still time to enter my Give-A-Way!

~~~~~~~~~~~Still time to enter!~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will be a giving away a banner/logo designed by me.
Anyone who leaves a comment between July 14 and July 22
will be entered in my "Give-A-Way".
I will draw the winning name on July 23 Monday morning EST.
Scroll down to see more banners/logos....

~New qulits & painted floor~

I've been painting my upstairs floor & steps... Oh my poor back! Moving all the furniture back and forth is killing this old Gal...What a job this turned out to be. I've been searching for matching quilts for the beds. I finally found some just the other day, I love them! Now if only I can find a cute rug..

Project~Mannequin head~

I've always wanted a hand painted Mannequin Head.. but they are a bit pricey for my budget. I found an old foam head (a bit beat up with a squashed nose) for 45 cents at the thrift. I tried to fixed her nose. Then painted her.. added some pearl pins that were a gift from Mary (thanks again Mary!) for necklace. And used 2 large vintage corsage pins for the earrings (from my Grandmothers things). She's not prefect but I think she will do for displaying my vintage hats on eBay.. Oh and I made the stand from a vintage crystal lamp base.

~my friend Solange needs our prayers~

Yet another precious friend of mine has breast cancer. She is going through radiation right now and is having a very hard time. Her name is Solange and she too needs our prayers. Shes such a sweetie and loved by all! If you can will you please keep her in your thoughts & prayers. God bless you Gals for caring as much as you do!

~Prayer request for Brenda~

Pat from The Urban Chic has requested prayer for her sister Brenda. She had a mammogram and 2 cysts have been found. Brenda will get her test results on Wednesday. Please pray for Brenda and Pat.

~Looking for Gluten Free recipes for Isabella~

As some of you may know my 10 year old granddaughter Isabella
has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Shes on 6 medications, 3 by injections. Her rheumatologist has started her on a special gluten-free diet in hopes this will help her arthritis. We are in search of good tasting gluten-free recipes.. I thought just maybe some of you Gals may know of some good ones. Yesterday we went to Cleveland, Ohio searching the health food stores buying things she will need. This sweet child is like her Grammy, we both LOVE to eat LOL.... So this will be a bit of a challenge for all of us! But hey if it helps her it will be so well worth it..

~my FREE banner/logo Give-A-Way~

*** FREE logo/banner "Give-a-Way".***

I will be a giving away a banner/logo designed by me.

Anyone who leaves a comment between now July 14 and July 22

will be entered in my "Give-A-Way".

I will draw the winning name on July 23 Monday morning EST.

Your logo/banner will be sent to you in an email.

Above are just a few of the logos/banners I have designed.

I will work with you to see what look you want...

It will be a one of a kind made just for the winner!

You need to know how to add your logo/banner

to your blog or auction site..

Good luck ~Mary~ :-}

~8 Random things about me~

I have been tagged by Amy from Abundant Curiosities...

"8 Random things about me"

#1. I was a model in high school.

#2. I dislike people who take advantage of others

#3. I love watching old 30s & 40s movies

#4. I wanted to be a ballerina, a Nun, or an artist

#5. I get up about 5:30 AM

#6. I wanted to have 12 children

#7. I dislike like being the center of attention

#8. I wish I had more Grandchildren

guidelines....Players start with 8 Random Facts/habits about themselves.

People who are tagged write about their eight random facts on their blog.

At the end of the post, players choose eight people to be tagged

and list their names.

Ladies I have tagged :

CountryCharm~Betty~

BluebirdsRoses~Becca~

FourSistersInACottage~Amy~

PinkPassion~Jerri~

ShellySweetShabby~Shelly~
SimplyQuilted~Connie~

SweetRemembrance~Priscilla~
TheLilCottageShoppe~Arlene~
TheUrbanChic~Pat~

~my Father~

I made this yesterday. I used scraps of wallpaper, 1930's sheet music, my grandmothers old glass glitter, 2 antique glass buttons, heart charm, French ribbon. This darling photo is of my father Samuel Brio as a small boy. It was taken in Italy, where he was born. I love this photo!

