Where Did All the Manners Go?

Just a bone to pick.....Went to Kroger this morning, like I usually do on Saturday morning, pick up a paper, maybe a couple of breakfasty type things. I really don't feel the need to get dressed up for this event. I'm usually in my pajamas, glasses on (I am optically challenged). This morning I only needed a newspaper and after checking at the convenience store (where the clerk would have happily allowed me to purchase Thursday's 2 day old paper) I went into Kroger and to the Starbucks stand. You can quickly purchase a paper there without standing in any lines and the paper stand is right next to it. I grabbed my paper and went to the register to pay the barrista. A gentleman old enough to behave better said the following "HEY, I haven't paid yet".

Well, there was no line, I had only a paper and he had multiple skinny, no foam, extra shot whatevers... I really didn't have a problem waiting for him to check out, I had a problem with the way he did it. I know his momma raised him better! Maybe he was just in a hurry, so today I will make sure that I take extra time to be polite, and point out to the kids the opportunities to do so too. Above are a couple of etsy items that fit my politeness theme I think, Click on the pictures to go to HarvestMoonByHands etsy shop and BeanForests shop (coincidentally great prices on these items too). Have a great Day!

Obsessed with Envelopes

I've always admired people who craft with paper. It's so precise, dealing with color and shape...Well and there is something magical about an envelope, the mystery of what may or may not be inside, like a gift waiting to be opened. I've become a bit obsessed with them, and there are so many great envelope crafters on etsy. Above are two of my faves, bottom DawnCorrespondence, and top Adnagam. Click on the pics to go to their shops.

I went off in search of my own way to create envelopes. I googled etc. and came up with a great little origami pattern for envelopes. I tried some different sizes and papers, upcycled children's primer pages etc. Here are my results to the left. Want to make some yourself? Here is the link, Origami, I had to play with it before I got the hang of it but, it was pretty fun and now I have something to use for order thank yous! Have fun, have a great week, Jamie.

Boredom Sets In

okay, I'm at my hubby's office filling in for the receptionist (she has Friday's off and well today there are meetings so no receptionist is a no-no) and well for lack of anything constructive to busy my hands with I'm pretty bored. So I thought I would post a few of my favorite links that have the word pretty in them.

http://www.oneprettything.com/ contests, DIY, links to posts for etsy sellers, very informative!

http://www.freeprettythingsforyou.com/ Currently has a tapeswell giveaway for followers, cool stuff!

http://www.allprettylittlethings.blogspot.com/ Great fashion inspiration and nice looks at accessories

http://www.prettylilthings.etsy.com/ Sweet etsy shop with some very nice things! Her ship in a bottle is pictured above.

Well signing out for now, Have a great weekend!

Going to the Post Office? Fight Breast Cancer

I got a forwarded e-mail today with a really heartwarming breast cancer survivor story about an elementary principal, some of you may have seen it. I tried to use the blogger function to import it here, but it didn't work : ( Anyway at the end of it there was an informative bit about a new .55 cent stamp the extra 11 cents go towards the fight against breast cancer. It is called the Fund the Cure stamp and was designed by Elizabeth Kessler. The goal is to raise 35 million by selling books of these stamps.

I know that a lot of us go the post office frequently and use a lot of postage. The extra 11 cents per stamp isn't a lot and I know most of us have been touched by cancer, if not specifically breast cancer, in some way. Both my grandmother and my great aunt that I blogged about died of cancer. So take a little extra time and buy some stamps, spread the word too. Thanks.

Will Spring Spring Already?

All this unseasonably cool weather for Houston has really got me down, I love warm weather and once I get cold I just can't seem to get warm again. So I'm trying to think warm thoughts and picture spring. Here are a few selections of fresh spring merchandise for a little retail therapy......
So much for spring time dreams, off to go cozy up in my multiple layers of pj's, blankets and comforters......

Merchandise pictured top to bottom
Love in BLoom by Beegrl88
Welcome Spring by KristenSteinFineArt
Bobbies by DirtRoadSouth
Light Green Window Star by HarvestMoonByHand

Amazing Lace, a Vintage Find

Like a lot of vintage collectors/sellers sometimes your best finds are accidental. Occasionally I browse Craigs List, more often than not there isn't anything there but this past weekend I answered an ad for a lady trying to sell some vintage tea towels and potholders. She agreed to meet me and when she showed up I was a little disappointed. The tea towels and some of the pot holders although lovely, were stained. She had them in a hospital bag, you know the plastic kind you are given when you check in for your belongings. Seeing the look on my face she said that there was an additional bag of half finished doilies that I could have with it. She looked like she could use the money and I really didn't want to disappoint her, so I agreed to buy the lot.

I threw the bag in the back and didn't think another thing about it until later that night. I sorted the tea towels and got to the bottom of the bag, the half finished doilies were actually a collection of hand tatted lace trims, some over a yard long. There was a bakelite spindle, and vintage instructions on making it. I was amazed. Such beautiful work, and the grandaughter hadn't even known what it was. The lady who had made these trims had obviously loved doing it and had been very skilled. Somehow our paths had crossed so that her hard work could now be appreciated! You can see several listings of her work in my vintage shop Retrochique.

January (November) Book Giveaway Winner!

We all know I've had a bit of time management issues lately! Well, the book giveaway is done, and the Winner is Donnielle of Design Knit Fun! She gets her choice of the books in my Amazon Carrousel! Thanks for everyone who entered, and tweeted.

That brings me to a big thank you. Friends come in many different kinds, especially now with communication being so easy, worldwide and constant. My life is more back to normal now, so I wanted to thank everyone who reached out during the holidays to me. My "in person" friends and also my internet and UWIB friends. The offers were so kind, to contact my customers for me etc. and the encouragement was great. I hope I can be there for you all as well when needed. Again, Thanks!