One Year Anniversary Give-Back!

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day!
...I had a cozy, comfy day at home with my longtime Valentine!

Tomorrow is a really big day for me!
First of all, it is the first anniversary of 52 Flea!




It was just one year ago that I was invited to Evi's home for a Valentine luncheon.
My girlfriends and I sat around Evi's dining room table....talking so fast, all at once...
... we were so excited to be together!
It was then and there that these girls... Evi, Paula, Debbie and Carole, of Maynard Greenhouse convinced me to go ahead...give it a try...create a blog of my own.

I returned home and on February 15th, 2009, 52 Flea was born...
... and I published my very first post!

...352 posts in 365 days!

I know, that's crazy!

What can I say?
...I like it!

Anyway, I have never looked back...
I have met so many amazing people and even traveled far away to meet a few in person!
I guess it would be an understatement to say that I really enjoy blogging!

So.....guess where I am going tomorrow for lunch?

Yes, I am off to Evi's beautiful home again...to meet up with the girls for another spectacular and delicious Valentine luncheon! Evi spoils us so!
Besides all the fun....
...I wonder what will happen this time?

Now to the business at hand...
...a huge Thank You on 52 Flea's First Anniversary...

...this is my chance to Give-Back to all my friends here in bloglandia. Thank you for encouraging me, for making me smile and sometimes laugh out loud... for lifting my spirits when they needed lifting... for all your kind words and comments.....for showing me how to be a better friend...
... and for assuring me that I am not alone...I now know that there are many kindred spirits out there.
You are truly a gracious, good spirited, generous and fun loving community and I am very grateful to be a part of it!
Thank you to all who follow along, to those who stop by occasionally, to those who leave comments... and to those who don't!



To begin with...the winner of 52 Flea's One Year Blogversary Give-Back ...
...will receive a copy of the new spring edition of ...
Jeanne D'Arc Living Magazine!

Wait....there's more!



Have you heard of Lisa Leonard Designs? Do you read Lisa's wonderful blog? Lisa was featured in the spring edition of Artful Blogging...on page 52 to be exact! She was also a speaker at BlissDom'10...an annual convention of women bloggers that I am just learning about...It was held in Nashville a few weeks ago.



I am in love with Lisa's sterling silver jewelry creations and have ordered the Captured Heart necklace with my Dan and Kate's names hand stamped on it. I love her classic simple lines. Her designs are perfect as gifts for just about anyone...(mothers....look at her heart strings piece)! Lisa has necklaces and bracelets with inspirational words, charming designs and so much more! Check out her online store here ...



Because I adore her jewelry so much...the winner of this 52 Flea Blogversary Give Back will receive a $50 gift certificate toward the purchase of a piece of handmade sterling silver jewelry by this talented artist and soulful blogger.
I am truly charmed by Lisa and her line of beautiful jewelry!




And finally the winner will receive a copy of the winter edition of
Somerset Life!
Why, you ask?
Because you probably haven't been able to find a copy due to my husband purchasing all available in the county!




To enter this Give-Back all you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me you would like a chance.
If you can't figure out how to leave a comment...send me an email!

This Give Back is open to everyone who stops by to say hello and enter....it does not matter where in the world you are!

You do not have to be a follower...
You do not have to stand on your head or do twelve jumping jacks.

Just tell me that you are interested for a chance to win!

If you would like to post about my Give-Back or put it on your sidebar or both..
...it would be appreciated...spread the blog love...

If you choose to do so, leave a second comment and let me know...
...I will enter your name for a second chance.



And that's it!

Entries will be accepted up until...
... Monday, February 22nd at 6 p.m. EST

Thank you and Good luck!

I will be sure to let you know all about our Valentine luncheon!
I am so excited!
I hope I can sleep! :)

Valentine Pinks

Tomorrow is Valentine's day...
...hope you celebrate with loved ones...



A few pretty pink collages...



Spring flowers...



Pink ribbons, feathers, millinery flowers, bits and bobs...all in a jar...
Busy weekend...
Will I ever get it all together?

Please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more Valentine/Pink Saturday Posts and don't forget to visit Joan at Anything Goes Here starting this evening for her Vintage Valentine Party.

Hope you have a happy weekend....no matter who you spend it with!
Hugs from a scattered, loopy Laura!

Pink Post

Well, since I claimed my pretty pink primrose....
...it was only fair that I indulge Rob with his weakness for sugar cookies...



pink hearts...



pink, white and red sprinkles for Valentine's day...



Isn't this the prettiest image from Jeanne D'Arc Living?....
....love this vintage soft pink nightgown...



...thrift store valentines...



...another image from JDL...
...love, love, love these pinks...



...more valentines...



vintage notions, ribbons, millinery flowers...
...from JDL





Just some soft and pretty pinks to share...
...so happy to have the weekend upon us...

To see more pink posts visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound

Hope your Saturday is all that you want it to be!
:)

With Fond Love

I'm looking forward to the weekend...
...to digging around under the eaves in the attic...
...to find my stash of vintage valentines and old candy boxes...
...I know they're in there somewhere!

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

I hope your week is going well!
With fond love,
Laura :)

Violets and Valentines

The weekend is almost here...
...do you have plans?

If you are in the area....Earth Angels will be having their Heart of Winter event in Warwick, NY.
This year it will be held at the Warwick Antique Barn...
....antiques and art....what could be better? :)

I had hoped to be there but will have to be at the office instead.. :(

If you get there, I am sure you will not be disappointed....take pictures to share!

Good night friends!
Laura

Bitter Pills for Sweethearts

There are just a few days left before the company that I have worked for...
...for over 27 years... will be laying off most of its employees.
Some people will keep their jobs...some will be moving on to other companies...some will be forced to collect unemployment until they can secure a new position.



We have been together... a family of sorts...for a very long time.

My coworkers have known my children since birth and I have known theirs. We have attended and rejoiced at each others weddings or childrens weddings, cried at family funerals together, celebrated birthdays, baptisms, christenings and retirements together. We have had hilarious times at holiday parties, dressed up for Halloween, had Oktoberfests, barbecues, participated in triathlons together, raised money for charities together and played countless jokes on each other.



We care about each other and will miss one another.



We have been exchanging emails, addresses and phone numbers...
... and pledging to stay in touch.



It has been a tough week. It will be hard to say goodbye on Friday.

I will continue working for a few more weeks to help with everyone's transition, tie up loose ends and process the mountain of paperwork that is inevitable during this time of change.

Lots of mixed emotions!
They are all my sweethearts.

Sweater Craft Session

My Sweater Craft Session was nothing less than fabulous! I was up early yesterday morning and finished up the "goody bags" that I was bringing along to share with the other participants. Since we all know about my limited crafting abilities...I decided to photocopy some vintage Valentines Day postcards to share so that these creative folks could use them in their artwork.

Are you ready? This is a very long post!



Irvington is not far from me...just across the Hudson River...a charming little river town...



The day long session was held in the beautiful home of Jane...Charlotte's close friend.
Sweet Charlotte greeted me at the door with a warm and welcoming smile and a big hug...
I was immediately comfortable, happy and excited!



Three tables were set with vintage pie plates full of goodness and these wonderful sweater covered paper coffee cups...
(click any photograph to enlarge for details!)



I found my spot!



Look at all the little bits of trim inside my cup...



I LOVE these vintage French red and white number tapes supplied by Papier Valise , one of the sponsors ...
...in fact, on Friday I had just received three in the mail that I purchased from Corey Amaro's online shop, Tongue In Cheek Antiques.

Charlotte gave me number 55....pretty close to 52! :)

Tinsel Trading trims and treasures to use in our creating...





...and baskets of beautiful felted sweaters were set about the room waiting for us to create!





