It's a 2-fer!!! {giveaway & a collection}

Hi everyone! I'd love it if you'd make your way over to the blog of the lovely and fun Kristal aka rikrak. She is featuring one of my collections and she is also hosting a giveaway of a $40 gift certificate for anything ready-made in my Simple Joys Paperie Etsy shop! There are 8 chances to enter, so read her rules and blog, tweet, heart, favorite, etc. to get as many entiries as you can! :)

Remnants of remnants ...

I'm excited to share with you a new design that's been added to my Etsy shop, Simple Joys Paperie.

If you remember, I make my paper wreaths and other paper art from vintage papers and books that are damaged in one way or another. I do purchase them, but they are usually books that no one else wants and therefore are left on the shelves after all the good ones are chosen.

After I made the wreaths, I had lots of book covers remaining, and I just couldn't bring myself to throw them out.

A few weeks ago, while looking through some remnants, I saw one of the book spines and thought what a shame for it to go to waste and began thinking what I could do with it ... make something from the remnants of remnants, if you will.

Then I thought of a cuff! They are not for everyone, I suppose, but I just love them!

I use a metal bracelet blank, then choose a book spine and coordinating fabrics to create each unique piece of jewelry. The themes are endless! I have cuffs for brides, mothers, lovers of all things French, someone named Susan, a math teacher, a reading teacher, etc.

Some are whimsical, some are a bit worn and distressed, and some are mod and trendy.

I have listed a few in my Etsy shop and I will be listing more over the next few days.

Two of them have already sold today!

Thank you! :)

So you see, something can be made from the remnants of remnants.

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I just signed up with Kim at Everything Etsy for an I Made It Thursday Blog Party.

Be sure to visit and see all the other participating blogs.

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Thanks for dropping by!

Take Care and God Bless,

Lana

It's my ONE weakness ...

... bubbles in old glass.

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It's my one weakness ...

... tattered, frayed edges.

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It's my one weakness ...

... tiny hand stitching.

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It's my one weakness ...

... antique fringe.

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It's my one weakness ...

... antique make-do pincushions!

This lovely piece was a recent find. I couldn't believe my luck when I saw it. The colors were perfect for me!

I'm either going to have to find more displays for my collection or sell some off .... I vote for more shelves! :)

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Have you ever watched Lark Rise to Candleford? Dorcas Lane, who lives in Candleford, loves simple joys (and some not-so-simple) and states each time she indulges that it's her "one weakness". If you enjoy period movies, I'm sure you will love this series that my friend, Suzanne (Pear Tree Primitives / Painter of the Past) suggested to me.

Oh, and period movies? They are my one weakness. ;)

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Thanks for dropping by today.

Take Care and God Bless,

Lana

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Where have they been?

Many of you have probably been wondering about Poppets, Portraits, and Playthings of the Past.

It had to take a back seat while Suzanne and I each tended to our own families and businesses,

but we've updated our site with a post, and will be dropping hints about our next webshow as the weeks progress. Become a follower of PPPP to stay abreast of what we have planned later this year.

http://poppetsandportraits.blogspot.com/

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Happy Independence Day!

Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.

Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep.

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream

'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n - rescued land

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,

And this be our motto--"In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

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How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Author unknown, sometimes attributed to M. Grundler

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

Let freedom never perish in your hands. ~Joseph Addison

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Take Care & God Bless,

Lana