When God Closes a Door.....

...He opens a window.

But sometimes the closing of that door can be something that you didn't really want to happen.   

Last March I decided to take my little shop, Dandelion Wishes to a local gift boutique.  I signed my one year lease and excitedly got to work creating and collecting items for my display.  I opened Dandelion Wishes on April 1 with nervous anticipation.  I love to create and  finding the perfect way to display my art was such fun.  When something that I worked so hard to create would sell,  I must admit it was very rewarding.  But as the year went on I began to question if this was the right decision for me.  I don't like to be a quiter but after talking with my family and friends I have decided not to resign my lease.  But I just can't stop creating!! So what's a girl to do??

 Find my open window.  

Because I was so busy filling my area at the boutique, I had no other choice but to  neglect my etsy shop letting it stay empty for months at a time.  It will now have 100% of my attention.  I had forgotten how much I enjoyed maintaining it and visiting other etsy shops.  A while back I joined a group of ladies on etsy called Etsy Cottage Style and made quite a few friendships.  I didn't realize how much  I missed visiting these ladies  and looking at their lovely shops until today when I checked in with several of them.  They are holding an event on the first Monday of each month called Market Monday.  It is a time where members meet at the Esty Cottage Style Blog to market our selling sites.  If you get a chance pop on over to the blog and take a look at some of the amazing shops and the beautiful treasures they offer. 

So for now I will continue creating,  filling my etsy shop, catching up with my etsy friends, and looking at the view through my open window.  

Miss Rhea's Easter Basket Swap

I recently participated in an Easter basket swap hosted by the sweet Miss Rhea from Sweet N Shabby Roses.  I usually don't participate in many swaps but this one was just too cute to pass up.  The idea was to create an Easter basket using an empty yogurt container.  Create something beautiful out of something that normally would be thrown away--sounds good to me!! At first I was puzzled at how to go about this challenge.  I was thankful that Miss Rhea gave a little tutorial to help me along.  You can read her helpful hints by clicking here.  We were each assigned two partners so for me the first step was to introduce myself and get to know a little bit about them.  That's always fun for me--I love to meet new people :) 

My first partner was April from Frilyy Frolic.  I learned April's favorite colors are pink, aqua, and white.  Here is the little basket that I created for her.

We were to include five small gifts with our baskets so I included a couple of seed packages (forget-me-nots and sunflowers) a tiny little birdhouse, two pieces of chocolate and a soldered charm.  In reading April's blog I could see the love she has for her children and how much joy they bring her.  When it came time to solder her charm,  I wanted it to reflect that joy. 

My other partner was Kelly of For the Love of Laundry. Kelly's favorite colors are pink, blue, cream, and light yellow.  Here is the little basket that I made for her.

Kelly received some of the same goodies.  In reading her blog, I could see Kelly's love for the Lord, and for all girly vintage treasures. To reflect that,  I soldered her charm using a piece of a vintage handkerchief and used the sentiment, Faith for the back.

                                                            

Now I am so excited to show you the amazing baskets that I received in return.

First from April...

April included the most beautiful crystal on the handle and just look at all the Easter sweetness!!

Next from Kelly......

Kelly included the most wonderful vintage treasures!! Just look at that amazing mother of pearl belt buckle.  I will be saving that for something special that I create for me :)

Thank you both April and Kelly for creating something so beautiful for me.  I could not love them more. 

As I was working on my baskets, Kate and Emma (the little girls I babysit) were so excited to see what I was making from a yogurt container.  I had such fun making these baskets I thought they would make the perfect Easter gift for them. 

Kates favorite color---Green. Emma's----Red

Thank you Miss Rhea for hosting this most clever swap.  I not only have two amazing baskets but also two new friends as a result. 

If you would like to see some more baskets created by the other participants, just hop on over to Miss Rhea's blog for the complete list. (I am a little early with my post as I will be away from my computer tomorrow.   The list may not be posted until then--Saturday April 3)

The Picture of the Week--Family

This past week we celebrated Easter at my parents a few days early. My sister and her family were able to come for a visit making it the perfect timing for an Easter dinner. With them living two hours north in snow country and with all the snow we had this past winter, we had not had the opportunity to visit since Christmas.  I could hardly believe how big my nephews had grown over these past few months.  It is always a challenge to get three silly cousins to take a nice photo together but with a little begging and pleading I was able to capture this photo with my parents. 

Such fun memories!!!

The sun is shining today, I have opened the windows in my studio and I am going to take the day to create.  I have several Easter projects to complete--guess I'd better "hop" to it.  I am excited about these projects and can't wait to share photos with you.......

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my Moms birthday--a day that I truly celebrate. 

I celebrate her birth, her love for me, and our friendship. I celebrate the blessing she is to not only me but to everyone she meets.  I celebrate her kind spirit,  sense of humor, nurturing way, love of the Lord, willingness to share her talents, friendliness, wisdom, love of adventure, and joyous heart.  I celebrate the wonderful example she is to my son.

We started the party yesterday when Heidi, my mom's very good friend, Ruth and I all went to lunch.  I even brought a surprise visitor (Alex) to brighten up the day.  Getting him to take a serious picture takes some work (lol) But for Grandma he complied.

 

We continued the birthday fun at breakfast this morning with my Aunt Kathy(mom's sister)--who just happens to share the same birthday.  She was born on my mom's third bithday.  I try each year to make my mom's gift.  She always says not to buy her anything so I try to find something unique to create for her.   This year I knew as soon as I saw the beautiful art of Michelle Palmer that I had found the perfect thing.  Mom loves birds so I purchased three pen and ink sketches from Michelle, made them  mats of vintage sheet music, notebook paper and a page from a French book and framed them in a vintage frame. 

I covered the back of the frame with an old file folder and attached the names of the sketches with Michelle's signature.  My mom was delighted with her gift. 

Happy Birthday Mom!! I love you with all of my heart.

Vintage Easter Blog Hop

Welcome to the Vintage Easter Blog Hop!!! This hop is being hosted by Joan at Anything Goes Here in celebration of all  vintage treasures relating to Easter.  After you take a peek at my Easter Vintage,  hop on over to her blog to view the complete list of all those who are participating.  I took a minute to look at some of the posts and believe me there are some amazing treasures out there.  I hope you enjoy my little contribution......  

First a few vintage greeting cards and sweet Easter images.

This Hummel figurine entitled "Playmates"  is not ment for Easter but I adore those little bunnies.

 

I am not sure how my Mother will feel being a part of a VINTAGE Easter collection(hehehe)  but these pictures of her and my Aunt in their Easter best are priceless and I just had to share.  Mom is on the right in this photo....

and on the left in this one.

This photo is of my Mother-in-law (the little girl sitting on the steps) her Mother and her two sisters all decked out in there Easter bonnets.

The last Vintage Easter item I would like to share with you is this wonderful basket. I came across it when cleaning out the attic of my Grandmothers home after she passed away.  I loved the look of it with it's strips of braided straw. It became even more of a treasure once my mom told me what it had been used for.   This was the basket used by my Grandmother to carry a sample of their Easter meal to church to be blessed by the priest.  Once the blessing was given the meal was carried home and enjoyed by all.  Eventhough we no longer carry on that tradition, I love that this basket was something used by my Grandmother.

 

Thanks for hopping by to take a look at my Vintage Easter and for spending part of your day with me.  I wish you all a Blessed Easter.