Objects of Affection

Jeepers! I was off on a happy adventure in a neighboring town and came home to find emails galore in my in-box.  My sweet blog pals alerted me that I was going to need a much much bigger bonnet for the doll-quilt-give-away drawing, and I was almost afraid to look at the numbers.  But when I did, I was so happy!!  Thanks you guys, I just hope my little offering measures up to the expectation now.  (Thank you Hillary, for sending more peeps my way after the lovely post about my little ladybug picnic doll quilt too---I can't stop thinking about strawberry shortcake now!)  I was really thrilled to see so many of you entering for a chance to win, but my next thought was, in what manner shall I select a winner?  Not wanting to print-out and cut hundreds of slips of paper into the eleventh hour, or any hour actually, I put the question to my girls.  They are homeschoolers afterall, and my chief problem-solvers around here.  So we brain-stormed around the dinner table and Grace thinks she can design a computer program to count and sort.   She primarily taught herself VB last year and is deep into Java now.  Apparently she's inherited uber geek-talent from her engineering father.  Certainly not from me. I just stand back in awe of it all and smile and nod and don't have a clue how any of it works.  Not a clue.  I'm perfectly happy to go off and bake a pie or something while they speak that mysterious language.  So.  Here's how it's going down.  In between making dollhouse cakes and miniature donuts, (still hard to fathom how she switches from one to the other) Grace is going to design a program she's dubbed the "Super Shuffler": tag for her Digital Easter Bonnet version 1.0! It's so funny.  I'm not sure how it's going to work yet, but she is completely confident that it will.  And I never, ever doubt her abilities, because she is our "amazing Grace" after all, and usually spot on.  I'll keep ya posted on the progress of that. 

Anyway, I was out and about yesterday, and found some lovely treasures over here again.  Remember I told you this was a twice-a-year event?  Once in the fall, once in the spring.  Well, I wasn't paying attention and almost missed it.  When I finally remembered, I just hauled myself right on over there in a split nano-second to see what lovely things were in store, and was not disappointed.

Oh my.  So glad I grabbed my camera.  Because looking at these pictures again are so fun.  Lots of cottage, shabby, and chic sprinkled with sparkly glass and glitz.  So yummy.

This simply sent my head spinning! I kept circling around the place gathering things into my basket as I went along, including a beautiful quilt and matching runner for my dresser, made by a sweet older lady, who came up and thanked me for buying her quilt.  I wanted to hug her for making it!  It is gorgeous, and exactly what I would've made for our own bedroom if I'd had the time.  It's a combination of spring green, robin's egg blue, with soft touches of brown.

But my most exciting find was this old iron bird bath.  Which the sight of immediately sent me dreaming about The Secret Garden by Frances Hodges Burnett, and our own, enchanted garden.  What a perfect addition to our Victorian-styled home.  A soft rain fell last night and birds were already visiting it when I glanced out the window this morning.  I keep thinking about the past lives of old objects, and the stories they could tell. 

Comments

[dede warren]

am i missing something, or did you not post the name of this lovely little find of all sales hotspots? more info please, miss turkey feathers.

[pam]

Lovely photos, lovely you.

[strikkelise]

Seems like thrifting is so good over in your parts. Love the glittery letters and the bird bath.

[biscuitbear]

Wow, that shop sure has lots of treasures! When I have to draw a name from lots of people, I use an online random number generator to pick a number between 1 and n (n being the number of persons who entered), and I just count the number of posts. Let's say I draw a 16, the person who made the 16th post wins. But of course it will be much more fun (and very educational) if Grace whips up a program!

[victoria]

How beautiful! Would you mind emailling me what event it is? I didn't see anything about it locally....Thanks!

[Colleen]

Lucky you! You seem to find such nice things, i went out thrifting w/my mom today, *sigh* not a decent thing too be found. Theres nothing more dissapointing than coming home empty handed from a thrift store. Im glad you had a good day though.

[cindy]

vicki, i was going to tell you on the last post, how CUTE i thought the little lamb was on the quilt, but i saw over 200 comments! so, i am telling you now! :]

[Mama Urchin]

Love that birdbath.

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

Oh what fun! I would never be able to choose with so much pretty stuff!

[Gypsy Purple--Chamara]

Thanks for taking us "there" again with you...it sure is a treat...wish I was there in person!!!!!
Always such a pleasure to visit here....

[Isabelle]

What a beautiful bird bath! I love old objects for the same reason: their past lives. Our flat is the same. The building was built in the late 19th century, and I can dream for hours about our flat's previous inhabitants.

[Pam Kellogg]

Vicki, that store looks like heaven to me! I want that sparkly little dress. I have no clue what i would do it with but I love it!

Thank you so much for all the time you put into your blog. I enjoy it immensly!

Pam

[Miss Dot]

one of my friends was complaining the other day that the kangaroos at her holiday home keep draining her bird bath! beautiful find.

[Rachael]

Secret Garden is still one of my favourite books. I love the bird bath, almost makes me wish we had a garden.

[Susan]

I've just discovered you...what a lovely blog! I'm so impressed with your daughter's solution to your "winner selection" issue. Isn't it amazing how kids have no fear when it comes to techno stuff? I cringe when I have to install something new on my Mac or trouble shoot a problem. But my kids just dive right in!

[Crystal]

Thank-you , for sharing such a shop, filled with treasures.:) Your blog is delightful:)
http://fariebees.blogspot.com

[Tsoniki]

Oh how I wish there was thrifting so good in my area! Everything looks so beautiful.

[Natalea]

Beautiful birdbath! I love the Secret Garden, but love my own garden more! Thanks for the pretty pictures!

[Betty]

Loved the thrift store pics! The birdbath is so whimsical. Your daughter is so gifted and a real artist .. just like you!

[Elizabeth]

I'm hyperventilating over those lovely photos!!

[Beth]

Oh my gosh, I wished I lived nearby so I could go to that sale. Now, you must really post a picture of the quilt you bought. It sound yummy!!!

[gena]

Oh, I remember the first go around in "Diversions" and I'm so glad you had your camera too. I love a good resale shop! Are you going to post pics of the quilt and runner?

[weirdbunny]

I was just reading your post and thought i'd move the mouse down in intrest to see how many comments you had for the give away.... 454 !!!! My goodness I've never seen a post with so many comments ! I'm sure the winner will be delighted with her quilt.

[Tracy]

What a dreamy place...love these blog excursions with you--LOL! Just gorgeous finds there! Happy Days! :o)

[willzmom]

uh, wish I could go! Looks like so much fun.