My First Swap~

In honor of my 25th post I thought I would write about my first blog swap. This was my very first swap, so I wasn't sure how swaps were to be done.

Heidi of Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly hosted a Very Vintage Valentine Swap. I was partnered with Kimberly of Seashells and Silver. Kimberly is a very sweet and talented young lady and I was very fortunate to have her as my swap partner. Poor Kimberly, little did she know that she would end up with a "rookie" in swapping. But being the sweet girl that Kimberly is, she made me feel good about all of it.

Thank you Kimberly you're too kind!

When I opened the box this is what I found...a box full of individually wrapped presents all pretty in pink and a lovely heart card saying "Open This Last"! Naturally, I wanted to take a peek but I didn't...good thing too I would have ruined the surprises that were waiting for me.

Oh! and what a clever idea to wrap each item separately...who thought of that?

Anyway, it was very exciting to open each box and find a wonderful gift inside just for me!

Thanks Kimberly for adding that special touch!

Well, just look at all the very vintage valentines that I received...

1. a valentine card with cupid (too cute!)

2. a red mercury glass candlestick with candle (romantic!)

3. a red heart picture frame (gorgeous!)

4. a red mercury glass votive holder with candle (lovely!)

5. a "LOVE" banner (Kimberly made this herself~love it!)

6. a red brooch (special!)

7. sweet angel wings (precious!)

8. a heart card with a sweet message from Kimberly and her list of items for me (so thoughtful!)

Everything was more than I had expected.

Wow! I had no idea that swapping would be this much fun!

Thanks again Kimberly and Heidi for making my first swap a memorable one!

"L" is for LOVE

"L" is for LISA

Hugs and Kisses~

Lisa

Old Hollywood Glam 2~

Yesterday on my post "Old Hollywood Glam" I wrote about a late great legend in Hollywood...Audrey Hepburn. The glitz and glam of Old Hollywood Style and Decor is glamorous to me just like the films that Ms. Hepburn and so many other film legends starred in. The mirrored accessories along with all the silver, cream and white create a romantic mood in any room. Elegance and glamour are why this style is popular not only in decorating homes, but proms and weddings are also being done in this style today.

This vignette consists of a venetian style mirror reflecting the silver and gold leaf on the candlesticks and table lamp. I layered the feather boa, ostrich feathers and a lovely lace runner to give it texture, a pearlized shell along with a beaded headpiece to give it that "glam" look.

Get a closer look....

A close-up of the mirror and candlesticks

My favorite...a beaded headpiece

Ostrich feathers

And the beautiful reflection of a pearlized shell

My version of Old Hollywood Glam~ was the inspiration for this post and vignette.

Have a glamorous weekend!

~Lisa

Old Hollywood Glam~

For the past several days my computer has been on the "outs" and is finally working again. Since I was without a computer, I turned on the tube and watched one of my favorite classic movies, Breakfast at Tiffany's starring Audrey Hepburn. She portrays this wacky, carefree soul who can make a potato sack look good.

See what I mean...she looks fabulous!

My yard sale "find" from a few months ago, this Collector's Edition of LIFE magazine featuring Audrey Hepburn.

Born the daughter of a Dutch baroness and a British banker, Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston made a magical broadway debut in Gigi. At the age of 24, she won an Oscar for her first American movie, Roman Holiday. She went on to star in a number of classic films.

Audrey Hepburn died of cancer at the age of 63.

The glitz and glamour of old Hollywood style and decor are classic just like the films that we love. Stay tuned tomorrow for a continuation of Old Hollywood Style and Decor...

Blessings~ Lisa

To Recognize or Not~

I Hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday! My day started out with a lovely note from Renee at Cottage Lifestyle who has been so generous to award me with The Lemonade Award! It's such an honor to be recognized by such thoughtful individuals whom we may have not actually met in person, but the bond and friendship is still there. That is what's so special about blogging.

This award is about bloggers who show great attitude and gratitude.

Here's what you have to do:

Upon receiving The Lemonade Award, you also pass it on to other bloggers who you think show great attitude and gratitude.

Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 8 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

Mindy at Primitiques 'n Poetry

Isabel at Maison Douce

Lori at Before The Stroke of Midnight

Yvette at The Charm House

Sandra at Romantique Inspirations

Kimberly at Seashells and Silver

Marcie at The Rustic Victorian

Amy at The Heart Of A Seed

And I can't leave out my 2 favorite gals who inspire me everyday to keep doing what I love!

Theresa at Garden Antqs Vintage

Debbie at Taking Trash

Really, everyone in blogland deserves an award in my book for their Attitude and Gratitude!

Have a wonderful weekend ya'll!!!

