Rose Garden Romantic

2012-02-13T22:22:00.027-06:00

Flowers, Sparkle, and Velvet...oh my!
Hello dear friends! My sweet mama finally received her birthday gifts in the mail so now I can show you what was hiding in those boxes! I didn't photograph everything, but in the "velvet" box there was pink velvet ribbon, a pink velvet flower and this gorgeous and quite large vintage velvet strawberry pincushion. Now mama knows just how much I really love her since I restrained myself from keeping this for myself! :) Isn't it just too yummy?
In the "sparkle" box there was vintage style silver tinsel, a small glittered crown and this beautiful and very sparkly crown broach. And the "fluers" box was filled with vintage millinery flowers. Some of these went to mama and some I kept for myself. I have fun plans for them! Aren't these just the prettiest spring colors?I found this darling vintage card for her. I adore vintage cards. They always have the sweetest sentiments. Here is what it says inside. And it's all true. A perfect description about how I feel about my dear sweet mama! It's even more perfect because she loves roses and has an amazing rose garden.I tucked this darling little vintage embroidered linen piece in with her other gifts, too. The colors are divine and that lace edging is just so pretty!In my next post I will show you some of my recent finds and tell you all about my fun road trip! Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!
Michelle xoxo

2012-02-04T14:35:00.008-06:00

Wrapping Up Pretty Things...I've been busy wrapping up my sweet mama's birthday presents!
I can't show you what's inside till she receives her box of goodies in the mail, but here's a clue:
Each package has a tag with a hint of what is inside! One has velvet...

one has sparkle...
and one has flowers! (but isn't the French word "fleurs" even more fun?)I love the using the plain paper. I think it really makes the embellishments stand out.
I've also been doing a little bit of decorating for Valentine's day.
Just a little bit here and there. Some vintage red, pink, and white buttons on a sweet little plate.
My vintage Valentine candy boxes. Aren't they gorgeous?! And here's a romantic basket full of dreamy vintage goodness! I still want to make some Valentine crafts. Hopefully soon! Hopefully before Valentine's Day has come! Sometimes the holidays pass by before I get crafting! Does that ever happen to you? Next time I'll show what vintage treasures were hiding in those boxes. I'm linking up with Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday!
Michelle xoxo

2012-01-27T16:39:00.008-06:00

Organizing and Creating...
Hello Friends!Sorry I was gone so very long! I never intend to take long absences from my blog, but sometimes life gets busy and sometimes I'm just in a funk. This time it was a bit of both. Our house is just now recovering from Christmas and I've been spending a lot of time trying to purge and organize, too. Organization feels so good and I've been finding things I forgot I had! I'm not a resolution kind of girl since those always go downhill for me after about one day! I do, however, have a couple of goals for this year.
1} Organize my home so that everything has a place. Hopefully that will lead to a prettier home with less mess and less time going crazy looking for things.
2} Create! Make pretty things! It just makes my heart so happy! (I have made almost nothing since just before my littlest was born nearly 3 years ago and I miss it so!)
I've redone my little living room corner. I still adore my gorgeous aqua door. It makes such a pretty backdrop for everything! And my wicker chair. I love piling it with pretty, cushy, vintage pillows!All of these lovelies were presents my sweet mama has given me in the past. The embroidered lady is from an antique store. The white one my mama made from an old runner. And the ticking pillow was once my grandmothers.This magazine rack is my most recent Goodwill find. It was a dark green, so I painted it lovely white. Now the details really stand out and I love the way it looks against the aqua wall. I've got lots more to show you in the next post. Hopefully, I will get some pretty Valentines Day goodies made to show you by then, too. I'm linking up with Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday.
Michelle xoxo

2011-11-23T23:57:00.049-06:00

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...
Here I sit on Friday morning, still feeling quite full from yesterday's Thanksgiving feast! If you have been reading my blog very long you know that I love, love, love decorating for holidays and Christmas is my very favorite! This year I used all of my restraint and at least waited till the week of Thanksgiving to haul out the Christmas goodies. Here are some of my favorite vintage ornaments. Most of them have been gifts from my sweet mama. They looked so beautiful sitting in this basket together that I almost didn't want to take them out to put them on the tree! They are addicting, I think. I feel the need to go out and find some more! They are so charming and pretty! Even my dear husband and little guys love them. As you can see, I did finally put them on the tree. I adore my white tree! I think it really makes the ornaments stand out and it literally glows when the lights are on, especially at night. It looks magical! I used a vintage grandmother's garden quilt for a tree skirt. It was a gift from my sweet mama last year for Christmas. This is one of my favorites. Gorgeous shape, gorgeous colors and,of course, glitter!
See how sparse it looks? All those empty spots? I need more, more, more! Oh dear, I think I have officially become a vintage ornament addict!Here is another one of my favorites. Please excuse my camera reflected in the ornament. I haven't yet perfected my amateur photography skills!I love the cute little star shaped Santa. A darling snowman I won last year from the lovely and talented Dawn of The Feathered Nest.
And this adorable Mary Engelbreit ducky is baby Dylan's favorite.Alright, enough tree shots. On to my Merry Little Christmas corner. I just love it! Such a happy little spot!Pink, aqua, white, glitter and vintage!!! I could stare at this all day. I may need to rearrange my furniture so that I can do just that. It's a lot prettier than my big black t.v.!I found the little houses at Hobby Lobby the past couple of years. The were plain cardboard houses and I painted and glittered them. Now I really wish I had bought more!!!The collage I made a few years ago. It's made with a photo of my sweet mama when she was little. Her daddy built that wonderful little igloo for her and her brothers. What a good daddy!The cute vintage lamp I found at Goodwill for 2.99! I just had to add a shade. I can't believe I almost didn't buy it! Love this sweet pink cottage under the cloche, but I think it needs one more thing... maybe a tiny little snowman?
Under the table I tucked my aqua bench. When I found it was a very dark red, so I pulled out my robin's egg blue craft paint and made it pretty!
Silver sparkly picks, aqua beads, a crocheted lace linen and some pretty presents dress up the bench and add some holiday cheer!Now if only there were actually presents in these boxes... I'm sure they would be lovely vintage ones if there were.Thanks for joining me on this Merry Little Christmas tour!
I've still got to do a little more decorating in the rest of the house. I should probably get it done now while everyone else is still sleeping.

Today I'm linking up with Sugar Pink Boutique's Friday Fun link up party, Deck the Halls Friday with Tinsel and Company and Vintage Inspiration Friday with Debra at Common Ground. Also I wanted to let you know about the 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways over on the Where Women Create blog. Each day, from now through December 12th, the site will feature four artists who are giving away four fabulous prizes. Be sure to check it out here.
Michelle xoxo

2011-10-11T18:01:00.015-05:00

Every Leaf Speaks Bliss to Me...
It is starting to cool down a little bit here in Texas and we even had a some rain, so it's finally feeling like Autumn is here. I decided to celebrate this lovely weather by decorating the entry of my little cottage for Fall.I'm loving the warm fall colors mixed with the aqua, turquoise and whites. I'm also loving the leaf picks with gold glitter I found at Michaels. I must get some more!A lovely quote by Emily Bronte on my huge chalkboard. (Still working on trying to write pretty and balanced on it!) "Every leaf speaks bliss to me, falling from the Autumn tree." This tin picture frame is definitely speaking bliss to me!
It was dark brown when I found it, so I used some robins egg blue spray paint and then sanded it to bring out the details.I hope you are enjoying nicer weather where you live, also. Happy Autumn!
I'm linking up with Debra of Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday , Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House in the Roses, Fall Into Fall with DIY Design and Autumn Arrives Party at Savvy Seasons by Liz.
Michelle xoxo

2011-10-05T18:39:00.010-05:00

Birthday Bliss...
It was my birthday this past weekend and my dear, sweet mama sent me a delightful package full of vintage goodness!!!
The box was brimming with treasures! Inside I found these gorgeous vintage earrings.So pretty!! I will have to use these in some projects!Look at these gorgeous vintage linens!I adore the colors in this runner and hot-pad!
There was also a darling vintage baby book. Inside it is filled with sweet entries, a lock of baby's hair and even an elementary school report card. Mama also sent me my very own ruffled tights I wore as a baby!
A sweet vintage saucer with blossoming trees. Mama said she bought it because it reminds her of Anne of Green Gables. If you watched the movie, you know how gorgeous the scenery was on Prince Edward Island where they filmed it. I need to watch that movie again soon! It was my favorite book series and they did such an amazing job sticking to the book when they created the movie.She tucked in some fun craft supplies, too! Vintage crochet lace, seam binding, rick rack, buttons and Martha glitter.On my birthday I visited all my favorite local antique malls. I didn't find much, but had lots of fun looking. Treasure hunting is definitely one of my favorite pastimes. I love to find something wonderful, but I think at least half the fun is the hunt! I did find this cute "find" flashcard and a vintage ledger book at an antique mall. I also found the lovely blue transferware plate at the Goodwill for just $1! To top off the day I ate way too much of my favorite dessert, white cake with buttercream frosting! And my sweet husband and boys sang happy birthday to me in the sweetest way, gathering around me and hugging me. Does it get any better? I don't think so. I am so blessed with my sweet family!!!
Michelle xoxo

