Vintage News...

Good morning, my friends!

Oh, my!  What a horrible blogger I've been this last week!  So sorry that I haven't been visiting in the last few days...I'll try to catch up!  I've had a big project I've been working on for Splitcoast, and when you're a procrastinator like me, well...things get a little scary as the deadline looms ahead (today!)

With that being said, today's post will be short and sweet.  I've got some errands to run and then some kind people are coming over to try and save my poor, lovely computer.  We got some kind of terrible virus last night, so I'm working now on our old, slow, tired computer...yuck.  Oh, well! 

I made a fun little card last night with a new set of Creative Scraps from Crafty Secrets:

...pulled out the sewing machine for this one...a little crocheted lace, my favorite mother-of-pearl buttons, some yummy "putty" seam binding courtesy of Miss Martha Stewart, a touch of platinum Stickles, and that's about it!

This image reminded me of one of my favorite photos of my mother, Karen, when she was a little girl...

Isn't she adorable???  Mom said this was staged...someone's glasses (can't remember who's), and they had her holding this "True Story" magazine, which, to my memory, was like the old-school version of The Enquirer (only probably much more tame!)  Love those cute, dimply little girl knees, Mom!

Well, there you have it.  That's all I have for you today...keep your fingers crossed for my beloved computer...I want it to be all better quick!

Have a lovely day, and I'll see you soon with something new...

Julie

A Happy Mother's Day Wish...and...Grow Old Along With Me...

Good evening, everyone!

Hope it's been a lovely weekend, so far!  I haven't had too much card-making time the last few days...lots of family activities, a visit from Grandma Campbell, soccer game, and our anniversary!  So many fun things going on!

First, however, I'd like to wish you all a very happy Mother's Day tomorrow...all of you that I've come to know this last year...wonderful mothers all, I can tell.  I hope your day is filled with love and sweet memories...Here's a card I made for my Mother this week...

I love this image from Crafty Secrets' "Childhood" Images & Journal Notes booklet...some satiny ribbon, brown & cream gingham ribbon, crocheted lace, and a touch of Platinum Stickles for a bit of sparkle...

...such a sweet vintage image of the love between a mother and daughter...

Just thought I'd share of few images of the beautiful mothers in our family--vintage, of course!

Here's my wonderful mother-in-law, Shirley...isn't she adorable in this photo?  This was taken about 1933.  She grew into a beautiful young woman...

...and became the most loving mother, grandmother and mother-in-law--thanks, Mom!

And my Mom...

...here she is about 1943.  I love this picture--the beautiful colorizing--so richly done.  This piano bench (along with the piano, of course!) is now used by my daughters and I...such a well-loved heirloom.

Mom's "glamour" shot in her college days...love how it just glows!  You're beautiful, Mom!

And one of my favorite pictures of motherhood...my Mom and I about 1964 on the steps of our apartment in Southern California...I love how I'm holding on to her as she comes to give me a kiss...love you, Mom!

My husband, Roger, and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary yesterday...where has the time gone?!

Here we are while dating...1987...I went up to visit his family in Northern California, and we spent the day in San Francisco.  The memories of this windy day are so sweet to me...

Our engagement photo in 1988...how do you like my '80's "big hair" perm?  Hmmmmm...the things we'd change if we could, right?!  Isn't my sweetheart handsome?

And on our wedding day, May 7th, 1988...such a great day for us and our very happy families.  We've been blessed with so many things...health, happiness, three beautiful, loving daughters...we couldn't ask for more...

Here's the card I made for him for our anniversary...not very masculine, is it?!  Oh, well!  He loved it--he is always very appreciative of the things I make, which is a wonderful thing...

A sweet vintage image from Crafty Secrets' "Cherish" stamp set...so pretty!  I did all paper piecing here...just wanted that look...a bit of a job with all the tiny blossoms, though--but I like the way it turned out.  Lace, ribbon, lots of silver Stickles, and some beautiful patterened paper from "AdornIt".

