Another New Collection?

I've heard it said that three of something makes a collection. Well, recently I picked up a cute butter pat at the Portland Expo and wrote right here on my blog that it may be the start of a new collection for me. As if I needed to start a new collection.

To say that I have a lot of collections would be an understatement. Here are just some of the things I collect. Please keep in mind that for many of these items, you are in no way seeing the whole picture (I mean collection), but just a sampling.

Vintage wedding cake toppers

Tole trays with pink roses. (this is just a teeny, tiny sampling of my whole tole tray collection)

Also shown here are some pottery baskets with roses and rose posies.

Pill boxes, most with roses

Rose paintings, in all shapes and sizes

Rhinestone pins and hand painted rose pins


















Barkcloth with roses






















Vintage boxes, most with roses

Antique lace (seen in the clear boxes)
Vintage tricket boxes, again, with hand painted roses
Porcelain roses pins

Vintage Chenille Bedspreads

Antique/Vintage Mirrors and Frames

Rhinestone Buttons

Vintage Clip or Screw back Earrings

Vintage Silver Watches

Vintage Hats

Bird Cages

Vintage Pottery (Mostly pink and cream)

Rhinestone Buckles (all shapes)


Vintage Florist Baskets

Other collections, not pictured, include vintage pillowcases, pairs and singles, rose patterned, or pink, vintage millinery, crocheted hangers, ticking fabric, vintage landscape prints or paintings, (no longer collecting, but still have lots), vintage ephemera with roses, babies or little antique girls, skeleton keys, cream or white buttons, and I know there's more, but you get the idea. I have a lot of collections. Really, I have too much stuff. I need to pair down and only keep what I really, truly love. I really am working on it. Really!

BTW, look what I found in one of my kitchen cabinets.

Three butter pats. Looks like I already had a collection and didn't even know it.

If you had any doubt as to why I call my blog "A Thing for Roses," this post should clear that right up.

We will be taking a little road trip this weekend so I will be taking a short break from my blog. I'll be back soon with hopefully some fun new/old finds from my trip. Happy Spring! (tomorrow)

Added note: Please visit Isabel's blog for her 100th post giveaway and to learn a little more about her.

My Morning at Monticello

Saturday, took my girl to get her hair done and then we went and saw this.

All I can say...Awesome! If you ever get the chance to see it, go! It is so worth it.

Sunday was pretty lazy, Monday too. I did spend a little time getting stuff ready to take to Monticello today. Unlike most days I go to Monticello, I didn't stop at one thrift store along the way. I decided that since I'm running kind of low on funds and I have a trip coming up this weekend, that I wouldn't spend any money. Just go, drop off my stuff and come home. Simple, right? Not so much. I did end up finding a few things at Monticello that I just had to bring home.

But first, let me show some new (old) stuff I took to put in my booth.

Cute couple

Stack of vintage children's books.

Cute embroidered top and skirt.

Funky vintage sewing basket

Basket full of vintage aprons.

Vintage ironing thingy.

Pair of cute rose satin hangers.

Extra big floral drapery panel.

Mini dolly bed with vintage wallpaper.

Little pink doll cabinet.

Shabby Chic pink sheers with ruffles.

Snuggly pink cotton coverlet.

*Sorry a lot of my pictures are so dark. It has been a pretty gray day here today.

While at Monticello, I had the good fortune to see Pam of One Gal's Trash blog fame. She is such a sweetie. She was there specifically to leave a little gifty for me and I just happened to be there when she dropped by. I told her it was meant to be. We had a really nice chat and she gave me this adorable box of pink roses stationery. Wasn't that just the nicest thing ever?

Okay, now for stuff that I couldn't live without. Adorable chippy mirror frame with hand painted pink rose that I got out of my buddy, Lynn's booth and two adorable crocheted hangers that I bought from "The Girlfriends." Their booth is right next to mine and I always have so much trouble resisting all of their yummy delicious finds.I also couldn't leave without buying this adorable architechtural piece. I'm going to put it up over the window in my dining area. It is so sweet and chippy.

Hope you are all having a great Tuesday! Hopefully I can get my rear in gear and work on some projects to show you soon.

Friday Finds-Yee Haw!

