...and this little tree was just the ticket!!

I found this 3 ft. tree at w-mart and saw it in the display section, just 25 bucks!

It has red berries and tiny little pine cones wired onto the branches.

PLUS it was pre-lit too!!!

There weren't any in boxes so they let me purchase the floor display.

I loved that!!! It was already assembled and I just plopped it in my car

and then put it right onto my buffet in our living room!!!!

I've added a few bird's nests, burr oak acorns and some beautiful feathers...

I'm gathering a few things from the studio to add to it.

It's definitely a work in progress but I just love it!

ALSO in other news...OK now, don't faint.

I actually went junking a few weeks ago and I just have to share

the sweet things that I brought home!

This precious frame was priced so reasonably I just had to buy it!!

I haven't figured out what I'm going to put inside but no worries,

I'm sure I will!

The rest of my treasures?

A couple of beautiful antique photos and vintage buttons.

It was such a wonderful day spent with a precious friend.

Can you believe that I'm finally getting back to my organizer???

It has already been purchased by a dear friend and customer but

my mom and dad came into town for a week for Thanksgiving and

delayed my finishing it up. I'll be sure to share photos of the finished piece

in my next post!

Something else I've worked on recently....these little nested egg soaps!

I made these for my friend Lisa of Tarnished and Tattered,

she's having an antique sale and wanted to have some of our soap!!!

And this photo below is a recipe I saw on Facebook....they. sound....DELICIOUS!!!

One last photo to share ~

Our sweet granddaughter Clara with her cousin Brant at Thanksgiving.

They both had the best time playing together!

I scanned the wonderful antique photographs I found, just for you...

Just click to enlarge them and right click to save them to your own computer!!!

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

Wishing you a beautiful December weekend precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Sharing a little gift goodness with you!

I just love sharing gifts with you!

Mostly because you "get" me and love what I love

and then you can celebrate with me!!!

About a week or so ago a sweet friend on Facebook contacted me.

She sees all that I create because, believe me, I love using FB

as a marketing tool to sell my wares.

She knew how much I love old lace and how much I use in my sewing projects.

WELL.

She kindly asked for my address and told me that she had some old lace

that she wasn't going to do a thing with and would I want it?

OH YES I WOULD!!!

I gladly gave her my address and you have just got to see what she sent me!!

I have thanked her profusely and just can't believe it was a GIFT!

I truly am so very thankful to this sweet friend.

I can't imagine what it all would cost me at an antique store,

much more than I could ever, ever afford for sure!

Here it is all piled on top of each other...

you simply cannot see it all!!!

I can tell so much of it was handmade because there are pieces that are unfinished.

Beautiful though...

And what about the beautiful "E" ribbon??!

This large white linen piece is actually a pillowcase

with a flap on the end with lace trim and ties!!!

I had it folded in half for the photo but you get the idea ~

I want to wear it on my head it's so beautiful!!!!

GORGEOUS RIGHT??? Thank you so much dear friend...I will treasure it all!!!!

I can't remember if I've shared this recipe before but...

we've made it for years and our boys always LOVED it

and are now making it themselves!!!

Look below for the recipe ~

Gatlin Chicken

Ingredients:

1 cup cheddar cheese cracker crumbs (such as Cheez-its)
2 tbsp taco seasoning mix
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1-4 oz can chopped green chilies, drained

Directions:

Combine cracker crumbs and seasoning mix in a large bowl, stir well.
Toss chicken pieces in crumb/seasoning mixture then place into a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish or pan. Mix together whipping cream and remaining ingredients in the same large bowl, then pour over chicken.

Bake uncovered 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or until slightly brown on top and bubbly.

I only used four chicken breasts for us...it's just Noah, hubby and myself.

But I'm afraid I didn't cut any of the other ingredients in half!!!

HAHAHA!

Yes, it's so fattening, just don't make it very often, OK?

Happy Tuesday sweet friends!!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Thinking of you ~

Hi sweet friends....

I just wanted to pop in and say hello!

I promise, I'm still here but

my parents have come to visit us for a few days

and we are enjoying our time together!

Wishing you a beautiful Thursday dear friends!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Let's go junkin', shall we???

First, my sweet friends...I just have to tell you something.

As I went to create this post I noticed that I have posted

2100 POSTS!!!!!

GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!!!

I guess this one is 2101...

pretty neat, huh?

My land, I've been blogging a long time.

Anyway. I found some precious photographs and images Friday when I went junkin'

that I purchased just to share with you!

I've scanned them in....just click a few times to make sure

they are as large as possible and save them to your computer :)

My sweet friend Debby and I went to Griffin, GA and had a fun day exploring the town!

Our first stop was Gigi's Antique Griffin...

I took a few photos to share with you ~

I've had space in this antique mall before and have

always loved it!!!

I found some sweet little goodies at Antique Griffin...I always, always do!

Our next stop was a brand, spankin' new shop The Chicken House!

They are located at 324 E. Broad St., Suite 211 in Griffin....

They are a coffee shop...gift goodness shop...

treasure shop...tea shop...and so much more.

The owners have totally transformed this old warehouse space into

an absolute dream ~ you've got to pay them a visit!!!

I wish them so much success ~

And in the very same building was another so, so new shop,

47th Ave. Antique Boutique

I so love their taste,

their displays and just the general atmosphere.

Well, just take a look at the pics below:

See the wonderful old paper cutter thingee below...

I drooled over that piece big time!!

The paint patina...and I've always wanted one in the studio ~

Oh well, maybe next time :)

We visited about three or four more shops that I just loved and

had the most fun together!!!

Tomorrow, I'll be sure to share my sweet finds with you ~

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and wish you a great week ahead!!!

Happy Monday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn