On the Road Quickie

 I've been away from here for so long, I just want to post a few pictures to show you all a little of what I've been up too.  I'm a little more than half way through an almost month long trip to visit family in the beautiful mid-west.

My first stop was only 6 hours away in Oklahoma City where my baby boy moved for law school.  I'm stopping there on my way home as well so hope to share a few shots of a clean (ha!) apartment.  What?!  You're not holding your breath?!

Next stop Minneapolis to see the little girl.

Then Wausau, Wisconsin to see my little sister and her family.  (I'm really bad about taking pictures.)

After about a week at my Mom's I remembered to get the camera out.

 

 My nephew lives with my Mom.

 

Well, him and his 2 dogs and I don't know how many train models!

 Cute little trailer parked in someone's yard in my hometown.

Just a fun dresser with flowers I couldn't pass by without taking a photo.  This was on the way to my brother's house in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Now I'm back in Mnpls, but leaving tomorrow for Rochester.  We used to live in Zumbro Falls, near Rochester so I'll be visiting a few friends as well as meeting my big sister for Gold Rush in Oronoco, this coming weekend.  Yippy!

The a few more days at her house in Illinos next week, which might include a visit to the American Pickers shop Antique Archaeology in Iowa.

Even though Gold Rush is a big junking deal I've collected a few treasures already.

Including this beauty case I've already put to good use holding some craft toys.

A few treasures I had handy.  That jar of buttons is one of 8 jars I had to buy from my Mom's homemakers group because my Mom had donated all her buttons to their garage sale!  What was she thinking?!  

Phew, good thing they had them for the low, low, low price of $1.50 a jar! 

The jewelry box I cleaned up for the little girl.

Darn, the picture with her happy face didn't turn out.

Well this has taken a lot longer than I'd thought, especially when I keep nodding off.

Sorry in advance, it may take a while for me to respond to your comments since I'm 

on the road again!

Where This Blogger Creates A Mess

I'm not a 'neat and tidy' type a gal. 

Usually on the way to 'neat and tidy' I get distracted by something sparkly.

Or tarnished, rusty, or chipped!

Plus my "create" areas, and craft storage areas, are all over the house.
At any rate, this is as good as I got it for the Where Bloggers Create III Party.

This is my sewing room, located on the second floor of our home.

I recently swapped the location of the day bed and sewing table.  This arrangement really opened up the room, making it feel much larger.
 

 It might not look like it but this room has really been cleaned up, it's just not looking all cute with fun and interesting craft storage and displays.

Being a commitment phob, I can't commit to where I want to attach this shelf to the wall.  So here it sits.

I got this rolling self rack at a garage sale for $15.  One of those deals where you can't pay fast enough and get it in your car before they change their minds.





I finished and posted about these lockers in time for my 1 year Blogiversary, see more where I posted about them here.

They are in the open family room area, just outside the sewing room.





This is the closet in my husband's study where I keep my scrap booking supplies.
 

Notice I didn't say where I do my scrap booking.  That's because lately it's only been where I store the paper supplies I like to buy.

I added boards to the depth of one shelf, to make it into a desk. 

 It took me a while to find this old step stool chair combo so I could either sit at the desk in the closet or reach the top shelves.




Then there is my desk in the laundry room/pantry where I do my jewelry making. 

 
I recently reorganized this area and posted about it here, if you'd like to see more.




Depending on what I'm doing I might be running between all 3 of these areas, dragging supplies out to the 4' by 10' kitchen island to work on whatever.


So, that's Where this Blogger's Creates!  Even if all she's creating is a mess!

Thank you Karen of My Desert Cottage, for hosting this shindig!  And thank you for taking the time to visit my mess over here.  Have fun checking out all the creative spaces, I know I will.

 

Sparkle and Whine

I'm a mid-west girl, I'm out of my element here in Texas.

So I'm going to blame the too hot weather for my lack of activity.  

It's sooooo hot, hear me whine....

Now the Sparkle!

I haven't been too active here in blogland but I was on the ball enough to enter a giveaway offered by the lovely Robyn of The French Circus.  She creates beautiful one of a kind jewelry from vintage finds and the most beautiful semi precious stone beads.  Plus she loves flea markets and decorating!  What's not to love?  Definitely do check out her blog.

And, lucky me, I won!

Such pretty packaging, such a delicate pink!

Good things really do come in small packages. 

Rosary beads, garnets, and rhinestones, oh my!  And fleur de lis, ooh la la!

Thank you Robyn, I love them!

I broke one of my own rules though, I wore them before I sent a thank you, shame, shame on me.

But they are such beautiful dangles!  

