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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Goodies in my suitcase

 It was very hard for me to limit my purchases from Round Top to what I could bring home in a suitcase. Somehow I managed though, and these are just a few of the things that filled my very full suitcase for it's trip back home. This sweet doll was my very first purchase. She did not however come from RT, but rather an awesome shop we visited on the way there called Bloom and Bee Swanky. It is by far, one of the coolest shops I have ever been in. I saw this sweet girl across the room and snatched her up when I saw the price tag. I thought $25.00 was very reasonable.
One of the things that was on my list to stock up on was lace and doilies. I'd say I did a pretty good job on that.  They were all over the place, but one booth had 2 huge boxes of them and 4 girls in our group (including myself) were rummaging through them like they were made of gold!! LOL!! We all got some pretty great pieces to use for all kinds of things!!!

I also got several old bottles to embellish, a cool key hole plate (no, I don't know what I will do with it yet, but I liked it, ) and this great porcelain doll hand that I will use as a bottle topper.

I was also on the hunt for old doorknobs to use for bottle toppers. Out here they can run 25.00 each.
I got these for about $7.00 each.  :)

I was so happy to find several movie reels. I had one already and wanted to add several more to the collection. I got them in all sizes and colors. My friend Cindy even found a couple while she was shopping and surprised me with them. I love the way they look!!

But, the main thing I was looking for was jewelry pieces. I must have bought every piece of rhinestone jewelry under $10.00 that I could find. I had so much fun setting it all out on my work table, just waiting to be made into some fabulous piece of jewelry.

It was really hard to get good shot. They really do sparkle in person. This is just a small sampling of everything I brought home. I've been wanting to make some jewelry for quite some time but I never had the stuff I needed (wanted) to make it. After Charlene and I got back to her place, she spent some time showing me some wiring techniques, and we took a trip to Hobby Lobby, where she showed me the stuff I could get from there.
As soon as I got back to Az, I sat down in my studio and I created this set.  The key, rhinestone pin, the brass piece and the rhinestone initial all were bought in Round Top. The wire, glass beads and pearls all came from Hobby Lobby. Charlene was a great teacher and I was very pleased with the finished piece. It was so much fun to make and I'm sure there will be a lot more jewelry to come, now that I've gotten my feet wet!

One of the coolest things I got, was this Magnolia Pearl jacket. Yes, I got caught up in the whole thing too!! And while I did make a few clothing purchases in other booths that I regretted, this is not one of them. It has the coolest shape and can easily fit into my current wardrobe.

Well that's the jist of it. There were other random purchases but these were my favorite things.
Now I know what to expect for next time!!!!


48 comments:

ImagiMeri said...

Alright girlfriend......I didn't see any of this at the luncheon!!!! LOL Gorgeous goodies, how lucky you are. I had so much fun "finally" meeting you in person. Gosh....you're such a pretty lady, and soooo tall! I've always towered over everyone, so it was kinda cool that I was shorter! Thank you so very much for coming, you are truly such a lovely lady, and I'm nothing but honored I know you.

I just posted the first of two posts about the luncheon, if you wanna come over and check it out. Have a great weekend coming up.

Love ya'
Meri

peggy aplSEEDS said...

what lovely goodies you came home with! sounds like such a lot of fun to hunt for all of them!

Creative Grammie said...

I am so green with envy looking at all your treasures! How very lucky you are. Thank you so much for sharing!

Unknown said...

Great finds and I bet you had soo-much fun! Love the Magnolia Pearl purchase and bet it looks great on you! Hugs, Marilou

Elena Litvinova said...

awesome! where you take these old things? they are enchanting!

Anonymous said...

The necklace set you made is amazing! That's your first try? Color me impressed.

Sonya Badgley said...

Wow, looks like you made a haul! That's great! You sound like me trying to find rhinestone jewelry for under $10. That's exactly what I do too. That WAS a good price on the doll. And the doorknobs! They are about 25 bucks here too. I love all of your great finds, I wish I could go there to shop!

Charlene is so sweet to show you some techniques on making jewelry pieces. Which are beautiful by the way! I made an altered key just the other day and posted about it a couple post back, if you want to take a peek. I wish Charlene could show me a few techniques too.:)
Have a wonderful day and thanks for sharing with us.
Hugs,
Sonya

Daphne Nicole & Lynda Cade said...

Oh Karen, what great treasures you found. I was just in Bloom & Bee Swanky a few days ago, Amy, the shop owner and I have been friends for many years, it's a wonderful shop! You were only about 30 minutes from where I live, I wish I had know you where going to be there, I would have loved to meet you in person!

