Just a little bump in the road of life....

I really have too much to do to have ended up in the hospital but that's where I spent most of last Thursday and Friday. Chest pains and shortness of breath-not a very good combo. The good news is-it's not my heart. They put me through all of the tests and the results were good. Checking some other things this week but I do feel a lot better. Don't ignore chest pains of any kind! Heart disease is the #1 killer of women! My Cardiologist said that taking one baby aspirin (82mg) a day is the cheapest and easiest protection against a heart attack. (Of course, you can't forget diet and exercise either) Start today!

On a brighter, and I do mean brighter note, this is a little journal I altered for my dear friend Jeanne for her birthday. She has a jewelry business called "just a little something...". I thought she could keep track of her orders in this. She's thinking about an Etsy shoppe..I will keep you posted. The necklace is one she made for me so you can see she does beautiful work! Jeanne is a very colorful woman with a great sense of style. I thought the papers I used on this journal were fun...just like she is! Here she is (on the far left) with her beautiful daughter, Anna, when our book group was having lunch last month at the Hoffbrau Haus, a new restaurant on the Southside of Pittsburgh. Great food!

Vintage Spring Sweetness Swap

Last week, the Vintage Spring Sweetness Swap came to a close. My partner Kana and I mailed our parcels to each other and by mid-week they were received. I have done a half-dozen swaps by now and most have been fun and have allowed me to meet some wonderful women. This was that kind of swap. After we were our assigned our swap partner's name by Linda, one of the best hostesses I've known, we exchanged some information and started to get to know each other. I have found that I prefer to swap with someone who has a blog. That way, it is easier to be able to see what the partner's taste's and interests are. By the time Kana and I sent our packges to each other, we had a good idea of what each other liked. She sent me beautiful items that I know I will use in decorating and crafting ('cause I am already!).

Here is what she sent me....
The picture above shows the assortment of goodies. The bird pencil holder is covered in vintage wallpaper. I have a bunch of pink tulips (silk ones) that are being displayed in my foyer.An assortnment of eggs (the pictures don't do them justice) and a dove in a flowered nest...A teeny peep in a tiny egg-so darling!Tiny notebook and frame...Click on the picture below to see the fine glitter that enhances the vintage postcard image. I think this is my favorite item that Kana sent to me! There was also some German scrap and some vintage reproduction cards.This was in the package I sent to Kana... Some vintage seam binding, ribbon, copies of vintage images and coasters all in Kana's favorite color...An altered clipboard and birdie magnet also in purples....A vintage vinegar cruet altered with silk ribbon, a bird charm and a paper rose on the cork. The pearls are from old necklaces and bracelets....There are 2 things that are my favorite things to do. One is altering notebooks or journals. This one has a reproduced image of an old apron pattern (Kana makes beautful aprons) and button card....The other thing I love to make is banners. This is one for Spring. If you'd like to see pictures of each individual pennant, just click on my flickr pictures to the left which will take you to my photostream.I also made some tags and embellishments using Quickutz dies. So fun!A Springy tea towel and some chocolate carrots complete the package. Thank you Linda for hosting this swap. I'm looking forward to what's coming for Summer!!!!

Thank you Kana for being a delightful partner. I love all the things you sent me! I will be reading your blog to find out what fun you'll be having at "Inspired"!

Such a fun time!

We had a great time with our sweet Charlie last week. He is so funny and has learned so much in the past 2 months since we last saw him! He kept David & me running a lot, and all 3 of us slept good at night. Here are just a few pictures.

Charlie is smiling most of the time

He has so many skills like playing the drums...(notice the curls!)and his impeccable table manners. Notice how he holds the spoon while eating with his fingers...and then hates to waste even one morsel!He loved reading with Papa...and driving his coupe...and being patient with Gram (me) when I just wanted lots of kisses...and every afternoon, after lunch and a walk, this would happen....Charlie, we miss you already!We love you Charlie....to the moon and back!

We'll be on our way tomorrow....

Everything is packed. Jeans...check, sneakers....check, camera....check. We have our hugs all limbered up and our lips are puckered for lots of kisses. We're leaving a day earlier than originally planned. We're needed so we're going. Tomorrow we will be driving to see our favorite boy....CHARLIE!

which makes us feel like this.....We'll be home before you know it. Have a great rest of the week everyone.

