Little Bits of Things

I picked up a package of biodegradable peat pots at a yard sale.

 As they sat on the dresser I starting throwing in little bits and bobs

 that I have picked up and acquired while staying here in Florida.

 The old metal 52 stencils were given to me by

 Shelley of Sweet Pea Home.

 Remember the pictures of her home when I visited there?

 It is sooo pretty!

She is set up at Marburger right now...oh I wish I was there!

 Can't wait to see her photos of that spectacular event!

Why do I do this?

That's what Dad and Mr. Flea want to know.

another pair of angel wings...

Tiny tin boxes.

Now, what will I put in them?

The sunshine has disappeared and we are having

 rain storms, wind and even tornado warnings!

Sounds like an inside crafty kind of day.

 The good news is

 that the weekend is supposed to be beautiful again.

Hooray!

 More yard sales and thrifting.

And don't forget about 52 FLEA's
2nd Blogversary Give Back!
If you have not yet entered for a chance to win...
click HERE
for  a chance to create your own photo on canvas!
Tomorrow the winner will be announced!

my photo on canvas

Welcome new followers and lurkers too!

Thank you for stopping by and for all your comments...

...I just love to hear from you!

 Hope all is well... 

...and that today brings all good things...

:)

Found: Vintage Hand Mirror

 

Church sales and yard sales are in full swing 

down here in sunny, warm Florida.

I recently found this sweet old hand mirror.

Don't you just love the detail on the handle,

 the lovely patina and the beveled glass?

  I'm thinking it will look wonderful hanging on the wall

 along with some other vintage mirrors I have been collecting.

Stay tuned...I have a few church sale treasures

 to photograph and show you over the next few days!

 If you haven't already done so and are interested in entering my

2nd Year Blogversary Give Back

...you have until Friday, April 1st

 to enter...click HERE 

Good luck!

:)

2 Year Blogversary Give Back

the original photo

Oh NO!

I missed my 2 year Blogging Anniversary!

( back in February)

A few weeks ago I received an email from Megan at 

Easy Canvas Prints

 asking if I would be interested in hosting a giveaway for readers of 

52 FLEA.

Why not?

I thought that this would be a good opportunity to celebrate my

 2nd year of blogging and Give Back to all of you who have given

 so much to me in the way of friendship, support and comfort

 over the last two years.

Have you seen these photos on canvas prints?

Creating one is like designing your own custom art work!

It really is easy to do...

You just upload your photo to their site...

Select a size, a border and any image effects...

...and presto!

I experimented with a favorite photo of one of my French canisters and those soft pink blossoms from our Japanese cherry tree.

I love the way it looks as a canvas print.

Can you imagine what you could do with a favorite family photo?

I will have to try another...so many to choose from!

If you would like to win the chance to create your own canvas print
 with your own photo...

just leave a comment on this post.

For a second chance to win...mention this Give Back on your blog or other social media and leave a second comment to tell me so.

As per the folks at Easy Canvas Prints, this Give Back is open to all my friends in the United States.

I cannot leave out all my special friends from outside the U.S. so for those people who are beyond U.S. shores, instead of a canvas print, one winner will receive a copy of the spring issue of 

Artful Blogging magazine!

An AMAZING issue!

Yes, that's the one with my little article... 

To enter to win either a chance to design your own Canvas Print

OR

a copy of Artful Blogging magazine...

...remember to leave a comment on this post before

April Fool's Day!

(Brother Biff's birthday!)

 Friday, April 1st!

Good Luck!

:)

Gifts From The Sea

Wednesday, Mr. Flea took sister Lynn, Dad and me 

to a favorite family place...Ft. DeSoto Beach.

...a beautiful and natural beach with pines to shade us

 and miles of sandy beach to walk and search for shells.

The sky was blue and the sea a beautiful blue green.

Walking the beach looking for shells, gazing out at the water...

...it was good for the soul.

The dolphins were in view...

sailboat on the horizon...

(click to see them a bit larger)

Seagulls and Terns kept us company...

As beautiful as it was...

I was feeling a little bit lost, 

...knowing how much Mom loved being here too.

...and then I looked down...

...and saw these angel wings.

Although our hearts ache, we really had a lovely day

 and finished it off with some delicious seafood.

Hope you enjoy these warm and sun filled photos

 and that the weekend ahead is full of fun

 for you and your family!

:)

Gratitude

Thank you for all your expressions of sympathy and love.

Your support and prayers are deeply appreciated.

  

I am grateful for so many blessings...

...for the beautiful and close relationship I had with my Mom

...for the gift of time to be able to be with her so much this last year 

...for a loving, understanding and supportive family

...for wonderful friends

...for my faith.

Spring is here...

Mom loved this time of year...

...a time for new beginnings.

Wishing you a joyful spring!

With much gratitude and love, Laura

  

Mom

 1927    ~    2011

My beautiful Mother passed away this afternoon.

My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of you who sent their love,

 well wishes and prayers during her illness.

Words cannot express how much your thoughtfulness

 and caring has meant to us.

My Mom was a person of deep faith and we know

 that she is at peace and with God.

With gratitude and love,

Laura and family

Play Things

A tiny child's porcelain cup and saucer...

...with sweet black and white pansies...

An old beveled mirror...

A glass cloche found at Goodwill...

 An old hand written letter
 tied with vintage cream colored seam binding...

A fresh water pearl necklace and a single glass prism...

These are my play things...

...my Legos ...

...so to speak!

It seems no matter where I'm staying I can find toys to play with!

Hope you have had a little time to play this weekend too!

:)

Lavender Bottle

What did I buy at Webster?

This lovely lavender tinted bottle.

I love its tall and interesting shape.

 The seller from New Hampshire said he retrieved it

 from an old dump in the mountains.

Won't it look lovely with my lilacs this spring?

In the meantime, I played around with it

 and one of the purple bottles I found at Renningers in January.

Hope you are having a good weekend!