Friday Favorites I..

Glittering diamonds

A good book
 (tutorial found here and thank you Dawn for posting about it.  You are both special!)

Worn metals

Precious jewels

The local wildlife

 

Find something to thank God about this weekend.
No matter how small.

A Gift

 I did a Halloween swap, and since then, have gotten to be friends with my swap partner.  She has been so wonderful about sending me packages in the mail, look what she sent this time!

An amazing afghan!  Cathy made this wonderful afghan and my family was the lucky recipients.  It has been wonderful to have a new afghan to snuggle under this past week.  My kids have been sick and this beauty has traveled around the house with them.  We have had a ton of late night games and practices and I have come home weary and ready to veg out in front of the tv and watch the last night Olympic coverage, of course, the new afghan makes snuggling up that much sweeter!

Thanks Cathy, I love it.  You are so sweet and it is so wonderful to count you as a friend.  (Just wish you lived a little closer so you could teach me how to crochet!)

A Cheerful Day!

The "Amen!" of nature is always a flower.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Wishing you many Amens today!

My Fabulous Monday!

I went to my mailbox to leave something for my postman, and guess what was waiting for me?

A beautiful package from Thespa, of VintiquitiesWorkshop.

The most beautiful, dear, sweet, exquisite creation I have ever laid my hands on!  A pocket journal with so many details that you won't believe it!

The cover has a beautiful antique lace flower.

Adorned with a tag and crystal.  

 

There is another beautiful crystal on the cover that Thespa altered with the word "Friend."  She took the word friend from an old hymnal.

The insides are a wonderful mixture of antique and vintage ephemera that Thespa beautifully layered together.

Did I mention that there are no photocopies in this book?  All originals.  I so wish I could take beautiful pictures so you could see all her details.  Here is a sweet pocket that Thespa stuffed to the gills with more ephemera! 

This sweet clown was between the pages.  I love her!

Thank you, sweet Thespa!  (go check her out here...)  So much talent you have,

you have no idea how much I adore your creation! 

Dreaming Of Summer

My sister has dubbed my house, "The Party House."  There is nothing better than hosting a great party for friends and family.  Last summer sped by so fast.  I wanted to try and capture those last days with some good old-fashioned fun.  What a better way that to throw an old-fashioned croquet party?

I made everyone wear white.  (Guys were allowed to wear khaki pants, and not all of us complied with the dress code, Mike.  Don't worry, I shared your fashion faux pas with everyone!)  We had a great time.  Hope you enjoy our fun.

I brought out some old furniture, just like the Victorians did.

It does help to have cute kids to decorate your old furniture with.

My dad.  (BTW Dad, thanks for the 14 boxes of cereal!)

My mom and Rocco by the drink table.

Annie helping to hang out my bloomers.

We actually did play croquet.

Bo loved having something to pound all day long...

The kids love to eat at their own table.

You rock those socks, Mike...

I made fairy wands for the kids. 

 

 

 

Little Bo.  He does look angelic, doesn't he???

The first meeting of the Good Old Boys Club...

The girls have their own club too.

One thirsty girl.

And hungry too!

Apparently we also played Follow-The-Leader...

Cousins 

Thank goodness summer will be here before you know it!  

Artist Class

I've always wistfully seen the sign-up for Artist Class and wished I was a part of it.  When it was time for another class, I finally did it.  I signed up.  Since then, I have been busy making these.  

My attempts at making paper shoes.  I love them, and can't get enough of them.  Today I am learning how to make my own journal.

(The heel of my first shoe, it's my favorite part, just had to show you...)

I'm gonna use these babies to hold treats at a party I am having.  I can't wait.  

Mary, from Greenpaper, has organized this whole experience, thanks Mary!  There is still time to get in on the February class if you are interested.  And if you are like me, and can't get enough of these beautiful shoes, go check out Corinne from 100 Pretty Things.   She is the inspiration behind this magic, her shoes are beautiful.  So beautiful. 

A Sunny Day

It's almost five in the afternoon and the sun is still shining brightly!  Makes me feel like this...

 

Hope the sun is shining wherever you are!

Let The Games Begin!

The bags are packed...

The skates laced up...

The skis waxed...

 The sticks taped...

The sleds are polished...

And the blades are sharpened...

(okay, I admit, a triple axel might be a bit difficult with this baby, especially as I only have one...)

I am hoping for some gold.

Some silver.

And some bronze.

Go World!

For All My Sweet Girls

 
You've practiced most of your life for this moment.  

Countless hours.

You've laughed, cried, sweated, and given it your all.

These next few games will be the most important of your life.

 F1, F2, F3, bad goalie, make the most of your chances.

You've done it before.  Tasted victory at this level. Finished on top.

You know what it takes...

It's about who wants it most.  Who's the most disciplined.

Believe in yourself.  In your team...

No matter what the outcome, you're a winner because you play with grace, dignity and class.

Be the one to inspire, to break away, break glass ceilings, to smash the plexiglass with your shot, to honor the past, but carve new ice, to represent your team, to play for the love of the game, your town, the future, to burn through the brackets, to be ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE!Nike/Bauer ad

Be the one on the bottom of the pile...

All of you...

Now go rock it.