Happy Easter

I was going to my last post stand for Easter, and it does for the sacred side -- but I couldn't resist adding a vintage element or two! 

A Little Bird Told Me -- and Valentine Images for You!

This is one of those "this and that" update posts while I work on a longer one about the most recent Cork Poppers tasting. 

WKAR Update: I know only those in mid-Michigan probably care about this but WKAR will keep its broadcast spectrum and not be auctioned off. This is a huge relief for our regional PBS viewers and especially for the truly talented men and women who still work there and for whom I have great regard.

I hope your area will maintain it's PBS station -- or any others that are of particular value to you. The FCC quiet period has started which means stations cannot talk about their plans to participate in the auction but you can still comment. 'Nuf on that one!

Google Stuff: I hope you are a follower of The Marmelade Gypsy, either by mail, through Bloglovin' or another service or through Google Friend.

A little bird told me (a little bird named Blogger; many of you may have received the same message) that beginning the week of January 11, they will be removing the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, they will remove non-Google Account profiles, telling us we may see a decrease in our blog follower count.

If you use a non-Google Account to follow The Marmelade Gypsy, you may want to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow the blog that way. With a Google Account, you'll get blogs added to your Reading List, making it easier to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs you follow.

That said, you can also follow me by mail or through Bloglovin' -- just click on one of the links on the right rail to sign up for that if you like. Doesn't matter to me how you follow, but it's fun when you do! 

Christmas Wrap: The trees are coming down. It always takes a long time, partly because there's a lot in the decorating line here and partly because I so hate to say goodbye to the tree. Just about every ornament has a story -- one that reminds me of a trip with Rick, something given to me by one of the kids, a family piece, lots of marmelade cats, pieces from dear friends like Patricia and Mary Jane who are no longer with us and others by real-life, blog and online friends who (thankfully) still are! As I pack it all away, these stories dance through my head like tiny movies, recalling special moments and a life well lived and enriched by those who have been a part of it. Tucking them away for until next November is like saying goodbye. 

Well, that was sappy. But very true. And, that said, it will be nice to get the furniture back where it belongs! 

Home Front: It's been awfully nice snugging in with the Lizzie-girl this winter. It hasn't been my best. Terrible headaches have been plaguing me almost daily along with some painful leg/knee issues that have been going on for a month. As you know from my baking class post, the kitchen is calling and now I must find something fun to try I've never done before! I'm looking forward to digging into my art journal again and continuing my reading quest. Speaking of that, I can HIGHLY recommend Mitch Albom's new book, "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto." Very good no matter what -- even better if you know, love and understand music. 

Some may remember I met him last summer when his play "Ernie," about Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell, was at MSU. (Big recommendation -- even if you aren't a baseball fan, if you have the chance to see "Ernie," take it. Excellent play as much about life as baseball. Probably more.) I wish I'd had this book to read then, except he probably couldn't have stood all the gushing. 

Valentines for You!

I'm hoping to plan a valentine-making crafternoon soon and was going through a few images. I thought I'd share them with you. After all, you, too, may be making valentines in your near future and it's fun to share.

I wish I could share the credit of where they all came from but I don't know anymore. So just enjoy and say a "thank you, somebody!" -- that's what I'll say!

Have fun!

Happy week!

Keep cozy out there!

Paying It Backwards and Forward!

Recently I have been the happy beneficiary of some delightful ephemera.

 

The first package came from my Parisian friend Jerry, who managed to find a terrific vintage scrapbook filled with images that dated back to Victorian times, as well as those in the early 20th century.

Even the cover of the book was fabulous.

Inside was page after page of images, carefully cut and glued onto the page. 

(Yes, I know. Sad. Hard to peel off!)

Jerry had taken dental floss to a number of the images to remove them safely from the page. Others, perhaps, will be there forever.

While these aren't the only thing in that marvelous care package, I have to admit they all made me smile.

