Judging a book by it's cover

I've always liked the covers on old Readers Digest books.  The colors and designs, just do it for me, what can I say?  I wanted to make some journals using the RD cover for the covers.  So what to do with the rest of the book.  I didn't want to just toss it in the recycling bin.

For Christmas I made a few trees.  See the post here.

Last summer I got carried away making these, see the post here.

Cootie catchers.....ignore the spelling error, I eventually fixed it but didn't take another picture.

Then I needed a different way to card my earrings because of a tag issue for a sale I wanted to join.

So I came up with this.

Still I have alot more pages than ideas.  How many unbound book stacks can one have until their family turns them into the hoarder show?!

Anyway back to the point of this post.....the journals.

 

So here they are.  That's velvet fabric on the spines.  Pictures are pages from the books.  I'm much more comfortable embellishing with fabrics and notions than paper.  I don't know how some of you do it, I just can't get loose enough

 

The insides are stacks of vintage and odds and ends paper.  Accounting spread sheets, graphing paper, steno pads, music composition sheets, odd scrap-booking papers, and a variety of lined and solid color sheets.  I saw someone use a mix of recycling paper somewhere online a long time ago and always thought that was a interesting idea.

I thought the spines would make fun bookmarks.

I haven't posted in forever and I haven't linked up with Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday for even longer.  Treat yourself to a look around Common Ground for all the vintage goodness over there.  

BTW, we finally got some snow action that everyone else in the nation seems to have already gotten.  Only a half inch for us here, boo hiss!  Remember, I'm from the mid-west I love the stuff. 

Yeah, a little wind with this weather too.  That first cushion is not just covered with snow.  Those #%& squirrels ripped the top off to get at the stuffing for their nests.  Well, I hope they're warm!!!

I'm leaving it in hopes they won't attack another cushion.

The water's on so the pipes don't freeze.

School is canceled because of the ice under the snow.  Mr. Wonderful went to work.  Just me and the puppy here.  She was able to find a spot to go potty so she's all right.  By the time I go out all the snow will be melted.

Keep warm everyone!

Passing it Along

Suzan from Old Grey Mare has honored me with a Stylish Blogger Award. 

Thank you Suzan! 

Maybe some of you have gotten awards before and it's no big deal but for someone to take notice of my little old blog, well for me, it's a big deal.  Warm fuzzys all weekend.

So here are the award rules:

Receive the award, 

say thank you, 

reveal 7 things about yourself, 

pass it on to 10 favorite and stylish bloggers!

7 things about me.....

Oh boy, here we go!

I'm number 5 of 8 kids, 4 boys and 4 girls.  Yes, Catholic.

I grew up in a teeny tiny town in Upper Michigan, not northern, Upper, there's a difference.

We live in Texas now but look forward to the day we can move back to the mid-west, preferably Minnesota.

I am a horrific speller.  And spell check is making me even dumber.

I over use explanation points!!!  

Can't help it!!!  

I'm just so darn excited by all the cool stuff I see blogging!!!

I'm afraid of creepy crawly things, heights, the dark, and sleeping with the closet door open.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that, besides my engagement ring, I'd rather wear rhinestones than diamonds.

10 Favorite and Stylish Bloggers.....

 This part took the longest, picking just 10 blogs to mention, anyway, here goes.....

612 Riverside

Theresa because she's so passionate about her family, creativity, and generosity in sharing.

Capers of the Vintage Vixens

Debra and Nicole because mother/daughter sharing a passion for vintage.

Garden antiques vintage 

Because of all the places she goes and all the eye candy pictures she takes.

I am Like a Bird 

Angela because of her junkin' purchases, good thing we're blogging friends because we'd fight for finds if we went shopping together.

Junk Redefined 

The Pfarkel sisters because I would love to be junkin' with my sisters in the beautiful mid-west!

Mamie Jane

Jane because she's just so darn clever with all her creations.

Shabby Vintage Junk

Tamarah because this funny lady makes the world smaller.

Time Worn Interiors

Theresa because of all things white.

 Up in the Attic

Pammy because of the things she likes to make and because I never laughed harder than at this post:

May The Forth Be With You!

Vintage Junk in My Trunk 
Gina because again someone else I shouldn't go shopping with.

So there you have it.  Thank you again Suzan for the opportunity to tell you all a little bit about myself and about some of the lovely blogs I follow.  

Cherubs, Crystals, and Bears...Oh My!

Just a few pictures of the rearranged living room.

Out with the Christmas, in with the crystals.

 Maybe an odd mix but it is what it is.

Those chunky not candle stick pieces are ashtrays.  Almost make me want to pick up the habit.

Have I mentioned this piece before?  My sister gave it to me a few years ago, love her, love it!