This last picture was also my first attempt with Picnik to make my blurry close up more presentable.  

No it's not blurry, it's art, ha!!

And more Sparkle!

I recently bought an ughly little chandelier at Savers.  It was a cheap thing but the crystals were, if not actual crystal, at least glass.  I paired them with some vintage jewelry crystals I had and added them to some old silver plate server and candle stick pedestals I made.

 I got the idea from someone here in blog land, can't figure out who, but I'll look some more and a link when I find her. 

Edited:  I just finished dinner and tried a new search for the original idea.  This time I included "knob" and I found her!  It was from Janis over at RUST Vintage Inspired Design where I got my inspiration.  See her original post here.  I think she had one with crystals hanging from the tray as well but I can't find that picture. 

 

 Ya, I was having fun playing.

Linking up with  Beth of Gypsy Fish for her Silver Sunday!

Hope you all are having a great weekend, thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Susanne.

Where Have I Been

 So, what's been keeping me.....

2 weeks ago I got sick with some stomach bug, couldn't eat, stomach in constant cramp.  I probably would have suffered in not so silent, silence but we were going on a trip at the end of the week so after a few day my doctor fixed me right up with some anti stomach spasm meds.

Short story long I was feeling good enough by Friday morning to get off the couch and venture out to an estate sale.  Ya, I wasn't up to posting but I had energy enough to read emails.

So with my assurance that I could get what I wanted for less than $500 and Mr. Wonderful's blessing, after his "has the thrill of the new living room furniture worn off already?"  I was off bright and early to get this.....

I'm such a sucker for french provincial, I'm about to start annoying myself.

This is the old set we bought for our first house 25 years ago.  I still like the style fine, but the stain, or lack there of, wasn't doing it for me anymore.  Mr. Wonderful doesn't like painted furniture (ya, the cupboard is painted black but I do get my way occasionally) and I wasn't up for stripping and staining and hiring it out wouldn't be cheap.  So.....a sweet young couple answered our craigslist ad and I hope they enjoy it for as long as we have.

I plan to change out the seat cushions when I find the perfect fabric but in the mean time the fabric is in good condition and even matches the rug.  So does Pebbles!

The style is so different from before, I'm having a creative block of what to put on top, but no worries.....yet.

After running back into Austin, cause I left behind the dang leaves in my excitement, and giving it a quick wipe down with Old English, I was a bit worn out but I had to get packing!

Because Mr. Wonderful spends so much time at work is so good at what he does he was rewarded and because I work so hard to spend the money we don't spend enough time together, spouses (or guest of his choice) were invited.  We've been lucky enough to go on a couple these conferences before but the company had stopped hosting them in efforts to trim the budget so we're glad they brought them back.

Along the north shore of Oahu

 The conference was on Maui but we spent a few days ahead on Oahu in Waikiki.

Along the road to Diamond Head

 Sorry I wasn't up to hiking to the top of the Diamond Head crater.

Maui was so lush.

I thought these trees were so cool.

Arizona Memorial

 We toured Pearl Harbor.

The Arizona

 I was confused, I thought the attraction would be the ship when of course it is the Memorial.

The Missouri

Not to worry, Mr. Wonderful did get to tour a battle ship.  He had an uncle stationed there at the time who was able to swim to safety.

We had a car on Oahu so we saw alot in a few days.  But on Maui we were bused to and from the airport to the resort.  We were surprised how much it looked like parts of Texas, all brown with scraggly trees.  However, the resort was very lush and posh.  Definitely the nicest hotel we've ever had the pleasure of staying.  Gotta love it when someone else is paying the bill!

The view from our room.

 For me it's all about the decor.....

Not a great picture but that's a chaise lounge at the foot of the bed.  We used it as a dumping ground but I did have to sit in it just once before we checked out.  Ha!

An interesting piece of furniture.

Probably a nicer bath than ours at home!

A quick picture on our way to catch the bus back to the airport.

 The event kept us busy with planned activities like speakers and dinners and our free time was spent at the resorts beach and pool areas.  Our one outing was snorkeling which neither of us had done before, so that was fun.  We managed not to burn ourselves into looking like lobsters.  Didn't get the chance to do much shopping but did bring home a few little trinkets.

We didn't take alot of pictures.  I am years behind in scrap booking.  The pictures I take now are mostly for blogging.  Ha!  Oh well, in 10 years time, I hope to have grand children to photograph.  No pressure!

Memorial Day Etsy Pics

'Thank You to All Past, Present, and Future ' by zueeuz

Remembering, honoring, and giving thanks on this Memorial Day to all those who so bravely serve our country. Our debt to you can never be repaid.

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