A Walk Down Memory Lane

It has been 2 years, 5 months and 18 days since we packed up a motorhome with the 3 girls, 2 dogs, a huge tub of homemade cookies and an ache in my gut and left Oregon for Minnesota.
You would think that would be enough time to completely unpack, thoroughly decorate, erase any longing for home and acclimate to the frozen tundra.  I've yet to do one of those things.  I still have decorations sitting on my bedroom floor where they have been since the day we got here.  I still have bins and boxes yet to be unpacked.  I can't get used to this cold and my heart is still unsettled.

The other day I was going through a bin in my sewing room and I came across some "original" Lollibags, the Lollibags Lauren and I first made back in 2005-2008.  We had the craziest fabric combos, but it was oh so much fun making them. I've listed 3 of them in my Etsy Shop.  I'm so thankful we jumped into Lollibags, went on girls trips to find vintage fabrics, and just freely created.  Good memories with my daughter.

Here are a few pictures of some of the originals....

We found these vintage fabrics at a thrift shop.  I know it's a crazy combination but I love it!  Lauren made this one.  I'll have to ask her what happened to this bag.

Oh my goodness, look how little the girlies were!  Portia is almost 12 now and Sophie is 6.  Boy I sure do love that bag Portia has on.  I must have sold it at the Sunday Market.

It is so easy to blow a couple hours looking at old photos.  But I must get back to sewing and finishing up a scarf I am making.  Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm wherever you are!  I think our high on Saturday will be in the negative......sigh

Pink Friday Coupon!

Don't forget to use coupon code PINK25 for 25% off at my ETSY shop!
Have a great weekend!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Found and a coupon for my etsy shop!

I just love when I find little things that make me smile.  Here are my latest finds......

I found this BLOG from pinterest.  I watched her Top Knot Tutorial and have been wearing my hair this way.  She is super cute and its funny I think of myself still in my 20's but um, I have a son her age.  She is 23 and has a little boy.  Then I realized that it may not be too long before I am a grandma my child has a child.  Yes I prefer that much better to the *g* word.  No way, no how, am I ready to enter g-hood.

My sister and I have been going to IKEA every few weeks.  We buy a little something for the house each time.  I saw this ORANGE CHAIR and fell in love. Then I sat in this orange chair and fell deeper in love.  The back is slightly reclined so it makes for a cozy reading spot.  I want it very badly.  But my thrifty side is saying wait till it is in the current Ikea Family Discounts.  Hopefully that will be soon.

My second son, Nic, has become obsessed with Sriracha Sauce. He stayed at our house recently with his sisters while hubby and I were out of town .... my oldest daughter became obsessed also.  So I was excited when I found this Sriracha dress at 50% off!  Sold.


I am about to share my most wonderful find!  Ready??  Hail Merry Chocolate Miracle Tart!  The most decadent treat ever.  I realize that I linked you up to the expensive pack of 12.  BUT, they have them in single portions at Whole Foods.  Only $4.99 each.  I know, I know, that is still expensive, but you can make each tart last 4 days, if you can control yourself.  What really makes these a miracle is that they are good for you!!

So, do you like my finds?  I really do.  You know what else?  I love it when I find something on sale!  Here is my Thanksgiving weekend coupon for my ETSY SHOP.  In case you did not know, I changed my shop name from lollipookiesoap to prudynan.

I don't like the name black Friday or cyber Monday... I much prefer PINK.  Use code PINK25 for 25% off this weekend, starting Friday Nov. 29 and ending Monday Dec. 2.
Coupon may not be used on previous purchases or custom orders.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I am so thankful for my followers and customers!

Back to School Bags! Sale at my Etsy shop!

It is that time of year, ok I am posting this a bit late, most of you probably have your back to school shopping done..... For those of you that don't,  I am having a sale at my Etsy shop now through Sunday, August 25.  Use coupon code SCHOOL30 for 30% off your purchase.  That is a huge deal! 

I don't know about you, but I like to be different.  I don't like to buy the same school bag everyone else got at Target too.  Check out my gypsy section in my shop.  Here are a couple of my new bags and I have a few more I am working on...

Brown corduroy with vintage fabric flowers.

 

 

 

Brown corduroy with vintage fabric flowers.

               Canvas with a vintage tie and mustard ruffles.  Straps are vintage upholstery.

 Canvas with vintage yellow ruffles.  This bag is on ebay right now, and not etsy.  Starting bid is at 30% off price so no further discounts would apply, email me if you want the link.

A pink velvet heart is on the side of this bag, it is so cute. Interior is Heather Bailey cotton in bright green.

Other than that, are you all ready for school??  I am really excited because this year I will be homeschooling all 3 of my girls.  I have a senior, a 6th grader, and a 1st grader.  Looking forward to this adventure!  And I have a gut feeling I have a few more adventures ahead of me....

Vintage Finds

 A couple weeks ago I had some time to kill and I went into an antique store.......  I'm sure many of you can start a conversation the same way :)  So I found lots of things to buy.  I ended up getting only what I couldn't leave behind.

