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

A change of heart ~

I had originally thought that I would use my new seam binding fringe

on a stocking I started a few weeks ago BUT

it just wasn't working for me.

The more I stared at it, the longer I let it sit in my studio!

Plus, I didn't care for the slanted opening I had made

for my stocking pattern either. That didn't help a bit!

But after mulling it over for waaaay too long, I chopped the top off

the stocking and began playing with lace and trims.

And the strangest thing?

I pulled out a pretty little satin doll dress that the top was torn and

chopped the skirt off to use on the stocking too!

I finally finished it last night and am so pleased with the way

it finally turned out....

and what about the fringe I made?

It's going on a new project of course!

Here's my stocking ~ it's approx. 20" long.

Now listed in my Etsy store too!

Now that I've finished that project,
it's time to get crackin' on some new goodies!!

I hope you're having such a wonderful week precious friends ~

Happy Thursday!

hugs and love,

Dawn

What we take for granted ~

We really do take so much for granted in our lives.

It seems it's not until these gifts are in jeopardy

that we realize how important

a certain "gift" in our life is.

One of these precious gifts?

Our health.

It's been a pretty bad week over here...

my diverticulitis has reared it's ugly head and

it has been a bout to be reckoned with!

It all started Monday and has yet to be better.

I did spend the entire day Thursday at the Urgent Care center

worried that I might need surgery but thankfully,

after TONS of tests, I don't.

It seems that after I hit 50 I've just started falling apart!

That really doesn't have anything to do with it though.

I know it's totally in my hands how healthy I am.

ANYWAY...

I just wanted to let you know I'm here,

trying to feel better and that

 I miss you all....

Wishing you a beautiful weekend dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

My very favorite shades of seam binding...

You all KNOW how much I love the wonderful seam binding from

Zipperstop and I just had to share with you my lovely

seam binding collection.

My photos are kinda cheezy and not the most accurate with the color but

maybe you can tell a little about the shades if you'd like

to order a roll or two yourself!!!

Here's what I've compiled so far:

UPDATE: I've also discovered a NEW favorite shade...CROQUETTE BEIGE!

If you decide to order any.....please tell Jeff
"The Feathered Nest" sent you ~

he knows how much I love it all!!!

AND stay tuned...I'm going to experiment with dying
some of my lighter shades to give them an even older, blotchy feel!!!!

Happy Tuesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Simply thankful ~

It's been one of those days that seem to slip away from you...

do you have those?

You look up at the time and can't believe how fast it's flown by

and you didn't accomplish near what you had in mind.

But it seems that at this time of my life I finally realize,

that it's OK to have days like that.

I'm just thankful to have the day, period.

Our lives can get so wrapped up in trying to get so many things done,

that we simply forget to enjoy the fact

that we have the gift of another day...

A day to enjoy our blessings,

love our family

and simply to be thankful.

A few repeat image gifts for you my sweet, sweet friends:

The best part of the day?

Loving on our grandbabies, watching Clara play and

hearing Murray's hearty belly laughs!!!

Wishing you a beautiful Wednesday 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