Valentine's Day Mantle

A couple weeks ago I took a break from my etsy shop and decorated our mantle for Valentine's Day.

I used a wide, sparkly red ribbon and wove it around the mantle, almost like a garland. The big spool of ribbon was from Hobby Lobby's after-Christmas sale. Originally $9.99, I snagged it for about $2.50. WIN!

The hearts in the clear hurricane were found at Target's dollar section.

Red, glittery twiggy things (yes that iss their technical name) were more after-Christmas finds from Hobby Lobby and Walmart. They were only .25-.50 each.

This is the right side of the mantle.
Be jealous of my mad photography skills. Blurry and dark is the new bright and clear.
I'm trendsetting.

The big round thing is a serving platter. Allegedly. In our house it is a big round mantle decoration to add height. $2.50 at Target. My vintage milk glass has more of the freakishly cheap Christmas leftovers.

My Willow Tree family is always on the mantle.

What is that behind them? Why a box of firestarters. Nothing says "I'm good at decorating" like random crap sitting around.

Linking up to some great parties. Hop over and see what people with actual talent were able to do! But not before you comment and "follow" here!

Photoshoot Sunday

My new products are primping and posing for their photos. They are a little nervous about their debut, but I told them you all would welcome them with open arms.

Be watching for their photos on here and their listings to go up in my etsy shop, Zucchini Summer by TheBargainBabe, on Tuesday!


This time your hint is in the form of a photo:

Go Bananas!

I had so much fun making this treasury today! None of the items featured in it are mine, they are all from other various sellers on etsy. Nothing brightens a winter day more than cheerful MONKEY faces.

Enjoy this little burst of fun!

'Monkey See, Monkey Do, Monkey Buy!' by TheBargainBabe

Betcha you can't resist these cute little faces!

Valentine Sock Monk... mistersockmonk... $40.00	Reversible Fabric O... baffinbags $18.00	Printable Baby Show... inkOBSESSIONde... $15.00	3.25 Girl Monkey Di... CupcakeCutiees... $3.50
Pin the Tail on Mr.... lynnetteart $5.95	Felt Monkey Flower ... nattiecakesdec... $2.25	Personalized 2 Piec... DeerpathDesign... $42.94	No More Monkeys Jum... designedDESIGN... $58.00
Sock Monkey Brother... BaaBaaBabyBout... $35.00	Handmade 20 mini so... cqqc $98.00	Fondant Cupcake or ... cookiecovers $11.95	28 PCS MIX ISLAND M... dedibelza $2.99
HAPPY FRIENDS - MAR... ItsAllAboutYou... $5.75	Mod Monkey Boys Bir... PartyPeople $18.00	Banana Scribblers -... JugieBeeCrayon... $25.00	Crayon Roll - Surf ... PinkGasoline $12.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

New product line debuting Feb 1st! Your hint in today's post is: It will be sold in sets of 12. If you missed the initial announcement and first hint, start here.


Joining the blog party here:

Great find at Michael's stores

Look what I found there yesterday in the dollar section:


This set of eyelet style note cards really was just a buck. I liked them because it looked like a quilt to me. They even are embossed.

All you sewers and quilt lovers, get thee to Michael's for a set!
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Your hint for today at the new product line coming....
It was inspired by a memory from my childhood.

If you missed the announcement or first hint, click here.

Linky parties:

Coming soon

I have a whole new line of products coming out on February 1st. You are not going to want to miss it!

From now until then I will include a hint about the new product in each blog post. The final, grand debut will include an exclusive discount code for you...my wonderful bloggy friends!

Here is your first hint about the new product line: It will fit in the palm of your hand.

What I'm Reading

Last week at my library visit I wanted to get one of the books in the Shopaholic series. I went to that section but they didn't have the one I wanted. But another book (different author) caught my eye and I read it quickly. And liked it!

So yesterday I went to get the next book in the series.

Here is what I'm reading:

A Tendering in the Storm, by Jane Kirkpatrick.

It is the 2nd in a series about a woman who heads west in the 1800s. While the book is classified as fictional, it is based on historical figures. I love hearing about how Emma Giesy arrived out west, the religious differences among them, how the woman survived alone with a baby, and more.

What are you reading? Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction, or a hybrid of both like Kirkpatrick's book?

Linking up here.
And here.

Time for favorite things! Don't get too excited, I am not Oprah and I am not buying one of each for all of you! ha! But Favorite Things Friday is a fun way to share some of our favorite finds! Here are mine:

This is SOAP. It looks like buttons. You can buy it from a fun etsy seller here.

