Mmmm, Smells So Good!

Tags

collectibles, collections, Etsy, home decor, perfume, Shopping, Vintage

As I sometimes do, I was browsing through my activity feed on Etsy when I came across this little beauty.

Vintage Italian Perfume Bottle, Hand-Painted (source: Miko LA’s Etsy Shop)

Isn’t it just exquisite?  I adore vintage perfume bottles.  They have such character and beauty.  And, they usually still smell so good!  In fact, if you are not someone who collects these bottles, you may not be aware that a lot of them still contain the actual perfume.  It seems a little nutty, but also kind of cool.  Sometimes, if a bottle is really old, it can also be, well, gross.  But, I digress…

When I saw the pretty bottle above, I was inspired to run a search to see what other ones I could find on Etsy.  I always search for perfume bottles when I’m out pickin’.  Searching for collectible vintage items by pickin’ through lots of random stuff at our state flea market, estate sales or my local Goodwill shops, is one of my favorite things to do.  Who’s to say we can’t do a little pickin’ on Etsy, too?  Look what I found:

Vintage Owl Perfume Bottle (source: Minxouri Vintage’s Etsy Shop)

Vintage Oriental Perfume Bottle (source: Tequila Closet’s Etsy Shop)

Vintage Hobnail Perfume Bottle (source: Sassy Doggs’ Etsy Shop)

I can see from my results that there are tons of talented pickers on Etsy!  These are all going on my wishlist immediately.

Give Handmade This Year

Tags

Etsy, Gift Ideas, Gifts, Handbags, Handmade, Holiday, iPad, Jewelry, Knits, Knitting, Purses, Shopping

French Lavender Soap, $6

All these lovelies (and more!) can be found on Etsy!  Or, click the photo or description to be taken directly to the maker’s shop.  Now, go get shopping!  The clock is ticking!

Remembering…

Tags

9/11, September 11

Sunday Scenes, End of Summer

Tags

beach, End of Summer, Etsy, Feature, ocean, Photography, Photos, Seasons, Transition

Bicycle on Beach by Stephs Shoes

This week I am featuring photos that make me think of the end of summer.  These images evoke a sense of moving on to me.  The beaches are deserted, the air begins to feel cooler, and everything gets still for a bit.

Waves by Raceytay

I think the seagull is thinking, “Wait, where did everyone go?  It’s too darn quiet.”

Vintage Summer by Cottage Light Studio

Unwillingly, I acknowledge that it is time to turn toward fall.  But, wait!  That means I can start wearing all my new shawls I’ve knitted this summer.  Plus, I love the beach during the off-season.  There are very few people around, and it’s a fabulous time to really feel nature’s peace.  Okay, I guess I’m okay with the coming change of seasons.  How do you feel about it?

Autumn Leaf of Beach by Selena Metts

All of these photos are by talented artists on Etsy.  To see more from each photographer, click through on the image then click the link directly below “shop” on the right side.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Near and Far

Tags

bald head island, beach, nature, ocean, Photography, postaday, postaweek, Weekly Photo Challenge

This week’s theme is perfect for a couple of shots I took while on Bald Head Island, NC.  This first one is on the fishing pier at the BHI Marina.  I took this with my iphone camera.  The “near” is the wood planks of the pier, and the “far” is the Oak Island Lighthouse, Oak Island itself and the beautiful horizon.  This is the southwest side of the island.  It is where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic Ocean.

This shot was also done with my iphone camera.  It is one of my favorites…ever.  It’s a little grainy, but the spot is just so beautiful.  I decided I must take my kids here for a photo shoot for Christmas cards this year!  This is on the south side of BHI.  The sun was “setting” (which is an illusion since BHI is on the east coast) and the sky was a truly amazing sight.

I have so many more photos I could include here, but I’ll spare you for now.  Apparently, I tend to take a lot of near and far shots.  I never realized that until I looked through my pics for this week’s challenge.

Click here -> The Daily Post, Weekly Photo Challenge to read the original post and to learn how to participate if you’d like.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Free Spirit

Tags

free spirit, free spirits, Photography, postaday, Weekly Photo Challenge

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.  To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”  ~ Helen Keller

This is my very own free spirit.  She is my daughter and she walks to the beat of her own drum…or twirls, as the case may be.  I feel I must nurture her free spirit, and I pray that it won’t be squashed as she makes her way to adulthood.  She lives completely in the moment.  She is not tethered by convention, conformity, expectation or responsibility.  She is a joy to behold.

Friday Finds of the Vintage Kind

Tags

bottles, depression glass, enamel, Etsy, friday finds, home decor, housewares, Vintage, wine

I can’t believe the entire summer has gone by, and I haven’t been on any pickin’ trips!  That. Is. Just. Not. Right.  Perusing through flea markets and estate sales is something that normally never gets put on the back burner for me.  I guess there is a first time for everything, as the saying goes.  Well, how about a little online pickin’?  Here’s what I found today-

Vintage Enamel Milk Can from Cute Old Things on Etsy

Vintage Beameister German Wine Bottles from White Dog Vintage on Etsy

Vintage Guilloche Spoons from Swirling Orange 11 on Etsy

Depression Glass Pitcher from 22 Bay Road on Etsy

I can picture each one of these items in my home.  I especially love the German wine bottles!  Do you have vintage pieces in your home?