2011-09-22T22:00:00.008-05:00

Happy Fall!
Hello, dear friends! I didn't intend to be absent so long, but sometimes I just get out of the blogging groove. I thought I would share some of the Fall decorating I've been doing around my little cottage. My newest finds inspired me to do my hutch in black and white.
I found a cute little black suitcase, crochet doily, flashcards, cream pitcher, an adorable alarm clock and the fabulously huge letter R! I also found this cute musical flash card and the black satin bow tie.
On top of my t.v. cabinet I used white, cream, red, brown and oranges. Not my usual pastels and neutrals, but they are so cozy and warm for fall.I love the scents of the fall candles and the velvet leaf and berry picks add such richness! I used some old books for lifts, brown tansferware, vintage clock faces, and of course I had to spell out Autumn with my scrabble letters! I so love decorating for seasons and holidays! Oh, who am I kidding? I love decorating for any, every and NO reason at all! Next up I'm going to try to do some spooky Halloween decor. But not too spooky, I don't want to scare my little guys! Now I'm off to enjoy blogs and spend too much time on my favorite pastime, Pinterest!!! So inspiring and so very addicting!
Michelle xoxo

2011-07-22T18:36:00.002-05:00

Hello dolls!
Just wanted to share some of my newest finds with you! I've been loving vintage toy phones for years and finally found a super cute one for a price I couldn't refuse. I love this shade of blue!
As you can see I had a bit of fun making a vignette with it. A rhinestone button added to it makes it ever more adorable. I just can't resist adding some sparkle to most things.Love these sweet old buttons I found in my favorite colors. The just don't make buttons as cute as this anymore.This large runner with hand crocheted lace edge was a fabulous find and a steal of a deal! The vintage flash cards are irresistible, too. I especially love the one with the music note.Hope you are keeping cool during this heat wave. I'm in Texas so it's always a heat wave here. Thank goodness for air conditioning!!!
Michelle xoxo

2011-07-06T15:15:00.003-05:00

Seaside StyleHappy Summer, girls! One of my favorite decorating styles is seaside style. I love blues, white, aquas, seashells and starfish, mermaids and sandcastles!
This is the entry to my cottage. What better way to be greeted in the summer than with whimsical sea inspired items and a cheerful blue and white color scheme. I just found this wonderful large chalkboard last weekend at a favorite antique mall. I love the frame and love how big it is. Lots of room to write longer quotes like this one. It's a favorite quote of mine from author Lucy Maude Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series. "Look at that sea, girls~ all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy it's loveliness more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds." (Seems I need to work on the skill of writing in a pretty and balanced way on my chalkboard! I'll just pretend my messy writing looks "casual".)
My pretty Simply Shabby Chic lampshade from Target~ love it!
Love my blue striped pillow, too!
Hope you girls are enjoying this summer. I so wish I was at the beach right now. I have not been for many years and that needs to change~! How wonderful would it be to live close to the shore and visit often! I dream of that. For now, I'll just have to enjoy my sea inspired decor.
I'm joining Kathleen of Faded Charm today for White Wednesday.
Michelle xoxo

2011-06-29T12:10:00.007-05:00

Cute White Cupboard
Happy White Wednesday! I haven't participated for a long while because a girl can only find so many white things to photograph! I'm happy to join today and show off my newest find.

This adorable cupboard was a Craig's List find. It was a honey colored pine which was lovely, but I could tell it would look so perfect painted white! I have never painted a piece of furniture this large before and it was more work and time than I had anticipated, but well worth the effort.I'm quite pleased with how it turned out and couldn't wait to fill it with some of my vintage treasures! Sorry my photos are a bit blurry. I don't get very good light where I have placed this in my living room. I opened all the windows and doors, but it was still not enough light.Love this vignette with the crochet lace, alarm clock, book and my dad's baby shoes all sitting on a vintage suitcase.
I used my favorite piece of crochet lace to add softness and charm.
I also used some of lovely tarnished silver pieces and old books for lifts.
I love that this piece has drawers for storage. I could also add fabric to the doors later if I want more hidden storage instead of display space.
Now I'm off to visit the rest of the White Wednesday participants. Thanks to Kathleen of Faded Charm for hosting this fun blog party every week!
Michelle xoxo

2011-06-06T02:05:00.008-05:00

Fun Finds!
Hello, dear ones! I thought I'd pop in and show you my newest finds. I just love this adorable shelf I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby!
I'm using it in my kitchen to display some of my vintage potholder collection and other goodies. Don't you just love Hobby Lobby?! I had never heard of it till I moved to Texas. Now my mama wants them to build one in California. Are you listening Hobby Lobby? Those CA girlies need a Hobby Lobby, too! I found this sweet vintage basket at the Goodwill this weekend. I just adore vintage baskets! I love how this one is shallow and wide so you can really show off the vintage goodies it's holding.Vintage lace, flowers and buttons and cards.... so pretty!!! I can never resist these lovely and romantic pieces of the past!
One more recent find is this wonderful vintage ledger book. Isn't the cover just so beautiful? Thank you so much for coming by for a little visit. Have a beautiful week!!!
Michelle xoxo

2011-05-26T23:40:00.001-05:00

Sweet Mama and Sweet Vintage Finds!
My sweet mama is here to visit! My dear dad gave her airline tickets for Mother's Day. We have been having the best time together, as we always do.
We went to our favorite antique malls and came home with some lovely things.
I found some wonderful vintage buttons on their original cards and a gorgeous deco Easter card.
I adore this super sweet vintage apron! I can't imagine that any lady would ever wear a gorgeous apron like this to actually cook in.
I assume they must have just worn ones this pretty when they were entertaining?Here are some close ups of the lovely embroidery work.So pretty!!! I love the colors! I also found these darling pink and green potholders and the green enamelware bowl they are in.
Another sweet card. I love calling cards. They are always so pretty! The gorgeous sparkling buttons were too beautiful to pass up.
I'm off now to have some more fun with my dear mama. Have a lovely day girls!!!
Michelle xoxo

2011-05-04T10:54:00.015-05:00

Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day, sweet friends!
Here is what I sent my sweet Mama for Mother's Day. Lace, flowers,vintage papers, some sparkling jewelry bits, and a lovely seashell.
I also sent her this pretty tote bag,
and some beautiful vintage wallpapers!
And here's what my sweeties gave me for Mother's Day. Sweet vintage bluebird sheet music,gorgeous rhinestones pieces,
and these beautiful wallpapers and a wonderful old Ledger book!
How could they find such amazing things? Well, they know shopping for vintage goodies is my favorite thing to do, so they let me go shopping and pick out my own presents! They also made me some very sweet home made cards and presents. My boys are so very sweet!!! I am so blessed!!!
Here are a few more peeks of the corner of my bedroom that I'm trying to make into a little studio space.
Looking at these pretties just make me feel happy!
And it really makes me want to create something. I can't wait to alter the ledger book to make an art journal!
I hope you girls have all have a wonderful Mother's Day!!!
Michelle xoxo

2011-04-28T15:43:00.017-05:00

Romantic Homes and Studio Space!
Hi Girls!!! I haven't disappeared, just been busy with Spring cleaning and two of my little guys birthdays. I have some fun news and lots of pictures to share! I am so exited and honored to have my little 'ole blog featured in the current May issue of Romantic Homes Magazine!!It has been a favorite magazine of mine for many years. My sweet mama and I used to spend lots of quality time together pouring over the beautiful pages of inspiration when I was newly married and just forming my decorating tastes, so it makes this opportunity extra special to me!
I have also been busy trying to make an area in my bedroom into a studio space so I can create again! I haven't really made much for the past two years, since my littlest one was born. I know all you mamas know how hard it is to find the time (and the energy when you do have the time!)
I have decorated my pretty white table with lots of vintage inspiration to get me in the creative mood and just to make me happy when I'm not. I'm kind of an eye candy junky. That's why I love to visit your blogs so much!This vintage wallpaper covered hatbox is my newest find. Isn't it gorgeous? Yay for Ebay! I never seem to find them anywhere.Some sparkle, because it's just not eye candy if there isn't a little sparkle involved.This is a postcard I enlarged on my printer. I just think the term "heartiest greetings" is so cute and those roses are beautiful!
Yummy vintage hats. Love them...a little more than is normal probably.A close up of my adorable little aqua cubby. It was a Goodwill find that I painted.
Loving my wall color, too! Now I just need to finish painting this room. It's been "almost done since last summer when our air conditioner broke.My favorite vintage postcard. I think I may have to enlarge this one, too!My baby doll head wearing the gorgeous vintage tiara my sweet mama gave me.A fun little tag I made long ago....and a few of my favorite things. My vintage candy box is so pretty I just have to keep it out all year long.
I have more to do to make this space a studio, but this was a fun start! I'm linking up with Debra of Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday!
Michelle xoxo

