Vintage Vacation Swap Update

Hi Folks!  Some of you remember this post telling you about joining in on my first blog swap.  Well, the deadline for shipping out our packages is July 1st, and yesterday I lovingly packed up 5 different packages in pretty colored tissue paper, satin ribbon and white silk flowers, packed them all carefully into a USPS flat rate box, and it was just picked up by our postal carrier.  She should have it in 2-3 days.

The rules said you had to give at least 2 vintage or thrifted items with a vacation theme, something hand made, something to eat, and maybe some craft supplies for your swap partner's stash.

I had a great time getting this box of goodies together for my partner, Kathi.

And I can't wait to see if she likes what I have chosen for her.

And I also can't wait to see what she's sending out to me.

But I guess I'll have to wait a few more days, just like she will have to wait.

I sure do hope she gets my package in the mail on time!  The suspense is killing me!

I'll share what I receive, and what I sent to Kathi, as soon as all the 'swapping' is done.  Blessings, Becky

'The Sale'

Another quick note to tell you about 'the sale' this past Saturday.  I had a booth at the Georgia Farmgirls Summer Flea Market, the first of four monthly flea market sales.  As the blogger for the group, I did a good job of taking pics of everyone else's booths, but didn't get a one of my booth - so it goes!

My booth included some of my hand made crafts and greeting cards, older aprons, vintage linens, postcards, and vintage glassware, ceramics and porcelain.  When all was said and done, after paying for my booth space, I made a bit over $100, so I was pleased.  The aprons were popular, as were the vintage linens and my hand made greeting cards.

For more information on the sale, you can check out the Georgia Farmgirls blog HERE.

I'll be back tomorrow with an update on the Vintage Vacation Swap - my first adventure into the world of blog swaps!  Take care, Becky

Quick Note

Hello!  I'm sorry it's been so long since I did a post, but I've been a busy girl this last couple of weeks!  Since my last post I've been to Florida for a few days and have been working very hard to get things ready for the Georgia Farmgirls 'Summer Flea Market'!  I've got all kinds of new goodies to sell, with 14 aprons and tons of vintage hankies, Victorian post cards, glassware, linens and MORE!  And we've got some great vendors lined up , too.  Today is the day, so I'll be back in the next day or two to tell you all about it.  Until then, try to stay cool (seriously - it's too hot here!!!) and have a great weekend!  Becky

Making Hay While The Sun Shines!

Hi Folks!  I hope you are all doing well and having a COOL weekend!  Here in the hills of northern Georgia our high today should reach a chilly 97 degrees, with a heat index of over 100!  How's that for summertime?  But it's all good, because I plan on staying inside, doing some cooking, some crafting, AND some laundry in preparation for some packing!

All four ATC's

This week has been a whirlwind of activities!  Monday was 'Mama Day', Tuesday was somehow lost - I just couldn't seem to get moving!  Wednesdy was laundry day, Thursday was the Georgia Farmgirls 'Thursday Night Craft Party', and I taught a class on making artist trading cards, or ATC's.  More on that in a minute! 

Mary Ann's ATC

Then Friday was yard sales (a great treasure day!), a haircut, grocery shopping, and spending time with my two new neighbors Mary Ann and Phyllis at the henhouse getting it ready for our big June meeting and 1st birthday party, which was yesterday (Saturday).  And the meeting/party was so great!!!  We had 10 women and three children, we had a great business meeting where we talked about things we wanted to do and see happen in our group in it's 2nd year.  Then we played games and had prizes and gift bags and cake and ice cream and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  To me, the best times were when we were all just chatting with each other, because that's when we shared tips and tricks and ideas about things - it was SO COOL!!!

Sarah's ATC

As for the ATC class on Thursday night, it was lots of fun!  I did definitions of both art and artist first of all because I wanted to show the 'students' that everyone is or can be an artist.  Then I did a brief history of ATC's, ACEO's and LTC's, ad then we each took an envelope that I had prepared ahead of time.  Each one had a set of 6 identical farm type clipart pictures and a set of 6 identical sayings or quotes. 

