Show and Tell Friday: Sampler and raisin rack

Posted on January 25, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Kelli at There’s No Place Like Home hosts “Show and Tell Friday” asking “Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there’s a story behind your special something, that’s even better! If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your “Show and Tell” on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky. Guidelines are here.“

I’ve mentioned before that, though I’ve cross-stitched several things over the years, most were for gifts and I don’t have many in my home. One of the pieces I do have is not one of my favorites. I probably should change that and work on some new ones, huh? 🙂

When I first started cross-stitching, samplers were very popular, as was the whole Early American look. So I made this.

I do still like it ok when I really look at it again, but there are so many more beautiful patterns that have come out since then.

At one time we wanted to build a log cabin, and this would have fit right in. Now, though, I’m leaning more toward almost Victorian decor.

Around the same time I bought this, which I was told was a rack that used to be used for drying raisins. This one was decoupaged.

I don’t know if it is an authentic antique-ish raisin rack, but I liked the idea and liked the picture on it.

I have these hanging together in my family room. I think they complement each other.

Show and Tell Friday: New hearts

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I’m running late today! Jesse’s school had a two-hour delay, and I feel I just lost those two hours and started my day late…except I did sleep in for an extra hour, so that helps, and hopefully I won’t need one later in the day.

I added to my heart collection over the last few weeks.

This first one I found at Tuesday Morning, a new store in our area that my friend Carol introduced me to. I had never heart of them before. I’ve been a couple of times now and love it!

The following two I purchased from Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams during an online craft fair several weeks ago. She’s the one who added in as a free extra those sweet button magnets I showed last week. She does beautiful work.

Here are the backs of the last two:

They all have loops, but they are larger than the other hearts I have hanging on shelves with pegs — and there’s no room there, anyway. I haven’t decided whether to get another pegged shelf or put them all in a basket with some other small pillows or hang them on knobs around the house. But I know I’ll enjoy them wherever I put them: I already do.

Show and Tell Friday: Magnets

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Barbara Harper

As I was getting something to drink out of the refrigerator last night and noticed a couple of my magnets, I decided on a whim to highlight some of them for my Show and Tell today. I enjoy looking at other’s people’s refrigerator doors when I visit their homes. It’s like a little window into their personalities.

Amidst the coupons, notices, and missionary prayer cards, here are some of my favorite magnets.

I don’t remember where I got this one, but I love it.

My mom gave this to me…

and these Boyd’s Bear ones.

Here is another Boyd’s Bear one given to me by my friend Carol. It came with a refrigerator notepad with the same bear on it.

I love the verse on this one. I don’t remember where I got it.

I think the one on the left came with a stationery set my mom gave me. The ones on the right were made by Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams. She put them in as “extras” in a package I ordered from her for the Christmas craft fair. Aren’t they adorable?

This one is kind of silly but I still love it. It’s another one from my mom. It used to be a reindeer, but its antlers broke off. Now I think it looks like a bear.

I got this one at a craft fair, I think. I had been looking for something to indicate whether the load in the dishwasher was clean or dirty to prevent questions about it from being ~~hollered~~ called towards me from the kitchen (but I do still get the question sometimes). 🙂

We made these one year as favors for our church’s ladies’ luncheon. This was our theme verse. I designed it on the computer, printed it out on cardstock, then we laminated it and put a magnet strip on the back.

This one has certainly seen better days. I think one of the kids made it for Vacation Bible School. It’s colors are based on the Wordless Book, which I am sure many of you have heard of: it is a tool to present the gospel to children, a book with no words but colored pages which represent a spiritual truth. Black symbolizes out sin; red, the blood of Christ shed to take away our sin; white, ours souls washed clean from sin when we believe on Christ; gold, heaven;, and green growth.

I’ve enjoyed reminiscing about these and the people who gave them to me.

Please do leave a comment if you stop by so I know you were here.

Show and Tell Friday

Posted on January 4, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Normally I stay far away from stores a couple of days before and after Christmas. I just can’t stand it when it’s really, really crowded and people are tense and there are horribly long lines. But I may have to change that policy! I found some really good deals when I did venture out — though I did still avoid the day or two after Christmas — and it wasn’t too very crowded, and people were pretty pleasant.

I had a gift card for Michael’s and wanted to find a vintage-looking scrapbook album and papers for the photos of my parents, grandparents, and my baby pictures that I’ve gotten over the last year or two. But I wanted to check Hobby Lobby just in case they might have something I liked better. I was also looking at the Christmas clearance items at both places. At Hobby Lobby, along a side wall by the Christmas things I found a table I just loved. I had been looking for some kind of table, bookcase, curio cabinet, or something to fit in this space by the door and to put seasonal Boyd’s Bear figurines and other things on:

The table I saw at Hobby Lobby looked nice and I thought it would fit, and it was a decent price. I’d seen dinky nightstands costing more. So I was thinking about it as I left the store — and I noticed a sign that all furniture was 30% off. Well, that certainly sweetened the deal! But I still went home to think about it. I went back a few days later — and it was still there!

