Curious Collections

I collect many things! Some on purpose, some grow into collections without really trying (they say anything in a group of at least 3 can be considered a collection), some I've inherited, some given by friends. I have one rule when it comes to the stuff I consciously gather...it has to be free or really cheap. Remember, I am a thrifter.

1. birds' nests (after they have fallen from trees)

2. Raggedy Ann dolls and stuff ( if I'm lucky, I can find well loved dolls in free boxes at garage sales)

3. old dictionaries ( I have some unusual themed dictionaries, too)

4. wooden spools of thread ( Maybe you've noticed- all the new thread is on plastic spools.)

5. milk glass ( It was my Mom's. Some of my friends make fun of me for liking such an old lady kind of thing, as they call it. I really like it! I have added to the collection by people giving me their ugly old lady stuff!)

6. old buttons ( So fun to put into jars by color.)

7. Little Golden Books ( if I buy one it must be 50 cents or less)

8. vintage cameras ( given to me; mostly family cameras/movie cameras)

9. wrought iron toys ( my Grandpa S. played with them as a boy!)

10. Nancy Drew books ( Nancy books have super great titles)

Pretty Posies

I love to QUILL. That is what you call these flowers that I created. They are done with rolled, tiny, thin strips of paper. Quilling is actually a very old craft in history.

I find it very relaxing. It is time consuming, so I don't get the chance to do it often. It is a wonderful way to use up your little snippets of pretty colored scrapbook paper. Remember, I am a recycler! I use them in card making and scrapbooking. It is fun to give some to my scrappin' friends and see my quilling show up on their scrapbook pages.

Meet Grandma Bubbles and Grandpa, Too!

This picture shows my Mom's parents; my Grandma and Grandpa - Grandma Bubbles is holding me!! I promise to tell you (later on) the reason she is called Grandma Bubbles!!
The card next to the picture is actually one of my baby announcements that my Mom sent out when I was born [almost 44 years ago]. My Mom was a saver. She saved everything! I have to say that there are many, many things that are treasures now just for the sake of surviving time. I am so glad to have those things to pass on to my kids. Thanks Mom. I could have done without some of the other treasures you saw fit to save, though. I am often talking to her up in heaven in this manner. It took, literally, years to sort through things. Sometimes it was mentally exhausting and overwhelming to decide what should stay for future generations to possess and what should just be chucked into the trash. I hope the decisions have been good ones. I even found a birth announcement card of a [now adult] cousin. I returned it to her. Yep! She was surprised!

The Thrill Of The Hunt

This is a school text book I found at my church rummage sale. As you can see, the price was RIGHT! I love it because

#1- it is old [1950](by MY book standards, anyway),

#2 - it has a red book cover, and

#3 - it has great pictures inside!!

I think the anticipation of looking through boxes of junk and stuff is a real thrill when you find buried treasure. This book, cast off by someone, is now treasured by me. I really like the colors of the old illustrations. I have thrifted some newer school text books too but the pictures generally aren't so much eye candy like the old books.

I have a stack of red covered, old, tattered books. They make me happy. I have simple [yet askew] needs!

This picture of the kids waving spoke to me today. It is like my kids, waving good-bye to school as their spring break begins at school-day-end today. They will be all mine, 24 hours a day, until school resumes a little more than a week from now. I have some day trips planned. Road trips as I refer to them. Far enough to feel away from home but close enough on the off chance that someone may have to come rescue us if my car should decide to act up. Now if we could just have some spring like weather. It is currently 27 degrees!!