No school for the kids today so while they were snoozing away, I decided to venture out and hit a couple sales. So glad I did. My friend Bobbie, who used to be an antiques dealer and still does some occasional thrifting, called me last night to tell me that she was having a sale today. I asked if I could come early and I'm so glad I did. I found several cute things even though there were a couple dealers already buying stuff by the time I got there.

My next stop was at the Friends Community Church rummage sale which is always hit or miss. Today was a hit as I scored a few cute vintage items for next to nothing. Here is the group photo of my Friday Finds.

Metal and cowboy were two themes today. I got the metal rack, funny metal hand, box, rotating rack, cast iron star and drawer pulls, and tin ceiling panels all at Bobbie's sale. I also got a cool old toy gun and holster and another holster, brass mirror with cherubs, and cute hanger with clips there. At the church sale I got several vintage hankies, a vintage baby chenille spread, vintage apron, quilted pot holders, mini clip boards and cool vintage hat rack.

Close up of funky wire hand thingy and hanger.

Close up of cowboy stuff. This will all be great to take to farm chicks. See what my buddy Suzanne Duda did with a cute old holster here.

I think I just may have to steal that idea as it's so darn adorable.

Have a very fun Friday, and in case you are wondering, I did stay home and clean yesterday.

Who Knew Jane Austin Made Workout DVD's

Having too much fun this week. Need to buckle down and get some work done around here. Tomorrow will be the day. Walking in the morning with Isabel and then.....

Here's a funny story. A week ago I picked up a few workout dvd's at the library thinking maybe I would try them out and see if I liked them enough to go out and actually buy one. Here's the conversation I had with my hubby about it.

Me: "I got some workout dvd's at the library today."
Him: "Oh really? Did you get one by Jane Austin?"
Me: ( laughing hysterically) "I think you mean Denise Austin, last time I checked, Jane Austin wasn't making any workout dvd's."

Gotta love a man who can make you laugh.

Antiquing Weekend Update

I was up and out of the house early Friday to head over to the Portland Antique Expo where I met up with Isabel and Joy. They, along with lots of others were setting up for the big sale. I, was helping and shopping. I got there a little early so I could shop the tailgaters in the parking lot. I always find a few interesting things out there. After helping Isabel with setting up and pricing, which didn't take long as she was pretty organized, I was able to do a little shopping inside. Lots of vendors still had stuff in boxes, so I didn't get to see everything, but I did manage to find a few neat things.

Here is where I apologize for not taking any pictures at the show. I completely forgot. I was so focused on seeing as much as I could, in the time I had, that it just didn't cross my mind. So, so sorry. I know Isabel took some pics of her space so you will have to check out her blog to see what was going on.It was so fun seeing everyone there.

Krista and Julie had a really cute space. Cindy was there helping Joy with her space. Joe and Sue were shopping. Mary Ann got a double space this time and had lovely things for sale. Randy from Madison Park was there selling as well as Donna and Diana who now have a blog. Hooray! Too soon it was time to go home. I hate leaving a fun party early, don't you?

I spent the whole day Saturday cleaning and organizing the sewing/guest room as I was going to have a very special guest staying over. Since Joy was going back to do Expo on Sunday, I suggested she sleep over at my house. My guest room was a mess. Wish I had taken a before picture. Trust me, it was bad. The best part of getting it cleaned up was finding things to sell/get rid of. I love that.

On Sunday after Joy headed out to Expo. I decided to go back and get a better look at stuff that I didn't see on Friday. Here are some pictures of my weekend finds.

Two pieces of ticking fabric (one very big, one little), ring of skeleton keys, little spoons, various rhinestone pins and a cute rhinestone bracelet, adorable vintage doll skirt and some lovely vintage wallpaper (featuring roses, of course).

More rhinestone pins and earrings, lovely rose patterned butter pat (new collection?), lovely old lace, miscellaneous vintage knobs, rose doll dress.

I got this cute little cabinet from JoDee and Kat's booth. Together they are called Duchess and they have a blog too. They were super sweet and will be selling at Farm Chicks in June. I also got a cute flower pot from them that didn't make it into the picture.

And finally, two adorable crinolines. The gal I bought these from told me that she had sold several others earlier and I actually saw one of them. A lovely pink one I wish I had gotten to first. I guess I shouldn't be greedy. Joy and Isabel were calling me a "knob whore" and a "rhinestone whore." I didn't mind. They were right.