Before I found someone to carry it for me I made a quick stop into the restroom, noticed this beauitful ivory rose flower arrangement, and then noticed all the flower arrangements were half off. I don’t think I could have made it from scratch for less. I thought about it for a little while, then snagged it on my way back to the table, found someone to carry the table (praying that if I was supposed to have it it would still be there — I’ve learned from sad experience that sometimes good deals get snatched up pretty quickly there), and checked out.

It fit perfectly in the space, and I was so pleased with how it looked.

The little snowmen candle holders were a gift from my middle son’s girlfriend’s mom. I thought they were cute anyway, but especially since I have three boys.

I was quite pleased not only to have found a table I liked that fit the space, but to have found it at such a good price, too. And I am thankful the Lord kept it there for me while I was thinking about it. 🙂 I am looking forward to decorating it with seasonal vignettes.

Show and Tell Friday: Christmas presents

Posted on December 28, 2007 by Barbara Harper

I suspect most of us might be doing this, but I wanted to show some of the Christmas presents I received this year. These are most of the ones from my family.

Here is a close-up of some of the book titles.

One of the books, Sew Pretty Homestyle, was one I saw on Anita’s site. 🙂 I was so glad Anita mentioned the title of the English translation. This is an absolutely gorgeous book. Another is by one of my favorite crafters, Charlotte Lyons, titled Between Friends: Craft Projects to Share.

Missing from the pile is Sabrina by Lori Wick, sequel to Cassidy. I had already taken and started reading it before I took the picture. 🙂

I also wanted to highlight a couple of others from my husband. This would be the prettiest presentation.

A pretty heart necklace, pretty box, and chocolates. He knows me well. 🙂

This necklace was one I saw on someone else’s Christmas list online — but I can’t remember who! I thought it was so pretty, though, I added it to my list as well. But whoever mentioned it linked to it here. Lots of pretty stuff there!

This one is a Christmas gift to myself. 🙂

It’s a little tabletop tree, though I haven’t decided which table top to put it on yet. I had seen it at a little Christmas shop in the mall several days ago. Then it was $20, marked down from $25. I actually ventured to the mall on Christmas Eve, something I rarely do, but there was something I was thinking about for Jim that I decided to go ahead and get. I checked on this while I was there, and it was marked down to $12.50, and I couldn’t resist. It came with the ribbons and lights already on. Jim teased me that if I had waited til after Christmas, I could’ve got it for $5. 🙂

This was one of my favorite gifts to give:

I’m sorry I couldn’t get the photo any clearer than that. Here’s the story behind this picture: it was the picture they had on display at my mother’s funeral. I had never seen it before. I asked for a copy, and my sister tried to take it somewhere to be copied, but they wouldn’t touch it because it was a professional photo. She then tried to find the person who had taken it at my mom’s company Christmas party to see if we could order more copies. I don’t know if she couldn’t find the person or if they didn’t have the proofs any more, or what. But when my family came to visit last October, and my sister said they were bringing some old pictures for us all to go through, I asked them to bring that one so we could scan it. I mentioned the “historic” pictures on a previous Show and Tell. My oldest son, Jeremy, scanned the pictures in and edited them and then made a CD for everyone (he did a fantastic job. He wrote a post showing some of the before and after editing he did here). They all knew the CD was coming, but in addition for each of us siblings we printed out this photo of my mom and step-dad and framed it for them as a surprise. They loved it. It’s one of the best later pictures of my folks. It almost makes my mom feel a little closer to have it out where I can see it often. At some point I will put it on my family photo wall, but for now I like it here on the end table.

Although the emphasis of Christmas is the greatest gift of all, our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, I am grateful for the loving gifts of my family, too. I’ve kept you long enough, so I won’t show you the rest of the family’s gifts, but I enjoyed giving to them, too.

Hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Posted on December 21, 2007 by Barbara Harper

Today is our 28th wedding anniversary!

For my “Show and Tell” today I wanted to show the necklace I wore at my wedding. I was thinking my husband gave it to me, but the more I think about it, the more I am not sure. I may have bought it myself.

A similar symbol was on our invitations.

I’m sorry, I couldn’t get that picture any clearer after several attempts. Here is a close-up of the symbol.

