Around the World

I'm usually a vintage kind of gal, but found this pretty asian cloth at a garage sale over the weekend. It's got beautiful pieces of fabric kind of patchworked together. It's not old, but kind of feels old. I will probably use it in a tablescape someday.
Close up of fabrics. I love the butterflies. Below are a few pic's my son took in Europe. It's interesting to see stuff from a kids point of view.
Here he is in front of the Berlin Wall. I love the murals.
He started in Germany, went to Holland, Belgium and ended in France. Quite a trip! He worked and saved the money and had a wonderful time.
Inside Notre Dame.
Love this shot-he said on the hour the Eiffel Tower goes crazy with lights and sparkles!

Wow! Anyway -that's my taste of world travel!
Leslie

Cute Apron Tags

I was really excited to get a package yesterday from Cindy at Rick Rack and Gingham. My first apron tag swap-My first any kind of swap actually. The first one is so cute, using all different papers and put together with rick rack and lace at the hem from Michelle and Ashley. Thanks -it's adorable.
The apron above and below are from Cindy. You are a talented lady. I got the pink apron because of our pink gingahm apron stories. I love it, Cindy!
This is the cute ME apron that she made. The little flowers are each painted and she even put little dots on the rick rack. What detail!
I strung them together and made a little banner. I may add to this in the future. This was a lot of fun-thanks again Cindy! I will be hanging this little banner in my craft room! I hope you all have a cheery weekend. It's supposed to be about 102 or 103 this weekend. I can't wait for fall!
Leslie

Happy Rednesday!

I'm joining Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday! Above is a little shadow box I made using a vintage cover of a book I found and a little wooden house tree and plastic sheep. You know how I like wool!
Here are a few thrifted finds from this week. The spoon thingie has 3 hooks and I found the polka dot frame. I guess I've got dots on the brain lately. Have a fun Wednesday and enjoy all the reds!
Leslie

A Gift From My Mom

I have been on a mission. I've been searching for clues to my family history since the spring when I discovered Geneology. Last week when we went to visit my Dad, I decided to search through pictures and papers for clues. My Mom was the keeper of the family history and she died 4 years ago, so it's up to me and the stories she told me. As I was looking I decided to take some of the pic's on the wall down so I could copy them to take home and I found a gift!
I never knew she took the time to label these old photos that were in frames. It was exactly what I needed and it was if she was talking to me through her handwriting. It may seem like a small thing, but it was huge to me! Some of the relatives I knew, but there were others who I was guessing at. SO I had fun taking all the pic's off the wall and checking out the labels on the back-from my Mom.

I found some little newspaper clips that will really be helpful on our upcoming trip to Illinois. We are taking the Graduate to school in Chicago and stopping in the town where my relatives lived in the early 1900's and earlier. I'm really excited to find out more and be close to relatives I never knew. I grew up in the Chicago area , but had never been to the little southern Illinois towns where my great grandma's family had 4 farms.
So, anyway I'll keep you updated on my search as it unfolds. Please take the time to label your photos. As a scrapbooker I know how important it is. I am going to go and label my pictures that are hanging on the wall. If you label the back of a snap shot try to use an archival pen-they are available at any craft store or scrapbook store. Don't use any tape or glue that isn't safe. You can see the damage that it can do in the above photo. Products will say acid free or archival safe to use.
I treasure these vintage photos and hope my kids will someday. At least they'll know who's in the picture!
Above are my Mom and Dad-looks like she was pregnant. Love the little smootch on the cheek.
Don't forget to label your pic's! You don't want your family history to end up in a shoebox in some antiques store someday, with people saying-I wonder who those people were...
Have a good day,
Leslie

Red Polka Dots

It was Hubbys birthday so we are celebrating outside-although it's about 100 degrees. Thought I'd do a cheerful red polka dot theme.
I just layered red dots over more red dots.
The placemats are form Big Lots-kind of like oil cloth.
White dinner plates are my everyday plates.
Red polka dot plates from Home Goods.
Red flatware from Target bought a few years ago.
Napkins and napkin rings from thrify store.
The ME birdhouse was also bought at thrift store.
Giant red mug with flowers from Hobby Lobby.
I'm joining Sue for Rednesday and Between Naps on the Porch today. Please go over and check out more reds and some great tables. Happy 100 Tablescape Anniversary!

Hopefully the german chocolate cake won't melt.
Happy Birthday Hubby!

Hope you all have a great day!
Leslie

No Place Like Home!

It's nice to be home. We spent the weekend in Arkansas at my Dad's. Also took a side trip to Memphis, which we had never been to. Beale Street is a wild and crazy and fun place. Also visited the Civil Rights Museum while there. Of course we garage saled and hit the jack pot this weekend. Above is a little German house bank and a German or Swiss bottle stopper. I thought they looked cute together.
At an estate sale I found these linens including a Vera dish towel and a towel with the pattern printed on it. I love finding these, because I like to embroider them myself. The orange linen is a table runner with french words going around it. Really cute.
I found the green hankie above for 25 cents and the unique little salt and pepper at a different sale.
I bought the jar of buttons and bag of rick rack stuff and the lady told me to take whatever sewing stuff I wanted. So I came home with a pile of felt. I love vintage felt, because the texture is different and sometimes you find neat colors. We hit about 7 sales. I love going in a retirement area, because they have different stuff then around my house. Hubby scored a great set of binoculars so he was a happy camper. It was a fun weekend, but it's always great to get back home! It's about 100 degrees here and really humid-stay cool! Hope you all had a great weekend.
Leslie

Blogging Break

I've been checking my calendar and see that I'll be taking a Blogging break for a long weekend. Here is a cute image for you tag and scrapbookers out there to use. I bought this little diecut calendar because it was from my birth year. No secrets here! I will share the rest, as the year goes on. See you next week!
Leslie