Monday, May 24, 2010

God's Little Gifts

This past weekend has been a stark reminder that my life is full of God's little gifts. Sometimes when life is stuck in fast gear, I love that God will tap me on the shoulder ever so gently and remind me of his love all around me.

Karen received the sweetest gift of all this past week....a new little Grandson. How blessed we are to receive such bounty from God. How grateful I am for his hand in my life.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

A Spring Garden & Patio Favorites

Every year I look forward to the first flowers of spring. A garden filled with spring flowers always makes my heart beat a little faster with delight. Those first flowers inspire me to fill every corner of my home and yard with signs of rebirth and new life.To the garden growing outside my window, I add a vintage planter filled with cheerful spring daisies. Their smiling faces welcome friends, old and new. I hang a ceramic plaque engraved with a friendly message among the tulips and the daffodils. On a busy day, it reminds me to rest a while and enjoy the spring flowers. From early in the morning until sundown, spring birds fill my yard and heart with their songs. They flit from tree to tree, looking for the perfect spot to build their nests. I could spend hours watching them carefully perch on the dainty teacup bird feeders I've set out for them.When the weather is warm enough, I love to host a tea party outdoors for my granddaughters. On cooler days, I sip my tea indoors by a window overlooking the garden. I love to breathe spring into my home by adding floral touches throughout. I cover my table with a cloth sprinkled with dainty spring flowers and leaves. A floral Victorian cake stand makes a perfect centerpiece for the grand occasion – the arrival of spring. I set the table with vintage teacups and saucers encircled with tiny rosebuds for drop in guests.In my sitting room, a beautiful handmade pillow rests on the sofa, which I have slip-covered in spring colors. Another pillow covered in bright pink blossoms sits proudly on my bed, now made afresh with spring linens. On the hall console I fill a crystal bowl with spring-scented potpourri and enjoy the fragrance of the season as it fills the house. At my desk, I write notes to friends I haven’t heard from in a while on notepaper filled with butterflies and spring spring flowers.A spring garden is nature's announcement that the world is coming back to life. With its arrival, I feel more vibrant and alive, making me want to bring spring into every corner of my life.The boutiques at Make Mine Pink can help you create a spring garden in your life. Visit them and Forget Me Not Dreams for our Spring Garden and Patio Party!

Written by: Joyce Lucas,
Founder Make Mine

Thursday, May 13, 2010

I love to surround myself with treasures from the past. They often remind me of my favorite people and some of my favorite moments in time. I hope to pass these memories down to my own children and grandchildren one day.

Like so many others, I've kept a family album of old photographs, yellowed with age. Some of the faces I remember from long ago. There are weddings and births, laughing voices and forever romances recorded in these images. They are moments that live on because I remember.

One of my favorite things is Dad's old pocket watch. The hands of time are still moving, although a little slower than before. I remember him pulling the watch from his pocket so many times. Then there is Grandma's unfinished needlepoint. It’s wrapped in tissue and sitting at the bottom of an old wooden chest. Her fingers now lie still, but I remember the long chats we had while I watched as she stitched her beautiful designs. Having these treasures nearby makes me feel as if they are still near.

Even the heirlooms and antiques I find at the flea market have special meaning for me. The old French perfume bottles that line my bedroom shelf were perhaps a gift to an elegant lady from a doting admirer or loving husband. A collection of antique silver spoons that I use on special occasions, were perhaps a gift to a young bride. A cozy quilt stitched from well-loved clothing inspires me to imagine the garments the squares of fabric came from, and the people who once wore them.
When my daughters and children come to dinner, I set the table with my mother's favorite tablecloth and china, and aways have something to tell them my favorite childhood anecdotes and stories that were once told to me. It seems fitting to share my cherished memories while creating new ones of our own. Memories that will mingle together, both old and new, and continue to be passed down for generations to come
Written by: Joyce Lucas,
FounderMake Mine Pink

Photo Contribution 1: Forget Me Not Dreams Photo Contribution 2: Grandma G's Photo Contribution 3: The Antique Boutique

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Weekend Getaway Day 2


Day two of our weekend getaway didn't disappoint. We hand ended up in Eugene and decided to spend the day exploring the antique stores there, saw a movie and enjoyed seeing a different part of our beautiful state.

I have a new favorite place now! Ruthie B's in Springfield Oregon. Oh my gosh....this place was amazing! We had lunch here which was amazing all by itself, but add in the atmosphere, our cute server and it was such a fun time! Guests are seated all over the store in themed display rooms. It so reminded me of how we display at our antique show.

We sat in the Red, White and Blue room and was served by the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. And the food...well it was amazing! It was just a blast! It certainly ended our little getaway in style and made for a very special weekend together! I highly recommend just getting away from it all once in a while!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Weekend Getaway

Weekend Getaway!
I'm a firm believer that sometimes you just have to get away...get out of town...change the pace and well, just breath. My husband and I pretty much on a whim decided to run away for a couple of days. We are lucky to live within an hours or so drive of the coast which is always a great place to spend time! We had such a good time stopping where we wanted to stop, eating what we wanted to eat! We love to visit Antique stores together.
So we stopped in at one of our favorites and I couldn't resist buying vintage buttons out of these vintage bubble gum banks! What a cute idea!
This is what a quarter will buy!
While we were eating breakfast, we read the little local paper and discovered and article on Pirate Dan's Pastry Shop where they sell pirate sugar cookies!
Being the pastry lovers we are, we had to track down this cute little shop and enjoyed chatting, and pics with Captain Dan and his sweet wife.
Aren't the pirate sugar cookies cute! They were tasty too!
The coast is always full of unique beauty which just refreshed my soul. I couldn't help but giggle when we pulled into this turn around and each post was occupied by a seagull! Too funny!
And the gorgeous architecture shown in this old bridge...amazing. More of our trip tomorrow!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Color Me Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday May 7th 2010 as we present "Color Me Pink"
I’ve been a huge fan of pink for a very long time now. But all of a sudden, it seems that everywhere I look, I see more and more pink. I remember when pink was a color that was pretty much reserved for little girls' dresses and women's boudoirs. But now, one of my very favorite colors is being used in home décor and accessories of all kinds. I have to say, I am really enjoying the fact that pink is a color that will no longer be ignored.In some homes, pink is finding its way into every little nook. You'll see a pink slipcover on the living room sofa, pink drapes on the windows, pink knick-knacks on the shelves. For me, my love of pink is satisfied with just a touch here and there. A vase of pale pink flowers on the table, a pink framed mirror hanging in the powder room or an antique pink teapot brought out for tea parties with the girls.Mixing the various shades of pink can create a feminine and warm feeling in any room. But a single pink piece in an all white room can capture just as much attention. Even when it's used subtly, like pink tatting on white towels, a pink cushion on a favorite chair, pink always catches the eye.What is it about pink that makes us love it so? Perhaps pink is so attractive to us because it can be used in any theme, from feminine to chic, from romantic to modern. Or perhaps we're drawn to pink because it's the color of play and delight.Whatever reason that pink catches your fancy, you’ll be delighted with what you’ll find at Make Mine Pink. While Make Mine Pink is about so much more than just the color pink, you will find plenty of pink here!
written by: Joyce Lucas,
FounderMake Mine Pink