Thursday's Confessions

Welcome to Thursday's Confessions. A new weekly feature where I confess, before you my sisters and brothers, the silly, the ridiculous and even at times the shameful. Why? Because confession is good for the soul. Even in Blogland. 

(Today it is pretty silly...Just cause.)

Confession: I love to wander aimlessly through the Flea Markets and low-end Antique Malls. It is to me what playing golf is to my father-in-law. A de-stresser galore.

I rarely get to do this anymore now that I work full-time but during the summer months, when I have more time off and time seems to slow down a bit,  I like to find as many moments to steal away as I can and wander the aisles of colorful vintage goodies.

I was very fortunate that on my way to and from my farm retreat I was able to visit 3 flea markets - 2 which were brand new to me. It was so great to wander with no sense of urgency or purpose. Just me, my camera and time, lots of time.

Confession: I have no use for real Antiques. I like the junk and the borderline junk. And the cheaper the better. Give me things that cost $6 and under.  Not $20 or $40.  

I am such a cheapskate snob.

These days I find myself looking for useful items. Things that I can  justify purchasing - like kitchen items. Sometimes I find funny kitchen tools and I cannot imagine what they are for.

Like this aqua handled something-or-another.  Any clue on this one? Anyone?

I am particularly drawn to choppers and pitchers. Especially syrup pitchers. 

I think I have maxed out my allotment of choppers (well there is one design I don't have yet...) But I think maybe I could get away with a few more pitchers...maybe?

I also am loving storage containers and tins. Anything I can use and still enjoy.  I use old tins to hold dry goods like coffee, tea and beans.  I loved the look (but not the price) of this huge baking powder can- how fun is it? And the colors are perfect.

Confession: I need grandchildren.  Ok, well "need" might be a bit strong of a word.

But  I am drawn to over and over is vintage children's toys and furniture and the  other day I actually said out loud "I can't wait to have grandkids so I can buy this stuff!" while looking at some great vintage goodies. 

I just love the colors of vintage kids goods. Kinda like how I love current little girl shoes. I am always walking through Target, lamenting how I love the little girls shoes better than the women's shoes.

There were 2 sets of these glasses, one in a carrier. I loved their colors and kitschy charm but I wondered if perhaps they are offensive to Native American Indians?  I am always curious about that. 

Next up I found a full set of this pattern. I had never seen this exact set before, the aqua trim, the gold and the flowers. I have seen them separate but never together.... Of course the very last thing that I need is more floral china. Seriously.

And last but not least, the Queen herself. Isn't she lovely? Wish I could have brought her home, but again, too high a price. Cheapskate me.

***********

If you find yourself traveling between Fayettville and Little Rock sometime and you need to take a potty break, stop off in Alma. There are lots of food joints along with one handy flea market right off the exit. Just look for:

Sister's 2-TOO Antique Mall 

702 Highway 71 N, Alma, AR 72921-5109(479) 632-2292 ‎

2 more days

2 more days until I go back to work.

I am soaking up all the goodness of being home, of all this time to work on the book and be with the kids and enjoy my lovely house...

This weekend has been a flurry of projects for the book.

My house looks like a crafting bomb went off and for the first time I don't really mind. 

 I think I could get used to writing books, my whole house filled with projects and experiments and moments of deep thought at the computer, coffee cup in hand.

Of course sometimes it is maddening as nothing seems to come out of my brain but incoherent mush.

But sometimes it is as exactly as I dreamed it would be...

I will be back later this week with more regular blogging...till then, have a lovely Monday friends!

summer lovin

i love sunflowers from the farmers market. it makes me so happy to have them spread throughout the house. sunny and cheerful and wide open, just how I want to be.

then there is the kid doing his chores. he is anything but sunny and cheery.

but he does get them done....eventually, after much ripping of the sack cloth and gnashing of teeth.

the one thing that i think would drive me the most crazy about home schooling would be the whining.

i love being home with the boys all day except for the whining. have mercy, it wears me out.

but let's end on a happy note shall we? 

yep,  that's better - a summer lunch with friends.

their visits this week have made our home extra sunny, just like the flowers.

ok back to projects and chores.

luv much

J

a question

When did dollies go from looking like this

to this?

make do {and make lovely} mondays

Mamma Mia! The Movie (Widescreen)

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (Widescreen Edition)

 A Good Year (Widescreen Edition)

Something's Gotta Give : Widescreen Edition

Spanglish : Widescreen Edition

Under the Tuscan Sun (Widescreen Edition)

I am back from my wonderful retreat. I have lots of stories to tell, but with only 10 days left of my summer vacation I also have lots of crafty projects for the book and swimming and popsicle eating to do with the boys before I go back to work, so it may take me a while to get back to regular posting.

The temp's are already out of control here in Arkansas. Yesterday around 4pm I heard the radio dj say "it's 98 degrees but it feels like 106." Wowsers.

So to beat the heat we are indoors a lot, and while I am tackling all the laundry and cleaning up after projects and countless snacks and lunches that a house, I will be watching my favorite summer movies.

This is my list - do you have any to add? Would love to add a few new ones (or old ones!)

thursdays confessions

Welcome to Thursday's Confessions. A new weekly feature where I confess, before you my sisters and brothers, the silly, the ridiculous and even at times the shameful. Why? Because confession is good for the soul. Even in Blogland. 

 Confession: I need a time out. A big one.

I just sent a text to Sweet Man that said "Weepy, hormonal, dreaming of the farm life...Feel like there is an elephant sitting on my neck."

Life has thrown us a few curve balls this week. Yet I know that there are good things over the very hills that are blocking our view at the moment. But still we must climb those hills to get to the other side and the thought of that is as tiring as anything at the moment.

Some old things must go, so that new ones can flourish. 

There is light  coming in through the cracks of what is broken, but still, I am sad. I am worn out. 

 

Monday I leave for a farm where I will spend 5 days writing, and praying and writing some more and taking some long walks in the hot Arkansas heat, sweating out all worries and then writing some more.

No kids, no Sweet Man. No chores and projects or errands or dinner parties.

Just me and my sweet host and a laptop.

So starting tomorrow I am taking a time out.

A blog sabbatical.

I am going to pitch my tent in the land of hope and just sit there a while.

I am taking my camera with me on my trip to the farm and I am planning on doing lots of Flea Marketing there and back so I promise to come back fully re-stocked for summer blogging in 10 days or so.

But for now I need to retreat, to rest, to restore.

I hope to see you all when I return. Much love,

J

At Home in Arkansas Blog

Scootch on over to the At Home in Arkansas Blog today to check out my post on "thrifty, waterside-inspired crafting." There are some oldies but goodies on there, and just in time for summer vacation.

Enjoy!

farmhouse dreaming

This past weekend Sweet Man, the boys, Judea and I all piled in the trailblazer and went to the country to look at some property. Daydreaming the whole way there and back about country life.

The property had a very small, but livable house. The kind you live in while you make plans to build a bigger one or add an addition on.  Even though the trip was mostly just a fun excursion with a few "what if's" built in, While Sweet Man dreamed of planting soy beans or hay, and the boys daydreamed about fishing in the pond and wading in the creek, I couldn't help but daydream about decorating the small-but-well-lit family room in the little country house..

This is what I came up with, a happy, airy, comfy room with hints of industrial running through. Doesn't it look fun? Wouldn't you love to visit? Of course putting white flooring and furniture in a country house is probably the craziest idea ever but I don't care -this is my daydream remember?

(most sources on my Pinterest)

(Don't tell Sweet Man, but if we don't move to the country in the next year, I am completely re-doing our living/dining/kitchen areas and I might just have to use this board as the jumping off point!)


***********************
OK, so I forgot not everyone can get on Pinterest w/o an invite, so I am going to do my best to list where everything in the picture above came from.

White Chair and Couch-From Ikea.com, Blue Couch Slipcover from Bemz.com
Green Rug - from Walmart.com
White Washed Wood Flooring - Ikea.com
Poof and Metal Rolling Table - UrbanOutfitters.com
Camper Pillow - NotOnTheHighStreet.com
Oh La La Pillow, Farm House Picture and Doll House - Etsy.com
Gingham Curtains - Google Images Picture (they look similar to ones I already have)
Wire Light Fixture - Wisteria.com
Yellow Pillow - Country Living DIY
Camping is Fun poster - Society6
Great Outdoors hanging - House8810

Hope that helps!

make do {and make lovely} monday

Happy Monday friends! I am so glad you have popped in for a visit - it is always easier to face a Monday with a whole bunch of friends along for the journey!  If you are visiting  via Heather's sweet post today at Life Made Lovely,  a special welcome to you - I am always glad to make new friends. Grab a comfy chair and make yourself at home...

Today's post is all about these curtains..

(picture by Mark Loman, styled by Sunday Hendrickson)

These curtains are a happy accident and they are always what people are curious about.

So here is the low down:

 One, restless snowed in day last winter I got the urge to change up some things in my dining room but because I was a) snowed in and b)broke I had to use what I had on hand.  So I went to my fabric closet and starting pulling this and that out, looking for inspiration.  I eventually settled on a duvet, originally from Swell @ Target, grabbed my scissors and cut it half. These curtains were made in 5 minutes. All I did was cut and clip (to curtain clip rings that is.) The middle edges are rough as I didn't even do a good job cutting it half, and sometimes I fold them over to try and hide their imperfections, but mostly I let it all hang out. Everyone has rough edges afterall.

 

I bought the duvet off Ebay several years ago and occasionally you can still find it for sale there

 I have also found a few sources where you can purchase similar fabric and make your own duvet or curtains

Dada Babies 

Keepsake Quilting

Baby Box

Of course you could always collect vintage hankies or buy them in bulk on Ebay or Etsy and then piece together your own curtains, adding a simple cotton lining on the back.

I love my curtains and they make me happy everytime I look at them.

I keep thinking one of these days I will get around to fixing those rough edges,

So that is the story behind these curtains, a happy accident thanks to a snowy day!

camp site

I've pitched my tent in the land of hope. 

(Acts 2:28 in the Message)

Thursdays Confessions

Welcome to Thursday's Confessions. A new weekly feature where I confess, before you my sisters and brothers, the silly, the ridiculous and even at times the shameful. Why? Because confession is good for the soul. Even in Blogland. 

Confession:

I am a $1 item addict. I should probably go to rehab. Or at least Dollar Store Addicts Anonymous.

This weekend, while on a brief stop at Wal-Mart (I know, shameful, shameful Wal-Mart) I found these bandanna's on the way to the cereal aisle. OK, maybe they weren't exactly on the way to the cereal, but they were close!

I took one look and new they would make perfect kitchen cafe curtains and napkins.

And they were only $1 a piece.

So I bought 6. But I think I may need 2 more.

Or maybe 4. 10 is a good round number right? 

 Yes, 10. 10 would be perfect. 2 for the windows, 8 for the table.

Now if I can only work in another trip to Wal-Mart on the sly...I think I feel another cereal run coming on.

Oh dear me. 

Hello, my name is Jerusalem Greer, and I am Dollar Store Alcoholic...