Celebrating Rednesday!!!

I am joining Sue at 'It's a Very Cherry World' for Rednesday! http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/2011/08/rednesday_30.html

Every Tuesday, I join my dear husband on a drive to our favorite pizza place for supper and cars! I must admit that I take my iPad or a book while he drools over all the hot rods (I just cross my fingers that he doesn't bring another one home). His red '56 Corvette is that strange orange red but I think it qualifies for Rednesday. I added two more pictures of great cars we saw, then I went to find shade and a seat so I could read.
One of the next pictures is a new purchase-and it is red! I hope to display a miniature picnic with my Wee Forest Folk.
Finally I had to share my TERRFIC bargains! Everything in the final picture added up to $280-but I only paid $28!!! Wowie zowie!!! I love 90% off! My sister and I cleaned out two stores trying to sell off their summer items. Can't wait until Halloween goes on sale!

Halloween Topiary

This topiary turned out to be a bit more work than I thought but I love how it turned out!
I saw ribbon topiaries at a craft fair this summer and that idea bounced around in my head until last week. I shopped at Hobby Lobby (ribbon was 50% off!) and found some beautiful ribbon. I decided the orange, lime green, purple and black polka dotted ribbon with wire edging would look great for a large Halloween topiary and got to work.
I cut the ribbon in 8" lengths, folding them in half before using a short piece of 26 gauge wire, twisted in the middle of the ribbon, then stuck the ribbon in the 6" Styrofoam ball. If I make another, I would cut the ribbon in shorter lengths (6"). I ended up using 8 rolls of ribbon and had to make an extra trip to the store to buy more ribbon. You could also use a smaller styrofoam ball. I decided the larger ball would look best in the spider candle holder I also found at Hobby Lobby. I saved ribbon by covering the bottom of the styrofoam ball with material (do this before adding the ribbon-it will save you the hassle of straightening out the ribbon. I learned this the hard way! LOL).
There are so many variations to this idea...just have fun with it!

I am joining Jen at Craftomatic Monday http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/

PS I forgot to say how much ribbon I used....eight rolls of 1.5" x 4 yds.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me; LS1295@aol.com

Enchanting Treasures!

I have been remiss in sharing the treasures I found in the past month or so....
The barber's case was a good deal-I made an offer ($25 less that posted price) and it was accepted! I cleaned it up, had new glass shelves made and glued in the glass panels in the door and sides and it now resides on my kitchen counter. I always wanted a display case in the kitchen-now I can change it according to the season!
Next is a leather bound book (1885) that I found at a sale for $1! I loved the old orange glass spectacles but the price sticker was covering a cracked lens....oh well- they were only $3. The glass crystals will adorn my chandelier and were $1 each. Love candlewick glass and found two salt cellars. Hope to use them with my tea set and mice,
I have been enchanted by Molly Brett prints, so I was excited to find this post card.
Last but not least is the small (short) table I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby. Marked down to $30 from $149, I couldn't resist. Not sure if I like the finish and it is a bit large on my coffee table but it will stay there while I mull it over. I replaced the drawer knob with a hand blown glass knob. Did I say how solid this is?! Maybe I will paint it and use it for a small tree at Halloween and also at Christmas.
So you can see I have been having fun!

I am joining Cindy for Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home

Beautiful Charlevoix-on Lake Michigan

We visited one of our favorite places last weekend....beautiful Charlevoix, Michigan!
Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, it once was a lumber town. Now it is a tourist destination with quaint shops, fine food and a ferry to the islands off the shore. It used to be the summer hangout for mobsters as well as families from Chicago. Charlevoix boasts about the stone homes built by Earl Young. The art galleries are wonderful-it is a rare visit when I don't find a treasure to take home.
it is always a joy to spend time there. Well worth a visit!

I am joining Laura over at  Decor to Adore  for Wayfaring Wednesdays.  Thanks Laura!

Ever have one of those days...turn into weeks?!

It all started with a rain storm...
We live in a house built of stone. Pretty but water seems to find it's way around and over and under the stones and into the house. This leak caused the dry wall in the attic off our master bathroom to grow mold. So....we hauled everything out to take care of the (continuing) problem and I decided to reorganize- not just the attic but my closet which was crammed full of clothes (of all sizes). As you can see in the picture (of my closest), I did purge! Now on to the shelves (I started organizing my jewelry with new containers from The Container Store-which I bought months ago...).
The idea for this post started with feeling guilty about our coffee table looking terrible...(that is Bobthecat cat snoozing on the sofa).

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Sure hope I clean out our son's room before he comes home...he will not be amused with a giant spider residing on his bed!
I wonder if it is too early to decorate for Halloween?!

Terrific Rainy Saturday!

I had a terrific Saturday, even with the rain showers.
I had heard about a woman who sells antiques and vintage items-another antique shop owner highly reccomended visiting her. So Saturday, I somehow persuaded my husband to drive there. Some friends joined us and what a delightful surprise...the cabin with antiques was charming but the owner's home on a lake was the home of our dreams!

I just admit that the highlight of our delightful day occurred as we were driving away from the antique shop. We saw two fox cavorting in her neighbor's yard! My pictures didn't turn out but I did get a few seconds of video. We were amazed and the smiles lasted for the rest of the day, despite the rain.

Then we stopped at Bier's Art Gallery housed in an old red school house near Charlevoix (MI). The frog is sitting outside the gallery and calls to me...but I must be content with a picture (since my husband refuses to sell a car to buy it-teehee).

We adore the stone houses in Charlevoix, designed and built by Earl Young. Our friends hadn't seen the homes before so we took a drive around town to show them. Someday, I hope to build one in miniature...
After lunch and shopping at the art show in town, we stopped at another antique mall before heading back to our lake house. What a wonderful, yet rainy, Saturday!

How many years?!

It seems like only a few years ago, but time has somehow gotten away from me.
We met at Grand Haven State Park in July, 1969....

We married five years later-what fun we had celebrating!

This year we celebrate our 37th anniversary. From the inside, looking out, I don't feel any older. And I still enjoy time with my love!

Hot Skwash!

I saw these velvet pumpkins last year in a magazine and fell in love! Two weeks ago while staying in Chicago, I shopped in Geneva (wonderful little shops there as well as food!) and found them- they are even better in person!
There were so many sizes and colors, but I found these three right away. The stems are real and they are stuffed with some kind of beans...artificial, of course. They are weighted and wonderful.
Now I wish I bought more than three!
Hot Skwash are offered online.... http://www.hotskwash.com/
I am looking forward to decorating for fall and using these delightful pumpkins!
I am joining 'Wow Us Wednesdays' and hope this post is OK. I didn't make these wonderful pumpkins but plan to try my hand at trying! Go to Savvy Southern Style and check out all the wonderful links!
Enjoy!

Inspiring Photos

First, I have to admit that I cannot (for unknown reasons to me) join Pinterest. Perhaps it has something to do with Apple...as I use my iPad to blog and for all my computer needs...and I admit it that my old brain does not keep up with all things technical. The good thing is, my iPad will let me save images that I find online very easily. And so I do...and am inspired but so many things. I am including five images that 'WOW' me. Someday I hope to make my own versions of what is captured here.

Truly Scrumptious

I am just home from Chicago where I had such a great time!
I attended 'Truly Scrumptious', a Wee Forest Folk event in Lombard, IL, sponsored by Fairy Tales, a store in Lombard.
There were games and prizes and food and candy and desserts! But most of all- there were specially hand painted mice!
I am sharing pictures of the mice I came home with-one will arrive later since it was a sell out.
Aren't they wonderful!