A Gift and a Giveaway

                                  

Valentines Day is only 2 days away.

Are you ready???

Me neither but that’s ok it will be wonderful because I will be spending it

with my friends at Evi’s houses.

You may remember me talking about it

Here.

I missed it last year because of jury duty and Laura wasn’t able to be there either.

Laura has been in Florida but is coming home earlier then planned so….

YAY she’ll be there too.

With the holiday of Love just around the corner

I wanted to share with you one of my dearest friends

 Julie of Being Ruby.

We met quite early in our blogging life. I immediately liked her and

we have grown closer throughout the years….gosh how long has it been?

Feels like I’ve known her all my life.

That’s a good feeling.

To think, we have never met face to face or talked on the phone but there isn’t a

day that I don’t think of her.

We may write everyday, sometimes not for weeks or months but she knows how much she means to me.

That’s when you know you have a good friend….you can catch up right where you left off  like

no time has passed.

Last month I received from Julie this sweetest little box.

It must have been made for someone dear.

It looks handmade.

A picture of a little girl holding an umbrella, though maybe more to

shade oneself from the sun then protect from the rain.

It comes from a brocante in France.

Inside a small delicate piece of lace and sewing needle.

I started playing around with some of my own sewing goods.

A small spool of thread, buttons, and sequined applique that

I bought at the flea market not too long ago.

On the other side of the cover a lovely print of a

 dove and  French saying.

I still speak some French but

my French reading shhhhheee….

how you say...?

not so good.

so Google came in to help.

WHITE DOVE, UNDER YOUR WING BRING TO THOSE

WHO HAVE MORE

FAITH, HOPE,

CHARITY AND SUBLIME VIRTUES.

isn’t that wonderful?

I wonder if it’s a common saying in France?

maybe we in the US should borrow it.

Thank you Julie I will treasure it forever!!!!

So in the same spirit of giving and to thank all of you that

come here and leave comments of encouragement and love,

I would like to have another giveaway.

The last one was so much fun.

                                                                            


                                                                

Yes the next issue of Jeanne d’Arc Living.

All you need to do is

1. leave a comment for one chance.

2. blog about it for another chance

3. become a follower on linky since google friends connect will be ending sooner and let me know for another chance.
(anyone who has already commented and have followed the old way will still be counted)

Just because I’m lazy  let me know how many times to enter you and

you only need to comment once.

Winner will be picked on Sunday  2:00 pm February 19th.

Bonne Chance!!!!

and Happy Valentines Day!

Carole

Gift Show 2012 part 2

At Choo

God bless you!

Isn’t that a cute name???

I have always loved this booth and admired their work.

I finally decided it was time to buy something from them. 

I bought some charms and a few pieces of jewelry.

What I really love are their bottles filled with the most

 charming little pieces.

Some are little people(elves) sometimes just vintage this and that.

I didn’t take any close up since they were generous enough to let me take photos at all.

Of course the whole time my camera was being a bad girl

 and not auto focusing.

Are you getting bored with that excuse….. I am, but it’s true.

I looked into getting it fixed but its not worth it. I might as well get another camera which I’ve wanted for over a yr now.

It does auto focus half the time just not when I really need it to.

So long story, I’m sorry if these are a bit blurry.

What I was saying before I went on about my camera is I adore their bottles

but they are pricey and as

much as I think everyone would notice them and love them as much as I do

I don’t think my most customers would spend the money.

I hate when that happens  ‘,-(

You love it and you know it fits your look but it’s overpriced.

You sit on it forever to just have to give it away later.

If you could just buy anything you want and not have to worry about price

point being a shop owner would be so much easier.

I know most of my blog friends understand this so I’m not letting you in on anything new.

Just saying…..

Now this was a new line that I’d never seen before.

(again sorry for the blur)

Headbands made with galvanized wire from a gal in California.

I thought it was really different and very feminine.

The only really random shot I took.  It was opposite the booth I had bought from and just

took a chance that no one would yell at me.

I never told you but I did get yelled at once by a vendor.

Gosh it was embarrassing. It wasn’t even his booth but he came right up to me and said I needed

to delete the photos or he would call security.

I was only taking it because I didn’t want to forget

 to go back the next day.

I think he was mad because I wasn’t taking a photo of his ( not so fantastic) booth.

Just saying……

I did buy from this booth…..thank goodness!

so they were happy to let me snap away.

As a matter of fact the more photos I took the more I was buying.

I thought I was done but they were happy to keep adding to the order.

I have to say that every sales rep was super nice.

Very appreciative to have me stop to place an order.

I don’t expect to have them say anything but it was still nice to hear.

Great use for old wood for making small bookshelves.

They look like old pallets.

Now these of course are pallets cut in half. They make great open drawers. I remember seeing

them using this last year and keeping there order forms in them.

You never know where you’ll find inspirations?


Joining Kathleen at Faded Charm
for White Wednesday

2012 New York International Gift Fair

Or NYIGF for short.

This is about the least crowded  you’ll see Grand Central.

It’s  peaceful on a Sunday morning……not like it can be on weekends.

We spent a few minutes in the book store as I looked for magazines that  I can’t get back home.

George stood around patiently while he really wanted to get a coffee.

We arrived at the show a little early so I went around the reception area and took photos of some of the displays.

They frown upon taking pictures at the show except for that area.

Most vendors will let you after you order from them but I’m usually in a hurry to move on to the next stop.

I was a little less organized this time around and didn’t plan my travels as well so

I did take more pics then last year.

Love Voluspa and K Hall

There is never a lack of color, which if you know me…..is not what I buy

except when it comes to ribbon.

I gasped when I saw these.

They were new to the line.

Aren’t these villages just so much fun in their vintage colors???

I used to buy them in these colors but my customers want the more subtle ones.

Did you see the Christmas issue of Romantic Home? they had some

displayed in a woman’s house. I don’t remember her name.

Here again are more of those bright colors. I love the asian theme of this tree.

I asked if they sold well for them and she admitted that not everywhere.

Mostly San Francisco and New York.

and of course traditional red.

I have a lot more to show you so I thought I’d do a more subtle color post next time.

I have been liking color more these days …..maybe it’s the thoughts of spring and

all the flower catalogs and orders I’m working on

that has me in a color mood.

Don’t worry I still love my

WHITES!