Bonjour mes amis!! It's time for another week of FLEA MARKET FINDS!! I'd love to say I found something stupendous to share this week, but alas the pickin's were slim and my wallet slimmer after last weeks purchase of Penelope HERE. I do have the first of 4 giveaway gifts to share with you though! I'll be doing a different giveaway for 4 consecutive weeks... One gift for each 100 of my followers! So if you'd like to win this weeks little pressie just become a follower (If you're not already?) AND leave me a comment telling me you'd like to be entered. This weeks giveaway is for this cute little angel baby holding a flower! Perfect for displaying a little crown or rosary or two (Sorry the giveaway is just for the angel, but I'm sure you probably have some better bling than I do anyway *winks*) He would also be easy to paint a different color if desired. So leave me a comment K? *winks*
Moving on to my finds for the week. This sweet little vintage french chair was my favorite. I actually drove 4 hrs for it. No I'm not crazy... Well actually maybe I am, but again I digress... My hubby and I made a day of it and enjoyed the trip and stopped to shop and smell the roses along the way. It was a wonderful time!
And next to it is this nifty shabby white urn for $12.99 that I filled with dried hydrangeas. "Why does she keep taking pictures in this same space?" You might be asking yourself. It's actually the only spot in my house with any light!... Just sayin'
Then a new boudoir lady for my collection via ebay for $38. These little cuties are getting harder and harder to find at a price I can afford *sighs* Isn't she pretty?!
I found these Italian candle shades at a local antique store at $10 for the pair. Shown clipped on a couple of my perfume bottles. I love them! I tried to find something similar in a larger size on the net and had zero luck. So if anyone knows where I could find some? Please let me know *winks*
This is how they clip on.
At the Goodwill I found these charming vintage shoe trees for $1 per pair. Aren't they sweet?!
And finally also at the Goodwill, some vintage padded hangers for 50 cents each. I couldn't resist their soft pastel colors.
That's all for this week. I hope you'll come back next week for more flea market finds AND another giveaway! I'll also be announcing the winner of this weeks giveaway so don't miss it! Also... I've been posting like a mad woman this week! If you're interested I'm also sharing my collection of dress forms HERE. I'd love if you stopped by! Vanna
I'm going to start with my BLOG GIVEAWAY!! Whoohoo!!
Here's how it works... I purchased this "THING" on craigslist. ($75) I should add this "Thing" is quite large measuring 33" wide x 22" and 12" tall. I have no idea what it was (or should be) used for? So your mission should you choose to accept it... Sorry for going all Mission Impossible on ya! I couldn't help myself *winks*... is to come up with your best guess about how it could or should be used? So peeps give me some ideas because I need all of them I can get! Then just become one of my friendly followers (If you aren't already *winks*) and leave me a comment. Come on don't be shy! Let your imagination go wild! The one with the best answer wins!
Here's a view of the inside.
And the winner will receive this antique Danish(?) pillowcase 21"x21" with embroidery initials. It translates to "sleep well" and has two small ties sewn inside for closure. But wait!... There's more! Almost two years ago I was also doing a giveaway when my mom became very ill and I stopped blogging. So that prize will also be added into the mix!
Isn't it beautiful?
This darling little art nouveau jewel box will also be added to sweeten the prize. It's seen a little wear and tear in its long lifetime but this only enhances its charm.
Inside it contains a touch of mink to cushion some special treasure.
So please join my giveaway and start guessing! I'll award the prize two weeks from today! Sunday Feb 13th. It could be a VERY good Valentines day! *winks*
OK and for another good book... if you haven't read it yet? "The Bed" By Alecia Beldegreen, It's another one of my favorite go to's. I have beds on the brain lately because I'm straining the little gray matter that I DO have to come up with a canopy idea for my master bedroom. I've actually been pondering this for some time and it needs to happen! The ceiling is sloped so a beautiful corona just won't work *sighs* So I'm open to ideas for that too. You can view my master bedroom HERE
Isn't this a luscious cover? A taste of things to come... And the text is just as beautiful as the pictures... Lots and lots of em!
These are just some of the images. I couldn't share many of the best because they're two page spreads. Poor little scanner couldn't do it sorry.
I'll take that portrait please.
My cat would love this... But not as much as his mommy!
Italian beauty-liciousness!
And French of course!
This is soooo cool! It's all been done with a sharpie marker! Sorry about the crease, it was a two pager.
And some wonderful trompe l'oeil!
If I had this painted theatrical backdrop I'd remodel my whole living room around it!
Have you ever traveled by train like this? I don't think I'd ever fly if I could avoid it.
Absolutely gorgeous!
This lit a la polonaise is one of my favorite beds. One of these days I'll have me one!
Just look at those cherub sconces!
Or how about swathed in lace?
And more lace...
Do you think I could find one of these on craigslist? Probably not, but stranger things have happened!... Not to me... but maybe to you? *winks*
If you enjoyed these images you're going to love this book. And you can pick it up for only $4.59 (Shipping included) HERE A real steal for a large hardcover book. Thanks for stopping by! Vanna
Hello beautiful peeps!! It's that time of the week once again... Time for FLEA MARKET FINDS!! Where I name places and share prices... (Usually *winks*) And truthfully I'm not a very good bargain shopper (I do try) so I'll make you feel GREAT about your own found treasures if nothing else LOL! I have a new item to win this week in my blog followers giveaway (Two more weeks to go with a new little thank you gift each week so keep stopping by!) And keep on reading to see what this weeks little pressie will be *winks* I would also like to announce the winner of last weeks angel giveaway. THE WINNER IS... LEENA of Pink*Cherub*Moon Congrats Leena! Please email me with your shipping info.
This last week was again a little short on fantabulous finds because I'm still short on funds. I did manage to find a few really good deals... Well I think they are anyway *winks* So as usual I'm starting with my favorite find... This antique painted spelter bust of a lady standing at 15" tall and a whopping 8.5 lbs. I know because I weighed her when I got her home after I almost torqued out my one wrist reaching up on top of an armoire with an oh so confident "devil may care" attitude to grab her down whilst clutching a coffee cup with the other. That will teach me... she almost landed on my noggin!... Or worse yet I might have smashed one of the sellers delicate pieces! Or even worse *shudders*... lost my COFFEE!! I took one look at her at a local antique mall and thought to myself " Ooohhh I bet my friend Gloria at Happy To Be blog would love her!" (Gloria is an avid collector of Victoriana and has lovely taste!) Now how many of you have been motivated to buy something because your besties would love the "thing" in question? Of course you're probably "besties" in the first place because you love similar things huh? *winks* Well this beauty said "Gloria" And I said "Wrap er up!" Lol!
Just look at the sweet details. I love the little cherub head on the belt! And the bunches of violets.
She's placed on two silver trays that were Value Village (thrift store) finds. The largest at $24.99 and the smaller at $10.99. I was thinking I'd take them home and polish them up, but I think I actually prefer their current more tarnished appearance. Do you prefer your silver polished?
And do you see all the luscious fruit surrounding my girl? It's all made of stone (alabaster and marble) I scored a major score in finding it also at the local Value Village (In a big bowl no less) for $9.99!
Now just one bunch of the grapes will cost more than that. I couldn't even fit all the fruit on the tray there was too much of it! I'd guess it's from the 60's-70's.
The little cloche came from the Goodwill for $1.99 and inside it are a couple of bling-y Christmas ornaments I found for $3.50 each.
The pearl rosary my lady bust is wearing is child size and was $25 (at a local antique mall) with the mother of pearl shell case.
