Valentine Fun

Valentine's Day is nearly here and I wanted to share a few goodies for the occasion.

These darling cupid's arrows were made by our daughter, Mia, for our Valentine's Day gift!

 She said they are easy and all you need are sturdy sticks, from your yard, felt and hot glue.

Aren't they darling? I hung them here and there among my Valentine decor.

I bought this awesome Mickey Mouse Club Scrap Book at a local flea. I opened it and

was amazed to see the fabulous valentine card collection. They were glued in

by a 9 year old girl and some have stickers attaching them, as well.

Check out the date and price back then.

Here are what the pages look like. They are chock full of retro Valentine fun! I want to keep it intact

and share some of the cards, over time, here and on Pinterest. There are a few from other

holidays too but mostly sweet valentines.

I love them all! Look at the detail and the funny sayings back then. Remember the joy

of getting special valentines from your classmates and teachers?

Why didn't we all save them? I am a saver and I didn't.

This lion, with a collar and tie, is accented with silver glitter!

And this sweet girl has a red flocked trim on her pinafore. Flocking was used a 

lot on the cards back then. The hearts with the birdies are flocked too.

Follow me on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/wrenlizgifts/

to see more vintage valentines like these and craft ideas.

WE wish you a fun and fabulous Valentine's Day!

Melin

xoxo

Holiday Speed Decorating with Cedar

My husband is laid up from surgery on his arm and was not able to trim a few 

pine  branches from our yard, so I took matters into my own 

hands and bought this garland at Costco for $15.99!

I used clippers, floral cutters and scissors to tear it apart. It was so well built.

I deconstructed it on our kitchen island, which was a mess but warmer and sweep-able (is that a word). I want to share with you the ways I used the one garland in and around my Christmas decor.

I started a few tins, both new and vintage, I had, added the cedar and in most

 all examples I added faux  or real flowers, berries, glass balls and pine cones.

These are two vintage scoops we collected and set on the hearth.

I added a few sprigs, here there and everywhere!

Here are two on top of an antique frame.

Some were used "as is" in garland form. 

I even added some to our old sled that holds wet boots!

Then I added the what was left to the porch.

We added a buggy seat to our old red wagon and put a few faux tress

 in the middle,  then added the cedar casually around it.

I think you will have fun with this simple project and a 

big plus is the fresh scent it imparts.

Happy Holidays,

Melin

xoxo

Finally Fall

I know it is just October but it has been so warm that I thought fall would never come to

 our mountains. It is here now in all it's glory. I have not been taking pics of the trees but

I thought I would share a few of my fall decor.

I used a tin from my web store (sorry, it is sold out for this year already) for my base. 

The faux sunflowers, leaves and gourds are from Hobby Lobby. 

Are you as glad as I am that sunflowers are back in vogue? 

My squirrels are vintage finds. My mom had some like these when I was growing up. 

Am I the only one buying back their childhood memories? 

The birdies are still available at Wren Elizabeth Gifts. You can find them here http://www.wrenelizabethgifts.com/item_1753/Small-Birds.htm.

The best place I have found for pumpkins this season are at Trader Joe's! I bought the gnarly green one above and the pretty Cinderella below for only $5.99 each! These are big and make great front porch decorations. While you are there, pick up a couple of bunches of sunflowers for $3.99 a bunch.

I love to mix faux, dried and real finds, especially in the fall. Don't you just love

 the colors of Indian corn?

We went to this pumpkin patch with our local kids and had a ball.

I have never seen a pile of pumpkins this big.

Happy fall!

Melin

xoxo

Lovely Lilacs

Here in my mountain town, it is lilac time! WE have more blooms this year than ever

 thanks to an abundance of snow and rain WE received.  

They are so prolific, just walking near the bushes is a treat for the senses...scent and colors 

delight. What a gift from Mother Nature! All WE have to do is cut off the 

pretty flowers. I brought in handfuls this morning and had fun selecting containers of all sorts.

I love to use my milk glass collection whenever possible and it adds a feminine touch with the ruffles.

For a more modern touch, use a piece of mercury glass. My little pixie is fun (and a bit naughty).