Blue Ridge Altered Art said...

Wow you hit the jackpot with your purchases. I love the door knobs and the movie reels. Congrats on all your wonderful finds. ~~Sherry~~

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Love those two pieces of clothing, Karen. You got some great things and I love the old jewelry. It probably was a good idea to limit yourself to what you could fit in a suitcase; that would probably keep me in check!

Amy@HomeRemediesRX said...

Love all of your new treasures (especially those doorknobs!)... sounds like you had a great time at RT. I can't wait to see what else you make with those rhinestones!

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Wonderful treasures you brought back with you! Love your new MP jacket! That is a lot of bling and sparkle you dug up too! Your jewelry pieces look great and it sounds like you are going to have lots of fun creating. Hoping I get to make that trip next time! :)

Charlene said...

OK! What clothing purchases do you regret? I can't imagine because everything including the million scarves you bought were precious!!!! You got back to AZ & climbed back in your BOX!!!!!!!!! Remember what I told you... you should wear what you want & express your creative/artistic side & not feel you must wear constraining clothes. Set your inner self free girlfriend!

Now... you make a teacher proud. LOVE the two necklaces you have created & I know you will make a million more wonderful things. HUGS!
I miss you!
Charlene & Elle (who is still in bed snoozing... lazy girl)

Anonymous said...

I can see I had best dedicate a good portion of my day to reading all about your Texas trip. Not only do you have a great eye, you know how to find a bargain price. you are after my own heart. Even cheap old me would have pushed you out of the way for those deals!

Thanks for sharing the experience with those of us left behind in the cold.

Jacqui said...

Oh, I love the lace dripping out of those drawers!!! And that Magnolia Jacket, wow!!!

Swanky Salvage Decor said...

Bloom and Bee Swanky is in Waco, TX only an hour from me! I am definitely going to make a trip there soon! My Mom lived in Waco before she retired from AAFES and I used to visit all the time and we would junk the whole weekend. We used to find all kinds of great stuff. I found several sets of vintage 50's canister sets for $5.00 per set and they were complete!

Leah C said...

Oh my, you scored a lot of wonderful goodies!! Love all the bling and the pretty pieces you made:) And those movie reels...love 'em, want 'em!

Unknown said...

gorgeous finds! what fun! lucky you!

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Karen ~
I love the treasures that you came home with and your necklaces came out wonderful!!
I really want to get a Magnolia Pearl piece someday ~

xoxo
Lori

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I heard from Karen that you all had a great time. I would have been digging in the box of "gold" doilies too!! They seem to be hard to find here....Your reels are very neat. I like that with the TV! Great idea.

A Super Dilettante said...

Hello. Thank you so much for this delightful post. The second photograph in particular reminded me of my grandmother's drawers at her dressing table. When I was young, I was left with my grandmother at her house one day. I discovered her collection of crochets, laces and linen tablecloth hand-embroidered (all are now outmoded articles) and her half empty perfume bottle (she wears French classic Houbigant's Quelques Fleurs L'Original (1912)) - perhaps it's an overdose of nostalgia but these beautiful objects remind you of time when people give time, love and care to the objects they love.

Thespoena McLaughlin said...

Looks like you had an amazing time. I ADORE the necklace you made. You did a very good job in it. Perfect! And the jacket is wonderful too. Love all the layers and ruffles. Magnolia Pearl is awesome, I hope to someday visit one of her booths.

VS said...

Oh Karen,
All your goodies make me drool & your necklace turned out soooo beautifully!!!! It looks like you have been making jewelry for years.
I still think the doll is one of your bestest finds...what a GREAT price!
Hugs Girl...
Susie

Holly Loves Art said...

Such beautiful pictues and such yummy goodies you came home with. I think you did great! Glad it was so much fun and thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Holly

Unknown said...

That is truly some amazing stuff! I LOVE the jacket! And the prices were so good! What spectacular finds! Thanks so much for sharing these treasures with us! The necklace was absolutely wonderful! Talent you have!

Hugs,

Unknown said...

Incredible finds Karen, we seem to have the same interests, Love the Frozen Charlotte Doll- $25.00 is a steal, can't find anything like her here in MN. Your necklace is wonderful, love rhinestones, vintage lace, glass door knobs, You did well. thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

How smart were you to have a list??? I enjoyed seeing all the great items you brought home-thanks for sharing!
xo
lynn

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Oh, I loveeeeeee that jewelry and that Magnolia Pearl jacket. I'd say you did very well and looks like something I would have enjoyed as well. Blessings!

