Christmas around the shop...

Heres just a sampling of what you will find inside of Just a bed of roses this winter...there is so much more, and I take pictures of the so much more and they just dont turn out...so my new years goal is to work on taking better pictures for my blog, isnt that a great idea?

Hope everyones shopping is about done, mine isnt.

The hot item this year in the shop is Jayna's altered art neclaces, oh my goodness, have they ever been fabulously fun. She was able to take customers home pictures and turn them into neclace treasures for really special gifts.

DRUM ROLL..........

Well...its come and gone and was it ever the funnest, as you will see. Shellies ugly sweaters from ebay never showed up, so day of the party she took old christmas stockings, put them on red sweatshirts and put christmas lights on all of them for her family! It wouldnt hurt to start early in the year to find your ugly sweaters, it was much harder than I thought. There were probably 45 guests all decked out in Ugly outfits.

The day before I found a ugly vest and found really ugly handmade ornaments to attach, the back was the best, it has a santa face out of yarn made from a cut up clorox bottle, mine is the first two pictures on this post...I got 3rd prize

My brother looked like Mr. Rogers, my sister is wearing something like an old tablecloth with green crochet edges made into a top, how lucky was she to find this one! My mother was wearing a festive tree shirt!

THE PRESENTS: Oh what fun...here is Greg, he loves the Hog Movie, wants a Harley, now he has one and a jacket! I did 'THE NIGHT BEFORE HER FUNERAL" for my mother as she has a new funeral phobia and has laid out her rules for how she wants her funeral! Veronica got a glittery fishing pole and bait bag. Steve got a camaflauged container to hide his dr. pepper

Shellie got Her favorite shoes: they have a glow sticks in the heels and are clear plastic, for her pole exercising!

It was sooo much fun to see how the presents matched the person .

Instead of using a tv remote control for my sandras present, my son took a computer keyboard, a big size is just what she needed. She loved it, she could control everything and anything, we all laughed alot. We served lasagna, salad, garlic bread and everyone brought homemade goodies. We partied for 5 hours and really didnt want it to end then...we will see what next year brings?

Ugly Sweater Christmas party ANTICIPATION!

Oh my goodness, the party is two days away and I have been searching high and low for a really ugly christmas sweater or shirt or something! Still nothing. I am calling some friends tomorrow in desperation. Our gag gifts are just turning out spectacular, we will be laughing so hard I am afraid some of us will have to wear a diaper! I cant wait to share the party with you, so please stop back.

Here is another sample of a gag gift: My sister has always seemed to have a "controlling" problem....with everyone! So, my son has her name for the gag gift and he is taking a remote control and making it into a Sandra remote control and the buttons will say things like: Buy this house (as she is a realtor), Hurry up and dont be late, then all of her kids names etc. You get the idea. Cant wait to see what he comes up with. Wish me luck in finding an outfit!

UGLIEST CHRISTMAS OUTFIT family Christmas Party

Here is a "sneak peek" for the ugliest Christmas sweaters (or outfit) contest for our family Christmas party this year...all 50 of us are on a mad dash searching through the thrift store racks and laughing hysterically at what we are finding! You should see my sisters sweater who is a real estate agent...Oh it's ugly! Just cant wait to post pictures of this party which is mid dec.
To top it off we have to bring a "gag" gift for the person whos name we drew. My husband has our sons girlfriend who is a very "girly girl" and he is a fisherman, so she is getting this fishing pole that is just so glittery and glam along with a fluffy bait bag! Get the picture!
If you are in a delima on a fun family party this is a great idea, keeping in mind your guests need to be the fun creative type.

May PEACE be more than a SEASON

MAY PEACE BE MORE THAN A SEASON...what a lovely thought to hold in your heart. Karen frames antique(20's to the 40's) quilted stars and hearts and adds precious keepsake sayings to place around your cottage.

Love is what is in the room with you when you at Christmas when you stop opening the presents.

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under the tree.

Here is a new one in which you can choose your favorite antique quilted hearts and your family name and have a treasured keepsake. Order yours for Christmas...a gift to be loved!