I found this little cherub with a wheelbarrow at the same antique mall and paid way too much at $45. He had been priced $95! (Crack smokin' seller *winks*) but he's so adorable and I'm a cherub-o-holic! I did what any cherub loving quasi bargain shopping gal would do... I caved in the face of cherub cuteness... More mac-n cheese...
Isn't he adorable though?
This antique celluloid box was $6.99 at the Value Village...
It's in rough shape, but beautiful lady + cherubs+ cheap = Yeppers you know the drill.
I also found this assortment of plates and bowls at the VV. The least expensive being.99 and the most being the small platter on the top at $6.99 (From Bohemia) The least expensive plate which looks like quimper is by Longchamps. The large rose plate was $3.99 and has such pretty blowsey pink roses!
Don'tcha think?
Bohemia platter.
At the Goodwill I found this set of pink pillowcases from Simply Shabby Chic for $3.80. I had never seen this pattern before... Have you?
Close up.
I also found a mother lode of Ralph Lauren sheets at the Goodwill for between $2.99 and $7.99. Ralph Lauren florals stop me in my tracks every time! And I can spot em from a mile off *winks* You've gotta love the Goodwill!!
Then to top off my wonderful week I received a surprise at the front door! I couldn't remember ordering anything?... But my memory isn't what it used to be... so maybe... What I found inside was about the most beautifully presented packages I've ever received! From the sweeter than sweet Cindy of Edith & Evelyn on Etsy. She just wanted to say thank you for giving her store a little shout out... Awwwwww I couldn't believe she did that! I gave her shop a shout out because I LOVE it! Cindy has such beautiful things and at reasonable prices (IMHO) So if you purchase anything from her you're in for a wonderful surprise! Let me know if you do OK? *winks* Pretty toile and tulle ribbons, handmade tags, beautiful script, and not shown a fab antique French postcard! Such a delight!
When I'd carefully unwrapped the two bundles (Saving all the pretty ribbons)... Honestly I didn't even want to open them they were just so pretty! I found these two darling busts of a boy and girl from an old Alabama estate. Thank you so much Cindy! I love them!
OK and last, but hopefully not least... My giveaway for this week is for this lovely rose encrusted vintage blanc de chine heart shaped trinket box. Perfect for a little treasure or two.
If you'd like a chance to win it become a follower (If you aren't already *winks*) and leave me a comment telling me you'd like it to be yours... And even if you aren't interested in this giveaway I'd still LOVE to hear from you! Vanna I'm joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:
Bonjour my friends!! I'm so happy you stopped by for another week of Flea Market Finds! This is a very special one for me because I found what has been a dream piece of mine for many many years...
But first let me start by announcing the winner of last weeks followers giveaway... It's... Danielle of Blessed Serendipity!! Yay!!
Danielle please email me with your shipping addy.
And this week is my last for my followers giveaways. My little way to say "THANK YOU" to all my followers for helping me reach 400+ friends! I can't tell you how much each and every one of you means to me! In order to win this (my last) pressie you must BE a follower *winks* So if you aren't already, please join my followers list, and I'll be happy to follow you back too! Please keep reading and you'll see what I've got saved for ya OK? *winks* I think this one is pretty good... just sayin' Anyway the "dream piece" I'm all excited to share has been on my list of "wants" for what feels like forevah! I've been going by a local antique mall and admiring it for over a year hoping the dealer would have a BIG sale. Alas they never did. Well... this last week I dropped by again to say hello and gently fondle *winks* the "dream piece" and the seller happened to be there. I told him how much I admired it and asked him if he could do any better on the price? He came down $50 (I wanted to cry) It wasn't nearly a big enough discount for my wallet. Then he started to tell me about its history... How he'd purchased it back in 1970 for what he was currently asking... How it had a double thick marble top that didn't slide... And telling me that as he'd housed it for 40+ yrs he'd like to at least break even.. etc etc... I told him I thought it was actually not too bad a price because I'd seen other sellers ask thousands, I just wasn't able to go that high. So he told me if I really wanted it and I was willing to buy it today, he'd take off $400... Seriously from $50 to $400?... I still wanted to cry, but now tears of joy! What is all this emotion about? (You might be asking) And also "when is she gonna show the %($@ picture already!" Well here IT is! It's a 19th century French patisserie table! Now mine mine mine! I'm happy dancing like nobodys business!! I've been trying for days to take a pretty picture of it in some great light to do it justice, but it's been nothing but gloom and doom for the last two, so I'm going ahead and embracing the darkness *winks* Isn't it fabulous!? Do you see the frenchy beverage dispenser? That was a $19.99 find at the Value Village and the etched glasses were Goodwill finds for $2.99 each (I found 11) The silver tray was one of last weeks finds.
At this point I was thinking my week... Actually my year... couldn't get any better! When I spotted these two cuties at a local junk/antique store. I instantly fell in love with them although they were pretty costy and more than a little chipped and damaged. I was told by the seller that they're early 19th century Vieux Paris porcelain? Seems about right to me... Maybe one of my experts could verify? (That's you Richard *winks*)
I just love her sweet face!
And her basket of chippy roses.
The gentleman is supposed to be a gardener, but his shovel is gone, as is the handle and spout to his watering can...
And his head was badly glued on at one time. However for almost 200 yrs old they're looking pretty good don'tcha think? Just check out those dandy trousers *winks*
I scored a couple of cool frenchy grainsack style pillows from WUSLU. They're nice and large and were very reasonably priced. This was my second purchase there and I've been quite pleased. Have any of you purchased from them?..I like that shipping is always only $5... Oh and that I could order from the comfort of home in my jammies *winks*
Unfortunately these ones are sold out, but they do relist items from time to time when stock allows.
And for my final giveaway (At least till I reach 500 friends *winks*) I'm offering this Rosenthal Versace Medusa wine stopper. New in box. Just leave me a comment telling me you would like it to be yours.
It's burnt orange in color if you can't tell.
Even if you're not interested in the giveaway I'd still love to hear from YOU! What would be a dream piece for you? And are you still doing the Happy Dance after finding one? (I still am!) I'd love to hear all about it! Vanna I'm joining those two sweet girls Patti and Paula at Ivy & Elephants for:
I happened to notice the other day that my little blog has more than 200 followers? Quelle shocker to me! *winks* THANK YOU so much my friends for taking time out of your busy lives to visit here. You're more appreciated than you know. To celebrate this wonderful surprise I'm doing a little giveaway for y'all... YAY!!! But first Let me start with the very good book. "Timeless Interiors" By Barbara Stoeltie and photographs by Rene Stoeltie. If you're a lover of antiques this is a book filled with drool worthy pictures. There's a variety of styles for everyone.
Lets look inside...
If any of these images appeal to you? You're going to love this book! You can find it for a song HERE. And...
I'm including a slightly worn copy with my thank you goody basket filled with little thrifted finds. If you'd like to have it sent to your home *winks* all you have to do is become a follower (If you aren't already) And leave me a comment on this post. I'll be picking a winner in the next two weeks. Here are some pictures of the bounty *winks*
An ironstone pitcher with a pale blue cast and a couple of little crowns as well as a cute egg shaped trinket jar filled with candies... Yummmmm!
A little goodie bag filled with vintage embroidery yarn in pretty pastel colors with pink thread and tape.
Palest pink lace trim and a vintage plastic rose and buttons.
A small floral cosmetic bag and blank journal, and in the background a black english metal tea tray loaded with beautiful roses.
A piece of vintage fabric perfect for a pillow or dresser scarf, and a table runner with croched lace on both ends, but only one end with tassels.
