Thrifty Miss Priss

Back to Reality

There's nothing like going back to work after a great vacation to give you a fat dose of reality.  

I really do like my job, but I like watching the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and eating breakfasts like this every morning.  Served TO me on the 11th floor balcony overlooking the ocean.

My son in law served breakfast to us every morning like this.  It felt like I was getting room service or something!  He is an excellent cook and we all benefited from it!

To be honest I only saw one sunrise.  The rest I missed because I was sleeping in and enjoying not having to be anywhere.

Dinners were enjoyed at little local places.  This one has been around since before my husband was born, and from the looks of the inside they've never redecorated either.

But our theory is if you eat where the "locals" eat, then it must be good!  This place is always full of police officers and fire fighters eating their meals. 

When we were on the way home from the beach I was dreading our trek across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  I used to drive over this bridge with no problem as a teenager going to the beach for the day...but now I'm pretty terrified of it.  I have to read or look at something inside the car to avoid seeing that huge drop.

As a kid my dad used to take our boat under the bridge and fish.  It never really scared me then, but I could see the huge expanse of it and the height. My husband likes to point out all the nice boats WAY DOWN THERE in the water as we're driving across, and all I can do is yell at him to stop looking at the pretty boats and watch the ROAD *&%#$.  

So I'm sitting in the seat with my gaze locked on the pavement passing by...not really looking DOWN. 

and I'm having a conversation with myself that goes something like this:

"chill out....just relax, this will be over in a few minutes......there is not a thing you can do about this situation at THIS moment other than get through it.....yadda, yadda, yadda" (yes I guess I'm certifiably crazy for talking to myself through this, but it's that or hyperventilate.....)

The next thing I know a car passes by and the license plate says "His Will".  Ok-ie Dokie.....That about sums it all up......Instant relief came over me as if all was well....

 I finally got some pictures of a few of the treasures I found while I was at the beach last week.

  
 I don't know if these will get plucked or sold....I can't decide. The blooms are beautiful and the velvet centers on those daisies are just really nice!

 

 I love the blue Ball Jars.....I'm starting to gather a little collection.  The ornate frame in the back is a picture of Pope Somebody...but I loved the frame.

and then there was a box of this.  

These were once a baseball score board, according to the little old man that sold them to me.  I liked the bold numbers but really had no idea what I'd do with them.  Upon further inspection, they really are not done that well.  The numbers are a little wonky and I'm not sure if I'll be using them.  There were lots of blank ones as well so I came up with this

  So now my head is spinning with different phrases to use to make more of these.  

Even though it was wonderful to get away for a long vacation at the beach, I really missed my pups.  

 I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Where does the weekend go?

 I sure wish two days would fly by during the work week like they do on the weekends.....

Before you know it....it's Sunday evening....your still in your PJ's, there's been no grocery shopping or house cleaning.....

the minimal amount of laundry has been done.......

but I got to spend the morning yesterday thrifting...and guess what I found?  Lots of ruffles!   Then I went to visit my mom....and I pumped her for hidden stories of us when we were kids.  Since she can't articulate much anymore I had to play the guessing game.  When I asked her which of her kids was the cutest....I just KNEW she would say me....but without hesitating she blurted out my brothers name!  THE TRUTH COMES OUT!

spending the day in your PJ's, cutting and sewing......with a little heartbeat at my feet...

yes...it was a perfect weekend!     

Today we had polka dot sky....

The weather has been fabulous!  I looked up today and saw a polka dotted sky...perfect for Easter Sunday.   

Today also happened to be my sons 26th birthday.....we all got together for lots of good food and more than enough dessert to feed an army.  My daughter made this for her brother.

It's called fruit pizza....it has the tastiest glaze on top...with a soft cookie crust.  She added the "26" in the middle with blueberries! 

Since we don't have little kids around I didn't really bother with decorating for Easter.  When I learned my little friend daughter would be coming over.....my husband quickly went to the store and bought her some Easter Candy.  I told him ONE CHOCOLATE BUNNY ONLY since I knew she'd already received plenty at home.  

so one bunny multiplied into THREE.    This was his own little display that he presented on the table.

