Sensational Swap!

A couple of months ago I was blog hopping.  Somehow I ran across Marsha from The Tattered Chick

I became ecstatic when I saw that she was sponsoring a market tote swap.  I immediately signed up.  As I began reading the specifications and saw that the tote was just mini and should only be a 5 x 7 or 5 x 8 I wasn’t quite sure what you did with such a mini tote.

Then I discovered Marsha’s collection and read how wonderful they are for holding thrifting essentials, like money. lol!

I quickly started thinking of ideas for my swap partner, Kristen from Finding Joy in the Middle

This is what I came up with.  Now normally I would show what I received first, but I’m afraid that if you saw how fabulous it was you wouldn’t even take a look at the one I made, seriously it’s that wonderful!

 

Using bits and pieces of fabric, vintage lace and old buttons & charm from my stash.

At first I put two different flowers on the tote.  Decided it was just not anything to wow you.  My SIL had seen this birdcage idea in a Somerset magazine and put it on a tag.  I decided to stitch one on the tote. Finally, I reached something I felt was kind of cute.  I tucked a couple of bird tags inside the card and off it went.

If you agree and think mine is kind of cute, wait till you see the tote(s) I received!  Yes, I said totes.

Kristen sent me two absolutely darling totes.  The first one is so fantastic.  At first I actually thought she had bought it.  Her work is so professional looking!

Just look at that upholstery fabric, the leather handles, the vintage looking tag, and the charms hanging down.  There is a shovel, a watering can, and a flower.  Hard to believe that this girl doesn’t know me, right?

The second one is just as unique and so cute!  It is hand knitted. 

Notice the card?  She had me from hello!

I do not knit so this to me is truly a work of art.  Look at the darling fabric lining. The cute scallop design is so sweet, and what’s not to love about a pearl button?

I definitely think I got the better end of the deal.  Oh, she also sent me a sweet mini tea set.  Two of the pieces got broken in the mail, but I will certainly display the rest. 

Thank you Kristen for my darling treasures and

Thank you Marsha for the fun swap!  If you want to see more totes, hop over and visit her!

If  you haven’t linked up for my “Share Your Cup Thursday”, it’s not too late.  Scroll down to the previous post and join in.  I’d love to have you share!

Hugs,

Jann

Sharing with:

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

2nd Share Your Cup Thursday!

Hello and welcome to Share Your Cup Thursday!  My first party was off to a bit of a slow start since linky was down for quite some time.
Never fear, It’s still here.  Mama didn’t raise no quitters. lol!
I do want to thank those that did link up and shared something that helped fill their cup this week. I enjoyed all of them and had a hard time narrowing it down to four. Wow, can you imagine how hard it is for those that have over 100 links?
Here are a few of my favorites:
Lindy Lou Mac from Italy and  Her World in Photos shared her love for Spring Apricot blossoms. 

Jan from Southern Junkin shared some wonderful vintage toys she found along her junkin path.

Gina of Random Thoughts from an Incoherent Mind shared her wonderful Easter vignette.

Teresa from Magazine Your Home  showed how she turned an old nightstand into this beauty.  She also shared her recipe for making your own chalk paint.

If you missed these last week, hop over for a visit.  You won’t be disappointed!
If you were featured please grab my featured  button.

Now it’s your turn.  Can’t wait to see what filled your cup this week!  I truly feel that by sharing what fills our own cups (or makes us happy) helps to make others happy!
Party Rules:
1. Be a follower of Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
2.  Be sure and have a link back to this post so that others will know where the party is. My blog button on the sidebar is not linking back for some reason.  I’ll have to have my computer hubby figure it out for me later.  Thanks for being patient with me.  Still learning!
3.  Please visit other participants.  It’s a great way to find wonderful new blogs!
Not required, but I would love for you to leave a comment.

Slice of Life!

I never met a pizza I didn’t like.  Well, I take that back.  I had one once with anchovies.  Liked everything except them.

Anyway, I do love pizza!  The minute I saw this sign at ‘Brambles’, a cute little unique shop in Provo; I knew I needed to take it home.

Can’t you just imagine how fun it will be with lights in the holes and all lit up?

The old rusty tin just called my name!

The only problem is, I bought it for a basement I don’t have.

Oh yeah, I have a basement, it’s just unfinished.

Somehow I knew it wouldn’t hang around until that happened.  I know this isn’t the first time I’ve bought something for that basement.

I keep telling my hubby that he’ll be so glad that I don’t have to run out and buy a bunch of stuff when we do finish it. lol!

I think I’ll hang it in the theatre room.  Good thing there’s a PaPa Murphy’s down the road because I think it will be coaxing us into eating pizza quite often.

What’s your favorite Slice?

Hugs,

Jann

I will be sharing my pizza sign with:

Knick of Time Tuesday

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Cozy Home Scenes for Cozy Home Party

It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday

What’s Your Favorite Aisle?

My blog friend, Shasta from In the Old Road is having a link party.  Our assignment was to go take a pic of your favorite aisle at the grocery store and tell why.

Once a month this is my favorite aisle.  The rest of the month I ignore it.  Let me explain why.

