Our Much Needed Scenic Getaway

Hello friends! It is so good to be back to my Bella Blog...

it means things have slowed down enough

that I have time to write!

 

We took some much needed time to be together as a family to our scenic getaway in the Adirondack Mountains.

A place where we can enjoy the outdoors

and dine "al fresco"... 

Where we can see nature in all of its beauty...

 

And hear the call of the loons...

And enjoy the new crop of ducks and their ducklings...

 

 

 

Where the only important thing that needs to

get done is to go fishing...

 

 

Where we can feel right at home in this quaint little town that is right out of a story book set in the 1950's...

This is our favorite parade to watch, every year.

 

 

Where we can put all of the hustle and bustle of daily life out of our minds for a few days, or maybe even a week...

Hope you've had some relaxing days too, and if not, that you'll be still for just awhile...

We enjoyed our time at the lake. This year we took my Dad along. He loved it so I'm glad he was there. Alzheimer's is a difficult disease, the dementia and confusion are tough to deal with, for him, as well as for us, but we are getting through it day by day. Some days are better than others.

The weather is great now so we are working on a few projects for the shop, now that we are back! We picked up a couple of custom orders and in my next post I will share them with you.

Thanks so much for catching up on what we're up to! I'm trying to post at least once a month. After I get through the last days of school, Bebe's "Gala" dance recital, and a quick trip to the beach ... I'll have more time.

Summer is here! Yay!

Let's Talk Vintage #91: Red, White, Blue, and a Craft, Too!

Hello and Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

Happy Fourth of July!
I trust you are having a safe and happy

holiday here in the USA!

 

Today I'm going to share some of my favorite patriotic photos from years past...

The year we won first prize in a

boat parade was pretty cool.

My Step-Daughter made the

perfect Lady Liberty.

 

That same year I kinda got a Martha Stewart vibe and used wild flowers from the side yard to decorate the deck!

 

Bebe was much smaller a few years ago.

 

I always love seeing this clown and "monkey"

perform at the July 4th parade each year.

 

In fact, I love seeing all kinds of patriotic things!

 

 

 

Especially if they are vintage!

 

I even got crafty this past week...

Bebe had a friend over who loves to

make stuff so I planned a "Patriotic Pennant

and "Firecracker Favor" afternoon.

 

 

The patriotic pennants I actually came up

with by myself.

 

I have been saving and collecting patriotic

fabric because I was going to make

pillows for our lake house but so far I've

only made one! The thin wooden dowels I actually

found in the craft section of Wal-Mart.

 

The "star circle medallions"

were free printables found on Pinterest

and we embellished them with glitter.

 

 

Then, the firecracker favors I had seen

in Country Living magazine and on Pinterest

and just had to try them out.

 

 

Not the best photo but hey,

at least I remembered to

take one this time!

 

The favor was made out of a

mailing tube (the kind with

the plastic caps on the ends),

scrapbook paper, trim,

and pipe cleaners.

 

I think the girls had fun!

A lot of candy was eaten

while filling them...

 

I would probably try these

two projects again, this time

perfecting them a little bit. 

 

Now let's see who is featured this week:

 

 

A Day of Small Things did a post

to celebrate America's freedom.

Perfectly timed for

this week's LTV!

 

 

 

and Penny's Vintage home

shared her shabby and chic

flag for the 4th.

Lovely!

 

 

Sadie Seaongoods blog shared

her "bi-partisan" craftiness and

made a political button wreath...

This is just the bow!

So unique!

 

Thank you to all who stop

by, linked up and comment

each week. I just love

seeing what you bring each

week... keeps me inspired!

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you were featured today, feel free to grab this LTV graphic  to place on your side bar or use in your blog posts

when linking up to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

 

 

Now it is your turn:

 

 

 

Mommy & Me Craft Time: Vintage Beads into Bracelets

Over the Valentine's Day weekend we took

a trip to the Adirondacks. It. Was. Frigid.

 

As a back up plan to going outside

to play, a friend and I entertained

our little girls by making bracelets

using a mix of old and new beads.

