Parasol Magazine

The wonderful Yasmine of A Print a Day has outdone herself with another online magazine. Past issues of her amazing mags are here. This issue's theme is Fairy Tales & Mist, based in tea-stained cream, reds and navy blues with polka dots, roses and gingham. (ps, my shop, Jeweled Ambrosia has a little 3 page interview with photos too, so check it out!) Yasmine describes it best:

"I'm super pleased to announce the debut of Parasol•Craft! It's an online/pdf magazine dedicated to Handmade, Inspiration and lots of Downloads. It's a spin-off of Parasol Magazine in that Craft is the primary focus and the objective is to promote and inspire creativity."

The magazine is 111 pages and includes the following:
Featured crafters, artists and photographers
Desktop Design Tutorial: Make an Illustrator Brush--with downloadable vector files to practice on
Make Your Own Snow White & Rose Red Dolls--with tutorial and downloadable templates
Digital/Hybrid Scrapbook Kit:
3 12"x12" papers
2 Note pads
1 Scalloped journaling block
1 Fancy roses journaling block
1 Framed journaling block
1 Rose icon
2 Heart ribbons
2 Fancy borders
4 Sets of Embroidery Templates
And other features and resources!

There is also a GIVEAWAY! To make the dolls in the tutorial, you will need some these components:
12 Heat transfer papers
1 Yard of red grosgrain ribbon
1 Yard of cream grosgrain ribbon
1 Yard of cream fabric
15 Patterned tags to match

Download all 111 pages + all files mentioned above for only $2.50 (what a steal for all the work she has put into this) You can purchase it right HERE! Be sure to leave your email address in the checkout so she can email you the mag within 24 hours of payment."

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue, I can't wait to see the next one!

Treasured Vintage

I found a delightful blog the other day. I love how all her photos are {mostly} original, rustic, pretty and sweet. Full of vintage treasures, garlands, parties and her little shop of curiosities. Go give Saffron and Genevieve a visit!

rustic Christmas tree

paper flower at home in a rusty vase

vintage ladder masquerading as a bookshelf

vintage metal lockers

antique dolls

cow head and gazebo perfection

garden party with potted moss favors

vintage bottles

Thanks for stopping by! Here are two free downloads of scanned vintage ephemera put together from the lovely Cathe of Just Something I Made! (visit her blog for lots of inspiration & click on images for full view)

To and Fro

photo by bomobob

A couple of days ago, I took my boys to see Nim's Island. A movie I had never really considered seeing before but it was all that was available.


shipwreck gown by threadbare uk


Our movie theatre has a free kid movie every Tues/Wed in the morning. I, having a hard time leaving my home during the day, decided to face the challenge and take the boys on a rare outing. I felt I had a bit (though not as extreme) in common with Alexandra in the movie who is a raging agoraphobic. We all really enjoyed the message behind the movie. And Gerard Butler. But mostly the message (and scenery).


earrings by kathryn riechert

The message that we must face our fears head on in order to conquer them. That we cannot be stifled by ideals, technology or criticsm lest we should fail to thrive. That sometimes being alone is okay, but having a confidant is even better.


photo by ds brennan

That happiness does not need to come through large means. That not even an expanse of an ocean unexplored cannot keep you from reaching your destiny. (you just need a bit of a push and make an effort to do it).


pelican by sandra healy

So, this is to my staycation this summer, trying to find ways to stay afloat amidst those currents of doubt, fear, anxiety, health, financial struggles, personal limitations...


photo by h o g n e

To aid you in your waves of inspiration, is the lovely Seaside Beauties collage by Faerie Enchantment of the Faerie Zine.

Happy Mother's Day To You All!

I love my beautiful Mother's Day bouquet. My honey works for a major shipping co and one stop on his route is a flower shop. Well, they always give him flowers on special occasions for *free* to bring home to me! This bouquet is absolutely beautiful! I even split it up to give some blooms for my sweet mom for Mother's Day as well!



