...doing what we do best

The 'boys' shared a little bonding time...

...while I spent a little 'quality time' w/ my pretties!

...he's BACK!

TWEED IS BACK~ with bells on!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

...getting my Holiday shopping groove on!

I've had T.W.O. Glorious days of Holiday shopping, and T.W.O. additional of Holiday Handcrafting...

and I think I've just about 'wrapped it up'!  

(*DISCLAIMER: the literal wrapping has yet to be done!!)

Now, I'm sure you're scratching your head, wondering WHY? / HOW? could this person possibly enjoy this process so?

Allow me to explain...

Other than (3) larger, 'high-tech' gifts that HAD to be 'BIG BOX' bought, the rest of my 'gifties' are for people with whom we have an "agreement" that the 'stocking stuffers' (aren't those always The.Best.?) we exchange are either thrifted or crafted!

This weekend our house looked like HURRICANE CENTRAL!

SATURDAY was 'Candy Making' day!

Mostly gifts for my Dad's stocking ~ Black Walnut Brittle, Black Walnut Fudge, Spiced Black Walnuts, ...

Can you guess that my Dad likes Black Walnuts?? - and he keeps me supplied in them ~ one of his Winter hobbies is cracking them by hand!!

SUNDAY was Studio Groovin' day!

This is our kitchen counter...

  The jar on the right is full of bulk Flax (yes. I'm old. Don't judge me.), with a measuring spoon that has come to live it's life perched on top...

This was my vision for it:

Quite a simple process of wire-wrapping...

and beading!

This was about the ONLY project of the day that turned out as planned though.  I can't share the details of the others, as some of the recipients drop in on this blog occasionally!!


FRIDAY and MONDAY were Shopping days!
Found LOTS of goodies - MOST of which I also cannot share here!
Of course, I did pick up a few things not 'on my list'
(Christmas List, that is!!)

RESALE POTENTIAL:

(Pampered Chef Cookie Press, New Dansko shoes, vintage aluminum measuring spoons, Oneida & Ikea flatware)

(Set of Xmas JAPAN stacking mugs, Swedish- ?Iron Stand?, Dallas Cowboys / Taz Ornament, Snowman Candy Holder, Am Girls Cookbook, and a Skeleton Doll - **WHICH WE HAVE NOW IDENTIFIED AS 'LALALOOPSY'? WHO KNEW!!)
~AND~
A few crafting goodies for ME!

(**Had NEVER heard of 'Kendall' towels before!!  'Kendall' is the name of the tiny town I grew up in.  Not 'the same' location as the towel origin, but still cool!)

 Would any shopping be complete without...

(VERA Scarves 2014 #8 and #9 - .25¢ each!!)
Sweater Clip 2014 #7 - $1.)

Of course, by now you all know the Thrifts are near 'my' seaglass beach, so I HAD to stop...

(AFTER I had picked up my FREE 2-scoop Birthday Sundae from Friendly's - as a 'to-go' to eat at the beach!!)

The STRONG Southerly winds overnite had melted the snow and washed in some 'stellar' finds!!  Could have watched the waves carry in treasures for hours, but the rains came!  

 Oh well, don't mind the rain so much when it gives me this to look at my ENTIRE ride home (45min.)!!

Now it's time to clean up 'The. Mess.'!
 'Round one' of stocking stuffer exchanges is THIS SATURDAY!!
Then, the decorating begins...

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!!

... from GROSSINGER's to The Concord

Last Saturday, on my way to meet a friend for a day of (GASP!) RETAIL MALL SHOPPING; I made a Quick stop to an Estate Sale.  Well, I am HAPPY to report that the $2 I spent at the Est. Sale is MORE than I spent at 'The Mall'!!  Some people have their penchant for Shiny Brites, some for Redman Baskets, well 'one' of mine is retro Train Cases!

I found this one for a song ($1), and it has ALL of the "bells and whistles" like none I have ever found before!

...pristine interior (complete with mirror intact)

...ORANGE (need I say more?)

 ...ORIGINAL travel tags from '1957'!

...and a VERY Conscientious previous owner, who went so far as to have HER name & address & phone # (see the phone # above and below the rivets?!) ENGRAVED on the latch!!!!