2011-03-24T15:53:00.009-05:00

Vintage Pink and Green Spring is definitely in full swing here in Texas, which has me in the mood to decorate in two of my favorite colors.... pink and jadeite green. I think they look so pretty together!I used some of my jadite collection...my cute little pink cabinet...
vintage linens...
and whatever else I could find in these gorgeous colors from around my little cottage.
Of course one needs to use a lot of white to balance out all this color.
Some vintage lace, doilies and millinery flowers for softness.I love this little wire birdhouse cloche I found on clearance at Michaels. I have also used a favorite green chintz plate, perfect for Spring! Isn't this the prettiest pattern and colors?Below is a page from a vintage lace sample book and it's the perfect shade of jadite green!
I even gave my dress form a new outfit.
I forgot to tell you girls that my dear parents came for a visit recently. My sweet mama and I had so much fun antiquing together, as we always do!This adorable green shelf is just one of treasures I found. I'll share the rest of my finds with you in my next post.
Michelle xoxo

2011-03-01T11:43:00.004-06:00

Welcoming Spring...
Getting my little cottage ready to welcome Springtime with open arms! Spring is my favorite time of year and I really enjoy using all my pretty pastel dishes and other vintage treasures to decorate my hutch!
Vintage lace, plates, chintz, teacups, pottery and all sorts of pretty things all dwell happily together on the shelves.Cute bunnies for Easter fun and Scrabble tiles spelling out "Spring Flowers".I adore this little rabbit and chick! What is more cheerful than Spring decor and colors?Vintage millinery, a cute little ironstone pitcher and a tiny Eiffel tower. Springtime in Paris is something I would love to experience someday!Piles of vintage hats covered in flowers... they make my heart skip a beat!Of course my dress form needed to put on her Springtime finest, also! Now she fits in perfectly!This is actually an outfit I found at Goodwill.
And I also found this one at Goodwill....
and this one, too!
Now my dining room and wardrobe are ready for Spring, but I still have rooms to play with and make pretty!
Michelle xoxo

2011-02-17T13:44:00.003-06:00

To My Valentine...I know it's past Valentine's Day, but I just had to show you what my beloved Valentine gave me!These fabulous vintage Valentine candy boxes!!! I have really been wanting one (or a collection of them!). They are just so nostalgic and romantic and sweet! And these two are my favorite colors, aqua and pink!!!I can't believe how huge the aqua one is. It's about 16 inches! It would take a lot of chocolates to fill up that box. A big thank you and huge smooch to my dear hubby for this lovely gift!!! I think they are so pretty I may just leave them out all year long!
Michelle xoxo

2011-02-15T16:10:00.007-06:00

Awaiting Spring...
It's the day after Valentine's Day and I'm already looking forward to Spring. It actually feels like Spring here in Texas this week. It's in the 60s and 70s!
Do you remember that cute pink cabinet I showed you in my last post? Well I found something else in that same antique mall booth, painted the same shade of pale pink. This simple little table, with a shelf, two drawers for storage and cute little glass knobs. It was very cheap and I need storage and display space, so I couldn't resist!
I love this pretty white lamp I found at T.J. Maxx a few years ago. I love how it looks like an old piece of architectural salvage, but I never like the shade that came with it. I was so happy to find this shade at the thrift store. It already had the ruffle at the bottom and I added the vintage lace and millinery flower.I forgot to show you girls this altered bottle I made. It is one of the presents I sent to my sweet mama for her birthday.
All these pretties have me in the mood for Spring. Flowers, lace, pastels... I guess I'm just a Spring sort of girl!
I even love Spring clothing the best. Take a look at these Spring 2011 fashions I found online.
I LOVE all that pretty white lace!!! Hard to imagine wearing it as a stay-at-home mama who never goes anywhere, though.But these sure are lovely to look at and dream of wearing...I found a few cute things cute pieces of clothing at the thrift store recently but I'm not great at photographing clothing, so you may never see them. Maybe I should try them on my dress form? I'm sure I'm not the only one dreaming of Spring. Let's hope it comes a bit early this year!
Michelle xoxo

2011-02-07T12:50:00.010-06:00

Amour...
Hello dear ones! Here is a fun Valentine vignette I created with some favorite finds.
I was inspired by this adorable little pale pink cabinet I found at the antique store.It's a perfect place to store my art supplies and show off my favorite vintage goodies on top!
I haven't used my cloche for a while, so I dusted it off and added these pretties inside.I adore vintage rhinestones. These beauties are heading off to California because they are some of my birthday presents for my dear mama!I also found this sweet vintage Valentine to give her.
The girl reminds me of me when I was young and I love the colors and style of it.
Here is the inside. What it says is perfect. We love all the same things, so we really do agree on most everything. And I am definitely very happy when she does come to Texas to "play" with me! We love going to antique stores together!
I also found these pretty pieces of lace and mother of pearl buttons and buckles for her. I think they are so pretty.A few more finds for my mama's birthday. A vibrantly colored millinery flower and bingo card.As I was leaving the antique store, I saw a huge basket full of lace sitting on the floor by the register that was not there when I had arrived. Of course, I sat on the floor and dug through them for a long time, untangling them and finding the prettiest pieces. The only trouble was, there were no prices. When the dealer showed up, she could not have been sweeter and she gave the flower for free and told me I could have the huge pile of lace I found for only $2!!!My new pink cabinet is the perfect place to store them, but they are so pretty I may have to keep the drawer open! For some reason I always have a hard time finding pink buttons, so I was happy to find these lovelies!
I'm linking up with Vintage Inspiration Friday with Debra from Common Ground. Wishing you a lovely week girls!
Michelle xoxo

2011-01-18T16:56:00.003-06:00

Valentine Crafting...I finally found a little time to create some Valentine goodies while baby napped!I made this altered heart candy box. I used sheet music, a vintage flower, seam binding, a button and some broken jewelry.
This is the first altered bottle I've ever tried. I love it and now I can't wait to find more bottles to use!
And I forgot to show you this lovely vintage monogrammed sugar bowl I found. It's missing it's lid which makes it a perfect piece to display flowers or other pretties.Have a lovely day, girls!
Michelle xoxo

2011-01-16T10:24:00.002-06:00

Fabulous finds~Hello, dear ones! I'm so exited about my newest find! I still had some Christmas money my sweet husband gave me so I took a little trip to the antique mall. I've been wanting a vintage scale for a long time and I have finally found the perfect one...and in my favorite color too!I love the way the bottom is scalloped and how pretty the numbers are. And it's just the right amount of shabby!
I also found these gorgeous vintage buttons! These kind are so hard to find!
Speaking of hard to find , I also found some vintage wallpaper (really cheap!)This first piece is my favorite!
They were all small scraps,but perfect for art projects!
Aren't they lovely?
I can't wait to use them!Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Michelle xoxo

2011-01-07T19:27:00.007-06:00

Dreaming
I managed to squeeze in a bit of time to create....this sweet Valentine cone...which I just had to hang on my aqua door...which inspired me to bring out some more pink and romantic treasures...like these sweet pillows....and this pretty heart I made a couple years ago.I actually made two of them. Both were made from one old Valentine candy box, one from the lid and one from the bottom of the box.I sent this one to my sweet mama.
Now I'm feeling inspired to make more of these hearts because I think they are just so pretty! Hopefully I will have some to finished to show you next time.
Michelle xoxo

2011-01-01T23:01:00.010-06:00

Winter Whites!
Lots of white, some tarnished silver and a little sparkle! I'm joining Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday.I took down the Christmas and decided to do a Winter White theme on my hutch.
Redecorating my hutch is always such fun.My lovely dress form, beautiful in simple white and silver and rhinestones. I named her when I first got her, but I must not have loved the name because I can't remember what it was! I think she needs a new one!
Love lace in a jar, or anywhere really. The key is not really old, but so pretty. I think they still might be selling them at Hobby Lobby. If so, I think I need to go get some more!
Pretty silver trays and bowls. I think silver looks so gorgeous teamed with white!
My tiara. I hope you are not getting sick of seeing it in so many of my photos. I just think it is so pretty!!!
More pretty lace, silver and whites.
And my vintage clocks.... I just can't get enough of them! I just noticed they are all about a quarter after the hour. Hmmm- are they trying to tell my something?
Brown transferware plate and a sweet photo my mama sent me. (And other Hobby Lobby key!)
Now I'm off to pull out my little pink tree and plan some Valentines creations!
Michelle xoxo

2010-12-31T15:14:00.008-06:00

Time for the year 2010 in review!
I've never done this on my blog before, but I've seen lots of you doing it and I think it's a fun idea. So here we go!

Favorite Thrift Store Finds:
I still can't believe I found this adorable and very clean recliner at Goodwill! I added the fabric to the seat to make it even cuter!Another great Goodwill find, this lovely brown and white transferware bowl! It's a perfect place to show off my vintage buttons and rhinestones!This sweet little cream pitcher was a fun thrift store find, too! Nothing big, but I love it!