I also found a cute little cabinet that is still hanging out in my car. I need to do a little work on it, but will show you when I get done.

That's it for now. I hope you have a fun Monday. I have a busy week coming up. Monticello on Tuesday and on Wednesday I am going over to Stars with Mitzi where we will be meeting up with Laurie and Paula. Fun times! Sometime this week I'll have to fit a little work in with all of that playing.

That Manni is Such a Ham

On my way back from Monticello last week, I called Isabel to chat and she told me that my picture of Manni made it into a mosaic that Tara Frey had done on her blog. I hadn't read Tara's blog in awhile so I thought I would see what Isabel was talking about when I got home. You can see Tara's mosaic (featuring Manni) here. What a nice surprise. So, it made me think. Maybe I should take a picture and show you what Manni is looking like these days. She has been moved to another part of my bedroom and is currently hanging out with my vintage hats.

As you can see, she is currently sporting lots of pearls, her favorite cropped denim jacket with a few rhinestone pins, what you can't see is her newest vintage slip. Here's another, less arty picture.

Sally Ann, on the other hand, is currently residing in the living room next to the rustic cabinet with all of my wedding toppers and other miscellaneous keepsakes. She's sporting pearls around her neck too. She thinks the more, the better and I have to agree. She has been wearing a tattered part of an old wedding dress that I found at the GW bins and a raggedy crinoline underneath that. I thought the old millinery rose would add a nice touch even if she is topless.

Now that I think about it, I'm wishing I hadn't sold this amazing antique dress I found last year. It would have been perfect on her.Maybe I'll find another someday. A vintage wedding dress would be so cute on her too. Hey Isabel?!

I have been working hard on some projects the last couple days including painting and recoving this little vanity bench.

I also got one coat of paint on a little cabinet that needed it, but it started raining before I could finish the job. Yesterday I took a few things over to Monticello, including this cute white corner cabinet I found a couple weeks ago at the Deseret shop.Only thing it needed was some glass knobs and a tiny bit of distressing. I love those kind of projects.

My friend, Mitzi, went with me over there and of course we just had to stop at a few thrift stores along the way. We met Isabel over there to help her gather some things for Expo which she is doing this weekend. Today I will be helping her set up do a little shopping as well.

I want to acknowledge an award my BFF Timi gave me a few weeks ago. I apologize, Timi for not mentioning it sooner. What does this award mean you ask? I copied this quote from Timi's blog to explain.

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated."

Those are some big words in there. I didn't know what aggrandizement either, Timi, thanks for explaining it.

Anyway, I gotta run and get ready for my busy day. I will be back some time this weekend with pictures of my day at Expo and hopefully some good stuff I found there. Hope you have a swell weekend!

We Have a Winner!

I am overwhelmed by all the wonderful comments left on my 200th post giveaway post. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every one. Thank you all for your kind words of support and encouragement. I want to send a special thanks to everyone who promoted my giveaway on their blogs. I know everyone says this, but I really do wish I could give you all something special.

The winner is Patricia from Vintage Linen Treasures!

Patricia, please email me with your address so I can get your pillow in the mail to you pronto.

Yesterday, Isabel and I had fun at the flea market. We ran into Joy, Martha and Diane, who incidentally, just started her new blog. I say, "it's about time!" Diane has the most wonderful home and does sales in a fabulous barn on her property. I blogged about it a long time ago which you can see here. Diane is a real sweetheart and has an amazing eye for finding the coolest vintage stuff. I never leave one of her sales without finding an amazing treasure or two. So, stop by her new blog to say hi and give her a big blogland welcome. She would love it!

Anyway, I only found a few treasures at the flea market so I decided to hit a couple thrift stores as well. Here's a picture of the goodies I got.

As you can see, all little stuff which is just fine by me.

I fell in love with this chippy aqua doll house chair and sofa the minute I laid eyes on it.


Lots of great rhinestone trinkets for a project I have been planning for ages. Hopefully I will get it done by Farm Chicks.

My husband was thrilled that I didn't bring anything big home.

Well, this week will be spent working on getting my house cleaned up and start getting things organized for Farm Chicks. June will be here before I know it and I have a ton of painting, sewing, fixing to do before then.

Have a great week everyone! I hope to be back soon with a few projects to show you.