Tin containers add a simple country look. They are especially fun in a kitchen. Set one near your sink, so you can enjoy the scent while you work. The candle is here when the blooms fade.

 I just love this look! I bought a few different flower cup and saucers at a yard sale for tea

 parties with our grand-angels. Perfect for a flower display as well. 

Our newest birdie and nest is sweeter with lilacs.

What container would you choose from your own collections for yard flowers?

Do you say li-lack or li-lock? I love li-lacks!

Melin

xoxo

Fall Decorating With Thrift Finds

I enjoy sharing my love for thrifting and decorating for the season. These simple 

ideas use a base of a thrift store find or a new one that can be found

on the cheap. I used super-market gourds, faux leaves 

plus a few decorations from my store.

I used a pretty "silver" curved  platter that I found for $3 and added fall touches.

A long ago find of a wooden box with a serene fall landscape makes a 

great container for a touch of fall!

This centerpiece uses new items on a vintage yellow Fiestaware platter. I filled a new aqua

Ball jar with candy corn and added a "chalk" type topper. Aqua or turquoise 

are the latest way to add a fresh touch to fall colors. 

Old trucks may be easy to come by where you live but I searched high and low and

finally found this one on the way to the Farm Chicks Show. Add candy pumpkins

 to an old metal truck...an idea I stole from Serena Thompson.

One little pumpkin and leaf on a vintage Hall Jewel  saucer...small perfection!

Find an unusual real pumpkin or gourd and place them on a large

 cake plate with leaves and smaller gourds.

I have used this old picnic basket in many different ways but isn't it beautiful stuffed with 

as many fall colors as I could gather around the house and shop?

I hope you can use an idea or two in your fall decorating. See what you have around in your kitchen cupboards and add a few gourds and leaves. Keep your eyes open, as you thrift, for a

 few new pieces that you can use as next years bases. They look great all around

 the home. Add a touch of aqua for a fresh approach!

Happy fall decorating!

Melin

Ornament Treasures

I get so caught up in the holiday decorating that it seems there is no time to blog. I thought I would at least share a few more of my family treasures. These ornaments have been a part of most every Christmas. 

These are an assortment of vintage beauties displayed in my milk glass collection.

The flying goose was my Momma's. His wings are made of real feathers that "fly" when moved

 up and down. The little figure's head is a bit wobbly after all these years.

These two mischievous ceramic squirrels clip to the branches.

 Santa loves to do a few deliveries from this celluloid car!

The Shiny Brites above are mid century and well loved.

A collection of random retros. The clear striped on was from my Granny's tree.

Just a couple more cuties. Mom loved the drippy icicles and now I really do too. They give

 a tree that dreamy look. The ornament on the left was a flea find!

Do you have any family treasures on your tree? Share them with us on Facebook

 or Pinterest and tell us their stories here in the comments.

Now, back to decorating.

Melin

Easy Fall Decorating Ideas

 

 I just love decorating for the fall , don't you? It can be as simple as displaying a pumpkin or

 much more, as YOU like it. I had the fun idea of using some of my husband's deer sheds

 in my fall decor this year. I used them to hold a sign here. I also added 

orange lights to my mantle leaves and gourds. 

  I found this old tote on my Farms Chicks adventure last summer. I filled it with sheds

 and faux fall for my mantle. I have just cherished this tote! 

My giant, cinnamon-nutmeg colored, pumpkin is real! I bought it for only $5.99 at 

Trader Joe's. They also had carving pumpkins for only $2.99...what a deal!

My pumpkin truck idea is from Serena Thompson, the original Farm Chick. Check out her blog 

for more ideas at http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com (see the link under "favorites" on the left).  

I used my grandson's vintage truck. Thanks so much, William!

I love my butter churn I found from a collector in Oregon. I filled it with a few faux 

fall leaves around the wooden paddles to make it a fall centerpiece.

Can't forget the yard. I think this old yard art "cutter" looks much like a toothy

pumpkin year round, especially with the flowers vines all around.

And on my porch is my old wooden cart with the season's "bounty". 

However you choose the decorate for fall, a little or a lot, I wish you a fun time. 

Plus, your efforts last from back to school right on through Thanksgiving.

Gotta love that!

Melin