Favorite Antique Mall Finds:I have been searching for an old door forever and I was so lucky to find this fabulous one in my very favorite color!I adore floral barkcloth fabric, so this was a very happy find! The colors are so cheerful! It will be perfect for my spring decorating!
This beautiful McCoy vase was a steal! All because of a barely noticeable repair.I adore this charming quilt! It has the prettiest colors and patterns!And other thing I'd been searching a long time for, white suitcases! They are such a cute little size, perfect for tabletop displays, closed for lifts or open to display my favorite treasures!
And this great vintage clock! They are such a fun thing to collect!

Favorite creation:This was an easy pick as my favorite because it's my only creation of 2010! I do love it, though! I'm hoping to find more time for creating in this new year because it's so fun and such a stress reliever.
I want to thank you all for leaving such kind and supportive comments here on my blog this year! And thank you all for the inspiration you share on your blogs! Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, filled with lots of time with family and friends, lots of fun hunting for vintage treasures and plenty of time for creating!!!
Michelle xoxo

2010-12-30T09:45:00.005-06:00

Presents for my mama...
These are the presents I sent to my sweet mama! She's so fun to shop for because she loves pretty vintage treasures as much as I do!
Don't you love this vintage cabinet card? I think this handsome fellow looks quite dapper in his suit and handlebar mustache! I can never pass up lovely mother of pearl buttons, especially on their original card! The lovely lace in the background is one of her presents, too. Some of the prettiest vintage millinery flowers I've ever found! I love the soft shade of pink and the white one has so many ruffled petals!
A gorgeous rhinestone crown pin. A girl can't have too many rhinestones or crowns!
And here are a couple of lovely gifts I received that I forgot to show you in the last post.
My dear mama sent me the sweet baby photo and this cute vintage clock is a present from my sweet husband!
Can you believe I'm already thinking about Valentines Day? I hoping to get some Valentines made soon!
Michelle xoxo

2010-12-25T17:01:00.013-06:00

Dreamy Vintage Christmas presents!
Oh, yes, there is no doubt about it. I, my dears, am quite spoiled! Look at the amazing gifts I received for Christmas!
A gorgeous vintage hand mirror, sparkling earrings and hair clips and bracelets from my dear husband and sweet boys!
My sweet mama sent me this beautiful black velvet clutch with a luscious vintage pink rose! She also gave me this fabulous necklace with two crowns and these lovely magnets!Here's a little business card she got from a store called "Junk in the Trunk". She glittered it and added the cute headdress! She also sent me this pretty embroidered runner and a vintage hat covered in flowers. I can't wait to cut the flowers off so I can use them in my crafts!More pretty vintage linens.I love the patterns and colors on the vintage tablecloth!Lovely vintage photos.And a stack of adorable jadite green trays .Each one has this cute image on it! I love the art deco flowers on her skirt!She really knows what I like, which is easy because we like all the same things! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families. We had a really fun day at our house!
Next time I'll show you what I sent to my dear mama for Christmas!
Michelle xoxo

2010-12-21T19:00:00.007-06:00

Holiday Sparkle!
Here is a little peek into my bedroom. I've always got to have some sparkle, holiday or not!
I added some fairy lights to this white lantern for a pretty and magical glow and draped some pretty aqua beads on the back of the chair. The pillow is the other side of the one my mom made me from a vintage runner. I added my favorite pink millinery flower.
I was lucky enough to win this adorable snowman ornament from sweet Dawn of The Feathered Nest! Isn't he SO cute???And he fits in perfectly on my white tree! Thanks so much, Dawn!!!
Here are a few more of my favorite ornaments on my tree. A sweet angel.
A charming snowman family, which is really just a card I added glitter to.
An adorable Santa and a vintage photo.
Can't you just see that little guy asking for some figgy pudding? He looks like he's all dressed up for the holidays! Now I'm off to read some Christmas stories to my little men.
Michelle xoxo

2010-12-15T12:26:00.006-06:00

Vintage Christmas!
These are the presents I'm mailing off to my dear mama. I can't show what's inside yet, because she sometimes reads my blog. I love using plain brown mailing paper with vintage pretties like lace and postcards to dress it up.
This box some of you may recognize as the box glittered letters come in. I altered it by adding a vintage photo of a queen and some glitter. I was going to glitter her jewels, but ran out of glitter glue and time.
I used vintage sheet music to wrap one present and tied it up with aqua seam binding. The tiny little box is from Michaels. It's just a little paper mache box. I added a vintage fairy illustration and some tinsel.
This is my Christmas tree this year. You may be wondering why I'm only showing you the top of it.This is why. This little man loves to remove the ornaments, so the bottom of the tree is quite bare.
I love how my old aqua door looks as a backdrop for my white tree.On it I have hung some vintage lace and a Wendy Addison dream banner. I also added a cute little cone I made and this fun collage I did a few years ago. The photo is of my mom and her little brother in front of an igloo their daddy built for them.I love this old world style Father Christmas I found at T.J. Maxx. He is the newest addition to my small collection of white Christmas decorations.
And last, I must show you the table I bought with my birthday money over two months ago. It's fits perfectly in my entryway.
Hope you are having lots of fun getting ready for Christmas this year as I am.
Michelle xoxo

2010-11-15T09:32:00.004-06:00

Christmas at my house...
Just a peek at some of my Christmas decor. I'm linking up with It's A Very Cherry World for the weekly Rednesday blog party!As you can see, I have a thing for cute snowmen....and vintage Christmas cards...
and little snow covered houses and trees. Do you decorating for Christmas early too? I just can't help myself. It's my favorite time of year, so I like to make it last as long as I can.Michelle xoxo

2010-11-09T14:45:00.007-06:00

Dreaming of a Vintage White Christmas...
Happy White Wednesday! I love Christmas and as soon as Halloween is over, I'm hauling out the boxes of Christmas goodies!This is the top of my cheap old t.v. cabinet. But who will notice with all the pretty Christmas decor to distract you?
I never tire of using my tarnished silver pieces. They looks pretty any time of year and go with everything!
I adore my lovely mercury glass candlesticks. Not old, but just as pretty as the real thing, I think!
Old clocks, buttons, lace and some snowy pine cones. I love the little snowman print below. Vintage children's book illustrations are a favorite of mine.
Now I'm off to see more White Wednesday posts! Thanks to Kathleen of Faded Charm for hosting this fun weekly blog party!
Michelle xoxo

2010-10-19T11:33:00.006-05:00

Happy White Wednesday!
We had a great weekend with our sweet boys. We went to a favorite park, ice cream, donuts, an antique mall, a pumpkin patch and a thrift store! It was tiring, but very fun! I was lucky enough to find this lovely white pitcher at the thrift store. Of course, I could not resist adding a little lace and bling!
This is the top of my hutch, all in pretty whites. I adore my gorgeous fairy! She was a gift from my sweet mama a few years back.Now I'm off to see the other beautiful White Wednesday posts!
Thank you to Kathleen of Faded Charm for hosting this fun weekly blog party!
Michelle xoxo

2010-10-18T22:53:00.005-05:00

Thrift store inspiration...
I'm loving my new pillows! I found these two beautiful pillowcases at two different thrift stores recently and was so thrilled that they go together so perfectly! The colors are so pretty and warm and cozy! So perfect for fall! They inspired me to get out my red transferware collection!I think all the different shades of red and the different patterns look great mixed together. Some pieces are old and some are new. This little creamer is one of my favorite vintage pieces!
The gorgeous floral lace (below) was one of my birthday presents. Isn't it wonderful?This pretty toile covered hat box is another favorite treasure of mine. I have a lot of favorite things, don't I? Ha ha! Maybe a few too many? But how can you have to many pretty things? If only I had an extra room or two to store it all in instead of my poor overstuffed closet!
Hope you are all getting outside and enjoying this wonderful fall weather! As you can see, my boys certainly have been!Michelle xoxo

2010-10-13T14:48:00.008-05:00

In the boudoir...Having fun with my new vintage tiara, making a little vignette on my dresser.
I have also been playing with my pretty vintage treasures. I gave this little girlie a crown of her own.
My shelves are a bit of a mess right now, but at least it's a beautiful mess!
I also had a bit of fun playing with this vintage photo of the lady in the birdcage. I gave her a sparkly crown and named her the Flea Market Queen.
Thank goodness it's almost the weekend, girls! I can't wait! It's our 17th wedding anniversary on Saturday!
Michelle xoxo

2010-10-11T20:01:00.004-05:00

More pretty vintage goodies!Here are a few more of the lovely vintage goodies my sweet mama gave me for my birthday!
Sparkling vintage rhinestone buttons (love them!) and this fabulous hat covered in pink flowers! I especially love the ones with nets. This is another one that is just too pretty to take apart for the flowers. (I need to find some not-so-pretty ones so I can have more flowers for my artwork.)
Milli loves the hat as much as I do, so I let her wear it for a while, but my new vintage tiara is all mine!
My mama also was kind enough to bring two of my ballet costumes I wore back in my dancing queen days, when I was four years old. This sweet pink one is my favorite.
Now I'm off to visit your pretty blogs! See you later girls!
Michelle xoxo

