THRIFTY 4TH OF JULY!

Here is a 4th of July Tablescape

Red, White and Blue

I used $1 blue place mats from the dollar store

Large Red plates as chargers bought at the thrift $1

I  layered a white Pfaltzgraph plate 

and a white with blue flower edge salad plate

Both bought at thrifts & pulled from my dish closet

 Dark blue napkin in a white napkin ring

I added a red ribbon to add another touch of red

I found this table runner at a thrift new with tags

from Kohls!  Love all the stars!

 I used my brand new plate rack bought for less then

$3 at World Market!  I had a $10 gift certificate from the store for my Birthday and this was $11.99 + tax 

I added three plates to the rack to decorate

A cute tin star on top

A blue berry candle(gift) and rubber duckies($1)

Cute bowl 

This white ironstone soup tureen was found last week at the Goodwill!  Also found this little blackboard!  It would have been even cuter if I could have found my chalk!

Flag Pinwheel 

I found this vintage juice pitcher last year at the longest yard sale

 matching juice glasses

Salt & Pepper shakers

I added red handled silverware 

and blue water goblets

Everything on this table was thrifted or bought

as noted for very little money

Wishing you all a Happy 4th of July

I am joining in these fun parties

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

Suzanne at Colorado Lady

Hope Everyone has a wonderful and safe Holiday weekend!


Always,
Linda

X MEANS A KISS!

This was by far the hardest post to date on our journey through the alphabet!  Not many words start with X and those that do are hard to understand!  Thinking about this I asked myself how do I use the letter X?? 

X MEANS A KISS! 

Now the Question

  Why does an "X" mark stand for a kiss?

In medieval times, most people were unable to read or write. When it came time to sign a document, people who could not write usually made an "X" mark. Of course, an "X" is not much of a signature. To add a sense of commitment, it became customary to kiss the "X" after writing it. Kissing the "X" was "performance law," a ritual act that bound the parties the way legal documents bind us today. This act, witnessed by the person who wrote the text, represented a solemn guarantee of the truthfulness of what was written, and an oath to carry out whatever obligations were stated in the document. Over the years, the "X" and the kiss became interchangeable. Today, people who can read and write might still add one or more "X" marks to their letters, maybe with a couple of "O"s thrown in for hugs.

So there you have it!  Kisses and Hugs....
X's and O's!! 

Which makes this bracelet very speical

Italian Gold X's and O's

One of my favorite pieces of jewelry

It was a gift from long ago!

I hope you will go over to Miss Jenny's and see what 

X words others have come up with

Should be very entertaining! 

Always,

Linda

AMERICAN DINNERWARE

Several weeks ago I won a book giveaway 

I got to choose a book of my choice from

The Book Depository

I choose a wonderful book 

American Dinnerware  by Jo Cunningham

Since I have been buying more dinnerware lately

this book seemed like a great addition to my

reference library

So here was my first use of it!

I found this little plate at a thrift 

It was made by Sebring Pottery Co

The is pattern is called "Fortune"

Photos and there was is my 7" plate!

It is very cute!

Next thrifty find was also in this great book

This pattern is called "Apple Blossom" and is

made by HLC Eggshell Nautilus 

Similar makers mark helped me identify this company 

and this pattern

This plate is in such great condition!

Pretty Pattern! 

Both of these plates are in my Etsy store now!

The author is Jo Cunningham and she resides in Springfield, Missouri with her family.  She has been an active collector for many years.  This was first published in the 1970's and after many years has been updated in this Second Edition in 2005.

This book is wonderful and covers so many American Pottery companies.  I am so happy to have added this to my library!

Linking up to these great parties:

Troy at I Refuse to Recede

A Picture Is Worth a 1,000 Words

COASATAL CHARM

Hope you visit these other fun parties!

Always,

Linda

THRIFTY TREASURES MONDAY PARTY!

Monday~ Thrifty Treasures at

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY 

Here are a few of my thrift finds from last week!

This little baking dish is in bad shape

lots of chips and discoloration but 

I love the green design and only .25 

I have a 'thing' for clear glass and if it

happens to be a little divided serving dish

be still my heart! 

This one was .50

What is it about cups?

The yellow Fiesta cost $1.60 for cup & saucer

The flowered one was .55 

This lovely blue snowflake mug by

Starbucks was .55

One of it not The Favorite find of the week

is this pink bird....just too sweet

$1.21 a bargain!

Hope you had some good luck this week! 

Always,

Linda

THRIFY FINDS FOR THE GARDEN

I have been enjoying my deck garden this summer

 while thrifting this week I looked for some items for the deck

I found these great planters Monday and all of them 1/2 price

Also the flower stakes will hold candles

I think the little rain boot planter is too cute!

 I fell in love with this little wheelbarrow planter

I will probably change out the pot to a terra cotta one

This Bird House jumped into my cart at the Goodwill

Mr ALC says no self respecting bird will ever live in there and he may be right, but it sure is cute!!

I was able to buy two of these great new plant stands at

Home Goods with a Birthday gift card

Thanks Sandie!!

I love the detail on these stands

This one is holding my begonias!

The tomato plants are getting tall

Hope I get some tomatoes

This cute little hedge hog is from last summer

and is one of my favorite outdoor things

New Pink Zinnas

I added a new plant to this corner pot

The petunias didn't make it

So this is my yard salen, thrifty, favorite things and 

fertilizer Friday post! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Always,

Linda

WHIMSY, WHIMSICAL, WHIMSICLAY?

WELCOME TO ALPHABE-THURSDAY

WITH MISS JENNY 

 

THIS WEEKS LETTER IS

W

Whimsiclay Cats by Amy Lacombe

 

Colorful and playful ceramic WhimsiClay cats have been artist Amy Lacombe's medium since 1994. Her hand-made fashion jewelry sold through major department stores and catalogs in the 1980's and '90's until she turned to cats. Inspired by her family and friends, Amy developed fanciful felines with her signature whiskers - bendable wires with decorative ceramic tips. These hand painted cats arrived in gift stores in 2001 and have clawed their way up the popularity charts ever since.

In 2001 a co-worker gave me a Whimsiclay Cat

 

It was love at first sight!  

  

They all have a name but I've lost his tag :(

Still I love Mr Heart Eyes and he is dated 2001

This one is called Sweet Sue and is dated 2004

Isn't she cute! 

This guy is also dated 2001

I call him Vegie

But WAIT I have another W word

WHIMSICAL

 What could be more Whimsical then a Flamingo 

Tablescape!

Now many of my readers know I have a collection of

Flamingos which I blogged about Here

For my Birthday I received a huge box in the mail

FULL of FUN and FLAMINGOS!

Thank you Diann, Troy and the little Princess!

I set this table outside on the deck

I started with these striped place mats from the box of goodies

Used the cute matching plates 

Matching tea glasses and my blue handled silverware

I also have bowls and margarita glasses on

a Flamingo tray

The Flamingo coasters were a birthday gift from another friend

Thanks Sandie

I had the pink napkins but the fish napkin rings came from the  amazing box!  Oh and the cute little Flamingos on each plate

from the box!  Also the candle holders & tea lights..from the box!

I couldn't resist using my 'yard' flamingo as a centerpiece

He is wondering what the heck is going on?

I only have one of these, really only one!! 

When it gets dark beside the candles we can 

plug in the Flamingo & Palm Tree Lights!

I hope you enjoyed this table full of Whimsy!

I am also joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday

I wanted to show that

you can use plastic and silly to make a really fun table!

Always,

Linda