More Like Fall Back

Spring Ahead?

Last weekend, I took all the winter decorations down.

This weekend, I started putting up the spring decorations.

This morning, we awoke to this--what the local forecasters said was a possibility of 1-3 inches of snow starting in the wee hours of Sunday morning continuing through Sunday night. Mid-day we already had 4-6 inches, with 6-8 inches now predicted. Winds are strong. At times, we can't see across the street. White out!

Inconvenience and spring fever aside, our area has been in an officially classified "extreme drought" for the past 12 to 15 months. We desperately need the moisture. And, good news is, this time of year, the melt will come quickly (I hope).

On this first day of 2013 Daylight Saving Time, our landscape may look more like we should have fallen back. Instead, we'll get to enjoy from the warmth of home gazing at the beauty of a late snowfall an hour longer into the evening.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Knick of Time Tuesday
Whatever You Want Wednesday
Be Inspired
Thursday Favorite Things

Sprinkling o' the Green

Our family is Irish. Well, about half Irish. Strange, but true: my husband is half Irish and half Danish. And, so am I. I was born with an Irish surname and I've married into an Irish surname. I went from having a more rare Irish name to having one of the most common. In Ireland, you can't swing a pot o' gold without whacking someone with our surname in the head.

Even though we're Irish, I don't decorate for St. Patrick's Day. But anyone who steps into our home for the first time around this time of year might think I honor the saint by bringing out all things green. Truth is, green is my favorite color. Colleagues at work joke that I wear green every day. Friends and family know that if they want to pick up a small gift for me, they're always safe with the color green. 

So, since St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd feature some of the green I've sprinkled around--simply because I love the color.

Yes, it's a green day.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday
Share the Love at Very Merry Vintage Style
Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Coloradolady
Hone Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Vintage Finds Stack Up

The local estate sale scene has finally picked up since the lull right after the holidays. There were so few sales in January, I nearly went through withdrawal. But, these past couple of weekends, I've scored a number of new treasures.

I'm sharing a few here today. I'll share more in a future post.

Got both of these nice vintage suitcases for a 10 spot. They're in excellent condition, inside and out. The insides are nearly impeccable and the big one has all the original hangers attached. Best of all? They don't even have a hint of that dusty, musty and moldy smell that so often accompanies old luggage.

I'm going to put these fine, old girls to work storing and hauling some of my craft projects.

But, right now, for purposes of sharing with all of you, I've temporarily loaded up the suitcases with some of my other recent finds. Lots of wonderful linens, some handkerchiefs, a vintage frame and a sweet vintage two-piece rabbit mold.

My favorite hanky is the yellow one with the crocheted trim. It reminds me of my grandma, who crocheted borders on all of her Sunday-best hankies. How a farm woman who, with my grandpa, raised several kinds of livestock, grew several commodity crops, tended a large garden, cooked, baked and maintained a house had time to also be a prolific crocheter, is a marvel. But, I digress. Someday, I'll tell you more about the remarkable woman who was my grandmother.

A nice red checkered tablecloth with tiny green rick-rack and fringe and two terrific flour-sack tea towels will be super additions to the summer kitchen. Also found the sweetest little hand-crocheted vintage baby bonnet in perfect condition and a pretty embroidered dresser scarf.

Admittedly, I've never used a mold in the kitchen for anything, so I don't know exactly what type of mold this nice little bunny is. All I know is that when I see something this darling for a buck, I'm not going to pass it up. It's not small--about 10" by 9"--and it's in excellent condition.

The old wood frame features some nice scroll work and will be nice to have around for a future project.

Still to come:  my husband expands his small, but growing, collection of vintage cake carriers.

Stay tuned . . .

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Share the Love Wednesday at Very Merry Vintage Style
Rednesday at It's a Very Cherry World

A Hare Past a Shackle

Since around Halloween, I've been shackled by a block. Not a creative block exactly because I've had plenty of ideas. And intentions. Just not the motivation to do anything with the ideas or make good on the intentions.

Don't get me wrong. I haven't been a complete slug. I've created a number of ephemera journals in the past few weeks--all in response to special requests. But I haven't done any crafting just for the fun of it. Now, our inevitable winter weather seems to be just what I needed to light the crafting fire. Being snowed in gave me the perfect excuse to hole up in the craft room for an afternoon.

Some time ago, I came across this wonderful vintage image of a hare at The Graphics Fairy. I really wanted to create something with it, but had been avoiding it. You see, in days gone by, I collected rabbits. Not the real ones. Cute, whimsical, elegant and rustic bunnies to accent my bookshelves, tabletops and mantels. Some were antique, like the glass candy holder rabbit and the chalk bunny. Others were new. Some were handmade.

Then, when the live rabbits moved in and claimed our suburban acreage for their breeding ground, playpen and smorgasbord, the critters quickly fell out of favor with me. Pesky rabbits! After stepping in numerous bunny burrows, coming home from work to find hostas sheered off at ground level and witnessing the continual taunting of our dear, sweet Barney, I channeled Mr. McGregor and declared war.

At the same time, I stopped collecting rabbits. I was so disgusted with the real thing, I just couldn't do it anymore. What you see here are most of the remnants of my original collection.

I gave some of my bunnies to the kids, sold some at my garage sales and donated some. The items I have kept generally have sentimental value. And I do have a nice collection of Teena Flanner rabbits I display for Easter.

So, it's been a while since I've opened my heart or home to a rabbit--or hare, to be specific.

I transferred this grand hare onto the linen of a rescued vintage placemat using Rosemary's Splendid Blender method. Then, I embellished the finished pillow cover with a handmade flower sporting a reclaimed faux wood button.

So, did I waver on bringing a new rabbit into the fold? Well, maybe a hare.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Sister Sunday at Sisters of the Wild West
Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy
Made With Love at Sew Chatty
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Share the Love Wednesday at Very Merry Vintage Style
Potpourri Party at 2805
Simply Klassic Sunday at Simply Klassic Home
Threading Your Way Link Party at Threading My Way
Cowgirl Up at The Farmhouse Porch
Pillowpalooza