Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

One of My Favorite Things. . .Spoolies

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Ever since I first discovered spoolies last Spring they have been one of my favorite things to create!

I found them when I joined an Easter swap hosted by Sandy at 521 Lake Street. My partner sent me the sweetest spoolie!

I especially love when I am able to use vintage items.

The old wooden spools once belonged to my sweet mother. She was an incredible seamstress and enjoyed sewing dresses for us girls.

When it comes to spoolies it’s all about the details. I used old Valentine cards that I have had for a long time and pulled from my stash of goodies.

This spoolie reminded me of a fairy in a garden so I placed her upon a bed of moss. Tiny gems are sprinkled throughout. A butterfly has landed on a sparkly white blossom and a bird is trying to see what that shiny thing on the ground is. I added touches of glitter to her and a fan that I made from music note paper. A heart I made from wire peeks out from the aqua trim that reminded me of a fairies skirt.

This spool is one that I bought last year with sparkly tinsel on it. I used it all up for Christmas so I decided to turn the empty spool into a large spoolie. I covered it with aqua dotty paper and then added crochet lace and a strip of sheet music. I placed pearls on each point of the lace and glittered the base. This little Victorian beauty was already glittery. I just added a paper heart doily behind her. In front is a large gem that I had cut off an old pair of house slippers. Save those treasures! A heart paper clip and a feather hi-lite the day of love! A small doily on top with a bit of reindeer moss.

The Queen of diamonds is sharing a little love. The spool is covered with bakers twine and a strip of pink crochet lace. I added a beautiful white flower and a key. I topped it with pink crinkle paper and a tiny dried rose bud. I have had these rosebuds for years. I cut them off of a mini rose bush and hung them to dry. They have held up excellently!

I added glitter to her gown and to a purchased rosette. Thrift found letters are offering hugs and kisses (X O). The spool is covered in sheet music and I made a tiny heart from a pipe cleaner. The pearl brad was salvaged from a wedding invitation. The top is covered with a pink Christmas light reflector. I tucked crinkled strips of sheet music and three rosebuds inside it. A little chalkboard flag celebrates the ‘big day’.

This tiny spoolie has another purchased rosette. She stands atop a pink paper flower. I added a sparkly heart to her out stretched arm. Her sentiments say “Thinking of you”.

Sorry that some of the close ups are a bit blurry. I’ve tried three times. Not sure what I am doing with this new camera. lol!

Not only are spoolies fun to look at, but ever so fun to create!

If you’ve never made a spoolie, try it! Lots of fun.

Hugs,

Jann

p.s. This post was featured at Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks. Thanks Suzanne!

I will be joining these fun parties:

Savvy Southern Style for Wow

Lavender Garden Cottage for Cottage Style Party

Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Shabby Art Boutique for Shabbilicious Friday

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

Pieced Pasttimes for Saturday Sparks

The Dedicated House for Make it Pretty Monday

Knick of Time Tuesday

Bargain Hunting with Laurie for Valentines Party

I’ve Got Heart!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Now that we are in the month of January my thoughts turn to ‘Valentines Day’.

A day set aside for us to show the ones we love just how much we appreciate them.

I love Valentines Day. . .One might say, I’ve got heart!

So of course, the crafting has begun!

Thanks to Pinterest there are plenty of ideas to draw from.

So, I’m opening up my heart(s) to you.

Heart #1 is an ornament wreath heart. I had been collecting ornaments to make a Christmas wreath when I saw a heart one on my inspiration board. I needed more pinks so my friend, Joyce and I hit the after Christmas sales.

One of my Valentines displays will have pops of aqua so I threw some of my vintage aqua ornaments in amongst the pinks, silvers, and whites.

A dusting of silver glitter spray gives the newer ornaments a vintage feel.

You can’t go wrong with a dotted Swiss pink bow.

I hung it on my chippy white door for a photo, not sure where it will end up. Notice my little red shelf is empty. How could that be? lol!

