Where I Shopped For Handmade

As I said in a previous post, I wasn't able to make any of the gifts I wanted to make for Christmas and I also wasn't able to physically go shopping the way I wanted to.  All of my shopping was done online and I did some handmade shopping on Etsy.  I would highly recommend these shops and shopkeepers when you're looking for something special!

Memories For Life offers all kinds of engraved wood and etched glass items.   Everything from jewelry to wedding invitations to photo albums to glassware.  Edi takes such great care with her designs and her work is incredible.  My bicycle riding husband received this tie tack and was thrilled with it.  You can also follow Edi's blog, Memories For Life.

I also got these buttons for me, because I just couldn't resist!  They are gorgeous!

MSK Beads offers a variety of beautiful handmade and handwoven beaded jewelry.  I was looking specifically for something purple and this necklace was perfect.

From Libertine Tacoma, I chose this sampler of gourmet salts and salt blends for my son.

This shop offers over one hundred varieties of gourmet salts and salt blends as well as twenty three gourmet sugar blends.  They are all natural, vegan, and additive free.  The set came with a list of ideas and foods to use each blend with.  I'm going to order some for myself!

My daughter had these earrings on her wish list from Cathy Cortez Studio.  They were absolutely beautiful!

Cathy is having a clearance sale right now if you're looking for beautiful jewelry.

Have a marvelous Monday!

xo Annette xo

21.  watching daughter and granddaughter interact

22.  a nap on a rainy gray gloomy afternoon

23.  playing with the camera again

24.  being a Grandma

It Was Wonderful and It Was Awful

It has been close to a year and a half since the last time I went to my favorite antique mall.  My favorite bloggers have been thrifting and junking and flea marketing and antiquing while I oohed and aahed and drooled over their fabulous finds.  I was thrilled when they scored magnificent treasures, but I longed to go and score my own booty too.

While visiting my daughter a couple of weeks ago, my knee was feeling pretty good, so we decided to hit the antique mall.  It was wonderful and awful at the same time!  Wonderful to be among the beautiful old things again and awful because I just couldn't walk and stand very long.  With a lot of stopping and sitting and resting,  I made it through about two thirds of the first floor.  It was wonderful because I could do that much and awful because I couldn't do it all.

I did score my own treasure in just two thirds of one floor though!  Those little pink bows all around the teacup and saucer just endeared themselves to me.  I couldn't leave it on the shelf.  Maybe I'll give it to Shylee when she is older.  And then there was the lace.  A big bag full of beautiful cotton, crocheted, and assorted laces and trims.  Even three adorable garden glove appliques.  Wouldn't they be perfect on a gardening apron?  The last find was a bag of vintage embroidery transfers.  I was so very excited to find these because they are the first ones I've found.  If my knee had cooperated, I would have done a happy dance right there in the booth.

It was wonderful to be in the antique mall and find wonderful treasures again.  It was awful because I know there was more to find, lol.   However, it was very good for the soul!

What have you experienced lately that was wonderful?  Or awful?

Happy Friday!

xo Annette xo

What Part of No Didn't She Understand?

Dear Readers,
Have you ever shopped at Kohl's?  It's one of my favorite stores and I enjoy shopping there for clothes, housewares and accents.  I had an experience there this past weekend that had me very close to walking out in the middle of checking out and never going back.

Erin and I went shopping for Shylee's fall and winter clothes.  And because I can't go there without looking at clothes for me, there were a couple of additional tops and a sweater!  In other words, I had a HUGE stack of clothes and it was going to take a while to check out.

As I began laying the clothes on the counter, the conversation with the cashier went like this:

Cashier:  Ooh, I guess you'll be using your Kohl's charge today.
Me:  No.
Cashier:  Really?  Do you have a Kohl's charge?
Me:  No.
Cashier:  Would you like to open an account for additional savings?
Me:  No thank you.
Cashier:  You could save a lot more money with a charge card.
Me:  No, I don't want a charge card.
Cashier:  Okay, I guess you're not a saver.  I like saving money.
Me:  Silence, but thinking, 'did she really say that?'
Cashier:  Can I ask why you don't want a Kohl's charge card?
Me:  Because I don't want a credit card.
Cashier:  Says she understands but goes into how Kohl's is a company dedicated to saving customers money and if I'm going to have a credit card it should be from Kohl's.
Me:  looks at Erin and rolls eyes.
Cashier:  If you had a card, you would get additional coupons.
Me:  Oh, I have a coupon too.
Cashier:  What kind of coupon?
Me:  20% off the total purchase.
Cashier:  Implies it's probably expired.
Erin:  It's not expired.
Cashier:  Well, are you sure?  Most people don't realize...
Erin:  It expires today.
Cashier:  Okay, you don't have to get so serious with me.
Me:  Shakes head and thinks about leaving without the clothes.
Cashier:  Will you be writing a check?  (She's still ringing up items)
Me:  No, I'll use cash. But I'm thinking, 'because I don't need your cuss credit card'.

So we finish up and then it's Erin's turn.

Cashier:  Will you be using your Kohl's charge today?
Erin:  No.
Cashier:  Do you have a Kohl's charge.
Erin:  Yes but I'm not going to use it.
Cashier:  Okay, okay, I'm not trying to aggravate you ladies.

Really?  Do you think she could have realized she was aggravating us just a little sooner?

I don't have a problem with asking me if I would like to open an account.  I realize that's part of their job and they get a commission for each application they get, but I don't appreciate being badgered and talked down to.  I came so close to telling her I changed my mind about buying the clothes and walking out.  And I thought about reporting her to the manager.  I'm still thinking about reporting her.  I don't want her to lose her job, but no one needs to be subjected to that.

