Vintage Suitcase Makeover & The Heart of Gratitude Journey Continues

My post today is going to be on "Friendship".  It's going to be short and sweet, because I'll probably get all sappy and start tearing up.  Not pretty. 

You might recognize this suitcase from a Facebook update I did at the end of January.   A friend of mine, Ahlam, asked me for some help cuting up (if this is not a word, it should be . . . I mean really now, pronounced cute-ing) a vintage suitcase she was gifting to a friend of hers.  Her friend, Tasneem, likes to paint and Ahlam had an awesome idea to turn the suitcase into a portable paint studio.  Ahlam has a lot of good ideas and is rather a kindred spirit. 

She had giant tarp, a full size easel, paints & paint brushes and a whole bunch of lovely artist related gifts.  Seriously thoughtful gifts.  Well, I can't tell you how much fun I had!  Because that's what friends do for each other, they do nice things. Right?

They look for opportunities to make their friend happy.  They share stuff with each other that they don't share with everybody.  They are kind and understanding of each others privacy outside of their friendship. They laugh at your corny jokes and they make you snort with theirs!

A friend pulls you up when you fall, and delights you when you least expect it.  A friend lets you be you and doesn't expect you to be anything but you.  A friend has your back and will go to the wall for you.  A friend treats you with  respect and does not allow anyone to hurt or disrespect you, if it is in her power.  She listens, comforts, laughs and cries with you.  

 That is what a friend is to me.  I am blessed that my Sister is my best friend.  We know what the other is thinking sometimes before they do!  My grown daughters are also my bffs. I am also blessed to have several dear and loving friends and some that I've only met online and I would go to the wall for them all!

Here's there part where I start to tear up! sniff.  I just wanted to THANK YOU ladies and you know who you are!  Thanks for hanging with me, thanks for laughing at my corniness, thanks for encouraging me and thank you for listening to me.  I think maybe listening is key.  Are you listening to her?  Is she listening to you?  Sometimes we are so busy thinking about what we are going to say, that we are not really listening.  

I am so GRATEFUL for being listened to by my Sister, my girlfriends on and offline and everyone who reads my blog (I consider you my friend, even if you don't know it)  Thanks for 'getting' me!  If you go back and look at the first photo in this post . . . that is how I want to be thought of as a friend.  That is how I want to make you feel, in person, online and with my blog . . . uplifted and inspired!
 So, I'm done. This was supposed to be short.  Love ya guys!  

One last thing.  If you haven't checked out Dana's blog post from this morning.  Go now and be ready to be moved.  It's beautiful.  She is a friend, a true.        #theheartofgratitude
CRAFT HAPPY!

NANCY

XOXOXO

Shop Opening Countdown & Vintage Bed Sheet Bundle Real Deal!

A BEAUTIFUL BUNDLE OF SUNSHINE!

After my obsession with vintage books, would be my slight hoarding tendencies concerning vintage bed linens, or in everyday language . . . sheets!  I l♡ve these beautiful swatches and bundles so very much.  Old, comfy, cared for and loved beyond any other fabric in the world.  To me.

I love to look at them, smile at them, hold them and even pet them.  I know, it sounds kinda creepy, huh?  But if you even have a smidgeon of the fascination I have with these retro pieces of sunshiny goodness, well, you know exactly what I'm talking about!

I've been collecting them for years and it's now time in our love affair, for us to part and for me to share with you. Hoarding is not cool.  It's like being all clingy and needy and who needs that?  Yep, I'm selling them to good and loving homes where they will be made into lovely and useful memories for the world!

These are my 10 very good reasons to pre-order now.

Here is what is included in this beautiful bundle.  I have put together this bundle with such care.  Do they not coordinate perfectly and just make you miss spring time in the worst way?  Now you can make something beautiful and bring some sunshine indoors.  But truthfully, it looks just perfect sitting on a shelf, as is.  Like I am wont to say . . . "Cute doesn't need a reason"  Anyway, you get 5 different & lovely sheet patterns.  You will receive One (1) 12" x 12" square of each pattern and Four (4) 6" x 6" squares of each pattern.  That's 25 pieces of fabric in all. Sizes are approximate and so is the squareness, that's why they are actually, at least, 1/2" bigger all around. Perfection is not my goal, but making sure my butt is covered, is. ;)

All fabric has been gently laundered and will be pressed and kissed good-bye, before being stitched into it's own custom mailing pouch.  Actually, I'm just kidding about the kissing it good-bye part, although I may mist up and blow a kiss when leaving the post-office.