I also love vintage pyrex. I have some green dishes mostly. But these blue ones are spectacular!Okay, another favorite of mine. Cheese. Seriously. Almost every recipe I have calls for CHEESE. You can never have too much.
And lastly for today..... I love this show. In the 7 seasons it has been on I've only missed one episode. Pathetic? Maybe. But it sucked me in from day one.

Wanna join the party? Post your favorite things and join us here....

Toot toot

Tooting my own horn here, but remember these little guys?
Well they were featured in a treasury on etsy! I'm so excited about it!

Linky McLinky...Click here to see.

And THEN, this sweet little bird card of mine made it into a treasury!

Linky McLinky...Click here to see the little bird card getting it's five minutes of fame.

Wow, did I spend 2 hours doing that?

Ever been so wrapped up in something you realize you spent way longer than you thought on it?

Maybe Angry Birds on the ipod? Not that I know from experience or anything......
Today I spent 2 hours doing something a wee more beneficial than Angry Birds. I took the baby and went to the library.

Thought I'd only be there for about an hour as he was going to be hungry soon. But nope. He slept and I spent a glorious 2 hours pouring through quilt magazines and books!

Apologies to the person who checks them out after me. I think some drool got on the pages.

Current Obsession: Fabric

Years ago in junior high, I made a quilt. Yeah. And I wondered why the cool kids didn't like me. After school they went to volleyball practice.

I went to sewing lessons.


ANYway. It has been many moons since I last sewed and I'm wanting to get back into it. A lady in my town is going to start giving me lessons (YAY!). So I've been looking at fabrics and what I might want to use at some point.

Hot Dang! So many pretty choices.

There is this Moda fabric, quilt pattern available at Sweet Jane's shop.

Basic Grey I have known as a brand for their scrapbooking products. Well slap my face and call me Larry, they make FABRIC too! Google this and you will see some awesome quilts made from this line: (available at a great etsy shop: RaspberryCreekFabric)


Then there is the Love Birds collection by My Minds Eye. This is also from the RaspberryCreekFabric shop on etsy. I can see this as a quilt. Yep. Definitely.

I'm practically drooling over all you could make for a little boy with this fabric: All Star 2 by My Minds Eye for Riley Blake.
This listing is for sale on etsy at the fabulous SmallGrapes shop. Check it out here.

*wipes drool off computer screen*

What about you? Any awesome fabrics you have found? Post them in the comments section, I'd love to see!

Note: All photos used with permission from the generous shop owners.

How do you keep warm?

It is c-c-c-cold outside right now! What do you do to keep warm? Drink hot coffee or tea? Have a fire? Wear extra layers of clothes?

My favorite keep-warm strategy is to get under our electric blanket! Husband bought it for me for our anniversary and it is the best!

Do you have an electric blanket? I can't believe I went all these years without one. Never again!

Something new

These literally just went up for sale in the shop!

Set of 6 Funky Swirl notecards.

I thought they would be good for leaving notes for your spouse, or the baby sitter, or pet sitter, etc. Also, you could use them on a scrapbook page as the journaling spot. I need to edit the listing to include that idea.

Set of 6, just $3 plus shipping.

As always, these are hand made by me in my smoke-free home.

Honored

My valentine mini cards were just featured in a treasury!

Check it out here.

This is my first time to be included in a treasury set (that I know of) and I am totally honored!

To commemorate this event,I will create a treasury of all my blog followers' items!

To be included:
--click the link to the treasury I am in and leave a comment
--be sure you are "following" this blog
--leave a comment on this post with a link to one item in your shop that you would like to see featured (family friendly please!).

I will put together the treasury and post the link up on Saturday!

Crack-a-lackin'

You know they "crack-a-lackin" in the movie Madagascar? I may be a grown woman, but Madagascar 2 is one of my favorite movies of. all. time.

But I digress.

I have been "crack-a-lackin" (or "working my butt off) for new items for my shop. Coming by the end of this week will be 3 new listings.



You're the first to know that new stuff is coming!

Featuring: theFold...a great etsy seller

Featured Seller:
theFold

So in my time on etsy I love discovering the things that other people make! I've seen theFold's store several times and am just smitten with her heart cards!
Valentine's Day is coming up, you know!
Hearts not your style? No worries, theFold has a variety of other card creations to choose from. Do any of these tickle your fancy?

You can browse all of theFold's other items for store (and buy them!) here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/theFOLD?ref=top_trail