Dameian and I don’t have much in the way of family heirlooms. However, the few items we do have are very dear.
This yellow platter belonged to my grandfather’s mother, I think. Sometimes I display it on a plate stand, sometimes I use it as a fruit plate, and today, it’s a candle tray.
It says Lu-Ray Pastels USA on the bottom. The line was made 1938-1961. According to this ad from 1942, my platter cost 60 cents. I’ve also found that the color is “Persian Cream.” Doesn’t that sound better than plain ol’ yellow? Here’s another ad, my platter is #11.
This little piece belonged to Dameian’s grandmother. I think it was a gift to her from one of her artsy friends. Dameian’s grandmother, Mawmaw, was very crafty and was a talented painter. It think it’s so cute!
This next trinket is one of my favorites in my home. It’s a metal airplane that Dameian remembers from his childhood visits to his Mawmaws. He says it used to wind up and play music, but we haven’t been able to make it work. It’s very special because Dameian’s grandfather was a pilot by trade. He eventually lost his life in a plane accident.
**Come back next week for a BIG announcement!**
Heirloom Party at Emma Calle Me Mama
Oops! I meant to say Love Sign. I had a crazy notion the other night that I just had to play with some clay. So off we went to Wally World and bought some clay. I’ll admit that I drew out a sketch first and then went to town making my darling Love Sign. She’s even got a cute little piece of burlap on her!
Here’s a shot of her good side. Oh, who am I kidding? She’s pretty on all sides.
This desk hangs out in my guest room. I bought her off of Craigslist when she was dingy brown wood with a 70s era floral painting on her. I took her out in my garage and painted her with Lowes Valspar paint in Honey Milk. I really couldn’t resist a color with such a yummy name. Once she was all fresh and dressed up, I found her a little friend (in the form of a ratty brown chair) at a garage sale for a whopping $4. She got spray painted with Rustoleum Heirloom White and she got herself a reupholstered seat cushion. See, aren’t I nice to my furniture. It’s the only way.
*Yep, that’s me in the photo on the desk. My sister and me. She’s on the left and I’m on the right. I’m the one with the giganto forehead, practically as big as my sister’s face.
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Hooked on Houses
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This week, under the heat of the summer sun and held hostage by a gazillion mosquitoes in my yard, I still managed to take some pictures. First up is another pretty little rose bud just waiting to open up and show me her full potential. She is the prettiest shade of fuchsia.
My canna lily patch is up and in full swing – I’m amazed at how prolific they are on the side of my house. Here’s a closeup of their bright yellow sunshiny goodness.
I planted a bunch of seeds in the window box attached to our shed. Too bad I can’t recall what they were. The flowers are tiny and delicate.
Here’s a cute little blue flower on one of the annuals growing in my walkway.
And because I’m obsessed with editing my photos, here’s the same photo with a cool edit.
Because no yard is perfect - especially mine.
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer
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I love boxes, baskets, jars, pitchers – containers of any kind. My most favorite are jewelry boxes. All of the ones I have are wooden and are very treasured. While browsing at a local antique mall (this place was huge and took me nearly four hours to get through), I found two, TWO, absolutely, stop me in my tracks, gorgeous vintage blue green jewelry boxes. One was priced at $8 and the other at $4.
I was giddy. I felt kind of drunk and a bit silly. Is this what those die hard antiquers feel? Oh my goodness, it felt good. I’m filled to the brim with excitement to share these photos with ya’ll!
Don’t be jealous.
Wow, I am so addicted to finding cool vintage stuff. Here are some more happy finds (but not nearly as happy as the jewelry boxes). I found a great creamy white crocheted blanket for $6 and a freakishly cute owl trivet for $1.50.
Mr. Owl says “Hi.”
I barely spent $20!
Today’s Thrift Treasures at Southern Hospitality Blog
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Thrifty Thursday at Tales from Bloggeritaville
***Come back next week for a BIG Announcement!
Wow, I can’t believe it happened again. Kimba, from A Soft Place to Land, featured my latest bench redo on her wonderful DIY Day recap. She is so awesome to feature me again and I’m truly thankful. If you haven’t been to her blog, you really should visit. Like now. It’s that awesome. :)
Ashley’s Busy also has been featured by Tricia at The Boutelle Family Zoo. She’s starting a new weekly feature, called Saturday Inspiration, where she highlights her latest blog world inspiration, duh. She is so sweet for choosing me to be her first feature! Except for being first born in my family and first in line at holiday dinners, I’m never first! So I’m feeling pretty good about my self right about now. Thanks Tricia!
In case you wondering what I find pretty, beautiful, inspirational, crazy cute, and/or totally freakin’ awesome, I save it all to my Tumblr page. Go check it out for some serious eye candy!
http://ashleysbusy.tumblr.com/
It’s true. I love my furkids more than I love most people. Why? Because they are the darlings of my life, they love me unconditionally, and they are so cute I can’t stand it. Let’s face it, not many people can live up to those standards. You’ve seen an occasional photo of them here and there on this blog of mine and now it’s time for a formal introduction.
From oldest to youngest.
FRITZ, 7
He’s a Yorkie-Poodle mix. I can’t bring myself to call him a Yorkiepoo. That would just be wrong. I admit that he’s my favorite. He may look sweet and unassuming in this photo, but he’s got the personality of a grumpy old man. He’ll bite your hand off if you take something from him and he’ll cuddle next to you all night long. He shivers when it thunders. He eats veggies. He gives high-fives. I call him Sir Grump-a-lot.
ROSCOE, 6
Roscoe was a cute little kitty that I saved from the animal shelter in Gainesville, Florida. He sleeps most of the day and then meows really loudly in the middle of the night. He love catnip and canned salmon. He snores and his gut kinda hangs. Really, he’s the friendliest cat I’ve ever met.
LUCY, 2 1/2
While innocently browsing Petfinder, with absolutely no intention of getting another dog, Dameian came across this little bundle of joy. I practically melted into a puddle on the floor. She had been found by animal control just scampering along the side of the road. This little thing only weighs 9 pounds. How did she even make it on her own? We think she is a Chiweenie (Dachshund + Chihuahua = Chiweenie). Lucy is carefree, has boundless energy, and only knows one trick, Sit. She insists on sleeping under the covers with us. She sheds like CRAZY. We call her Lucy Lou. Sometimes Lucy Louenstein. It’s funny.
BELLE, 1
Our Mississippi Queen. We adopted Belle from a Mississippi farm while there for Dameian’s grandmother Mawmaw’s funeral. I always wanted a black cat. And now I have one. She’s a little bit nuts, likes to get into everything, and sleeps all day. This is what cats do. She comes when I call her, every time. I call her Bellie Belle. I call her Crazy Cat.
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