My ATC

I had the envelopes marked with 1 - 7 and each person chose a # and that is the one they got.  Then we got to work and made four identical ATC's (there were 4 of us in the class) and it was just a blast!  We shared ideas and projects, and every single person's designs were different, but they all blended together so well.  We had all used stickles and they were still wet, so we agreed to leave them on a shelf at the henhouse, then display them at the meeting on Saturday, and then we traded them all after the meeting.  It was a lot of fun, and the examples caused a stir of interest at the meeting yesterday.

Phyllis' ATC

It was a great week, and I had lots of fun, but I was exhausted by yesterday afternoon and slept for an hour, flat on my stomach on the sofa - and I never sleep on my stomach!

Oh!  And remember up top I said something about some packing?  Well, my friend has to go to the Florida panhandle for some business, and HAS to stay in a condo on the beach, and NEEDS me to go with her, so of course I couldn't say no!  We'll probably be leaving on Wednesday and return on Saturday.  The place we will be staying is already having oil on the beach, so I will take pictures and share what I found with you some time after we return.  Hubby and the girls will stay here at home - this will be a girls only trip, and my first in over five years, so while it will partly be a business trip, we'll be sure to have some fun along the way!

Overall, for right now, life is good!  I am so grateful that God has blessed me with not one, but two new neighbors!  For almost seven years I have been praying for a neighbor, and now I have two!!!  And no, we don't live in the same neighborhood.  The distance between Mary Ann and me is @ 4 miles, and Phyllis is another 6-7 miles past her, but you know what?  Just like being a farmgirl is a state of the heart, so is being a neighbor!!! 

I'd better get off of here!  I still have 2 posts to do on the GAFG blog, and I've GOT to get my kitchen cleaned up and cook a real meal tonight, or hubby might just fire me as chief cook and washer of dishes and clothes!  And we wouldn't want that, now would we??? 

Take care, have a blessed week, and look for the little things in life that make the difference!  Blessings, Becky

A First Time for Everything!

So, in an ongoing attempt to get back into society and try to have a life, I've decided to participate in my first ever bloggers SWAP!  I've seen people's posts about loving swaps and giving and getting such great treats, but never had the time, money or energy to participate.  When I saw the post about THIS swap, I decided to jump in and give swaps a try.

Over the weekend I got the email with the contact info for my swap partner, and I must say I am excited!  My partner's name is Kathi, she lives in Virginia and is a very busy single mom of four kids.  Like me she loves papercrafting, vintage and defines herself as 'a shabby girl thru and thru'. 

For this swap there is a $20 limit before shipping, and you must include at least two vintage or thrifted items, something handmade, something to eat, and possibly some crafty supplies.

I have already decided on my theme, started my crafty gift, and just this morning ordered the edibles from a great website I found the other day.  Actually, that's what decided me on the theme I chose.  I'll try to share a sneak peek from time to time, but I can't share too much until after Kathi recieves her gift some time in early July.  I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, you know!

Have a great day!  Blessings, Becky

Differences . . . . . . . or Similarities?

So, I have a question for you! It may seem an odd kind of question, but it's not really when you think about it. Here goes . . .



When you think of your friends, real friends, what do you see or look at first - your differences or your similarities?


In the last few months I have met two women under the same set of circumstances, and while one of them has become a good friend in a short amount of time. The other one not so much and, unless something changes drastically, I don't see that changing any time soon. So, why the difference between these two ladies?


Well, the first woman - the one I now call friend - and I immediately started noticing our similarities. Such as how we had grown up less than 50 miles from each other and how we both met our loves later in life than most and on and on and on. And our friendship quickly grew based on those similarities. Yes, we acknowledged and accepted our differences, but it was the similarities upon which we built our friendship, and upon which it grew and flourished.


The other lady will not get close enough to even SEE any similarities! Instead she is constantly trying to set herself apart and prove how different (and in some cases how much better) she is from me/us. And it's so sad, because she is robbing herself the friendships of two people who would love to nurture a frienship with her. We keep trying, but she is so busy trying to prove how different she is, that she can't even see the similarities. And I can't help but wonder how many other friendships she has missed out on over the years!


Friendships, especially for women, are so important! We both want, and need, to have that connection, that bond with other women. So tell me, what is it that you see most in your friendships? And if it is differences, how did you overcome that obstacle and build something beautiful out of it?


Becky