Close up on the tasseled end.
A sweet little robins egg blue display shelf perfect for a small collection of salt and pepper shakers... maybe?
All placed in this really cool old gray blue basket
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll leave me a comment and join in my little giveaway. And thank you again for being my blogging friends! I LOVE you guys! Vanna I'm joining the House Of Grace for the first time for:
Each winter, I hear this question: "Do you have any tips for dressing modestly while staying warm? I'm just so freezing cold when I wear skirts!"Before I attempt to answer this, you need to know two things:
I don't really have a sense of style (just ask my sisters!). I have budget-sense though, so most of these tips are more finance conscious than fashion conscious, although I do try to look somewhat put together. :)
I'm not a "skirts only" girl, although I do love them! None of these pictures show me in pants, but I wear them quite regularly (you can read more about my thoughts on pants vs. skirts here).
Without further ado, here are my favorite ways to stay modest and warm without breaking the bank. I've included a list of sources at the end of this post as well as a giveaway for a pair of fleece-lined leggings from Deborah & Co.!
1. Invest in 1 to 3 high-quality skirts. Pick a style you love in a neutral color that can match virtually anything. I am wearing the same skirt in all of these photos. I spent a bit more money on it, but I've been wearing it at least once a week since April (pictured above) and it's still not showing any signs of wear.
2. For warmth and a higher neckline, wear a tank top backwards! Make sure it's of the tagless variety or that the tag can easily be cut off, or that written tags on the inside of the tank can't be seen from the outside. For obvious reasons, racerback tanks don't work for this.
If you can afford to spend a bit more, I highly recommend the Undercover Mama Nursing Tanks from Deborah & Co. I have three of them and wear them all the time, even though I'm not nursing anymore (long story). They are long, which makes them great for layering. They also clasp onto any bra strap which means they are:
perfect for nursing
minimize the amount of straps underneath your actual shirt
can be adjusted to sit at a neckline height that makes you feel the most comfortable
I am wearing an Undercover Mama Nursing Tank under my cardigans in the last two pictures. I also own a shell and a halftee which are fabulous to wear underneath v-necks or scoop-necked tee-shirts.
3. Invest in some high-quality, fleece-lined leggings. I have two pairs. I cheaped out on one of them and am paying for it: the fit isn't nearly as comfortable as my other pair from Deborah & Co., and they're not quite as warm either.
These fleece-lined leggings from Deborah & Co. are the ultimate solution to cold legs! I love them because:
they keep me warm all over. I can wear a t-shirt in the middle of Winter with these things on and still stay toasty (I love wearing shorter sleeved shirts year-round; it's much less of a hassle when bathing children, washing dishes, or doing other jobs where long sleeves tend to get in the way).
they add no bulk. Their thickness is equivalent to a regular pair of tights, but they're much warmer.
my skirt doesn't cling to them like it does to a pair of tights of nylons. I really dislike wearing slips and was thrilled to discover I could do without one when I wear these leggings
they come in all the right colors: black, brown, and charcoal.
they are comfortable. Unlike nylons, they don't hike up past my belly button.
they don't rip, snag, or have to be thrown out after one use, unlike nylons which I may have mentioned are my nemesis.
they keep my feet free. I love bare toes as much as I hate nylons.
Never mind my hair in this picture; I just stepped out of the shower... and I'm experiencing post-pregnancy hair loss... sniff...
4. Wear a pretty scarf. Scarves:
are cheap
come in hundreds of different colors, prints, and styles to coordinate with any outfit
make lower cut shirts more forgiving
keep your cleavage hidden
warm your neck
can double as an emergency nursing cover
make you look slightly fashion savvy, even if you're not at all
okay, I digress...
To save money, I sometimes shop thrift stores. I usually pass on the second-hand tops since they often look worn, but have been able to find a few long skirts that were hardly used. I typically buy my tops at the end of the season when prices are reduced for clearance. I never pay full price for clothing. If I make purchases online, the item is either on sale or includes free shipping.
My Modest Clothing Sources:
High quality, modest skirts & dresses
Deborah & Co.
eShakti
For Elyse (not a huge fan of all their clothes, but they have some nice, long skirts for reasonable prices)
Shabby Apple
Shell Sheli (skirt extenders)
Camisoles, shells, half-tees, and layering tops:
HALFTEE
Deborah & Co.
Shell Sheli
Fleece-Lined Leggings:
Deborah & Co.
Scarves:
For Eylse
Peach Couture
As a gift to you, enjoy these discounts from Shell Sheli and Deborah & Co.:
Use code "frosty15" at checkout and save 15% OFFany product from Shell Sheli. Sale ends December 16.
Use code "stylefortheseason" to save 10% OFF any product from Deborah & Co. Sale ends December 13.
*** Fleece-Lined Leggings Giveaway! Courtesy of Deborah & Co.!
a Rafflecopter giveawayVisit My Other Friends For More Holiday Outfit Ideas! Smithspirations A Mama's Story Raising Mighty Arrows Artful Homemaking The Modest Mom Little Natural Cottage A Delightful Glow Raising Arrows Thankful Homemaker In The Nursery Of The Nation
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Bonjour mes amis! I thought I would take a little break from the regular Flea Market posts this week and share one of my little cabinets-o-stuff with you. Really it's just another Flea Market Finds, but with stuff I've had a lot longer *winks*
AND I have another GIVEAWAY for this week so keep reading! One more week to go! But first let me share the WINNER of last weeks little blanc de chine heart... It's...
CYNTHIA!!! (Cynthia please email me with your mailing address OK?)
Moving on to my little cabinet. It's choc a block full of little this-n-thats. I'd love to share a few of my favorites with you. And I'd love your opinion on a few of them too *winks* Warning if an abundance of crap stuff makes you crazy? This is NOT the post for you! There is no rhyme or reason to how anything is placed in this cupboard, I pretty much shove things around until I can sneak in one more piece... Yes hoarders cabinet... quelle surprise lol!
This is the top shelf full of many things I've already shared and more I haven't.
The second shelf
The third... Remember my blue opaline urns? They're hiding out in here.
And the bottom which isn't visible through glass.
This little nude is one of my favorite pieces. She's 18th century German by the Hochst factory. I found her at an auction and paid $75 (Which was a lot for me at the time) because I loved her so much! I found her HERE on Ruby Lane for $1750! So I guess she was a pretty good deal after all! She's dated 1771. Isn't she cool?
And this Victorian brass and mother of pearl dinner bell is another one of my favorite thrifty finds.
This is my favorite perfume bottle by the Apollo company from somewhere around 1912 -1920. It was part of an auction lot that I paid $25 for. I've been looking for years for another without any luck... but I adore the hunt! Don't you? And the perfume still smells pretty good too! *winks*
This little art deco flower frog was a thrift store find, as are most of the items in here.
I don't know what this little silver cherub mount/applique was originally used on? But it's another love thang It's so detailed for something so small!
I also love this miniature painting on ivory that I purchased from an art dealer friend. Sorry the photo isn't very good, it's so hard to get a good shot through the glass, but again it's very detailed for such a cute little thing.
I also love to collect antique tortoise shell items. This calling card case with an inlaid bird (in ivory or bone) and mother of pearl is Victorian. I found it at an antique store for $25.
The interior.
I also love this little Victorian mourning brooch. It came with a note stating that it's the hair of Edmund Brown 1772-1859 and Mabel Norton Brown 1775-1840. Grandparents of Dr Plumb Brown. Why would a family member have given it up? Too creepy maybe?