2010-10-06T08:30:00.006-05:00

Happy White Wednesday!My sweet parents arrived last week and we've been having a great visit! I'm very happy they were here to celebrate my birthday with me this year. What a fun weekend we had! My dad was kind enough to drive us to all my favorite antique mall and entertain the little guys while my mom and I shopped. Then they took us out to eat at Pasados (yummy Mexican food!) and then home for cake and presents. My sweet mama gave me the best presents! I'll only show you the white ones today since it's White Wednesday.I've been wanting a vintage tiara forever and look at this gorgeous one my mama gave me! I love it! (I wore it while I opened my other presents and ate my cake!)She also made me this pretty white pillow with the crown pin. She used a vintage runner that had gorgeous crochet lace at both ends, so both sides of this pillow are beautiful!The crown pin is so sparkly and pretty but you just can't tell in these photos, so I took one with the flash on.Now I'm off to see everyone else's White Wednesday posts. Thanks to Kathleen from Faded Charm for hosting this fun weekly blog party! I'll show you some more of my birthday presents next time.
Michelle xoxo

2010-09-24T17:20:00.006-05:00

Happy Saturday!
Hi girls! Sorry I've been MIA lately. I've been busy tidying up (o.k., cleaning like a mad woman!) in preparation for my parents visit next week. I'm so exited that they are coming! I'd better get back to cleaning. Hope you all enjoy your weekend! Here's a little eye candy from my favorites on Flickr!

1. Old Victorian houses in Eureka, CA, 2. Maude Fealy, 3. Jan - Fading Beauty #2, 4. My finds this weekend........., 5. Journal page , 6. Rhinestone Buttons, 7. Pay It Forward ATC Swap, 8. Vintage postcard - artist Catherine Clein, 9. Aqua Blue Ruffled Prom Dress

2010-09-01T13:21:00.005-05:00

White Wednesday!
(Click to enlarge photo)
Some favorite whites from around my home and from my favorite antique malls. Thanks to Kathleen from Faded Charm for hosting this weekly blog party fun!
Michelle xoxo

2010-08-23T11:17:00.011-05:00

Sneaking in some blogging time...while the little one sleeps. It's hard when they start only taking one nap a day and even harder when they stop napping altogether! So I'll just be grateful that he still takes one a day! I love vintage tablecloths and I found a really beautiful one a few weeks ago and have finally taken some photos to show you. Isn't it gorgeous? I love the colors and how soft and faded it is. Well, really I'm using the backside because it's even more soft and faded looking. This is a close up of the right side. And this is part of the pretty border. Jadite green, soft blue, faded rosy reds and pinks, buttery yellows... these colors just make me happy! Hope you find some happiness in your day!
Michelle xoxo

2010-08-06T16:17:00.006-05:00

Missing you!
Hello, dear blog friends! I know I've been gone a long time, but it's been crazy around here. Summertime = three little boys at home all day long to keep busy and happy. Also, the past week we've all been suffering from an awful bout of the stomach flu. We're mostly recovered now and I hope to be blogging again very soon.This is a cute photo of my mom having lots of fun at the beach in a frame I altered.
And this is a collage I made with another photo from that day at the beach. Hope you are all having a fun summer!
Michelle xoxo

2010-06-15T14:26:00.004-05:00

Sneak peek
Hello dear friends! I've decided to keep my first wall color after all. It is very pretty even though it wasn't what I first wanted and (with a crazy little 1 year old running about) I just don't have what it takes to paint it all over again!
I still have a lot to do before the room is done, though. Like finding pretty bedding and a chandelier. I've been eying this lovely vintage inspired bedding from Pennys.I'd prefer to find an old one, but there are some really gorgeous new chandeliers on Ebay for pretty cheap if you're willing to add all the crystals on yourself! lol! I just might do that.Since I'm not ready to show my room yet, I'll just give you a sneak peek. I've been having fun decorating my fabulous Simply Shabby Chic (found at the Goodwill for $30!) bookshelf with some of my favorite vintage treasures. Here's a little sneak peek of the wall color too, behind this chair! This is my mom's baby dress on an adorable vintage baby hanger. I embellished the glittered "C" with a photo of my sweet mama as a baby.
I love this vintage hanger! My mom gave me two like this and I think they are too pretty to leave in the closet! I added the rhinestone button because I just can't have enough sparkle!
Thanks for coming to visit today!
Michelle xoxo

2010-06-08T14:50:00.009-05:00

Pretty inspiration...
Hello girls! Remember how I was going to buy some aqua paint for my bedroom makeover? Well, I did buy some.... and I painted the whole room.... and it's just way to bright and too blue. So I'll have to find a better color- hopefully one that looks a lot like the one in the photo below.
I love this bedroom so much!!! It's from the book "Garden Style" by Better Homes and Gardens. I think the very pale aqua color is just what I want. The vintage floral prints on the bed are so pretty! I love how they used the garden trellis and plant stand for display.This photo is from the same book. I have drooled over this photo for over 10 years now and I just noticed that I now have two of the lovely McCoy pieces that are in this photo, the swan and one of the flower pots! Anway, just sharing some lovely vintage style decorating inspiration while I try and sort out my painting problems.
Michelle xoxo

2010-05-29T14:03:00.006-05:00

Romantic Bedroom Inspiration....
There's a reason I named my blog Rose Garden Romantic and my Flickr account Seaside Rose Garden. I love the sea. I adore roses because they remind me of my sweet mama's garden. And I'm a hopeless romantic. So it's no surprise that when it comes to decorating, those are my favorite themes! We moved into the house we are renting 4 years ago and I still have not decorated my master bedroom! Since we have always moved often, I don't do a lot to the houses I live in. But since we've lived here 4 years now and there's no sign of that changing anytime soon, I've decided to stop staring at those ugly dark green walls in my bedroom everyday when I wake up. I want to wake up to something beautiful and cheerful. So this weekend we are off to buy some paint! I have made a fun little collage for inspiration for my room's new look.
It's going to be a use what you have makeover for the most part. I already have a cottage style white bed, a vintage white dresser and a large mirror just like the one you see in the above photo. But the one in the photo is from Pottery Barn and costs hundreds of dollars. I got mine for $15 dollars from the Goodwill and painted it white! I even have a pretty barkcloth floral print pillow similar to the one on the bed. All I really need (o.k. want!) is a pretty chandelier, pretty bedding and some paint. I am terrible at making decisions and choosing paint colors is so hard. Wish me luck!
Michelle xoxo

2010-05-20T16:32:00.009-05:00

Happy....
I love collecting! I collect so many things. One of the funnest things for me to find are vintage toys, children's books and baby items. They are just so cute and whenever I see them around my home they make me happy!
Ever since I first saw Jenny's cute vintage pianos (here and here and here)I wanted to find one of my own. I was so happy to find this toy piano, but it was an ugly dark brown wood. I painted it a cheerful aqua blue color and I think it turned out pretty cute, but I may not be finished with it yet...
This sweet baby sheet was made by my husband's dear grandmother. I was so happy to have it passed down to me. She was excellent at embroidery. The back looks as good as the front. It was an extra treat that it has bluebirds because I also collect anything with sweet vintage bluebirds on it! I'll have to show you that collection another day.
This copy of "A Child's Garden of Verses" has one of the prettiest covers I've seen! It's copyright is 1917.What do you love to collect? What is it in your home that makes your heart happy every time you see it?
Michelle xoxo

2010-05-18T18:37:00.007-05:00

I Love the Goodwill- Part 3
Hello, dear readers! It's time for installment #3 of "I Love the Goowill"! I'm very exited about my latest find, this cute, clean and comfy checkered chair! I was very happy to find it was also a recliner. I covered the seat with some pretty vintage floral fabric to make it more fun and more me.
My new purchase inspired me to redo this whole corner of the living room in a whimsical cottage style. The cute Alice in Wonderland bunny is one of my favorite Marshalls finds from years ago. The lampshade with the ruffle and the silver vase with roses are from the Goodwill. The vintage hat covered in soft peachy pink flower petals is one of my favorites.
I filled one of my new (to me!) vintage suitcases with lots of pretty treasures.
Tucked inside are all sorts of goodies. Vintage lace, millinery, buttons, a sweet half doll, a charming little creamer and a fabulous old copy of "A Child's Garden of Verses". Don't you love the blue polka dot paper inside? I even like how it's partly torn away.
A close up view of all the loveliness!A sweet embroidered linen my sweet mama gave me. The colors are so soft and the lace edging is so pretty!
My favorite little rusty alarm clock. I love collecting them.
Lastly, a view of my half wall behind the chair. The photo is of my mama and her parents. I adore the sweet photo and the gorgeous frame (another great Marshalls find!)
Thanks for stopping by today, dear friends! I'll have to come visit you all later tonight after the 3 sweethearts are fast asleep!
Michelle xoxo