Samples of things to make were displayed on tables and benches...





And then there was a large table full of "door prizes"...

















...Be still my heart! Many of the above items were made by Charlotte and others were made by Rebecca Sower, Denise Sharp and other talented artist friends of Charlotte...
...of course the book was one of Charlotte's!

Next....the creative artists and crafters who were taking the class with me distributed the most amazing little handmade treats and gifts...









These little tin cones were dated 1949 and were given to us by Melissa McCobb Hubbell of thegardenofpinkshadows.typepad.com
She got them on Ebay....I LOVE them! Perfect to hold posies or upside down as a tiny party hat!





...and that was just some of the goodness that was shared!

These lovely women were not only enormously talented but so willing to share their talents and skills...



This is the start of the embellishment process of the sweater tote being worked on by the talented Amy Powers of Inspire Company who, along with her two sisters and mother were seated at my table.



We started off the morning with coffee, tea and hot scones....
...delicious!





Charlotte gave us a run down of all the wonderful projects we could choose...
...she had lots of no sew projects for those of us who, as Stacy put it...were "virgin crafters"...
...(I think I was the only one of those...)



This is a wonderful Valentine mobile....perfect for me...no sewing required and besides I have about a zillion of those embroidery hoops which I can't resist picking up for a dime or quarter every time I come across one at the thrift store.
... They have been siting all together in a huge basket looking so cool ...
...I just knew I would find something to do with those things one day!



Now these are two finished projects that I MUST try....I took the pattern with me....
The necklace above was made by Meleen...



This one was made by Danielle Muller of The Vintage Dragonfly.
Aren't they both stunning!?!



Amy taught us how to make little rosettes....
I believe that this necklace was made by Loretta Marvel of Pomegranates and Paper...



Jessica was sitting next to me....lovely manicure... and she is working here on a bracelet put together with wire and sweater rounds...pretty greens!...
Jessica also prevented me twice from cutting into my sweater tote as I was cutting out small wool rounds with Amy's fabulous scalloped pinking sheers...Thank you Jessica and Amy!



This was Charlotte's charming sample bracelet...



Here is one of the pretty sample sweater totes that some of us chose to try our hand at...



and this is the finished project of one of the other talented ladies...



...and another... this one was crafted by Marlene Haveron of Bee Serendiptous ...

I hope I have everyone's names and projects correct...please let me know, ladies if you are reading this and I have mixed things up!! I want to give credit where due!



...and another in progress...Debbie Jones' work!



Another of Charlotte's beautiful sample sweater totes...



Amy and her finished sweater tote...
...Beautiful!... both of them...



...and a closeup of it under construction...



OK, this is mine.



...a little lopsided...the stitching on the left is a different stitch than the stitching on the right...
...Oh, and thanks to Jennifer for threading my big old needle... I'm not kidding...with my funky old thread...
...And I apologize about that vintage 1962 tacky glue...



I'm not done with it yet. I did discover this wonderful product though...it's called fabric glue.
Who knew?
... I guess you all did.



But this spectacular creation is done!
Now, this was the easiest of all. A simple round of sweater wool, batting and a simple running stitch around the edge .... and Voila!...a charming pincushion!
... Charlotte provided the little vintage cups and saucers...
...I made my cushion in class and decorated it at home with odds and ends around home here.
...I love it!





Oh yea....I was good at the pin cushions!





...And this was my door prize....a beautiful creation by Denise Sharp!
Gorgeous!

So....I have not told you yet about the delicious lunch prepared by Suzanne and the beautiful Victorian home she so graciously opened up to us....I will save that for tomorrow!

As you can see, the day was full of fun, companionship and beautiful things! Many thanks to Charlotte Lyons and to all those gracious ladies who had so much patience with me!
We had tons of fun at our table...

I am so glad that I decided to try something new! Felted sweater crafting is fun!

Have a great night!
:) Laura