  

I found the cute table runner back in the Winter...perfect for Easter.  Of course I forgot I had it and found it purely by accident this morning.

and I have to share my all time favorite (to date) thrift shop score..........

a Nags Head Hammock!  I've wanted one FOREVER but at a cost of over $150.00 I could not justify purchasing one for only a few short months of the year.  I found this beauty for $15.00!  It's in perfect shape and it doesn't appear weathered...so I don't think it was ever used.  Everyone at the thrift store tried to buy it right out from under me after I'd taken it to the counter to hold while I shopped.  My husband set the posts this morning for me, so I haven't actually been able to lay on it yet.  I can't wait for the leaves to fill in on the tree above....I can see lots of lazy days ahead of me!  There are two eggs on the Hammock....we hid them all over the yard for my friend daughter (she's not my grand daughter buy my friend daughter)

And I'm just so proud to say that this one is finally trained to not run away!  I've worked with her every evening for two weeks off leash and she is finally able to go out and be FREE OF HER LEASH.  I'm so proud of her!  She's absolutely wearing herself out running through the yard ALL DAY LONG.  We don't have a fence and she is SUPER fast and chases EVERYTHING.  I could never trust her before to come back....but she finally "gets it"!

look at that tail!  I gave her a haircut yesterday and got all the hair off her legs and neck...she should be much cooler now.

and here's Heidi in action...she is not going to let her old age slow her down.  She is still as frisky today and she was 10 years ago....(she's 13).  

I was lucky enough to find two bird feeders at the thrift store as well.....my other ones were chewed to shreds by the squirrels last year.  After we got those hung I decided we needed a bird bath.  I quickly put two and two together and came up with this.

The top is an old light fixture we dug up (I added the crystals) and the bottom is one of those brass candlestick things you see at all the thrift stores.  I sealed the top with plumbers putty and it doesn't leak!        

I hope you have a wonderful week!

 (can you find the Easter egg?)

Today I'm linking to Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures!

Pictures that mean nothing...and some great links!

 

Just stopping in to blow the dust off this blog.....and tell you about some wonderful sites I've recently discovered....

Have you heard of Crescendoh?  Jenny Doh, the former (i think) editor at Somerset Magazine has started this wonderful new site....It's like a new magazine everyday!  One section is called "art saves" and it highlights different artists and their personal stories of what art has done for them.

From their website:

What is art? Is it paint on canvas? Pencil on paper? Yarn on needles?

We at CRESCENDOh believe that art is all of that and more. Art is what comes out of each of us, as we use our diverse spectrum of talent to elevate and beautify our lives. Art can be a quilt … a collage … a rubber stamped card … a poem … a musical performance … a well-loved garden … a delicious meal … a warm conversation. Art is what gets us through the moment, the hour, the day, the years, the lifetime. ART SAVES.

But it's really so much more than even that....it''s featured artists......shopping....lots of goodness wrapped up into one!  You must check it out!

a few other beautiful blogs I've discovered recently:

Dreamy Whites - a mom with lots of kids and everything is White! and she's married to a REAL cowboy!

pretties and posies Beautiful everything!

my shabby streamside studio - beautiful little studio!

flowerpatch farmgirl-she recently adopted her third baby from Korea....read back a few entries...absolutely heart wrenching!

and these pictures are of nothing in particular...other than the fact I have not taken a picture in ages.  This is my little grand dogger, Bella.  I don't think I've shared these pictures before....

Heidi LOVES her little Bella/niece

 Bella and her human daddy...my son...who's  6'5" and LOVES this little tiny Bella, but honestly I think she has him wrapped around her little pinky (paw)!

I hope you are all enjoying Spring! 

A box of puppies

Today I had to go to Walmart as my daughter needed film for her photography class.  I hate Walmart.  Sorry...for those of you who swear by it...but I can count on ONE HAND how many times a year I go there.  Target is my go to place.

As we are approaching the doors we see this

oh my GOD.....a box of puppies!

I was pretty sure this little sweetie was going to end up in my car.  Two young guys were selling them for $50.00.  They are part pit bull.  Who cares if it grows up to rip me apart...I really wanted one!  

   My daughter picked one up...I knew better than to do that.  I felt so awful for them.  I kept saying out loud...we have to walk away!  My daughter did her BEST job of begging throughout the store but I held firm.  When we came out they were gone. Sad to think of what will happen to these little guys.  Probably end up at the animal shelter.   