2010-05-11T20:03:00.010-05:00

White Wednesday!
Oh goody! It's White Wednesday! I haven't participated in a long time and I've missed it! I promised to show you all the rest of what I found on my Mother's Day antiquing jaunt and some of it just happens to be white!
I have been searching for white suitcases for years and I've actually found several, but never wanted to pay $30 or more each. Since I wanted at least 3 so I could stack them, that would really add up fast. So I was very happy to find these small size ones for less than the price of one big one and they fit nicely on top of tables for a lift! Also, the little men in my life are more likely to leave them alone if they are high instead of stacked on the floor. I also found the photo of the lady, the pretty piece of crochet lace, an old bottle that I'm exited to embellish with lace and rhinestones and the faux fur collar, which I really only bought for the rhinestone clasps on it!Now I'm off to visit the other White Wednesday participants. Thank you to Kathleen of Faded Charm for hosting this fun weekly event!Michelle xoxo

2010-05-10T00:05:00.007-05:00

A Lovely Day......
Lucky me! I had the loveliest Mother's Day! My sweet little guys gave me the cutest cards, homemade presents and my favorite candy! Then my sweet husband took me to one of my favorite places- the antique mall, of course! This is what I found.....An adorable Easter booklet! It tells the cutest story of a ducky who lived in Easterland. He was sad because he wanted to dress up for Easter, but had nothing to wear. So the other animals in Easterland help him out- each giving him something to wear. I will share more of this book another time. It's just too cute!I found some pretty aqua blue buttons for crafting. A girl can't have too many vintage buttons! And my favorite find of all... this amazing vintage quilt! I adore the colors, the vintage prints, and how it's faded to such a soft look!
And can you believe it was only $20!? Yes, it true! It does have a few small spots that are coming apart, but for the most part it's in great condition and not a single stain. Here is the yummy fabric on the backside.
My four handsome guys... adoring me, showering me with candy, hugs and kisses and taking me antique shopping! It doesn't get better than that! The only way to make it better is if I could have spent it with my sweet mama! Miss and love you, Mama!!! I found a few more things, too, but I'll save those for my next post. What did you do for Mother's Day? Michelle xoxo

2010-05-08T22:32:00.004-05:00

Happy Mother's Day!!!
These are the gifts I sent to my dear, sweet Mama for Mother's Day this year. A pretty vintage journal, crochet lace, a millinery flower and some gorgeous rhinestone pieces!I also sent this lovely brown transferware plate and cute vintage photos!
It is so fun and easy to shop for her because we love all the same things!And for your Mother's Day gift, dear friends is something I know you all love... some gorgeous eye candy from my Flickr favorites! (Click to enlarge and see all the beauty up close!)
I hope you all have a lovely Mother's Day with your loved ones!
Michelle xoxo

2010-05-06T08:02:00.007-05:00

It's been a long time....
Sorry I've been gone so very long, dear blog friends! There has been illness and many other things keeping me away, but all is well in my little cottage and I'm so happy to be back! (image courtesy of http://artfreebies.blogspot.com/)
First I will show you a couple of my latest finds. Can you believe I found this amazing brown transferware bowl at Goodwill? Only $5!!!
I love the way it looks filled with vintage white buttons and rhinestones!I also found this gorgeous aqua swan McCoy vase at the antique mall for only $12!!! I didn't realize it had a crack that had been repaired till I got home, which explains the great price, but you can't even see it unless you are looking for it!
I took a few photos at one of my favorite antique malls to share with you. Don't you love this sweet old dress! Look at those ruffles!!!And this dress with the pink silk sash is so beautiful!!! I drool over this gorgeous sconce every time I see it.My sweet Dylan had his first birthday a couple of weeks ago. We had his party at the park because he loves being outdoors so much.
He loved the swings!I hope you all have a day as happy as this little guy did on his birthday!Michelle xoxo

2010-03-09T15:03:00.008-06:00

Dressing up for Spring!
I've been dressing up my home and my fun dress form for Springtime! She loves her pillow ticking skirt! And she adores wearing her vintage jewelry!I'm letting her borrow my $3 Gap jean jacket I found at the thrift store.Here are my sweet vintage bluebirds. They look happy like those birds I hear outside my window! They know Spring is almost here!I love pastel dishes with flowers. They are just so pretty and cheerful!My favorite teacup! I'm thinking of painting my kitchen that lovely shade of soft aqua blue!Delicious pink plate. Not vintage, but a Rachel Ashwell plate from when she had a line at Mervyns. Wish I had bought more of them back then!
My mama bought this yummy plate for me at Gatherings, one of my favorite antique stores.Oh dear, I just realized that I have all my favorite dishes on one hutch.... hope my boys don't find a way to knock it over!Love this cute "dishes" flash card!
These soft pastels are so calming and peaceful.This pretty vintage Madonna was a $1.50 bargain at the Salvation Army.Beautiful chintz and that shade of aqua blue is perfect. Isn't my 1/2 pt. pitcher so cute?Here is the top of my hutch with more yummy vintage goodness. My mom gave me that hatbox lid that has lost it's box. It has the prettiest vintage wallpaper.Graceful curves on this pretty white pitcher.
One of my favorite plates. It was my husband's grandmothers. Isn't it gorgeous?It's so lovely here today. I hope it is warming up where you are. Happy (almost) Spring!

2010-03-03T11:29:00.006-06:00

Inspired...
I found this fabulous old vintage door last weekend and I love it!!! I have wanted one for years and this one is the prettiest shade of aqua blue! It has inspired me to redecorate this corner of my little cottage.
My 10-month-old baby Dylan loves this baby doll head almost as much as I do. She seems pretty happy up there sitting on the old books.
Pretty sconce I found at the antique mall. It's just dripping in crystals. Not sure if I will leave it gold or paint it white.I'm really loving this look- vintage, shabby, country, cottage, junk chic? Whatever you call it, it makes me feel happy!Yummy millinery rose and a vintage lace runner draped over the chippy old door. This is my favorite part of this corner.One of my pretty half dolls- I think she's dreaming of Paris in Spring.
I know I am! Maybe someday....
Are you dreaming of Spring? Michelle xoxo

2010-02-28T11:09:00.007-06:00

Loving blue and white...
I love blue and white dishes. It's such a fresh and pretty color combination. I finally saw the premier issue of the new magazine we have all been waiting for, Flea Market Style, and I LOVED every page!!!! Their article on blue and white dishes made me want to pull mine out of the cupboard and share them with you.
I don't have a large collection, just 6 pieces, but lately I've been thinking small collections with only very favorite pieces are best since I love to collect so many different things. A girl only has so much space to store and display her collections!
Just one of my blue and white plates is actually vintage. This sweet dessert plate. I love how soft and faded the blues are both the dish and on the postcard.
The next three dishes are all new from Marshalls. Oh, how I adore discount stores!
This next beauty is from the beautiful (and delicious smelling!) Crabtree and Evelyn. I may add to my collection someday, but only if I really love the piece and it's cheap, too! I actually did not buy the Flea Market Style magazine when I saw it. I devoured the pages while sitting in an office chair at Fry's waiting for sweet husband to do his boring man shopping. It was so good, though. Even better than I'd hoped for. They featured so many of my favorite things all in one magazine! Every page was beautiful! I think I'll go get it at Walmart because they are 10% off there. It will only save one dollar, but every dollar I save can go toward another pretty treasure! And boy, does that Flea Market Style magazine have me wanting to go antique shopping!!!I do have a few other pretty blue and white treasures that are not dishes that I will have to share with you in other post!
Michelle xoxo

2010-02-24T11:23:00.005-06:00

White Wednesday!
When no one was looking, the queen loved to lounge on mounds of white vintage lace.....Happy White Wednesday!!! Visit Faded Charm to see who else is participating!
And one more thing! Linda of Robin's Egg Blues is having a fabulous giveaway!Just click the photo above to go to her blog to enter! Hurry on over- it ends Feb. 28 at 8p.m.!
Michelle xoxo

2010-02-22T18:28:00.007-06:00

Dreaming of Spring...
I found this beautiful piece of barkcloth in my one of my favorite antique mall booths last weekend! Isn't it gorgeous? I adore vintage barkcloth, but it's hard to find around here and I'm always on the lookout for it, so I was so pleased to find this lovely piece! It's not really a pillow yet, I just wrapped the fabric around another pillow, but it will do for now- until I learn to sew....
I just love the pretty shades of pinks and greens and the wonderful texture of the barkcloth fabric. Floral fabrics are one of my very favorite things to decorate with! They are so cheerful and in the dreary, grey days of winter, they remind me that Spring will always come again. Most importantly, they remind me of my sweet mama, who also loves roses. I grew up in a home surrounded by her beautiful gardens and also she is an amazing artist who paints the most gorgeous oil paintings of roses! All these beautiful flowers have me exited to get out all my pretty rose dishes and decorate my hutch and the rest of my home for Spring and Easter!
Michelle xoxo

