A Time for Everything

What is it? Lincoln logs? Tinker Toys? Linker Togs?

I'll give you this much:  it's my next project. This piece was the first thing I saw when I walked in the door at the recent local historical society's annual garage sale. When I brought it home, my husband gave me that "you're crazy" look. Until I told him what I plan to do with it.

Stay tuned . . .

If you're a regular follower, you may have noticed I haven't posted as much this summer as I have in the past. That's not because I didn't have good intentions. Intentions to share photos of our lovely garden. Intentions to share a variety of craft and repurpose projects. Intentions to share what I hoped would be countless enviable garage sale, estate sale and thrift store finds.

But, as our beautiful spring gave way to the hottest, driest summer in half a century, my dreams of a gorgeous garden were scorched. And, well, life happened. So, most of my intended projects are still waiting in the wings and only I catch a garage or estate sale once in a while.

In the past few months, we've packed up our youngest and seen him off, master's degree in hand, to his first real job several states away. And, we've packed up my husband's parents'  household and overseen their transition to more senior-friendly and care appropriate surroundings.

Yes, this summer I've grown to understand the meaning of the sandwich generation. I've grown to appreciate how well my parents-in-law planned for the inevitability of their aging and how gracefully they did so. I've grown to realize that we, too,  have an obligation to our children to be so well-prepared and thoughtful of what they will face as we age. I've grown to savor each moment, each experience just a bit more than I did even just a few months ago.

Meanwhile, the projects are piling up and I'm looking forward to digging in. Maybe the fall will be my time.


Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

This Space Leaves Me Speechless

Source

Old books. Discarded paper. Less-than-perfect linens. Blemished furniture. Chipped china. Grungy glass.

I hunt and gather imperfect vintage and pre-owned goodies for the sheer pleasure of making them whole again. And, to keep them out of the landfill.


But, TerraCycle is literally turning trash and into ecological treasure. This international upcycle company specializes in creating new products from hard-to-recycle materials. Case in point is the wall in the above photograph, which is made from recycled candy wrappers. The list of their products includes bags, totes and backpacks, garden supplies, home decor and cleaning supplies, pet products and toys, and more.

If you want to see the coolest office space ever, take a gander at the photos of TerraCycle's office facility in Trenton, New Jersey, as featured on Earth911. Conference room walls of clear plastic bottles and candy wrappers. Other walls of recycled wood panels from the 1900s. Recycled vinyl record albums that function as cubicle dividers. How's that for getting a groove on at work?

If you want to be a part of this exciting movement, you can join one of TerraCycle's collection brigades and contribute a designated type of trash to this cool recycling effort. Learn how at www.terracycle.com.

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Reclaim

Repurpose

Respect

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop
Cowgirl Up!

Crazy About Crazing

We've had a small break from the 100-degree weather here this weekend. For the first time in several weeks, I felt like being out and about, taking advantage of the garage sale and estate sale scene.

I know I've said this before, but church rummage sales are my favorite. A church not too far from us consistently has the best sales in town. Best organized, best variety, best volume of items, best antiques and vintage items, and best prices. I look forward to it every year. This weekend was the weekend and it did not disappoint. In fact, I did my part to help the cause two out of the three days of the sale.

Among my favorite acquisitions is this vintage green pitcher. It's a bit dinged up, but it has incredible character.

The crazing is the best part! There's something wonderful about those deep, dark lines--the roadmap of its long and full life.

The Valier's Dainty Supercake Flour sack is a brand I haven't seen before. Love the name Dainty Supercake Flour.

Dainty is dandy, indeed.

This pretty cross-stitched Christmas apron is one of several I brought home. Look for it and a number of others in my shop in the coming days. 

The vintage wood rack the apron hangs on is also a bargain from The Best Church Sale. It folds up like an umbrella. A gal can never have too many drying racks (for me, they're display racks).

Not to be left out of the treasure hunt, my husband acquired a 1970s avocado green cake carrier. It has a pie carrier on the bottom.

Fun weekend, great weather. Back to hot temps this week, weatherman says. 

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Be Inspired at Elizabeth & Co.
Cottage Style Linky Party
Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Coloradolady