junk is good...

Just a quick post to show off a few of the reasons I have been MIA... I've been working on all of my junking finds in preparation for our annual barn sale.. everything in these pictures were found in the garage and rehabbed by me. some items will be lised on Etsy, so if you are interested let me know!! Now off to work on more items.. the sale is next week, so time is a wasting!!

Feedsack Love

Feeling the feedsack love for sure... I just had to post about the love of feedsack fabrics. If only when we went to the market today, our dry goods were packaged in these great sacks, my grocery bill would be even more outrageous than it already is!! Can you imagine the time spent trying to decide which bag of flour or rice to pick?? ugh, I'd love it!!

google feedsacks or browse through flickr and look at all of the wonderful things people create with their feedsack finds... it's very inspirational!!

The patterns and colors will make you swoon!!

I thought I'd share some cute feedsack craft finds on Etsy.. like these feedsack covered buttons found here

And this cute feedsack pillow found here

And these coasters aren't the only things you'll want at this etsy store!!

Enjoy the hunt!!

Almost!!

Well, school is almost out here ( one day left ) and that means the beginning of summer vacation and time to work on my projects, more junking and garage sales, and lazy afternoons at the lake!

I have been very busy and my junking so far this year has been AMAZING!! I have so much to share, I'll be blogging a lot this summer!! I have a few pics of the garden and what I have added so far. I have to admit I haven't done much yet this season, but I'm working on it...

I found this cute chest by the side of the road, a TON of terracotta pots ( this is just a few of them ) and the door and wreath are also junk / garage sale finds.. not bad, eh?

I grabbed a couple of croquet mallots and balls out of the garbage, and just stuck them in the garden for now, but something creative will happen with them later..

And I love this teal birdhouse someone threw in the garbage.. perfect!! I just drove it home and stuck it in the ground.. it couldn't have been easier!!

Stay tuned this week, I will be adding more vintage finds to my etsy store as well as featuring a giveaway!!!

Tables

This weekend I attended the festival of tables in Traverse City, Mi. It is a benefit luncheon for child and family services. Tables are decorated and displayed and tables and their contents are even raffled off. Two of the gals I went with each won table packages worth $3,000.00!!! Hopefully, I'll have that kind of luck next year!! Just thought I'd share some of the pic's I took while wandering around. Enjoy!!

I'm Greedy..

Ok.. so I've decided I'm greedy.. On Mother's Day, my husband took the kids to the park for a couple of hours so that I could have some mommy time alone. I decided to go out in the yard and cut myself a bunch of lilacs.. it got a little out of control, but I'm happy that I got greedy!! ( I even cut some from an empty house next door.. shhhh.. don't tell! )

My hose smells like a little old lady spilled her perfume when she walked in the door, but I don't are.. they look great and I put them all over, even in the bathrooms!! Here are some pic's of some of the vases I put them in. The lilacs will be gone before you know it, so I thought why not enjoy some indoors, rather than have to be outside my house to see them!!

Lilac's are one of my favorite flowers. Here in Northern Michigan there is one place that we like to visit each year and often take out of town guests toand it is a real treat if you have the chance to go.. Mackinac Island..

They have a Lilac festival every June. It is an island with no motor vehicles allowed, only horses and carriages and bikesand you have to take a ferry to got there. It is a beautiful place and it really feels like stepping back in time! It's big claim to fame is the movie, "Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.. if you haven't seen this movie, it is a MUST!! Netflix it and you won't be disappointed. The majority of that movie was filmed on the island and most Michiganders are familar with it.

So, if you're ever in Michigan, head up North and hit Mackinac Island.. it's a must see!!

I've been so inspired by my beautiful lilac's, I just may make some Lilac colored cupcakes and get greedy with them, too!!! :)

I'm going for it...finally

Another fabulous find for my $25.00 fantastic garage sale haul was canning supplies!! For the last couple of years, I have been meaning to get my own canning supplies so that I can take advantage of all of the great farm markets we have here all summer in Northern Michigan. I have canned before, but never made the investment to buy my own supplies and can on my own.

So I have the momentum and now I have the supplies ( I have to get jars this weekend ) and there are no excuses. I think I may start with asparagus and some strawberry jam. I am a little late for the REALLY good asparagus, but in the winter it'll be better ( and cheaper ) than what will be available to me then. Canning is actually a very easy and rewarding process, so if you have never tried it, just Google canning and you will get all of he information you need to get started !

I thought I'd share with you a canning recipe that I have on my to-do list. Hopefully it will inspire you to jump on in and catch up on the canning trend, like I am! ( I swear I was a farmer's wife in a past life...lol )

Strawberry Lemon Marmalade

Makes 7 (8oz.) half pints

1/4 C. thinly sliced lemon peel

4 C. fresh crushed strawberries

1 T. lemon juice

1 (1.75 oz) pkg. pectin

6 C. sugar

7 half pint jars with lids and bands

Prepare water canner. Heat jars and lids and set bands aside. Combine lemon peel and water to cover in an 8 qt. saucepan. bring to a boil for 5 min, til peel is softened. drain and discard liquid. return peel to pan.

Add strawberries and lemon juice to peel and mix well. bring mix to a full boil that can not be stirred down over high heat stirring constantly. Add entire measure of sugar stirring to dissolve. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 min. stirring consantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam.

Ladle hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space. Wipe rim and center lid on jar. Screw on bands til fingertip tight. Process in a water canner for 10 min. remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours.

What can $25.00 get ya???

What can a great garage sale and $25.00 get ya?? ALL of THIS!! Garage sale season is beginning here in Northern Michigan and I started off with hitting the bargain motherload!! I almost feel a little guilt taking all of this stuff it was so cheap!! I didn't even have the energy to take pictures of it all, but here is a little peek to get you inspired to get out and start bargain shopping those garage sales!!

The TV cabinet I purchased for $10.00 at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, then painted it pistachio green and just re-sold it this weekend...

In this load were three vintage quilts, three quilt toppers and this yellow chenille bedspread.. I also grabbed a bag of 12 vintage aprons!!

An antique scale and red enamel pot...

2 old locker baskets and 5 old green ball mason jars

This adorable kids chair and two bundles of spindles..

This stool is now in my kitchen, I was going to paint it, but like the way it is looking now, so the paint job may wait a while..