Lisa

Changes~

Good Evening! There are a few changes going on that I'd like to tell you about. I have started another blog with hopes to begin a business of my own. It is ~La Rustique Market~ you can click here http://la-rustique-market.blogspot.com/ or on the link on my sidebar to get there. This is going to take some time, but I have to start somewhere. I will keep you updated of any changes and also the transition from AMB to ~LRM~.

Thank you for your patience and I pray that this transition goes as smoothly as possible.

Hugs and Kisses~

Lisa

God Bless America~

We are witnessing history in the making....so just a quick note to commerate this day.

As I watch the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, I'm touched to see so many supporters out there to witness this special day in history. I'm not political, but I do pray that God will protect us all and our new President.

Have a Blessed Day~

Lisa

It's Sweet To Recycle~

Greetings to all! Last night as I was thumbing through magazines I came upon this interesting project on recycling. This is from a copy of Crafts n'Things magazine in a section on "bragging writes", where you can write in and tell about your discovery on ideas, or like Kristine Kadlec from California wrote in about her neat little recycling project.

We all are recyclers of some sort, turning something old or used into something new and useful.

Here's her write up:

"Have you ever run out of ribbon in the middle of wrapping a present? If you have a large, empty candy bag-you're in good shape! My recycled ribbons are made from stips of paper cut from empty candy bags and curled with scissors. The strips of paper are threaded through a small piece of cardboard with four holes punched into it which has been covered with a small square of paper from the empty candy bag using Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive (Beacon Adhesives)."

Ta Da!!! Bravo Kristine!

The ribbons are fun, easy and quick to make. This is a fun and "cheap" project to do with kids, and adults will like that they don't need to go and buy a ribbon that will probably be discarded. They're also environmentally friendly because you are recycling something people normally throw out-empty candy bags....who would've thought!

These would be cute to attach to party bags filled with candy-instead of just those little wire thingy's.

If you have any ideas or creations you'd like to share, here's your opportunity to show it off. Just send a description and photo(s) to:

Crafts n'Things - Bragging Writes

2400 E. Devon Ave., Suite 292

Des Plaines, IL 60018

Have a good day!

XOXO

Lisa

Pencil Sketch~

It's true, you do inherit traits from your parents...like being a packrat! O.K...I admit it, I am my mother when it comes to keeping anything and everything that ever belonged to me. It's amazing what you'll find after so many years of keeping stuff put away...especially when you are moving from one house to another, you find things that you forgot you even had.

We moved to the house we are living in now back in June of 2008 and I had this tote full of baby things, dolls, toys, birthday cards, just little things that my mom had saved for me when I was growing up. The tote was about to fall apart so I went to the local Walmart to buy a new tote and started transfering things from the old tote to the new tote. Well, at the very bottom of the tote was this sketch of a little girl. As I took it out, I noticed on the lower right hand side of it signed by the artist (can't make out the name, all I can read is the first initial "P") and the year, 1973.

This was the year my family went on vacation with some friends of ours to Mexico, and one of the places we stayed at was the City of Monterrey. I don't remember this vacation very well, just what my parents have told me, but I do remember posing for this. I remember sitting on the steps of the restaurant we were eating at and a young man drawing a picture of me. I was about 6 years old when this was done.

My mom tells me that this was one of the ways the locals made money...she said my dad gave him $5 for the drawing. She never framed it, just always kept it in a drawer to give to me when I got older.

So when I married 15 years ago, she gave this to me and told me the story. I've had it in that tote that long and finally decided a few months ago to have it framed. I'm so glad I did, the paper had yellowed so much and the edges were starting to tear, but it was in pretty good condition considering it's over 35 years old. Wow! I'm getting old!!!

Just wanted to share this with you because it is special to me and so are all of you!

Have a Blessed rest of the week~

Hugs and Kisses,

Lisa

My First Award~

I had to share with you my exciting news of the day. What a wonderful surprise and honor to get a note from Isabel at Maison Douce, who has been kind enough to award me with the "Proximidade" Award.

This award is written in her native Portuguese language and it focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world.

Here's the definition of the award: "Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Thank you Isabel!!!

Now I will award this to eight very special bloggers who have inspired me to begin this new chapter in my life.

Theresa at Garden Antqs Vintage

Debbie at Talking Trash

Michelle at Rose Garden Romantic

Yvette at The Charm House

Denise Elizabeth at Hope Tree Studio

Sandra at Romantique Inspirations

Sandra at Canyon Wren Cottage

Joy at Vintage Rabbit

Please pay them a visit and get inspired!

Blessings!

Lisa

I Spy, With My Little Eyes~

Greetings to all this evening! I'm so excited to show you my treasures from my weekend trip and I know that many of you are just itchin' to see what goodies I acquired.

Please excuse my photos...as I've said before, I'm so needing a better camera...it's just not in my budget at the moment.