When I was a young girl I was very blonde.  The summer before 8th grade my older sisters, Julie and Jeanne took me aside and said, “your hair is mousy”.  You know, just kind of dishwater color?  They said, you either need to go blonde or darker.  Blonde it is!   Off  to the store and we bought ‘Summer Blonde’ hair color.  There are 5 girls in my family.  Only me and my sister, Dolores are blonde.  The others are dark.

From that day on, I have colored my hair.  For years I have just put it on the roots instead of all over. 

Now days, I am not just covering the dark roots, but the grey also.

And in the famous words of L'Oreal, which is the brand I use:

I’m Worth It!  Ha-ha, remember that commercial?

All I can say, is whether or not that old saying “blondes have more fun” is true or not.  This blondie has a lot of fun and I sure don’t want to take any chances!  lol!

What’s your favorite aisle?

Hugs,
Jann

 

I Wish I Had a Fox by the Tail!

Last June I attended a local garden tour.  One particular garden was my favorite, Talk about eye candy around every corner.  It said ‘WELCOME’ from the moment you arrived.

It was an older home with so much character.

 

As we walked around to the gardens we passed cozy vignettes.

Love that red  side door!

She had an old outbuilding filled with wonderful treasures!

Her back yard was a blooming paradise!  The arbor in the center lead to her cutting garden.

She had one plant that I have been yearning for ever since.  The Foxtail Lily.

The Foxtail Lily is a majestic plant that is gorgeously statuesque. I remember having one, just one in my Highland garden that did not come back the second year.  This garden had these beauties in so many wonderful colors!  I have been wanting to order some for my garden. I am a bit slow because after looking on the computer I am finding that  the color varieties are sold out.  I guess I only get yellow this year. Do any of you have these lovlies in your garden?  she had them in the numbers.  Grouped together they made such a statement!

These next pics are of more of her wonderful blooms.  She said that she hand waters it every day and it takes her hours.  Well worth the effort don’t you think?

These are some of her fun garden treasures.  I love all the white!

I think this was one of my favorites.  I love how this little steppable plant is growing through this box.  Perfect place for a faux bird to nest.

My sweet friend, Amanda knows the owner of this garden.  She is a very generous lady that will share any start except her Foxtail lilies.  Can’t say as I blame her.

Cottage gardening is my favorite.  I can’t wait until my garden is full of lush blooms! I spent 6 hrs. in the garden yesterday.  It excites me so much to see things popping up all around!  It’s coming along well, nothing as fantastic as this,  but sure hope I can get my hands on of a few of those Fox Tails!

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Happy gardening,

Jann 

I will be sharing this wonderful garden with:

Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday  I also want to thank Debra for featuring my copycat post of my mirror and shelf.  What an honor!

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday

Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday

Calling All Party Animals!

This is a shout out to all of you bloggers that like to party!

I started my first

I would LOVE for you to come and link up!  http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/2012/03/springin-outdoors-1st-share-your-cup.html

If you “CARROT” all, come party with me!!

Hugs,

Jann

Springin Outdoors! 1st Share Your Cup Thursday. . .

Welcome to my first Share Your Cup Thursday.  I am so excited to be hosting.  So sorry for deleting this post earlier!  Can you tell that I am still learning? lol!

Courtney at French Country Cottage featured my Copy Cat post and I would like to say ‘Thank You”!  I will be linking this post today with her Feathered Nest Friday.  Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage also featured my Spring Mantel on her blog today.  I feel very honored to be featured by these two wonderful ladies!

With the arrival of Spring, it is now time to bring Spring to the outdoors.

My front porch is one of my favorite places to decorate for holidays.

I placed a small quilt on top of the drop leaf table that once belonged to my husbands grandparents.

You can see that this is where my tackle box (flower holder) and Pussy Willow ended up.


Simplicity on the front door.  A found bird’s nest to say welcome.

My youngest daughter, Kylee and her husband lived with us for a month before moving to AZ last Oct.  She had made a pillow out of this old curtain that had hung at her FIL’s.  After they left I found this in the garbage.  Of course, I had to rescue it.

Last night I made two pillows from burlap and the curtain fabric.  Aren’t they cute on my turquoise chairs?


I couldn’t resist this crackly turquoise bunny at T.J. Maxx.  He sits atop a faux cabbage leaf on my vintage pillar/pulpit/post.  Not really sure what it was used for.



Not too much blooming in the garden yet.  The daffodils are just starting to open.

It seems like we all live such a busy life.  I learned a long time ago that we must take some time every now and then to fill our own cup.  If we ourselves aren’t happy, then how are we suppose to help make other people happy?
Please link up something that has helped fill your cup this past week.
Can’t wait to see what you have to share!
Here’s the rules:
1.  Be a follower of Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
2.  Please link back to this post so others will know where the party is.
3.  Please visit other participants.  I have found so many fun blogs through link parties!
Before I turn it over to you I want to say that Gayle from http://atastefultouch.blogspot.com/ won my pincushion give away.  Congrats!
Now it’s your turn:

*I have decided that my thumbnail is too small.  What good’s a thumbnail if you can’s see it, right?  I don’t dare change it in the middle of this link party.  Knowing my luck, I’ll lose the post again.  lol!  Next week it will be larger.  Still learning here.

Hugs,

Jann