Hide and Seek Valentines

Valentine's Day is still more than a couple of weeks away, but I thought I'd get out my few "Valentiney" decorations. Hmm, now where are my hearts? I've always kept them in a certain chest, in a certain drawer, but they were not there. Am I getting old? Where could they be? I must have checked the same chest 3 or 4 times, nothing. 

In with the Christmas things? Easter? 

 I finally realized 2 days later that last year in an organizing frenzy I had cleaned out the chest where these used to reside and boxed them up and put them in the garage. How was my little brain supposed to remember that after some 12 years of being kept in the same place my Valentines were in a totally different part of the house? 

Moral: sometimes reorganizing doesn't pay off!

More to follow!
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Show and Tell Friday
Time Travel Thursdays
Wow Us Wednesday

Pretty Perfume Bottles

Ooh la la! Look what I found at the thrift store last week, a pair of vintage perfume bottles. And for only $1 each!

They have a fun metal stopper embossed with a lion's head and crown.

I already had a few vintage perfume bottles that had belonged to my grandmother.

 Now I actually have a collection!

I also found an old hydrocloric acid bottle. Hmm, do I keep it with the perfume bottles?

I love old bottles and usually have an assortment at my shop. Come take a look!


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Show and Tell Friday
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Tabletop Tuesday

Remarkable Ramekins!

I adore ramekins! Here are some of the ramekins I've collected over the years. As you can see I lean toward red, white and blue. 

Aren't these heart shaped ramekins charming? Perfect for Valentine's Day!

I find most of these little baking dishes at thrift stores, usually for 50 cents 

to a dollar apiece.

 Why do I like ramekins so much? I find them to be extremely versatile. Here are some of the things I use ramekins for:

baking all kinds of individual desserts, such as: fruit crisps, mini pies and cobblers,

 chocolate pudding cake, or bread puddings (recipe to follow)

mini pot pies - great for kids!

mini meatloaves

I keep one filled with Kosher salt next to the stove

fill with candy or nuts

ice cream or gelato dishes-great portion control!

individual salsa or dip bowls

serving melted butter for artichokes

mini prep bowls

applesauce or fruit cups

baking popovers

mixing and serving herbed butters

scrambling eggs in the microwave

holding paper clips

votive holders

and of course, the classic creme brulee

 What do you use ramekins for?

This is my favorite bread pudding recipe:

Individual Bread Puddings
4-5 slices day old French bread cut into cubes
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
2 cups milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
ground nutmeg


Divide bread among 6 greased ramekins. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and cranberries. In a medium sized bowl  beat eggs lightly with whisk. Beat in sugar, salt, cinnamon, milk and vanilla. Pour over bread. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Place in shallow baking dish, add hot water  to dish to come 1/2 inch up sides of ramekins. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 40 minutes or until knife inserted in centers comes out clean. Remove from water bath to cool slightly. Serve warm with whipped cream.


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Bread Boards

I found a few unfinished bread boards at the thrift store a couple of weeks ago and decided to have a little fun with them courtesy of The Graphics Fairy .

 You can check out the technique I used HERE .

I figured I 'd better dress up the basket too! 

Bon Appetit!
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Brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy
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One Year of Blogging

I started my blog a year ago and I was pretty clueless. In fact it took me a good six months to feel like I knew what I was doing, but I'm still such a novice compared to many of you fabulous bloggers out there. So I was especially surprised to be nominated for a    

award by my new friend Maureen over at It's all Connected. Be sure to check out her blog which has some great DIY projects including how to age a galvanized bucket.

Now I get to recommend 5 other new bloggers for you to check out!

1-A Thrifted Market

This gal knows how to shop! She shares wonderful treasures and clever ways to use them.

2-Patty A Pearce

Patty has great decorating tips and furniture makeovers. I love her dresser turned into a kitchen sideboard!

3-Pondered Primed Perfected

Sherry and her husband take on some pretty amazing renovation projects. Check them out!

4-Cottage-Wishes

Di features thrifted items repurposed into wonderful home decor items.

5-Beaux R'eves

Cindy has created some of my favorite tablescapes ever! 

Please visit these great bloggers, and tell them I sent you!

Hopefully, I'll continue to get better at taking photos, writing, creating and sharing my projects with you. Thanks for visiting!

Toile Table Runner

Happy New Year!

 I don't know how so many of my favorite bloggers managed to continue posting fun pictures all through the holidays. I simply needed a break for a week or so. And then, instead of putting the rest of Christmas away I felt the urge to get crafty and made this table runner a couple of days ago. 

 I already had the black and white toile  from awhile back. Then I found this black ticking stripe at the thrift store a few weeks ago and I knew they were destined for each other!

 I covered the seam with some black and white checked ribbon from my stash.

 I love the way the pewter plates look with it.(Also found at a thrift store.)

Then I added a few potted geraniums.Very fresh for the new year!


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