Decorating for Spring

Okay, honestly? I took my snowmen down last weekend! I love them, but they’d overstayed their welcome. Their extended stay was, of course, my fault. Redecorating my house isn’t high on my list of priorities. If I stick something up on the wall, it’s a good bet it will be there five years from now – maybe more. Seasonal switch ups are about all I do and they are not always well timed.

Spring finally came to my dining room. Here’s the top of the antique cabinet that holds my milk glass collection.

I found the worn Velveteen Rabbit years ago in a thrift store. The antique quilt piece is in a frame made by Daddy. He used authentic New England barn board. I raided my tote of vintage doilies to fill the vase on the right. I poofed and fluffed but did not iron them. If I’d had to stop to do that, the project would have come to a halt.

The small jar is filled with smooth stones from the beach. The chick to the right of the jar is antique and made of wool. I love the little guy. I made the chickie on the far right from a bit of antique quilt.

Using the best parts of a cutter quilt that is otherwise so worn it’s destined for the dump, is a way to honor and preserve the maker’s hard work. I often wonder about her (or him) as I use their original work in a new creation.

Soon I’ll have pictures of my mantle. Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

The Fantasy (Shelf) Life of Old Spices ~ Look at my cupboard. Now look at me…

The desire to organize seems to hit me every year in the month of February. Perhaps it’s because I spend more time indoors during the cold months (though that is a bit of a misnomer for this particular snowless winter with its 50 degree weather). Last weekend, I defrosted the basement freezer. The only surprise there was all the room I had once the frost melted.

This weekend, I tackled the long neglected spice cupboard. I tossed a bunch of expired herb and spice mixes. When was the last time I made spinach dip for pete’s sake? We don’t do dip. Not even during the holidays. I think I bought them for my fantasy life where I entertain – a lot – and serve dip.

Then there was the fish seasoning I bought in an open air market on the island of St. Martin. You know how the person who isn’t crazy about fish to begin with is usually the one who ends up finding bones in the ‘boneless fillet’? In my house, that would be Old Roady. So I rarely serve fish. That wonderful blend of spices, now several years old, ended up in the trash – another victim of my fantasy life where Omega 3 is an integral part of our diet.

I was pleased with myself for all the purging and cleaning until I read Sara Noel’s Frugal Living column in my local paper and this statement sent me running back to my cupboard: McCormick’s website states that if their spices are in a tin can, they are at least 15 years old.

Okay, so mine is Durkee brand. Can I fool myself into thinking it’s NOT 15 years old?

I tried to decode the expiration date using Durkee’s FAQ page, but the number and letter sequence doesn’t make sense. Add that lack of information to the price tag still glued to the bottom – $1.67 – and I’m thinking I could have tossed this can of paprika 14 years ago and never missed it.

Now I’m in a quandary – throw out the can or keep it. I found the same one pictured on ebay labeled ‘vintage’. It’s a collectible. A few more years and it will be positively antique. This red tin can would look lovely in my fantasy Country Living kitchen.

A Note of Encouragement

These vintage daisy sequins were part of a mixed bag of trims I discovered in a small shop in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The little price tag says ‘Woolco’.

To create this card I used Craft Concepts Funky Flowers embossing folder and attached the sequins using Stampin’ Up’s Stampin’ Dimensionals – the only adhesive in my box of choices that made the sequins stick. The stamped Bible verse is from the Stampin’ Up set  Say It With Scripture.

Angel Wings

I gave angels their wings today!

These angels are simple to make and cute as can be. Made with wooden bodies and bits of old quilt for their dresses and wings, I used matching embroidery floss, wool roving and a vintage pearl button to add the finishing touches. They fit in the palm of my hand.

What project are you working on?