C’est La Vie
Well, I had big plans two weeks ago to start blogging again in earnest (and working out, but that is a different story) when the flu bug hit the Byrd house. Good old Influenza A. I have been playing nurse for a while, and trying to stay well myself, as I had several big church commitments that would have been hard to turn over to someone else. It looks like everyone is finally 100% better now. I am crediting God and Shaklee Defend and Resist for my not getting this crud!
I found this lovely granny-square lapghan at my favorite Virginia junk shop:
Paper birdies:
Glass birdies:
I’m linking up to Apron Thrift Girl’s Thrift Share Monday!
“Why did you leave me here all alone?”
Poor, little neglected blog. It’s time to make a comeback!
Here are a few recent finds:
Sweet little blood-red and gold tin, made in Holland:
Lovely $3.00 candlesticks from my favorite top-secret thrift store in Virginia:
I can’t distinguish the name of the company, but I believe these were made in Portugal.
One of my favorite finds ever, a Wedgwood plate in the Harewood pattern. I want to have the whole set (dream big, Molly!)
This plate is so absolutely gorgeous. I wish I had a better camera to photograph it (and other things). It is displayed on a Pier 1 plate stand, which funnily enough also cost $1.00 at the GW. I just love their pricing system! At the Goodwill I go to the most, I can even tell when certain people are pricing.
So glad to finally be back here in the blog world. . .Can’t wait to see everyone’s finds! Linking up to:
The December Rush
Hi, everyone! So sorry I have been absent for a while now. . .first the trip to the land of no internet (those mountains really can block a signal), then a crazy week of sick little ones when we got home, and now I am crafting like mad to make Christmas gifts (why, oh why did I wait until the last minute? ’cause that’s the way I roll). Here are some things I am working on:
Infinity scarves for sisters and sisters-in-law and maybe a friend:
I am making these with Caron’s Country wool/acrylic blend, which is lovely but taking a bit longer due to its fine weight.
Owl hats for my younger nieces and nephews:
Pattern is from the lovely Kat at Slugs on the Refrigerator.
Rustic wooden nativity from Learning to be Me:
I am making these with the smaller peg dolls from the craft store, gluing them together, tying with twine, and adding a ribbon to make ornaments.
Also working on chalkboards from cheap pictures I found at the GW, and about a million different desserts/cookies for all the upcoming Christmas events.
Plus, potty training our toddler.
Yep, crazy times around the Byrd house!
Whew!
Well, we are back from our Thanksgiving trip to Virginia, but boy am I tired! I am taking pictures of all the treasures I found at the Old Post flea market, but until then, won’t you read this guest post by my friend Abbie:
from:
…and I’m so excited that Molly is having me by for a visit to tell you about an opportunity to for you to win some fantastic stuff AND helps others.
It’s cool.
Pinky promise.
You see, I’m hosting a “giveaway for good” to help build a new classroom for a ministry to orphans in Uganda that is home-grown in East Texas where I live.
There are FIVE prize packages, chock-full of fabulous handmade goodies and gift certificates (Lisa Leonard, anyone?) that you can win just by visiting and getting your name in the hat!
Here’s just a small taste:
Here’s where the really cool part starts: for extra entries, you can also donate to PCM using a special button on my blog which will track your entries so we can see how much we raise and who wins!
Honestly, folks, these kids are incredibly humble and deserving! (Their idea of a special treat is an apple…I’m not kidding).
So, if you want to help raise the money to build these precious children a new classroom + have the opportunity to be one of 5 lucky folks to win some awesome loot, please come check out The BIG PCM Fundraiser/Giveaway on my blog.
No amount is too small, and every dollar you give is matched up to our goal of $5,000 (wow!) and counts as unique entry into the giveaway (i.e. $5 = 5 entries).
Which means, if you give up Starbucks just once, you’ll be donating not $10 but $20 (just kidding…but at least $8, right?) to a truly worthy cause.
Hope to see you soon!
Thanks again, Molly! You’re a true friend!!
P.S. I’m also having a “Shop My Closet for Good” event to go along with the giveaway. Cute clothes, cheap prices, FREE shipping, and every single dollar donated is matched and goes toward our PCM classroom fund. Each item you buy is also an individual entry into the giveaway! SCORE! ; )
Five Things I am Thankful For:
Missouri
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
West Virginia; and then:
FAMILY IN VIRGINIA!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. . .it may be a while before I post again, but I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday (my favorite of the year!)
~~~Molly
PS. . .I’m also pretty thankful for pecan pie.
Linking up with Abbie over at Five Days, Five Ways this week!
Pyrex and Dansk
I found a few things this week. I don’t know what is going on, but every Goodwill I have been to in the past few weeks has smelled AWFUL! It has been so bad that I have been discouraged to shop. And I love to shop at the GW. And, having four males in the house, I also have a high tolerance for bad smells. Hope they fix it soon!
I am excited, though, because we are (hopefully) going to Virginia, and (hopefully) I will get to go to my favorite, top-secret, junk store that has been the source of my best finds. I love the owner, and I even lived above the store for a time (it has since moved to a larger location). I can’t wait–the last time I found some great stuff. I will be sure to share when we get back!
I love this Danish mid-modern salt shaker/pepper mill.
