No longer forgotten....

Precious little shoes....worn by a little girl's favorite doll or

maybe silk ruffled booties that have once been on a chubby baby's foot ~

I love them all!

If they're dirty, scuffed or even smashed flat....it doesn't matter.

They can still be brought back to life.

It just takes a little tender loving care and these little forgotten

treasures can have a new purpose and make someone smile again!

I've been a busy bee the last few days....here's what I've been up to:

A tiny doll shoe transformed into a pincushion ~

Just add a few embellishments...tiny bits of antique lace...and pretty trims ~

it doesn't take much to turn something ordinary into something precious!

Here's is what I've been up to sweet friends ~

All are now in my little Etsy shop!

I didn't really have any pretty pins to place in these pincushions

so I had to make a few ~

I've shared this with you before but it's so easy, I had to share it again.

The supplies are simple....straight pins, a few old pearls, tiny beads and a little jewelry glue!

I usually prepare a few...feed the beads or pearls onto the pins, only about halfway ~

Then put a little jewelry glue near the head and down the pin about a quarter of an inch.

Slide the beads up to the head and wipe off any excess glue that blobs out onto

a piece of scrap paper....then just lay the pins down to dry for awhile.

My pretty little pins are now ready for a pincushion!

Easy, huh?

Take the ordinary and transform it into something extraordinary!

Have a beautiful Wednesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

So much to share!!!

First, take a peek at what's inspiring me now!

I've gotten so picky about the mags I buy now...so I thought I'd share

the few that I've HAD to buy lately!

So much inspiration is packed inside these issues....

Inside Prims...

I'm obsessed with doll making lately ~

we'll see if I can get one made :)

But just take a look at a few of the beautiful pages of the latest issue of Prims:

Lance Perry's wonderful bee on the left....he's Ann Perry's son of The Tin Rabbit!

Ann doesn't post much but take a look at her Flickr

and you'll see where her son's amazing talent came from!!

More wonderfulness...

Becky's gorgeous doll Lilly....from A Wing and a Prayer ~

She SO inspires me!

Inside the current issue of Romantic Country....

look at all of the gorgeous homes featured ~

After I looked at this particular home, I recognized it!!!

It's Rebecca Ersfeld's home!

Just gorgeous....

A few peeks at the January issue of Victoria magazine...this is a gorgeous one!

And lastly, my new issue of Country Living ~ which I haven't even looked at yet!

I just opened up these few pages to share with you and KNEW

you would love it!!!

When I went shopping on my birthday, I always love to visit Joann Etc. and Barnes & Noble.

They are both really far from me and I just don't get to go very often....

Here a few books I found from both of the stores.

Now, I love fairies, and love the flower fairies but that's not why I bought this book.

I bought the purse book because I have an obsession with purse patterns!

This one is chock full of them and I love their simple style.

If I add a strap to this pattern, don't you think it would make a great flea bag???

It's a wonderful small size ~

And if you take a look at a few peeks inside the flower fairies book,

you'll see why I fell in love with it!!!

It's about embroidery and stumpwork.

Well, I'm not too sure what stumpwork is but I LOVE IT!

It's making embroidery 3D I think...

I just thought some of the techniques would be so neat

to incorporate into my artwork in some way ~

Just look at the fairy's dress....I love the manipulation of the fabric!!

And totally changing the subject....

I had these precious doll shoes I've collected in neat old tin, where I couldn't see them ~
so, we were given a snack gift for Christmas in this tall canister and after it was gone,

I cleaned it up, removed the labels and put my little doll shoes inside so I can SEE them!

Now, they can INSPIRE me!!!!

I had to show you these too...

my sweet little trees are getting packed away until next year ~

I had high hopes I'd get so many more finished!!!

And GUESS WHAT?

I was contacted by BH&G and they want to feature

my artwork in their next issue of Holiday Crafts!!!!

My dear sister-in-law has just opened her very own Etsy shop!!!!

Sweet Pea Treats

She makes the most delicious candied pecans....

wouldn't these make the most wonderful favors for a shower or wedding?

Just bundle a little handful up in a tulle circle, tie with ribbon and place in a huge basket!

And just look at what my family has been up to in the soap making biz!!!

Precious birds from wonderful shea butter soap....

you KNOW I love them!!

~ Click here to find their new goodies ~

Sorry about the MASSIVE post,

But I just had to share it all with you!!!

Have a wonderful Thursday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

C'est fini!

I did it!

I finished my sweet treasure box this weekend!!!

Embellished with gorgeous antique lace, seam binding and baubles....

I'm in love with old rhinestone jewelry...I've added a few pieces to the top ~

And....I thought, since it was a treasure box,

it should have treasures INSIDE!!

So I've gone through my goodies and added some of my favs for you!

Click on the photos...maybe even twice ~

mine get pretty huge so you can check out what's included in the box.

The little scrim pouch holds beautiful vanilla colored buttons...

embellished with seam binding

and millinery flowers.

Gorgeous old thread, a string of vintage pearls, an antique baby spoon....

a few french pages ~

a couple of antique lace bundles...

and a small old box filled with...well I'll show you in just a minute :)

A teeny piece of artwork I made with dried, pressed flowers....
and tulle melted over top ~

a beautiful rhinestone earring, and a MOST PRECIOUS tiny doll shoe!

Antique buttons still on their card....
a teeny watchmaker's vial filled
with the smallest pearls I could find from my collection ~

A strip of a rhinestone necklace ~ more antique lace on an old wooden spool....

and even some of our wonderful lavender soap wrapped in tulle and pearls!

I've saved this amazing luggage buckle and ribbon forever ~

don't you think it works wonderfully in the lid to hold gorgeous old ephemera??

I've included a sweet antique cabinet card of a woman but turned it backwards

just because the graphics on the back are AMAZING!

A wonderful embossed napkin and doily ~

an old handwritten letter and

the most wonderful receipt....

all tucked behind the ribbon ~

OH! and inside the little old box?

Precious dried flowers ~ that speak of times past....

Aren't they wonderful?

I placed a snippet of lace underneath.

SOLD!!!

Thank you so much Marilyn!

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

And I just HAVE to share with you our sweet additions to the family ~

This weekend we bought six chicks!

I can't live in a farmhouse without chickens laying eggs now can I???

Now I have to get a chicken coop built....

Oh well ~

You know I'll have to do it on the cheap!

Stay tuned for more Green Acres....

I don't have a clue what I'm doing!!

(OK now, don't laugh...this pic was taken in the fall of 1980! It was our engagement photo)

One more little, bitty piece of news for you ~

Today is our THIRTIETH anniversary!!!

YIKES!

I'm old as dirt, heck, WE'RE old as dirt!

But I so love my husband ~

the father of my babies,

and my best friend ever...

he always takes such wonderful care of us all ~

Wishing you an amazing Monday my sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn