My Mama's Sunny Little Home in the Woods

Once my brother and I no longer lived at home, my mom downsized. She made a new spot in the woods in a smaller home on a smaller piece of land. I love walking inside and seeing the yellow walls and happy details. It's like getting a huge warm hug. She has always loved compact homes, and she's made the most of every inch of this one. It's a home sweet home she can truly call her own. ⬆ Glass Insulators that once sat atop telephone poles.⬇ Little cactus plants sit on a ledge with stained glass that my grandfather made. There is a low bar in the kitchen that serves as her permanent workspace for crafts and projects! ⬆ Kiki. ⬇ Me and Hercules.

My mom is learning to play the dulcimer. She got an inexpensive dulcimer to learn on, but it was so lightweight that it wouldn't stay in her lap, so she added the glass bubbles on the side. The glass solved the problem and also changed the sound a bit, but she likes the way it sounds.
⬆ A Bee House my mom and her friend made. Apparently, if there are plenty of flowers nearby, bees will stay close to where they are hatched for their whole life. So if you hang one or two of these near your garden, bees will settle down in the holes and hatch their eggs. You will then have plenty of bees to pollinate your garden! Amazing!

⬆ This is a Bird Roost they made from a huge gourd she grew. Several birds of different species will roost together inside in the winter to stay warm.
⬇ Another bee house. Cactus plants are all over the place. Some of these started as tiny plants from the greenhouse at The University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

Textures and Colors on A Spring Afternoon Walk

So many beautiful colors and textures are all around this time of year! Here are some that I saw on a long walk through my neighborhood yesterday afternoon. A single line that stretches over 4 blocks? I like how you're thinking, kid!
North Carolina's state flower, the dogwood, has been in full bloom this week. Pollen is everywhere!
I don't know what this tree is called, but bouquets of magenta flowers are growing all over the trunk. One of my earliest memories as a toddler is feeling the soft lamb's ear plants, like these, that my mom planted all around the trailor in the woods where we lived.

Spring Sale & New Products

☼ You know those vintage purses and neckties I told you were coming soon? Here’s exactly when they’ll be here:

On Monday, April 1st I'll be releasing a whole slew of Vintage Purses, Ties, and Vanity Organizers into my online shop. For that entire week (Monday, April 1 through Friday, April 5) I’ll be running a spring sale. All of my Twitter and Facebook friends will get 15% off. So hop on over to my Facebook & Twitter pages and follow me there so you won't miss out on the coupon code! Also, tell a friend! ☼

♡ Sarah

"The Indestructible" Bites the Dust

My indestructible Venus LG finally bit the dust yesterday. After surviving many long hard falls like bouncing down a paved driveway on a hill, bouncing down metal bleachers during my coaching days, and the time my niece submerged it in a glass of orange juice, the touch screen finally cracked this week. I can't pinpoint what happened- it was just sitting on my bedside table, fine and dandy, and when I went to use it, the screen was cracked. I was happy to continue using it anyway, but then I started missing calls and not receiving texts. It must have spontaneously combusted from all of the years of abuse. So now I have the iPhone. It was "free" with my plan renewal, but of course there were $90 in upgrade fees and extras that were not optional. The guys in the store were all laughing about my Venus phone, as if it were this retro electronic they hadn't seen in decades. "Hey- You remember this?" one guy said to the other.

I better be more careful with this iPhone because it is more delicate than my Venus and MUCH more expensive to replace. Even so, I am excited about how I will be able to use it to provide better service to my Stitch Machine customers!

Menswear Vintage Finds

Spent some time driving around and digging today, and the vintage menswear finds turned out to be impeccable! Can't wait to get these up in the shop!

Broken-in Pavement

I took all of these pavement photos on my walk yesterday afternoon.
This is a pretty & homeless kitty who lives on my block. One of my neighbors has been feeding him. I've been asking all of the neighbors if he belongs to anyone. No one knows but they say he has been around this area for years. Sometimes I bring a handful of cat food down to where he hangs out (just don't tell my husband). I worry about this tough kitty when it is really cold out.

Feathers, Buttons and Beads that Inspire

I bought some really beautiful craft supplies this week. Is it really possible to craft them into something even more stunning than they are on their own? I'm not sure. The vintage feathers and swarovski crystals are from Beadlush and the vintage buttons are from Sleepy Poet Antique Mall. The large clear buttons are labeled bakelite.