First, is a vintage airline luggage rack with 4 wheels on the bottom.  I saw it and knew it would be perfect to hold fabric in my sewing studio (if it ever gets finished)...  So while I am waiting for my sewing space to be done, I'm using it in my family room.  I also could use it in my laundry room. 

I knew I couldn't get it home by myself, but my son has a truck so I texted him *secretly*, not wanting my husband to get wind just yet.  Well wouldn't you know it, my son was out to lunch with my husband when he got my text!!  He totally threw me under the bus!

What I have all my yarn in, is an industrial basket.  I just love it, looks like a big pasta strainer for commercial use!
I am not sure how I am going to arrange things on it yet.  I would like to put all my vintage books on it.  I need to decide.  I just haven't had time lately.

I also found two vintage orange chairs.  The original tag says they are custom made by a company in Minneapolis.  The upholstery is in such good shape I am not going to recover them.  Besides, I love orange!

The other chair is in my bedroom.  They are so comfy.  I sit in this one and put my cup of tea on the green table and crochet.

I have a sale going on in my etsy shop www.lollipookiesoap.etsy.com it is going to end on Tuesday, January 29!  Coupon code is COLD20 for 20% off! 
Have a great weekend!  It is so cold here, I am not thinking right.  How about you, what's the weather where you live?

New Lollibag's

Hey gals, stop on by my ETSY SHOP  and check out my new bags!

Black Friday coupon

Hello, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I did, my boys came over, all my kids were home and we put up and decorated our Christmas tree!  Now thru Monday I am having a 20% off coupon for my etsy shop lollipookiesoap.  So shop away!  Just enter code SHOP20 at checkout and have a great weekend!

Big Jewelry

I'm a sucker for big, bright, gaudy, chunky jewelry.  Whether it's a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or a ring it does not matter!

I just got a big JCrew catalog in the mail and I was tossing it because I just toss them and not even look because what is the point, I don't want to waste the money, and it's not a need, it's purely a want.  Besides I can find waaaay cheaper stuff at Target.

But  for some reason I was stopping my  hand from tossing and sat down to real quicksy take a look.

Love, love, love this pink (favorite color),  chunky (favorite shape), bracelet!

I love this necklace too, the color combination is so pretty!  This is also from JCrew.

 

Sparkly big stones!  From JCrew

 

This necklace is actually from Etsy.  Isn't is divine?  I love how bright and chunky and over the top it is!

And speaking of buying things cheaper at Target....... they have some really cute sort of gaudy, chunky jewelry out right now.  There is a really cute ring for only $16.99 and I am going to wait till it goes on sale and then pounce.

I won a giveaway!

I'm so super excited to get my Matthew Mead Holiday 2012 book!!  I wanted it, but you know it's one of those things you know you shoudn't spend the money on, after all you have Christmas gifts to get for 5 children....a Thanksgiving meal to buy all kinds of goodies for, etc....

I entered on Bluebird Notes facebook page and lo and behold, I actually won.  Thank you Koralee!  Thank you Matthew Mead!

You both made my day!

Couture Headbands

I've stumbled across something called couture headbands on etsy.  I know I am a bit slow, but I had no idea these existed!  And now I'm obsessed.  My youngest girl is 5, so I may still have time to get some of these glorious headbands for her.  Or I can give them as gifts.  I've ordered a few already....

Then I thought well why can't my girls make these?  That may be fun.  But then I would have to get all the supplies.....we'll see..

Here are a few of my favorites on etsy.

This pink headband is from Kailene's Kouture. 

This one is from Sweetest Things Bowtique and she has MANY lovely designs.

I love the bright colors on this headband.  It is from Bella 406. 

I should really explore etsy more than I do, but where does one find the time??  However I do try to purchase Christmas gifts from etsy every year.  I love to support mom's who make things!

What are some of your favorite etsy shops?

A couple things I bought at Junk Bonanza

A few weeks ago I went to Junk Bonanza, a lot of fun....VERY CROWDED. I think I'll not show up right away next time.  Or wait, scratch that, because my first run through I found a couple things I noted in my mind.  When I went back for them they were gone...
Next time I am just going to buy, buy, buy!

I ended up getting a peice of  *PINK* base board, two pink shutters, an orange lower case 'r' and an old light.

I put the pink baseboard in my daughters room up by the ceiling.  I was just going to have it be a cute accent peice.  But then I was hanging her curtain rod and I noticed her curtains were very long and I had a brilliant idea!

I asked my husband to hang them right on the pink baseboard and I really love how it turned out.

The light from the window does not make for a very good picture, but here it is anyway.  The curtains are from IKEA.

I put the pink shutters in my youngest daughters room along side her corner windows.  I realized after my husband had them up that I had them upside down!  He didn't want to switch them for me so there they stay, oh well.

Again the light is not really great, but hey, I am happy it is sunny out today!!  The shutters are all chippy and old.

And here is my latest Lollibag.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!!!

New Gypsy Totes!