For Mother's Day, we had a lovely lesson at church on words/actions that hurt others, and how we as women may not always know when we can be hurting others. We talked ways we can show love and support to others, and try to see more clearly our own weaknesses and gifts. It was a lovely and uplifting lesson, and we followed it with a yummy Mother's Day brunch of fruits, cheese and crackers and croissant sandwiches.

We then visited my Husband's family (his dad is recovering from heart surgery) and we then came home and made Sheppard's Pie (my fav) with my mom and watched Outsourced. A cute little indie romantic comedy (yes, we did skip any love scene we encountered (there were 2).



Also, I got my Mom and Mother-in-law cup cozies. They both are always carrying around a drink of some sort wrapped in napkins, so I thought these would be perfect! Unfortunately, they got thrown in a pile somewhere, so I haven't given them the cozies yet, but they will be loved, I know it!


Bottled Water Cozy from Cozy Beans


Cup Cozy from Bagel Creations.

A quick word on Mother's Day. Not every woman is a mother. Whether it is by personal choice, or the opportunity just hasn't come yet, whether a woman is no longer a "hands-on" mother who has lost her child through death, spirit or distance, if you no longer have your mother on Earth or really despise the one you have... every woman can celebrate Mother's Day.

It is my belief that woman have divine nurturing tendencies to be mothers. You can be a mother in a sense in your community, in your home, in your prescence or career. Through love, educating ourselves, perservering and honing a sincere desire to help others are ways you can also be a mother. By using our motherlike qualities, we have the power to influence the world for good, one small child, adult, politician at a time.

Here are some free printables and ideas for next Mother's Day for you! Here is a great site for vintage cards, Vintage Holiday Crafts and second post HERE.


Vintage Mother's Day Flower Card from Hub Pages (follow link to view MORE!)


Mother and Child Vintage Card from Karen's Whimsy (click link for TONS MORE!)


70's Mother's Day Card

If you are into Digital Art, here are some Free printables compiled here at DigiFree.







This next kit isn't free, but it is beautiful, plus the designer, Blush Butter, has some stunning kits on this page!





Cute flower bouquet kid's idea from She Knows


Queen Mom coloring page to print out for your kids at Kaboose

Breakfast in Bed? Here is a fun idea for kids to easliy make homemade butter spread from Zach Aboard.



You need: one jar with a tight fitting screw on lid, a pinch of salt, 2 marbles and
heavy whipping cream filled about 1/2 way. Put all inside jar, screw on lid and let your kid shake it up till it's creamy butter.

I hope your enjoyed your Mother's Day! Remember, next year, keep it simple, fun and easy :)

Feed Your Soul [through free art]

Indie Fixx has a new little feed your soul art collective. She explains it all HERE and you can download your free (personal use only) art HERE. If you are an artist, you can contribute and if not, you can spread the word! Here's a sampling:







There are some seriously gorgeous works here from some of my favorite artists... I intend to get a whole slew of them and hang them on my new "art gallery wall". Don't worry, my little folks, I will update with pics soon enough. I gotta get some frames and such first!

For all of you that like vintage epherma, labels, gypsies, cards, children, babies, angels, mermaids, beauties, holidays, Marie, cherubs, horses, Strawberry Shortcake and more... then check out Suzee Que's free to use (personal) flickr stream!! Here's a sampling:







At Vintage Printable, you will find hundreds of vintage prints, namely from vintage books of science, medical, animals, nature, mustaches, wigs, fantasy and mythological, poster art, political, gnomes, steampunk... Here's a sampling:


The Virgins Whistler



humor, high society, poking your nose into others business
i love this one



For lovers of antique maps and sea charts, you MUST visit Helminks. They are dealers of the real genuine article not reproductions or scans, but the high quality images of them are breathtaking! Here is a sampling:


Antique map of Holland


Antique Anemographica map by Lotter


Antique Map of West Africa by Linschoten