Garage Sale Treasure and Tagged

I went to a garage sale last Saturday that was advertised as "Granny's attic - not your average garage sale". I got several treasures, and this one is my favorite (for 50 cents!):

There really wasn't much there - I was a little surprised how bare it was. The woman said she had had so much wonderful stuff that she sold on Friday. I was so upset because the ad said it started Saturday, which is when I went! Could only imagine what I missed. This plate is from England, and I got another tray ($2) that was from England. I imagine there was a lot of good stuff the day before!

I have been tagged by Irma of Irma's Rose Cottage. The rules of the tag are: you link to the person who tagged you, post the rules on your blog, list six things/habits/quirks about yourself, and tag six more people. Here are six things about me - don't know if they're really weird:

1. I would rather eat at Taco Bueno than the most gourmand restaurant on earth. Give me their tortilla soup and a couple of party burritos, and I'm a happy camper.

2. I have moved a lot, and I love to move. It's an adventure to me - think I'm part gypsy (plus then you get to re-decorate!). When I was in school we lived in the same house for 11 years; and I've lived in a couple of different houses for 5 years. Everywhere else has been a shorter timeframe than that.

3. I nearly always dry my laundry on the clothesline. It started when my dryer didn't seem to be working that well. Now I do it as a contribution to the environment, plus I love saving money on my electric bill.

4. I am not organized. That is a skill that does not come naturally to me. I can start out organized, but then get involved in too many things and my organization goes by the wayside.

5. I was lead singer in a rock band in college. Loved it - the most fun job I've ever had. The rest of the band members graduated and were going on the road; so I left school to go on the road. (Can you spell S-M-R-T?)

6. I consider being laid off last December to be a blessing in disguise. I didn't like my job (have never liked working in an office), and I have so many interests I've always wanted to pursue. Since December I've started an ebay business, taken painting classes , started doing mosaics, and taken up quilting again.

Ta-da!! I'm supposed to tag six people. But I'm just going to say if you'd like to participate, consider yourself tagged!

In My White Room

(Does that make anyone think of a song?) First I want to show you how my bluebird plate cleaned up after being soaked in peroxide. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Before:
After:

Thanks for the tip, Penny! Now I'm ready to break it to use on my birdbath!

I wanted to share my sewing room with you girls - or at least the part that isn't messy. (The unseen side of the room is where I store all my ebay merchandise.) I had this room all calm and white, till yesterday.

I fell in love with the fabric below and had to buy it to make SOMETHING out of. (I loved it so much I bought the whole bolt.) I started making curtains, and a skirt for my sewing table.

I got this suitcase at a flea market a couple of years ago. Someone painted it white, then decoupaged this really cool rose paper onto it. I stash more of my fabric in it.

My sewing corner. I've been sewing a lot lately, probably because I like this room so much now.

Have a great weekend!

Mosaics

I've been wanting to try my hand at mosaics for some time. Here is my first attempt.

(The silver tray looks tarnished, but it isn't.) It was a really pretty plate. But the flowers on the plate got lost because I got the center pieces too small, which I guess is the opposite problem of most novices - they get them too large. Also wish I had used colored grout so it would stand out more. But I enjoyed the process enough that I'll be doing more, and it is a learning curve. My hat is so off to Penny at Lavender Hill Studio and Linda at Linda's Blue Gate for their awesome creations.

What I'm finding now is it's hard to find plates I'm willing to break. I bought a couple when we went to Warrenton for more mosaics. I plan to use the bluebirds for a birdbath I have in the backyard.


Just thought the flowers in this were pretty, so I'll use them somehow.

Another Treasure

This is my latest successful find. I got this cup and saucer for $1.89!! Why is it that we gloat so over our good deals? I probably do it because of all the times I've paid way too much! Isn't it cute?

Below are my pieces of creamware that are all cracked and crazed with age. I really love that the dishes become that way. Sort of like the horse in The Velveteen Rabbit, if you're familiar with that wonderful story. (When he became real and loved and used, all his hair was rubbed off; so when these dishes became real and loved and used, they were cracked and discolored with age.)

I think my husband was a little shocked that I wanted the discolored platters shown on the wall below. (Poor man, this is still all new to him.) They are all the same platter, just different stages of "old". (The silver at the top of the picture is a very modern icky light fixture that will come down when I find a replacement.)

Some more of my treasured (and cheap) cups and saucers. When I eventually collect enough teacups that I really like, I'm going to start putting cup hangers over the window seat in the kitchen and hanging the cups there. Last week there were two cups and saucers that I absolutely loved on ebay, and they were selling cheap. I read the auction wrong, and was off by 12 hours with my bid. Aargh!

Till next time!

Springtime in the Garden

Well, girls, I've been gone awhile, haven't I? Partly I was trying to get acclimated to selling on ebay; and partly I just haven't had a lot to say!

I'm a relatively novice gardener. There were so many years as a single mom when I could barely make the mortgage payment, there just wasn't any money for gardening. So I'm so excited that my climbing rose is blooming. I planted it last year and it didn't really do much. But this year it burst forth in bloom! (Double click to enlarge pictures.)

It's climbing a trellis that I rescued from someone's trash last year. They were throwing it away because it was missing a section of pipe. So I just buried the three remaining "feet" of pipe in the ground, and voila! .

We have since rescued another trellis from someone's trash, and it is holding a chandelier over my outdoor dining table.

I ordered this climbing rose, "Old Blush", from Antique Rose Emporium last year. Then a week ago, when we were in Warrenton for the big antique festival, we drove over to Brenham (26 miles away) where Antique Rose Emporium is located. Oh, what beautiful grounds they have! Roses, roses everywhere, and other flowers too. I took pictures, but they didn't do the roses justice. There is a little chapel on their grounds; I wanted to go inside, but they were getting ready for a wedding. Don't you know people clamor to get married there in the springtime? We bought three more rose bushes there to add to our garden, two pink and one red. Can't wait till they bloom too!

One Woman's Trash.........

About a year ago I pulled these black shutters out of my neighbor's trash. I asked her first. She said that was fine; she'd had them in our house, but her adult daughter told her they looked "ghetto". Last summer I had them on the front porch, but a terrible windstorm tore up the lower half of one panel. So I put them in the garage and forgot about them. The other day I thought they might add some depth in the living room. And I am pleased with the way they look. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

This morning I was in Half Price Books, and was absolutely shocked to see a copy of Carolyn Westbrook Home on the shelves. How could anyone bear to part with this book? It is my all-time favorite decorating book. If I weren't having to watch every penny, I would have bought it for a giveaway. As you can see, my copy is well-worn (and the dog thought it was quite tasty). I've been busy getting set up on ebay; have started selling there. So far it's nothing shabby or handmade. I bought a friend's remaining inventory when she closed out her gift shop. Now I've got to get busy and sell!

Bunny

Here is my other pick-me-up that I bought yesterday. Bunny in a box!! More accurately, cage. I just think he is so cute. There's a little carrot in the cage (click picture to enlarge) - didn't get a very good shot of that. I love bunnies so much, could easily overload on them. We have them all over the neighborhood too - I have spooked a couple in the last few days when I went out to the flowerbed in the backyard. But I won't be loving them once I plant my garden!

Is anyone as enthralled as I am with the Jane Austen series on PBS? I read a lot, but had never read her books, and had only seen a little bit of one movie. I am enjoying them so much I now want to go get the books to read!