So when something jumps at me from one of Michael's shelves right before a friend's birthday, I'm happy.
And when that little something is a white and cute crown candle holder, I'm very happy!
And when that cute little crown costs me only $3.50 including the candle... Oh boy, I'm really, really happy!!!
So happy, that I buy 2. One for my friend Norma, "The Peruvian Princess", as she calls herself and the other one for Clara, the "Queen of white"!
Now I have a question: When you buy something for someone you love and you spend a lot less than you first expected, do you buy something else to compensate or do you stay with your choice not worrying about the price?
Notice that we are talking about spending LESS than expected... If you would like to participate in our "very serious and scientific study" you can do it so by voting below...
It came in the mail a few days ago, but I waited until today, my birthday, to open it.... because, well... I wanted to have one more birthday gift!
It was so so well wrapped...in a little box, with a so so cute pink paper and a so so feminine pink bow...
Inside, a key chain tag with my initial in the center, and around it...my Husband's, my Son's and my Daughter's names.
All so so beautifully done...
This was SoSoBella's Giveaway prize and I feel so so lucky to have won it!!!
I like it so so much that I think I'll use it as a charm for my favorite necklace!
If you have never visited Kristy, stop by her wonderful blog or her website... I bet you'll enjoy her personalized and hand stamped pieces and feel inspired by the photographs she takes of her two gorgeous fairies!
Thank you once again, Kristy!!
Now I'm out to enjoy the rest of my Birthday...family, soccer and "The cheesecake factory"...ahhh...life's good when you are 25!!!! LOL!!!!!
Before it became "too dangerous" to be played in schools, playing tag was one of our favorite activities...and still is! Adapted to our older years, our new version of tagging (gift tags, that is) does not include running or an open space. But just like our childhood game does not require any special training, connects you with friends and it's a lot of fun!
This is the perfect project if you are new in the paper-glitter-scissor (sounds like another fave game) world or if you are trying to entertain the kids during a raining afternoon. The blank tags can be purchased in several stores from Michael's to Office Depot and pretty much any method or supply can be used to embellish them: pretty paper scraps, stamps, trims, buttons, rhinestones, decoupage.....Gifts tags don't only finish a pretty wrapping they also can be used around the house as little pieces of handmade love.
A tag given to our friend Ana Laura for her B-day now embellishes a lampshade.
A Thankgiving tag decorates now a Fall vignette while reminding us of the friend that made it.
Clara made sweet personalized tags and used them as place settings during our Valentine's Lunch. She paired them up with a fabric envelope full of candies, of course, I still display mine on my desk area.
So next time you need to present someone with a gift, grab all your supplies, come out and play tag! Ditch the Hallmark card and let the Art Fairy inspire you. The recipient will love it as much as the gift itsef!
"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."
~From the television show The Wonder Years~
And holding we do!... Shells from our last vacation, jewelry with a special meaning, the feather our child picked up at the park, pretty vintage buttons from an estate sale, little pieces from our life that remind us of happy times and people we treasure....More often than not, all those special trinkets, not pretty enough to be displayed by themselves, sadly end up in the "kitchen drawer". Yeap! "that" drawer, the one that we all have, the one with the batteries, with the old pens, the one with the paper pad from where your "neighborhood realtor" smiles at you.
Well, it's time to bring all these little treasures out and make a beautiful, inexpensive display that we bet will be your next party conversation piece!
We have used a large reproduction glass candy or aphotecary jar to make our "Memory Keeper". We stuffed it with a vintage linen with a few holes but with a killer monogram that made it worth keeping and here's when the fun part started!....We found a rhinestone earring that lost it's partner a long time ago, a ceramic souvenir bought on the streets of Florence, a beautiful shell from South Beach, a small black and white picture, Grandma's necklace and measuring tape and lots more! We placed all our treasures between the glass wall and the linen. There is no right or wrong here, no pattern to follow, just a pretty way to "contain your memories".
Our other example was made using a glass dome and a pretty plate as its base. Inside, we displayed an antique silver plated compote housing a nest we found on the ground of the Sequoia National Park about ten years ago and a sweet crowned bird. All items that, if not in a group, will never be displayed. Because of their small size, these items would had been lost. We decorated the top with a "Dream" tag made by a fellow artist for a touch of color and inspiration.
Domes also look fab when filled with rolls of old letters tied with a pretty ribbon, they could be Grandpa's love letters to Grandma or music pages of a favorite song.
Look in your jewelry box, your child baby box or in the closet for inspiration, you will be amazed of how many pretties you have. The jars and domes are sold everywhere. Michael's has them in different shapes and sizes from under $20.00. Think Christmas or Birthdays....perfect gift! Try it, you'll be surprised!!
When thinking and collecting items for this post we came across a piece of family history that didn't make it in the "Memory Keeper" because it's used every day....Our Dad's scissors! As old as they are, all metal, with no plastic to "protect" her fingers, they became Clara's favorite tool when working on her paper crafts. We can remember being kids, seeing our Dad using them and thinking: it's time for new scissors!!! Years later, (about 35 to be more precise), even in a different country, here they are!... what makes us think that sometimes it's true....
"People seem to get nostalgic about a lot of things
they weren't so crazy about the first time around."
We share a passion for all things old, cottage and chic! After 10 years of retailing, we have closed our San Clemente store but you can find us now at our Space in Country Roads, Orange, CA (Space #135)
We are constantly shopping for vintage and antique treasures: ironstone, china, linens, accessories and small pieces of furniture that we can rescue and give a new life to, so don't be surprised to see at the Flea Market on Sundays mornings!
Thank you for visiting us,
Clara & Marcela
Inside, a key chain tag with my initial in the center, and around it...my Husband's, my Son's and my Daughter's names.
I like it so so much that I think I'll use it as a charm for my favorite necklace!
A Thankgiving tag decorates now a Fall vignette while reminding us of the friend that made it.
Clara made sweet personalized tags and used them as place settings during our Valentine's Lunch. She paired them up with a fabric envelope full of candies, of course, I still display mine on my desk area.
So next time you need to present someone with a gift, grab all your supplies, come out and play tag! Ditch the Hallmark card and let the Art Fairy inspire you. The recipient will love it as much as the gift itsef!
Domes also look fab when filled with rolls of old letters tied with a pretty ribbon, they could be Grandpa's love letters to Grandma or music pages of a favorite song. 
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