We were in the store maybe 10 minutes...I swung by the magazine section and I found this

I couldn't believe it.  I've heard all over blogworld how hard it is to find.  Walmart had about 6 copies.  

I was so curious to see this...to see if it was worth the money.  I've pretty much stopped buying magazines now that I read so many blogs.  All my favorites are gone anyway.  This one did NOT disappoint!  I'm VERY choosy when it comes to magazines.....and I was going to buy this one no matter what...just to do my own little critique...and WOW.  I'm savoring every page...every article....every photo....but I did find this and had to laugh...

a magazine rack used as a plate rack.  A magazine rack that looked VERY familiar

Two years ago I found this:

and turned it into this:

I LOVE that they are using it for a plate rack!  I might have to clean out all my dusty magazines from the past two years and re purpose this again!

So yesterday I cleaned off my dining room buffet.....shopped the house for all things cream and white.....and came up with this

I just found this plate rack about 6 months ago and I'm just now getting around to using it.  It was $3.00.

then I remembered to turn the twinkle lights on that I have underneath the fabric....makes it much nicer.

a set of two cute ceramic birds....2.99

I wanted some height on those crackled pointy things....and couldn't find ANYTHING to lift them up.  Then I remembered all the books I disassembled when I hosted the Winter White Fat Book swap....all of these were in a bag in my basement.  It worked perfectly!  I didn't want anything with color to compete with the white/cream theme I was doing so I was happy I'd saved these.  I left them as they were...ripped spine and all.

 I turned over the little mercury glass votives (thrifted for $1.00) and the lights under the fabric illuminated it as if a candle were inside.

(bird salt and pepper shakers from Target last year)

 see what a difference those lights make?

I turn them on at night....and it's just beautiful.. Not like having Christmas all year or anything...but just enough sparkle.

I found this glass house at a flea market at the beach last year....$5.00.  It's been sitting on top of my armoire for a year gathering dust.  It's about time I take it down so I can see it.  The fake flowers are the ones I got a few weeks ago to embellish a tshirt with eventually.  I'm glad I didn't cut them off yet!

The metal stand was a thrift store find a few years ago.  It's so big for the table...I bought it with the intention of selling it some day....

And the flowers....I made from tissue paper a few years ago and just rediscovered them packed away.  I guess I'm anticipating Springs arrival...even though there's still about 10 inches of snow on the ground...but it's melting every day.

Make time to enjoy the things you have...to gather the things that make you happy.

(my cute thrifted little Baby Ben clock....$2.00 at Goodwill) and it WORKS!  

Have a terrific week!   

La La La...NOT LISTENING! La La La!

On the verge of ANOTHER snow storm here.  Yup....tomorrow afternoon it's supposed to start and go all night into Wednesday.  We are expecting 12 to 20 MORE inches...on top of the 30 we just got.  I couldn't go to work today because the roads are horrible.  Instead I got to notice the sun coming through the windows like I normally don't get to experience on a daily basis.

I found this old door last year in the barn on  our property.  I brought it in and it's been in several different spots in our house.  Right now it's resting on a low bench next to the bed.  I love the way the sun comes through that wavy glass.....

 I woke up this morning and the first thing I saw was this little angel door knocker.  I grabbed my coffee and my camera and started taking some pictures.  I didn't notice until JUST NOW how the suns rays hit the angels wings......very cool indeed!

The old door is sitting in front of a real window.  I guess I will have to move it once Spring comes (if it ever does) so we can open that window.  Too bad, because I really like it there. (this image was taken into a mirror for the reflection)

I bought this at a thrift store a few years ago...I just love the detail on it.  I painted it a blue-ish grey.

Speaking of thrift stores....I found this old military trunk that someone had already painted.....the inside is in pristine condition and NO ODORS!  I'm storing all my sheets and pillow cases in it.  I don't have a linen closet so this worked out perfectly.  I would show you the whole thing, but right now it's piled with a bunch of junk.  Clever editing is what it's all about.  Like Karla says......just kick the "stuff" out of the view of the camera lens and nobody will no the difference.  

   

These old books elevated my little lamp to a much better height.  

My apron I made for Silver Bella...now my dress form wears it along with my wedding dress

 My tiny little bedroom is jam packed with stuff.  I try to keep it to a minimum so we're not tripping over things.  But this is a tiny little house and space is very limited.