PEPPERMINT DESSERT fluffy & Pretty Pink

Isnt' this a PRETTY PINK dessert...so fabulous for the holidays and so very easy to make. This is my contribution for the cookie exchange...too busy for cookies at the moment as furniture is selling in the shop and we're having to replace it...so I am doing more decorating than baking , lets put it that way! And it's time to celebrate birthdays for two little grandgirls!

PEPPERMINT DESSERT:
1 qt. whipping cream (dont over whip, my first time turned to butter

1 c. nuts ( I used almonds, walnuts are fine too)

1 c. chopped candy canes, chopped fine in the blender ( I roll with rolling pin first)

20-30 large marshmellows torn in like 4-5 pieces each

Whip cream, crush candy canes and add cut up marshmellow, nuts and add to cream. Freeze, take out of freezer, cut and serve, drizzle with your favorite chocolate sauce, or hot fudge! Yum!

Makes a LARGE pan of them, in picure the glass pan is bigger than the 9 x 13"

Enjoy and look forward to viewing and trying holiday treats from mmp girls and customers!

Shabby & Chic Glittery window floral

Wanted to share my latest creation...which may be going to my very favorite, sweetest, bestest customer and friends home here in Farmington.
Old chippy painted windows can be so fun to be creative with, and Christmas is no exception. Love the style of this window , and now it glitters and sparkles for the Christmas Holidays ahead.
If you live close (Utah), please come in as we are bursting with Christmas goodies and unique handmade gifts. Each day something different is featured at 10% off, and when you spend 50.00 ( not on sale items) you will get 5.00 off or a can of pink hot chocolate.

Its beginning to look alot like CHRISTMAS

Our home looks like a BIG candy cane outlined in red and white lights and the most beautiful huge lighted SNOWFLAKES to set it off SO stunningly. It was easy this year, as we just called on the phone and wrote out a huge check and TA DA, we are lighted for Christmas! (always wanted to do that!) Our sunroom is the favorite of mine with its big windows and in the front I have a thin flocked tree with white mini lights. On each side are star garlands dangling down from the top window. It snowed today an inch, and I couldnt wait to snap pictures of the white glittery freshly fallen snow, to bad it will be gone tomorrow, DID I MENTION it is FREEZING? We snuggled up to the movie "Hairspray" today as it snowed and was it ever PINK and 60's, and isnt John Travolta SO interesting as an obese woman! Hope you enjoy our outdoor decorating as much as we do, we race to see who can turn on the lights first! I will take a full picture from the road when it gets really snowy...hope that's before Christmas!

SALT LAKE TEMPLE at Christmas time

Nothing is more beautiful during the holidays than a chilly stroll in the evening on the grounds at Temple Square in Salt Lake city, Utah. Millions of little lights decorate the trees, making a very sweet spiritual experience. I also had the special opportunity to visit the Kaysville Tabernacle where hundred of nativities were on display over Thanksgiving. One thing we are really missing here is the pretty snow...not missing the actual snow, just the beauty of it with the lights!

Ahhhhh...FAMILY HOLIDAY MEMORIES!

Whats a nice Thanksgiving dinner without someone challenging all the men to an arm wrestle?

Here is little Brock, sneaking into the room of pies with his fork....mmmmmmmm before dinner!

This is my husband, first born and little ole me in the 60's at Christmas time, arent we dreamy?Check out the pink carpet, vacuum and the homemade pie, bet she made the pie in heels too!
Actually I just had to share a new technique I have just learned on the internet...its the copy and paste, SO FUN! (P.S. Gotcha...I wasn't even married in the 60's, I was only a youngster in love with the Beatles!)
Lets get in the Christmas Spirit now...Ho Ho Ho!

Dig out your HOLIDAY COOKIE RECIPES!

COMING SOON, A MAKEMINEPINK.COM online cookie exchange . Join the make mine pink bloggers for a christmas cookie exchange. Since it will be difficult to get us all together, lets exchange our favorite cookie recipes. Starting dec. 3-through out the week, the bloggers at mmpink will post their favorite cookie recipe or two, maybe a few family traditions, some christmas cheer and a quick peek at their christmas decor.

