Bits and Pieces - Hidden Treasures

Last Friday I went for a jaunt with Adrienne and her dear mom and cousin. I heard that mom had an "event" on the calendar in a few days that called for wearing a hat. (That's something we don't do often enough now-a-days!) And I knew just the hat for her!

Being a woman who LOVES/NEEDS choices (just ask Mr. Sammy Girl ..!) I didn't just want to offer the "one" -- but put in a few likely suspects. Kinda like a police line-up for hats.

Hmm .. to find the hatbox was tricky. When you "organize" (i.e. put it somewhere else) can you REMEMBER the new "organized" spot?

AHA! Found it!

And I opened it to look at the hats and found some tissue -

but it wasn't used to shape any of the hats.
WAIT! There's something wrapped inside ...

bits of lace and pieces of handwork.

I LOVE bits of lace and handwork pieces. They make me smile and make my heart sing. I usually don't use them in project .... but love them for who they are and the possibilities.

(Kinda reminds me of teaching middle school ... lol!)

Then I remembered that I have lots of little stashes and wanted to share a few.

First off -- in the vintage train case under the yellow desk. (Yes, the desk was a craigslist find!) There it is - on the right side, next to the red bag of quilt pieces.

Open it up, and inside are some of the loveliest bits and pieces.

See the pleated jabot with the lace? It is even more charming in person.

And this piece of netting!

It is about four yards long and about 12 inches wide.

BEAUTIFUL!

Next - open the oak secretary.

This one not from craigslist, but from a neighbor's garage sale two houses ago.

(More than 10 years in normal timekeeping.)

Look under the ribbon and next to the felt gingerbread boy I was/am going to use as a model for bunches of small ones.

There's a BOX. See it?

A beautiful burgundy box. With a SNAP for a closure. Isn't that unique?

And inside are many bits of lovely treasures.

Aren't they INCREDIBLE?

Sigh ... Of course all of these were BARGAINS.

My budget is not vintage French boutique prices.

Little shops ... garage sales ... estate sales ... thrift stores.

Although, now that I think about it ...

I'd LIKE to give those French Boutiques a CHANCE ...

Maybe I will find a few new bits of lace in Olympia tomorrow. I am heading up north with Mr. Sammy Girl and will have a day out and about.

Here's a reminder to take out and enjoy YOUR treasures.

Not just the lacey ones.

I also mean give a call to that FRIEND you haven't spoken to for a while, or invite someone to tea.

HUGS !!

Sammy Girl

lesson for today ... figure out how to make paragraph breaks appear where I want them. Every time. Just can't get that to work all the time. Also trying to figure out if centered text is easier to read and looks better than flush left. hmmmm .... still learning!

B :)

Everything You Wanted To Know

Wow!

Yes, I know that is a word I use a lot. (And I use a lot of exclamation marks, too!)

Let me diverge from my point for a second to say some of us are "enthusiastic speakers" in person ... always talking with exclamation marks ... so I am trying to write like I talk. Other languages might have additional ways to denote emotions and inflection, but English WORDS seem limiting sometimes. If we were chatting face-to-face, I am sure you would laugh at my facial expressions and waving hands. I think I am a little more "wholly involved" with talking than many people .... so I use exclamation marks as a way to make up for the body language lost in print. Sooo .... back to what I was intending to say (if I remember ... lol!)

I am SO AMAZED at all of the information available at ones fingertips. You know ... right here on the ol' computer.

Starting to look for information on developing this blog -- kinda like looking for the equivalent of good blog parenting classes. I am AMAZED at everything out there.

Yes, I have discovered backgrounds, vintage images, and tutorials. And, ohmygosh ... craigslist! Then there's the twin shopping Mecca's of Ebay and Etsy!! And who doesn't LOVE Youtube? (Or maybe I should say .... who doesn't heart Youtube?) And so many recipes and sewing sites ... and on, and on, and on ...

WAIT!! I can hear you saying "Sammy Girl, what do these have to do with blogging??? Let's just say I change course to follow butterflies and squirrels. Interested in simply EVERYTHING, or almost everything ... lol! I am a sister to all of your who are "unintentional multi-taskers". What? You call it getting sidetracked? Hmmm ... must be something to do with perspective.

Well -- here goes our little peek into the fun of blogland ... er, computerland! (But first, my apologies, as I have not yet figured out how to have links. Maybe tomorrow ... ?

