THINGS WITH WINGS SWAP POST

Joanne over at Vintage Dragon Fly is hosting matchbox swaps. I participated in the last one, Things with Wings. I got to send to Jennifer Phillips, I had never covered a little match box before and it was alot of fun. Our theme was to make it and fill it with things with wings....It is was challenging for me to find teeny tiny things to put in these little treasure boxes...




I had this Frozen Charlotte I was determined to send as a fairy, since she wouldn't fit in the box I made her wings out of ribbon and tied her on to the top.


I received this awesome box of winged goodies from Kim Hanauer I love how she did the lace over the picture on the cover. And a little Frozen Charlotte Fairy inside! Thanks Kim!!!




And here is my Frozen Charlotte Fairy!!!


And, if you want to jin in on the next swap, Joanne, is hosting one themed "Treasures of the Sea".


Just click on the button on my side bar to join in. While you are there, take a look at all the other matchboxes...They are all gorgeous!

Talk to you all soon! Becs

My LOOT from my Florida Trip!

Webster's Flea Market! Here's a cute litte video that kinda captures the vastness of Webster's. It's from You Tube.


I have to tell you that one of the highlights of my trip was going to this flea market! Cassie had been showing pictures and blogging about all these awesome finds from Webster's Flea Market. Especially for Vintage jewelry and buttons. So I packed light for the trip just for this day!

After Marie's Danses de Fleurs event, on Monday several of us went to Websters. I had the pleasure of riding with Sherry, and we didn't even make it to the flea market before we found a yard sale, stopped and we all (Sherry, Stephanie, Julie Ann and Me) found some awesome bargains and made our first purchases! BE prepared for lotsa BLING!!!!

When we arrived at Webster's we met up with Cassie, Bryanna, Marian, and Joanna and off we went! Our first stop was a booth that had crates full of vintage buttons and you could fill a small zip lock baggie for $3.00 (the bag didn't even have to close) You should have seen us all digging in those crates! Next to the crates was a table where the man's wife was, and she was going through packaging and pricing glass and rhinestone buttons. OMGNESS! I went NUTS! I ended up getting all these for $40.00 and at least half of them are glass!



I think I was there for about an hour!

Now this antique sterling silver spoon and cameo at the top of this next picture I bought at a table a few feet down from the button guy. It was actually my first purchase. Can you believe I got both items for $10.00? That doesn't happen around this neck of the California woods! The rest of the jewels in this pic and the next few pics were from the vintage jewelry lady...

Do you see the Brooch (above)on the left that has the fire opal stone in the center with the crown crest at the top and the drop? It is a vintage Sarah Coventry piece. My gramma used to sell SC when I was little and I remember playing with her sample kits....It is a signed or stamped piece as well.

As I said, the next stop (with a few detours along the way) was Cassie's favorite vintage jewelry lady! I think I was in Heaven. This must be what it looks like when the streets are lined with gold and jewels!!!


Look at all the rhinestone bracelets! My favorite one is the three strand with the fire opal gemmies, it is stunning!


This next picture shoes some stamped altered art pieces that I got from another vendor. They were a little pricey but I have not found this much around here. and the pale blue and cream pearl necklace and earring set was a steal! The lady had it for awhile and it was at the end of the day and she gave it to me for $8.00!


Now these double strands of vintage crystal necklaces I got from the vintage jewelry lady too. She originally told me $25. for two. I ended up with four and she came down even more on them when it was all said and done. Four sets of double stranded Vintage crystals! OMGNESS!


More bits and baubles, and the crystal chandalier pieces (including the blue one) I got all of them for $1.00. Amazing!




More bits and baubles, earrings and rhinestone necklaces here...


It just goes on and on...I got these goodies on Saturday while we were in Plant City. The rhinestone buckles were off a pair of shoes I bought for really cheap at a second hand store. The shoes weren't even my size! I got them for the buckles which are sturdy and in perfect condition.


Ok, well that is all for the Bling Loot. I will post on the linens, statues and other awesome finds from Websters, Plant City and Dade City just as soon as my last box of goodies arrives! Blessings to Sherry for lugging it all home and shipping it all to me! So until next time....and don't forget, almost done getting my giveaway goodies together for my 200th post giveaway, stay tuned....Thanks for stopping by...Becs

Spring Bunting Swap Peek

I am finished with my banners for Amy's Spring Bunting Swap We each had to make five then send them to Amy where she will switch them out and put them together and ship five back to us!

I used cardstock for the base then ironed on muslin to the back and sewed vintage trims and ribbons to them. I used stickles glitter to highlight. I think they turned out really cute for my first time making buntings...lol I can't wait to see everyone's creations.



And please read my previous post for a perfect pay it forward oppotunity. Scroll down to read more about it!

Pay it Forward 2011

As I was looking through all my blog friends' blogs tonight, I came across this awesome idea to send gifts to people just because. I ended up at Fish Tail Cottage and signed up for her Pay it Forward, then I went to On Hollyhock Farm and signed up there too!

So, have you ever sent or received a small gift from someone just because? Did it seem to come at the just the right time? Well I have been blessed many times with gifts from blog friends and it is the most amazing feeling!