How about you, will you do the same? If you leave a comment on the mmp blog we will be happy to visit your blog. Please have cookies ready...So go dig those yummy recipes out from the bottom of your cook book drawers and I will go look for mine.

Vintage ADS from old magazines

I love ads from old magazines...this is a sweet wrigleys gum ad probably from the 50's, I have framed in oak which has been antiqued with the poplular limey green. This is for sale in the shop, come on in for more. Right now I am working on framing old christmas advertising...tis the season! Hope you are getting as excited for the holidays as I am!

VINTAGE CHRISTMAS is COMING!

Just to tease you as ALL THINGS TO COME for a VINTAGE CHRISTMAS!

SEASON to COUNT OUR BLESSINGS

I love to take quiet moments sitting with my dainty tea cup filled with PINK HOT CHOCOLATE and reflect on the blessings that come my way...

How each person I meet each day adds so much to happiness & quality to my life. My shop has been opened 9 months now and I am blessed each day with friendships that will last forever. SPECIAL SPECIAL thanks to the lovely gals I work with that support me and keep my spirits up when I get down.

I am thankful I have been given the talent to create, its just something inside me that has to come out everyday and I love to share, inspire and help others create a safe haven of their own.

I am thankful that my body lets me do what I love,(with a little choirpractic work) I never want to take that for granted.

My husband, children and grandchildren,parents and brothers and sisters are a source of great joy and I love being with them.

I beleive that God lives, that he loves me, I love him and I will return to live forever with him and the ones I love. I love to serve others, I am blessed beyond measure when I serve and give of myself.

As you find YOUR quiet moments this thankful time of year I hope you find great PEACE and JOY!

Shellies FALL HALLOWEEN ART SHOW

What a blessing my daughter is...it is such a joy to see her pour her heart and soul into a painting and share her talent with others so that it may enhance our lives.

Shellie and her dearest art friends and teacher held their first big art show and was it ever fabulous. Actually it was quite haunting as shellie adorned her home in Halloween creatures and art of witches, pumpkins, mummies, spiders, abstracts and even some normal art was placed artistly around her "haunted mansion" of a place.

First let me tell you, it was tons of work and we mean tons...there were also refreshments just perfect for a fall outing plus they sold many originals, which usually causes a tear to be shed by them.

She has a new website I am hoping to announce soon. In the mean time please visit my website and under "fall window shopping" her pictures are for viewing.

IT'S HALLOWEEN, DONT BE SCARED!

You dont know how excited I am to be back on my blogger...I have learned a lesson the hard way, dont spill dr. pepper on your camera, or you will be out of business until you can afford a new one!

Halloween has been so fun this year, as you can see I hung beautiful witch hats from the awning and they would blow in the soft fall breezes. What I didnt get pictures of are my vintage skeletons, each uniquely dressed in vintage furs and dripping in old jewelry...check back next year! The fall boutique was fabulous, unfortunatly it may have been my retirement one?

A scarey favorite was the 5' black witch boot, many I adorned in old wrinkly tea dyed ratty lacy curtains, cheese cloth or satin pillowcases.

If you will go into our website under fall window shopping catagory I have posted many pictures of halloween in the shop and from the windows.

antique LOVEBIRDS Birthday present

Husband and I took a little "get away" for our birthdays, our favorite thing to do is visit antique shops and malls and eat lots of good food. I found this sweetest musical german antique caliope at Treasures in Springville, Utah. I glanced at the precious little cherubs and then the windmill caught my eye as our last name is Dutch, adoringly picked it up to admire and when I saw the 2 little silver love birds at the top I made claim to my husband...this is what I want for my birthday! He smiled (and thought " how easy" ) all I could find for him was an cute old box of staws...
Lets face it, to be married 34 years and be happy in love, what could be better!

Please Join Us for Tea

Fill your week with Tea Parties !!!

Starting Monday September 10, have a fun filled week with the
Make Mine Pink Bloggers as they host a virtual Tea Party.

All the information and a list of participating Make Mine Pink Blogs will be posted here on Make Mine Pink's blog~ so watch for more details as September 10 draws closer.