That symbol was also on our napkins at the reception, along with our names and the date, but for some reason I don’t have one of the napkins in my wedding album.

We chose the symbol of the two wedding rings on the cross because we wanted to symbolize several things: that our love was based on God’s love for us shown in many ways but most of all on the cross, that we wanted our lives centered on Christ and the gospel, that the strength to have a good, godly, edifying Christian marriage would come from Him.

We were delighted to find the same symbol on the necklace.

Here is a wedding picture where you can see the necklace…

…although it’s crooked and my eyes are closed and Jim looks a little tipsy though neither of us drinks. 🙂 I have to say my wedding photos were my one disappointment. In most of them my eyes are closed. Double exposure was “the” big special effect then…

…but this one places the candles in our noses.

I like this one..

…though a background besides a brick wall would have been a little more romantic. 🙂

Photography has come a long way since then. 🙂 I’m sure digital cameras help a lot. But — though lovely pictures are nice, having everything “picture perfect” is not the most important thing. When I see young brides stressing out over wedding details, I wish I could encourage them to just relax: the important business will get done whether all the little details do or not, and a good marriage can survive without all the fuss around the wedding ceremony itself.

Happy anniversary to my one and only. Thanks for 28 wonderful years!

Show and Tell Friday

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Barbara Harper

You know how we get used to the things we have around us and don’t “see” them any more (which is probably why we like to rearrange them sometimes), and then one day something catches our eye and brings a smile. That happened this morning with this little figurine. Jesse bought it for me at the gift store at the camp he went to last summer.

When he first went to camp in about the 4th grade, he used some of the spending money we sent with him to buy something for each of us. I’m not sure why he thought of it: traditionally none of us brings back presents when we travel. But he’s continued to do that every year. This morning I “saw” this again and it reminded me of the love of a then 13, now 14 year old boy for his mom. I’m glad he’s not afraid to show it.

Show and Tell Friday: Surprising Picture Book

Posted on December 7, 2007 by Barbara Harper

This was a souvenir we bought the first time we visited the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. It’s a reproduction of a Victorian-style book and not an actual antique, but I love the poems and illustrations.

This has an added feature of what’s called “Surprising Pictures.” There are pictures throughout that look one way at first…

but then you pull a little ribbon, and the picture starts to change…

into another picture.

Maybe it’s leftover girlhood — the title does say Surprising Pictures for Little Folk — but I love this. 🙂 It’s also fun to bring it out to show children who come over. I keep it put up and handle it very gently while showing children so it stays in good condition. But little ones, especially, are fascinated by the changing pictures. I love that part, but I also love the Victorian-looking illustrations and poems.

Thanksgiving decorations

Posted on November 16, 2007 by Barbara Harper

For Kelli’s “Giving Thanks” week and for today’s Show and Tell Friday I wanted to show my Thanksgiving decorations.

I got this little Pilgrim and Indian group at a craft show when we lived in GA.

This is a similar little group but I bought it somewhere else that I can’t remember. Can you tell I like happy-faced tole-painted people? 🙂

I’ve shown some of my Boyd’s Bear figurines before. My husband just got this Thanksgiving one for me last year.

And here’s a little stuffed turkey — stuffed with fluff, that is.

Show and Tell Friday: Grandpa’s cabins

Posted on November 9, 2007 by Barbara Harper

My husband’s father was partially disabled the last several years of his life after a fall from a ladder resulting in a torn hamstring. Later heart health issues further drained his energy. He had always been an active man and it was very hard for him to sit back and take it easy for very long.

At one point, just for something creative to do, he began making small log cabins. If I remember correctly, he gave several away. My husband gave him the idea of selling some on ebay. He didn’t have a computer, so he shipped some to us and my husband took the pictures and set it all up, explaining that he was a WWII vet in his retirement years. To his dad’s surprise and delight, they sold. He was excited and made several more and shipped them to us. They sold very well for a time, and then interest dropped off. But it was amazing to see the joy and energy that came about just as a result of having something useful and profitable to do.

We had enough leftover cabins to keep a couple on display and to keep one in the attic for each of the boys to take with them, if they want to, to remember Grandpa by. He passed away several years ago, and now these cabins are a remembrance of him.

We keep our two at the top of the bookcases that came with this house.

I took one down to get some close-up pictures.

I always especially liked the chimney. I am not sure what kind of rocks these are.

I’ve wished that the roof came off or the back could be removed and I could place some small furniture and rugs and such in there, but it is all very firmly attached. I’ve thought about placing a rocking chair on the little front porch, a welcome mat. etc. Where we have them now those kinds of things wouldn’t be seen. But maybe some day I’ll do that. But they are nice just as they are in all their rustic simplicity.