2010-02-14T11:33:00.012-06:00

Happy Valentines Day!!!
I hope you are all having a sweet Valentines Day with someone you love. I'm spending the day at home with all four of my sweet men! Yesterday I found something I have been searching for- this lovely cream pillow with great texture and crochet trim. I found it at Big Lots! I wanted one like this because I can't sew, but have been really wanting to make a pretty pillow like the ones you can see in the blog banner of the beautiful blog, Dream in Cream!I started by adding some gorgeous vintage lace. I used a vintage collar at the top and a pretty large doily piece for a pocket at the bottom.Then I tucked in a photo of my grandmother and her little sister and some sweet sheet music.To finish it off I added this fabulous vintage rhinestone pin!And I'm so happy with the results!!! I might have to go back to Big Lots and buy one more so I can make another one!I promised last post to show you what I found while antiquing with my sweet mama when she was here visiting. Sadly, I forgot to take photos of the pretty birthday presents I gave her, but here are the things I found and kept for myself!Love this vintage book I found, copyright 1888! I love the title too- "The Midnight Queen"!It's pages are perfectly aged, all brown around the edges. I also found this fun "dishes" flash card.
A photo of two sisters, Maggie May and Ethel Gertrude, ages 16 and 18. The date July 1899 in Atlanta Georgia. I love it when the names and other information are written on the back!A pretty necklace (not so vintage!) that i found at American Eagle outfitters. They have lots of pretty jewelry in there- who knew? Now get off the computer and go kiss your sweetheart! That's what I'm going to do!Michelle xoxo

2010-01-12T13:57:00.010-06:00

Romantic Thoughts....I found one!!! You may remember that in my last post I told you I was not able to find an affordable little feather style tree? Well, this past weekend I found one at my favorite antique mall! It was half price and already had white lights, white tulle wrapped around it, and it is the prettiest shade of vintage peachy pink!!! And it's a tall one at 3 ft. I got a great deal, but whoever bought this tree before me got an even better deal. I know because when I looked at the bottom of the base there was a Goodwill tag that said 3.99!!!
I was so exited to find it! I can use it for Christmas, Valentines Day and Easter, too! I couldn't wait to decorate it and create a vignette around it! I found two more wonderful treasures that day, also. This lovely book in the best vintage aqua blue. Quite the dramatic title. Maybe someday when my kids are all grown up I will have time to read all these great old books that I really buy just to use in my decorating because they are so darn pretty! Hehe!I also found this delightful vintage hat. It's just so yummy, covered in soft, whisper pink rose petals!
Love, love, love these newest finds. I could just stare at them all day!
Here is a closer look at my pretty pink Valentine tree. The pearl choker necklace is the one I wore for my wedding.The lady in the vintage photo is my great grandmother. To me she looks as though she may be thinking romantic thoughts.And showcased in my favorite frame is cupid herself. Hmmm ~I should maybe give her a heart or arrow or something? Or are silver wings and a rhinestone necklace enough?
Look at that sweet face. The silver wings, rhinestones and doll were all Christmas presents from my sweet mama.
I adore this rose print. I enlarged it from a vintage postcard by C. Klein, one of my favorite artists.
All this romantic decorating really has me in the mood to make some pretty Valentines! Hopefully, I will have some to show you next time.Michelle xoxo

2010-01-10T10:16:00.007-06:00

Silver Sunday!
Welcome to Silver Sunday, hosted by the lovely Beth of Gypsy Fish Journal!
The silver tray belonged to my grandmother. I love to use it as a place to display some of my favorite little pretty vintage treasures! And this gorgeous mirror is one of my very favorite things! I found it at Marshalls years ago. I LOVE Marshalls.... and T.J.Maxx, Ross, and thrift stores!! Make sure you visit Jill from Gypsy Brocante to win one of her fabulous silver tray chalkboards! Now I'm off now to visit the other lovely ladies participating in Silver Sunday!
Michelle xoxo

2010-01-08T19:25:00.014-06:00

The Valentine Tree....I have been wanting one of those small white feather style trees for a long time now. I have seen them used to display Valentines and Easter decorations and they always looks so cute. But I have never found one in person and online they seem to cost as much or more than my white Christmas tree- plus shipping! So this year I just left up my Christmas tree and made it a Valentines tree! I wasn't too sure about it- it seemed a bit too weird (even for me!). But my boys love it and so it will stay...I guess. But I'm getting pretty tired of pulling Dylan away from it every 5 minutes! Anyway, it looks better in close ups and it's not really finished so I will just show you a few my favorite parts.I love vintage valentines! The first one is my favorite. It came in an envelope addressed to "Edward". Next ist the sweetest Mary Engelbriet envelope and a vintage playing card.
The adorable little Valentine below was a gift from my sweet and talented friend Mel! Isn't it the cutest??
I used candy canes on the tree because they fit in so well- who says candy canes are only for Christmas?
A glittery red heart garland my sweet mama gave me and a Mary Engelbriet card. Have I ever told you how much I love Mary E.? I fell in love with her artwork when I was a teenager way back in the 80's.
A sweet vintage postcard.
Doves, sparkling key (the key to your heart, of course!)
A cute little flapper lady dressed up for a Valentine's party.I have been more into pastels for the past few years, but I have and always will love red. This hatbox is a favorite find. I think the toile wallpaper used to cover it is so beautiful! And this vintage scrapbook is such a great shade of dark red.And another one of my fun thrift store finds! A super cute Mary E. pillow that is in perfect condition!I'm hoping to find time to make some cute Valentines this year. I haven't created anything since this time last year because I have been busy with this little sweet heart.Meet me here tomorrow for Silver Sunday!!
Michelle xoxo

2010-01-03T12:27:00.004-06:00

Silver Sunday!
I'm joining in (a little late!) to Gypsy Fish Journal's Silver Sunday! I don't have a lot of silver, but I do love the pieces I have. The first is vintage sugar shaker with pretty floral details.
This little teapot ( really probably a creamer, I guess?) was a Goodwill find and the lovely tray it is sitting on belonged to my paternal grandmother. Thanks so much to Beth for hosting the great idea of Silver Sunday!
Michelle xoxo

2009-12-27T08:21:00.011-06:00

A Merry Little Christmas....I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! We had a fun one with lots of sweet little smiling faces! It was Dylan's first Christmas and he caught on to opening presents very quickly! Sadly, we could not go home to California to see our parents this year, but my sweet mama sent me the most wonderful box full of vintage treasures! A tinted photo of three adorable brothers...some gorgeous vintage jewelry...
lovely vintage silver...(such pretty designs!)
this beautiful vintage tablecloth... (love the colors!)a pretty embroidered runner...a sweet dolly....and my favorite, this amazing vintage quilt!!!I have always loved the Grandmother's Garden design and have wanted one for sooo long!
It has the softest pastel colors!
Look at all that hand stitching! I can't imagine how much work and time it took to make these kind of wonderful old quilts.
I'm such a lucky girl! Hope you got some fun gifts and enjoyed Christmas day with your loved ones!
Michelle xoxo

2009-12-24T00:59:00.005-06:00

A Very Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-14T16:17:00.003-06:00

Happy finds...I forgot to show you this cute shelf! It's one of my birthday presents I found at the antique mall. It's the perfect vintage shade of aqua blue. I am using it in my studio to hold some favorite things~ vintage hats, millinery flowers and my newest find, this adorable baby doll head! I have been wanting one for so long! Doesn't she have the sweetest, prettiest face?Oops! I just remembered I forgot Vintage Christmas Monday! I'll try to remember next week.
Michelle xoxo

2009-12-11T10:15:00.007-06:00

Happy Christmas!
I love my pink Christmas decor, but before that I loved the traditional Christmas red, too. And I still do! So although the rest of my home has pastels, I decided to decorate my hutch with the reds this year because I love my snowman collection and they just don't blend in with the pastels.One of my favorite snowmen,glittered village houses, snowy pine cones and bottle brush trees,one of my Teena Flanner snowmen, (I have loved her work since I first saw it in Mary Engelbriet's magazine!)another adorable snow guy,sweet home made looking ornaments,and vintage tinsel! I love the vintage, home made country Christmas look just as much as I love the pastels. What colors do you love for Christmas?
Michelle xoxo

2009-11-30T08:33:00.011-06:00

Vintage Christmas Monday!
It's Vintage Christmas Monday again with Joan's blog, Anything Goes Here! A box of pretty vintage ornaments! I want to collect more for my tree and also to make one of those amazing wreaths like Heather's or Pam's!Here is my white tree that I love! I think the ornaments really stand out well against the white.I love the little houses I found at Hobby Lobby a couple of years back. I painted and glittered them and added rhinestones for doorknobs.The top of my tree with a pretty bird and vintage millinery rose. I think my bird may need a crown.One of my favorite home made ornaments. Isn't that little snow baby the cutest?
A sweet little tag I made. I haven't made any Christmas crafts yet this year, but I'm definitely in the mood to do so now!
Happy Vintage Christmas Monday!Michelle xoxo

2009-11-23T05:43:00.005-06:00

Vintage Christmas Monday!
I'm joining in the Vintage Christmas Monday fun with Joan's blog, Anything Goes Here! I like to mix my vintage ornaments with my handmade ornaments and some that are new but vintage style.
Now I'm off to see all the other vintage Christmas posts!

