HAPPY PINK SATURDAY

HAPPY EASTER and my
'GIVE-AWAY' CONTINUES...

Miss Heidi's Annual Candy Cup Spring Swap

To: Terri Heinz

From: Valarie







Miss Vivian's "Too Stinking Cute" Easter Bunny Swap
















Miss Rhea's "Mini Easter Basket" Swap



From Debi Huntsman











From: Jennie Astengo

My $100 contest is still in progress.
Please click here to read and enter.

Remember to visit our gracious host:

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for all the wonderful "Pink Saturday" participants. Thanks for stopping by today.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER?

I'm not always very good at having faith. When times are difficult and we have more on our shoulders than we can bear, we ask ourselves "why is this happening to me" or "why is this happening to the person I love".

I am asking my friends and strangers alike (if you read this post), please say a prayer for my sweet husband Mike. He is in desperate need of them as he is not well. I am powerless in my ability to help him which leaves me in complete devastation. If you can find it in your hearts, please ask God to shine his light on my best friend and husband.

I don't know what else to say except "thank you".

A CELEBRATION!!!! and a
GREAT GIVE-AWAY, OH YEAH!

What better way to celebrate than to do it with friends. As you know, once you become a blogger, you make hundreds of wonderful and talented, kind and generous, warm and caring FRIENDS.

For the past three years my "blogging" friends have shared my heartaches, brought me joy, sent me outstanding creations which I will treasure forever, but most importantly have become a huge part of my life. And for that I thank you.

Please CELEBRATE my joy in being featured in "COTTAGE STYLE" magazine. The best part about this feature was that I had "no idea" they were publishing it until about two weeks ago when Harris Publications called to confirm my website address. At that time they explained that their Annual Issue of "Cottage Style" would be featuring my home in the "ROMANTIC" section of the upcoming issue. Needless to say, I was screaming and jumping around the house. I am honored to be featured in this gorgeous magazine.

To Celebrate this wonderful news with my blogging friends ~ I've decided to have a huge "Give-Away".
$100 GIFT CERTIFICATE
to spend on anything you desire in any of my three shops, "Treasured Heirlooms", "Elegance & Whimsy", or "NewEnglandVintage" ~ Etsy shop.

My goal for 2010 is to have at least 1,000 people "Following" my blog. I know that is a bit of a stretch, but I'm going to give it a go by starting today. So, here are the things you can do to be entered in the first "BIG GIVE-AWAY".

1-Entry for being a Follower (click on Follow)---->
2-Entries for adding my blog pic to your blog sidebar---->

3-Entries for sharing the news in a blogpost
4-Entries if you follow me on Facebook

Please don't forget to leave me a comment to let me know how many of the above items you've chosen to participate in the contest and ~ voila ~ you're entered.

THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED WHEN I REACH
500 FOLLOWERS ~ Good Luck and Thank You.

I couldn't wait to share another Easter Basket swap.

I will be posting ALL the beautiful lovelies again on April 3rd, the Show Date of "Miss Rhea's Easter Basket Swap". But until then, I just had to let you see the beautiful treasures I received from Jennie of JNichelle's.

Jennie is so talented and I adore everything she sent me. It always amazes me at how much time each swap partner puts into getting to know you and creating something special "just for you". I am thrilled to bits and can't wait to share everything. But until April here are a few awesome goodies I want to show you.

Getting jealous????

Ta da! Look at these treasures

My very own Glittery Easter Basket hand-created by Jennie herself! Squeel...

A vintage Lefton chick (2DIE4) and my favorite chocolate Lindt

(what more could a girl ask for, seriously).

I love you Jennie!

You are the bestest....

Thank you for a wonderful Easter package.

I'd love to have you "Follow" my blog. Just click the

"Follow" button on the right sidebar. Thanks!

HIGH TEA IN THE ROSE GARDEN
with "Marie & Louis"

A new teacup wreath has been added to my website this week.
I hope you all enjoy it.

It's a beautiful, sunny, warm day so I'm going to run and get some things done. Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Spring day.

I'd love to have you "Follow" my blog. Just click the
"Follow" button on the right sidebar. Thanks!

Miss Rhea's Easter Basket Swap

Sweet Miss Rhea from Sweet and Shabby Roses held a wonderful tiny Easter Basket Swap. We had two partners each and we had to decorate two Yogurt cups then fill them with 5 awesome treasures for our partners.

One of my partners was Debi Huntsman (Lifeinmystudio) blog. I received her amazing Easter Basket today filled with goodies 2DIE4. She sent me a beautiful vintage pearl and pink rhinestone pendant, a beautiful roll of pastel tulip ribbon, a gorgeous roses gift tag, an awesome rubber stamp, a huge vintage pink rhinestone clip-on earring which will be gorgeous on one of my new creations. All of this scrumptiousness came in a sweetly decorated pink adorned Easter Basket filled with chocolate eggs. OMG!!! I am so darn spoiled. And I still have another one on the way.

This is the Easter Basket I sent to Debi. Her five things were wrapped separately and tucked safely into her package.

This is the awesome Easter basket plus goodies I received from Sweet Debi.

Chocolate eggs, Rose tag, Tulip Ribbon

Vintage pendant 2DIE4

Rubber stamp and Pink Vintage Earring

THANK YOU DEBI!