Here was my inspiration from Pinterest. She gives a great tutorial so I’m just giving you the link. In case you want to make one.

http://www.mommyiscoocoo.com/2012/01/how-to-make-valentine-ornament-wreath.html

Heart #2 is a framed cork heart.

I picked up a bag of corks a while back at a discount store. My Pinterest inspiration had painted the corks in various shades of pinks and reds. I thought it would be fun to glitter them. I just painted the top with Modge Podge and sprinkled with glitter. I let them dry well then covered a piece of cardboard to fit my frame with burlap and hot glued them on.

Oh how this baby shines!

The writing on the sides of the corks give it a Frenchy feel.

I didn’t have a lot of corks so my heart is a tall thin primitive heart. The kind of heart I love!

And here is my inspiration .

How about you? Do you have heart?

For more inspiration check out my Valentines board.

And please hop over and like my new Facebook page.

hugs,

Jann

*This post was featured at The Dedicated House for Make it Pretty Monday and at Rose Chintz Cottage for Home and Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays. Thanks ladies!

I will be sharing with these lovely ladies:

The Dedicated House for Make it Pretty Monday

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

The Scoop

A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday

Rose Chintz Cottage for Home

Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Shabby Art Boutique for Shabbilicious Friday

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

My Winter Kitchen. . .

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Usually my kitchen is quite warm and cozy decorated in ‘sweet tweets’.

(my sil, Laurie helped me make these easy curtains a few years ago.)

We lined the bird fabric with a striped fabric. Attached it to a 1x2 with a staple gun. Made a casing for a dowel then rolled it up and tied ribbon to hold it in place. Just noticed that I need to get up there and straighten that roll on the left.

(top of some of my cabinets)

But after Christmas I pull out the ‘Winter Blues’. Icicles hang from my chalkboard made from an old window and not only is it cold outside but there’s a bit of a chill inside too.

Wintry jars are placed upon counter tops.

Topped with bows I made using Winter picks and silver and white ribbons, tuelle, tissue paper and even strips cut from gift bags.

A baking vignette awaits to help warm the kitchen up. The little snowman mold came free with Rice Krispy cereal years ago.

I just picked this sweet little guy up for $2 at Ross. The cupcakes were $.50 at Wal-Mart after Christmas.

My friend, Shelley gave me this glass bowl for Christmas.

It reminded me of frozen ice. Perfect for my Winter kitchen!

My thrift find speckled kettle sets on the stove ready for a spot of tea.

A ‘friendly village’ pitcher with a snowy scene and snowman dishes are pulled out for display. Both the pitcher and the aqua plate were thrift store finds.

I fell head over heels in love with this vintage wicker baby scale when I spied it at Star Mill Antiques.

And of course every ‘Winter kitchen’ needs at least one snowflake Pyrex. Wish I had more!

Beautiful Paperwhites blooming in the windowsill remind me that Spring is only a few months away.

The table is set with mostly thrifty items. I used my runner I made from a drop cloth.

The aqua glass round I found a long time ago for $1. The pinecone bowl is a new find for $3.

I knew it would work great with this yard sale find I bought last summer.

I placed the three pine cone trees I made for my Christmas mantle under my bell cloche along with a pinecone ornament.

Oh deer! I passed these cute S&P shakers up earlier at Wal-mart. Then after seeing them on someone’s blog I regretted it. Lucky for me, they still had them.

I left my pinecone garland and pots on my chandelier and added the snowflake.

When we bought our home I loved the kitchen, but it had way more wood than I would have liked. I had the island and stove hood painted blue and distressed it heavily. Still love it! Now I would like to add some glass to a couple of my cabinet doors. As hubby says, “It never ends”. Hee-hee!

This picture shows a little bit of my blue wall painted with Restoration Hardware ‘Silver Sage’.

After Christmas the house always feels a bit empty. I kind of like the feeling for a while. And I’m sure you are well aware that it doesn’t take me long to fill it right back up. lol!

Hope you enjoyed the tour of my ‘Winter kitchen’!