 

 

A Mommy and Me project if you will.

 

 

 

The kind of project that never seems to get

old. Especially when sorting through all

of our containers filled with beads from

necklaces that, over time, had broken down.

 

Now, re-made into something new!

 

My Sweetpea must think like me.

We both used one large bead 

as the focal point.

 

I love how she used

so many pastels.

 

Just two peas in a pod.

 

Or is that beads in a pod?

 

Either way...

 

Cherishing these years.

I realize they go by very fast.

 

I'm glad we had some fun

together, with friends, 

making jewelry from old beads.

 

 

and by the way, this was

me buzzin' around on the

lake with our snowmobile.

Can now scratch that off

 of my "bucket list!"

 

**********

 

Linking with:

Vintage Charm

Pink Saturday

 

 

Let's Talk Vintage! #54: Road Trippin' Through Fall

 

 

Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

This is the link party for vintage

aficionados, gurus, OCD's,

experts, and well, just plain old

vintage lovers. If you think you are

one of the above, then you've stopped

at the right place. If you think you are all

of the above, well then, I think you

should start your own linky party.

 

 

Without further ado, I will get right

to our road trip in the mountains. It was

beautiful Fall weather. We were

there just at the peak of the leaf

changing season. It was awesome!

 

 

We decided to hit a festival.

 

There were all kinds of

hand made items.

 

Would you believe I saw these awesome,

hand crafted Nutcrackers a couple of weeks

after the big birthday party of the same theme?

 

I was astounded by the craftsmanship.

Then I was astounded by the price.

We are so used to the mass produced,

imported things, made in China

that when actually faced with purchasing

something made by an artisan, we

have to walk away and "think about it."

 

At least I did!

 

 

I thought this gal's booth was filled

with awesome vintage goodness....

 

 

Bebe stopped to play with these old fashioned toys,

made new from wood, by a local artisan. I waited

for her to ask me to buy one, but she didn't.

 

 

After the festival we decided to check

out the town and ran into a museum

at the train station.

 

 

This small town of North Creek has

a bit of fame it turns out.

Then Vice President, Teddy Roosevelt,

 was hiking up the mountain

when he found out he had

just become President of the

United States.

 

The tour guide goes through

the story of how a driver

was sent to go get him

 and all that they went through,

not to mention the fact that

 Teddy had no idea

what was going on yet!

 

 

You can't have a museum in the Adirondacks,

without showing some antique skis and snow shoes.

 

 

I love it when museum curators

 "re-create" the scene and set

 up realistic looking rooms.

This is what the train station ticket

office may have looked like.

 

Minus the face-less conductor, of course.

Then there were these other neat

treasures that I just KNEW

you all would like.

 

 

 

This would be fun to create.

 

 

The Hubs and I had never seen

 these "date" nails before.

 

 

 

 

 And I loved this vintage trophy,

curious about what "Saks Fifth Ave"

and downhill skiing...have in

common. Maybe ski wear!

 

Anyway, hope you enjoyed

coming along with me on

my Fall road trip! 

 

___________________

 

Here are this week's features:

 

 

 

Sarah of Sadie Seasongoods

created this wonderful table runner

out of.... get this.... flannel shirts!

Love the warmth and coziness

they bring!

 

 

and Ann Marie of Musings of

a Vintage Junkie, shared

some of her own craftiness

and repurposing skills.

 

 

Janice from Curtains in My Tree

also shared some of her

vintage creative flair ...

Love her wall frame art!

 

 

Meanwhile, Melissa of Melissa's

Antiques was in wedding

crunch mode.

She was decorating

her own tables with

vintage treasures!
Let's give Melissa a

big hearty

LTV Congratulations!!!

 

 

Remember, if your post

was featured, right click

on this LTV feature button

and place it on your

 blog side bar.

Now it's your turn.

Let's Talk Vintage!

 

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking to:
Show and Share

Vintage Inspiration Party

What's It Wednesday
Vintage Charm
Share Your Cup Thursday