There is a pre-order button over on the right side bar.  These will be regularly priced at $10.50 when Domesticraft officially opens on January 1.  Until then you will recieve a 20% discount bringing the cost down to $8.40!  Shipping is a flat rate $5.75 and I can stuff (gently & lovingly, of course) a lot in the box.  Please email me for an international shipping quote.  

I've got many, many other pretties, in all types of color palettes.  Please feel free to leave a comment with a question on something in particular you may have in mind.

I've curated a special PINTEREST BOARD entitled Vintage Sheet Projects just for you.  I'm going to set up another board for tomorrow's blog post that will include using vintage sheets in your paper projects, which I do a bunch! 

Here is just a brief list of some things I am going to being making.  I'll do my best to get tutorials up as well!  I have a little questionnaire box on the right side bar that lets you make a suggestion as to what kind of tutorial you would like to see me do for the blog.  I am happy to entertain them all, as I am sure there will be some very entertaining suggestions. ;)  Okay, here's the list:

♡ 1.  Buntings, garlands, banners or flags.  Big, little, mini.  Because they make me inordinately happy!
♡ 2.  Embroidery Hoop Art, with and without embroidery.  Love 'em.  Want to make them into a headboard.
♡ 3.  Patchwork Pillows.  Pillows also make me happy!
♡ 4.  Jammie pants, with a matching  scarf for my hair.  One for everyday of the week.
♡ 5.  Hot pads.  Quilted.  I would just toss them casually all over my counters and table.
♡ 6.  Garden Party and Picnic Napkins and Hankies.  Interchangeable.  So perfectly soft for my skin.
♡ 7.  Coasters.  Cute and useful.  My husbands says I'm like a coaster then.  Hmmmmm . . .
♡ 8.  Lampshade.  I've made a doily lampshade and a globe lampshade.  This idea would be right at home.
♡ 9.  Patchwork tablecloth and/or runner.  I can't wait to design this . . . it looks awesome in my head!
♡ 10. Rag Rug.  I have to learn how to crochet this winter and I would love to try this as one of my first projects!

The awesome giveaway is still going on and will be through Saturday! The large bundle of vintage paper yumminess will be up for grabs and all you have to do is comment on this blog post!  

But wait, that's not all!  Sometimes it's necessary to say that.  I try to use it sparingly! ;)

[Sign up with your email to win 10 extra bonus entries, up & over there on the right hand column.  You see where it says RSVP RIGHT HERE . . . just put in your email address.  I'll email you when a new blog post comes out or if there is anything new in the shop I think you might like or if I have some particularly juicy stuff to share that I know you don't want to miss!  You can email me too ya know, just to say hi, if you want. ♡  Oh, and if you put your email in the bar at the tippy-top of the blog, I will send you 6 free Printable Journal Cards!  I am working on them right now and will be making a downloadable PDF for you.  I just wanted to give you a heads up that it is coming soon!]

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That's all for tonight.  Tomorrow will be something new and exciting!  Stay tuned and don't forget to comment, comment, comment!   

♡ BIG LOVE! ♡

Craft Happy,
Nancy
xoxoxo

Creative Storage Ideas for Vintage Lovers! ♡

I am ready for a little show and tell!  

My new apartment reminds me of being on a large boat/yacht...and I like that. I've got three funky little windows in my new "cabin studio". (which is also my living room, library sewing room and study/office @ about 12'8" x 14'8") They remind me of portholes,  only rectangular in shape.  My ceilings are low at 7', giving it a cozy "boat" feeling.  :) 

Storage is at a premium, to say the least.   In this photo,  I've got a group of four vintage suitcases stacked under one of the portholes. The beauty on the top was given to me as a moving gift by my friend,  Dana at dapoppins.  (Thank you, dear friend!) It's an old sample suitcase from Samsonite, which highlights the different colors that were available at the time.  Pretty awesome, huh?

To the left of the suitcases is a vintage little accent table with a drawer.  A tower of 13 vintage jewelry boxes is stacked atop.(I found 3 more to add to the collection since these photos were taken, yippee!)

Yes, the suitcase is upside-down. :) I'll deal with that later! 

Under the table are three plastic sewing boxes from the 70's in avocado green & harvest gold. Gotta love those! ♡

So, all in all, in this in one little bit of square footage,  I've managed to add 24 pieces of storage to my cabin studio,  without sacrificing the cuteness that inspires me!

I'm loving this HUGE to tiny downsizing adventure more and more every day.  It's a challenge for sure,  but I've always enjoyed a crafty challenge of any sort! That's how I'm framing this new phase in my life.

Do you have any small living storage tips?  I'll take all the ideas I can? Thank you so much, friend.

Nancy
xoxoxo