Trash 2 Treasure

Today is the big day...

Kari & Kijsa have invited everyone to show their creativity in making ordinary, discarded things into beautiful & desirable things.

We love this...and thought we'd show some fun things to do for your Easter table {it will be here before we know it!}

We've decided to invite the girls over for a tea party at Karrie's house {we are known for our tea parties you know.....} and we'd like to discuss a new tea flavor with our dear sisters.....it would taste like diet coke {now you see how we would get those poor girls to come see us!}

Amongst the hand-me-down china from grandma, we have vintage plates that we have been collecting. Things that have been discarded and marked down so low....even at the junk stores....we just had to save them!


Well....on those darling plates that will hold our tea cakes....we have a party favor for our guests......let's see what they are....

Hobnail votive cups....pick them up in any junk store, flea market, or garage sale - not just for holding candles anymore! Take some ribbon and tie it around your votive cup. Embellish with buttons or rhinestone pins {also found objects from your favorite hunting spot...could even be in your own jewelry box!} Stick some Easter grass in them and top with an egg - voila! An Instant favor for your table!

Our last treasure that we want to share today is the name plate holder....

That's right...just some old window pulls - we just strung some ribbon through the screw's holes and made the cutest spot for the place cards to sit!

Oh....how much fun we've had - do stop by and visit Kari & Kijsa today and see all of the great Trash 2 Treasure ideas there! Thanks for popping in today....now ahhhahmm....back to figuring out this diet coke tea....

Who's That?

Who let the Owls out?

Who, Who?

New autograph owls are in....{pens included} perfect for taking to school to get everyone's famous signature - recorded for prosperity!

Shadow Tag...Your It!

We caught a shadow of one of our tags at work today.
Just like the fabulous game of tag....you can click on Hey Harriet and follow shadows all over the world - jumping from one blog to another - see how many shadows you can "tag" this week with us!

Stringing Along....

Dare we say that we are jewelery makers now?
No...not quite - but we had an awesome time at our Beading 101 class last night!
Carolyn and Cindy from Ivy's Vine/Beadyize in Genoa came over to instruct us on the proper way to make a bracelet out of new & lovely vintage beads!








The next class is April 30th at 7pm. We will be making a fabulous necklace that converts to a glasses holder {if you'd like...but it's so darn cute either way!!}, check it out - Carolyn is wearing one up there on the right.....


:::::SUPER EXCITING NEWS:::::
Yippee!! We finally won one of Rachel's wonderful necklaces from Two Dog Pond!
Thank you so much Rachel! Our saying is there on the left....of course you just knew we'd say something along those "lines" - ha!! Of course, we have to thank our Grandpa for our super sense of humor - thanks grandpa {we think}!!

Join in every Monday, as Rachel posts a fun picture that you have to put a saying with - you'll have to hold your sides with all the funnies you'll read!

Wednesday Words

Our memories of the sea will linger on long after our footprints in the sand are gone...

Wednesday Words are brought to you by our Wallscape line. Do you have a favorite saying or quote? Put it up on your wall! Visit our new Wallscape website and create your own!

Let's get Clean....

Last week we got in our new All-Purpose Cleanser from Caldrea. So....yesterday we both took home a bottle to see how it works.

{On occasion....Mondays we stay home to clean....instead of going out hunting for junk like we normally do!}

Well, we wanted to see if it made the job ahead of us a bit easier...ok...more pleasant!

Karrie cleaned her kitchen and bath with it....and loves how the Ginger Pomelo makes the house smell of fruit and springtime.

I, on the other hand had the Basil Blue Sage and I cleaned down cupboards, woodwork and my wood floors with it. It's fresh herb smell made the whole house smell fabulous!

We both agree....we would rather have gone to our favorite junking spot....however, we do love this new cleaner!

Another thing we loved about the cleaner is that you can use it to make up new batches of our favorite Caldrea counter top cleaner {which we love!} - two tablespoons and add warm water - who knew!?

While we were on Caldrea's web page checking out their cleaning tips, we found this one:

Need to clean your wood floor, but don't have access to our All-Purpose Cleanser? Caldrea suggests steeping two black tea bags in a quart of boiling water; let solution cool to room temperature, then mop the floor. Amazing!

Happy Cleaning!

Happy Birthday Dad...

Today a wonderful guy was born....

"Everyone is the age of their heart."

~Guatemalan Proverb

{Happy Birthday Dad - we love ya!}

Sandy Shadows

Last weekend we went to Toledo's Home & Garden Show to see some friends. While we were there, the kids (and adults too!) were fascinated with the sand sculpture that was being made. We quick snapped some pictures for Hey Harriet's Shadow Shot Sundays.....hope you all enjoy!

Here is the gentleman who was creating this sand sculpture - isn't it amazing? We are sure that all of the kids were wondering who got to kick it down after the show!


Stop by and visit everyone at Hey Harriet to see what kind of creative shadows are around this weekend!

Tiers & Truffles

The First Day of Spring brings the first day of Spring Fling. We tried something new & springy this year by stacking some of our cake plates up and putting treats on them ~ it is quite pretty! We also found a very pretty punch bowl a couple of weeks ago that we just HAD to have....perfect with the tiered cake plates!

The first day of Open House also means that it is the first day that we have chocolate truffles.

One bite....you will get your chocolate fix! Chocolate Blueberry, Chocolate Chai, and Chocolate Almond.....get a box of 6 and get two of each flavor!

An Illuminating Idea

Sweet & Pretty for spring!
What a great idea we found on Martha Stewart this week!
Remember all of those scrap fabrics....another great use!
Grab some glass hurricanes and measure how tall they are and what the circumference is. Take your fabric and cut it to the dimensions you measured (adding on a 1/2 inch to overlap the seam). Glue your fabric on the outside of your hurricane and you are ready to welcome spring!