BACKGROUNDS

The Background Fairy is just one of several: http://www.backgroundfairy.com/ Maybe more on other options later ...

VINTAGE IMAGES

Many blogs have yummy items on their posts from time-to-time, but I like the graphics fairy http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ -- Isn't this a cool FREE image!

And sign up with The Vintage Workshop http://thevintageworkshop.com/store/ for the newsletter and free image like this one. (Lots of wonderful things for purchase, too!)

TUTORIALS

So many out there -- like this one on vintage photo refrigerator magnets: http://www.unique-re-tiques.com/magnets.html

.... and of course tutorial royalty ... Dawn at The Feathered Nest ... http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/ The one pictured below is her "aging concrete" FREE tutorial. She also has some great ones for purchase.

Ahh ... let's give a moment of silent awe for CRAIGSLIST. In our area, it is HUGE!

Holding a garage sale? Newspaper ad, maybe .... signs, sure .... but want it noticed? Craigslist, baby! And better yet? The "not-a-garage-sale-but-I'm-selling-this" listings. JUST TOO SPECTACULAR FOR WORDS! Now you can be just an e-mail or phone call away from that treasure. And no sign-up sheets and long lines!! (Not as exhilerating as the fun of digging through rusty stuff in the barn at an estate sale ... but so satisfying!)

This is a great way to buy locally without looking through the paper. Kinda like the farmers' market for everything else! http://portland.craigslist.org/ (Portland not your city ... see the index to click where you live ... or are willing to visit, lol!) If you live in a place like Montana - where Craigslist virtually unknown, it's okay. I know Montana has KILLER garage sales. So - just know what venues are in your locale - and ENJOY!

I have several finds from Craigslist. (Thanks Mr. Sammy Girl for being my partner in these "let's go look and see if it resembles the photo" adventures!) Like this RED chaise.

And this sweet little table. Don't those legs look like they just want to run around the room? This table was looking a little .... how do we say it ... FUNKY? A little TLC to remove the cobwebs, and some Old English. Voila! A new/old family heirloom!

And, not all finds are big ones. Check out this glass dome. Cash for the seller and a happy buyer -- Oh, ya ... that'd be ME!

And don't we all love EBAY and ETSY? No links here, as WAY TO MUCH good stuff ... so I didn't want to temp you! And I'm sure many bloggers have Etsy sites ... (shout out to Martha of Vintage Trifles!!)

YOUTUBE, Youtube, youtube, youtube. Yes, it's the media of the current generation, but MY WHAT GOOD STUFF! (Gotta be careful though, because there is also a lot of T-R-A-S-H out there.)

Here's an international piece showing some unbelieveable 3D art. Edga r Mueller is incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SNYtd0Ayt0

And youtube may be the destination, but many blogs mine, compile and sort the incomprehensible amounts of data ... and give you ways to access. Like this blog with Oscar winning songs ... many with filmclips! OMG ... a walk down memory lane ... (except for the years when I must have been on another planet and don't know ANYTHING about the movie they are talking about. Seems to coincide with when the kiddos were small ... or I had a new job ... or I went in for the brain transplant ...)

When is the last time you saw Patrick Swayze dirty dancing ... or sang "Zipadee do dah?" Maybe now is the time. So, here's the place to go:

http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/30-videos-of-oscar-winning-songs-boss-wins-for-the-wrestler/

Something current? The Plain White T's and a great love song - for any age. (Don't know their "Hello Delila song ... it's also a must listen!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2Y2zQvCoqE

And RECIPES, and SEWING, and priceless ARTWORK and ARTIFACTS .... whew! Too much for today!

And -- I have now learned that if I backspace to edit the post, I can accidently delete pictures. (Did it MORE than ONCE!!) and then adding in new pictures puts in all kinds of extra lines that I have to go in and delete ... and carefully or I'll delete a picture ... repeat as needed ...

So -- I am learning and hoping to get ahold of this blog thing ...

Thanks for your help, and support. Without sharing and caring our journeys would be ever so much more difficult. Glad you can venture out with me and take a minute to explore ... even if it isn't everything you wanted to know ... lol!

POSTSCRIPT

Some of my favorite small things? How you can use keystrokes to make images ... that come to life much easier than those hidden pictures that always gave me a headache and crossed my eyes!

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Swimmingly yours .... Sammy Girl !

