Another Christmas here and gone

Another Christmas here and gone. As I sit here looking at all of my decorations I wish I could just snap my fingers and it would all be put away. Oh how I dread packing it all up! I'm ready to move on to January!

My gift from my husband this year was pens (it is what I asked for). I can't wait to get started journaling, crafting and doodling with them.

I bought some blank journals and pretty pencils & pens for myself at Target in the dollar section.

I also received these wonderful vintage advertisements from Lee & Frannie. I plan to hang them up in my kitchen.

 (Use Crisco - It's Digestible!)

and the Pioneer Woman's latest cookbook.

My 3rd Grader made me some wonderful gifts this year. This was a favorite. A book she wrote called "Super Parents - A Story About My Awesome Mom and Dad".

I am always drawn with an Afro when my girls draw pictures of me. :)

I am the "chicken nugget queen".

The day after Christmas I found myself shopping at the thrift store again. I was happy to find 3 Pyrex fridgies with their lids on the shelf. Yeah me! The patterns weren't anything that I collect but I bought them just to have the lids.  I needed 3 in this size for bottoms that I already own. I'm thinking I will just re-donate the dishes. I know all of the Pyrex collectors out there would probably cringe at hearing me say that I am going to re-donate Pyrex, but I don't have the space to keep pieces that I don't really like.

I also did some after-Christmas decorations sale shopping. I wasn't planning to, but seeing other people's blogs definitely influences me. First I saw a red tinsel feather tree on Heather's blog decorated for Christmas. That got me thinking that I needed to have one of those for next year. A few days later I saw on Sarah's blog a red tinsel tree that she purchased at Target the day after Christmas for 50% off. Not a feather tree, but Sarah mentioned "trimming" the branches to make it look less full. I had never even thought of doing that. The next morning I was off to Target. I was lucky enough to find one left on the shelf. It was 50% off - so I paid $4. I asked my husband to help me trim it. We cut off a few branches from each level with wire cutters. I like how it looks  - less full and bushy. (picture below isn't great but you get the idea). I've decided that I'm going to decorate it with hearts for Valentines Day.

KayteeJane

Vintage Children's Picture Books

Hubby was at a thrift shop recently (without me) and found these amazing children's picture books from 1949. I wanted to share some pictures of them with you. Each page is as charming and vibrant as the next. Since I love most anything from the 1940's and also children's toys & books these were a great find.

The covers:

Some of the inside pages:

 

And my favorites:

Tails Waved - Love that!!!!

If it wouldn't destroy the book I could see framing some of the pages. 


Sometimes you can find some real gems at the thrift!

KayteeJane

More Green

Some more fun collections in green!

#1. A tower of books about gardening & flowers
#2. Not green but I threw it in because it has the words Spring & March.
#3 A green depression glass knife. Something I've never used but I think it is pretty neat.
#4, #5 #6, #7. Some green things in my kitchen.
#8 Just bought this pitcher yesterday at the thrift store. It is a darker green than I normally like which tells me it may be 1970's???, but it is in such nice condition I didn't want to walk away from it. It is going for sale.
#9. Some green depression glass cake plates.

Sorry the pics are a bit dark and gloomy. It has been overcast and gray here most days. Typical Pittsburgh weather I'm sorry to say.

KayteeJane

Milk Glass Plate Project

A few years ago I made this "Frosty" plate. It is very easy to make and the possibilities are endless. I thought I would share with you how I made one in case you are inspired to try one for yourself.

I used a vintage milk glass plate that I picked up at a yard sale.  You can use any type of plate that you have on hand for this project. This is a great way to re-purpose an odd plate that you may have on hand or an antique plate that is pretty but you don't really use much. If you don't have a plate on hand try the dollar store.

You will need:
* a picture to use on the plate. I chose my picture out of a vintage Golden book. The illustrations in older children's books are charming. I copied the illustration on a photocopier.
*Modge Podge
*Glitter

Here are some of the illustrations found inside this book to give you an idea of how many sweet ones there are to choose from.

If you don't have an old book, you could also use a graphic printed from your computer, a scrap of wrapping paper, your child's artwork or even a photocopied photograph. HERE is a great website with vintage graphics that you can print for free.

To make the plate cut your picture so that it will fit on the flat part of the plate. You may want to cut a template out of tissue paper first to get the perfect fit and then cut your vintage paper or photo.

Next decoupage the paper to the plate. I used Modge Podge. The directions are on the package if you have never used this product before.

Once dry, apply glitter for accent. I used silver glitter glue by Martha Stewart. I chose to embellish with glitter because this is a snow scene - but you don't have to add glitter if you don't want to. I love glitter and would probably use it everywhere if I could.

