One of My Favorite Collections

 

Well folks, it's Show and Tell Sunday and today's theme is Favorite Collections. Here is my favorite new collection...of local bloggers. We got together for tea yesterday and met for the first time. Barbara is an absolute doll and the most talented vintage treasure-seeker. Her estate sale finds put us all to shame. Mary Ellen is one talented lady. She weaves, spins and knits and she brought a HUGE slipper-in-progress to show us. She said that she planned to felt it and shrink it, but with her feet under the table we couldn't be sure that it wasn't just the right size as is....

Sondra is a teacher who dodged a bullet by marrying a man with a nice last name, although to those of us who attended yesterday she will henceforth be known as Sondra Schmuck. Sondra is a newlywed  who cracked us up with stories of overzealous fellow estate salers. In a rumble though, my money's on Mrs. Schmuck. She's small but feisty. Nicky was  new to us all (we've all been emailing and sharing stories for a while). She travels to exciting places for work...hmm...if only  her company would send her to Japan...think of the Japanese craft book and fabric possibilities. She's getting married in one of the prettiest towns ever...

We shared stories, ate, drank Earl Grey and something called "monkey-picked" tea...they really do pick the leaves...and stayed for 3 and a half hours!!!! Women will understand how that could happen. Men not so much. Everybody brought a favor to share and even though Susan couldn't attend, she sent favors.

   

The mirror is made of vintage wallpaper. Nicky sent jars of pink M&Ms

 

Barbara made these wonderful pin cushions which I hope she sells (She had one for you too Susan, I'll mail it.

 

An ornament from Sondra, made with a vintage earring

   

...and a vintage apron from Mary Ellen. It's perfect. I made velvet acorns, which I'll post another time.. Sondra brought gifts for the twins. She has been an awesome cheerleader since I first went on bedrest and she told me to lose Dr. Doom and Gloom.

  

   

Such adorable things. We'll use the tiny buckets to decorate every year. The photos are going on my desk at work. The last 2 gifts were for me

 

The nursery theme is vintage "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" so the boy is perfect. It's amazing how many different things were made with that prayer...and I just might end up with all of them...I hope. I can't believe she found a vintage twin book. I love it. It goes to Little Joe because I have a vintage pink book for Rory. Thank you Sondra. I am so glad we finally met. Another baby present arrived in the mail recently...

 

Aren't they adorable? They're from Susan. I just love them. They're from a maker called RockabyeRetro. I'll have to visit that site.Thanks Susan. Thank you all for thinking of the twins and for attending yesterday. I had a really fun time with the nicest, most interesting people.

I can't leave without a photo of the twinkies in their Halloween costumes...

   

and apparently Kitten believes that chicks dig a guy who isn't afraid to cry...

 

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks. Now go make something. If you live in the US, you've got an extra hour!

Comments

[caren]

i am so kicking myself for not coming... next time for sure! and those babies? peas in a pod... so freakin cute!

[Barbara]

Babes look gorgeous in their little halloween outfits and the chick magnet t shirt is so funny! Your girly get together sounds like great fun. So easy for 3.5 hours to pass by when chatting with pals. What a lot of lovely swap gifts too.

[barbara]

Hey - I know those people! I'm honored to be in your collection and sorry I didn't see you before I left yesterday so I could show you a couple of little things I bought. Now you'll just have to come to my blog (and see a picture of me that looks like I'm sucking on a lemon.) The peas in a pod - sigh. I know it wouldn't be as relaxing, but maybe they can come next time?

[LiLi M.]

I wish Id been there...sigh... I want to know who is who on the photo! You are in the middle back row that's all I know. I'm a fan of treasure hunting Barbara too!
Ooh these twins get cuter everyday!

[corrie]

ohhhhhhhhhh I wish I lived your way! I just love high tea!

I love all the goodies and sounds like fun was had

we had a good halloween but its not nearly as popular over here but we had a good turn out and keira dressed as a fairy and gave all the kiddies who came to our door lollies and had such a lovely time. next year I might dress all 3 up!

Corrie:)

[Susan]

sounds like you all had a wonderful time. hopefully you'll have another gathering & i'll be able to make it! the twins looks beautiful in their little costumes. have a great week.

[Nicky]

What a swell day you had!! And those Halloween costumes of the twins....How darling they look as two peas in a pod!!! I love the onesies too. They are the kind I am making to.These are very sweet too. Have a nice week,

[Becky]

I so wish I could have attended. Please let me know when you plan on doing this again. I just hate missing a good time!

[janapl]

What a fun group of friends! I thought I'd mention a free download of some cute, vintage influenced bookplates-http://www.sweetjessie.com/
and thanks for sharing pictures and updates of your cute babies.

[cathleen]

Your photos are total eye candy to me, especially those sweet little babies of yours. Have I told you how lovely your blog banner is?

[Sondra]

I'm loving those two peas in a pod!! They are so darn cute!

Now that is one beautiful collection!!!! Thank you so much for organizing the tea party. We had a wonderful time...it couldn't have been more perfect! We are looking forward to doing it again!!!

Nicky and I never made it across the border, we practically shut that barn down we shopped so long. We decided to return home to the men and see what they were up to. We are planning another weekend for the Pillar and Post. We both left with a few small items and each of us with one large item. Nicky purchased a set of theatre chairs and I purchased something, but I'm not entirely sure what!! It's big and I think it plays music?? But that's no matter...I plan to turn it into wine storage. After all, we've got a long winter ahead of us in upstate NY!! Oh, and it was very reasonably priced!

[Mags]

I heard wonderful things about your blogger tea from ME and am so sorry I missed it. I hope there is another one in the future!

And the peas? In their pods? Darling. Are you sure they didn't want to dress up as iguanas?

[Essie]

Ha! my best friend growing up had the last name of Johnson but she fell in love with a guy with the last name Shmutz... and she TOOK his name because she's always wanted to take her husband's last night. No dodging bullets there--she chases them!