I walked out into the living room and found Sarah all rolled up in a ball.  I think she is getting SAD over the impending snowstorm.  She has not been herself lately.  I do think she is depressed.  Who wouldn't be?  She drowns every time she goes out.  

  Back to work on Tuesday for me....and with any luck Wednesday will be another snow day!

Have a great warm, cozy week!

I was so touched at how quickly my little "hearts for Haiti" garland sold!  Thank you so much for all the sweet comments and emails about them!  I've seen so many creative women putting their hearts and creativity into beautiful things to be sold or auctioned off for the Haiti survivors.  I will try to be mindful that not only do they need our help now, but more so in the coming months.  Thank you to the four of you who bought my "hearts for Haiti" garlands!   

Speaking of hearts...and garlands...I snapped a few pictures tonight....this garland I keep up all year long...it was sent to me last year from Rosemary...and I always think of her when I get a little glimpse of it.  It's made from vintage quilts, she purchased it in a little shop in Tennessee.

A few weeks ago when Karla was going stir crazy with cabin fever she "shopped her house" and found all kinds of beautiful things to use in different ways.  I took total inspiration from her, as I hadn't even taken my tree down yet.  I remembered this mirror I bought at the flea market at the beach last summer.  It was parked in a corner of the basement because I'd completely intended on painting it.  Now I'm glad I waited.  The mirrored finish is so faded, almost ghostly but I just love it.  I re-arranged my TINY living room, hung a few new things up and it felt completely new and clean.

 even just moving this little table from the side of a chair to my hall feels cozy.  This hall is so dark anyway, and now with the little crystal lamp sitting here it just adds a little bit of homeyness.

 I think this one is trying to imitate the scottie dog in the background....

I  

just love the reflection in the mirror of the old chippy armoire that I painted.

(and just to remind you, everything you see in these photos has been thrifted, except the couch) (yes, even the dog is second-hand) But all accessories, curtains, mirrors, tables,  etc are from thrift stores.

  Tomorrow we celebrate my moms 80th birthday!  It will be low key, just my twin sisters and myself, along with the residents of her little home.  We will have party hats and red velvet cake.  We will tell her how beautiful and young she looks for an 80 year old.  We will crack jokes and make her laugh....and hope she remembers that her daughters were there to celebrate her special day.

Have a great weekend!

What a Beautiful Mess I'm in.....

Happy New Year everyone!  I, like many others use this time to reflect to see whats good and not so good about my life.  Things I have control over and things I don't.  I always feel like this is a great time to make BIG changes in ourselves.....fresh clean slate...all that.  But POOF!  I usually do not follow through.  Actually each new day is a clean slate and a new opportunity to change or do better.

I do feel a shift coming on though....I'm not blogging nearly as much as I used to and my family doesn't have to pry me off the computer kicking and screaming anymore.  

Maybe I got overloaded with all the Christmas preparations everyone was doing.  I just sort of STOPPED getting on.  I've sat and watched t.v. with my husband.  Good movies....HILARIOUS movies(The Hangover) crime shows....the whole shabang. 

I made a commitment to myself to finally finish my journal that I started last Spring. 

 

 I spent the day after Christmas sitting in Barnes and Nobel by myself, with a big stack of books that I've been wanting to look at forever.

I took this picture with my phone while I was there and sent it to my husband I told him not to expect me home for several hours!  It was pure heaven sitting there without a care in the world while everyone was busy making the shopping deals of the century at the mall.  I don't have the need or desire to get in that chaos.  I have more than I want or will ever need and then some.  One tiny resolution for me is to STAY out of thrift stores so often.  I will still go but not as regular as I have been.  It's all just STUFF and I have way too much now.  In fact I've started cleaning out bits and scraps in my art room and will be listing some collage packs one day soon I hope.

 

Speaking of collage.....