Since my plate has a scalloped edge with cut-outs I tied a ribbon to the top for added flair.

Be creative - The possibilities are endless! Wouldn't this make a great anniversary gift for someone? Use a picture of the couple taken when they got married. Embellish the plate with glitter, dried flowers & ribbon in their wedding color or the color for a 25th or 50th anniversary. This would be cute hanging from the wall.

Happy Creating!
KayteeJane

Ebay

I've been selling a lot of things on ebay recently. My husband and I do the selling together and we go through phases - on again, off again. We are "on again" right now to bring in some extra money for the family and to scale back a bit. People who know me often wonder what I do with all of the stuff that I bring home from yard saleing. I guess they assume my house is cluttered and busting at the seams. Although I do have a lot of collectibles out on display, what keeps my house from getting over-run is I sell a lot of what I buy. I often bring something home and put it out on display for a bit and enjoy it. When I get tired of it or I need a change I sell it to someone else who loves vintage. Sometimes I have a yard sale. Sometimes I sell at a local antique flea market. Sometimes I ebay. I'm not a full-fledged picker yet. Mostly I just buy what I like, enjoy it and then recycle it.

Today I thought I would show you some of the things that we're selling on ebay right now.

Not sure how much this book will sell for, but I have high hopes for it. I found it at an estate sale and bought it because of the author - L. Frank Baum (writer of The Wizard of Oz). I'm not a knowledgeable bookseller or anything - I just know that sometimes old books can be worth something. I didn't pay much for it. I've been holding on to it for several months and have finally listed it on ebay for sale. I knew it had to be something good when shortly after listing it a person private messaged us and asked us to sell it to him as a "buy it now". If you ebay you know that people do this so that they can buy an item without having to participate in the auction. I think they think they can buy it for cheaper that way. We told him no. He may end up buying it for less that he offered - or not. That is the thrill (and risk) of an online auction for both buyer and seller.

 

This next item was sitting out in my garbage just 2 nights ago. I've had it for awhile, was going to paint it, use it, whatever. Well I got tired of looking at it sitting there unfinished and I put it out for the trash. Have you ever done that? Got sick of something and just gave up on it? Well Hubby decided he would list it on ebay. Good for him that he did. It currently has had 52 people look at it and already has a bid. He is more adventurous than me when it comes to selling and I love that. It was bought at an old barn sale a few years back.

 

As a collector and lover of pottery I often buy more of it than I can display. It is usually pretty inexpensive to buy so I rarely walk away from a vintage planter or vase. These two kitty planters are moving on to new homes. At a yard sale I would only expect to get a $1 for them. On ebay I am hoping to get a little bit more.

Royal Copely Siamese Cat

McCoy Cat playing with a ball

Hubby found these at a yard sale and scooped them right up. They already have a bid. Edgewater Steel was located in our hometown and is no longer in business. They aren't that old, but since the company is no longer around they have some value to people who collect advertising, local history or maybe a former employee.

I am having fun selling on ebay right now. These auctions won't close until Sunday. Until then I will enjoy watching them each day to see if they have any bids. It is my type of entertainment. If you are interested in watching too - our ebay seller name is kayteejane.

Have a great day!
KayteeJane

Old School - New School

As I've mentioned before, I am an elementary teacher. But, I'm not a teacher in the traditional sense because I teach cyber school.


This is where I teach all day.

This is me with my microphone and headset - how I communicate with my students on-line instead of in person.

This school year is almost over and preparations are already underway for next school year. Part of those preparations involve cleaning out and giving away some old books that have been hanging around. Since they were throwing these away I took a stack of them home. I love old school books. They have great graphics and fonts. I mostly use these in craft projects but they are fun to read sometimes too.

This one in particular is so interesting.

Copyright 1931. "Modern" Junior Mathematics

Here is what they were teaching in Math back in 1931...how to write a check & borrow money from the bank. There is also a chapter on buying stocks. Interesting because the stock market crashed in 1929. I guess educators felt that students needed to learn about proper investing.:)

I'm actually going to read this book over the summer. It is neat.
(In case you were wondering...we've never used these old books as part of our school curriculum)
I love the contrast between teaching the "new" way - virtually and teaching the "old" way - with great text books.
KayteeJane

Cookbook

Look what my husband bought me! It came in the mail today. (He buys everything on ebay - ha ha) I am a big fan of Pioneer Woman. Probably because she lives in the country and she is a famous blogger - two things I fantasize about doing someday. I watch her show on the Food Network and have made some of her recipes. The ones that I have tried are pretty yummy. Before this book arrived I was slowly downsizing my cookbook collection as I now get most of my recipes online. However this book is an exception. The pretty pictures and personal stories draw me in.

Looking forward to doing some cooking!

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