And the Winner Is....

Congraulations to Karin, the winner of my Vintage Christmas Giveaway contest. Her name was randomly pulled from all the comments I received via my blog & email. Thank you to all who participated!

This is what it's come down to...

When you don't have a kitchen to cook in, it becomes a challenge what to make for dinner. This is what my latest trip to the store produced. Boy am I getting sick of processed foods. This is not to criticize or bash anyone who happens to like this stuff. Instant mashed potatoes?  My grandmother is rolling over in her grave!

Easy Christmas Craft - Candy Cane Pins

Candy Cane Pins

Here is an easy Christmas craft you can do with the kids in your life, or just for yourself. So easy!

Supplies

Red & White Pipe Cleaners - (I also used green)

Ribbon

White Glue

Small Paint Brush

Glitter

1 Jingle Bell (optional)

Pin Back

First take 2 pipe cleaners and twist together at the ends.

Fold over the ends of each so the sharp wire is underneath.

Twist together the entire length to resemble a candy cane.

Cut in the middle - you now have 2 pieces.

Bend each piece into a cane shape

Lay one candy cane on top of the other as shown and then tie a ribbon around them to hold the two pieces together.

I attached a small jingle bell to my ribbon before tying into a bow.

Pour some white glue onto a plate.

With a small brush paint the glue onto the pipe cleaners.

Sprinkle glitter onto the wet glue. Let dry overnight.

Glue a pin to the back and viola...a charming Christmas pin!

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial.

Hugs & Kisses,

Katie

Road Trip

Last Saturday we took a little road trip north of Pittsburgh to Greenville PA. We stopped at one of my favorite antique stores in Greenville called Time and Again.

 Time and Again is owned by the sweetest lady, Hazel. She is always so friendly and welcoming when you come to the shop you feel like you've known her forever.

This is Hazel. She didn't want her picture taken but she is so nice she let me do it anyway!

Her store is filled with a great selection of both antiques and new items. She carries furniture, linens, quilts, pillows, dishes and smalls. Here is a cabinet overflowing with vintage quilts. Love that! The store merchandise is constantly changing as Hazel adds new things. So each visit is a new experience.

I'm loving this old kitchen cupboard. Anything with red on it gets my attention. Mark, Christmas is coming!

So, if you are looking for something fun to do on a Saturday, take a trip north along Route 19 to Greenville and visit Time and Again. You won't be disappointed if you love to look at antiques and things that remind you of a time gone by. Tell Hazel I said "hi".

PS: If you haven't entered the Vintage Christmas Giveaway I'm hosting, the deadline is Friday December 10th. Leave me a comment on the previous post before then.
Don't miss out!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping!

Love,

Katie

Vintage Christmas Giveaway

Hello Friends,

I'm looking out my window this morning and there is a dusting of snow on the ground. I love it when it snows in December because it really puts me in the spirit of Christmas. I haven't gotten any of my decorations put out yet, but I have been working on a little project just for you! 

For those of you who know me personally you know that I love antiques and "old" stuff. Over the years I have collected alot of vintage Christmas decorations to display in my home and given away alot of the newer things. I just prefer the vintage.

In the spirit of Christmas and to let you know that I appreciate each one of you for taking the time to visit my little blog, I am hosting a Vintage Christmas Giveaway. One lucky reader will receive this package of goodies that includes some vintage Christmas and some of my handmade creations. Even if you don't decorate much with vintage pieces, it is still fun to have something with a little history to it.

Included in the gift is the following:

4 vintage glass Christmas ornaments. The large silver one says "Christmas Eve" on the front. These are truely vintage - no reproductions here. They even come with hangers. 

A jar of freshly made hard-tack candy. This stuff is so pretty to look at - my picture does not do it justice. Each piece is a pretty color that is dusted in powdered sugar. My great grandmother used to make these candies every year for Christmas and the recipe is still being made by local cooks today. Each piece is flavored with delicious old-fashioned flavorings like Clove, Sassafrass and Cinnamon.

Great to enjoy for yourself or to give as a gift.

Vintage Snowman Plaque. I made this little plaque using pages out of a vintage children's book. The graphics are very charming! I hand-glittered it to make it sparkle. It is tied with ribbon & bells. Hang this on a cupboard door, in a child's bedroom or tie it to a package. This isn't so much Christmas as it is snow/winter so it could be displayed into January or February.

This is the back.

A close up view to see the glitter.

Bring out your inner June Clever with this vintage apron!

Made of red cotton with white ric-rack sewn on the edges.

