Mother's Day Terrariums

All because I found a 

centerpiece brandy sniffer at a garage sale. . .

I stopped after work at a garage sale and picked up a $2.00 brandy sniffer 

because I thought it would make a great terrarium.    The elf above is another garage sale find.

I came home and talked my son and husband into going to the plant store to make a it a family project.  Unfortunately, our local greenhouse didn't have miniature plants. 

However, I told my husband if he would go back to the garage sale and pick up the other two brandy sniffers they had for sale, I'd make our mom's each a terrarium for Mother's Day.

Since he hates going to garage sales, I was surprised to get a call at work that he actually had gone and bought the other two!

A garden center near my work had a terrific selection of small plants.

My son and the kitty helped put together our presents.

They were so easy.  Layer of rock, layer of soil, plants, and moss.  Done.

Now I want to make MORE.

A new look for my mailbox.  

The name was cut with my Silhouette Cameo using 651 Oracal vinyl.  

I actually did paint the post a deep chocolate brown after taking this picture.

I just love the font.  Doesn't it looks like a old department store logo?

Amelia Island Shell Necklace

We recently vacationed on Amelia Island in Florida.  I picked up some shells from the beach and created some necklace charms for new friends we met on the trip.

I brushed the front and the back with Diamond Glaze, drilled a hole with my flex shaft, and attached a jump ring.  

I used a Krylon 18K gold pen to coat the edges and give them a bit of bling.

This one I coated the entire thing with Krylon 18K gold.  I really like it!

Thought you'd like a glimpse of what a trashed out space I work in!

Pretty Vintage Linen Tote #1

Another Vintage linen sewing project.   Isn't she lovely?

I created the pattern to fit the vintage embroidered table runner I cut to size.

Using duck cloth as an interlining made the bag stiff enough to stand on it's own.  A thick piece of cardboard covered with fabric inserted at the bottom to makes the bottom stay flat.

There is a pink polka dot lining with an interior pocket as well as covered buttons on each end to draw the  sides together.

I just think she's adorable.  

I made her a pocket on the front of the bag.

Oh this picture makes her look so wrinkly! I'm off to the iron.

Garage Sale Chronicles #11 - Books and Butterflies

My latest find was a color plate book of Renoir prints.  Opposite each print is a short "review of the artwork by a leading scholar of the times."  I bought it for $8.00.  I thought it was expensive until a realized if I was actually at a museum the price would have certainly been 10 times that!

I continued to dug through the pile of old books and found the beauty above.  Aren't the colors and gilding wonderful?  I  briefly thought of doing an altered book, but the thought vanished quickly as I realized it didn't need altering at all!

Tucked into a box of sewing notions that contained a fabulous pink tatting shuttle, was an envelope containing this set of butterflies.  Won't they look great framed up?  I can't decide if I want to frame them together, individually, or create silver bezels and use them in jewelry.  I think I'll just consider the $2.00 spent on the box as the cost of the tatting shuttle and these are FREE.  Thoughts about ideas to use them?

I haven't taken a real close look but the wings look real and the bodies appear to be printed paper.  The detail on the bodies appears to simulate the real colors and patterns.