Dime Store Chic

Whew!

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I spent the rest of the weekend creating in my studio! I have just listed 14 new pin cushions in my etsy shop at a special sale for the holiday season. Whew! But fun!

The weather outside is crisp and cold, but I was thinking tropical thoughts when I made this vintage souvenir seahorse pin cushion.~~~Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!~~~XXOO, Beth

In My Happy Place

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I hope your Thanksgiving was a wonderful one filled with family, love, and good food! Ours was indeed!

Then I got up before dawn on Friday and headed out to buy a gift for our son. The price was great but I anticipated a challenge as I knew this store was limited in its supply. And Hubby was on call and had to go to work so it was up to me to get in line. I did, got in the store, and was fortunate to snag the coveted piece of electronics which was our son's sole request for Christmas. Feeling relieved I head to the mall. Not just any mall, but Tysons Corner Center, the largest mall on the East Coast. Normally I avoid the mall but I really needed some clothes and the sale prices on the clearance racks called me. Silly that I would shop for clothes for myself on Black Friday at a huge mall, but there it ios. Insanity knows no bounds.

I got to the mall at 8:30. By 10:30 I was wiped out and feeling every ounce of the clothes (and one very heavy set of cookbooks) in the shopping bags I was carrying. The crowds were incredibly thick and dodging folks as I walked through the mall was growing increasingly tiresome. I questioned my sanity several times. Time to go home and be in my happy place...my studio.

I have been making more pin cushions. The vintage figurines I have collected inspire me so.

Such fun! I can't wait to show them to you in my etsy shop once they are completed!

Take care and mind the shopping frenzy out there! I prefer to gift shop on line, particularly at etsy, where I find incredible artists making incredible things! But clothes are a different story--I really hate to shop for clothes! So, find your happy place where ever you are!~~~XXOO, Beth

Northern Neck Swan Song

Hello, My Friends!~~~

Last weekend we raked leaves, secured the boats, and gathered and toed down anything that might blow away during the wonds of winter. We said good-bye to the house on the river by the Chesapeake Bay and foldly looked back on another lovely summer there. We will return in March to rake the stray leaves that have piled up by the door and look forward to another season for 2011.

Until then, I thought you might like to see a few photos.

How lovely are these barberries? Such elegant waxy clusters!

Doggie, Sheila, pines for us to haul in crabs onto the dock so she can bark at them, but the bluecrabs have gone to the bottom to settle in and hibernate for the cold seasons. Wait til next year, Miss Sheila!

A harbinger of Christmas, these Holly berries are all over the tree. Treats for the birds!

And at 6 a.m. of the morning we were to depart, the moon cast an orange glow on the water. Until next year...

Thanks for stopping by!~~~XXOO, Beth

 

Special Holiday Sale!

Hello, My Friends!~~

I am thrilled to announce a special sale in Beth's Bagz etsy shop for the entire holiday season! From now until Januuary 1, 2011 there will be one low shipping cost no matter how many goodies you buy at one time! I have stuffed Beth's Bagz to the rafters with lots of one-of-a-kind whimsies, many under $20 for easy-on-the-wallet and unique goft giving!

Thanks for stopping by!~~~XXOO, Beth

 

Wreath-O-Rama and MORE!

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I am thrilled to announce the addition of vintage, kitschy, one-of-a-kind wreaths and other whimsical holiday goodness in my etsy shop beginning about 7 PM EST, this evening!

If you have a minute hop on over to my etsy shop for a peek!~~~Thanks so much and have a great day!~~~XXOO, Beth

 

If You Are In Falls Church, VA This Saturday

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I will be a vendor at the Falls Church High School Craft Fair this saturday! The sale is from 10-4 and has FREE admission! Falls Church High School is located on Jaguar Trail just off of Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) just inside the Capitol Beltway (I-495). So, if you are in the area stop by! I would love to meet you!

Would you like to see my wounded car? As I previously posted yesterday, my car was hit while parked at a local shopping center. Here is the damage...

A close up of the driver's side fender and wheel...

The front wheel is bent inward which makes the car unsafe for driving. While I await the insurance guy and the subsequent repairs, I am driving a sporty white Honda from the rental agency---yee hah. My poor car! I've had her for over 10 years and I love her! Soon we will be together on the road, I hope. Thanks so much for all of your email well-wishes! I do count myself very lucky that I wasn't in the car upon impact.

Have a great day and I hope to see you on Saturday!~~~XXOO, Beth

I'm A Lucky Girl and Winner of CPS Studios Magazine

Hello, My Friends!

I am one very lucky girl! Today when I was at the local shopping center a car hit my car very hard on the driver's side. The reason I'm so lucky is that I wasn't in my car. I was walking from the store and heard the accident. Of course I wasn't thrilled that my darling VW Bug was hit and busted, but I was very VERY happy I wasn't in the car when the accident happened. I have insurance and all will be well. Of course my car is now spending the night in a tow yard. I'll have it towed to my house tomorrow so it can wait here until it heads to the body shop.

I hope when my car gets fixed, that it looks as good as it does in this photo:

I'll post a photo of it wrecked up after I get it towed here. Of course, I may cry!

Now, for the winner of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Winter 2010 issue which features my studio and vintage holiday decor! THANK YOU to all who left a lovley comment! Love you bunches!!!! ANd the winner is...

...Jayme L! Come on down! You won! Jayme send me your mailing info and I'll get you prize out to you!

Stay safe out there, my friends!~~~XXOO, Beth

A New Fun Blog!

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I am tickled pink to tell you that my dear friend, Debbie Buchanan of Bayberry Cove now has a blog!

Debbie will use her blog to give you updates on new goodies in Bayberry Cove, tell you about the artists, and have fun interactive events including inviting you to submit photos of your celebration decorations! Check in regularly!

To kick off her blog at Bayberry Cove, Debbie has assembled a CUTE basket of goodies from her shop to decorate your harvest table!

To have a chance to WIN this fun basket, hop on over to Bayberry Cove's blog and leave a comment on the give-away post! And white you're there, pop into Bayberry Cove's website and see what's new for you to Celebrate The Seasons!~~~XXOO, Beth

A Familair Face in Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Winter 2010~~& A Give-Away!

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I am thrilled to bits to announce that my studio is featured in the Winter 2010 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios!

My little piece of crafty Heaven in our home's basement has a four page spread in this wonderful, colorful, and creatively inspirational issue! You will also find an article I wrote on displaying and collecting whimsical vintage Christmas goodies!

This fabulous issue will be on your newsstands around November 10th! I will be giving away a copy of CPS Studios Winter 2010 on November 10th. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post for a chance to win!~~~Thanks so much!~~~XXOO, Beth