Of course, since I was carrying around this 'convenient shopping basket', I HAD to fill it up with various bits ;-)

(2) soldering irons, TINY pipe cutter - Made in USA, 1920's tin of Solder (For Graphics - NOT for use!!), small pocketknife size set of tools (Spark plug Cleaners?!?!) and (2) metal blocks that I thought would be useful for 'hammering' on.  

LOADS of inspiration to do some Projects - all for $1!!

**Come to find out those 'blocks' are St. Steel ~hmmm~ What would the scrap value be for #9??

...HAEGER tour!

This post is NOT for the faint of heart

...faint of HAEGER Pottery heart that is!

I hope I don't put Anyone on OVERLOAD - but you have been WARNED!!

Over the years I've squealed with joy over random HAEGER finds/gifts, but I have never given you the FULL.HOUSE.tour.

Are you ready?

Here goes...

PLEASE forgive the dust & clutter (but I DO collect a 'few' things other than HAEGER - ha,ha!!)

Entering through our KITCHEN, you will find just a few select Red/Black pieces scattered about (They don't all normally live in the Middle of our countertop - they were gathered here for photo purposes only!)

Through the doorway to the DINING ROOM: Our dining room is done in MCM hand-me-down furnishings, and our china cabinet houses some of my fav's.!

and a built-in corner of the Dining Room 

Throughout, the HAEGER is put to use holding odds-ends.  This area is home to a LOT of Seaglass and Shells!!

 We played around for a l-o-n-g time on the 'best' way to group/display our vast array of Haeger...

Some things we group 'like-shapes' together, but for the most part we are grouping pieces according to glaze / color... but it is ever changing!

A couple of shelves in our 'COMPUTER ROOM'...

This shelf is a bit of  HAEGER, VERA (plates & airplanes) and BENNINGTON - 

Our FRONT HALL is probably 'changed up' most frequently - right now it is home to aqua's in a 'seaside' theme...

VERA linens and HAEGER accent each other quite well!!

Not much of a vignette, but Love the Lady Bug and the Lady!!

 In the TV ROOM:

is our Mauve Agate Collection

...and our Gold Tweed!

Can you find 'TWEED' (Our Elf)??

This room is fondly called THE HAEGER ROOM.  Can you guess why?

Extra Oak house-trim pieces have been used to create Ceiling height shelves around the room!

 Onto the GUEST ROOM: 

Rather 'tucked away', this is home to our plain 'Garden House Variety' of whites...

You have probably noticed throughout, our pension for using multi-plate racks to display HAEGER's Numerous atomic dishes and ashtrays!

 Even the ATTIC STUDIO has it's share of shelves, home to more of our 'less-favored, but can't part with' pieces!

Yes, it is a sickness, this HAEGER LOVE.

When I first started collecting & learning about HAEGER, I picked up ANY piece I found on 'the cheap'.  I've grown away from the simple Garden House designs and don't buy them anymore (well, not as much!)  ~BUT~ still have a diverse love of the variety of glazes and figures... and HAEGER made a LOT!

...BOAT: Now's the time to be Happy and Gay, all your troubles will sail (sale!) away.

What started out as a 'Rainy Friday Morning',

Shortly turned to a 'Snowy Friday Morning' !

(It's really NOT a 'fuzzy' photo - those 'blurrrs' are falling snow!!)

What would you do?

I know you ALL too.well...

You'd do the same thing as me, and hit some 'indoor' Rummage Sales!!

Perfect day for diving in and digging!!

Needlework kits, 'FORTUNE TELLING CAKE CHARMS', bling, carved reindeer and a small canning/jelly jar...

I better get rid of those Cake Charms QUICK, 'cause I absolutely adore them! Each charm represents a WONDERFUL fortune  - ie:
"BOOT: This boot will start things humming, A happy trip is soon forthcoming."
."CLOCK: Don't envy those with a nicer face, you're better off with charm and grace."

(Doesn't the Copper Cat look like 'SPY vs. SPY' from the old MAD MAGAZINE COMIC??!)

 ...Retro Shroom-n-Frog Napkin holder, RED! 'Home-O-Nize' recipe box w/ Cookie Recipes... and THOSE CHARMS!!

GANTZ.

WEBKINS.

LOTS of them.

WHY?

don't know - guess I'm thinking about 

a L.O.N.G. winter without saling???