The November Collectibles link-party is just getting started–don’t miss out!
What do you collect? What would you like to collect? Do you have collecting tips or knowledge you would like to share? Blog about it and return here, and link up! Don’t forget to track back to this blog by grabbing the button or displaying a link within your blog entry. Be sure to check out what others are posting as well, and comment to tell them what you love about their special collection. This link-up will be held the second Wednesday of each month, so you have the whole month to post your link. And if don’t worry if you don’t have that many collections, you can share a new find that you have added to a current collection, or even something you want to collect in the future.
And, while you are at it, won’t you donate to my friend Abbie’s fund-raiser to benefit Parental Care Ministries. . .you could win some great prizes including a scarf made by me!
Five Things Thursday: Giving Hands
Each week Abbie over at Five Days, Five Ways hosts a “five things” link-party and this week’s theme is “Giving Hands”.
Such a timely post, as November 6th was Orphan Sunday, where Christians come together to support orphans around the world. Did you know that there are over 140,000,00 orphans in the world? Yes, that is millions. Half the population of the United States.
What can you do to help orphans?
ADOPTION
- Identify a trustworthy Alliance member adoption agency
- Engage important beginning questions with the Hope for Orphans’ “Welcome Home” booklet
- Visit the Alliance Resource Library for quality books and resources for the adoption journey
- Support organizations that help with costs of adoption, including Lifesong, Caroline’s Promise, ABBA Fund, Show Hope and the MICAH Fund
See if an Alliance member agency facilitates foster care in your area.
(If not, visit Adopt Us Kids)
Learn more about the Safe Families Program for churches as an alternative to the foster system
Learn from Alliance member Embrace how to create a foster ministry in your church
Visit the Alliance Resource Library for quality books and resources
Support and partner with Alliance member organizations that help the Church serve and mentor foster youth:
Support trustworthy Alliance member organizations serving orphans around the world
Use the Next Steps Booklet guide to identify organizations that can help you engage, from mission trips to church-to-church partnerships
Prepare for effective engagement with the “Journeys of Faith” Booklet and other reading
Visit the Alliance Resource Library for quality books and resources
Help student groups get involved through the Heartwork Campaign
Check out recent Alliance webinars (free) and Summit sessions (at cost) on key orphan ministry topics
Join church orphan ministries from across the U.S. and beyond for Summit VIII
Visit the Alliance Resource Library for quality books and resources
Read Hope for Orphans’ “Launching an Orphan Ministry in Your Church” and consider hosting an “If You Were Mine” Conference
Order Answer the Cry: Faces of Hope, a 30-minute DVD that challenges Christians to see orphans as God does and to be willing to do whatever He asks to serve them and to bring them hope. You can also view it LIVE online.
Learn from Alliance member churches with growing orphan ministries
Some great books on the Biblical foundation for orphan ministry:
- Fields of the Fatherless – Tom Davis
- Adopted for Life – Russell Moore
- Reclaiming Adoption – Dan Cruver, et al
- Passion for the Fatherless – Daniel Bennett
- Orphanology – Tony Merida and Rick Morton
Help student groups get involved through the Heartwork Campaign
Explore the Alliance Resource Library for good children’s books:
Check out Alliance Member Caleb Resources’ “Red Card Kids”
Order Answer the Cry: Faces of Hope, a 30-minute DVD that challenges Christians to see orphans as God does and to be willing to do whatever He asks to serve them and to bring them hope. You can also view it LIVE online.
Compelling movies to watch and discuss:
- Emmanuel’s Gift, 2006 (Rated: G)
- War Dance, 2008 (Rated: PG—13, some very intense scenes)
- Beat the Drum, 2007 (Not Rated)
- The Gladys Aylward Story, 2008 (Animated, Rated: G)
November Collectibles Party Now Open + Featured Blogger!
It’s the second Wednesday in November, which means it’s once again time to share your collections here at Vintage Velda. Last month’s submissions included the fabulous Jenifir over at Thoroughly Modern Vintage, who shared not one, not two, but three of her collections.
Gorgeous Pyrex:
Vintage Aprons: (LOVE!)
And these sewing patterns, which remind me so much of my mom and grandmother, sitting at their machines making dresses and skirts:
You really should stop by Jenifir’s blog. . .I love the Christmas Pyrex she is blogging about today. Lots of great information and vintage finds to check out!
So, wanna join the fun? What do you collect? What would you like to collect? Do you have collecting tips or knowledge you would like to share? Blog about it and return here, and link up! Don’t forget to track back to this blog by grabbing the button or displaying a link within your blog entry. Be sure to check out what others are posting as well, and comment to tell them what you love about their special collection. This link-up will be held the second Wednesday of each month, so you have the whole month to post your link. And if don’t worry if you don’t have that many collections, you can share a new find that you have added to a current collection, or even something you want to collect in the future.
I can’t wait to see your collections!
Today’s Collectibles Party Featured Blogger
The second collection to be featured from this month’s collecting party is from the blog Just a Little Southern Hospitality (love that blog name, too!). Check out her lovely (and so useful) collection of Corningware, which is also very special, as pieces came from her mom.
Check back for another featured blogger’s collections. . .and if you missed this month’s party, you can join tomorrow for the November link-up!