Pretty much the same things, just in different places.

 But I had the favorite chair that didn't have a spot so I dug this old chippy table out of storage to give it a place to go.  I haven't used this table since our last house

I love it's chippy color.  You should have seen the once over Mr. Wonderful gave this corner of the room when he got home.  Priceless.  The little girl was sure he wouldn't even notice.  But he didn't say a word.  We'll see, maybe it will grow on him.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

We also celebrated my baby boys birthday last night since this would be the last night we'd all be together before he and the little girl go back to school.  His BD is next week.

With 'Sweetie'.  That's how he answered his phone one day when he thought it was her calling and not me!

  Ha! 

These pictures remind me of that commercial with the family trying to take a family picture, with all the goofy grins, closed eyes, and cut off heads.

"To the cloud!"

   

This is as good as it got.

What are you doing?

 Little sister, big brother, so sweet and innocent! 

Digital cameras were such a great invention.

So now both my kids are in their 20's, does that make them vintage or me?   

Or am I antique or just old?

Hooking up with Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday, check them out!

Surprize Estate Sale

The Christmas crumbs are all put away, Mr. Wonderful went back to work, the kids were sleeping in, and I was all set to go to my favorite junk shop with my best junkin' pal Jan.  I was to meet her at her charity group's thrift store, then have lunch and off we'd go.  But her friends who joined us for lunch had a different idea, surprise, an estate sale in their neighborhood.  I'm cool with that, who isn't up for an estate sale?  

So off we went.....

The newish (10 yrs old?) neighborhood is one of those Sun City developments, where all residents must be 55 or older.  Walking in this house, you'd swear you were in the 1960's!  I'd never been in a new house that was so stuck in a time warp.

  Practically every stick of furniture was french provincial!  

 I'm not kidding 2 complete bedroom sets, kitchen set, dining room set and hutch, living room, even a sweet little vanity stool, all french provincial.  Which I love but this was to much, even for me.  Especially since I couldn't use any of it!  Nope, my storage unit is full, 

don't ask, don't tell. 

Now that's not to say I didn't find a box full to bring home with me.  Actually I'm lucky I limited myself to just a box!  There was so much that was so up my alley.  I may have to go back again to see what's left at half off.....

Enough yacking, here's what I scored.....

Believe it or not, this is one jewelry set, necklace, bracelet, and earrings.

Could you imagine wearing this?  Those earrings practically touch the necklace.

Otay, I've been know to make some pretty chunky necklaces, like this one.....

It's just crazy!  Crazy delicious!  I think I can take half the babbles away to create other pieces and still have a pretty chunky necklace.

 A couple more pairs of earrings, baby booty charms.

This tie pin, looks like one of those things (?) surveyor's use.

This funky little mirror I might be able to do something with.

More old sheet music.

Some of it's pretty old with interesting graphics.  I might try to resell some of this instead of cutting it up.  Some of them have alot of writing on them, even graffiti!

Like this guys goatee and hair do?  That Letha, what a cut up!

Too funny, this one has ukulele arrangements!  Seriously?!

Another pair of these, just because.

 

And this because.....

I already had this at home.

So I could make this.....or this.

I don't know, something doesn't look right.  The parts feel a little off, like something's missing or been added.  I'll figure it out plus I have spare lamp parts in my stash to try.

My definition of a surprise is 

Something you didn't know you wanted until you got it.

Linking with Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday.

 

 

Piece of Cake - Not!

The little girl's birthday is between Christmas and New Years.  So, of course, always a hectic time and a few bloopers have happened.  Like the year we invited a boy to 'sleep over'.  Opps!  But it also worked out nicely when I forgot to leave a gift tagged "From Santa".  

(I know, who knew they actually looked at the tags?!)  But the day was saved for the crying little girl when a gift was discovered (saved for her birthday in a few days).  

"Oh, look, Santa left it in the closet for some reason!"

Here's the little girl, at 20, with her cake, red velvet, of course. 

A little lumpy but not too bad when it's all white on white together.

But here are the snow flakes before they went on the cake.

Not so glamorous, huh?  And these were the nice ones!  After trying 3 different tips on 3 different pastry bags or tubes, this was as good as it got.  I ended up using an old metal cake decorating tube thingy and re-warming the melted white chocolate chips under hot running water every few flakes.  

Definitely no 2 alike for these snow flakes! 

And speaking of flakes.....

With the big brother, kneeling, and I'm not sure what's up with that GQ pose.

 And the 'little' girl in 4 inch heels, taller than Dad and most definitely taller than Mom!

So this is my most recent blooper.....that I know of anyway.

Check out the other "oops" at Susan's blog, Between Naps on the Porch, where she's hosting a Blogging Bloopers Party, 2010.