LOOOVE These!!!!

I just love this idea.   An adorable party favor with an appropriate verse ... John 3:16 for Easter or Valentines would be so sweet.

I copied this photo awhile back with the intention of making them for my bible study group.  Unfortunately I can't remember where I found these.  If anyone knows...PLEASE let me know so I can give credit where credit is due!

So busy ....lol .... actually addicted to pinterest ..... I am at  http://pinterest.com/pinitpretty/  check me out I have some gorgeous pins!

                                             Blessings,

                                                Linda

More Decoratively Packaged Gift Soaps...

I've made a few more packages of gift soap to share.  I'm going to have a "Lunch & Learn" for some of the ladies from Church.  We will be having a craft show at our annual Christmas Luncheon and I thought these might make a cute contribution and not be too difficult to do.

The money we raise goes to WIC (Women In the Church) to enable us to do a variety of projects throughout the year helping those in need etc. I am excited about this and if it goes well I will find additional things for us to make for the craft show!.

Vintage velvet pansies from a vintage hat just full of them!

I'm not sure how much we'll charge.  Do you think around $5.00 is too much?  If you are interested in making these you can find my Tutorial HERE.

        I'd love for you to leave a                                                             comment.  If you like this blog I'd be honored if you became a follower ... maybe we could follow each other in Google and Linky!  If you ARE a follower PLEASE sign up to follow in Linky as well... I don't want to lose my friends if Google does get rid of friends connect.

I hope you enjoyed my little soaps.  Until next time...

Blessings,

L




I am joining the following blog parties:

100 Ideas Under $100 A Beyond the Picket Fence with Becky

Tuesday Tutorials at The Kurtz Corner with Audra



Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage with Courtney

Garden Bunny Tea

I want to begin with an apology.  I am still having issues with my tripod so I am not getting good photos.  

I will get this figured out soon! Thanks for your patience.

Today I am sharing a place setting of my Portuguese ceramic dishes ... I just call it  my Garden Bunny china.

I have service for eight in this set.  Additionally, I have the Tea Pot, sugar bowl, creamer. water pitcher and  the cake stand. While I really like it, I don't use it much because it seems to chip quite easily, the design of the tea pot is cute, however, the spout is so short it really drips.  Having said that it is still a sweet set and fun to use for a garden luncheon.  

Oh... and I got most of it from our favorite store ... T.J. Maxx many moons ago!

I love the detail on these dishes ... the little saucer is a ring of carrots!  How cute is that? This set also comes in pink but I was unable to find enough to make a set.  I only have the mugs in the pink. 

The marking says "Bordallo Pinneiro - Potugal"

I used these cute little Terra Cotta pot napkin rings I have had forever and just added a sprig of hydrangea.

Above... a very poor photograph of my Fitz and Floyd bunny salt and pepper set, a paper whites floral with cast iron garden bunnies and a bunny lamp.  You think I might like bunnies? LOL!!

Thanks for visiting me today and sharing a cuppa ... in case you were wondering ... the name of the tea you are drinking is Yorkshire Gold ... sooo good!

Until next time...

Blessings, 

L

Today I will be joining:

Table Top Tuesday with Marty at A Stroll Thru  Life

TeaCup Tuesday with Terrie at Artful Affirmations

TeaCup Tuesday  with Martha at Martha's Favorites

Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

A Return to Loveliness with Kathy at A Delightsome Life

Tuesday Cuppa Tea with Ruth at Antiques and Tea Cups

Tea Party Tuesday with Trisha at Sweetology 101

Decorative Soap Tutorial

This is a craft project I've been doing with the kids (my "Little Green Apples") on Wednesday evenings at church.  It will be a Mother's Day gift so we have been very secretive!!!  What fun we are having and some of these children are sooo creative.  My kids range from 4 years old to 12 years old so usually we try to partner a younger with an older kid.
Anyway, today I'm doing my first tutorial so please be supportive! And I would love any constructive criticism ...offered in a kind and caring manner, of course! lol!

Decorative Soap Tutorial

Supply List
Decorative tissue paper (enough for 2 layers to wrap the soap)
Soap  (I found boxes of milled french soap on sale at Ross for $1.49 bx/4 but any soap will do)
Ribbon
Small Flowers (Vintage like velvet forget-me-nots. roses, pansies etc.are gorgeous but with the kids I mainly Snipped from some of my silk flowers)
Small Leaves
Beads, Charms, old Jewelry,  mini banner (optional), etc.
Glitter - optional
Scissors
Glue (with the tissue I used tacky glue because the tissue is too fragile for hot glue. I do use hot glue to add the embellishments.)

When wrapping the soap I double the tissue paper because it is very transparent.  Soap can be wrapped several different ways.  It can be wrapped like a gift.  If you leave you paper large enough it could be "pleated" and drawn to the middle of the backside...this works well on ovals and rounds.                                                                                  

I like to tie a ribbon to secure the glued ends as well as for decorative reasons.

