{Be Mine}

{Valentine's Day}, a day of romance, flowers, candy and love ... it is one of my favorite holidays. Not for the candy or the flowers, but for the air of mystery surrounding this special day. There are many different theories to just how this day got its' start, but only St. Valentine knows for sure. What I {love} is the anticipation and secrecy ... a day when we, as adults, can relive the giddiness of a child, waiting and hoping for a certain {note} or treat from a special someone ...

... to receive a special {Valentine} at this time of year is intoxicating. There are so many little delights to be had in these love notes ...

 ... so each year I make my {Valentine's} ... something that speaks of the past, a time when these notes were made with distinct care for their intended recipient ...

... this year I wanted to create a {Valentine} that was representative of a vintage {memory book} ...

... a miniature collection of mementos - vintage tinsel, cupcake paper flowers, stitching ...

 ... vintage book paper, ruffled and painted with a glittery coating and a petite silky flower ...

... itty-bitty letter beads and layers of pretty papers ...

 ... and lots and lots of sparkle ...

... a recycled fair ticket is cut into a stacked heart ... velvet and glittered ribbons are added as 

whimsical tabs ... a heart fashioned from vintage fabric is stitched to the card ...

... so many layers ... LOVE LOVE LOVE ...

 ... the pretty blue floral paper is another cupcake liner . The puffy fabric heart has been stitched across. My Sophie said it looks like {lips} ! ...

... the {Valentine} itself is an over sized tag shape with pretty pink & red stitching around the edges ...

... the top of this giant {tag} is embellished with either a shabby linen tie or a loop of hand dyed vintage seam binding,  and a glittered clothespin ...

... a hodge podge of {Valentine} mementos ...

... that will be a {sweet treat} for someone I {LOVE}.

 ...made with {L O V E} for all of my very special Valentine's!

... enjoy!

{linking up to some great parties here}

{wild berry jam}

There is nothing like the sweet taste of homemade jam...

...{wild berry jam} is a homemade favorite of mine. Every year as I gather the goods to make this treat I remember my Granny canning in her kitchen. Everything from beans to jellies, preserves to sauces. It was a year long process for her. There was always something ready to be harvested and made ready for the cellar.


It is with her in mind that I recreate those moments in the kitchen and spread the feeling of homemade cheer.

To decorate the jars this year I collected these simple items found around the house:

{kitchen twine}

{brown coffee filters}

{muslin scraps}

{brown kraft cardstock tag}

 ...measure and cut a piece of {kitchen twine} and tie around the lid of your jar...

 ...punch a hole in your {tag} and feed twine through. Tie a bow.

 ...add a scrap of {muslin} and tie and trim ends...

 ...cut the scalloped top off of a {coffee filter} and twist into a flower...

 ...glue flower to center of tag and bow...

 I love the {vintage sweetness} of these jars.

 These make the best teacher and co-worker gifts!

 This year I had teachers asking about the {jam} - hoping I was making it again this year.

 A Christmas morning favorite of ours? {toasted english muffins with wild berry jam}

Merry Merry Christmas to you all!

I will be linking this up to Freckled Laundry - Air Your Laundry !

{a pink tree for sophie}

My Sophie {LOVES} this time of year! She is always just bursting at the seams to decorate her room. This year was extra special as she just had this awesome room redo! {see it here}This  year she has a {PINK} tree that was upcycled from some {OLD} things her Mimi was getting rid of...

...she and her Mimi decorated it and it looks super sweet in her dreamy white room!

Miss Sophia is as happy as a clam with it and falls asleep to the twinkling lights each night...

...pictures to come of her {NEW} {OLD} curtains that were also upcycled from a friend...

{a special thank you to those of you who read faithfully...even these days when it is so very difficult to find the time, the energy or the creativity to blog at all...thank you... i love you all}