Wonderful World

My goodness! So many wonderful people. Friends and friends-to-be. And so much talent!

A dear friend, Martha at Vintage Trifles, is a wonderful artist -- and a super person. I recently helped her at the "4 Friends Sale" and had a great time. Following the final set-up on Friday night I realized that one of her pieces, who we will name "Miss Rose", just HAD to come home with me. Isn't she FAB! She currently doesn't have a permanent home, but is on the sideboard in my dining room. DREAMY!

On the way home I did a quick stop at Auntie Joy's.

I LOVE Joy for her laughter and kindness. A couple of treasures found their way into my bag ... including some beautiful pink ribbons. Aren't they outstanding in their "pinkness"? I suppose I should use them for a project or something, but I just love to look at them and imagine the possibilities.

The heart next to the ribbons is also from Joy. Part of a favor she made for those of us attending her blog party and making crowns. I also found the PERFECT linen runner (THANKS JOY!!) and a frame I already have plans for. They might make a guest appearance in a future post.

Next stop on my way home was Diane's in Sublimity ... Molly Mo's. Diane is another kindred soul who has a great eye and many fun finds. A beautiful ironstone pitcher and vintage frame were talking with me like old friends, but I left them for another day. After all, I had already found the piece that made me laugh and smile. A miniature pitcher/coffee pot ... child size! Yes, it did have a crack ... and no lid. But who among us can claim to be perfect? So I brought it home to meet the family. The one from Diane is on the bottom row with no lid.

We live in a condo, and I have convinced myself that there is always room for my SMALL collectibles. I like small ... and I like dishes .... a perfect collection! These pots and pitchers are part of an extended family ..... here ...

and here ...Whew! Who knew that expecting a blog could be so much work? And frustrating ... and tiring? Thank you to Martha and Adrienne for helping me today. I have signed up for a beginning blogger class. Suppose it will be kinda like lamaze -- lots of helpful information and others who are just as awkward.

Hugs to all helping me on this journey to the Wonderful World of blogdom ...

Betty :)

Help from a Fairy

I have been wondering about all of the beautiful backgrounds on blogs I have visited over the past several years. I never asked about them. Feeling like an "outsider" I rarely commented. Kinda reminded me of those old feelings from middle school ... "but what if I knock at the door and no one talks to me .... and they say I'm not invited?"

Hmm .... now that I am expecting a blog it's time for me to step up.

And try new things.

Well, today I tried a "real" background from the background fairy. She must be a first cousin to the Blue Fairy of Pinocchio fame, because I can see that my blog is beginning to become real. I hope we don't have to go through any cigar smoking and gambling episodes ... or get swallowed by a whale.

Any fairies in your life to give you a hand or show you the way? AWESOME!

If you would like to be a blog fairy ... please leave a word of advice on either what to do ... or NOT to do. Thanks from a blogger-to-be!

Sunday and Still Expecting

Sunday afternoon ... quiet. Now. A few minutes ago we were watching Transporter 3. Not exactly a relaxing afternoon kinda movie. I think Mr. Sammy Girl felt a little bad about the movie choice . He picked up chocolate cupcakes when he dropped off the DVD. YUM! He certainly knows this girl's weakness!

Yesterday was the Four Friends sale. I helped out at Martha's and we had so many wonderful people come by. Lots of laughs and a great time. No pics today, but maybe some tomorrow.

I have determined that what I need are a few blog midwives. Sooo ... if you have any suggestions for helping this blog come to life, please let me know.

In the meantime, I have added a bit on the profile ... kinda like the first ultrasound .... lol!

The Expectant One

Coming to a Blog near YOU!

Hi!

Sammy Girl is in her "pre-blog" state. With help from friends, she will be up and going in the not-to-distant future! Stay tuned! (But don't hold your breathe -- turning purple and passing out is definitely NOT something for friends of Sammy Girl!!)

A shout-out to the 4 Friends Sale with Martha, Joy, Diane and Cindy! Hey-ya!


B :)

Here is a present for dropping by - a link to an uber-yummy blog. And Sammy Girl loves yummy stuff! Sweet Paul is the BEST! http://sweetpaul.typepad.com/ (the delectible photo is from food stylist Sweet Paul!)

Present # 2 --I am probably the last person to find this GREAT and FUN on-line show. Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Of course, 20-something son knew about it for AGES! Catch it here: http://drhorrible.com/mushortio.html