What would you have done?  I'm anxious to know how someone else would have handled it.

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

xo Annette xo

This Could Be A Problem

While I have been recovering from knee surgery and not able to go shopping, I've turned to the internet.  It's just so easy and convenient!  These are my newest purchases.

A camera/purse from Jo Totes.  I absolutely love this bag.  It's big enough to carry the camera, extra lenses, and my purse stuff.  So perfect for going out (when I can walk easily again) with the camera but don't want to take two bags.

Two Amy Butler charm packs (Gypsy Caravan) from Craftsy.  This website has daily deals that are hard to resist.  I've never bought fabric online and I was a little nervous about it.

 I wasn't sure if the colors would be right, and I like to get touchy feely when I buy fabric.  But it was a good deal, so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.  I couldn't have been happier when I opened the package.  I want to make a scrappy quilt to use in my sewing room.  Maybe as a wall hanging or maybe as a quilt to curl up under when I'm doing hand stitching.

It might not be a good thing that I was happy with this purchase.  I've got my eye on more fabric.  Not that I need more fabric, but, well, you know...

What do you like to buy online?

Vintage Goodness

Last week, when I spent a few days with my daughter, we went to two of our favorite antique malls.  I'm always on the lookout for vintage linens, trims, laces and buttons.  I came home with lots of  "new" old stuff and I can't wait to get started on all the ideas I have!

I found lots of hankies.

Colorful, simple and stitched linen towels.

Beautifully embroidered tablecloth with matching napkins.

A round pink and white tablecloth...my favorite color!

Embroidered table scarves.

Gorgeous cotton decorator fabric.

Fun trim.

Jars of buttons and miscellaneous sewing supplies.

I had so much fun picking and choosing what I wanted.  The best part is that I'm inspired every time I look at all this vintage goodness sitting in my sewing room!

I'm linking up with My Romantic Home for 

Show and Tell Friday
and
French Country Cottage for
Feathered Nest Friday

Williamsburg Getaway

After planned trips to Arkansas and Savannah were cancelled, we finally were able to get away to Williamsburg, VA for a few days.  And what a difference a few days makes!  Erin and I were able to forget about the sadness and seriousness in our lives and have some fun!

We've done the sightseeing in the past, so this trip was all about shopping therapy!  We went to the outlets, the antique center, the shops at Merchants Square, a quilt shop, a linens shop, and of course the Yankee Candle Shop.

Now the Yankee Candle Shop is not your typical little candle store at the mall.  No...this place is like a little village of delightful shops just beckoning the visitor to come inside!  There is the candle store, a general store, a toy store, a stuffed animal store, a home and garden store and a Christmas Village, which is my favorite!

  There's a big clock that opens up and the animated characters tell a story about time.  If you look just below the clock, you will see how many days til Christmas!  And just below that is a train track with a train that weaves in and out of the shops.  Shylee loved all of this!

My favorite place is the Christmas village.  You walk in and it's dark with a twinkling sky and lighted trees everywhere!  The little shops inside are themed with every kind of ornament and decoration you can imagine!  There is the Dept 56 shop, Snowbabies shop, German Christmas, Country Christmas and so much more.  The very best thing is that it snows every 10 minutes!!!  This fascinated Shylee!!

My favorite was the German shop.  I loved our Christmases in Germany and this shop always brings back those great memories.

 I think this was Shylee's favorite place!  We wore her out!

I highly recommend visiting the Yankee Candle shop if you're ever in Williamsburg.  You don't even have to like candles to have a good time!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!!

Family and Friday's Fabulous Finds

My mama and my sister, Carolyn, came for a vistit and left yesterday.  They were here for nine days and believe it or not I wasn't ready for them to leave!  We had a really great time and laughed and giggled a lot!

We went to Amish country in Lancaster, Pa which was the highlight of their trip.  Carolyn had not been there before and seeing it for the first time through her eyes was a delight.  The beauty of fall was breathtaking, the food was absolutely delicious, and the shops didn't disappoint!  In fact, I'll be making another trip there to do some Christmas shopping!

Friday's Fabulous Finds is dedicated to all things Amish.  The items I chose today remind me of the day we spent in Amish country.

Amish Diamond by Cairn Studio

Amish Straw Hat Notecard by Winsome Works

Amish Doll by Hazelrah

Prosperity Handpainted Hex Sign by Hex Kitten Designs

Amish Horse and Buggy Shelf Art by Adirondack Metal

I hope you're having a fabulous Friday!!

Blogtoberfest Day Eight: Shopping With Erin And Shylee

I spent a wonderful day with Erin and Shylee.  We live two and a half hours from each other, so getting together for mother/daughter time doesn't happen nearly often enough.  I did the driving today and made the trip up to her.  It was a beautiful drive.  The sky was blue and the trees have started turning.  Traffic was light.  Perfect driving conditions actually!

We spent the day shopping.  Our bathroom redo is almost finished and it was time to buy the fun stuff.  You know, the shower curtain, towels, accessories.  Shopping can be so frustrating where I live.  It's a rural area  surrounded by rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.  It's really quite beautiful here but is lacking in the retail department!  More advanced civilization is an hour away.  But it is always more fun to drive a while longer to shop with Erin/

After shopping, my son Sean and son-in-law Dan, joined us for dinner.  Too soon it was time to say good-bye and head home.  It makes for a long day, but is so worth it!  I love spending time with my kids.