Necessary{and unnecessary}new{old} finds♥

Maybe it's just this time of year{prom, end of the school year, graduation etc...}but it feels like there are fewer hours in every day! So while I've been a little overwhelmed with the hecticness of life lately, somehow I've managed to find my way out into the world to pick up a few wonderful things :)

I've been long overdue for a bedspread. I tried searching on-line for something vintage{with no luck}and also tried looking at Department Stores for something new but couldn't find anything I liked well enough{probably because I prefer vintage}. The second I spotted this Bates Velvet Beadspread at an Antique Mall I knew it was the one~ it is soooo soft, comfy & velvety♥♥
I've also wanted{and needed}a stand mixer for a while now. I found this vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster last week for $10~ and it works!! I love it{even though it's not pink}and can't wait to use it.

O.K. I probably didn't need this vintage Cash Register{from The National Cash Register Co. Dayton Ohio}but somehow I left the flea market with it. Once I got it home I started thinking "What the heck am I going to do with this?" my kids were asking me the same thing! But after finding the perfect spot for it....I'm in love with the shabby timeworn rusty old thing!! It's great for holding magnets{for completed Memo Boards in my Shop}and the drawer is perfect for storing little things.


The tag under the register drawer is marked Fox Theater 1949 Los Angeles California, it might have been used inside this Theater??

I finally pulled this old hutch out of my bathroom because I needed something in my work space for storage.
There's nothing like taking a piece of furniture from one room into another and feeling like you've got new furniture :)

Finally Organized

Wow, it's been about a month since I posted a before picture of a corner of my messy work space.
Yikes what an unorganized mess!
I started by framing a few of my favorite prints{The Black Apple, Pinky Toast and Danny Brito}. I've got plenty more wall space to fill, I just haven't had the time to shop for more prints.
A while ago I moved my sewing machine into my Bedroom thinking I'd do more sewing. It was a nice thought but I rarely used it.

Ahhhhh this feels so much better. I'm hoping to get a lot of sewing done here :)

Getting back on track....

Or at least trying to.
Now that everyone's back in school trying to figure out what to do with all my free time has been my biggest problem. Cleaning, crafting, organizing, shopping, cooking ~ it seems like that six hours f l y s by!

This cute little Shop was the last stop in our search for Cupcakes this summer.
It ended up being our favorite. I wish I had taken some pictures of the inside, but it was pretty tiny & crowded~ if I didn't think my kids would have died of embarrassment I would have taken some :)
Y U M!!


My Spoonflower swatch arrived~ SO cute, I love it!!

Here's a few things I've picked up lately:
I don't know what this Cup/Mug was originally intended for because of the lid{maybe a sugar bowl??}. It says: POP and has little pastel buttons all over with a bow on top... humm, whatever it is I love it :)

A pink vintage wooden hanger with little blue birds♥♥
I've been searching for the Dad to the Sunshine Family....
Although he's close, I think he's more of the 70's Swinger version.
He'll do for now.
I thought this would be perfect by the computer to hold pens and scissors, since I usually can't find either when I need them.
This cluttered hot mess is an area in my work space. I'm trying to simplify and organize my space better, making it more functional. Nothing about this picture makes me want to get crafty. It's my Before picture, hopefully I'll have an After picture later this week.

Craft Room & Studio Storage

I just read the most wonderful post over at Magpie Ethel's Blog. She share's the inside of her Cottage Studio. You have to see it to believe it....it truly is a Vintage lover/Crafter's paradise.
{A shabby shelf in my craft room where I use jars to hold some of my trinkets}

Storage and Decor inspired by Magpie Ethel's Happy Studio{found on Etsy}♥

1. Antique Doll Dresser, by: simplychictiques
2. Vintage Jars, by: designarchives
3. Vintage Labels, by: mushroomandmoss
4. Vintage Kitchen Cabinet, by: thevintagesupplyco
5. Metal Storage, by: TagSaleFinds
6. Antique Striped Luggage, by: BrightWallVintage
7. Metal Tray, by: folkcity
8. Tissue Honeycomb Balls, by: dimestorechic
9. Vintage Floral Tin, by: spacejam

Inspiration on flickr:
1. Vintage Wallpaper Collection
1. File in Style
1. Dresser Drawer-UpClose
1. Milk Crate Storage for Studio

I love seeing how others store and organize their craft supplies and findings~ so many creative and fun ideas!!

Functional spaces...

Lately I've been spending a lot of time organizing my house, trying to make it less cluttered and more functional. That's not so easy to do when you love thrifting/garaging/flea-marketing/and estate sale-ing and are constantly bring new{old}things home. I try to not bring things home that I can't/won't actually use, unless I plan on putting it in my Vintage Shop.

{Pennants from last weekend, that I love seeing hung on my shabby old door}
{Chalkware sailor duck named: Junior, made in 1947~ I didn't know he was that old until I got him home, I'm glad I picked him up!}
I picked this up years ago{I think it was used as a tool box} and haven't been using it like I should. It has a really deep/wide drawer with a shelf on top.
Sitting on my desk next to the computer, I'll be sure to get lots of use out of it now.
Being less cluttered gives me more time to work on projects, and just feels so much better :)
A few Memo Boards I completed over the weekend.
I have about a month before my kids are home for the Summer and I'm hoping to have my house decluttered and organized by then :)

New Sewing Spot...

Last weekend I decided to move my sewing machine to a different area, thinking I'd get more sewing done there. So far I've only sewn once. I've been meaning to make coasters from fabric and quilt scraps that I've been saving, so toady I made a little stack.
They were really quick and easy to make. I used 5" x 5" fabric squares, then cut slightly smaller squares of batting{I think that's what it is, I have a bunch stored away}. For each coaster I layered three pieces together like a sandwich{with batting in the middle}
I placed a couple of pins through each set to make sure nothing moved, then just stitched around the edges and across the middle a couple times.

No more glass rings on my new table :)

♥SWEET Shelf Displays♥

1. Red gingham edging on the shelves, 2. 1950's Kitchen shelves:), 3. things, 4. my work area, 5. Posey Corner, 6. Same shelf,different room!


This is a shelf in my room. It's a piece of salvaged awning taken off an old home~ what a great way to re-use & repurpose! I've been looking for more shelving for awhile now, with not much luck. I don't think you can ever have too many shelves :)

I love this simple display.

1. craft*space

I'll be hitting a few Estate Sales & the Flea Market this weekend, hopefully I'll have some luck♥

Garden Sheds.......

What I wouldn't do to have one of these Cottage Garden Sheds in my backyard. I of course would turn mine into a little work studio~ I couldn't just use one of these cuties for storage(I'd actually like to move in)! I can only imagine what the main house looks like :)

1. Pretty storage shed, 2. cherry blossom shack, 3. The back of our cottage, 4. Honeysuckle on shed, 5. Garden Shed......... Franklin Michigan Garden Tour 6-10-09, 6. Garden shed, 7. The new shed~~~almost done..., 8. Cottage, 9. Serenity

Build It Yourself Studio

I seriously need(well maybe not need, but want) one of these Wood Storage Sheds, which I would use as a crafting/work studio.


Flickr backyard studio finds:

1. SERIEGA4, 2. Becky Mason's Studio-2008, 3. The "artist studio" in the back, 4. My Backyard Studio (think it, make it, live it...)

This little backyard studio is my all time favorite! The lucky owner is Lori Marie of one of my favorite etsy shops Prettylilthings. You can go here if you'd like a glimpse at the inside.

1. tiny house front

Aren't these the perfect solution for anyone who doesn't have enough room in their home for their own craft room/studio?? I'd be the happiest girl on earth if I had one :)