Old Wagon Planter

Better late than never, right?  Finally having time to play around in the yard.  Rich was pulling metal out of the shed to scrap and came across this old broken wagon that was left behind when we moved in 10 years ago.  

I planted pink SunPatiens and white Impatiens in it.

  He is actually the one that said hey, let's save that and plant flowers in it.  Glad he did, it sure makes a cute planter to stand in front of the bird feeder stand.

It's officially summer!  Have fun playing in the sun and make some fabulous summer memories!

  ~ Enjoy your journey ~ 

10 Years of Blogging

a snowy day in spring

Ten years ago today... this was my very first blog post.  Boy have I come a long way, lol!  I had just bought my first dslr camera and I wanted to share my pictures.  So I started my blog 'Ramblings From A Grateful Heart'.  Actually back then, blog titles weren't needed.  It was just pictures I took with a catchy (ha!) caption.  I started getting a little braver and shared more... to the point of me when you meet me in real life.  So I named my blog.  Yes, it's true.  I am a rambler.  Not that I need to hear myself talk, I actually don't like that.  It's just that I always have a lot to say.  It's when I'm quiet that you better watch out, lol!  So I spent years blogging about my family and life in general.

Then in 2010, I discovered the prim blog community and really fell in love with blogging!  So I started a new blog called 'Berry Homespun Primitives'.  I met some incredible women and we all shared the same love of primitives.  My family couldn't (and still can't) understand how I had so many online friends that I've never met.  Even though a lot has changed in the prim blog community, I still think about my old prim friends and wonder how they are doing.  

And even I have changed.

Last year, I made a new business venture move and started yet another blog.  Which brings us current with 'A Vintage Journey'.  A lot has changed in my own personal life with kids growing up, and with me having a seasonal job... I am now able to get back to "me" and doing what I love to do.  In this new season of my life, it is a new journey for me.  What better time to start anew, fresh; right?  It's just so weird to start over again with very few followers, lol!  But we always have to start somewhere.

So, for those of you who have befriended me in the past ten years, THANK YOU for being a friend and thank you for sticking with me  =]   I'm excited to see where this new journey takes me and looking forward to making many more new friends along the way.

~ Enjoy your journey ~

Tea Dyeing

I've been tea dyeing.

I bought a bunch of old flash cards at garage sales and most of them were stained.

We all tea dye for different reasons.  I like the warm, antique look of something that has been dyed.

But the main reason I do it is because it's wonderful at masking those stains.

So at 3:15 am yesterday, I was baking tea dyed flash cards in the oven on 200 degrees for about 5 minutes, just long enough for the heat to dry them so the wet cards would not mildew.

Once I started, I had to keep going till I got to the end of the stacks.  It was like an assembly line so it went pretty fast.

The edges like to curl up a little.

So that's when the heavy crock came in handy.

I normally leave the whole stack under this crock; then separate them individually and put them at the back of heavy books.  Linens are so much easier because all that is involved is throwing them in the dryer, then iron.

This is a large lace tablecloth that I bought at a yard sale for only $1 because it was stained.  I think it will be a nice enhancement to my booth table as I drape it over a tea dyed sheet that is used as a table covering.  I let it set overnight and it became a little darker.

It's funny.  I've been tea dying since the 80's and I still do it differently each time.  I never measure.  I fill my 25 cent yard sale stock pot up with what looks like a good amount of water then I start plopping in bags of Dollar Tree tea bags.  Sometimes I throw in some instant coffee.  Most times I add splashes of vanilla.  Every once in awhile I'll add dashes of cinnamon.  Kinda like Grandma Goins taught me to cook.

While I do enjoy tea dying, I don't do it very often.  I stockpile all kinds of things that need a good staining.  Then make a day of it... or in this case a night of it.  I didn't quite make it to the booth tags, only about a dozen.  So they will be up tomorrow.

I was disappointed in how light the tags were when I pulled them out but once I put the new tags by it... they don't seem so light.  And the tea dye always darkens as it dries.

If you haven't dabbled in tea dyeing, I suggest you start.  It gives a beautiful and warm antique patina.  I have saved so many linens that were destined to the trash because of stubborn stains that just will not come out.  The tea dye really does mask those stains.

My first show is less than 2 months away.  These flashcards will be displayed in wire baskets with 3 for $1.00 signs clipped to the sides.

Will be moving on to the next project once the tags are ready to go.  Thank you kindly for stopping in for a visit.

~ Enjoy your journey ~