Christmas in March

My friend Cindy and I finally got around to exchanging our Christmas gifts to one another. My gift to her has been sitting on my coffee table since December - all decked out in a Christmas bag. Oh well - better late than never. I sorta like exchanging gifts late because you can actually appreciate them after all of the craziness of the holidays is over.

Here is what I received. Gotta love a friend who knows you love vintage and finds you great things while out treasure hunting. She found this wonderful Pyrex bowl at a thrift store. Early American pattern.

 

She also included this hand made cupcake. Cindy makes these out of the cuffs of wool sweaters. I love it and plan on displaying it on one of my many cake plates. So sweet.

I am very blessed with wonderful friends!


KayteeJane

Creativity Bekons

The summer is usually the time of year when I do most of my crafting, sewing and creating. Over the past two days I have hit both Michael's and JoAnn's stocking up on some things to do some projects I have in mind.

While at Michael's I couldn't resist their dollar bins. They have some great things in there! Here is what I bought.

I didn't go crazy, just got a few things. Sherbert colored doilies, polka dot cupcake liners and mini chalkboard signs that clip onto things. I don't have any specific projects in mind for these, just thought I'd stock up for later. At a $1 a pack they are tough to pass up.

I bought the chalkboard signs in both red and green. They are made of wood and have a mini clothespin attached to the back. If you can think of a cool way to use these please leave me a comment. I'd love to know your thoughts. I thought they would be cute as cupcake toppers attached to a toothpick. Each cupcake could have a different word on it.

At JoAnn's I found this great British craft magazine called Mollie Makes.I guess I am behind the times because it is already on issue #14.  It is pretty pricey, as it is an import, but since I love all things British I couldn't resist buying it simply for the visual inspiration inside. It came with a wedding "lookbook" that had a great vintage brooch bouquet pictured on the front. Although I am not getting married or planning a wedding I now have a desire to make one of these bouquets. I am going to be on the lookout this summer while yard saleing for cool vintage flower pins and brooches. If you like this idea too Google "Miranda Lambert's Wedding Bouquet" - she was the first person that I've heard of that had a brooch bouquet at her wedding.

I love the trend for "vintage-style" weddings that is all the rage now. Wish that 16 years ago I would have thought to incorporate my love of vintage into my wedding.

Happy Creating!
KayteeJane

Baby Shower

I recently hosted a baby "sprinkle" at my house. A "sprinkle" is a baby shower for someone who is having their second baby.

I decided to decorate using my vintage baby collectibles.

Here are some pictures.

This is the table that welcomed guests as they arrived. I decorated using an old baby scale, baby shoe planters, a Johnson's Baby Powder tin and some old baby cards. A metal store sign holds a homemade welcome sign.

This baby scale is used to hold the favors - which were a bag of Trader Joe's kettle corn (love the blue & white stripes) and a drinking cup.

I used some of my favorite vintage baby planters to hold flowers.

Blue McCoy baby shoes

Vintage flash cards & more baby shoe planters

Old baby blocks spell out the baby's initials. Little plastic "Kewpie" dolls are part of the decorations too.

Another baby scale is used to hold cups.

A table outside is decorated with vintage flash cards, an old book with a great title, vintage baby hangers & more pottery.

I LOVE this idea so much. I hung 3 umbrellas from our clothesline. I had some crystals left over from a broken chandelier that I saved and I hung those from the line as well. The crystals are the rain drops.

My chalkboards were put to use too. This one on the front porch welcomes people.

One of my favorite scriptures that I think is perfect for a new mother or baby.

I had such a good time decorating using items from my own collections. I didn't have to buy one thing to decorate with! I love how it all turned out. The best part...I get to keep all of these decorations to enjoy again and again.

KayteeJane

A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You

Back in February I posted about my favorite book from my childhood Love Is A Special Way of Feeling by Joan Walsh Anglund. That post continues to be one of the more popular posts that I've done.

Recently at a church sale I found another of Joan's awesome books. I am awed by her talent. This one is as charming as the one I shared earlier. It was originally published in 1958 and is as relevant today as it must have been then.

It is titled A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You.

I will not be keeping this one. It is a birthday gift for my dear "sister" Cindy. Today is her birthday. So before I let this gem go I wanted to share this special book with you all so that you could enjoy it too and to thank all of you "friends" out there in blogland who have come along with me on this journey by visiting with me here.

I invite you to read along with me. You won't be disappointed.

 

Isn't that just lovely? I dedicate it to all of my friends...and you know who you are...who have stood beside me these past months with love. I love all of you.

Thank you Joan!

KayteeJane