Why Tea Party? Well what can be more fun, tea for two, tea for one, a princess tea, a mother/daughter tea, best friends tea, long lost friends tea, or to just take a moment to slow down and enjoy the tea.

Join in on the fun and host a virtual tea party too. We will be visiting all the Make Mine Pink blogs and yours too if you decide to host your own party.

You will see beautiful and unique tables set for tea; many will have a special theme.
Will you join us and post a photo of your Tea Party on your very own blog?

Post a comment on Make Mine Pink’s Blog and we will include you on the list.
So expect many visitors and please have cookies ready.

MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR Visit if in Salt Lake City

Have you heard of the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir from Salt Lake City, and the Spoken Word program done every Sunday morning since I think 75 years ago? It is televised. Husband and I love to go there whenever possible and feel the peaceful spirit the choir brings to the audience as they perform so Grandly. My dream is to travel with them on their next tour...wouldnt that be a chance of a lifetime! I literally tear up the minute I walk into the tabernacle and see and hear them, the spirit is very strong in that sacred building. Last week I couldn't hold back the tears as they sang my favorite song "You'll Never Walk Alone", I dont know why that song makes me cry, especially when they sing it.

If you are coming to Salt Lake city, email me and I will tell you some fabulous places you must indulge in to eat. We had brunch at the famous Little America , I thought I had died and gone to heaven, then the next day I had to go buy bigger clothes! Yes, it was that good!

Daughters FIRST ART SHOW I'm a proud mom!

Here is the Poster outside of the Salt Lake City's Wells Fargo Building announcing my beautiful daughters very first art show. It was so special to walk into the Panache restaurant and see her art work displayed so perfectly in this upscale place where people appreciate good art. It will be on display downtown all month, if your intown I invite you to enjoy her work. I did have a big dissapointment, my camera battery died on me after only 3 pictures...of all times!

YOU CANT DO BUSINESS FROM AN EMPTY WAGON

This morning before venturing out to the yard sales, I was seriously thinking about ALL my MANY PILES I deal with every single day of my life!

Then off the wall at our first estate sale my dear on the ball hubbie found this old picture of a wooden horse drawn wagon and it stated: You Can't do business from an empty wagon! He was insistant on buying this (only 2 bucks), and it made me think of my MANY PILES again and gave me purpose to keep on going, of course!

I THOUGHT I was a decorator, antique collector, shop owner, internet business owner, designer, etc etc. HOWEVER I have realized I am really a 'PROFESSIONAL PILE MAKER." I am very good at it too...

Every day I make piles, sort through piles, collect piles, throw out piles, give away piles, wade through big piles, get irritated at many piles and irritate others with them, many times I LOVE MY PILES! Its a good thing as this seems to be my calling in life!

So this little antique sign gave me a new MOTTO, now I am off to pull the piles from the car and truck just freshly collected and sort through into PILES once again...now this one goes to the shop, this one goes to ebay, this one goes to a boutique, this one is trash...and MY LIFE IS VERY FILLED UP!

Think about your many piles...

EPAMINONDAS Grandma Johnson always told us this story!

During a little summer "antique" shopping trip a few weeks ago as I was leaving an antique mall my eyes glanced at this little red book called "EPAMINONDOS AND HIS AUNTIE. Well, my grandsons will testify that I let out a scream and I was jumping up and down (to the best of my ability) and I told my husband that nothing could stop me from buying this book! (was no small price tag either).

Growing up my girl cousins and I would stay at grandma Johnsons in the summertime she always told us this story and did the motions and made it sound so funny. Grandma had been a first grade teacher and it was one of her favorite books. The first born cousin received her copy.

Epaminondos is a little black boy who drags bread with a rope, puts butter on his head and of course it melts and he dips the dog in the water till it almost drowns...auntie keeps trying to teach him the right way to do things...However her favorite saying to him is " EPAMINONDOS YOU AINT GOT THE SENSE YOU WERE BORN WITH" oh how we would giggle when we heard that!

As my children were growing up sometimes when they or someone else did something really quite STUPID I would call them EPAMINONDOS.

See you never know what memories a little shopping trip to an antique store is going to stir you!