Another thing I love to collect are antique perfume caddys. This blue purse shaped Victorian velvet one is shown closed...
And open.
And a slightly newer celluloid single bottle case closed...
And open.
I also pick up these vintage ornate metal perfume bottles whenever I can find them for less that $30... Which is getting to be very difficult. But again the hunt is most of the fun! *winks*
They have cool little things hidden inside. This one features a lady bust... And you know how I feel about those! Lol!
I found this set of antique French pump perfume bottles at an estate sale for $10.
Do you see where the brass is scraped? That's where the bottle moves when you pump (by pushing down on) the bottle. Have you seen others like this?
And this french bottle has painted flowers found for $4 at the thrift. You unscrew the little piece you see on the side and then the top depresses to activate the pump to spray the perfume. I don't really know exactly what time frame this is from? I'd guess the 20's or 30's? But it's only a guess. If you happen to know please share OK?
I also wanted to share this pretty little vanity tray with etched flowers and ribbon detailed handles. Hard to see I know... Sorry.
And lastly in the background of the top shelf is this reproduction painting of the coronation of empress Josephine... It's something of a mystery...
Napoleon
And Josephine...
Lots of people watching... The two holding the train are Napoleon's sisters, who if I remember correctly did not like Josephine in the least as she made them feel awkward and unsophisticated. Way to go Jo! They seem to be behaving themselves here.*winks*
Napoleon's mother who wasn't actually at the coronation (Due to a quarrel between Napoleon and his brother) but was painted in as a guest of honor, as was his brother... Boys!
Doesn't the man next to the cardinal below resemble Jesus? Hmmmmmm.
And here is a close up of the original painting found in the Louvre Titled " Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon 1 and Coronation of the Empress Josephine in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris on 2 December 1804. By the artist Jaques-Louis David. The painting is quite large at about 33'x20' tall. My little painting measures 11"x10". And the mystery of my painting is that it's painted over another much older painting which can be seen under a few small areas of flaking paint. Hmmm I know it isn't uncommon for painters to reuse canvases but I'm so curious as to what's underneath? Perhaps a hidden old master? Yeah more likely NOT. But I can dream right? Little mysteries make life more fun *winks*
So those are a few of the things I love to hoard collect. What kind of things do you collect? Are you a highly organized neat collector? Or perhaps a bit of a mess like me about it? I'd love to know... So I don't feel alone lol! OK on to this weeks followers giveaway. I'm offering this Cath Kidston style wallet. It's brand spanking new and in the most charming blue red and pink rose print. So leave me a comment telling me you would like it to be yours... Or just leave me a comment anyway! I LOVE hearing from you! Vanna
Interior
I'm joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:
And that wonderful pair Paula and Patti at Ivy & Elephants for:
Announcing the lucky winner of my blog followers giveaway... It's Sares!! of the lovelee *winks* blog Loveleigh Treasures ! Yippee Yahoo!!
Sares please leave me the address you'd like the basket sent to. And thank you so much to everyone who entered. I'll be doing another blog giveaway soon! *winks* Vanna
Normally, I don't buy eBooks. I prefer a paperback to a digital file any day, and since you can't skim through an eBook before you buy it, I'm always skeptical of its content and value. However, I had a leg up on The ABC's for Godly Girls by Lindsey Stromberg. I've been reading her blog for a while and soon discovered that not only are our theological views quite similar, but she is a great writer and her content is biblically sound. So I downloaded The ABC's for Godly Girls to work through with our 4 year-old. I thought it might be a few pages; imagine my surprise when the printer spewed out an inch of material! All this for eight bucks? Score!
This is an excellent Bible curriculum for young girls. It explores twenty-six different virtues (one for each letter of the alphabet) from Scripture.
Each lesson includes a Bible story, a discussion guide, memory work, copy work, a flashcard, an activity, and a craft.
Also included are several games to reinforce the lessons in a fun way. These are the highlight for Charity, especially the paper dolls!
The ABC's for Godly Girls is also extremely cost effective since it's available as a digital download ($8.00 - $5.60 if you use the coupon code "Growing Home"). I printed mine off and had it coil-bound at Staples. It stays organized, and is easy to flip through and tear off pages as needed. Also available is The ABC's for Godly Boys. Both versions are suggested for children ages 4-10. Enter below for your chance to win a set of your choice (boy or girl), or: Use the coupon code "Growing Home" from now until December 2nd to save 30% off your purchase today! (That's just $5.60 a set!)
Winner will be announced Tuesday, November 26. a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox.This post contains affiliate links. Sharing at: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Hearts For Home, Frugal Homeschool Family Time Warp Wife
I was absolutely tickled when one of my favorite bloggers asked me to write the endorsement for her new book, More Than Rules. I've been encouraged by Bambi's blog, In The Nursery of The Nation, for years and it was an honor to give her masterpiece a hearty applause.
More Than Rules is, hands down, the best work I have ever read on modesty. It delivers a timely and convicting message with humility and humor. Though generally a divisive topic among Christian women, Bambi breaks through barriers of legalism and antinomianism and presents a biblical doctrine with grace and kindness that will ultimately lead others to contentment with who they are in Christ.
It's an affirming and encouraging read for those who sometimes feel like living in the modesty trench is a losing battle, and for anyone just curious about what it means to be modest, consider More Than Rules your ticket to a whole new wardrobe!
16 engaging chapters include :
Introduction
In Which I Go to the Salon for Some Detailing
Why We Are Preoccupied with Physical Beauty
Motivations of the Heart {and Is it Wrong to Enhance the Appearance}
Imperishable Beauty
When You Are Not Your Own
More Than Bikinis and Burqas
Wanton Eyes, Outstretched Necks and the Demeanor of the Christian Woman
Captives to Lust
Modest Dress {What it is and Eight Reasons Why We Don't Want to Talk About It}
Read Any Good Looks Lately?
Introducing Six Immodestly Dressed Women
What a Christian Woman Should Wear
Giving Grace and Six Reasons Why Outward Adornment Should be in Moderation
On Making Rules {Sniff, Sniff. Do I Smell a Legalist?}
The Immodesty of Modesty {and Other Warnings}
If you have young or teenage daughters, or are influential in the life of any woman at church or abroad, or would simply like to develop a better understanding of biblical modesty yourself in a non-confrontational way, More Than Rules is a must read.
Bambi is generously giving away 3 copies of her book. You can enter below for your chance to win one, or purchase More Than Rules right here if you just can't wait to dive in! Winner will be announced Monday, July 29.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. Thank you for your continued support! Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, A Wise Woman., Hip Homeschool Moms, Living and Learning at Home, Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom
The Wise Mom, The Praying Mom, The Single Mom, The Stepmom, The Working Mom, The Healthy Mom, The Work at Home Mom, The Modest Mom, The Stressed Mom, The Homeschooling Mom, The Special Needs Mom, The Mom Who Desires More Children, The Weary Mom...
$7.99 Introductory price: $3.99
We Moms are a varied bunch, but we all have one thing in common: we have children to raise. Children, given to us from the hand of God, to raise for His honor and glory. Motherhood can be overwhelming (for me, anyway). Our boys, how do we raise them to be real men in a world that confuses chivalry with chauvinism? And our daughters, is preparing them to be homemakers setting them up for disappointment? Breast or bottle? What if you can't breastfeed? Cloth or disposables? Work from home, away from home, or not at all? Homeschool, private school, or public school? Birth control or Quiverfull? So many questions. So many decisions. So little time; that's why we wrote The Pursuit of Motherhood. The goal of The Pursuit of Motherhood is to sift through the sideline issues and encourage Moms in every situation to pursue mothering their children with all their heart, keeping God at the center of all their endeavors. "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5 (emphasis mine) The Pursuit of Motherhood is authored by 17 Moms including Kelly Crawford from Generation Cedar, June Fuentes from A Wise Woman, Jacqueline Franks from Deep Roots At Home, Melanie Young from Raising Real Men, and yours truly. We share in common a love for the Lord and a love for our families, however imperfect. We sincerely desire the same for you and pray that this eBook will give you an uncommon vision for motherhood an the tools to restore its glory within your own home.