 

I've been eye balling this online class forever and finally jumped in with both feet. The Remains of the Day is a Journal  made entirely from your paper SCRAPS on hand.  They are all sewn together, then sewn into a scrappy cover and tied tight.  I can't get my link button to work but you can read all about it here:  http://dispatchfromla.typepad.com/dispatch_from_la/rotdoci.html

Her pages are incredible!  She offers TONS of videos and printable instructions too.  Once you pay the site is available to you until December 2010!   Once the journal is put together and assembled it only takes a few minutes to write your journal entries.  I want to take a lot more photographs this year.  I plan on tucking them in this journal.  Otherwise they sit in my computer and I don't enjoy them nearly enough. If you get the chance go look at Mary Ann's Journals.  They are certainly drool worthy.  You can also look at the Flickr group she has set up here

http://www.flickr.com/groups/purexperimentation/pool/

(my link button is not linking!)

So I made the cover last night.  Actually it was all day of watching her videos, hunting gathering scraps, supplies...cleaning off my art table....junking up my art room....I'll let the pictures speak for themselves

(my daughter snapped this of me on the floor cutting out the fabric. I instantly told her "DON'T take my picture in this mess!" I planned on deleting it...but I wanted to remember this moment!  Of course Sarah had to be in there on my lap, and trying to lay on the fabric.

   

oh this fabric is so soft and comfy...

   

 

And guess what?  My Christmas tree is still up.  I don't even care.  It's fake so it can stay another week.  Right now there's more important stuff going on around here.

 

Here's hoping 2010 gives you all health, peace and happiness!

Dreaming of a white Christmas

Virginia is being pounded by a huge snow storm. It's been declared a state of emergency.  We have not seen this kind of snow since 1983.  That means all three of my kids have never seen this much snow.  I stopped at the grocery store last night along with everyone else on the East Coast and they were out of EVERYTHING.  No potatoes....what is that all about?  

We had some huge tree branches removed yesterday because as you can see they were very close to where we park and knew they would come down during the heavy snow.

Our driveway is probably 75 yards long....and all we have is one little shovel.  Should be fun.

The dogs on the other hand are WORSE than little kids...begging at the door to get out there AGAIN!  

   

Just keep your fingers crossed that the plows come through and I can get to work on Monday! (not that I WANT to go...but pretty much HAVE to!)

We got some snow here last weekend.....just enough to make everything beautiful and quiet....

 Just look at her.....both back feet off the ground!  You'd never know Heidi is 13 years old (91 in dog years!)  She's as frisky today as she was as a pup.  I know our time left is limited but if she can stay active and healthy like this until her time comes I will be grateful!

This is what Sunday afternoon was all about.....laying around enjoying the sights of snow out the window and relaxing.  Does this look comfortable to you?  Who needs a snuggi when you've got this? 

We recently got a new computer....an apple...and it's a whole new way of doing things.....so just when I had mastered downloading photos and editing them...I have to learn a whole new way of doing it.  This computer is supposed to be the cream of the crop but I just sit here and cuss at the monitor when it won't do what I want.

I finished my Christmas shopping!  This is the earliest I've ever finished!  I'm even catching up on some projects I left incomplete when I left Silver Bella.  Pam Garrisons Holly Days class was supposed to be an advent type wreath and I started it in class.  I couldn't get my holly leaves to look right so I gave up.  I recently found several white poinsettia silk bushes at the thrift store.  I bought them not knowing what on earth I'd do with them besides put a few around the tree.  I dumped them in my craft room and then I had the light bulb moment.

since I was not too good at cutting out the holly leaves in class, why not use the white silky-velvetish leaves from the poinsettia?  This way I can leave it out all year too...it's not really a "Christmas" wreath.

  

 I started this project around 10:00 on a work night.  I just kept adding more and more stuff to it....and was determined not to leave it unfinished.  I'm really happy with the way it turned out and nothing new was purchased for it....all stuff I had already.  I have enough leaves left over to do two more wreaths so I might make another one for my etsy shop..which is EMPTY now!  YAY!  My little wallpaper packs all sold out!

OH!  The fat books are finished and in the hands of their owners!  We had 12 participants and one dropped out at the end, so we all made 12 pages.  Which means I have an extra book.  Haven't decided what to do with it yet, but may auction it on ebay with the proceeds to go to my animal shelter for Christmas.

 

 

 

The theme was "Winter Whites".  I was happy with all the pages and the way they all looked together in the book.  I will definitely host one of these projects again someday....with trial and error I now know what is involved in doing this!

I hope you all get the chance to slow down and enjoy the season and soak up all the beauty of it!