I'm So In Love With...

Yesterday was a good day.  A very good day.  

My junksista Kathy and I spent over 2 1/2 hours at a marvelous estate sale.  

This is my favorite of all my finds.  

It's painted on black velvet, but this ain't Elvis folks.

It's 'Kewpie.'

 One look into those eyes and I fell for him.

The velvet is shattered along the stretcher bars.

There are holes here & there.

He's been around a long, long time.

Look at the backing.

The artist, M. Schomig wasn't exactly a pro at proportions

but he/she sure did capture Kewpie's soul.

I'm so in  love with 'Kewpie'.

Check Out These Great Giveaways

There are some great giveaways happening now in blog land. Our sassy Aussie friend, Tamarah, of
Shabby Vintage Junk and the creative Gina from Vintage Junk In My Trunk have teamed up to offer a zillion great prizes. 

-

 It was a hoot getting acquainted with Tamarah at Junk Bonanza. My favorite thing that I've learned from her is the term "hard rubbish", which sounds like a bad thing but could really be a good thing!  I haven't yet had the privilege of meeting Gina "in person", but love her blog, and besides, an item in her cute header came from my etsy shop.  I know for certain that she has impeccable taste!

Cynthia from Beatnheart is also having a giveaway.  I met Cynthia at Elkhorn last year and learned that we are  "state switchers".  She's a native of Wisconsin, living in California and I'm a California native living in Wisconsin.  (Cynthia has the better end of that deal this month...brrrrrrrr!)


Check 'em all out...and good luck to us all!

Fa-la-la-la-LIS - 'Fleur De Lis' That Is...

Found a handful of these in California last week...

They're finials off an old fence, and because of that

nice square base they will stand alone.

 Can you imagine how beautiful that fence must have been?
Maybe something like this, (from google images),....

 Way cool!

(A few of these are available in my etsy shop.)

A Christmas Memory & Cyber Monday Sale Reminder

A  quiet weekend afforded an opportunity to list some vintage Christmas finds on etsy & ebay.

These little boxes brought back childhood memories of getting a 

box of hard candy at church each December.

Sweet.

Treat.

DON'T FORGET - 
15% OFF EVERY ITEM PURCHASED 
IN OUR ETSY SHOP TODAY.  
Enter coupon code buynow15 at checkout.
*Does not apply to previous purchases, ends at 10 PM CST today, Nov 29, 2010
 

Tis The Season - Etsy Sale!

Update:  Thanks for the great response; we're going to
extend the sale thru Cyber Monday - (Nov 29th)


We're having a sale in our etsy shop... enter coupon code: BUYNOW15 
at checkout to receive 15% off every item you purchase from Gracie's Cottage

 The fine print:  

Does not apply to previous purchases, expires Saturday, Nov 27, 10 pm CST

If you are an etsy seller having a sale this weekend, 

feel free to post your coupon code in the comments.

 

Thankful

So many of our friends have faced storms 

in their lives this year

Some are enduring serious financial hardship,

some are battling cruel diseases...

A 25 year-old friend with bone cancer...

life interrupted...no complaining.

He's won many battles and is winning the war.

 A young dad with three little ones; his stomach has

been removed and his earthly future is uncertain.  

His students are learning much more than math from him

as he continues to teach; they are watching faith

alive as he trusts completely in his 

loving heavenly Father.

  On this day of giving thanks, I'm reminded to

really be thankful. Thankful for each day of life here with 

a loving family, treasured friends, an occupation that I love, and

all of you out there in blogland that inspire me daily. 

.

Most of all I'm thankful for a loving heavenly Father that

sacrificed his own son, to grant eternal life to all that believe.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! 

Gathering - A Shop Filled With Delights in Willows California

Willows is a small farm town in Northern California.

It looked pretty much like this until they tore most of it

down in the early 70's, to 'modernize' it.

When I was growing up there, the only really 'special' thing in town was the vanilla Coke at Foster Freeze.  There was no ice rink, no Macy's, no ocean...none of the things that the heroines in the books that I devoured got to enjoy. So I left.   

(Now I'm living in the Midwest, 
in a little farm town with no ice rink, no Macy's, no ocean....)

Imagine my surprise when I returned to Willows for a visit last week and discovered that there was something very 'special' there;  A shop named 'Gathering'.

It's a charming place filled with artfully staged shabbies & primitives...

...with some great gift items mixed in.

My favorite part of the shop is the little courtyard out back.

(I'll admit that I was a bit jealous of the lush

plants thriving outside in November.)

One of the owners of Gathering was working that day.

(I'd show you her picture but she was camera-shy).

So I'll show you one more photo of the shop instead...

...and tell you that the camera-shy lady was none other

than the mother of Corey Amaro.  (Corey's amazing blog, Tongue in Cheek, is  favorite of many of us.

I've never met Corey; she was a kid when I left Willows.  After meeting

her Mom and seeing the shop, it was easy to see where Corey's talents come from.)

Next time you're traveling up I-5, zip off at the Willows exit and pay a visit to Gathering.

You'll be as delighted as I was!