Vintage Sweets

Recycled bead containers

I love to shop and I love shopping for unique things. My love for old things has me now shopping for containers for my beads. I first started using old tins because I bought them to cut up for bead caps, wings, pendants etc. I would pick up tins that visually appealed to me,then when it came time to cut them up I couldn't bear to do it. So I would mark them and sell them at the antique show. Then I bought a ginger tin I fell in love with, it was inexpensive and I loved the graphics. The same day we stopped at a bead shop and I put my purchases in the tin. When I got home I decided I really liked the size and put in my found objects for jewelry, and there they stayed.
I don't want just any old tin, it has to "speak" to me. Color, size,condition, graphics and price are what I consider before buying. Here are 4 I bought today on my shopping trip. 
 
Here you can see the size compared to a spoon. I pay anywhere from $1.00 to $10.00 each depending on the above criteria. I did pay $6.00 each for 3 of the tins I got today. My favorite however, I went above my limit. It's  the tin in the top right and because of it's condition and the fact that it is a tobacco tin and it's antique value, I paid 25.00.
Yes I know you can't see in them unless you open them, and I do use plastic see through containers for most all of my beads but I just love these tins and have filled them with watch parts, scrap sterling wire, special lampwork beads, and I do have a couple I use for projects. I won't be replacing my plastic bead boxes from Harbor Freight I just love those too much. But these tins are such and inspiration and look how great they look when I open a drawer.
These little silver dishes I keep on my bead tray to hold stray things I may want to use in my current project. I'm always on the lookout for little silver dishes but so far I've only found these two.

What unique ways do you store art things? I am always looking for ideas.

My Beads Arrived!!

My bead package from my partner Heidi Post in the "Bead Soup Blog Party" arrived today.  Here are a few photos of my goodies.
The cool "Bird Pendant" is the focal I received. Heidi made this herself with paper clay and a mold she made, how cool is that! Then the rings and flat disc beads are gunmetal and have a brushed sort of finish, they are way cool. Sari silk,crystal beads, blue stone beads and the toggle clasp finish my package. Now for the planning stage and then the "Big Reveal" on Saturday February 26th. at the "Bead Soup Blog Party" I can hardly wait. Be sure and visit Heidi's Blog to see what I sent her.

Valentine Banner

I am in a welcome banner swap for Valentine's Day. I made my banners out of felt and fabric. My hearts are hand sewn together then one corner is left open and folded over and a vintage valentine is the pocket.

"Winter Garden"

I just read this most amazing book by Kristin Hannah Winter Garden. This was a wonderful winter read. I would have to say that it is one of my favorite books for now. I started it yesterday morning and finished this morning. I knew I needed to finish it or I wouldn't get anything done today, but it was so good I didn't want it to end.  I am looking forward to her next book. 

Metal Stamp Set Giveaway on Lori's Blog!!!!!

Lori Anderson of "Pretty Things" blog (and Bead Soup Bog Party) is giving away a fabulous metal stamp set on her Blog. Check it out here.

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2011/01/metal-stamp-giveaway.html

 

 

Good Luck!

Crunchy Sweet Brussels Sprouts Salad

Here is the recipe for the salad. This is "Food Network" Sunny Anderson's recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/crunchy-sweet-brussels-sprout-salad-recipe/index.html

When I make it again I plan to add green onions and maybe use almonds instead of walnuts.

"Healthy Me"

This year rather than make yet another "diet" resolution I have just decided I would eat healthier. I know ...boring, but not really. I purchased a couple of books:
This book  has a lot of great ideas. I have been eating quite a bit of fruit and even tried pineapple again after years of not liking it. It's actually pretty good.

Tonight I fixed a vegetable I have never made in the almost 27 years I've been married. Can you guess what is is?
It was absolutely delicious and healthy and lo-cal. I found the recipe in a magazine at my hair salon. I saw it in December and have been thinking about the recipe. On Tuesday I had a hair appointment got the recipe. YUMMY!

MIA Col James E. Dennany, Maj Robert L. Tucci from Vietnam Identified

Airmen Missing From Vietnam War Identified

via waronterrornews.typepad.com

This is important news, I have had Maj. James Dennany's POW bracelet since I was in 6th or 7th grade. When they released the POW's my guy did not come home. This is the first I have heard about him. Tomorrow I am wearing my bracelet again to honor his service to our country.

And the winner is..........................................

I'll tell you further down, but here's a sneak peek of the prize.................................
A vintage box, filled with....................................................................... 

vintage sewing notions.

I want to thank everyone for all of the wonderful ideas. The winner and winning idea is...........

Jackie Smith and her kitchen spice idea. I have just the place in my kitchen I will be putting the drawers. I have to move some cool jars around, maybe even put them away for a while. I will post pictures of the cabinet in place once I move things around in the kitchen. Jackie please e-mail me your address and I will mail out your box of goodies.

What to put in them..........?

Yesterday my husband and I went with my parents antiquing.  One of the  large antique malls over by Lake Michigan holds a annual New Year's Day sale. I haven't been in several years, so when my mom asked if I wanted to go, I said yes. Well it was rather a disappointment. The mall was extremely busy, they had food and drink, and apparently a lot of people went for that. It was hard to get into the booths and quite a bit of the stuff was garage sale fare. I bought nothing there.  On the way there we saw that another mall was open and decided we would go there after we were done at the"big" mall.  The smaller  mall was busy too, but not nearly as busy as the other and I found something!

For Christmas I received some money and when I saw these drawers I knew I wanted them. I shopped the whole mall,  and then went back to where the drawers were. They were still there so I took them up to the counter and bought them. While I was paying for them the ladies behind the counter were commenting about how great they were and they wished they had seen them. I usually find more than just one thing when I go antiquing but this time one thing for myself was perfect. Here they are:

Now for the title for this post, "What to put in them?" I can't decide what to use them for, the unit size is 14"wide x 14" tall and they are 5"deep. I spent an hour cleaning and bri-waxing them. They would easily fit on a counter.  If you've followed me this far, thanks for reading, and if you comment on this post with an idea what to use them for I will enter your name to win a surprise givaway. I will pick the winner of the givaway on Wednesday January 5th.