Playing with pretties

With Christmas behind us and the New Year full of promise...
inspiration crept in and I started playing with some little pretties...





I never used to appreciate glass or sparkle as much as I do now...



...some old glass inkwells and a knife rest I picked up at the flea market for a song...
...well, maybe it was a dollar....afraid my singing wouldn't buy anything...





I really hate to put away my vintage Christmas ornaments...
I didn't even have time to get most of them out!
It looks like next year I will have more time to decorate and bake...maybe even write and send Christmas cards!
Having time...that will be heaven!



Bits and pieces...



In 2010 there will be more time for my bits and pieces and playing with pretties...



Will I use my time wisely?



will I waste time?



Leaving the corporate world will mean...



less security...
... but more time for reflection, for spiritual and creative nurturing and artistic pursuits...



...what was that saying?

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams..."

baby steps...



...another pretty...
...a tiny silver perfume vial found at Gather in Ivoryton, Connecticut when visiting with the girls a few weeks ago...
...we all loved this little treasure when we spied it in the glass display case...
(these girls are so good to me...they let me take it home...I really love it!)



...and another collage created by layering one of my photographs with a scanned antique document...
I printed it out and used it as a background to take pictures of these pretties...
...it's fun to play with my photographs and pretty little bits and pieces...

One more day to this short work week and then a long weekend with plans to spend quality time and shop a little with my sister and niece...
... a quiet New Year's Eve at home with Santa Baby...
and then a luncheon on New Year's Day with special friends...

How will you celebrate the beginning of the new year?

This is a nearly white post so perhaps it qualifies for White Wednesday...to view other participants visit Kathleen at Faded Charm...

3 Cigar Boxes

I purchased 3 cigar boxes this weekend at the sale in Warrensburg.....
The first was a box full of unsorted buttons for $1.00.....
I still haven't had a chance to sit and sort through them but have spied a few interesting items already!



The next two cigar boxes were found together and at the table in front of the local Catholic church....
They were mixed in with pots and pans and all sorts of donated items from the parishioners...
Inside were these two lovely pictures and an amazing array of...



religious metals, crosses and rosary beads...























I was pretty excited.....there are over 100 items in these 2 cigar boxes!

Tomorrow, I will show you the rest of my finds.....
Despite the rain and fog....I came away with some treasure...at least my kind of treasure!
Have a restful night!
:) Laura

Touch of Turquoise

Remember this little door that I found at Madison Bouckville in August?



I finally got around to cleaning off the dirt...while preserving the chippy paint as much as possible...A little bit of turquoise is peeking out from under the old white paint...



I'm loving the color...the blue green...the last of the summer skies and ocean seas...









Turquoise, blue, green...
...calm and peaceful...



Have a restful night!

More Details ... Madison Bouckville

First I have to put the call out there for help! I have used all my photo storage space on blogger!
I wanted to lead this post off with some more pretty pics of the countryside but I ran out of space.....just dashed off to purchase more but will not have it available for 24 hours so I will have to wait until then.....
Hence, directly to the booty!...
Yes, this posh pink payphone was, indeed, for sale!



This shabby old door (shutter size) became mine for a very reasonable price!



Such cool shoes on this table in a booth full of feminine, romantic objects...



This was labeled "sold"!



Carole found this sweet little sewing table for Deanna.....the price was fabulous!



I loved these matching iron towers....sadly the price was way over my budget....(the girls would probably say now..."right, it was over a dollar")....



We found an amazing stash of old letters....early1800's.....all from the same family home...
Paula and I took home a few and will color copy them and share for art projects, etc.



Last will and testaments, indentured servant papers, deeds, etc...Aren't they wonderful?



I loved these old cookbooks in sepia tones and was so happy to be able to add them to my collection....



More ephemera for art projects ....



Two darling little books....



We were delighted with a dealer who was selling all kinds of old photographs, tintypes, postcards and albums for unbelievably low prices....



Paula and I bought a stash of old drawers originally from a nuts and bolts cabinet....



I am hoping to use mine in a grouping as a series of little shadow boxes....I am always inspired by assemblage artist Cheryl Kuhn....but don't expect to go that far....I know my limits!



I simply could not leave this early small hooked rug behind....calla lilies are daughter Kate's favorite flower...



Lots of beautiful old rosaries, medals, crosses and religious medallions ...these items I am sure held great meaning to their previous owners and perhaps do for some of you too....but today, for the decorators, who see beauty in their form as well as meaning, they represent a bit of Jeanne D'Arc Living?
I will finish up tomorrow...if my blogger storage comes through!
Thanks for joining us on our fun shopping trip!
Good night friends! :) Laura