Sentimental Journey

Much of my artwork has evolved and been formed by the inspiration of Rachel Ashwell and Shabby Chic. I just love worn antique laces and linens. I also love romantic feminine roses and creams and whites. My own tastes have definitely evolved over the years to become more "me", but I can say for sure that I love Shabby Chic and always will.

I was just telling my husband the other day, that we needed new dishes. We will have been wed for 25 years this June. (I can't believe it.) My dishes do not match and are getting very sad and tired. They have been collected over the years on my junking jaunts.
I was in Target the other day, doing my usual, back of the store bargain looking, when suddenly my little heart skipped a beat and I sank to my knees to get a closer look at the bottom shelf. If you know me at all, I am a bottom-of-the-shelf  kind of girl! I love finding treasures that are overlooked! The best things are usually not within plain sight.
There in three large boxes I found the most lovely treasures! I saw the Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic logo and I quickly pulled one of the boxes closer to me. DISHES! Shabby Chic Chateau dishes! Three boxes with 4 place settings in each. Ideally, if I were choosing new dishes, I would NEED a service for 12. Ideal! I looked around to make sure no other shopper was going to snatch my treasures from under my nose. I was safe for the moment. Quickly, I loaded two of the three boxes into my cart. If I decided NOT to get them, then I could put them back. Back on my knees, I discovered, that I could stealthily take out some dishes and see if I REALLY liked them. Carefully, I pulled out a plate. They were gorgeous. This was a gift from God. The price was 80% off! I loaded that third box into my cart and went running to show my friends who were shopping with me. They were so excited for my find too! Some days when you find a treasure, it feels like a gift from God that He placed there just for you. Do you ever have that experience? What is the best treasure you have ever found?

I decided to photograph a place setting for you to admire. They look especially lovely with my Grandmother's Silverware that I inherited and I treasure. She purchased them when she got married. I am so sentimental and I miss my Grandmother very much. I am so thankful that I have her silverware. They are used for very special meals in our family. They are a treasure....just as she was! I have also included a photograph of her as a little girl. I just love it. I hope you enjoy my Sentimental Journey.

The Story of Lady Bella (as I imagine it)

In 1906 a beautiful raven-haired beauty left the old country and emigrated to New York City. Bella was an expert with a needle and thread. She found a job at a tiny dressmaker shop. The owner was a kind woman who also rented a teeny upstairs flat to Bella. Only 20 years old, she was alone in the world except for a maiden aunt who lived across the city. As Bella would sit in the store-front window and stitch fine garments for wealthy New York socialites, she wistfully wondered if she would spend the rest of her life alone and poor. One day, a registered letter came to her and much to her disbelief, Bella found out that she was really an heiress and an unknown relative had bequeathed his entire estate to her. When her life settled down into a comforting routine, Lady Bella opened her own high-fashion boutique and oversaw all of her employees for the rest of her life. She lived on a large estate and collected butterflies and children with her devoted husband. Lady Bella was often known for her kindnesses to poor immigrants and was loved by all who knew her for her beautiful heart.

This original My Sparrows Nest collage is a one of a kind creation. Approx 8X6 inches. An antique book cover is the foundation of this piece. Antique ephemera carefully chosen from antique books and old envelopes and snippets from vintage pages. A blue heart was cut from the rich blue velvet ribbon from a hat from the turn of the century. Sweet tatting and lingerie laces, tulle and silk scraps and all vintage treasures. I hope you fall in love with Lady Bella.

Hydrangea Kisses

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d4771c607fb6d91f0cc8444/hydrangea-kisses

Here is a beautiful new treasury that I created on etsy! Enjoy!

Healthy Farmhouse Apple Oat Muffins

Here is a very healthy muffin that actually tastes good and is very easy to make! I adapted several recipes and added my own touches. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

4 Cups of quick-cooking oats

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

2 TB vanilla

2 cups of skim milk mixed with 1 TB of vinegar

2 eggs lightly beaten

4 cups shredded apples with peels

1 cup golden raisin

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup honey

Mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately,then stir together until well blended. Spray non-stick cooking spray into muffin tin and fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees for about 11 minutes. Store in air-tight container after they are cooled. They become moister over night. 

Great for a fast breakfast! Enjoy!

Something New But Really Old

See what's fresh and new from my etsy studio.....but it's created from old church song book pages! This is an original My Sparrows Nest design. Layers of paper curls....sturdily secured and fastened tight to be very strong and multi-purpose. I just love it!

Lancome Hypnose Drama

True confession. I love make up. I have very fair skin with green eyes and light golden brown hair ( or so my box of hair color claims). My eyelashes are so light that without make up I look seriously anemic. Over the years I have tried lots of cheap mascaras. For years I used L'Oreal Voluminous until I got tired of the flakes of mascara falling off during the day. So, I started trying department store make up. I was lured by the gifts with purchase and the promise of being able to return if I did not like it. I reasoned that even though the price is more than double of the drug store brand ;if I didn't like it and could return it, I would actually save money. 

Recently, I have become of fan of Lancome mascaras. I have tried several and liked them to varying degrees. A few I sent back for a full refund! After reading a lot of reviews and talking to the woman at my local Lancome counter I settled on trying Lancome Hypnose Drama.

This morning I used it for the first time and I must say, I love it! It thickens my lashes and lengthens them and gives them a "fanned out" look. I used several coats to achieve the look I wanted. No allergy, no flaking. My lashes look better than I hoped they would. I am impressed. Lancome mascaras are a good value because they last for a long time. If you try it and don't love it, take it back!

I thought I would share this for any of you that like me are looking for the perfect mascara!

Warmth

My daughter gave me this lovely tea cup and saucer for Christmas. She found it at Anthropologie. I knew I had to take this gorgeous set out into the sparkling fresh snow and photograph it. I love it! This print will be in my etsy shoppe soon!