Thank-you, honey, for a beautiful past full of loving memories, a present filled with all things good (not always easy times, though...right, dear?!)...and a future filled with hope, loyalty and love...

And in the words of one of my favorite poems, by Robert Browning...

"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be.

The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith, 'A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; Trust God: see all, nor be afraid!'"

Have a beautiful weekend and a lovely Mother's Day...I'll see you soon with something new...

***Please go and visit Mimi Charmante for her lovely giveaway...beautiful vintage "actions" for your Photoshop creations!***

Sweet Baby Dolls...

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Here it is, the very day, and I've nothing green to show you!  I did so much before today, that I've got nothing now!  Later, I'll be making a lovely St. Patty's meal for the family, complete with our favorite Irish Soda Bread...can't wait!  But for now, some other things to share with you...

If you haven't already noticed, I can't seem to stop making these shadowbox cards that Vicki Chrisman designed--oh, well!  They are just too much fun!  So, here's another I've just finished...

...all about little girls and their sweet baby dolls...

All these adorable images come from Crafty Secret's "Little Dolls" Images & Journal Notes booklet--except for the fabulous "Frozen Charlotte" doll's head and wings--that comes from their "Altered Fairy" Creative Scraps. 

I've had the idea to pair the doll's head with wings for a long time...kind of reminds me of the cherub heads with wings you see a lot in sculpture from Colonial times in America.

...I love this little mommy scolding her dolly for her misbehavior...did she spill her dessert on her pretty dress?

...and this saucy girl surveying her doll collection--wonder what she was telling them here...?

...and this little sweetheart knows there's nothing like snuggling up with your best friend at the end of the day...

I used lots of lace, ribbon, and Martha Stewart's "White Gold" glitter on this, as well as a touch of Dazzling Diamonds, silver Stickles, and some beautiful crystal rhinestones...that's about it! 

All these images made me think of my adorable Mother.  She's loved dolls since she could breathe, I think!  So many photos of her with a dolly in her arms...I chose this one to show you today...

Isn't she a sweetie?  Mom has collected dolls forever--still does!  She always swears she's got enough and won't ever buy another...until the next treasure comes along! 

When she was little, and her parents couldn't afford to buy her the dollies she wanted, she taught herself to make dolls...which she continues to do to this day!  She's quite an amazing dollmaker, actually, and has sold many worldwide.  I wrote about her months ago (before many people read my blog!)...you can see some of her beautiful creations here.

I want to share a few of the most special dolls in our lives with you...

My great-great grandfather, Theodore Brandley, bought this doll while on an extended trip back to his homeland of Switzerland in the late 1880's, and had it shipped to his young daughter, my great-grandmother, Anna. It was then handed down to my mother and is intended for me....Mom isn't quite ready to give it up yet! It was always in my room when I was young and it used to spook me a little...I would get out of bed & lay it gently down on my dresser so her eyes would be closed! Also, knowing that her teeth were real (really!) didn't help me much, either! But I adore this precious keepsake, handed carefully down through the years, and will just as gently deliver it to one of my daughters...

...beautiful glass eyes and soft auburn hair tied back with pink silk ribbon...hardly tattered at all in over 120 years...

...and another vintage beauty...

This beautiful doll from the 1940's  was given to my Mom when she was pretty young--can't remember who gave it to her, but I love it, too. It would always sit next to the older doll on my dresser--there was another with dark hair, but I didn't find her this time. Love her beautiful, soft face...

                                     

I hope you enjoyed this little look at our beloved old dolls.  Go find yours...dust them off and give them a little kiss on the cheek...no one likes to be forgotten...

Hope you have a wonderfully green St. Patrick's Day--don't get pinched!  I'll be back soon with something new...

***Hurry and head over to Shabbyfufu--a delightful new blog I just found--Janet is giving away a beautiful altered doll. 

She creates such lovely things--please go meet her and say hello!***

Apple Puff Pancakes, Birthday Card, and Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Halloween Eve! I'm grabbing a quiet moment to post this while my 13-year old daughter, Annie, and 5 of her friends are out on the trampoline telling scary stories! My husband and older daughter, Sarah, are at our high school's Homecoming game. Peace & quiet....for a few moments!

