Shabby Apple Giveaway

Beth over at Old Tyme Marketplace is hosting a fabulous giveaway for all you fashionistas out there! She is offering your choice of three beautiful dresses from Shabby Apple. You'll want to rush on over and sign up...I know I did! When I win...this is the dress I'll choose!

Beautiful!

So hurry on over to Beth's blog and enter for your chance to win!

http://oldetymemarketplace.blogspot.com/2011/07/shabby-apple-give-awayyou-choose.html

Until next time...

Rhonda

Scavenger Hunt #4~ Parts 1,2 & 3

As the scavenger hunt at Gable House Musings comes to a close...I must say I'm surprised to still be in the running. It's been a lot of fun-and some weeks it's been a real challenge to find just the right items on Misi's list! There were a few times I just knew I was on my way out...but here here I am, coming into the home stretch. Yay!

I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to Misi for hosting the hunt and offering such a generous prize to the winner. And although it might sound corny, I already feel like a winner...because in the last few weeks, I've made new friends, shared some laughs, and even learned a few things along the way. And you can't beat that. Misi's game has entertained us, spurred our creativity, and even encouraged us to pamper ourselves a little bit now & then. So, thank you Misi...it's been F.U.N. 

Now, on with the show...

 ~Part 1~

For part one, Misi gave us her personal shopping list. We were to find at least two items on her list, and one item from her hubby's list. I'll tell you, honestly...I panicked when I first saw the list. Although I'm a girlie girl...I had no idea what half of the stuff was. Add to that, Misi is a brunette-I'm a blonde! And I have really curly hair...I don't paint my nails...and who on earth is Bill Compton!? What's a girl to do?

The save for me was soap. 

Yes, beautiful soap is my weakness, my Achilles Heel.

I set out for TJ Maxx with Misi's recommendations in hand...

I not only treated myself to three bars of the CST soap that Misi so esteems...I bought an extra bar of soap by Laura Ashley. Who could resist scents like Vanilla Tangerine, Lavender Rosemary, Eucalyptus Aloe, and Lily and Aloe Leaf? Not I. 

Do yourself a favor..."awaken your senses"...buy this soap. These are huge, silky soft, moisturizing bars...and they come wrapped like a present-just for you. You have to get clean with something, it might as well be this.

I added a small bottle of Bed Head brand hairspray for my second item, and finished part one with Bero's movie choice...

~Part 2~

Now this part wasn't required, but participating means an extra chance to win the grand prize. So you know I'd be crazy not to give it my best try, right? I needed four out of six items from the list. Here goes.

Ruby Slippers/Shoes

"I'm a little muddled. The Munchkins called me, because a new Witch has just dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East. And there's the house. And here you are. And that's all that's left of the Wicked Witch of the East."

"Their magic must be very powerful, or she wouldn't want them so badly."
~Glinda, the Good Witch of the North~

Wooden Shoes

It's obvious that these shoes are adorable...but, do shoes made of wood = wooden shoes? I'm hoping Misi thinks so.

Biscotti

Triple chocolate, no nuts...the perfect accompaniment to a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Christening Gown

Antique cotton eyelet gown with millions of tiny tucks...OK, not millions, but you've got to admit, that's a lot of tucks.

Here's a closer view. Just look at the amazing detail!

Dried Apple Gourd 

Nope, don't have one. I have every other kind of gourd, but not this one.

Heart Pantry Cakes

This was one of the things I learned along the way. It was high time I tried making pantry cakes. An easy project with almost instant gratification. I made several batches...these pretty hearts were my favorite.

Which brings me to the final part of the hunt...

Part 3

~Fun with Flowers and Furbabies~

Narcissus, Daffodils, call them what you will...they are one of my very favorite flowers. If you read my story in the spring issue of Mercantile Gatherings Magazine, you know that some of my best memories include these perky yellow blooms.

On the day our sons moved away from home, my sweet Mother-in-love, thoughtfully shared the first blossoms from her garden with me.

Now I'd like to share a few photos of my furbabies with you.

This is my Murray on the first day he came to live with us. He'd just had a bath and wasn't too sure about his new surroundings. He was twelve weeks old.

And this is Murray now, resting his chin on Edith. This is the first thing I see every morning when I wake up. It's a beautiful sight to this dog lovers eyes.

My kids know how to make me laugh...sometime they use cats.

 

Mattimeo fighting zombies.

Well, that concludes the scavenger hunt...best of luck to all of my worthy opponents! It's been such fun seeing what everyone comes up with each week. To be linked to the other participants please visit Misi at: 

http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/

Until next time...

