Atlanta Trip - Part 2

Here's the next installment of photos from the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

A rainbow of Pansies

Pansy Topiary

Potted Pansies

Above and Below - Iris Cristata

Above - Fairy Blue Clematis

Atlanta Trip -Part 1

One of the sites I visited on my trip was the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The beauty of the flowers in bloom was truly glorious. My friend told me the week before I arrived the blooms were even better. I can't even imagine! Today I'll share the rose garden with you. Enjoy!

Where I've Been

I went on a little trip to Atlanta last week, thanks to a friend of mine.

It felt good to get away.

A change of scenery is always good medicine for the mind.

I saw beautiful things like this.

And I came home to the likes of this!!!

Quite a difference, huh?

I'll have more photos of the colorful type to share soon.

Hello Monday!

My mailbox has been filled with fabulous inspiration due to the Postcard Swap that Natalea from Kandeland organized. I've received almost all the postcards now, with just a couple more coming. It's been such fun to go to the mailbox and find something other than bills inside!
And guess what? Lucky for you, Natalea is running a second round of the Postcard Swap! She's taking sign-ups now and you can get all the details by clicking here.
This past week I drove up to our cottage for the first time since this happened. It was very difficult since having this getaway was my DH dream. I'm so grateful he was able to enjoy it for a few years, but I must admit it's not quite the same without him being there. Fortunately our good friends have bought a place in the same town and will be spending the summers there, so that will make things a little easier. And as you can see by the photos, I was not alone at the house on this visit.

Have a great week!

Vintage Hat Boxes

I was so inspired by Jessica Enig's pretty little hat box project featured in the March 2011 issue of Romantic Homes Magazine, that I decided to make a few myself to give to some special friends I was seeing for lunch yesterday.

I used this lavender, aqua and green floral vintage wallpaper that I bought ages ago to cover the paper mache boxes.

The girls just loved them and now I have to find some time to make one for myself!

Mail Inspiration

I took part in a little Inspirational Postcard Swap that my friend Natalea organized. What fun it is to receive a little inspiration in the mail each day. The photo above shows the postcards I sent out with inspirational quotes stamped on the back.

A Little Springtime!

I just couldn't wait any longer. I had to get my Easter decor out and start decorating. Spring is my favorite season of the year, with all the wonderful colors and the miracle of new plants sprouting up from the earth. It's especially appreciated here in the midwest after all the ice, snow and dreariness that we have during winter. So I set up this little Easter vignette on my dining room table to brighten things up around here. Hopefully my African violets in the basket will start to bloom again soon. Have you started decorating for Easter yet?

Happy Springtime!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

1. Green, 2. Green fabrics, 3. Green, 4. Green with Envy Cupcakes, 5. Green Leaves - Spring Crocheted Doily, 6. Cuba Gallery: White and green house with the white picket fence, 7. green shoes, 8. Green Bicycle Playing Cards, 9. Green ink

Weekend Fun

This was a fun weekend ~ busy and spent with good friends. I went to the flea market on Saturday and picked up a few good finds. Here is just a sampling of some of the vintage lovelies I came home with.

Sweet little chairs :)

Bottles galore!

Seam binding and lace in pretty pastel colors for spring.

A lovely tea-stained French towel, religious medals and mitten clips.

And yet ANOTHER treasury!

So much fun to have my Rustic Eggs featured in yet another Etsy Treasury by A & B Originals shown here. The set of 5 eggs are available for purchase in my Etsy Shop here.

And here's a sneak-peek at a little something I've been working on this week. Can't reveal it in it's entirety yet because I don't want to ruin the surprise for the recipient.

Gotta run now as I'm headed over to the flea market this morning with a friend. Hope there's a lot of cool stuff waiting there for us!!! Have a great weekend everybody!

Market Monday

It's Market Monday over at Etsy Cottage Style. Check out all the lovely items by clicking here.

Shelly from Bella Rennie was nice enough to include my Rustic Eggs in her Etsy Treasury. Get a close-up of all these "treasures" by clicking here.

And Angela from A & B Originals also included the eggs in her Etsy Treasury here.

Thanks so much ladies!

Have a great week!!!!

Sunny Side Up

"Rain, rain, go away ~ Come again some other day." If it's not snow, it's rain. I can't tell you how gloomy it looks outside. I guess I should look on the bright side and be happy that it's warm enough (41-degrees) to be rain and not sleet or snow. I wish it were warmer though and more importantly, sunny. It's interesting how much sunshine can effect my mood. It can be freezing cold outside, but if the sun is out it makes everything seem SO much better. My Norwegian grandmother used to sing "You Are My Sunshine" to me when I was little and it always put a smile on my face. Maybe there's some sort of connection.