2009-11-19T10:31:00.007-06:00

Dressing up for the holidays.....
I've started to dress up my home and my lovely vintage half dolls for the holidays!I added a bit of white feather boa and a vintage brooch my sweet mama gave me to this lovely lady. Now I think she looks like a Snow Queen, don't you?And this beautiful lady looks like she is ready to go to a fabulous Christmas party!
I found the wonderful silver glittered "Believe" sign and the adorable snowman card below at Michael's for only $1 each!
One of my favorite ornaments in my favorite color. Not vintage, but just as pretty as the old ones!
And I found this pretty angel at T.J. Maxx. She is a Nichol Sayre! She was only $8 and I saw one exactly like her selling online for $60! Isn't she lovely? More Christmas photos next post!
Michelle xoxo

2009-11-18T21:50:00.010-06:00

White Wednesday ( a little late!)
Sorry I'm late for Kathleen's White Wednesday! I found a gorgeous piece of lace while antiquing with my sweet mama last weekend! It is the perfect thing to dress up my very plain lampshade. I also found this sweet cream colored vintage apron with a cute little floral print. I found a few other goodies, but I am saving those to share with you later.
Michelle xoxo

2009-11-11T20:49:00.008-06:00

Antiquing with two sweeties....
My sweet mama, my adorable baby Dylan and I had so much fun at the antique mall last weekend! As you can see, Dylan loves vintage hats as much as I do!I took some photos of my favorite booths. We saw pretty pillows,lovely vintage photos, yummy vintage hats,old silver tarnished to perfection, beautiful lace, and inspiring vignettes.Hmmm~ I think I might need more cloches!I love the sweet little dance costume. I had one so similar to this one when I was just 5 years old. I so wish I had kept it!Look at this yummy booth! . Lots of white and pastels....and lots roses!I want to make a wreath with vintage Christmas ornaments, but I need to collect some first!I loved this amazing wall sconce! It looks so much better in person and I'm sure it would look a whole lot better on any wall that wasn't pegboard! And this piece was so gorgeous! I will show you what I purchased in my next post.

2009-11-01T23:07:00.002-06:00

Sitting pretty....
I used the last bit of my birthday money on this pretty half doll I found on Ebay! Isn't she gorgeous?! I think I may be starting a new collection. (as if I don't have enough collections already!) She looks right at home sitting in my favorite teacup!

My dear parents have come for a visit. They are enjoying seeing sweet baby Dylan whom they have not seen since he was a tiny newborn! I can hardly believe he is 6 months old already! My sweet mama brought me some wonderful birthday presents. She made me this beautiful organizer with pockets made from the prettiest fabrics!

She also gave my some vintage rhinestone pieces,

this sweet vintage pillowcase with bluebirds that belonged to her grandmother,

some more little goodies including this lovely vintage button card,

a vintage pillow cover in a wonderful ticking rose print that belonged to her mother

and a sweet little purse with some spending money tucked inside!

We even did some antique shopping last weekend and I brought my camera, but I was having to much fun to stop and take photos of the pretty booths. We will definitely do some more antiquing while she is here, so maybe next time I will get some photos to share with you.
Michelle xoxo

2009-10-27T23:17:00.007-05:00

White Wednesday!Thank you to Kathleen for hosting this fun idea of "White Wednesdays"! I'm off now to see the other white posts!

2009-10-24T00:40:00.006-05:00

A few of my favorite things....
A pile of vintage millinery flowers and hats.
Pretty blues~ all are lovely gifts my sweet mama has given me. I think this shade of blue is divine!A new favorite find, this amazing pink vintage hat stand. Doesn't everything look more fabulous surrounded by vintage millinery flowers?Beautiful vintage jewelry pieces adorn the base of the hat stand.A silver sugar shaker.... yummy.
And, of course, the best favorite of all~ sweet Dylan in his monkey Halloween costume.Michelle xoxo

2009-10-16T13:07:00.016-05:00

16 years ago.....
On Oct. 16, 1993, I married my darling sweetheart on the one year anniversary of our first date! 16 years, 8 moves,8 cars and 3 adorable boys later, we are still madly in love! Thank you for sticking with me, my love, through every hardship. Thank you for loving me just the way I am. Thank you for so sweetly encouraging me in my every endeavor. Thank you for not complaining that nearly every room in our home is decorated to suit my taste, because you know how important it is to me.Thank you for always making me laugh when I am sad. Thank you for marrying a girl that doesn't cook.....
and who is a little bit crazy.
Thank you for 16 wonderful years!
Michelle xoxo

2009-10-14T13:54:00.009-05:00

BOO!
I dressed up my new doll for Halloween and that inspired me to do some decorating!I had fun decorating the top of my tv cupboard with some of my favorite things.
Rusty keys, old doorknobs, dusty books, tarnished silver....photos of spooky looking ladies and gentlemen.....clocks and more rusty old treasures.....and of course the Belle of the Halloween Ball!

2009-10-07T06:05:00.008-05:00

White Wednesday!
A few photos from some of my favorite antique shops. The first two are from Gatherings in Georgetown, Tx.
And this one is from The Antique Gallery in Round Rock, Tx.Thank you to Kathleen for hosting this fun idea of "White Wednesdays"! I'm off now to see the other white posts!
Michelle xoxo

2009-10-04T22:54:00.015-05:00

Vintage bliss.....
Today I took my birthday money and went to one of my very favorite antique malls and I can't tell you how happy I am with my purchases!!!
I found some gorgeous vintage fabric with huge bouquets of roses! Such beautiful colors! I love rose prints~especially vintage ones.I also found this amazing vintage hat. It's so pretty! I think I could stare at it all day.
And this beauty. I saw her last time I visited the antique mall and I regretted not buying her. At the time I thought she was too beat up. Who me?? What was I thinking?? I could not believe she was still there!! So I put her in my shopping cart (yes, this antique mall has carts! how cool is that?) and was giddy thinking how lucky I was that she was still there waiting for me!
I also found a vintage encyclopedia and this lovely lamp base which I plan to use as a candle holder. I just love the patina it has!And I couldn't pass up this little cutie, now could I? She is too sweet!!
Michelle xoxo

2009-10-04T06:51:00.007-05:00

Around the studio....
A few things that make me happy in my studio. A vintage flower frog with a favorite vintage postcard.My pretty soft pink dresser filled with art supplies.
This gorgeous enamelware bowl with the prettiest colors.
Vintage clocks, a glass lamp and a sweet embroidered tablecloth.A postcard I enlarged on my printer because it was just so pretty.
A Goodwill find I painted a lovely shade of aqua blue.
Vintage millinery flowers in a wonderful vintage basket. Now I just need to clean this room up to look this good again so I can play in here, now that I finally have a working printer again. Hmmm...... maybe instead of cleaning up I will go try to spend my birthday money and buy some more vintage goodies that I have no place to put!

2009-09-16T22:41:00.007-05:00

Thrift store treasures: Part 2
A few days ago I showed you one of my thrift store finds and promised to show the rest in my next post, but promptly forgot to do so! Here are my other fun finds from that rainy day. These fabulous mercury glass candle holders!
I had been drooling over the pretty photos of beauties like these on other blogs for years, but rarely found any and when I did they were quite pricey! Last Christmas my sweet husband and boys bought me the two pretty ones you see below and they found them for only $3 and $4!! And the ones I found at the thrift store last weekend were only $1.50 for the small one and $2.00 for the large ones!! So I have a gorgeous mercury glass candle holder collection for a total of only $12.50!! Now I just need some white candles. I think they would be so pretty on my hutch for Christmas. I found a photo of my Christmas hutch from a few years ago. I had totally forgotten that I had decorated it this way and I love it! I plan to do the same look this year, but with my new candle holders!
Michelle xoxo

2009-09-16T10:22:00.005-05:00

White Wednesday!
Thank you to Kathleen for hosting this fun idea of "White Wednesdays"! I'm off now to see the other white posts!
Michelle xoxo

2009-09-14T07:34:00.004-05:00

Jewelry giveaway!!
I think most of you know the fabulous and inspiring Alice of Thoughts from Alice W and Painted White. I just found her husband's blog, St. Joshua. He makes the most unique and fun jewelry pieces that he sells on Etsy. He is having a give away, but today is the last to to enter, so hurry on over!!
Michelle xoxo

2009-09-13T10:26:00.008-05:00

Thrift store treasure....
Yesterday our little family braved the pouring rain so we could check out the thrift stores. We only made it to one, but I found a couple little goodies and this is one of them. This sweet vintage Madonna figurine.
In the past, I never gave a second thought to this type of thing, but lately I have been seeing some beautiful vintage religious collectibles on other ladies' blogs (like this one and this one on Posy's blog) and was wanting to find something like this. So I was thrilled to find this lovely treasure for only $1.50!She has such a pretty face and I love that she is holding pink roses! I think she looks right at home on my favorite aqua shelf ! I promise to show you my other thrifty finds in my next post!
Michelle xoxo