The Pursuit of Motherhood 151 pages $7.99 Introductory price: $3.99
Table of Contents
The Praying Mother
Mothering Through the Little Years
The Working Mom
The Healthy Mom
The Work at Home Mom
Infertility, Part I: Primary and Secondary Infertility
Infertility, Part II: The Empty Womb and Adoption
The Modest Mom
Breastfeeding and Child Attachment
The Weary Mom, Part I
The Weary Mom, Part II
The Homeschooling Mother
Mothering a Child with Special Needs
Raising Real Men
Raising Homemakers
Be Fruitful and Multiply
Biblical Motherhood
Leaving a Legacy
Our introductory offer runs from now through Monday! Buy it today and save $4.00, or enter for your chance to win a copy below!If you choose to purchase a copy and ended up winning, you can gift The Pursuit of Motherhood to a friend.
The Pursuit of Motherhood 151 pages $7.99 Introductory price: $3.99
Winner will be announced Tuesday, December 3. a Rafflecopter giveaway
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As y'all know I am extremely fond of art nouveau trinket boxes *winks* So I thought I'd share the tiquin ' love with a blog giveaway! This little cutie with a sweet rose on top is NOT perfect at all... But it is perfectly charming! It will come with a little somethin ' extra inside... but that's a surprise! If you'd like to have it come live with you, just leave me a comment within the next two weeks. You'll get an entry for each comment. And if you are one of my beloved blog followers you get three extra entries! Yes I'm shameless I admit! *winks* So stop by OK? Cause I LOVE to read ya! You can click to enlarge any pictures if you want to.
Today I heard a little knock knock on the door and when I checked on who it might be? I found a rather large box! Hmmmmm what could it be? Well let me start by sayin ' my dear friend Laura lu from RMS had contacted me about a week ago and told me she had a little something she would like to send me. She said she thought I would really like it... But she wouldn't give me a single hint as to what it might be! I'm tellin ' ya, the girl can keep a secret because Lord knows I tried to get her to SPILL!! Now for those of you who have seen Laura lu's house on RMS and her brand new blog Hidden Promise HERE you KNOW what fabulous taste she has!! Not to mention that she's a super model *winks* But you'll have to go read her blog to find out all about that lol ! Anyhoo when I opened the box, I knew right away it must be from Lu because just look at the card *winks*
Hmmm this thing a ma jiggy sure is well wrapped! I've been unwrapping for a while now! But I can finally see a glimpse of what it might be... It looks golden... that's always a good thing... And the red area looks like it might just be flowers... Oooohhhhhh !
Oh my goodness me!! Just look at what she sent!! Isn't it the most darling cherub in the history of the world! *winks* OK I don't expect you to think so... But it certainly IS to me! I've never had someone I've never even met "GET" me like this! I am feeling sooo blessed to have met such a wonderful generous and downright LOVELY friend!! Right when you think bloggers couldn't get any nicer... The good Lord comes along with yet another wonderful surprise! I am in awe of all the goodness! And Laura lu I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this amazing gift! And the even MORE amazing gift of your friendship! *sob hiccup* I'm so choked up! Oh and I forgot to mention that Laura lu hand painted this cherub! So there's not another one like him in the whole wide world! Just look at that beautiful rose wreath!
And here's a wider view of his new home on top of the cabinet that houses my art nouveau boxes. Doesn't he look just perfect there?!!
And lastly I found this nifty ole wire victorian mansion birdhouse on craigslist ! It's a little bit rusty and off kilter, but it's soooo cool! I've been playing around with possible vignettes, but can't quite get it right... Which is pretty much always the case!Lol ! I tried to do something for Easter. What'd ya think? Can you even see it? It has a sweet bird from my dear friend Lynne watching over a nest of baby blue eggs, with a "NEST" plaque... There's even a little birdie chandelier...
Can you see it now? It's not the easiest thing to photograph through all these wires!
Well that's all for today. Hope you'll join me next time! (((HUGS))) -n-*winks* Vanna
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I've been eyeing Deborah & Co.'s maternity skirts for my last two pregnancies and was thrilled with the opportunity to review one of them! Having a marvelous seamstress for a mother-in-love leaves me without much reason to purchase customized clothing elsewhere. Her highly-skilled perfectionism combined with my personal bias also makes me particularly critical of any other handmade workmanship that passes through my hands. I've purchased nursing tanks and modest shells from Deborah & Co. before though, and have always been impressed with the quality of Caroline's products. I had no qualms about reviewing her custom tailored skirts since I know from first-hand experience that she has a keen eye for beauty, comfort, and excellence.
I was not disappointed! The Calf-Length Ruffle Maternity Skirt met all my expectations. The stitch-work is impeccable and the measurements were exactly what I ordered. The cotton fabric is light and breathable, yet modest and feminine.
I often find belly panels on maternity bottoms to be uncomfortable, but not so with this skirt. I forget it's there and from the outside, it's practically invisible underneath a t-shirt.
Our 3-year-old daughter is beyond thrilled to have a skirt that looks "just like Mommy's!" Also made by Deborah & Co., Charity's Ruffle Skirt is feminine, comfortable, and modest.
I highly recommend Deborah & Co. to anyone on the hunt for modest skirts of both style and substance. Deborah & Co., quite literally, has all the ladies in your home covered! Below is your chance to win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Deborah & Co. which you can use towards anything in the store. Winner will be chosen next week Thursday, February 28. Best of luck to you all! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, A Mama's Story, Time-Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, Raising Arrows, The Modest Mom, Raising Mighty Arrows, Our Simple Country Life, the Better Mom, Time Warp Wife, Women Living Well
Last week, I was sent a copy of Real Food for the Real Homemaker and let me tell you, this is one gem of a cookbook! I love a good, hearty, healthy, home-cooked meal almost as much as I enjoy making them so when the opportunity to get creative with new recipes in the kitchen presents itself, I jump!
Real Food for the Real Homemaker sifts through the myriad of information (and misinformation) we've all heard about fats, grains, raw milk, and organic produce and provides a condensed and sensible approach to eating healthy, hearty food that tastes like it came from Grandma's kitchen.
No offense to the authors, but this eBook is reminiscent of those coil-bound United Church Cookbooks put together by sweet little seventy-year-old members of the Ladies Guild. I mean that as the sincerest compliment!
It teaches the basics every cook should know like which kitchen tools are absolutely necessary (and which brands give you the best bang for your buck); how to practice hospitality; how to make granola, yogurt in a crock-pot, and tortillas from scratch; how to save at the grocery store, freezer cook, and substitute ingredients.