Our Open House starts tomorrow...so excited!
Also, go on over to our friend Catherine's blog - she is giving away her MOST delicious granola cookies.....you've NEVER tasted anything sooooo good!!

Wednesday Words

"The day the Lord created Hope was probably the same day he created Spring."

--Ben Williams

Wednesday Words are brought to you by our Wallscape line. Do you have a quote or saying that you love? Put it up on your wall! Visit our Wallscape website to make your own!

It's a Spring Fling!

Welcome Spring!




















This weekend is our Spring Fling Open House. We are so excited! As you can see we have lots of fun displays that you can gather ideas to take home with you...














We have gotten in many new books - this is one of our favorites!






New vintage plates....ready to go home with you!

Just in....we've added Caldrea's All Purpose Cleaner to our line! Available in Ginger Pomelo, and Basil Blue Sage - spring cleaning will never be the same!








Let's not forget the wreaths and arrangements that add so much spring color to your home!








The last thing we will share with you about Spring Fling Open House, is that we have three new flavor's of scones and Truffles! Catherine has been getting some delicious truffles around for us - be sure to stop in and try some samples to see which ones you want to take home!



So...if you are in the area - we'd love to have you come on by and see all of the new things we have gotten in for spring, as well as eat lots of mom's cookies, sample the truffles & scones....and let's not forget some of Aunt Pam's delicious punch!


Spring Fling Open House
Friday, March 20th 10am-8pm
Saturday, March 21st 10am-5pm
Sunday, March 22nd 1pm-5pm

Dancing With the Shadows

My Shadow


I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest things about him is the way he likes to grow-
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Thanks to Tracy over at Hey Harriet for posting all of our shadows every week! Stop on over to see what other shadows are doing out and about!

Thanks also go to Auntie Pam for sending us over the picture we used today of her granddaughter McKenzie!

A Decorating War

Things might look pretty normal around here.
I mean...you'd never guess that this was a WAR ZONE!

Yesterday, I had put a bit of spring touches on my fireplace....and today.....

The infantry had come to set up camp! What do you think? Do you allow your kids to have their toys around the house, or are they in a certain area?

Let me tell you - the army will stay for a bit...however, it will go - but how can you say no....when they are having so much fun?

Do you know what I love most about my kids? Their imagination. How fun is it to play with your plastic army dudes all over the house? Don't get me wrong....I know I'll end up finding the forgotten ones....

Sooner or Later

Wednesday Words

"The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of time each day."

Wednesday Words are brought to you by our Wallscapes. Do you have a favorite saying or quote? Get it on your wall! Hope on over to our Wallscapes website and create one today!

Another Use

So, I went into work on Saturday, and Karrie was cutting. What was she cutting? Well....let's see.....

It seems that she is indeed cutting....some shapes out of the discarded fabric swatches that we have in the back {of course we are good girls, and keep them....just in case we'd need them for anything!}

Well, since we are getting the store ready for our Spring Open House next weekend, we needed some new decorations for under our glass where we ring our delightful customers up!

Well...it's pretty cute!
When you are in furniture stores, or drapery stores, ask if you can have their discontinued fabric samples. You can cut out your own designs and use them under glass, like we did here, or you can put them in frames - either as the background for another pretty object, or as the design itself! How about putting those shapes onto pillows...or even use them as patches on your kid's clothing!
See what we did here a couple months ago for a "miss manners" tea party with our discontinued fabric samples!

Think creative - you'll get some GREAT {original} ideas!

Putting All of Your Eggs in a Basket

We know the saying "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket", however if your basket is for decorating purposes, you will need all of those eggs!

We get in these baskets that hang. You can put candles in them and hang them outside or inside. At Christmas we put some wreaths in some of them and some glittered snowflakes in some.

What to do for spring? Why, add eggs! Whether you have a hanging wire basket or a basket on your table - surround your candle with some spring eggs - you'll love it!

Hobnail Shadow Shots

Shadow Shot Sunday is back....as we move forward for spring!

We've been preparing the store for it's spring cleaning - as well as spring decorating! As we were taking pictures to showcase our new items for spring we spotted an iridescent shadow coming from our new hobnail tea light holders - quite lovely!!

Enjoy many other lovely shadows on our favorite meme this Sunday.....stop by Hey Harriet to see what shadows are popping up around the world!

Pillow Talking

Pillow Talk is celebrating 50 years!
{click here to view the original movie trailer}
If you have never seen Pillow Talk before - you really should. Not only do Doris & Rock make the best movie pair...ever....Doris' character plays an Interior Decorator. She wears the most wonderful outfits....and decorates quite lovely! {We are sure that is why we went into design!}
The best part is the ending when she decorates Rock's bachelor pad - wow....it's great! Not in the usual sense of great...but Funny great!
We received an email the other day that made us aware of the 50th anniversary of one of our many favorite Doris movies - follow it here and enter to win the 50th anniversary DVD of Pillow Talk!

Topiary Time

We're Hooked on Making a Rosemary Topiary!

Last night we learned the "ins and outs" of topiary making.....literally!

What a fun project to do this month - it may still be too cold outside to play in the dirt....so bring it indoors!

We had Rosemary plants and made ball topiary with wire forms, and then we prepared our other Rosemary plants so that they will become a ball topiary on a stick base {not sure if I termed that right!}

Catherine explained how to make and care for our topiary. We had such a fun time, we wanted to share it with you!




Catherine brought us some of the most delicious rosemary breads that were still hot....yum!

Feel like creating a topiary for yourself? Hop on over to this blog post where you can get the simple instructions on creating your own "bit of spring"!

What are you hooked on today? Go visit our friend Julia at Hooked on Houses and see what everyone else is hooked on!