Happy St. Patrick's Day and Swaps!

Top O' the Mornin To You

dear friends. This beautiful little image is courtesy of this lovely lady, Lulu at home on Flickr. One visit to her phototstream and you'll be hooked. She has great images and a huge collection of children's books.

I participated in the Winning Hand swap hosted by the Sweet Goodness girls. In preparing our swap items, we had to include one vintage item, one handcrafted item and a sweet treat. The color scheme was black, white and red and you had to work a diamond, club, heart and spade into your swap goodies. I signed up for this swap because I had been in the summer swap last year and it was a lot of fun. This swap was fun, too, but much more of a challenge. These are the things I sent to my partner...

An altered composition book using vintage Russian playing card images, a diamond patterned Cuttlebug embossed square, some buttons and a monogram.A garden "spade" decorated with more images (see how I stretched here?)A jar filled with vintage buttons, decorated with a multi-layered flower cut from a dress pattern with a "diamond" brad in the center. The label is a copy of a vintage apothecary label and you can have this image if you click on my Flickr link and visit my photostream. I included one of my little matchbook notepads (which you can see in the group shot) and this Special Dates perpetual calendar.Isn't the cover paper wild? To round out the package I included a vintage handkerchief with a crocheted edging and the sweets........this was easy! Andrea and I both love dark chocolate and licorice so I sent her some of both. The tags on the wrapped packages (which I forgot to photograph) were "hearts".

My gifts from Andrea included these 4 pot holders knitted using the four suit designs. They are nice and heavy and the opposite side of each pot holder is the reverse color scheme. Very clever and useful.

Isn't this candy dish beautiful? It is the vintage piece and I love the size of it. I know I'll get a lot of use from it.

Sweets? Fours different flavors of licorice. The traditional black and red and then there is green apple and watermelon. The company is in Minnesota so I think Andrea had a direct link. An adventure for my taste buds!

Thank you Andrea! You made this swap fun and I enjoyed being your partner.

Now on to the next swap......I'll have a sneak peek later today. I can't show too much because Kana, my talented and nice partner, checks in on me from time to time.....

Yay Marie!

My friend Marie is celebrating her 200th post with a giveaway...lots of really nice things. If you have a blog, post a comment on Marie's blog here and tell her I sent you.

Marie is a real sweetie and we've been blogging buddies for a long time. Her random Monday memories are the best! Now go...run right over.

I think I'm in love!

Some time ago I wrote about my collection of dressform stamps. I don't sew anymore but I love the look and the lines of the dressmaker's mannequins. Maybe it's because I have always longed for a small waist.....or any waist for that matter!
I was tipped off by my friend (thanks Mimi) the other day, that Marshall's had a large assortment of wire dressforms in the store. I scooted right over and found many different forms of different sizes in black or shabby off-white. It was hard to make a choice but this is the girl who came home with me. Her name is Tilly, named for the dressmaker on the English series, The House of Elliot. I love the way her skirt is on the bias.
My plan is to embellish her a bit and display her in my craft room. I will take pictures when I've finished so you can see how she looks.
She's 22-inches tall and was priced right, don't you think?
Also on my doorstop this week arrived this new toy......I can't wait to try it out.

This week I had two basket gifts to put together for my boss. They will be used in silent auctions for local charities.


This arrangement included silk roses in a ceramic container, a decorated candle and the Dr.'s gift of a certificate redeemable for orthodontic treatment. I love these projects because they are different from the kind of crafting I usually do. After the arrangements are put together, they are wrapped in cellophane, tied with a bow and a tag is attached. I photographed these before they were wrapped up to be delivered.I love gerbera daisies. This arrangement included 1 dozen pale yellow gerberas bunched and tied with black and white polka dotted ribbon and Dr. Dahar's donation of a Sonicare electronic toothbrush. The box is fabric covered and is the same pale yellow with black swirls.
We are finally getting a break in the weather here in Pittsburgh. It has been one of the coldest winters I can remember in a long while but the temperature is supposed to climb to 60-degrees tomorrow and Saturday which will be a welcome change.
While we're on the subject of LOVE, I have to include a picture of Charlie that Jane kindly sent this week. Charlie's little class at daycare had a Valentine party and from the looks of this picture, I think he enjoyed it immensely! He looks so adorable in chocolate!