Plus, you'll enjoy over 75 home-style recipes with a healthy twist. Among them:
Breads & Breakfast Recipes Apple Nut Muffins with Caramel Glaze Baked French Toast Baked Oatmeal Banana Bread Best-Ever Scrambled Eggs Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch Quiche Cornbread Egg Bake Egg Sandwiches Eggs in a Nest Granola Orange White-Chocolate Chip Scones Perfect Pancakes Popovers Rolled Biscuits Sausage Gravy Simple Cream Biscuits Tortillas Yogurt
Sides, Soups, & Salad Recipes Applesauce Baked Beans Caesar Salad Cheesy Potato-Vegetable Soup Homemade Garlic-Herb Croutons Chicken Salad with Grapes and Apples Chicken Stock Chili Cucumber Salad Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dressing Fruit Salsa Ham and Cheese Soup Italian Pasta Salad Italian Vinaigrette Mashed Potatoes Mushroom Soup Oven-Fried Potatoes Peaches with Ginger Syrup Quick Tomato Soup Ranch Dressing Roasted Root Vegetables Ruby Red Fruit Salad Tomato and Cucumber Salad Vegetable Beef Soup White Chicken Chili
Entrée Recipes Bean, Rice, and Salsa Bowls Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet Cheesy Chicken-and-Rice Casserole Chicken and Pasta with Balsamic Vinegar Sauce Chicken Fajitas Chicken Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie Chicken Stir-Fry Couscous Chicken Pilaf Creamy Lemon Pasta Fresh Tomato-Vegetable Sauce Fried Rice Grilled Shrimp Pasta Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Meatballs Pasta al Fredo Pizza from Scratch Slow-Cooked Chicken Slow-Cooked Pork Chops with Gravy Slow-Cooked Herbed Pork Roast Stuffed Bell Peppers Tilapia Variations Toasted Tomato-Cheese Sandwiches Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes
Dessert Recipes Baked Apples Butterscotch Pudding Classic Pie Crust “Everything” Cookies Homemade Brownies Lemon Cheesecake Squares Lemon-Lime Ice Rice Pudding Strawberry Pie
Best of all? Full-color photos are included with almost every recipe! Whether you're a rookie in the kitchen, deep inside a cooking rut, attempting to replace your favorite dishes with healthy versions, or simply looking to expand your recipe repertoire, Real Food for the Real Homemaker is valuable resource for any cook and a guaranteed hit with the whole family!
For $12.95 $9.99, you get all of the following:
Real Food for the Real Homemaker in both the KINDLE and PDF version,
a set of beautiful recipe cards,
an Excel program for creating shopping lists and menu planning!
Enter below to win a copy or purchase yours here for $9.99 - this week only! a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. Thank you for your continued support! Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, The Prairie Homestead
I hesitated posting this today. I don't want anyone to think that what we're doing with our 4-year-old for school this year is what they should be doing with theirs. Neither do I want anyone to feel as though I'm trying to "cover my back" so the powers that be know we're doing "enough." Nevertheless, homeschool Moms love to glean from each other and it's good to do due diligence and be aware of the various teaching methods and curriculum available. So here's a general idea of what I'm hoping to work through with our four-year-old daughter this year.
Our number one goal in our children's education is to stress the importance of their salvation and the development of Christ-like character. We consider this more crucial than academics (notice I didn't say academia is not important!) because, as Douglas Phillips said: "If you try to give people knowledge, and you haven't trained them in character, based on faith, they will become intellectual reprobates."To that end, you'll notice a heavy emphasis on Scripture memorization through different methods, Bible-based curricula, and classical read-alouds that reinforce life principles from Proverbs.
Memory work.
Our goal each week is to memorize 1 Psalter, 1 verse from Proverbs for Parenting, and 2 Q&A's from The Mother's Catechism.
Proverbs For Parenting. This is a wonderful tool put together by Barbra Decker to aid in the discipling of our children. She has categorized the Proverbs into chapters that deal with particular sins like selfishness, lying, anger, ungratefulness, etc. If we notice our children are struggling in a specific area, we focus on memorizing proverbs that correspond to their behavior and learning what God says we must do about it.
A Mother's Catechism. I wish I could reference this resource for you, but these ancient Presbyterian catechisms are nearly impossible to come by. However, I'm giving away 15 copies (yes, you read that right) at the end of this post so be sure to enter! It's the Westminster Shorter Catechism made even shorter so that our 2 and 4 year old are perfectly capable of memorizing the questions and answers. This is a great way for them to learn sound biblical doctrine that we pray will stick with them for life. The Psalter. The Psalter, simply put, is the Book of Psalms for singing. It's a tremendous way for small children to memorize the Psalms. They are set to choral music and we sing the same one after each meal for one week. By then, it is memorized and Charity is allowed to choose two or three to sing again before bedtime. This is the same book we use in Church and our children love it when the pastor has chosen one they are able to sing along with.
Rod & Staff Preschool Curriculum I absolutely love the Rod & Staff Preschool Curriculum. My mom used it with me two decades ago and I was tickled to see the workbooks hadn't changed at all in the last twenty years. I have fond memories of coloring, cut and paste, and singing jingles to help remember how letters and numbers are formed: A straight line down and then you're done. This is how to make a one!Around and back on a railroad track! Two, two, two!Around and tree and around a tree; this is how to make a three!
Charity is a typical girly-girl and loves doing crafts, so this curriculum is perfect for her since it involves a lot of crayons, scissors, and glue-sticks! I've heard from other Moms that generally speaking, boys don't do as well with this curriculum because they lack the patience, interest, and fine motor skills at this age to find enjoyment in using all those things.
The set includes six workbooks and a Bible Story book complete with questions and answers. For $21.95 you can hardly go wrong! 1) Adventures with Books: This book aims to teach neatness and carefulness, how to follow simple directions (match with lines, circle, underline, cross out or mark with an 'X'), recognize colors and how to color correctly, practice cutting and pasting, drawing with lines and circles, regonize shapes, and practice words meanings (alike, different, left, right, big, small).
2) Bible Pictures to Color: This book includes 60 coloring pages that correspond to the Bible stories in Bible Stories to Read. Each story includes three questions and answers and a short memory verse.
3) Counting with Numbers: This book teaches your child to identify and write the numbers 1 to 10 and explains what they mean. It also teaches number sequence and basic math concepts like more (greater than) less (fewer than), same (equal to), first, last, empty (zero), full (whole), and one-half.
4) Do it Carefully: This book teaches discriminating shapes, letters, a few sight words, writing letters and your child's name, as well as several consanant blends.
5) Everywhere We Go: This book is basically a review of what has been taught in the previous four. It also introduces character concepts like personal responsibility and courtesy and observations about animals, birds, plants and children that live in different parts of the world.
6) Finding the Answers: This book concentrates on developing critical thinking skills through rhymes, sequence, understanding sentence meanings, making comparisons and associations, learning to follow multiple directions, considering the senses, and gathering supplies to make or repair objects.
Read-alouds One of Charity's favorite things to do is curl up next to me on the couch and have a story read to her (I guess that's probably on the list of every child's Favorite Things To Do, isn't it? :-). We're working our way through the Miller Family Stories, also published by Rod & Staff. I love these books because the stories are so relatable and each one emphasizes a biblical principle or proverb in a way a child can easily understand. The four Miller children grow up in a Christian home and have experiences very similar to ours. They struggle with obedience, slothfulness, bad influences, lying, snooping into other people's business, gossip, and several other battles we face daily. Each situation is ultimately resolved with an experience that brings sobering consequences or the direction of a parent that leads the children to choose what is right in God's eyes.
Charity is fascinated with pioneers at the moment, so we're reading through Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Series. Once we are finished the set, we plan to dress up and pay a visit to a pioneer heritage village in our area.
To help expand Charity's vocabulary, I like to read her old English classics such as the stories by Beatrix Potter. This is a fun way to discover big words like "presently," "twitched," and "puzzled," and understand their meanings based on the context in which they are written. A Beatrix Potter Treasury is a fantastic collection of her most famous stories including the tales of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-duck, and Benjamin Bunny.