If you wanna be a part of the Pay it Forward 2011 this is all you have to do! Easy Peasy...

1: Be one of the first 5 people to leave a comment on this post and you'll be a lucky receiver..as I will send handmade gifts to the first five.

2: You also need to post a Pay It Forward on your blog so you can make a send the first five to sign up on your blog a gift too.

You are welcome to use my Pay it Forward picture above and on the side bar if you'd like or you can make your own.... Also, please post a sneak preview of the items and post when you send them out so we can all enjoy it! Have fun, Be Blessed and Be a Blessing to someone else! Becs

More Photos and More Marie Fun

I want to share some more of my photos of my awesome Florida trip. I am still waiting on some of my goodies to arrive before I take all my loot pics, but here are some more to share with everyone and a few more awesome ladies that I met there.

This is Heidi Wallingford, Birds of a Feather. She is the most amazing person! What a sweet sweet soul, and she can do beautiful things with crepe paper, vintage wall paper and lace...OMG! I did a make and take project on Vendor night that she taught us. it was a lace and button bracelet. I wear it all the time! In fact I haven't even taking a pic of it yet.



Heidi also taught us how to make a beautiful keepsake box out of an old cigar box. (I am not finished with mine yet), but here are some pics of Heidi's and Marsha Mee's, Sassy mini Dolls.




Here is what Marsha did with hers...so cute!




On Vendor night Bryanna Lenan, The Canary's Cupcake, instructed on a decorated cake box. Here is mine:


My decorated mirror taught by Joanna Lewis, Sweet Finds. (The photos are courtesy of Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon,The Fancy Farmgirl Photography)


Here is a picture of Joanna and Bryanna for the night of the Marie Ball. They are both so beautiful and talented!

Picture is courtesy of Tiffany Kirchner Dixon, The Fancy Farmgirl

Ta Ta for now, stay tuned for my 200th post giveaway! Be Blessed, Becs

Wonderful Memories and Awesome Friendships!

pictured is Cassandra VanCuren who hosted this amazing event! She made that dress and dress form too!!! Cassi rocks!!!

I know it has been a month since I went to my first ever art retreat event. Marie's Danses de Fleurs seems like it was yesterday but has been 4 weeks already! I guess coming home then having surgery and recovering has made the time fly faster than I expected.



Before I left, my beautiful niece, Angie, was giving me Marie Antoinette posing tips and wearing my wig...looks so much better on her than me!



I was pretty busy before the trip making items for swaps and some goody bags to go into everyone's Welcome kit. One swap I was in I made these cute little money market bags. They have awesome zippers on the back to carry your money and keys in when shopping at the market.



I printed a graphic on fabric and ironed it onto the front. I then made shabby ruffles to attach to the top and added venetian lace to the bottom. I made flowers using fabrics, satins, chiffons, and tulling and added seam binding and lace to the top.



I also filled them with ephemera, rhinestones and pearls, shabby pens and other other goodies. So much fun!

I made these Marie Eat Cake soy candles in altoid type tins and covered them with a french pastry decal that I made using graphics from Cassi's Etsy Shop.



These went into a goody bag that had lotsa of other fun stuff!



Here's the bag I made for me and the lavendar one I made for my niece, Angie.



My flower is centered with an old pin I recently purchased at an estate sale..



Here's Angie's bag!



And her flower I made and added this vintage rhinestone cluster earing.




Here are a few of my dear friends I met: These two girls were my roomies and we hit it off immediately!

This is Julie Ann Grakowski and Stephanie Watt. Julie is from New York and is getting married this summer! She is the sweetest! I was her swap partner last spring during a cake box swap that Cassie hosted on her ezine. And I got to swap wrist cuffs with her at this event. (pictures of those to come later)

Stephanie is from Spokane, Washington. She is a sweetie pie and makes the most beautiful Marie Art. She and I have very similar likes and styles. We both LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pink! I have received many hand made items from Steph in the Marie Mail Art group in the past.



ANd my other roomie Sherry Williams the sweet Georgia Peach! She was so kind to haul us all around the whole weekend and take us shopping. She is also shipping me all the goodies I couldn't fit in my suitcases that I bought while I was there! LOL I first met Sherry on the Marie Mail Art group. Sherry is the sweetest thing and I was instantly comfortable around her.

This is me and Sherry on the swing outside Memory Lane Antiques, near Webster Flea Market. We closed the flea market down and still wanted to shop! LOL



And this is all four us us outside Saddlebrook Entrance...



This is Marsha Mees, Sassy Mini Dolls and I adore her! She is a Cali girl too and we have made plans to meet up in a month or two. I can hardly wait!



In this picture is LuLu Kellog the Southern Bell, She is truly a southern lady and so funny and fun to be around. I wish I would have had more time to spend with her and Marsha... LuLu is the cutie patootie in the middle with Sherry and Marsha on either side....




I had the best time making things to swap. I also made a couple pair of shoes for the event. I will post pics of those in a day or two. I even won Third Prize in
the shoe contest! Woo Hoo!!! I have pictures of my make and takes, things I bought at vendor night and loot that I purchased at the Webster Flea Market to come....So please stop back by. Talk to you all very soon! Becs