Rhonda

Scavenger Hunt~ # 3

It's that time again...

Life is changing dramatically for us this weekend. It's all very exciting and just the tiniest bit emotional. Everything here is in disarray, so I was lucky to squeak by with four out of seven items needed for the scavenger hunt. But I do believe I made it to round four. Whew!

As I cruised down Misi's list I thought, "no problem", until I came to a dead halt at item #5. And that's where you'll find me still.

List #3

#1 Stool with Hooked Top
#2 Old Tin Funnel
#3 Putz (or style like) Lamb/sheep
#4 Crow on a stick
#5 Wooden Cigar Mold
#6 Silhouette Box

#7- Bero’s Bonus- Pure Maple Syrup Sign or OLD Syrup Can

 A close up of my items.

Follow me to Misi's blog.

Until next time...

Spring Scavenger Hunt #1

Remember when you were twelve and went to your best friend's birthday party? How her mother served tacos and always thought of the best games? For me, the scavenger hunt was the highlight of the party...running from door to door in the twilight, giggling with friends, knocking on doors...the list in one hand, your bag of booty in the other. Thank you Misi, for making me feel twelve again. 

*Giggle, Giggle* 
Here's the list for week one...

1. Old Jar of Garden seeds

"I wait at the window, sowing the seeds that I keep in a jar by the door (along with my face)." Oops...channeling a little Eleanor Rigby there...

 Sometimes the packaging is almost as pretty as the blooms.~

  ~These old seed jars were a gift from Aunt Annie. They were used in her father's feed store to dispense garden seeds. The original 1952 labels remain intact.~

~Mr. Kattywhompus now uses them to store his heirloom bean seeds for the coming year.~

2. Faceless Rag/Cloth Doll

~I traced a wooden spoon to create a pattern for this little doll and outfitted her in the most basic of dresses. 
Sew Simple.~



~And here's a little mini-makeover for you. I found these faceless clothespin dolls on clearance in a local antique booth last week. My first though was, "Hey that's real calico". My second thought was,"Ugh, hot glue...really?" But the little dolls alone were worth the $4 I paid, so I brought this piece home and gave it a face-lift. Now it looks like this...~

 ~The changes I made were simple, but I think, made this piece so much nicer. I repainted the frame black, sanded it a bit, then gave it a coat of dark Bri-wax. I turned the quilt scrap upside down to show off the little patch of red. I moved the little dolls (which were literally hanging by a thread) ever so slightly and then put  everything back together more securely.~

3. Homespun Pillow Case – (adult bed size or larger)

~When Misi listed homespun pillow cases, I gasped...I didn't HAVE homespun pillow cases! So I promptly made a set. Why make your own pillow cases? Because you can choose your favorite homespun fabric, and add special touches like feather stitching along the edge.~

~We are not amused...
 ~Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a large angry cat to perch on a bed pillow that you have precariously balanced on the counter top?~

4. Pastry Roller

~An old ironstone rolling pin from my Great, Great, Grandmother, Lucinda Bebe Jacobs, rests alongside my everyday rolling pin and a stoneware pastry crimper. My Gram told me the rolling pin was already missing it's wooden handles when she used it as a girl. The little crimper was one of the first antiques I ever bought. I bought the noodle board at an auction thirty years ago for $3. No one knew what it was at the time...including me.~

5. Doll Bed

~Here is Miss Kattywhompus looking out of sorts. She awoke to find herself sleeping in the buttery like a common servant. For someone who sleeps in a bed made from old crates, she certainly puts on airs.~

6. A piece of old Ironstone Pottery/Dishware

~I found this pretty green Meakin ironstone at a local thrift shop just last week. My intention was to sell it...until I got it home and saw how charming it looked alongside the narcissus and daffodils. The color says "springtime", wouldn't you agree?~

  These three pieces comprise my entire collection of all white antique ironstone...but I'm working on it.

Please stop by Misi's blog to share in the fun! 

Until next time...
Rhonda

The Stage Is Set

Once again, Misi, at Gable House Musings has come up with a way to entertain us. 

I'm bursting with excitement over her Spring Scavenger Hunt!

Misi  has asked each participant to submit a photo of the area in their home where the found items will be photographed each week. This was easy for me because I have a little corner of the buttery where I take most of the photos for my Etsy shops.

Beginning Friday, March 11th you'll see this...

...laden with the items that Misi chooses each week.  

In order to stay in the running for her amazing prize, I'll have to find 4 out of six items on her list. I'm guessing it will get harder each week. Wish me luck!

Until next time...