Copywork
Charity's fine motor skills aren't quite where they need to be to begin learning cursive, but when she gets there, we'll start by using the set of printables I developed earlier this week based on the 1777 New England Primer.
The 1777 New England Primer Cursive Printable Alphabet Set includes 26 Scripture passages to correspond with each letter of the alphabet as well as the biblical ditties used by the Puritans to help enforce the Gospel message in the tender hearts of our children while they learn to write. You can purchase the entire volume for $2.99 here.
If you have any questions about any of the materials or where to get them (I've included links to most of the resources), feel free to ask! If you're interested in receiving a copy of A Mother's Catechism, enter below for your chance to win 1 of 15 I have available to give away.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In the interest of full disclosure, I was not compensated in any way for my review of Rod and Staff Curriculum The opinions expressed are strictly my own. Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. Thank you for your continued support! Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, A Wise Woman., Hip Homeschool Moms, Living and Learning at Home, Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, The Focused Homemaker, Home Grown Learners, iHomeschool,
Bonjour my friends! It's time once again for... FLEA... MARKET... FINDS!!! Which in this instance includes absolutely nothing from a flea market or thrift store... But I did find some stuff that I'm crazy for!... AND I found it with my former blogging and now real life friend Joyce from the blogs Monticello Antique Marketplace (Where she is the manager) and Calamity Janes' Life & Style We had the best time hitting the streets of Centralia Washington! I have a few things to share this week from that shopping trip and more to come next week. *winks* But first I want to announce the winners of my blog followers giveaway. Thank you to everyone who left me a comment! You are all so appreciated! The numbers were selected randomly by my hubby. Sooooo... The winner of group one (the canisters) Is Betsy of My Salvaged Treasures The winner of group two (the pitcher, journal and frame) is Lana of Lana Austin Motif. And the winner of group three (fairy vase) is Kim of Moonlight dreams. Congratulations you three! And please email me at jewlbearvonhoyt@msn.com with the addresses to which you'd like your items sent. Ok on to the finds! Starting as always with my favorites, which this week was a three way tie. And the theme for the week was "France"... Not much of a surprise if you follow my blog *winks* "Francophile" should be my middle name lol! I found three different couronnes de mariee. "What the heck are those?" You might be asking? Well... they're the interior display pieces from Globes de mariee, which are french brides domes from the victorian period. You can see my other post HERE to find more about them. I can't get enough of these beauties! This first one makes a perfect display for one of my favorite Marie Antoinette boudoir dolls.
And without the doll.
Marie is gazing fondly at this petite jewel box featuring a picture of the Eiffel tower. An ebay find.
This next couronne is loaded with lots of beautiful porcelain roses and the bridal headpiece.
I love all the pink!
And this third is more of an upright style for showcasing the bridal headpiece.
It has all these beautiful etched glass mirror pieces.
I didn't even notice until I got it home that it had the initials of the bride and groom. An "M" for the groom.
And an "R" for the bride.
I've placed it in my living room for now with another globe de mariee.
This is a shot of my beautiful friend Joyce and I at the Olympic Club in Centralia where we had lunch. It was really cool and loaded with antiques... including us! Lol!
Joyce (Sweetheart that she is) brought a little gift with her for me that she thought had my name on it... A 1920's boudoir doll in a lovely tattered silk dress...
Boy was she right!! Thank you soooo much Joyce! I adore her!!
I found these victorian brides shoes (1880's) in kid leather ($43) while out shopping with Joyce. I love their ruffled fronts.
I added them to this globe de mariee and they fit perfectly! I'd like to also mention that they fit me perfectly! What a thrill! Those victorian ladies were notorious for their teeny tiny feet *winks* Sorry they're hard to see.
Here's a group shot of some of them.
This chippy rusty metal cherub planter ($30) was another favorite find. I filled it with dried hydrangeas
Isn't he a cutie?!
And lastly this pretty boudoir doll with human hair and a net lace gown to add to my collection in the doll armoire.
She has such a sweet wistful expression.
Well that's all the finds for this week. I hope you'll come back next week for more flea market finds. I have some neat stuff to share *winks* Please leave me a comment and I'll do the same. I LOVE hearing from you! Vanna I'm joining Kathleen at Charm Bracelet Diva for Club G.W. Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Friday. Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday. Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday. And Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show And Tell Fridays. Pamela at From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursdays.
OK I feel a little bit uncomfortable showing you my (not at all special) closet. Especially after the teasers for the last couple of weeks... I'm GOING WHERE NO WOMAN HAS GONE BEFORE! (Cue the Star Trek music) LOL! You see it's totally a builders grade cheap and blah space... But I longed for a little bit of "French pizazz"! (Me... imagine that *winks*) I didn't want to go in there every morning and think to myself "this is just plain ugly" *sighs* Alas I don't currently have the funds to transform my little closet into the Parisian palace I'd love it to be, but with the help of a few special blogging friends I did manage to add a few fabulous elements!
So come on in and I'll show you what I DO love about my closet... You first... I know it's going to get a little tight in here *winks* I started by adding a "closet" to my closet lol! If you read my blog you know how much I adore French armoires! So I thought "hey why not put one in the closet?" I have them in pretty much every other room in the house *winks* So voila! BIG french flavor!... Little unhappy husband with sore back, but that's another story... *winks*
Do you see the screen to the left? "Really"( you're asking yourself) " how could I miss it? I've got my nose practically squeezed into it in here!" *winks* Well it came all the way from Missouri from my dear friend Richard's store. Richard has the most wonderful blog "My Old Historic House" HERE. When you've managed to squeeze out of my closet please give him a visit. Can you say "eye candy WITH an education" BIG time! You'll leave Richards having learned something new each time you visit! *winks* Anyhoo turn slightly to the left and get a close up view of my wonderful new/old screen! Isn't it pretty AND frenchy?! I'm loving it Richard! Thank you!! I stole the LV from the bedroom so I could pretend I was going on a fabulous trip to Paris *winks* (If I sold it I actually COULD go on a fabulous trip to Paris! LOL!!) And to be honest because my poor closet can use all the "bling factor" it can get. *winks* The Dior shoes are just for looking pretty too because they absolutely kill my feet!! And after what I paid for them they need to be good for something! Haha!
Such a pretty and ornate top... Just the way I like em!
And since we're talking about Richard here, check out this vision of loveliness! I won this pillow from Richard's blog giveaway. No wonder I love that man huh? *winks* It's one of the most gorgeous pillows I've ever seen!! 1920's pale yellow silk with french lace appliques and ribbon roses surrounded by marabou! *swoons* French flavor for sure don'tcha think?
It came to me looking like this. Even Richards wrapping is beautiful!
This is another of the french elements that I love having in here. This beautiful wedding cake chandelier came all the way from France via Leeann's blog Fabulously French. She has some lovely french treasures in her store. This beauty was only $200 with shipping. I think that was quite a steal! The pheasants on top of the armoire agree, they can't take their eyes off of it... Literally! Lol! *winks* Merci Leeann!
Now turning toward the armoire I'll open up the doors (If you can take a step back?) and I'll share a few new (and not so new) things with you.
This sweet French girl bust came from my shabby bedroom. I ran out of space in the armoire there, so I glammed her up a bit and placed her in here with some of my favorite hats. Which by the way I wear frequently. I wish we'd go back to wearing hats. I think they add so much personality!... And hide bad hair days... Not that I ever have any of those... Just sayin' *winks*
This beautiful french maiden lamp contributes to the french flavor and adds some much needed light.