I'd love to have you "Follow" my blog. Just click the "Follow" button on the right sidebar. Thanks!

It's Pink Saturday
Welcome all of my sweet pink friends..

Today I decided to post just a couple of pictures of some Easter creations I've been playing with these past few days. Now don't get fooled if I have you as a partner in an Easter swap 'cause these lovelies might not be yours!! lol

Remember to visit our gracious host Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for all the wonderful "Pink Saturday" participants. Thanks for stopping by today.



I'd love to have you "Follow" my blog. Just click the "Follow"
button on the right sidebar. Thanks!

NEW GOODIES IN THE SHOP

SCRUMPTIOUS FRENCH TREASURES

Just wanted to share a few new items I've just added to the boutiques. You can find them at Treasured Heirlooms boutique in "The Secret Garden" section.

See you tomorrow on Pink Saturday!






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 Victorian Crazy Quilt Pillow
Many years ago.... when I loved to sew

A long, long time ago, probably over 20 years now ~ I really loved to sew. I remember asking for a sewing machine for my 10th birthday. I used to dream about what I could create with that new Singer Sewing Machine. One just like my mother's and my grandmother's. My mother insisted that within a year or two I  would be old enough to use her "Big Girl" sewing machine. I begged and begged but to no avail. My birthday came only for me to find a small envelope to open. My birthday present was tickets to the "Ice Capades". I didn't want to go to the Ice Capades I told my Mom, I wanted a sewing machine. Needless to say we went to the Ice Capades.

I'm sure you all know how the story goes. Mom was right. Within a year or two she taught me how to use her "Big Girl" sewing machine and that day was simply magical. My head was whirling with what I was going create with this wonderful machine with a pedal! Clothes, suits, blouses, pillows, sachets, yada yada yada.

Sewing was one of my favorite things to do as a child. Unfortunately the sewing machine thing wore off and I went onto to being an avid needlepointer. One year I went to a craft fair (probably about 25+ years ago now) and there was a booth filled to the brim with hand made, shabby chic pillows, furniture, home decor and jewelry. The booth was draped with lace and vintage fabrics. I just stood there transfixed. I wanted to take everything home with me. (You know those type of booths you see where you wish you had just won the lottery and you could buy EVERYTHING you see.)

This was lonnnnnnnnnng before Shabby Chic was a household word or considered a "Chic Style of Home Decor". I was immediately transfixed in this amazing world of beauty. I remember holding a Victorian Crazy Quilt pillow in my hands for about an hour. I couldn't put it down. I wanted it so badly, but the price was wayyyyyy out of range for my tiny pocketbook. Luckily the deciding factor not to my rent money for this lovely pillow was twofold; one it was created with dark colors and a black velvet backing (not quite my style) and two; I knew I could make one of my own if I put my mind to it. 

The minute I arrived home I feverishly dragged out tubs full of beautiful bits and pieces of antique lace and embroidered linens which I had been collecting for years. Using a pretty piece of linen as the backing, I trimmed and pinned the pieces into place and began to sew each piece into place by hand. To my surprise it worked up very quickly and soon it was complete.

Then onto a quilt I thought. Yes, a Queen-sized quilt for my bed. A good way into the project I realized my silly idea of having the patience to create a quilt large enough to cover my bed ~ all stitched by hand ~ was never going to happen. So I finished it up and made it into a large wall hanging. When I find it in the bottom of my Mother's hope chest I will post it for you to see.
 

My pillow has been sitting gently in my closet for awhile now, since I don't have a bit of space to put it anywhere in my tini, tiny house. I noticed it the other night and decided to share my vintage, Victorian Crazy Quilt pillow with all of you. I hope you enjoy it.

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I am so heartbroken......

December 28, 2009 was my 10th wedding anniversary. When Mike and I got engaged, we always said we would "think" about a bigger diamond "maybe" on our 10th anniversary. Well last fall we discussed it and we both decided that the original engagement diamond was so beautiful that the only thing I would change was the setting. We went back to the same jeweler in Boston and within 5 minutes I found the exact setting I had dreamed about. The jeweler took my "original" diamond and placed it in the new setting within a few days. It was absolutely stunning (at least to me).

Now... since I'm home most of the time, glittering or gardening, I only wear my jewelry when I get dressed up nice to go out for the day (otherwise in overalls!). Today I had a doctor's appointment in Boston so I was all dressed up and wearing my wedding band, a pretty brooch, and earrings. Here where the story gets really sad.....

On the way home from the doctor's office, I looked down at my wedding ring and the entire setting including the diamond was missing. It literally fell off and there was a hole there. No prongs, no diamond, just a hole. I realized this as I was approaching the exit to my husband's workplace (thank goodness~!). I went by his office and showed him what happened. I knew he would be equally as upset as I was since he made me promise to never trade in or exchange our engagement ring. I promised him I never would, it was our first bond and commitment to spend a long life together. 

I realize that with insurance I will more than likely get another one just as beautiful ~ and for that I am thankful. But I know that millions of my lady friends out there can understand how much their engagement ring means to them and their spouses. Having lost mine today is leaving a giant hole in my heart and the only people I can tell is you 'cause this is where I spend most of my time and you are all so compassionate.

It does help to be able to let out the grief sometimes just by writing it down. I know many might say it's materialistic and can be replaced. But to me it was my "treasured heirloom".

I thank you for listening my friends. 

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