Are You a Pinner Yet?

Tags

bald head island, bhi, diy, household tips, Knitting, pinterest, travel

Have you joined the DIY, Crafting, Cooking, Fashion, Pet, Travel, Inspiration, Favorites, Jewelry, Book, Color, Design playground that is PINTEREST?

If yes:  Please leave me a link to your page in the comments so I can browse your boards!

If no:  Click through and get initiated in the fabulous and all-consuming world of pinning!

Only the first two rows of my boards…there are many more! Got a minute (or an hour)? Check them out. But, be forewarned, if you are not a current pinner, be prepared to be sucked into the addiction!

After many months of pinning and re-pinning tons of stuff, info, projects, tips, ideas and inspiration onto my boards, I have recently starting actually trying the things I’m pinning.  I’m sure it might seem logical to most of you that if one spends time looking and pinning that it will follow that one actually puts into action all the ideas gathered.  Well, not so much with me!  By the time I tear myself away from all the sights, there tends to be no time left to DO anything. 🙂

I’m happy to say that has changed.  I’ve actually done a few things:

• From my “Cleaning Up” board –

Unclog and Clean Drains:  I used the formula given (mixture of baking soda and vinegar) to unclog our shower drain and bathroom sink drain.  Worked like a charm!

• From my “All About KNITTING” Board –

I made one of these!  It’s a Mizzle Shawlette.  Here’s mine, the green one (not a great picture):

• From my “Bald Head Island” board –

I’ve ridden on this ferry…many, many times.

I could go on and on, but I’ll spare you.  If you’d like to see more, it’s all there waiting for you so go get pinning and doing!

Sunday Scenes, Mountains

Tags

Etsy, landscape, mountains, nature, Photography, Photos

I consider myself very lucky to live in a state that offers both the beach and the mountains only hours away.  We are in the middle of the state (NC), and the beach is two hours east, the mountains four hours west.  Love that!

Mountains are majestic and amazing.  They make a perfect photography subject!  These talented photographers shot these mountains in remarkable style –

Lake Louise, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada by K. Spencer Jones

Flowery Mountains by Beaupre Photography

Purple Mountain Majesty by By Blue

 

Chilkat Mountains, Haines, AK

Photos of mountains make me feel small and a bit awestruck.  While I love the true communing with nature a mountain getaway provides, if given a choice, I’d still choose the beach as my preferred getaway spot.  Which would you choose…mountains or beach?

Getting to Know…ME!

Tags

all about me, personal, questions, relations, sharing

A little “get to know you” exercise is always fun, right?!  A post entitled “Three Things One More Time” caught my eye this morning.  It’s a series of headings that prompt the author to share three things that describe her under each one.  Grandmalin’s responses were truthful and humorous, giving me a glimpse into her personality.  She suggested her readers take the headings and add their own responses.  Therefore, that’s what I’ll do!

Feel free to take the headings and add your own responses!

Three Names You Go By:

1. Mom
2. Babe
3. Elizabeth

Three Things You Don’t Ever Want to be Called:

1. The “B” word
   
2. Selfish
3. Invalid

Three Things You Like About Yourself:

1. My wicked sense of humor. 🙂
2. My compulsion to be silly with my kids.
3. My desire to be a good friend.

Three Things You Don’t Like About Yourself:

1. The few extra pounds that have materialized out of nowhere. (ha!)
2. Losing my patience with my spunky daughter.
3. The fact that I really just don’t like to cook (tough when I need to feed my family everyday!).

Three Parts of Your Heritage:

1. Scottish
2. Irish
3. Slavic

Three Things That Scare You:

1. Tornados
2. Sharks
3. Bumps in the night (especially when hubby is traveling!)

Three of Your Everyday Essentials:

1. Hugs from my kids
2. Coffee
3. Music

Three of Your Favorite Colors:

1. Blue
2. Green
3. Blue-Green

Three Things You Value in a Relationship:

1. Loyalty
2. Respect
3. Humor

Two Truths and a Lie (in no particular order:

1. Music always brightens my mood.
2. I enjoy public speaking.
3. I’d rather be at the beach…always.

Three of Your Favorite Hobbies:

1. Knitting
2. Reading
3. Swimming

Three Careers You’ve Considered:

1. Teacher
2. Pharmacist
3. Real Estate Broker

Three Places You Want to Go:

1. Hawaii
2. the Grand Canyon
3. Italy

Three Things You Want to do Before You Die:

1. Live by the beach
2. Swim with dolphins (wait, did that this year…check!)
3. Dance at my kids’ weddings

Can you relate to any of my answers?  If you end up doing the questions yourself, please leave me a link in the comments so I can read them!  Happy Friday!