vintage flower pins

i'm so happy it's wednesday night!  that means friday is almost here.  hooray, hooray!  i worked on some special little (kinda big actually) flower pins today and just listed them in the ol' shop.  i have a pin that my granna made lots of years ago...(see the last photo).  i love it and was inspired to try and make some myself.  i have heaps of vintage fabric and searched out some vintage chenille pipe cleaners and voila!  i sort of love them.  super fun and funky and happy and bright.  just the thing to add a little vintage flare.

that's my granna's flower!  sweetness!  

what are you up to tonight??  

xox...jenn

vintage tuesday

i have a super fun (and easy) vintage tuesday project to share with you guys today.  if you are like me, you adore old photographs.  something about those old black and whites.  they are just fabulous.  and i don't only collect my own family's.  i constantly rescue stacks of forgotten photos from flea markets and estate sales.  i just can't bare the thought of them ending up in the garbage.  so, i'll stick 'em in with packages or display the extra cool ones or just keep them organized in glass jars.

i'm always thinking up new ways to display these old treasures and when i found these chippy, vintage paddles... a light bulb went off.  i love the way a photo looks taped to the middle!  and hello... there's even a little loop at the end of the paddle that i can hang them with!  don't they make charming "frames"?

** click on the photos to see them larger **

now, i know it's not every day you come across super cool, chippy painted, wooden ping pong paddles.... but this simple idea can get you started!  you could use ceiling tiles, old pieces of molding, little drawers... and of course ping pong paddles and even tennis rackets.  (you don't even need tape for those... just wedge your photo  corners right into the webbing!).

happy hunting!  let me know whatcha find!  xox...jenn

p.s. these sweet photos are of chris' and my grandparents.  xox

new paintings

hello!!!  i know it's been forever and a day since i've posted... there's been lots going on and i promise to share more about that super soon!  in the meantime... i hope you all are well!  hope you each had a lovely weekend.  i'm popping in to let you know that i listed some new paintings in the shop.  it's been much too long since i've had some art available and i'm on the road to changing that:)

see you soon!!  xox...jenn

vintage tuesday

hey everyone!  sorry i missed posting for vintage tuesday today.  i got that dreaded call from the school.  "come get your son, he has a fever".  phooey.  poor henry.  i sat with him most of the day.  watching scooby doo and phineas and ferb and that stupid spy kids movie (for the billionth time... heeeelp!).  he's such a sweetie though.  i love having him near.  so... i'm going to cheat for vintage tuesday.  it's a repeat post...but from a year ago!  maybe it's "new to you" :)  one of my fave, little, easy peasy projects!  enjoy...

looking for a way to add some charm to your little one's space?
here is an easy and fun noodle and lou vintage project!

i seem to always come across little mismatched, play, tea plates at flea markets and estate sales.  sure, they are great for tiny tea parties...but it got me thinking of another fun use for them.  

a pint size, vintage plate collection as wall decor!  absolutely darling in a little girl's room over a bed or above a play table where tea parties take place....or hang them low on the wall, above a little vintage play crib (as i have in my photos).  you could even collect boy themed plates (little boy blue, circus, etc) for a sweet boy's nursery!  

such a simple idea and one that the kids can help out with! 

scour flea markets, garage sales and antique malls for 

vintage, play plates.  you can find them in plastic, tin and 

porcelain.  vintage jelly jar lids work fabulously too! 

for hanging on the wall, either use fun-tak (if your plates aren't too heavy and/or you don't want holes in your wall) or glue can tabs on to the backs of your plates...

now it's time to hang on the wall!  i think it turns out better when you just stick 'em up without a plan.  but if you want a plan... lay out a large piece of paper on the floor.  display your plates how you like them on top of the paper (fun for the kids to do!), then trace around the plate shapes.  you now have a template for the wall!

an absolutely darling way to display a collection!  hang 9 or hang 49...either way guarantees smiles!  and it's always a happy thing when a child appreciates vintage treasures!  enjoy!  xox...jenn

p.s. if you use this idea,  i'd love to see a photo...have fun!

happy easter

happy easter from our family to yours!  xox...jenn

too close for comfort

thanks so very much to all of you that have sent messages my way checking on us.  we are SAFE and sound. thank you Lord!!  most of you have heard about the tornadoes that hit the dallas / fort worth area on tuesday. our tiny town was one of the worst hit.  it was a very scary afternoon.  i happened to be at target and heard someone say... 'oh, there is a tornado warning.' .  okay.  you hear that and you think... okay...bad storm coming... no big deal.  no one was panicking or making annoumcements about it.  i finished my shopping and left target.  the sky was black.  eerie black.  as i started driving home, my husband called me asking where i was.  i said hwy 287.  that's exactly where the tornado was headed.  he told me to turn around, but hello?  where would i go?  then we lost our connection.  the emergency sirens started blaring throughout the city. i was listening to the emergency broadcast over the radio, police were all over the road stopping traffic.  you could see the frigging thing off in the distance.  i sat there under an overpass...waiting.  for what?  to be blown away!?  all i could think of were the kids at school and the dog at home. (chris was safe in the basement at the university).  i was freaking out.  i was reminded by the radio that you should not park under an overpass... not safe.  the mess looked like it had crossed over 287... so i just floored it.  towards the schools.  there were lots of trees (BIG ones) blown about and as i got close to my house there were huge pieces of metal and insulation everywhere. that was the worst feeling.  not knowing what was around the corner where our house and schools were.  but they were fine.  totally fine.  we feel so blessed to have escaped the exact path.  and at the same time, our hearts and prayers go out to those who were affected.  i can't believe how close it was to our street.  the water tower, shown below, can literally be seen from our front yard.  the GOOD news is that no one was killed.  is that a miracle or what?  145 mph tornado tossing tractor trailers and houses around like toys and no one was lost.  makes us all so thankful.  houses and cars can be replaced.  people sure can't.

c/o KETK

c/o star telegram

c/o newsok.com

c/o KFDM

when i finally saw my sweet boys' faces, i just hugged
them tight and thanked God.  poor henry was so
scared... it was such a relief to have him in my arms!
the schools did a wonderful job keeping them calm
and safe.

so... i know... a pretty dramatic post.
but i was so appreciative how many of
you wrote and i mostly just wanted to say
thank you.  thank you from all 4 of us!
xox...jenn

vintage tuesday

happy tuesday!  thanks to all of you that entered the vintage tuesday giveaway.  SO fun and i'm happy to announce the winner for this time....
i used the trusty random.org number generator this time and it came up with lucky 7!  that is chrisy!  yahoo...congrats and enjoy your new spring-ey ring!  stay tuned for more giveaways and good ol' vintage things every tuesday you guys!  i'll leave you today with some new treats i've been adding to the shop lately.  i heart them all lots.

have a great day! xox...jenn

who you callin' a fool...