Create your own ribbon winders with the new French General dies from Sizzix

Thread winders created with My own speciality papers and the French General Die from Sizzix

  Oh, la, la...I love the new dies from Sizzix created by Kari Meng of French General   With her inspiration drawn from France along with the fabrics, notions and more, these dies help us keep things in order but at the same time are beautiful to create.  Combining my love of paper, sewing, and die-cutting--(Yes, that is a love of mine!), these little thread/ribbon winders as well as the other dies in this line from Sizzix are perfect for all my sewing needs.

To create these little cuties, I took a plain manilla folder (to add stability) and my own speciality papers (use could use any papers that you like), and cut one from the manilla folder and two from the papers. With the die, you actually cut all 4 of the shapes at once and you can cut up to 5 sheets of paper at a time....this is a fast project.  Once all have been cut, use your choice of adhesive to adhere the 3 together.  I chose to use my Xyron as it again was a fast fix and created an assembly line type of project.  It just a short time, I had 40 of these ready to be used...They are beautiful at the same time of functional - as it should be.


Until next time, Take a few moments to turn the ordinary into a thing of beauty....

Velvet Ribbon wound around the winder.  

Silk Ribbon as well as threads wound perfectly. 

*I am not compensated for this post.  This is just something I wanted to share with you*

Treasure Hunting - Part 2 of Our Fall Road Trips

Marburger Farms

One of many fields of hidden treasures

Aprons blowing in the breeze - a simpler time

Doesn't that make you just breathe a little slower? Relax a bit more...Country Life!

We've been back for a week now and I'm still trying to catch up.  Catching up is like shoveling the driveway while it's still snowing. As you are catching up on laundry, emails, calls, putting away and tidying up, there are new emails coming, laundry was waiting for you, other things get taken out and new classes and events to prepare for and the to do list continues...in the midst of the all this, I am so blessed!!! To have been able to teach in Minnesota, meet face to face my Facebook friends, share creativity and laughter, to have been able to spend 5 days antiquing through the Hill Country with my youngest daughter and my sister, to share in a part of history and see things that my grandmother would have used,  ---and of course realizing now, I am part of history as I see things I used to use!!

We truly had an amazing time in Round Top and the surrounding little towns.  This has been a family tradition since 2000 when my mom and I took off for a girl's weekend and left at the time.  Now my youngest daughter and I take off 2 times a year and enjoy the treasures along the way.  This year, I found a myriad of treasures from rusty little bits, old Texas History publications, jewelry (always, jewelry), a little china to add my to collection, a few vintage dressed and some wonderful grain sacks.  And of course ledgers, vintage papers and ribbons...my list is a little longer but I think you get the idea- it's a treasure paradise if you know where to look....

A Chocolate Cream Cheese Kolache- Incredible!!!

The bakery case - "I'll have one of each, please."

We enjoyed Weikel's Bakery every morning with the most amazing kolaches and the best Cafe del Olla coffee!!! The sweet gal behind the Bakery case knew our order before we said it...True small town hospitality. Our first morning we head to La Bahia - some of the greatest treasures are there.  Then on to Carmine where 2 sides of the highway are filled with tents and fields of new, used, vintage and antique everything.  I found French paperbacks from the 1940's for my mom.

Our sweet friend, Traci.  She wears a different vintage outfit each day!! 

We have  treasured friends that have several booths in Cole's antique mall and we spend 2 hours just at there booth catching up and of course shopping! Marburger is a definite stop for us-- it's a great history lesson and we love to find a few of our favorite vendors there. Then it's on to the Texas Rose fields where we find the best Rosemary Chicken Salad and monster Chocolate Chip Cookies.

We spend several days in the fields of Warrenton and visit our favorite vendors, eateries and try out new places as well.  Each evening when we return to our hotel, we lay out the treasures and see what was the theme of the day - sometimes it's old letters and books, rusty bits and baubles to repurpose, vintage clothes, fabric, patterns or just about anything that strikes our fancy.  Here are a few pictures of a few of our treasures from this trip.

Presleigh's great find of the day!!

Have a few ideas for these little bits.  Love the patina on the metal!1

I see ICE RESIN casting in the future for the hardware picture. And what about the thermos??

I'm not sure what these are but they are great!!
Wire and Metal - perhaps the next jewelry inspiration is here!

When our trip is winding down and we head home, we realize that the true treasure was being together and sharing time with family and friends.  Our reservations are made for the Spring and we look forward to more creating more memories that we will treasure for a life time. But for now, we will treasure today and those who are in our lives at this very moment.  And perhaps, find a little time to create with these new 'old' finds.  Until next time, finding joy in the journey...

I hope your cup is filled to overflowing with blessings to give to others.