Photo editing ....

Thank you Claudia!! ... we've all heard about Picnik disappearing next month ... well just look at what fellow blogger Claudia has found, iPiccy!! 

As soon as I read her latest post I ran on over to the site to play around a bit ... girls, you'll love it!! So similar to Picnik, with some new things to explore.

I pulled the first pic off my computer and started to play ... take a look ...

Original photo ...

"Artist Portrait Painting"... special effect

"Gritty" effect ...

"Old Photo" special effect ...

I couldn't resist.

The "Wanted" poster effect ...

Something else "New" I'm playing with Facebook.

I swore I would "NEVER" be on Facebook ....

Well, what do they say? Never say never?

Hope you are having some playtime this Sunday, if not ... go check out iPiccy for yourself.

Thanks again Claudia ; )

xo

Jill

Anyone know where I can find a market?

I'm getting ready to go !!

The first itching for Spring I get is the longing for the open air flea market ... and since the temperature is going to be in the 60's here in NJ today and since my favorite flea is held on Thursday, well let's just say I got the bug good !!

I think it may be even worse this year because I am so excited to use my "new" cart.

Last month I found this vintage basket at the thrift store for $2.90 ... at home I had some leftover canvas drop cloths. I used black acrylic paint to stencil my cloths with some French lettering and numerals {which so happen to be my birthday!}

 I sewed everything together, included some inside pockets for my small treasures and added simple ties.

 I didn't bother to mend any of the holes my cloth already had ... I think they add a touch of authentic character to the liner!

I still want to add some more details but basically I'm ready to roll with my new vintage wheels !

Have a great weekend everyone ... maybe I'll see you at the flea?

xo

Jill

some parties I'm participating in today, stop on by:

Savvy City Farmer

Common Ground

From My Front Porch To Yours

Delightful Order

 The Brambleberry Cottage

HoH

Beyond The Picket Fence

Porcelain whites ...

Happy white Wednesday everyone.

This time around I'm sharing a few of my favorite 

white on white pics ...

I can never get my fill of these little German beauties.

  

Although they are all exactly the same ... they each appear so individual and unique .... how is that?

Have a wonderful Wednesday, I'll see you at Kathleen's place !

xo

Jill

Finding the lovely ...

... at Ikea?! ... Yes!!

Last Friday night we had the best "family date night" surprisingly at Ikea !!

We had been out all day looking at materials for kitchen counter tops ... pretty exhausted but pushed on to try one more spot. It was dinner time so we hit the Ikea restaurant first ~ we hardly do dinner out anymore, due to money constraints, but the prices here are excellent and we "splurged" for the $3.99 Swedish meatball dinner. The dinner bill for three people ... UNDER $12 bucks ... we ate with our maps of the store and made a plan ... even the Gypsy Prince got involved.

The store is huge !! 

It was a lot of fun looking at all of the displays set up ... I could have moved right into a few of them ; )

The little guy did get tired after the first hour but was revived with an hour of play in the drop-off (supervised) play area ... yeah! FREE babysitting for an hour of uninterrupted shopping browsing.

... and the best part, I FINALLY found what I'll be using for my new kitchen counter tops!!

{source}

I'm linking up my little slice of lovely at Jeanne's today, stop on by.

xo

Jill

{ps.who knew? ... meatballs and free babysitting could make a girl so happy?}

Gathering the goods ...

These past few weeks I've been hunting and pecking around the house ... 

finding lost and forgotten treasures tucked away for another day ... 

well, that day is right around the corner ... 

a new Etsy shop is on my horizon ...

and I  need to make space for the upcoming flea market season !!

It's time for my previous finds to make room for my new finds. Make sense?

I'm linking and sharing today over at Debra's place, 

Common Ground, for her weekly linky party

VINTAGE INSPIRATIONS

xo

Jill

**just added ... I've found a great giveaway over at Savvy City Farmer ... plus a link party ; ) ... I'm playing, why not you too??

Sweetheart SALE

FYI ...

I've just {like 2 minutes ago} announced a 40% off sale over at my Etsy shop !!

If you're interested in some sweet savings click HERE to check it out.

Sale will last for 24 hours beginning now until noon tomorrow. 
{e.s.t.}

Have a sweet Monday girls ... and while you're at it why not treat yourself?

xo

Jill

Finding the Lovely ...

Another week has flown by, seriously just like the blink of the eye it's Friday!

I'm playing along again today with the new party "Finding the Lovely" hosted by Jeanne and Kimberly {thanks girls!}

Since I've been working a lot this week ... like last week, I'm rummaging through my older photo files looking for something to share. 

What is challenging about this party for me is finding myself "present" or "in the moment" or "having fun" !! 

I tend to hide behind the camera and take the photos ... I do NOT like to have my picture taken ; )

I found my "lovely" for an entire week last spring in the paradise land of Costa Rica in Central America.

This was the first ALONE trip my husband and I took since our honeymoon ... we explored a bit, but spent the majority of the time lounging poolside. Oh, and eating and drinking ... this was also our first ALL-INCLUSIVE trip since our honeymoon ... yeah, I came back a few pounds heavier than when I left and the weight wasn't in my suitcase!

 The country of Costa Rica was gorgeous and so diverse.

Beaches

Mountains

Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Rain forests

Jungles

And the wildlife was a sight to see...

Tropical birds

Iguanas

Crocs

Monkeys

Dolphins

All of this plus the friendly local people and the new friends we made ... made it a trip of a lifetime!

Please join me at the party today ... I'd like to see photos of what your "lovely" is.

xo

Jill

ps. The wild pig I'm petting in the one photo is not dead ... 

she was enjoying belly rubs from all the tourist ; )