Sheila Rumney said...

Looks like you found a lot of wonderful treasures. Love your necklace that you created. Beautiful!!!

Susan Hemann said...

What wonderful finds! I am going in the fall to Round Top. I can hardly wait. Hope I beat you to the linens. lol I love the necklace you made. I have wanted to go to the Magnolia shop forever. Love the jacket. Actually I love everything you bought! Happy creating!

Ragamuffin Gal said...

What a happy heart your purchases have given to me just by viewing them today. To know you will soon be creating some lovely art with all of those treasures! Blessings Dear Heart. ~ Katie

An Oasis in the Desert said...

Wow, I think you win the prize on snagging some really cool things. Can think of a hundred things to do with some vintage doilies, but those are hard to find here. I know you will get hooked big time with the jewelry. My 86 year old neighbor has been making jewelry from old pieces for many, many years now. People drop off bags of old jewelry that had belonged to a mother or grandmother & want just something made as a memento. They just tell her to keep the rest & use it as she wishes. Being the sweet neighbor that she adores, I've been the lucky recipient of many nice things created by her loving hands. It's a wonderful hobby. Have fun with that.

I'm one of those fellow AZ bloggers who hope to meet up in the fall.
CAS

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

These are fantastic finds, Karen! I certainly love the doilies and laces but also the dolls, the doorknobs and all the pretty jewelry pieces. Enjoy your new treasures! Your necklaces turned out beautiful. It sounds like you had a great time in RT.
Have a lovely Sunday!
Hugs,
Julia

Shannon said...

Hi! I'm pretty new here, and I wanted to let you know that I love your blog. :-)

Also, just wanted to let you know that there's a giveaway going on right now on my blog, featuring a gorgeous, eco-friendly bracelet made out of recycled magazine and water bottles! Hope to see you there!
Have and great day and God bless,
Shannon

blog: { http://belowtheplateau.blogspot.com }

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love rhinestone jewelry, too! What you've made is really beautiful! You found some great buys! ♥

One Shabby Old House said...

Oh my what a fabulous necklace that you made. You are such a talented lady and I am always happy to see what you have been up to because I am sure that it will inspire me in one way or another.
Love your Magnolia purchase too. I really really want to go to RT next spring. I think I need about a year to save for it :)
Enjoy
Becky

Art From The heart said...

WoW !! What a beautiful blog you have.
I'm a new follower,hope you'll join mine as well. I'm having a HUGE giveaway so check it out.
Hugs, Amy

The Rustic Victorian said...

How wonderful all your treasures are and your necklaces are very special. What luck in the "K"..perfect!

Marcie

Jo said...

oh my, what beautiful things you picked up ... i can see you having fun for a long long time!

Rustique Gal said...

Karen, I so envy you gals that live near Roundtop! What fun it would be to go there. Though I'm near Brimfield and haven't been there yet!
Maybe this year, with my new Knee!
Your necklace is my favorite thing on this post. I love the wire wrap on the old key and the initial. It is so aged and vintagy and pretty. Have a great week!
XO,
Sherry

Plush Possum Studio said...

What a lovely place to visit! You have a new Follower!
Looks like the Round Top gig really was a fab show--and your Magnolia Pearl jacket is a stunner! Love that purse of yours-can't wait for your promised tutorial!
Rose

Vicki Boster said...

What can I say but that you made some fabulous choices! Love the vintage laces and jewelry - you did GOOD my friend! The photos are wonderful!

Vicki

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hi Karen,

You made a haul! I love everything..and I think all of us would like a closet full of Magnolia Pearl. :0) Love that jacket you got....I haven't been by in ages but want to drop in to say Happy Spring to you..Hope life is treating you well.

Pink Sparkles for your day,
Stephanie ♥

B E C K Y said...

LOVELY- I have a slight obsession with old door knobs. Your pic made me smile :)

Fifi Flowers said...

FAB trinkets!!!

Debra said...

Hello Dear Friend,

I'm loving your finds from Texas. Today, when I saw this reel I thought of you and your post.
http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/33029/a-reel-bird-feeder

Enjoy,
Debra

SimpleSue said...

Found your blog address I had saved on a scrap of paper torn from Where Women Create, and finally came to "visit!"
What a beautiful blog. Tonight I plan on coming back and looking through it all!

Erica said...

Looks like you had an amazing time. I love the necklace you made. You did a very good job in it. Perfect!

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