~My try at making a Tiara~

I have seen the most fabulous Tiaras made by such talented artists here on the blogs..So I thought I would give it a try. I'm not a scrapper or a stamper. I had no clue as how to really go about this project. It was fun and turned out just OK but maybe the next one will be better. I gathered some "stuff" (as you can see I'm messy) and went to work..

~I Love..my sewing jar!~

I was in my studio and stopped a second to admire my beautiful sewing jar. It was sent to me by my sweet friend Mary crash-n-smash a few months ago. Both she and her daughter Brandy stamp with Brandy designed and made it for me.. What a surprise it was receiving this jar!! I'm just amazed at the talent these two Gals have! Just look at all the charms.... 3 hearts, thimble, flowers, needle & thread, scissors, a prayers box, glitter paper M, friends with rhinestone, sewing machine, hand, heart clip, pink safety pin and all the sweet ribbons.. Plus the word sewing out of silver wire.. To top it off a pink lid, & adorable green dress with pink roses & a rhinestone! And there were all kinds of goodies inside the jar too..I just wanted to say thanks again to Mary & Brandy!

~my Wisteria~

Iowa Gal you asked: I was wondering what kind of vine you have growing on the roof of your deck? We live in Iowa and do you think it would survive the winters?
The vine you see here on my deck is Wisteria. These photos were taken last year in the spring when in was in bloom. It has gorgeous long lavender flowers with a strong lovely smell. Yes it will grow in Iowa I live in Ohio...

~the gift Fairy strikes again!~

I have this dear friend Sherryl I call her the "the gift Fairy". There are days I walk outside to find the most wonderful gifts left at my door step, in my backyard, or on my deck.I know these gifts are from Sherryl. Well my latest find in this wonderful vintage glider.On Monday the glider arrived from the "the gift Fairy! I'm SO thrilled about it. I've always wanted a vintage glider..It will be great for cuddling with the grand kids.. Thanks so very much Sherryl! You are such a sweetie!!!

I've been working on my deck, it needed cleaning & painting & decorating. But this year there was not money to do much. I did buy a bit of outdoor fabric and made covers for the tops of my old chairs..Only had enough for 4 chairs.. Maybe someday I'll find more. With left over paint/stain I painted the lattice. Then cleaned the deck floor..Still needs to be stained. I looked around my cottage and gathered vintage pillows, chenille's & linens added them to my glider & table.. Now it's "tea for two or three" hey Carole or Sherryl how about some tea? LOL...It's not a fabulous deck but it is an improvement.

I so enjoy sitting on this deck early each morning.. If I'm lucky I will get a phone call from Amy FourSistersInACottage.. We chat and giggle and talk about so many things. Today Amy is in the hospital and I'm sad because she is so ill.. I hope she gets better soon!

~4th of July picnic~

Well I only got 3 photos taken at the 4th of July picnic..

We were setting things up and my camera battery died!

Thats what I get for not bringing my other battery along..

you think I would learn by now..

This is the back of my sisters house. The darling little house behind my granddaughter Isabella is the kids playhouse.. Its adorable!.

The food was yummy..I did not stay for the fireworks..

Hope you all had a wonderful day :-}

~my Back Yard Bunny!~

I was sitting on my deck early this morning..
I had just finished talking to Amy on the phone..
Thanks for calling me Amy, it was great talking to you!
Well guess who came to visit me? my "Back Yard Bunny".
I've seen him about a week now around my yard.
What a cutie! I'm wondering if he has a family around here?
I'll have to be very careful when mowing my lawn.
I see in the one photo he was very close to some poison ivy..
I better get rid it before it gets me.
Oh just the thought of getting poison ivy make me itch!
I've lived in my cottage for 25 years now and this year
the poison ivy seems to be popping up all over the place..
Well, I just wanted to share a few photos of my bunny.
Hope he comes back again tomorrow :-}