1. a cream pitcher with gold trim

2. a napkin holder

3. a child's bible

4. a crochet cross

5. a single curtain panel

close-up of a child's bible and crochet cross

a couple of children's vintage gowns

close-up of childs gown

"blurry" angel wings...sorry!

and last but not least....a ruby red glass birdie sitting on the angel wings

As I was posting the pictures, I noticed that everything I bought was white, cream, or beige...except for the ruby glass birdie.

Enjoy!

XXOO~

Lisa

Weekend Trip~

First, I'd like to start off by saying if it wasn't for sweet people like Theresa from Garden Antqs, I wouldn't have ventured out this weekend to Austin and Brenham. Thanks again girlie...you're a doll!

My sister, myself and our husbands went to Austin to the City Wide Garage Sale and the Brenham Antiques Show this weekend. Let me tell ya...I have never seen so many tables piled high with tablecloths, quilts, pillowcases, aprons, hankies, vintage clothing, you name it they got it. Once we got done going through all the piles of "goodies" we scanned all the booths then got right down to business and shopped! We came home with quite a load of things that will be for sale in the shop and my booth (will post pics later). Then we headed down the road to Uncommon Objects, this place is "crazy"...I wanted to buy everything that I saw. I did come home with a book that I have had my eye on for quite some time now...

Country Living: A Bit of Velvet & a Dash of Lace

by Robin Brown of Magnolia Pearl...and it was signed too!

What an outstanding lady...you can read about her on her website http://magnoliapearl.com/

and blog: http://magnoliapearlblog.blogspot.com/

We also stopped in at the Austin Antique Mall where I found the most sweetest pair of angel wings, I'll be posting pics of this later...where I'll be using them in a Valentine's vignette in my booth. We then made our way to Brenham to the Antiques Show where I met Linda, from Willow Nest in Burton TX...she is such a sweet and talented lady. Our next stop was at the best antique shop, Leftovers in Brenham. It's a little high end, but so worth the trip to just be able to dream and drool over all the lovelies they have. The set-up is fantastic...it reminded me of the Homestead in Fredericksburg, TX. I didn't buy a thing there, but I did take in all the inspiration I could. Wow, what a trip!!!

Sorry...I didn't take any pics..I'm not the best photographer, plus I need a better camera.

Have a good Monday!

Lisa

News In The Booth~

As I said earlier this week, I would post some more pics of what I've been working on in my booth. I still have some more work to do on it, but I wanted to post some new vignettes before things get sold. It seems that when I get something put together, a piece from one of the vignettes gets sold and I have to start all over again (I'm obsessive compulsive about things like that). Anyway, hope ya'll enjoy my work. I have fun, that's what counts.

(she keeps an eye on things for me, ha! ha!)

(a bowl full of earbobs!)

(I made these cards to display the earbobs)

(fun stuff for New Years 2009...Cheers!)

Hugs and Kisses,

Lisa

Billy and Betty~

(feel free to use any way you wish)

I was cleaning out some things the other night and came across this paperback book (I don't know where I got it from) and saw the picture on the cover and realized it would make a nice addition to someone's clip art collection. So...here's a little "something" to you from me.

Enjoy!

Have a nice day ya'll!

Lisa

My Fellow Bloggers~

Good Evening to all my blogging friends! I wanted to take this opportunity to give a big "Thank You" to everyone who stops by and visits me...far and near. I welcome all your comments and am truly grateful for each and everyone of them. You'll have to excuse me as I am not a poet or writer like alot of my blogging friends out there, but I do write from my heart. I'll take any advice you experienced bloggers have for me (none will be taken offensively), I just want to grow in this endeaver and help my fellow bloggers with whatever they may need from me. This blog has been an adventure for me that I have needed in my life for a very long time.

I have been de-Christmas-ing (is that a word?) my booth. I took a couple of pics to give you an idea of what I've been doing. More to come later this week!

I had this wacky idea to spray paint used light bulbs and display them, I thought they looked better than just plain white. I wanted to see what kind of reaction I'd get..what do you think?

Tomorrow I go back to my real paying job and I'm not very excited about it. Oh well, the bills do need to get paid...especially after all the Christmas spending!

Blessings to all!

Lisa

Family Photographs~

Family is the one most important things we can possibly acquire in life. We are surrounded by them day after day, and in my home with photographs. My family is very special to me and I'm proud of them all...young and old, they are all dearest to my heart. I cherish each and every one of them and I love looking at all of them in the photographs that decorate my home, old ones and new ones. My home is filled with so many photos...in frames and not. This is just a sample of some of my favorites, there's more to come later!

Enjoy and Happy New Year to you and yours!

Lisa

P.S. Sorry for the blurriness!