Havin' Some Fun With JibJab

The New Canadian pairs couple lookin' to win a gold!

A Look Back

Feeling a bit nostalgic today...thought I'd share some photos of my grandma that I recently scanned...

This is one of my favorites - especially the story behind it. This was on a trip my grandma's parents went on to go visit family in Italy. My grandma was very young here - I'd say 4 or 5 years old. My grandma told me that when they were in Italy she somehow caught typhoid fever. She said she was very delirious and had a high fever and they couldn't find any doctors "in." Somehow they heard of this "witch doctor" who had several "concoctions" that would help the fever so they had him come around to tend to my grandma. I remember her telling me that whatever he used as a salve on her chest smelled very "disgusting." I don't know whether this picture was taken before or after she was ill. I love the kitten with her. It is a keeper...

My grandma on the far right...her love for kittens continues...

I love the bloomers...

I don't know who she is with here but she doesn't look impressed...maybe it was the fake donkey??

Here she is in some sort of dance recital - she is second from the right...

This is her with her brother - either first communion or confirmation day...

A wedding she was in - she is on the far right...

This looks like it could have been on the ranch...she told me stories of when she was just a pre-teen to teenager she would do the cooking for all the ranch hands (her mother had passed away so she was in charge of this until her father re-married)...that is why she was such a fantastic cook and people praised her "italian" cooking everywhere! A common phrase that would be said at all her meals was "you cooked enough for an army" - I guess she came about it rightly because she was used to cooking large meals for the ranch hands...

Beach beauties - she is on the left...

A beau at the time?

Here she is on the coast somewhere with her parents...

Another beau??

A ski day at Badger Pass - she is on the left...

And another beau??

Posing in the snow...

Looks like she is the "equestrian" gal...

And with the beau she ended up with - her husband...

I believe this might have been her wedding day - her sister-in-law and brother and the newlyweds...

On the ranch (which later ended up being the winery) she is on the far left with her husband, then there is her brother and his wife and her step-mom and dad...

Grandma on far left with sister-in-law and brother...

Starting on left is her mother-in-law, step-mom, herself, and her aunt...

Here she is on the far right with her brother by her side (don't know the other people)...

Some relatives...

My grandma and grandpa - I love her hat and fur collar...

Her "besties" all decked out for a day/night on the town (my grandma is on far right)...

Her bowling buddies (she is second from right)...

And it all started with these two people - her mom and dad...I love old photos and the memories and legacy they hold with them. Someday my kids will be looking back on these for a bit of "their" history. I just need to get busy and label all these photos so that they know who they are!

Chocolate Anyone?

Chocolate anyone??

Sorry...they seem to be all gone...all eaten in one sitting...

Do you blame me - they were See's candies after all!

Love to You

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blogging ladies out there! Hope you all are enjoying the day with your sweeties! And, eating to your hearts content of all that fab chocolate out there!!

Isn't this girl and her dog the cutest thing you have ever seen?? I purchased this kit from Tiffany of Shabby Scraps last summer at the Funky Junk Sisters Sale in Washington. I just think she is so darn cute that I had to make my mom, sisters, and my Valentine swap partner one too! I don't want to put her away after Valentine's Day....maybe she'll just have to stay on display a little longer....

Valentine Lovelies

I was spoiled this past week...spoiled by my Vintage Heart Swap partner Jen of J. Nichelle Holiday. With only knowing me from seeing my blog and a few short emails, she was able to conjure up a complete valentine loot of goodies that just screamed "me"!! Let me take you on a picture tour of the lovelies...

Opening up the box I found this sweet note written on the bottom of the lovely heart container box she revamped...

And this is the top lid of the box - isn't it just adorable!

A close-up of the vintage lovelies she adorned the box with...

And another view - I love all of the glitter she put on it too...so sparkly!

Aren't these vintage valentine's cards the best? I wish they made some like these now...

And, look at this ornament Jen made! So beautiful! She sells these in her etsy store here...

And, just because she knows that I collect bride and groom cake toppers or anything to do with brides and grooms, she included this adorable couple in my package as well - under the brides dress is a bell! They are just too cute for words!

Some vintage cards - and yes that is a See's candy box in the background - I will be enjoying those goodies soon!

Love the detail on the box lid...

And, she has included these beads and baubles so that I might use them in my creations - see what I mean - S*P*O*I*L*E*D*!

And a cute little vintage glass heart ornament...L*O*V*E*!!

This little girl is here to say i...love...you!

A recap of the valentine lovelies I received...

Thank you Jen!!! You have spoiled me and I am grateful for all my goodies! It has been great getting to know you through your emails and your blog and maybe you can come visit Chilliwack again! I enjoyed shopping for you too - it was hard not keeping the stuff for myself!! tee hee...

If you want to see what I gave to Jen, go here...

And a big thank you to Dolly of From My Cherry Heart for hosting this swap for the past three years. I look forward to being involved again next year! You have been such a gracious hostess with your swaps and I thank Y*O*U*!!

If you want to see more valentine swap goodies, head on over to this blog post at Dolly's...

I'm in L*O*V*E*

Take a look...

That's it - a little bit closer...

There...now you too can see why I am in l*o*v*e*...

This beauty was found at the downtown Albany, Oregon antique mall. It is a lovely vintage velvet settee - once I spotted it in the window display for Valentine's Day I knew I had to have it for my bedroom. It was all the colors of my room and I knew she would fit right in with the new red velvet drapes I found for a steal. Can you believe these drapes were originally $80 marked down to $19.99!! Yikes! They were meant to be in my bedroom!

I just love it when you find deals! These drapes are fully lined and will be good in both the winter and summer time to keep the cold drafts out and keep the bright shining sun at bay so the room doesn't get toasty!

And a  B*I*G*   T*H*A*N*K*   Y*O*U*  to my mom for buying the beautiful settee for me for my birthday gift - I just got it a few months early! I'm in love...

Thank You

Thank you for all the encouraging comments that were left on my "Girlfriends" post. Your comments were all positive and some of you have even asked if I am selling these. So, because of all of your positive and encouraging comments, I am now off to go to lock myself up in my studio and make some more "necklaces with a story".....maybe their titles will be "mother and daughter" or "family heritage" or "when I was two years old"....the possibilities are endless when you work with so many vintage photos and tin types. The old vintage rhinestones and trinkets I use also have a story to tell...

I just recently returned from a trip to Oregon and we all know how many great antique stores they have there. After visiting so many of my antique haunts there, I found many more treasures to use in my necklace creations. I can't wait to see what transpires from them....so, check out my esty store in the near future for some treasures with a history to wear around your neck!