Upcycled Sunday

Reuse, revisit, reinvent = rewards!

Sometimes it is good to be the accumulator of cast-off treasures. I hesitate to say JUNK, although....that eye of the beholder thing, y'know?

The spring holidays are here along with the birds and the flowering daffodils. Time for family dinners, visits with old friends---and time for the dreaded but oh so pleasing-when-done spring cleaning. Last week after I dusted and scrubbed I decided my guest bathroom needed a little lift to welcome a dear friend who was coming for the weekend. And you know how that is---the stores were full of browns and dark greens and deep blues---nothing bright or white at all. Grrrr!

Finally at BJ's (a big box store similar to Costco or Price Club), while hunting for gourmet cheese and fresh flowers, I spied their simple white bath accessories. Great white spa bath mats and fluffy classic white towels--the price was right but the hand towels lacked---something?

Out came my collection of vintage and antique laces, a recent winter's gift from another friend.

Old laces are sometimes more sturdy than we realize---they are usually cotton, and densely worked with high twist, strong thread.

I couldn't bring myself to use the gorgeous hearts or LOVE edging [below]---I will save those for pillowcases.

But I did finally choose a nicely age-tinted, rather geometric lace. Isn't it great! I love the sepia brown color, almost ochre.

So simple to sew on with a zigzag stitch top and bottom. Or if you don't want to pull out the sewing machine, they could be hand sewn with a running stitch in just a few minutes.

Here is a towel on an old Swedish pine washstand.

And here they are in a Nantucket basket made by my sister! So pretty!

Or here with one of my lavender-filled hearts...

No lace around?

You could use mother of pearl buttons from your "stash"...

or a seashell trim from the craft store!

[be careful when you wash this version! I put the fingertip towels in a mesh bag so stray beads don't clog the washing machine.]
I can't wait to make more!

PS: Later---another storm brewing!---I made matzo ball soup. The box caught my eye at the grocery store and I figured, Why not?

I loooove matzo ball soup! Especially on a chilly rainy night. Not as good as from the kosher deli or my mother-in-law's kitchen ( all that love stired in!)..but pretty darn good!
enjoy!

love,

           

lizzy

Spring is Blowing In

It is still March and it is still verrrry windy here at the beach!

The migratory birds of the shore and marshes arrive daily, despite the many storms and near-hurricane force winds.The piping plovers arrived on Monday the 22nd, early for them.

This tiny lady found her beach quite depleted...[she is in the center of the pix, just in front of the dune grass, see her?]

.... but somehow she has returned to almost the spot where she nested last year!

She is camouflaged, behind the mesh, center, second row from the bottom....If you enlarge the photo and zoom, you can find her!


These little birds---piping plovers---must have an amazing kind of natural GPS!She returns to almost the identical spot each year, whatever the conditions or proximity of the waves.

And the beautiful, majestic ospreys have returned to the marsh.....rebuilding on their nesting site.

The nest is far out on the marsh, photos were taken with a special lens.

And today a seal visited the beach! It came out of the surf, saw the oystercatchers and me---

and back into the waves he went. He is the dark shape just below:

The storms and high winds have changed the beach. But it is always beautiful. And there are always treasures to be found...

pocket gleanings with artificial eggs/ faux nest!

love~
              lizzy

Welcome Spring!

March 20, 2010~ Spring has arrived and with it came some very lovely, warm and sunny days! Soon it will be Easter, so here are a few ideas....

isn't he adorable!

Here are some very pastel speckled eggs in a Staffordshire footed bowl....

Tissue-paper thin pink ranunculas, blue hyacinth and Cadbury eaggs in an old Mason jar...

a primly repurposed bunny....So sweet!

Easter egg pink tulips in a green majolica pitcher with a bunnies motif....

Prim gathering: speckled eggs and chocolate bunny in a sparrow-egg green graniteware bowl---a tiny vintage "find" from last summer's flea market....

Tiniest vintage baby's Easter dresses and classic fluffy chickies in brilliant green!

Some sweetly scented hearts for a big girl's Easter basket? Some are prim....with very special bunny buttons!

and some are elegant. Lemon verbena, lavender and peaches scents, yum!

My table here at The Beach...I am keeping it simple, primitive---speckled eggs and spongeware and graniteware in classic blue and white with a faded turquoise quilt. So pretty!

Happy Spring!

love,

lizzy