Well, the day started out in the SWEETEST way possible...Apple Puff Pancakes, courtesy of The Farm Chicks! I've made this recipe about 5 times now, and it has been perfect each and every time--an absolute family favorite! It tastes amazing, but is super easy to prepare--just takes a few minutes, really!

Backing up...my good friend, Loretta, has been in love with The Pancake House restaurant forever (a few locations throughout the country)--she introduced me to it when we went to Salt Lake City together last year for a convention. The menu item she said I HAD to order was their apple pancake. It was delicious! I've had it 2 times since then, and wanted to try to figure out the recipe.

Then, this summer, I discovered The Farm Chicks' new cookbook:

I mean, really...how could I NOT buy a book this adorable when it's just staring at me from the shelf at Barnes and Nobles? I HAD to buy this book! Little did I know how much I would enjoy it! I've made quite a few recipes just since this summer, and every one of them has been scrumptious!

Okay, back to Loretta...I told her a month or so ago that I'd finally found THE recipe. She was exceptionally doubtful! So, I was forced to invite her over to breakfast to prove it to her. That day was today!

I timed it perfectly so that the pancake came out of the oven about 3 minutes after she walked in my door. The kitchen smelled divine! She was pretty impressed when she saw it...

Oh, my! Look at it sizzling in the pan! Then I drizzled a little glaze and some maple syrup over it, and Loretta was a goner!

Here's my happy friend enjoying her SECOND serving...!

She pretty much wanted to lick her plate, but decided to vigorously scrape it clean with her fork, instead!

Loretta agreed, as I do, that this recipe for Apple Puff Pancakes is just as good (I think better!) than the restaurant version--not bad, huh? Would you like the recipe, too?! Here it is: (thanks, Serena, for letting me share it here!)

APPLE PUFF PANCAKE

(from "The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen" cookbook)

1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 apple, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

5 large eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

Dash of salt

Maple syrup or confectioners' sugar, for serving (Or both, I say!)

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a 9-inch glass pie plate. Heat in the oven until the butter is melted and bubbly--5 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir well and mix in the apple slices. Return to the oven and bake for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the eggs, milk, flour, and salt in a blender or food processor and process un til frothy--about 1 minute. Pour over the apple mixture. Bake until the cake is puffed and the center is set--18 to 20 minutes. Serve warm with maple syrup or sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

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Today is a VERY special day--my Mom's birthday! Hi Mom! My Mom has always loved having her birthday be the day before Halloween. She loves fall, loves to decorate, loves Halloween...it's a perfect fit! This may be the first time I haven't made her a Halloween themed birthday card, but when I got this new Crafty Secrets' "Best Buds" Vintage Postcard Kit, this sweet image just seemed perfect for Mom.

Isnt' she sweet?! Mom loves images like this, so, here you go, Mom! (Of course she's getting the real deal!)

Didn't go overboard with the glitter this time...wanted to be a bit more delicate. I used "Waterfall" Stickles for the dots here, and a little Dazzling Diamonds sprinkled on the flowers. I did use some silver glitter for a little outlining, but not much. The birthday sentiment at the top of the card is from the Pink Persimmon stamp set "Vintage Greetings"--love this sweet font! The little flower stamp underneath the greeting is from the mini stamp set included in the "Best Buds" postcard kit--just perfect for this!

As I like to do, I want to share a few pictures of my Mom with you in honor of her birthday. I just love these photos of her when she was a little girl. Mom, since I realize you ARE still a little girl at heart (she STILL loves dolls like she always has--just bought one for herself for her birthday, as a matter of fact!), these are for you!

This may possibly be my favorite picture, ever!

Thanks for visiting me today, I love that you come, and I enjoy all of your lovely thoughts and comments--thank-you all so much!

And...Happy Birthday, Mom! I LOVE YOU!