 

So many of you are so generous in sharing ephemera, tutorials and other ideas,

 I wanted to share these with you.

Just click on the image and right click to save.

It's hard to pick a favorite -- although I loved this little guy!

And since pansies are a favorite, this, too, caught my eye.

And of course, little vintage children!

 

Have fun!

(I'll have another post sometime soon with another ephemera bonus -- this from an estate sale here in town. 

There were lots of vintage holiday images there and I'll post it in plenty of time for the holidays!)

They Don't Make 'em Like This Anymore!

Happy Valentine's Day -- remember cards like these?

The really fun thing about collecting cards is that they're so cheery to share with others. Here are some of the oldies that were saved or that I picked up along the way.

You see, I come from a long line of pack rats.

Yes, I sent that to Grandma.

And yes, I sent that to my mom.

And you know, when I see those signatures, they make me smile -- all those memories of people not here with me on this earth, but always in my heart.

Cards from my dad to his mom, those signed by both my parents, and yes, even my bad childhood scrawl.

E-cards are wonderful treasures to pop up on our desks and brighten our day. But oh! To hold a card in your hand, to save it for years and pass it along -- that is a treasure!

Hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love!

Getting My Bunny Thing Going!

Finally! A weekend!More rain -- but my daffodils are coming out, so that provides a good deal of cheer!

And Easter is coming -- I'm getting my "bunny thing" launched!

I'm still pondering the mysterious garbage disappearance and thank those of you who kick started me into looking into some options related to potential identity fraud. I'm not sure they could have pulled much of interest from that particular batch of trash, but you never know and better to be cautious.

Seems like every night this week has had something going on -- French class, a pre-surgery party for a friend, birthday and retirement gigs. Oh, yes, taxes. I actually forgot the state ones until Saturday morning. I'm glad we don't have to mail till Monday! Must finish fast -- like a bunny!

Off to the market today to get eggs for the annual dying and flowers, along with all things tasty.

And looking forward to a low level weekend. Maybe some baking or creative time!

I'm on the verge of finishing a wonderful book to share with you next week on Chopsticks and String!

Feel free to download the images in this post for your springtime art. Who knows? Maybe you'll use them for place cards or Easter greetings? Something fun!

Easter Greetings!

May your day be filled with discovery....

Surprises...

And joy!

Happy Easter!

Easter Stash!

Several years ago, my blogger and PBS buddy Shelley gave me a marvelous CD with a variety of images on it. (Shelley closed her beautiful blog, but some of you may remember her!)

I thought I'd share some with you -- feel free to copy them for your own holiday stash.

I'd like to think I'd make place cards from them, putting the name on the golden egg...

...or if I used this one, on the toadstool.

I could make Easter cards...

Yes, I could!

But as usual, I didn't do this earlier! Maybe you will!

Valentines from Long Ago!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoy some lovelies from the "Love's Little Messenger" exhibit at the MSU Museum.


Who could resist these elaborate cards?


And these vintage postcards --

oh, I'd love to have those in my collection!

As a writer, I couldn't resist this one!

Some of these were awfully pretty...


I liked these a lot...


...and these brought back memories of days gone by. Did you make Valentine's boxes for school? I still remember mine!


These "Penny Dreadfuls" were insulting valentine's.



And some are awfully funny -- I don't know if you can read the words, but the graphics alone get the message across!

Funny cards always make me smile...

And some were on the suggestive side!

And this one was just cute!

Finally, I couldn't leave without saluting "Man's Best Friend" (and lots of women's!)...

And a salute to the four-legged companion in my household!

And this might be my favorite!

As for my two-legged Valentine -- well, we plan on having a wonderful time too!

And you? You're all my valentines! Happy Valentine's Day!

NOTE: All of these vintage valentine's were from the MSU Museum's collection. The exhibit continues through early March if you live in the area. I think I may use some of these in some tags or ATCs. What do you think? Feel free!