I have new lollibag's coming out called Gypsy Totes.  I know these aren't too crazy but I'm going to stretch myself and make some crazy gypsy bags!  I have great vintage fabrics and trims  I want to use and will be on the hunt for more...

Off to the sewing room!  Have a wonderful weekend!!

20% off code for my etsy shop!

Now through Wednesday July 4th, you can use coupon code JULY4 to get 20% off a Lollibag or whatever else you like!  Head on over to Lollipookiesoap and start shopping!  I still have chevron lollibag's in stock....

My thrift store finds

Friday was the first day of spring break and my son Nic's first day of freedom, he graduated early!  My son's, Josh and Nic,  have just purchased a cute little 1950's home and are about to leave the nest. Probably more on that later, I may need some therapy having 2 children leave at once...... So today I took Nic shopping for the new house.  We went to 2 Goodwill's, Salvation Army, a thrift store called... Thrift Store and good ole Walmart. 
It was so fun finding bargains for the boys, dinner plates from the 1970's that were 50% off, so .49 each!  We found small plates to match, bowls, silverware, Fire King casseroles.  Nic even found some plaques with the 10 commandments on them, he said it would be good to have those posted.  I agree.

I found a few things too.  First I found these nesting bowls, they are not vintage, but I love the bright colors!

I also found a vintage Tupperware Cake Taker!  And it's in great shape.  I have always wanted one, but I don't know where I'll store it or when I'll use it.  I asked Nic... Nic, do I really  need this?  I mean when am I going to take a cake somewhere??  He said.... You'll bring a cake to my house!  SOLD!

Do you have any cast iron frying pans?  I have always wanted some genuine cast iron frying pans... Well I hit the jackpot!  I found this box, see the vintage sticker?

La Belle's distributing?  See it?  Yep that's vintage alright, AND the set of 3 cast iron frying pans are BRAND NEW vintage, never used, still have the inside sticker inside the frying pan!

Do you love that?  I was instantly sold.

Sometimes I wish I wasn't so AFFECTED by vintage items.  I'm still not sure what it is about something like this that draws me in.

Oh and I wish I weren't so DRAWN to vintage cookbooks either!  Here are the two I brought home with me.  They are from the 1960's.

There was another vintage cookbook I was looking at, that was all salads.  A lot of the recipes were jello salads.  Some of them were so disgusting sounding it was downright horrid thinking of eating them.  Molds, they called them, a jello mold with tuna fish.  EWWW  I should have bought it just so I could have read the recipes in awe that someone used to make those!  Heck, maybe people still do somewhere!  Next time I go to that Goodwill I will see if it's still there. 

There was a picture of a "mold" of lime jello with lettuce in it!!!!  Geez, now I wish I would have gotten that darn book!  It's astonishing isn't it??

barn, junk, vintage, antique~sales

First I want to ask, what's the weather like where you are??  Well it is truly abnormal here!  77 in Minnesota yesterday and warm and humid today too!  I am loving it, but........... after hearing about the tornado's in Michigan, well,  maybe the weather should just stick to normal!

Back in Oregon I knew where all the good sales were, occasional sales, barn sales, antique shops, vintage/junk sales.  I even traveled to Washington and Idaho to sell Lollibag's at a couple..

With this nice weather I am just itching to get out and find a good sale!  I just don't know where to start... I know of Junk Bonanza in the fall but I am usually selling Lollibag's at The Creative Connection during that.

So do I have any Minnesotan followers?  If yes, please share good sales..  If not, what is your favorite sale to go to where you are?



Fashion Trucks

Do you love watching The Great Food Truck Race on Food Network?  I do!  I love the food trucks.....  So when I saw the article in Lucky Magazine on fashion trucks I was all over that!

Le Fashion Truck  has a cute pink truck, I would just love to drive it all over!  I am drawn to anything pink.

Check out Wanderlust, they are in Portland, Oregon... shoot, wish I would have known about them when I lived there!!



Here is another cute one...... The Vintage Mobile.

 I LOVE that vintage green bus!!

Spring is almost here!  What projects are you working on for spring/summer?

SALE AT LOLLIPOOKIESOAP!

It is my first ever sale.  I promise to do this more often now that I know how easy coupon codes are!

Friday, January 20th is my 19th wedding anniversary AND my daughters 16th birthday!  So to celebrate I have put up a coupon code for 15% off, now through Saturday evening.  Just enter code HAPPY15 at checkout.

You know you want a new Lollibag!

Spread the word!

Pretties

                                                                                   etsy

I would love a pretty pink cardigan made from this. It looks so soft and warm.  I looooove the color.

etsy

These paper party cups are so cute!  I imagine them filled with pastel mints.

                                                                                 etsy

I love the idea of using vintage music sheets or vintage book pages to make things and wrap things in.  I have used vintage music sheets to wrap etsy purchases in that I send out.  It is so pretty and a fun suprise to see when you open the package!

etsy

And if this doesn't make you smile and brighten your day, then nothing will!

Have a great day!