Lisa and Nikki's Friday Finds!

Happy Friday Friends:

What has inspired and delighted us this week? Here they are - the sights, sounds, tastes and one-of-a-kinds we loved!

There is just something so homey about vintage blue and white china. We understand why it's so collectible!

How much do you love this antique brown transferware butter pat plate! These plates are perfect for corralling the little things: paper clips, rings, pills and they look charming!

As you may know from our previous post, Cooking With Cast Iron, we love cast iron cookware. The history in this display left us in awe. If you own a cast iron skillet give this PureWow Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe a try:

Yum!

While we're talking food, have you heard of LYFE Kitchen restaurants? We are excited to see the arrival of this restaurant committed to intelligent eating, freshness, local sourcing and sustainability. Ready in minutes, LYFE serves up inspired, delicious, good-for-you dishes. It's fast food that takes care of your body!

We spotted this bunny rabbit at a recent antique show and were sad to find him sold. Wouldn't it make a great door decor for spring?

Have a great weekend, friends, and don't forget to "spring forward"!

Friday Finds Celebrates Spring!

Hi Friends:

What has inspired and delighted us this week? Here they are - the sights, sounds, tastes and "Spring" one-of-a-kinds we loved!

While the warmth of Spring is most welcome, I will miss the bare trees that look like lace against the sky.

Embellish a grapevine wreath with your favorite seasonal stems - great door decor! 

Every gardener needs a caddy. We love this vintage Sears tool caddy! Perfect for carrying all the essentials out into the garden.

Create the garden of your dreams in miniature! This project assembled with live mini plants makes a great indoor or outdoor centerpiece. Find supplies at your local garden and/or craft center.  

I love listening to the birds in the early morning and watching them dart in and out of the bird house outside of the kitchen window. These bird houses made from repurposed lumber and natural elements fit right into the landscape! 

Georgia's fell hard for this vintage French planter! If you can't live without it, let us know; it's available for purchase! 

Great vintage scoop basket! We can think of so many ways to use this. Gather produce, fill with fruit, stack with magazines, or create a floral arrangement. This, too, is available at Georgia's! 

"Simple Gifts," sung by Jewel, is a one-verse Shaker song written and composed in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett. It has been adapted and arranged many times and reminds us of the gift to simply "be" this Spring.

Easter Fun!

Hi Friends:

Did you know that bunny rabbits, chicks and eggs historically symbolize Spring and new life? There are, of course, many traditions and practices surrounding Easter. Easter baskets, dyeing eggs, hot cross buns and Easter Lillies, just to name a few, all in some way celebrate newness and re-birth. Easter is joyous and hopeful!

At our house, even though we're all adults, Easter is a big event. I still make a big dinner, put together Easter baskets for everyone and I have managed to keep the egg hunt tradition going by upping the ante. In addition to hiding chocolate eggs in the yard, my husband and I hide plastic eggs filled with coins, dollar bills, a fiver or two, a ten, a twenty and golden eggs worthy of a gift card! With the holiday just around the corner, I have been busy gathering together some ideas for this year and want to share them with you in hopes of making Easter "eggstra" special for you and your loved ones!

Welcome guests with a carrot door decor. I embellished this one with indoor/outdoor fabric strips!

Display your eggs! This wire basket is ready for those hand-dyed beauties!

 

Decorate with a bunny. Whether ceramic, stuffed, or vintage wicker like this one, nothing says Easter like a bunny!

These picket fence baskets from The Lucky Clover Trading Company are too cute and a real bargain at $3.50!

This crochet carrot pouch from Repeat Crafter Me is adorable! It's the perfect quick and easy project and you can fill it with a special treat! Click on the link for complete instructions.

Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with this Easter basket favor made from paper cups. So cute!

Aren't these chevron bags great! Perfect for Easter goodies. Here I glued an Easter chick to a small scrapbooking clothespin and used it as a bag clip. Bags and clothespins are available at Michael's!

If you're giving a special Easter gift, tuck it into a beautiful egg like this beaded beauty. 

I made this crocheted egg cozy with the help of a DIY tutorial from Flax & Twine using DMC pearl cotton size 5. I love the natural look!

Sew up a few carrots! How cute to decorate with or tuck in a basket. I used vintage bedspread fabric and calico to make the patterned carrots; the other two are felted. Cut carrot shapes from fabric, sew right sides together, turn inside out and fill with poly fil, add calico stem and whip stitch closed. Sew simple!

This baguette board loaded with filled eggs doubles as a table centerpiece and favors for guests! A cute basket would work, too!

Speaking of eggs, look at these cute alternatives for fillable plastic eggs. Fill with jelly beans, m&m's and more!

Make Rice Krispie treat pops! Simply cut Rice Krispie treats into an egg shape with a cookie cutter, decorate and add a lollipop stick!

Assemble a mini Easter basket for friends, neighbors or co-workers! This little basket from Michael's measures 3" x 4" and comes in a variety of colors.

How about these cheery mini paper bags also from Michael's sized perfectly for homemade cookies or candy!

Need a hostess gift? Embellish a planter with a bottle brush chick, pinwheel or candy-filled egg! Find embellishments at craft stores.

Georgia's crew wishes you and yours a happy Easter!