I like to add glitter to some of the silk flowers and leaves... sometimes I use a spray adhesive and other times I use a tacky glue and spread it with my finger or a small paint brush and then sprinkle on the glitter


This is where the creativity comes in... play around with your arrangement before actually gluing anything unless you are experienced with floral arranging or just have a great eye for proportion and balance etc.

Adding a  meaningful charm, small rhinestone earring, bead, buttons 
or stickpin will enhance and personalize your little soaps

These look really adorable in a guest bath. They also make really nice little hostess gifts or party favors and can be made by theme, style, holiday or season.  HAVE FUN!!!

Well, I hope you liked my tutorial.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Blessings,

L

 Today I will be joining:
Beverly at  http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ for Pink Saturday
Cindy at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/ for Show and Tell Friday
Donna http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ for Saturday Night Special
 Elyse at  http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/ for Six Sisters Blog Party

Farmhouse Apron Giveaway!!!

Rebecca from The Gathering Place is having a give-away!    She is offering a shabby and chic farmhouse apron made with Rachell Ashwell's pink rose fabric.  TuTu Cute!!!

Anyone who has ever visited her blog or shop sees how talented she is... everything is perfect!

Be sure to stop in and enter for a chance to win!

I am working on my first tutorial and hope to share it Friday or Saturday!! Please stop back in... and comment!

Blessings, L

Spring ... Beautiful Spring Morns...

Well, I dug out some of my china and, after changing my mind umpteen times, decided to go with this lone cup.  My cat knocked a tub of cups and saucers down the basement steps thus a single cup ...no saucer. This is a sweet tea cup  called "Springmorn". It is fine bone china made in England by Bell  #4649 7.

I won this teacup on e-bay.  When I first discovered e-bay I went kind of nuts until it sunk in that the shipping turned a great deal into a regular deal.... and although I always seem to be a member of the Full Price Club  it just wasn't as much fun!

The photo display includes some adorable Fitz and Floyd  my daughter got me years ago for my b-day.  There is the sweet duckling creamer and decorated egg sugar bowl and the salt and pepper.  She also got me the tea pot to match ... I'll share it another time.

I am pretty frustrated right now.... I bought a tripod, actually this is my second, and the little screw thingy to connect my camera seems to be stripped... this is the type of pictures I am getting ...

I'm going to see what can be done, but in the mean time taking photos is a real trial!!!  The camera just sits there and wobbles or falls off completely!

 Blessings to you and yours, L

  

Today I will also be joining the following parties:

Table Top Tuesday with Marty at A Stroll Thru  Life

TeaCup Tuesday with Terrie at Artful Affirmations

TeaCup Tuesday  with Martha at Martha's Favorites

Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

A Return to Loveliness with Kathy at A Delightsome Life

Tuesday Cuppa Tea with Ruth at Antiques and Tea Cups



Happy, Happy Spring!

I live in Colorado and due to the altitude and volatile weather ... It will be the end of May before I can safely do any planting.  Since I just moved to this house in September I'll have a lot to do.  Due to finances I will do it in stages. Some of my favorites that I will be planting this year include: 

Sweet Woodruff and Forget-me-not's (I love to mix these)

Sweet Woodruff

Old Fashion Bleeding Heart 

Roses (ballerina is my favorite... I left a gorgeous one behind in the move)

Soap wort

Delphinium

Hydrangeas

Peonies

I can hardly wait...I plan to landscape in the back off of my porch, creating a patio area where I can use my out door furniture.

This was my Mom's favorite.  I always plant it as a tribute to her.

The art below is from one of my favorite artists Jessie Wilcox Smith. Typically she is a children's illustrator. I have collected her art (copies) for years and still keep discovering new pieces.

This print reminds me of me and my daughter, Cori when she was small.

"Mary, Mary........with silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids in a row"

"Watering the hollyhocks"

Well I'm hoping I can discipline myself to start blogging regularly again. I've really missed you all! I'd love to hear from you all!

Blessings, L

Finally ...I'm Back (sort of)...

...and I'm so glad to be "back"!  I've missed you all.... I could not find my computer for months.  One of my helpers packed it by mistake! 


So much has happened in the past 5+ months. I'm exhausted.  I have moved to a much smaller house and believe me it was a major undertaking.  The only saving grace is that this house does have an unfinished basement.  All the over flow is down there and I am still in the process of going through it all and downsizing.  About every 2-3 weeks I have a charity pick up. 
I believe in the long run this move will be such a good thing for me.  When I closed my gift shop and cafe/tea room all the overflow got packed up and came to my home.  This move has forced me to deal with it. 





Larkspur Lane figure by Lib Cummings






Some Larkspur Lane Christmas Ornaments I have collectected




I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Holiday.  Mine was quiet and subdued.... in the past I have always gone nuts decorating... my friends would say they expected  to see sugar plum fairies come out dancing (LOL)! This year due to my health and state of my home I didn't even decorate..... I did bake though!  I found some wonderful recipes online in addition to my old standby's.

May Gods' goodness bless you all ...

A thought for 2012 ...

 

Hug O' War

I will not play at tug o' war

I'd rather play at hug o' war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs,

Where everyone giggles

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses,

And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins.

                                               Shel Silverstein

Blessings, L