Wear this at your holiday party while making a mean martini!

 Retro chic!

I'm keeping it retro with this vintage Christmas card file set.

The card file is used to keep addresses for all of the people on your Christmas Card list. The other piece is a holder to display all of the cards you have received.

I don't know about you but the number of Christmas cards I receive each year gets smaller and smaller. I suppose with the Internet it is easy to send an e-card. I still love receiving a good, old-fashioned, post-office mailed card better than anything.

Speaking of cards, the gift package will include one vintage Christmas card that was never used. The graphics on this baby are beautiful. Save this one to mail to someone you haven't seen in a long time to wish them a Merry Christmas.

Even the inside is beautifully done with a picture and beautiful lettering.

Last, but not least, is a pack of "Pin Ups".

These are really cute! I saw this idea on another blog and decided to try to make some for myself. These are clothespins that have been stamped with holiday words. Includes twine for hanging. Use this to hang up Christmas cards, pictures or any kind of momento you would like to display.

Here is what it looks like strung up on my mantel.

You could really string it anywhere - in a door way, on a cupboard door or on the wall.

Now that you've seen everything that is included in the giveaway, don't delay and enter! All you need to do is leave me a comment on this post by December 10th. I will randomly choose one comment and that person will receive the package. Tell your friends, they are welcome to enter too!

If you are the winner, what you choose to do with it is up to you. You may want to enjoy it all yourself or give some away.

Either way it sure is more fun to give than to receive!

Thanks for visiting today!

Stop back soon to see pictures of some more vintage decorations that I have around the house.

Merry Christmas,

Katie

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap

Hello Friends,

This Thanksgiving holiday my family and I went to Virginia to visit my brother who lives in Midlothian Virginia, a suburb of Richmond. We had a nice time and it was fun to see where he lives. My parents were on the trip too.

My parents were married on Thanksgiving day 50 years ago. Can you imagine being married on Thanksgiving? While we were away we celebrated their special day with a nice dinner, a beautiful cake and champagne. This is a picture of the cake that we had made for them that has a copy of one of their wedding pictures on the top - all edible. It was made by the Oakmont Bakery. Yum.

Another highlight of our trip was a visit to the Virginia Science Museum in Richmond. It was great! It is located in an old train station. I would recommend it to anyone who is visiting Richmond. The girls had a great time and I learned alot too.

This is a picture from the 2nd floor looking down into the lobby of the train station. On Thanksgiving weekend the museum was host to a holiday train layout.

The girls had a great time learning about all kinds of things including space, weather, the body, life cycles and more.

Gaby got to sit inside the space capsule that carried John Glenn around the Earth. I complain about sitting in traffic for hours on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but can only imagine what it would be like to sit in this thing for hours and then enter the Earth's atmosphere where it would have been hot and bumpy!

Bufferin anyone? Being the junk collector that I am, no trip would be complete without a stop at the local antique mall. I brought home this cool old store display. I already owned the old Bufferin bottle (see I told you I am a collector). I think this will go in my bathroom for towels. Anyway, after a nice trip, a long ride home and unpacking and laundry, I think "Fast Pain Relief" is just what the doctor ordered!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Love,

Katie

Thankful

Hello Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for stopping by today. I am thankful for each and every one of you who have taken the time to support me and encourage me.

If you participated in my Attitude of Gratitude challenge I hope it made you feel blessed for everything you have. Don't let your attitude stop, continue it each and every day!

It is hard for me to narrow down what I am thankful for to just 5. I don't want to bore you with a long list. I'm going to list 5 simple things that I am thankful for today. These are in addition to thanking the Lord each and every day for Mark, Gaby, Hannah, my family & my friends.

1. Hugs - I love it when my kids hug me. Their hugs have meaning behind them. Each hug says "I Love You Mom". Kisses are great, but I love hugs!

2. Quiet Time - I savor those few moments each day. Sometimes it happens in the morning when I wake up and the rest of the house is still sleeping. No TV, no phone, nobody asking me to get them something or do something. Just quiet. It usually doesn't last very long, but I look forward to it whenever it comes.

3.  Clean Sheets - OK, I know I sound ridiculous, but one of the best things in the world is lying down on your bed after a long day, especially when you have just changed the sheets!

4. Laughter - That deep, crazy laughter that makes you feel so good. The kind where tears come out of your eyes. This life is tough, laughter makes it better.

5. My Faith - I'm so thankful that for a God who is the same yesterday, today and always. I love who He is, even when I don't always love who I am.

God Bless & Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Katie