Going down a shelf I found this little chubby cherub clock at a local antique store.
I also found a couple of new boudoir dolls to add to my collection. The pretty lady on the left broke her neck in shipping and the seller refunded my money so she was FREE!! I put a pretty ribbon splint on her neck and she's good to go!
She loves the Viktor & Rolfe Flower Bomb perfume and so do I! *winks*
And a new Marie Antoinette doll who appears to be checking out a portrait of herself *winks*
Isn't she exquisite in her tattered blue silk?! She's my new favorite!
These lovely roses came in the package from Richard and the little cherubs in the background also came from his store... Good stuff I tell ya!
To the right of the dolls is this precious little jewel casket that I found at my new friend Peg's shop Maison De Wine And Wienies. It's my newest favorite online shop! Really good prices! I've purchased quite a few things from her now and I can tell you that she's lovely to deal with! The large cherub tray that the ladies are sitting on also came from Peg's store.
You've heard of the "bluebird of happiness? Well this is the silver glitter bird of bliss! Because things that sparkle make me blissful! Ha ha!
In the "found at the Goodwill category" (So I can Join Kathleen's party at Charm Bracelet Diva *winks*) is this Italian majolica pottery vase featuring beautiful dancing ladies on three sides for $6.99.
This vintage carpet is also a $15 Goodwill find from awhile back.
What's that you say? You're" getting claustrophobic and need to get out!"... Errr... oops!... Oh my!... I'm trying to move aside... really I am!... but it's a little crowded... Didn't mean to pinch that!... well maybe I did *winks*
The cherub twins on the shelf say "goodbye!" Thanks for stopping by my closet! Hope you didn't get any bruises? I hope you'll come back next week when Flea Market Finds returns. Please leave me a comment and I'll do the same. I LOVE to hear from you! Vanna
I'm (of course) joining Kathleen At Charm Bracelet Diva for:
I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for:
I'm also joining Ann of On Sutton Place while she hosts for the next three weeks:
20 weeks of bed-rest gave me plenty of time to do something I really enjoy but find hard to make time for during "normal" seasons of my life - reading. I haven't read this much since studying for my counselling certificates from CCEF over five years ago!
Apart from the Bible (especially the Psalms), by far the most encouraging, uplifting, and spiritually rewarding book I've read over the past few months was Kelly Crawford's Devotions, Advice, and Renewal for when Motherhood Feels Too Hard.
With 31 chapters (and 10 ingenious survival tips), it's meant to be read as inspiration for each day of the month. However, things didn't quite work out that way for me. I was so caught up in the message of the book, I finished the whole thing in two days! Ooopsies. No matter though. I know I'll refer back to it many times throughout this motherhood journey!
Kelly's blog, Generation Cedar, was one of the very first blogs I started reading regularly after we heard of it during her interview with Kevin Swanson on Generations With Vision. I immediately fell in love with her writing style and the content of her message. She's been a well-spring of encouragement and her thought-provoking articles have initiated many a conversation between my husband and I.
As busy homeschooling Mom who is also "in the trenches" with her own brood of blessings (#10 on the way!), Kelly's message of encouragement is real. Chances are she's been there and done that. When Motherhood Feels Too Hard provides an honest look at the challenges mothers face in the raising of their children and reminds us why it's all worth it. We are called to our glorious work by the Lord and through Him, we can receive sustaining grace and tremendous reward!
If you're struggling with your lot in life as a mother, question your usefulness, or simply need to be reminded that this is all worth it, you need to get a copy of Kelly's book. At just $8.99 for a paperback ($4.97 for an eBook), Devotions, Advice, and Renewal for When Motherhood Feels Too Hard is available for an affordable price that can't be passed up.
Bonjour bonjour!! Welcome again to FLEA MARKET FINDS!! How are y'all doing? Is the weather nice in your part of the world? Because I'm ready to run away from mine! Sorry I'm late with my post this week. Here in the Pacific Northwest we've been having lots of wind storms so our power has been off and on for a couple of days. Enough to drive me out of my ever lovin' mind!... So what else could I do?... I shopped in areas that still had power... that's what! *winks* This week I have a couple of fabulous finds from my favorite (go to) shopping place... CRAIGSLIST!! Apologizing again, this time about the pictures being so dark... I really wanted to show off my new beauty in all her sparkly warkly glory! But it was not to be... Also showcased along with my beautiful new sparkly "IT" thing (You know the feeling when you've got to have "IT" *winks*)... is another "IT" thing found on craigslist that I'd searched a very long time for. So without further ado here is my favorite find for the week. A turn of the century french crystal chandelier. Dripping with big faceted juicy crystals! It was a little spendy at $340 but worth every penny! It's a quintessential "me" piece that I'll keep and love forever.
Along with my chandy, I also found this oh so wonderful vintage barkcloth carpet on craigslist from my new friend, (and I hope soon to be new blogger) Alma. I had actually visited Alma on a previous occasion to check out another item she was selling, but decided to pass on. So what a wonderful surprise to find her again! Alma has some of the most beautiful "shabby chic" items I've ever seen! So I hope she'll be joining me on my sidebar with her new blog. Trust me you will be drooling! Anyway here's my new (to me) carpet along with my chandelier.
Ages ago I spotted this fabulous rug and bedroom in an issue of Romantic Homes magazine, then I spotted it again on ebay belonging to the seller "Nouveau Rose" I've been obsessed ever since with finding a rug like it (that I could actually afford) so I was thrilled to pieces to find another one as they're soooo hard to come by! This one belonging to Nouveau Rose is swoon worthy don't you think? As is her whole beautiful house!
My base color is more tan, but don't they have a similar look? Perhaps it's just my wishful thinking *winks*
Here's a shot with my pomeranian Juju bear hiding under the french wing chair. Which by the way was a $25 auction find *winks*... The chair not Juju lol!
Then making my regular rounds at the local Value Village I had a slam dunk day! I don't know if all the snow and wind kept people away? Whatever the case there was more treasure than usual *winks* Starting with this cool necklace that looks like it's covered in vintage brooches for $9.99
Close up.
And also in the $9.99 pile was this pale blue rhinestone tiara with a heart perfect for Valentines day!
This little concrete painted cherub was $1.99. He has crazy eyes that I need to repaint (Which could be quite a challenge as I can't paint worth a darn!) It's very likely he'll look even crazier than before, but I'm gonna give it a try! Any pointers from my talented painter friends would be much appreciated!
This sweet Madonna trinket holder is for my etsy store.
And this large barbola style swag was also $1.99. I'm sure I can find a spot for this *winks*
Then I received a special something in the mail from one of my favorite etsy sellers the sweet Cindy of edithandevelyn This darling large bisque girl was $40 with shipping and I love her! Even the wrapping was special. I didn't want to open it up and spoil it! Just look at that peacock feather ribbon! Isn't it fab?!
She's as lovely as can be with such a winsome smile.
No markings to be found....
but I couldn't resist that adorable face. And if you read my blog you know how "bust" addicted I am! Lol!
Well that's all for this week. I hope you'll come back next week for a fabulous giveaway!! I just saw that I've reached 400 followers! That's plum amazing! And calls for a special celebration! I'm so thankful for each and every one of you! So please stop by!
And I'd love if you left me a comment and I'll do the same. *winks* I just LOVE hearing from you! Vanna I'm joining Sherry of No minimalist Here for:
The wonderful twosome of Patti and Paula at Elephants & Ivory for:
