Bits and Bobs......

This post is a bit of a "mish-mush" (if that is a word??). A little Valentine's Day decorating, a little over due Christmas and a few miscellaneous pictures I wanted to share. This sweet little kissing couple I found a few years ago at a sale and just love it for Valentine's Day. The perfect sentiment, I think... Below is my dry sink. If I do not decorate anything for a holiday, I always decorate this. It's right as you come in my front door, and is the center of my home, visually.

On the sink are vintage heart candy boxes, a feather tree decorated with, of course, hearts, a Bethany Lowe sweetheart box, a candle, and lots of lace. Tucked in the background is a vintage floral hat, that complemented the color scheme. I looked around for more vintage valentine boxes this year, but did not see any. Always on the hunt for these beauties....

This was my recent find at the thrift store last week. A sweet little teddy, all fuzzy and cute, was just waiting for a good home, a new red bow and of course, her pearls!

The next picture is for Stephanie at Angelic Accents. She and I both collect Pin Money purses, and I mentioned I had a Penny Jar that seemed to blend well with the color scheme. Sort of the same decorating style, don't ya think? Just love these Pin Money Purse Banks. I don't find many of them. Of course, my collection is just beginning....

And this sweetheart of a doll is another find. I've been wanting a half doll pin cushion, but have found many in just so-so shape. This one is chalk and I just L-O-V-E-D her muted colors! She is a keeper, that's for sure.

Now, this was supposed to be my last picture, and I can't seem to move it to the bottom (I'm having Blogger fits!), so it will stay where it is. This is a sample of a page out of my Art Journal from Heather's "A Beautiful Life" Art Journal Class (which, by the way is open and on Pretty Petals Boutique).

I will be doing a post on this, very soon. I have had the best time creating this beautiful journal. Using all my pretties that I normally would just stare at! I know you all know what I mean. We collect all this beautiful stuff, and then what do we do with it?

I know, I know, it has taken me a while to get this done, but, life has just gotten in the way, big time! I am so happy to be just about done and was so thrilled to see everyone's journals when they were doing their posts. It truly is a very fulfilling task.

And, last, but definitely not least, are some pictures of some things Heather gave me for Christmas. She knows I love children's books so, she gave me the most delightful Children's Story Book with stories inside like, "Little Knitters", "The Dream Fairy", and "Baby Bumbles and Dottie Dimple". How cute is that?

Then she gave me this magnificent vintage Christmas card. It truly is an amazing thing of beauty with a velvet bell with silver sparkles. I adore it. Just look at this wonderful rhinestone belt buckle. What was I saying above, something about collecting all these pretties?? :)

I've been admiring pearl handled knives for quite a while. Well, Heather started me on a new collection. Aren't they gorgeous?

And this sweet vintage crepe paper bell with delicious gold glitter on the bottom. It's hanging in my bedroom/studio. Utter sweetness!

I just wanted to give you all a bit of happiness in the devestation of the Haiti earthquake. 53 orphaned children were brought to Pittsburgh, PA today to Children's Hospital. They will be kept overnight there. 47 of the 53 have already been adopted. I understand that the children were all very excited to have an airplane ride. I also understand the dear woman that brought these children here lived in a Haitian driveway of a house for a week with over 100 children. I know we are all trying to do our part financially, but please keep these people, and especially the children, in your prayers.

Well, that's the end of it for today. Glad you all stopped by for a peak, and a chat. I'll be stopping by to see you very soon. Have a good week,

Blessings

Kitty

xox

Treasure: To Regard Or Treat As Precious; Cherish

I have found in a most recent experience that there are little "life treasures" hidden for us to discover. Regardless if experience is defined as “good” or “bad”, these little "treasures" allow us to see "what is" and "what could be" within our own lives and to those lives we touch, everyday. If I dig and unearth this treasure, then I will go down this path, and if I unearth that, then, behold, something altogether different, and maybe a bit more glorious, may be waiting for me. Forgive my babbling, but these experiences keep occurring and I feel the need to share.....

We, as humans, seem to have a knack for interpreting “bad” experience as something evil, a sort of, “What Have I Done Wrong To Deserve This”? But lying, just beneath the surface, a bit murky at times, is the chance to unearth a “treasure”.

My Mother had a recent stay in the hospital. She came to the hospital by ambulance, which always sets the anxious tone we begin to feel; praying all the while that upon arrival, I would find her OK, and without a terribly serious medical involvement. My Mother was admitted for a potential heart problem, and after much testing, she was “pronounced” just fine ~ just a bit of hietal hernia and much anxiety. Praise the Lord for that outcome.

During Mom’s 3-1/2 day stay in Cardiac Care, I met the most wonderful people. Her roommate, “Vanetta” was dealing with pneumonia and other complications. She was “healing medicine” for my Mother. Vanetta was sweet but vocal, and had a richness of faith and family. My Mother tends to stay to herself, but this woman brought her out of her shell. I would walk into their room and Mom would be helping her in or out of bed, calling in their lunch order and/or ringing the nurse bell for something needed. Mom got to unearth her own treasures during this stay. She called Vanetta after she was released from the hospital, and now, they plan on staying in touch. If you knew how difficult this was for my Mother, you would know how much of a true treasure this is. :)

One of my very own treasures was the opportunity to strengthen the bond between my Mother and I. This opportunity comes in the most unexpected ways, when I least expect it. I'm usually absorbed in the moment or some task I need to perform. And then, there it is, the treasure awaits.

Another treasure was meeting so many caring doctors and nurses; even those working in the gift shop and snack shop, all giving a caring glow to my day, each day.

So thank you to all those that work in the health care field, the hospitals, the ambulance attendants, the ER nurses and doctors, the medical test specialists, those that deliver the patients to and from. Due to all of you, Mom and I found treasure. We can’t thank you enough.

Heather’s post on saying “Thank You” is well timed. I would like to take that lead, and join with her to say, Thank You, to all my dear blogger friends, family, and readers who “honor” me every day with their thoughts, comments, and words of inspiration. To know I am a tiny thread, intertwined among many, creating this beautiful blogging community gives me much comfort. For this I am so very grateful.

God Bless You all this year through. Wishing you “glorious experiences” when finding your own life treasures.

Blessings,
Kitty

Much thanks to Karen at the Graphics Fairy for all of her beautiful clip art that brightens my day and alot of my blog posts! Blessings to you, my dear friend....

Longing For Lace....

I received my new issue of Victoria Magazine in the mail the other day. OOOOHHH! Such a wonderful issue, with beautiful photos of ironstone, lace, dolls and sumptuous food. When Victoria re-started publishing about a year ago, I didn't feel sure it was of the same caliber as "the old issues". But, as the year progressed, I have to say, I am not disappointed one tiny bit, but rather, I can't wait to reach the mailbox when I know the next issue is soon arriving.

The article that caught my eye, this time, was "Vintage Lace ~ A Lovely Legacy". There is nothing better than the sheer delights of vintage lace with its subtle shades of cream, white and tawny brown. To touch it, and feel the "nothingness" of its weight is a pleasure unto its own. To study each intricate tiny stitch, and the patterns woven, just perfectly; well, need I say more?

Such patience. What did those women think of while they were doing these tasks? Did they think of their problems? Did they take this time to reflect on their day, or were their minds busy with what they had left to do, or where the children were, or was hubby coming home soon. I can't help but think they were not nearly as "scattered" as I feel a great deal of the time. Could it be I am conjuring up an image of a life that really wasn't so? Let me have my thoughts and think otherwise....

I am not a person that knows the names of all the different types of laces, years they were produced/stitched/woven. But, I don't think you need to be a "learned scholar" of lace to just simply enjoy its beauty.

The affect lace has on a woman cannot be explained. It's like slipping into a scented bathtub, sipping the perfect tea in a precious china cup, slipping into bed with newly laundered sheets dried in the sun, or the coo of a sweet little baby. You know, that kind of feeling. It stirs the emotion, almost makes one "giddy" at times.

Thank you Victoria for sharing these wonderful images, you have captured my heart. What could be more lovely than a winter's day and the latest issue of this dear magazine. So, enjoy the pictures, and run now and get your copy and enjoy some blessed "BLISS"....

Blessings,

Kitty